Thrashers vs Panthers: The Circus Sucks Edition

Thanks to the circus, the Thrashers had been out of town for about 12 days. Not only does the circus rob me of hockey to watch, it robs animals of their health, sanity and dignity. It’s not the 1800s. Find a new form of family fun that doesn’t involve elephants wearing tutus. At least in zoos the animals have some sort of habitat and aren’t dragged around the country in freight cars to perform humiliating tasks for kicks of people. That’s just the performing aspect of it! Behind the scenes animals are beaten, abused and killed all for the sake of money. I hate the circus. Remember last year when the circus was in town? One of their zebras got loose and was running on the downtown connector. It was kind of funny until you heard what happened to the zebra, they euthanized him. The poor things hooves were so damaged, they had to put him down. BASTARDS! Circuses are no fun for animals!



I usually am not a fan of PETA. I think they are a bit extreme on a lot of issues. but they have some good information if you are interested. And, for the record, yes I’m a hypocrite. I do eat meat. Guess everyone has to have some cause, lol. I’ll eat them, but not watch them ride tricycles. If you’d like to check out some issues with the circus, you can go to the following link. Okay, off of the soap box!
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/circuses.aspx

Okay, on to the hockey! The Thrashers were coming home after being away due to the damn circus. The Florida Panthers were in town to kick off this 5 game home stand. Also in town were our new guys, Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart. We acquired these guys in a trade with Boston in which we sent them Rich Peverley and my beloved Slovakian, Boris Valabik.


Our new Dman, #5 Mark Stuart, brother of one of my favorite former Thrashers, Collin Stuart. Also pictured is #26, Blake Wheeler. Of course I had a sign welcoming them to Blueland.



Toby checking out my sign.



Boys will be boys.



Pavs chatting with Step.



Wheeler wondering what he's gotten himself into.



Hainsey clears the net.



It's Mardi Gras! Boulton tosses over some pucks.



Stuie 2 looks a good bit like his brother.



I took this picture right after Buff had elbowed the glass. Mini fan doesn't look impressed.



Swarming the goalie.



Action in front of Pavs.



Toby trying to keep Bernier from causing problems for us.



There were a few good anti-spirit signs at the game.



Unfortunately for Pavs, he tweaked his wrist in the first period and Chris Mason had to come in for relief.



Mason gets a drink.



Our old friend, Marty Reasoner in the middle of the scrum. Unfortunately Marty scored on us.



Baby Cup Guy rallies the fans.



Byfuglien hustles for the puck.



Another game NOT won in regulation. OT did no good either and we went to a shoot out. A shoot out against Tomas Vokoun. Awesome. As you can see from these fans reactions, we did not win.


Mason actually played pretty good in the shoot out, but when you have Vokoun on the other end, you have to be better than pretty good. Another loss in Blueland.

Casino Night 2011

There are two things that Thrashers fans can always count on in the new year...a slumping record and Casino Night! Casino Night is a blast and it goes to a good cause, the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation. Thrashers fans and douchebags who have no idea what is going on get gussied up and head to the beautiful facility of Opera in Midtown for some black jack, roulette, food and drink.


I was going to actually eat this year, I figured I might as well get a meal out of my $150 ticket price. They had BBQ sandwiches. Not really what I want to chow down on when dressed to the 9s. They also had some seafood stuff. Blech. I don't eat seafood. The smell almost made me sick. So I had to drink my money's worth!


I really am a shameless cougar, even my Casino Night dates are getting younger and younger. This year my date was Marisa. (I thought this sweater would cover more, apparently not. Hello bra straps.)


I was happy that Byfuglien's table was right up front. My game plan was to hit his table early as I assumed it would be one of the harder tables to get to. I also wanted to get pictures of the players on stage in their ice cream man suits so it worked well.


And now something that has become a tradition for the Casino Night Post..."what the guys are thinking." I honestly didn't think they were that funny this year. I just couldn't think of anything good.



So be sure and click on the pictures to enlarge them and read what the guys are thinking.



It's hard sometimes to come up with funny things that are not mean spirited. Especially for me.



So I started the night out at Big Buff's table!



I didn't stay as long as I'd hoped. I had to leave while I still had a shirt! Big Buff sucked all the money right out of my hands. He was learning how to deal, so he wasn't as generous with the helping/cheating as the other players. The eye candy was nice though.



I walked around a bit and went to Johnny Oduya's table. He was sitting out with the guests playing. I was very jealous. I decided to go find Marisa at Bergfors' table.



Bergie was an awesome dealer. I told him Buff took all of my money and he said he wasn't surprised. His helper/dealer was awesome, too. I wish I had gotten his name. I quickly replenished my fake funds at his table. Marisa stayed there all night. She, Bergi and his girlfriend hit it off. Both said they are crossing their fingers hoping he does not get traded. I also decided that he is a nice guy. He seemed a little aloof and cocky before. I think it's just the way he smiles.



It's Johnny time! I made my way back to Johnny O's table and he was dealing. Well, he was standing behind the table. His helper was doing all the work. And, if you are wondering, Johnny is a red wine drinker. Tres chic! I look like I'm about to cry lol.



As I'm moving Johnny into photo position, Zach comes up. His table was right beside Johnny's. I said "let's get a picture with both of you." Zach is such a kidder!



Ha! People of Blueland material here. Johnny checking his phone while his dealer does the work.



I left Johnny's table and walked around for a while taking pictures.


Captain Andrew Ladd.



Toby had crazy eyes at the roulette table.



Nik knows the key to good hair is hydration.



Photo Ops presented themselves here and there. Here is me and Modin.



Me, Marisa and Modin! That's all the tickets I ended up with! You think you are doing well and have tons of chips, you cash them in and end up with like 4 tickets. I saw chicks with so many tickets they were wearing them. How'd they do that??




WHOA Overflash! Me and Bryan Little.



Me and Nik.



Me and Pavs.



As I made my way back to Buff's table, I noticed something different. He had changed coats! Most guys took their coats off because it was sweltering hot. Dustin had changed his. And if you think he brought a more fashionable one to change into...



WRONG! He swapped coats with this in the lower right hand side.



Me and Sopes.



Me and Chris Mason



A vision of loveliness! Me and Ron Hainsey.



Anthony was feeling good.



Me and my new best friend, Tim Stapleton. He's so cute, he's always worried he's going to be the shortest one in the picture (what he told Marisa). When you took a pic with him he hugged you like he was a long lost friend.



I got Boults!



And I got Slater...but no Thor. My Greek Gods line was incomplete! It was so good to see Slater! Due to the concussion symptoms, they wouldn't even let him have a table :(



Me and the pocket Swede, Toby Enstrom.


As usual, I made it into a few of the official photographs on the website.


This is an aerial shot from before the event started. I circled myself in the front trying to get a good spot for pics. Also circle is my awesome date Marisa who saved my seat at Buff's table.



I was happy about this picture because it's the only one in which you can see my favorite part of the dress, the bottom.



Funniest picture of the night...me leering at Johnny Oduya.


I feel like I should be in this video. "Hi, I'm Virginia Flowers and this is The Creep."


Funny moments of the night:

• An older lady got her picture with Ladd and then gave him a big kiss on the cheek. I said to him "you got some sugar on that one, didn't you?" He laughed and said yeah.
• Buff dancing. (No, he wasn't rapping)
  
• Burmi was trying to make his way on his crutches through the crowd. I said "you need someone to make a path through the crowd, don't ya?" He laughed and moved his crutches like he was going to start hitting folks with them.
• Slater told me to call Stapleton something but I can't remember to save my life.
  

The money shot of the evening though came with Buff. I had a question I wanted to ask him. I forgot at the table. I saw him later, but could never tear him away from the ladies. (BTW, he had a lovely young lady with him, tall blonde) I didn't think I was going to get my chance, but I noticed him by the exit and I was leaving any way. So I went up said "Buff, I have a question for you. Was it as awkward for you to be IN that interview with J.R. as it was for us to watch it?" Buff had enjoyed a few adult beverages and they acted as a truth serum and I didn't get the friendly PC answer you'd expect from athletes who are trained on how to answer questions. He looked at me, grimaced and nodded saying "yeah, it was." I told him "I was stunned. It was horrible. And then Weekesie! A forward?? He should know better!" Buff nodded his head and agreed. I thanked him for his time and told him I'd see him at the game. THAT was worth $150.

As usual it seemed to last 10 minutes. I can't wait for next year! (AND YES THERE WILL BE A NEXT YEAR)

*EDIT* Forgot to say, there were some of the Real Housewife Of Atlantas there. I wouldn't know, but someone pointed them out.