It has been a tough week for me…

Workload – long and tedious, but challenging and got through pretty good.

My mom’s condition has been level, but far from good. There were some issues that really got me very emotional. Too difficult to talk about here, but thanks for the support.

Anyway – the annual Booster Club trip is upon us. We leave from the Coliseum tonight around midnight – bussing through the night, arriving in Ottawa around 10:00 AM or so. We are staying downtown, and will be hanging around the hotel and downtown before we schlep the 30 minutes to Kanata for the game at Scotiabank Place.

I will be taking pictures of the ORANGE WAVE (our group) and will have them on a photobucket site for viewing on Sunday. I have told the radio and TV guys that we will be at the game, and we hope to be on TV too.

Keep checking the site for notes and things from the trip.

See you in Canada, eh?

Posted under Booster Club, Islanders 08-09, Ramblings

Glad they got the point. They played well. Should have deserved better fate, but again – happy with the effort.

Off to Montreal and the fractured Habs. Wonder how they will come out there? Is Ryan O’Byrne playing?

Anyway – need some prayers… My mother has a real bad situation, and is currently in the operating room at this time. I don’t want to get into the details, but it is serious.

I will not be adding any blogs for a while. Just keep my mom, Ethel, in your prayers, please? I would appreciate it!

Thanks,
Gary

Posted under Islanders 08-09, Ramblings

Sorry – had a pretty busy weekend…

Christmas Shopping – Cemetaries to put down grave blankets – visiting my Mom in the hospital – putting up decorations. Not a lot of time to sit around…

And back at work for another fun week!

And the Isles limp home after an 0-4 week and the Streak now hits 6. Now the team gets Ovie and the First place Caps. Just what this weary team needs.

I am not going to write much today, as it is a real tough to talk hockey lately.

I will be working the game tomorrow – so I will be live in the “BOX”.

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Glad to see Campy back on ice. He needs to get back as soon as possible. He lost some valuable time, and we could use him. As much as I want to see Jack Hillen succeed, I think he needs some AHL seasoning. This move could do just that.

The Stars are in tomorrow, after seeing the Rock tonight. I hear that Nate Thompson (according to my friend, Mr. Botta) may get to be the ‘in your face guy’ with Mr. Avery. He was pretty calm against the Ranger$ the other night; it will be interesting to see how he is at one of his favorite buildings to play in.

Will blog at the game tomorrow night. If you are at home, and you have your computer on, please IM me (if you have AOL). My ID is NYIBC1. I will be glad to add your comments to the blog tomorrow night.

BTW – update on Mom… The surgery went well. She is due to go back to the rehab center this morning. Thanks for all the well wishes…

Posted under Islanders 08-09

With three days of no games, this is a perfect time to get the system going. I am sure that the coach will be working on this.

Is it me, or is it an every other game thing?

Again – not too much to talk about lately. With these days off, the writers get a little break, and don’t need to come up with major things to talk about. So, it is off to Tam O’Shanter club, for the IBC Golf Outing with Bossy and the gang. Should be a lot of fun, but I don’t play golf, so that is why I am not there… (Also – work is nuts!)

On a personal note, my mom is having surgery tomorrow to do some skin grafting on her leg, as a result of an accident a few weeks ago. Please say so prayers, if you would not mind? She is doing well, but any surgery to an 82 year old patient will not be easy. So I would appreciate all the support that I can muster.

Will not write until Wednesday morning. Have a good few days, everyone…

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Actually, you will see Claire and I on the field. We were asked by the Islanders to be on the field for some presentation before the game.

I have been a MET fan all my life, and in this last season of the stadium, I will get to be on the field. It is real exciting for me, and I am so looking forward to it.

But it is a happy occasion, and right now I need it…. My mother is not doing well. She is in ICU at Winthrop. She has COPD and the disease is getting worse and taking a toll on her both physically and emotionally. All I ask, is that if you are a person of faith, to please remember my mom, Ethel, in your prayers. The family are hoping that in this trying time, that God will keep her as comfortable as possible, and try to comfort us as well in our time of need.

Thanks, and God bless.

And tomorrow – don’t forget to take some time, and remember the folks who lost their lives on that sunny morning seven years ago. Remember who we are, and what we stand for. With all the political ‘bitchiness’ going on – let’s drop the party lines, and remember that we are Americans, standing tall for our great country and people.

Posted under Islanders 08-09, Mets 08, NY Hockey Report, Ramblings