The Gin Mill Life in Quotes

If you don't know, I'm a barfly at The Gin Mill. It's a fantastic bar and I have my friend Tim to thank. I remember the days where it would be just me and him, sitting at the corner, drinking shot for shot, with just Holly and Chris.  Now, I still sit in the corner when it's open, I still do shots, but it's no longer just the four of us but a plethora of people...some I know...some I don't.  I have made friends there, some just bar friends and drinking friends, some outside of the bar friends, but whenever we are at The Gin Mill, we are all just friends.  The "usual suspects" are always friendly and ready to welcome a stranger...sometimes, if you're sitting near the regular crew, you might get lucky and get a shot/drink and one is always in for a good story or round of laughter.

This won't make a lick of sense to anyone who doesn't know The Gin Mill, but for several weekends, we wrote down things that made us erupt into laughter.  Some are stupid, some are "you had to be there," and some are down right funny. (My favorites are in bold)

Here's The Gin Mill Life in Quotes for the month of June (thanks to EB for writing these down and of course the cast of characters that make up the Gin Mill):

"I have something inappropriate to say, but we're not going to write it down."

"Chocolate rocket!!"

"Right is not all its cracked up to be."

"If you're not winning, you're losing."

"I want a taco."

"Rob has a small head."

"I know Holly."

"Hi, my name is Parker, but my mama calls me knucklehead," Holly quoting her son at the pool.

"We went to high school together."

"Merry fucking Kwanzaa."

"Maybe her...maybe her..."

"Maybe him...maybe him..."

"Everybody DOES need a banana for a road trip."

"...AND...SCENE..."

"I totally feel like I'm violating a 13 year old."

"The Rob Linders Tour 2011."

"Hand in pockets."

"Dance off...pants off."

"Where's the dancing Arab when you need one? OOOH. I found one!"

"Tweet THAT BITCH!"

"I'm drunk enough that I'd fuck him."

"I think I have a lazy ovary."

"I can't get hammered, but I'll do a shot."

"Over served and poorly chaperoned."

"Another cocktail...and hold the tail."

"Well...bless..."

"You're so pretty...bless."

"You mean to tell me there are 2 dancing Arabs??"

"I don't wanna split hairs, but they might be Egyptian."

"No bad life choices...no captain negativity."

"Don't date your sister."

"I smell threesome."

"Remember to swallow."

"I need something in my mouth."

"There's a pap for that."

"Don't get fancy, just get dancy."

"We'll never be anything but wrong."

"World's smallest planter."

"If you don't love the beaver, you don't love yourself."

"I cry after sex."

"Am I crushing your leg?"

"Good Time Activist."

"Birthday day."

"I thought this was suppose to dissolve!!"

"DJ Spectacular at the Men Mill Marys!"

"What kind of beer goes with guns like that?"

"That was a lil' slobbery."

"I love my taco."

"I bet you wanna nestle in my jammers."

"Couples skate only, please."

"Are you really going to give me a hand job?"

"Nothing good can come of brown."

"You can spank me if you want to."

"I can't hear you over my guns?"

"I wanna know about your BJU experience."

"Red Donkey? Red Baron? No! Big Red? Big Ben!"

"The lady with the dog. Dong? No! DOG!"

"Welcome to the Gin Mill, it's the day of death."

"It's like Satan's asshole out there."

"Mafia Wives...those are some mean women, man!"

"What's it like to have just one miserable day?"

"My penis is a Jedi. Obi Wan. Obi Wan."

"Did you yell at her and tell her that her mother wasn't in heaven?!"

"That's why you can never judge a book by its softness."

"You went from bad to worse."

Knee Deep

Love this song. I might not be the biggest Zac Brown fan but I am a huge Jimmy Buffett fan and I LOVE THIS SONG

June Earworms

I wake up with the oddest songs in my head. Here are June's (updated daily)

06.01 - Guilty by Matthew Ryan
06.02 - Alfie by Lily Allen
06.03 - ScheiBe by Lady GaGa
06.04 - Hair by Lady GaGa
06.05 - Sex U by The Hundred Days
06.06 - Clear Blue by Hurst
06.07 - ---
06.08 - The Cave by Mumford and Sons
06.09 - You And I by Lady GaGa
06.10 - ---
06.11 - ---
06.12 - Hard Time by Kik Tracee
06.13 - Time To Smile by Xavier Rudd
06.14 - ---
06.15 - A Beautiful Morning by The Rascals
06.16 - Volcano by Jimmy Buffett
06.17 - That's What Living Is To Me by Jimmy Buffett
06.18 - ---
06.19 - ---
06.20 - The Wino And I Know by Jimmy Buffett
06.21 - ---
06.22 - ---
06.23 - Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles
06.24 - Fine By Me by Andy Grammer
06.25 - Doin' My Thing by Luke Bryan
06.26 - Do I by Luke Bryan
06.27 - Not For Long by honeyhoney
06.28 - ---
06.29 - Starstruck by Lady GaGa
06.30 - Love Comes And Goes by Xavier Rudd

Trying to Explain the NHL Free Agent Frenzy

I had a non-hockey who is also a non-sports fan ask me why I was so excited about the NHL Free Agent Frenzy. My obvious response was duh, I'm a hockey fan, but I'm not the average "like hockey the sport when the season starts and move on when the season is over."  I follow hockey every day.  I would be lying if I said I didn't check NHL.com at least once if not twice a day or more. Hell, I have an entire Twitter list called All-Things-Hockey. It feeds right into my desk top app so I don't miss anything. I follow the sport year round.  I could be a bit consumed by the sport, but I enjoy all aspects of it, so call me obsessed, I won't get upset.

So why is the NHL Free Agent Frenzy exciting to me?

(note, if you are not a hockey fan, these names will not mean anything to you)

Let's look at Christian Erhoff.  The New York Islanders obtained rights for him from the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Today (Wednesday), his rights now belong to the Buffalo Sabres.  In the span of 2 days, he's been on 3 teams and the 2011-12 season hasn't even started.  As Elliotte Friedman tweeted "Christian Erhoff will belong to more teams this week than the rest of his career."  And it's not even 10 pm EST time, so he could be correct.  Who will get the rights to Erhoff next?  Will he stay with the Sabres?  Who knows, but I want to see where in the world Erhoff goes.

Also, what about Tampa Bay Lightning goalie, Dwayne Rolson...he was a midseason trade from the New York Islanders but I believe he was a huge key into getting Tampa Bay into Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Sure he's 41, but did you watch any of the Stanly Cup Playoffs?  The goalies were the stars of the show.  I couldn't believe Tampa was going to let a star goalie go, especially, when talented & reliable starter goalies are hard to come by (don't even get me started on trying to find a competent back up goalie).  Tampa Bay re-signed Rolson to a one-year, $3 million contract.  Not bad for a player who will be 42 when the season starts in October and not bad for a goalie who showed he had what it takes.  He was almost on the trading block, but Tampa was smart and offered him a deal.  Good for them.

AND probably the biggest news of Free Agent Frenzy, is the return Jaromir Jagr.  Don't know him?  Here's a little background, he played with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins (was captain on both) and played for the Washington Capitals.  He's won a 2 Stanley Cups, 2 Ice Hockey World Championships, and the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal in Hockey...that makes him a member of the Triple Gold Club (he's 1 of 25 players that have achieved this).  So it's kind of a big deal.  My co-worker who is not a huge hockey fan, even knows Jagr's name.  3 teams are interested in him: Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and the Montreal Canadiens.  Which team he's going to only he knows, but Jaromir Jagr Watch, as they're calling it in hockey world is exciting to watch!

Most of all, I enjoy watching what teams are taking which players...which players are going to be worth the money they were paid for or which ones don't show up for the game.  (**cough Ilya Kovalchuck ** cough**)

They're all trying to build a Stanley Cup winning team.  Some fail, some get close, but only one team can be the Champions at the end of the season.

Listening to "Dirty" by Econoline Crush

Customer Service from Australia

     I am planning a trip to Australia with friends in December. The airfare is booked, guest house for when we arrive in Sydney and for when return to Sydney has been booked, but we're there for 21 days. We will arrive in Sydney for 4 days to decompress from the plane ride and immerse ourselves into the Australian way. Some time on the 4th day, we'll start our travel up the coast towards destination undecided for 10 days. We decided a few weeks ago to be cost efficent and rent a camper van. Not only will it get us from Point A to Point B, it will also be a place where we can sleep. I started researching immediately and started sending emails out to every camper van rental place I could find. Many responded by email, the generic, here's your quote type thing, but one rental place went above and beyond and that was Camper Travel Australia. The day after they sent me a price with a quote, I received a phone call on my cell phone. I looked at the number and almost didn't answer it since I didn't know the number, but I recognized the +61 as the country callig code for Australia and thought, who the hell is calling me from Australia?!? Jenny from Camper Travel Australia called to ask if I had received the quote and if I had any questions and to let me know that the original camper van I was looking at was now available and wanted to know if she could send me a quote for that as well. (If you don't know, Sydney is a 12 hour time difference from Charlotte, NC...so if it's 3:57 pm Tuesday here, it's 5:57 am on Wednesday there) So Jenny is basically calling me during the ass crack of the morning there. Jenny and I maintain contact last week, she answering my slew of retarded questions via email, and she kept me updated on pricing and the vehicle. Yesterday, I received a call from Vivian from Camper Travel Australia to check in on me and the gang's travel plans. They didn't know that we had already decided that Camper Travel Australia was going to be place for us because their customer service had gone and above and beyond our expectations and today, we reserved the camper van.
     So if you're in need of a camper van, please reach out to Jenny, Vivian, and Cheryl at Camper Travel Australia and if you're stateside, you can even rent an RV or motorhome through Camper Travel USA
     For those that work in customer service, just remember that sometimes going above and beyond a customer's expectation not only gets you the business but they are more likely to share what a great place you are to work with. I am loyal to Geico for their excellent customer service, to my local Bloom grocery store for their smiling faces at the checkout counter, and even my favorite bar The Gin Mill for putting up with my indecisive drink orders. They have a life long customer and so does Camper Travel Australia just by taking the time and calling me.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Maybe this post was sparked by a friend, someone paid him a compliment, and he kind of looked away without knowing what to say, and I leaned in and said, "Say thank you." 3 words. That's all. So ladies and gentlemen, when someone says "You look nice, great hair, that color looks good on you, etc," don't make an excuse. Say THANK YOU.

If a guy/girl friends offer you a seat, take the seat and say thank you. I often fall into this category and refuse to take the seat or like a friend says "no, I look skinnier when I stand." Just take the the seat, and say thank you. There will come a time when you can offer the seat back to the one who relinquished it or to another friend or even to that cute stranger that just popped up to the bar.
When I leave work every day, I thank my internet dept every day. I thank my part timers for the work they do when I work with them or when I see them passing in the hall after an event.

Thank you for reading this and checking my site/blog. I may know you, I may not, but whoever you are, I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to peer into my thoughts and world.

As Jimmy Buffett sang
"An Attitude of Gratitude when pushes come to shove
Eliminates combatatude and changes fear to love
An Attitude of Gratitude Hooray for what's o.k.
Say thank you with a infactatude it's a brand new day.

Get An Attitude Of Gratitude by Jimmy Buffett now!

Listen To: Econoline Crush

ARTST: ECONOLINE CRUSH
ALBUM: THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN VOL 1
BACKGROUND: Does anyone remember this band besides me? They had the radio hits "Surefire," "Spark & Shine," "All That You Are," and "You Don't Know What It's Like." Any of these ringing a bell? I first heard this band on this very station and was fortunate enough to catch the band play Tremont Music Hall back in the day. Then as quickly as the appeared on my music radar, they disappeared. I had heard the band had broken up. Vocalist Trevor Hurst did a solo project called Hurst and Johnny Haro joined The Dreaming with former Stabbing Westward vocalist. Then in 2008, EC released Ignite and I had a friend in Canadian bring it back to me. That's how much I love listening to this band!

In April of 2011, the band released a 3 song EP called The People Have Spoken Vol 1 and it freaking rocks.

"Stay With Me" - This is such a catchy song. Very infectious tune. The lyrics just stick with you.

"Thorn" - I love the intro to this song & it has a wicked beat. I also like the lyrics, "By the light of the shining moon, the devil sees you smile...you're just a thorn in the side of the faithful."

"I'm Afraid" - Another infectious tune, the band knows how to write songs that just dance around your heard and make you sing a long like the chorus..."She says I can't help it baby, I'm afraid."

WHY YOU NEED TO BE LISTENING: If you were a fan of Econoline Crush in the 90's & early 2000's, you need to update your iPod with Ignite and definitely with The People Have Spoken Vol 1. Such great music from that band. They are a band that grew with the times instead of trying to hold onto something that has passed. They're on tour with Seether in Canada and I hope by some miracle they come to the States because I would love to see them again!

My favorite track: "Thorn"

For more on Econoline Crush visit:
Econoline Crush | Twitter | Facebook | MySpace

Originally posted on 1065.com

Happy Birthday Dad

My Dad with his youngest grand daughter, Taylor in May 2009

Happy Birthday to Richard "Snuffy" Taylor!
You have inspired and motivated me since I was a child and still do to this day! Your strength and love is amazing!
I love you Daddy!

Songs of My Life - June 2011

Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammer  - my friend Heather tweeted this video to me and I instantly fell in love with it. She said it reminded her of me, but the lyrics "only rainbows after rain," remind me of her and her tattoo "No rain. No rainbow." Either way, it was great way to start off the month of June so thank you Heather.

Sex U by The Hundred Days - this CD single sat on my desk for a few days before I finally got around listening to it and boy am I sad, I didn't put this on the iPod sooner! What a great song. Makes you want, well me, want to dance around.

Night of the Hunter by 30 Seconds to Mars - I have always loved the lyrics to this song. I've always imagined a story unfolding as I listen to it and said, one day, I'll write the story that belongs to this song. While hearing it, the story I've been working on for years but could never get right, suddenly unfolded in front of my eyes. It was as if the song switched on the light. Bam...there the story I couldn't get to work started to piece together.

Dust Bowl Dance by Mumford & Sons - I just dig this song.

Firework by Katy Perry - After "one of those days" at work, I was feeling beat up and knocked down and this song came on the radio. It was the first time I listened to the lyrics and I came home and immediately added it to the playlist for my nieces and to this playlist because it just reminded me that I can only be me.

Hypnotized by Ani DiFranco - An oldie but goodie. Popped onto my iPod and again, I like the lyrics and the story it tells.

Here Comes the Snow by Matthew Ryan - Probably my favorite song off of his new CD. I think of Matthew as my generation's Bob Dylan.

Not For Long by honeyhoney - Just love this song!

Doin' My Thing by Luke Bryan - Like the song says, "I'm just doin' my thing." That's all I can do it life. Do what I can the way I know. Live my life to the fullest.

Listen To: Matthew Ryan

LISTEN TO will be a a weekly post of music I think YOU should be listening to. (I hope to do this weekly)

First up: Matthew Ryan

ARTIST: MATTHEW RYAN
ALBUM:  I RECALL STANDING AS THOUGH NOTHING COULD FALL
BACKGROUND: The first song I ever heard by Matthew Ryan was "American Dirt" from his Matthew Ryan vs the Silver State cd. I went home and purchased that CD without listening to another track and everything else iTunes had and then ordered whatever iTunes didn't have off of Amazon. My first Matthew Ryan show was The Evening Muse. I was beyond stoked that he was playing Charlotte. I often find myself liking bands that never make it town. I bought my ticket for the show the moment it went on sale because I didn't want it to sell out. Sadly, it did not sell out. Which I still don't understand why it didn't sell out, didn't people know about him? So I made it my mission to get all my friends to listen and fall in love with the music that he created.
This week, on his Twitter & Facebook feeds, I was ecstatic to learn that Matthew had a digital & hard copy release dates. YES, I DID A HAPPY DANCE. Then yesterday, as crappy as my day was, it was brightened by the fact that Matthew was going to  release his CD digitally for only FIVE DOLLARS for 24 hours. SA-WEET! Bought it! It is worth WAY MORE than $5.

WHY YOU NEED TO BE LISTENING:  Matthew Ryan is a fantastic song writer. I also think he is a prolific artist.  His songs are beautiful, melodic, and his lyrics create such a vivid picture in one's mind. His latest album DOES NOT fail on any of this. One of my favorite lyrics is: "Take please, take me home. She's in the dark and all alone and I can't stand a mercy killing but I know what I am now. I'm the villian." from "My Darker Side."  In my opinion, his new CD is 13 tracks of creative greatness inspired by the times we are living in (IE: Track 4, "I Don't Want a Third World War) and should be on EVERYONE'S iPod. Also Track 10 "Here Comes the Snow," makes me think of Matthew Ryan as the Bob Dylan of my generation. I could hear Bob singing this song.

My favorite track: "Here Comes the Snow"

For more on Matthew Ryan visit:
1065's iPlaylist | Matthew Ryan | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace | YouTube

Originally posted on 1065.com on June 23, 2011

NHL Award Winners

Here is the list of who won what @ the NHL Awards

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY:
My prediction is that Daniel Sedin will win since his prother won in 2010.
I want Martin St Louis to win.

WON: COREY PERRY (ANAHEIM DUCKS)

VEZINA TROPHY:
My prediction is that Tim Thomas will win.
I want Tim Thomas to win. Did you see him during the NHL playoffs? The man is a ninja in the net, a freaking ninja!

WON: TIM THOMAS (BOSTON BRUINS)

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY:

My predication is that it will go to Zdeno Chara
I want Niklas Lidstrom to win. He was amazing this year and had a great season. I"m also a Detroit Red Wings fan so of course I want Lidstrom to win. It would be his 7th Norris Trophy.

WON: NIKLAS LIDSTROM (DETROIT REDWINGS)

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY:

My predication is that Logan Couture will win.
I want Jeff Skinner to win.

WON: JEFF SKINNER

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY:

My prediction is Nicklas Lidstrom (and if so, he'd be the 3rd defensemen to to win and the 1st one in over 50 yrs)
I want Nicklas Lidstrom to win. He's always a professional.

WON: MARTIN ST LOUIS (TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING)

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY:

My prediction is Pavel Datsyuk for a 4th straight year.
I want Pavel Datsyuk to win. Lucky #13 is a magician on the ice.

WON: RYAN KESSLER (VANCOUVER CANUCKS)

JACK ADAMS AWARD:

My predication is Alain Vigneault will win.
I want Barry Trotz to win. There's something about the Nashville Predators and they should never be counted out.

WON: DAN BYLSMA (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS)

BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY:

My predication is Ray Emery of the Anahiem Ducks
I want Ian Laperiere to in.

WON: IAN LAPERRIERE (PHILADELPHIA FYLERS)

TED LINDSAY AWARD:

My prediction is Corey Perry will win.
I want Steve Stamkos to win. The kid is helluva player. Did you see the puck he took to the face durin the NHL playoffs?

WON: DANIEL SEDIN (VANCOUVER CANUCKS)

BRIDGESTONE MESSIER LEADERSHIP AWARD:

My predication is that it will go to Nicklas Lidstrom
I want Niklas Lidstrom to win.

WON: ZDENO CHARA (BOSTON BRUINS)

ART ROSS TROPHY:Daniel Sedin
WILLIAM M. JENNINGS TROPHY: Roberto Luongo & Cory Schneider
MAURICE RICHARD TROPHY: Corey Perry

Originally posted on www.1065.com

Daydream Believer

I know I wasn't suppose to spend a dime on anything other than bills, the staples of groceries (bread and almond milk for me), and nothing else, and I've done really well. I saved $139.52 last week. As I passed a billboard, I saw the lottery powerball number at $48 million dollars. I did some quick math in my head and realized it is divisible by the number 16 (my favorite number) and I pondered on this as I drove out to check on my staff that was working a concert for me. I couldn't pass the option up. I know many don't believe in buying lottery tickets and that it's a waste of money, but I am a daydreamer. I dream big and wish for the galaxy in hopes of catching a falling star. Laugh if you will, I don't care. It's the one thing that has always been part of me and it always will. My mom and I would always imagine the possibilities of "what if..." I'm going to imagine the possibilities. Life is amazing and without dreams, I think it would be rather dull.

This song is for all the Daydream Believers out there.

NHL Awards

 The NHL Awards are tomorrow in Las Vegas and I can count on two fingers who will be watching the awards besides myself. Yes, those two friends are also hockey fans. This is blog is for those unaware that such an awards ceremony exists and for me to pick who who I think is the most deserving player to get the award.

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY: This award is given out annual to the player who's the team's MVP. Wayne Gretzky, aka The Great One, wone the award NINE TIMES and of those NINE, he wone EIGHT in a row.
Up for the HART MEMORIAL TROPHY is:
Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks with 50 goals | 48 asst | 98 pts | 290 SOG | +/-: 9
Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks with 41 goals | 63 asst | 104 pts | 266 SOG | +/-: +30
Martin St Louis of the the Tampa Bay Lightning with 31 goals | 68 asst | 99 pts | 254 SOG | +/-: even
My prediction is that Daniel Sedin will win since his prother won in 2010.
I want Martin St Louis to win.

VEZINA TROPHY: This award is given to the goaltender to be the best at his position voted by the GMs and NHL clubs.
Up for the VEZINA TROPHY is:
Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks with a record of 35-15-7 | GAA 2.11 | SVP .928
Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators with a record of 33-22-9 | GAA 2.12 | SVP .930
Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins with a record of 35-11-9 | GAA 2 | SVP .938
My prediction is that Tim Thomas will win.
I want Tim Thomas to win. Did you see him during the NHL playoffs? The man is a ninja in the net, a freaking ninja!

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY:  This award is givine to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.
Up for the NORRIS TROPHY is:
Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins with a record of 14 goals | 30 asst | 44 pts | 264 SOG | +/-: 33
Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings with a record of 16 goals | 46 asst | 62 pts | 175 SOG | +/-: -2
Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators with a goal of 16 goals | 32 asst | 48 pts | 254 SOG | +/-: 7
My predication is that it will go to Zdeno Chara
I want Niklas Lidstrom to win. He was amazing this year and had a great season. I"m also a Detroit Red Wings fan so of course I want Lidstrom to win. It would be his 7th Norris Trophy.

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY:  This award is given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.
Up for the CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY is:
Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks with a record of 32 goals | 24 asst | 56 pts | 253 SOG | +/-: 18
Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders with a record of 34 goals | 18 asst | 52 pts | 228 SOG | +/-: 13
Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes with a record of 31 goals | 32 asst | 63 pts | 215 SOG | +/-: 3
My predication is that Logan Couture will win.
I want Jeff Skinner to win.

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY: This award is givine to the player that has exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with high standard of playing ability.
Up for the LADY BYNG is:
Loui Eriksson of the Dallas Stars with a record of 27 goals | 46 asst | 73 pts | 179 SOG | +/-: 10
Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings with a record of 16 goals | 46 asst | 62 pts | 175 SOG | +/-: -2
Martin St Louis of the the Tampa Bay Lightning with 31 goals | 68 asst | 99 pts | 254 SOG | +/-: even
My prediction is Nicklas Lidstrom (and if so, he'd be the 3rd defensemen to to win and the 1st one in over 50 yrs)
I want Nicklas Lidstrom to win. He's always a professional.

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY:  This award is given to the foward who best excels in defensive aspects of the game.
Up for the SELKE TROPHY is:
Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings with a record of 23 goals | 36 asst | 59 pts | 137 SOG | +/-:11
Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks with a record of 41 goals | 32 asst | 73 pts | 260 SOG | +/-:24
Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks with a record of 32 goals | 44 asst | 76 pts | 233 SOG | +/-: 25
My prediction is Pavel Datsyuk for a 4th straight year.
I want Pavel Datsyuk to win. Lucky #13 is a magician on the ice.

JACK ADAMS AWARD:  This award goes to the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team's success.
Up for the JACK ADAMS is:
Dan Bylsma coach of the Pittsburg Penguins with a 2010-11 record of 49-25-8 and 106 pts
Barry Trotz coach of the Nashville Predators with a 2010-11 record of 44-27-11 and 99 pts
Alain Vigneault of the Vancover Canucks with a 2010-11 record of 54-19-9 and 117 pts
My predication is Alain Vigneault will win.
I want Barry Trotz to win. There's something about the Nashville Predators and they should never be counted out.

BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY:  This award is given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Up for the BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY is:
Ray Emery (goalie) of the Anahiem Ducks with a record of 7-2-0 | GAA: 2.28 | SVP .926
Daymond Langknow of the Calgary Flames with a record of 0 goals | 1 asst | 1 pts | 6 SOG | +/-: 3
Ian Laperriere of the Philadelphia Flyers with a record of - goals | - asst | - pts | - SOG | -
+/-
My predication is Ray Emery of the Anahiem Ducks
I want Ian Laperiere tow in.

TED LINDSAY AWARD:  This award is presented to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players' Association.
Up for the TED LINDSAY AWARD is:
Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks with 50 goals | 48 asst | 98 pts | 290 SOG | +/-: 9
Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks with 41 goals | 63 asst | 104 pts | 266 SOG | +/-: +30
Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning with 45 goals | 46 asst | 91 pts | 272 SOG | +/-: 3
My prediction is Corey Perry will win.
I want Steve Stamkos to win. The kid is helluva player. Did you see the puck he took to the face durin the NHL playoffs?

BRIDGESTONE MESSIER LEADERSHIP AWARD:  This award goes to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.  Nominees are solicited from fans, clubs, and NHL personnel but the selection of the 3 finalist and the winner is made may Mark Messier himself, one of the finest leaders in NHL history; the six-time Stanley Cup champion is one of three players to have captained three teams (Edmonton, NY Rangers, Vancouver).
Up for the MESSIER AWARD is:
Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins with a record of 14 goals | 30 asst | 44 pts | 264 SOG | +/-: 33
Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes with a record of 20 goals | 40 asst | 60 pts | 221 SOG | +/-: +5
Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings with a record of 16 goals | 46 asst | 62 pts | 175 SOG | +/-: -2
My predication is that it will go to Nicklas Lidstrom
I want Niklas Lidstrom to win.

NHL FOUNDATION AWARD:  This award goes to the player who applies the core values of ice hockey: commitment, perserverance and teamwork to enrich the lives of people in the community.
Up for the NHL FOUNDATION AWARD is:
Dustin Brown of the LA Kins
Mike Green of the Washington Capitals
Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks
My prediction is one of the Sedin Twins.
I want Mike Green to win.

ART ROSS TROPHY (player who leads the league in scoring points): Daniel Sedin
WILLIAM M. JENNINGS TROPHY (goalkeeper havinng played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against): Roberto Luongo
MAURICE RICHARD TROPHY (the league's top goal scorer): Corey Perry

Originally posted on www.1065.com

Twitter vs Facebook

A few months ago, I gutted my Facebook friends list. I deleted so called "friends" that I never ever spoke to, didn't care if they're unborn baby was waving in the sonogram, the ones who only asked for free stuff and so on. Yesterday, I deleted even more "friends." People, I thought I'd want to keep up with, I didn't. I also deleted everyone in my family except for my dad and sister. Don't get me wrong, I love my extended family but I can't keep up. I get the information I need about them through my Dad. He's closer to them than I am. I also deleted co-workers which upset a few but let's be honest, I see you daily and if I follow you on Twitter, I know what you're doing and I'll walk down the hall and ask. I mean no offense to those that were deleted. I just don't use Facebook. I was going to delete it all together but I have a wedding and few trips that I need it for this year. It's been easier to communicate with the some of the parties involved via Facebook as they are avid Facebookers. There are also a few vacation places I want to keep track of as well and then there are the few "friends" that I kept because I want to keep up with them. I'll remain on Facebook just for my friend Kevin F, who is my personal ray of sunshine. If I can convince him to join Twitter, I'm deleting my Facebook account all together in 2012 after all the trips I've planned have been taken.

Twitter on the other hand is my social media of choice. I follow the ones I want without them having to follow me back. I can even create an entire list of subjects I want to keep updated on without following everyone in the free world. I have an All Things Hockey List. Guess what, it is all hockey. Important to me during the season and less important during the off season. My travel list. Important to me when I'm searching for an idea or location to head to. I can comment or retweet on something and everyone in their web of friends doesn't have to see it unless they are following me. I use Twitter daily. I express my thoughts, post blog links, and talk to friends through it. I find a certain amount of freedom in using Twitter. I'm completely honest with my Twitter Followers...and of my followers, I probably know 20 personally but probably have done more interaction with all my followers than I have with my Facebook "friends." And honestly, it's less of a nightmare. Facebook to me is high school all over again...he said she said...why isn't so-and-so my friend...blah...blah...blah. I graduated high school and moved on. Why would I want to be in that nightmare again?

So there you have it people...why I deleted Facebook "friends" and why I choose Twitter over it. If I deleted you as a Facebook friend it doesn't mean I deleted you as a REAL LIFE friend, really, step away from the internet and interact with your friends in person again.

Want to follow me on Twitter? @SheliaTaylor

Hey Debt, We're Breaking Up

I've been thinking about finances a lot lately. How to get rid of debt. How to increase income. How to retire by the age of 40 with what zero money I have, etc. I use to keep a pristine checking account. I knew where every dollar and penny was spent. Then while I moved up in the retail management world, I increased my debt and increased my debt. I was making enough money to pay it, but when my district manager said he was going to move me to higher volume store, make me drive another 30 minutes in my already 45 minute drive, and not increase my pay, I stood up for myself and quit 2 days later. I don't regret quitting my job. I was unhappy and being mistreated. I was liberated from a job that made me miserable. We (my job and myself) didn't have a healthy relationship. When I quit, I didn't have a fallback job. I was unemployed for 6 months or so. I drained my entire savings account trying to keep my head above water. I got a part time job but it wasn't paying what I needed and by the time I got a full time job, it was already too late. The repo man had confiscated my car and I had drowned in my own debt and was floating lifelessly at the bottom of the ocean. I filed for bankruptcy. I was embarrassed and felt like I was pond scum. I had let myself down, but filing for bankruptcy was one of the best things I ever did for myself. Yes, my credit was ruined and yes, I was going to have higher finance charges, but it taught me once again how to hold a pristine check book and to know where my money was going. It gave me a sense of self worth and how much I had once been shackled to money and the appearance of money.
Though this is year is the year of Do It and I said I have learned that life is too short. I would rather be broke having lived out all of my dreams than have money and not lived any of my dreams. So as long as I am alive, I will do everything in my power to do everything I have ever dreamed of doing. I do want to pay off my debt. I don't have a gajillion dollars worth of debt. THANK GOODNESS! People who know me, know I love my job and the perks are awesome but sadly, I don't make the killing they think I do. I live paycheck to paycheck and sometimes it's feed the dog or feed myself. The dog always wins over me.
I don't want to do that anymore. So though I'm breaking up with my debt, I will still do what I dream but I will do it without credit cards.
So if my plans go right, I will hopefully be credit card debt free in 6 months. One year from that, I hope to have a loan paid off and my car paid off. DEBT FREE!!
So what am I going to do? I've tried just about everything and read every book on the market but nothing clicked with me and then today, while looking on CNN, I discovered And Then She Saved and I was inspired and motivated to do something. For once, I felt that if someone else could do it, then I could do. So here am...sharing my broke ass story to the world. I want my friends to hold me accountable. I want my family to hold me accountable.
June 13th starts my spending fast and July 1st starts my spending diet. I will continue to save up for my trip to Key West and Australia where I will not use a credit card unless I'm in the hospital for a blue bottle sting.
I'm excited and I'm scared to fail and let myself down, but it's baby steps for now and I'm taking it one day at a time. I'll figure out slowly but I'm through with debt.

Keep Your Head Up

I had a crappy day today. It didn't start out that way. I didn't wake up late or arrive late to work, but circumstances that I cannot control turned the day into crappy. I left working feeling beaten down, wanting to cry, wanting to drown my day in a bottle of wine, and ignoring the world. I got in the car and Katy Perry's "Firework" came on. I listened to the lyrics and felt a little better. Even though I'm not the biggest Katy fan, I liked the lyrics. They were positive and I needed some positivity. Then I thought about the song my friend Heather sent me a few weeks ago. The song was "Keep Your Head Up" by Andy Grammer. She tweeted, "This song reminds me of you." And this song instantly turned a crappy day into a nice evening. So thank you Heather for introducing this song to me. I'll always try to keep my head up. To others, just keep your head up, keep on smiling, and know it gets better.

Do It

As I sat in the passenger seat of Suzanne's car with my arm hanging out the window and my foot propped on the open window, I realized that 2011 is the year of "Do It" or the year of "Dreams Coming to Reality." This year, I will FINALLY be going to Australia in December and in August, I will be road tripping to Key West. Since I returned from my first trip to Key West many moons ago, I have always wanted to do the drive to Key West. I wanted to see all of the A1A and two years ago, I did the drive from Miami to Key West but I still longed to do the coastal drive from home to Key West. In August, I'll be doing it and I cannot wait. I am more or less going to be living paycheck to paycheck from now until 2012. I will be broke, robbing Peter to pay Paul to pay Mary, I will be eating cases of Ramen Noodles and drinking lots of water, and I as I sat staring out at the NC mountain side, I asked myself one question: Will you regret it? My answer to myself was no.

I have learned that life is too short. I would rather be broke having lived out all of my dreams than have money and not lived any of my dreams. So as long as I am alive, I will do everything in my power to do everything I have ever dreamed of doing.

Like Nike said: "JUST DO IT."

RIP Little Bear

Little Bear

At 2:49 am this morning, my dad's best friend and road buddy, Little Bear passed away. My dad is a long haul truck driver and wasn't able to get her to a vet and he sent me a text and said she passed away in his arms. My heart broke for him. I know Little Bear helped him heal when my mom passed away and I know she kept him company on the road when my mom was too sick to go with him.
Little Bear, thank you for watching over my dad while you were here. I know you're with my mom, licking her nose in Heaven. You will be missed.

Asheville, NC

This isn't going to be a huge post on the Asheville Road Trip Fun. It was so much fun that you really had to be there to understand everything.
Having said that, there is something to be said about Downtown Asheville. They move at a pace that isn't rushed and enjoy the time they have. The last time I stayed in Asheville, I stayed in Hotel Indigo and it was so relaxing and nice. The One Fifty One Boutique Bar and Kitchen was excellent and my bartender completed the exceptional meal, drink with his service.
This time I stayed at Haywood Park Hotel and it made me want to move in.  This time I ate lunch at Solace and it was spectacular! I highly recommend the Peppered Strawberry Salad with a pinot gris. It was perfect on the summer day and our server Carin was a delight.
Please visit these four places if you are ever in Asheville. It is worth it.

This is My Jam: "Sex U"

I hear A LOT of music. Most of it goes in one ear and right out the other. Some of it sticks around, and some I become obsessed with. When I say obsessed, I mean, I want these bands to be huge and I want everyone to love them as much as I do! Last obsessions in music honeyhoney, Xavier Rudd, The Constellations, Eric Hutchinson, Burn Halo, Matthew Ryan,and a few more.

Well, my newest obsession is The Hundred Days. I got a single of their song "Sex U" last Friday and FINALLY listened to it yesterday and boy am I glad I did. What a song! What an infectious little ditty! I have not stopped listening to it. It has become my jam!! I dig this song so much, I am writing a blog about it. Searching iTunes, they only have another EP available called Miniluv. I bought it. I love it.

So here's my jam of the week: "Sex U" by The Hundred Days



You can download it for free @ The Hundred Days.

Cross posted on 1065.com and The Hockey Maven

Time to Weed & Declutter

I've had this nagging thing in the back of head. I wasn't able to place it, but something was bothering me. I had no clue to as what it could be though. Gradually over the last two weeks, the nagging thing has revealed itself...time to weed & declutter.

Weed? As in the yard? No, time to weed the garden of my life. It's time to cut the people who call/email/text when they want something. It's time to cut the Negative Nancys and Piss Poor Attiutude Paulies. It's time toss that dress with the tags I bought 5 years ago. Throw away all the single socks in hopes that its mate returns. I also need to toss all those lids that don't have bottoms and all those containers that don't have lids.

It's time to let go and clean out my life.

Starting today, I am "detoxing" myself of alcohol until July 1st. I need my liver to heal and let's be honest, it needs a break from the booze. I started exercising...I only need to do 30 days to make it habit right? I've not no excuse for the way my body looks other than I abuse the fuck out of it. While I'm cleaning out my body, I'll treat it like a temple instead of like a tent.

Then this weekend, I'm tackling the clutter, the closet, and the crap that never gets touched or worn in 6 months. If I haven't worn it, looked at it, unfolded, into the bin for charity it goes.

I will also do what Suzanne did, I will weed Facebook out to the those that I actually care about. Do I really need 4000 plus friends (not that I have that many after gutting FB a few months ago)? No, I don't. I really don't keep in touch with anyone in FB land. Those I do keep in touch with, I talk to via email/text/Twitter on a regular basis. That high school friend I remeet at the reunion...we don't talk any more than we did before the reunion. That work associate, we don't keep in touch the moment they moved.

So it's time...it's time to do a little life cleaning...

I'll cherish those that keep a lot more. Make time for them. Make time for myself. I'll be happier come Monday, June 6th.

Listening to "Closer To The Edge" by 30 Seconds to Mars