And so the Devils take their self-proclaimed “best dressing room EVER” to New York this evening (what’s with the 5:00 starts?) to face the Rangers and their “most Gomezy room EVER” for Part 4 of their season series. We suffer through the MSG pregame show so we get to enjoy Stan’s proclamation that he has a “great feeling” about the Rangers’ chances tonight. That’s okay, Stan – we have a great feeling that you’re an increasingly irrelevant boob.
The big news for the Devils is that Sutter’s going with a lineup change: Rupp’s in, Oduya and Vish-Dog are out. Wait, what? Vish-Dog, coming off one of his best games of the season, is sitting tonight? Huh? Well, maybe Sutter just wants to distract criticism away from Renney, who bizarrely chose to ship Nigel Dawes – proven Marty Killer – to Hartford, ne’er to return. It’s fair to say that we’re not convinced both teams are dressing their best possible lineups, but we’re the bloggers and they’re the coaches, so what do we know?
FIRST PERIOD
19:48 We don’t pay a huge amount of attention to the Rangers when they’re not playing us (what with our natural inclination toward preserving our own sanity), but we were under the impression Hank’s been kind of shitty lately. We are not pleased to see him make a big stop on Zach on a tic-tac-toe set-up off some spunky Gio/Patty forechecking. We are pleased, however, that the ensuing close-up of Zach shows him saying, “My bad. Fuck!” Hee!
17:50 Playing the role of Oduya tonight is Brookbank, who clears the puck into the Rangers bench and gets called for delay of game, despite the Devils arguing that the puck deflected off several people on the bench.
17:42 Dubinsky gets called for interference almost immediately off the faceoff. We fail to even notice what the infraction was.
16:37 The Devils look overwhelmed by the concept of playing hockey right now, and let the Rangers collapse in tight around Marty. Girardi rings a great chance hugely off the pipe, though.
15:45 Zach zig-zags around Mara and then works the puck for a few moments at the boards. As we watch him motor along, Schnookie can’t help but say it: “Why can’t the Rangers get players like Zach Parise?” It never fails to crack us up.
14:37 Rupp gets the puck at the blueline thanks to a weird little Rozsival turnover, and failing to realize he has plenty of time, he panics and ices the puck. Sigh.
13:51 The Rangers once again gain possession in the hapless Devils’ zone, but Straka’s chance all alone in front of a sprawling Marty just ends up firing straight into the prone goalie (okay, to be fair, Mottau hampered his chance, but still). Pookie, her eyes watering with allergies: “It’s making me cry!”
11:45 Perhaps the Devils have brought their Boston/Dallas strategy this evening? That they want to get down early and then come back? Zach ices the puck on what was supposed to be a deliberate breakout in the face of a Rangers change.
11:06 Patty finally gets some possession deep in the Rangers zone and whips a backhand pass to a streaking Gio, but they don’t quite connect on the play. Doc tells us the Rangers are outshooting the Devils 7-1. It doesn’t even feel that close.
9:56 The Devils continue to look lost in their own zone. Pookie, her eyes still tearing, comments that she can’t really see what’s going on. “That’s good,” Schnookie and Boomer say in unison, “You missed seeing Brookbank pass the puck directly to a Ranger.”
8:14 Travis, Langer and Zubie put on the best stretch of forecheck since the Devils’ first shift of the game, and when Zubie makes a power move out of the corner to walk in front of the net, he draws a hooking penalty to Rozsival, but also a diving one to himself.
7:33 An incredible sequence of broken plays that go from one end to the other and back again results in a breakaway for Madden. The fans end up chanting whatever it is they do for Hank when he makes a sprawling save, but really, Ranger fans, that was John Madden. Some perspective, people.
6:02 Chico tries to tell us that the Devils are winning a psychological battle right now for the way the Rangers are having their way with them but haven’t scored yet. We’re not buying it, Chicster.
4:01 We try on some Chico-style optimism and decide to consider it a moral victory when a missed outlet pass from Sarge to Madden connects instead to Clarkson, and the Devils manage to gain the red line before giving the puck back to the Rangers.
2:15 The Devils are clearly performing a public service in this period for the new fan, as this has been a brilliant demonstration of what, exactly, constitutes an icing in NHL hockey.
2:03 Pookie, looking for the silver lining: “It is impossible now for the Devils to come out of this period down 10-0 – maybe it’ll be 9-0, but I can’t imagine they’ll be losing by double digits.”
1:44 Madden and Clarkson get a fairly long-range two-on-one, but Rozsival defends it well, and Madden has to settle for a weak shot.
1:33 Madden spins a snappy pass across the crease from the side of the net to Clarkson, and Hank makes a huge blocker save. Pookie: “I fucking hate that they have a competent goaltender.”
0:00 This period sucked. Pure and simple.
Steve interviews Patty, who sounds a bit disappointed at how crappy his team came out for that period. We approve of his frankness, but disapprove of his slightly tinted visor. And seriously, what’s up with the scruffy facial hair? We wonder if Lou is still out at Pebble Beach, since his boys are clearly not shaving up to his usual exacting standards.
FIRST INTERMISSION
Dano is a crazy, crazy person. He tells Steve, with a straight face, that he liked how the Devils played in the first, and he feels like they have the Rangers right where they want them.
SECOND PERIOD
18:58 Doc’s final assessment of the sucktitude of the first is that the Rangers outshot the Devils 12-4.
18:41 Skating out of the corner, Zach falls down when Gomer holds a stick near him, and Gomer gets called for hooking. In Zach’s defense (just in general, not on this play), we’ll point out that he has been skating a billion times harder than his teammates today.
17:56 Chico is now hoping the Devils will just start throwing more junk at the net, because Hank’s been crappy lately. Chico, stop making us think something good might come of this game. The Devils aren’t going to put more shots on net, and Hank isn’t going to start giving up bad rebounds. Please. We’ve seen these two teams play each other before.
17:27 Paulie makes a dreadful pinch and the Rangers get a two-on-one all the way from inside their own blueline. Staal’s shot rips way wide, though, and going the other direction Paulie suddenly finds himself on a mini-break. His chance is stymied, though, by a good hook by the defender trailing him.
16:59 The Rangers fans erupt into full, appreciative roar when Straka goes down to block two consecutive slapshots from Rachunek. Pookie: “Yeah, if I was a Rangers fan that’s so what I’d want Straka to be doing.”
13:41 Gio channels his inner Travis and perpetrates a cold-blooded steal against the Rangers right outside their blueline. He and Zach wheel in on the attack, but don’t even put together much of a scoring chance. Pookie, sadly: “The Devils don’t like acorns.”
12:40 We go to commercial with the Rangers about to go on the power play, and we have no idea why. All we noticed on the play prior was a Ranger jostling Marty, so we wait with bated (and annoyed) breath to see the replay. It turns out it’s on Mottau for hooking the Ranger right before the Marty-jostling.
12:13 Madden yoinks the puck from Jagr right above the faceoff dots, and skates all the way down the rink with Jagr hooking and tugging at him. He picks up Langer on a two-on-one, and Hank stops Madden’s initial shot, then holds fast while Langer pounds away at the puck in his pads. We – and Chico – wonder why no call on Jagr.
11:35 Shanny gets between Whitey and Paulie as a pass threads between them, and Whitey brilliantly lifts Shanny’s stick with his own and whacks Shanny in the face with it. There is, inexplicably, a stoppage of play, apparently to allow Shanny time to stand there in the corner complaining about the lack of a high-sticking penalty. Boomer’s head explodes that he doesn’t get a penalty for whining so vehemently.
9:37 Gio puts on his Rochester Rocket skates and motors hard up the wing, cranking what we hope for a moment will be a Langer-esque “Fuck This Shit” goal. It is not. Zach, however, sprints down the center of the rink after the play, and leaps to try to catch the high rebound, misses the puck, and instead catapults into the net.
8:19 Langer hits Girardi gently at the boards, and Girardi goes down like he was shot. The official with a close view of the interaction lets play continue, but the official on the other side of the rink buys Girardi’s dive and Langer goes to the box.
5:23 Rupp makes us grudgingly concede he’s done something good tonight, by drawing a holding penalty on Mara in the corner to Hank’s right.
3:23 After a well-skated power play with lots of almost exclusive Devils puck possession and a ton of good saves by Hank, Boomer sighs wistfully, “Let’s see Valiquette.”
1:46 Callahan and Prucha combine on a crazy, bouncing, broken play that ends up with a wheeling, pretty, loopy shot by Prucha. Marty, in the same wheeling, pretty, loopy stride, makes a gorgeous glove save on it.
0:00 Okay, that period was better than its predecessor, but it’s still a scoreless Devils-Rangers game, and we hate, hate, hate any Devils-Rangers game that isn’t a blowout for the good guys.
Steve interviews Travis, who looks like a cranky little red forehead baby. As for the content of the interview, let’s just say this – he is not at all an insightful interview subject… but we go back to watch it a second time. (Travis looks like he doesn’t want to make eye contact with Steve, and we wonder if he thinks Steve looks too much like an acorn. Boomer: “Well, Steve is small.” Schnookie: “Yes, he is about the size of something a squirrel might bury.” Boomer: “Right. Is Steve wearing brown?”)
SECOND INTERMISSION
Steve is not, in fact, wearing brown. He’s got a gray suit on, but we agree that his hair kind of looks like an acorn cap. This intermission gives us the really cool statbit from Elias that the Devils, on their current winning streak, are the first NHL team in history to sweep a 4-or-more-game road trip, then sweep a 4-or-more-game homestand immediately after.
THIRD PERIOD
18:45 The Madden line pieces together a few moments of offensive-zone competence, but at the last moment Madden decides not to pay attention to where the puck is going and loses it in his feet on what could have been a great scoring chance.
17:05 After a flurry of deliberate Ranger chances that Marty calmly handles, Schnookie sighs, “We’re not winning this one.” We blame the 5:00 start.
16:20 Doc calls the cautiously-paced period thus far by saying, “So the probing continues.” Schnookie, groaning: “Ew! Gomez and Jagr are probing the Devils!”
13:58 Thanks to Marty being a lot more heads-up than we are, the game remains scoreless after some relentless waves of Ranger attack. We find ourselves, after Staal rips a big shot wide, wondering how Stan can balance thinking Sean Avery is the Rangers’ MVP with his recently-developed belief that Marc Staal is the greatest athlete in the history of sports.
13:10 For some crazy reason Madden wins a footrace against Staal down the length of the rink after Staal bobbles the puck at the Devils’ blueline. Madden then turns the corner and walks in on Hank, who holds fast. We wonder now how Stan can balance the fact that Staal was outraced by John Madden with his recently-developed belief that Marc Staal is the greatest athlete in the history of sports.
12:24 Gio is the recipient of a great breakout pass from Zach, but manages nothing but a soft shot from the faceoff dot. Pookie: “Gio, next time get some mustard on your shot. Asswipe.”
11:32 Asham surprisingly disappoints us by making a profoundly stupid-assed roughing penalty for trying to take a butt-end-of-the-stick swipe at Hollweg after getting pushed to the ice hard. Pookie: “I feel like this game just slipped away from the Devils.” It is the first dumb retaliatory penalty we can remember them taking in ages.
9:52 After three failed dump-in attempts, the Rangers are hearing some boos for their power play.
8:40 Travis makes a nifty, supremely confident move in the neutral zone to strip a Ranger of the puck with speed, but the whole affair peters out into nothing but a weak shot that gets mostly just the side of the net. Schnookie: “Travis is a million times more confident in the neutral zone than he is in the offensive zone.” Pookie: “Yeah. They need to just convince him the blue lines don’t exist.”
8:22 To give us more of that seasonal feeling from the first period of this game, the Devils ice the puck again.
5:43 After Zubrus finds Travis in the crease, but no goal is scored, Pookie grouses, “I’m beginning to understand why Travis never scores. His shots go backwards.”
4:15 Madden gets called for a hook on a really ticky-tacky bit of stickwork going into his own zone. Pookie: “Well that’s not going to help anybody.”
2:58 Pelley makes a fantastic play to stop Straka at the high boards and flips the puck down the length of the ice. Schnookie: “I. Love. Rod Pelley.” Pookie: “Seriously. He and Mottau are winning all my ‘Playah’s Playah’ points this season.”
2:48 The annoyed fans start a “Shoot the puck” chant at their power play.
0:36 After a series of cross-zone pass attempts by the Rangers get broken up by some smart defensive stickwork, Gio lobs the puck high to try to get a change… and ices the puck. Again.
0:20 Pookie, to the Devils: “Remember when you guys used to score with, like, twenty seconds left in a game?” The Devils, as one: “No.”
0:00 The period ends with one last, great save by Marty, and we’re going to overtime.
OVERTIME
It should come as no surprise that Doc is waxing poetic about the famous scoreless tie between Marty and Hasek in 1996.
It should also come as no surprise that Chico tells us the Devils would like very much to win this in OT rather than taking their chances against the impenetrable Hank in a shootout. The point is really moot, though, considering how the Devils have played two thirds of this game.
4:30 Barf. Shanny scores when the Devils run around in their own zone, per usual, leaving him wide open for a one-timer off a Gomez feed. We’d like 2 ½ hours of our lives back now.
That game was wretched, but long winning streaks never end nicely. We’ll blame it on the 5:00 start time and on only having six defensemen in the lineup. And on the Devils never really bothering to skate.
Because there is no outcome of this game that benefits my team, here is what I’ve decided:
1. Go Devils.
2. Please, for the love of God, do NOT go into overtime. Thank you.
Yay, Devils!
I wish I could watch!
I wish I could watch!
Well, after that first period, I’m wishing I couldn’t watch. :P
As we watch him motor along, Schnookie can’t help but say it: “Why can’t the Rangers get players like Zach Parise?”
Hee!
Patty, I will NEVER get tired of making fun of the Rangers passing Zach over in the draft. NEVER. And before the Caps game on Friday, Pookie noticed one of the Caps bloggers grousing that that draft year the Devils picked Zach, then the Caps picked some loser ass, and then the Ducks picked Getzi. FANTASTIC!
As we watch him motor along, Schnookie can’t help but say it: “Why can’t the Rangers get players like Zach Parise?”
This is second only to chanting “Rangers Suck” my very favoritest thing to say about that franchise.
WOW!! Nice save Marty! Dang!
Is anyone else watching the Rangers feed? For some reason they have Prucha on a heart rate monitor, so every once in awhile we find out his heart rate. Whaa-aa? (He got up to 173 there, guys! Just thought you should know!)
For some reason they have Prucha on a heart rate monitor
For fun??
They’ve mic’d up his heart?
They’ve mic’d up his heart?
Totally! It’s so weird, but not entirely unfun. Every time he is involved with a play, they show us his heart rate going up. It’s….odd.
That’s so bizarre about the heart-rate thing. I think it would be a little disturbing. A few seasons ago they did this thing called FoxTraxx where they would pick two players and periodically tell you how fast they were skating and like, how many miles they’d gone over the course of the game, or something retarded like that. They almost always picked shifts to highlight that were really slow and stationary. It… didn’t last long.
I think the point was to watch his heart rate go zooming up when something exciting happens, but the concept has two fatal flaws: 1. This game is really, really not exciting, and 2. Prucha is a professional athlete playing a high energy game. His heart rate really doesn’t fluctuate that much. They keep showing it go from like, 168 to 171. It’s really not that impressive.
Ha! They just showed him sitting on the bench. His heart rate is 120 while sitting calmly on the bench. RIVETING!
I bet his heart races when Clarkson skates by. I know mine would.
That would be awesome if they caught Prucha getting all hot and bothered over Clarkson because of the heart rate monitor!
I bet his heart races when Clarkson skates by. I know mine would.
Haha! I bet that’s what they’re trying to find out. Which opposition player gets him all worked up.
Ha! They just showed him sitting on the bench. His heart rate is 120 while sitting calmly on the bench. RIVETING!
What would have really interested me is his heart rate before the game. When I was a gymnast, my heart was so ridiculously efficient. I cant remember my bpm anymore, but my blood pressure was a crazy 70 over 30.
Haha! I bet that’s what they’re trying to find out. Which opposition player gets him all worked up.
Well considering he’s playing the Devils, his heart should be racing all the time!
Did I ever say I like hockey?
Well, thanks for not doing EITHER of the things I asked for, Devils. Jesus!
Aw, it’s so sad that we get lots of Devils celebration here when we win, but the Devils fan is a solitary creature when mourning lame-assed losses to the Rangers. :(
the Devils fan is a solitary creature when mourning lame-assed losses to the Rangers.
I’m so sorry the Devils lost to the Rangers.
THE RANGERS, god, I loathe them.
And here I was rooting so hard for the Devils…
And here I was rooting so hard for the Devils…
Aw, thanks Caitlin. See, Devils? Not only are you letting your fans down, you’re letting down your Stars fans, too!
I was mostly hoping they’d win, too!
(I will admit that I am jealous that your win streak is much longer than ours was, though.)
(But I was okay with keeping it going one more game so the Rangers would lose.)
I am in a different room from the TV and in the OT, when I heard Doc yelling out Gomez’s name, I thought, “Wow. Ten games. Pretty impressive.”
Then he said something about ex-Devils and I felt terrible! I just wasn’t thinking at all! It’s freezing here, that’s why.
Yeah, when this was the first thing I read after reading the diary…
1. Go Devils.
2. Please, for the love of God, do NOT go into overtime. Thank you.
… I had to laugh. Sorry, guys!
You know Patty, there are some players who, as ex-Devils, all still kind of sound, to me, like they’re still Devils when Doc calls their names. Amazingly, Gomez is not one of them. Before the game tonight he was interviewed by Al Trautwig, and when asked if it was still special for him to play against the Devils, Gomer shrugged and sneered, “Nah. I’m a Ranger now.” And I was just like, “No fucking kidding.”
After three failed dump-in attempts, the Rangers are hearing some boos for their power play.
At least you have that to cling to.
And a nine-game win streak! Good grief! Snap out of it!
I keed!
when asked if it was still special for him to play against the Devils, Gomer shrugged and sneered, “Nah. I’m a Ranger now.”
Geez, what an asshole.
Before the game tonight he was interviewed by Al Trautwig, and when asked if it was still special for him to play against the Devils, Gomer shrugged and sneered, “Nah. I’m a Ranger now.”
What an asshole!
Geez, what an asshole.
Scott Gomez: Uniting Sabres and Stars fans since…now.
Remember a long time ago when I was talking about Jeff Halpern’s mic’d-up morning skate video? He was discussing shootout moves with Hagman? They were talking about a certain kind of move and Halpy says, “Yeah, that’s what Gomez does.”
“Don’t do that, then,” I thought.
Scott Gomez: Uniting Sabres and Stars fans since…now.
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Gomez’s shoot-out move is actually one of the few things I miss about him. It was the single most punky, obnoxious thing ever. Now that I think about it, that might be the only thing I miss about him.
Caitlin, that’s awesome. We posted in the exact same minute!
And a nine-game win streak! Good grief! Snap out of it!
I’m not that disappointed that we lost tonight. I just hate when we lose to the Rangers, is all. I actually said to Pookie and Boomer during the first that I wouldn’t complain at all if, at the start of the year, they just did 8 coin tosses to decide our season series with them, instead of making us watch them play the games.
Scott Gomez: Uniting Sabres and Stars fans since…now.
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As for Gomez’s penalty shot move, he had this hilariously punky and awesome move he used a few times to win us key points in the ’06 stretch run when we had that improbable drive to win the division. The thing was that he would fake having the puck roll off his stick, then poke it through the goalie. It was so assy (in a good way), and I really couldn’t believe he managed to score on it at least three times. I mean, wouldn’t a goalie be prepared for that after seeing it happen to someone else once?
Here’s the video if you’re interested.
On Ice With Jeff Halpern
It was so assy (in a good way)
That sounds hilarious!
Caitlin, that’s awesome. We posted in the exact same minute!
I know! I originally thought your comment was mine, and then I went, “Wait a minute…”
I mean, wouldn’t a goalie be prepared for that after seeing it happen to someone else once?
You’d think! Or maybe the strong Super Asshole Powers that Gomez undoubtedly possesses throws the goalies off their game.
That sounds hilarious!
Yeah, it was. But it’s all fun and games until someone turns slag-faced and whorish.
Or maybe the strong Super Asshole Powers that Gomez undoubtedly possesses throws the goalies off their game.
I suspect it’s more the well-founded belief by goalies that Gomez is the player most likely to pass instead of shooting on a penalty shot. :D
I suspect it’s more the well-founded belief by goalies that Gomez is the player most likely to pass instead of shooting on a penalty shot. :D
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“My bad! I thought Gio was right behind me!”
“My bad! I thought Gio was right behind me!”
And the goalie says, “Don’t be silly, Gio’s always ahead of you — going off-sides!”
“My bad! I thought Gio was right behind me!”
Aw, thanks Patty! It’s nice on a night when we lost again to the Rangers to be reminded that, no matter what else happens this season, at least we don’t still have Gomer on our team.
… I had to laugh. Sorry, guys!
Ouch! That was the worst possible outcome for me – they all got points and the effing Rangers won. Bad (no offense Ookies) and bad.
it’s all fun and games until someone turns slag-faced and whorish.
Can I get an “amen?”
I’m just glad I didn’t make it worse, Schnookie.
And Pookie, :^::::::::::::::
Hey IPB! Sorry about those ugly Rangers. I’m behind because I was out last night amd flying all day today, but Patty that Stars calander is divine!
And Pookie, :^::::::::::::::
It’s funny because it’s true. Sigh.
alix, are you home for Christmas vacation? Is Button the Horse happy to see you? (I know his real name isn’t Button, but… Button’s just so cute!)
I’m just glad I didn’t make it worse, Schnookie.
Well, even if you came on here now saying “Tra la la! I love Gomez!” (which I know you wouldn’t, of course), you’ve got an IPB Gold Star to hide behind today. I wouldn’t be allowed to smack you down. :P
Are you home now, alix?
…even if you came on here now saying “Tra la la! I love Gomez!”…
Oh, I would never!
But, um… how long does the IPB Gold Star protect me? Just askin’.
But, um… how long does the IPB Gold Star protect me? Just askin’.
24 hours, so get your bitchy digs in at the Devils while it lasts! :P
I am home! So pommerdoodly, I get to watch a whole month of my boys on tv! Before I was just doing radio which is ok, but doesn’t give you a full dose of squee. And Button was trying to give me the cold shoulder, but I knew he was secretly happy to see me :p
And Button was trying to give me the cold shoulder, but I knew he was secretly happy to see me :p
Haha! My cat used to do that! She’d actually try to get my attention by meowing, then when I looked at her she’d turn around and face the other way.
So pommerdoodly, I get to watch a whole month of my boys on tv!
TV is awesome!
Pommerdoodling for you alix. Nothing’s like being home.
I knew he was secretly happy to see me
They always are!
My dear departed Ziggy (dog) actually physically CRIED once when I came home from college, gave me this look like I was the most horrible person ever. When I got upset he got all proud of himself and immediately started wagging his tail. He totally gave me a guilt trip!
alix, that is so not cool by Button! He needs to quit faking being too good for you and just admit he’s happy to see you.
24 hours, so get your bitchy digs in at the Devils while it lasts! :P
I’ll have to think some up. Now that Scott Stevens retired, I don’t have anything bad to say about them!
*hides behind star*
Whoa, Patty going right for the kill!
Man! Patty fights dirty.
That’s so cute about your cat, Patty. And your dog, Pensgirl. I know, Schnookie. Button just thinks he’s way too cool for horse school.
*hides behind star*
Well, the star doesn’t mean I’m going to forget everything you say! :P
Button just thinks he’s way too cool for horse school.
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alix, just so you know, I totally stole “cute little button” to describe Travis Zajac for my SportSquee thing. I meant to TM you and I forgot! Don’t hate me!
(I totally want to hit this girl on The Amazing Race right now.)
(I totally want to hit this girl on The Amazing Race right now.)
What do you mean by “hit,” exactly?
Well, the star doesn’t mean I’m going to forget everything you say! :P
I said I didn’t have anything bad to say!
Button just thinks he’s way too cool for horse school.
Hee hee! Once when Boomer went away for a weekend while Schnookie and I stayed home, Boomer’s cat, Mahmoud, sat at the door the entire time, just waiting for her to come back. No amount of us telling him that we were still there and he could come sit in the family room would make him budge.
What do you mean by “hit,” exactly?
Punch in the head? She’s really, really bugging me.
Patty, now is the time to say, “Marty Turco is the real Marty, Scott Stevens was a dirty player, and Darcy Regier is the best GM in the league.” You know… just for example.
(I totally want to hit this girl on The Amazing Race right now.)
Is the girl on Amazing Race more or less annoying than the Sabres failing to offer Crunchy any offensive support? You need to put this is perspective!
“Marty Turco is the real Marty, Scott Stevens was a dirty player, and Darcy Regier is the best GM in the league.”
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See if you ever get an IPB Gold Star! :)
Patty, now is the time to say, “Marty Turco is the real Marty, Scott Stevens was a dirty player, and Darcy Regier is the best GM in the league.” You know… just for example.
Heather, the Gold Star is best used for bitchy digs, not for out-and-out lies. :P
Is the girl on Amazing Race more or less annoying than the Sabres failing to offer Crunchy any offensive support?
Hey, they scored 7 goals last night! (But definitely less. Few things bother me as much as the team letting Crunchy down.)
Heather, the Gold Star is best used for bitchy digs, not for out-and-out lies. :P
:-)
Oh that’s awesome, Heather! I’m glad cute little button is spreading throughout the land :D
Awwww, that cat is Boomer’s number 1 fan. How adorable.
Patty, now is the time to say, “Marty Turco is the real Marty, Scott Stevens was a dirty player, and Darcy Regier is the best GM in the league.” You know… just for example.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don’t be putting words in my mouth! I don’t even know who those people are!
Marty Turco is one of the real Martys.
Marty Turco is one of the real Martys.
I don’t know if even that’s an acceptable answer, Patty.
I will say that Marty Turco is the only goalie whose official roster name is actually “Marty.”
You know… a little trivia.
Marty Turco is one of the real Martys.
How many times have we been over this? There is no Marty but Marty. (Brodeur.)
Boy, those real-time stats on Yahoo really are real-time. It’s already showing that stupid Khabibulin lost the game to Calgary.
(I hope that’s not a spoiler for anybody.)
There is no Marty but Marty.
Oh, honey, I had TWO Martys before you even found hockey!
How many times have we been over this? There is no Marty but Marty. (Brodeur.)
See, Patty?
But it’s curious that Schnookie felt the need to clarify exactly which Marty is the only Marty. If he really was the only Marty, would that be necessary? I’m not so sure. Things that make you go hmmmmm….
I love Sid, I do. But I could watch that replay of the Louie save over and over and over again.
And I could watch the replay of Letang’s goal over and over and over again!
:P
alix, the penalty shot? I love the way Lou makes the save and there’s a slight, dull hesitation… and the crowd GOES NUTS. It’s awesome!
But it’s curious that Schnookie felt the need to clarify exactly which Marty is the only Marty. If he really was the only Marty, would that be necessary? I’m not so sure. Things that make you go hmmmmm….
I did it just to nip it in the bud in case anyone was feeling dullardly or deliberately obtuse. :D
I did it just to nip it in the bud in case anyone was feeling dullardly or deliberately obtuse. :D
Deliberately obtuse? Us? No way, never!
I will say that Marty Turco is the only goalie whose official roster name is actually “Marty.”
…and is the only goalie who could host “Pimp My Ride” in Xhibit’s place.
Marty Turco is one of the real Martys.
I concur with Patty. Shocking, I know.
Make sure y’all are all finished before my gold star runs out. I don’t want to get kicked out of IPB.
Remember how late yesterday afternoon I complained about it being 82 degrees out? Well, now I’m complaining that at the same time today it was 41 degrees.
I give up.
Make sure y’all are all finished before my gold star runs out. I don’t want to get kicked out of IPB.
I put two Devils on my top ten squee list so I figure that has to give me protection through the end of the weekend atleast. Maybe?
We’re currently experience freezing rain which is my least favorite Buffalo weather phenomenon. It’s very cool to look at, but it’s a total bitch to travel in.
Deliberately obtuse? Us? No way, never!
I know! I mean, what in our past history together would make me think someone here would be deliberately obtuse? :P
Patty, I just don’t know what to say about your weather. It sounds like you’re in Chicago in the summertime or something!
I know! I mean, what in our past history together would make me think someone here would be deliberately obtuse?
Schnookie, are you being deliberately obtuse?
I put two Devils on my top ten squee list so I figure that has to give me protection through the end of the weekend atleast. Maybe?
Most definitely. You’re in the clear for… well, at least the week. We’ll reassess the situation in a week. Try to spend that time thinking of nice things to say about the Devils, m’kay?
Schnookie, are you being deliberately obtuse?
Am I ever NOT being deliberately obtuse?
Try to spend that time thinking of nice things to say about the Devils, m’kay?
Big words from the girl who told me to try cheering for a winning team. I cried all night! You don’t even know, Pookie! You don’t even know!
Big words from the girl who told me to try cheering for a winning team.
I told you I was joking! Do I have to leave a comment on Top Shelf every day for a month that says nothing but “@@@@@@@” to make it up to you?
I told you I was joking! Do I have to leave a comment on Top Shelf every day for a month that says nothing but “@@@@@@@” to make it up to you?
Yeah, okay, that might help :-)
We’re currently experience freezing rain which is my least favorite Buffalo weather phenomenon.
Ugh, freezing rain is the WORST.
You don’t even know, Pookie! You don’t even know!
Is that quoting that guy on Cedric the Entertainer Presents? Maybe he does that character elsewhere, too, where he’s dressed like a teenager working at Kinko’s or something. Hilarious!
Ugh, freezing rain is the WORST.
My sister up in Tulsa is reporting that most of Oklahoma has ice. And more to come tomorrow. I hope it doesn’t make it down this far.
Ugh, freezing rain is the WORST.
I think it’s much harder to drive in than snow but it never gets school canceled so I’m sure I’ll be slogging to work in the morning. (10 school days till winter break!)
Is that quoting that guy on Cedric the Entertainer Presents?
No. I can definitely hear it in my head from somewhere but it’s definitely not that. (I’ve never seen it.) Let me think…
I just discovered that show in reruns, even though it was cancelled, like, 4 years ago.
Probably the same guy that just was a guest on the show to do that schtick.
This was the shitiest game I’ve seen all season. And yes, it tops that awful Pens game, because at that point in the season, we were just that bad.
Bethanie, I agree. This was just shit-tacular.
Oh wait — it wasn’t as bad as that 1-0 Islanders game in the Rock. Although it’s really, really close.
Let me think…
I found the guy, Heather, that I’m thinking of, at least. His name is Kyle Dunnigan. I can’t find a clip of him playing the girl that says that, though. But here’s a funny one instead:
I guess everybody went to bed. Good night!
(I might not be around tomorrow. We’re “migrating” to the new company’s networks and security and such and there’s no telling what they don’t allow.)
(Plus, I’m going to the Stars game tomorrow night! Woo-hoo!)
“alix, the penalty shot? I love the way Lou makes the save and there’s a slight, dull hesitation… and the crowd GOES NUTS. It’s awesome!”
You’re probably long gone, Heather. But yeah I LOVE that too! Tres awesome.
Woooohooo! Live games are so fun, Patty. Maybe Bouche will come and hang with you in the stands :D
“Ew! Gomez and Jagr are probing the Devils!”
:^:::::::::::::::::: and ewwwwwwww at the same time.
So, catching up:
Patty, I totally hear you about crazy weather. It’s December and I’m still wearing shorts sometimes. And yay on the Stars game tomorrow.
On the hand discussion yesterday, :D.
Oh, and congrats Sabres fans. I think Sleek jinxed the Sharks, but I’m totally okay with that. :P
Patty, if you’re still around, good luck with the migration, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed you’ll still be able to hang out with us! And have a great time at the game!! (I’m working a half day tomorrow morning, then taking the rest of the week off. WOO HOOO!)
I should be in bed, and I’m going right now. Thanks for the good luck. Have a good vacation! You’ll be hanging around here, though, right?
I’m off the week after that, and I’m predicting a lot of couch time with my computer on my lap.
Yay for upcoming vacations! Oh, alix, if you’re still here…I was just going through some of my hockey cards, and who do I see, but a certain humming giraffe. :P
Awwww, yay! Did he look very giraffy? :D
You’ll be hanging around here, though, right?
Dude, Pookie and I coordinated our end-of-year vacations so we’re not both off at the same time, thereby demanding that we be up early and parked in front of the computer for IPB and IMing all day long. I can’t wait! (How that differs from a week at the office for me is just the fact that I’ll be wearing pajamas all day.)
(How that differs from a week at the office for me is just the fact that I’ll be wearing pajamas all day.)
Life is good!
Life is good!
It really is (assuming I still have a job to go back to when my week is up :P)!
Did he look very giraffy?
Kind of, but mostly young. :P
Hey, who wants to hear a really long story/rant about today?
zot, I always want to hear really long stories/rants about today!
Awwww, I love baby giraffe :P
Yay! Ok, so I’m in this ball/street hockey league with similar rules and whatnot to the NHL except that we run around in sneakers. Today was first round of playoffs with there being sixteen teams divided into four divisions: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Copper. My team is fourth in Copper since we’re either newbies (like me!) or people who’ve never played with each other, but we’ve got a lot of heart. :P Anyhow, today’s game is one of our best, despite missing several people, and both teams won’t let the other sit on any kind of lead. So the game is tied 5-5 and the last minute of the third rolls around. The other team gets called for a legitimate penalty and then, with 15 seconds left and our team on the attack, one of the refs freakin’ gives me a penalty for my shin pads being “too short”. Having been a ref in the past, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt most of the time, but this was ridiculous. Total BS. Everyone watching and even the opposing team agreed that it was BS. Even the penalty box guy let me out at the same time as the other guy. But we did finally win. :D
You got a penalty at the END of the game for having shin pads that are “too short”? If it was even a problem in the first place, why didn’t they do something about it, I dunno… at the START of the game? That’s the single most retarded thing I’ve heard in ages! I almost feel like I should delete your comment, though, in case NHL refs are reading this — they might get ideas. :D
I’m glad you won in the end. You clearly had cosmic justice on your side.
Exactly! And this particular ref has reffed at least half of our games during the season, and I’ve been wearing the same thing the last three months. But a nice thing did happen because of it. Some random guy comes up and tells me that he has extra pads he never uses and just gives them to me. :D
I almost feel like I should delete your comment
It took me long time to type out and I accidentally deleted it once. *wibble wibble** makes huge puppy eyes*
Some random guy comes up and tells me that he has extra pads he never uses and just gives them to me. :D
This story has DOUBLE the happy ending!
*wibble wibble** makes huge puppy eyes*
Okay, JUST because you’re being so cute… I’ll let the comment stay. :P
Yay, thank you Schnookie! This story now has TRIPLE the happy ending. :D Ok, I should probably go study now. Good night!
‘Night! Study hard!
Uncool Rangers. Uncool. *grumble*
Zot, that’s ridiculous! I can’t believe that ref was so stupid! Gah! But I’m glad it ended up okay in the end.
And Mags, “uncool” doesn’t even begin to describe it! :)
So I think I should win Employee of the Year for my tireless dedication to being the best possible professional secretary I can be. I was kind of stressing this thing I’m suddenly responsible for taking care of at the end of the calendar year, and while I was fairly confident I had it all figured out last week, I wasn’t 100% sure. So I came in this morning — ON MY VACATION DAY — to double-check with a colleague who was out last week that I’m on the right track. Naturally, I was, and there was no reason for me to come in this morning. If I don’t get a SIZEABLE raise for my commitment to excellence, I will be aghast.
My mom used to always say, “I’ve only ever been wrong once, and that was when I thought I was wrong and it turned out I was right.” :D
That’s how great a secretary you are!
[I'm not at the office yet, so the suspense of whether I can still hang out is still there. Also, it's almost 10 and I'm just leaving, so I'm not the best employee I can be one bit.]
“I’ve only ever been wrong once, and that was when I thought I was wrong and it turned out I was right.”
Hee! That’s fantastic!
And really, Patty, I admire your dedication. Still being home at 10 sounds like something I would do! :D
[I’m not at the office yet, so the suspense of whether I can still hang out is still there. Also, it’s almost 10 and I’m just leaving, so I’m not the best employee I can be one bit.]
Ugh, I’m so envious. I got to the office at 8:15 this morning.
Guess who was just standing right here in my office — Susan from “Sesame Street”!!! How freakin’ awesome is that! She seemed busy and I didn’t have really any warning that she was going to be here, so I didn’t get a chance to embarass myself by saying, “Oh my God, Sesame Street is the cookest thing ever, oh my God, oh my God, can you autograph this scrap paper, ‘Dear [Pookie] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 — twelve… acorns! Love, Susan’?”
“Oh my God, Sesame Street is the cookest thing ever, oh my God, oh my God, can you autograph this scrap paper, ‘Dear [Pookie] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 — twelve… acorns! Love, Susan’?”
OH MY GOD! Susan was the awesomest thing ever! Plus she was in Follow That Bird, which is only the best Sesame Street movie ever! I am so envious, Pookie!
She made my little kid life pretty rad. Thanks, Susan from Sesame Street!
She made my little kid life pretty rad. Thanks, Susan from Sesame Street!
Pookie, if you get the chance to talk to her, you should TOTALLY tell her exactly that, for all of us!
(Pookie and I were having a totally normal workday IM session, kind of absently prattling on about cute NHLers [because we're totally 12], and suddenly she’s like, “Susan from Sesame Street is in my office”, all off-handedly. I’m like, “Wha-HAAAAAAA?” So now I’m hoping to get a random celebrity sighting in my office. Lance Armstrong and Vanessa Redgrave shill for my company; what are the chances they randomly come to take a tour of the labs in my building? [Answer: nil. Lance made a stop at our corporate site last summer, and the preparations for it here were like Sid going to Western Canada.])
She made my little kid life pretty rad.
:^:::::::::::::
If she comes back in here, I’ll tell her that!
“Don’t Eat the Pictures” was my favorite Sesame Street movie.
Good morning IPB!
After a long and confusing weekend, I’m back! Thanks for diarizing the Sharks/Sabres game. That was awesome.
Hey andrew! I’m so sorry to hear your weekend was confusing! I hope your equilibrium has been restored now that you’re back at the office. :D
(And on that note, I’m getting out of the office! I’m off to the grocery store, and to set some chili a-cookin’. See you all soon!)
How’d you like the game, andrew?
Answer: nil. Lance made a stop at our corporate site last summer, and the preparations for it here were like Sid going to Western Canada.
That’s funny because I’ve seen him before walking around a mall here in Dallas totally unimpeded. People in Austin are pretty chilled out around him, too – he attracts attention down here but people don’t make a large amount of fuss, I guess. It cracks me up that Lance Armstrong would have Sid-like preparation for events.
If she comes back in here, I’ll tell her that!
“Don’t Eat the Pictures” was my favorite Sesame Street movie.
Yay! “Follow That Bird” was so awesome, though. (I’ve never seen “Don’t Eat the Pictures”. Please, don’t kill me.) It had Oscar the Grouch eating in the garbage diner! Waylon Jennings driving a chicken truck! The Dodo Family! The Count’s car! Even as an adult, I want the Count’s car.
“I hope your equilibrium has been restored now that you’re back at the office.”
Thanks Schnookie, I’m working on it!
“How’d you like the game, andrew?”
It was crazy! I was shocked at how many Buffalo fans there were. Easily way more than when the Kings or Ducks are in town.
The game itself…well, it started out close, but we all know how it ended. I was really happy for Buffalo because they needed that convincing win, but I was bummed for the Sharks because they got the ass kicked out of ‘em.
I was shocked at how many Buffalo fans there were.
On the TV it sounded like the Buffalo contingent was pretty vocal. That’s awesome!
I wasn’t sure where your loyalties lie stronger, so I wasn’t sure how upset you’d be about the Sharks.
(I’ve never seen “Don’t Eat the Pictures”. Please, don’t kill me.)
Oh, that’s cook. The premise was that they got locked in the Met museum overnight. It was spectacular!
COOKIE MONSTER SINGING ABOUT EATING PAINTINGS
Some of the highlights:
- Guy standing on the concourse wearing a Jerry Korab Sweater with a HUGE red curly wig and a fake red beard (obvisouly doing his best playoff Soupy impersonation.)
- The 3 Sabres fans in the john all whistling “Sabre Dance” together while taking a leak.
- The REALLY drunk Sharks fan standing next to me outside the ladies bathroom (waiting for the wife) after the game. He was just dumbfounded, all the Sabres fans were really intriguing to him. He just kept looking around saying, “What the fuck is going on here?” and, “Jesus people! Go home! Why aren’t you in New York?!?!” It was comical.
- The Buffalo fans sitting next to us who were endlessly joyous about my dual/fandom.
- The two 10-12 year brothers next to me who were taking the loss waaaay too painfully. Kid 1, “AGGHHH!! This is terrbile! The Sharks suck!!” Kid 2, “Shut up! No they don’t! You suck!”
“I wasn’t sure where your loyalties lie stronger, so I wasn’t sure how upset you’d be about the Sharks.”
I keep telling you guys, they are equal in my eyes. I have no loyalty to one over the other. I was just mostly upset that it was a blowout!
I was just mostly upset that it was a blowout!
Yeah, that part totally bit. Was it worth the internal blingybob countdown?
“Yeah, that part totally bit. Was it worth the internal blingybob countdown?”
Absolutely. The Sabres hadn’t been to SJ in 5 years. I was all about it. Plus we had a blast. Stayed at our friends’ house in San Francisco, drank Boodles (?) gin and tonics, had a great time overall.
I keep telling you guys, they are equal in my eyes. I have no loyalty to one over the other. I was just mostly upset that it was a blowout!
Yes, but we thought that in the face of a blow out you might suddenly discover yourself to be slightly more loyal to the hometown team. I’m glad it was a great time despite the lopsidedness.
had a great time overall
Well, that’s the key!
So, I’ve been trying to kill time at my computer in case Susan would come back so I could tell her how rad she is, but I think I’ve run out of stuff to make it look like I’m busy. Rats. This means I have to go do the distinctly un-rad moving books around on the shelves. As my non-technie coworker would say, “Blogggggg” (she uses it as a nonsense word to denote unhappiness and boredom, which cracks me up).
“Yes, but we thought that in the face of a blow out you might suddenly discover yourself to be slightly more loyal to the hometown team. I’m glad it was a great time despite the lopsidedness.”
I was tested last time they played too, and it was a Sharks 6-1 blowout! Why can’t they just play each other well?
Also, lookit…Last time the Pacific played the NW: Sabres beat the Kings 10-1, beat the Ducks 3-2, lost to the Sharks 6-1.
This time: lost to the Kings 8-2, lost to the Ducks 4-1, beat the Sharks 7-1. I know the scores aren’t exact opposites of last time, but damn….it’s like the bizzaro road trip out there.
This means I have to go do the distinctly un-rad moving books around on the shelves.
Ah, there’s also the label organizing, the dusting, and then file sorting. I feel ya, Pookie!
Guys, I talked to Susan!!! I told her that Sesame Street helped make me who I am today and she gave me this giant hug! Then she said she’s writing a book called “My Best Friends Still Call Me Susan” and said, “I’m going to come back and ask you about ‘Sesame Street’!” I was like, “EEEEE!!!” She said thanks and then went to leave and, being the spazz that I am, I said, “Thanks for being the coolest person ever — ‘Sesame Street’ is the best!” And she, being the kind soul that she is smiled and said, “You have very good taste in television!” This just totally made my day. I’m such a nerd.
Guys, I talked to Susan!!! I told her that Sesame Street helped make me who I am today and she gave me this giant hug!
Oh my god, that is so rad! Yay, Pookie! What a sweet lady. I’m totally buying that book when it comes out.
Pookie, I got to work with the guy who did the voice of Lion-O on Thundercats, Count Chocula, and Sonny the Cuckoo Bird last year, and I dorked out so hard. I told him how much Thundercats influenced my childhood and how I wore three pigtails in my hair to be like Kit and Kat. He was so gracious and not frightened, it was remarkable. My best celeb encounter ever.
I probably would have had a breakdown in front of someone from Sesame Street. A complete breakdown.
I probably would have had a breakdown in front of someone from Sesame Street.
I was actually shaking when I talked to her. Craziness!
Dude, I would die if I met anyone affiliated with Thundercats. I’d stop them and make them listen to my dad’s alternate lyrics: “Blundercats”. And then I’d wonder why they were calling security. Mum-Ra was the bomb.
(I should mention that almost cooler than meeting Susan was working with real Henson muppet. When I was a junior at NYU I stage managed a show that needed a puppet. We ended up going to the Children’s Television Workshop and got a real Henson muppet and a real Henson muppeteer to work with. It was so awesomely cool.)
Those are the best celebrity encounters ever, you guys.
Those are the best celebrity encounters ever, you guys.
And more proof that I shouldn’t ever get press passes to the dressing room. If I’m that much of a spaz around Susan from “Sesame Street”, imagine what a fool I’d make of myself in front of Paulie or Zach!
When I was a junior at NYU
I ENVY YOU! I got accepted to NYU, but couldn’t come through with the cash to go.
I got to work with the guy who did the voice of Lion-O on Thundercats, Count Chocula, and Sonny the Cuckoo Bird last year
Oh. My. God. I would have died!
We ended up going to the Children’s Television Workshop and got a real Henson muppet and a real Henson muppeteer to work with. It was so awesomely cool.
Awww, that’s so cute! The only celebrity besides a hockey player I’ve ever been close to is some dude from Prison Break – the bad guy with one hand, apparently. I don’t know, I don’t watch TV except for hockey and The History Channel, because I’m a geek.
andrew, it sounds like a fantastic time, indeed at the game this weekend! I’m so glad you had fun!
And I’m totally spazzing now about Pookie meeting Susan. This is the coolest thing ever! I feel like I kind of met her myself now, except through the Pookie half of my brain. :P
I just walked past one of my coworkers who said, “Guess what? Susan from ‘Sesame Street’ touched my shoulder!” I was like, “HA! She gave me a big hug!” He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, then we proceeded to break down in excited hand-waving and giddy jumping-up-and-down.
I’ll stop talking about meeting Susan now. So, uh… how about that local sports team?
I can’t even fathom how starstruck one would be in the CTW. A real Henson puppet would have been the end for me. I would never leave the house after that, because, how can you top it?
Speaking of things that elicit excited hand-waving and giddy jumping-up-and-down, this is the week everyone’s been waiting for: Marauders v. PanBoxers, the Brawl for Less-Than-Some. It is ON! It is on like Donkey Kong!
Pookie, there is nothing about that story that makes you a nerd. Children’s programming is some of the most important around; letting someone who works in it know how valuable they are and have been is rewarding for them and for you.
Coming from Mr. Rogers’ town (he was from Latrobe originally and did his show out of Pittsburgh), I was lucky enough to have greater exposure to him than most people do after childhood, and it served as a great reminder of how important the people behind those shows are.
That’s funny because I’ve seen him before walking around a mall here in Dallas totally unimpeded. People in Austin are pretty chilled out around him, too – he attracts attention down here but people don’t make a large amount of fuss, I guess. It cracks me up that Lance Armstrong would have Sid-like preparation for events.
Ah, I can see it. Sid can meander in Pittsburgh, too. Where a celeb lives, it eventually becomes more-or-less ordinary to see them (or at least not so extraordinary). But elsewhere – and particularly under special circumstances, like a corporate visit or a first-ever trip to a place where you’re a huge deal – people go crazy.
I can’t even fathom how starstruck one would be in the CTW. A real Henson puppet would have been the end for me. I would never leave the house after that, because, how can you top it?
I agree with you, margee. Pookie’s always all blase about it (and almost never spoke of it during the time she was actually working with said puppet), and I’m like, “Seriously, just thinking about it makes my brain melt from the sheer coolness of it.”
I feel like I kind of met her myself now, except through the Pookie half of my brain. :P
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I feel like you should make a movie, Being the Ookies, so we can all get a glimpse at your shared life experience!
It is ON! It is on like Donkey Kong!
Oh, is it ever!
*death glare*
I’ve got my boys more prepared than ever before. They’ve been doing stickwork, footwork, roadwork, they’re skating three hours a night, they’re in the best shape of their lives!
and almost never spoke of it during the time she was actually working with said puppet),
Well, the whole “the experience of the show that didn’t involve Henson muppets was so horrifically awful that it made me completely re-evaulate all of my career plans” kind put a damper on it.
The coolest thing about the muppet was it’s eyes. They were just hard, black, plastic button-y type things, but it had so much life to it, we all felt really, really bad putting it in a box and locking it up at night.
” I told her that Sesame Street helped make me who I am today and she gave me this giant hug!”
Wow, that’s pretty cool Pookie! I haven’t seen Sesame Street in forever. I’m telling ya, Oscar the Grouch was my hands-down, all-time favorite.
“andrew, it sounds like a fantastic time, indeed at the game this weekend! I’m so glad you had fun!”
It was! And we had killer seats but no camera! I took a ton of pictures with Tracie’s Blackberry. Hopefully they turn out good…we haven’t downloaded them yet because we had her company Christmas party to go to last night. And the coolest thing ever: We won a Wii in the employee prize raffle! Woo Hoo!
The coolest thing about the muppet was it’s eyes. They were just hard, black, plastic button-y type things, but it had so much life to it, we all felt really, really bad putting it in a box and locking it up at night.
The only thing more awesome than the fact that this comment reminds me of Arrested Development is that it also reminds me of Soap.
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, then we proceeded to break down in excited hand-waving and giddy jumping-up-and-down.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I just got a mental image of two Sims jumping around and doing that crazy thing with their arms over their heads and that gobbledygook Sim speak coming out of their mouths.
We won a Wii in the employee prize raffle! Woo Hoo!
Are you serious?!? That’s awesome! You can play SimCity now, too!
They’ve been doing stickwork, footwork, roadwork, they’re skating three hours a night, they’re in the best shape of their lives!
Finger to the nose, Pookie. Nicely done. (And I’ve got my team in great shape, but I think I have no more than three guys playing on any given night this week. They’re chomping at the bit, but they’re not going to even get a chance. It’s so sad. Getzi wants to DESTROY the PanBoxers.)
andrew, you won a Wii??? What an unprecedentedly good weekend!
We won a Wii in the employee prize raffle!
Wow! When you have a good weekend, you go all out, don’t you??
I’ve got my boys more prepared than ever before. They’ve been doing stickwork, footwork, roadwork, they’re skating three hours a night, they’re in the best shape of their lives!
I hope they’re not too full of themselves after trampling all over the Wives. Sounds like a trap game coming up.
“I’ve got my boys more prepared than ever before. They’ve been doing stickwork, footwork, roadwork, they’re skating three hours a night, they’re in the best shape of their lives!”
Today was a dark day for the Slag Faced Horcoffs. It was learned today thet we suffered our first loss of the season, to the Mother Puckers. Overhaul: Bryan McCabe will be named Captain and Brett Hull is going to be our new GM….wait..what? He’s already a GM somewhere else? I was kidding, who the hell would hire that guy?
“Are you serious?!? That’s awesome! You can play SimCity now, too!”
So funny, they were giving away all this crazy expensive stuff (cruises, tv’s, etc) and nobody cared. The only thing that every employee wanted was the damn Wii. I thought it was pretty damn funny.
…it also reminds me of Soap
I almost bought the first season of Soap the other day! I loved that show!
“I’m being beeped. Bert is beeping me. I’ve never been beeped before!”
Pookie, that is SO AWESOME about Susan!!!!! Years ago I saw an all-about-Sesame-Street type special, and I still remember how she talked about being recognized as Susan, and how much she loved it. She told a really cute story about one of her daughter’s friend’s bragging to another child that she “knows” Susan from Sesame, and the other child saying “Well, I know her too. I see her everyday.” She told the story to demonstrate how unique her relationship is with Sesame viewers, and how much that childlike sense of familiarity means to her. Apparently almost all kids just feel like the know her. She also talked about how amazing it is to have encounters with adults who seem to revert back to a childlike innocence when they see her. I’ve never forgotten how truly grateful she sounded talking about all of this. I thought it was an incredibly generous and lovely attitude to take, and she seemed like such a perfect person to be in her position.
Anyway, I can’t believe you met Susan!
Wait a MINUTE. Susan was the black lady, wasn’t she? Ha! That whole story I just told, that was Maria I was talking about. :^::::::::::::: I’m an idiot. I’m sure Susan is cool too!
I almost bought the first season of Soap the other day! I loved that show!
At least here, it’s been in the TV Time section of Comcast On Demand – you know, the free section. Earlier in the year I went through it like a pig through slop.
We ended up going to the Children’s Television Workshop and got a real Henson muppet and a real Henson muppeteer to work with. It was so awesomely cool.
That is incredible. The hair on my arms just stood up.
Wait a MINUTE. Susan was the black lady, wasn’t she? Ha! That whole story I just told, that was Maria I was talking about.
Yeah, Maria’s totally kick-ass. Susan’s kind of a bitch. :P (I have to admit, when Pookie told me the details of her exchanges with Susan, it made me cry. It sounds like she feels the same way about her Sesame Street fame as Maria does. I am just gobsmacked at how totally awesome the whole exchange sounded.)
So funny, they were giving away all this crazy expensive stuff (cruises, tv’s, etc) and nobody cared. The only thing that every employee wanted was the damn Wii.
My employee holiday party was notorious for how awful and cheap it was. They would give away a huge number of door prizes, and they were all $5 gift cards to, like, Shoprite and Home Depot, or $5 bottles of wine. Last year I ended up sitting at a table with the VP of my department, and I joked that I was holding out for the iPod door prize. He totally thought I was serious, and spent the rest of the afternoon wondering when the iPod raffle winner was going to be announced.
I have to admit, when Pookie told me the details of her exchanges with Susan, it made me cry.
I just cried too when I was writing about Maria! Sesame is just so KICK ASS, and it’s so wonderful, moving, and faith building that the people who are on that show seem to be such perfect ambassadors for the true meaning of Sesame Street.
“My employee holiday party was notorious for how awful and cheap it was.”
That’s a drag! We’re very lucky she works for the company that she does. They’re generous to a fault. The “door prize” for each employee was a $50 gift card. And every employee got a Christmas card filled with cash ($100 for every year with the company). They really go all out, it’s nice to see people can still treat their workers well.
That’s such a cool story, Katebits! Oh wait, Maria. Psahw. I only care about Susan.
I just realized that I made it sound like I got to physically go to CTW, but what I meant, was, Tisch’s Drama Dept. worked out a deal to get a Henson muppeteer to come to Tisch for rehearsals. But I did physically get to work with the puppet and cruelly lock it in a box every night.
My employee holiday party was notorious for how awful and cheap it was.
When I worked for Blockbuster, my boss literally walked over to a stack of pre-viewed DVDs, unlocked six copies of Elf and handed them to everyone on my shift and said, “Merry Christmas.” Everyone company-wide got used copies of Elf for Christmas (which was depressing, seeing as how we were selling it for $3.99.)
Then I went and got an office job. Last year, my Christmas present from my boss was an iPod Nano. So I’ve had good Christmas years…and bad ones as far as jobs go.
I just cried too when I was writing about Maria! Sesame is just so KICK ASS, and it’s so wonderful, moving, and faith building that the people who are on that show seem to be such perfect ambassadors for the true meaning of Sesame Street.
It’s so interesting to go back and watch really early episodes of Sesame Street, and realize what revolutionaries they were, back before all the licensing and it becoming a cash cow and everything. (Oh, and if you want to have a HUGE cry about beloved children’s TV figures, dig up Esquire’s profile on Mr. Rogers from about 10 years ago. I cry just thinking about that article. It was so beautiful.)
You know who’d I like to meet who had a huge influence on my life? The person who wrote the Reading Rainbow theme song.
Andrew may be in the running for best weekend ever. Glad you had fun at the game!
Dude, that is so awesome about Susan! If I ever met Count Chocula, I’d go nuts. I’d be all “Have my chocolate babies Count Chocula!”
Which reminds me of the creepiest sign I saw coming on to Sid on Saturday. “I’d give a kidney to make out with Sidney”
Oh My GOD, Schnookie. Have you ever seen this? If you want to start crying about the magic of mr. Rogers, click HERE. There is something about that man that is just…….*sniff*.
“Everyone company-wide got used copies of Elf for Christmas”
That is awful, but then again, it could be worse, Caitlin. You could work for the gov’t like me. Not only do we not get squat for gifts, we don’t even have a party/dinner/anything! It’s pretty lame. I have to live vicariously through my wife’s Christmas party.
My employee holiday party was notorious for how awful and cheap it was. They would give away a huge number of door prizes, and they were all $5 gift cards to, like, Shoprite and Home Depot, or $5 bottles of wine.
We get . . . an open bar and little snacks going around.
Yikes, andrew! Tracie’s employer sounds amazing! The last few years the directors and their direct reports whom I support have all contributed to give me some very generous gift cards to Williams Sonoma. I am not anticipating such a gift this year, because our present from the company was the announcement that one out of every ten employees worldwide can expect to lose their job in the next two years. (On the bright side, our shareholders are very excited about the layoffs.) Caitlin, that story about the “Elf” DVDs makes my holiday party sound like the best Christmas ever!
(Actually, come to think of it, when I first started at my current workplace I was a temp, one of two in my department. Company policy meant temps and consultants weren’t allowed to participate in the department holiday parties. So the day of the holiday party, everyone else went to this swanky restaurant, and I sat there in an empty building with one other person all day because I didn’t get paid vacation from my temp agency and wasn’t allowed to leave. What I would have done for an “Elf” DVD! [Just kidding. I played "Collapse" for eight hours and got paid for it. It was a good day in my book.])
Katebits, thanks for that link. I’m sobbing right now. :D
Aww, but it’s a happy kind of sobbing, right? When he says, “I like you just the way you are”, it accesses some part of my brain that is still three-years-old. I really believe him when he says that.
Schnookie, if you have at some point in your life been really good at “Collapse” you should go into those forums where you can pay money to play and win money when you win (I know, this sounds insane, but bear with me for a second.) I wandered in there one day a few years ago, and bought $20 worth of credit to play. At the end of the week, I cashed out my $ and a few weeks later, I got a $193 check in the mail! I’m not kidding! I got paid almost two hundred dollars to play Collapse. I stopped because as you win more and more, you get bumped into better tiers of players, and I reached a point when I could no longer win tournaments. I won $75 on ONE game of collapse once when I was playing in the baby league. Isn’t that hilarious and also incredibly sad? I haven’t thought about my professional collapse playing days in years!
You could work for the gov’t like me. Not only do we not get squat for gifts, we don’t even have a party/dinner/anything!
God, that sucks – stupid government jobs!
You know, I actually really love Elf, but it wouldn’t have made me as sad as it did if I hadn’t literally watched my boss pick them up off the shelf, unlock them and rip the price tags off. Especially since I had just finished locking and pricing those copies about thirty minutes beforehand.
Caitlin, that story about the “Elf” DVDs makes my holiday party sound like the best Christmas ever!
I will say this; I had to work Christmas at Blockbuster, and my mom brought up food for all the employees. Our regular customers brought us candy. And then of course, there were the random people who wandered in and asked, “You’re open on Christmas?! WOW! That must suck.”
…Gee, thanks! I’m so grateful that I get not only Christmas off, but Thanksgiving, New Years and Christmas Eve off too.
When he says, “I like you just the way you are”, it accesses some part of my brain that is still three-years-old. I really believe him when he says that.
I KNOW!!!! It just squeezed my heart so hard! And seriously, I think you should believe him — he absolutely meant it. (Totally, totally happy sobbing here, indeed.)
Now, this getting paid to play Collapse thing… I think I may have found my fallback for when my employer finally pulls the plug on me! :D (That sounds unbelieveably awesome.)
Not only do we not get squat for gifts, we don’t even have a party/dinner/anything!
This county employee gets squat for gifts and would really appreicate not having a party/dinner/anything! I have to leave the house at 6am on Friday to drive all the way down to Southern Jersey to have a catered breakfast at a Holiday Inn while listening to boring reports about the library.
I’m about to make you guys really, really mad, so be prepared:
When Mr. Rogers died, of course there was a memorial service for him in Pittsburgh. That group of so-called-Christians-but-actually-just-nutcases that shows up at the funerals of soldiers claiming that God killed the soldier in retribution for tolerance of gays? Yeah, they came and protested Mr. Rogers’ service because – I swear I am not kidding here, this is their stated reason – “he loved everybody no matter what.” How un-Christian of him.
I was ready to go do some very un-Christian things of my own, but I channeled my inner Mr. R. and didn’t.
Which reminds me of the creepiest sign I saw coming on to Sid on Saturday. “I’d give a kidney to make out with Sidney”
EEEWWWWWWWWWWWW. That right there is why I’d nevah evah evah want to be famous.
Now, this getting paid to play Collapse thing… I think I may have found my fallback for when my employer finally pulls the plug on me! :D (That sounds unbelieveably awesome.)
There are money tournaments for all of the online games, but my theory is that you can only make money playing the games that you at some point have played obsessively for free. I tried to translate my “Collapse” success into “Noah’s Ark” success, and it just didn’t work. The key is to get in there, make $200 and then consider it payment for the COUNTLESS hours you have spent training for the competition. :D Making $200 to play Collapse is hilarious and wonderful, but you have to get OUT when you start to lose. Because losing $200 playing Collapse is one of the worst things that can happen to a person in my opinion.
“God, that sucks – stupid government jobs!”
Ah, no big deal. The funny thing was last night I was talking to a husband of one of my wife’s co-workers who was also a state employee. We were going on about how lame it is that even when we go to conferences we can’t participate in raffles. I said, “It’s karma. One of us is going to win something tonight, to make up for that shit.” I was totally kidding, since we never win anything!
Yeah, I actually felt really grossed out when I saw it, Pensgirl. Poor Sid. But major props to the little kid that had the sign “Crosby who? I’m here for Ruutu” Hee. Made my night.
Making $200 to play Collapse is hilarious and wonderful, but you have to get OUT when you start to lose. Because losing $200 playing Collapse is one of the worst things that can happen to a person in my opinion.
Losing $200 playing Collapse has got to be the nadir of the human experience. (And I LOVE Noah’s Ark! Before my employer figured out that “Yahoo! Games” was, well, games, I used to spend all day playing that! Good times, good times.)
Yeah, they came and protested Mr. Rogers’ service because – I swear I am not kidding here, this is their stated reason – “he loved everybody no matter what.” How un-Christian of him.
That is the most patently absurd and ridiculous thing I’ve read all day. I know who you’re talking about – it’s Fred Phelps and his congregation of crazy folk and they’re totally whacked out.
I said, “It’s karma. One of us is going to win something tonight, to make up for that shit.” I was totally kidding, since we never win anything!
Awww, yay, Andrew! See? Somebody up there likes you!!
And I LOVE Noah’s Ark!
I’m telling you, if you already love Noah’s Ark and have put in the hours playing, you can probably win the beginner’s tournament!
“I know who you’re talking about – it’s Fred Phelps and his congregation of crazy folk and they’re totally whacked out.”
I was glad to see that they got their asses sued off, and lost, earlier this year. Someone needs to financially cripple those nutjobs so they can’t spread their hate any more.
This county employee gets squat for gifts and would really appreicate not having a party/dinner/anything!
I’m with you – no gifts but I still have to do the work of bringing in something for a potluck party (between not cooking and having no idea how to schlep something here on the train, I’m at a loss). At my old place we had no gifts and did a lunch that lasted for HOURS because my boss loved to play games and do a gift exchange whereby someone always ended up stuck with a horrible gift. I’d rather just give veryone in my office a card and leave it at that.
“between not cooking and having no idea how to schlep something here on the train, I’m at a loss”
Be first to the sign up sheet and volunteer to bring plastic cups and paper plates. That’s what I always do. If it’s food items only: chips and salsa.
You can totally thank me after the potluck, Pensgirl.
I know who you’re talking about – it’s Fred Phelps and his congregation of crazy folk and they’re totally whacked out.
Yep, that’s them. I’m surprised I’d managed to effectively block his name from my memory, given the rage it inspired at the time. Only knowing that no sane person in the world agreed with them kept me from going over the edge.
But major props to the little kid that had the sign “Crosby who? I’m here for Ruutu” Hee.
I thought it was way cook of MT to start Laraque, Roberts, and Ruutu against their respective ex-teams so they could be announced and cheered. (Head-scratcher why he wasn’t at all cook when Malkin’s points streak was on the line – he didn’t play Geno in the last 2 mins of that game.)
Be first to the sign up sheet and volunteer to bring plastic cups and paper plates. That’s what I always do. If it’s food items only: chips and salsa.
You can totally thank me after the potluck, Pensgirl.
Nice try, but each workgroup was assigned an area of responsibility, and we have “savory/salty.” And we’re supposed to MAKE something, so “I’ll buy pretzels” ain’t gonna work either. Like I said, I don’t cook (I mean I do minimally, but nothing party-esque), and even if I did my apartment’s oven is notoriously schizo. I’m afraid to use it!
(Head-scratcher why he wasn’t at all cook when Malkin’s points streak was on the line – he didn’t play Geno in the last 2 mins of that game.)
That’s annoying. Ruff is generally really good about stuff like that, although I don’t recall any extra-long point scoring streaks.
Nice try, but each workgroup was assigned an area of responsibility, and we have “savory/salty.” </i?
Make Betty Crocker au gratin potatoes! (I don’t remember who it was that went to a party where they served that…)
stupid tags.
Make Betty Crocker au gratin potatoes! (I don’t remember who it was that went to a party where they served that…)
I think it was Amy.
” And we’re supposed to MAKE something, so “I’ll buy pretzels” ain’t gonna work either.”
Lame! Just tell ‘em not everyone is Betty Effin’ Crocker and that you’re getting a cheese tray from the damn grocery store.
“Ruff is generally really good about stuff like that, although I don’t recall any extra-long point scoring streaks.”
not this year anyway. Speaking of awesome, that Goose vs. Roenick mini-showdown happened like, right to the right of us. I was officially cheering for Goose to throttle JR. So I guess I was a little biased on that exchange.
Caitlin! You worked at Blockbuster! Small world!
I worked in the corp. offices for years. Pretty much all my current friends were met when I worked there. (It’s been a while since I did, though.)
Over the years, the parties varied widely. When I was in Support, I worked weekends, so we never got to go to the main party since we were on duty. But a couple of years they had a special party for us… like a little dinner cruise on a local lake, and a big dinner out in the summer when we missed the summer party.
When times were hard, they just let us have a day off that we couldn’t all take at once.
Once, our manager brought her personal half-eaten turkey carcass to the office for us slobs working on Christmas Day. We were wildly insulted.
I was glad to see that they got their asses sued off, and lost, earlier this year. Someone needs to financially cripple those nutjobs so they can’t spread their hate any more.
Word, Andrew. It made me incredibly happy to see that verdict. I support 1st Amendment Rights, but that’s just harrassment.
I was officially cheering for Goose to throttle JR. So I guess I was a little biased on that exchange.
That still doesn’t count. JR’s own teammates were probably thinking the same thing.
I was officially cheering for Goose to throttle JR. So I guess I was a little biased on that exchange.
Come on . . . given the choice between Goose and JR, well, that’s no choice at all is it. One is super-obnoxious and the other is encouraging kids to read and fighting childhood obesity.
Caitlin! You worked at Blockbuster! Small world!
I worked in the corp. offices for years. Pretty much all my current friends were met when I worked there. (It’s been a while since I did, though.)
Aww! Well, it’s been…well over a year and a half since I’ve worked for Blockbuster. I worked for a store out in the suburbs. Did you do support for the computers in-store? If you did, you are my hero, because those things sucked and the support people were awesome about getting us help.
I don’t know if you remember the store that was in the office building corporate headquaters, but Blockbuster closed it down! I used to hear the awesomest things about that store.
they had a special party for us… like a little dinner cruise on a local lake, and a big dinner out in the summer when we missed the summer party.
Awww, Patty! It’s nice to hear Blockbuster has done some good things.
Once, our manager brought her personal half-eaten turkey carcass to the office for us slobs working on Christmas Day. We were wildly insulted.
That’s disgusting! What was she thinking?!
Thanks Patty and andrew. The au gratins would be easy if I had a convection microwave, but in my oven they’d never be done cooking*. I’ll figure somethin’ out.
Once, our manager brought her personal half-eaten turkey carcass to the office for us slobs working on Christmas Day. We were wildly insulted.
You should have been – that’s disgusting!
*unless they burn. Those are pretty much the options with that stupid thing.
“One is super-obnoxious and the other is encouraging kids to read and fighting childhood obesity.”
Well, since you put it that way…how could I not cheer for Goose! Also, I was laughing pretty hard at big Joe going psycho at the end of the game there. Glad Spock wasn’t hurt though.
I haven’t watched the game on TiVo yet, so I don’t know if the camera caught us or not. Doubful, since niether of us were wearing any team sweaters, but if I spot us, I’m gonna be so excited!
Not to totally leave the subject but what should one write on an anonymous secret santa card beyond “hope you have a wonderful holiday season”? Because like an idiot I got a blank card and now I have to fill it.
Aww! Well, it’s been…well over a year and a half since I’ve worked for Blockbuster.
It’s been, like, gosh, seven? years since I worked there. Man, time flies.
Yes, we supported the stores. I’m sure the hardware and software is totally different now, although I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re still stuck with the same stuff. They had several huge drag-ourselves-into-the-present projects when I was there that just ended up being cancelled.
At one point, I was also the voice on the automated system. So a store manager would go through all the steps, then I’d answer and say, “Can I help you?” And they’d be all confused.
although I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re still stuck with the same stuff.
Oh, they still are, Patty. There’s been NO upgrades to that computer system at all. Auto-Zone is the only retail chain that has older computers/operating systems. I love that when you boot up the computers, the freaking operating system says “Copyright 1985″. The time clock/scheduling software is fairly new, but that’s it.
Between the computers and the constantly-breaking card printers, I wanted to bang my head into a wall half the time. I think the only thing Blockbuster’s changed really are customer service policies, the end of late fees, and how the stores are structured as far as merchandise goes.
I do have a lot of funny (and scary) stories from when I worked there, though. Sometimes I miss working nights, and then I stop and think about all the nutsos, and I really don’t miss it then.
“Not to totally leave the subject but what should one write on an anonymous secret santa card beyond “hope you have a wonderful holiday season”? ”
Just put “Don’t spend it all in one place.”
Unless you didn’t give them a giftcard. In that case, I got nuthin’.
Meg –
How bout: “Yes [insert recipient's name], there really is a Santa Claus.”
It’s kinda cute, right?
Meg, you could say, “Hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and that your season of holidays is wonderful, and that holidays, in this season, are wonderful, aren’t they? Go Sabres! Hugs and Kisses, Meg — er, I mean, Secret Santa”
How bout: “Yes [insert recipient’s name], there really is a Santa Claus.”
It’s kinda cute, right?
That’s totally cute and I’m going to use it for someone as soon as I possibly can. Just perhaps not this someone.
Go Sabres! Hugs and Kisses, Meg — er, I mean, Secret Santa”
:^:::::::::
I worked at Blockbuster too! My best Christmas party prize was a Blockbuster “camera” that was basically a plastic rectangle that may or may not have actually taken pictures. My store manager was really awesome though and she bought everyone something out of her pocket.
At my current job we used to get $25 mall gift certificates but they stopped giving them to use a few years ago. For a couple of years we got nothing, but last year they gave us all fleece vests with the agency logo on them. This year I guess we’re getting hoodies.
My older brothers lived in Pittsburgh until the ages 14 and 15. Once the oldest one wrote a letter to Mr. Rogers when he was sick and Mr. Rogers wrote back thanking him for the letter and telling him he was feeling better and his wife was taking good care of him and feeding him lots of soup! It was so cute. John still has that letter.
Also, I was laughing pretty hard at big Joe going psycho at the end of the game there.
andrew, that was seriously one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I felt back for poor Jaro but Mark and I watched it two or three times on the Tivo, laughing like hyenas every time. It just seemed so bizarre! Every time we thought he was done, he got another punch or shove in. Joe doesn’t usually lose his temper like that, does he?
I worked at Blockbuster too! My best Christmas party prize was a Blockbuster “camera” that was basically a plastic rectangle that may or may not have actually taken pictures.
Hee! So many of us have worked for the Big Blue Empire! Wow, I wish I had gotten something as cool as a camera!
Mr. Rogers wrote back thanking him for the letter and telling him he was feeling better and his wife was taking good care of him and feeding him lots of soup
That is too cool for words. I knew I loved Mr. Rogers for more than just the fact that he showed me how macaroni and cheese colored crayons got made.
My grandparents and aunt/uncle lived not far from Latrobe when I was little, and once Gram & Pop ran into Mr. Rogers at a restaurant there when they had my cousin with them – she was maybe 5ish. And my grandma said he basically said all of hi to my cuz and then turned to them and said “She is a [blah blah blah],” describing with dead-on accuracy, the nature of my cuz’s personality (can’t remember the exact description but it was something nice). The man just got children.
I don’t remember who posted the Mr. Rogers link, but I just got around to watching it and thanks a lot because I am TOTALLY CRYING. I do all that stuff he’s talking about at work every day! It’s like Mr. Rogers is talking directly to me! I love you, Mr. Rogers!
“andrew, that was seriously one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Joe doesn’t usually lose his temper like that, does he?”
It was hysterical, wasn’t it? I felt bad for laughing!
He doesn’t really fly off the handle like that too much, but if you remember he was a 100+ PIM player in Boston. So he’s got a mean streak, but he’s too valuable to San Jose so Wilson won’t let him get in any fights out there.
If you want to see him throw an angry hit, look up his hit on Matt Cooke on YouTube. Those two HATE each other, and Joe hit him so hard, he broke his own nose on the boards. It was crazy.
Those two HATE each other, and Joe hit him so hard, he broke his own nose on the boards.
I’ve heard of cutting off your nose to spite your face, but never breaking your nose to spite your opponent. Crazy indeed.
“I’ve heard of cutting off your nose to spite your face, but never breaking your nose to spite your opponent. Crazy indeed.”
Touche, Pensgirl.
andrew, I just found the Thornton hit on Cooke and it’s AWESOME. The video isn’t very good – it’s a recording of the TV – but he LEAPS into the air to get to Cooke. Man, I’ve gotta watch Joe more often. I don’t know why but I can’t stop laughing.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ur5UOqf2I)
Also love this video of Joe posing for a fan’s picture during the game.
” I just found the Thornton hit on Cooke and it’s AWESOME. ”
It is a good one. Hopefully you can find better video. He gets up and he’s got blood streaming down his face, and he’s clearly livid.
When asked about why the animosity, I guess Joe said that he beat Cooke up really bad one time in junior and Cooke has never let it go. He basically notches up the pestering for Joe. Too funny.
“Also love this video of Joe posing for a fan’s picture during the game.”
That was from earlier this year. The video doesn’t go on, but Drew gets totally offended when Randy said that Joe is “the west coast version of Manny” (meaning Manny Ramirez). He starts going off about how much cooler Joe is than Manny, apparently Drew is not a Sox fan.
Matthew Barnaby and Lyle Odelin hated each other, and they’d get into these wars-of-words before games where they’d face each other. Man, that cracked me up. Matty called Lyle “Cornelius” once. Hee!
I never got to watch Mr. Rogers as a kid. I’m sort of sad about that now. I did watch a crazy amount of sesame street though. They helped me learn to speak English, so mad props to them.
And JoeTho losing his cool? Too funny.
I’m off to my department Christmas party. Have a nice evening all!
Here, lemme fix that for ya….
Matthew Barnaby and (insert player name here) hated each other, and they’d get into these wars-of-words before games.
I just watched a video of Joe and Jaro somehow I totally missed Derek Roy trying to jump on Joe’s back the first time around. There’s a shot where he’s reaching uuuuuuup to get at Joe’s face. Comedy gold, I’m telling ya!
Also love this video of Joe posing for a fan’s picture during the game.
That’s just excellent :D
Bye Meg! Have fun!
Matthew Barnaby and (insert player name here) hated each other, and they’d get into these wars-of-words before games.
No, no, with Lyle it was special hate. It was the stuff of legend when he was a Pen. Matt himself seemed less like he actually hated other guys and more like he just enjoyed getting under their skin, but he truly could not stand Odelin (or at least the way he acted, he did).
Bye, Meg! Hope your party is better than Amy’s!
See ya Meg!
“There’s a shot where he’s reaching uuuuuuup to get at Joe’s face.”
Yeah, that was soooo awesome.
We had a long conversation about Derek with the couple next to us at the game (They were from Buffalo). We decided that of the 6 or 7 times he fell in that game, at least 2 were total dives. It was pretty funny.
We decided that of the 6 or 7 times he fell in that game, at least 2 were total dives. It was pretty funny.
There was one that was pretty blatant and one that was debatable. I’m a Derek apologist though. I do love that he makes an effort to get in on the scrums even if it’s against a guy who could throw him around like a ragdoll.
“No, no, with Lyle it was special hate.”
Well, then that must’ve been something!
“There was one that was pretty blatant and one that was debatable. I’m a Derek apologist though.”
Me too, I like Derek. It was just funny because the lady looked over at us all seriously, “What do you guys think of Roy?” And their defense of Roy sounded just like me (he’s got no sense of balance and can’t keep up with his legs.)
In the end, we all just decided that Adam Mair deserves more ice time, and that Peters is a shit.
Adam Mair deserves more ice time, and that Peters is a shit.
What stunning revelations ;P
“What stunning revelations ;P”
Well, in my defense, they were revelations that were shared over many beers, so it’s not surprising that they may not have been sheer genius. At the time, though…
they were revelations that were shared over many beers
I figured. I’m actually pretty impressed.
Kind of doing the hit and run here today.
Mags, Turco is in net, according to DMN blog.
And their defense of Roy sounded just like me (he’s got no sense of balance and can’t keep up with his legs.)
My favorite defense is, “He’s so small! YOU stay on your feet against guys that big!” :-)
Just ’cause you fall when nobody touches you doesn’t mean it’s a dive. Sometimes you just fall!
Patty, exactly!
Patty, thanks! Dya reckon you guys can take Edmonton? You can right? (no, I haven’t paid any attention to Edmonton this season. Perhaps I should have)
Just ’cause you fall when nobody touches you doesn’t mean it’s a dive. Sometimes you just fall!
I’m going to use that as an excuse the next time I trip over my own feet :D
“My favorite defense is, “He’s so small! YOU stay on your feet against guys that big!” :-)”
Obviously, I’ve never seen this incarnation of the Sabres in person (They haven’t been to SJ since 2003), so I was shocked to see how tiny Derek is in person. Next to Semenov, he looked like a mite out there.
Gosh, I hope so, Mags. Surely we can beat Edmonton.
If we had won the last two games against good teams, we might trip on Edmonton, but since we lost them, I would hope they’d be pissed and want to take it out on the Oilers.
I would hope they’d be pissed and want to take it out on the Oilers.
It’s a sad reflection on the person I am that I would root for my own fantasy goalie over my best friend’s team. O well. Go Stars!
I was shocked to see how tiny Derek is in person. Next to Semenov, he looked like a mite out there.
Chris Conner is a reported 5’8″ but probably shorter than that (I speculate they’re counting him in his skates, for sure). Jen has a picture somewhere of Chris standing next to Eric Lindros, who’s like, what? 6’5″. It’s hilarious. He looks like a little kid next to some of the guys.
But, as Jen says, “He’s a very solid little midget”.
Surely we can beat Edmonton.
Dear Lord, can we hope?! At least Miettinen’s back on the Morrow-Ribeiro line, so hopefully that will click again and make things happen.
I miss Scary Jere so much right now that it’s not even funny.
“But, as Jen says, “He’s a very solid little midget”.”
Yeah, Derek is listed at 5’9″. Doubtful.
Semenov is a 6’6″ Russian giant. If he had a mean bone in his body, I think he could give Chara a run for his money in a fight. Too bad he wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Semenov is a 6′6″ Russian giant.
Yes, that man terrifies me. He’s so enormous!
p.s., andrew, I’m very belated in saying that I’m glad you had a good time at the game this weekend. I’m still all discombobulated from my weekend.
Caitlin, Derek is listed at 5’9″, but there’s no way he’s that big. As andrew said, he looks very, very small in person. Even knowing how small he is, it’s a shock every time I see him up close. He really does look like a pee-wee compared to guys like Gaustad. I’d guess he’s closer to 5’7″ if not even a touch smaller. If I ever see him off the ice I fully intend to sneak up behind him and compare our heights. I’m sure he’s shorter than me.
I’d guess he’s closer to 5′7″ if not even a touch smaller. If I ever see him off the ice I fully intend to sneak up behind him and compare our heights. I’m sure he’s shorter than me.
Heather, you and I think WAY too much alike. We met Chris Conner on Saturday, and I was totally sizing him up. I’d say he’s somewhere between 5’6″ and 5’7″ in real life. Considering I’m just shy of 5’9″ myself, I’m definitely taller than him.
Moment of the day, though, was realizing that I am taller than Dave Tippett, which astounded me for some unknown reason.
“andrew, I’m very belated in saying that I’m glad you had a good time at the game this weekend. I’m still all discombobulated from my weekend.”
Thanks Caitlin! If you scrolled through the comments then you already know all about my weekend. But yes, it was a good one!
I’m fairly confused still, but mostly because we didn’t sleep much Saturday night, and didn’t get in from the party till well past midnight last night too. So I’m just sleep deprived.
What fun/trouble did you get into this weekend that got you all twisted and turned around?
I’m always amused by short hockey players having their height listed wrong in the media guide. The team I’m on this year has a teeny tiny girl who plays center, and she can’t be much more than 5’1″ tops but she’s listed as 5’4″. She’s eensy! And she’s out there, messing with guys who must be 6’3″, 6’4″ and they don’t know what to do with her! (gotta love co-ed leagues). It always makes me smile when I see Derek Roy scrapping with guys who are much taller than he is because it makes me think of her.
Derek is listed at 5′9″, but there’s no way he’s that big
Roy’s 5’9 in the same way that Danny Briere is 5’10.
Spacek’s also surprisingly short compared to the other guys.
Gah! Bad Toni!
What fun/trouble did you get into this weekend that got you all twisted and turned around?
Oh, Jen and I went and met all the Stars players at practice and got Cat’s Christmas present signed, so it meant I had to be all close to a certain Russian, which was very uncomfortable.