I'm going to kick off my weekend at a hockey game tonight. I'm embarrassed to admit that, until about a month ago, I didn't even know Seattle has a hockey team. Em told me, and now I can't wait to go see. It's been forever since I've been to a game. I think seeing guys push and shove and smash each other into walls, while furiously skating on ice, will be good for me after this week. Maybe someone will even start a fight. Grrrrrrr - and yay!

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There were two fights tonight! One was even a throw down your helmet and gloves on the ice, circle each other angrily for about five minutes before making a move, put up your dukes kind of fight. I suppose I really shouldn't be so thrilled, since I'm normally so anti-violence, but this was pretty silly. I think it's hard to put much weight behind a punch while balancing on skates (the players seem to cling to each other--for stability, I suppose--as they try to pop the enemy in the face), and the only real danger I can see is someone hitting his head when they inevitably slip and fall. The refs don't even try to stop the scufuffle until the players are on the ground or crash into a wall, which seems odd. I know it's for their own safety, but that means the drama can go on for a long time. What's even weirder is that, once separated, the fighters instantly become really calm and trudge off to the locker room for their imposed five minutes out. Still, I have to wonder what these guys are like in everyday life. Do they work out their aggression on the rink or are they ready to get into a brawl at the slightest provocation?

Needless to say, the game was a ton of fun (the T-Birds won!), and I'm sad I learned about them just as the season is drawing to a close. I may have to get season tickets for next year. :-)