Other Pursuits

My wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary yesterday and it got me thinking about time and how quickly it passes. Twenty years seems to go by in a heartbeat, while here we sit, day after day, waiting for some progress in the CBA stalemate. Oh sure, they’re going to talk again on Friday, and I’m sure they’ll leave the meeting saying things like “not much progress was made, but at least we’re communicating.”

You’d think that with the NHL gone, I’d have time to concentrate on other, more cerebral activities. I could read more.  I could watch some well-regarded TV series on DVD like Homeland, The Wire or Breaking Bad. Maybe go to the gym and get in better shape. Who knows, maybe even work on the crumbling floor in my garage, right?  Ok, let's not get carried away here and stick to things I can accomplish from the couch.

I just re-subscribed to Netflix with the hopes of knocking off a bunch of movies and TV shows during the lockout.  First up on the list:  "The Cabin in the Woods" and "Battleship".  I'm also about halfway through China Mieville's "Perdido Street Station".  Maybe this lockout won't be a totally bad thing for my pursuit of other interests, right?

It will be a challenge, however.  So far, my so-called free time has been spent sleeping more, watching bad TV, getting angry at the replacement NFL referees and watching more bad TV. I should block E! from my TV Guide, seriously. Last night I watched “Cooking with David” on QVC; I am going slowing insane.

Watching hockey gives me purpose; it’s the one thing I feel confident about. Some people will know exactly what to do if you need to install a better front door on your house, others know why my son’s car has trouble starting. Me? I know hockey, somewhat. Without the NHL there is a void that can’t be filled up by the baseball playoffs or a new season of Kardashians. Please figure this out soon before I forget why I hate the Canucks so much.

Bakery Banter Gonzaga

Ok, I guess I can't really think of things to write about pastries on a regular basis so it's back to hockey for me.  Feel free to continue to send donuts to the WPB Headquarters, though.  For every dozen you send, I'll give you a shout-out on the blog.

Tobie's in Hinckley

I had one hell of a good Maple Long John at Tobie's in Hinckley, Minnesota on Saturday.  Well done.

Lockout Consequences

If, as expected, the NHL enters a lockout on September 15th, this blog will change its focus.  On September 16, 2012 we will become "Wild Bakery Banter" and start posting articles and reviews concerning area pastry shops.  Truthfully.

Hockey Gives Me Gas

To me, hockey is like Mexican food.  There are a thousand reasons why I shouldn't like to eat it, but I keep coming back.  It's too spicy and gives me gas.  Dos Equis gives me a headache every single time.  Despite eating 3 enchiladas I'm hungry 30 minutes later.  But if someone texted me now to meet them at Chipotle for a quick burrito, I'd be on the way.

Hockey is like this to me.  Am I happy that they have to have a work stoppage every few years in order to get their financial house in order?  Hell no.  I hate the fact that the owners cannot police themselves.  I hate it that the players hired Donald Fehr to represent them, knowing work stoppages are in his DNA.  I don't much like the local Wild TV guys.  Ticket prices are too expensive for me to buy season tickets.  Independent hockey blogs are going the way of the Dodo.  The best college hockey conference is also going away after this season.  The Wild play in a Division I don't like.  Vancouver.  Teams that play a game not to lose it.  I don't like the shootout; what's the matter with a tie?  Some games are worth three points and others worth two.  My favorite hockey blog has become too Red Wing centric.  Fox Sports North and KFAN think Kevin Gorg is a hockey expert.  Only east coast teams play in the Winter Classic.  Sidney is everywhere.  Vancouver.

Yet despite these reasons, and many more I can't go into here, I love the game of hockey far and above any other sports.  Maybe it's because of these hatreds that I love it so much; I need to hate in order to care.  In any event, there are far more reasons for me to enjoy the game than there are to hate it.  Love it or hate it, I just don't want to become indifferent about it.