Well, it’s a lazy Sunday night before Thanksgiving week, we’re all tuckered out from a day of winterizing our garden in a chilly rain, and simply don’t have the organizational skills to pull together anything better than a grab-bag of our thoughts, hopes and dreams.
– One thought we have is that the Devils have now played one quarter of the season; we promised we wouldn’t start really assessing them or panicking before Thanksgiving, but you know what? We’re going to start assessing, and we’re going to start panicking four days early. Twenty games is definitely a large enough sample size on which to be judging the team, and the overall impression they’re giving this year is that they suck. Badly. But in that maddening way that is based not on being a group of talentless hacks, but on them showing up almost every night looking lubberly and disorganized. Just when we reach our breaking point, though, and are ready to concede that there is no hope, they go and put in a great 40 minutes (or even, on the rarest of occasions, a great 50 minutes) and make us remember they’re capable of being much, much better. Basically this Devils team has, for the first quarter of the season, been just like that annoying person at work who does just enough to keep from getting fired. There isn’t even just one guy to point to — it starts at the top (with Lou) and goes all the way down to the second-to-last guy on the org chart (we’re absolving Kevin Weekes of any blame so far, although for all we know, he’s contributing by being a wretchedly miserable presence in practice or something. Although we doubt it). If the Devils were being consistently not good enough as hockey players to win, it would be one thing, but they’re being consistently not good enough at playing hockey in ways we know they’re capable of, and that’s why we’re panicking. When a group of this many professionals — with as much experience as these guys have –demonstrate a regular lack of focus, intensity and commitment, a fan can’t keep her heart from sinking.
– Another thought of ours is that the Hockey Gods proved this week to be as wrathful, fickle and unprejudiced in their cruelty as we’ve always believed they are. The latest example was the way they meted out Marty’s 500th win. We are beginning to think that NHL Milestones are controlled by twin gods, one of whom is kindly, loving and naive, and the other of whom is selfish, immature and unscrupulous. The two are constantly bickering about when to let milestones be attained, and by whom; the nice god wants everyone to hit those significant numbers as soon as possible, but the nasty god wants everyone to suffer wildly for their moments of greatness. The only way to solve their differences is to let the two play each other at cards, with the winner getting final say on the fate of the milestone-chasing player. Unfortunately, the magnanimous hockey god sucks at cards, and the misanthropic one cheats — how else to explain that Marty forgets how to play goal for 17 games, then misses out on three consecutive chances to just get the damn win out of the way, specifically brutally losing 1-0 to the Islanders on home ice? And then he plays his best game of the season on the road, in the same building where last year he finally chased down his elusive 48th win in a single season? Sure, the skeptic might say it’s just because Marty and the Devils are not very good (as previously mentioned), but that skeptic is wrong, wrong, wrong.
– Our hope is that the team has been sitting there thinking, “Well, we can’t really assess anything or panic at all until Thanksgiving” and that in a mere few days they’ll all come to their senses, leading them to the conclusion that they need to start, we don’t know, actually trying to win hockey games for the remaining 62 of the season. One thing to say for having a team that’s got a reputation for coach killing is that coach killers never, ever falsely claim they’re working hard when they’re not. Whether the boys are actually attempting to buck the saddle with Sutter or not, they’re playing like the Coach Killers of Yore (TM Pensgirl) which means they fully put forth after every game that they’re not really putting in 60-minutes worth of work. To a man they’re saying, “We have all the talent”, which is certainly true. At least now that Langenbrunner and White are back, they do indeed have the talent to at least be a team that squeaks into the 8th spot in the last week of the season. It’s not too late to take advantage of the talent. All that’s needed is effort. Is it to much to hope that they’ve all just been saving up that effort for after the start of the holiday season?
– Our hope is that the Devils are not deploying the strategy we suspected of them this weekend. For the better part of this season we’ve heard a repeated complaint from Chico during games that the Devs’ defensive-zone breakout is sloppy and ineffectual; if Chico’s reduced to complaining about it, it must be some kind of awful. But on Saturday, in Game #20, the breakout was crisp and nigh-on unstoppable. So is their plan to spend 19 games without ever executing a successful breakout just so their opponent in the 20th game won’t have any game tape to use for preparation? Has Sutter devised a devious scheme to ensure the Devils will finish the year with a guaranteed four wins? We really, really hope not.
– Our dream is that the start of this season is just that — a terrible, terrible dream. A nightmare even. We will wake up tomorrow and it will be October and instead of a group of underachievers with a Junior coach, we’ll have a stacked line-up and a Jack Adams winner. And instead of 8 games each against our Division rivals, we’ll be magically transported to a fantasy wonderland where there’s a balanced schedule against all 29 other teams.
If the Devils were being consistently not good enough as hockey players to win, it would be one thing, but they’re being consistently not good enough at playing hockey in ways we know they’re capable of, and that’s why we’re panicking. When a group of this many professionals — with as much experience as these guys have –demonstrate a regular lack of focus, intensity and commitment, a fan can’t keep her heart from sinking.
SERIOUSLY.
they’re playing like the Coach Killers of Yore (TM Pensgirl)
Hockey makes so much more sense when you recognize the patterns that come with your logo, doesn’t it? Doesn’t matter who tosses on that jersey – they instantly conform to Yore.
We will wake up tomorrow and it will be October and instead of a group of underachievers with a Junior coach, we’ll have a stacked line-up and a Jack Adams winner. And instead of 8 games each against our Division rivals, we’ll be magically transported to a fantasy wonderland where there’s a balanced schedule against all 29 other teams.
Yes, please – sign me up for this version! Including getting rid of the first part, which seems to pretty aptly describe my boys too.
we’re absolving Kevin Weekes of any blame so far
(This is apropos of nothing, except that you mentioned Kevin Weekes.) The other day someone made a joke about seventies porn music (”bow-chicka-wow-wow!” and all that), and when some freshman girl asked “What does porn music sound like?” I was all, “I can show you a website with a really good example…. Wait. That came out wrong.”
In other news, hi IPB! My play is done and struck and I’m FREE! I get to watch hockey again! Yay!
“I can show you a website with a really good example…. Wait. That came out wrong.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Congratulations on surviving the play! In the end, how’d it go?
“I can show you a website with a really good example…. Wait. That came out wrong.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Seconded!!
You should just tell her to find Center Ice and listen to the music that plays when there’s no game on.
we’ll have a stacked line-up and a Jack Adams winner.
Not always a guarantor of success, as a certain team is proving so far this year.
And instead of 8 games each against our Division rivals, we’ll be magically transported to a fantasy wonderland where there’s a balanced schedule against all 29 other teams.
Can I hitch a ride on that transport? I’m tired of playing the Eastern Division teams. I’ve heard there’s a whole other conference of teams out there. Can we play them sometime?
I’ve heard there’s a whole other conference of teams out there. Can we play them sometime?
I have heard tale of this gentleman – mysterious fellow they call Enigma. No, that’s not it. Enigla? Ah – Iginla! Perhaps one fair day I can discover if he is real or simply a fictitious rendering of some fertile imagination. My leg feels as though it’s being pulled with the talk of this creature “power forward,” but one cannot make assumptions, can one?
They also speak of a man named Roberto. I knew not that there were any outside Martin. More tall tales?
Right at this moment I kind of like the division match ups. 8-0-1 is the Nuckies record against the division! That’s hott. But I would like to see more of these Russian snipers I hear stories about. And this mysterious robot boy who is tearing up this “eastern” conference.
I knew not that there were any outside Martin.
Which Martin? (I kid, I kid!).
8-0-1 is the Nuckies record against the division!
Wow, that’s great! The Pens are all, “Division games? Those don’t matter!” We have one left in the run of 9, and if we win it we’ll be 3-5-1 (4-6-1 on the year). Ick.
But I would like to see more of these Russian snipers I hear stories about.
OK, mini rant coming. I read earlier in an article that even with bloggers that Ted Leonsis invites, the Caps’ press box is still pretty vacant overall.
What is WRONG with the DC-area media? How can they not wanna cover Ovechkin? It’s a freakin’ travesty. Yes, the tickets are overpriced, and yes, there are 50,000 teams in the greater DC area, but the media should be pounding the guy’s name into the consciousness of everyone from Virginia to Delaware. Good LORD.
Which Martin? (I kid, I kid!).
Come to think of it, Biron has kicked our heines this year during the couple minutes we actually showed up against Philly.
Hienes. Geez, I can’t even spell today.
Congratulations on surviving the play! In the end, how’d it go?
Well, despite the fact that I found it not only pretty poorly put together, but also really offensively sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, etc., most audiences seemed to love it. So what do I know, I guess. I’m just glad it’s over!
I’m tired of playing the Eastern Division teams.
No kidding! I haven’t even been watching the games and I’m looking ahead at the schedule going, “Oh my God, Habs, just go away already!” And I don’t even want to look at the Sabres division record. I’m sure it’s not pretty.
Good morning everyone, from my random vacation day! And welcome back, Gambler — I’m glad you survived the play, as awful as it sounds. So, while I might not have woken up to the dreamland Devils scenario outlined in our post, I at least woke up to a rainy fall day that has included intermittent SNOW FLURRIES. This is like the best day to be sitting at the computer in front of the window EVER!
I don’t care to ever see Montreal again, Gambler.
I at least woke up to a rainy fall day that has included intermittent SNOW FLURRIES.
You know, I love living in Texas and all, but it is STILL 80 degrees here! I can’t take it much longer!
I HATE this schedule. The Canucks play Tuesday night in Edmonton and then Wednesday night in Minnesota. Which means they have to fly and clear customs and everything. They don’t get in until 3/4 in the morning. Grrr. Makes no sense. I like watching Montreal but that’s because I never see them. Apparantly they’re voting at the end of November to change the schedule, so yay for that!
Oops, that should have been apparently. That word gets me every time.
80 degrees? Wow, that sucks. I have snow here.
I get the feeling we are (watch out, I’m about to adjectivify a noun!) having a janus-y season. No longer a defense first club, but needing to rely on a defense that isn’t there since they either a) fall down; b) drop their stick; c) need to get to the bench for some Red Bull. And the offense is so bull goose loony that Pando has a goal count involving crooked numbers. In November, even.
So, I hope the milestone of the First Quarter of The Season siginifies a passing through to a more cohesive Second and Third, etc.
I say this selfishly as I just don’t think I can handle shouting down three people in the Target parking lot about losing to the Isles again.
I say this selfishly as I just don’t think I can handle shouting down three people in the Target parking lot about losing to the Isles again.
What a travesty! You shouldn’t have to be out there on the front lines, fighting the Devils’ fights for them! :D
I think I’m proving to myself this year how women get stuck in abusive relationships, because, after twenty games of the Devils emotionally battering me, I’m sitting here thinking, “But Patty’s looked so good now that he’s been moved to center! From here on out, we won’t need Pando to be our leading goal scorer!” What is wrong with me? Anyway, I’m hoping this will turn out to be a Janus-y thing — surely Quarters 2, 3 and 4 will be different? Sigh.
I think I’m proving to myself this year how women get stuck in abusive relationships
You know how the Devils are when they’ve been drinking! They don’t mean it. They’re really a nice guy! We just don’t know what it’s like when it’s just the two of you!
:D
Yeah, alix, we’ve got Jersey at home Wednesday and then we’re in Ottawa on Thursday, so same deal. I forgot about the customs part ’til you brought it up.
(And, yes. A team with six Americans is playing in Canada on American Thanksgiving. Don’t even get me started on the Thanksgivings).
You know how the Devils are when they’ve been drinking!
Yeah, all promises of a fantastic night, and then they fall asleep on you. Bastards.
Last year the Devils were in Phoenix the day before Thanksgiving and Anaheim the day after. And had 16 Americans on the roster.
So, I hope the milestone of the First Quarter of The Season siginifies a passing through to a more cohesive Second and Third, etc.
Please, please, please, please, please let this be so. PLEASE!
Last year the Devils were in Phoenix the day before Thanksgiving and Anaheim the day after. And had 16 Americans on the roster.
That is ridiculous in ways I shouldn’t type on a government computer.
We always had games during the break, usually two (nearly always Wed and then Fri or Sat) but they were normally both home games (I figured the league consistently threw us that nicety because the games always sold out, thanks to me, and all those other college kids who were clamoring to see a hockey game while home). Nobody should be playing for either Thanksgiving, but it’s particularly stupid to try to loosen the NFL stranglehold of America’s. Not. Gonna. Work.
CNNSi says that the make or break time for the Devils is February, with 12 of 15 at home. Just my opinion, but February might be a little too late.
And, yes. A team with six Americans is playing in Canada on American Thanksgiving. Don’t even get me started on the Thanksgivings
I think this is the second year the Sabres have been off and at home for Thanksgiving (Last year, Danny Briere shared that Goose and GF Goose cooked for him and the family. If its one thing I miss about Briere, its his radio show and the tidbits he shared. Must figure out who now has a radio show to share these things).
Must figure out who now has a radio show to share these things
I’ve only heard it once, but Colby Armstrong makes very funny appearances on some Pittsburgh dude’s radio show. It streams online for those of us out of the area. The only Devils radio stuff I’ve ever been able to find have been snippets of some insane lady who interviews the boys with the most unintentionaly awkward questions. Like asking Zach, seriously, with no irony, if he knows he’s the cute one. AWK-ward! She then signs off by singing “Let’s go Devils!” which leads to more awkward noises from the interviewer, “Um… okay, uh, thanks. Can I go now?” So. Bad.
Or even the interviewee. Sorry.
Colby Armstrong makes very funny appearances on some Pittsburgh dude’s radio show
The one and only thing I like about Pittsburgh-area radio is that they’re good at instantly spotting the “personality” guys on the local teams and having them on as semi-regular guests. They always go over really well, and a few of the guys chosen for such spots have gone on to broadcasting careers. Which, you know, makes total sense.
Yeah, all promises of a fantastic night, and then they fall asleep on you. Bastards.
:^::::::::::::::::::
I actually like that they play on Thanksgiving, because I can’t stand not having hockey on TV. The Christmas break is always brutal, so I wouldn’t be able to live if there was a Thanksgiving break, too. The Devils actually went a few years where they had what seemed to be a Phoenix tradition. I might be making this up, but they always seemed to be playing at the Coyotes on Thanksgiving proper. The switcheroo last year to the day before must have been very jarring for them.
CNNSi says that the make or break time for the Devils is February, with 12 of 15 at home. Just my opinion, but February might be a little too late.
Why Amy, what ever makes you think a team can’t just bob along at a below-.500 clip and then pull their shit together in February? :P (Seriously, Devils, if you’re reading this, DON’T wait until February.)
snippets of some insane lady who interviews the boys with the most unintentionaly awkward questions
The Briere radio show was not unlike this except I think it was an obnoxious lady plus one or two obnoxious guys. I don’t know . . . it was on a radio station I never listened to even when I did live in Buffalo.
I kind of wish the Stars were on the road this week. Then they wouldn’t have Modano Tribute Night on a night when most people have company! Bastards!
Hmm, the games on Thanksgiving aren’t something I’ve ever given any thought to, but then my family has never been particularly wild about the holiday. I mean, we get together and chat about giving the Native Americans smallpox and all, but it’s not actually a holiday I’d be devastated to work through. I can see it being upsetting to others now that I think about it though.
I mean, we get together and chat about giving the Native Americans smallpox and all, but it’s not actually a holiday I’d be devastated to work through.
Heh.
We aren’t big Thanksgiving people either. I mean, I love having a four-day weekend, and I like the food. But basically we just celebrate now that we don’t have to go to any relatives’ houses for the dinner. (We always missed the aforementioned Devils-Coyotes games because we were driving up to our aunt and uncle’s place in Westchester.) Thanksgiving is now observed at IPB Manor by wearing pajamas all day, being caught by surprise by how quickly the turkey cooks, eating an insanely early dinner, leaving all the dirty dishes on the table to go take an epic nap, and then settling down for hockey on TV while eating leftovers mere hours after declaring we are all too stuffed to ever eat another bite again in our lives. Just how the Pilgrims would have wanted it!
When I was a kid, they were always full-on family reunions, but I like much better our current version which is basically an excuse for everybody in my immediate family (Mom, Dad, two sisters and their kids) to get together all at the same time.
And then eat until we’re stuffed, then eat again in an hour, just like y’all.
Then they wouldn’t have Modano Tribute Night on a night when most people have company!
That’s not terribly considerate of them.
I don’t remember ever having Thanksgiving. Not specifically, with the whole family and the turkey and the mountains of food anyway. Everyone has birthdays around the beginning of October and we all lived so close to each other that we were always over for dinner somewhere.
When I was a kid, they were always full-on family reunions
That’s how mine are. We go to my grandmother’s house, and she has the whole family (all 20 of us) for dinner. My dad’s one of five kids, so between spouses, us grandkids and our assorted hangers-on, its always a full house.
But before that fun, I try to watch the Macy’s parade on TV, and get horrified at what passes for children’s television these days, based on the balloons in the parade.
But before that fun, I try to watch the Macy’s parade on TV, and get horrified at what passes for children’s television these days, based on the balloons in the parade.
Boomer ADORES the parade. So we always watch it, too. Pookie knew a lot of people in college who worked on the parade, as balloon handlers and as dancers in the broadway numbers. So we love laughing about what we know about the kinds of people who make the parade happen.
My family does one of two things: 1) We go to my step-great-grandparents Thanksgiving dinner at a social club on the Upper East Side (they rent a room, naturally) where we are served food we don’t actually like by tuxedoed waiters and are bored out of our skulls. 2) We go to my favorite aunt and uncle’s home where we get good food and play lots of board games with my favorite cousins and other extraneous family members.
Fortunately this year is an option 2 year.
We usually have a community jigsaw puzzle going. (It might have to be in the yard at my tiny house, but I plan to have one.)
I don’t get to just sit and chat with my family that much, so I just love sitting around doing a jigsaw puzzle. It gives you something to do that isn’t ruined by a steady stream of rambling conversation.
And the little kids who think puzzles are boring go find something else to do on their own because it’s so hard to tear their mom away from the puzzle. :D
Pookie knew a lot of people in college who worked on the parade, as balloon handlers and as dancers in the broadway numbers.
I got to visit the float-and-balloon factory my freshman year. That’s where I learned the term “panty-waisted doilymaker”. The floats all seem so jolly and fun, but they’re made by these burly men in filthy overalls. Talk about cognitive dissonence. I had the opportunity to be a balloon wrangler but the person trying to sell me on it got as far as “so you show up to the park at 3:30 am” before I said, “No, thank you!”
I don’t get to just sit and chat with my family that much, so I just love sitting around doing a jigsaw puzzle. It gives you something to do that isn’t ruined by a steady stream of rambling conversation.
That sounds lovely. :)
Yeah, all promises of a fantastic night, and then they fall asleep on you. Bastards.
Hey, it’s not our fault that by the time we realize we’re getting too drunk, that’s already too late.
Growing up, Thanksgiving was always the time for my mother to ship us up to Philly to spend it with my dad’s side of the family. We almost always went to the parade.
I can’t stand not having hockey on TV
I spend my holidays reading and sleeping (unless the Steelers are playing)!
Why Amy, what ever makes you think a team can’t just bob along at a below-.500 clip and then pull their shit together in February? :P
That’s what we did last year! Well, we started in late January, but close enough.
Hmm, the games on Thanksgiving aren’t something I’ve ever given any thought to, but then my family has never been particularly wild about the holiday.
I don’t care for it either, but it’s a holiday that lots of people love to observe and that’s the basis of my objection. Those guys should get the opportunity to celebrate it just like the rest of us do.
So we love laughing about what we know about the kinds of people who make the parade happen.
Add me to that list – I actually marched in the parade in 1994! My high school marching band was invited. I had the front, right corner spot, which means the entire band lined up (”dressed”) to ME. I always hated marching in parades, but that one was cool for sure.
So if y’all were rockin’ out to “Caravan” on TG 1994, that was me bringin’ da funk!
Dude, I’m an idiot. It was 1993. I always make that mistake because I think of that year as “the class of 94″ and forget that means it STARTED in 93. o_O
Btw, glad to hear the -ookies survived the last game, I thought they might have a heart attack. Before the game I was looking at 1/4 bottle of rum and thought that I should go get some more, but then I thought, why that’s just wishful thinking. I barely had enough to celebrate all of the goals.
I barely had enough to celebrate all of the goals.
I know! It was MADNESS! I’m glad to hear you made it through okay, too, if a bit short of rum… :D
Hey, it’s not our fault that by the time we realize we’re getting too drunk, that’s already too late.
I’m not blaming you in the slightest. I’m just sayin’ that’s what tends to happen (not that I would know, but it’s what movies tell me)
Also, Pensgirl is way too cool…
Our family isn’t all Thanksgiving crazy either. We usually just use it as an excuse to get together and hang out. Although it gets harder every year as everyone spreads out and has kids and all that.
Everyone have a nice weekend?
Everyone have a nice weekend?
Quite! A friend of ours once responded to a run-down of what our weekend had entailed by saying, “Weekends at [Stately IPB Manor] always sound like Christmas at Hogwarts!” We had a distinctly Christmas at Hogwarts-y weekend filled with baking, Katamari, cuba libres, doing just enough gardening to seem productive, and seeing the Devils actually win a game that was fun to watch.
How about yours?
Those guys should get the opportunity to celebrate it just like the rest of us do.
You could make the same argument for the players on the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. They always play on Thanskgiving.
Everyone have a nice weekend?
Mine was very good, until I watched the Bills game.
Egads, dogs and cats living together! Guess what momentous event occured today? I discovered the Devils have actual adorable video content on their site! It’s not all just fast-motion films of the arena getting built! There’s real spunky Devil content! Patty Elias talking about Halloween in the Czech Republic! Paulie Martin looking S,PAW-ish! Langer being salacious! And most importantly, Travis exposing Boxworthy!
Check it out:
LINK TO CORNUCOPIA OF DEVILS ADORABLENESS
(Click on “Launch Devils TV” and it should take you right to “Ask the Devils”.)
Mine was very good, until I watched the Bills game.
Oh, ugh. I didn’t watch but I did look at the score this morning so I could IM my father and ask him if it was just the best evening in Orchard Park he’s ever had.
Also, Pensgirl is way too cool…
Hee – thanks! I love that the coolest things I’ve gotten to do in my life (Macy’s, playing in six different NFL stadia, flying on a charter plane to New Orleans with 400 other people) are the result of my being a “band geek.” I think the only two really cool things I’ve done that aren’t because of music are 1) getting to compete in the State gymnastics championships, and 2) getting to be alone in a room with the Stanley Cup (me and my family, not just me).
Music is the bomb.
“How about yours?”
It was good! Beautiful cloudy weather all weekend.
Went and got (most) of my Thanksgiving shopping done, worked in the yard all day yesterday, bought a bunch of new music. It was good!
The only thing that could have made it better would have been watching the Sharks win a damn shoot out for once.
You could make the same argument for the players on the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. They always play on Thanskgiving.
And I would. If you can think of a way to convince the NFL to not be greedy money-grubbing jerks, please let me know and I’ll write the letter!
Went and got (most) of my Thanksgiving shopping done
You’re a better man than I, Gunga Din. I’m in total denial about needing to go to the store for foodstuffs. I guess I figure we can just order pizza and make do with the well-stocked liquor cabinet we’ve amassed, or something. I’m so like, “Wait, grocery store? Huh?”
“I guess I figure we can just order pizza and make do with the well-stocked liquor cabinet we’ve amassed, or something.”
Ha! Pizza and booze sounds like a heavenly Thanksgiving to me!
And most importantly, Travis exposing Boxworthy!
When I first watched this video I didn’t have quite enough volume on it, so all I could figure out from Travis’ little clip was that they’d cut straight from Zach being a dork to Travis shyly tripping over the word “turtle”. I literally fell out of my chair.
I guess I figure we can just order pizza and make do with the well-stocked liquor cabinet we’ve amassed
I’ll go on record here as saying that’s fine with me.
We watched, as per Amy’s suggestion, Sandra Lee’s Thanksgiving Special. She made mashed potatoes by using store bought pre-cooked “oven roasted” diced potatoes with garlic herb seasoning. She then microwaved them, added more season packets and did a poor quality mashing job. And called it done. Boomer and I informed Schnookie if she tried to serve that to us, we’d just toss all her stuff out in the street and demand she move out.
Ha! Pizza and booze sounds like a heavenly Thanksgiving to me!
I know! After making that off-hand comment, I’m suddenly like, “Hold on… could that really work?” :P
The Sandra Lee Thanksgiving special was SO AMAZING that we’ve decided we’re going to game diarize the Christmas one (if she has one) for IPB Eats.
She made mashed potatoes by using store bought pre-cooked “oven roasted” diced potatoes with garlic herb seasoning. She then microwaved them, added more season packets and did a poor quality mashing job.
That actually sounds like more work than just making mashed potatoes from scratch.
Check it out:
LINK TO CORNUCOPIA OF DEVILS ADORABLENESS
I think the whole “adorableness” in the link might suggest it won’t be safe for me to watch with guys in the room (what with the likelihood of squee) but I’m going to do it anyway.
Music is the bomb.
Totally.
I think all the cool stuff I’ve done in my life is mostly the result of being a girl sport geek. Junior World’s rugby, World’s and Euro field hockey, Euro hockey. And to think that until I was 13 I was most likely to be found in the library.
I guess I figure we can just order pizza and make do with the well-stocked liquor cabinet we’ve amassed, or something.
I suspect the liquor would aid in the forgetting that you didn’t have fancy food…
“we’ve decided we’re going to game diarize the Christmas one (if she has one) for IPB Eats.”
That is a fantastic idea. Pure freaking comedy.
That actually sounds like more work than just making mashed potatoes from scratch.
By that point in the show I was only able to formulate enough thought to ask Pookie and Boomer what they’d do if I prepared that for them, but now that you mention it, you’re right. It seemed like a really labor-intensive way to be using store-bought, prepared potatoes. And way more expensive than just mashing a freaking potato by yourself.
The Sandra Lee Thanksgiving special was SO AMAZING that we’ve decided we’re going to game diarize the Christmas one (if she has one) for IPB Eats.
Comedy heaven in writing.
Yay! Christmas Sandra Lee recaps.
And I’m going to have to watch the Devils video at home. Either the NHL video site has bad sound, or I’m deaf as a post. Either way, I can’t hear it right now.
Some of the Sabres interviews have terrible sound – a couple had no sound at all, even with the volume cranked – so it might be the site. I hope it’s just your computer or something though!
I totally made one of my students cry today! It was awesome!
I totally made one of my students cry today! It was awesome!
What happened?
I totally made one of my students cry today! It was awesome!
What happened?
Indeed! What did you do?
What happened?
He failed to listen to what I was saying (a regular problem), started screaming at me about something he’d misunderstood, and got right up in my face and said, “I do not like you.” After he’d calmed down some and we talked about the first part of the problem, I told him how much his comment about not liking me had hurt my feelings and that while I knew he has a lot going on right now (and he totally does – I’m a well-adjusted adult with good coping skills and I’d be a mess if I were this kid) and that he probably didn’t really mean it, he needs to think more carefully about how he speaks to people. And he started crying and apologizing and telling me how stressed out he is right now. I felt a little bad then. But he got the point.
(PG, I don’t know if you’ve been here for previous discussions about my job, but I work at a day treatment school for emotionally disturbed kids so the kids aren’t typical public school kids and the relationships between students and staff there are a little different.)
(It wasn’t really awesome, btw. That was more of a “hey, what a perfect capper to a Monday!” sarcastic awesome.)
“I totally made one of my students cry today!”
What? Did you make them watch Sabres highlights from the first 15 games of the season?
What? Did you make them watch Sabres highlights from the first 15 games of the season?
Funny :P But no, this particular group would be oblivious. They’re not hockey watchers. One, in an attempt to have a hockey conversation, said to me, “Ryan Miller is my favorite! I love when he scores those goals!”
“One, in an attempt to have a hockey conversation, said to me, “Ryan Miller is my favorite! I love when he scores those goals!””
I know the feeling. Sounds just like when I’m talking to my family about hockey.
Poor kid.
“Ryan Miller is my favorite! I love when he scores those goals!”
… I got nothing.
PG, I don’t know if you’ve been here for previous discussions about my job, but I work at a day treatment school for emotionally disturbed kids so the kids aren’t typical public school kids and the relationships between students and staff there are a little different.
I didn’t know the details, no. I don’t think I could handle such a job…that’s pretty much a calling. You? Awesome. And that’s NOT sarcastic.
“Ryan Miller is my favorite! I love when he scores those goals!””
I love goalie goals too! :P
… I got nothing.
Yeah, I just had to giggle at that one.
“Don, Ryan Miller’s the goalie.”
“Yeah.”
“Goalies don’t really score goals.”
“But he could, right?”
“… Sure, why not?”
I was tickled though because one of them looked at the paper over my shoulder the other day, pointed to a photo, and said “Hey, it’s Henrik Tallinder!” “How’d you know that?” “He’s number 10, right?” “Yeah, but how’d you know THAT?” :::rolling eyes::: “Geez, Heather, you only talk about him ALL THE TIME.” So I know the only 12 year old in Buffalo who could pick out Henrik Tallinder but probably not Ryan Miller.
I don’t think I could handle such a job…that’s pretty much a calling. You? Awesome. And that’s NOT sarcastic.
Thank you! I appreciate it. It has its days for sure, but I do love it most of the time.
So I know the only 12 year old in Buffalo who could pick out Henrik Tallinder but probably not Ryan Miller.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
One of my patrons just about made me cry. I worked with her for an hour last week scanning in her resume and telling her over and over to make sure she had multiple copies and to email it to herself and all that jazz. Then she flounces in today to say “Remember me? Yeah, I gave that disk you sold me away and deleted the email I sent with my resume. Can you help me do all the same stuff all over again? While I whine? And generally act clueless?”
*runs away sobbing*
*then stops and realizes the job doesn’t require working with emotionally disturbed children (for the most part)*
*tips hat to Heather for being awesome*
My goalie rolls over on the ice when he goes to play the puck. So I don’t think I’ll see any goalie goals :p But his play in the crease is outstanding so I’ll let it slide.
I’m still pommerdoodling about my sports weekend. Good times. Except for the Matty O suspension I guess. I’m in love with my sports teams.
Oh and yes, Heather is awesome. Poor, Pookie. You’re not just allowed to tell her “Gomer, pick up the ducks.NOW”? With a steely librarian glare?
Can you help me do all the same stuff all over again? While I whine? And generally act clueless?
At least the emotionally disturbed children have an excuse for being so difficult to deal with.
Pookie, is that the lady that thanked everybody but you?
So I know the only 12 year old in Buffalo who could pick out Henrik Tallinder but probably not Ryan Miller.
Now, that’s awesome. And I mean that in the good sense of the word, not the sarcastic one.
Can you help me do all the same stuff all over again? While I whine? And generally act clueless?”
I probably would have beat my head against the desk in frustration.
You’re not just allowed to tell her “Gomer, pick up the ducks.NOW”?
Internally I was shouting “pick up the ducks — NOW!” for sure.
Pookie, is that the lady that thanked everybody but you?
No, that was the guy who missed the first of three digital photos computer classes I’m teaching and then complained this morning that I wouldn’t reteach everything in the 2nd class while the rest of the class waits for him to catch up.
Ah, I know a word for a guy like that. Actually, I know several, and they’re all pretty good choices.
On the bright side, though, Pookie, can’t you now really vividly imagine Jamie Langenbrunner in Playboy Bunny ears?
On the bright side, though, Pookie, can’t you now really vividly imagine Jamie Langenbrunner in Playboy Bunny ears?
I’m still hung up on the idea of Aaron Asham as a Deal or No Deal suitcase girl!
I’m sure this has been mentioned, but Kevin Weekes is very nice-looking.
I’m sure this has been mentioned, but Kevin Weekes is very nice-looking.
It can’t be mentioned enough! I have a very sizable hockey crush on him. I have been VERY pleasantly surprised by that acquisition, to say the least. :D
Speaking of Weekes, I liked how Doc and Chico were like, “how is Marty going to celebrate this one?”. Marty just calmly grabs a sip from his water bottle but then Weekes is the one who jumps on the ice and starts going all crazy.
Weekes was, like, freaking out on Marty’s behalf! He was so adorable! It was like he just would not shut up, standing there and yammering away all excitedly to Marty, while Marty was looking just kind of relieved about the whole thing.
Weekes was, like, freaking out on Marty’s behalf!
How cute!
That’s adorable!
The city guys finally left and I have a six-foot-deep trench under my fence. They said they’d come back tomorrow to fill it in.
Took out a big chunk of my fotinia hedge. Someday, when I have my yard all “curb-appealed”, I was planning to tell them they can take out everything except that hedge. Dang it!
I’m so sorry, Patty! We got storm drains installed on our street this summer after our squeaky-wheel neighbor kept bugging the township to fix the street up. Of course they did a hash of installing them, including making the grates that are supposed to let the water run into the drains stick up above the surface of the street by about five inches. So we all ended up with huge stagnating pools of water around the uphill sides of our drain grates where before we just had gentle downhill-streaming regular rain runoff. Our neighbor then started bitching to the township that they did it wrong, and I can really only think they installed them so poorly in the first place because they were so pissed at our idiot neighbor for being such a pain in the ass. (Anyway, we all ended up having the first five feet of our front yards dug up, and the township made a special deal of putting the piping under our neighbor’s yard, on the other side of the street; the people on that side had about ten feet dug up. Heh.)
That’s crazy Schnookie! Did it mess with your gardens at all?
Speaking of, how do you keep neighborhood cats from doing their business in the beds?
Our garden is pretty far back from the street, but we were very worried for our baby apple trees lining the front yard. The people digging were really nice to us though, probably because they were directing their hatred so vehemently at our neighbor, and left our trees undisturbed. It remains to be seen if the few feet of lawn that we lost will mean the trees suffer from salty snow piles this winter.
Neighborhood cats are the least of our garden’s problems, thanks to deer overpopulation and an overabundance of rabbits. We can’t have a garden at all if we don’t have fencing for both of those critters, and the combo of deer- and rabbit-fencing does a pretty good job of keeping cats out. Before we put up a permanent, wooden fence, though, we had temporary netting in place; when we took it down last winter the cats had a field day in the beds. (I can’t blame them, since the raised beds are warmer than the regular dirt. I think I’d like a heated toilet if I had to poop outside during the wintertime, too. :D)
Now, that’s awesome. And I mean that in the good sense of the word, not the sarcastic one.
I was so proud. A kid who can identify Henrik Tallinder is clearly my student, you know? :-)
Pookie, sorry about your stupid patron. Theoretically working at the grocery store should be easier than my day job, but I often find myself saying exactly what Schnookie did… “Geez, atleast the kids have a reason for behaving the way they do.”
I love when a teammate looks more excited than the player who actually accomplished the accomplishment. It’s very, very cute.
“Neighborhood cats are the least of our garden’s problems, thanks to deer overpopulation and an overabundance of rabbits.”
That’s crazy too!
The reason I ask is that I am in the midst of building the beds for our soon-to-be garden. I am going to put up a wrought iron fence to keep the dogs out, but I’m still worried about neighborhood cats (although the ground doesn’t get even close to freezing out here). We don’t have deer or rabbits around, so I guess that’s good.
I would think a wrought iron fence would be enough to keep cats out, too. I mean, they could easily jump over our garden fence if they wanted to, but they don’t bother. Probably because who wants to be jumping over fences and crap when you really need to take a dump?
“I would think a wrought iron fence would be enough to keep cats out, too. I mean, they could easily jump over our garden fence if they wanted to, but they don’t bother. ”
I guess it depends on how far apart the beams are, if they’re wide enough to walk between, cats might be a problem.
“Probably because who wants to be jumping over fences and crap when you really need to take a dump?”
Good point! (Actually I’m worried more about my cat than anything else. She’s started thinking she’s an outside cat and has letely been digging and pooping in the few spots that can.)
I guess it depends on how far apart the beams are, if they’re wide enough to walk between, cats might be a problem.
Oh right! I wasn’t even thinking about the possibility of walking through the fence. If you have a problem with that, you could put rabbit fencing or, like, chicken wire or something around the inside of the fence. Something fairly fine-gauge and recessive. It’s not perfect, but I can say from experience that once you’ve got something like that neatly installed behind your attractive fence, it just disappears in the contented glow of a mind put at ease. (I love how you tried to keep this question all advice-column anonymous instead of just saying it was your own cat who was the offending pooper. “Neighborhood cats” indeed! It’s like saying, “I’ve got a friend with a drinking problem…”)
“It’s not perfect, but I can say from experience that once you’ve got something like that neatly installed behind your attractive fence, it just disappears in the contented glow of a mind put at ease.”
The nice thing is that it will be on the side of the house, literally out of site. Unless someone were to walk over there, it wouldn’t even be seen.
“I love how you tried to keep this question all advice-column anonymous instead of just saying it was your own cat who was the offending pooper.”
Well, yeah. I was trying to keep it cool. Just kidding, I am actually worried about all cats, not just my precious little moran.
Can you help me do all the same stuff all over again? While I whine? And generally act clueless?”
I’m pretty sure crying would not have been my reaction to that. Maybe hers, after I got through with her. (I cannot and will not ever work in a place where I have to deal with patrons or customers of any kind because I just…kind of…hate people.)
—
I would think a wrought iron fence would be enough to keep cats out, too. I mean, they could easily jump over our garden fence if they wanted to, but they don’t bother.
I’m thinking that any iron fence that would actually keep cats out would look more like a metal wall. Cats only need about 3″ of space to squeeze through (if their head fits, their body fits), and they can jump like 6+ feet if they are really motivated.
“and they can jump like 6+ feet if they are really motivated.”
Fortunately my cat is overweight and highly unmotivated. We’ll see what happens.
The nice thing is that it will be on the side of the house, literally out of site. Unless someone were to walk over there, it wouldn’t even be seen.
So it can be ass ugly then! Woo hoo! (Just kidding. You’ve totally got us beat — our garden is smack-dab in the middle of our front yard. Our nosy, crazy-bitch neighbor nearly lost her mind when it was this unmowed disaster of deer netting and overgrown tomato plants.)
“Our nosy, crazy-bitch neighbor nearly lost her mind when it was this unmowed, disaster of deer netting and overgrown tomato plants”
I can imagine! Our HOA would have a conniption if we did something like that. You’re right, it’ll probably end up ugly, but I don’t give a damn! It’s just nice that we’ve got this big, fully sunned area on the side of the house (about 30′x30′), it’s just begging for a garden!
“and they can jump like 6+ feet if they are really motivated.”
I wouldn’t worry overmuch about that, either. I don’t think a cat’s about to jump over a wrought-iron fence like a steeple-chasing horse or anything.
I have fifties chainlink fence around my yard and cats come and go as they please. I don’t even mind them using the yard for a litter box, but I just get infuriated by one of the cats who is constantly marking my front and back doors. And by marking them, I mean pissing all over them!
I think he gets in through a tiny slot between the gate and the fence back by the alley (behind all the brush).
Man, my yard’s a mess.
It’s just nice that we’ve got this big, fully sunned area on the side of the house (about 30′x30′), it’s just begging for a garden!
When we put in our garden, all the people on our street (save our crazy-bitch neighbor) were so excited, just because our front yard is, like, a quarter-acre of just flat sunny lawn. Everyone else has big leafy trees all over their yards, and they were all jealous. So the moral of the story is that you should ALWAYS take advantage of a perfect garden spot if you have one.
Patty, I can’t believe you don’t like having cats peeing on your doors!
“I don’t even mind them using the yard for a litter box, but I just get infuriated by one of the cats who is constantly marking my front and back doors.”
Lucky for us, we live in a new development at the ass end of nowhere. I have yet to see a stray cat. I’m just trying to plan ahead for future stray cats because our ground is so hard, I’m thinking they’ll be looking for any place they can.
Keep an eye on perfectly well-owned cats, too, because if their owners let them roam the neighborhood, they’ll stake themselves out some boundaries.
I think the one I have lives in a house down the street.
Two of our cats are ragdolls, and our crazy-bitch neighbor tried to tell us recently that that particular breed is literally incapable of living outdoors, that they will just flat-out die if they get to go outside. Since getting that lecture, we keep laughing that our two cats need to have outside air filtered by the window screens so it doesn’t kill them.
Neighbors are the worst…usually.
Alright everybody, I’m outta here! I’m so excited ’cause I’m cooking up steaks with steamed asparagus and grilled polenta for dinner. yum!
See ya all later!
That sounds delicious andrew! Have a great time eating it!
That does sound delicious, andrew!
Asparagus is one of those things that I thought I hated for many years. Then somebody served me some that was just steamed with a little lemon juice and I loved it.
I’m always a little “ho hum” about asparagus in theory, but then when I’m eating it I’m like, “YUM!” On Friday I got a turkey sandwich that had asparagus in it at my favorite deli; I only picked it because it was the only special of the day that wasn’t made with red meat. I was really disappointed, but then I got eating, and… I think it’s safe to say that was the best sandwich I’ve had in years. (It’s strange to see asparagus on a special of the day in November, though.)
Senor spam strikes again!