Jan 1, 2012 - Happy New Year Everyone

Conditions on Sunday afternoon at  1:15 pm: hovering around 0' and a brisk wind has picked up, but still no snow on the ground

What a whirlwind the past few days have been. Lloyd will be glad to get back to Ontario to have a rest and not have to a) eat so much and b) wash so many dishes. I'm sure the pace will slow down a bit next year

All set for our Chinese feast

It started with dinner on Friday night with the Van Gaals and the Andersons. Llotd worked very had all day to prep the necessary ingredients for our Chinese  feast and what a feast it was. We had mini deep fried spring rolls, egg foo young, fried rice (thanks to Tabitha from Community School!), beans and beef in black bean sauce, chop suey, and General Tao chicken. It was all really delicious and there was very little left at the end of the night. A great time was had by all, yet again. Good food and good friends, a sure fire combination.

Then Saturday dawned to preparations for our get together that evening, New Years Eve. Patti called from Guelph to tell me that James and his team had made it to the finals. They had won their semi-final game in the morning and as he looked across the parking lot to the Scotiabank Place, where the Senators play, James decided that if he worked really hard, he'd get to  play there later on in the day. True to his work, they won and made it to the finals. It was being webcast so I called Brenda and asked if we could come over and watch it there as my internet is not always the best for these things. Well, I think the email I was copied on from Greg says it all:


Hi Everyone hope your holiday was as good as James!

Champagne from the trophy

They just won their tournament!!  They played six games over 4 days and went 5-0-1 (18 Teams).  James won hardest worker in game 2 and in the semi finals (the only player to get 2 in the whole tornament of 408 teams).  He ended up 5th in tournament scoring but this is the cool part.  HE SCORED THE GAME WINNER IN SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, wait it gets even better, ON THE ICE OF THE SCOTIABANK PLACE (a dream for him)!! Go Sens!!  The game was streamed live via web, announced, the whole nine yards, so mom (Patti) and PEI grandma saw the whole thing and cried their eyes out (gloves in the air, sticks in the air, James on top of the world).  He earned 3rd star for the final, was carried off the ice by his team-mates, they tried their best, (after the national anthem, they sang out of key) and was given the game puck by his team-mates!!!  it was surreal, probably the only time I'll see him with a game winning goal on NHL ice with a beer in the stands!!

Greg

My most proud moment!!!  James gave away his second hardest worker medal without asking.  I asked where it was on the drive, he hesitated, and said he gave it Evan (our goalie), he already had one didn't need two, that makes me even cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Storm
Great Job James


The really sad part is I didn't realize he's scored the winning goal, even though Lloyd said he did. We listened for the announcement on the last goal but didn't hear it. So you can imagine my surprise to read Greg's message. We were just ecstatic that they'd WON.  Funny thing is I remember thinking earlier in the afternoon that if James scored the winning goal, for me it would be like the goal Sidney Crosby scored in the Olympics. - well actually way more special!

I was also very touched by his giving the goalie one of his awards. He's just that kind of kid and his mom and dad should be very proud of the job they've done raising him. He's a special boy.(although my opinion may be just a little biased).

The mad dash into the water...

...and the mad dash out!

Once the excitement of that event wore off, we headed home to finish last minute prep for company. It was a fairly quiet evening - just seven of us but a quiet evening was what we all needed, I think. We had way too much food and we all ate too much of it but I think everyone had a nice time. It was relaxing to just sit around and chat and quietly welcome in the New Year.  Of course everyone had to be up early the next morning (Sunday). In a moment of what the rest of us can only describe as a temporary mental lapse, Bernie and Caitlin decided they were going to participate in the annual New Years Day Polar Bear Dip in the Charlottetown Harbour. Lloyd was catching his flight to Halifax in an effort to get home and the timing was perfect. We arrived at the Van Gaals driveway just as they were pulling out to leave so we followed them into town. After parking we went and sat in the truck with them while we waited for 10:30 - the designated dipping time! We were amazed at just how many people were there to go in the water. At precisely 10:30 scores of people took the leap into the water of the harbour. The really smart ones stayed out and held the blankets and towels for them when they came out - which was pretty soon after they went in. But my hats off  to them - I can't even begin to imagine doing something like that but they both succeeded.  A rather invigorating way to start off the new year. Right after Lloyd and I left and went to the airport, where he got a seat to Halifax right away, but the rest of the journey will be anyone's guess.