Lucy Flava...

Doesn't she just look like Flava Flav from Public Enemy in these shots??

Oooo, Child, Things are Going to Get Easier...

Don't know what it is with me and my song 'titles' for blog titles, but anywho...

Lucy is doing AMAZING! She really seems like a different toddler. She talks non-stop, plays on her own, fights going to bed-->you know, everything a real toddler does. It's truly amazing, and Kerry and I feel so blessed. Thanks to all of you who offered your support, thoughts, prayers, and FOOD for her! She appreciates having such loving friends and family. Her appetite is back with a vengence as well. She wants cheese, fruit snacks, chicken soup (with rice noodles), and mac and cheese (with rice noodles) NONSTOP! It is great to see.
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We will visit with Nana and PapPap Friday in Ocean City, MD for the NASCAR race. Yep, I am a former Northerner, hockey fan, and like NASCAR. Kinda atypical, eh? Or eh, hoser!
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Canes play game seven of the ECF tomorrow night in Raleigh. We need to come out and score a couple on Miller Lite early. We can do it. I tell you one thing--Roddy really wants this--he has worked non stop!! Go Hurricanes!

Hey Hey, Whaddya Say!!

What a game, once again! Just when you think these Cardiac Canes are done in, they do something to rouse the championship feeling once again. Down 3-1 (thanks in part to some non-calls by our friends in zebra stripes), the Canes were the only ones who stayed calm, and battled back, in part due to the awesome leadership of Rod Brind'Amour and others, and sent the game into overtime.
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In the OT, we had to kill 1:30 of PP carry over time. They we received a powerplay, and Cory Stillman, who could've been the goat after some errors early in the game, won it in overtime. Ryan Miller--who cares if it was a whiff. You didn't stop it, we won the game, and take a 3-2 lead in the series. We look to wrap it up and punch our ticket to the SCF on Tuesday in Buffalo.
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What a Playoff Year!

Watched the Ducks--Oil game last night. Phew--I hope Anaheim will take Edmonton a few games further. The Oil definitely looks good, although Anaheim came back. Eight goals scored in the 3rd period last night.
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Game 3 tonight in Buffalo. Canes need a good showing, and need to take the Buffalo crowd out early. 96 Rock took a 'Cane Vic' up, and it looks like some fans will be making the trip--hope they're vocal!

Open Letter to Mr. Rutherford, GM of the Carolina Hurricanes

Went to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between my Carolina Hurricanes and the Buffalo Sabres. Pretty sad that approximately 5,000 Sabres fans ventured down from Buffalo. What a sorry impression to give to the rest of the hockey world. "Those darn country hicks can't even sell out their arena to their own fans." Well we did sell it out, just 5,000 of the opposition bought tickets. And it was loud. On all three Buffalo goals, it sounded like we were in Buffalo's home arena. When a Let's Go Buffalo chant started up, the Let's Go Canes chant drowned it out, but still.

And it goes to Mr. Rutherford and Mr. Kormanos. Many people don't know this, but after round two, season ticket holders discovered that their ticket strips for Round 3 went up, way up. Many, like some on the website letsgocanes.com could not afford the $1000+ amount they would need to layout. Some bought individual tickets, some didn't buy any at all. You always can understand jacking up the price for us Joe Blows who buy individual tix, but *YOUR SEASON TICKET BASE?* Is this really the group you want to pi$$ off? (Wow, my first piece of vulgarity on this site. Sorry for those family-friendly viewers, but had to be said!). They said that after round 1 vs. Montreal, the rest would be pure profit. Nothing like raising the amount of profit due to your Mr. Kormanos. Now, like a good owner, will he fork over some of that to resign Doug Weight? Give Peter Laviolette the 1+ million due to him for an awesome job coaching? I am sure not. After an incredible run, much like 02, they will allow all our UFAs to ride out of Dodge, and we'll suffer another lackidasical year next year with average attendance at 12K. With games under 10K. And we'll continue to be the laughing stock of the NHL.

Thank you Peter and Jim. Great job. Way to see us fans for what we are--moneybags.

Twas the night before the Eastern Conference Finals...

and all through my belly...
one could only hear the butterflies
rolling around like they were in a jar of jelly.

my jersey was hung by the door with care,
waiting for tomorrow when Robin would stop here...

we'll go to the RBC Center for a sausage and beer...
then into the bedlam to here the great cheer...

we'll see Staal down the ice in a flash...
Ward check a Sabre into the boards with a mash...

When what to my wondering eyes should appear...
The red light behind Miller, and his eyes wide like a deer...

I knew in a moment we'd hear Ric Flair...
Woooo....wooooo.....wooooo....wooooo....

I heard the Canes chant, as they slipped out of sight...
Merry Hockey dear Caniacs, we have a few more games in this fight!

LET'S GO HURRICANES!! LET'S GO HURRICANES!!!

More Sticker Fun...

The girl LOVES stickers. No picture is complete without at least 12. Now we began to apply them all over, so enjoy these pictures!

Celiac Child

Well, we finally discovered why Lucy has not been eating. And why she's been clingy. And the reason for the irritabilitiness. (Phew--that was a tough one). And the hay fever. Seems our little one has Celiac Disease. Now while we're happy to discover the cause of all those symptoms, we can't help but feel depressed over what Celiac is. Thankfully, it is not a life-threatening disease, but rather something that will effect her day-to-day way of life.
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Celica Disease in simpliest terms, is a genetic disorder (hereditary on Kerry's side--her cousin has it) that actually affects 1 in 133 people, although most go undiagnosed. From celiac.com:

Those affected suffer damage to the villi (shortening and villous flattening) in the lamina propria and crypt regions of their intestines when they eat specific food-grain antigens (toxic amino acid sequences) that are found in wheat, rye, and barley

The good news is Lucy can live a healthy, happy life. She goes to Duke (no, not for lacrosse practice--had to thrown that one in there) either tomorrow or next week for a stomach/intestine biopsy to positively identify her with the disease. After that we will meet with a nutritionist to begin to identify what she can eat. I definitely see a large change in our diets as well. You can't really eat a huge brownie in front of a kid who it will make sick. So say a few prayers for us, to have the strength needed to make it through. We'll keep you posted!

What Am I To Do??

Ok, we won last night to wrap up the series with the Devils. Eastern Conference Finals (got my ticket to game 1), begin on Saturday, so now what to do all week? As you can see from my pictures, it's time to decorate the house!!!

It's a fruit pizzzzzzzzaaaa in Raleeeeeeeigh!

Like the cake? Kerry made me a Hurricanes fruit pizza for my birthday. Now, with a Canes win, my birthday will be complete.

Notice the colors--black (blueberries) and red (strawberries). Hee hee! She loves me!

Happy Hurricane Clinch Day!!

Today is such a special day. Yes, it is Mother's Day! But that's not what I meant. It is also my birthday, but again, there's something even more important on this day. Today is Hurricanes' Clinch Day. I feel good about our chances of wrapping up the Devils today. So good, we even did a family Hurricanes portrait. Plus, I need to shave before next round. Looks like Round 3 vs. the Sabres, right here in Raleigh on Saturday. Stay tuned!!

What a Birthday Gift!

So they didn't get the sweep. Well, what is quickly becoming a hockey blog, I will use this forum to discuss my thoughts. Tomorrow, the Canes try to eliminate the Devils for the 2nd time, only this time among the RBC Caniacs. Plus, it's my birthday. Happy birthday to me!
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Marty's tears finally weighed in as NJD received the gift of 11 power plays. Now, I'm not saying they were phantom calls. For the most part, we did the infraction, but when you call 11 pps to around 4-5, you are giving the game to the other team. All I want is consistency.

I Got a Feeeeeelin...

Wow! Is this fun, or what? It doesn't quite compare to the '02 Cup run (yet--heehee!), but what a ride! Canes allowed the Devils to dictate the action, and they beat them at their own game.
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Sad to continually hear a 'great' goalie like Brodeur first complain about players running him, then, after the refs do what he wants, he complains about his own players being in the way. Sad that a goalie I used to respect has to cower behind a bunch of excuses.
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As quoted from Brodeur himself...
"That red light sunburned my neck in Game 1 and I'm playing in a lot of pain."

Wooo...wooo!

Whatta game! Game one of the Hurricanes' 2006 Second Round against the Devils may go down as one of their best playoff victories ever. For all the talk about the Devils being the hottest team in the NHL coming into this second round, we gave them the spank down! I met two teachers I used to work with, Jenn and Robin, and we had the best of times!! It was especially sweet chasing Brodeur from the net!
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It was the perfect end to a busy, busy day. We had our yard sale in the morning. We made a whole $10.50!!! It was so funny, too, because the things we sold were the things we thought we'd just give to Goodwill. Stuffed animals and my old pants. Heehee! Oh well, we made a little money.
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Then I raced over to Jenn's house for her daughter Ashley's 1st birthday party. With gametime at 2 PM, the party was from 11-2. Plus, she lives about a half hour further from the RBC Center. Poor Lucy was ill, so it was just I, the lone Shearer representative.
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From there, Robin and I raced to the RBC, but still had time to down a cold one or two. We parked in the fairgrounds lot, quite reminescent of the 02 Cup Run. This picture shows the crowds walking to the RBC.
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In the game, it was deafening! With the four goals, Marty started to get rattled. When Justin Williams was cross-checked onto him, he came up swinging and earned a penalty. With our 5 power play goals, we stuck the knife in a little further and began to twist. 6-0 was the final score.
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Highlights from the game:

-in the 3rd period, the entire arena did the 'Wave.' I never saw that at a hockey game before
-when Marty was finally pulled, a friend thinks he saw him mouth, "I'm getting out of here."
-the RBC Center was LOUD!!!! At times we were louder than the music being played
-I loved the repeated horn blasts.
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Let's continue to rattle Brodeur and set-up shop inside the crease.