Breakfast Club: Session II - Week 7

Good skate today folks! Does the word exhaustion apply here today? Wow. Who had energy by the time the scrimmage hit? Who doesn't want to be a good backwards skater? Let's see, no one. Well, today we had plenty of practice on that. The toe cut ripping into the ice feels good when you do it right. Lyle had us doing a drill to get our arms in sequence with our leg movements. Jeff and Randy said we all looked like the Sooooul Train dancers. I was lacking the rhythm. As awkward as it feels, we all need that work. Speaking of Jeff, he was awarded Waterford Police Officer of the Year, no joke. Congratulations. He was given a dinner for two, all you can eat at the Salisbury Steak Chop House plus a free one-year platinum club membership to Dunkin Donuts. Joking on the prizes.

Hey, rumor has it that Lyle fell down two weeks ago. I wasn't there to witness the big event. True? Do we have a photo of this? I hate to call you out in public like this Lyle but it's for your own good, a little more knee bend. After the backwards skating drills we move on to the one-on-one, two-on-two and three-on-three drills. That zapped the last energy reserves we had but it was fun. We didn't have an even number of players by jersey colors so some players had to remove jerseys to balance things out. Laura was in our group .......

I was out in Colorado skiing two weeks ago, great time. I'm a more accomplished skier than a hockey player because I've been doing it since I was a kid. I take lessons from a pro friend of mine. He takes me down more advanced terrain. I get a little nervous looking down the edge of a steep mountain to my death, so Rex says you have the technical skills to do it "just let it go." Rex, if I don't make it you can have my skis. He yells, GO. I ski down the mountain, not pretty at times but make it and it feels really good afterwards. The next time is better yet. Point is, don't over think the situation, just let it go. Lyle busts on us at times saying the same thing, "don't think about it". It's true, going into a hockey move we sometimes over think the mechanical side because we are so focused on learning the move perfectly. Have you ever been playing and instantly had to make a move, you don't have time to think but you pull it off and afterwards think, wow, how did that happen? Maybe the brain is already wired to do it, we just have to be relaxed and confident we can pull it off. I'm sure it doesn't work all the time, but it probably works more than we know. Something to "think" about isn't it?

Remember, game at the Joe next Thursday. Kirk out.

Breakfast Club: Session II - Week 6

Skate those packzis off! I spent more time going backwards this morning than I have in a long time. Pump those arms. Now three crossovers to the right, three to the left, around the rink, lap after lap. Yup, Lyle, I think I am sufficiently warmed up. Gotcha there.

So then it's drills. Give 'n go, go go go. You'd think it would be easy to pass to the guy in the corner, seeing as he's not moving. Duh, yeah, you'd think. Just about as hard as hanging onto the puck in center ice with no one else around, too. Geesh, glad I've still got that day job because I'd starve if I had to feed my family using my hockey earnings.

And how 'bout those circles? I was already dizzy, so let's keep it going by skating backwards some more, eh? Quick steps, quick steps. Pick 'em up and put 'em down. Accelerate, accelerate. OK, now slow it down. Reach for the inside of that circle and pull that leg and drive that toe across.

And how about that fog? No, outside, not the fog in your sugar-crashed post-packzi brain.

So are you skating at the Joe on Thursday, March 2nd? Keep your eyes peeled for details in your mailbox and inbox...

Missed a class? Go on the other day, it's on the honor system I hear.

And WHAT is up with the country music?? Usually it's gone by the time I'm back in the locker room for my shower. So it must be Scott who changes the radio over from 99.5 to 93.1?

Keep that head up, and those eyes on the goal.

Breakfast Club: Session II - Week 5

Boys, boys, boys! WHERE were your priorities?? A few inches of snow and you drop off like flies? The chick contingency was well represented. OK, three outta five... ahem, yes, we were all a little light. I actually saw a phalanx of snow trucks on the way; they were northbound on M-5 while I shimmied south. How often have you used phalanx in normal conversation, eh? Yes, the weather gave us all much to talk about yesterday.

Geoff and Scott adapted to the near private lesson level of turn out, and mixed it up a bit. We had fun steering the carrier into the corners. Some of us had more fun than others, but you'll be happy to know that no animals were harmed in the process. Cross it over and drive that speed. Get outta that comfort zone! Give 'n go, go go go. Create your space in the offensive zone. It's there for the taking if you stay focused. Two-on-one, Mr. D, so what'cha gonna do? Carry and trail, and crash the net. Pick up that pace! Whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

How goes that resolution? Stalling out on the weight loss, which yes is due solely to fully acknowledged self-destructive behaviors, gee thanks for asking. OK, get it back on track, hon. I hit a lunchtime drop-in that I had been religious about attending until the past three or so months where work's been beyond crazy. I just went. Doggone it. The unfinished disasters were there when I came in, they were there when I got back, and a new batch is probably waiting for me right now. There's always an excuse for not doing what you know you really want to do, the question is whether you let it control you or if you control it. For me, hockey puts me back into focus so I just need to go. Even if I feel guilty on the way out the door; I feel renewed on my way back in. Who needs a couch? Just give me some ice!

What'cha doing for spring? I'm fixin' to play C league on Tuesdays, soccer on Sundays and BC on Wednesdays. Plan it, say it out loud, and then follow through on it. Until then, keep your head up and your eyes on the goal.

Breakfast Club: Session II - Week 5

Boys, boys, boys! WHERE were your priorities?? A few inches of snow and you drop off like flies? The chick contingency was well represented. OK, three outta five... ahem, yes, we were all a little light. I actually saw a phalanx of snow trucks on the way; they were northbound on M-5 while I shimmied south. How often have you used phalanx in normal conversation, eh? Yes, the weather gave us all much to talk about yesterday.

Geoff and Scott adapted to the near private lesson level of turn out, and mixed it up a bit. We had fun steering the carrier into the corners. Some of us had more fun than others, but you'll be happy to know that no animals were harmed in the process. Cross it over and drive that speed. Get outta that comfort zone! Give 'n go, go go go. Create your space in the offensive zone. It's there for the taking if you stay focused. Two-on-one, Mr. D, so what'cha gonna do? Carry and trail, and crash the net. Pick up that pace! Whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

How goes that resolution? Stalling out on the weight loss, which yes is due solely to fully acknowledged self-destructive behaviors, gee thanks for asking. OK, get it back on track, hon. I hit a lunchtime drop-in that I had been religious about attending until the past three or so months where work's been beyond crazy. I just went. Doggone it. The unfinished disasters were there when I came in, they were there when I got back, and a new batch is probably waiting for me right now. There's always an excuse for not doing what you know you really want to do, the question is whether you let it control you or if you control it. For me, hockey puts me back into focus so I just need to go. Even if I feel guilty on the way out the door; I feel renewed on my way back in. Who needs a couch? Just give me some ice!
What'cha doing for spring? I'm fixin' to play C league on Tuesdays, soccer on Sundays and BC on Wednesdays. Plan it, say it out loud, and then follow through on it. Until then, keep your head up and your eyes on the goal.

Breakfast Club: Session II - Week 4

Well, things started off pretty good today. I was thinking if by chance an NHL scout wanders in, it's gonna be my big day. Got to the skating skill of the day – backward crossunders. Keep your feet on the ground, push off from the toe, extend that leg like you mean it, get on that edge, quit crying like a little girl. Humbling to say the least. I hadn't had that much trouble standing up since the first time I had too much to drink. Geoff said this is payback for the Lyle maternity leave comment last week; too late to beg for forgiveness now. Sorry guys! He can only torture us for another hour. Oh, did I forget to say welcome back Lyle, we missed you. It does make you work doesn't it? You need a little perseverance and a sense of humor to get through this one. In the end, you'll be a better skater. Better skaters are better players.

Good shooting drills today also with power crossover skating then getting a shot off. Donny J was "guaran-sheeding" (Rasheed Wallace) goals. He has a good shot and was hitting about 50/50. We kept Kevin and Ronnie busy. Do you ever practice a backhander crossing in front of the net? It’s a big time weakness for me. Excellent weapon to have in the ol' hockey bag.

Then we went to the half-ice scrimmage. We were liking it. Have you noticed Ronnie doesn't like anyone in his personal space? For him that's well beyond the blue crease. He's sort of like Francis in the movie Stripes (Bill Murray, you've seen it right), speaking to us in that crazed look, get in my space and I hurt you. We were skating 3-on-3, Todd is moving through traffic with the puck, coming fast, straight at me, I freeze like a deer on I-75 in front of a Mack truck, he's gonna skate around me right, BOOM! We're both Okay, Todd said he forgot to keep his head up. Throughout the day, Lyle was suggesting to me in his soft voice "Keep your head up Kirk". Perfect example why.

Folks I'm out next week, my annual trip out west to ski the Rockies. Laura will be writing the next two weeks. Shhhhhh, she doesn't want anyone to know but she has different color hair. Stand by for heavy rolls. Kirk out.