what I did on my Christmas vacation...

I am so talented

Yeah, I'm a dork.

But I'm a dork with a kick-ass new scarf...
|

best. Christmas present. ever.

I went to see Matt and Rhona last night - it's been ages since I've seen them & I had a souvenir from the National Zoo for Autumn that's been hanging out here, cowering in terror from the dog's advances, since November. And since I'm fully over whatever icky stomach bug I had last week, it seemed a good time to visit.

I can't get over how big Autumn has gotten. She's all smiles & giggles, and her face lit up when she saw the red-eyed tree frog stuffed animal I brought. ("Ugliest thing I've ever seen," says George. I think it's friggin' adorable. Autumn agrees.) It was fun to see them, even though I didn't stay long because I knew they had to get Autumn bathed & put to bed.

They got me a Christmas present. I felt bad, because I didn't get anything for anyone this year, outside our families. Christmas has kind of snuck up on me because of how busy we've been and all the things we have going on this year. But this is, hands down, the best Christmas present ever: Sabres in Traffic, a book of photos by Mark Dellas, who is the photographer who did what we affectionately refer to as the "GAP ad photos" of the Sabres that are hung all around the arena concourse. Rhona was certain I must already have it - she didn't write any message inside until after I opened it, just in case I had to return it - but I was totally unaware he'd done a book of photos.

Positively stunning. I love photography - especially with interesting effects - and I love hockey. And of course I am completely in love with the amazing team we've had the privilege to watch for the last season and a half. So I'd say it's a pretty perfect gift. Now I'm simply jealous that this guy has had the amazing vantage point he's had to photograph the team the way he has - in portrait and in action. Just amazing.

Way better, I'd say, than a red-eyed tree frog stuffed animal. But I've got a whole year to come up with something equally amazing for them, for next Christmas.
|

HSBC Arena - 1, random car - 0

penalty to #HSBC, 2 minutes, interference. penalty to #AVB-9767, 2 minutes, unsportsmanlike-driving.

Penalty to #HSBC, 2 minutes, interference. Penalty to #AVB-9767, 2 minutes, unsportsmanlike–driving.

Apparently the driver blew the stop sign at the intersection of Washington & Perry. Still not sure how she managed to get her car up on top of the trash can like that.
|

...

Things are not looking good for Laura Gainey, who was washed overboard the Picton Castle by a rogue wave on Friday night. Laura is the 25-year-old daughter of Habs GM Bob Gainey. She was not wearing survival gear when she went overboard, and as of this morning she's been in the water nearly 60 hours.

I can't imagine what her father, her brother, and her sisters are going through right now. I don't want to imagine it; it's too horrible to contemplate. My heart goes out to them.

Update: The US Coast Guard suspended its search for Laura at 6PM Monday.  
|

WGR makes a funny

Sabres Delight.

Cracks my shit up. Seriously.
|