Live and Let Die

Between my recent vacation, illness and obsession with the Carolina Hurricanes, I have not had much to write about.  Bronchitis isn't fun or interesting and spending your vacation with bronchitis isn't fun or interesting either.  I find the Canes, on the cusp of the last step in the quest for the Cup to be fascinating, but I know most of my friends do not.  I spent my entire yoga class tonight trying to decide how I was going to try to get 2 or 3 computers set up to try to buy tickets when Stanley Cup Finals tickets (eventually) go on sale and how I can refinance my car to pay for them (just kidding).  As I type the Canes are going into overtime in game 6 -- if the Canes win, they advance to the Finals for the second time in 5 years.  I couldn't get tickets in 2002 and am determined that I will be there this time around.  If the Sabres win (ps-by-the-way Buffalo fans are obnoxious -- I saw several hundred up close at game 1 and it wasn't pretty) then we have to suffer through to game 7 and it's anyone's game.  Pray for the Canes!

Vacation

So, I've been on vacation for the last week.  My destination?  My house.  More specifically, my bedroom.  First, I spent 2 days painting it a nice warm Wendy's Frosty color.  Then, I got sick.  I thought it was just a cold and tried to tough it out -- but I broke down today and saw a doctor.  I'm not sure if I feel better or worse that my play days were wiped out by bronchitis -- but I do wish I could have a do-over of my last 5 days.  I hope to God that the guy I sat next to at the Hurricanes game yesterday doesn't get sick too.  It's bad enough that they lost -- it would just suck to get sick on top of that. 

 

Going back to work tomorrow is going to be so hard!

All Kinds of Time

I was at game 1 of round 2 against (a-gaynst, not a-genst) the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.  Most reading this know we won (big).  Even at that, it was an amazing game.  We went early and did our California tailgating thing (Chinese take out on lawn chairs in the parking lot with about 18,000 other people -- but they all BBQ'd).  The Hurricanes did a SUPERB job wit their pregame festivities.  They did a slide show on the ice with pictures of the team set to The Rising by Bruce Springsteen -- I get goosebumps just thinking about it.  I am so proud of them for putting on a sophisticated show and not just Stormy chasing a guy dressed up as a devil around the ice.  You just shouldn't do that on national tv.

 

John Buccigross at ESPN writes a wonderful hockey column and reading him got me into Fountains of Wayne, a band who should be known for much more than the one-hit Stacy's Mom.  If possible to imagine, they do a great cover if Baby, One More Time by Britney Spears.  Yes, that Britney Spears.  I have a few favorites -- today's title track is about a football player watching the play develop in from of him in slow motion.  Hockey can be like that -- an arena holding it's breath as the young star pulls back his stick and shoots....

 

Time and space

 

Whatever it takes

 

Canes in 6 (we always win in 6)

Oh L'amour

Celui qu'il prenne!  Seven long days later, the Canes have won four games in a row to battle back and eliminate the Canadiens.  It was a great series and every game was a nail biter.  Cam Ward was Brilliant.  There is still a long road ahead -- New Jersey is next and I don't expect this one to be easy.  Congrats boys.  Au revior les Habitants!