Czeltic Girl

Might as well throw in a Geritol chaser, too

Monday, April 20th, 2009 | Again with the hockey, Life in Czeltistan | 10 Comments

Went to get a beer at the Admirals game on Saturday. The bartender carded me. She looked over my ID, and as she handed it back to me, she told me, “You’re four years younger than my daddy.”

::blank stare::

::stunned attempts to calculate if bartender is actually old enough to serve me::

“It seemed like such a good idea at the time…”

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | Again with the hockey | 4 Comments

Heard them announce this promo at the Admirals game last Friday. Figured I must have heard wrong, but then I got the email today confirming I actually had heard correctly.

Admirals Present Dog Days this Sunday. Bring a Dog Along for only $2

If dog is man’s best friend, then why not treat your best friend to an Admirals game? This Sunday, February 15th the Milwaukee Admirals will host a Dog Day Afternoon, sponsored by Pedigree, when the team battles the Quad City Flames at 4:00 pm at the Bradley Center. Fans can bring their dogs to the game along with them for only $2 and $1 from every dog ticket will be donated to the Wisconsin Humane Society.

I’m all for donating to the Humane Society, but really? Dogs at an indoor hockey game? Do they get 2 minutes in the box if they fight? (Five minutes for fighting a human, obviously, with a misconduct if stitches are needed.) What’s the penalty for peeing on the arena floor?

I’m somewhat tempted to go, just for the mayhem, but my sinuses and eyes are swelling up at the mere thought of being near upwards of 500 dogs, regardless of how big the building is. I think I’ll skip this one.

Well, crap

Thursday, June 28th, 2007 | Again with the hockey | No Comments

Noel Takes Step Up to NHL

The Admirals’ head coach took a job with Columbus. That’s really depressing for Milwaukee hockey. (Columbus fans, you got yourself an excellent coach and a great guy heading your way.)

Thanks, Claude, for all you’ve done for the team and the fans here. We sure will miss you. Best of luck with the Blue Jackets.

One more little hockey fan

Monday, May 7th, 2007 | Again with the hockey | No Comments

Congrats to hockey buddies Mark & Sheila on their new addition today. Welcome to section 202, little Brady Michael. Make sure you’re tied down.

Well, at least it’s an interesting week

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 | Again with the hockey, You Call This News? | 3 Comments

Ah, early April. Spring, right? You’d think so, but no. It’s currently snowing. A lot. Like “up to 10 or 12 inches by tomorrow” a lot. Poor little daffodils. They were all happy to see the warm weather and now they’ll be lucky to see the top of the snow (if they live that long).

I blame Cleveland, personally. Their stadium’s snowed in, so the Indians are in town to play some games at Miller Park. (Get your commemorative t-shirt here.) Looks like they brought the snow with them. Ha ha, guys. Very funny. Don’t forget to take it back home with you when you go.

The weather’s perfect for hockey, though. It’s the end of the AHL regular season and the beginning of the NHL playoff season, so there’s no shortage of games this week. Looks to be a good post-season this year — the Admirals, Red Wings and Predators are all still playing. I could not be happier. (Much as I love my Wings, I think I’m going to have to throw a tiny bit more support behind the Preds. The roster reads like last year’s Admirals’ line-up. Home team boys make good, and all that.)

And speaking of hockey, I found out at last night’s game that hockey-buddy Ian has made it past his final immigration hurdle and is now just awaiting info on what day he’ll be attending his naturalization ceremony. Hooray! (Naturally, he’s already an honorary citizen of Czeltistan. We’re more than ok with dual-citizenship. In fact, it’s kind of required.) So congrats, Ian. Thanks for choosing to add one more sane person to the country. We can use the help.

In slightly sadder news this week, my friend Devi was diagnosed with MS. She’s being amazingly positive about it all, which is kind of inspiring in it’s own right, and even moreso when you find out she’s one of the many Americans without health insurance. Talk about adding insult to injury. This is the part of the story where I should insert a massive screed about the stupidity of this nation not providing health benefits for its citizens, but frankly, it’s too depressing for me to even think about right now. Maybe another time.

Lest I leave you all on such a downer, there are some other good things to be happy about this week. For one, there’s that Friday night Deerlick show I mentioned a few posts earlier. I’m really looking forward to that. (Note to self: Get fresh batteries for the camera.) And Saturday we’ll be having my grandmother’s 90th birthday party. 90! Way to go, Grandma! Then after that, Enter the Haggis is playing at Points East Saturday night. They played at my stage during Irish Fest last year. Unfortunately, since IF moved the merchandise area around to the back side of the stage, I no longer get to see and hear the bands. It’ll be nice to finally get to see an entire set of the band’s. I’m looking forward to seeing them all again. I promise that this time, I’ll try my best not to unknowingly slip into a Toronto accent while talking to them. Kept having to stop myself from doing that at the Fest. I never mean to do that with accents, and it’s never done to poke fun. I’m just kind of a mimic when it comes to accents different from mine. Must be a coping mechanism I have to help me blend in with people I’m talking to. Just don’t ask me to accurately reproduce the accents later, when I’m away from the people speaking them. :)

Ok. I’ve meandered and rambled on long enough. I’m done now. Stop on out to check out one of the bands if you’re looking for something to do Friday or Saturday. Make sure you say hi if you do. I should be pretty easy to find in the crowd.

Good and bad

Saturday, October 7th, 2006 | Again with the hockey, Life in Czeltistan | 3 Comments

On the plus side, hockey season here in Milwaukee starts Saturday night. I’ve given the new uniforms a few months and I still have to give the logo a resounding thumbs down. I’m good with the rest of the jersey (ok, except maybe the font, which sucks, too), but the logo is just sad. I’m excited about the hockey itself, though. Seems like forever since the playoffs and I can’t wait for the opening faceoff. Lots of new kids in the lineup this year, and I’m optimistic about how they’ll do.

On the down side, honorary citizens of Czeltistan, your exalted ruler is no longer part of a couple. I guess it wasn’t much of a surprise on either side, but it still sucks. Somehow I knew this month’s full moon was really, really going to bite. And guess what? It did. A zillion thanks to Miz Christyl for being around for clean-up. And congrats, you’ve got your spot back as my date to parties (including the HD holiday party). But you’re still not gettin’ a kiss.

And again on the plus side, friend, Irish Fest buddy and favorite bartender, Tim’s, father had double bypass surgery and a valve replacement Friday and came through with flying colors. So at least there was a bright spot in the day. Get well soon, Dick. Glad to hear everything went smoothly.

Ok. So it’s bedtime for me, internets. Posting’s either going to be very sparse or very intense next week. Guess I’ll figure that out after a night or two of sleeping on an otherwise craptastic week.

Worse than we could have expected

Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 | Again with the hockey | 13 Comments

Well, the new Admirals logo is released.

The jerseys aren’t bad… if you put a different crest on them. And ditch that stupid blue line through the font.

*sigh*

Gee. Never could have seen this coming. *snicker*

Update: Tim’s got a nice rant over at his site about the new logo. And after 12+ hours of milling it over, I have decided that this is possibly the Worst. Sports Logo. Ever.

Seriously.

Even the skeleton I got in my McDonald’s Happy Meal (scroll down) is more menacing.

95 degrees and we’re thinking hockey?

Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 | Again with the hockey | No Comments

It’s New Logo Day for the Admirals. Gonna brave the heat tonight to go see what they’ve come up with. I’ll have photos tomorrow, I suspect.

Foo.

Friday, June 16th, 2006 | Again with the hockey | 2 Comments

Congrats to the Hershey Bears on their Calder Cup victory last night. Wish it could have been the Admirals holding up that cup instead, but whatcha gonna do? Making it to game 6 of the finals is no small feat. The Ads should be proud of themselves. (And ending the season in mid-June is sooooo much better than ending it in April.)

So now I wander about, slightly confused for a few weeks, wondering what to do without hockey. And then Irish Fest prep and the festival itself hits. And then fall comes (and I do so enjoy when it’s fall and not summer any more). And then, before you know it, it’s hockey season again. (Hooray!)

Bring some chocolate with you, Bears

Tuesday, May 30th, 2006 | Again with the hockey | No Comments

Hershey won their series against Portland tonight, so the Calder Cup finals will be the Milwaukee Admirals vs. Hershey Bears. Games start in Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday night, 7pm each night. If you’re coming to any of the Bradley Center games, stop by section 202 and say hi. (Oh, you’ll find me. Just look for the Tobler jersey.)

YES!!

Wednesday, May 24th, 2006 | Again with the hockey | No Comments

There was much nail-biting at tonight’s Admirals game, but it was all worth it — the Admirals swept Grand Rapids (two series sweeps in a row!) to become the AHL Western Conference champs! Now we just wait out Tuesday night’s Portland/Hershey game to see who the team plays and whether or not they have home ice.

Ok. That’s it for me for today. I’m a little hoarse, my hands hurt from clapping, and I’m tired. It’s most definitely nap time.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Wednesday, May 24th, 2006 | Again with the hockey, Life in Czeltistan | 1 Comment

On Monday, our print producer/archivist/image manager at work gave her notice. Quite depressing, really, seeing as how she’s been with the company almost 10 years and is very, very good at her job. To say that it will be difficult to adequately replace her is something of an understatement.

Not that I didn’t decide to give that a try. As of next week, I’m the new archivist/image manager (along with still maintaining some web production and Flash duties). Yay, me! I’m looking forward to it, as I’m oddly entertained by doing things like that. It makes me happy to organize things. (Note for those of you who know me: “Organizing” and “cleaning” are two entirely different things. Stop smirking like that. Especially you, R.)

Mind you, we’re still S.O.L. on finding a replacement print producer, since that’s something I neither want to do nor would be any good at. (Yes, let’s send the person who doesn’t really see subtle color differences all that well on a press check, shall we?)

So, yeah. Between all that, and meeting R’s family over the weekend (12 of ‘em at once! But it went well, I think) and the Admirals‘ playoff games (one more win and it’s on to the Calder Cup finals!), it’s been kind of exciting around here lately.

Things I learned this weekend

Monday, May 8th, 2006 | Again with the hockey, Life in Czeltistan | 5 Comments

1) I really like watching my local hockey team crush another team 7-0 during the playoffs and it’s all sorts of fun to be able to sing the “great big sieve” song for two different goalies during the same game.

2) Going out shopping for baby items (for the niecephew and a friend’s baby — don’t anyone go getting all excited) results in a side trip to a liquor store. Apparently I’m unable to spend more than 2 minutes in the baby section, looking at all that schmaltzy pink and blue cuddly crap, without thinking “I really should pick up some booze, too.”

3) There is not nearly enough baby stuff with monkeys on it. Nor can you find anything in black. Tch. Lame.

Quick change

Monday, March 27th, 2006 | Again with the hockey | No Comments

These days, hockey intermission entertainment at Admirals games is largely pee-wee games or contests involving fans making fools of themselves for some sort of prize. But up until a couple years ago, entertainers were regularly brought in, including a duo known as “Quick Change.” They were my favorites. Their act is half ballroom dance moves and half instantaneous costume change. I still can’t figure out how they do it, but it’s fascinating to watch.

Slate’s got a good article on them. Make sure you check out the video so you can see them in action.

I was wondering why we hadn’t seen them around the arena in a few years. Guess they’ve moved up to the lucrative NBA circuit. Damn. Our loss.

No smooch for you

Wednesday, March 15th, 2006 | Again with the hockey | 3 Comments

A memo to the Admirals‘ “kiss cam” operator:

If two people are sitting with a seat in between them, there’s probably a very good chance they’re not a couple. I love Hockey Buddy dearly, but I’m not gonna lay a big ol’ romantic smooch on him for your Jumbotron amusement and so I can win a $10 gift certificate to an overpriced pub.

R.I.P., y’all

Tuesday, October 25th, 2005 | Again with the hockey, You Call This News? | No Comments

Kyle Schultz, the voice of my local hockey team, the Admirals, passed away over the weekend. I only met him a couple of times, but he seemed like a very nice guy. And besides, 41 is just too young to go.

Another sports figure with Milwaukee roots, The Crusher, also died this week.

And I don’t think anyone’s missed the news about Rosa Parks‘ death at 92. She had a long life, but it’s still sad to see her go. We need more like her.

Dear NBA players: STFU

Friday, October 21st, 2005 | Again with the hockey, You Call This News? | 1 Comment

Is anyone else besides me sick of the NBA players whining about the new dress code? Oh, waaaahhh. You poor things have to dress up when you’re going to official functions or when you’re in attendance for a game but not suited up to play. How horrible for you!! How ever will you survive?? You’ll just have to wear your street clothes and all your bling on your own time… just like most everyone else who has a job. Get over it, you sissies. If this is the biggest issue in your lives, you clearly don’t have enough problems to deal with. I bet we could find some truly burdened people who could share some of theirs. Hell, you can even have some of mine. They’re relatively minor, but they’re still more bother than “when do I have to dress up?”

See — this is another reason to like hockey. Hockey players have been dressing up for official events for years and you don’t hear them holding press conferences to whine. Actually, it’s kind of classy to see guys in suits wandering around the arena. Plus it makes it much easier to play a game of “spot the evening’s scratches,” which is always entertaining.

Where ships go to die

Friday, October 14th, 2005 | Again with the hockey, Fun With Teh Intarweb | No Comments

Very cool photos of the Staten Island Boat Graveyard. (via The Morning News)

That’s all I’ve got for today, unfortunately. It’s another busy Friday and I’ve got to get out of work on time tonight to get to the Admirals’ season opener. Yay! Hockey! (Though it’s a bit warm in this jersey today. Uh, weather gods, it’s October. 72 is a bit toasty.)

Oh, hell (part II)

Friday, August 26th, 2005 | Again with the hockey | 9 Comments

From the Business Journal:

The Milwaukee Admirals hockey club has hired Yes Men Corp., Milwaukee, to design a new logo and develop a new color scheme for the American Hockey League franchise.

An investment group led by Harris Turer, a Milwaukee property management executive, purchased the Admirals from the estate of Jane Pettit in January.

Since 1976, when Jane and Lloyd Pettit purchased the minor league hockey team from Bill Chimo, the Admirals have used a “Captain Crunch-like” character, said Joe Locher, president of the Yes Men ad and design firm.

“We want to retool the brand by getting away from the old Admiral and with the idea it has to be more appealing to kids,” said Locher, who hopes to have the new look ready for the season that gets under way in October.

Oh, good. “More appealing to kids” than Captain Crunch? I have to cry now.

Also, I find it funny that that particular statement comes from a guy with a 20-gauge stainless steel business card that has instructions for how to use it to kill people. (Not that I’m against that, necessarily. I just think it’s odd he wants to do “kid-friendly.”)

Game over, man. Game over.

Sunday, May 1st, 2005 | Again with the hockey | No Comments

Drat. No more hockey for the season after tonight, which means no Calder Cup for the Admirals this year. Ah, well. As Hockey Buddy points out, on the bright side, it saves us on gas money and it means our vacation days can be used for something besides hockey travel. And unlike our opponents from this round, at least we’ll still have a team next year.