badger_14

Went to the fire station to see if I could take some vitals for class, and for the first time managed a couple of successful, accurate blood pressures! Very exciting.

Aw, man, that looks awesome. I had no idea such things existed. I can't imagine anyone will notice the problem spots unless they're like ... hovering over your mask.

Extra ice time is totally one of the great perks of coaching kids. Especially with the little ones when you have to demonstrate every little thing. And as I'm sure you know, the kindergarten set are like ducklings and will follow your every move exactly, so no corner-cutting.

Thanks Optimus. The "second level" sounds like the CEP's age-specific modules, but the electives actually sound like in-depth modules on particular skills. Sounds interesting, except for the "you must take [x] of these right now even though we released them late". Best of luck on that.

Just started my EMT-Basic class on Sunday, and feeling really good about it so far, and pretty proud of myself for how far I've come since I got sick 5 years ago.

Not to derail things (feel free to go back to venting), but what exactly are the elective courses for officials? Is it the equivalent of coaches' "age-specfic modules"?

Really? I can understand no sticks or pucks, but no padding, either? That's kinda weird. I wish I could offer more advice, I'm still stuck on dry land trying to remember that I have pads on and can actually drop and cover the bottom of the net.

My dad started taking me and my brothers camping around 5/6 years old too, and it turned out to be one of our most lasting traditions. I still go camping with my dad every year. You may yet turn out to have a nature-loving kid who looks forward to each trip to the woods. ;)

Do you have any mid-day public skating (not pickup, just skating) sessions you could go to? I've seen people (kids, admittedly) skating around in new pads at a public skating session to break them in, and if it was mid-day and not too crowded you might be able to try dropping into butterfly and otherwise maneuvering in them without the added mess of full gear and people taking shots on you.

My favorite non-hockey sport/downtime, other than biking, is swimming, and I usually swim 500 - 1000 yards a couple times a week, especially in the summer. I am no speed demon (it's all about the endurance), but I finally set myself a new personal best today and achieved my goal of swimming 500 yards of breaststroke in under 14 minutes - freight-trained myself through a cool 13:55.

Finally got a chance to get on the ice again after two months off, and wasn't quite as terrible as I thought I'd be. Just a respectable amount of rust.

One of my best friends is thisclose to losing his spot in his college's paramedic program (which he's already been accepted to) because of a financial aid/tuition foul-up on the part of the school, and it's so frustrating not to be able to help him as much as I want to.

Nothing fancy, just gear that fits properly and is actually protective. (the blocker is red, btw, not orange, it just looks off in the photo)

My mom came home from the hospital (fractured knee, among other things) in spite of everyone telling her to go to inpatient physical rehab (esp. as my dad is going out of town this coming week). Now has changed her mind and is back at the hospital hoping to get a bed at physical rehab. It seems like the last two years have been nothing but doctors and hospitals and the occasional 911 call.

My mom was recovering from her surgery quite nicely and had been up and around much more the past week, at least until last night when she tripped over an electric cord, fell, broke her nose and fractured her knee and we had to call 911. She's fine, nothing complicated, but there's definitely a "really. are you #&!*#@! kidding me?" aspect to the whole thing.

You shouldn't feel selfish about having emotions that are difficult to deal with - it's really hard, and sad, to have someone you care about be sick and suffering. They're real, valid feelings. You might try talking to a therapist; you might try talking to a friend and finding out that hey, they feel the same way. Staying positive and hopeful is great, but come down to it, a loved one sick and hurt plain sucks, and getting wound up in the idea that one needs to stay positive does more harm than good for a lot of people. It's not like feeling angry, or overwhelmed, or scared, cancels out your concern for your friend, nor does it cancel out how she feels about her situation. I'm sorry you and your friend are going through such a tough thing.

My mom's surgery went well yesterday, tumor was evicted, no further evidence of damage. :)

I've seen players here wear a similar set-up ... usually older guys. I think some brand did make player face cages in a cat-eye style at one point? Jofa? Cooper? Someone here who is more knowledgeable will, I am sure, step up.

Sorry to hear. I hope things start looking up for you soon, man.

My mother finally got a surgery date (ovarian cancer, tumor needs to be evicted). Worried, of course, but glad her doctors think she's healthy enough to give it a shot.

Apologies - I didn't mean to come off as abrupt. I really am impressed with people who can run/jog and for whom this is a useful form of exercise. I wish that I could. :) Good luck and patience.

Nah, man, I salute you for even going near a treadmill. Those things are tools of the devil. I feel your pain though. (Some people are not cut out for jogging. If I'm going to do one joint-ruining activity per week it's going to be hockey. Swimming has helped my endurance a lot.)

EBondo, sorry for your loss. He looks like a sweet cat. It's awful when it's time for them to go.

I bet shipping from Mass. is just about the cost of gas driving across MT to one of those other goalies to buy his old gear! (or try it on)

I'm beginning to think we should re-name this the Goalie Enablers thread... MT, you'd appreciate the craigslist selection down here ... seems like all the absurdly tall people are getting rid of their pads. 35 + 1", 36", 37"...