It was a busy day of churn for the Devils roster today, and we’re sure the entire interwebs are on tenterhooks to hear what we think of the big changes.
– Of Paulie’s departure, we can’t muster much more than a shrug. It’s always sad when a Nation loses its emperor-god, but with Paulie, maybe he was just more of a sometime emperor-god, instead of a forever one. It was good while it lasted, and now it’s over. Adios, Paulie. (We should have seen this signing coming — Paulie’s never had any finish, what made us think he’d finish well with the Devils?)
– Of Volchenkov, we also can’t muster much more than a shrug. We had literally nothing to say about him (other than Pookie’s knee-jerk, “GAH! I hate shot-blocking d-men so much!”) until we realized something quite magical. The name “Volchenkov” sounds suspiciously like the Disco Volante, the villain’s boat from Thunderball. That means we can call our newest d-man “Disco”! For six more years! Welcome to the family, Disco!
– Of Tallinder, well… Look. We have two questions we ask every free agent who is considering signing with the Devils:
1. Are you injury prone?
2. Are you the favorite player of one of our very best friends, and will your departure from her favorite team leave her devastated?
If the player can answer yes to both of those questions, we don’t want him.
– Of hockey in general, something interesting has happened to us in the last few days. You might recall that by the end of this past season, we were in a state of massive controlled burn. We didn’t want to watch any hockey, didn’t want to hear about any hockey, didn’t want to even contemplate the concept of hockey. A long summer was just what the doctor ordered. And you know what? It’s working! We’re a few weeks away from finishing our second Project 365, and when revisiting our pictures from last fall and winter, we came across this:
Suddenly, just like that, we’re back on board. Lazy days of watching early-season hockey and puttering on our quilting, while the cold weather does its thing outside? What could be better! Sure, the Devils are likely to be the same old stupid Devils, only with some different names in the mix, but that’s something we’ll worry about again when it’s swoonin’ season. We’re still enjoying summer, but now we’re not dragging our feet for the start of the next hockey season. We might even be… anticipating it. We never thought we’d see the day!
UFA Day, and all we got was fucking Jordan Leopold?
I take back every nice thing I ever said about Darcy.
(Yes, I know it’s not over, but I’d like to indulge in the luxury of bitching and sulking for a day or two. So there.)
I think those are two EXCELLENT questions to ask. I can’t believe Lou and Darcy didn’t think of them. Let’s send out a memo!
I honestly can’t figure out what Lou and Darcy were thinking. I mean, come ON. It’s a TWO-QUESTION questionnaire! How hard can this be??
How hard can this be??
I’m not sure we want an answer to that question.
I’m also not sure that there’s any real reason to want Jordan Leopold on one’s team.
I think Miller might have a lot of work next season…
I’m also not sure that there’s any real reason to want Jordan Leopold on one’s team.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: And yeah, Crunchy’s probably not very thrilled right now.
I like how the Leopold signing didn’t even make TSN’s UFA tracker because no one gives a flying eff. (I mean, I assume.)
This whole Hank thing is like watching your two friends try not to fight with each other! I don’t like it.
Are y’all prepared to explain the Disco nickname every once in a while until we get used to it? :D It’s a great one, but I have a limited attention span.
It’s a great one, but I have a limited attention span.
I forgot already.
There’s an added bonus to the Devils signing the Disco Volente: hidden shark tank!
I’m excited for the Hedberg era. He’s the only goalie whose entire highlight reel consists of bloopers.
He’s the only goalie whose entire highlight reel consists of bloopers.
Except when he plays the Sabres. Against them his highlight reel seems to consist entirely of saves and wins.
Except when he plays the Sabres. Against them his highlight reel seems to consist entirely of saves and wins.
And dead-pan jokes about Smacky the Frog.
Did I actually read the word anticipating?
Did I see that the home opener is on a Friday against the Stars?
Is there another Friday with Frisby in the not so distant future?
Please say yes. Don’t make me beg, because I will. I’m not above that. Even though I did get a PHAT raise!
I’m gonna have to think about how I feel about the newly signed Devils (and Arnott), but I’ll just go ahead and say that my initial reactions were mostly positive.
Oh, and a big WOOOOOOOOOO!!! for Clarkson, even though he looked completely lost after every stoppage of play in the Philly series.
Pookie, why do you hate shot blocking d-men?
I’m also not sure that there’s any real reason to want Jordan Leopold on one’s team.
Blame Vanek. From what Leopold told TBN, Vanek did the hard sell on Leopold once Leopold found out the Sabres were interested.
There’s an added bonus to the Devils signing the Disco Volente: hidden shark tank!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! You’re so right!!!! The Disco Era is gonna RAWK! (Um, see what I did there?)
Are y’all prepared to explain the Disco nickname every once in a while until we get used to it?
Nope. It’s sink or swim around here! :P (Especially in the hidden shark tank.)
Frisby, Fridays with Frisby are always welcome! And what’s all this about a PHAT raise? I take it things worked out well with the job situation? :D (And I agree about the WOOOOOOOOOOOO! for Clarkson. I think it was the news of his re-signing that spurred the ending of my hockey controlled burn.)
I will (very grudgingly) admit to not hating hockey today. It’s mostly Hedberg, because he amuses the crap out of me. And Clarkson. He handsome. We’ll see what happens eh?
And Clarkson. He handsome. We’ll see what happens eh?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: That’s the spirit!
Nope. It’s sink or swim around here! :P (Especially in the hidden shark tank.)
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I hope the DJ at the Rawk plays “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” for him every time he blocks a shot.
Frisby, congratulations on the big PHAT raise!!
Amy, I hate shot blockers because shot blocking is stupid and boring. It gets guys hurt for no reason — they have a goalie there to stop it! Also, I find it’s a boring way for an offensive play to end. I’d much rather see the puck get through to the goalie and then watch him deal with it.
(Um, see what I did there?)
IT WORKS ON SO MANY LEVELS!
I’d much rather see the puck get through to the goalie and then watch him deal with it.
But….it’s gonna be Marty and the Moose (every morning on 95.6 KJBBLY THE JIBBLES!) back there. I say the more shot blockers the better.
You guys have missed the biggest news of the signing period. Sestito Puente’s been re-signed.
Marty and the Moose (every morning on 95.6 KJBBLY THE JIBBLES!)
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I don’t normally go in for the Drive Time Zoo, but those two guys just keep winning me over.
Sestito Puente’s been re-signed.
I know! I am INORDINATELY excited about that!
And he’s got a brother named Tom, who needs to be signed right now. Tim and Tom the Sestito Puente brothers, playing on the same line! It’d be like a DIY Sedins kit, except they’re not twins and they’re not talented.
It’d be like a DIY Sedins kit, except they’re not twins and they’re not talented.
We can’t lose!
And dead-pan jokes about Smacky the Frog.
Nice. Johan “Mitch” Hedberg
“Never has there been a frog hopping toward me and I thought, Man, I better play dead.”
I’m kinda ‘meh’ with Leopold. On one hand he’s a good stay at home, steady defenseman. Which we need. On the other hand he’s a bit injury prone with a history of concussions.
Today has a high level of what-the-fuckery. And that’s all I’ve got.
On the other hand he’s a bit injury prone with a history of concussions.
I thought Lindros retired.
I thought Lindros retired.
His legacy remains.
Marty and the Moose (every morning on 95.6 KJBBLY THE JIBBLES!)
Hee. I’d like to point out that KJBB is a radio station in S.D. with a religious format. [/media buyer geekery].
I’d like to point out that KJBB is a radio station in S.D. with a religious format. [/media buyer geekery].
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Marty and the Moose do a very deft job of working a religious format into drive time. :P
I looooove the World Cup. Ghana better not ruin it all for me.
Marty and the Moose do a very deft job of working a religious format into drive time. :P
The usual drive time radio show’s fart button has been replaced with “Ave Maria”.
Uruguay’s national anthem is so cheery!
The usual drive time radio show’s fart button has been replaced with “Ave Maria”.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Absolutely. It’s a class establishment they run.
And I have the biggest crush on Uruguay’s national anthem. I can’t wait to watch that game tonight!
The usual drive time radio show’s fart button has been replaced with “Ave Maria”.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I love Uruguay’s anthem because it’s so at odds with the intense looks the players try to pull off before the game.
I have never heard this magical anthem. I’ll have to watch the game on On Demand tomorrow or something.
It’s the friendliest, peppiest, most cheerful national anthem ever. I hope the words are really militaristic.
andrew, here it is in all it’s peppy glory:
LINK TO URUGUAY NATIONAL ANTHEM
The vocals start at the 1:00 mark. Prepare yourself for the unbelievable peppiness! (It’s, apparently, the longest national anthem in terms of measures. Huh. You learn something new every day!)
The Uruguay national anthem sounds like it should be the soundtrack to a cartoon.
Wow. Sounds like part high school graduation, part sea shanty, part Disney movie.
I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But you guys are right. That’s incredible.
Sounds like part high school graduation, part sea shanty, part Disney movie.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: They don’t play the full thing at the World Cup, so I was unaware of the solo part in the middle. Damn. I could listen to that thing all day. It’s profoundly amazing! Why can’t we have that adorable a national anthem?
Why can’t we have that adorable a national anthem?
I don’t know…but it would be pretty awesome. This much I’m sure of.
Oh my god you guys I want to die. I am so bored. I ran out of stuff to do at 10:00. They’re having an ice cream social downstairs at 2:00. I’m *shudder* thinking of going. Not because I enjoy the company of my co-workers or want ice cream, but just because it’s something to do. How sad is that?
I’m glad it lived up to our praises!
The lyrics are hilarious. One of the choruses is “Tyrants! Tremble! Tyrants! Tremble!”
andrew, there is NOTHING sadder than being forced by sheer boredom to attend an office ice cream social. I am SO sorry. My morning in the office sucked ass (it was as busy as the first Monday back from a vacation, which is RIDONK, because there were only, like, 10 other people in the office today. What is UO with that shit? Didn’t they also just want to clock their four hours and then head for the beach??), but I got to leave at noon. I think I would have killed myself if I’d had to stay a moment longer.
One of the choruses is “Tyrants! Tremble! Tyrants! Tremble!”
Heh. Well, NATURALLY. What else would a song that sounds like that be saying?
there is NOTHING sadder than being forced by sheer boredom to attend an office ice cream social. I am SO sorry.
I know right?! So lame. I don’t even eat ice cream!
Glad to hear you got out of there early. I wish I could do the same. Tracie’s been off of work since the 9th. Sitting at home with stupid awesome streaming Netflix, watching movies all day. Makes me not want to go to work. Every. Single. Morning. Of course she’s also 9 months pregnant, so I guess that cancels out some of the enjoyment.
Not fair. I have to pick up my brother from work and miss the end of Uruguay – Ghana. He should walk home.
A gaggle on preadolescent girls have been outside singing Amy Winehouse songs for the last 20 minutes.
GET. OFF. MY. LAWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I miss living in the city. This kind of bullshit never happened.)
Not fair. I have to pick up my brother from work and miss the end of Uruguay – Ghana.
Now that I’ve watched the game, I have to say: Tim, your brother owes you. BIG TIME. Holy shit! What a CRAZY game.
Now that I’ve watched the game, I have to say: Tim, your brother owes you. BIG TIME. Holy shit! What a CRAZY game.
I was just going to say the same thing!
I managed to get home in time to see Gyan bang his penalty off the cross bar, because as I was halfway there, he called and said he didn’t need picking up. That was the cruelest game of this World Cup, even worse than the England-Germany game as England deserved to lose. Ghana didn’t, and especially not like that.
I was cheering for Uruguay and agree that it was the cruelest game of the World Cup, by far. Of course, I didn’t think that either team really deserved to lose, least of all the way Ghana did. Ultimately, I just have to say that I don’t think I’ve ever seen another sporting event in my life that had such extreme emotional swings. That was INSANE.
Is there a spoiler cap today?
The parade: Civic society’s most irritating innovation.
(I give a pass to sporting-related parades. But people in t-shirt for town justices and village elders waving tiny American flags and dispensing pamphlets? Not fine. They owe me an hour of my Saturday and about two gallons of gas. Gaaaaaaaaaaah.)
But…but….Shriner cars!
Tim, Pookie’s working today, so we’re stuck watching on Tivo delay. If there’s anyone else hanging around here who wants to talk about the games, I can slink off into the background, though… (Hilariously, we’re going to be traveling next week, and when planning the trip, Pookie was all, “OH MY GOD WE CAN’T BE TRAVELING TO EUROPE DURING THE WORLD CUP FINAL BECAUSE WE’LL MISS IT! WE HAVE TO FIND SOME OTHER WEEK FOR OUR TRIP, AND WITH MY SCHEDULE, THAT WON’T BE UNTIL SEPTEMBER!!!” And there was much hysteria until finally we realized that if we’re in Europe, we won’t have ANY trouble finding the WC final. So then this weekend sneaks up on us, and she’s like, “How can I be such an idiot? I put all that energy and mental effort into freaking out about scheduling around the semis and the final, and failed to consider switching work Saturdays with someone so as not to be working during today’s games.” And that’s my story.)
I’ll hold my tongue, but I will demand you smack Pookie for thinking you’d miss the World Cup in EUROPE.
Well, to be fair, we’re visiting our sister, who is adamantly anti-sports and has no television. So if you’re like us, and your default assumption when you’re thinking of catching a game means “sitting at home in front of the TV”, you could easily assume that visiting KtG means no game. :D
I’ll hold my tongue, but I will demand you smack Pookie for thinking you’d miss the World Cup in EUROPE.
Hey now, I’m not stupid! There was NEVER any doubt in my mind that it would be really easy to find the World Cup in Europe, but there is always doubt — based on years of experience — that even if I say, “I’m only coming to visit if we can reserve Saturday and Sunday night for watching the games”, I could show up and have KtG say, “Oh, I made plans for us to be hanging out with my friends in their cave those nights, sorry!”
Where in Europe are you going?
We’re going to the Netherlands. So, needless to say, we would like very much for the Netherlands to win the World Cup while we’re there. :D
I’m sure Amsterdam has a Fan Zone set up for at least the Oranje game(s).
We’re going to be in Scheveningen, on the beach. Apparently there are numerous places there to catch the games, no matter who’s playing!
Yeah, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding somewhere to watch the game in Scheveningen.
Actually, I don’t think you’d have any trouble finding somewhere to watch the games in the middle of a meadow where your sole company is a herd of cows.
Actually, I don’t think you’d have any trouble finding somewhere to watch the games in the middle of a meadow where your sole company is a herd of cows.
That’s what I’m hoping!
(And we’re going to be touching base with KtG this weekend, Mags, to firm up our schedule. I think there’s a day we’ve got nothing planned that KtG said would be perfect for heading out your way, if you’d like to get together!)
Schnookie, that sounds like fun! Let me know when and I’ll make sure I have time :D (Not that that should be a problem as I have precisely nothing to do until August)
Yeah, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding somewhere to watch the game in Scheveningen.
Yea, but you have to deal with being surrounded by filthy Schevenigeners.
(Not that that should be a problem as I have precisely nothing to do until August)
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We’ll shoot you an email as soon as we have more details! I have to say, I’ve been kind of just motoring along in my summer, sort of oblivious to the passage of time, and all of a sudden I’m like, “HOLY SHIT! We’re going to the Netherlands NEXT WEEK!” I’m so excited!!!
Fun fact: The Spanish national anthem has no official words. The lyrics were dismissed for being too nationalistic, which makes as much sense as a tap-dancing sausage.
Yea, but you have to deal with being surrounded by filthy Schevenigeners.
Not just Scheveningers. If it’s any kind of weather, half of Zuid Holland will be there too.
We’ll shoot you an email as soon as we have more details!
I’ll keep an eye out for it!
The lyrics were dismissed for being too nationalistic, which makes as much sense as a tap-dancing sausage.
Actually, it was written with the intention of never having lyrics. But they did later add words (I think it had 3 different incarnations), and then got rid of them again for that reason.
(At least, that’s true if what the Spanish kids at goalie camp last year told me is true)
QI said they had lyrics under Franco, and then new ones were written, but then thrown out because they didn’t want too much national pride after the fascism thing.
Yeah, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding somewhere to watch the game in Scheveningen.
Once again, I feel compelled to point out that I didn’t think it would a trouble to find somewhere to watch the game! The trouble lies with navigating the sitch with a hostess who doesn’t prioritize sports, even for something as big as the WC! Sheesh! :P
Wow Pookie. Seriously?? You didn’t think you’d be able to see the World Cup in Europe? You know soccer’s pretty big over there, so I’ve heard. It’s like finding coke and dead hookers at a Habs team party. Maybe there’s a book about soccer and Europe in that library of yours!
(heh heh. Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)
Things the Dutch are good at:
1. Being tall
2. Soccer
3. Ice skating
4. Lax victimless crime laws
5. being known in the Norwegian for dikes, cleaning up water and spills.
I really hope your relation is deep into 1,4, or 5 if she can’t handle sports.
Maybe there’s a book about soccer and Europe in that library of yours!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oooooh Netherlands! Lucky Ookies! Is there absolutely no chance your plane will stop by in Paris? If not, next time you should plan an IPB full European tour. :)
Oh, and happy July 4 to anyone concerned! ;P
Happy 4th of July, Ookies! And a trip to the Netherlands? Awesome! The best airport in the world is the Amsterdam airport. It’s so clean and cheerful! We had lay overs all the time in that airport when we lived overseas.
Oh, and Amsterdam is pretty fun, too. And we visited Edam one time – you know, like the cheese?
Oh, and Amsterdam is pretty fun, too. And we visited Edam one time – you know, like the cheese?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
When I went to The Hague on business once, my boss took us to dinner in Delft. Like the plates. :P
A be-lated happy 4th! Shit done blowed up good!
I’ve never been to the Netherlands, but Vienna has a great airport. They’ve got Mozart playing as you get off the plane!
Addendum: Dey some classy muhfuggas in Europe.
Addendum: Dey some classy muhfuggas in Europe.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I’m glad to hear that the Amsterdam airport will treat us well! We’re actually going to go to the cheese market in Edam, so if anyone wants any Edam (like the cheese), we can totes get it there. I think we’re also going to Delft. So if anyone wants any plates for their cheese, I think we can handle that too. :P
And happy belated 4th to all y’all! Hope the barbecuing and fireworks and going to the beach and having picnics and all was fun!
Dey some classy muhfuggas in Europe.
The first time I saw that, I thought we had discovered a new spelling for my name.
mcguffers, you’re also a classy muhfugga. :P
Ookies, if you’re in Gouda, I’ll definitely take some of that! :P
It is twelve thousand degrees here.
Is this thing on?
I’m so sorry about the heat up there!
It’s twelve thousand degrees here, too, but you’d never know it based on how cold it is inside my office. But who am I to complain? I’ve only got 10 more work hours left until VACATION! WOO HOOOO!
It is not twelve thousand degrees here. Eleventy thousand, more like. It’s still like walking on the surface of the sun, but now with the benefit of ice shoes. Not that I’ve noticed, because I’ve spent the day in a sort of “Shit, I’m actually committing to this football thing, aren’t I? Oh this is just going to end in tears” haze.
I’ve only got 10 more work hours left until VACATION!
Wooo yay! When are you flying out?
It’s twelve thousand degrees here, too, but you’d never know it based on how cold it is inside my office.
Even my office isn’t cold. It is, however, bearable, which is more than can be said for either the outdoors or my apartment. One of my coworkers suggested that there should be a law saying that you can’t be required to leave your house when it’s over 90 degrees. I would heartily endorse that right about now.
One of my coworkers suggested that there should be a law saying that you can’t be required to leave your house when it’s over 90 degrees.
I am SO on board with that! I mean, apparently it was 101 (!!!!!!) here yesterday, but I barely even noticed because I didn’t have to leave my house. Consequently, the world was spared my incessant complaining about it, and that’s just better for everyone. CLEARLY not having to go out on a hot day is a GOOD thing for all parties!
Eleventy thousand, more like. It’s still like walking on the surface of the sun, but now with the benefit of ice shoes.
Wait, WHAT? I thought we were going to get COOL weather! What’s the point of going to the Netherlands in the middle of summer if it’s not going to be a respite? :P
We’re leaving tomorrow evening, by the way. I fully expect it to be a marvelous party of soccer awesomeness, by the way. No heartbreak! Only jubilation!
I’ve only got 10 more work hours left until VACATION! WOO HOOOO!
Yay! I hope you guys have a blast on your trip.
My house was a balmy 82 degrees when I left for the office this morning. I can’t wait to see what the internal temp is when I get home.
I was talking to my father about the weather on Sunday and he was all, “oh, 88 degrees isn’t that bad.” No…98…ninety. I have, perhaps, become a little unhinged.
I’m feeling very upbeat about both your chances for cooler weather (this heat has to break eventually) and for jubilation while on vacation.
I thought we were going to get COOL weather!
Oh you will. It’s supposed to stay in the high 70s, 80s range for the next week. Not nearly as bad as it’s been the past few days.
No heartbreak! Only jubilation!
Yeah, in Uruguay. I really, really have no faith in this. Plus, I think it might be better to lose now, instead of losing to Germany in the finals. I’m afraid of what this country will do if that happens.
“oh, 88 degrees isn’t that bad.”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah, 88 would be NICE right now! (But not in the Netherlands. I want 68 there. :P)
The other thing I’d like is some rain. Last summer we couldn’t get it to stop raining, and this summer we can’t get it to start. Our rain barrels are all empty! We’re watering our garden with well water now! Oh, the humanity!!
But not in the Netherlands. I want 68 there. :P
I can inform you that according to the thermometer on the side of the house, it is 70 in the shade.
Plus, I think it might be better to lose now, instead of losing to Germany in the finals.
Hm. Yeah, that would be a bit of a downer, wouldn’t it? But no worries about Uruguay! They’ve been my favorite team in the World Cup this time around, so I feel very knowledgeable about them. They’re totally not as good as the Netherlands. It’ll all be fine! (Until Germany. Who is totally as good as the Netherlands. And, um, kind of… better. :P)
I can inform you that according to the thermometer on the side of the house, it is 70 in the shade.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! That’s not what I wanted to hear! (Although it was literally 91 in the shade at our house on Saturday, so I suppose that’s an improvement. :D)
You can’t walk on stone tiles with bare feet though, especially not if they’ve been in the sun all day. They’re hot enough to blister your feet. Go on, ask me how I know.
it was literally 91 in the shade at our house on Saturday
Friday and Saturday were like that. I was so glad I was basically the only one in the house, because you couldn’t have made me put on pants if you put a gun to my head.
Go on, ask me how I know.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Lemme take a wild guess here… :P
you couldn’t have made me put on pants if you put a gun to my head.
Looch: “Story of my life!!”
Looch: “Story of my life!!”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::: I’d forgotten all about Looch’s resentment towards pants. Further proof that my brain is melting.
I had also forgotten about Looch and the pants until talking this morning with Pookie about her purchasing a new pair herself. I believe I said something to her to the effect of “it’s always good to have pants,” then cracked myself up by remembering that Looch would disagree. ::happy sigh:: Oh, hockey. There actually are so many reasons to love you, for all that this past season made me forget most of them. :P
Morning all! Sorry to hear about the epic heat wave which is apparently sweeping the globe. It’s hot here too, not that there’s anything newsworthy there. It’s always hot here. Tracie is home though, so the AC is keeping the house at about 74 degrees. All day, everyday. Can’t wait to see the bill this month.
Morning, andrew! No baby yet??
Tracie is home though, so the AC is keeping the house at about 74 degrees. All day, everyday. Can’t wait to see the bill this month.
That Tracie! She’s such a drama queen, with her “being 9 months pregnant” and “wanting to be comfortable” or whatever. :P But yeah, that AC bill’s a bit of a bear. Heh. We’re total hot-weather wimps, so we always have our AC chugging away at full capacity. The AC dude finally informed us this summer that we should probably replace the old machine, because it was really on its last legs. We grumbled and groaned about it, but it’s AMAZING how much more efficient the new one is. Our house is actually comfortable when we let the thermostat creep up toward 78. Back with the old one, we had to have it set no higher than 73 for it to be nice inside. We haven’t seen the bill yet — I’m hoping it will be as pleasantly surprising as the new AC itself has been!
No baby yet??
Nope, nothing yet. Tomorrow’s his due date, so…fingers crossed!
She’s such a drama queen, with her “being 9 months pregnant” and “wanting to be comfortable” or whatever.
I know, right?! haha, yeah right. Man, she could run that thing at 65 and I wouldn’t say a word. Gotta keep the little lady comfortable.
I was skimming the comments and I saw that you guys are heading to the Netherlands next week. That is so awesome! We went several years ago. Soooo much fun. Try the brownies.
Soooo much fun. Try the brownies.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: That’s what people keep suggesting… :D
And yeah, I’m hoping it’s fun. We’ve got all manner of wacky, go-getter activities on the docket, and our sister seems to have somehow committed us to keeping an eye on some coworker’s 12- and 14-year-old nephews one of those days (!?!), so we’ll see. Heh. I’m just hoping the Netherlands will be in the WC final while we’re there — not even some stranger’s pre-teen nephews could ruin that party, right?
I’m just hoping the Netherlands will be in the WC final while we’re there
That would kick so much ass.
On the same trip, we were in London during the Champions League. Liverpool and Chelsea were playing in the semis that week and our hotel was right smack in the middle of it. Insane.
We haven’t seen the bill yet — I’m hoping it will be as pleasantly surprising as the new AC itself has been!
I’m assuming it’s going to cut the bills in half, so I think I’ll be disappointed. Heh.
Tomorrow’s the due date, eh? How exciting!
Fingers crossed, Andrew! Any developments in the name derby?
Liverpool and Chelsea were playing in the semis that week and our hotel was right smack in the middle of it. Insane.
That would be so awesome! Did you use that as a free pass to behave like a hooligan, just to blend in with your surroundings?
Any developments in the name derby?
We’ve been lamenting the fact that we narrowed it down to 2 so quickly and painlessly because now we just can’t be bothered to pick one of them. It’s rediculous.
Did you use that as a free pass to behave like a hooligan, just to blend in with your surroundings?
Not a chance. On the day/night of the game there were literally 50 cops at every single tube station within a 2 mile radius. They were on horseback! Underground! Those are talented horses, they can navigate stairs.
and our sister seems to have somehow committed us to keeping an eye on some coworker’s 12- and 14-year-old nephews one of those days (!?!)
The same thing almost happened to me when I went to my cousin’s college graduation in May. My aunt “didn’t have a ticket” for me, so I would be staying at their house and babysitting my 18-month old and 12-year old cousins. The only flaw in her plan was that she didn’t count on my mother’s objection to me being used as free labor to watch those two hellmonkeys on crack.
Those are talented horses, they can navigate stairs.
Or use an elevator. Wouldn’t it be kind of shocking to be waiting for the doors to open and see Mr. Ed & Wilbur ready to exit.
We’ve been lamenting the fact that we narrowed it down to 2 so quickly and painlessly because now we just can’t be bothered to pick one of them. It’s rediculous.
Maybe the right one will reveal itself to you when the baby comes. What are the two?
Damn, good for your mom, Amy.
That is AMAZING that there are police horses that can work tube stations. That seems like it would require an extremely mellow and intelligent horse.
Amy, huzzah to your mom for putting her foot down on the babysitting situation! I have had to have Boomer similarly intervene a few times with KtG; I nearly died laughing when she told us on the phone yesterday about these two kids who would be joining us for our planned outing in Haarlem. I mean, that is SO typical of her to be all, “You’re taking some of your precious vacation time to come and hang out with me? Great! But just as a heads-up, I’ve volunteered us to do [X unpleasant thing] while you’re here — I hope you don’t mind!” She never learns that yes, I do mind. (She actually told us, when dropping the bombshell about these kids, that her coworker asked if the nephews could come along with us on our daytrip, and KtG said, “I’ll have to check with my sisters.” To which I said, “That is not a question you need to check with me first to know my answer.” I mean, come ON! Heh.)
hellmonkeys on crack.
Awesome. Just awesome. Also, thank god you didn’t have to go through with it, Amy.
Maybe the right one will reveal itself to you when the baby comes. What are the two?
That’s sort of what we’re hoping for. The two we have are Alex and Dylan.
*whispers* Haarlem is where my parents live. The train station is pretty spiffy. As is the grote markt and the church. And the school I went to, which is a stone’s throw from a McDonald’s (guess how many kids ate their packed lunches?). Haarlem is excellent.
So there’s a McDonalds in Haarlem? Great! We’ll just dump the kids there! Thanks, Mags! :D (Or perhaps we can dump them at your parents’ house… Heh.)
Not just one McDonald’s, two. One on the Grote Markt (that’s the one near my old school) and one at the end of the Grote Houtstraat. Plenty of opportunities to ditch kids.
If y’all get the chance, go get ice cream at the gelateria right near the beginning of the Grote Hout. ‘Sgood (not as good as Van Dam’s in Heemstede [Tiny Town just down the street from Haarlem] but I don’t think you’ll go there so forget I mentioned it)
::takes notes:: We will SO get ice cream there!
My aunt “didn’t have a ticket” for me, so I would be staying at their house and babysitting my 18-month old and 12-year old cousins.
That always used to happen to me! (Now we’re all drinking age, so “babysitting” means something completely different). I used to just let everyone break things to get the adults back. Two VCRs, one window, a ceramic owl, and a bottle of vodka is all it took for them to start springing for a babysitter.
It’s 96 effing degrees in my particular area of Rochester right now. For the first time ever, neither cat minded getting a bath.
You bathed your cats? That’s impressive!
Flea baths. Just like Looch. Only the cats don’t make howling noises.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Surely Looch can just get that drop dogs get between their shoulderblades. Or is that only for repelling ticks?
Or is that only for repelling ticks?
Fleas too. My cats got the drop between the shoulder blades as well when needed (although the cat medication is different from the dog medication).
Flea baths. Just like Looch.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(although the cat medication is different from the dog medication)
Which is, in turn, different from the Looch medication.
Netherlands are playing RIGHT NOW!
Hup Holland Hup!
They tried the drops, but Looch didn’t trust them, so they’d have to sneak up behind him. Never. Ever. Sneak up on a pantless Looch.
Never. Ever. Sneak up on a pantless Looch.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Mike Komisarek hasn’t been the same since. :P
Netherlands are playing RIGHT NOW!
But I won’t see them until I get home tonight to watch on tivo delay! They’ll have to be satisfied with my hours-after-the-fact “Hup”s. :D
Hup Holland Hup!
If the Dutch lose to Germany in the final (again) and Spain come third, then New Zealand will have been the only undefeated team in the World Cup and maybe that will distract me from how tragic that Uruguay – Ghana game was.
I have mixed feelings about the Dutch winning it all. One the one hand, I like how they play and it would make up for Cruyff never winning one. One the other hand, Arjen Robben is a floppy twatwaffle.
Flea baths. Just like Looch. Only the cats don’t make howling noises.
Kitties need flea baths? Oh dear. Oscar and Donner are NOT going to be happy with this news.
Never. Ever. Sneak up on a pantless Looch.
Unless you have a camera. Then it’s totally fair game.
Kitties need flea baths?
Kitties with dirty fleas are uncomfortable. You must bathe their fleas weekly.
Kitties need flea baths? Oh dear. Oscar and Donner are NOT going to be happy with this news.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Our kitties have never been flea-bathed. They’d probably kill us if we tried. The key for them is that they don’t get to go outside. It’s a fair trade-off, I think. :D
I have mixed feelings about the Dutch winning it all.
That’s ok, because the premagsnition is that they won’t.
Arjen Robben is a floppy twatwaffle.
You, sir, are wrong. And besides, for every Robben there is a van Bommel.
Never. Ever. Sneak up on a pantless Looch.
Unless you have a camera. Then it’s totally fair game.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mike Komisarek hasn’t been the same since. :P
That’s cause rabies are no joke, yo!
Joey needs to go outdoors to partake in his favorite hobby of sitting juuuust past the perimeter of the neighbor’s invisible fence. Their dogs love it!
Phew! The boyz are strictly verboten to go outside. Lucky for them!
Paul the Octopus predicted a Germany loss tomorrow, and he’s gotten every prediction right so far. Looks like it’ll be an Eighty Year’s War rematch if the Dutch can get through.
You, sir, are wrong.
In that case, I sympathise with him and his remarkably-brittle-yet-quick-to-repair legs.
No heartbreak! Only
jubilationJabulani!Matsui the cat is very round, and all black and white, so we’ve been calling her Jabulani since the WC started. Schnookie suggested Matsui is cheering for the ball to win every match.
Did you name your cat after the English electronics company or the Japanese war criminal?
Flea baths. Just like Looch. Only the cats don’t make howling noises.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joey needs to go outdoors to partake in his favorite hobby of sitting juuuust past the perimeter of the neighbor’s invisible fence. Their dogs love it!
My parents’ cat (“Cat”) likes to sit on the neighbor’s actual fence and stare at my dog while he goes batshit crazy but can’t do anything because he’s tethered, and oh yeah, can’t climb a fence anyway. Cats are so thoughtful.
Andrew, my dog’s name is Alex, so if the baby looks like he’s going to be disgustingly cute with a penchant for bad behavior, there you go. (If not, Dylan’s a nice name too.)
that her coworker asked if the nephews could come along with us on our daytrip
I only have a minute and was scanning through the comments to try to catch up a little and saw this. As the mother of a 13 year old girl(well behaved), I am all too familiar with boys that age. Do NOT let your sister talk you into this. You will regret it to your dying day. And while I’m at it, what kind of ridiculously self absorbed mom trys to foust off her kids on a co-worker when said co-worker has company in town???? SHEESH! Incredibly RUDE!!!
Tim, she’s named for the baseball player. She sprained her tail on the same he broke his wrist badly. Coincidence? Not likely! (We’ve found that cats named after athletes we don’t really care about turn out best. Cats named after favorite players turn out terrible. Cats named after Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf? Awesome.)
And while I’m at it, what kind of ridiculously self absorbed mom trys to foust off her kids on a co-worker when said co-worker has company in town????
It’s actually an aunt. So I suspect some terribly rude mother foisted her kids off an the aunt who couldn’t get vacation time, so the aunt foisted them off on KtG. But yes, INCREDIBLY RUDE ALL AROUND! :D
Cats named after favorite players turn out terrible.
Weber’s giving you nasty eyes, Pookie, but Josef “Joey” Stalin agrees whole heartedly!
You will regret it to your dying day.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Thanks for backing me up on this, Myra! I don’t entirely understand the situation myself. I guess the coworker’s had the kids (her nephews) foisted onto her that week, but she can’t get the time off. Or something. Then there was some deal about some other coworker giving us a tour of something or other in Haarlem, and could the boys go along with us, or something like that. I don’t know. It all sounds fishy to me. The coworker is insisting the boys are very self-reliant, so we won’t have to do much paying attention to them, but if that’s the case, why can’t they just go alone? (I am hoping the deal is just that the coworker wants them to be able to get the same guided tour, but it was hard to tell from KtG’s explanation of the situation.)
You can’t name your cat Stalin! Not when Puss-olini, Kitler, Chairman Meow and Pawpot are still on the table!
12-14 year-old boys use a whole part of their brains that is completely unexplainable to the rest of us. When my youngest nephew was 13, he loved to play the “staring game” NON-STOP. All he did all day long was stare at you and when you looked at him and blinked, he would triumphantly yell, “MADE YOU BLINK!!!” GAH.
Be very wary, my friends.
I am hoping the deal is just that the coworker wants them to be able to get the same guided tour
It also smacks of one of those “oh, I forgot to mention” things. Like that the aunt would forgot to mention to the kids that we weren’t driving them home, or the kids forgot to mention to us that the aunt would be meeting us at the train station for dinner, or that KtG would forget to mention that she agreed to drive the kids to their granddad’s summer house in Bavaria on the night we’re supposed to be watching the WC Final.
All he did all day long was stare at you and when you looked at him and blinked, he would triumphantly yell, “MADE YOU BLINK!!!” GAH.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Wow. I can’t wait!
And Tim, Pawpot? That’s pretty brilliant.
Yet, now at age 20, he is a perfectly normal and delightful young man. So even the good ones test every ounce of patience you have.
One of Grace’s friends decided to make a blueberry smoothie but didn’t want to disturb anyone with the noise. So he took it to his room where it exploded on his wall and carpet. He used carpet cleaner and got the floor clean. Decided it worked so well, he would use it on the wall where it removed the paint.
And he is in the Gifted and Talented program of one of the best school systems in the state.
I could go on but I won’t.
or that KtG would forget to mention that she agreed to drive the kids to their granddad’s summer house in Bavaria on the night we’re supposed to be watching the WC Final.
I hope you find solace in the fact that my house is on the route from Anywhere In Holland to Bavaria. Just call and I’ll rescue you.
Myra :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
My Dutch cousins are that age, and they’re actually pretty well adjusted. They’re also very good rowers, which seems to fill their “total flipping weirdo” quotient.
They’re also very good rowers, which seems to fill their “total flipping weirdo” quotient.
Simply having a Dutch name goes a long way to that as well. You can’t be too weird when you’re already named Jan Venegoor of Hesselink.
One of Grace’s friends decided to make a blueberry smoothie but didn’t want to disturb anyone with the noise. So he took it to his room where it exploded on his wall and carpet. He used carpet cleaner and got the floor clean. Decided it worked so well, he would use it on the wall where it removed the paint.
To be fair, there is a degree of logic in it…
The staring nephew though – GAH!!!! How do you know strangle him after the first few hours?
You can’t be too weird when you’re already named Jan Venegoor of Hesselink.
Vennegoor. Double N, or you’ll have turned the poor man into a “disgusting fen”. He’s got a hard enough time of it as it is. But you make a good point!
I knew I had left out at least one letter.
How do you not strangle him after the first few hours?
I think I may have tried to but Hub stopped me. He’s Hub’s sister’s kid.
No, boys can be a lot of fun at that age but they are a bit of an acquired taste and incredibly unpredictable.
No, boys can be a lot of fun at that age but they are a bit of an acquired taste and incredibly unpredictable.
I’m very uncomfortable with that sentence.
I’m very uncomfortable with that sentence.
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