Deep Thoughts From Boomer

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Deep Thoughts From Boomer

July 18, 2009 by Schnookie

Boomer, thinking deep thoughts.

Boomer is normally pretty reserved about the Devils, at least compared to us. She will occasionally hit a giddy high or a mopey low, but for the most part she plays her cards close to her vest. Recently, though, she has become almost despondent about them, and the reason for that is the Lemaire re-hiring. She can’t stop complaining about it. She will, in the middle of completely unrelated conversations, suddenly groan, “I’m just so disappointed about Lou bringing Lemaire back!” She is not a happy camper.

Today we were having a normal quiet stately IPB Manor Saturday, the two of us stitching and emailing and uploading photographs in the living room, while Boomer worked on her sewing machine the next room over at the dining room table. We were chatting through the open doorway about our plans for Patty (In Dallas)’s upcoming visit here, and talk turned to jokes about making Patty spend her week in the Pine Barrens looking for the Jersey Devil. Boomer cracked that watching a Devils game in person is probably scarier than seeing the Jersey Devil itself, and then added solemnly, “I feel like the Lemaire Devils is like the assisted living of the NHL. It’s just one step removed from having to move into the rest home wing.”

It’s going to be a fun season.

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Posted in *Clank!*, Boomer's Take, Off-Season | 62 Comments

62 Responses

on July 18, 2009 at 3:04 pm Tram

Holy Crap! Someone besides me who sits and stitches while philosophizing about life and hockey. And I thought I was stitching and agonizing in a vacuum. Although my pain is about the Wings and BAD LUCK Hossa defecting to Chitown. Please, Please, Please ….lets hope he packed up all that bad luck with him. I am lighting candles now just typing it.
on July 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm Schnookie

And I thought I was stitching and agonizing in a vacuum.

Hi Tram! This is what’s so great about the interwebs — we never have to sit and stitch and philosophize alone! (Be careful lighting those candles next to your stitching, though…) What are you working on while deeply contemplating the Wings’ off-season?
on July 18, 2009 at 3:43 pm Ron

awww…

Here in MN I loved Lemaire. I’d guess he’s worth 3-4 wins a season over the average NHL coach, and when we had anything close to a full line-up it was entertaining hockey.

And he’s got the best post-game interviews in the game.

happy thoughts,

Ron
on July 18, 2009 at 3:51 pm Schnookie

Thanks, Ron. Happy thoughts are just so hard, especially when we’ve already had one go-round with Lemaire, and don’t remember the last years of it all too fondly. We’ll try, though. :D
on July 18, 2009 at 3:59 pm SueNJ97

And he’s got the best post-game interviews in the game.

I do believe Lemaire will be an improvement over Sutter in post-game interviews. But that isn’t difficult. The only thing that would be worse would be a corpse or, in fact, Lou. It’s a low bar.

Ron, we saw Lemaire here for several years and after the team won the Cup in 1995 he went from using the defense to create turnovers and go forward offensively to simply trying to sit on 1-0 leads…for 3 seasons. We’re familiar with him. I don’t think he’s changed. I’m with Boomer on this one.
on July 18, 2009 at 4:04 pm Schnookie

The only thing that would be worse would be a corpse or, in fact, Lou. It’s a low bar.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We’ve gone so long without an interesting post-game interview that it’s something I just literally don’t consider an asset or a problem for new coaches now. I’m like, “Post-game interview? I’m supposed to listen to those? Man, this keeps getting worse!” :P

We’re familiar with him. I don’t think he’s changed. I’m with Boomer on this one.

*High five!* You can come sit over here with us, Sue! :D (We keep hearing from Wild fans telling us to buck up because Lemaire’s not so bad. I don’t think they realize we’ve already been around the block with Lemaire ourselves, and yes, he was that bad. Heh.)
on July 18, 2009 at 4:05 pm Pookie

Yeah, let’s just say that this season I’m having “Prevent Defense Prevents You From Winning” carved into the handle of my eye-gouging soldering iron! :D
on July 18, 2009 at 4:05 pm Schnookie

I’m having “Prevent Defense Prevents You From Winning” carved into the handle of my eye-gouging soldering iron! :D

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
on July 18, 2009 at 4:34 pm Amy

“I feel like the Lemaire Devils is like the assisted living of the NHL. ”

You’ve already got the cribbage league organized. You’re just missing the blue plate specials, bingo tournaments and trips to the casino.

And thanks for the potato growing advice in the last post. It sounds like something fun for next summer.
on July 18, 2009 at 4:37 pm Schnookie

You’re just missing the blue plate specials, bingo tournaments and trips to the casino.

AAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And jell-o salads. We need lots of jell-o salads!

The best part about that potato growing advice is that we’ve never done them that way. I’ll tell anyone who has the misfortune of spending more than 90 seconds in my presence about it, but… it’s all theoretical for me. Next year, man. Next year. :D (Actually, potatoes can be planted pretty much any time up to 12 weeks before the first frost, so there’s probably still time to plant more, if there are any seed potatoes to be had anywhere.)
on July 18, 2009 at 8:34 pm Patty (in Dallas)

simply trying to sit on 1-0 leads…for 3 seasons

I wasn’t paying that close attention back then, but from ’99 to ’02, Ken Hitchcock did the same thing. And look at him now! Oh. Wait.

I’m SO SORRY!
on July 18, 2009 at 8:36 pm Patty (in Dallas)

I know y’all don’t like to hear me complain about Sean Avery, but when he was signed last season, I felt the exact same way Boomer does. I was DISTRAUGHT! I couldn’t picture him skating around in a Stars uniform.

Aside from all the money we’ll be paying him for two more years, it all worked out!

Is that helping, Boomer? No?
on July 18, 2009 at 8:37 pm Schnookie

Aside from all the money we’ll be paying him for two more years, it all worked out!

Is that helping, Boomer? No?

:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I think the problem is that Boomer can see all too well what it looks like for Lemaire to coach the Devils. Because he’s done it before. WE KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO END! :P
on July 18, 2009 at 8:42 pm Patty (in Dallas)

The Sean Avery thing did one good thing. It made me a little more philosophical about the Marc Crawford hiring. ;D

plans for Patty (In Dallas)’s upcoming visit here

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
on July 18, 2009 at 8:46 pm Schnookie

The Sean Avery thing did one good thing. It made me a little more philosophical about the Marc Crawford hiring. ;D

Yeah, that will help, won’t it? You’d think all the unsavory returning ghosts of the Devils’ past that we had to deal with last season would make me more philosophical about Lemaire, but actually it’s just made me wonder exactly how deep the bottom of this barrel actually is. It just keeps on going. :P

And I’m so excited about Patty (In Dallas)’s upcoming visit! :D
on July 18, 2009 at 9:28 pm Patty (in Dallas)

it’s just made me wonder exactly how deep the bottom of this barrel actually is

It is pretty scary.

When I read moron comments on lesser blogs that always want to bring back so-and-so because he won us a Cup, I just get LIVID. I shit you not that I’ve seen people actually calling for Belfour. Because, you know, he had a Cup. What does Turco have? NO CUP!

Nieuwy did it even worse, by hiring somebody because he had a Cup back in the 90s (!) for some other team and comparing him to Tippet who has none. Yet he glosses over the fact that his teams tend to miss the playoffs these days.

What happened to “what have you done for me lately?” I love that saying!
on July 18, 2009 at 9:40 pm Schnookie

Dude, I HATE the “but he won a Cup!” crap. I try to say “what have you done for me lately?” enough to make up for all those morons out there. I’m the queen of “what have you done for me lately?”. Heh.

(And really, BELFOUR? Have these people lost all their marbles?)
on July 18, 2009 at 9:41 pm Patty (in Dallas)

Have these people lost all their marbles?

Yes.

(If they even had any to start with.)
on July 18, 2009 at 9:44 pm Schnookie

(If they even had any to start with.)

You make a good point. Anyone who ever liked Belfour even back when he was winning a Cup didn’t have any marbles. :P
on July 18, 2009 at 9:47 pm Patty (in Dallas)

Me, in 1999: Thanks for the Cup, Eddie. Now beat it.
on July 18, 2009 at 10:20 pm Schnookie

Thanks for the Cup, Eddie. Now beat it.

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
on July 19, 2009 at 10:46 am Pookie

Eddie: But wait, Patty, what if I give you A MILLION DOLLARS?! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
on July 19, 2009 at 11:05 am SueNJ97

Poor Patty. Eddie thinks he can buy you at a discount. He offered the cops a billion. It just proves, he’s not only crass, but cheap!!! =)
on July 19, 2009 at 11:06 am Pookie

Eddie: Come on, Sue, times are tough for everyone! A billion dollars then is like a million now, right? Right? Hey, toss me more of that cold medicine, will ya?
on July 19, 2009 at 11:12 am SueNJ97

Eddie’s understanding of inflation has been hurt by all that cold medication…or he’s cheap. :p
on July 19, 2009 at 11:15 am Pookie

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Or cheap, and not that bright.
on July 19, 2009 at 11:18 am Patty (in Dallas)

Hey, toss me more of that cold medicine, will ya?

Cold medicine: *goes right by him*
on July 19, 2009 at 11:23 am SueNJ97

Cold medicine: *goes right by him*

Cold medication is being sold in beach balls now? It must be a new marketing ploy!
on July 19, 2009 at 12:04 pm Pookie

Oh, Eddie Belfour. You’re the gift that will never stop giving.
on July 19, 2009 at 12:06 pm Schnookie

:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: To all of you! Eddie Belfour is NEVER not funny!
on July 19, 2009 at 9:18 pm KenF

if you think Eddie Belfour’s funny, watch our new goalie savior Jeff Frazee in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4kxS1ksqtw
on July 19, 2009 at 9:34 pm Schnookie

Wow. He looks NHL ready! Or at least, like, Maple Leaf ready.
on July 19, 2009 at 9:35 pm Pookie

Hm. Was that why he lost the starting job there?
on July 19, 2009 at 10:22 pm SueNJ97

I think I saw Frank Pietrangelo (playing for the Whalers) give up one from there against the Bruins on a shot from Ray Bourque sometime in the early 1990s.

I used to yell “You can’t score from your own end” (OK, I didn’t yell it when the net was empty). I stopped yelling it after I saw Bourque score that goal. Ugh.
on July 19, 2009 at 10:24 pm Pookie

Paulie Martin scored from pretty far out on the Bruins, didn’t he? I can’t remember if it was Tim Thomas.
on July 19, 2009 at 10:28 pm SueNJ97

I can’t remember if it was Tim Thomas.

Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas? Surely not. Only OUR Vezina Winner gets to wiff like that.

Besides, I still liked Timmy’s speech at the Awards.
on July 20, 2009 at 9:17 am Schnookie

Good morning, everyone! Did we all have good weekends? I have to say, not only do I feel like it’s later in the week than Monday morning, I also feel like it’s later in the summer than July 20. I feel like hockey should be just around the corner. I think I’m in for a looooooong August. Not to mention September.
on July 20, 2009 at 10:34 am Pam

Good Morning to All!

Schnookie, I’m so ready for the fall!
on July 20, 2009 at 10:41 am Schnookie

I’ve been trying to pace myself with my fall-longing, but it’s just not working! Last summer I discovered that I’m capable of fully enjoying the summer season, but this year I seem to be back to my normal routine of hitting Memorial Day weekend and just saying to the calendar, “Yeah, yeah, let’s just get this over with.”
on July 20, 2009 at 10:44 am Pam

Boy, summer just aint what it used to be! if only it could just perpetually be fall and spring, I’d be happy!
on July 20, 2009 at 10:52 am Amy

I have to say, not only do I feel like it’s later in the week than Monday morning

I just keep telling myself that five more days and then I’m on my way to Michigan. I can do this.

And the Sabres signed two peeps this morning. Oh sure, it was just two of their RFAs, but it’s something, right?
on July 20, 2009 at 11:00 am Schnookie

I just keep telling myself that five more days and then I’m on my way to Michigan. I can do this.

Oooh, your vacation’s so close I can almost taste it! You CAN do it! :D

And which guys did the Sabres sign?

if only it could just perpetually be fall and spring, I’d be happy!

Ugh. Not Spring. Spring’s when the Devils’ wheels fall off. Let’s just stick to Fall. :P
on July 20, 2009 at 11:06 am Pam

Ha! Schnookie, that’s so (sadly) true! I really like the spring/fall weather for the two to three weeks that we have it.
on July 20, 2009 at 11:11 am SueNJ97

not only do I feel like it’s later in the week than Monday morning

I woke up this morning and tried to convince myself it was Saturday morning again. Now, if I could only convince my business partners, clients, etc.
on July 20, 2009 at 11:13 am Amy

And which guys did the Sabres sign?

Clarke MacArthur and Andrej Sekera. Reggie and Grizz are back in the fold.

Spring’s when the Devils’ wheels fall off.

Speaking of the Devils, one of the bridal announcements in yesterday’s NY Times was for one of the Devils. He’s marrying an NESN Bruins anchor. Right below that announcement was one for the wedding of an Ottawa Senator. I guess this weekend was a popular one for hockey player weddings.

And that’s my story.
on July 20, 2009 at 11:16 am Pam

Which Devil is this?
on July 20, 2009 at 11:24 am Schnookie

Now, if I could only convince my business partners, clients, etc.

:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: That’s always the stumbling block, isn’t it?

And wow! It must be marryin’ season for the hockey boys, eh?
on July 20, 2009 at 11:32 am SueNJ97

That’s always the stumbling block, isn’t it?

I know. I have no problem convinceing the cats…to them, every day is a weekend. Their whole LIFE is a weekend.

But those pesky clients and business partners. They expect work on a Monday. On a beautiful day in mid-July. My powers of persuasion have failed. =(
on July 20, 2009 at 11:37 am Amy

Which Devil is this?

Jay Leach, IIRC.
on July 20, 2009 at 11:38 am Pookie

Jay Leach is still a Devil? Huh. Is he marrying the blonde chick from the Bruins intermissions? Weird! Well, good luck to them!
on July 20, 2009 at 11:43 am Pam

Jay Leach is still a Devil?

Bummer! Val literally didn’t know who he was when I mentioned him a few weeks ago. It took a few minutes to jog her memory, and she was not happy when she remembered him!
on July 20, 2009 at 11:52 am Schnookie

Awww, Jay Leach! I kinda remember that guy! He always struck me as a bit of an interloper as a Devil, but, well… good luck to him, I guess. (Is he still a Devil?)
on July 20, 2009 at 11:56 am Pam

He wears #2 doesn’t he? Didn’t we decide a few months ago that #’s 2 and 22 are not good signs?
on July 20, 2009 at 12:10 pm Amy

Jay Leach is still a Devil?

I went and checked the Devils site to see if he was a Devil Devil or a two way Devil, since his name didn’t sound familiar from reading your game diaries.
on July 20, 2009 at 12:30 pm Schnookie

Yeah, Leach is very much a two-way Devil, or at least he was one last year. I’m still not convinced he’s one of ours anymore. :P
on July 20, 2009 at 2:00 pm Pam

Bored? Play with the Bizzare Rumor Generator:

http://unquietmind.com/insult.html
on July 20, 2009 at 2:01 pm Pam

Wow I really sounded like an auto-bot posting there….
on July 20, 2009 at 2:02 pm Patty (in Dallas)

The Pod People got Pam!!! :P
on July 20, 2009 at 2:03 pm Pam

According to the generator: “60 Minutes reports that, Neanderthal Pam garishly downloaded pictures of untold numbers of gurgling feebs.”
on July 20, 2009 at 2:14 pm Pookie

Someone just asked me if, instead of using a typerwriter, she could use — get this — a computer — to write a letter. Wow.
on July 20, 2009 at 2:18 pm Pam

A computer? What’s that?
on July 20, 2009 at 4:39 pm alix

Reggie and Grizz are back in the fold.

But when does dotcom get re signed?!?! Grizz can’t play without his BFF.