Welcome to 2006. Seems weird, seems like it was 2000 just yesterday. Time is moving more quickly now. I recall my parents saying something like this and thinking it was silly but I think I get it now. Somewhere I read an explanation that went along the lines of: our perception of passing time is relative to our previous experiences, and the older we get the more history we have, therefore a month or a year today seems shorter because of all the previous months and years we’ve experienced. Not sure I’m buying it. :^)

Yesterday (New Year’s Eve) we attended another World Juniors hockey game, this time it was the United States vs. Canada in what was billed as the game to see – mostly because it was expected this might be the first and last time the two teams would meet. Prior to the tournament Team USA was ranked first while Canada’s team was not considered to be in the running for a medal at all. Even though Canada won the gold medal last year the team is (almost) entirely new: the coaching staff and a single player are the same, otherwise every other member is new therefore was considered to lack the experience necessary to win. That was the pre-tournament thinking.

They beat Team USA 3 – 2 in a very emotional battle. Due to a previous tie with Switzerland the United States needed to win, rather than tie, to finish first in the group. The game was tied and Team Canada went into a defensive posture for the last eight or ten minutes, to preserve the tie. In desperation USA pulled their goalie in the last two minutes to gain an advantage. It didn’t pan out, as Kyle Chipchura from Team Canada got a break-away and scored into the empty net. Wow! The entire building was shaking with the excitement. Team Canada is now 4 – 0 in the first round and won their group, going straight to the semi-finals. If anything, the crowd’s emotional support probably carried them through the low spots, and certainly their chances look better than ever.

We’ve now seen several Team USA games and I was very disappointed that the Canadian crowd boo-ed them continuously. It wasn’t that the crowd boo-ed at specific plays or at goals, they were definitely against the team from the minute they hit the ice. Even in the pre-game warm up they boo-ed. Very un-sportsmanlike. I don’t think this behavior was at all justified. Eileen thinks it might be somewhat due to the “arch-rival” status between Team USA and Team Canada but I don’t think it has anything at all to do with it. I think its just the standard anti-USA sentiment in Canadian society these days. Sadly most people think this sort of cheap-shot is justified.

This could be compared to the maturity of that idiot American talking head Tucker Carlson on MSNBC; he is full of stupid Canadian insults (use Google to find them if you care). But the situations are not at all the same: Mr. Carlson says what he says in order to keep up ratings and to gain publicity. He may or may not actually believe even a quarter of what comes out of his mouth. It doesn’t matter: he has to draw a crowd and capture a steady audience in order to keep his job. Apparently at MSNBC its forgivable to be a ranting idiot as long as the advertising revenue stream continues. I knew there was an explanation why its simply included in my basic cable package rather than having the buy it separately.

Anyways, I wish the Canadian crowd would not boo the USA team. Its very immature and hardly sporting, in my opinion. Why not cheer them for participating in the most excellent Canadian sport?

After the game we went to Trafalgers Bistro restaurant for a late dinner with our friends Maribeth and Alan for a fabulous seven course dinner. As always, it was very delicious. The chef prepared a three mushroom tart that was outstanding. We couldn’t decide which was the best dish: the tart or roast lamb with warm goat cheese and caramelized onions. Eileen convinced the owner to substitute her favorite dessert: half-moon chocolate chip cookies. I found the mousse cake delightful. Yum! We also spoke with the chef after dinner and he divulged the recipe for the tart. Eileen is now insisting that I make it. :^)

May this new year be good for you and your family.