Bucket List

Having a 'bucket list' has become about as common as wearing eyeglasses. And whether you have one or not, whether you've seen the movie or not, you GET the concept.

It's basically a very personal, very cool list of things you want to see and/or do before you "kick the bucket."  Glamourous slang isn't it?

My bucket list is a work-in-progress. I have a few little things that I want to do in the near future, and aspirations to have a grandiose list at some point. But in the meantime, I've realized I've done a whole lot of really cool things that IF I'd planned or could have dreamt up, then I probably would have had them on the list.

So maybe my list is a reverse list. A "been there, done that" list of very cool things that I've actually experienced.

In no particular order:

• Took my kids to Hawaii
• Met Teemu Selanne and talked "Jets" with him for a few minutes. And he signed his hockey card. 
• Sat front row at the Katy Perry concert in the Bahamas. A concert for 400 people in the ball room. She was on top of the charts and days later announced a world tour. 
• Sat behind home plate at a sold out one-night-only MLB game 
• Accidentally ended up in the NY Yankees' office. Saw their World Series trophies on display. 
• Spontaneously went to an Eastern Finals game in the NHL. Was awed by the goalie (Tim Thomas) who would win the Vezna trophy and a Stanley Cup just weeks later.
• Saw the first NHL game between the Coyotes and the Jets 2.0
• Saw future Hall-Of-Fame Quarterback Brett Favre play live. 
• Came within 4 feet of a very rare Tiger Shark (backstage aquarium tour) 
• Did lots of watersliding through shark tanks
• Had my photo taken with Mickey Mouse
• Saw the Disney castle, and shed a tear. 
• Saw a full size gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian hotel, at "fake" Christmas
• Wrote a book that spent several weeks on a Best-Sellers List
• Ran for public office
• Touched the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans in the same year
• Climbed to the top of a (small) mountain
• Saw U2, Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Prince and Def Leopard in concert(s)
• Stayed at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas
• Bought a struggling restaurant and turned it into a veritable hot spot
• Catered "lunch" at 2AM to a movie set for a big name actor
• Rode a huge roller coaster & overcame my life-long fear. 
• Owned a convertible and a classic car

It sure sounds awesome when you put it in a list! I really had no idea that I'd lived such an exciting decade. It sure sounds that way. I can hardly believe that's me...my life. When I look in the mirror... I see a dull boring person, with no social life, who obsesses about work and family. I see a woman getting older by the minute and missing out on more than I participate in. But maybe I need a new mirror... that all sounds pretty adventuresome and dynamic to me right now. 

What will the future hold? I'm pretty excited to find out and keep the list growing! 

Travelling Solo With Your Child

To travel is a gift. To travel solo with your child is an incredible gift and I treasure it.

I have done it a few times, and I will do it again. While I have two children, I like to take the occasional vacation with them individually.

My older son and I recently returned from a hockey road trip. If this sounds like an old story repeated, it's not. There is hockey constantly! LOL  It was three fantastic days on the road, sharing music, stories, food and adventure.  This time we also had the privilege of staying with our extended family and getting to know them better. Truly a special memory.

Note, I didn't drone on about hockey and our wins/loses? We are a hockey family, but winning isn't everything. Memories and shared experiences outweigh the win category every time.

Within 48 hours of returning the one son, I took off with the other. The younger boy and I then headed south to California. Head over to my travel blog to read my hotel reviews and see how much I loved California. (I'll make regular entries there, but it will take me a few days to get all my stories out.)

My younger son, toils constantly to keep up with his brother. There is on-going rivalry and posturing. A solo trip is a break from that. The younger one can be himself. He can cuddle if he wants to cuddle, express his thoughts and do things at his own pace without ridicule. Never once on our trip did I have to yell "get your hands off your brother! You two separate! Stop it!!" It was a break for me, since I always feel like I'm refereeing with those two.

There are a few key points to note when traveling solo with your child.

1. Make sure to have a consent letter for travel from your spouse (very important whether you are married or not.) In this letter, specify your dates, flights and destination. Include your hotel address and any tickets or plans you have. Contact phone numbers for your spouse that you can reach promptly if you are held up at airport security with questions.  If you can have a lawyer notarize your letter, it's preferable.

2. A thorough and detailed plan if you get separated accidentally in a restaurant or airport etc. Practice it.

3. Bright clothing easily recognized by each of you. It sounds trivial, but if you are separated in a store even by a few feet, you want to be INSTANTLY recognizable.

4. Thoroughly researched destination, with safety measures considered. For example, I was taking C to an NHL hockey game in a big city. We knew there would be a sold out crowd. I chose to pay a few extra dollars to buy club seats for us - knowing that the club level had restricted access, lots of security, fewer patrons and a far better washroom ratio. Why is this important?  At this age we go into separate gender washrooms. I could not allow him in good conscience to stand in a line of strangers for 20 minutes unattended to use the washroom. Club seats and facilities meant a 2 minute or less line and a far greater level of comfort and limited separation anxiety for both of us.

5. Do something special of the child's choosing. C wanted to go walking in the rain with an umbrella. He also wanted the waitress to bring him a fancy kid's cocktail on the patio. Easy, peasy!  I also try to arrange something indulgent that will be a special memory specific to that child. I can assure you my hockey-loving boy will never forget meeting Teemu Selanne pre-game and then watching the game from the padded club seats.

When I find myself on these one-on-one vacations, there is far more opportunity for me to relax. I feel like a better parent, and a human being again rather than a referee. Of course I enjoy family vacations with everyone together, and it is great to have another adult present to share the responsibility and security duties, but I often find myself needing a rest after those vacations.  This California adventure, though short, did the trick. I feel recharged and like I'm ready to get back in the game.

Don't Punish the Jets

The NHL lockout has been frustrating to say the least. I'm not shy about saying that.

Hockey fans, myself included, have missed the games, the players, the competition and the quality entertainment it brings to our communities.

We have missed the pride, the camaraderie and the cache of having our own NHL team. NOBODY understands this like a Winnipeg Jets' fan.  We had a team. We loved our team. And then we lost our team. For 15 years we fought to get our team back.

Then, on May 31, 2011 it was announced we would get an NHL team back to the community. That summer we learned they would be called the Jets again. We got our "mojo" back!!! We were back on the map...back in the game.

The names Chipman, Thomson and True North are religiously praised. (And for good reason!)

To be in the MTS Arena (aka the phone booth) and sing Oh Canada, you just know to scream "true north" and put your heart into it.   This is what we love. This is who we ARE as Jets' fans.

So here's the thing:  There's anger and apathy and even a movement to boycott and protest NHL games. The on-line social movement is suggesting a fan walkout at the opening games around the league.

I say no. HELL NO.  That's not who we are. WE ARE JETS' FANS.

This lockout must have been incredibly stressful for our organization. It certainly has been stressful and a huge financial blow to our arena area businesses. We as fans, and as Winnipeggers can not, and SHOULD NOT make any effort to punish our Jets. This was not a Jets' strike, nor True North lockout.

We, the hockey fans, need to support our team. The league is the league. Naysayers are just that. Jets' fans are a different breed. We are passionate and supportive and grateful to have our team. We need to act that way. Let the others protest with their feet.  Let us be the ones to show our pride with our hockey hearts. We'll be the ones to fill the stands and again say "welcome home."

Long live True North.  Go Jets Go!