#14

A lot of people (by that, I mean my hockey team, thats a lot of people) have been asking me if I am going to continue this season with my blog, and it has been a very hard question for me to answer because I don’t really know.  Let me explain…

As a senior in college, I feel as if I am walking around with my eyes closed.  I have no clue where I am going and if anyone has ever tried walking with their eyes closed, its scary. For almost a year now I have been pressuring myself to figure out what the next step is and where I will be happy, and I still haven’t figured it out, it keeps me up at night.  I don’t even know when I will be graduating.  Anyway, the point of this introduction is say that I can’t really tell where I am going with this blog.  I love sharing/exposing my team, but at the same time it makes me sad to think that this will all be over soon.  

So, what got me writing today?  Well this morning I was sitting in one of my psychology classes and we were doing an exercise to demonstrate some therapeutic technique.  Our professor asked us to write down a thought that distresses us.  I wrote, almost subconsciously, “failing my coaches and my teammates.”  

The fact that this thought came so automatic really got me thinking the rest of class, this thought has become so pervasive in my life, even before this team, when I played in high school.  I’ve always been driven to do my best and not fail my teammates and coaches.  I have spent my life, investing time and energy, to make myself a better teammate.  I am sitting here today with amounts of anxiety about our first season games next weekend and how I want to do my best and how I can achieve that.  

I am dedicating this post as my first step toward accepting these thoughts.  

I am very excited about this year, whether it be my final year on the team or not (like I said, I am walking with my eyes closed)…the freshmen have thus far surprised me and I feel like this is truly a talented group.  My workout buddy, Tarrah Lynch, has been awesome.  We push each other daily to become better and I am super proud of her!  My teammates have a new sense of positive energy and a strong desire to win.  

This is our year.

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MTV visited Boulder, Colorado this week to film an episode on two CU Women’s hockey team members, Michelle Wanserski and Katie Brewer.  

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So every year on the hockey team, we have a special kind of tradition.  It almost seems accidental but has always ended up happening, every year.  Each year there comes two freshmen on the team who meet from hockey and become best friends.  They hang out all the time outside of the team and end up living together the following year.  I even remember as a freshmen, there were 2 seniors on the team who had been friends ever since their freshmen year on the hockey team, Elissa and Tara.  

This is pretty special to me because my freshman year, it was me and my current roommate, Kaitlyn “Kitty” Gherity.  

Last year it was Brewer and Mickey.

This year it is definitely Minnie and Lopez.  

BUT who could forget the Abrams/Erika duo

and the Morgan and Pfeif (shit)show…

However, this year was also different in that aspect.  Not only did we have the traditional “freshmen couple” but ANOTHER two freshmen came along who had been best friends and live together in the dorms.  So this week I decided to sit with freshmen, Hanna and Tarrah, and see if they know each other as well as they say they do.  

#14

Back from break and hobbling around Boulder as a cripple. I’m struggling a lot with being inactive, it’s not my type of lifestyle but I’ve had some good friends to keep me busy the past few days.  

Anyways, I always get a lot of people asking me for good song suggestions to workout to/get you pumped up (namely my roommate who asks me about every week).  I constantly update my workout music weekly.  I’m a firm believer in the power of music to get you going.  It helps me get focused and think when I’m in the gym, getting ready for a game, or just going on a long run.  

I admit, I have an entire, separate iPod just for workout/locker room music. Genres range from rap/hip hop to classical. I obviously won’t share every single song with you guys, but here are some of my favorite pump up songs…

1. We No Speak Americano by Yolanda Be Cool (an all-time favorite, a solid go to for any occasion, my current ringtone.  This song is also the reason my teammates get annoyed with me!)

2. Act a Fool Remix by Lil Jon ft Three Six Mafia

3. Cinderella Man by Eminem (Love to workout to all Eminem but this one’s probably my fav Eminem song)

4. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga (gotta have some Gaga)

5. (It’s Time to) Beat that Beat Up by DJ Pauly D (embarrassed about this one but love the beat…sometimes I find myself fist pumping on the bike)

6. Riot Maker by Tech N9ne (thanks to my teammate, Dubin, for this one)

7. Rooftops by Lost Prophets 

8. Semi Precious Weapons by Semi Precious Weapons

9. Uprising by Muse

10. Yes by LMFAO (this was my all time favorite…before I found out about we no speak americano)

11. 300 Violin Orchestra by Jorge Quintero

12. Burn it to the Ground by Nickelback

13. 1967 by Steve Aoki (one of the few techno songs I like)

14. Wolfgang’s 5th Symphony by Wolfgang Gartner (Im pretty sure you can only find this song on thissongissick.com but its worth the extra work to download)

15. Back On My Grizzy by Lil Wayne (fav Lil Wayne song)

16. Beat the Devil’s Tattoo by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

17. Breakin’ Dishes by Rhianna (LOVE LOVE working out to Rhianna, its tough to chose my favorite, tie breaker between this and S&M)

18.  Clockworks by Autopilot Off (an oldie but a goodie)

19. Lit Up by Buckcherry

20. Dance Dance by Vitamin String Quartet (heres the classical music I was talking about)

21. Love is Gone by David Guetta (reminds me of freshman year with Ashley Abrams!)

22.  Go by Nelly, Talib Kweli and Ali (favorite Nelly song, best lyrics)

23. New Low by Middle Class Rut

24. Escape by Enrique Iglesias (love my crew in St. Louis, this ones for them)

25. My Body by Young the Giant

26. Rhyme and Reason by Dave Matthews Band (self explanatory, if you know me…you know I cant have a playlist without Dave)

27. Send Me an Angel by Thrice

28. Side 2 Side by Three Six Mafia

29. Steady Shock by Girl Talk (favorite mashup)

30. Quiet Things That No One Knows by Brand New

31. My Kinda Party by Jason Aldean (country)

32. To Be Loved by Papa Roach

34. Written in the Stars by Tinie Tempah (just added)

35. All of the Lights by Kanye West (just added)

36. Love Struck by Milkman

37. Ready to Roll by Jet Black Stare

38.  You’ve Got a Friend by James Taylor (yeah, this is definitely not a good one to workout to, but I do like to listen to it if Im having a bad day/game, its a song that puts me in a good mood)

Enjoy!  #14

Spring break is here! Unfortunately, I am not doing anything super extravagant like Vegas or Mexico.  Instead, I am home in the good ol’ St. Louis for two main reasons…

1. Interviews for summer internships and 2. Fixing achilles tendonitis/bursitis after I destroyed it last summer playing hockey. 

I am not looking forward to the latter at all.  As many of you who know me well, know that I love being active.  I was the kid in elementary school who walked around with broken arm and refused for a week to go to the doctor and get a cast.  But after this Friday, I will not be able to do most of the things I love to do.  I can’t refuse my achilles any longer.  It is going to be a HUGE challenge for me to actually stay inactive for 6 weeks.  I get cranky after one day of sitting around.  Outside of hockey, my favorite activity is running.  It’s my escape from the world, my outlet from stress.  All year I have been able to push through the pain in my foot and keep going, and now my foot is paying me back for it.  I try not to be a pessimist but, this will not be easy for me. 

I do want to shout out to Synapse physical therapy in Broomfield, CO for being so great.  Not only have they been putting up with me since September, but their other patients put up with me as well.  The staff knows how to handle athletes and care a lot about their patients.  They make it a joy to be there instead of a hassle.  Thank you Jeff, Sara, Jen, Ashley, Steamboat, and of course, Laurie.  You guys are BOMB.

Back to spring break plans, I won’t completely complain about being home for break, there are some pretty nice things about it.  So far I’ve already seen some old friends from high school, watched some old teammates play, hung out at the J, visited with my grandparents, went to my favorite breakfast spot with my best friend, and I start going back to working out with my trainer all week until Thursday.  Not to mention, I just love hanging out at home with my family, having a full fridge, and getting greeted by my little dog when I walk through the door.  Its the little things I miss about being home.

That’s all I know for now, I’ll post after spring break.  Word to yo’ motha.  

#14 

How is the team preparing for our big tournament this upcoming weekend in Aspen?

Why, we are doing the Ben Crane work out….

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