Wow! We slept in until 11 a.m. (and we weren't even drinking last night - grin).
Up just in time to watch the Rose Parade which was fantastic (as always). In the years BRV (Before RVing) traditionally it was a family day with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) for dinner while we watched the parade. Today it was a McD (homemade) meal. (I'm thinking of applying to do the McD ad - grin).
Happy New Year phone calls back home. We found out that today Marty (Grandson) picked up a new playmate "Camper" for their dog "Buddy".
Charlotte worked on an upcoming craft project. More on the project at a later date.
I did yesterday's blog. I was too tired to do it last night. Thankfully, Wi-Fi (at times) is better today.
Our TV is on aerial down here. Hockey isn't available on a regular basis on the channels we receive. Today is a treat. NBC is broadcasting the NHL Winter Classic which makes it available locally. NHL Classics are broadcast live from outdoor rinks specially built in a sports stadium for this single-use occasion. The teams wear "Throwback" sweaters that are replicas of jerseys worn in a previous era.
Today's game features the Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins from the Foxboro (New England Patriots) "Gillette" Stadium. This is an appropriate match-up. The number of head-to-head Stanley Cup Game 7s played between the Bruins and Canadiens, the most in North American professional sports. The Canadiens were founded 8 years before the NHL came into existence. This is only the second time in their history that they have played on January 1st.
Appropriately, it was snowing lightly for the game. Ah! Memories of my youth playing nightly on my 100' x 40' backyard rink. I say nightly because school days were 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by the time I walked home and had supper it was dark. After all, it was winter and we lived "halfway to the North Pole". The rink was lit by three 200 watt light bulbs. Kids, in those days, also played on local park outdoor rinks, on area ponds, ice patches in fields and on the streets after a freezing rain. Indoor artificial ice play was usually only for older (15-21) kids leagues or adult teams.
Driveway and road hockey were played during mild spells or in the fall and spring. "CAR!" was the shout heard as often as a cheer for a goal scored. Wooden Hockey sticks, covered in tape layers to either protect or repair, were shuffled (w/eyes closed) to decide on the teams. If the score got "lop-sided" there was a reshuffle because we wanted a good competitive game. Fighting was the exception. In our group it was usually between brothers who probably fought once a day anyway. Skates lasted as long as the sticks (a few years) as they were bought a size or two larger and filled with extra socks. Needed equipment was usually accumulated as Christmas presents over a few years.
The "Throwback" sweaters wore by the Canadiens in this NHL Winter Classic, have a white "C"with a red "H" in the center. The sweaters are also more white than blue as in the original. This is because the visiting team sweaters are traditionally the "Lighter" version of the team jersey. This makes it easier for players (and fans) to recognize team mates in this fast paced game.
Boston being the home team in this Classic is wearing the darker version of a "Throwback" jersey.
Naturally, I'm cheering for the "Habs".
"Les Habs" is an informal nickname for the Montreal (Quebec, Canada) Canadiens. The term "Habs" is an abbreviation of "Les Habitants." This term dates back to the 17th century, and refers to the settlers of New France, now known as Quebec. According to NHL.com, the first person to use the term was the owner of Madison Square Garden. Tex Rickard, who apparently told a reporter that the H stood for "Habs"; however, that is incorrect. (Not who said it, just the meaning of the "H".)
The first iteration "Les Canadiens" wore was a blue sweater with a white "C". The "CH" was first used in the 1917-18 season, when the team became the Club de Hockey Canadien. The "H" stands for Hockey.
Final: Montreal 5 Boston 1. Montreal takes over First Place! Ironically, Montreal's goalie, Mike Condon, is from Boston. (Players in the game were from 10 different counties). As both teams milled on the ice in preparation for a "Hand Shake Line" it appears that the referees nixed the post game ceremony. Instead, both teams raised their sticks in a salute to the 70,000 + fans. A "Hand Shake Line" is a tradition where both teams form a line and shake hands with their opponents. It is routinely done at most levels of minor hockey league play. In high leagues it is done at the end of a playoff series. I guess that the players thought an NHL Classic was significant enough for a hand shake line; but it appears someone thought differently?
Sadly, the evening news revealed all of last nights "Bangs" were not fireworks. Several were wounded and a homicide occurred last night in various incidents. A few were injured by falling bullets from celebratory gunshots at midnight. Others were the results of fights. Partying and guns don't mix!
A regular TV night in the RV ended the evening.
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