Too Old

Putting some of the newer stuff to use... our last regular session game before playoffs begin next weekend. We all wore "E & L" stickers in memory of my friend and team mate's daughter Elizabeth and her cousin Lyric; taken back in July and bodies found last week. Our local USHL team had them done and they set us up for our adult league with a bunch of them for everyone to wear too. Hope they catch the coward(s) who abducted and killed two innocent young girls. A larger view of the helmet stickers to show the details/colors better; actual ones are about 1 1/4" in diameter:

My friend and adult hockey team mate's missing daughter and her cousin were found dead today. They were abducted back in July and with every day that passed the thought of a good outcome lessened. It's like they had fallen off the face of the Earth with no real leads at all. Hunters found what are likely their two bodies around lunch time today roughly 15 or 20 miles north-northwest of where they were taken. I hope that the police find out who did this and arrest them without releasing any names first. That way the person or persons will at least live out the rest of their miserable lives in prison before someone else evens the score. RIP Elizabeth and Lyric, our hearts ache.

Updated pic of glove collection: Top row: Stamkos XXXXs, no-name Franchises, custom Creepers 2nd row: Malone Franchises, no-name Franchises, Moore Creepers 3rd row: Abdelkader XXXXs, Lidstrom Franchises, Draper Franchises, Williams XXXXs Bottom row: retail Luxe

The most commonly used sets I have... still have other gloves, pants, socks, jerseys, etc....

Watching our local USHL team playing the championship for the Jr U20 Club World Cup. Live on YouTube right now: Go Black Hawks!

Toronto Hockey can modify/repair the pants. Only downside is shipping to/from the US... they charge a bit more than they should to return items. Quality of work is superb.

Found it on eBay and paid way too much for it but I really wanted it badly.

Ready to go for tonight's game. Along with a remembrance for my mom who we lost on Wednesday. I need to get away and forget about things for a while and tonight should help.

Finally! Been waiting for these to complete the set...

Won our 1st round league playoff game last night after finishing 2nd for the season. Cycled the puck around very well and it was teammates that usually don't put them in the net that did last night; very cool to have a game like we did. Championship game next Sunday against the 1st place team.

Here you go... current pics. Lightning gear... Bauer current 3rds colorway and Tackla old colorway pants (new colorway Warriors on the way). Brand new Stamkos XXXX's, Vapor X40's, Warrior Franchises and custom Creepers in 3rds colorway, new colorway Franchises. Socks for new and old colorways. Wings gear... Tackla, Bauer, and Warrior pants. Brand new Abdelkader XXXX's and brand new Draper Franchises, Jason Williams XXXX's. Socks including the Winter Classic team-issue, home and practice. Tackla pants and Warrior Luxes I also use now and then. Missing are my team-issue/used Wings red practice jersey and white practice jersey, a Hudler Winter Classic team-issue/used black practice jersey and Hudler home game-used jersey. Also have a '05-'06 Lightning team-issue away jersey done as Marty St. Louis by EPS. Also skates/pads/socks/sticks/etc. PS... the TBL blue color old and new both are called "Montreal blue" by Warrior and per Joe @ Warrior it's only available in Tuff-Tek nylon for their gloves.

My favorite high school teacher was the English teacher. Great man and I doubt you'd find a single student who didn't like him. He retired and moved to Minnesota where he fought Parkinson's for some time. Each time he and his wife would come back to town he'd stop by work and visit with me. He finally lost his battle years ago and then his wife passed away a year or so ago. They're likely going to be closing down the high school where I went since it's part of our local university and they are forced to make some drastic budget cuts. Every time I drive by there I remember that teacher and how he pushed us all to be better. It sucks the older you get and you begin to see more and more friends pass away. People should remember this and stop the petty bickering and bitching and such and enjoy every precious moment we have to share with others.

I've seen multiple pairs of the "Advanced" just like these; with the flap omitted. Not sure if it's something normal for these or not though.

Here is where the "Advanced" is on the gloves. They also only show a wide and narrow glove. I believe the wide is also the "standard" width as always.

Just got these. Eventually the pants will turn up somewhere.

Today has been probably one of the best Fridays... or any day... I've had in a LONG time. I took off today and tomorrow to spend some family time and get to see our 12 yr old daughter play during a jazz session at a town's yearly celebration we have in the adjoining city. That was great. And it gets far better. For 11 1/2 years I've been a department manager at a very successful business in town. Yet after always exceeding budgeted income goals and consistently high customer feedback I've been lingering the last 3 years with little more to show for all the work effort. I'm a team player and do whatever I can to help the business flow. Out of the blue I got a call early in the week from a friend who was a manager I'd worked for many years ago. To make a long story short he's moving within the company and his job is open. He immediately suggested to the owners that I'd be a perfect fit seeing how I've been running a similarly-sized group and have nearly 12 years of experience doing so. I interviewed this morning and received the offer an hour ago. The move is lateral financially but I'll work less hours and have a great opportunity to move up pay-wise with hard work and results. With our youngest one now going to jr high I don't have to worry about asking for some time off during the days for school programs so that's a plus. I'll give up a bit of vacation time. But in the big picture I won't have to deal with micromanagement any more, and actually be rewarded for my work. The friend whose job I'll take over has been there 15 years and is absolutely happy with the company. I trust him and even though it's a big move to make at my age (51 years young there kids, lol) but it's now or never I feel. The hope is I'll not have the stress I do now which eats me up daily. I'm sick of being a grouch when I get home. Anyhow... I'll either tell the owner tomorrow if I decide to wander in there or on Monday morning that I'll be leaving on the 8th. And I'd already taken that Friday off for the daughter's swim meet. Now if I just have a good game tonight things will be perfect.

Well, I gave in and bought some Luxe gloves. They'll go with the pants I just got so I have something to wear besides my Wings and Bolts gear. Should have them here in time to use on Friday night...

Wow...

Got a great deal on these... $80 shipped and they're brand new. Another pair from same seller went earlier for $115 so I just waited to pounce on these when the bidding stayed low. Wanted to have a pair to use besides the Wings/Bolts stuff I have and they'll go with my all black Franchise gloves.

A friend was in a terrible motorcycle crash 3 wks ago and was touch and go for some time and at a hospital 1 1/2 hours away. Was moved to rehab at a hospital here in town and is doing much better each day. Went to see her after working this morning... and seeing how my birthday was yesterday that was the best gift I could ever hope to receive... seeing her doing so well. She said she was tired of everyone crying when they saw her. I told her that at least when she was in ICU at the other hospital I waited until I left the room to do that, lol. Then went on a bicycle ride with our youngest one and capped off the day with dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. Oh, we won our game 4-3 last night and also the Bolts won today. Could it get any better for me? Maybe if I win the lottery.

I have custom 14" Creepers that are new... as well as 14" narrow and 14" standard Franchises. The Creepers fit IMO a bit more tight than the standard Franchises do. In time I presume they'll loosen up a bit and fit will be very close. The narrow Franchise is a very snug fit; more so than even my 14" Vapor XXXX gloves and some snug Hudler pro return Vapor X:60 gloves that are supposedly 14" but are maybe closer to 13" in reality. With all that people had said I'd expected the Creepers to have a more snug fit but they didn't.

I'll have to update my TBL glove family photo again too, lol.

Lol... mine arrived today as well. In other words... a group of happy people today!

Couldn't pass these up. Rafalski's. Now I have Tackla, Warrior, Reebok, and Bauer Wings pants... And... thanks to UCLAhockey707 for the tip... I'm certain he and I are both happy as can be to find a couple pairs of what are at least my Holy Grail! Hope mine will be here later this week...