I have the best sister-in-law ever.

Ever.

Why do I have the best sister-in-law ever? My fabulous, wonderful sister-in-law Crystal stood in line for 45 minutes at the opening of the Mall of America Hockey Lodge so that she could get Derek Boogaard to autograph a picture for me.

It's my favorite Christmas present this year. Definitely one of the best ever.

She said he seemed very nice (and I'm jealous as hell that she got to meet him in person). She said he didn't look like a hockey player, he looked more like a guy you'd see at Barnes and Noble. (Somehow that makes him even more appealing. When I told Bryan this, he just rolled his eyes at me.)

I'm thrilled to have the autographed photo. At least I finally have something autographed by Derek. I'm not giving up my pursuit of Derek Boogaard totally - I want the chance to decide for myself if he seems more like a Barnes and Noble guy or a hockey player, and I still want a photo for the blog. But this is really cool, especially since Crystal was having a terrible day on the day of Derek Boogaard's autograph session, and yet she still took the time to go and snag me the 'graph. Is that friendship or what?!

Crystal, since you came through as Santa this year, would you rather have cookies and milk or cookies and liquor? You're the best!

We spent Christmas with my family in Seattle. In order to bring Bailey to play with her cousin Lucky, we drove from San Diego to Seattle and back again. Last Monday, the 18th, I worked my usual clinic day in Chula Vista, CA, which is less than 10 miles from the Mexican border. Tuesday night, we drove from home in San Diego to my parents' house in Kent, WA. On Friday, Bryan and I spent the day visiting my friends in Bellingham, WA, which is less than 25 miles from the Canadian border.

I'm really sick of Interstate 5.

We left for home on Thursday, and got to the house this afternoon. I don't want to be in a motor vehicle for at least a month. This is going to make getting to and from work very difficult, since I have to be back in clinic starting Tuesday. Guess I'm going to have to suck it up.

I'm glad to be home. It was great to see my family and friends, but now we've got a few days to do laundry, unpack and play with our new toys! Derek has been placed on the fireplace mantel. He looks a little strange amongst all the wedding photos, but it works.

Yes, it's true. Wes Walz's pants got the overtime goal for the Wild's win tonight. I'm not complaining. I'll take a win any way we can. I'll tell you, I had a rough five or so minutes while they reviewed the play. Since it took so long, I figured it had gone to the video goal judges in Toronto and just knew it was a lost cause. They've screwed the Wild out of two goals, so I was expecting the worst. But somehow, thank god, they ruled it a goal! Whew!

All I want for Christmas is Derek Boogaard's autograph. And maybe for the Wild to start winning in regulation on the road as well as at home.

I've been really good this year. Seriously. I can't come up with specific examples off the top of my head, but I've been good.

I've waited outside the arena at LA, Anaheim, Phoenix and Minnesota. More than once at each (okay, Phoenix was only once, but I have plans for February, if Bryan's in port!) Sometimes in the cold. Sometimes with really skanky girls ("puck bunnies") who are apparently trying to get laid by an NHL player.

Doesn't that count for something?

I'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you, Santa, that for all those years, while other kids left you cookies and (tepid) milk, I left cookies and wine. Or brandy. Can't remember for sure, but my mom would. "Something to keep Santa warm on a cold night," she'd say. Isn't that better than lukewarm milk? I mean, who likes room temperature milk?

I'm counting on you, Santa. You came through with the Barbie RV when I was in elementary school, and the stereo when I was in seventh grade.

One little autograph, that's all. I don't even care if I get it in person anymore!

You know where to find me on Christmas Eve. I'll be the one asleep before 10pm.

Sincerely,

Gina

You suck. That's twice now that you've ruled "No goal" on a Minnesota Wild goal and then admitted after the fact that you were wrong. Wrong. In games when that goal could have made a difference in the outcome of the game - or at least forced overtime, which would have given the Wild a point in the standings, even if they lost in overtime. How is it possible that you rely on the CBC broadcast for your replay?! With today's technology, it doesn't seem too much to ask for you to find a more objective way to determine these "iffy" goals (although frankly, that goal against Vancouver wasn't all that iffy if you actually watched the video. Stupid Luongo.). In theory, shouldn't these iffy goal calls even out over time? Well, NHL Video Goal Judges, that's two against the Wild now, and you'd better believe I'm keeping score.

The first weekend in December, the Barenaked Ladies wrapped up their current tour in San Diego. My good friend Teri came down from Seattle to visit, and to go to the concert. We've seen BNL together before, and since Bryan's not a fan, the concert was a perfect excuse for her to visit. Luckily for Bryan, he was underway on patrol, and therefore was not subjected to things like Dude, Where's My Car?, Bring It On, and So I Married An Axe Murderer, the game of MASH and too much wine. I want it noted that I did not go to bed before midnight any of the three nights she was in town, and we enjoyed late night dining at Dennys not once but twice because nothing else was open by the time we were ready to eat. (I know the bedtime stuff is hard to believe, but it's the truth!)

Anyway, we had a great time at the concert. For the record, the Barenaked Ladies are neither ladies nor do they play their concerts barenaked. They always put on a really good show - they play a longer-than-average set based on the other artists I've seen in concert, they sound great live and their shows are always fun - and funny.

The super-cool thing about their current tour is that they're doing live recordings of each show, and they're available on mp3. I, of course, purchased the San Diego show as a cool souvenir, and the download is wicked. You get the live tracks from the show, as well as artwork for the CD labels and jacket with track listings, etc. I ended up getting it from their website the following monday, but I found out after the fact that you could actually purchase the recording at the show, where they'd give you a wristband and then after the show, you'd stop at their table and pick up your recording...on USB flash drive! Super cool!

If anyone out there got any of the other BNL shows and wants to trade, let me know!

It was great to get to hang out with Teri...many MASH predictions were made, but I guess it remains to be seen if I will actually marry Josh Jackson, enjoy a fulfilling career as a taxidermist and commute to work via unicycle. For the record, it was predicted (once) that I would marry Bryan (which is good, since I already did), but I don't think he's planning to leave the Coast Guard to be a professional pen (ink) filler anytime soon. Teri will be a professional treadmill walker and will marry Jeremy Piven, who will enjoy his job as a street sweeper. Just in case you were wondering.

The Boogeyman is back in the lineup tonight! Hopefully his ankle is well healed and he's ready to play some hockey!

And double woohoo because tonight's Center Ice feed is from Minnesota - it seems like every time we watch a game, it's the opposing team's broadcast. I like the Menards commercials on FSN North.

You know, it's funny. I just got done writing our yearly letter that goes out with the Christmas cards, and in it, I talked about how Cocoa the bunny had been dealing with some major health issues. He's at least eight years old, and had kidney failure and was in and out of the vet the way most people are in and out of the drive-through Starbucks.

We mailed the Christmas cards this morning.

When I came home, I found Cocoa on his side in his cage, largely unresponsive and unable to get up.

I called our vet, and she said that it sounded like he was pretty far gone and that I could wait and see if he made it through the night, or I could take him to Urgent Care and help him on his way to bunny heaven. After a half hour of staring at him helplessly and getting more and more upset about the shape he was in, I took him to Urgent Care.

They were very nice, very professional and compassionate.

And now he's in Bunny Heaven, eating oats and being cranky, I'm sure.

I don't really want to talk about it.