Karen

All is quiet August 27, 2008

All the college kids are gone and the pee wee camps are over. There really isn’t anything going on except a few private lessons and babysitting the free skate. At least no one really comes in to skate in the end of the summer so I can play around or practice. If anyone shows up to skate, I have to remove all the hockey gear. I’m hoping to get a few good days of practice in while everyone’s away.

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

Yay! We won! August 19, 2008

Yay! We won the league title! It was so great to win, even if the trophy is small. It will sit in the trophy window until next summer.

After the game we all went out to O’Riley’s, even the underage kids. At eleven, the kids all got kicked out but the rest of us stayed until closing at two in the morning.

It was also a bit sad. The college kids are all leaving so we really won’t see them until next summer, if they come back. I miss my college days but not enough to go back. What I really wish is that I could go back and play on the team in college. To play like that again would be a dream come true.

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

Last game coming up! August 15, 2008

One more game to go! One more game to deal with Dylan. I’ve been good and not punched him all season. So what if I’ve knocked him on his butt several times. The refs never caught me and coach never seemed to be looking in my way both at practice and the games. No one else touches him. They let me, the captain, take care of him. (Gee thanks guys.) At least I don’t have to deal with him in the locker room for too long. I’m only in the locker room for a little bit of time before we take the ice. Lets just say that Mr. Dylan’s probably not going to get an invite back to play next year.

I really hope we do well in Monday’s game. If we win, we win the league. I know it doesn’t really matter but its such a great feeling to win. The team we’re up against is pretty good and we’ve gone 1-1 with them so it can go either way really. It comes down to who wants it more. I guess I’m like most players, I want to win and I want all the work I’ve done to be worth it. The idea of winning and getting to play gets me out of bed and my butt on the ice or out running. Sure there are days that I’d rather stay in bed, especially on days that I’m sore.

I tried sleeping in and the guilt of not doing something drove me nuts. The idea that if I didn’t run drills or work on my endurance might cause us to loose a game was too much. I’ll play hockey until I can’t any longer. Heck, I even tried to get on the ice during the Olympic team trials. That was until I yakked right before I had to take the ice. The on ice trainer came over and realized I was running a fever and basically sent me home. Only a year till the next trials.

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

Two more to go August 11, 2008

Two more games to go before we’re done this season. The next team I play for doesn’t start up until mid October so I’ll be working out on my own for a while. Its a nice break though, to go from team to only training individually once in a while. I still train by myself when I’m on a team but when there is no team it can be challenging to check where my skills are when I’m not playing against someone.

The kids in the pee wee camp have come a long way this summer. I think they will be taking a lot from what they learned into their league teams in the fall. Maybe some day, years from now, I’ll be coaching them. I hope I won’t have to coach for a long while but I know I can’t play hockey forever either.

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

First Place and Cheeseburgers August 7, 2008

We’ve secured first place in the summer league! We’re all really happy about this and went out for drinks last night. Well, those who could go out for drinks at O’Riley’s so it was really like half the team that showed up. We didn’t exclude anyone due to age but the younger ones just didn’t show. O’Riley’s is a nice restaurant/pub that has relatively cheep food and decent beer that’s not too far from the rink. I personally love their cheeseburgers with fries (of course).

I stayed out a bit too late though and today I’m paying for it a bit. I feel like my butt is dragging but I still did my morning run and got to the rink on time. In college, we would stay out much later and I’d be fine the next day. Man, getting “old” sucks. I’m only 24 so I think I have a few more good years left.

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

Two months to go! August 4, 2008

I noticed the date today and realized that I only have two months before the Collingswood Book Festival!  How scary is that.  I’m thrilled but terrified and can’t wait to launch.

The cover is being designed and I should get the book back from my editor (thanks Amy!) very soon.  I can’t believe how quickly this is all coming together and it’s really happening.  As soon as the cover art is finished and approved, I’ll be putting it up for all to see.  I can’t wait to see the final copy myself!

I will have real books printed but I will also have digital books also for sale on my publsher’s site (www.FireballPublishing.net).  Actually, all internet sales will be through Fireball Publishing’s site.

If there is anyone looking for a real world event to purchase my book and have it autographed, I am starting to set up events for after October 4th.  Let me know if you want me to appear at a location close to you.  Unfortuantly, it will have to be relatively near by to the Delaware Valley because my travel budget is rather small at this time.

Little kids skating August 2, 2008

Only a few more games to go before the season is over and the college kids go back to school (and Dylan too – yay!). We’re ranked second out of ten teams but if we win tonight, we’ll be back in first.

Being Captain can be very hard at times. I need to show leadership on the ice and everyone knows I can teach so that helps too. At least being captain doesn’t stop me from fighting on the ice… but only when “necessary”. (At least that’s what I tell coach.)

My niece’s skating lessons are going well. She’s staying on her feet more and usually moves the direction she wanted to. She’s also just starting to not fall as much. It can take a bit of time to get the feel on what it’s like on skates and the little kids don’t usually understand that. They just want to GO!

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