Hockey pics, and more, from a wintery San Antonio

Is that the sun? And then the rains came

Befogged



Raindrops like pearls



Water vapor on indoor/outdoor pool

Deserted beach  in the  rain

Even the bushes wept ;_)

Well, we made it back safely.. although being befogged for half the trip, then driving through down pour after down pour made for a nail biting 3 hours.

But the game was fun: posting a series...from the 3. period after starting goalie Ortio was replaced by Joey MacDonald....
he really tried his best..making 6 saves of 7 shots

One

Two

and Three: That one did not go in!

Troy Ward, somewhat unhappy head coach

McFarland's goal  in 1. to even score

Joey Crabb goal in 3.



Trocheck hugs Crabb enthusiastically

Ortio-starter goalie, with Lafranchise

McDermit trips over Markstrom's stick

  and falls, Markstrom stays watchful :-)



Abbotsford's Granlund.. doesn't he look a bit like the Wild's?

Robak, Butler and Gilroy, were the 3 stars of the game and here late blooms for them:

And the heat could not sustain it.

On a drizzly cold day at the ranch..

staying in.

Yesterday evening the Abbotsford Heat and the Rampage met in San Antonio, and we were there.

Within the first few minutes Mark Cundari of the Heat pushed the puck past a visibly surprised Jacob Markstrom. But that was it.

From then on the Rampage ramped it up and slapped home 5 goals, four on power plays by John McFarland, Joey Crabb and Colby Robak, Matt Gilroy, plus one unassisted goal by Bobby Butler.

Both teams basted a dozen or more 6 footers, with Ben Street at 6'7 straining ( lol) to catch up to (most likely his idol) Chara of the Bruins (6'9)! ;-)

Markstrom proved his worth after the initial unexpected one, and stopped 29 of the 30 the Heat threw at him, some saves we're rather spectacular. And so they very sparse audience (it was a Tuesday night after all AND colder than a witches....you know what) was rewarded by receiving a free chick filet coupon per person? AND we also caught the cow drop one in the second period. How lucky can we get, eh? Now we only have to buy fries and a drink in order to redeem one coupon for a chicken sandwich. Lunch for Better Half is assured, lol!

On the other hand the starting goalie for Abbotsford, Joni Ortio did not perform to his coach's, a former Aeros coach, Troy Ward, and was replaced in the third period by, visibly not quite ready, Joey MacDonald. Yes, he stretched a bit to try to warm up, but then the Rampage were at him almost continuously and still Gilroy managed to beat him with the fifth goal on another power play.

Over all an entertaining game, even if it seemed to us the skating was not quite as powerful and fast as in previous games, but who cares really, the home team won and the fans event away quite happy and warmed to their hearts by it! 

A good time was had.  And then it was back out in the cold .. as if inside the arena it had not been cold enough, as it usually is. Which made it strange that several players on both sides slid and slipped and fell.  And no, t'was not the fault of anyone. Two refs kept the game on pace and parceled out penalties seemingly unbiased. The penalty kill talent was most definetely on the Rampage side that night, letting the worst team beat the beast one. Before last night the heat stood at 23-11-1-1 versus the rampage with 12-20-0-3!  It seems that there were a lot less than the 3000plus the game report listed. Probably accounting all those seats that we're not occupied by season ticket holders! LoL.

Photos from the game will follow in the next day or so. I am note yet a costumed to using the iPad as camera at games....sure don't want it confiscated as "too large to be allowed " teehee,so only one rather dreary photo from the porch at the ranch....it IS cold and wet out there, warm and toasty inside. Just right for some reading and writing ! ;-).

And soon it will be time for Operas.  Stay "tuned".....cheers readers!

OUT with the old, IN with the new..

and it is time to reflect - if one wants - on the past year 2013. A year filled with momentous events, deaths of the famous and not so famous, good news and bad, fun times, pain,
and so much more.
As my chers readers know, we spent 2 months in the OLD home country..


Wien, the church spire at right is where I grew up!

QM2

sailing to and from.

Followed by THE PIB and 2 sets of injections which - finally - worked.

Some great operatic experiences, some not so great.

Some fun hockey times...


Everblades vs Eagles




Fall pods in Hill country

even if one had to travel to have them!

But, as they say, travel broadens one's mind.

The joys of looking at fall pods interspersed with late blooming flowers.

Pelican grooming

The beauty of birds at rest,
and

in flight,and while diving for food - that one was too fast for my finger on the button -
thus this

Sunset at Bonita Springs

Sunrise in the Hill country

Sun's Reflection on the Gulf

The changing light over water and land.

 

Admiring the architecture of the Old countries............

Prague

 and the New ....

Bridge over (untroubled) waters

Museum experiences in Florida and Germany


Dali in St. Petersburg



The Ishtar gate in Berlin Museum

And so it went.....
2103 
Full of fun and excitement.
But also pain and , finally, relieve!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

 



Dallying at the Dali.

Yes, there is a new Dali Museum in St. Pete's.

Interior

It is built to withstand force 5 hurricanes, we've been told.
Sadly, no photos allowed in exhibition halls.

One enters via the gift shop - being tempted to buy!
Just not, perhaps, the Daliesque car?
To then pay a hefty admission fee, even for seniors, and with a $2 off coupon.
Was it worth it?

The closest to the iconic melting watches a bench in the 'garden:

I was rather excited to return to see the "Dalis",
remembering well the just stunning exhibits at the 'old' museum.
And by the big selection of art cards and magnets, there.  ;-).

I am happy I bought most then, because this time I found only 3 cards and 1 magnet I did not already have!
BUT if one wants posters, tee shirts, scarves, ties, mugs..... one will find lots there, now!

The park like grounds also boast a rock from Cadaques donated to the museum, and a sculpture of a dolphin, brightly colored.



Before DALI,
The joy of seeing the White Pelicans and other birds on Sanibel island.. and a grey???

what..??

plus alas just a few others.

Missed (our luck) the Roseate Spoonbill, seen by earlier 'birds=visitors' in the day!


'Grooming Parlor'  ;-)

Anhinga-a bit startled

 One Pool with water falls

Home away form home...at sunset-right. Delighted no crowds there, at this time.
And lagoon - left
at early morning on way to eagles' nest whose inhabitants seem to have been out to lunch ;-)

Out to lunch? Or For rent?



Unknown flowering tree

Causeway 
bridge from Tampa to the South

 Sanibel Island- with lighthouse and pelicans 

 Lighthouse in x-mas mode

And so:
Good Bye till next year to Tamiami Trail at night:

The game we missed 12/7/13

On Saturday the Blades faced the Eagles again, but this time they won.
4 vs 2, both goalies back in net.
Goaling for the Blades: Roy, Boris, Pistilli, Carzo.
For Eagles: Ostrow (2 goals).



Mathieu Roy-Captain

As promised, some photos from Friday's game:

Cann's eyes follow Nr, 45 speeding by

Cann Caught that one

Bruess wins this fight

Cheverie eyes ???

Ostrow

Some fan covers his eyes during the Friday game.....

and a canine fan in a Swampee costume nuzzles his/her owner, when the goal is scored ;-). on Friday

And then there is Joe (not Vladimir) Stejskal, LOL.

Blades versus Eagles

So we saw a fast paced game between the Everblades of Estero and the Colorado Eagles. Since the "Blades" are the ECHL affiliate of not only Tampa Bay, the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), but also the Charlotte Checkers and the Syracuse Crunch of AHL, several newcomers played this evening.  At the Germain arena in Estero, Florida

And it sorta showed! The speed was not quite there! The passing was not exact! But the energy of this young and short - yes, 8  guys of 5'11, plus 2 at 5.9 do make for a short team ;-) - was all there.

The  Eagles team included several of that height, including the Captain (not Horation) just Riley.

The shortness of highest players did not hamper any of them in scoring: 

Daavettila (6), Ostrow (5'10), Parker and Ulanski (5'11) scored for the Eagles, as did Johnston, while Henrion (also 5'11) scored the sole goal for the Everblades, despite the 34 sogs, of which the Eagles' goalie, Cheverie, at 6'3 larger than Cann, who is 5'11, only allowed that one. Of the 13 games he played he won 10, and only lost 3 in overtime.

Trevor Cann for the Blades only played 3 games thus far and lost 2 (Friday included). Although after letting in  2 goals in 1., he warmed up through 2. and most of the third period, Ulansky's empty netter can not be blamed on him ;-)! 

There was no doubt about the three stars of the game:

 Henrion the number three, Ostrow and Cheverie of the Eagles, numbers two and one, respectively.

It was a quite entertaining game, the Blades peppered Cheverie with 34 shots, while the Eagles managed 21 ...... but with 3 goals against Cann and the one empty netter! Photos to be posted soon.

For the hockey fight lovers, the game had two...IMO..Mychan (Co) vs Buess, and later Parker (Co) vs Dame-Malka......real ones! Several other penalties were called, but only one opportunity was utilized for goals, Johnston for the visitors. 8 penalties for the Eagles (1 goal)' 5 for the Blades (0 goal)

The crowd was respectable and loud, even without the animation by ice girls and Swampee, the mascot.

Near us was the quietest fan: a grizzled muzzle Chihuahua in Swampee disguise, lol.  

But his owner made up for it...and her friends wore green hair, shook bells and screamed "Go Blades". All for naught the team barely went on board with the lonely goal. 

Captain Roy of the Blades, was apparently still in Movember mode, looking striking with dark full beard and sideburns. This is Roy's 6th season with the Blades. 

A player named Joe Stejskal reminded me of an old friend with the same name who, in his salad days played goalie in the, now known as, Czech Republic. Which made me wonder, did anyone of Vladimir's family emigrate to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, long time ago?