The Moment You've All Been Waiting For

$1,000 to the Mario Lemieux Foundation!!!!

Yes, my friends, I officially have $1,000 in hand so that a check can finally be sent to the MLF!

Sidney Penguin, Marc Andre Penguin and Mario Penguin with the check

Mario is ready to wing-deliver the check!

Honestly, when this project first started, I hoped I could send $100 or maybe even $500 to the foundation. I never dared to dream that I would be writing $1,000 on there! But you guys enthusiastically showed up and made this a reality. I may stitch these little guys together and get them where they need to go, but this is YOUR money heading to Pittsburgh and you should all give yourselves a huge pat on the back!!

The boys take in one more game before heading north

So the plan is to mail the check along with these three penguins and a letter tomorrow. I wanted the MLF to see in person what this was all about. The letter includes this web site along with The Sidney Crosby Show.....hopefully they will check it out and see all the roaming the Roamers do! This is also why it's taken me so long to make this announcement....Jodie and I wanted everything to be up and running so they could see as many of the pictures as possible.

The Original Sidney Penguin says goodbye to his friends and wishes them safe travels

I really cannot thank you all enough for everything you have contributed to this. When I first went to Jodie with the idea, I asked "do you think anyone would even want one??" And seeing how you all have embraced the "roaming" idea and taken them places and gotten their pictures absolutely brings tears to my eyes (and makes laugh, quite literally, out loud!). You guys are so creative!! I love every picture.....from them helping you study to seeing them in the hands of a real live Penguin....they just blow me away. Your patience astounds me...that you would wait MONTHS for one of these little guys is just awesome. My only regret is that I can't finish them any faster!

And, of course, my biggest THANK YOU goes to Jodie! When I presented this to her, she embraced it and gave it a home. She allowed this project to take on a life of it's own on her blog. She took the time to create posts and organize pictures, all in the middle of hockey season and her transition from one job to the next. And then helping me set up this site! This project is truly a two-woman job and this announcement would not have ever been possible without her. Cheers, Jodie! We make an AMAZING team!!

So where do we go from here? Well, orders keep coming in and we are on our way to another check to the MLF :) I've always said, I will continue making these little guys as long as people want them. Jodie and I are cooking up another idea....so stayed tuned for that! (I know....more waiting!). I still have many e-mails of Roamers yet to post, so things won't slow down around here anytime soon. And I hope they never do!

And, so, on that note, I give you the classic Roamer photo:

Sid, Flower, and Super Mario are ready to ROAM!!

The Original Sidney Penguin, Part 1

A friend of mine was checking out this site and asked "Where are YOUR pictures??" Well, duh. I hadn't even thought about that! (it really is amazing I make it out alive each day :) )

So, without further ado.....the Adventures of the Original Sidney Penguin:

We had a little time to kill over the summer.....and Sidney didn't want to be away from the rink too long. So I braved the ice for the first time since junior high (and let me tell you....junior high was just a few years ago....)

Where would Sidney be most at home? Well, an ice rink of course....

Sidney checking out the ice

Sidney goes wherever I go...including my 20-year high school reunion over Labor Day. It was S.P.'s first trip to my hometown of Raymore, MO (just south of Kansas City). We had a fun time visiting my old stomping grounds:

I took Sidney to see my high school. Sorry, Sid, my school doesn't have a hockey team...

Unfortunately, I spend most of my time at work....but Sid doesn't mind so much hanging out with K.C. Wolf (Chiefs mascot) and my London Tower bear while I slave away for mere pittance...

Just hanging out at work. S.P. approves of my screensaver.

I don't get to travel as much as I would like, so my friend, Nancy, entertained Sidney by taking him on her trip to Boston. I dare say, she had more fun than I imagined!

Safety first as Sid heads toward Nantucket Island

Enjoying the beach

Checking out historical sights. Education is so important, you know.

Where everybody knows your name! (though I'm not sure how the Boston-ites feel about the name "Sidney Crosby"...)

I dragged S.P. along to meet my beloved Dallas Stars at the downtown Hilton in Nashville. As his reward for being so patient with my love for my "other team", I got his picture in front of the beautiful Hall of Fame across the street:

Sidney thought that the piano keyboard shape of the Country Music Hall of Fame was cool

Sidney did his duty on election day and went and voted!

This is a rare moment when I can get Josey to stay still long enough for a posed photo

As you can see, Sid and I keep pretty busy! The next installment will include pictures from all our trips to Dallas within a three-month period (you know...the holidays and all :) )

M.I.A.

Sorry to have been quiet lately....I know the excuse "work is crazy" is a tired one, but it is oh so true! But things should quiet down after this week and I can get back to getting cute little Roamers up for you to see! (I have also been remiss on making penguins....*hangs head in shame*)

Anyhow, I believe Jodie and I are done copying TSCS posts (which is why there are many, many posts all in a short span). I believe she has some pictures that weren't posted and I have received some in the last few weeks. That will become my priority this weekend :)

Also, I know I keep promising a big announcement and it IS coming! I believe I can finally get around to that on Sunday.....so tune in then! You won't be sorry....I promise....

Keep sending pictures and stories and penguin orders! And, of course.....GO PENS!!

Pens v Sens (L 2-3)

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(Originally posted on The Sidney Crosby Show on December 6, 2008.)

Friend of The Show Ali W. sent in pictures of a very special adventure for Roamer Brooks Penguin:

Last [month] my hometown got some exciting news when a family from my hometown got chosen to be on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, produced by ABC. I was pretty bummed that I wouldn't be able to make it back to volunteer and see the build so Brooks Penguin went back to PA without me (courtesy of the USPS) ... Today he had a great time checking out the build, and learning about the family that Extreme Makeover and ABC were helping out.... (the one boy in the family is in my younger brother's class at school)...Enjoy.

#1 - Last night [November 11^th], before he went to see the build, Brooks checked out our local Dick's Sporting Goods -- some employees there were watching the game, so Brooks Penguin cheered with them, and got to see their exciting comeback vs. the Wings.


#2 - Brooks found his very own volunteer badge and famous volunteer blue shirt


#3 - Brooks with the house that is being built -- it's only been since Sunday that they've been building -- WOW!


#4 - The Drumm family that the house belongs to...


#6 - My cousin (and fellow Pens fan) got to go and volunteer, and took Brooks along for the ride!


#7 - Along the way, Brooks snagged a coveted pass to the VIP area. :)


#8 - While in the VIP area, before going to check out the house, Brooks had to get himself one of the hard hats -- just in case. :)


**This episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will be airing on ABC sometime in January... :)


I made this birthday card for my friend who's from the Pittsburgh area (she's not a big Pen's fan, but I always tell her she should be... haha)... I was really excited about how it turned out (since I'm not much of an artist, and I had to do it free hand), and since Brooks Penguin got his picture taken with it, I thought I'd send it along to you over at The Show. Enjoy:

That's so awesome! I hope the Drumm family loved their beautiful new home. And great job on the card! :) Many thanks go out to Ali and her cousin for sending the pictures and story.

GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pens v Rangers (L 2-3 SO)

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(Originally posted on The Sidney Crosby Show on December 3, 2008.)

I'm really sorry, but there will be no recap tonight. I've got a wicked headache, and I just want to close my eyes and go to sleep. I will be recapping tomorrow night's game as usual (I hope!).

In the meantime, here are belated Thanksgiving wishes to all of us from 1WingAngel and her twin Nicole G.:

Hahaha, I am guessing these Roamers are watching the November 15^th Pens v Sabres game that I was lucky enough to attend. :) So cute!

GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!

"It's Not The Biggest City, But It's A City I Really Like"

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(Originally posted on The Sidney Crosby Show on December 1, 2008.)

Finally today, I received this e-mail from Friend of The Show Lauren a few days ago:

It was snowing at my house yesterday before I left to drive back to Ohio for class, and I should've been working on a paper, but instead I took a break to take my dog Emma and Sidney Penguin outside for a couple of pictures! :) Enjoy!

Look at how sweet Emma is:







What a pretty puppy!!! Big thanks go out to Lauren for her contribution to today's post.

Luxury Boxes Are Sweet

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(Originally posted on The Sidney Crosby Show on November 23, 2008.)

I know this from experience because the company my husband works for has one at the Mellon Arena, and we've gotten the tickets for it about a half dozen times in the twelve years he has worked for them. The view is almost like an overhead view from a blimp (though not quite that far away, haha!). The TVs in the suites are tuned to the broadcast of the game, so you just have to turn your head for an instant replay if something spectacular happens. There is so much leg and elbow room, and the box we occasionally have the privilege of using even has a couch!

The best part is that there is a very real chance to bump into a legend in the hallway or one of the injured players from the current roster, who often watch the game from Mario's box. In the few times we've been blessed to watch a game from the box, we saw the likes of Mario himself and Joe Mullen. Once, ex-Pen Robert Lang (who at the time was nursing a hurt wrist) was trucking down the hallway and put his hands on my shoulders to gently guide me out of the way and said, "Pardon me, ma'am." and winked at me.

The reason I bring the suites up is because Friend of The Show Lauren H. got to have her own experience of a lifetime in one of these luxury suites. Here is her recap of her incredible day - oh, and she took along a very special little guest:

I had the opportunity to attend Saturday’s game against Vancouver, and even better, I got to enjoy the game from a luxury box! I had never sat in a luxury box at the Igloo before, and it had been a dream of mine since I was a little girl!





My dad’s company insurance is through Highmark (a major sponsor of the Penguins) and his Highmark rep was the one who invited us to sit in their box! It was definitely an experience I will never forget!

Sitting in the box was surreal – I’d always dreamed of what it would be like, and it pretty much met all my expectations! At one point, Ryan Whitney walked right by our box on his way upstairs to the press box, but we were all had our attention directed towards the ice and the person who did see him go by couldn’t remember his name (!!!!) and he was gone by the time we all ran out into the hall (by we, I mean my siblings and I). My sister is a huge Mario fan, so we had our eyes open looking for him the whole game. We *think* me *might* have spotted him a box directly across the ice from ours, but then we also heard that his box was located on the same side as ours, so we’re not sure if it was really him, and our camera wouldn’t zoom in any more to confirm it.




One of the highlights of the day was meeting Iceburgh! I’ve been to tons of Penguins games over the years, but today was actually the first time I got to meet and get my picture with Iceburgh!

[snoop: Look closely to see who's between Lauren and Iceburgh!! Thank goodness this mascot encounter wasn't as risky as the last one! ;)]

We were trying to figure out why he would be up wandering around among the luxury boxes, but then after the game as people were leaving, I noticed a big group of kids walking toward the elevator at one point, and I immediately thought of the luxury box that Sid purchased for kids and I thought that *maybe* those kids had been Sid’s special guests and that Iceburgh had paid them a visit! :) I don’t know if that’s really the case or not, but I like to think it is!


The fight 25 seconds into the game was great!!! I hadn’t seen any good fights lately (I was still at class when the Gronk dropped the gloves a few nights ago) and this one was definitely one for the books! Too bad it cost the Cookie Monster a game misconduct. :( Hearing John Barbaro list off all the penalties was kind of amusing.

[snoop: What a photo!!!]

I was very sad that I wouldn’t get to see Fleury play, but I was slightly consoled by the fact that I was going to get the rare opportunity to see Roberto Luongo play in person – I’ve heard so much about him and the Pens don’t play them often. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury early in the game and had to be helped off the ice by his teammates. We had FSN on the TV in the box, but it was muted, and the best we could figure is that he suffered some type of groin injury. After he left the ice and Sanford came out to replace him, my brother-in-law and brother and I got into a conversation about backup goalies. We were explaining to my brother that since Fleury is out right now, Dany, our backup goalie is playing, and they called up John Curry from WB-S to backup Dany. Since Vancouver’s backup goalie was now playing, he asked what would happen if something happened to him, something I was curious about too. My brother-in-law informed us there would be a brief pause in the game to give another player (most likely a defenseman) time to suit up in goalie pads and come out to tend goal! The thought of this was really amusing and as much as I hate to see players get hurt, I would love to see something like this happen in a game!


The game itself was just weird. That’s the only way I can describe it. The Penguins didn’t seem to have too much desperation and the Canucks’ playing didn’t really blow me away either. None of the goals were too impressive – the whole game was just weird. And where the heck did this rivalry come from?! The Boys of Winter were definitely playing more on the physical side today, and the scrums were all pretty fun to watch.


The Highmark rep who invited us said he loved watching the game with all of us, and we would have to do this again sometime! Of course, we all agreed whole-heartedly! So, with any luck, this won’t be the last game I get to enjoy from the box!






Also, they showed a video clip that I really hope they decide to post on PensTV for everyone to enjoy. It was Dupuis, Max, and Sid sitting in the locker room and it went like this:

Max: Hi! I’m Max Talbot!

Sid: And I’m Sidney Crosby and we’d just like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving!

Max: Don’t eat too much turkey.

(Dupuis doesn’t say anything, but has this big goofy grin on his face the whole time. Sid was smiling too – a nice change from his usual serious self!)

So many childhood dreams came true today and the whole experience was quite surreal!

Thank you SO MUCH, Lauren, for taking these pictures and sharing the memories of your amazing day with us!! I'm glad you had such a good time. I hope you get to take more pics like these from that box again sometime, too! ;)