Well, today has just been the kind of day in which a lot of the things that I've seen/read have made some sort of impression on me. I guess I'll start with the crossword.
Every day at work I try to do the crossword. Today, one of the clues was "-- onto (seize)" and the answer was "glom." Actually, the first time I came across this word was in a crossword last week. Then, last night, in the book that I was reading ("Dawn in Eclipse Bay" by Jayne Ann Krentz, I believe), I saw the verb used: "glommed." Now, I don't know about you, but "glom" looks awfully similiar to that word of fangirls all over the net, "glomp." ^_~ Without that connection to "glomp," I would never have used the word "glom" in the crossword last week, but I did, and now it's just a word that really sticks out to me. Speaking of "glomping," Sarah, of Enigma fame has got a "clique for bishounen fanatics" called "glomp" that looks pretty cool. I was going to sign up today, but I need more time to think of my bishounen, since Kenshin is already taken, and I don't know if we can double up.
Isn't it funny how anime penetrates my "normal" life? As another example, I saw an ad (on the page opposite the crossword, actually) for "Seed Alternative High School." Know what my first thought was? Final Fantasy VIII. How sad is that? =Þ I saw "Seed" and "school" and I immediately made a connection to the SEED Academy. Talk about "you know you're obsessed with anime when..." Okay, so FFVIII isn't technically anime, but I lump Japanese games in with anime since they're pretty connected in the anime industry anyway.
The next thing I saw wasn't anime related at all, but I found it quite amusing. It was an ad right below the Seed one, and it said: " 'Adventure Tours for Singles' Meet Market Adventures." Now, I don't know if that was a typo, or a pun or what, but it made me laugh! "Meet market," "meat market," get it? I don't know if maybe this is just a local slang term, or if it's pretty widespread (at least, in North America, I would guess) term, but in case it's not well known, "meat market" refers to a place where guys/girls go to pick up people. ^_^ Heehee
The last thing that I read was an article in Maclean's in the sports section, "What Olympic Effect?" It talked about the effects of the Olympics on the NHL playoffs this year, and the future of NHL players in the Olympics. One of the things discussed was the fact that in order to keep NHL players in the Olympics, it has to be shown that "it's good for business because it boosts the game's popularity and revenues." Now, I can't speak in general terms, but I can speak of my own personal experience, and that experience has been that this is totally true. I believe I've mentioned it before, but I wasn't particularly interested in hockey until the Olympics. I watched most of the men's games, and a few of the women's--definitely the gold medal games!--and I really enjoyed it. Sure, I didn't pick up NHL hoceky right after the Olympics, being otherwise occupied with school, finals, etc., but once I had the leisure time, it was easy for me to jump right into the playoff conference finals.
Now I'm totally hooked, as I'm sure you know, having read many of my recent entries. I've been watching every game that I can, even making plans to watch the game. This summer, my goal is to buy a Leafs jersey, and if I could pick up some other memorabilia/miscellanea related to my favourite players (from all teams), I'd be more than happy to do so. If I'm back in residence next year, I know that I'm going to bring a tv for the express purpose of watching hockey. I don't want to be a "playoff only" fan, I want to follow hockey through the entire season! I want to know enough to be able to join a hockey pool, even if I'd never actually do so!
Hockey is fast becoming a passion to match anime. I'm watching it every chance that I get (when I haven't even finished watching the last two DVDs for Ayashi no Ceres!), and I'm reading as much as I can about it--in newspapers, magazines, books, on the internet, everywhere! So, if the NHL wanted to use anecdotal evidence (admittedly, very weak evidence), to support allowing NHL players to play in the Olmpics, they could certainly use my story. ^_^
Since we're on the subject of hockey (c'mon, you know you saw it coming!). might I say how extremely happy I am that the Carolina Hurricanes won tonight? My intuition has been extremely off since the first three games that I watched--I really thought the Avs would be in the finals-but they were right on tonight! Within the first couple of minutes of the game, I thought to myself, yeah, Carolina just might win tonight. Of course, I wasn't even one hundred percent behind my own prediction, because Detroit is such a strong, seasoned team, but my gut feeling was that they'd win, and they did. ^_^ If you'll note the left sidebar, you'll see thatI am cheering for the 'Canes.
Okay, so my motives initially weren't the best--I jumped on Carolina mostly because I was and am bitter at Detroit for trouncing "my" Avs so thoroughly in game seven--but nonetheless, I really do admire the 'Canes. Even though everyone believes that the Wings are going to take the Cup, the 'Canes haven't been brought down at all by this lack of faith, and are just trying to play their best, and to win the Cup. They've certainly got a winning attitude, even if, in the end, they lose to Detroits greater experience. Tonight was just a great game, the type I like to see, solid, clean playing--no horribly sloppy giveaways or dunderheaded calls. ^_^
Anyway, before I stop (since I'm sure you're all getting a bit tired of my blathering on hockey), I'll just give you a quick list of my favourite players. ^_^ Note that this list is drawn solely from the four conference final teams, because I didn't start watching hockey until then. At any rate, in no particular order, here we go:
Toronto Maple Leafs:
#31. Curtis Joseph
#7. Gary Roberts
#13. Mats Sundin
Colorado Avalance:
#19. Joe Sakic
#33. Patrick Roy
#52. Adam Foote
Carolina Hurricanes:
#1. Arturs Irbe
#10. Ron Francis
#26. Erik Cole
Detroit Red Wings:
#19. Steve Yzerman
#25. Darren McCarty
Did you notice I have "a thing" for goalies? The only one I'm not particularly fond of is Hasek, who knows why. I guess goalies are easy to like because you see them perform consistently (well, mostly) every game. With forwards or defensemen, you don't always see them making the big plays, since there are so many of them, divided in different lines, but goalies are there the entire game.
I was really happy with the "After Forty Minutes" today, because it was about Irbe. I had admired his ability to keep the puck and prevent rebounds during the Toronto series, and had heard about how he was "such a little guy" that Toronto should stand in front of him, but until I saw a ref towering over him, I didn't realize how short, and "cute" he actually is. ^_^ Cute, in the little thing you just want to pick up and cuddle kind of way, I mean. His quirkiness just adds to his adorableness. =Þ He always parks next to the garbage dumpster, and takes off his mask and gloves at the end of each period and leaves them on the bench. Not to mention, his nickname is "Archie." Awwwwwwwwwww!! Plus, he just seems like a sweet kind of guy, showing his wedding picture, a picture with his grandmother, etc. for the interview. Not only do I admire his goalie skills, I think he's a decent human being as well, and he seems like the type of guy you'd like to be friends with, NHL goalie or not.
Sorry, I'm dragging this out a lot, but I couldn't talk about Irbe without talking about Roy as well. Roy, well, he's definitely a pro-star goalie. I've mentioned it before, but I really do admire his self-confidence. Not only that, but today Don Cherry was talking about how a father approached him (Cherry) and asked if there was some way he could get Roy's autograph for his son, who had cancer and was a big fan of Roy. The PR or whatever guy said sure, but not before the game, after, and even though Roy stormed off at the end of that game, he left a signed baseball cap for the boy. You gotta admire a guy with a character like that. ^_^ I really can't wait until next year, when I can see Roy in action again! Man, I'd love to watch a game between Colorado and Toronto but I don't know the chances of that happening. I mean, they wouldn't meet each other in conference finals, etc. since they're West and East, but wouldn't they play each other during the regular season? I really don't have a clue about these things. Thanks for putting up with my mad hockey ramblings! Never fear, only two more weeks before the insanity is over!
