Still in shock

and awe

and I have a sore throat

and I completely screwed up the afghan I'm working while I was watching the US beat Canada.

In Hockey.

Did the bebe Jebus show up too?

Looking at the game stats, you’d think Canada blew out the US team in the game, with a 45-23 advantage in overall shots taken. However, Team USA goalie Ryan Miller made 42 saves to help his team win. Now US awaits to see who wins the Finland-Sweden game. Depening on that winner, the US might go into their quarterfinals matchup as the top seed in all of the groups. Meanwhile, Canada who was a gold medal favorite heading into the Olympics has a must win game on Tuesday. This was not expected as the Olympics Hockey matches started for the 2010 Olympics.

Team USA is now 3-0 in the 2010 Winter Olympics. While this win has been compared to the 1980 Miracle on Ice, an interesting fact was noted. The well known coach of the US Hockey team in 1980 was Herb Brooks, who the current Team USA defenseman Brooks Orpik was named for.

Pet for Vets

Early morning web surfing, while drinking my coffee and trying to wake up, revealed a wonderful story about Healing and Homes for Vets and Pets.

"I used to not get out of the house at all," said Velez-Collazo, 37, whose 12 years as an Army combat battlefield nurse included deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. "Now I have to take her out. I get out of bed and put on some clothes."

That motivation to participate in normal daily activities is the goal of Pets for Vets, founded in 2008 by 27-year-old animal trainer Clarissa Black. The Los Angeles-based program matches homeless pets that may otherwise be euthanized with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other ailments from their time in a war zone.

"A lot of times, these veterans who are coming home feel abandoned, and they have a difficult time adjusting to civilian life," Black said. "A lot of them tell me that they would just like someone to say thank you. Pets for Vets is that way to say thank you. Both [the veteran and the pet] have been through traumatic events, and together they can help each other heal."

Both Pets for Vets and the other organization Pets2Vets accept (and probably badly need) donations. So, if you have a few dollars to spare for both pets and vets, please donate.

~ ~ ~

In not so cheerful personal news... long story short my car had a fit on Tuesday and I need a new alternator. I'm hoping it will be ready today because I've been relying on friends and family and co-workers to get me about for two days. Living in the boonies has its draw-backs.

Snow Days

Yesterday was a snow day for me. I stayed inside all day, hair in a tangled, messy pony on top of my head, wearing my favorite faded jammies and holey socks, knitting and watching tv: Angel, Charmed, The West Wing, JAG and NCIS - in that order.

Nothing like life down on the farm, eh? If you are determined to remain single, unattached and alone in this life, re-read the paragraph above. Works for me!

Raven and Pewter were a little shocked by my mid-week interruption of their equally exciting lives. Every time I left the chair Raven would hop up and take over. When I shoo'd him he'd glare at me and then hunker down on the floor at my feet. Pewter showed his confusion by chatting at me all day (instead of sleeping) and dropping one of his meece on my feet for me to throw for him every half hour or so. They're probably shredding the couch as I type this. It's never a good idea to confuse cats.

I'd guess we got eight-something inches of snow at the farm. It's hard to tell because there was steady, howling gale all night and this morning. As soon as the drive was plowed it was recovered with blowing snow. Hopefully it will be cleared enough for me to get back to my little bungalow tonight. I have a spaghetti dinner at the nursing home to attend and won't be back before nine. Getting stuck out in the country, on a cold night, where my cell phone doesn't work is not my idea of a good time.

See the first paragraph for what is my idea of a good time.

Explosion

I had a television/computer free Sunday so it wasn't until this morning I heard about the Middletown Explosion. The footage of the damage was just horrifying to see. I feel so badly for the families affected by this.

It was strange to see the DC metroplex on the news trying to dig out of the snow this morning. They're just not ready for that much snow. I guess the weather gurus were right for a change. Late Friday afternoon I was online teasing friends in the DC area about the "snowpocalypse" and how they were wussies for leaving work early. They reminded me of my harrowing trip home last week and cried "pot, kettle, black"... all in good fun. Then I saw what they were dealing with today and see they're still offline. I hope they're warm and at least having some fun with the snow at this point.

More snow and possibly a blizzard for Tuesday into Wednesday - and southern New England might get hit this time. Think warm thoughts people.

For the love of the game

I spotted this story on Yahoo! this morning and thought I'd share:

Soldiers find time for hockey in Afghanistan.

My first love is baseball (go Yankees!) but my second is hockey (go Rangers!). I'm used to seeing stories about the armed services playing baseball but this is a first for hockey. Well, for me anyway. Leave it to the Canadians. I love how the soldiers have adapted the game for their environment and their attitude:

In fact, the teams don't even leave the rink. As the warning siren wails, they hit the floor and press themselves against the wooden sidings. Goalies aren't very mobile anyway, Stark said.

"It would be a bit of a challenge to run to a bunker with all that gear," he said. "As soon as the 'all clear,' the game picks up again and away we go."

Go Canada!

And speaking of Canada and hockey... is it me or does it seem the Olympics are late this year? I thought the winter games took place in January, not February. Seems Obama isn't going for security reasons - which must make everyone's life a bit easier.