The West goes to sleep

In a thoroughly mediocre game barely able to keep even MY attention, Anaheim topped Vancouver 3-2 bringing them up to 2-1 in the series. Neither team was at their best and if it hadn't been dusk outside my window I would have thought that this was an matinee start. The teams were sluggish and normally fantastically focused Pronger and Luongo both looked like they would rather be in bed, The first goal that was scored on Luongo was completely his fault and the CBC analysts Craig Simpson and Kelly Hrudey both chalk this up to the double overtime finish of game 2. I have to believe that the coaches of both these teams will be unhappy with this excuse and performance. This is the playoffs after all.

The Trouble with Socks

I think a lot of hardcore knitters have this problem but I think for me it's starting to get out of hand. I have one of all of these socks but no mates. You know what the sick part of this is? I know that I should start making the mates but instead I've already decided to use some Tofutsies to make some Jaywalkers. Oh well, I think I just have to let it go and realize I'll get around to making the mates some day. Until then, bring on the Socks that Rock Yarn and I'll find some new patterns to try!

Vancouver's second chance

Tonight the Canucks face the Ducks in game two of the western semi-final and if Luongo and his mates are less than stellar they will not have the luxury of the lack of rest excuse. One thing is for sure, they will face the same odds as in game 1 with two of their best defencemen (Bieksa and Salo)out and they will have to find a way to keep it even without them. I believe the key for them will be to get an early start and keep pressing Giguere tight into the net.

The Ducks, on the other hand, look fantastic and Andy McDonald is one of my favourites for this year. If the Daily Wenzel had taken him in the pool (as I suggested two weeks before the playoffs started) they would be leading and I wouldn't have to keep saying I told you so.

All in all, we are hoping for a more exciting game tonight and looking forward to 3 and 4 in Vancouver.

2nd Round Starts Tonight!

With only one day of rest after a brutal series with Dallas, Vancouver faces the Anaheim Ducks tonight to start off the second round of the playoffs. It seems that the Canucks defense are falling like flies so Vancouver will do what they've been doing all year, relying on Roberto Luongo to keep them in it. Also into the lineup comes Rory Fitzpatrick, perhaps this little known blue-liner that toiled for ages in the minors will make fools of us all and prove that he DID deserve those all-star votes. Maggie the Monkey from TSN is picking Vancouver against the odds and my degree in Anthropology means I know one thing: Don't second guess the monkey.

The Mail Carrier brings Yarn!

Opal sock yarn came in the mail today! These three colours are: Rain forest Peacock, Neon, and Rainbow. I'm using the Rainbow to make "Roza's Socks" from the Spring Interweave Knits...Couldn't help immediately casting this stuff on.

A Disappointing Day in the World of Sports

The proverbial "other shoe" finally dropped for Calgary last night as the Flames went down to the Red Wings in the 2nd overtime. I generally hate to agree with Kelly Hrudey but he hit it on the nose last night between periods when he said that the Flames were being outplayed and the amazing play of Kiprusoff could only keep them in it for so long. This proved to be exactly the case as the Flames goalie again faced over 50 shots on net. I believe that the better team won in the end and the Flames may be in store for a few changes. If this series proves anything it must show the management that they MUST sign Kiprusoff before the end of his contract next year. They should just let him fill in his own amount on the bottom line.

In other news Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal faced off for the final of the Monte Carlo masters series event. In front of the rich and famous of Europe the #1 and #2 took to the court in what most people think is a precursor to the final of Roland Garros in a few weeks time. Unfortunately this match did not live up to the hype and was little more than lacklustre. What was unusual was the fact that the poor play in the match came almost exclusively from Federer's end (double the unforced errors to winners). Those that admire the play of the Swiss tennis Yoda will have to hope that this is merely a warm-up for Roger and that he is saving his best for the slam in France. It seems evident that regardless of the reasons behind his poor play in Monte Carlo, Roger will have to play significantly better than he did in the final even to repeat his final appearance of last year and play perhaps the match of his life to beat Nadal on Clay.

Boteh Scarf

Here is the crochet project that brought back the love... The pattern is in the spring edition of Interweave Crochet. The picture in the magazine is only so-so (I think because they use a solid color of Lorna's Lace's Shepherd Sock) I LOVE the way mine turned out using the Tahoe color. I am planning to give this one to a friend of mine that collects interesting scarves but I may have to make one for myself!

Flames last chance

Just a quick post before I'm off to teach class at Make 1. The Flames have been fined and the back-up goalie has been suspended. It's game time tonight, will all of the antics from the end of yesterday's game be worth it? Tune in to CBC at 7:00 and find out.

The Problem with Tortorella

The Lightning fell to the Devils 3-0 tonight in a game that was less than stellar by all... except perhaps Martin Brodeur being, well, Martin Brodeur. In this New Jersey/Tampa series it seems that the coach of the Lightning is up to his old tricks. My overwhelming feeling from the game was that Tampa Bay had absolutely no energy. Could this be because John Tortorella has played the living daylights out of his star players and the wear and tear is inevitably showing? This coach is known for calling players out that are not performing (see his destruction of the careers of goalies Khabibulin, John Grahame) and tonight was no exception as he sat 2004 Cup clincher Ruslan Fedotenko for the WHOLE game. After the game Tortorella was questioned by the press about his team's performance with his usual aplomb he uttered the belligerent "We know what we did" as a mantra and when asked for clarification he dropped the F-Bomb on National TV. Very nice. Bullying as coaching. Had the Lightning not won the Cup in 2004 would Tortorella still be leading a team at the elite level? I doubt it.

Has my blog turned the tide?

The Flames win again! It seems that my lack of blog faith in the Flames has helped the team win another victory and level the series with Detroit at 2 all. The Flames played hard at both ends of the ice, finishing checks and driving hard to the net. What remains to be seen is if the Flames can reproduce their results away from the Saddledome and kick the road monkey off their backs. Once again I am obligated to say I don't think they can. (Keep it going Flames!)

Addicted to Lace

Here is a picture of my latest project. A stole made of 2 skeins of Schaefer Anne in the Gothic Leaf pattern from Sivia Harding. It really wasn't that hard to make once I got my yarn sorted out (changed my mind about the colour twice)the pattern is very organic and flows nicely once you get the hang of it. This is for my grandmother who is having her 74 birthday on Mother's Day, I sure hope she likes it!

More NHL playoff musings

It seems that the key to the Calgary Flames success is my blogging about their slim chances! The Flames ended up squeaking out a win last night, taking the series to 2-1 Detroit leading. Due to the aforementioned key to success I am obligated to say that the Flames have no chance tomorrow night and are only prolonging the agony of their eventual defeat. (Go Flames!)

Many of the hockey pundits seem to be mystified by what they are describing as "Martin Brodeur's mediocre play". I'm not sure that I buy into this reasoning for the tight series between the devils and the Lightning. Is it that Brodeur is playing goal at the level of a mere mortal or are the workhorses for Tampa playing some extraordinary offensive hockey? Lecavalier, St.Louis and Richards have found a way to get under Brodeur's skin and the fact that they are playing nearly half and hour a night must have something to do with the number of goals that have gone in the New Jersey net.

Woe is the Flames

I have given up hope that my hometown team will make any kind of run in the playoffs this year. They are, as I write, trailing in the third period of the third game, down 2 already. It is time to turn our sights to some of the more interesting series like the Predators and San Jose (the body count has been high in that one)and Vancouver Dallas. Luongo and Turco are making that an old time goalie battle that I makes it almost impossible to choose who to cheer for. Regardless, the Flames are headed for the golf course and their coach Jim Playfair will be heading for the unemployment line.

Federer in Monte Carlo

So Roger played his first match on Clay today in Monte Carlo against a lesser known Italian, Andreas Seppi. I must say that it was a bit of a scratchy match! Roger was making quite a few unforced errors and looked to be a little frustrated more with his own game than anything Seppi could throw at him. He did win in the end however, perhaps this was just a match to get his "clay legs" back under him? He will have to look a lot better if he wants to challenge for the French Open. We will see.

Monte Carlo Tennis Masters

I did manage to catch an opening round match this afternoon between Marcos Bagdhatis and Max Mirnyi. In more than a mild upset, Marcos went down in straight sets. Yes, that's right the Australian Open finalist from a year ago lost to a man who has not won a singles match at all since THIS years Australian Open. This begs the question what's up with Marcos? Was last year's success a fluke or is he in some kind of sophomore slump? I guess only time and more matches will tell. I am leaning more towards the slump right now. He still has flashes of brilliant shot making out there on the court but the belief that the ball will land in seems to be gone. Me thinks that perhaps it is time for a coaching change...

Recently Finished Projects

So here are some things that have held my attention long enough to get finished. I've been mostly knitting lately as I spent all of the month of February crocheting for a friend of mine with a book deadline. The hooks needed a break. Although, I have just started a scarf from the Spring Interweave Crochet...


This is a Clapotis (Pattern is free on Knitty.com) made from Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb "Gold Hill". I love this, it looks great draped over all black (little dress or skinny pants and top). This is one of the few things that I have made this year that I have kept for myself.
This is my monster in her Orange Sheep One pullover from Knitting Pure & simple. This one was a big hit with stink butt and Daddy too.

An Inaugural Post

Well, here is the long awaited site for all of you out there that want to know what I'm knitting at the moment, or what I'm yelling at the TV about. I can't promise to update daily but I will do my best to keep it regular.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have my full profile up as well as some pictures and a link to my flickr site. Also as the NHL playoffs are in full force, there's likely to be some posts coming on the state of hockey and who my picks and hopes are.

If you are breezing by and you have any requests for info or a specific kind of post drop me an e-mail or a post reply and I'd be happy for any input.

I guess that's all for now. Thanks and Happy Reading!

Lucy