The Engleson Files

Damn you mother for sticking every ABBA song in my head; I should not know all the lyrics to their songs!!

This, creates…

This.

Chinese traffic, it is definitely an experience.

Number 4 on my all-time favorite hockey team list is the 1905 Dawson City Klondikers (or Nuggets as they changed their name to in game two). Now, the Klondikers were the infamous team that travelled by dog sled to Skagway, a steamship to Seattle and then rode the CPR from Vancouver to Ottawa. Their goal was to play for the 1905 Stanley Cup (which was, of course, a challenge cup at the time) against the powerhouse Ottawa Silver Seven. (Click here for more.) Ultimately the Klondikers got smoked in the best of two aggregate games (31-4), but the team’s pursuit and desire to travel the road they did and challenge for the Stanley Cup keeps them forever on my list. So please, a toast, to the Klondikers.

Well, the Ice Dragons officially became the Roller Dragons for one game tonight where we got to play in an exhibition game in the Chinese National Inline Hockey Championships, which are currently being held in Dalian, Kaifaqu. Now, as you can see the crowds were packed with hockey fanatics who cheered us on passionatly - thank you Sara, Susan and the kids. The Dragons beat a team from Beijing 4-3 and I (#2) was as useless to my team as I have ever been (I just could not skate on that surface with the wheels.) “It was a lot of fun, I hated every minute of it,” was all #2 could comment after the big game.

Yesterday the family went back into Dalian to go skating again; all the kids were there and all had a great time! We hope he continues to enjoy skating and playing on the ice.

Here’s some live footage of the guys playing chinese chess. Again, I just love how everybody stands around and wastes their entire day watching the big game. I think this one must have been especially important due to the larger than normal crowd.

Well, the first season of Magnus’s tricycling days are officially done. We managed to get all the way into the middle of November, but old man winter has finally sealed the deal. It breaks my heart to hear Magnus ask to go out for his evening bike ride only to be told “it is too cold outside.” He loves his bike and I can only hope he continues with it once the spring thaw hits.

Over the next couple of weeks I am going to countdown my top five all-time favorite hockey teams: Coming in at #5 is the 1955 Penticton Vees. Growing up in Penticton, banners and signs commemorating this team were everywhere and it was simply impossible to ignore what this team had achieved. The Vees were the ‘little team that could’, they were controversial, tough as nails, brash, and they did what nobody ever expected them to do: win the 1955 World Championships. So, three cheers for the 1955 Penticton Vees!

Ah yes, reminiscents of the good old days of being a youngster. Now, I wasn’t a huge fan of WWF wrestling, but I did thoroughly enjoy watching it on the weekends. Looking back, really, these were the good ol’ days of wrestling when the plotlines and characters were much simpler and pure - not the raunchy super violent crap pumped out today. Yes, these were the days of Randy “The Macho Man” Savage and George “The Animal” Steele! Oh yeeeaah!

Took this picture while stuck in traffic for a half an hour in Dalian. The traffic has become absolutely gross here, everyday the congestion keeps getting worse. Bu hao! My question to you all is: What do you think this guy is thinking? Leave a comment to respond.

Just want to send out a big thanks to Grant Potter at Potting Along for the heads up with the reincarnation of Musicovery 2.0. I have just spent some time dabbling and it’s beauty! So, if you like Pandora, you will love Musicovery - how’s that for a pitch! Thanks again Grant!

The Ice Dragons are officially confirmed to play in a hockey tournament in Beijing on the weekend of December 1st - 3rd. This should be tough go because we will be playing both chinese and foreign (mainly Canadian) teams. Both Shanghai and Beijing have a lot of Canadians/Swedes/Finns living there and from past experiences they are all very good hockey players. Should be a great time - lets go Dragons!

Yesterday was Cosmo’s birthday and his party was down in Dalian at the New Mart ice rink. Now, the size of the rink is quite small, but beggars cannot be choosers - it’s all we got, therefore, its perfect. Anyways, Magnus went out on the ice with skates for the first time. Most of the time Dad just carried him around and both just zipped around, which was great. As the day wore on, though, Magnus was attempting to stand on his own and try it all for himself (although nothing like Carter Brown!) All in all, it was a great day, Magnus left very excited about skating and I hope to start doing this more often.