Karen

The Joy of Skating July 30, 2008

I love it when there is open ice and I can have the whole rink to myself even if its too early in the morning. I love how everything sounds so crisp. From the sounds my skates make to the “crack” the puck makes when I nail it into the boards, its something that seems to call to me, driving me to keep coming back for more. Every noise echoes and seems larger than life in the rink.

It’s almost August and its hot and humid out but here at the rink its cool. Sure I don’t have a tan but I’m Irish and tanning is a BAD idea for me anyway. I’d much rather be under the florescent lights of the rink anyway.

Even the smell is attractive to me. There is something about the smell of a rink that always gets me fired up. I don’t know how to describe it but it smells “cold” or maybe it smells of cold sweat.

The only thing better than the rink is skating outside on a frozen pond. I haven’t done that for years. It gets cold enough here for them to freeze over to where they are safe. But between work and school and team commitments, I just haven’t had the time to seek out some of the old lakes we used to skate on back in the day. This winter, when it gets cold enough, I want to get down to at least the lake by the house and skate.

Bobbie Burke is the main character in "Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

Summer Session One is in the books July 27, 2008

The July camp finished up. Decent group of kids for the most part. The August session starts in a week. (They gave us a week off in between sessions.) Some of the kids were really good and others…. well some of them really sucked.

From what they said, my two best forwards are coming back for August. We should have a lot of fun. They are really good players and love the game. If they stick with it, I’m sure the colleges will be beating down the doors to get to them. And the cool part is, I can say that I helped them get there.

I had an odd experience with one of the Dad’s from camp. As they were waiting for the kids to come out of the locker room, its normal for us staff to wander around with the parents in case they had questions or to try to sell the August session. Well, this one Dad came up and asked me out. That doesn’t happen often to me but its really weird when it happens. He seemed nice but way too old for me. I tried to be nice and told him that I can’t go out with a parent of one of my students. I don’t go out with parents of my students and I defiantly don’t date hockey players.

Bobbie Burke is the main character in "Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

Odd things at the rink July 22, 2008

It’s kind of weird. We’ve had some of the same new faces watching us at practice and at some of our games. They aren’t new “Rink Bunnies” either. Just vague, middle aged guys. None of the guys on the team know them but Dylan swears that they are scouts looking at him to go and play in the “Big Show”.

Our league is pretty decent and we should be placed well in the playoffs next month. Its a short season mostly for the kids from college to play in. Even though I graduated already (twice), they invited me back. Eventually, I’ll have to move up to an older league, like my brothers all have. I’ll worry about that when it happens. For now, I’m just happy to be playing.

Bobbie Burke is the main character in "Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

Hockey Life July 17, 2008

We just had a game in the summer league. I got two goals and would have gotten a third if it wasn’t for Dylan showboating and not being a team player. The refs don’t like it when you punch your own players though. At least I’ve been playing enough to know that and I’ll save it for tomorrow’s practice. I don’t think coach will be too upset with me since I’ve been playing for him on and off for the past ten years. I think even the coach wants to hit Dylan.

We’ve had a few new faces show up at the game. Dylan swears they are scouts looking at him. If it wasn’t the same tune he’s been playing since the first day of practice it might be funny. I know the best thing to do is to tune him out and let him make his own realizations but he is just so annoying.

The pee wee camp is going well now that the boys know that I won’t take their crap anymore. Speed drills are usually the best way to stop the wining. Either that or threaten to not let them come back. There are only a few times where we have had to go and kick a kid out of the program but I don’t think that will happen this year.

I really do like training with the forwards. Once they try to run drills with me it usually proves my worth but the first week is always the hardest.

Bobbie Burke is the main character in "Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

Moving Forward

I finished my personal round of edits on “Fire and Ice” and I’ve sent the OK word to the person designing the cover.  As soon as that is final, I will definitely posting the cover art.  I can’t wait to see it!

I hope everyone is enjoying Bobbie’s blogging and getting to know her before her big debut.  She’s a fun one and I do have plans to further her story along with some of the other characters while introducing some new players.

Has anyone seen that show on Soap Net called “MVP”?  If not, here’s the run down.  Its a pro hockey team in Canada.  Basically, take the BBC’s “Footballers’ Wives” and take out the soccer and replace it with hockey almost literally.  They have already had the rookie’s girlfriend show up unexpectedly.  Haven’t seen the men skate once and when you see them walk in skates it reminds me of watching a young teen girl trying to walk in heels.  (Plus the men are too small, in general, to be hockey players).  I’ll probably watch a few more episodes because I did enjoy “Footballer’s Wives” but I’m not sure.  I’d love to hear your thoughts about the show.

Frustrations July 14, 2008

I HATE DYLAN! ‘Nuf said!

Bobbie Burke is the main character in "Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

My Niece’s first lesson July 12, 2008

My niece had her first lesson with me today. First lessons are always the hardest, especially when the parents are constantly taking pictures of us. Its some what of a normal thing for parents to do. They are trying to document their child’s first lessons for if they become a world famous figure skater or hockey player.

Despite the flashing camera, I think the lesson went well, despite my SIL sending her to me with fleece gloves. It was kind of funny when she fell and went to get up. The fleece actually froze to the ice! At least she wasn’t wearing fleece pants.

I have no idea if she’s ever going to become a great skater but I know she’ll be a good one.

Bobbie Burke is the main charcter in "Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

The team is good but… July 7, 2008

I’m going to kill this new “kid” on the team. Its his first year that he’s old enough to play with us. Dylan finished his sophomore year of college and thinks he’s all that because he make his college hockey team. I mean, good for him for making it but its only a Division 3 school. Its not like my team where it was somewhat regular that players would leave to turn pro when his division rarely sees that happen.

He thinks he’s going to be the next big thing and that the scouts are looking at him. Yeah, freakin’ right. If he would stop showboating and actually play he could be good but he’s so interested in who may be watching him. Times like that, I just want to smack him. Today at practice I swear coach was going to egg me on to do just that. And its only the second practice.

I can’t believe that I just ranted that much about that stupid kid. Oh well, its better than taking it out on someone else I guess.

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Pee wee camp is going on and its nice to have the extra ice time. Its funny, all the new kids I get think that I’m just some dumb girl and at first they don’t listen to me. It’s hard playing a “Man’s” sport but in a way I don’t know how to do anything else. I do enjoy teaching the kiddies most of the time and it is very rewarding to see how much they have improved during their time with me but I wish there was more I could do. I guess I just have to wait until the next Olympic trials and pray I don’t get the flu again.

Bobbie Burke is the main character in ""Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

Happy 4th of July July 4, 2008

Happy Forth of July!

I’m off to my brother’s house (Bill) for a good ol’ BBQ. Not sure what I’ll do after that but I’ll probably go over one of my team mate’s home and hang out. Can’t stay out too late though. I have to be on the ice by 6am if I’m going to get any ice time before the pee wee’s show up.

Bobbie Burke is the main character in "Fire and Ice" due out October 2008.

Summer League and my Niece July 3, 2008

My summer league team is pretty decent. We have some college kids that came back. They’re okay but there’s no way they are going to make it to the “big show”. I should know, I played with a few of the guys in college that decided to leave school and turn pro. Some of them never made it out of the minors but a few of them, including Mark Jefferson is currently playing for Baltimore.

The thing that gets me is that I was just as good (and maybe still am) as the lucky few to turn pro. I even had the most points on the team my senior year. Oh well, that’s life I guess. I love working at the rink but I think I need to start working on putting my MBA to good use. I’ve heard that Boston is hiring in their front office. As long as I have time to keep training to try and make the Olympics, it should be a fun job although I’d rather be on the ice. Working at the rink makes it easy for me to sneak in training sessions.

My niece is turning three this weekend so I’m going to give her skating lessons for her birthday. My sister in law doesn’t seem to really like the idea of her baby playing hockey but my brother, Mike, is thrilled with the idea. It’s not like she’s going to start fighting on the ice on her first lesson. It will be a while before she even gets to hold a stick. The only way I could get everyone’s “blessings” was to tell my SIL that the skills she learns could also lead to figure skating (Ha, like that’s going to happen in this family. My niece is built just like her father.)

Bobbie Burke is the main character in "Fire and Ice" coming out in October 2008.