Stanley Cup Finals Game Four: Flyers 5, Hawks 3 - Mel brings out the big guns

Look, I'm pissed off and frightened now. I am not happy.

Honestly, the Hawks are lucky the series is tied 2-2 coming home. They haven't played a good game yet. Not even close. And if they don't for two of the next possible three games, I'm going to have a summer of heartbreak, and some assbags are going to be carrying something that doesn't belong to them.

Blast From the Past: the Apples of My Eye

I just got my computer back from the shop (I have a Mac Mini) where I finally got more memory installed. Thank Jebus because attempting to run Firefox, iTunes and iPhoto simultaneously was slowing it down so badly I could walk around the block before all the programs would load. Which means I might be able to write a blog post in under a half hour now. Whee!

This got me to thinking about the computers I've had. For the record I have only owned Macs my entire life. If that makes me an art snob so be it, but I hate Windoze - it's bad enough I have to use it at work. My earliest computer memories are of the Apple IIe in grammar school. With that, anyone of a certain age should enjoy this:

The Calm Before the Storm

This should be an interesting weekend. But first, some business:

I'm pissed because the only men's hockey games I've been able to watch in its entirety in the medal round are the two Canada blowouts. The 2pm games are over before I get home from work. And since I get up at 5:30 (and at this point in my life I am worthless at work if I don't get at least 5 hours of sleep) I can see maybe the first two periods of the first late game if I have the energy. So all of the exciting games the past several days? Haven't seen them - I mean I missed Kopecky getting the GWG last night - that'll probably be the only worthwhile thing he does all year! And tomorrow *again* the US game is at 2pm. I'd stream it online, but they've been Big Brothering the internets at work lately, plus I have a 3:30 weekly meeting with the brain trust of the organization. Why do you hate me scheduling gods??

I am saddened that the US women lost to the Canadians today. You can't fault them for lack of effort - honestly if the Canadian goalie hadn't stood on her head and the D hadn't been blocking shots like their life depended on it, I think they would have won easy. I didn't watch the medal ceremony - I don't think I could have stood listening to all of those hosers singing. Hopefully. we'll get payback this weekend - I'm sure the men's team losing would hurt the Canadian psyche more anyway. The only good thing about DVRing the game was fast forwarding through Pierre "I stand on a stool so you can see my head over the boards" McGuire. How does that man have a job - he's more annoying that the bitch in front of you in the 10 items or less line with 22 items who thinks we're all dumb and can't count. Oh and the Canadian coach - she looks very scary and mean. Maybe that's why they win because she'll kick your ass if you don't.

So anyway this weekend...

I don't have anything really planned tomorrow except work and more hockey. It'd be nice if I could cut out early and see part of the US game, but that 3:30 meeting fucks me over every Friday. I love the fact that the folks who *don't* start work at 7 am every morning decided that was a great time for a meeting at the end of the week. I'm usually comatose and useless by 10. That's all I say about that because I like to keep work off the blog since you never know who reads this (I love my job! Seriously!)

Unfortunately my Saturday is going to get off to a crappy start because I have to go to the DMV to renew my driver's license. It expires on Sunday - I could have renewed it online but I have my old address on it and I have to get a new picture. Seriously. The last time I went I thought that they would use my previous photo on file and went unshowered and dressed like a hobo. Therefore I look like a serial killer on my license. So I will get up early on weekend to shower and look presentable (for me anyway) in order to make it to the DMV before 8am. After that task is completed, we'll be leaving for Rockford for the Ice Hogs game and Blackhawks autographs. I hope there's not a bazillion people in line. I also hope the US wins tomorrow because it's going to suck if they play for the bronze medal since I'll be missing it. Oops, I guess I should have thought of that before I decided to go to this game. I'll DVR the game regardless of who plays and try to sequester myself from the results the best I can.

Sunday is my birthday and I plan on doing nothing except watching the gold medal game. And maybe get dinner at a restaurant of my choosing. I used to try to get some folks together on my bday for drinks and other assorted fun, but I've lost interest in that since I've turned 30. Birthdays aren't a really big deal for me anymore - although I'll probably change my mind about that as I creep ever so closer to 40 (eek!). Does this make me a loser? Perhaps. But you totally get shit on with a winter birthday because your options are limited. I'm not going to have a pool party, thanks.

Ok, maybe this weekend isn't that exciting. But I hibernate in the winter and I'm a nerd so it's thrilling enough for me. So there :P

Goddammit

It is really, really tempting to call off of work tomorrow to be able to watch this. My boss is off though and my employees would commit mutiny if I don't show up. Yes, this really is that important to me:

Restored 'Metropolis' to stream live

This is my favorite movie of all time, and probably one of the main reasons I have a mostly unused BFA in film. But I'll wax poetic on this at other time. A couple videos for the uninformed:



and:

Metropolis: Homecoming of a Masterpiece (damn you for not letting me embed this!)

It figures they'd have this exhibit six months *after* I visit Berlin. Grumble. If you haven't seen this film please Netflix it yesterday. For god's sake, it's where C-3P0 comes from!

Here's hoping I can find it somewhere online this weekend. I can't wait months until the DVD comes out.

Puck Nut

Seeing as my hockey obsession has reached critical mass proportions not seen since the Blackhawks' season of 1988-89 (the team of Larmer, Graham, Wilson, Manson, the rookie season of Roenick and of one Mr. Alain Chevrier), and I can't be arsed to do anything productive tonight, I decided to dig out my puck collection. I had forgotten I had started collecting them in the 90's, but found the one to the left in my old room at my parents a few weeks back. That was the first puck I ever received, and it is special for many reasons, mostly because it is from the last All Star Game in Chicago, at the old Stadium no less (*sniff*). My brother went to the game and bought me this - because even at the age of 12, he "knew people" and got tickets to the game. Little snot. Of course the game is most remembered for this:


God, I miss Wayne Messmer and the Stadium *wipes eyes* - moving on....

My goal was to collect pucks from all of the NHL cities. I started out pretty good:


I got the Vancouver puck when I visited there in I want to say, 1998. I vaguely remember also buying my brother a Cannucks jersey - I'll have to ask him about that and give him the proper shit for that. The Maple Leaf puck I got in 1999. While I was in Toronto, I went to the Hockey Hall of Fame - somewhere I'm sure I have pictures - I'll have to find them and scan them when I finally buy a scanner. While I was there I bought this:


I also bought the mini Blackhawks stick you see in the right picture. I keep meaning to bring it to a Hawks game when they have someone I like signing, but I'm afraid they'll confiscate it as contraband - I really don't have time to drive to Toronto and get another one. Sadly, that was as far as I got collecting NHL team pucks, but I do have a few other pucks:


I was obsessed with the US Women's Hockey team in 1998 - so much so I have a jersey and the Wheaties box somewhere with their gold medal picture on it. I actually got up at the crack of dawn and skipped my first class to see the Gold Medal game vs. Canada live. I have no shame - I had a thing for Cammi Granato. There, I said it :P


This puck commemorates the Wolves' first of two Turner Cup Championships. Of course now it is the Calder Cup, and the IHL exists no more. I also happened to be at the Calder Cup clinching game in 2002. Somewhere at my parents' are the thunder sticks we got at that game.

Last but not least:

I used to go the the Illini hockey club games when I went to school there from '94-'96. I loved the Saturday night games - they were held in a small ice arena with a capacity of 200-300 people max. They had this huge banner of speedskater Bonnie Blair hanging in the arena as Champaign is her hometown. Oh the traditions - this is where I first heard the "I want to be a Zamboni driver" song, saying "THANK YOU" after the "one minute remaining in the period" announcement, the seats were so close to the ice you could give the Zamboni driver a high five as he drove by if you were in the first row of the balcony. Good times. I should drive down sometime and see a game.


Speaking of Zamboni drivers, I would be remiss not to include this little guy on the left. Seeing as I'll be in St Louis this weekend to catch the Hawks vs. Blues game, I'll just have to start collecting again and get a Blues puck. If anyone wants to barter for pucks from your NHL team let me know - Amy makes yummy cookies I can send you!

Amy has announced that the office has a overwhelming smell of rubber now. Thanks.

On, Wisconsin!

So aside from sulking in the hotel room watching the pitiful excuse for a hockey game last night, we did a bit of shopping and walking around Madison this weekend. I think we drove around in circles for twenty minutes trying to relocate the Sunkist ghost sign I saw while driving into downtown Madison. And then we went to two Octopus Car Washes so I could get pictures of the Octopi - one of my favorite signs I hadn't grabbed a picture of yet. Below is one of my favorites. At the second location we had to make a quick exit because they were trying to get us to come in and get a car wash - oops, sorry. I'll have more pictures of various things in Madison up on Flickr probably tomorrow.

One of our favorite activities while in Madison, is to shop the bookstores. Because if you've ever seen our apartment, you would know we don't have enough books . We ended up at Avol's and I scored two cool books, both for under $20. The first was a Marcel Duchamp art biography - a first edition from 1959. It has a lot of good pictures of his works. The second caught my eye as I walked by:


Something about the design of the cover I just love. I'm curious to read the travel tips pre German unification. The book includes pictures - below are my two favorites:


How great are those? This book is better than the German Phrase book I bought that included how to say "Help, I have the runs," to a pharmacist.

Today we first went to a postcard show with Amy's parents. They're huge collectors - my ADD only allows about 30 minutes of viewing before I get cranky. Amy bought me a cool vintage CTA subway postcard. One of these days I'll put pictures on here of all the cool Chicago postcards and other vintage souvenir type things I have. The nice thing about Amy's parents going to so many flea markets and antique malls is whenever they see cool Chicago stuff cheap (which it usually is outside of Illinois) they'll pick some up for us. We got a 1933 Century of Progress walking cane for Xmas! After the postcard show, we went to the largest antique mall in Wisconsin in Columbus. They weren't kidding - apparently it was once a canning factory (complete with working freight elevator) and they had stuff on 3 levels. We spent 3 hours there and didn't even see it all. I exercised restraint and only bought the original Star Wars double LP. I'll definitely have to go back some time - I also got some cool pictures of the water and light plant which was next door.

And of course, no trip to Wisconsin would be complete without a stop here on the way home:


String cheese, cheddar cheese spread and Sprecher's Orange Dream Soda. Yum.

Dear Apple,

I have been a fan of yours for a long time. My first computer was a Performa 6290. I played Oregon Trail and learned about dysentery and cholera on an Apple IIe. I'm on my third Mac, have owned 2 iPods and may finally become a sheeple and get an iPhone.

But *iPad*? Really. REALLY?

Obviously Steve and his boys came up with this name, as any woman with half a brain could tell you what a horrible name this is. You do realize you will now be the butt of a million and one bad monthly visitor jokes for the foreseeable future?

In any case, as with any Apple product, I will wait for the hysteria to die down to actually look at one, and it will realistically take at least two years before I can afford one.

Carry on my dear friends!

Love,
Mel