Celena Rae Star Game 10/2018

I’m not an America Idol fan. Never seen the show. Have no desire to start watching.

However, I do go to Dallas Stars games.  Celena Rae, who was on American Idol, is the MC for the Stars and sings the National Anthem before each game. Over the years, I have wanted to get her autograph. This time I finally succeeded.

I was going to the hockey game with some friends from work. I warned them I was going to be a nerd and try for an autograph. Of course they asked with player. I sheepishly told them I was going to try for Celena.  They laughed.

Before the end of the first period I navigated to the section where the Cheerleaders perform.  Then I just hung out. I was expecting Celena to visit that section to read some announcement. I was wrong.  At the end of the period, she was on the ice MC’ing the human bowling ball game.

As I processed my disappointment of missing my chance, I watched the human bowling game they did for the entertainment between periods.  Then I was distracted as the cheerleaders marched back to the section. I swear none of them were over 5 foot tall.  I hung out because I didn’t want to schlep back to me seat and show my coworkers that I failed.

Then I looked to the side and Celena Rae was walking past me.  I quickly said, ‘Excuse me, Miss Rae?’ She stopped, smiled, and said hello.  I asked if she had a second for an autograph.  Then even a bigger smile appeared.  She agreed and I pulled out my photo.  She looked at it and said she remembered that photo shoot.  I told her I was looking for something more recent and she said this was a good choice.

She signed and I thanked her. She walked off and I returned to my seat.  When my friends saw the photo and signature, I wasn’t such a nerd. I think they were impressed.

AH

Oh the horror…

Blood was everywhere. The Red Cross was on hand helping the dozens of people lying on their backs. People turned their heads to avoid seeing what was being done to them by the people in white.

Questions and questions were asked. People answered the best they could; creating a constant susurrus as a backdrop. The concourse echoed the names and numbers called out as the blood pooled and collected.

I saw it all. The confusion.  The brief reassuring smiles to one another as people moved from one location to another. I saw the nervousness, the anxiety, and the worry. From the chaos the order prevailed and then it was my turn.

I answered as best I could. Telling what needed to be told. Cooperating and refusing to show my concern.  I even joked hoping I could ease the mood and tension.

Then the sharp pain and the reassurance that all was going well.

I gave my pound of flesh.  Well, a pound of blood.  I made my donation of blood at the American Airline Center last Friday so I could get an autographed hockey puck. The hoops we’ll jump through for a signature.

The Dallas Stars had their blood drive and I participated.   

It was quick and fairly painless.

In return, I got a Steve Ott signed puck, a voucher for 2 tickets, and a coupon for $25 off my next American Airline ticket.  A pretty good trade for an hour of time and tired old blood.  How cheaply we sell ourselves.

And as an added bonus, I got to eat all the free Oreos I could stomach. And if you know me, I can eat a lot of Oreos. I sure they were happy when I left the recovery area.

AH

Ooooh, jewelry…

A few years back I went to a Dallas Stars season ticket holder event. Sounds prestigious, huh?  In reality, 6 of us share 4 seats. The seats are 4 rows from the top of the upper bowl. Nose bleed. The climb up the stairs is a good cardio workout.  If you get a few beers and use the bathroom a few times, you have done your heart well. Aside from the health aspect of the seats, the view is good.  It’s a neat way to see some games and not spend too much money.

I took a friend, CeeEll, to this event. CeeEll brought his 4 year old daughter.  The event was photo ops with the various players. It was fun but very crowded.  We did a lot of walking and got our photos taken with different players.

After a while we ended with the cheerleaders. They aren’t called cheerleaders here; they are called Stars Ice Girls. The squad is split into 2 groups. One group uses pom poms and dances and entertains the crowd. The other group actually skates and cleans the ice shaving from around the goal during time outs.

They are young.  I would imagine anywhere from 18 to 25 years old. And 25 might be pushing the upper limit of the age envelope.  They are pretty and stylish. They are very glamorous with big hair and big make-up. They get free tanning from a local tanning bed company.  They don’t have tattoos. Or if they do, they are hidden behind their uniforms. Well, logic dictates they don’t have tattoos as they don’t have much of an outfit that can hide a tattoo. For us guys, they are also pleasantly distracting.

We stood in line to get our photos taken with some of the Ice Girls. Yes, it was nothing but an excuse to stand next to pretty girls and put our arms around them as we posed. We’re guys. Don’t expect much more out of us.

CeeEll’s had just mentioned how his little one had recently discovered jewelry. She had become fascinated with the glitter and the shine. She would sneak into mom’s pieces and try on the rings and bracelets and necklaces.  So as she stood between two Ice Girls, the glistening belly rings caught her eye.  The photographer caught her glance.  It was not hard to catch her eye since the belly rings were at her eye level.

The daughter said, “Ooooh, jewelry…” and the dad and the two Ice Girls laughed and in unison, like they had practiced, said, “That’s for when you get older.”

A few people around us laughed. Then we took a few steps over to the table and got autographs from some of the other Ice Girls. 

Everyone had heard the exchange.  It started a conversation among various girls about when they had gotten their belly rings.  One girl mentioned that she and her mom went and got their belly buttons pieced together when she turned 16.  It was a wonderful mom/daughter bonding experience for her.

So for you moms out there that aren’t pieced; you now know you can look forward to the day that you and your daughter bond in this wonderful ritual.  And is their 16^th birthday that far away?

AH