Jingle Bells
This morning, yes, April 11th, the twins were playing on the floor near me and they broke out in song. Today’s song was a lengthy, 3-year old inspired, rendition of the Spring Classic, Jingle Bells.…
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If that time has come
One way I often hear people relate to getting older is by learning, hearing of, and discussing news of friends, family, and loved ones becoming ill, or even passing away. In that regard, I am…
In the city
From the other room I hear the twins singing their best version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, then the singing ends; abruptly. I hear the rapid pitter-patter of Jacqueline’s feet (one bare, one with a…
I felt compelled to share Mike’s blog
Before today I had never heard of or seen anything from this person before. Then my cousin in Canada shared this blog, and I read it. No ego. No fluff. Just the real deal. I…
Flames Pee Wee Major 2012-2013 Recap
First, I want to thank everyone inside and outside of our team and the Flames organization for all of the support, feedback, comments, and encouragement I have received throughout this season. You all have been…
Draw the line and make the best of it
I sat down to write this piece, or at least get it started no less than five times in the last week, so as to recap the last three weekends of our hockey season. The…
In search of silence
I walk, in search of silence, somewhere near this place. I pause and stare at beauty absent of human trace. Stopped, I listen, hoping only to hear the snow fall. Maybe the breeze as…
February 24: Flames 5 @ Nashua Pee Wee III 3
Sunday afternoon the Pee Wee Major Flames made their way across slick roads, around numerous spinouts, and through piles of wet, heavy snow to Skate 3 in Tyngsboro, MA for their final GSL regular season…
February 23: Flames 5 @ Shamrocks 3
Like the promise that each new day brings, the Flames Pee Major team keeps us all in suspense as to what their team effort will look like. On a snowy Saturday evening in Wilmington, MA…
February 17: @ Flames 3 vs. Raiders 3
Sunday afternoon the Pee Wee Major Flames returned to home ice for a game against the Raiders based out of Everett, MA. Right away it was apparent that the Flames effort level and team involvement…
February 16: @ Flames 2 vs. Nashua Pee Wee III 0
In the spirit of today’s Flames home game, I am writing this while four people stand around watching me. The Pee Wee Major Flames earned a berth in the GSL playoffs by virtue of their…
Amaris, Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 14th. Valentine’s Day. Whether or not you think the day is worth celebrating, it’s still Valentine’s Day. I want my wife to know she’s special, loved, and my valentine every single day. I get…
February 10 – @ Flames 5 vs. Bulldogs 1
After dealing with Winter Storm Nemo for two days, and adjusting to rinks actually closing their doors, the Flames returned to the ice. Sunday afternoon at West Side Arena, the first and second place teams…
February 5: Flames 1 @ Northern Cyclones 2
It was another GSL game, but on an odd day, Tuesday, at an odd time, 5:20pm, but against a familiar foe, the Northern Cyclones. The Flames traveled to Hudson, NH to face off against the…
God Made a Farmer
Inspired by the Super Bowl farmer ad, I am sharing this quick note.
This commercial was not only my favorite ad from the advertising blitz that is the Super Bowl, but it may also have been my favorite part of the entire game.
See, to me it wasn’t an ad about a company, but a cognitive visit to times and places I don’t visit often enough.
Paul Harvey was a standard at my grandparents home. Breakfast, lunch and Saturday’s always were accompanied by the sound of Paul Harvey’s voice booming over the radio.
February 3: Flames 2 @ Nashua II 2
It’s February and the idea of “I can’t believe how many games we have left!” has been replaced with, “We only have how many games left?!” It’s a push to the playoffs in both the…
February 2: Flames 3 @ Raiders 0
The Flames returned to the States, and also resumed playing league games after playing in 8 tournament games over the past two weekends, including the visit to Ottawa, ON. In, normal, road game, fashion, the…
I said please already
Theodore and Jacqueline asked me for a snack. In this case they wanted some fruit snacks. Or as Theodore says, “fruit nacks”. As I rose to get them their snacks, I asked, “What do you…
Ottawa 3 – January 26: Flames 0 vs. Kanata Blazers 2
Saturday afternoon the Flames played their third and final game of round robin competition in the 9th Annual Capital Winter Classic Hockey Tournament. The Flames played the Kanata Blazers with a playoff berth on the…
Ottawa 2 – January 25: Flames 1 vs. Kitchener Jr. Rangers 0
The Flames played their second game of the 9th Annual Capital Winter Classic Tournament vs. the Kitchener Jr. Rangers. To the point, the Flames won 1-0 in a thrilling, tightly contested hockey game. The game was…
Ottawa 1 – January 25: Flames 3 vs. Perth Blue Wings 1
The Manchester Flames Pee Wee Majors traveled to Ottawa, Ontario to compete in the 9th Annual Capital Winter Classic Tournament, and this morning they played their opening game. Walking into the complex this morning, we…
Lessons from Joe
Last year at this time I wrote a post to my blog. But this was not just another post to pass time, fill empty space, or impress a soul; it was my attempt at a…
MLK 5 – January 21: Flames 1 vs. Keene 2
Monday morning came and the ice sheet in Thomas F. Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College was prepared. The lights were on, and the scoreboard lit. The Manchester Flames Pee Wee Majors appeared ready to…
MLK 4 – January 20: Flames 9 vs. Conquistadors ’01’ 1
On Sunday afternoon the Flames Pee Wee Major team played their semi-final game in the “5-8 bracket” of the 2nd Annual MLK Tournament. The Flames, playing as the 6th seed, hosted the Conquistadors 01 team.…
MLK 3 – January 19: Flames 0 vs. Ice Cats 2
Saturday afternoon the Flames came to the ice sheet at West Side Arena for a game with the Green Machine Ice Cats in the 2nd Annual MLK Tournament. Tourney officials, referees, and fans alike, were…
MLK 2 – January 18: Flames 6 vs. NE Jr. Hurricanes 0
On Friday afternoon the Flames played their second game of the 2nd Annual MLK Tournament vs. the New England Jr. Hurricanes. The Flames played well and earned their second straight 6-0 victory. This set up…
MLK 1 – January 18: Flames 6 vs. Conquistadors 01 0
Friday morning, yes on a school day morning, when kids get a chance to feel like they’re getting away with something by missing school, and playing some hockey, the Flames came ready to play. The…
Baseball – I
Close your eyes. I mean, really close them. Let yourself drift off to another place. Clear your mind. As Billy Chapel says in For Love of the Game, ” clear the mechanism.” You’re sitting outside,…
January 13: @ Flames 6 vs. Shamrocks 4
Sunday afternoon it was back to the rink on Electric Street; West Side Arena, and the Flames playing host to the Shamrocks. You may recall that the Shamrocks are a big team, long, lanky, and…
January 12: @ Flames 5 vs. NE Stars 1
Saturday evening, wait, I mean Saturday afternoon, the Flames played host to the NE Stars. The game was scheduled to begin at 6:10pm, according to the league website and the various calendar’s used by Flames…
Something Nice
Sometimes it still happens. Goodness appears without being beckoned. Last week a package arrived at my front door and it was addressed to me. I quickly racked my brain trying to recall if I had…
January 12: @ Flames 1 vs. Hanover 2
The Pee Wee Major Flames played host to Hanover on Saturday morning for an important GSL game. After getting two points in Hanover three weeks ago, the Flames were primed to sweep the season series…
Disney and Dora
The twins get some down time in their new comfy chairs while watching Dora and sitting in their favorites, Cinderella and Lightning McQueen.