The season is over. The compressor went off yesterday afternoon. There was skating and cleaning out the bar. Now just have to clean up the melt and do some minor maintenance.
No more curling until the summerspiel in Cape Cod. Then September will roll around and we will be back to making ice.
Off to Grand Forks, ND next Tuesday morning for the Men's Worlds. Still working on getting internet access in the arena. Hope to be doing some live blogging from there. If not, there will be blogs done late at night or early morning. Look me up if you are there.
later,
JH
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
5 year old sings Canadian National anthem
You can see this on youtube here. It is at an Oilers game in Edmonton.
What does this have to do with curling you may ask? Well the young lady in question happens to be the daughter of World Champion curlers who live in Edmonton. Not sure if I should be naming names so I will leave that up to you, loyal readers.
Her current five year old ambition is to be a singer and a dancer. She is even enrolled in a performing arts school at this young age.
Feel free to guess in the comments.
later,
JH
What does this have to do with curling you may ask? Well the young lady in question happens to be the daughter of World Champion curlers who live in Edmonton. Not sure if I should be naming names so I will leave that up to you, loyal readers.
Her current five year old ambition is to be a singer and a dancer. She is even enrolled in a performing arts school at this young age.
Feel free to guess in the comments.
later,
JH
Thursday, March 27, 2008
US vs the world
The state of US curling seems to be ebbing at least on the World level. I fully expected Team McCormick to be in the final or at least make the playoffs easily. Doesn't look that way now.
Is the addition of so many new curlers watering down the field? Is there not the dedication needed to produce at the World level? Is it the lack of great competition in the US? Not sure, probably some combination of factors. When you only have 7 teams playing down for the Worlds out of the entire country that is not a good sign.
Of course, the rest of the World is catching up to Canada and doing it a lot quicker than the US seems to be. Russia, Japan and China all spend lots of time in Canada playing the best. Seems to be working well for them.
Hopefully the men don't bomb out in Grand Forks.
Enjoy the US curling in the 2010 Olympics because if it keeps going this way, that might be the last time for a while.
Later,
JH
Is the addition of so many new curlers watering down the field? Is there not the dedication needed to produce at the World level? Is it the lack of great competition in the US? Not sure, probably some combination of factors. When you only have 7 teams playing down for the Worlds out of the entire country that is not a good sign.
Of course, the rest of the World is catching up to Canada and doing it a lot quicker than the US seems to be. Russia, Japan and China all spend lots of time in Canada playing the best. Seems to be working well for them.
Hopefully the men don't bomb out in Grand Forks.
Enjoy the US curling in the 2010 Olympics because if it keeps going this way, that might be the last time for a while.
Later,
JH
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Mixed Nationals and Women's Worlds
Well, team Connecticut ran into a buzzsaw in the semis and lost a close one in the Bronze game. Good for them though, they played hard all week and finished at the top of the heap after the round robin. Just tough luck in the semi.
The Women's Worlds starts today as well. Supposedly there is coverage here and here for the US games. The first one says that the draw starts on Monday so not sure what that means. The second link shows that today's game will be available tomorrow. So, I guess not much in the way of live coverage. Will be watching TSN to see Mrs. JHcurl's girls anyway. With the time difference there will be a lot of late nights this week watching curling.
Later,
JH
The Women's Worlds starts today as well. Supposedly there is coverage here and here for the US games. The first one says that the draw starts on Monday so not sure what that means. The second link shows that today's game will be available tomorrow. So, I guess not much in the way of live coverage. Will be watching TSN to see Mrs. JHcurl's girls anyway. With the time difference there will be a lot of late nights this week watching curling.
Later,
JH
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Mixed Nationals
So, it all comes down to the final game. AZ, WI and CT win the final game and a four way tie for first (or fourth). That means the playoffs will be decided by the draw to the button or the draw shot challenge or whatever they are calling it these days.
Best of luck to newest Nutmeggers Derek and Charrissa with teammates Sean and Rachel. This could be their year with Washington (ie Brady's) out of the picture. Go guys go.
Arizona is an interesting team as only one player actually lives in Arizona. Just one more question to the USCA, how does a team qualify from Arizona when only one player lives there? Does that mean if I pick up a player from Texas I can qualify from there next year? Seems kind of odd but who am I to question. Oh yeah, I am the rabble rouser from the East Coast. Rest assured fine readers (if there are any) you will never see my name on the USCA board or even the GNCC board for that matter. Hell, I can't even ever expect to be president of Nutmeg since I am deemed "to passionate" about certain matters. Whatever, I just want to make great ice at the club and throw some stones.
Okay, enough ranting for now. Go Derek, Charrissa, Sean and Rachel. Bring home the hardware to the East Coast and show those Midwestern snobs we really can curl.
Later,
JH
Best of luck to newest Nutmeggers Derek and Charrissa with teammates Sean and Rachel. This could be their year with Washington (ie Brady's) out of the picture. Go guys go.
Arizona is an interesting team as only one player actually lives in Arizona. Just one more question to the USCA, how does a team qualify from Arizona when only one player lives there? Does that mean if I pick up a player from Texas I can qualify from there next year? Seems kind of odd but who am I to question. Oh yeah, I am the rabble rouser from the East Coast. Rest assured fine readers (if there are any) you will never see my name on the USCA board or even the GNCC board for that matter. Hell, I can't even ever expect to be president of Nutmeg since I am deemed "to passionate" about certain matters. Whatever, I just want to make great ice at the club and throw some stones.
Okay, enough ranting for now. Go Derek, Charrissa, Sean and Rachel. Bring home the hardware to the East Coast and show those Midwestern snobs we really can curl.
Later,
JH
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The life of a consultant
A bit off the path of curling but the life of a consultant can sometimes suck. The good - I get lots of vacation and my boss doesn't mind me taking extra time off without pay. The bad - sometimes the assignments suck. Like the one that put me in the hospital (a story for another day) or they are really boring. The ugly - this week. I ended one assignment this week and went to another client today to finish up some things. Not only had they trashed everything on my desk while I was gone but they also kicked me out at noon. Seems the client has not had time to review the stuff I did in the last three weeks.
So, here I sit without work for a few days. Which means I am not getting paid for a few days. Hopefully this all gets straightened out next week. I think I will be returning to a client on Monday with a contract extension. Otherwise, you may see me behind the counter at McDonalds. You want fries with that?
Later,
JH
So, here I sit without work for a few days. Which means I am not getting paid for a few days. Hopefully this all gets straightened out next week. I think I will be returning to a client on Monday with a contract extension. Otherwise, you may see me behind the counter at McDonalds. You want fries with that?
Later,
JH
The end of curling season approaches
The end is coming! Finally! I am ready for it to be over and get a bit of a break. It has been a pretty successful season with some bonspiel jewelry won. Nutmeg has seen an increase in membership again this season and people are already talking about next year.
As the season draws to a close, the Mixed Nationals are happening. So far Team Connecticut is doing well. This could be the year for Derek and Charrissa to break through. Good luck to them.
Also coming up is the Women's Worlds. Problem with that is the time difference really makes the evening draw late for us. TSN will be showing all the Canadian draws either on the network or by broadband. Mrs. JHcurl will be watching the girls when she can. Of course, CurlTV will be showing games as well. NBC is also entering the webcast world and will be broadbanding the US games here. I can see this event coming down to a US - Canada final which will be tough with the split loyalties in the house.
Pulling the plug on the ice hopefully next weekend. That is such a good feeling for an icemaker. No more early mornings of scraping with a hangover. No more rushing to get there early for league play to pebble.
Then off to Grand Forks for the Men's Worlds. There is a possibility that someone whose initials are JH might be doing some of the audiocasts through the USCA website. I guess that depends on getting that website back up and running. Must have been quite a serious crash they had as it is still really bare bones now.
A final note, I don't know why but I find this blog interesting to read.
Later,
JH
As the season draws to a close, the Mixed Nationals are happening. So far Team Connecticut is doing well. This could be the year for Derek and Charrissa to break through. Good luck to them.
Also coming up is the Women's Worlds. Problem with that is the time difference really makes the evening draw late for us. TSN will be showing all the Canadian draws either on the network or by broadband. Mrs. JHcurl will be watching the girls when she can. Of course, CurlTV will be showing games as well. NBC is also entering the webcast world and will be broadbanding the US games here. I can see this event coming down to a US - Canada final which will be tough with the split loyalties in the house.
Pulling the plug on the ice hopefully next weekend. That is such a good feeling for an icemaker. No more early mornings of scraping with a hangover. No more rushing to get there early for league play to pebble.
Then off to Grand Forks for the Men's Worlds. There is a possibility that someone whose initials are JH might be doing some of the audiocasts through the USCA website. I guess that depends on getting that website back up and running. Must have been quite a serious crash they had as it is still really bare bones now.
A final note, I don't know why but I find this blog interesting to read.
Later,
JH
Monday, March 17, 2008
Golden Handle wrapup
The GH is over for another year. What a great event this year. Some really good teams with at least 8 or 10 having a chance to win the whole thing. Addition of some Canadian teams made for great games and new friends. The Saturday night dinner and party was a hit I think. The food was really good and the entertainment wasn't bad either. I was making balloon animals like crazy for about an hour. I think I got asked to do 5 different kids birthday parties.
Congrats to this year winners - Derek and Tracy Tomlinson and Ken and Theresa Seiverd from Philadelphia CC.
Our team was lucky enough to win the third event. One loss dropped us down and we won the next two to win on Sunday. Had a lot a fun playing second for a change.
Pictures of the winners will be posted on the Nutmeg site soon.
later,
JH
Congrats to this year winners - Derek and Tracy Tomlinson and Ken and Theresa Seiverd from Philadelphia CC.
Our team was lucky enough to win the third event. One loss dropped us down and we won the next two to win on Sunday. Had a lot a fun playing second for a change.
Pictures of the winners will be posted on the Nutmeg site soon.
later,
JH
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The Golden Handle
The Golden Handle starts tonight. Off to the club this afternoon to scrape and get the ice ready. Since Bridgeport is the home of P.T. Barnum, the theme this year is a circus. I get to make balloon animals. Was practicing last night. Mrs. JHcurl is a fortune teller. The party should be a good time. Really good teams this year with some of the Canadian ex-pats bringing their friends down so we have two Canadian teams.
The defending champs won't be there as Derek and Charrissa are off to the US Mixed Championships. Good luck to them with teammates Sean and Rachel.
The end of the season is approaching and I am looking forward to pulling the plug. A couple of weeks to go and then off to Grand Forks for the Men's Worlds. Then it is time for work in the gardens.
Later,
JH
The defending champs won't be there as Derek and Charrissa are off to the US Mixed Championships. Good luck to them with teammates Sean and Rachel.
The end of the season is approaching and I am looking forward to pulling the plug. A couple of weeks to go and then off to Grand Forks for the Men's Worlds. Then it is time for work in the gardens.
Later,
JH
Monday, March 10, 2008
PCC Stone wrapup
We won that game to put us into the second event rat race. Then won the next two on Saturday. I think the boys were a bit tired and played out and we dropped the third game on Saturday to be out.
I didn't really like the draw. It punished you for winning a game by setting up a much longer road to get to Sunday. I understand what they were trying to do but they need to tweak it if they are doing it again.
Overall, a good time and the new guys did a great job. David, lead, started in January and Sean, second, started last January. Both adapted well to the ice and being in a different club.
The Golden Handle starts Thursday. At least I am not skipping, so just hit the broom and sweep some rocks.
Later,
JH
I didn't really like the draw. It punished you for winning a game by setting up a much longer road to get to Sunday. I understand what they were trying to do but they need to tweak it if they are doing it again.
Overall, a good time and the new guys did a great job. David, lead, started in January and Sean, second, started last January. Both adapted well to the ice and being in a different club.
The Golden Handle starts Thursday. At least I am not skipping, so just hit the broom and sweep some rocks.
Later,
JH
Friday, March 7, 2008
One game in
Well, it is a really interesting draw they devised for the PCC Stone. Lose your first , drop to the third event. Win the next and into a real rat race for the second event. Lose the second and into the semis of the third. So, a real dilemma tomorrow, do we win and then face the three game day to get to Sunday or lose and play one game to get to Sunday. Hmmm.... Sadistic bastards, nice draw.
Otherwise, always a good time at Plainfield. Big party tonight with the Grand Pooba giving out the anniversary awards. One of the few bonspiels around that rewards the guys for showing up year after year. This is my eighth and when you get to ten you get a PCC mug. It stays at the club and during the Stone, the first beer each day is free. Think Don gets his 25th year this time, Walter Baggett with 24 and George Z. with 23. Yep, guys just keep coming back every year.
Later,
JH
Otherwise, always a good time at Plainfield. Big party tonight with the Grand Pooba giving out the anniversary awards. One of the few bonspiels around that rewards the guys for showing up year after year. This is my eighth and when you get to ten you get a PCC mug. It stays at the club and during the Stone, the first beer each day is free. Think Don gets his 25th year this time, Walter Baggett with 24 and George Z. with 23. Yep, guys just keep coming back every year.
Later,
JH
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Random stuff
A nice lively debate is happening about the club Nationals. The GNCC teams are all hanging in there with a couple of draws to go.
I keep finding more blogs to link to. Newest one is curling related. And this one suprised me since I didn't know he was that witty.
Off to the PCC Stone at Plainfield tonight. Interesting draw they did. Hopefully we win a game or two. At least the beer is cheaper than Ardsley.
And for those cat lovers or haters, check this out.
Later,
JH
I keep finding more blogs to link to. Newest one is curling related. And this one suprised me since I didn't know he was that witty.
Off to the PCC Stone at Plainfield tonight. Interesting draw they did. Hopefully we win a game or two. At least the beer is cheaper than Ardsley.
And for those cat lovers or haters, check this out.
Later,
JH
Monday, March 3, 2008
McKay-Douglas Bonspiel
So, I got some crap at this bonspiel about not picking a certain team to make it out of the East region. Well, I did pick that team this weekend and they did win. Congrats to Bill (what about me) Stopera, Gert Messing, Mike Murphy and Chris Banino. Also in attendance was Danny (where's the love) Steski. I think they won the second event. We ended up winning the fifth event which is the Mahopac medal. The Mahopac was a curling club in days of yore and it has the most politically incorrect pin there is, a nice "red-faced injun". So, having finished runner-up in that event last year, the tribe is expanding.
Great food as always and the bar bill is always a shock, $583 this year. Played with Rob and Allen, both second year curlers. Think Allen was still a little drunk when he woke up Sunday morning for the final but he did fine. Of course, he did need some help reading the numbers on the rocks, something about blurry vision.
Off to the PCC Stone in three days. Curl all weekend starting Thursday, league tonight and tomorrow and then do it again this weekend. Isn't curling season over yet?
Later,
JH
Great food as always and the bar bill is always a shock, $583 this year. Played with Rob and Allen, both second year curlers. Think Allen was still a little drunk when he woke up Sunday morning for the final but he did fine. Of course, he did need some help reading the numbers on the rocks, something about blurry vision.
Off to the PCC Stone in three days. Curl all weekend starting Thursday, league tonight and tomorrow and then do it again this weekend. Isn't curling season over yet?
Later,
JH
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