When we arrived home from work tonight we discovered on our front step an unexpected, nondescript brown box. What on earth could be inside it? After some moderate attempts at guessing, we opened it to behold the amazing, awesome contents:
VUVUZELAS
That’s right — a fabulous, fabulous friend had taken it upon herself to surprise us with a shipment of our very own World Cup vuvuzelas, with which we can now express our unbridled excitement in all manner of situations. Boomer immediately took hers out on the back deck to delight and thrill our neighbors.
They are shockingly difficult to play, if your name rhymes with “Schnookie”. Or if your name actually is “Schnookie”. But if you’re not an idiot, a vuvuzela is an essential addition to your life. How else can you express your unbridled excitement?
Look at that! Augustus of Prima Porta is unbridledly excited, and demonstrating the vuvuzela’s telescoping properties!
Even little Shrieky is brimming with unbridled excitement! Vuvuzelas are bringers of joy. They are the most amazing thing ever. Anyone who says otherwise is just a cranky jerk who has never received an unexpected gift of them, and then gigglingly raced around the house blowing them at their cats.
Of course, if you look closely at the cat in the picture above, you might be able to tell that there is another possibility for someone who says that vuvuzelas suck — that person might be a housecat who has been chased by one.
Anyway, the long and the short of this momentous gift is that we A) can now toot our vuvuzelas when big goals are scored on the TV in the World Cup, and B) can bring them to the next Devils game we go to, and blow them in the Fire Lounge right behind Doc and Chico. You won’t even have to listen too diligently, because seriously, you won’t be able to miss us.
UPDATED:
Per pam’s request, we took a few more pictures of the denizens of stately IPB Manor expressing their unbridled joy:
I have a vuvuzela too! I brought it home from South Africa last summer, it’s an Orlando Pirates one to match my sweet pirates tattoo. They’re the shiznit and came with me to every IU football game.
We’ll have to Devils-ify our vuvuzelas. Perhaps by tying Chuck the Duck to them.
…blow them in the Fire Lounge right behind Doc and Chico.
That NEEDS to happen!
we also need to see VE Mats w/ said vuvuzela! where’s that pic?
Tim, at our next IPB get-together, vuvuzelas will be required.
We’ll have to Devils-ify our vuvuzelas. Perhaps by tying Chuck the Duck to them.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Why didn’t we IMMEDIATELY think of that?
Also, why didn’t we immediately think of VE Mats? Hm. We’re slipping, that’s for sure. (Actually, Mats lives in the bottom of a little sewing caddy, so we frequently forget entirely about him. Pookie brought the caddy up to Buffalo with us when we were visiting Katebits, and at one point Heather was like, “Can I see the caddy?” We’re all watching the Olympics and not paying attention, and after a few minutes of admiring Pookie’s sewing skills, she looks inside the caddy and says, “MATS!” We were like, “Mats is at the Olympics???”)
We’ll have to Devils-ify our vuvuzelas. Perhaps by tying Chuck the Duck to them.
Blow it REEEEAAAALLLY hard in the first 5 minutes of the game, to make sure you’re way too tired to play at the end of the game when you actually need to.
Tim, I doubt I will ever be at a Devils game that requires excited tooting in the waning minutes. :D
Blow it REEEEAAAALLLY hard in the first 5 minutes of the game, to make sure you’re way too tired to play at the end of the game when you actually need to.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I’m so bad at playing the vuvuzela (yeah, I think that’s on a par with “I’m so bad at being able to remember whether it’s my pants or my underwear that go on the outside”) that I am already quite Devils-ified at it. If I should ever become proficient, though, I’ll do this trick.
Tim, at our next IPB get-together, vuvuzelas will be required.
There are get-togethers? With people? Gee whiz! It’s almost like you’re real people!
Vuvuzelas are startlingly difficult to play, and really, really tiring.
HOORAY! Those look entirely way too fun.
One of my guy friends is now using vuvuzela as a word for \o/
Ookies, have you ever seen Looch with glasses?
http://humminggiraffe.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/loochglasses.jpg
Oops!
It’s almost like you’re real people!
You would not feel that way if you ever attended one of our get-togethers. We are the fakest people EVER. :P
And yeah, the vuvuzela is EXHAUSTING. I have a whole new respect for the endurance and fortitude of the fans at this World Cup, because it can’t be easy to sustain such high levels of vuvuzelaing for entire soccer matches. I mean, you could probably keep it up for most of an NFL game, since it’s so stop-and-start-y, but dude, toot/buzzing for 45+ minutes of continuous action? I’d need to be hospitalized.
Oh, and pam, ask and ye shall receive. We’ve added a Mats picture to the post. :D
One of my guy friends is now using vuvuzela as a word for \o/
I figured it was only a matter of time before that started happening around the world.
Also, Looch with glasses is hilarious! He’s like, “Looch say welcome to Monsterpiece Theater.”
One of my guy friends is now using vuvuzela as a word for \o/
Heh. Well, yes. I’ve been trying to be a grown-up about it, but honestly. :D
And Looch in glasses is DELISH! It totally makes him look brainy, and distracts from the fact that he’s refusing to wear pants again.
He’s like, “Looch say welcome to Monsterpiece Theater.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
distracts from the fact that he’s refusing to wear pants again.
Looch think pants for eyes enough! Why Looch also need pants for legs?
You’re killing me with the Looch, Pookie.
“Looch say welcome to Monsterpiece Theater.”
Hahahaha!
vuvuzelas are hard to be mature about I suppose. Or I hang out with silly sallys. Perhaps both.
Pants for eyes made me spit juice all over my coffee table!
Someone tell my cat that stealing my seat two nights in a row in uncalled for.
alix, the day any of us is expected to be mature about a word like “vuvuzela” is the day I quit the internet.
Pants for eyes made me spit juice all over my coffee table!
Mission accomplished.
I miss Looch. I hope he doesn’t spend all of next season injured too.
I miss Looch too. Hopefully he and Sami Salo go to big boy no more injury camp this summer and get their limbs rehinged.
Oh, by the way Tim, you cracked my shit up with your dig at France on the last thread. Just as an aside.
Oh, by the way Tim, you cracked my shit up with your dig at France on the last thread. Just as an aside.
That’s why I’m here.
So you know what amazing thing I’ve learned from the World Cup? The Mexican national anthem is AWESOME. How have I never heard it before this summer?
Uuuuuuugh, so last night wasn’t just a cruel nightmare after all, it was real?
Literally in a matter of minutes, the habs traded one of my fave guys for a couple of unknown prospects, and France got virtually ousted from the WC… What a shitty night.
I don’t really care about the football result, but the Halak trade really really stings. It kinda makes sense for the habs to sell him while his value is high (if that return can qualify as high), but it’s always tough to see one of your favourite guys go. :(
I’m very glad I didn’t buy a Halak shirt while I was in Montreal 3 weeks ao. It was obvious this was too risky!
Seeing Boomer’s evil grin, I suspect she was having way too much fun torturing the neighbors!
And to be less dramatic, congrats on your vuvuzelas! I think they would be fantastic to use in everyday life. It’s the perfect obnoxious way to express yourself. In a line at the bank or the post office, as a car horn, on the phone with a stupid customer service, in the library when a student asks a stupid question, in your office if a coworker bugs you, it could work everywhere. :p
Aww, Grrrreg, I’m so sorry you’ve had such a shitty past 24 hours, sports-wise. It blows when the sports world seems to be conspiring against you. :(
And Frisby, Boomer was definitely delighting in terrorizing the neighbors and the cats. Sadly, though, after I had figured out how to make the vuvuzela work, she suggested I should not be blowing it after midnight. Oh, sure, after she’s had her fun being annoying, I’m not allowed to. Hmph.
Anyway, I walked to work this morning and considered tooting the vuvuzela (NOT a euphemism) the entire way. I think that would have definitely brought some World Cup cheer into everyone’s lives around these parts.
Yay! I bet VE Mats has the lung power to make his vuvuzela sing! lol, thanks!
VE Mats treated stately IPB Manor to a lovely vuvuzela concert, then passed out.
Boomer looks like she’s having a blast!
And if Annoying Horn Guy in Washington can have toot his horn during Caps games, you should be allowed to blow your vuvuzela at Devils games. (That’s what she said.) Although, watch the NHL exact a no-vuvuzela policy for next season.
I’d probably blow that thing (the euphemisms are killing me!) like twice and then faint
And if Annoying Horn Guy in Washington can have toot his horn during Caps games, you should be allowed to blow your vuvuzela at Devils games. (That’s what she said.)
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::: Exactly! Although I’m not sure how much honking my vuvuzela I’ll want to do with the the Devils this season. :P (Man, whoever named the vuvuzela is a genius. Heh.)
I’d probably blow that thing (the euphemisms are killing me!) like twice and then faint
For reals! It takes a lot of stamina to keep up the vuvuzela!
So in picture #5, do you never turn off that lightswitch or does that thing hanging on there have an alternate resting place?
Oh, that lightswitch is merely decorative. :D (It’s on the wrong side of the room for our normal traffic patterns; stately IPB Manor has an abundance of lightswitches that go to nowhere, and many of them now serve as hooks for holding up cross-stitched pieces. Although Favre sometimes gets his jumping legs on and goes after the little seasonal stitched things hanging on that one in the picture.)
I’m sorry your day sucked, Grrrreg. It’s the worst when your teams conspire against you!
Vuvuzelas are evil. One of my housemates has one, and it was great for a while. Like, about a day. Admittedly much of my irritation springs from the fact that he has a horrible habit of “practicing” at 2am. It’s only redeeming quality is that it’s also very good for hitting people.
Vuvuzelas are evil.
::Blank stare::
:P
::Blank stare::
I’m eating fresh homemade scones and homemade strawberry jam from strawberries from my own “garden”. Your argument is invalid. :P
If by vuvuzelas are evil you mean vuvuzelas are the greatest thing since sliced bread, I totally agree!
Here at the library, each department is responsible for decorating their area for summer. The theme this year is water related. So I am spending all seven hours at work today folding origami fish out of magazines, old books, atlases, and scrap paper. Sometimes I totally love my job. (I just need a sign that says, “This is work-related, I swear!” so the customers would stop looking at me strangely.)
I’m eating fresh homemade scones and homemade strawberry jam from strawberries from my own “garden”.
Ooooh, now that sounds FANTASTIC. I get to leave work in 90 minutes, and I’m getting Chinese food for lunch. I’m inordinately excited for this. :D
I am spending all seven hours at work today folding origami fish out of magazines, old books, atlases, and scrap paper. Sometimes I totally love my job.
That does sound like fun :D Can I come over and paper mache coral reefs?
Go Slovenia!
Wimbledon’s already banned vuvuzelas, but the NHL had better not, especially now that I’m actually able to go to Devils games!
I get to leave work in 90 minutes, and I’m getting Chinese food for lunch. I’m inordinately excited for this. :D
I have to wait until 1, but I’ll be going for Ukrainian food and eating outside on the sidewalk which is totally one of my favorite summery things to do.
(Although not quite as exciting as fresh, homemade scones I must admit.)
Go Slovenia!
Remember, absolutely NO SPOILERS, please! I’m trying really, really, really hard to get through today without hearing anything. They’ve had the games on in the staff room here, though. It’s tough!
So, Pookie, you’re saying that you don’t want to know that the score is tied at 20? (It’s a high-scoring soccer miracle!)
I just made a fish out of a map of Buffalo. And that’s my story.
I’m having Irish food for lunch, but I don’t get to go home until 5:30.
Remember, absolutely NO SPOILERS, please!
Spoiler alert: The US team had those sashes locked down in the swimsuit competition. They could have sat around farting in the talent section and still won.
So, Pookie, you’re saying that you don’t want to know that the score is tied at 20?
Ha. Ha.
So, Pookie, you’re saying that you don’t want to know that the score is tied at 20? (It’s a high-scoring soccer miracle!)
Mustn’t tell her about Tim Howard’s bicycle kick save/goal off a Slovenian corner kick.
For the record I’m not watching the game and have no idea what’s going on. For all I know the game is tied at 100. Well, I suppose I do know that that’s not the case but only because I have truly superior deductive reasoning skills.
For the record I am watching the game and I’ve never seen so many red cards in my live. Four on four might be exciting in hockey, but not here.
I think Pookie hates us now.
No, Pookie just doesn’t have a sense of humor when it comes to spoilers in sporting events. I’ve been looking forward to this for four years and I don’t want it ruined. I know you guys are just kidding, but the people here at work are all, “When you watch the game tonight, look out for — ” and then don’t get it when I cut them off politely but firmly. No one here is a sports fan, so they don’t get –
Dude. While I was typing this someone told me the score. Fuck it. I’m going to go live in a cave until July 11th.
I just made a fish out of a map of Buffalo. And that’s my story.
That’s a fun story.
I just had to pull out a ruler and measure newspaper ads for one of my clients. It turned into a miniature three bears story: this one’s too big, this one’s too small, this one’s missing a border and this one (thankfully) is just right.
When you watch the game tonight, look out for……………………………….Gooch’s sweet neck-beard.
No, Pookie just doesn’t have a sense of humor when it comes to spoilers in sporting events.
Sorry. :( No more teasing. Promise. (Although I suppose it’s too late for this one. Ick.)
No, thank you, Tim! :D
Would you accept Slovenia’s sweet Charlie Brown jerseys?
No, no, Meg it’s fine! Tease away! I’m just being a crankypants. Don’t mind me.
I do love the Charlie Brown jerseys and socks. That’s a motif that’s woefully underrepresented in sports.
Engerland’s turn soon, hooray!
So in picture #5, do you never turn off that lightswitch or does that thing hanging on there have an alternate resting place?
That’s the first thing I noticed too!
I have never heard of the word vuvuzela, but in my head, I pronounce it “Venezula” when I read this post.
I’m still stuck at daddy’s house in my old room with a tv without a remote control. So in my extremely lazy state, I’ve been watching a reality show on MTV about fat camp, instead of getting up to find the World Cup. (okay… maybe I just like watching drama at fat camp more than I like soccer.)
(okay… maybe I just like watching drama at fat camp more than I like soccer.)
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
maybe I just like watching drama at fat camp more than I like soccer.
I haven’t had the TV on since I found out the play-by-play guy was of the “player name. player name. player name” variety. I can read thanks, you lazy bastard. It’s not like they play so quickly that’s all you can get in.
futbol.univision.com has all the games streaming live online, just in Spanish. Don’t know if it’ll work in Holland though.
At Pam’s suggestions, I’ve been listening to the radio at nos.nl instead. They’re pretty good. Nice background noise to studying for
sadisticsstatistics.Why is Cheech Marin’s fat older brother coaching Algeria?
Oops, sorry! Spoiler alert: Cheech Marin’s fat older brother is coaching Algeria.
I’m sorry, but vuvuzelas are of the devil.
If they start using them at hockey games, I will have to start watching with the mute on.
Vuvuzelas seem like fun to have around the house, but I’m with Myra. I would not be able to stand them during hockey games. I hate watching Calgary games and that horn guy only plays it 80% of the time, instead of 100%.
Oops, sorry! Spoiler alert: Cheech Marin’s fat older brother is coaching Algeria.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: OK, that was funny spoiler humor.
Also, I’d agree with you about the vuvuzelas if they were used in a regular season hockey game indoors. But we’re talking about the World Cup, here! Outdoor stadiums, a heightened sense of the games mattering, totally outsized drama! The vuvuzelas are perfect for that setting!
I have to say the vuvuzelas bother me less and less. I don’t care anymore at all. Maybe it’s just me getting used to it, or the broadcasters found ways to make them sound less loud, or people are just less using them (not likely), but now we can actually hear some crowd noise besides them. The first few games were really annoying though.
I never had a problem with the vuvuzelas. (If I did, I wouldn’t have one). I think they’re no more annoying than Buckeye fans spelling ‘Ohio’ for three hours or stadiums pumping in arena rock because nobody can be bothered to stand and cheer through a game. The jumbotron/Public Announcing system should never be needed to make fans make noise.
I think they’re no more annoying than Buckeye fans spelling ‘Ohio’
No one warned me about that one when I went to a wedding in Ohio. So when they started playing “YMCA” my other New York friends and I were highly confused. Especially because none of us knew how to mime an “H”.
Let me get this straight, you all are serious about the vuvuzelas not bothering you? They make me want to claw my ears off. After maybe 30 seconds. It’s like I have 10 five-year-olds surrounding me while they play kazoos.
Wow. I suddenly flashed the movie “Idiocracy”.
God, I must be old.
Wow. I suddenly flashed the movie “Idiocracy”.
Keep your shirt on, it’s not that sexy of a movie. Ghostbusters, on the other hand…
Myra, I have to agree with Grrrreg. I don’t think they bother me because I don’t notice them as much during the games. The broadcasters must put the microphones far away from the vuvuzela section.
What does annoy me, is that every time I type “vuvuzela”, Google tells me I appear to be typing in Dutch, then asks if I want to switch my spell check to Dutch. (just in case you were wondering, the closest Dutch match is “vijzel” which is a mortar.)
There isn’t a vuvuzela section, it’s the whole stadium.
Sorry, that’s not the kind of “hot” flashing I do anymore. Sigh. And I am a major cranky butt today so don’t mind me.
I really don’t see how you young whippersnappers can get used to those things but I have very very low tolerance for highly repetitive noise, sounds, songs, you name it. Sets me on edge immediately.
Now, GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!
Now, GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!
NO! PURELY BECAUSE I AM VERY CONTRARY TODAY!
I have very very low tolerance for highly repetitive noise, sounds, songs, you name it. Sets me on edge immediately.
You and me both. It just flips a switch in my head and I become even more cranky than usual.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That mysterious and wonderful benefactor must be very cool.
Myra, Boomer hit the nail on the head saying “it’s like cicadas in the summertime”. I think the broadcasts have been lowering the crowd noise a tinch, but it’s also just white-noise when you’re watching the games. I can see how it would be ungodly annoying when you first turn the game on and aren’t used to it, but it’s a sporting event — you tune in to watch the game, so you get into it and cease to focus on the crowd and instead focus on the game.
I hate to think that the vuvuzelas are keeping people from watching the tournament because it’s like the sports equivalent a giant pile of macarons on top of a delicious cake on top of a mountain of the best chocolate chip cookies ever.
The jumbotron/Public Announcing system should never be needed to make fans make noise.
Amen to that!
That mysterious and wonderful benefactor must be very cool.
Amen to that, too! TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!
I hate to think that the vuvuzelas are keeping people from watching the tournament
Word. This is the World Cup, not Junior Pairs ’82. Aren’t we tough enough as fans to listen to some kazoo buzzing from the stands on TV for 90 minutes? Are we men or are we mice?
Umm…..Squeeeek
Yeah, Myra. Heh. :P
But seriously, I get that the vuvuzelas are annoying, but there’s still the whole rest of the World Cup to counterbalance the buzzing. I mean, there’s the ramping-up intensity, there’s the party atmosphere, there’s the fact that watching means you’re sharing a sports-fan experience with gazillions of people all over the world, and there are the foxy, foxy (and geografoxy!) players. It’s got so much going for it that I kind of can’t understand being distracted by the vuvuzelas! (I’m good at tuning them out, though. If you want to watch but really can’t get over the buzzing, I’ve read that those cheap little foam earplugs work really well. You lose the vuvuzelas but can still hear the announcing, and they cost, like, pennies.)
there are the foxy, foxy (and geografoxy!) players
It’s like Pot Roast Central out there! Italy plays on Sunday — put your TV on mute and check them out. As Monk would say, “You’ll thank me later.” :D
It looks like Sam Worthington, Dax Shepard, and the bad guy from “Justified” all play for team Australia.
And what is a “soccer-roo”?
What’s “geografoxy”? (I’m sure the answer will be so obvious as to make me feel like a moron.)
And speaking of, looks like Coach Foxy has found himself a home in LA. Dustin Brown, dig out your oven mitts.
And what is a “soccer-roo”?
It’s Roo from Winnie the Pooh’s little brother, who imprinted on a football instead of their mother Kanga.
What’s “geografoxy”? (I’m sure the answer will be so obvious as to make me feel like a moron.)
Seeing all those thrusting peaks and deep, deep valleys on globes just turns the Ookies on.
Vuvuzelas really make you appreciate the Wave. :P
(I’m just kidding. I’m not saying they’re growing on me, in the least, but I will say that the vuvuzelas are retreating a little into the background. I feel like I still want to complain about them, though.)
I love Camaroon’s socks.
(I meant Cameroon, of course.) (Comments should be editable!)
Comments should be editable!
Anything out of my mouth should be editable.
Anything out of my mouth should be editable.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
That’s a good idea, too. For all of us. :P
Devils fans, I know you probably don’t need news updates, but what in the HELL is Lou doing trading for Jason Arnott?
He’s finally lost it and my parents with him. I called them to yell about it, and my Da was actually happy to hear about Arnott. Utterly mad.
I know this is just me being resistant to change, but NO! DO NOT WANT!
When he gets to town, Mags, make him tell you the story of how he saved his bulldog from drowning by giving him mouth-to-mouth. :D
*head firmly on desk*
I need a fucking cookie. (which is like saying “I need a fucking drink” for anyone else)
i wonder if the ookies are going to blow their vuvuzelases when they hear the news?…somehow i doubt it
Maybe the Devils are trying a new tactic for winning the Stanley Cup: getting their old Stanley Cup winners back? They got the wrong Niedermeyer, but those guys are kind of interchangeable, right? I’m sure Montreal will donate Gomez to the Devils’ cause. Is Friesen still around? Can we pull Stevens and Daneyko out of retirement?
could be you are on to something there, mcguffers–maybe the plan is to make johnny mac a player coach!
maybe the plan is to make johnny mac a player coach!
That’s right! How did I forget about him?! Clearly we now know their secret!
Robin van Persie. Is on my TV. Without a shirt.
Arnott who?
Okay, we’ve been having a quiet, computerless day today, watching the games on tivo delay and doing some stitching, and I’m literally falling asleep into a lovely afternoon nap on the couch when Pookie’s iPhone dings with an email. I drowsily ask her if it’s anything I need to turn my computer on about, and she gives a panicky, “HOLD ON” response. Oh shit, I’m thinking. Something horrible has happened to the Devils. Never in my wildest dreams, though, would I have guessed exactly HOW horrible. I’m wide awake now, and my whole fucking weekend has been ruined. Hmph.
I know this is just me being resistant to change, but NO! DO NOT WANT!
Mags, the problem is that it’s NOT change. It’s returning to a past that desperately deserved to be ended when it was. EIGHT YEARS AGO. GAH!!!!!
maybe the plan is to make johnny mac a player coach!
Boomer, who hates EVERY coaching hire with the Devils, is already frothing at the mouth about Johnny Mac, so I’m not going to make any remarks of this sort within earshot of her. There’s no telling what she might do! :D
(And “geografoxy” means “foxy because the person is foreign”. You know the type. :D)
Robin van Persie. Is on my TV. Without a shirt.
That would really help. We were in our initial Arnott depression when we were zapping to the start of the Cameroon/Denmark game. Pookie stopped long enough in the fast-forwarding to soak up that grinning-from-ear-to-ear shot of Cannavaro in the Nike WC commercial. It helped ease our pain at least a little bit.
i wonder if the ookies are going to blow their vuvuzelases when they hear the news?…somehow i doubt it
You doubt correctly, don. Jaaaaaason Arnott, eh? It’s like Lou wants me to be a Flyers fan! This is so, so, so not cool. Unless Lou traded for him in order to turn around and trade him for, say, Mike Richards.
I’m not happy, but it could be worse. He could decide to sign Sykora, just because. At that point, I’d write a letter to the owner suggesting that Lou be put in a retirement home.
There’s still plenty of Brahms to be played this summer, Sue — don’t put your pen and stationery away just yet! That sounds WAAAY too likely to assume it won’t happen!
I’m sure Montreal will donate Gomez to the Devils’ cause.
mcguffers…no, just, no. I mean, I can see that Montreal would want to do that, but, just, no.
Anyway, Gomez would have to approve it and who would he have to blame for his failures if he were actually traded back to NJ?
Anyway, Gomez would have to approve it and who would he have to blame for his failures if he were actually traded back to NJ?
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: It would probably be a lot easier for him to blame New Jersey if he’s actually playing there. I mean, right now it’s sort of stretching the limits of credulity, but if he came back, he could directly blame his teammates and organization. It would make so much sense for him to approve that trade! :P
what in the HELL is Lou doing trading for Jason Arnott?
When he gets to town, Mags, make him tell you the story of how he saved his bulldog from drowning by giving him mouth-to-mouth. :D
AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
(wait, seriously?)
Ummm…that Cameroon game was amazing, if sad that an African team go knocked out.
Everyone needs to read this coverage of the Brazil – Best Korea game http://www.iwial.co.uk/?p=1033
Is it considered a spoiler if I tell you right now that France lost its next tuesday game against South Africa?
This team is HILARIOUS. I will miss all the drama once they’re out. I’ve never seen such a mess (and remember, I’m a habs fan…)
I love the French team. They’re all a bunch of psychos! And you’re apparently psychic, Grrrreg, good for you!
I still can’t believe there are people who think the Dutch are going to take it all. I’ve seen this country produce much better lineups and they inevitably flamed out in the quarters. By that time they usually meet up with the Germans or the Portuguese, and everyone will get so excited by the prospect of revenge for some old slight that they’ll forget how to play football/soccer.
By the by, I found that Belgian TV has clever noise cancelling that almost makes the vuvuzelas disappear. Their accent is dopey, but at least the broadcast doesn’t give me a headache.
=======<() VVVVVVVVVVVvvvvvvvvuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Did you see Kaka get red carded? That game was insane!
Love the vuvuzela! Especially with EuroMats! =======<()
=======<()
=======<()
Carol that emoticon is awesome! I’m going to use it for Stars goals next season! (Presuming there are any, which I’m not.) :D
Is it considered a spoiler if I tell you right now that France lost its next tuesday game against South Africa?
Hahahahaha! Sorry about your team, Grrrreg, but they are pretty much cracking me up, too.
I still can’t believe there are people who think the Dutch are going to take it all.
To be fair, they’re the only traditional power that hasn’t pooped the bed so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY-eYXleI-U I’ll just leave this here, because it’s everything I want.
I still can’t believe there are people who think the Dutch are going to take it all.
Like me! I picked them in my office pool, for two reasons — one, they wear orange, and two, I’m going to be in the Netherlands for the final. Wishful thinking. :D
Is it considered a spoiler if I tell you right now that France lost its next tuesday game against South Africa?
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grrrreg, you and your spoilers! Are we going to have to ban you? :P
And Carol, I LOVE that vuvuzela emoticon!!!
Who knew World Cup Soccer would provide such scandal? A mole on the French Team showing the confrontation within the team? All the mistakes by professional teams? It’s pretty fun to see.
It also feels like the refs are more a part of the game than in other sports.
I’m still cheering for New Zealand – not because I care about stats and stuff, but just because I love a certain TV show from that country and the name of their rugby team. Also, I *heart* underdogs.
And that’s my story.
=======<() – I stole that from twitter. :-)
Arnott?
is Val shitting me?
I wish, Pam. I wish.
is Val shitting me?
Precisely the opposite. Val’s so constipated they need a stick to dig you out.
well, Halishuck bites anyway. It’s not a big risk.
Precisely the opposite. Val’s so constipated they need a stick to dig you out.
LMAO
LMAO
That’s the spirit, you’ll pass much more quickly when broken up.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ok, I do have to say I like the vuvuzela emoticon.
Unless Lou traded for him in order to turn around and trade him for, say, Mike Richards.
Pierre LeBrun did write this morning that Lou wasn’t done, that he needed to make the math work (w/r/t his current deals and getting Paulie & Kovalchuk back in the fold.) So who knows what else Lou has up his sleeve.
And tomorrow is schedule day!
I can’t believe schedule day is so early!
I know! It seems really early this year.
I’m not sure how I feel about schedule day being so early in the summer. If they wait a little longer, I’m more inclined to look at it as a hopeful thing, brimming with the promise of hockey yet to come. Releasing it tomorrow makes me think, “Wait, I have to watch 82 Devils games again???” :P
They’re just trying to ride the World Cup wave. I they’re going to pick the schedules by picking vuvuzelas with the logos of two teams on each out of a hat and blow them until every team has 82 games.
And on the 4th of November, we have Minnesota versus BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ th of November, we have BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ against ColomBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Tim, that’s the most beautiful schedule reading I’ve ever heard. ::wipes away a tear of joy::
Schedule day tomorrow? Man, I’d be so out of the loop if it wasn’t for you guys. You are all on top of it!
picking vuvuzelas with the logos of two teams on each out of a hat
They’ll also apparently break the world record for largest hat.
I can’t believe schedule day is so early!
I think they moved it so that the NHL could use it as a lead-in to the Awards & Draft this week.
Oh my goodness gracious! I’ve affected the sub-header! I…I…*sniff*…I don’t know what to say, this means so much to me.
there are parents at the park next door that blow the vuvuzelas during their 7 year old soccer games. and that was last year already. i can hear them from my place and its annoying. If my kid played on that team i’m make her quit.
or teach her how to kick the ball at vuvuzelas for extra post-game ice cream.
if you’re going to blow them after a goal, then great, i’m all for it. if you’re going to blow it every time someone kicks the ball, you’re an annoying idiot. if you’re going to blow it at your cat, you’re a comic genius, albeit slightly demented, in a good way of course.
and i predict Lamoriello is going to resign Brylin.
He should re-sign Chico so we can figure out how exactly Marty gets rid of his back-ups and what sort of food he gives them.
and i predict Lamoriello is going to resign Brylin.
He should re-sign Chico so we can figure out how exactly Marty gets rid of his back-ups and what sort of food he gives them.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: to both of you!
And Tim, you should have known “brandy snifter + poop” would get a subtitle honor around here!
I guess in many ways I’m still a filthy freshman.
Am I the only one who doesn’t think resigning Arnott is a bad thing? The Devils finally have another actual center so they can quit having Elias waste away out of position and everyone with #25 jerseys can dig them back out of the closet. As for Lou worrying how to structure salaries so he can resign Martin and Kovalchuk, I really don’t think he needs to wonder how to fit Kovalchuk’s salary under the cap…
And I will disavow the above cheer and be hiding out in Europe (hopefully in Switzerland) under an assumed name somewhere when the Devils finally go completely to hell when they try to trade their 7th round pick in the 2011 draft for the rights to Bruce Driver only to find out they have no draft picks left.
Am I the only one who doesn’t think resigning Arnott is a bad thing?
The thing is, there are multiple problems:
1. He’s yet another retread (I have this feeling we wouldn’t have brought in a 36-year old making $4.5 million who hadn’t played here before)
2. He’s 36
3. He’s making $4.5 million
4. Did I mention he’s another ex-Dexil, he’s old and he’s expensive?
I do understand that we need an actual second-line center and that someone younger/less expensive was unlikely to be readily available. It was nice to see someone so happy to be coming to NJ. It appears to be only for one year (although Lou could do something stupid and re-sign him). Apparently, Patty Elias happy and that hasn’t happened for a while (he gets to watch the World Cup and Arnott is returning). But…WTF is the money coming from to do the other things that need to be done, unless there is a contract out on Rolston as I write this? Because he has a no trade clause and he signed as a 35-yr old so there’s nothing else to be done with him.
Am I the only one who doesn’t think resigning Arnott is a bad thing?
I just think everyone over 28 is old and I hate them with a fiery passion. :P
In my day, we didn’t have confusing new technologies to complain about, you with your high-falootin’ books and cassette tapes and fax machines and your oh-so-precious synthesizer music!
1. He’s yet another retread (I have this feeling we wouldn’t have brought in a 36-year old making $4.5 million who hadn’t played here before)
2. He’s 36
3. He’s making $4.5 million
Nicely put, Sue! :D
Hmm, now you all have me worried. I must admit that I thought signing Rolston was a good idea too so perhaps my opinion should be ignored. I like the idea of players returning to the fold but I would like it a lot more if they would actually do some good. At least the Arnott deal is only for one year. Maybe he can bludgeon some sense into Langenbrunner.
The Rolston deal seemed cool because he was a highly sought-after free agent; it was like a psychological boost that the Devils were a team that a highly sought-after free agent would want to sign with. Arnott? Not so sought-after. This is a psychological bottoming-out. Lou doesn’t have any better ideas than bringing back washed-up former malcontents. Yay.
Maybe he can bludgeon some sense into Langenbrunner.
No, wait, better yet — he can take Langer out with him in one of patented Arnott Freak Accidents! Instead of cutting his own hand badly on a knife while camping, he can give Langer a season-ended laceration! Hey, maybe this is a good move…
Lou doesn’t have any better ideas than bringing back washed-up former malcontents
Hee hee, you must love the new coach then. I can’t remember why Arnott was traded, please elaborate.
I had actually kinda forgotten about exactly how ugly the MacLean sitch was until I read Rich Chere’s article. You’ve got to admire Lou’s ability to not hold a grudge, I guess.
Arnott had an ugly hold out and I always got the impression that he and Sykora weren’t as… well… they weren’t Scott Stevens. I don’t think there was anything to the Arnott trade other than “he’s a washed up old loser and can you believe they gave us Langerbrunner in return hahahahahah”. Look how that turned out. Now we’re stuck with the washed up old loser AND Langer! D’oh!
Look how that turned out. Now we’re stuck with the washed up old loser AND Langer! D’oh!
Wow. The joke really IS on us, isn’t it?
Hee hee, you must love the new coach then. I can’t remember why Arnott was traded, please elaborate.
He was traded during the 2001-2002 season when the team was struggling, Robinson and Fetisov were fired and Kevin Constantine was brought in to coach. Apparently Arnott had been complaining that older players were treated differently than younger players and led something of a locker room revolt against Larry Robinson, and that season he basically showed up for games against the Rangers, Philly and few other teams in the East and couldn’t be bothered to play against anyone else.
This is why I find the idea of him bludgeoning sense into Langenbrunner kind of funny, but apparently he has grown up and maybe he’s learned a few things. Maybe.
Anyway, after he was traded, Sykora suddenly came down with a mysterious ‘flu’ for about 2 weeks on a Western road trip, basically he was ‘sick’ because his buddy got traded. Then he got hurt before the playoffs, admitted he could skate and was “80%” but didn’t consider that good enough to play against Caroline. Then he was traded. Elias kept his head down, kept his mouth shut, and played on whatever line they put him on, wherever they asked him to play. Which is another reason I hate Brent Sutter’s guts and hope he fails miserably. At everything.
Woohoo!! Home-opener preview! The Devils and the Trannies both got screwed, I’d say. Dallas? Colorado? Out-of-conference home openers are just mean. But the Sabres got the Rangers!
*pounds fist*
DESTROY THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look how that turned out. Now we’re stuck with the washed up old loser AND Langer! D’oh!
BAAHHH HAHAHAHAHA!! Teach you to make fun of my whining about losing Langer. :P
I think Lou feels like he brought enough novelty to the franchise for the next 10 years with the Kovalchuck trade . Now he’s like “People don’t like change. Our fans are people. So our fans don’t like change. I don’t want to unsettle the fanbase with crazy trades like that ever again. No way we’re going to make the front page of TSN ever again! Not under my watch!”
Aw poop, why couldn’t the entire French team boycott the game and let the Bafana Bafana through easy?
Grrreg, I think you’re on to something with Lou’s motivation there.
Tim, great, now you’re spoiling the suspense of whether the French team would show up today?! Thanks a lot! :P
Spoiler alert: Neither South Africa nor Mexico is wearing blue today.
Everyone that’s not Grrreg needs to look up as many pictures of Djibril Cisse as possible, he’s always had the best hair in sports history, AND he has leopard spots tattooed up his arms.
If you say nonsensee, Jagr’s mullet or somesuch, hear this: Cisse once had a dragon for hair.
Cisse looks incredible. Or incredibly bad, to be more precise.
I find myself kind of rooting for France because when watching a sport I know very little about, I look for craziness and guys with beaded braids. So there you go.
Maybe I should check the Sabres page to see if they did anything exciting and/or controversial!! Oh wait. They’re the Sabres. I hardly call last year’s acquisitions of ex-Sabre Mike Grier and that toothless guy from Boston exciting. We’re about as controversial as wearing white after Labor Day. And Derek Roy has already shut the critics up on that one.
I find myself kind of rooting for France because when watching a sport I know very little about, I look for craziness and guys with beaded braids. So there you go.
Cisse is our only really crazy looking guy though.
Well Ribery does look like Frankenstein’s monster, but not on purpose.
France rugby has more crazy looking guys, but nobody can touch Cisse’s levels.
My comment about Ribery, Phaneuf, and Frankenstein got lost, but yes Grrrreg, I thoroughly agree.
I’m pretty sure every rugby team has some crazy looking guys because you need to be slightly unhinged to play rugby.
How rude! I am not “slightly unhinged” satsuma under the bedroll fahrfegnugen!
Exactly. Tim, some of my best friends played rugby. And they’re frickin nuts.
Oh, hey, I almost forgot! Happy Schedule Day, everyone!
What crack are the schedule gods on? The Sabres go out west at the end of December to play Calgary & Edmonton, then come home to play Boston on New Years Day, then head back out west to play San Jose, Colorado & Phoenix.
Does anyone else have fun things like this in their schedule?
We’re about as controversial as wearing white after Labor Day. And Derek Roy has already shut the critics up on that one.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Woohoo!!! Schedule day!!!
(I really hope the Sabres get a preseason game against the Bruins, though, because otherwise my boycott on Boston-area beer will be extended until November. I miss Harpoon :()
Heh. Usually Schedule Day leaves me feeling like “Awww. October’s soooo far awaaaaayyyyy.” Yet today, I’m more “Wooh. October’s still far away.”
Heh. Usually Schedule Day leaves me feeling like “Awww. October’s soooo far awaaaaayyyyy.” Yet today, I’m more “Wooh. October’s still far away.”
Don’t say that. My birthday’s then.
I’m feeling exactly the same way, mcguffers! I was doing my usual weekly “flip the calendar counting down the days until my next vacation” time-waster yesterday and was actually pleased to see there was still so many weeks between now and Fall.
The Devils 3rd game is a matinee on a weekday that I don’t get off. The Schedule Gods do love me!
Don’t say that. My birthday’s then.
So’s mine. No game on my birthday this year, but the Devils are the night before and the Trannies the night after. There’s a joke in there somewhere…
The Sabres go out west at the end of December to play Calgary & Edmonton, then come home to play Boston on New Years Day, then head back out west to play San Jose, Colorado & Phoenix.
It’s not very efficient, but at least they’ve got a decentish amount of time between travel. And Buffalo-Boston is a nice post-WC matchup — the fans can bond over bitching about how much better both of their respective games were than the Sidvechkin Bowl.
The Sabres are playing Chicago twice in the first full week of the season, and they’re going to Toronto for the Hall of Fame game. It’s like Larry Quinn himself wrote the schedule.
This isn’t going to make me one of the cool kids, but I AM excited by schedule day, so there. For a few months it looked like the Sabres, plus the Bills, plus my last relationship had finally succeeded in pounding all the irrational optimism out of me THANK GOD and I could go about like a normal person, but nope, it’s still there. WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Oh, and in April and May I was convinced Joe Pavelski was going to be the newest Sabre, but now I’m pretty sure it’s going to be Jeff Carter. Can’t wait!)
Happy Schedule Day! Canucks play those stinking Kings first game back in October.
In unrelated news, the National Watermelon Promotion Board in Canada emailed me today after I posted a watermelon recipe on my blog. I had no idea there even was such a thing. I’m all excited about that.
And that’s my story. Right Schnookie?
Hey wow! Schedule Day! I kinda totally forgot about it! (See, NHL? Normally I’m on tenterhooks because you wait until JULY to release this. No, I will NOT let this go. Maybe I should just ignore the schedule and not look at it until July, when I’m ready to be excited about it all again. :P)
Carol, I’m impressed that Canada has a Watermelon Promotion Board. And to have been contacted by such an august authority about your recipe? That’s awesome!
Kathleen, I’m excited for you being excited by Schedule Day. :D
They have watermelon in Canada? ;p
Carol, that pavlova looks mmmmmmmmmmmm……..
Thanks for the info Sue! By all accounts Arnott has been a good captain in Nashville and their team has certainly overacheived the last few years so hopefully he has grown up and all that stuff now. That’s why I was hoping he can bludgeon sense into Langenbrunner.
And woohoo for schedule day! I am pondering between three different flights to see Devils games this year in Florida, New Jersey or Los Angeles. Decisions decisions!
The best part about Arnott to the Devils?
Captain Shea Weber.
(The Preds have got to go with him, right?)
I am pondering between three different flights to see Devils games this year in Florida, New Jersey or Los Angeles. Decisions decisions!
What. No Dallas?! (It’s opening night, so you could get it right out of the way!)
The best part about Arnott to the Devils?
Captain Shea Weber.
General M.T. Weber (who just jumped in a laundry basket full of hangers) is quite pleased at that suggestion. Though Captain is still not as high as Gen.
Also pleasing? Greece vs. Argentina with a Scottish announcer. My eyes and ears are happy. Ooops. Spoiler alert: Two hot teams will play while a dude with a sweet accent speaks.
Spoiler alert: Two hot teams will play while a dude with a sweet accent speaks.
I thought that was the entire point of the World Cup.
Yay! A shiny new reason to hate the Bruins!
What. No Dallas?! (It’s opening night, so you could get it right out of the way!)
Um, Patty, the Stars play the Devils in Jersey for the season opener. So, yeah, no Dallas.
Um, Patty, the Stars play the Devils in Jersey for the season opener.
Oh. Duh. *slinks away*
The come to town in February, though! That’s a good time to be in Dallas. Ahhhh, winter. I miss you so.
I thought that was the entire point of the World Cup.
Indeed! I’m super excited to watch on tivo tonight the showdown of Hottie Mexico vs. Hotty-Hottster Uruguay!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::: Patty, I do that all the time! I’ll look at the little pocket schedule during the season and forget which color stands for home.
Looks like we don’t have to worry about Lou trying to re-acquire Nieds the greater. TSN says he’s retiring (for real this time). Unfortunately, that doesn’t prevent Lou from re-signing Nieds the lesser.
Btw, McGuggs, what does the MT stand for? The only thing I can come up with is General “Mountain Time” Weber and I think that might not be right.
There’s no bizarre travel for the Canucks this season for me to rage about. I feel unhinged. Without tradition and purpose…
Aww, no Devils games on my burfday. I remember once the season started on my burfday and I missed it because I was in stupid Indiana.
McGuggs, what does the MT stand for?
General “Marshmallow Toes” Weber.
Can someone pay for me to live report the Bruins game in Belfast for here? I really, really want to go to Belfast…………………………………………….because I love hockey so much?
Hahaha! It’s “Muffin Top”. I acquired a cat from my brother’s girlfriend’s mom that they had named “Muffin”. As he is a male cat, I found it mentally damaging to continue calling him that, so I added “Top” to be snarky. I gave him the last name Weber, because Shea Weber is one of my favorite players, and then everyone here suggested that a formal title would give the little guy a chance to reclaim some pride. Hence his new full name General Muffin Top Weber. But around the house he’s just “Webbs.”
Awww, like John Wayne’s cat in True Grit, General Stirling Price.
I like pets with full names and/or titles, but I think it’s important to decide whether or not the animal will take your last name or if its last name will be its species name, like storybook characters.
So’s mine. No game on my birthday this year, but the Devils are the night before and the Trannies the night after. There’s a joke in there somewhere…
I found the joke! Do I win a prize?
I feel unhinged. Without tradition and purpose…
Seems the Canucks have no respect for tradition in their 40th anniversary year. What a shame. :p
I feel unhinged. Without tradition and purpose
You mean, you feel like you’ve become a Hurricane fan?
I found the joke! Do I win a prize?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Nicely done! I can’t believe that was sitting there, like a softball, ALL day and I didn’t notice. (It was a looooong day.)
You mean, you feel like you’ve become a Hurricane fan?
ZING!
I think it’s important to decide whether or not the animal will take your last name or if its last name will be its species name, like storybook characters.
This just blew my mind. It never occurred to me that my cats might be going around using a different last name than mine! I’m going to have to go check their little kitty passports.
I’m sitting on the floor in the middle of my “living room”, among a thousand carton boxes. I’m moving out from the tiny flat where I lived for the last 5 years, and I can’t believe how much crap I’ve accumulated over the last few years. I knew I was messy, but wow. :/