San Jose Sharks November 2013 Update

November was a fun month for our San Jose Sharks. A total of 26 points were up for grabs and Team Teal bagged 19, added to October’s 22, leaves the Sharks with 41 for the month. The team kept up their tenacious play. In thirteen games, the team won five in regulation, lost two and sent six to extra time. Of the six that needed overtime or went to a shoot-out, San Jose won four and lost two. The team’s moved up and down the different Power Rankings NHL, The Hockey News, ESPN, and the Bleacher Report have bounced the Boys in Teal from the No. one all the way to eighth place and various places in-between. Ironically, the last placing has San Jose #2 to the St. Louis Blues, a team they smacked down 6-3 on November 29^th. The only team that has had San Jose’s number so far is the Chicago Blackhawks, but the anticipated future return of Raffi Torres just might be that final piece in SJ’s defensive toughness to solve that puzzle.

 

Wymeth's Visit: A Thaelia's World Story

The 17^th day of Kyregat’s Moon in the year of 1181 was pleasant. A slight breeze kept the summer heat to a tolerable level. Sir Braeden du Faucione, his cousin Sir Edward, his best friend Sir Ranulf de Corbeau, and a small contingent of men were returning from the Blue Eagle forest after a successful morning hunting Trihorn. Two bucks were tied on pack-ponies, along with a forest cat which had been attracted to the smell of blood.

The knights exchanged a raucous banter back and forth, their spirits high. Braeden was happy, and why not? Life was moving onward as he planned. His wife had confided that morning she was expecting his child, the family holdings were prosperous, and the land was at peace. Braeden’s younger brother, Gregory was dead and therefore no longer a threat to him, his family, or his future.

Riding through the inner gatehouse, Braeden and Ranulf exchanged quick glances. A banner displaying a white war-dog on a black field hung from the guest pole. “Wymerth is here?” they both said at the same time. The son of Faucione’s Baron and his future second-in-command leapt from their horses, Edward not far behind. The three men stampeded in to the main hall where they discovered Baron and his wife, Lady Annelle, deep in conversation with Lord Phillip and Braeden’s wife, Gaelynn. Wymerth’s men were scattered through-out the room interacting with the Faucione men.

Thre's no crying in hockey unless you lose to the San Jose Sharks!

Looks like San Jose has found their way off that little shortcut and are now back on the road to winning. As of last night, the boys of winter are one point below Anaheim for the top seed in the Western Conference. As much as I, and every other Sharks fan would like to see a perfect season, we all know that is almost impossible. We'll take the few losses and the OT losses for those points. Hey guys, now's the time to hit the bumps & potholes. It's better now than later in the season.

from San Jose website

 Hey Boyd Gordon, it's okay to cry when you've been bowled over by one of the San Jose Sharks.

A sweep of the west Canadian series was awesome. The only concern is the second period play, but in the end the 'W' on the score board was all that counted. Stalock is proving to be a solid back-up to Niemi. Tomas Hertl continues to work magic scoring goals: man that kid can move the puck! Dan Boyle has found his legs, and the net, since returning from his injury. The big guys: Marleau, Pavelski, Couture, Vlasic, Wingels, and Demers are shooting and scoring.

Tomas Hertl celebrates his game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers for his rookie leading 12th of the year (photo from San Jose Sharks website)
Last night's game had the potential to be a high-scoring tally on both sides but for lucky (and unlucky posts). Is it possible the Powers That Be have decided to watch over the Sharks? Is this their year? If so, the biggest obstacle between San Jose and the Stanley Cup is the team. Confidence in their abilities and remembering to play their game is the biggest challenge.

In the previous game on Friday, verses the Vancouver Canucks, tenacious Dan Boyle had the winning goal in overtime. He knew the puck went in and he celebrated while the refs went to a goal review. See the video link below.

Dan knows he scored the game-winning goal in overtime. (photo from the San Jose Sharks website)
When San Jose came out swinging at the start of the season, taking shots instead of passing, they won more games then they lost. The team was ranked in the top three in most of the stats. They had players in every category of the top thirty rankings. Domineering other teams, they didn't allow opposing players to even get shots in the first place, much less try to set up plays.

The 'loosing streak' that type of play was missing. I saw more passing and more time spent in their own zone. These last couple of games, the trend is starting to get back to what they did in October. More of the 'in your face' Sharks play. That was apparent by the silence of the Canadian crowd, except for the occasional 'boos'.

As always, the guys do like to keep us guessing.

Here's to another win from the guys! Go Sharks!!!!!!!

Dan Boyle's overtime goal verses the Canucks
http://sharks.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2013020283

stay safe out there

Witches and witchcraft in the Middle Ages

“CROWD:  A witch!  A witch!  A witch!  We've got a witch!  A witch!

  VILLAGER #1:  We have found a witch, might we burn her?

  CROWD:  Burn her!  Burn!

  BEDEMIR:  How do you know she is a witch?

  VILLAGER #2:  She looks like one.

  BEDEMIR:  Bring her forward.

  WITCH:  I'm not a witch.  I'm not a witch.

  BEDEMIR:  But you are dressed as one.

  WITCH:  They dressed me up like this.

  CROWD:  No, we didn't... no.

  WITCH:  And this isn't my nose, it's a false one.

  BEDEMIR:  Well?

  VILLAGER #1:  Well, we did do the nose.

  BEDEMIR:  The nose?

  VILLAGER #1:  And the hat -- but she is a witch!

  CROWD:  Burn her!  Witch!  Witch!  Burn her!

  BEDEMIR:  Did you dress her up like this?

  CROWD:  No, no... no ... yes.  Yes, yes, a bit, a bit.

  VILLAGER #1:  She has got a wart.

  BEDEMIR:  What makes you think she is a witch?

  VILLAGER #3:  Well, she turned me into a newt.

  BEDEMIR:  A newt?

  VILLAGER #3:  I got better.”

 

Part of Scene 5, Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Witch, wizard, sorcerer, or mage – the name is different but the general meaning is the same. A person can work spells by influencing the natural world, sometimes with the aid of physical objects, to inflict a change upon another person, object, or even the elements themselves. The witch may have different skills such as divination, herb-craft, make charms or talismans, and/or sell witchcraft-related items. Witches can be part of a group (commonly known as covens) or be single (referred to as solitary witches).

 

 

How long have witches been in our society? What did the medieval society really think about witches? I’ll attempt to give you a brief overview of the mystical, magical witch.

Different names referring to mage users actually aren’t as old as many folks believe. The Old English wicce became Wicca and later witch. The word ‘warlock’ originates from the Old English word ‘waer’, that means truth, and the word ‘leogan’, which means ‘to lie’. The two together first referred to an oath-breaker or traitor. Warlocks and witches were equally applied to male and females. It only changed to witches for female and warlocks for male in the modern age. The Middle English word ‘wis’ changed to wizard. Wis referred to a wise person, more along the lines of higher level magician but that slowly changed to a witch in the early 19^th century. The Magician goes way back to the Greek ‘magos’ and the sorcerer comes from the French ‘sorcier’.

Watched any new 'historical 'series lately?

I have been one to follow any particular television show, mostly die to the fact that the majority of the programs are just too average for my taste. There have a been a few here and there: the original Beauty and the Beast; Forever Knight;  Key West (a darn shame it didn't last); Kolchek - the Night Stalker; Emergency!; Seaquest (before they added aliens); and The Tudors. Now I am following  three: Game of Thrones; Once Upon a Time; Reign; and, in January a new series: Outlander.