Musings of The Invincible

So, I've reserved the ice at The Edge Ice Arena (same as last year) at 3:40pm on Saturday (Nov 19).
It will be between 15-20 dollars a person. I hope to get a few of my teammates from my local rec team to join in to increase the numbers and make for a more exciting scrimmage.

We'd meet at 2:30-2:45pm inside of the revolving door, near the escalators, across from "Starbucks". We'll figure out ride them. We'll probably need 3 cars total to get there. Hopefully, some others can drive.

Any questions, let me know. You can use Twitter at @poomiepuma.

 Just another typical Chicago weekend...

Slush did stop into town and we were able to grab a quick bite and "Longman and Eagle" which is a new gastropub that specializes in  whiskey (specifically bourbon). They even had whisky flights! Dessert was at the new store, the Cookiebar in Lincoln Park. All they have are eclectic and typical cookies, some brownies, and ice cream (to make ice cream sandwiches). 

For Saturday, there was a small gathering and BBQ for Huxley's just past birthday. But I think it turned more into an excuse to play Kings. :P

Sunday was just a day to bike ride and push myself. I hadn't ridden more than 7 miles in a day, but the weather was amazing in Chicago and so I just kept on riding.

• I rode about 3.5 miles to work and then back. Had a quick breakfast and break
• Rode 3.5 miles to the zoo and relaxed by the puma cage. It was snoozing (AGAIN) on the top ledge in what looked like an uncomfortable position.
• Rode 8 miles to the Rogers Park Street festival to visit Woody at his comic book booth. The views along the lake were incredible!
• Then later rode 7.5 miles back home

So all in all, it was a 25 mile day. Legs are cramping. Butt is sore, but I'm happy. 

One of gay hockey teammates got inspired to write a new acoustic song with accompanied video. Check it out and share it!


 

 

Finally found someone with this money shot. :D Too bad we never got a chance to drink out of it.

As reported in the Chicago Sun-Times, Brent Sopel (to the right) and the Stanley Cup (thanks to Blackhawks President John McDonough) will be joining the Chicago Gay Hockey Association in the Chicago Pride Parade this weekend!

Sopel is also marching in honor of Brendan Burke, the team manager for the Miami-Ohio hockey team and the son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke who was killed in a car accident two months after coming out publicly on ESPN.com late last year.

Even though, I'm missing AC, being part of this is an acceptable alternative. :)

This 10th anniversary of the Chelsea Challenge allowed me introduce this great tournament to some fellow hockey fans. 

• Nitropup played in his tournament and timed game, and did great!
• Lonewolf was on the Boston Lobsters team with me. We were an average team but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
• 4 fellow players on my gay hockey team in Chicago (who ended up on other teams because we didn't have enough for our own)
• Rocket and another friend were goalies for the first time at a tournament.

Overall, a fun but tiring weekend. Thanks go out to Lonewolf for deal with a cramped hotel room and Nitro/me. 
Can't wait for the next tournament.

"Fans Celebrate Blackhawks' Stanley Cup Victory...In Very Different Ways"

Slush mentioned seeing a "radio station" at my local rink's bar. It ended up being WBEZ, the NPR station.

About half of my rec team showed up for a game that was rescheduled to start AFTER Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals was over. Unfortunately, it went into overtime and my game couldn't be delayed.

So the the 16 players began their own game but stopped about 10 minutes into it after hearing cheering in the bar and being banging the glass. Most of us (including the refs) skated over to see the replay and celebration. (I'm at the left edge of the photo with my arms in the air.) 

So it was a great night for hockey. The Chicago Blackhawks won, and so did my team, 10-5. :)

It was another TYPICAL weekend in Chicago:

• Obnoxious St. Louis Cardinal fans - Cubs lost 2 out of 3 games
• Boorish Philly Flyers fans - Hawks won both games
• The President of the US visiting his old Chicago hangout - messed up air and road traffic
• A few thousand leather and gear fans at IML (International Mr. Leather)

But what did some of the furries do? We used IML as an excuse to hang out in downtown Chicago and just have fun.

• Friday - Gearblast, organized by Rocketpup, is a social gathering at IML for fans of all types of gear / dress (from business suits to rubber / leather to sports unitforms to fursuits) - While there was a great turnout in general, 35 furries showed up (me, nitropup, jet, hunter, perro, rex, woody, ryan, vish, fen, metro, fozzi, zoober, dane, huxley, pawnce, leon, cyanwolf, theome, delmir, kale, yelang, basilfox, street, kodi, slush, snickers, tozier, spork, madius, panth, tahoe, seven, the man, novaua)
• Saturday - The fursuiters (spork, madius, woody, dbruin, arty, jaegerfuchs, tigwolf, theome, rex, and delmir) invaded the big market at IML. Overall, it was mainly positive comments. The few negatives centered around blocking paths in the market and how it wasn't related to leather. We were later joined by Kamberlane and his GF for dinner and later drinks at the Signature Room (95th-96th floors of the John Hancock Tower) where the view of the Chicago at night was incredible. The night ended with drinks and good times.
• Sunday - Nitropup and I took it easy this day. we made our way to the Lincoln Park zoo (along with a billion other people) to see the animals. Once again, the puma was asleep. We did meet up with some of the furs at the IML hotel for dinner. We later went to the local ice rink where 15 of us scrimmaged for about 1.5 hours which was lots of fun. After showering up, Nitropup and I made it back to the IML for another night of drinks and joking around.
• Monday - There wasn't enough time for much fun things. After brunch and packing up, Nitropup had to flying back to New York. I met up with a bunch of other local furs for a BBQ and watching the Blackhawks beat the Flyers in Game 2! (Thanks to Slush for his impromptu sketch of me - see above)

Wish I could tell you what will happen next weekend. I'm sure it'll be just as "varied..." *off to bed*

*Edit - IML is International Mr. Leather not International Male Leather

So Spring is in full gear and weekends will be starting to rev up with the upcoming cookouts, softball, fur cons, and IML, but this one was highlighted by me suiting around as Master Chief with people shouting out "Chief! Chief!" as they try to get photos taken with me.

As for this weekend?
Friday: Melting Pot - Went out for fondue at the Melting Pot for the first time in a long time. It was calapurr  's birthday and we organized a dinner for him. we all had their "Big Night Out" deal and got to enjoy yummy cheeses, meats, veggies, and desserts. 

Saturday: Anime Central - This was my second time in a row to go to the local, BIG, anime con at Rosemont. This anime con is held at the same hotel that MFF will be for 2010. Before that, I went to their first one in 1998. :p Thanks goes to Littlewolf and Tozier for as handlers while I cruised around as Master Chief / Caboose (see photo. Who are the furries?). So many photos were taken (estimating 300). I did see a guy in a red Halo 3 suit. I missed the green Master Chief who seems to always appear AFTER I'm there. I headed back home for food (and Advil and a nap), and took the El back to the hotel and met up with quite a number of other furries. Eventually, there were 8 fursuiters with 7 handlers in the lobby. 

Sunday: Chicago stuff - Sunday was a quiet day after hanging out all day at Acen. After noticing me gaining weight again, I took another short bike ride to the Lincoln Park Zoo. This time, the puma was awake. I got a few good photos and will put them up soon. I got back and watched the Blackhawks game (they won!) before taking a short nap. 

So just another average weekend. Next weekend will be busy, I'm sure as I prep for IML.

Several locals and one Californian met up in Madison, Wisconsin for a the first annual Madison Gay Hockey Association Spring Tournament. sasya_fox  and I played on Team Edam (all the teams were named after types of cheese) in their "competitive" division. Along with 3 other well matched teams, we fought it out for the rest of the weekend.

Friday: Out of Wisconin, Into Minnesota
After driving up to Madison (with a 1 hr delay from Chicago traffic) with Indypup, we met up with sasya_fox and jet_der_hund at our small hotel on the outskirts of Madison. We quickly grabbed a bite at great small coffee/sandwich shop (Barriques Market) near our hotel. After recharging slightly with a cranberry scone, we all headed over to the Capitol Ice Arena to meet our new team and play the first game. The captain placed Sasya and I on the same offensive line. For the entire game, we were definitely trying to feel out each others strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, the other team had 4 players that regularly play on the same team (my gay team in Chicago!) and were able to quickly get into a scoring rhythm. We lost 5-3. Perromutt made it up to Madison on his motorcycle (surviving thunderstorms) and we all had a post game relaxation at the Granite City Brewery, a Minnesota-based brewpub. Decent food with great beer! Sleep came "early" that night. (Photo of me below, stolen from Jet_der_hund)


Saturday: Out of Wisconsin and Into Paris,  and Ireland
After sampling great home roasted and freshly ground coffee from Sasya, we munched a quick breakfast at the Hubbard Avenue Dinner (famous for pie). In the 2nd game, I shifted into the defense while the rest of the team began to gel. The scoring started to click (including 2 shorthanded goals during one penalty kill) and won 5-2. Calories were replenished at a small French patisserie, La Baguette, with an espresso and cherry-almond tart. Our 3rd game was to decide if we would play for the championship (seeds #1 and #2 playing). The opposing team had 2 fairly good players. But several bad plays (some bad luck) resulted in us losing 4-3 and just barely missing out on making it to the championship game. But it was still a fun game and my teammates played their hearts out. The local furs, Sasya, and I went into Madison, itself, to see a little of the University of Wisconsin. Dinner was found at the Great Dane Pub, a local microbrew pub near the Capitol building. I had to pay $3 for parking there! After having several pints (or a whole sampler) of yummy beers we decided to head back to the hotel. Perro ended up sleeping early. Sasya had some work to do. Jet, Indypup, and I went over to Claddagh Irish Pub. Not a "true" Irish pub, but they has New Glarus Brewery Spotted Cow beer. So a definite win win. 

Sunday: Out of Wisconsin and Into Illinois
After another quick breakfast at the Hubbard Avenue Diner and running out of time for the National Mustard Museum, my team got ready for the consolation game, 3rd and 4th seeds playing. Once again, we kept the same lines and ended up winning 5-2. After saying our goodbyes and having one last snack at Barriques, Indypup and I headed back to Chicago. We met up with Street and finished the night with a so-so dinner at Villagio Ristorante. The best thing there was the bread, unfortunately. Actually, the best thing there was probably the Ferrari 355 Spider that some 40-something year old woman drove up in with her husband(?)

So, it was another great weekend but this time mostly OUTSIDE of the Chicagoland area. It was great seeing some locals again as well as Sasya and Jet. I still have 2 bruised areas to remind me of this hockey weekend. Next weekend should be relatively quiet. Then its Anime Central!