purpleshamrock

I can't find it on their website, and I need exact sizing information on their XXXL ONE60 pants.

I've never played on a team and am better on rollerblades than on ice, but I obviously want to play on ice (or I'd have said roller hockey!)...

I'm overweight/out of shape and am a beginner on ice - I've considered joining a women's league but kind of think I'd like to play co-ed.

Have any of you played in a co=ed instructional league (like HNA or the Hockey Academy or whatever)? How was it? Were the guys okay with girls being there? How are 'D' leagues? Are the games fun, or are they just a bad news bears -type mess?

Also, I have semi-wide, kind of flat, feet... I'm told Reebok skates are probably what I want to go with because of the shape of my feet - any thoughts/recommendations?

I'm a pretty overweight, 29 year old female. I was rather athletic in the past but with a few injuries in the last decade, I haven't really been able to be active. I'm confident (and have the go-ahead from my doctor) that I can return to the gym now, but I don't know where to begin.

My gym is Planet Fitness, they don't have trainers walking around looking for people to help, I'm not sure I know what all the machines do, and I really don't know how to begin to form a workout that isn't ONLY about weight loss, but is also about being fit and feeling good. Obviously I realize that the gym is a "no pain, no gain" type of thing and I don't expect it to be easy, I just don't know where to begin.

I'd like to get on a schedule where I'm going 3-4 times a week and I have a specific regimen to stick to. Is anyone experienced and able to give me some advice?

Thanks!

Are we looking at Vezina-winning Tim Thomas? What about Tuukka?

(Bobby Orr is NOT a choice here)

Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, Al MacInnis, Scott Stephens, Chris Chelios or Phil Housley?

Why?

My personal choice is Bourque; he did have offensive prowess and a great shot but he made it very clear that defense was his priority. He also threw one hell of a hip check, logged some crazy ice team and was classy but a VERY tough competitor.

I've been a T5 para for over a year and really need to drop my rehab chair (Ti Aero, ugh) for something more customized. Clearly I'm looking for a manual chair since I'm a para; my balance is great and I'm fine with a low back, I do NOT want push handles or armrests. This aint no easy chair. ;)

Obviously, I'm looking for something lightweight, and I don't really need a chair with adjustable seat angle since I've only changed mine once as it is. That said, I wouldn't shoot down something just because it was a little more adjustable than I need. I'm a 29 year old female, I play a little bit of basketball but not much, and mostly play sledge hockey, so the chair wouldn't matter in that regard. I live and work in Boston, so there's a lot of brick, cobblestones, etc. I drive an Alero coupe, so it's not a big car, but it's big enough to be able to toss my clunky chair in the back seat. I spend probably 16 hours a day in my wheelchair, (as you do if you use one, I'm guessing), and I put a lot of mileage on it, so it's a big decision and I'm looking for feedback from others.

I'm considering the Colours Shockblade, Colours Zephyr (I know that's a kind of big jump), and TiLite ZR.

Thoughts? I'm trying to narrow it all down before I go to a dealer, since my schedule is pretty full with PT, hockey, work and school.

One more thing: I'm NOT looking for an herbal remedy, home cure, or whatever. This is more than likely permanent, and I'm pretty okay with that... so please, don't send me to some website trying to sell me accupuncture or psychic healing or whatever.

I'm not 100% sure if I want to go for a degree in History or Political Science. I'd probably end up teaching, or having something to do with historical sites or tours since I live in and love Boston. I realize the money is not typically in these fields, so please don't give that a second thought, I don't need to hear about it. It's a love of the game type thing for me right now.

Anyway, I haven't done any college yet and I am SO ready, but I'm wondering if I should:

- Take all my Gen Ed classes at a community college... that is, Bunker Hill Community College, in order to save money and THEN transfer to UMass Boston or another four-year school

or

-Apply at UMass Boston and take my general ed classes there along with classes for my major.

I work full-time, pay rent and utilities, as well as having a car, so I think being frugal would be prudent, but at the same time, I'm leaning toward UMass.

I'm looking for answers from people who are experienced in this.

Hey folks...

So, I've been a T5 paraplegic for over a year now and all of a sudden I'm having some pretty intense spasms in my legs. I have minimal sensation and have only had very small occasional spasms until the last few weeks - at times, my spasms are so ridiculous that I fall out of my wheelchair (and my balance is pretty good, it's not that I'm just a helpless cripple!)... I DON'T want to wear a seat belt or a leg strap and would really prefer to minimize the spasms... anyone know what could be causing them, or a pharmaceutical-free way of dealing with them?

Thanks!

P.S. I'm not looking for a cure for my spinal cord injury, please don't email me with home remedies... thanks!

I'm still having MAJOR anxiety issues about going out and having people stare at me or talk to me like I'm some kind of retard. I broke my back, not my brain. Come on. Is there anyone out there with a disability that has the same problem?

Examples:

-Twice so far, I've gone out to eat with a friend and the waitress has asked my friend what I'll be ordering, like I'm 7 years old or mentally challenged.

-I'm still really edgy about people looking at me, "the chick in the wheelchair" - was there anything that helped any of you through this? What was it?

-I need to get some hand controls. Where'd you get yours, and how much did they run you?

BTW, I'm a T-5 para, incomplete, no sensation, no nada.

I'm NOT looking for a cure or a home remedy, so an answer like that won't help... thanks anyway :)

Will I still get my refund soon if I file them now?

...but I'm not exactly sure how. I don't really want to stick to just doing the online dating thing, but I feel like a wheelchair scares guys off, like they think I'm gonna be some sort of burden to them or cramp their style.

Truth is, I'm 100% independent; I don't need ANY help, I work, I drive. My wheelchair is manual, I just take it apart (within like, 30 seconds), toss it in my back seat and go wherever the hell I want to. My being paralyzed really isn't a big deal to me, but I think it makes people pretty uncomfortable sometimes. I go to the gym, I play hockey... I live the same as I always have, just sitting down - but I feel like guys are pretty shallow about stuff like this (and I don't know if I would have been before I got hurt, too)...

So my question is, does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Any tips or thoughts on the subject? Am I damaged goods, or dateable?

Recently I've come to terms with everything (as much as I think I can, anyway) and decided to live my life again. I'm 100% independent, use a manual wheelchair, drive, go to work, etc. - so my life is pretty much as normal as anyone who can still walk - but I don't know how to begin to start dating again. I'm almost 29 and feel like I really need to get moving!

So I have a couple of questions:

1. @ guys - I don't need help, I do everything I used to, only sitting down. I play hockey, I go out 'walking' or 'running' a few miles at a time, so clearly I'm not someone who needs help. My disability is only a burden to me, and I don't really even see it as a burden. Do you consider me damaged goods? Is someone in my position something you'd stay away from dating-wise?

2. @ other paraplegics/quads/disabled folks who are independent and don't rely on caregivers - how did YOU get back into the dating world? What problems did you have, if any?

Thanks!

Sometimes I have nothing at all for days at a time, but sometimes they almost knock me out of my chair. Incomplete T5 para here, and I was injured 2 years ago and really only had minimum spasm activity until the last 6 months or so. By minimal, I mean the occasional slight jumping of my leg, or just muscle contractions... nothing that could knock me out of my chair, or even be noticed by people who weren't staring. The spasms don't hurt or anything, but they're seriously annoying. I feel like they make people stare at me, and I really don't want to have to wear a seat belt or leg strap or anything, I'm totally independent so that would NOT be okay in my book.

What could cause this? Any ideas? I'm still in pretty good shape, I stretch my legs a lot and try and work them out so they don't atrophy too badly, but I just don't know what's up with the spasms. Thanks!

It seems like in the last couple years, people have been going CRAZY over Don't Stop Believin' when they totally weren't before.

My graphics card works with Vista but won't stay installed (it stayed installed on my old PC with no problem). If I restart my PC for any reason, I have to reinstall the driver for my video card. Should I upgrade to Win7? Will that fix the problem? I know Vista isn't exactly bug free... has anyone heard about this at all?

Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, or Mario Lemieux? Orr revolutionized the game and showed people that defensemen could carry the puck and lead their teams to victory. Gretzky was incredible but also had an incredible team around him. Lemieux was plagued by injuries and poor health, but had moves nobody else had.

Personally, I say Orr is better than Lemieux and Lemieux is better than Gretzky. The Oilers teams Gretzky played for were ridiculous and they went on to win a cup without him (after the ones he won), and then another in New York in 94 (a LOT of members of that team were there). I think Gretzky had a LOT of talent but also was on the right team at the right time. Orr could make a mockery out of other teams all by himself. Lemieux could split defense like no other. Probably the best goal scorer the NHL has even seen (and I'm not a Super Mario fan).

Do you guys have any ideas to help me save more?

My rent is 500.

Utilities are usually about 200.

Transportation is about 60.

Food is probably another 100.

I bring home about 1700/month and have like NO savings. I find it hard to not spend any money. Thoughts?

It's way more action-packed and fast-moving than the other three major professional sports. Is it because it's hard to understand? Is it because it's hard to skate? Is it because it's predominantly white? Is it because of the NHL's marketing? Thoughts?

What are some other jobs/fields this could get me into?