Only a little longer!

I was sitting around this evening chatting with Elly about the dismal sans-everyone Oilers season ahead of us and watching bad reruns on tv when all of a sudden, mid Sox/Indians game, this caught my attention:

Yep. It's that horribly obnoxious Absolute Pear commercial that ran a minimum of three times every commercial break near the end of last season. I literally would get this thirty second clip of a song (should you be interested, you can apparently listen to the full song, "Charmer" at Rhapsody, here) stuck in my head, it was on tv so many times per night.

So why am I posting the stupid thing? Because you guys, I haven't seen it since hockey's been gone. All summer. And now it's back. It's back! Hockey is coming back! Happy September everyone - the boys will be back soon!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin

It's coming, slowly but surely. Hockey is just around the corner! I encourage everyone to check out The Pensblog's countdown, which started at the number of 66. They've got some solid support for the Pens' fans in the summer (and are one of the only things keeping me from gnawing on my computer in frustration).

So what else are people doing to while away the long days of summer? Some of us are doing some reading (and making terrible comparisons while we're at it), but many of us are finding some fairly creative and entertaining ways to pass the hockey drought. NHL.com is going back over the 'memorable moments of 2006-2007' Recchi's 500th is on there, but I noticed that Mario's speech to announce the Penguins staying in Pittsburgh isn't on there (I'm not being biased, but that was a historic moment at the end of a historic struggle), or Jordan Staal's hat trick in Toronto to mark him as the youngest player to do so. Not memorable enough, NHL.com?

Blogs are also getting in on the action. IPB has a uplifting series they're calling 'Reasons We Love Hockey' (and a new theme. Looks good, ladies!). Hot Oil is putting on a 'Historical Hot Off', which even if you aren't an Oilers' fan, you should check it out. SportsSquee is trying to convert us all to football, and certain Capitals' blogs are recapping games (with a little help from google videos). HLOG has also gotten in on the fun with movie nights, which, while a little confusing at times, are a welcome break in all the trade talk and moving rumors.

The teams are also trying to make us happier in the off season by supplying us with news. The Pens won't have to take down their pinup calenders until 2010 when the new arena is ready. It's going to take 3-4 years, really? Well, hopefully there won't be any other helicopters falling through the roof in the meantime (yeah, it's old, yeah, it's over used, yeah, I don't care. Still a classic). It's a long time to wait, but as the article says, they want to do a good job, and do it the right way. I'm sure it will be appreciated in the long run. Another interesting facet of the arena deal is the effect it's having on the community and residents. It sounds like the Pens and Co. are truly trying to work with people and make everyone happy and behind the project (as any sane company would, even though you can't make everyone happy) so as not to repeat the dissatisfaction that came from the original Civic Arena deal 40 years ago. New jobs and a grocery store are small things to ask in the grand scheme of things...right?

In other news, the Nashville Predators are staying in Nashville...for the time being, anyhow. Congrats, Nashville! Now stop throwing catfish, you weridos. I'd like to try to see them haul these babies over the side of the glass. What would they have thrown in Hamilton...blackberries?

Is it me, or does this man look to be in serious pain? Maybe indigestion? Surprise? The 'you've gotta be kidding me' look when he realized who he got drafted by?

Yeah, that's about all I've got. Oh, except plans to go and see the Pens up at the Bell Centre for their second preseason game. Maybe I'll get lucky enough to sit next to another Penguins' fan in a Fleury jersey like last time...even if they didn't speak a word of English.

EDIT: For some random baseball news (to celebrate a wonderful 13th inning comeback by the A's over the Rangers last night, thank you, Piazza. Seriously, how do you blow a lead like that, coming off a grand slam and a home run?), I feel the need to share a bit of girliness and show the world that Philadelphia does indeed have something going for it: a one Mr. Cole Hamels. Good job on snapping that up, Philly. A talented rookie with a great arm...and a great everything else, too. Maybe it's the hockey hair, but it's nice to know that the home of the Flyers can produce something that pretty.

Just for shits and giggles, have some old-time LeClair. I still hear people claiming to have played in juniors and high school with him. Where are you now, John?

Go Pens.

Fair thee well, 2006-2007 season

That's it. Done. Finis. End. Over. I can hardly believe it's gone so fast...and there are some long months till the guys hit the ice in October.

Even Ducks fans must admit: that was a pitiful way to end the season. The Senators, for all their inspired play earlier in the playoffs, failed to put anything together since they hit the ice in Anaheim. Bounces went bad, turnovers turned into goals, checks threw players off the puck at cruital times, and some potent rebounds shuffled between Emery's pads and into the goal. Overall, it was lacking play, bad luck, and some fine hockey on the parts of the Anaheim Ducks that won it. I would have rather seen the Sens take the Cup home, but with the way they played last night, they didn't deserve it...and no matter who you root for, who you want to win, and who does win, you're not a hockey fan if you don't get goosebumps every time the Cup is awarded (I even smiled when Selanne got it, you just can't help appreciate that). Congratulations to both teams, it takes a lot to get to the finals, and they both did something fantastic through making it all the way to June. See you next year, guys.

So, instead of recapping last night's fiasco of a game, I'm going to look ahead to the 2007-2008 season and some things that Penguins' fans, and all fans of the wonderful game of hockey, can look forward to.

-Sidney's first year as captain. It will be interesting to see if an extra C on his uniform will make any difference in the leadership he's already shown.
-Further development of the Penguins as a whole, working, ass-kicking, Stanley Cup winning, blowout team. Did I mention I'm getting Center Ice next year? This next season I can't miss.
-The Oilers coming back as something that does not resemble a frat house the Morning After.
-The Bruins! Hey, I love the Bruins, shut it.
-Where Ryan Smyth goes: the trade of the summer.
-How will the Senators look next season? The Ducks? Will they follow in the Canes and Oilers' footsteps?
-Rookies!

So, woeful Sens fans and those that hate Anaheim, think of those points (as well as many others, I'm sure), and know that there is a light in the darkness! A shining pool of water to quench your hockey thirst next season! New terrible metaphors to be made! A whole summer of baseball!



As always....go Pens.

Perspectives

Here's a little story:

On Monday night after I got out of work at the bar, I came home and let my dog out to go to the bathroom. It was one in the morning, so we walked, without a leash, to the abandoned parking lot across the street so he could run around in the grass. He took off, ran around, and as I went around the corner I saw him backing up from a picnic table shaking his head, on the other side was a very large and very angry-looking skunk.

Now, growing up in Vermont I have smelled skunk numerous times, had dogs that have been skunked before and such. I called Murphy (my dog) over away from the skunk and back to the apartment. I got about twenty feet before the smell hit me and I noticed that he had a large, yellow, dripping patch of skunk ick on his chest. I rushed him inside and spent the better part of the next hour and a half tormenting my dog in the bathtub with baking soda and palmolive (he hates baths).

The moral of this story? Me, my entire apartment, my dog, my two cats, my car, my clothing and even my shoes smell with a strong ode de skunk, even after multiple treatments of everything known to man...and still this year's Stanley Cup final stinks more.

Go Sens. *gack*