Gentle Reader, starting some time in January we hatched a hair-brained scheme to hit the road with our closest Flyers/Habs-fan friend kristin for some quality first-hand Draft experiences in Montreal. We mapped routes. We put in for vacation time. We booked hotel rooms. We planned all manner of “how we’re going to meet future NHL superstars” scenarios. And then? Horror. We didn’t win the snooty Montreal Draft ticket lottery, and were left with nothing where the nutmeats of our vacation plans had been. (We would like to say for the record that last year we just emailed the Senators and they more than happily sent us heaps of tickets to the Draft. We think it goes without saying that the Ottawa organization is way awesomer than the Canadiens.)
But even worse than having to cancel our travel plans at the last minute is that we have to cancel our blogging plans too. That’s right — no travel diary for you, Gentle Reader. Instead, we will offer up a non-Travel Diary. Here is what we are not doing tonight:
– Packing all of our coolest hockey-themed t-shirts. Last year the old 2000 Stanley Cup t-shirts were taken out of mothballs for the Ottawa trip (did we mention how much better a Draft that was than this year’s?) and they served us well, as Schnookie was wearing hers when she had her show-down in an otherwise deserted arena concourse with Butthead. Butthead was clearly intimidated.
– Printing up driving directions from Google. Instead, we will write up our own walking directions leading from our beds to the fridge to the couch. That’s all the distance we’ll be traversing over the next five days.
– Planning various and sundry junk foods to eat in the car during the 8-hour drive. Instead we’ll eat those various and sundry junk foods while simply being sedentary for 8 hours. It should be hard, but we’ll persevere.
– Learning to speak French. Suck it, Montreal. (Did we mention we liked Ottawa more than Montreal?)
– Obsessively checking to make sure that we do, indeed, have tickets and that they’re for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Instead, we will obsessively check to make sure that we do, indeed, have seasons 3 and 4 of Columbo on DVD.
So stay tuned, Gentle Reader. We will be updating our non-Travel Diary as all the thrills and chills unfold. Join us not on the road, will you?
(UPDATE: We are now offering up-to-the-minute not-on-the-road Draft coverage in our very special new Twitter feed.)
I can’t wait to see pictures not from the road!
(I’m trying not to be too happy that the Habs ruined your plans, because I was SOOO jealous you were going and I wasn’t. :P I’m a terrible friend.)
You know, I almost don’t want to admit this out loud, but… I’m not hugely broken up to have to lounge around in my pajamas at home for five days. Heh. (One professional sports entry draft in a lifetime is plenty for me, I think.)
And our non-travel pictures are gonna RAWK! We’re going to bring the not-on-the-road right to your doorstep!
Too bad you won’t be able to meet me for the first time again this year. :P
Yeah, this non-trip is totally devoid of meeting cool people for the first time. So far.
Too bad you won’t be able to meet me for the first time again this year.
That was the highlight of last year’s trip! (And meeting alix and Meg and HG for the first time, too. Heather was old news.)
I’m so excited that I don’t have to do laundry and pack! This was the best idea ever!
The only downside is that I have to go to my bank and exchange my Canadian money that I had left over from my trip in March. But the upside of that is that I’ll be about 140 dollars richer instantly!
kristin, we should always plan big trips and bail at the last minute. It’s like a special stolen vacation! We’re so awesome!
But the upside of that is that I’ll be about 140 dollars richer instantly!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not only did you not have to do laundry and pack, but you’re also getting free moneys! Well played!
It’s like your getting paid $140 for not doing your laundry and not packing!
It’s like your getting paid $140 for not doing your laundry and not packing!
That’s eerily similar to my dream job! (Getting paid millions to do nothing.)
That’s eerily similar to my dream job!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: It’s actually very close to my actual job. (Both the doing nothing and the getting paid $140.)
I wanna go to next year’s draft, though. It’s so fun telling people I went to the NHL Draft. They are immediately “impressed” by what a hockey geek I am. :P
They are immediately “impressed” by what a hockey geek I am. :P
Heh. “Impressed” is not the word I’d use to describe how people react when I tell them I’ve been to the draft. :P
– Learning to speak French. Suck it, Montreal. (Did we mention we liked Ottawa more than Montreal?)
Uh, Grrrreg, they mean Canadian French, not real French.
They are immediately “impressed” by what a hockey geek I am. :P
I work with someone who’s what I would consider a “normal” hockey fan. Two weeks ago (before we bailed on the trip) he asked if I was going to watch the Draft. I was like, “Actually, I’m planning to go to it.” He was like, “Uh… Like actually in… Where is it again?” Me: “Montreal. I went to the one in Ottawa last year.” Him: [Backs slowly away from the crazy person with a look of abject horror on his face] Me: “Oh, right. I’m not a normal fan!”
That’s why I put quotes around it. :P
Uh, Grrrreg, they mean Canadian French, not real French.
Um, right. Oui. And all that French stuff. :P
You guys could watch the Sabres Lunch Express. Paul Gaustad is this week’s guest. Oh Paul. Why can’t you clone yourself?
Oh Paul. Why can’t you clone yourself?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: It’s such a shame!
Fan Question: “Where did you get the nick name “Goose”?
Paul Gaustad: “I wish I had a really cool story like I killed a goose, but it’s just mispronunciation of my name.”
First off, seriously with that question? Secondly, how is it that he sounds adorable wishing he had killed a goose?
I think he just wants to be more like you, mcguggs, with your animal-killing ways. He figures the couple that kills wildlife together stays together. (And honestly, that idiot fan is the best. I hope you guys do sign John Madden so that person can move on to wondering why his nickname is Maddog.)
He figures the couple that kills wildlife together stays together.
We’d get our towels embroidered with “Chipmunk” and “Goose”
I hope you guys do sign John Madden so that person can move on to wondering why his nickname is Maddog.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: “Is it cause you have rabbis?”
We’d get our towels embroidered with “Chipmunk” and “Goose”
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And John Madden would totally snarl in response to “Is it cause you have rabbis?”, “Do I look like I’m wearing a yarmulke?”
uh, I think I meant rabies as in Kujo, not Rabbis as in the plural of Jewish leaders. I’m an idiot. Goose needs to show me the foundation of reading.
The guys on the radio around here have been really skewering Michael Irvin’s reality show where they are going to pick a player for the Cowboys. Their favorite clip is where Joe Alfazano (I have no idea how to spell it) explains how he got the the nickname “Coach Joe.”
“Because my name is Joe and I used to be a coach for the Cowboys.”
And John Madden would totally snarl in response to “Is it cause you have rabbis?”, “Do I look like I’m wearing a yarmulke?”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I’m glad you caught it first
“Is it cause you have rabbis?”
uh, I think I meant rabies
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Goose needs to show me the foundation of reading.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Goose doesn’t know the difference between rabies and rabbis either. You guys are a match made in heaven!
“Because my name is Joe and I used to be a coach for the Cowboys.”
HAHAHAHAHA! Nice!
“Because my name is Joe and I used to be a coach for the Cowboys.”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I get called “Red” at work because there are three of us with the same first name (and, ya know, cause of the red hair). One of the new girls asked me why. I told her it was because I’m a communist.
One of the new girls asked me why. I told her it was because I’m a communist.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Now I wish someone would call me “Red” just so I could use that!
That’s funny. I’m called “Coach Joe” at work because I killed a goose.
Goose doesn’t know the difference between rabies and rabbis either. You guys are a match made in heaven!
This is starting to sound like one of those jokes that starts out “So a goose, a Rabbi, and redhead walk into a bar…” and ends with “And that’s how Coach Joe got rabies!”
That’s funny. I’m called “Coach Joe” at work because I killed a goose.
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what’s the symbol for spitting cookie crumbs at computer screen?
“So a goose, a Rabbi, and redhead walk into a bar…” and ends with “And that’s how Coach Joe got rabies!”
That’s funny. I’m called “Coach Joe” at work because I killed a goose.
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I think the cookie crumb emoticon might be:
:^D* * *
Ooooh, what a good idea! Can I not come to Montreal with you?
(Although I will blissfully ignore your comment about the Sens being a better organization than the Habs :P)
“So a goose, a Rabbi, and redhead walk into a bar…” and ends with “And that’s how Coach Joe got rabies!”
What’s the emoticon for choking while trying to stifle a massive giggle fit while at the office. Because I need one of those right now.
What’s the emoticon for choking while trying to stifle a massive giggle fit while at the office.
Maybe this could work:
:^¤
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To this whole thread.
One of the new girls asked me why. I told her it was because I’m a communist.
mcguffers, you win at life!
Morning, IPB! Hope everyone is enjoying their days at work (or days at home, lounging in pajama wear).
My draft plans have gone poof as well. I was hoping to get to the draft party at the Rawk tomorrow, but my lovely wife has been told that her law firm is pulling 12 -16 hour days this week. They have to go through thousands of pages of discovery documentation for a major (shouldn’t really talk about it further) case. So instead of me at the Rawk, it is me with the boy, which ain’t a bad conciliation at all.
Morgan, I feel awful for your wife. Really, truly, awful.
My draft plans have gone poof as well.
Man, is alix the only one who actually had draft vacation plans that went off without a hitch? What a bummer.
is alix the only one who actually had draft vacation plans that went off without a hitch?
I want to say that alix didn’t get draft tickets but was still going up to Montreal to frolic with potential baby Canucks and any stray Swedes that may show up to the party. I could be wrong, however.
I managed to get a draft ticket at the last minute for joining the Montreal tweetup. I don’t think I’m actually going to make the tweetup but HOORAY!
You guys Ryan Walter is on twitter and is tweeting from the draft!! I think my life is complete.
Can I not come to Montreal with you?
Sure! :D
Hey everyone! Look at me! I can post comments right now because I’m not in a car two hours north of IPB Manor! WOOOOOOOO!!!
Morgan, that sucks for Liz! I don’t suppose she could do what I do and waltz out at 5pm saying, “I don’t do overtime, sorry!” Also, that sucks that you have to miss the draft party.
alix, that’s awesome that you got tickets!
Good morning, everyone! I’m so happy for alix getting tickets to the draft, and I’m SO bummed for Liz having to work so much overtime. Morgan, that’s totally a drag that you’re not going to make it to the Rawk for the draft party. Maybe we could also blog about not being there, too…
is alix the only one who actually had draft vacation plans that went off without a hitch?
My plans were to not take a draft vacation, and so far, it’s going very smoothly! :P
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::: The whole thread. Win y’all, total win.
Awww, bummer about Liz, but YAY Alix!
Maybe we could also blog about not being there, too…
It’s an avenue worth exploring, I think.
Mags, I think you’re right. (Actually, it takes us about as long to get to the Rawk as it does for us to get to Montreal, so it’s all of a kind…)
Actually, it takes us about as long to get to the Rawk as it does for us to get to Montreal, so it’s all of a kind…
So basically, you can just blog about whatever. Awesome.
So basically, you can just blog about whatever.
That’s one of the perks of being an independent blogger. We might not get press passes to the Draft, but we don’t actually have to write about hockey either. :P
*sniffles* If I had known that you guys were looking for tix earlier, I would’ve forced you to join Twitter and then join the tweetup…. the organizers were offered some free tix by the NHL….. gah =(
And we totally speak English here… *nods*
Oh, -Ookies, I was going to ask you a stitching question (if you don’t mind). Remember that yard of Blue Moon Java I bought for Sleepy Hollow? I got the damn house finished, save for half the roof. Yes! Hours and hours of tedious, hunkered down stitching.
I mention this because a certain cat knocked over a glass of water onto said yard of Blue Moon Java, meaning I have a horrifically water-stained bunch of fabric.
Do you think it would be okay if I just kind of dunked the whole thing in water to see if the dye would “redistribute” or am I out hours and hours of work?
(You guys should start charging me for your professional opinions.)
We might not get press passes to the Draft, but we don’t actually have to write about hockey either. :P
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That’s so ridiculous that they didn’t hand out passes. Ottawa clearly is the better organization. :P
Ottawa clearly is the better organization.
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*gasp*::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*falls of chair*::::::::::::::::::::::
Aw, EP, we totally should have talked to you first!
Caitlin, that is SUCH a drag! Pookie’s writing a detailed response right now with our advice, so I’ll just toss in a big fat “BOOOOOOOOOOO!” for all that work getting muddled up by a water spill. That is, as Boomer would say, a major bummerdude.
Caitlin, there’s something wrong with that pattern I think because Boomer spilled Pepsi all over her version of while she was stitching it! Shivers the Clown is at it again! :D OK, sorry, this isn’t a laughing matter. It’s tough to know what to say without knowing how bad the watermark is. I’m inclined to think it would look fine if you left it because it’ll look like a vintage hand-dyed linen, right? I’d be careful about dunking it in more water because I don’t think you want to get the floss wet. Maybe carefully and artfully dabbing with water is a better plan?
Shivers the Clown is at it again! :D
It’s cursed!! ::crosses self::
It’s okay. I can laugh about it. At least until I have to buy another $60 worth of linen. Then I shall curse the heavens!
Maybe carefully and artfully dabbing with water is a better plan?
Yeah, I don’t think that’ll work. The water stains take up half the linen and bleed right above the house and the demarcation zone between Was Wet and Never Wet is pretty profound. Hmm.
Baby Ethan’s sampler is ruined. It was right below it in my work basket and got drenched in water…soaking through that delightful blue cloth. So what was a nice wheaty color is now wheaty with what looks like watery clown puke all over it. (And the hand dyed floss bled everywhere.)
So, did anyone ever really think that Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett would both pass on the same day?
And the hand dyed floss bled everywhere.
I’d be sorely tempted to kick my cat.
So, did anyone ever really think that Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett would both pass on the same day?
No, but it was an interesting look at what Twitter can do. I feel like I knew about it before the news did.
I feel like I knew about it before the news did.
Michael Jackson’s breaking the internet right now; everyone’s sites are slowing down/crashed. I wear.
wear.
SWEAR, even!
Caitlin, I’m so sorry that Ethan’s sampler got caught in the great deluge, too! That’s awful! Cats and crafts don’t mix, but what can you do?
Wow, Michael Jackson was young, wasn’t he? Huh.
Caitlin, it’s been a DISASTER in your stitching basket, hasn’t it? I’m so sorry!
I just got an email from the Stars that said they’ll be Twittering their picks while the GM heads to the podium. (If they don’t do something stupid and trade it for an overrated d-man.)
Wow, I’m glad their Twittering those picks so that people can find out five seconds earlier than they would have who they’re picking. :PPPPPPPPPPP (The Devils send passenger pigeons out while Lou’s walking to the podium.)
(If they don’t do something stupid and trade it for an overrated d-man.)
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I am not holding my breath for the Devils to figure out how to twitter anything. Heh.
It’s like the NFL Draft when the radio guys get to listen in on Jerry calling the pick at home before they announce it and asking him how awesome it’s gonna be to be a Cowboy. :D