Ryan’s Return

My favorite Mike Haynes comment for the night: "Ever have the feeling you have a puck caught in your pants?"

I wish Mike was still on the radio. :)

The comment was in reference to when the puck got lost in Laperriere's jersery during the last 2+ minutes of the game. How does that happen???

Ryan Smith's return to Edmonton - Av's FIRST road win of the season - empty net goal - Budaj has a superb game. A fun game to watch. And that's not just the pumpking ale talking. Pumpking??? Ok, maybe it IS the pumpkin ale talking... geesh...

Most important, the Avs were able to do things that they've been struggling with for all their road games this season - score first and not lose the lead late in the 3rd.

Here's a little write up on Smyth's return -- Very touching. And that's not a term that is used often in Hockey. Personally, I'm overjoyed that Ryan is on our team this year...




From Sports Illustrated online -
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/10/23/bc.hkn.oilers.smyth.ap/

DMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Facing his former team for the first time since his trade eight months ago, former Edmonton Oilers star Ryan Smyth had a predictable reaction.

The left wing, now with the Colorado Avalanche, became teary-eyed as he lined up in pre-game ceremonies, watched a 1-minute video tribute of his 11 seasons with Edmonton and received a 30-second standing ovation from the 16,839 fans at Rexall Place.

Smyth kept his head down through most of the video tribute, but skated out to the middle of the rink twice to lift his stick and acknowledge the cheers.

Beside him, players on both benches banged their sticks against the boards in appreciation.

At a news conference Monday, Smyth was asked about the trade to the New York Islanders in February, his tearful goodbye to fans at Edmonton International Airport and how he might react Tuesday.

"I'm sure I'll break down," said Smyth, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

The 31-year-old Alberta native has three goals and three assists with the Avalanche this season after leaving the Islanders in the offseason and signing a five-year, $31.25 million free-agent deal with Colorado.

He had 549 points in 770 regular-season games with the Oilers. He is seventh on the Oilers' career scoring list.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Olympic Dream for Darfur Torch Relay Rally - 10/28

Passing on a message from Ben Drexler of the Denver Coalition to Save Darfur
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Local Darfur Activists-

We're now one week away from the Olympic Dream for Darfur Torch Relay Rally! In the next week we need all of you hitting up your friends, coworkers, and loved ones to recruit people for this demonstration. The greater the turnout we get, the more likely it is to make national news and the more likely it is to push China into maintaining its pressure on the Sudanese government.

We have a wonderful lineup of speakers including local politicians, survivors of previous genocides, athletes, and members of the Darfuri community. We will even have a special demonstration at this rally to show the progress we've made in the past three years.

For those who don't know, the torch relay begins at 11 AM on October 28th at the pavilions in Cheesman Park in Denver and the rally begins at 1:30 PM. Please come out to cheer on our relay participants and stay to hear our inspirational speakers.

For those interested in passing out information, you can find fliers for the event at http://www.boulderfordarfur.com/ODD

We will see you next week to send China a clear message of their responsibility to end this conflict! If you intend to come, please RSVP at http://www.savedarfur.org/page/event/detail/olympicdreamfordarfurevent/4jv5s

Thanks,
Ben Drexler
Denver Coalition to Save Darfur

The Av’s crushed my heart in the 3rd period, but my BFF makes it all OK!

Awwww, this is going to be one of those rare personal rants by me on my blog, but it's completely necessary! I have the best friend in the whole entire world and I have to send her a word of special thanks for all the support she's given me over the many years of our friendship.

Wow, we have been friends since those really awkward Jr. High School days. (We even dated the same guy before -- remember David Mugglie???? ha haha). And she is one of the most precious people in my life. She has been there for me through some really crappy times, all of the major life changing times, and no matter how often we talk or how infrequently we may see each other, she is absolutely there for me 100% any time, for any reason (even when I'm way off track).

So, believe it or not, I can make the most insane ass out of myself at times and she will stand right by my side and be there when I need bailing out. She will also be there for the most important days of my life without question or grumbling, no matter the inconvenience to her personally, because that is just the type of friend she is. She gets me, when not very many people do. And I am just so thankful to have a wonderful person like her in my life.

I mean, she hates sports and she sat at a sports bar with me last night for hours (and soooooooooo many happy little cocktails) and watched the entire (losing) Avalanche game with me before going to The Devil Came on Horseback. THAT is real friendship.

So I know she's hitting a rough patch herself right now, and I want her to know how amazing and important she is and how happy I am that we have been friends for these many long years!

Thanks for being my rock, Miss Chris, you are an amazing individual!!!!

hugs and love, your best friend --
me

Devil Came on Horseback - TONIGHT

I'm bumping this blog post up again....

http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=21318

The Devil Came On Horseback will be showing for one week at The Starz Denver Film Festival. Use the link above to get tickets online!

USA, 2007, 85 Minute Running Time
Genre/Subjects: Documentary, Political, Social Issues
Language: English, Arabic

DocNight - Friday, October 19 - 7:25 and 9:25 pm (plays thru Thursday!)
Co-Director Annie Sundberg IN-PERSON
Q&A and free reception follows the film.



Using the exclusive photographs and firsthand testimony of former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle, this documentary takes the viewer on an emotionally charged journey into the heart of Darfur, Sudan, where an Arab-run government is systematically executing a plan to rid the province of its black African citizens. As an official military observer, Steidle had access to parts of the country that no journalist could penetrate. He was unprepared for what he would witness and experience, including being fired upon, taken hostage and being unable to intervene to save the lives of young children. Ultimately frustrated by the inaction of the international community, Steidle resigned and returned to the U.S. to expose the images and stories of lives systematically destroyed.



DIRECTOR: Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg
Producer: Annie Sundberg, Ricki Stern, Gretchen Wallace, Jane Wells
Editor: Joey Grossfield
Cinematographer: Jerry Risius, Phil Cox, Tim Hetherington, William Rexer II, Annie Sundberg, John Keith Wasson
Music: Paul Brill
Principal Cast: Brian Steidle
Filmography: The Trials Of Darryl Hunt(2006)
US Distributor: International Film Circuit

Congratulations DAYNA and SEAN!!!!

Best wishes on your new life together. I'm sooooo happy for you both! Can't wait to see how badly I screwed up the wedding video :-/ Yes, Tammy "pause" does not = still photo. Goooooooddddddd!!!!!

much love always!