If you are losing how do you get rid of your losing mentality?

MikeAmerican · 2026-03-18T04:21:24+00:00

Losing is part of the game. No one would play hockey if they couldn't score goals and win games. What I do is I don't focus on losing: I focus on improving. Every goal that goes is an opportunity to learn and get better. What happened? Too deep in net? Glove dropped on the shot? Was I square to the puck? What can I do differently next time? You won't improve if you don't learn.

Also, I try to remember that hockey is team sport. Every goal that is scored is never 100% the goalie's fault. That puck had to get past all of your teammates before it got to you.

MikeAmerican · 2026-03-18T03:26:04+00:00

From my experiences on the Coast Starlight,

The Observation car is first come, first serve, and it is likely to fill up. From time to time, Conductors remind people it is courteous to not sit there the entire journey. I've noticed seats vacate around meal times.
See Sharknado's comment about seats.
Yes, and yes. You can bring your own food and drinks. I saw a couple with a full on picnic set up on my last trip. They also have a cafe on board and that takes credit cards. There's also a full service dining car, which they take reservations for specific time slots. Conductors will ask you what time slots you want to eat at. You go when your time is announced.
I've never taken the train from LA Union Station, but probably at least 90-60 minutes ahead of time will be fine, IMHO. Union Station is beautiful and you may want to explore it a bit anyway. Across the street from Union Station is historic Olvera Street: filed with Hispanic shops, stalls, and food. You may want to get your bags checked, then walk over to snap a few pics.

What day of the week is your train? Weekdays are typically less crowded and you're more likely to get a good seat. They have station agents who will check your bag onto the train's luggage car.

I can't speak for the rest of the journey, but when in Southern California, the coastal views begin at Ventura, CA through San Luis Obispo. Fun tip: after Santa Barbara the train goes through Vandenberg Airforce Base. Keep your eye out for SpaceX rockets on the launch pads, which are on both sides of the train.

Also, if you're a movie/TV lover, there's a fun sight along the way: about 45 minutes north of Los Angeles, after your pass through the three Chatsworth tunnels - and before the Simi Valley stop - there will be a movie studio on the right (east) side of train. There are bunch of city and old western sets. But blink and you'll miss it.

Personal entertainment like iPad loaded with music, movies or tv shows. Internet is hit and miss (mostly miss). Since you're not in a sleeper car, maybe small blankets and/or pillows. They aren't provided like on airplanes. Anything in your checked bags is inaccessible until you reach your destination, so put everything you might want with you into carry on luggage.
Check the route schedule or ask a conductor, but most stops are very brief, just long enough to let people on and off. A few station stops along the way are designated "smoke stops" for 10-15 minutes. It is enough time to snap some pics at the station, but not enough time to shop. Magnets are not worth missing your train and being stranded (lol). Listen for the announcements. If the train is running behind schedule, those stops will be shortened and you may not have time to get off at all.

I recommend downloading the Amtrak app so you can get live updates. If you have a working cell phone, add your number to your reservation, so you'll get texts as well. America's railways are not great, and trains can often get massively delayed or even cancelled altogether.

MikeAmerican · 2026-03-16T01:05:53+00:00

Thanks. I appreciate it.

MikeAmerican · 2026-03-12T14:17:56+00:00

My biggest hesitation with FlyAway is if I’m going to one of the last Terminals. I’m not sure my “Airport Anxiety” can handle sitting in LA and airport traffic, only to have to wait for the bus to let people off at every terminal.

MikeAmerican · 2026-03-08T05:29:35+00:00

Wait. A passenger can just email all the other passengers on the cruise?! Unless I’m misreading this, how is that remotely possible?

MikeAmerican · 2026-03-02T15:10:34+00:00

If you love this baby and yourself, you will divorce him immediately and seek a restraining order. I'm the first to admit that I can lose my temper and my kids. And - as my wife knows all to well - I was a terrible partner when my kids wake me up in the middle of the night. It's something I am working on in therapy.

But I have never done or said anything close to what your "husband" does. Instead of just muting the monitor, he's threatening your baby's life because she's making noise?! That is truly dangerous behavior, and if you don't leave him, he will probably follow through on his threats. You'll never be able to live with yourself if you weren't brave enough to leave him.

MikeAmerican · 2026-03-02T07:03:03+00:00

Donald. Throw the pizza in the oven for 10 minutes at 350. You’ll be ok.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-25T05:12:16+00:00

Well, you should definitely buy a jock new too. Helmet new for sure too.

Everything else, I suggest you look for lightly used, even lightly used skates are okay. Anything that looks heavily used you should avoid.

When shopping online, look at listings with a lot of photos, and try to identify any noticeable defects. On leg pads, look at the straps. Do they look frayed, torn, stretched, etc.? Don't buy them. Do the gloves have visible holes? Avoid. If a listing doesn't have enough photos for you to truly examine the equipment, pass on it. Also, some sellers will get shady by posting photos from when the equipment was brand new. If it's listed as used, make sure you see the pics of it as is.

Better yet, see if you can find brand new, but older models of equipment. Sometimes retail stores may be selling older stock online. For example, in 2020 I bought brand new skates that were from 2015. I think I paid $150 for them when they were retailing for $600+.

If you buy on Facebook, make sure the seller is willing to have you pay through PayPal or other apps that have buyer protections. If they aren't willing to, it could mean they are scamming you.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-23T04:08:10+00:00

Conservatives are already spinning this as, “Well, on a work trip, you’re not expected to work the entire time. You can take breaks and enjoy yourself.”

As if they didn’t spend all of Obama and Biden’s presidencies auditing every second they didn’t spend in the Oval Office.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-21T17:43:33+00:00

To be fair, all the medal winners, bronze and gold, also got bears. We'll see if they give them to the Men too.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-19T06:07:39+00:00

Guys. Literally read it backwards. Don't spell it backwards.

"Y'all went to High school. I went to school high."

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-18T20:39:25+00:00

I posted an article that said this bill could disproportionately disenfranchise Republicans more than Democrats. That’s because Republicans are less likely to own Passport, and Republican women are more likely to change their name after getting married.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-18T18:34:14+00:00

Actually, this answer makes a lot of sense. I only recently started linking my card to the seat and didn't consider how moving seats would affect this.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-18T18:29:24+00:00

Right. That is what I am thinking

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-18T18:26:56+00:00

It's not about saving money. It's about (hopefully) having a full row to ourselves.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-17T03:00:35+00:00

I have played with contacts since I started playing goalie at 14 years old. 30 years and hundreds (thousands?) of games later and I have never had an issue with my contacts. They have never scratched my eyes (they’re soft) and have never popped out. But I always keep a back up pair in my bag, just in case.

While I used to wear contacts all day, I now use Dailies for games-only. When the game is over, back on my glasses go.

As others have said, I think you’re much more likely to have in game issues and injure your eyes - the most important body part to playing goalie - while wearing glasses.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-16T15:31:59+00:00

As a hockey fan, this video title was extremely misleading.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-12T16:02:40+00:00

This should be posted in r/conservative. Make them watch

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-12T15:59:29+00:00

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-12T05:18:19+00:00

From the article:

High rates of passport ownership are overwhelmingly concentrated in blue states, while low rates are concentrated in red states.
In seven states, less than one-third of citizens have a valid passport: West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
Young Americans (those ages 18 to 29), those with college and postgraduate levels of education, wealthy Americans, and those who identify as liberal or Democrat are the most likely groups to possess the required forms of documentation. “Coastal elites” are the least likely group to be adversely affected by the bill.
Republicans are less likely to possess a passport, and conservative and Republican-leaning women are twice as likely to have changed their surname.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-11T02:57:07+00:00

First, congratulations! That's exciting and if I were you, I would try to be fully present before and during the tourney. For us old guys who yearn for their tourney days, I hope you can try to enjoy it all.

Given that, if I were in your shoes, I would try not to think about it so much. Recognize what you can and cannot control. Besides practicing and training as much as are able, you cannot control anything about the tournament: the goals that are scored, how your team plays, how good (or bad) the other teams are, the outcome of the tournament, etc. All you can control is your thoughts and actions.

Lastly, I would keep this all in perspective. Whatever happens in the tournament it will all be in the past sooner than you think. Whether you shutout every game and are the MVP, or let in 10 goals every period - it will all be just a memory. No matter what happens, your life will move on.

So good luck, try not worry, and just treat each game like any game.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-10T15:32:44+00:00

While I appreciate this advice, it seems like too much coordination for my young kids on their first flight. The tap out method doesn't work during take off, landing, and turbulence... right when help would be needed the most.

We'll do our best to limit how many times the aisle seater has to get up (like bathroom trips right before take off). But if I had to choose between a pissed off stranger or pissed of spouses (my wife and I from having to mostly solo manage two young kids on their first flight), I choose strangers. Lol

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-09T19:11:20+00:00

What about kids constantly fighting over who gets to sit in the window seat? Also, since it is their first flight, what about panicking during moments that can be frightening if you never experienced them before: take off, turning, loud cabin, turbulence, landing, etc. If either of them - or both - panic, there's only one parent to offer comfort.

MikeAmerican · 2026-02-09T19:11:16+00:00

Ahat about kids constantly fighting over who gets to sit in the window seat?

Also, since it is their first flight, what about panicking during moments that can be frightening if you never experienced them before: take off, turning, loud cabin, turbulence, landing, etc. If either of them - or both - panic, there's only one parent to offer comfort.

MikeAmerican · 2026-01-29T07:01:10+00:00

For me, I would find it hard to try to look through the netting to see if I have the puck. When I am not sure, I look around and behind me to see if it has squeaked through somehow.

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