After a series of subpar games, I had a solid game in net last night in a 5-3 win.  I was sharp right out of the gate and didn’t let in a single bad goal.  As normal, there was room for improvement, but I just felt good about having a solid game.  The last couple weeks my performance in net has been less than stellar which is not where I wanted to be.  I am going to take this momentum into the game tonight and then into the playoff game on Sunday.

On another “finally” moment, I have been working on my website.  Last night I fixed a couple problems with the photo gallery and now I have some administrative work to finish.  The album names need some fixing and I need to add some descriptions as well.  Still, moving from gallery2 to gallery3 will be a worthwhile upgrade when its finished.  I just have a bad taste in my mouth from having to move without using the migration tool.  Its extra work I didn’t expect to have to sink into my website.  I hope that gallery3 to gallery4 will be much easier.

Lastly, this Friday I am going to dedicate three days per week at skating more aggressively.  With reffing starting up in about two months, I have to shake the rust off, put the skates on, and keep working hard.  The only way to do that is to skate more often with all my ref gear on.  I will probably stick out like a sore thumb, but at this stage, I really don’t care.  My focus is on getting ready for the new season.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

I have had a Gallery2 photo gallery on my site for the longest time.  The software and plugins are really quite neat.  I never thought it would be a pain in the ass to upgrade, but in this case it was.  All I wanted to do is migrate to the new Gallery3.  Yet, the migration wouldn’t doesn’t work as intended.  I kept getting this issue with “@todo G2_Function_Failed”.  As I researched this more and more, I found out that I was getting some strange problem with the import tool not finding the correct Gallery2 version.  It wasn’t even an error when the import tool ran.  It had a green checkbox next to the “Gallery version 0 detected”.

I browsed forums and googled the problem and couldn’t find anyone with the solution.  Some people were talking about the problem when Gallery2 wasn’t working.  Well, that wasn’t it on my end as Gallery2 was working just fine.  Finally, after looking off and on for over 3 months, I just opted to do a fresh import of the pictures and be done with it.

A couple negatives from doing it this way.  First thing is that I lost all my comments and ratings for each picture.  I was ok with that anyway.  The most important thing is that I also lost all my album names and comments that I have to retype.  I am going to get started on them now, but I have a long way to go until I complete them all.

This whole situation has really made me rethink my whole online photo gallery.  I had this in place for ease of use, but upgrading was not that simple.  It really shouldn’t be that freaking hard to upgrade a piece of software on a website.  Especially something like a photo gallery.  WordPress has done a great job with making it simple to administrate.  Gallery3 has a ways to go.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

For the first time in the last few months, I am feeling physically drained today.  I took some pain killers for my pounding head, and they aren’t helping very much.  Maybe its because of the start of a new hockey season and I have played three games in the last four evenings.  It doesn’t matter how I got here, but I am already thinking about what I can do to recover.

I am really not a person that looks forward to a weekend or time off.  Work is enjoyable to me, and I enjoy every day that comes my way.  Today is slightly different because of my lack of energy level.  I think this weekend I am going to rest up and get ready for a new week.

Last night when I got back from hockey, I spent some time looking into android/iphone centralized management.  I really don’t like Blackberry Enterprise Server, and with more users wanting to have more capabilities on their phones, this seems like a natural progression.  When I looked at the clock last night and it read 10:20pm, I should have went to bed.  Instead, I stayed up and continued my research.  This is probably part of the problem.

My hockey teams did ok this past week.  I went 1-2, and with ice hockey playoffs starting this week, I am really eager to make a more positive impact.  Especially since I really didn’t play that solid in a 5-3 loss in my last ice hockey game.  I didn’t play exceptionally well in either of my roller games this week.  I am also looking to rebound stronger next week in that area.

Even with all the hockey games I am playing, I am still very much looking forward to reffing again.  My USA Hockey seminar is in about a month.  I will have some time to really read through the new rules before the seminar starts.  This year is going to be my defining year in reffing.  All I have to do is not only pass the level 3 closed book test, but also pick up my efforts to get games.

Early to bed tonight.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

I had a great return to the hockey rink on Sunday, but the result was not what I wanted.  Lost 5-3, and while I was upset with the end result, I was more upset at every bounce that went against me.  A couple shots went by even after I got pieces of them.  Maybe if I am on my game, we win that game.  Still, how often am I on my game now that I am pushing 40.

Still, it was good to get out there and play again.  The last two weeks have been filled with everything but hockey.  Starting a new job has taken a good chunk of time out.  I should take more time out for hockey on the break between seasons, but with USA Hockey refereeing starting up here in a couple months, I really don’t have a lot of motivation to do so.  Refereeing is something I really enjoy and it seems that during the summer months, I have a limited time I am away from skating and playing hockey.  In the fall, winter, and spring it seems I am always on the ice.

Looking forward to playing later this week that’s for sure.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

At the beginning of the season, I was hopeful I would reach 30 championships.  I came up one short, but I did very well in playoffs over the weekend.  I came into playoffs with two teams under my belt.  My beginner team, Sam Bernstein Advantage, finished 3rd in the conference and played very solid in their first two games. 

• The first game was against Putt Putts Bar and we won 6-2.  I thought we played great as a team and cycled the puck.  One of our true beginner skaters had his first career hat trick, which was a huge boost to the team.
• The second game we played against Dr. Rahmani who was 2nd in the division, and we won that one as well 4-1.  We had two empty netters at the end, but it was still good enough to advance.  What a great team effort win, and I think this was one of my best games that I played all night.
• The championship game we lost 7-3 against the 1st place Soilers.  Yes the team was far superior, but I feel I didn’t play my best game.  With my best game, maybe the score is closer and we have a chance to pull that one out.

After losing one championship, I delivered on the other one with 8 Men and a Little Lady (I wonder who the lady is?) with a 4-0 shutout win.  I can’t take credit for the win entirely.  Yes, I played well, but the Phantoms just couldn’t put the puck in the net and they had a lot of opportunities to score late in the game.  I really didn’t rob them, but I played solid enough and my team in front of me really bailed me out.

That victory means that I am one step closer to 30 championships, with hopefully an opportunity to hit my goal in playoffs next season in July.  For now though, I am going to enjoy the success I have had.  As I remember from last season, I really thought that I would hit my goal then, and I went through a dry spell that extended through the entire year.  Seemed that I just couldn’t put it together when it mattered.

Overall, I am thankful for the players I have gotten a chance to play with and against over the course of the season.  Scott, a great defenceman on my intermediate team, is moving to Florida and I am going to miss playing hockey with him.  Justin, a good friend that I have gotten the chance to play against for years, is moving to Colorado.  I know that people come and people go, but its tough to see good friends move on.

I was physically tired after playing 4 games on Saturday.  I should have rested on Sunday, but instead I reffed and I am really feeling it today.  I am going to enjoy resting over the course of the next week or so.  Then, next season, I will be ready to rock and roll.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

With the way this season has gone, a win on my ice hockey team should feel good.  We haven’t won a game since we won in the playoffs before the Christmas season.  That was the game my team turned in a 2-1 victory against the 2nd seeded team in the playoffs.  It was a game that we played well as a team, but I really excelled at.  It was the best game I played in a long time.  Well, last night we won our game and it was a 9-8 shootout.  My performance was subpar.  I really fought the puck all night and while I did make some decent saves, I really struggled.  The win was nice, but after the game I was feeling pretty down on myself for really stinking up the place, even though we won the game.

Got a stick right in my ribcage last night and today I am feeling it.  I am still looking forward to reffing a bit this weekend, but with my ribs hurting today, I am ready to rest a lot this weekend if possible.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

Hockey this season has been slow so far.  I had only two games last week due to the snowstorm that dumped over a foot on us.  Both of which were losses, but my roller team’s loss was a tight game which made me feel pretty good.  I really wish I could steal a game for my ice team, but so far I haven’t been able to do that.  This week I only get to play 2 games because one of my teams had a bye week.  Maybe I should be happy that I am getting a little downtime here and there. 

Last weekend on Sunday, I reffed and then played football in the snow in the annual super bowl showdown outside.  My body was pretty well aching by the time the first game was over.  Two days later, I was still recovering from that.  Last night in my game, my left knee was a little painful and I really didn’t want to butterfly much at all.  I hope it is better today, but it’s the first bout of knee pain I have had to deal with since last year.

Its February already, and speaking of moving along, time continues to move along at a rapid pace.  Life has been good to me, and I have had a lot of fun in my work, travels, and just in life in general.  Those good times just make things go even faster.  Its February already, and before I know it, March will be here, and then June and my birthday, and then December.

Just keep moving along, that’s the key.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

After injuring my back over 2 weeks ago, I skated for the first time on Saturday the 22nd and felt fine.  Last night I played my first hockey game, after resting for almost 2 weeks with only stretching exercises.  It feels good to have my flexibility back and my confidence level is high since I played pain free.  The only bad thing is that we lost 6-2, which wasn’t totally my fault, but I was a bit rusty after not playing hockey for over a week and a half and with minimal exercising.  I am going to have to play at the top of my game every week to give us a shot at winning.  Last night, my effort was not good enough.  Just have to get back on the horse next week.

Speaking of next week, the new roller season starts and I am excited to be playing again in a couple leagues.  Just like last season though, I need to deliver in the clutch.  I think last season was one of the best seasons I played hockey, and I don’t know why.  Some of the games we won last season were very close, and I was happy with my performance in all of them.  Just seems like the few seasons before that I couldn’t deliver in the clutch and my teams confidence fell as a result.  I just feel that I have turned a corner and am back in the saddle again.

Now I just need to deliver again.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

When I see commercials on television talking about chronic back pain, I would usually say to myself that I am lucky not to have that.  After tweaking my back last week, I have a whole new appreciation for pain killers.  Not being able to sit comfortably or lay down comfortably for the last few days has really been a pain (no pun intended).  The good thing is that I see the light at the end of the tunnel I think.  My back pain is slowly disappearing.  I haven’t taken a Ibuprofen yet today, and I am able to sit comfortably in my chair as well.  With any luck, by Saturday I should be totally better so long as I rest it.

I am missing ice hockey on Thursday this week, so this small injury is not without its costs.  My focus is on getting better, and doing some reffing on Saturday.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.

After over a year of playoff disappointment, I finally got to the top once again.  My Wednesday team accomplished their 1st championship since the days when we were playing at Marketlab.  A 3-1 victory against Bluevortex.net and a 7-0 victory over the phantoms.  Two of the biggest victories in a row that we have had in a playoff series.  One thing is certain, we all came to play, and I am proud of my team for doing so well.  After such a long drought, it feels good to get my 28th championship.  I am going to keep my promise to not be totally upset if I don’t win another one, but I know I will be disappointed if I go this long without winning my last game again.

Really, when it all comes down to it, I played solid in playoffs this season.  I have had my issues in the past and I thought my best days were behind me.  This season, I played much more solid.  A total of 4 games played, only 4 goals against total, and a 3-1 record.  My only loss was a 1-0 game in the finals for my beginner team.  I really was a little disappointed in the outcome of that game.  I thought we could pull that game out if things fell into place for us.  As it turns out, it just wasn’t meant to be.

On Wednesday last week, I tweaked my back slightly in a hockey game.  Thursday I was feeling a little better and I rested it on Friday.  Saturday I was sore but feeling pretty good.  By the end of the night, I was in pain even worse than I was on Wednesday night.  I thought knee pain was bad.  This is horrible because of the fact you can’t twist certain ways and getting up after going down in a butterfly is not pleasant.  I spent my time Sunday and Monday resting my back, no exercise at all.  Today, I am stretching and slowly feeling better.  I am going to take Thursday off of ice hockey and rest up a little more.  Its my hope to ref ice hockey on Saturday and be 100%.  I am on target for that date.

I am pretty happy I have some time off before the next season begins.  Back about 6 years ago, I would get all upset about the break.  Now, with me getting older, I am cherishing the time off a little more often.

Originally published at http://www.nightfall.net/. Please leave any comments there.