The Latest
 
06/20/2011 - Been a while since I posted to my site.  The loss of my Dad hit me harder than I had prepared for.  I miss him dearly.  Especially on a day like yesterday...Father's Day.  My two boys Jimmy and Colin made it special for me.  Jimmy called from South Carolina and we talked and laughed for almost an hour and a half.  Colin and I ate Popeye's chicken, ate ice cream cake and finished hanging the surround speakers in the living room to complete the home theater.  All in all, a great Father's Day.  Thank you both Jimmy and Colin.

The pictures I chose of my boys are just them being goofy.  I love them both so much.
 
  01/16/2011 - My Dad passed away from complications with heart disease. He was 74.

My Dad served his country in the Army and was proud of his lengthy law enforcement career starting with Lorton prison where he started the inter-penitentiary football league.  He then served with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department on the Dulles Airport S.W.A.T. team.  He then transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department before retiring with the U.S. Treasury Department.

My Dad was an active volunteer throughout his life. You wouldn’t find him on the sidelines at his kids’ games. You saw him involved as a coach, an umpire or a referee for their sports teams. He was also an active volunteer with his Church.

An avid sports fan, Dad loved his New York Giants and, to him, the only real Dodgers…the Brooklyn Dodgers.  His friends loving called him Monsignor. To his family, he’ll always be Uncle Jim, Pop-Pop and Dad.
 
  01/04/2010 - Colin finally competed in the Washington Capital's Shoot-out Competition.  Colin arrived at the Verizon Center, hung his gear in a locker room across from the Caps locker room.  We ate and watched the Caps warm-up and returned to find that the Colin's jersey was replaced with a Caps jersey with his name and number on it.

Colin and his team mate Brian Romola competed against the team from Maryland.  Colin stopped all three shots and Brian scored on his third attempt.  Here's video of the shootout and the interview I did of the boys.
 
 
12/30/2010 - Colin played for a team made up of most of his friends.  They were short  a few players for a complete team which made the name of the team fit perfectly...The Skeleton Crew.  The played in the Christmas Tournament in Aston, PA and won.

Lots of comments from the opposing teams...not so many comments from them after each game.
 
 


11/18/2010 - It's that time of year again.  It's school picture time.  Here's two versions of the picture.
 
  10/15/2010 - The Washington Capitals just posted their "Youth Shootout Info" Page.  He competes on Jan 4th. 
Here are the stats they have on Colin:

Virginia Finalist
Name: Colin McNelis
Position: Goalie
Number: 40
Team: Virginia Wild
Hometown: Ashburn, Va.
Favorite Caps Player: Semyon Varlamov
 
 
10/01/10 - The travel team Colin plays on (Virginia Wild) played in Philadelphia at the Silversticks International tournament. 

Colin had 50 shots on him all weekend (only 5 in one game) and 47 saves.  That's save percentage of 94%.
 
 
08/15/2010 - Kettler Ice Arena.  Colin wins the Semi-Final Shootout Competition round by shutting out 7 of 8 shooters cold. 

He's now representing the state of Virginia in the shootout competition on January 4th after the first period of the Caps and Lightning game.  Colin and his team mate, Brian Romola will face team Maryland.
 

08/01/2010 - I got Colin entered into the Washington Capitals Shoot-out competition this year.  Colin was one of 8 goalies competing to move on to the semi-final round held at Kettler Ice Arena in two weeks. 

Colin finished first of all eight!  Colin's teammates; Kyle Heigt and Kyle Nicoll are joining him as well at Kettler.
 
 

07/21/2010 - The first time I've ever seen Maiden!  Yes, I know...it's been way overdue.  I've seen enough over their documentaries and specials to know that they put on quite a performance.
Well, I was not disappointed.  Colin and I had great seats and saw every bit of the crew including Eddie.

Opening up for Maiden was Dream Theater.  Short set, but lots of talent in that group.
 
 
07/16/2010 - I needed to post another entry for the hockey camp week.  Colin, Lucas and I have started a tradition.  After hockey camp is over, we head back through rural Pennsylvania stopping at a German restaurant called The Hofbrauhaus.  The boys love the decor and the food.  And of course, the get a sugar buzz from the desserts and start a wrestling match in the back of the Jeep.
 
 
07/16/2010 - Colin attended Hartley Hockey camp again this season.  He played up a level with the Midget division (14-16 year olds).  His Coach was Gilles LeFavre (he's coached Jose Theodore, Martin Broduer, and Martin Biron).

Colin took a puck to the inside of his elbow during practice one day.  Quite a knot!  Painful, but her survived and went on to play in the game the following day.

I can't say enough about this camp!  What a great experience for these kids.  Colin's friend Lucas even got his picture taken with Eric Perrin (Atlanta Thrashers)
 
 

07/03/2010 - Trip to Busch Gardens with Suzy, Colin and Jordon.  Not as hot of a day as you would think being the beginning of July.  We had a great time together.  Let the boys go off on their own and see the park at their pace.  Suzy and I took in different sites this time.  Taking in the Irish shows as well as the nature preserve.  We all met at the Festhaus for lunch/dinner where Colin tried to inhale a slice of cake as big as his head.

 

07/01/2010 - Colin and I headed to Kings Dominion.  We took on the Intimidator 305 "the tallest and fastest roller coaster of its type on the East Coast! Towering at 305 feet at its highest peak; descend 300 feet at an 85 degree-angle and thunder along the track at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour". 
Colin said he almost blacked out on the ride.
 
 
06/28/2010 - Remodeled the powder room on the main floor in an Irish Pub style bathroom.  I used pictures from Ireland's storefronts as a base for color a design. 

An old desk was painted and turned into a vanity with the addition of a $10 copper pan from Marshall's.  Matching copper faucet set and Celtic knobs for the vanity made the project come together.  Adding 6" marble tile flooring really added the Celtic touch.

 
 
 

06/20/2010 - Took the kayaks out for the afternoon on the reservoir.  Colin and Suzy went first and a few moments later......Suzy went in first when she tried to adjust herself and lost her balance.  After righting the kayak and getting Suzy to stop laughing long enough to make sure she's OK, we got her back in her boat
 
 

 

06/14/2010 - The Ashburn Ice House Spring league finished their short season and Colin's tea finished first!  High skater and goalie attendance as well as great coaching made this a fun filled and competitive season.

 
 
 

06/01/2010 - This was the first time I got to do a little sightseeing while at one of Colin's tournaments.  Got a chance to see the Liberty Bell, Historic Philly and eat some local food.  I even ate a real Philly cheese steak.  Not from the tourists traps, but from Tony Luke's.  A place where locals go.  The cheese steak was good, but nothing compared to the Hot Texas Smoked dog. 
 
 

05/31/2010 - Went to Philly this weekend for Colin's Spring League travel team (Virginia Wild Bantam Division).  The team did well.  They took first place.  Colin's stats were impressive this tourney.  54 shots on goal, 53 saves in three games.  That's 98% save percentage!
 
 
 


5/22/2010 - Colin shows Pop Pop his new Droid smart phone.  Pop Pop can't believe that phones have advanced this far.  Pop Pop got his first cell phone just six months ago.
 

>>>> More in the Archives <<<<