The Mads have Voodoo!

Before this blog went nearly full time hockey, I spent lots of time and space showing my MST3K Bots builds. I’ve also written about how important MST3K has been to me, and how big a fan I still am. I’ve also written about how lucky I’ve been to meet the cast on several occasions- StarFest in 1992 and at the two Conventio-Con and ExpoFest-a-Ramas in 1994 and 1996. At the first Conventio-Con and ExpoFest-a-Rama we got to see live riffing of This Island Earth, which would become MST3K: The Movie. An incredible experience of seeing a movie riffed live. I’ve been to a couple of the live simulcasts of RiffTrax and Cinematic Titanic, but never thought I’d get to see a live show again. However, I got the chance to see Trace Beaulieu (Dr. Clayton Forrester and Crow T Robot) and Frank Conniff (TVs Frank) at a little improv comedy theater called Voodoo Comedy Playhouse.

The Voodoo Comedy Playhouse is a small theater in downtown Denver that does improve shows, classes, and workshops. It was started and is owned by Steve Wilder, and he and the staff are great. Both Trace and Frank were hanging out before the show, so I got to talk to them a bit. Trace even complemented my Best Brains, Inc. shirt.

The show was great. They did a couple of cartoons from Frank’s weekly Cartoon Dump show, and then did Glen or Glenda- often considered Ed Wood’s worst film. They did a couple of Ed Wood films on MST3K, but never the film that’s been called the worst film of all time- Plan 9 From Outer Space. Glen and Glenda is worse. It was brilliant to see them riffing live. They were working from scripts, but were still throwing in improved lines throughout. The audience was not at all shy about laughing our collective ass off. After the show, they did a Q&A and I asked a few dumb questions.

After the show, everyone went to the bar, where Trace and Frank were signing autographs and taking pictures. I brought my Crow T Robot along, but left him in the car. I ran out and grabbed him, and brought him back. There’s something pretty cool about experiencing a crowded room quietly loose it over something you’ve made. I was able to talk a bit about the way my Crow is put together with Trace- the man who ran the real Crow! How cool is that. They both signed him, and I was able to get some pictures. I also let others get pictures with Crow. One of the most enthusiastic reactions came from Phil Plait’s daughter Zoe- who has a Joel signature tattoo. Good stuff!

I was initially anxious that if I left to grab Crow, they would leave and I wouldn’t be able to get them to sign it. I didn’t have to worry about it at all. We stayed and talked with them for a good hour plus, along with the Plait family. I honestly felt like I was overstaying my welcome, but just couldn’t make myself go. I know I said a few stupid things, but Alisha was proud that I didn’t totally geek out. It was just an amazing night.

 

This last photo was taken by Steve Wilder- owner of the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse.

Noob

I missed our game on Wednesday, but played in a pick up game last night.  I played with a few guys on the team, and they told me we won, which is pretty cool.  I was afraid we'd go without a win this season.  Tony said the team we played- Punx scored within about 30 seconds of the opening face-off.  We came back within a minute though, and Tony said we had a flurry of goals. We won 6-3.

I'm glad I got a night playing anyway.   Pickups are pretty crazy, but really good for working on skills.  Since there's no lines, no stoppage, or no score keeping, you get a lot of ice time, in a lot of different situations.  There was also a large range of skill levels playing last night.  For the most part, that's a really good thing for a beginner, like me, but it can lead to some annoyance as well.  Without lines, and no score tally, there's not much accountability for positioning- especially for players that just want to keep the puck and make a run up the ice every shift.  I was on the ice a lot, but was never really playing the position I was supposed to play, because everyone else on the ice was just chasing the puck.  There was some passing, but it was mainly, follow whoever had the puck- whether they were a forward or a defenseman.  Still fun.  Another thing that sort of puts me off is the complaining from some of the better players.  I've never felt unwanted on the Icemen bench, but did feel that some of the guys I was playing with last night would rather I'd not been there- because I was messing with the flow of their game.  Whatever.  We had a great conversation about Star Wars in the dressing room, so there was that. 

The reason I missed the game on Wednesday was because Alisha and I saw Belle and Sebastian at Red Rocks.  Alisha is a huge fan, and I like most of what heard from them.  We thought we'd gotten there late, but we ended up in the 2nd row, right in the center.  It was a pretty amazing show.  They've been together for nearly 20 years and have an amazing and varied collection of work.  They also put on a brilliant show- with dancers and audience participation.  It was worth missing a game for!

Ow...

I've been a little preoccupied lately.  My brother Aaron was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle.  He's been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now, and has had multiple surgeries.  He's broken both arms and had to have his left leg amputated just above the knee.  He's in great spirits, though and is healing well.  It's just made for a stressful couple of weeks. 

We played RK Mechanical last night, and we pretty much got destroyed.  The final score was 0-7.  RK Mechanical was the D3 Champions last season and they are really good.  We had three forward lines and two defensive parings, and they had seven players total- they skated circles around us.  I felt like I'd never been on the ice before.  Tempers got a little out of control at the end of the game, but luckily they all cooled at the handshake line. 

Today I am really tired and really sore.  And really wanting to be home in bed.

And we start number three...

I started my third season last night.  The Big Bear Adult league’s D3 and D4 teams have merged into one league, because one of the rinks is supposed to be closed for maintenance.  In reality, we’re the only D4 team in a group that is mostly D3 and a D2 team.  When we saw our schedule, I suggested we all get Chico’s Bail Bonds printed on the back of our sweaters.

What promises to be a tough season started with a tough game against our old rivals- Low Down Dirty Shame.  We lost 2-4, but played pretty well.  I even had a chance for a breakaway, but I was gassed at the end of a shift.  I also had a better player right behind me, so I just shot from above the circle.  It was on target, but an easy save for the goalie.  We started to get tired, and even though we continued to tie up the game through the second period, we weren’t really able to hold on in the third.  

It’s going to be a long one…

I'm going to Wally World!

Holey crap!  What a night!  What a game!  

The Icemen are Big Bear Adult League D4 Spring 2015 CHAMPIONS!  

Oddly, we played with a smaller bench than we have lately.  We also started the night with a bit of a panic, as both Tyler and Vicki were running late.  Bry was ready to tie a spare jersey around his neck and jump in to goal without pads.  He was amped.  They showed up just in time and we hit the ice.  We shouldn’t have worried- the time keeper showed up really late. 

We scored first with Justin getting a great breakaway.  Realty Source had great pressure in our defensive zone during the first period, which worried everyone a bit.  They were finally able to score.  That was pretty much the end of the scoring portion for the rest of regulation.  Tyler was amazing as usual, and the Realty Source goalie had some great saves as well.  We played really hard and began to wear Realty Source out.  The refs were letting things play out, and there were only 4 or 5 calls all night.  I think we were in the box three time.  Overall, they called a great game, and let us battle it out, but were able to keep things in control- as you’d expect in a championship game.  One egregious non-call happened in the 3^rd period though, when Justin was cross checked into the Realty Source net.  It sounded horrible from the bench and he was pissed- but not hurt. 

When the buzzer sounded to end the game, we were tied 1-1.  Since no one had been in a final that had ended in a tie, we had no idea how it would be decided.  They did it NHL regular season style- Five minutes of 4 on 4, and if that didn’t decide it, we’d go to a shootout.  Once we decided the two pairs of 4 would be, we started OT.  It was all over within 30 seconds.  We won the face off, and the puck bounced around the Realty Source zone.  It went up the far wall, and it looked like it was going to go out.  Paul was able to just keep it in a brilliant pull, and decided that he just go ahead and score.  He went right up the right side and caught the goalie switching sides.  It was brilliant!  Everyone went nuts- us for the win, Realty Source because they thought the puck was out.  They argued with and yelled at the refs for a bit, but it was in the books.  We got the cup, a case of beer and tee-shirts.  We took a bunch of photos on the ice and continued the celebration in the dressing room.  More beer, more photos.  We finally got kicked out of the dressing room at about 10.30, and a few of us went to a place called Fat Boy’s for even more beer.   I’m exhausted today.  

I played a really good defensive game last night.  I was able to block quite a few shots, and got in a couple good stick checks in.  I also spent a lot of time in front of the net. Strangely, I was left pretty much alone, and didn’t have to battle for position.  Unfortunately, I only got one chance to whack at the puck.  Tony did try to pass to me from the corner when I parked in front of the net in the third, but he was gassed and the pass got picked off.  Although I never got that second goal this season. I’m really pleased with the way I played, for the most part.  I am a little unsatisfied with my skating though.  That doesn’t frustrate me.  I’ve gone from not being on skates for years to playing in a championship game in just under a year and a half.  Now, I need to move everything to a next level!  

My second season was awesome!  A season of firsts- first goal, first multiple point game, first game ending injury, first playoff win and first championship!  I have realized that this is the first time Ive ever been part of a championship  team.