Love, New Jersey style

We got some heavy-duty music names coming up in the next few weeks -- B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Van Morrison and Fleetwood Mac, to name but a few. But this weekend was about death-defying hockey, Valentine's Day and someone's birthday.

Because 'ark had to work his route before coming up, we got a solid half-hour in on Valentine's Day. Not that he didn't make the most of it, with four different chocolates and two other candy treats bound to make my jeans expand another size and the gelatinous XOs and hearts that wound up attached to the bathroom mirror.

That left about 10 minutes before the birthday presents started to roll out. A great-smelling cinnamon and pecan candle. Mmmmmm. And the piece de resistance, the digital photo frame that I expected for the holidays, didn't get and promptly forgot about ... well, that turned out to be my birthday present. 'Ark says since I change my posters around in the living room so much, this would be a much more efficient way of mood changing. Of course, now I'll have to load and reload THAT according to my mood.

Last year on my birthday, I went to the Devils game against the Thrashers. We lost in the shootout, but my fave players Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner did score and I remember trying to take something out of that. Left me ill-prepared for this year's contest that's for sure.

First we had to get in. Now we weren't sure where we'd end up this weekend due to other considerations, so we didn't have tickets for the game. It was a Sunday matinee AND free hats were being given away. That made for a hot ticket. But we expected the Park luck to emerge, so we went off to the very crowded, but very tasty Tops Diner (yes, I had a piece of the railing and it was just delicious.)

When we got to the arena, the same lady who gave me an adult-sized bangeroo (that's headache in Excedrin speak) a couple weeks ago told us her in high piercing voice that the only availables were $115 each. We thought we could do better, so we strolled outside and got $250 club seats for less than what the Rock's availables were. Of course we were stuffed, so the usual appeal of John's Pizza and sushi were lost.


We wound up 21 rows in back of the bench. If you look at the photo atop the blog, you can see Brian ("Drew" to me and sis) Rolston's jersey and Mike Rupp's fat head near the ice. And remember, objects are a lot closer than they may appear.

So it's about 30 seconds into the game and ... scoooooore! Brian Gionta converts on Elias' nifty little pass. Gionta scoring first at a game attended by a Schector, what a surprise. (That's obviously the end of that happening since I just voiced it in a public forum.)

On Friday, Liam was at the "pitchers' duel" between the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. His Devils beat his Bruins, 1-0. It wasn't that kind of game Sunday. So the Devils have scored ... the Sharks score back ... the Devils score again ... the Sharks score back ... the Devils score again ... the Sharks score back ... the refs start screwing us ... the Sharks take the lead. It's now the third period and fear for birthday sanity is starting to creep in.


Well, Elias of course had something to say about that. It took a 5-on-3, but we got our game-tying goal. Then as last year, Langenbrunner also deposited one in the net. ... And then the refs twirled their moustaches and the Sharks got back even.

Now the minutes are getting fewer and pretty much everyone crowd needs those heart paddles instead of the cheapo hats that we got, but we're expecting the best from Team Heart.

And we get it, cause we get a power play and David Clarkson is able to get a tip on Drew's massive shot and Nabokov is powerless to stop it (Cue The Police! "Just like the ... old man ... in that book by Nabokov"). And the arena is up for grabs!! Now it's just minutes left and ... the refs give the Sharks ANOTHER power play. Not only that, at some point during that, San Jose will pull their goalie and have their six on our four.

But the Devils battle, get some long clears and the house is going nuts. Behind me I hear "This is like playoff hockey!" Here's hoping it will be, 'cause the Devils hold on and win the damn thing!

'Ark's not used to it ... he needs to be scraped off the floor. And I've got to admit even I haven't seen a game like that since double-OT in the playoffs a couple years ago. We walk off in the literal sunset to head home to the juicy steaks that couldn't be finished during lunch. And Coke! (I've been resigned to Pepsi at both the arena and diner.) I might have to add "Happy" back to "Birthday" -- of course Ritu, Gina and Mark might be the only ones who get that.