Digital Serenity : Hockey, Grateful

Being Grateful - Day 15

jleask — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:16:00 GMT

As seen in my post, Because I Can, here is what I'm grateful for, today:

Today, Day 15, I'm grateful for second chances.

Yup! Tonight the Stars showed up in Detroit and acted like a bunch of prospects. Talking with Streakgrl from the Dallas Stars official boards we (probably she) commented it was like watching the annual Pros vs Prospects game. It's simple, guys: you have the talent, you have the skill, you have demonstrated the ability to play the level you need to. However, tonight, you chose not to. You were nervous, star-struck, afraid even. Who showed up? Morrow showed up. Turco showed up (you really can only blame one of those goals on him alone). Zubie & Robie kinda showed up, but their defensive pairs were too flaky to produce enough. And Daley ... oye. One play he kicks ass, deeks the wings, does a few fans over the puck and makes a beauty of a shot; the next play he acts like it's his first AHL game ... yeah that's right, AHL, not NHL.

So here's to tomorrow, when the Stars will practice hard so when they come out Saturday the team that shows up is the same team that beat Anaheim & San Jose, not the prospects we watched tonight - so they don't blow their Second Chance.

Being Grateful - Days 11-13

jleask — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:39:14 GMT

Sunday I woke up thinking "Don't forget to post your Being Grateful article today" and as the day wore on I thought "No no, you can post it when you get home from tonight's game, you'll have plenty to be thankful for then. And I was, MORE than grateful. I had a bleeding split upper lip (damn plastic horns), sore fore arms (damn drum) and no voice (damn screaming) ... but allow me to continue my Being Grateful series by telling you that on

Day 11 I was grateful for Tailgating.

What, you didn't expect me to be thankful for the NHL Conference Finals, did you? Come on, that game didn't end until 1:30 Central time. No, no, Sunday the Fanatics had our second Tailgate and, I think I can safely speak for all 40+ attendees, it was awesome. We even had people not attending the game join us for the tailgate ... and non-fanatics asking about it at the game (so I'm told).

Day 12 I was (and am still) grateful for Marty's sticky fingers ... and toes ... and his back ... and his helmet ...

... Seriously, is there a spot Marty Turco did NOT make a save off? You see, Sunday night into Monday morning, for over 5 hours, the Stars played hockey against the Sharks. This game, the 8th longest NHL game ever recorded, cost the Sharks their opportunity to continue onto the Conference Championships, and afforded the Dallas Stars their 2nd trip to that hallowed round since winning Lord Stanley's Cup in 1999, the previous time was 2000. Marty made a franchise high 61 saves that game; the game winner by Brendan Morrow came in at approximately 1:25am - almost 5.5 hours of hockey. Bliss my friends, pure bliss.

Day 13, catching us back up to Today, I am thankful for a good nights sleep.

When I was 21 I convinced my parents I needed a new bed, and they helped me buy one. I love this bed, it's a pillow-top style (brand/model I can't seem to recall), that's not too fluffy, not too firm; that combined with my Brookstone Tempur-Pedic Pillow AND my feather pillow and Eddie Bauer Goose Down Comforter ... After Monday mornings hockey shenanigans I needed a strong nights sleep.

Being Grateful - Days 6-9

jleask — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:45:00 GMT

This is what I was afraid of: I'd lose track of days, next thing I know a week's gone by. Not bad, it took me 5 days of successful blogging before I missed the opportunity. So, to continue my 30 day theme as seen in my post, Because I Can, here we are, days 6, 7, 8 and 9, all in one post.

Tuesday, Day 6, I was grateful for the Stars' 3rd straight Playoff victory over the Sharks.

It's not cheesy, it makes perfect sense. I was high as a kite, and tired as heck, as the overtime winner made it look like a possible sweep.

Wednesday, Day 7, I was grateful for Facebook & MySpace.

I feel about as dirty as you having written that, but in reality, those sites aren't all that bad; it all depends on how you use them. I use Facebook & MySpace for about 15% Dallas Stars Podcast publicity, 15% to keep in touch with current/local friends & co-workers, 65% to keep in touch with old/distant friends, 5% miscellaneous random stuff. On this particular day I found a friend of mine from when I was a volunteer in training at the Southport Volunteer Fire Department.

Thursday, Day 8, I was grateful for Telligent.

I know I've been thankful for work once, but on Thursday Telligent found out that it was officially voted the number 10 small-medium sized business to work for in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex (funny, spell check doesn't like that word much). A very cool article in the Dallas Business Journal displays many of the things that make Telligent cool - when/if I get an online link I'll be sure to post it.

Today, May 2, Day 9, I am grateful for the ability to Serve.

Yes, I put serve there with a capital S. "Service Above Self" is the slogan of Rotary International, an organization I am a member of through the Park Cities Rotary Club. It is also a slogan I have come to believe in and follow, as mentioned a little here and here. I have learned that it is very easy to feel good about yourself when you know you are doing your best to help others, be it by raising funds, getting your hands dirty with Habitat for Humanity, cleaning the local parks, serving food at the soup kitchen, or shaking hands with the USO to outgoing troops. It's not about agreeing with political views, respecting the decisions that led us to certain situations, or laying/accepting blame; Serving is about knowing you did something towards a goal of leaving the world a better place then it was when you got here.

Being Grateful - Day 4

jleask — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:21:00 GMT

As seen in my post, Because I Can, here is what I'm grateful for, today:

Today, Day 4, April 26, I am grateful for HDTV.

I'm a HUGE hockey fan, specifically the Dallas Stars. Suffice to say watching hockey on TV is a very difficult thing to do. The camera speed is too slow, the analogue signal is blurry, the puck is so small ... it just isn't a good TV sport. UNLESS the signal is broadcast in HD. NBC, once a week, for the second half of the season has been broadcasting an HD game dubbed as "The Game of the Week". While it's not always a game I want to watch it is TOTALLY worth watching - I thought HDTV was a big deal for football back when it was first released, but I never really appreciated it until I saw the snow fly up from a players skate as he stopped suddenly; the skate-lines in the ice after a half period of ice; or even better, the first time I realized I was watching the puck move on the ice, instead of watching the players react to a mysterious blur I could only barely see. Thank you HDTV ... now come on My27, start broadcasting EVERY game in HD.