A Message From V.E. Mats « Interchangeable Parts

A Message From V.E. Mats

July 4, 2009 by Pookie

Happy Fourth of July, Gentle Reader!

Posted in Off-Season | 79 Comments

79 Responses

on July 5, 2009 at 9:19 am pam

Thanks Mats!
on July 5, 2009 at 11:50 pm KG

No post about Travis filing for arbitration?
on July 6, 2009 at 7:25 am Schnookie

No post about Travis filing for arbitration?

Oh good grief, no! That would require actually paying attention to the Devils’ offseason. :P (There was no mention of Travis filing for arbitration in any of the episodes of Columbo we watched this weekend, which was pretty much our sole interaction with anything vaguely resembling “popular culture and/or sports”. Heh.)

And good morning, everyone! Are we all rarin’ to go for a post-holiday-weekend week at work? I know I am! WOO HOO! Bring it, work week! :P
on July 6, 2009 at 9:21 am Pookie

There was no mention of Travis filing for arbitration in any of the episodes of Columbo we watched this weekend

Oh, I’m sorry, Travis, just… one more thing. A loose end that’s bothering me… You see, when my wife plays cribbage…
on July 6, 2009 at 10:01 am Schnookie

Oh, I’m sorry, Travis, just… one more thing. A loose end that’s bothering me… You see, when my wife plays cribbage…

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Travis: “You fascinate me, Lt. Columbo…”
on July 6, 2009 at 10:05 am Caitlin

Bring it, work week! :P

My work week already brought it. It’s not even 9 am here and already my guys have got an emergency hearing, and I just finished reading an extremely offensive e-mail forward that someone in our office (who should know better) sent out. I am trying to think of a way to tactfully let people in my office know to not send me forwards.

Perhaps I should write Miss Manners. Hmph.

Travis filed for arbitration?

There was no mention of Travis filing for arbitration in any of the episodes of Columbo we watched this weekend

Funny, that; there weren’t any mentions of hockey period in the episodes of True Blood I watched this weekend either. (Thankfully.) It was delightful vampire-y crack! And then I read the Stars blog this morning and remembered why I didn’t read it all weekend.

I guess it can’t be Columbo all the time, eh?
on July 6, 2009 at 10:07 am Pookie

I guess it can’t be Columbo all the time, eh?

That’s the saddest thing ever.
on July 6, 2009 at 10:10 am Caitlin

That’s the saddest thing ever.

Yeah, it’s a bummer. Although I do love me some Peter Falk. Swell guy.
on July 6, 2009 at 10:24 am Schnookie

Wow, Caitlin, sounds like a great morning for you! Gotta love work, right? :P I got up at 5:30 this morning (after going to bed at 1) so I could empty out my bathroom because I’ve finally gotten around to getting a contractor to redo the walls and floor in there. He was supposed to start the demolition around 8 this morning. So I emptied everything out and walked to work, and now I’m A) falling asleep, and B) reading an email from the contractor explaining that he’s starting tomorrow. Heh.

It was delightful vampire-y crack!

What more could you possibly ask for? :D
on July 6, 2009 at 10:30 am Caitlin

now I’m A) falling asleep, and B) reading an email from the contractor explaining that he’s starting tomorrow. Heh.

Oh good Lord. I’d be swearing a blue streak. I saw the tile y’all picked out on your photostream – that’s so pretty! You’re just doing the walls and the floors, then?
on July 6, 2009 at 10:40 am Schnookie

I’m not too pissed off — the guy warned me that he might not start today. I’m currently in “grit your teeth and just get through the remodel process” mode. It’s an en suite bathroom, and I’m considering moving into the guest bedroom until it’s done. I keep telling myself that someday, not too far from now, I’ll be living in a wonderful world of hockey and a new bathroom. And I’ll forget all about the remodel process. (Yeah right. Heh.)

Anyway, I was originally just going to have the walls redone — the bathroom was added to the house during stately IPB Manor’s era of incompetent remodels, so it has poor ventilation and substandard drywall. In other words, it has a significant mold problem. (Sigh. I’ve been trying to ignore it in the hopes it would just go away. It hasn’t. :P) So I was only going to have the walls redone, but the floor was inexpertly installed and causes the toilet to periodically get unsealed somehow, which causes it to leak into the basement den below. Very pleasant. So then I figured we’d do the floor too. I’d gotten a quote on all of that, and figured I’d ignore the insulation problems with the exterior wall behind the vanity (read: there is no insulation in the exterior wall behind the vanity), but I discovered this weekend that I have more breathing room in my budget than I expected, so I’m going whole-hog and having the vanity redone too. WOO HOO! And that’s my story, the sad, sad saga of the most disgusting bathroom on Earth. :D
on July 6, 2009 at 10:41 am Schnookie

Oh, and thanks about the tile! I’m super excited for it!
on July 6, 2009 at 11:02 am Caitlin

And that’s my story, the sad, sad saga of the most disgusting bathroom on Earth. :D

Oh, I am sure it’s not the most disgusting. (Have you ever seen an episode of Clean House? Damn!) And that’s a bummer that they didn’t install everything the way they were supposed to in the first place.

That is an awfully sad saga. I’m so sorry but I’m glad you’re getting it fixed! And I can’t WAIT to see photos of the finished project. Woo hoo!
on July 6, 2009 at 11:11 am Schnookie

And I can’t WAIT to see photos of the finished project.

Heh. What’s hilarious is that I’m looking forward to taking pictures when it’s done, but refuse out of hand to take any “before” shots. Because I’ll DIE before I let the world see the bathroom conditions I’m willing to live in. :P (That’s part of what took so long to get this job started — I was too ashamed to actually bring a contractor in to look at the job. I wanted to just torch the bathroom and then find someone to fix it. :D)
on July 6, 2009 at 11:12 am mcguffers

And that’s my story, the sad, sad saga of the most disgusting bathroom on Earth. :D

I’m pretty sure all of the fraternity houses on my undergrad campus would disagree with your claim of having the “most disgusting bathroom on Earth”. As would the track house, Tim Connolly, and the Nick Tahoe’s on Lyell Ave in Rochester.

Meanwhile, it’s taken me 27 minutes to figure out how to photocopy something on my printer at home. Cost of wasted toner: $23.99 Cost of wasted tuition on schooling a moron: $1,000,000
on July 6, 2009 at 11:18 am Pookie

Cost of wasted toner: $23.99 Cost of wasted tuition on schooling a moron: $1,000,000

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
on July 6, 2009 at 11:21 am Schnookie

I’m pretty sure all of the fraternity houses on my undergrad campus would disagree with your claim of having the “most disgusting bathroom on Earth”. As would the track house, Tim Connolly, and the Nick Tahoe’s on Lyell Ave in Rochester.

Oh, those places with their disgusting bathrooms might be surprised at my willingness to live in abject squalor. :P

Cost of wasted toner: $23.99 Cost of wasted tuition on schooling a moron: $1,000,000

:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I, too, had some misadventures in home photocopying this weekend! As my stream of expletives got louder and louder, Pookie finally offered some advice on how to get the printer to do what I was asking it to do — unplug it and plug it back in. Ah, technology. What ever would I do without it? :P
on July 6, 2009 at 11:22 am Caitlin

I wanted to just torch the bathroom and then find someone to fix it. :D

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I can’t believe it’s the worst bathroom ever, primarily because I have seen bathrooms (notably in a fixer-upper my friend bought) that made me – the girl who gleefully will watch movies with people being hacked to death with ice picks, chain saws and various other metal implements – nearly vomit in my mouth.

Cost of wasted toner: $23.99 Cost of wasted tuition on schooling a moron: $1,000,000

:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

mcguffers, I’m sure it was the printer and not you, right? (Just blame it on the printer.)
on July 6, 2009 at 11:32 am Schnookie

I have seen bathrooms (notably in a fixer-upper my friend bought) that made me – the girl who gleefully will watch movies with people being hacked to death with ice picks, chain saws and various other metal implements – nearly vomit in my mouth.

:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I’m getting inspired here to make a horror film about my bathroom! (And I’ll submit that my belief in its claim on “Most Disgusting Ever” is based not just on cosmetics — the mold is pretty rank, and I’m a listless housekeeper at best :P — but on the structural flaws as well. The whole thing is a chain reaction in bathroom construction fail. Which is why it was so dispiriting to think about getting it redone — I’d start with one thing I’d want done, and suddenly it was, “Yeah, but if I want to do that, I’m going to have to address X, and if I’m addressing X, then Y is going to have to be fixed, and if Y’s on the table, then Z is going to need to be repaired…”) (But homeownership is SO awesome! :D)
on July 6, 2009 at 11:52 am mcguffers

Pookie finally offered some advice on how to get the printer to do what I was asking it to do — unplug it and plug it back in.

I may have skipped that step and went straight to punching it.

mcguffers, I’m sure it was the printer and not you, right? (Just blame it on the printer.)

I know!! That’s what I kept telling it! With expletives.

Schnookie, have you thought of a jungle theme for the bathroom, and just incorporating the mold? You could get a monkey!
on July 6, 2009 at 11:55 am Schnookie

have you thought of a jungle theme for the bathroom, and just incorporating the mold? You could get a monkey!

Dammit! Why didn’t I talk to you before entangling myself with a contractor???
on July 6, 2009 at 11:56 am Caitlin

(But homeownership is SO awesome! :D)

Please, keep telling me that. Right now, the whole process is making me want to curl up into the fetal position and cry. I haven’t even gotten that far yet, either.

The whole thing is a chain reaction in bathroom construction fail.

That’s so sad. If it’s not constructed right the first time, it’s going to be a big whopping mess. Hopefully this fixes it for you.

I’m a listless housekeeper at best :P

You are somewhat of a housekeeper, are you not? :D I knew someone who did NO housekeeping at all, and their advice when you went to the bathroom was, “The toilet is six steps into the bathroom. Don’t turn on the light.” If you can at least stand to turn on the light in your own damn bathroom, I think you’re okay. :D
on July 6, 2009 at 12:03 pm Schnookie

You are somewhat of a housekeeper, are you not?

Ummm… no comment. :P (I never turn on the light in my bathroom. It’s way too terrifying. I blame the previous owners, but… Heh heh heh.)

And I’m so sorry the “buying a house” process is trying to eat you alive! I suppose you should be glad that you’re not doing this in the go-go era from three years ago, though, right? At least you’re not likely to find yourself in a situation where you were handed stupid money that you can’t afford, right? Sadly, there’s really nothing to say to make the living hell that is trying to buy a house into something even slightly less awful. But on the bright side, at the end you have a house. So there’s that. (Unless the house is like ours. Then you’re like, “Wait, I went through all of that to end up with THIS?” :P)
on July 6, 2009 at 12:04 pm mcguffers

Dammit! Why didn’t I talk to you before entangling myself with a contractor???

Seriously! You’re supposed to consult the Ice Girls on ALL your decisions! That’s how I found out that baby blue is better on me than royal blue!
on July 6, 2009 at 12:06 pm Schnookie

That’s how I found out that baby blue is better on me than royal blue!

Look, whoever told you to go with royal blue was a bitch, and you needed to hear it.
on July 6, 2009 at 12:13 pm mcguffers

Look, whoever told you to go with royal blue was a bitch, and you needed to hear it.

I knew Becca was lying! I bet she really did hook up with my ex, too! I’m so glad I told her flare jeans looked great on her. Joke’s on her! Ha!
on July 6, 2009 at 12:14 pm Caitlin

I suppose you should be glad that you’re not doing this in the go-go era from three years ago, though, right?

Well, that’s true. I would hate to have a realtor or banker try and talk me into an unaffordable house. (Try being the operative word there, and at least home prices are low.)

Part of the problem is that lenders have tightened considerably on their requirements to hand out loans. Anyways, I am in the process of filling out a 47 page loan application. I also am having to pull a mass of paperwork, too, so that’s been driving me crazy. (This thing is taking me days to complete.)

What’s been more disheartening is that FHA & HUD sent out a press release informing consumers that your $8,000 tax credit that you receive as a first-time homebuyer could be used as a down payment now. Yay, right? I would totally need that $8,000 to buy, because I don’t have 5% to put down on a house.

Except now I find out that is pretty much theory. The federal government won’t let the IRS cut the checks directly to the lenders, so the lenders have to take it on good faith that you’ll get the money to them at tax time. No one’s willing to take that risk, so it’s a program that FHA & HUD are hyping but literally no one can take advantage of.

I’m filling out the lending paperwork anyway to talk to the lender regarding options, but I wanted to try and use that money to get a house now, since these are probably the lowest interest rates and housing prices I’ll see in a while, if not my lifetime. Add in a constant (unsolicited) stream of advice from friends, family, coworkers and I’m just like… grr. argh.

And that was my very long, semi-sad story of trying to get lender approval for a house. :P
on July 6, 2009 at 12:19 pm Schnookie

ARRRGHH! Caitlin, I am SO sorry it’s so terrible out there for the first-time homebuyer! I guess we DID do something right by timing our ventures in mortgage applications when we did. (With our first house we managed to get a mortgage even though I was a temp and Pookie was a student. It helped that we were making a 40% down payment. With stately IPB Manor, it was 2005 — they would have given a mortgage to our cats if they’d just asked nicely.)

I’m so glad I told her flare jeans looked great on her. Joke’s on her! Ha!

Dude, seriously. She is SUCH a skank. I mean, royal blue?
on July 6, 2009 at 12:24 pm mcguffers

Caitlin, that all completely sucks! I will not give you an unsolicited advice because I have none. (I’ll be a renter for a few more years) But I do hope everything works out with the loan!

With stately IPB Manor, it was 2005 — they would have given a mortgage to our cats if they’d just asked nicely.)

:^:::::::::::::::: Joey’s looking at the screen and thinking, “Dammit! I knew it!”
on July 6, 2009 at 12:27 pm Pookie

Caitlin, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you that it all works out!
on July 6, 2009 at 12:29 pm Pookie

Oh, Caitlin, before I forget — you’ve grown garlic in Dallas, right? How’d that work out?
on July 6, 2009 at 12:29 pm Schnookie

Joey’s looking at the screen and thinking, “Dammit! I knew it!”

Poor guy! He coulda had his own house!
on July 6, 2009 at 12:31 pm Caitlin

It helped that we were making a 40% down payment. With stately IPB Manor, it was 2005 — they would have given a mortgage to our cats if they’d just asked nicely

My cousin, the realtor, on the market three years ago: “They would give you a loan if you had a pulse and reactive pupils”. Heh.

40% down payment?! Holy cow, that’s amazing! I think my lender fell over from shock when I told her my max price on a house. She may have been convinced that I was buying a house in Hooverville or a shantytown but I finally explained to her that I’m just looking for a middle-of-the-road older house. Texas home prices are low, low, low, thank goodness.

I think I’m about three years off from buying a house without that $8,000. I’m going to have to go rent and save up. Alas, oh well.

Dude, seriously. She is SUCH a skank. I mean, royal blue?

:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Don’t even get mcguffers started on robin’s egg blue or periwinkle.
on July 6, 2009 at 12:34 pm Caitlin

you’ve grown garlic in Dallas, right? How’d that work out?

I actually have not! We’re going to plant some in the fall, I think. I won’t know for a while how it goes, considering you have to wait until it’s not so fiery hot. (My onions are already burned up halfway through the summer and had to be pulled out, even with twice daily waterings.)
on July 6, 2009 at 12:37 pm Schnookie

She may have been convinced that I was buying a house in Hooverville or a shantytown

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The market for refrigerator boxes under overpasses is BRUTAL these days. :P

And yeah, we got a lot of help from our family when we bought our first house. I’m… not a very good source of homebuying advice, actually, because I’m like, “Step 1 — have a wealthy relative buy you a house.” :P
on July 6, 2009 at 12:41 pm Schnookie

My onions are already burned up halfway through the summer and had to be pulled out, even with twice daily waterings.

Aww! What a bummer! You should try planting them, like, in the fall. Since you don’t have very cold winters and all… (We harvested our first two onions on Saturday. Not to rub it in or anything, but they were DELISH. :P)
on July 6, 2009 at 12:51 pm Pookie

Oof, sorry about the onions! I agree with Schnookie — try ‘em again in September or something.
on July 6, 2009 at 1:35 pm SueNJ97

With stately IPB Manor, it was 2005 — they would have given a mortgage to our cats if they’d just asked nicely.

I bought in 1997, when you still had to prove that you had real income to cover the payments, and they went through everything in my background, etc. I put down 20%.

I was apparently stupid because I could have gotten a home equity loan not only for me but for both the cats a few years ago but I didn’t want to take on more debt. So, now, I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do when I have to re-do the master bath, (it is about 22 years old and I am expecting it to fall apart at some point).

A lottery win would help.
on July 6, 2009 at 1:40 pm Schnookie

A lottery win would help.

That’s what I was holding out for, but the mold finally pushed me into action. :P

And those home equity loans that they were giving out like candy? Oof. We made our real estate transaction all inside-out and upside-down when we bought stately IPB Manor — we bought it before we sold our houses (Boomer was moving back from AZ). So we got a bridge loan that they then turned into a home equity loan after closing. It was only for about 2/3 of the cost of the house, but even so, last October we got a letter from our lender informing us that the value of our house had plummeted and they were rescinding the loan (we hadn’t borrowed against it, but it was always nice to know it was there). That sent me into quite a downward spiral of panic about us ending up Okies, needless to say. Of course, fast forward about six months, and what starts showing up in the mail? Statements telling us that the original home equity loan has been, without warning, restored. Whatever, insane lender. Whatever. *Eyeroll* (And if I’ve learned anything from this whole affair, it’s that I’m not touching that money with a ten-foot pole.)
on July 6, 2009 at 1:53 pm Caitlin

try ‘em again in September or something.

They grew some! At least. I pulled up one about the size of a plum, if that’s helpful. (They’re Texas 1015s so they’re supposed to get 3X that size.)

“Step 1 — have a wealthy relative buy you a house.” :P

I am going to start singing songs loudly from Annie everywhere I go so that hopefully, a Daddy Warbucks may appear to assist me in my real estate venture. :P

The market for refrigerator boxes under overpasses is BRUTAL these days. :P

Especially corner-lot refrigerator boxes close to good schools. Damn!

Pam, you put down 20%? Yowza. I cannot believe that… must’ve taken you an awful lot of saving. Well played!
on July 6, 2009 at 1:55 pm SueNJ97

Yuck. That’s not good at all. I don’t think I would have wound up in that position, I bought when the market was pretty low and even with the drop in values the townhouse is now worth about twice what I paid for it and things are still selling for about that. I would need to be able to do the bathroom remodel to get that, I’m sure. But, I don’t plan on moving unless I have to.

Plus, since I have been paying the mortgage off regularly (even through a layoff that lasted a year and two years of making 1/2 of what I made before the layoff), so I owe about 1/4 of the place’s assessed value.

It’s just that the year of being laid off and 2 years of very little income convinced me that more debt is a very, very bad idea.
on July 6, 2009 at 1:59 pm Grrrreg

That sent me into quite a downward spiral of panic about us ending up Okies, needless to say.

The Ookies ending up Okies? That would have been sad.

How are you doing? I’m just back from a full week without any access to a computer. So I just learned what Gainey did while I was not watching. Oh boy…

I know I’m 5 days late, but… SCOTT GOMEZ???? Really!? Ugh. I’m really shocked right now.

I’m glad about Spacek and Gio, because you guys seemed to like them, so they can’t be that bad. I’m glad about Cammalleri too, because I like his name (and his pretty numbers from last season).
I don’t give a damn about losing Kovalev, I’m pissed that Komisarek is a Leaf (I knew he wouldn’t be back, but he still had 28 other teams to choose from…) and I’m devastated that Koivu won’t be back. Saku really deserved better than this, and I’m majorly disappointed by this decison by Gainey. I’ve always supported Bob, but this is hard to swallow.

I don’t recognize my team, and I’m not sure I really like the new habs. The old habs sucked, but I knew and loved them.

Woof, I’m sorry, I just needed to let it all out! I feel better already. Now, I can return to not caring about hockey for the next few months! :)
on July 6, 2009 at 2:01 pm mcguffers

Don’t even get mcguffers started on robin’s egg blue or periwinkle.

They totally did NOT go with the Violet colored contacts skanky Becca convinced me would look “awesomely sweet” on me. Whore.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:01 pm Schnookie

It’s just that the year of being laid off and 2 years of very little income convinced me that more debt is a very, very bad idea.

Yeah, that seems like very sound advice. (The thing that was funniest about our lender pulling the plug on our home equity loan, by the way, was that the letter they sent explained that we’d paid X amount for the house, and it was now being valued at about $70K less than X. And as a result, they were cancelling the line of credit… even though the line of credit was for about $150K less than the revised assessment of the house. It was clearly a case of the bank just slamming the door shut on every loan they could, but still. Panic city. :D)

I am going to start singing songs loudly from Annie everywhere I go so that hopefully, a Daddy Warbucks may appear to assist me in my real estate venture.

That’s a great plan! I mean, it never hurts to be open for assistance when you find that perfect corner-lot fridge box!
on July 6, 2009 at 2:06 pm Schnookie

They totally did NOT go with the Violet colored contacts skanky Becca convinced me would look “awesomely sweet” on me. Whore.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::: Why were you even FRIENDS with her?

The Ookies ending up Okies? That would have been sad.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Absolutely!

And as for Gomez and Gio… I don’t know what to say. I actually think Gomez brings a lot more to the table than Gio these days, although both of them had their best years playing together, so maybe they’ll be able to rekindle the spark now five years later? Heh. Seriously, though, I think Gio’s contract is much more of an albatross than Gomer’s. (For the record, I did not like him. I’ve been trying to get him traded for two years now! :P) I was really puzzled by that. I mean, sure, he’s had a 40-goal season, but contrary to what they’ll tell you on Versus, that’s hardly been indicative of his overall career performance. But hey, if Gainey wants to give the famous 5/25 deal to a rapidly-aging 20-goal guy, who am I to stand in his way? Heh. (Again, though, that 40-goal season WAS with Gomer as his center, so who knows. :D)
on July 6, 2009 at 2:06 pm Caitlin

It’s just that the year of being laid off and 2 years of very little income convinced me that more debt is a very, very bad idea.

Debt sucks. That’s why I live a very boring, hermit-y life until I get it all paid off. (Not that I’d be a wild girl about town if I had no debt, but… uh… you know what I mean.) :P
on July 6, 2009 at 2:07 pm mcguffers

I don’t recognize my team, and I’m not sure I really like the new habs. The old habs sucked, but I knew and loved them.

Pretty much sums up my feelings right now.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:10 pm Grrrreg

Seriously, though, I think Gio’s contract is much more of an albatross than Gomer’s. (For the record, I did not like him. I’ve been trying to get him traded for two years now! :P)

if Gainey wants to give the famous 5/25 deal to a rapidly-aging 20-goal guy, who am I to stand in his way?

That’s NOT helping, Schnookie! :D
on July 6, 2009 at 2:12 pm SueNJ97

I know I’m 5 days late, but… SCOTT GOMEZ???? Really!? Ugh. I’m really shocked right now.

Grrrreg, good to hear from you. Sorry about your team being burdened with Gomez, is it too late to fire your GM for complete stupidity and make the Rangers take Gomez back?

It was clearly a case of the bank just slamming the door shut on every loan they could, but still.

Clearly stupid. They must have had a formula about the ratio of the reassessment of the house to the value of the loan or something like that, but the key questions are really, are you making your payments and are you going to continue making your payments? If so, don’t touch it. But, that would have required someone to ask questions and think.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:12 pm Schnookie

That’s NOT helping, Schnookie!

Heh heh heh. I would have kept my mouth shut, but you were making it sound like I’d somehow advised you that Gio was, like, good or something. :P

That’s why I live a very boring, hermit-y life until I get it all paid off.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: There’s a lot to be said for being boring and hermit-y!
on July 6, 2009 at 2:13 pm Caitlin

Grrreg, I’m so sorry about the Habs. I actually kind of liked them. Well, I really liked Kovalev. And the Habs were kind of crazy-endearing.

The old habs sucked, but I knew and loved them.

I have a feeling this will sum up the Stars by the time the season starts for some reason, and I don’t really like that.

Grrreg, we can always get the IPBers together and go play Ding Dong Ditch at Gainey’s house.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:15 pm mcguffers

Why were you even FRIENDS with her?

She’s got a cute car, and I’m shallow.

Gionta’s from Greece. Which makes me believe that the Habs let go of Tom Kostopoulos because the nickname “Greek Lightening” would interfere with his campaign to be “Greece Lightening.” I like Kostopoulos therefore I do not like Gio.

(actually, I didn’t like Gio before. Probably because he’s from Greece.)
on July 6, 2009 at 2:16 pm Schnookie

But, that would have required someone to ask questions and think.

Yeah, that’s a lot to ask of a bank even at the best of times, let alone last October. :D
on July 6, 2009 at 2:19 pm mcguffers

That’s NOT helping, Schnookie!

She’s still a little bitter about all the Lucic bashing we’ve done.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:22 pm SueNJ97

Debt sucks. That’s why I live a very boring, hermit-y life until I get it all paid off. (Not that I’d be a wild girl about town if I had no debt, but… uh… you know what I mean.) :P

Exactly. Sometimes I think about what I’ll do when I get the mortgage paid off and I think, well, I’ll get the master bath fixed, change the carpeting and up my retirement savings.

Actually, that’s not quite true. My brother has invited me to go with him on some of his trips to his producers (he imports wines from France and Italy that aren’t available from other importers here) and I’d love to go. Just don’t have the funds right now and I can’t ask him to pay for me. It’s not fair. I am not a business expense.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:28 pm Pookie

She’s still a little bitter about all the Lucic bashing we’ve done.

Looch can handle it. He’s tough. You may have noticed that. Heh.

Grrrreg, I’m so sorry about your team. But… maybe they’ll be good? Or at least different. That’s good, right? You don’t want the same losers from last year stinking up the joint, right?
on July 6, 2009 at 2:33 pm Caitlin

Sometimes I think about what I’ll do when I get the mortgage paid off and I think, well, I’ll get the master bath fixed, change the carpeting and up my retirement savings.

Isn’t it nice? Just think, you don’t have a ton farther to go, Sue!

I am going to throw a big, insane party* when I am done paying off all my debt. I mainly owe on credit cards now, but those have stacked up with considerable interest from college. But I’m about to have one totally paid off. Whew.

*Said party will likely consist of me, my cat, a copy of Commando and some beer. I admitted that I was a hermit!

Just don’t have the funds right now and I can’t ask him to pay for me. It’s not fair. I am not a business expense.

Awww! But someday, you guys will get to go, right?
on July 6, 2009 at 2:35 pm Schnookie

Said party will likely consist of me, my cat, a copy of Commando and some beer. I admitted that I was a hermit!

:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: That’s about the way my parties go, so I, for one, think it sounds awesome!

You don’t want the same losers from last year stinking up the joint, right?

Yeah! Sometimes new losers are just what you need!
on July 6, 2009 at 2:44 pm mcguffers

Looch can handle it. He’s tough. You may have noticed that. Heh.

Yeah, just wait. He’ll be cowering in the corner when he sees Komi in a Leafs uniform. A Leafs uniform is nothing if not intimidating.

Said party will likely consist of me, my cat, a copy of Commando and some beer. I admitted that I was a hermit!

I can’t hang with Joey. That little bastard pulls out the drinking games and I’m done. I have no idea how he dominates at beer pong without thumbs.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:44 pm Caitlin

Sometimes new losers are just what you need!

You can at least fool yourself temporarily that maybe they won’t be so losery!

Oh, wait, you got Gomez & Gio? Well… you can justify drinking heavily earlier in the season than you normally would, mon ami.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:53 pm Patty (in Dallas)

I am going to throw a big, insane party* when I am done paying off all my debt.

Me, too! And it will probably be similar to yours! If everything goes as planned (knock on wood), I should be able to pay off my entire kitchen right around the time hockey season starts again. (Just in time to charge a bunch of new stuff back onto the credit card.)
on July 6, 2009 at 2:54 pm Pookie

A Leafs uniform is nothing if not intimidating.

I do not think “Leafs uniform” means what you think it means.
on July 6, 2009 at 2:57 pm Schnookie

I can’t hang with Joey. That little bastard pulls out the drinking games and I’m done. I have no idea how he dominates at beer pong without thumbs.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
on July 6, 2009 at 3:01 pm Amy

Happy Monday, IPB! I took an extended holiday weekend, and am recuperating from my sunburn by watching a live car chase from Houston on MSNBC. I live a thrilling life.

I saw a photo on Twitter this afternoon calling the Habs acquisition of Gio, Cammalieri and Gomez “The Smurf Line.”
on July 6, 2009 at 3:05 pm Caitlin

That little bastard pulls out the drinking games and I’m done. I have no idea how he dominates at beer pong without thumbs.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::

I should be able to pay off my entire kitchen right around the time hockey season starts again.

Way to go Patty! ::throws confetti:: That’s so exciting!

I do not think “Leafs uniform” means what you think it means.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Is anything about the Leafs intimidating aside from their season ticket prices?
on July 6, 2009 at 3:12 pm Schnookie

I should be able to pay off my entire kitchen right around the time hockey season starts again. (Just in time to charge a bunch of new stuff back onto the credit card.)

Hee hee! And really, what’s the point of paying off the kitchen if not to be able to start spending profligately again?

And welcome back from vacation, Amy! Sorry to hear about the sunburn, but that’s very exciting about the car chase on MSNBC… :D
on July 6, 2009 at 3:18 pm Amy

that’s very exciting about the car chase on MSNBC…

It was a very impressive display of driving until the genius went into a hotel parking ramp, left the vehicle and was running around the roof of the ramp on foot. Yeah, that wasn’t too smart, as he’s now in police custody.
on July 6, 2009 at 3:23 pm Schnookie

Yeah, that wasn’t too smart, as he’s now in police custody

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Well I certainly hope we can all learn from this gentleman’s mistakes… :D
on July 6, 2009 at 3:31 pm Caitlin

Well I certainly hope we can all learn from this gentleman’s mistakes…

We might, but the general public at large? I hear they’re still shooting episodes of Cops, so clearly not. :P
on July 6, 2009 at 3:34 pm Amy

I hear they’re still shooting episodes of Cops, so clearly not.

So true.

And the Leafs have signed Beauchemin and Kovalev went to the Sens. I’m getting worried about the division this year.
on July 6, 2009 at 3:35 pm SueNJ97

Yeah, that wasn’t too smart, as he’s now in police custody.

Has anyone ever gotten away in a chase that has been shown on MSBNC?
on July 6, 2009 at 3:36 pm SueNJ97

Bleh. MSNBC. I need coffee. Or maybe scitch.
on July 6, 2009 at 3:36 pm SueNJ97

Scotch. Maybe I shouldn’t bother. My spelling is bad enough sober.
on July 6, 2009 at 4:38 pm mcguffers

I do not think “Leafs uniform” means what you think it means.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

And the Leafs have signed Beauchemin and Kovalev went to the Sens.

Awesome. Our division’s doing a bit of inbreeding this year. It should be great when Kaberle signs with the Bruins and Koivu comes to the Sabres.
on July 6, 2009 at 5:17 pm Grrrreg

Our division’s doing a bit of inbreeding this year. It should be great when Kaberle signs with the Bruins and Koivu comes to the Sabres.

It’s actually the habs that are giving out their players to all the eastern teams: Begin to the Bruins, Kovy to the Sens, Higgins to the Rangers, and Komi to… let’s not mention this again. And it’s only the beginning, there’s still Koivu, Tanguay, Lang, Kostopoulos, Bouillon, Dandenault, and Brisebois. Each team can have one!
on July 6, 2009 at 5:25 pm Caitlin

We signed some dude named Warren Peters. Now all I can think of is that we signed Warren from Empire Records.

Warren from Empire Records and Viggo the Lithuanian. And no backup goaltender. It’s going to be a hell of a season.
on July 6, 2009 at 6:05 pm Patty (in Dallas)

It was a very impressive display of driving until the genius went into a hotel parking ramp, left the vehicle and was running around the roof of the ramp on foot.

I saw that online! The guy was doing pretty well just u-turning all day long, until the garage.

I thought the police dog was pretty funny. He WANTED that guy. His handler was just being a party pooper by not letting him have him.
on July 6, 2009 at 7:29 pm Schnookie

Warren from Empire Records and Viggo the Lithuanian. And no backup goaltender. It’s going to be a hell of a season.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Hey now, we won our division with less last year! :D
on July 6, 2009 at 7:36 pm Amy

Warren from Empire Records and Viggo the Lithuanian. And no backup goaltender. It’s going to be a hell of a season.

His name’s not [bleeping] Warren! :p