The Cutting Edge

My best guy friend Nick is a HUGE Hockey Fan so it was only appropriate that we take in a game while he's visiting the right coast. It was a night of firsts.

Reporting from the Verizon Center, in downtown DC, the Chez Copa stingers were not only were successful in finding parking, but we managed to slide into the press box with a mere 2 minutes to spare before the caps took the ice. (Jen early....what?!)

But from the looks of the stands, we weren't the only ones running late. Nick noted as he tried to muffle his cheers to fit in with the rest of the stoic press core, "If you look around, there are still plenty of open seats, but the game's technically sold out." Who can blame them though.

Like many Washingtonians, I was completely oblivious to this little treasure, which as of Friday boasted a 9 game winning streak. Thank goodness I had my own personal sportscaster (Nick) walking me through each of the plays, because those ice jockeys have some funky jargon, and I would have left just as clueless as when I arrived.

From the press box, I also noticed a huge gap between genders throughout the reporting staff. I, being the sole female, was railroaded on my way to the ladies by a sportscaster.

Clearly unaccustomed to a need for gender differentiated restrooms, he blasted right by me into the powder room. Standing outside the door, I waited until he was on his way out to ask if he noticed anything "out of sorts...you know ...like missing urinals etc." Rather than a shocked expression to what I thought must have been a mistake, he mumbled an unconvincing, "sorry," as he tossed out his paper towel.

Back on the ice, the real stars of the game were the Capital's Alex "THE GREAT" Ovechkin

slashing over 40 shots at Blue Jackets and the goaltender, Steve Mason  slapping them all away. Nick explained to me that on average, a goaltender fields half of that traffic.

After the game Nick and I took to the locker room to interview....well ....anybody, seeing as how I've never covered sports before and my expectations were low. Thankfully we were rushed into the press gaggle with (the half dressed) Mason.

When asked about his spot on record that broke the Caps winning streak, he said, " [my defense does] a great job for me; they're there for a reason."

Not too shabby

Starting It off With A Bang - ish

Sorry for the MIA status folks, lots happening this week. With Inauguration just around the corner, all my attention has been diverted to 1600 Penn updates. But a few fun updates, Angela and I have taken the 2009 Discovery Channel Health Challenge. 

We've been milking the free month of Bally's membership. I'm on Day 7 and kicking butt ya'll.

Don't want to jinx myself though. With a gazillion other New Years Resolutions I've made over the years (ie: washing off the night's mascara masterpiece before bed ha!) I actually want to keep this one! I've noticed if you tack an appointment at Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door spa for good behavior to the end, it becomes much easier to keep! I'll let you know in May how that works out.

I thought I would kick start the year off with a few other improvements, like cleaning out the ole closet and either donating the clothes I didn't wear any more or getting the busted ones hemmed to reenergize the wardrobe a little. I was off to a good start, but in the process I racked up $60 at the dry cleaners (the mending pile was a year old) and in the process of donating my clothes, I also donated my house keys. Woops! (Fear not I tracked them down last night!)

But the best Jen Richer update is the star appearance of Nick Murphree, one of my all time best friends since we were like 8. No, really we were instant best friends starting in 3rd grade. (I moved to a new school and he was one of the first new friends I made. I mean, who can resist the charms of a kid noticing that you and Jenny Craig share the same first name? I was serenaded in the hallways for years with her latest ad jingles, not in a taunting bully sort of way, totally endearing I swear. (Well, that’s how I remember it anyway.)

Well Nick has taken a long weekend and a long flight to elude his studies and hit up the DMV (well D and V mostly). First, stop, Caps game tonight. (He's a huge hockey wonk.)