Rudolph the red faced sweeper

What happens when you get bored


Rudolph the red-faced sweeper,
had a very bad delivery
and if you ever saw him
you would say he sucks

All of the other curlers
used to laugh and call him names
they never let poor Rudolph
curl in any important games

Then one tied up extra end
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your face so bright
Please make sure my draw is not light

Then all the curlers loved him
and they shouted out with glee
Santa the draw miester skip
You'll go down in history

(it is all about the skip, after all)

It is the meltdown

This weekend brings the best harbinger of Spring. The melting of the curling ice. That starts to happen on Sunday afternoon. Before that there is a trip to Plainfield on Friday to enjoy some of the fish fry at the Squeal and a little bit of partying. Saturday night is the awards dinner for Nutmeg. We came close to winning the competitive league but my brain checked out for the last couple of games, so not so much. We did have a different team win this year, which is nice.

Saturday is also the Wood Memorial and the Santa Anita Derby. So the horsies are getting straightened out. Look out for The "grapefruit" (pamplemousse), he could be my pick in the derby.

With the ice gone, time to catch up with some none curling folk. That time of year. Catch us while you can.

Later,
JH

This and that

The Florida Derby jelled the scene for the most exciting two minutes in sports a little bit yesterday. The monster that everyone was talking about, Dunkirk, finished second. May not have enough graded stakes earnings to make the Derby. Quality Road established himself as the front runner by winning. Still a month to go so a couple more prep races. Time to start the annual research project.

The Phightin Phils open the season next Sunday against the still hated Braves. I should say the defending World Series champion Phightins'. Hamels and Utley need to get healthy soon.

The curling club is still open for another week then the best part of the season happens next Sunday. MELTDOWN! So done for this year.

Yeah, the Men's Worlds are starting this Saturday as well. Will watch a few games. Hope the US does well and Scotland wins. Just can't root for Martin.

Later,
JH

It is over

The end of curling season for me came last night, at least the physical part of throwing rocks. The mental portion ended when I got back from Utica after the Nationals. Both last week and last night at least twice I couldn't remember if I had the hammer and really didn't care.

Glad it is done at this point. Now there is nothing left except the melting of the ice in a couple of weeks. We will be attending a party where curling is happening as we are heading to the Friday night fish fry at the Bonsqueal in Plainfield. Then back to Nutmeg on Saturday for the final in house spiel and dinner (no curling). The plant goes off on that Sunday.

All that is just in time for baseball to arrive. First Yankee game in the new stadium is April 30. The phightin' Phils make a trip to the Yankees this season in May. Have to try and get tickets for that (are you reading this Mrs. JH?)

Also time to start the annual vision quest to determine who not to bet on in the Derby. If you check the posts from last year, I did pick the winner and did not bet on the winner. So watch this space for the horse I throw out and bet the house on it.

Later,
JH

"Back" from Norfolk

Well, we won the first event but lost a player in the process. Mrs. JH's back did not hold up for the final. She threw one rock and went down on the ice. Good thing 1 of 4 was still there as she went and got geared up and played the rest of the game. We won the game pretty handily and captured the Childs cup. The event is named for Elisabeth and there was a moving tribute to her before the final.

Fun was had by all especially our group as we closed the bar both nights. With only ten teams at the spiel there was no Saturday night curling which really made the event low key. Hopefully next year they can do something to attract more teams.

Nice to have today off from work with just normal stuff to do. Hopefully gonna get a practice game in tonight with the guys. Also playing in the McKay-Douglas with 3/4 of the Nationals team in a couple of weeks.

Later,
JH

Off to Norfolk

This weekend is the Norfolk mixed which is a great event and a little sad with only 10 teams playing. Also, this will be the first visit to Norfolk since Elisabeth passed. It wont be the same without her watching from the warm room.

Coach Ray and Mrs. Coach make their first appearance of the year on the ice. DC will also be there and he will be playing with 1 of 4 from the Coach Ray brood who is in town for some reason. I predict there may be some late nights spent in the bar at the club. Good to help out Norfolk financially.

Even get Monday off as a holiday to recover. First time in 20 years I think I have had President's day off. I get one extra holiday a year which moves around based on the calendar.

Later,
JH

Enough with the snow

More effing snow. Just enough in the forecast that we had to cancel curling last night and then we don't get that much. That sucks.

The Club Nationals (cool) draw is up at the USCA site. The big rematch against Potomac happens on Wed. at 4pm. We got seeded eighth which is pretty much what we expected. Now to surprise some folks and win a few games.

Off to Potomac Friday morning by Amtrak, a new adventure.

Later,
JH

Weekend wrapup with a Monday bonus

The GNCC Senior Men's Championship completed at Nutmeg on Sunday. Winning rink was from Philadelphia with Rod Waters and Tony Steiert. They had a great game against Stu Graves from Broomstones. This is the 55 and over group and it was the 25th time that Rod has played in it (do the math). Damn, I hope I can still drink beer without a straw at that age.

Sunday night was the super bowl party for Nutmeg and a small birthday celebration for this here blogger. Yep, another year above ground.

Today was interesting. Mrs. JH has a VP coming in on Thursday to go on sales calls with her. So we did a little driving to figure out the route and times. CT to LaGuardia to NJ and back. Just 4 hours or so in the car, nice way to spend a Monday. She gets to do it all over again on Thursday and then get home whenever. Then we have to get ready to catch the train to Maryland on Friday morning.

Heading down to Potomac for the GNCC Mixed Championship. Derek and Charrissa are playing and somehow Mrs. got talked into being the GNCC Chair of the Mixed. So, we will be heading down to watch and email results and blog about it over here.

Just getting ready for the snow tomorrow and the rest of the week will be quiet. Except for maybe the panic calls on Thursday from someone who is lost in NJ.

Later,
JH

We make it, finally

Finally the Club Playdowns have ended. Lots of tiebreakers and the playoffs got moved to Monday. We lost the championship game to Chris and the Potomac boys after Chris made a great shot in the ninth for a three spot. Needed to score two in the tenth to tie and just never got rocks in the right spot.

But we won the next game and got the second spot to Nationals. That is so cool to type, after all these years I finally get to a Nationals. It was a really long weekend but in the end we won the games we had to and made it. The goal was six wins and that is what we had.

Now we have to get team jackets and get some practice time in before Utica. But first a little rest as I am looking to get a sub for curling tonight. Last thing I want to do right now is throw a rock.

Congrats to Chris, Mike, Ron and Michael for winning the GNCC Club Championship again. We will see you in Utica.

Later,
JH

One more

Hopefully just one more game to play. Championship finals at 8:00am Monday. Rematch of last year.

Throw the rock and see what happens.

Later,
JH

Northward bound

Well, not that far really, just up to Broomstones for the weekend starting tomorrow. Off to the USCA Club National Playdowns or the fake nationals as we call it. First game is Thursday afternoon at 4:00. Have to get the old, creaky knees ready for at least 6 games. And ten ends, 4 extra rocks to throw and practice before the game, more rocks. Hopefully I got that many in me. Already planning to pack lots of drugs, all legal of course (or at least they are in Canada).

Mrs. may pop up on Saturday or not or may head down to Plainfield for the Saturday night haggis party or not.

Later,
JH

All is well

Snickle is home. He came home on Friday. He is eating and seems much better. So, that is over for now.

We are also home after the long New Years weekend in LBI. Pretty sure we will be returning to that house for the fall. Really nice place.

Finally got a team together for the Club Playdowns. Registered this morning and we are set.

Olympic trials start this week and we will be heading to Ardsley to support the locals.

Now just trying to get back into the swing of work and such.

Later,
JH

This and that

The kitten is fine at this point, thanks for asking. In fact, he got a new place to nap thanks to Santa who brought Mrs. this nice new purse cat bed.

Otherwise, just taking down the Christmas stuff, putting away presents and getting ready for the special meeting of the LBI CC for New Years.

Also spent a couple of hours putting together a new stand for the HD TV. Then had to disconnect all the electronics, take out the old stand and hook everything back up. That went pretty well except for the missing parts and the lack of pre-drilled holes. Good thing I am a bit handy in figuring out that stuff.

Also have been following the Junior playdowns up at Broomstones. The Plainfield team for the boys is in the playoff and a win will get them to Nationals. Bob and Rachel must be pretty excited about that.

On the local curling front not much is happening. Still trying to get a team together for the club playdowns. Made a quick stop at the club on Saturday for a little maintenance and the local Trials teams of Derek and Charrissa were both there practicing.

Check out the LBI blog over here as we have internet access at the place we are staying and there may be some late night blogging.

Later,
JH

Facebook, curling and snow

Do you facebook? Can I ask why? I just deactivated my facebook account. Why, because I don't have time to go there and tend a farm, update my status, send spitting llamas, take a movie test, choose my favorite color, decide if I am happy or sad, tend the farm some more, answer friend requests from people I don't know and on and on and on. Maybe I am getting like Coach Ray and am a curmudgeon.

Maybe I am becoming a technophobe. I just recently got a new cell phone. It is really hard to find a phone that is just a phone. I have a camera, I don't need an MP3 player, I don't text or email from the phone because the buttons are too small. Just a phone please and don't look at me like that. Whatever.

Anyhoodle. Playing a practice game against Olympic hopefuls Charrissa and team tomorrow. Ten ends with time clocks so that they can get a feel for the whole thing. A couple of her team have never played with clocks or the whole playdown process.

Waiting for the first snow storm of the season. Fired up the snowblower yesterday to make sure it ran okay and everything was in good shape. I do like power toys.

Later,
JH

We win

The Golden Handle playdowns completed yesterday and we won. So, we are in the GH as Nutmeg 1.

The rock discussion went well and there is positive movement on getting the rocks done. I am looking forward to faster ice from this.

Later,
JH

This and that and those and them

The Golden Handle playdowns started yesterday and we won the first game. Now have to play again today to get the Nutmeg 1 designation with a win.

Also have a board meeting to discuss the rocks. Will see how that goes. Loyal readers know the story but it should be an interesting meeting.

The Olympic Trials playdown schedules are set. Derek and his crew will be at TCC attempting to make it. They ended up in a pretty good pool and have a chance. Charrissa will be at Ardsley with a great chance as there are three spots available to go directly to the Trials. Playdowns start on the 7th of January. We will be heading down to Ardsley to cheer her on. Lots of GNCC teams at both TCC and Ardsley as well. Nice to see competitive curling expanding on the East coast.

Also finishing up Christmas shopping and decorating and lights. A bit late but bonspiels have kept the weekends busy.

Think there is curling on TV this weekend but not sure if we get it on the satellite. I think is the cable system out of Ontario. Next weekend there is curling for sure with the Continental Cup. Team North America vs Team World.

Christmas is almost here, hope you have your shopping done.

Later,
JH

Snowy weekend

Yes, DC I did have a bit of a problem with a man in a kilt but so did John DeJong. Actually there was a good idea floated this weekend. Create a "trophy" for all the snow rollers. Getting historical names might be a problem but someone would rat out others that belong if their name was going on it.

Otherwise it was a fun weekend. It did snow on Saturday night and into Sunday but not much. The steak dinner was great along with Lou's meatballs which were especially good as a midnight snack. No dice but lots of darts and cribbage. Coach Ray will be unhappy to hear that after our cold and hard work they have decided to not pay for the satellite anymore. Norfolk did lose quite a few members this year and they are worried about finances.

Hopefully they get a good turnout for the mixed to help them along.

Later,
JH

Second Again

Well for two years in a row we made it the first event final at the Harvest. And for the second time we finished runner-up. Think this is the fourth time now. Oh well, if we keep getting there maybe someday we will win it.

A great time was had by all. Always a good party on Saturday night. I am sure we will be attending next year.

Later,
JH

First event baby

Well we made it to Sunday which is always the goal at a bonspiel. Todays game we all played really well and took no prisoners. Game over after 6 ends. On to the first event final tomorrow. A different opponent as we play against a Utica team. Maybe this is the year to get my name on the trophy as a skip. We will throw the rocks and see what happens.

Not too much partying tonight, maybe till midnight then a good nights sleep for the final.

Hope my kitties are doing okay.

Later,
JH

Same old story

Off to Philly CC for the weekend tomorrow. You have heard the story about the meeting and the kissing and the marriage. But this is the ten year anniversary and Thursday is the exact date of the meeting, Nov. 20. Which is also my Dad's birthday.

He would have been 82 this year. Would have been nice to talk to him tomorrow. Maybe he can help out this weekend with some lucky breaks.

Plovers will also be in attendence. The Pres. is already scoping out places to eat, drink and be merry. Our usual place for lunch and adult beverages is called MacKenzie's. Pretty funny for those in the know.

Now about those costumes. Everything is getting effected by the economy. I was at the Party Store today looking for wigs. $25 a pop, no way. So no costumes for us. They will just have to appreciate us the way we are, old and wrinkled.

Later,
JH