Washington, DC After a ninety minute taxi at Kennedy Airport, we only arrived in Buffalo an hour behind schedule. My parents were bent on taking a shuffle back to the parking lot where our respective cars awaited. I normally just walk to the lot. It’s not far at all; probably takes five minutes max! Anyway, while we’re standing there, I see a cart pull up with about four hockey bags in it. This naturally awoken Bambi from her dormant post-Korea announcement state – she’s really not happy about this. After I noticed the bags, I noticed the owner; it was Wayne Gretzky’s daddy.
Anyway, I think the highlights of the experience for me were Father Gretzky explaining the whole W2 thing, (apparently, Wayne is W1, and whenever a company can’t get W1 they call in W2. Also, don’t make light of this situation, as W2 will attempt to mock fist fight you LOL), and I also enjoyed his rendition of the Waterloo hockey cheer. He’s like a grandpa to everyone, and he takes parking shuttles just like you and me LOL!
After the W2 experience I set out for my seven hour drive to Washington, DC. The drive was very…umm… engaging, which is not the best thing for overnight travel. Basically, I had to make turns every twenty miles or so, so no relaxing two hundred mile spurts. Anyway, I’m on my way to Verizon Center now for the Caps/Sens game tonight. Then, I begin the trek to Dallas – wonder how far I’ll get!
I wondered if, perhaps, my W2 encounter was the sign I was looking for to go to Phoenix. After all, W1 (and family) is a major part of the organization and its history. Plus, the game I was planning to see in AZ was the Oilers game! Later that night on my drive, I heard a song that reminds me of certain invalid members of the Coyotes community. I have made my decision. You’ll have to stay tuned to find out what choice I made.
Roll the credits…
Most memorable road track: Phoenix (Coyotes) 2009-10!
New York, NY Finally, my last day in New York City, and I couldn’t have been happier. Don’t get me wrong, I love New York, but I personally like to enjoy it in the non-touristy way. My mother, on the other hand (anal retentive), prefers to have a non-stop, boring agenda all day everyday complete with tour maps. Kill me.
Yesterday was another “great” museum day at MoMA. I opted to make my own fun by following around pretentious people and talk through my teeth while standing behind them, “MMM yessss this piece is JUUUUST brilliant!” I was also inspired to create a series of work involving pigs entitled, Mother. The Tim Burton exhibit was really great, mind you. Of course, it was super packed and I would have loved to crosscheck about a thousand people! By the way, what’s up with this painting? I didn’t get close enough to see who painted it, but it’s hanging in the lobby. Yes, I do have the sense of humour of a sixteen year old boy.
When my mom first propositioned this trip to Manhattan for my sister’s birthday, I figured I’d be able to get at least one NHL game in. I can’t believe my terrible luck that not ONE of the three New York area teams (Rangers, Islanders, Devils) were playing at home this weekend. It has been a very long weekend, and I hate everyone. At least I had a Philly Cheeseteak from Katz Deli (When Harry Met Sally) for dinner!
Anyway, I’m off to the airport in three hours and bound for Buffalo! Later tonight Lynxie and I are hitting the road and bound for this nation’s capital, which is also the heartland of the Psycho Lady Hockey haters club! Naturally, I couldn’t leave the continent without first paying them a visit *grins.*Can’t wait!
Roll the credits…
Most memorable road track: Philadelphia (Flyers) 2007-08!
New York, NY Yesterday it was my sister’s ACTUAL 18th birthday, so I figured what better way to celebrate it than to attempt to step her up with a boy! I’m a nice person – HA! For a couple months now, Nick and I had been talking about setting her up with his cousin, and surprisingly they both agreed to a Dave & Buster’s excursion. It was cute and they even went off and played nice together while the grownups talked politics. Their first dance will go down in history as a random track from the Dance Dance Revolution machine LOL! This was actually my first real time in a Dave & Buster’s. I had been to one in San Diego last season after the Coyotes/Ducks game, but the game room was closed for whatever reason, and some unpleasantness ensued which we shall not discuss here.
Alas, young love wasn’t the only thing budding that night, the Arizona Prophecy decided to come out in full force. Sure, I had been noticing the odd thing since I announced the move to Korea, but it was coming at me from all angles again with Scottsdale and again with the whole love thing. Like I’ve mentioned to death, the AZ Prophecy was about the guy I was allegedly supposed to be with, but, like I also mentioned, I was open to interpretation. However, that morning, I woke up to my mom giving my sister and I birthday bracelets. Apparently, she decided to celebrate my birthday as well seeing as I will be in the Far East when my birthday finally rolls around (Stanley Cup Finals). Mine was a love bracelet, apparently, which I’m all for if it helps me trap the previously described Irish-Australian (Day 1). This bracelet, however, set the tone for the whole day, and now I’m more curious than ever to venture back into the desert.
However, and this is a big however, my friend feels that these “signs” are more like tests; temptations trying to keep me from a new path in life. I’m not really sure if that’s relevant in this situation because no matter what happens, I still plan on going off to Asia in a matter of weeks. While I did say that perhaps something massive would happen to make me stay, I only said that in the spirit that nothing is impossible. But, really, I can’t fathom anything so extreme to bring about this outcome. Truthfully, curiosity is the biggest factor pulling me to Arizona right now. In terms of the Prophecy, it seems kind of pointless for the reasons I just mention. Let’s say the guy is there, well, what can I do about that? Spend a few hours with a total stranger and decide to change my entire life? Not likely even for someone as crazy as I am.
Last season, when the Arizona Prophecy came true, the drama was already hitting catastrophic levels by the…umm…second game (Buffalo). This game was on March 6th, 2009 and the whole thing started on the 4th – that should put things in perspective in terms of how quickly everything intensified. At that point I was already making alternative theories. Maybe this “guy I’m supposed to be with” (by the way I feel all chick flicky when I talk about this, and I’m really not; I’m just the adventurous type) isn’t actually in or connected to Arizona, but perhaps I find him as the result of Phoenix turning me off of the hockey lifestyle that was keeping him away all these years. Yes, even then I was considering that my switch to the Phoenix Coyotes was going to turn sour, and drive me away to the comforting arms of *crosses fingers* an Irish-Australian. Last year, after a particularly intense game in Anaheim, another friend told me that if this was really fate then I can’t change it and I can’t ruin it no matter how hard I try. If you had told me last year that I would be moving to Asia in a matter of months, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I probably wouldn’t have been able to comprehend a life away from the NHL let alone a new life attempting to escape from it. I guess, really, I just could not have imagined that the matters of Arizona would have gotten this bad so quickly.
Roll the credits…
Most memorable road track: Milwaukee (Admirals) 2005-06!
New York, NY The funny thing about New York City is that I always forget where I am when I’m here. It just feels like I’m at home. In fact, I hang out with my New York based friends a lot more than I do with my friends back home in Toronto! My first day back in Manhattan (in the last two weeks) was yet another full day. Unfortunately, I was running on no sleep and my mother decided that we had to go to The Met that morning. Gross. Did I mention that we had a 5:50AM flight in? Yeah, not good. I was pretty much dead, and couldn’t find a Rockstar energy drink if my life depended on it. I don’t know how many times I nearly fell asleep in various cabs.
When I was finally able to escape from the museum, I was headed to the NHL store to meet up with Michelle for pre-dinner drinks! Sadly, the Hartford Whalers sweatshirt I was dying to buy looked shitty on me! I was terribly sad. The sweater was cut like a box, and frankly I don’t want to look like a man when I wear…anything. It’s too bad, I was envisioning myself running around Korea with it on – those dreams are all gone now.
Michelle and I met up with Nick for Moroccan after the strongest Mudslide I’ve ever had – pure rum! The food was amazing, but I forget the name of the place due to the aforementioned rum and tiredness. From nine to midnight there was a belly dancer performing, and I got to make my first two forays into the belly dancing world for all restaurant patrons to see, and all the people that saw Michelle’s twitpics, too! Now I have a new belly dancing skirt that jingles when I shimmy down the street (did you know that I shimmy when I do anything?), as all the people walking down 43rd that night found out. Pretty sure I looked like one of those crazy people with my lime green skirt and pink mittens! The skirt is my new favourite thing!
Post belly dancing and spicy Moroccan food, we all decided to check out another hockey bar. You remember my Warren 77 excursion two weeks ago. Anyway, we decided to check out The Flying Puck after Nick and Michelle refused to take me to the rippers. By the way, is “rippers” a Canadian term because neither of them seemed to know what I was talking about? If it IS Canadian, then I should probably explain that by “rippers” I meant “strippers.” Naturally, this hockey bar had NO hockey games on. Though, they were showing the Suns/Knicks game. Speaking of Phoenix, I’m still trying to decide if I should squeeze in that Coyotes game on this road trip. It would be really tight getting back to Toronto on time for my appointments, but I could probably make it. If I thought last season’s trip to the desert was a hit and run, this would bring a whole new meaning to the phrase.
Roll the credits…
Most memorable road track: Nashville (Predators) 2006-07!
Buffalo, NY So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, good bye! It’s the moment the Anti-Fan Club has been waiting for – my departure from the world of hockey as only we in North America know it! Yes, I have reviewed all of my relocation options and have opted to take the South Korea route. You’re welcome. The rest of you are probably wondering how the Psycho of all hockey fans could stand to be away from hockey for an entire season (at least), let alone volunteer to do it. Well, the top photo has helped to ease my pain immensely.
Truthfully, I need the break from hockey. You’ve probably heard that tired complaint by certain hockey fans that like to go around locating and identifying “real” hockey fans. Like the very fact that someone enjoys watching the game isn’t enough to make them a fan. I’m of the attitude, however, that it’s not a matter of real fans versus fake fans, but rather hockey fandom to varying degrees. For someone like me, I am a hockey fan to a very high degree. Not because I have hundreds of jerseys or autographed sticks, or because I give people a Twitter play-by-play of every game I’m watching, but rather because I am very involved in the game. When you study the culture of the game, as I have for the last eight years of my life, you become completely submerged in that world. The culture of hockey became my culture, and it was hard not to notice the game everywhere I turned in my everyday life. So, even when the offseason arrives, and the players are off golfing and traveling the world, I’m still living in this land of ice and hoes.
This season there has been a lot of unpleasantness and distractions from the Anti-Fan Club abusing my readers and even threatening their careers, to scandalous rumours. In some instances, I felt almost criminal attending NHL games, and my road trips were starting to make me tired instead of happy. I guess it’s true that you can have too much of a good thing because all signs suggest that I have burnt out. Of course, there has been a lot on my mind this season as well. I entered the post academic real world (finally), and experienced the loss that comes with the end of an era in my hockey life, too. My heart just wasn’t in it like it used to be this season, and I think a lot of that has to do with the amount of effort and energy I had to expel with the Arizona Prophecy for the last two months of the 08-09 NHL season. At this point I need more than a vacation to heal.
My world was starting to feel very small – like it only consisted of thirty (NHL) cities. As it is, I have hardly done any traveling outside of those points of interest since my road show began. And, so, I decided to see if I could handle being away from the NHL for an extended period of time. I had the option to stay in North America, but I knew I couldn’t be trusted here. I would just get that sudden urge to run off at a moment’s notice to LA, or Vancouver, or Tampa as I always do, and knowing me I would go with it. This doesn’t mean that I’ll stop watching the NHL, I will definitely have to invest in that Game Center or whatever it is people are using online, and I will make damn sure to hit up some games in the Asia League while I’m over there. By the way, this will be the third continent I have lived in – Europe and North America (duh) being the first two! The point is to learn to be an isolated fan. The fan who preserves without being at the arena because, after all, not all hockey fans can be rink side as I have been so fortunate enough to have experienced many times over. Don’t worry, I will attempt to keep Psycho Lady Hockey interesting with this new perspective from thirteen time zones away (from Toronto)!
But enough about the change of life that is upon me, let’s talk about my Farewell Tour. I have only a few weeks left here in North America, so I wanted to give the NHL one final push, and see some of those rinks I haven’t had a chance to see yet – you know – in case I meet some hunky Irishman or Australian while I’m away and never return *purrs!* The journey begins today in Buffalo, but, alas, there aren’t any Sabres games scheduled at HSBC Arena tonight, or I would so be there right now! HSBC Arena is one of my faves – $5 beer!! No, the hockey road show won’t really begin until the 29th. I am bound for Manhattan in the morning (I know – I was just there two weeks ago) to celebrate my sister’s 18th birthday in style! Unfortunately, that means I’m with my entire family for the next few days, and what’s worse my MOTHER booked us all in the same hotel room (WHAT?!). As it is I’m hiding in the bathroom while I’m writing this, and using the sink for a desk! At least there is some solace in knowing that we’ll be staying at Ritz for the rest of the trip.
Of course, there is always that slight 1% chance that something monumental happens to make me change my mind and cancel my decision to venture off into the mysterious East. Who knows what that could possibly be, an offer I can’t refuse, or a grand romantic gesture perhaps? Only time will tell, but the sand is quickly running through the hourglass. Wish me luck on my final NHL extravaganza. I hope this will be a road trip for us all to remember!
Roll the credits…
Most memorable road track: Philadelphia (Flyers) 2008-09!
Down the Rabbit Hole: A Guide to Puck Bunnies (2004)
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New Book
Hey, hockey fans! I am writing a new book and looking for American and Canadian hockey fans to send me a quick email telling me why they go crazy for hockey. Email me! I look forward to hearing from you!
NHL Rinks Visited
[46] Air Canada Centre
[08] Wells Fargo Center
[06] First Niagara Center
[05] Scotiabank Place
[04] Prudential Center
[04] Joe Louis Arena
[03] TD Banknorth Garden
[03] Honda Center
[02] Xcel Energy Center
[02] St. Pete Times Forum
[02] Pepsi Center
[02] Nassau Coliseum
[02] Bell Centre
[01] Verizon Center
[01] United Center
[01] Staples Center
[01] Scottrade Center
[01] RBC Center
[01] Nationwide Arena
[01] Madison Square Garden
[01] Jobing.com Arena
[01] HP Pavilion
[01] CONSOL Energy Center
[01] Bridgestone Arena
[01] BankAtlantic Center
[01] American Airlines Center
[02] Mellon Arena*
[01] Maple Leaf Gardens*
*Indicates Inactive Facility
Other Rinks Visited
[64] Ricoh Coliseum
[41] St. Michael's Arena
[28] Kitchener Auditorium
[10] Hershey Centre
[09] Gatorade Complex
[08] Van Andel Arena
[08] Sleeman Centre
[08] Copps Coliseum
[05] Bradley Center
[04] Quicken Loans Arena
[03] Yokohama Skate Center
[03] John Labatt Centre
[02] Scope Arena
[02] Powerade Centre
[02] GM Centre
[02] Arena Zurich-Kloten
[01] Urbandale Centre
[01] UofT Varisty Arena
[01] Nikko Kirifuri Ice Arena
[01] London Ice House
[01] K-Rock Centre
[01] Cincinnati Garden
[01] Bayshore Arena
[01] Barrie Molson Centre
[01] AT&T Center
[01] Anyang Sports Complex
[01] Allstate Arena
Washington, DC After a ninety minute taxi at Kennedy Airport, we only arrived in Buffalo an hour behind schedule. My parents were bent on taking a shuffle back to the parking lot where our respective cars awaited. I normally just walk to the lot. It’s not far at all; probably takes five minutes max! Anyway, while we’re standing there, I see a cart pull up with about four hockey bags in it. This naturally awoken Bambi from her dormant post-Korea announcement state – she’s really not happy about this. After I noticed the bags, I noticed the owner; it was Wayne Gretzky’s daddy. 
