One of our all-time favorite blog posts is this gem from Katebits at The Willful Caboose. It’s like the start-of-season version of that fabulous old NHL-on-ESPN commercial that equated the excitement of the postseason starting to the unfettered joy of discovering school’s closed for a snow day. It’s pommerdoodling in blog-form. It’s everything we want from this time of year.
It follows, then, that we were thrilled to be able to pay homage to this fabulous post as we discovered three sure signs that Hockey Is Coming.
First up, the US Open in on our television.
The lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium are the red-breasted robin of Fall. There are few things that signal the early sign of Autumn more than turning on USA Network and seeing a blimp-assisted shot of the US Tennis Center bustling with crowds eager to see a Todd Martin marathon. Todd Martin might be retired, and we might care not for tennis as long as Roger Federer’s going to be a losing loser, but the spirit is always there in this, the harbinger of sports-that-are-more-interesting-than-baseball.
One of the few things that does signal the early sign of Autumn more than the US Open is turning leaves.
Our dogwood is the first thing going on the grounds of stately IPB Manor. The leaves are turning a tiny bit red and its winter berries are coming in.
One more sign that Hockey Is Coming is the trusty Project Bicycle Spoke box’s slow, steady decline in health.
At the start of the summer, the PBS box was all gleaming sequins and shiny macaroni. Now, its glue is coming unstuck, its construction paper is curling, its macaroni is molting.
Some might view this as sad. Others might view it as an indication that our craftsman ship was shoddy. We, on the other hand, view it as a symbol of the circle of life. Silly summer series will soon give way to breathless game diaries and excitable editorials and, in this, the season of Blobby Holik’s return, bewildered musings on “Why, Lou? WHY?!?”
It’s almost here, Gentle Reader! If you put your ear to the ground, you can just about hear the schuss-schuss of skates on ice, the goal horns and jubilant crowds, and the “bitch, bitch, bitch” of the Ookies. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
My favorite hockey sound is the “wockety-wock” of the puck rattling around the glass behind the net.
But after a long summer, the schuss-schuss of skates is the BEST.
I’m a little disappointed that none of the cards I sent got picked. It was a chilling reminder of my elementary school playground days.
(Did you take these pictures with your new camera, Pookie?)
We kept drawing your cards out of the box and throwing them with disgust right back in. :P
I adore the wockety-wock!! That’s SUCH a great sound!
(And as a matter of fact, we did take these pictures with the new camera. Be prepared for the next few weeks to be all about posts that have nothing to do with hockey, but which show off the camera. :P)
We kept drawing your cards out of the box and throwing them with disgust right back in.
I trained my fingers to recognize a Patty Card so that I’d never even get to the point where I’d draw one.
I’m sure you folded the corner of each one right before tossing it into the box in the first place. In disgust.
Also, I think you’re purposefully taunting me with all this talk of leaves turning! It’s still August! You people are freaks up there! :P
We froze your cards, just like the 1985 NBA Draft, so we can tell by touch which one they are, but there’s no visible tell.
It’s August 27th. That’s almost September!
Also, I think you’re purposefully taunting me with all this talk of leaves turning!
I think the leaves might be taunting us, too. I can’t believe this is the real deal. It’s waaaaaay too early for this!
September’s too early, too!
September’s not early!
OK. Fine. It’s early. But I won’t accept that until October rolls around.
Well, September is a reasonably appropriate Fall month here, but not early September!
I think it’s the New Ice Age coming. :D
I’m just scarred from last year when it was unusually late. In December, a lot of the trees just said, “Screw it, I’m droppin’ ‘em.” Even though it was still 90 degrees out. :D
It probably is a New Ice Age! :P
I think we’ve had late Falls in the last few years, too. Not this year, apparently! I’m sure your Fall is right around the corner, too, Patty. It won’t wait until December this year. You can quote me on that.
EEEEEEEEE!!! It’s been cold and rainy here for like a week now and I’m absolutely DYING for hockey! And I’m flying back to school on Friday, so it really feels like hockey must be minutes away!
Oh and guess what? I finally got wireless. I’m on my bed right now. I don’t know how I ever lived without it.
You mean you’ve been sitting at a desk all this time, alix?? You poor thing!
You’re going back to school on Friday??? You’re KIDDING, alix! Where did the summer go? It seems like just yesterday you were interviewing for summer jobs at slaughterhouses…
And congratulations on the wireless!!! I can’t even remember what it was like before we had it.
alix, I am so glad you got wireless! I don’t think I could live without it anymore! Will you have it at school, too? I can’t believe it’s already school-time again! Are you excited to go back?
Yup, I was sitting at my desk, Patty. It was kind of lame.
HAHAHAHA. Oh man. I had almost forgotten about the slaughter house.
I don’t actually start classes till next wednesday, but I have to move in and all that jazz, and I’ll visit some family and stuff over the weekend. But yeah, this summer FLEW by!
I will have it at school so that’s cool. And I had it last year too actually. My parents just live in the dark ages :P
I am prretty excited. Victoria’s kind of boring.
Aww, but Button’s going to miss you, isn’t he?
Oh gosh yes! That’s the one thing I’m dreading. Leaving Button. Awwwww. So sad :(
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Hockey is coming! I think this might be the first homage to me, EVER! I need to watch some US Open this week. Remember furiously emailing about Rog last year at this time! HOCKEY REALLY IS COMING!
Dude. I can’t believe school is starting already though, alix. Isn’t that weird? On the one hand I’m all “HOCKEY WILL BE HERE TOMORROW,” and on the other hand I’m all, “THERE’S NO FUCKING WAY SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK! It’s still summer!” :D
I can’t believe it’s time for school already. My niece and nephew started back on Monday, too.
Even after all these years, on the first cool day of the fall, I’m transported back to my school days in my mind for a second.
I still get an amazing thrill about not having to go back to school each fall. It’s not even that I disliked school that much, I just feel that “OMG time for school” feeling so intensely that it’s always a relief to think “Hey wait. I don’t have to go!”
You mean you’ve been sitting at a desk all this time, alix?? You poor thing!
I must be the last Irregular to sit at a desk then! I have a desktop, but I won’t be able to afford a new laptop for like…a really long time. :p
And yay for those leaves! Hockey really IS right around the corner! I learned today that the Stars Icebreaker is on September 13th, so hockey is inching ever closer. :D
On the one hand I’m all “HOCKEY WILL BE HERE TOMORROW,” and on the other hand I’m all, “THERE’S NO FUCKING WAY SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK! It’s still summer!” :D
Hee hee! I loooove fall, so it can’t come soon enough for me. But it really does feel like I wrote my last final like last week. Soooo strange.
Caitlin, I can’t wait for you to get a laptop :) I’m counting down the days for you. If I ever come into money(this will never actually happen), I’ll send you some for a laptop :D
Remember furiously emailing about Rog last year at this time!
Heh. I was thinking about that just the other day. It’s a miracle you’re still friends with me. (Unless you’re just humoring me. Don’t tell me if you are. We’ll let that be a surprise, too.) You’ll be pleased to know Rog is wearing a significantly less flashy, assholish outfit this year. Any emails I send about him this year will be along the lines of “Muh, muh, muh, Rog sucks, life is terrible, I hate tennis”.
I just feel that “OMG time for school” feeling so intensely that it’s always a relief to think “Hey wait. I don’t have to go!”
I loved school and loved going back. When I think about going back to school, I remember coloring time in third grade on the most Autumnal day ever. The teacher would read aloud to us while we colored in Fall leaves. Best. Day. Ever! Lately, though, I also have been really good at conjuring up the feeling of driving to high school Senior year when I had Physics class at 8:30. I remember that sinking feeling in my stomach when I realized I was about to go to fucking Physics where I wasn’t going to understand a single damn thing. And I remember thinking, “Someday, I won’t have to go to Physics class at 8:30 in the morning. And that day will be a beautiful, beautiful thing.”
Caitlin, when Hollywood starts paying you to blog about movies, you’ll be able to buy that laptop!
I just feel that “OMG time for school” feeling so intensely that it’s always a relief to think “Hey wait. I don’t have to go!”
I love that SO MUCH — that realization that I don’t have do homework ever, ever, ever again. Ahhhh. Good times. (Although I also have a “best Fall day EVER” memory from third grade that makes me wish I could be in elementary school again.)
Okay, what’s all this about a new camera? Why was I not informed?
For me, the impending hockey season is signaled by crickets and mums. We get 5 million effing mums at work every year in late August, and that’s when I know it is almost time. Also, when I hear big fat juicy crickets annoying me, and they keep trying to follow me in the house…I know it’s almost time.
I have experienced both in the past week, and I am almost pommerdoodling. I’m trying not to get too excited until camp at least….
You’ll be pleased to know Rog is wearing a significantly less flashy, assholish outfit this year.
I think that’s wise.
So, I was thinking of skipping school and watching the Canucks training camp in Whistler( there’s some GREAT places to party there), but it’s only 2 days long! That’s not nearly enough time to hit on Matty. Laaaame.
Okay, what’s all this about a new camera? Why was I not informed?
I had to keep it a secret because it was a birthday surprise for Pookie! I’ve had it hidden away in my closet for the last few months, and it’s been KILLING me. Can I just say, I am SO excited to take it to Artisanal with us! :D
And mums! I can’t WAIT for mums!!! The corn along my walk to work is getting all brown and dried up (and doesn’t taste sweet at all anymore, either, but that’s another story…), but the farm stand hasn’t brought in any mums yet. Now I’m on tenterhooks for them.
alix, you were going to go to Whistler to hang with the Canucks? Isn’t that Matty’s Taxicab Ground Zero? :P
I saw mums at a house on our street last week and nearly drove off the road!
Okay, what’s all this about a new camera? Why was I not informed?
You couldn’t hear my shrieks of excitement over in Philly? I tore the paper back and only saw the “EL” in “Rebel” and I flipped out!
alix, you were going to go to Whistler to hang with the Canucks? Isn’t that Matty’s Taxicab Ground Zero? :P
I was thinking about it if they were there for a week or something! And yes I believe it is ground zero. That’s why I was going… :P
Matty’s still not signed by the way. Sniff. Stupid Sundin.
alix, from what I’ve heard of Matty, two days is PLENTY of time. :P
Matty’s going to stare wistfully into the backs of every taxi cab in Whistler during those two days, wishing you were there, alix.
I had to keep it a secret because it was a birthday surprise for Pookie! I’ve had it hidden away in my closet for the last few months, and it’s been KILLING me. Can I just say, I am SO excited to take it to Artisanal with us! :D
We are going to be quite the tourists at Artisanal! Three chicks with cameras taking pictures of cheese and Colefleshing it up. How can we go wrong?
You couldn’t hear my shrieks of excitement over in Philly? I tore the paper back and only saw the “EL” in “Rebel” and I flipped out!
Sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the sounds of the crickets!
alix, every year key Devils show up to camp unsigned. I’m sure Matty will be all set and ready to go in no time!
Three chicks with cameras taking pictures of cheese and Colefleshing it up.
You bet! (I’m totally going to want to put a big sign up at our table that says “Food Bloggers At Work” or something, just to explain the cameras. Maybe a second sign that says “Colfleshing in Action” would be a good idea, too.)
I for one cannot wait for the triumphant return of pucky.
Im also watching NHL Network at the moment and decided that henceforth this season, I shall refer to the game as pucky, just ’cause.
Of course, I’ll forget as soon as pucky season starts.
Three chicks with cameras taking pictures of cheese and Colefleshing it up. How can we go wrong?
We’re going to be Coleflesh Central! Dude, everyone else in the place is going to be like, “I wish I could be hanging out with those foxy babes. They are SO COOL.” :D (Want to know what crazy Coleflesh activity we have on tap in a few days? We’re going to a living history farm to see a plowing demonstration. But WITH OUR HOTT NEW CAMERA! Heh.)
Sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the sounds of the crickets!
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AAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! “Pucky”! I love it! I’m sure we can get that to catch on.
Pucky? Nice! I like it! It sounds so fun and, well, plucky! And maybe the Devils are better at pucky than they are at hockey.
(Want to know what crazy Coleflesh activity we have on tap in a few days? We’re going to a living history farm to see a plowing demonstration. But WITH OUR HOTT NEW CAMERA! Heh.)
OMG! I have plans to go to a county fair so I can take pictures of pigs and sheeps. (I like to say sheeps, sorry!) I’m so excited. There is going to be a tractor pull too, which sounds similar to a plowing demonstration…but more violent. I love how cameras give you an instant reason to be Colefleshy!
You bet! (I’m totally going to want to put a big sign up at our table that says “Food Bloggers At Work” or something, just to explain the cameras. Maybe a second sign that says “Colfleshing in Action” would be a good idea, too.)
Maybe t shirts with “Colefleshy Food Bloggers” on the back would be better. There might not be room on the table for signs, what with all the wine glasses and cameras and camera gear….
I love how cameras give you an instant reason to be Colefleshy!
Isn’t it wonderful? :D The trip to Artisinal could be your kick off for Project 365: Kristin Edition!
Oooh! The county fair must be CHOCK-A-BLOCK with photo ops! What a great plan! (And yeah, without a camera, my interest in Colefleshiness would be nil. Heh.)
There might not be room on the table for signs, what with all the wine glasses and cameras and camera gear….
This is a great point. We’re all just going to need matching t-shirts and hats, then.
alix, from what I’ve heard of Matty, two days is PLENTY of time. :P
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Probably true!
Matty’s going to stare wistfully into the backs of every taxi cab in Whistler during those two days, wishing you were there, alix.
HEE!! Awww! Poor adorable wistful Matty. I’ll be staring wistfully into my geology notebook as I imagine those cabs :P
I’ll be staring wistfully into my geology notebook as I imagine those cabs :P
You two are such a sad couple!
alix, every year key Devils show up to camp unsigned. I’m sure Matty will be all set and ready to go in no time!
Thanks, Pookie! I’m sure you’re right! Gillis won’t take me phone calls anymore. I guess I was a little “threatening” last time. All I said was as a wheaty fan if I had my cab going hook up partner go unsigned, I would maybe throw Swedish meatballs at his house :P
alix, :^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oh, threats of throwing Swedish meatballs at a GM’s house are a surefire way to get taken off the “we still take your phonecalls” list.
You two are such a sad couple!
We really are. We’re like Romeo and Juliet, bitches! Without the whole killling ourselves thing. I don’t wanna do that.
Without the whole killling ourselves thing. I don’t wanna do that.
HAHA! And word. There are always other hockey hotties waiting in the pipeline; no need to kill yourself. :D
Good morning, IPB!
Why, Lou? WHY?!?
I think you just found yourselves a new category for some of your posts.
I remember that sinking feeling in my stomach when I realized I was about to go to fucking Physics where I wasn’t going to understand a single damn thing.
I think that’s a universal feeling when it comes to Physics class. Most of us that took it my junior year barely passed the NYS Physics exam. If it wasn’t for our teacher allegedly mucking with our grades on the exam (everyone either got an 83, 77 or 66), we all would have been in deep doo-doo.
I’ll send you some for a laptop :D
Hee, aww, thanks, alix!
Morning, IPB!
If it wasn’t for our teacher allegedly mucking with our grades on the exam (everyone either got an 83, 77 or 66), we all would have been in deep doo-doo.
Yeah, I had a Physics teacher in high school that was very anal-retentive, very organized and very into color coding. She required diagrams with EVERYTHING you did, so I learned that what I didn’t understand about physics, I could make up with colorful diagrams.
Colored pencils, a ruler and making sure my work was always neat earned me a “C” in that class. I would’ve had an “F” if not for that.
Good morning, everyone!
I think you just found yourselves a new category for some of your posts.
HA! We really should add that as a category!
And what is it about physics teachers? Mine made a point of giving inflated grades to first-quarter seniors, so they could send in better marks with their early-admission applications to colleges. We got graded with comments and then a number grade (1 was best, 6 was worst) rather than letter grades, so my comment that quarter was, “[Schnookie] should get a 3 this quarter, but she’s a senior so I’m giving her a 1.” We had a new head of the High School that year, and I guess the old one looked the other way when this teacher did this, but the new one decided to flex his muscles a bit, and forced the teacher to change the grades for the students he’d done that with. I was SO pissed. But at the same time, really didn’t deserve a good grade. Heh. At any rate, the least the teacher could have done was make an effort to make my grade sound legit. I ended up being punished because he was too lazy to hide that he was inflating my grade! Life is so unfair.
Yeah, I had a Physics teacher in high school that was very anal-retentive, very organized and very into color coding.
Heh, that reminds me of my physics teacher in high school, who insisted that every line you ever drew in your notes be done with a ruler. As in, including underlining words. Which he required we do twice for every title of our notes. I held onto my two notebooks, one for notes (which he made us copy from the board, like we weren’t in high school and capable of taking our own notes) and one for the exercises we did, because it’s so funny to look into them and see that his “corrections of my work” are mostly big red circles around places where my ruler slipped with “THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE” written underneath. The sad part is, the actual physics part was so easy that if I’d had neat handwriting and could draw a straight line, I would have gotten an A, but I got a B purely for being messy.
My sister was at the US Open last night. Her boss took her there so they could schmooze some big shot producer/director or something, and when he asked her if she wanted to go, Meghan was all like, “What? You’re taking me to the US Open? Are you… Serious?!” I’m so jealous of her job.
Also, I never got around to replying to the last thread, but I already emailed andrew so I am SO IN for the next season of fantasy hockey. Hopefully this time I won’t give up and forget about it halfway through like I did last year. Whoops. But then again, isn’t giving up and forgetting about hockey what going to Europe is all about? That’s what Jaromir Jagr told me.
And with that, I’m off to class. Yes, classes started up for me yesterday. Surely hockey is right around the corner. Catch you later, IPB!
Gambler, thanks for dropping in and I’m so glad you joined the Super/Amazingleagues again! I’m super jealous your sister got to go to the US Open. (Of course, on TV they showed the fountain plaza where we had to stand in line for almost an hour when we went and Ted Robinson said something like, “You can’t look at that scene and not want to be her” and I was like, “Well, now that you mention it…”)
Wow, Physics teachers are a shady lot, aren’t they?
I ended up being punished because he was too lazy to hide that he was inflating my grade!
That’s ridiculous! My history teacher in my senior year had something he called “professorial prerogative”, which counted for 5% of your grade. Basically, it was based off of your conduct and study habits, etc. so that if you were really close to that A, that 5% could potentially help you swing up to the A.
The school had no problem with him doing it. That blows that they made your teacher change your grade back!
Gambler, that is RIDONK about your anal Physics teacher! I’m horrified, and suddenly SO glad that I’m not still in high school anymore. (Although Caitlin, your teacher’s 5% “professorial prerogative” makes me kind of wish I was back in high school, because I’d have nailed that part of my grade. :P)
And yeah, while going to the US Open is a blast, I’m still trying to recover from that hour we spent stuck in that crowd in the plaza at the USTA center. ::Shudder::
I never took physics. My roommate got her BS in physics though, and watching her deal with physics made me so very, very grateful that I had avoided it like the plague. Not unlike calculus, which I also never took.
Good Morning everyone!
I survived ny first family vacation! By surviving I mean I got a cold that turned into a sinus infection the day we got back, but my lad is still off from day care and staying with the grand-rents so I’m doing OK.
So after a week of steam engine train rides (pretty cool), corn mazes (the Amazing Maize Maze), and six course farm breakfasts (plus dessert) I am all to ready for pucky as well.
Fall is indeed in the air, and I needs me some changing on the fly.
Oh and physics teachers are a shady shady lot. My HS physics teacher grade on a curve. Whoever got the highest grade would get rounded up to 100 and the amount of points below 100 was the curve for everyone. So if the best score was a 91 well then everyone got 9 points added on to their score. We were all at the mercy of the smartes dudes y dudettes in the room.
Meg, you’re obviously the smart one here! I wish I’d managed to avoid Calculus, too, but alas, I got stuck taking both. (Have I mentioned this morning how glad I am that I’m not in high school anymore?)
Welcome back, Morgan! I’m so glad to hear the vacation went well (less, of course, the sinus infection…)!
Oh, and did everyone see over on Puck Daddy that Devils fans were rated by some Wild blogger as the worst in all of hockey? I’ve never been so proud in my life! We’re number 30! We’re number 30!
Hey Morgan, glad you survived and that you had a good time!
Oh, and did everyone see over on Puck Daddy that Devils fans were rated by some Wild blogger as the worst in all of hockey?
*shakes head sadly* If I’d known I was such a terrible fan, I’d have given up on hockey years ago.
I’ve never been so proud in my life! We’re number 30! We’re number 30!
Hee! I saw that, but I didn’t check Dallas’ ranking. Just off the lead-in from the article, it seemed a bit suspicious (Tampa over Pittsburgh…what?) so I just shrugged it off.
I have never taken calculus, thankfully. My stint in physics was due to a huge fight with my dad – in my school, you could either take the Anatomy/Physiology/Biology science track or the Chemistry/Physics track for science. My dad made me take Chem and Physics, which I loathed and for every hour in class often spent two plus hours in tutorials/reviews, only to come out with solid Cs. I was so miserable. :p
And Morgan, the Amazing Maize Maze sounds…awesome. Yay for having a good vacation!
We’re #8 in the fan rankings. I think those were done when the crazier internet people had just taken their Prozac.
I took “Calculus for Non-Science Majors” in college. That was my first, and last, experience to the subject. Thank heaven.
I had a teacher in high school who taught essay writing using something called “The Cheeseburger Method.” The idea was that your opening and closing paragraphs were the cheeseburger buns, the bulk of your argument was the meat, and details were the condiments. Do you know how frustrating it was to get back an essay on Africa and have comments like “you’re missing the pickles on your cheeseburger?”
Do you know how frustrating it was to get back an essay on Africa and have comments like “you’re missing the pickles on your cheeseburger?”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I’d write back, “Your metaphor is stretching itself a wee bit too far, thanks.”
Do you know how frustrating it was to get back an essay on Africa and have comments like “you’re missing the pickles on your cheeseburger?”
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And Morgan, the Amazing Maize Maze sounds totally fun!
The math for non math people I took in college was probably fairly equivalent to 8th grade math. One of the science courses I took basically involved spending time each day watching videos of animals cavorting. The other one (astronomy) sucked. One of my roommate’s professors used to call his non-physics major class Physics for Poets. One assumes rather disparagingly. Fortunatle the astronomy professor I had was of a more cheery physics brand. He once used a fire extinguisher and a rolling chair to demonstrate rocket propulsion.
Do you know how frustrating it was to get back an essay on Africa and have comments like “you’re missing the pickles on your cheeseburger?”
What the hell. I would’ve gone up to her and asked, “How many pickles am I short, exactly?” I hate that.
One of my roommate’s professors used to call his non-physics major class Physics for Poets. One assumes rather disparagingly.
I had a college Algebra teacher who had to teach College Algebra I, and as a doctoral student he seemed fairly incensed that the math department was making him teach such a lowly class that he took it out on us. The guy decided that his time was “better spent” – his words – teaching us about ministering to those less fortunate in third-world countries, because we should “know Algebra anyways”. And because we were in College Algebra, clearly we were never going to be math majors, something he told us several times. I never understood why teachers got bent out of shape about some of that stuff – not everyone is going to think MATH IS THE BEST THING EVER.
He once used a fire extinguisher and a rolling chair to demonstrate rocket propulsion.
I had a science teacher who loved to kick off her classes with a display of awesome pyrotechnics involving lycopodium powder and a long, glass tube. Pretty rad.
I had a science teacher who loved to kick off her classes with a display of awesome pyrotechnics involving lycopodium powder and a long, glass tube. Pretty rad.
That’s excellent!
In a moment of off-topic whine, I think the New York Public Library is trying to teach me a lesson about laziness. Why do you do this to me, library? A book should not take a week to interlibrary loan and spend three days in transit when the libraries in question are only 30 blocks apart. I could walk from one to the other in like 40 minutes! If that! And therein lies the problem, I know.
Public libraries are all about teaching people lessons. Heh.
The Amzing Maize Maze was both fun and hard! The maze has a different theme every year and this year was “Go Green”, which, as nutty as this sounds, really pushed ethynol as an alternative fuel. In a corn maze no less. I know, just crazy!
We were supposed to collect 15 game pieces hidden in the maze, and we found 3, and one of those was because I had chase down our 22 month old who bolted around a corner of a maze.
After passing the short cut exit twice, we decided that said shortcut was the way to go. Much to our horror, the shortcut had instructions to it, not the straight line we had anticipated. All in all, we finally got out in about 40 minutes, but had we not cheated it would have taken hours.
I could walk from one to the other in like 40 minutes! If that! And therein lies the problem, I know.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I would do the same thing, Meg, if that’s any help. And then I’d rail at the injustice of a world where no one from the NYPL is willing to walk the 30 blocks I wouldn’t walk.
The maze has a different theme every year and this year was “Go Green”, which, as nutty as this sounds, really pushed ethynol as an alternative fuel. In a corn maze no less. I know, just crazy!
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I’ve never been to a maize maze, and now you’ve really piqued my interest — that sounds so cool!
Meg, that’s awful! But from the little I remember of NYC, 30 blocks feels like 30 MILES with all those people, and as such, they should hurry up and get your damn loan stuff to you!
I get bitter at libraries mainly because mine is so unhelpful and awful. In fact, I’ve been putting off taking back my way-long-overdue books primariily just because I cringe at the thought of having to deal with the staff.
Morning everyone!
All this talk of back-to-school business! So exciting. I love not having that impending deadline anymore. I never disliked school, but I just never liked having that looming feeling that another carefree summer was ending. It’s the same reason I’ve never liked Sundays. Tracie’s starting her masters program on Tuesday, which brought those feelings rushing back in, for both of us!
I never really got the hang of physics in high school, but I got by. Plus my teacher had a sweet neckbeard, so that was funny. The only sucky thing I remember about physics is that for the first half of the year, the teacher had a seating chart and I got stuck sitting right next to not one, but two ex-girlfriends. For half the year. Awesome.
Caitlin, between you and me, librarians are ALL a-holes. Oh, Pookie! I didn’t see you standing there.
Caitlin, between you and me, librarians are ALL a-holes. Oh, Pookie! I didn’t see you standing there.
HA! ZING!
I haven’t been to the library in years! I work down the street from what appears to be a State Library. I didn’t even know those existed until about a year ago.
I never disliked school, but I just never liked having that looming feeling that another carefree summer was ending.
I felt the same way. Until high school, which I did dislike. (And congrats to Tracie on starting her masters program!)
I got stuck sitting right next to not one, but two ex-girlfriends. For half the year. Awesome.
It’s like your life was some bad teen sex-romp comedy, and you were the hapless goofball character!
Caitlin, between you and me, librarians are ALL a-holes. Oh, Pookie! I didn’t see you standing there.
Hee! No, just the ones at my library, I think. The funny thing is, the staff at mine sucks, and the one in the next town over has a GREAT staff, but awful patrons. The last time I was in there, some lady broke down crying and screaming and I left really quickly because I was under the impression that the men in white coats were coming for her.
I just need a Netflix for books. Good luck FINDING a librarian in my local library. It’s always high school students!
Meg, that’s awful! But from the little I remember of NYC, 30 blocks feels like 30 MILES with all those people, and as such, they should hurry up and get your damn loan stuff to you!
Oh, you get totally accustomed to that in New York. Everyone walks and it’s really only the touristy areas that are so crowded they make walking slow. I walk at least that far on an almost daily basis. If the hours were better I could totally work there from my office with no problem. It’s even a nice walk, and I walk home from work regularly and that’s easily longer.
I’m even sadder than that though because besides that, it’s very easy for me to take the subway from work to the performing arts library and back. I can do that during my lunch hour, which is what I ought to have done. :)
Awwww, Stu Barnes is going to announce his retirement today. *sniff* But that’s okay, because he’ll be on the Stars coaching staff for two years.
It’s like your life was some bad teen sex-romp comedy, and you were the hapless goofball character!
More like a dark comedy. And yes, “hapless goofball” sould probably have been the best descriptor.
Looks like Stu finally called it a career. He’s gonna be an assistant coach for Dallas this year. I miss Stu, he was a great Sabre.
Stu Barnes is going to announce his retirement today. *sniff* But that’s okay, because he’ll be on the Stars coaching staff for two years.
That’s great for Stu that he’s stepping into the coach’s box. He was a great guy while in Buffalo who unfortunately got caught up in Buffalo’s salary dump earlier this decade.
Oh, you get totally accustomed to that in New York. Everyone walks and it’s really only the touristy areas that are so crowded they make walking slow.
Aww, oh, that’s not so bad then! Yeah, I just remember walking around NYC and thinking it took FOREVER. Then again, I was a hyperactive fourteen year old at the time, so there you go. Plus the concept of walking somewhere forty minutes is foreign to me. Dallas/Fort Worth is so spread out that you have to drive everywhere, with the heart of downtown Dallas being the exception.
I can do that during my lunch hour, which is what I ought to have done. :)
Aww, but still! They should hurry it up! How long does it take to get one book from a library 30 blocks away? ;)
Stu Barnes is going to announce his retirement today. *sniff* But that’s okay, because he’ll be on the Stars coaching staff for two years.
I heard that when I was out picking up lunch. At least we will still be getting the benefit of his experience.
Boy, y’all were up late last, it is almost like hockey season. How’s everybody doing today! It is dead around here today.
And I still have Friday to go. Welcome to the work week. :)
Hey Myra, glad to hear working life hasn’t killed ya yet.
I’m doing pretty good…sitting at work, looking over who’s left to draft for fantasy hockey. Round 19. Ouch. And yourself?
Hopefully this time I won’t give up and forget about it halfway through like I did last year. Whoops. But then again, isn’t giving up and forgetting about hockey what going to Europe is all about? That’s what Jaromir Jagr told me.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hey, andrew. I’ve settled back into the work doldrums so quickly, it is frightening!
looking over who’s left to draft for fantasy hockey. Round 19. Ouch.
Ouch is right. How many more rounds do you have to go?
Kid needed help with her math homework last night. Parenthetical algegraic equations. Luckily, Hub came home before my head exploded.
I’ve settled back into the work doldrums so quickly, it is frightening!
Doesn’t take much, does it? Kinda scary.
Ouch is right. How many more rounds do you have to go?
We’re done at 22. But if registration starts before then, we’re just gonna start the league up and fill the last couple of roster spots via free agency. Oh my god, I’m even boring myself as I type this. Sorry.
Um. I’m assuming that the IPB league is nothing like that, right?
Um. I’m assuming that the IPB league is nothing like that, right?
Not even a little bit. Last year we did an auto-draft. You rank the players and the computer drafts them for you. It sounds like we’re doing the same thing this year.
All of the work on your part takes like, half an hour, depending on how much you obsess over the rankings.
All of the work on your part takes like, half an hour, depending on how much you obsess over the rankings.
Yay!
Kid needed help with her math homework last night. Parenthetical algegraic equations. Luckily, Hub came home before my head exploded.
This makes my head hurt a lot – is the Kid enjoying school so far?
Yes, I think so. It’s an awful lot of change to deal with but she seems to like it a little better every day.
Myra, the IPB League could not be easier. I didn’t do a lot of ranking last year and my team ended up awesome! Hey, at least we made the playoffs. That’s all I ask. (The only time consuming thing is that you have to uncheck all of the EC players from the AutoDraft thingie. But hey, you can always set the Kid to doing that. It’ll be good for her to rest her brain after all that awful algebra stuff!)
(The only time consuming thing is that you have to uncheck all of the EC players from the AutoDraft thingie. But hey, you can always set the Kid to doing that. It’ll be good for her to rest her brain after all that awful algebra stuff!)
My parents always used to joke that “What was the use of having dwarves if you didn’t work them?” I have recently reached the age where I am “almost all the way human” and no long considered a dwarf.
Working to help you build your fantasy team is character-building!
Thank God for auto-draft, because I know about five players in the Eastern Conference. :p
The only time consuming thing is that you have to uncheck all of the EC players from the AutoDraft thingie. But hey, you can always set the Kid to doing that.
I agree, that’s not only the most time-consuming thing but the most complicated because you have to remember all year that no you cannot pick up that newly available favorite player on your favorite team. :P
you have to remember all year that no you cannot pick up that newly available favorite player on your favorite team.
That is the hard part. But you can pick up the guy if he leaves your team. Like Heather’s mad grab for Soupy last year.
Thank God for auto-draft, because I know about five players in the Eastern Conference. :p
That’s what makes it a learning experience. I know way more about the Western conference than I would have if I didn’t play in the IPB SuperLeague last year.
But you can pick up the guy if he leaves your team. Like Heather’s mad grab for Soupy last year.
Heather was a trailblazer. She also tried to enact the “pretty please can I have just one guy from my favorite team?” rule. Unfortunately that one didn’t work out so well.
The only time consuming thing is that you have to uncheck all of the EC players from the AutoDraft thingie.
Of course, we WC-ers have to un-check all of the WC players from our AutoDraft thingie.
Oops, that’s totally what I meant, Patty! I was like, “Myra’s in the WC so…” and then I typed EC. It’s that damned bias! I can’t get rid of it! :D
Heather and I might need to make a deal where she takes Boucher and I’ll take Tallinder. So we can keep an eye on them for each other. :D
Of course, we WC-ers have to un-check all of the WC players from our AutoDraft thingie.
Speaking of…anyone know Chaz’s favorite team? So far he’s the only signed up person who’s team I don’t know.
That EC bias affects every corner of your life, doesn’t it, Pookie? :P
I wonder when the draft is. I don’t want it to be while I’m on vacation.
I wonder when the draft is. I don’t want it to be while I’m on vacation.
We can set the draft to take place (more or less) on any day we choose.
andrew, guessing by Chaz’s blog, I’m thinking she’s a Sabres fan. I could be wrong though. :)
http://ishmtc.wordpress.com/
andrew, guessing by Chaz’s blog, I’m thinking she’s a Sabres fan. I could be wrong though. :)
Well then, consider me completely out of the loop.
Can we make sure the draft is when Patty’s on vacation? :P
Can we make sure the draft is when Patty’s on vacation? :P
Done and done!
(So far we’re up to 10 participants, counting Pookies e-mail today.)
Only 10? We can have just one league at this rate, right? How many did we have last year?
Only 10? We can have just one league at this rate, right?
Well 11 counting Schnookie, I was only counting e-mail requests. And yeah, one league would be fine with up to 14 managers, for sure.
How many did we have last year?
2 leagues of 12 each.
It might just be slow so far because people who don’t read all the comments don’t have Andrew’s email address. Watch, once you post that you’ll probably get a flood.
Watch, once you post that you’ll probably get a flood.
Along with a flood of e-mails offering herbal enlargement pills. Which is cool ’cause I’m totally running out.
uh…I mean, what?! What are you talking about? I don’t answer those e-mails! Psshh!
andrew, :^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
If you have the draft while I’m on vacation, then I get to keep all the WC-ers that “accidentally” fall onto my team.
And I’m surprised it’s only 11 so far! I bet the ranks swell. What with all the herbal remedies. :D
I bet the ranks swell. What with all the herbal remedies. :D
Ha! See what you did there?
Should be 12 now, I just sent my e-mail off into the wide, complicated world of electronic messaging.
Hey IPB, how are we doing today?
I’m about to post an update with the email address. So brace yourself, andrew! Let the onslaught begin!
I bet the ranks swell. What with all the herbal remedies. :D
Ha! See what you did there?
Ha! Nice. (no, I hadn’t seen it. It’s late. Forgive me @@@@@)
And I’m surprised it’s only 11 so far! I bet the ranks swell. What with all the herbal remedies. :D
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We can always count on you, Patty. :P
Hey IPB, how are we doing today?
What up Mags. Doing well. Waiting for the clock to run out on this fine business day so that I can go home and do nothing on my couch, instead of at my desk!
how are we doing today?
I feel pretty good – I begged, whined and wheedled yesterday for a work friend of mine to go have his leg checked out, which he finally reluctantly did; it turns out he was sporting a third degree burn on his leg and an infection. No vindication of “hey, I told you so,” but more like, YAY! I got him to do something to keep his leg from falling off.
I’m about to post an update with the email address. So brace yourself, andrew! Let the onslaught begin!
I’m ready dude. Bring it on!
What up Mags.
Not much. Running around getting stuff done before the beginning of the uni year. Registering for classes, hockey, getting books and new notebooks (I <3 new notebooks) and God knows what else. I’m glad you’re almost done and get to hang on the couch soon!
it turns out he was sporting a third degree burn on his leg and an infection.
OUCH. Not fun. Not fun at all. I’m glad he went to have it checked out, that sounds really bad!
Good work, Caitlin!
I’m so jealous, Mags, that you got new notebooks! I was so sad when I got to grad school and realized that I never really took notes in them anymore because the professors would hand out the printouts from their power point presentations and those made much more sense to take notes on. I think I bought two new notebooks for grad school, and in 18 months used maybe four pages in them. I just ordered a bunch of binders from an online vendor and they sent me something like six cool new notepads. I don’t use them at work because I use scrap paper instead, but now that I have them, and they’re just sitting there waiting to be used…
Ooooh, Mags, new notebooks are THE BEST! Lucky you! (Um, less lucky with the textbooks… :P)
Mags, I can’t remember, what are you studying now that you’ve left the thrilling world of dentistry behind?
Pookie, all the ppt presentations go online here so we can print them out, but I’m a notebook fiend and don’t care :P. And half the time I don’t even take proper notes because I write slowly and can’t keep up. (So I take the iRiver and record it and then listen and take notes at home where I can pause)
what are you studying now that you’ve left the thrilling world of dentistry behind?
Majoring in Economics, specifically Accountancy and Finance and a minor in Marketing. And I’m getting my CPE this year.
Speaking of dentistry, any of you want to take a stab at the average life expectancy of a dentist and the main cause of death of people in that field of work?
but I’m a notebook fiend and don’t care :P
Oh, I fully support the notebook fiend-dom!
any of you want to take a stab at the average life expectancy of a dentist and the main cause of death of people in that field of work?
53
and…
I dunno, errant cavity drill to the eye? (Can you tell I watch too many scary movies?)
And I’m getting my CPE this year.
What’s a CPE?
Andrew, close.
Anyone else want a go?
What’s a CPE?
Certificate of Proficiency in English. Apparently I need one. So I’m getting one.
Certificate of Proficiency in English. Apparently I need one. So I’m getting one.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::: I don’t know, Mags, that might be a tough one for you.
Yeah, between andrew’s writing class and now Mag’s English test, I’m beginning to worry that we’re all going to get pop quizzes in stuff like “reading” and “using the internets” and “hockey 101″. Heh.
Andrew, close.
Really? Ew.
Hey, not to jack the thread or anything, but does anyone know if there’s a keystroke to make the pi symbol? I figure if anyone knows, it’s someone in the IPB threads.
any of you want to take a stab at the average life expectancy of a dentist and the main cause of death of people in that field of work?
45 years old and I’m gonna go with ether overdose for the cause of death, Alex.
I’m beginning to worry that we’re all going to get pop quizzes in stuff like “reading” and “using the internets” and “hockey 101″.
Those are soon going to be a part of the Bloggers Licensing process.
andrew, try [ampersand]pi[semi-colon
π
π
The shortcut should be alt + 227, according to my mad Google search abilities.
It doesn’t look like pi to me but that’s as close as I can get.
andrew, try [ampersand]pi[semi-colon
Genius! Thanks!
Don’t thank me — thank the geniuses at Yahoo Answers!
I love using Yahoo Answers to answer reference questions at work. I’m like, “This sounds like the correct contents of an alkali battery…”
It doesn’t look like pi to me but that’s as close as I can get.
Can’t wait to see how it turns out looking on my iPod.
Whoa, fancy! I wish I had known how to make an infinity sign back when I used to listen to Godspeed You Black Emperor more often.
I don’t know, Mags, that might be a tough one for you.
Yeah, I told the faculty people I might need extra tutoring if I’m going to pass that one :P
45 years old and I’m gonna go with ether overdose for the cause of death, Alex.
Heh!
Since there are no other takers, 55 and suicide. Yeah. Nice job.
I love using Yahoo Answers to answer reference questions at work. I’m like, “This sounds like the correct contents of an alkali battery…”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I wish I had known how to make an infinity sign back when I used to listen to Godspeed You Black Emperor more often.
Aww! I love Godspeed!
Just last week I was listening to Slow Riot for new Zero Kanada. Phenomenal stuff.
I don’t know why I stopped listening to them as often. Maybe Japancakes is just easier and I’m just lazy? :D
I’m off to take the new camera for a spin over at the Farm while Boomer and Schnookie do backbreaking picking. Hee! Catch y’all later!
Have fun, Pookie (and Boomer and Schnookie–I always liked pick-your-own picking)!
Have fun picking stuff! Bring home lots of nommy fruits and take great pictures (what sort of lens did you get on the DSLR, Pookie? Just the kit one, or did you get any fancy extras?)
Later Pookie.
And where’s Sherry? Here we are talking avant-garde Canadian shoegaze-post-rock and she’s nowhere to be found.
Since there are no other takers, 55 and suicide. Yeah. Nice job.
God, that’s DEPRESSING.
I’m glad you got out of dentistry, Mags!
Woops, I’m too late to guess. I was actually going to guess suicide because I think Jerry Seinfeld’s dentist friend mentioned that. It was in some sitcom…