Wild At Blues 9.24.10 Recap

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
For folks going to Saturday's game and the 9.30 game here's a link to the St. Paul road closures due to expected flooding: road closures

KSTC in HD, my ass... at least for cable customers.  I'm really pleased for you Dish/Satellite viewers are getting this in high def, really I think it's great for you.  And for Christ's Sake get your friggin' in-game commercials off of the screen!!  It's already painful enough to watch hockey on your lame 20th century station and then you cover up one half of the screen with logos and popup boxes.  Argghhhh :( 

Vicki - remind me to NEVER complain about our National Anthem singer again.  Nobody could be as bad as the woman who sang it for the Blues tonight.  Yeesh.

When Parents Don't Control Their Kids In Public 
First Period -
The Wild's litter of 2010 puppies are getting their legs on tonight. 
 - Doesn't seem to matter if it's our vets or babies, our power play sucks.  Two Wild power plays within minutes of dropping the puck and it's clear our guys can't seem to gain the O zone with any kind of authority.  Same shit, different season.   
- Wow - Carson McMillan has a heavy metal shot! 
- Josh looked pretty good until he went down in a jumble of Blues and Wild players.  He's out of the game with a right leg injury.  Not a good sign considering he's supposed to be playing for the number 1 goalie spot for any of the other teams in the league come trading time.  
- Oh, just need to point out that Zanon was all over his guy coming into our zone and he was the Dman covering the net while Josh was being taken down. 
- Matt Hackett (son of retired NHL goalie Jeff Hackett) - Wild youngster goalie comes in.  I love his mask!  He gets tested right away thanks to Barker going to the box.  My left eye is starting to twitch...like it used to whenever Kuba or Skoula was on the ice.  Matt makes some big time saves and if he's nervous it's not showing.    

Nice camera pan of Let's-Undress going to the bench and taking his helmet off - sigh...

Gardenhire does a promo for the Wild's Year Ten propaganda - and congratulates the Wild on 10 great years of hockey.  Gardy - have you been watching the Wild for the last 10 years?  I'm guessing not, because there's only been about 3 great years of hockey played - and Wes Walz was one the ice for all of them.  Not that I'm biased, at all.   

OMG - Matt Cullen wants to be anywhere but being interviewed by Doofus Terhar.  I don't think Terhar as made it through one single sentence without stuttering, stammering or making an idiot out of himself.  Must be the Toastmaster in me, huh?

Second Period -  
I wasn't going to drink during the preseaon because, well it's the preseason, right?  After the 4th Wild penalty at the halfway mark of this period I starting hitting the El Jimador - hard.  Don't need no lime juice, don't need no salt.  I wonder if the guys are getting frequent flier miles with all of those trips to the box?   

Cullen, Prosser, Barker, Kassian, Prosser, Stoner, Kassian, Miettinen and for the trifecta - Prosser.  All for a combined 27 minutes of box time in this period. 

Hey Nate - you're a big friggin' boy - get your man out of the crease!  Don't stand in front of him while he screens our goalie!  Dman Duties For Dummies - read the manual.
Kassian is mean when he needs to be- and I like it!  And that's not just the tequila talking, maybe a little.             

My left eye definitely has a nervous tick thing going. 

Third Period -
Oh, we're still playing this game?  Sorry, my mind was somewhere else.  Okay - here's what happened: 
- Blues scored, I drank. 
- Wild took more stupid penalties, Blues scored again.  I'm holding the El Jimador in my lap while typing this. 
- Blues take a penalty, Wild didn't score - despite the 2 man advantage and time spent in the offensive zone. 
- I made popcorn to 'balance' the tequila intake.  Yeah, that'll work. 
- Blues scored again and I'm feeling really bad for Matt Hackett. 
- I'm feeling really good from the tequila so I guess there is balance in my life ;) 
- El Jimador added to groceries list for tomorrow morning, and limes.  
- Kassian & Strachan want to dance.  Refs say no, sending both off with misconducts.  I'm good with that.
- Wild take a penalty, Blues didn't score.  Wait, is that right?  Wow, good job guys - I'll drink to that.
- Blues take a penalty, and another = 5 on 3 for Wild.  We don't score.  Pancakes sound good, don't they?   
- Coach Richards should have seen all he needs to from the bulk of the young ones.        

18 Wild players: 8 of them with minus ratings, 6 players are the kids.  33 total minutes of penalties - the kids owned 20 of them.  I'm not including the 10 minute misconduct to Kassian - that's just adding insult to injury.  Besides the fighting penalties our guys were really fond of slashing tonight.  Matt Hackett shouldn't feel bad, but I know he will.  If I go to bed now I shouldn't feel too bad in the morning.  Good Night Folks!!

Crickets Chirping

Empty Arena
The attendance for the first preseason game was announced at just over 16,000.  Liar, liar, pants on fire.  The entire upper level sections and the club sections could have all moved down tonight and there still would have been empty seats in the lower bowl.  I'm not exaggerating when I tell you the arena was 3/4 EMPTY tonight.  Apparently this has gotten the attention of Mr Leipold, or at least his wallet.  You know that great move he made by increasing ticket prices for this season, after watching his team fail to make it anywhere near the post season last year - the same year Minnesota had one of the highest unemployment rates in it's history?  Well, it looks like he's figured out that move didn't go over so well.   

Dear Dee,
Tonight, for the first time since Xcel Energy Center opened its doors to hockey fans a decade ago, a Minnesota Wild home game was not a sellout. We took a lot of pride in the sellout streak, and perhaps you did too. The significance of the streak ending has our attention as well. It means we need to be better and work harder, on and off of the ice, to fill the seats around yours. Despite the end of the sellout streak, we will continue to spend to the salary cap. We intend to build a Stanley Cup Championship Team.

We had an incredible run of sellouts, fueled by the passion of Season Ticket Holders like you. Every member of our organization, past and present, owes you a debt of gratitude for your support. Thank you. You've helped ensure that we filled the building game after game, year after year. And every game night, your passion for the game of hockey has lifted our team and boosted our spirits.

We know, when a new sellout streak begins, it will be because we've earned it.
Sincerely,
Craig Leipold

I could go off on this but let's not ruin the first night of hockey, okay Pumpkin?  I mean, the team did that all by themselves.  We certainly don't need any more help from our esteemed millionaire owner.  In fact, I may just let Dave take this one - if he so desires.         And now, to state the obvious...




  

BARKER BLOWS

Clayton Stoner certainly didn't have a game to be proud of, after all - he was on the ice for all five St. Louis goals.  However, he's a rookie who missed pretty much all of last season due to injuries and illness.  Cut him some slack, it's not like he's claimed to have been skating since he was three years old and doesn't need any stinkin' coaching by the likes of Jaques Lemaire.  Let us instead look to that high scoring, puck moving, rock solid defenseman we got in return for dumping Kim Johnsson last season.  Mr. Barker only missed being on the ice for all five goals by mere seconds thanks to an incomplete line change.  It's not like Coach Richards was trying to shake things up at the 12:18 mark of the third period by changing the lines around.  As was the story last season, Barker looked lost for the entire game, except for the four times he found himself just standing around to one side of his goalie as the Blues zipped the puck into the net.  
If Barker was trying to get off on the right skate this season, he missed the mark by a mile.  If his intent was to reinforce the perception that he's a waste of salary cap and bench space - then Spot On! Mr. Barker. 

Before we make Cam the whipping boy for the night let's check the stats to show who else was not 'sharp' or 'erratic' as the venerable Mr. Russo wrote.  On the ice for two of the goals: Koivu and Havlat.  Matt Cullen was on the ice for three of the goals against.  There was no speed or sense of urgency to the game from the home team.  There was a point in the third period that it looked like the guys were St. Paul City Road Workers - just standing around on an extended lunch break.  

The only bright spot of the night - at least for me - was seeing Khudobin in net for the third period.  Please note that all five goals were scored on Backstrom in the first and second period.  Our little hobbit did his job.  Of course by that time there were only three of us fans in the arena clapping for his saves - Vicki, me and this really nice guy down in section 110.  What was left of the non-existent crowd was booing the team - on the first night - of preseason.  

Highlights of the night: fresh popcorn, lids on the sodas, long lost school friends, not so long lost friends, just being back in the arena and of course - an evening of hockey with the greatest hockey partner in the world!       

Okay - moving on.  The first round of cuts will be made on Thursday.  To quote the Terminator: "I'll be back" with a quick update going into Friday night's game on the road. 
Goodnight fellow hockey fans!   
       

Leaving A Hole

One year later, on a beautifully clear September morning I stood in his favorite park.  With three hawks flying overhead and Buster sitting by my side, I took a deep breath in and slowly let it out.  I opened my hand and let the breeze carry Casey's ashes over the tall grass clumps on the hill leading down to the beach.  He loved exploring at this park, on this hill covered in vines and toppled tree trunks.  He would investigate under each tuft of grass while making his way down to the shore, touch the water and then race back up the hill to me.  I'd moan and complain about the hours I'd have to spend brushing and cutting the burrs out of his coat, all the while knowing we'd be back here again the next week - because it made him happy.  And Casey made me happy, by loving me unconditionally and by giving his very best to me every day of his life.

How humans deal with the loss of a loved one is what really sets us apart from the animals - especially when it's the loss of a much loved animal.  I grew up with all kinds of pets and animals in my life.  Depending on where we lived and which Aunt & Uncle's farm I spent my summers on I've been exposed to a plethera of them.  There were horses, sheep, dairy cattle, chickens, rabbits, ducks, cats, dogs, parakeets and lovebirds, tanks full of fish and baby alligators - yes, alligators.  Out of this two-by-two exposure to animals while growing up in a family that came from Minnesota and Iowa farm folk I gained my knowledge and respect for the animal that's raised for food.  This means while I can appreciate how cuddly and warm a pet bunny can be, I can also separate that feeling from the multitude of rabbits raised for butchering purposes come fall of each year.  That's food on the table over the winter months, along with the chickens and ducks and...you get the picture. 

There's something different about a pet.  Why?  It's still just an animal, right?  It's still only a barn or hutch or coop or cage away from being an employee of sorts.  There's got to be a dog that herds the cattle and sheep back to the barn and then keeps the fox at bay during the night.  There's got be the cat that keeps the mice out of the the barn and the squirrels from getting into the rabbit food. 

But then there's that special dog or cat.  The one that is allowed to come inside the house - and gets to share in your living space - and instantly settles into that most sacred of all places...your heart.  How this happens is still a mystery to me.  I am always stunned by how of much a treasured family member that furry creature becomes.  In some cases, you end up loving that pet more than some of your shared species family members.  When they pass from our lives we're left with an overwhelming sense of loss - it rivals losing a human member of our family.  The healing process takes time and it's different for everyone, much the same when dealing with the loss of a human family member.  

I miss you Wiggle Butt.  There's still a big hole in my heart where you used to be.  

Hockey Is Back!

October Baseball - It's A Good Thing
First Things First: WAY TO GO TWINS!  I’ve been saying all season that Jim Thome is The Man and he sure didn’t fail Tuesday night.  If I still had working parts I’d want to have his babies, right after having Wes’s, of course.  Congratulations on a spectacular come-from-behind win, the Division Title and to Gardy for getting his 800th win as a manager.  Can't help but wonder if  Vicki and I will be celebrating in the same fashion 7 months from now... 

HOCKEY SEASON IS HERE!!

The Season Of Ice is here and along with it come the sounds of the season: skate blades gliding - then scraping as a battle in the corner ensues.  Sticks tapping the ice in anticipation of receiving the puck for a run to the net.  Bodies slamming onto the ice as Clutterbuck does his job.  The ping of frozen vulcanized rubber ricocheting off the pipe.  Gloves and helmets hitting the ice as punches are thrown.  And my favorite sound of all - the goal horn.  Smell that?  It's the new sheet of ice ready and waiting for a brand new season to begin at the X.  Man, it almost makes up for my feelings of dread with the cooling weather and increasing shadows on my deck.  Although, I have to admit it was a georgous evening to be sitting in a certain neighbor’s screen porch while keeping an eye on their dogs while said neighbors were cheering their boys on to a Division title.

Now, let’s talk some serious hockey folks!  I’ve had the good fortune to attend a couple of practices.  Here are the things that stick out in my mind the most:


1. Darby "Fall Down" Hendrickson makes his debut as an assistant coach in spectacular fashion - by falling down within the first mintue after taking the ice on the first day of camp.  Looks like nothing's changed since his player day, huh?  At least Wes stays on his skates, unless of course he's escorting a puck in his pants while sliding into the net to score a goal.  Oops, was that out loud?  I'm not bitter about things, really.   

2. John Madden is cut from the same work ethic as Wes Walz.  Oh, what it would have been like if they could have played together.


2. Matt Cullen is quick, very quick.  Like, one second he’s in our end and then you blink and he’s in the offensive zone putting a shot on goal.


3. Nate Prosser is for real.  I hate to say it but there are a couple of ‘established’ Dmen who should be afraid, be very afraid…cough, cough…Zhidlitzky…cough, cough.


4. Casey Wellman is almost ready for prime time - and pretty bulked up from last season.  Houston is the place for him until there’s a legit spot for him on the team.


5. Cody Almond - or Almond Joy, or Co-Co, or CoCoNuts, or Nutzy as I've already heard him referred to...is another season away, yet sooo close at the same time.


6. Brent Burns looks to be in great form, physically and mentally in the right place.


7. Greg Zanon also looks to be completely healed and running on both of his pistons to start the new season.


8. Seeing Robbie Earl in camp!  I love this guy, always have.  Sheppard couldn’t have screwed up his own career path at a better time.  I’d much rather see Robbie make the team so I’m really pulling for him.


Here’s the link to Russo’s blog heading into Wed’s game: Russo


Here’s the lineup for game one of the preseason:

Forwards

Andrew Brunette-Mikko Koivu-Antti Miettinen: Two Blondes and A Brunette - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Seems like Coach Richards understands that. 

Guillaume Latendresse-Matt Cullen-Martin Havlat: S & S Line – Speedy Snipers or Stealth & Speed Line


Chuck Kobasew-John Madden-Cal Clutterbuck: This line will be kicking ass & taking names later.  STFU Line - Shut Their Forwards Up


Robbie Earl-Cody Almond-Brad Staubitz: 3 B’s Line – A Badger, A Baby and A Bruiser

Defensemen

Nick Schultz-Brent Burns: 
   Schultz actually showed up for camp in shape, only took five friggin’ seasons.


Clayton Stoner-Cam Barker:
   Hopefully Clayton will stay healthy and stay on the team this season.  Hopefully the Barker experiment will end early in the season and we’ll be done with him…patience, Nate, patience.  You too, Dave.    

Marco Scandella-Justin Falk:
   Falk over Scandella for a number of reasons but my main one is that Scandella appears to be following in Chris Simon’s skates.  Maybe he’s learned his lessons from last season and is ready to grow up.

Goalies

Niklas Backstrom for 2 periods – Steady, Ready and Able


Anton Khudobin for 1 period – The Hobbit’s Here, Hooray!!

This is for Vicki: Game On!

And in case any of you were wondering - I won't be sleeping until after the game.  It's fricken' Hockey Season, people!  I'm too wound up to sleep. 

The Man Who Makes It Happen

You’ve all gotten a glimpse into Connie’s alter life – her passion for riding motorcycles.  Over the years I’ve come to know both Randy and Connie as devoted enthusiasts, and not only for the routed/planned rallies.  They really do love just getting out there on the road and riding together.  The Saturday jaunts down into Iowa, across Wisconsin and back home (yes, in one day) are the ones that give them the most pleasure.  It’s the road less traveled that appeals to them, especially for Randy.  I swear there isn’t a back road in the five state area (and Canada) that he hasn’t ridden on – and he’s got the pictures from the most interesting little towns to prove it.  The two of them meet wonderful folks along the way and some of those friendships have lasted for years.


It takes a special kind of man to be comfortable and confident enough to support his wife doing these kind of rides by herself.  And when she’s not completely on her own, she’s more than likely with…another man! More on this other guy later.  Randy knows Connie is a safe and very capable rider, but still - I've seen the way he looks at her when she pulls out and he's not going with her.  He wouldn’t be the man I’ve come to know and admire if he didn’t look worried and proud all at the same time.  He’ll grumble now and then about the demands of keeping up with Connie’s bike maintenance.  He’s had to get pretty inventive with some of the modifications and this is all done while balancing work, home and his own bike's maintenance.  There are some creative uses of curse words that echo out of his garage in the days leading up to a rally.  But in the end he’s bursting with pride and totally thrilled for her accomplishments.  And in the end the first thing Connie says after completing a ride, regardless of her standings: “none of this happens without Randy in my corner.”

Another ‘Team Gabrick’ example, this one is my favorite:
Two years ago Connie was on the return trip of one of her extreme rides, coming out of Canada and back into Minnesota on a late Sunday afternoon.  Her bike broke down and she found herself stranded in a small town ‘way up north, don’tcha know’.  There’s never really a good time to break down but Sunday afternoon is a killer, with needing to be in the office bright and early the next morning.  Randy hooked the trailer up to the truck and drove north without hesitation or sleep.  Connie got a room at a motel so that she could shower, eat and sleep for a few hours.  Randy arrived in the middle of the night, loaded the bike onto the trailer and then got back in the truck for the trip home.  This time he was riding shotgun, with his eyes closed.  Connie drove through the remains of the night so that Randy could sleep for a few hours in order to be functional at work later that morning.  They arrived home as the sun was coming up.  There was barely enough time to shower, change clothes and head to their jobs, like nothing happened.  Just another in a long list of adventures they would share with friends and fellow riders. 

I spoke with Connie by phone while she was at the motel, waiting for Randy to arrive.  Her disappointment in not being able to finish the ride was palpable.  More than that, she loathes having to rely on someone to come bail her out of a situation.  Trying to lighten the mood a little, I remarked about what a great guy she had in Randy – driving through the night to rescue his damsel in distress.  Connie didn’t hesitate, even for a nano second, before replying “I wouldn’t want to be rescued by anyone else, but him.”  It didn’t come out sappy or silly and neither of us laughed over it.  It simply defines their relationship - there isn’t any situation the two of them can’t get through as long as they rely on each other.  Randy is her Knight In Shining Armor.   

I've just come from next door, having let Bailey and Buddy out for a quick nature call.  Yep, this means Randy and Connie are riding together once again.  They're participating in a one day rally.  The sunrise was still several hours away as they pulled out this morning.  It will be after 10:00 p.m. tonight before the dogs will welcome them home excitedly.  Madness, you say?  No, Randy and Connie are simply taking advantage of what remains of the riding season.  I understand their motivation completely.  I'm happy to provide doggie daycare while they build another memory to take them through the approaching winter months.    

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Their stuff is all over my iPod but this song hits it on the head: 

Who's In Charge?

Normally, I wouldn't have given this article a second thought, mostly because I've resigned myself to the fact that 98% of today's parents don't really 'parent', they tune their kids out - especially in public places.  However, I had an interesting encounter just last night that makes the timing of this article too good not to pass along.   
   I was dining out with friends, all of whom are parents of children in the age range of preschool through high school.  Their kids were not with us, but not because they don't behave in public.  The table next to us did have their children with them.  It was apparent from the time this family was seated that the kids have been allowed to behave BADLY in public ever since they drew their first breaths.  I'm going to guess their ages were around the 3-4, 8-9 and 13-15 year marks.  Without getting into gory details I'll just share how the evening ended.  The family was told to leave, notice I didn't say asked to leave.  The parents were advised that they were not welcome to come back in the foreseeable future.  Six nearby tables were given hefty gift certificates based on the dollar amount of their dinner/drink tabs for the evening, and then some.  The owner apologized for the ruined atmosphere and expressed a desire to host a dining experience for them in the future that would be much more pleasurable. 
   I won't mention the name of the restaraunt, mainly because I didn't ask for permission to write about them on a public blog, but also because I'm sure the owners will likely have some backlash to deal with.  I can tell you that the remaining customers (including those tables with children at them) applauded as the offending family was escorted out of the building.    
      
Here's the article:   Take Your Screaming Child Outside

Before any of you parenting types out there get pissy about this, just take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Then ask yourself: "does this article ring true about my kids in public?"  If you can honestly answer no, then I'd say you're off the hook. 
   For those of you who must confess to having little or zero control over your children in public places...print this article out and put it on your fridge - in place of the fingerpainting little junior did in preschool.  Read it every morning and commit to being the parent in all situations, public and private.  Let this be your wake up call.  The rest of the world doesn't enjoy being in the same room with your ill-behaved namesakes.  And by the way, we're not upset with your children nearly as much as we're upset you - the ADULT.  Get a clue, get to parenting! 

Save Money at the Grocery Store This Week!!

couponmom.com                                     grocerycouponnetwork.com



These sites are more than worth your time to sign up with as they list out the coupons found in the Sunday paper coupon inserts.  You can print each coupon up to 4 times, sometimes more by visiting each site.  I have even found the dollar amounts to be higher on some of the coupons on line compared to the inserts in the paper.  There are no tricks or paid subscriptions for these sites and spam isn't an issue.  I recommend that you print all the coupons for your preferred products when they're listed and then you'll have them ready when the stores put them on sale pricing.  I know you're all sitting there saying "but Dee, not all of us have time for this."


Here's a glimpse into my time investment and savings from 8.30 through 9.7: I spent 15 minutes clipping coupons from the Sunday inserts, then scanning through the available online coupons, printing them, pulling out the coupons I had previously printed and saved.  I saved $65.78 ($4.39 per minute of time invested).  Remember, I'm not shopping for a family so just think about how much you mommies and daddies could be saving.  Clearly, I did some stocking up because of the sale prices combined with the coupons.  I don't normally spend $65.00 in two weeks on groceries/household items.


Cub -
I'm a fan of cub's coupons because they're ready with copies of them at the register in case you forget to clip them at home.  Rainbow doesn't do that for it's customers, which is a shame, really.


Green Giant Steamers Frozen Veggies - steam in the bag/microwave.  These are $1.00 each, but you do have to buy 10 bags of them to get the discount.  What makes this deal even better than Target's Market Pantry brand are the printable coupons at couponmom.com for 50¢ off two bags.  You should be able to print the coupon three times, possibly four, so that would bring 6 to 8 of the bags down to 75¢ each.  That's a pretty cheap way to get your name brand veggies in at dinnertime.  Heck, sometimes a bag of mixed veggies is my dinner.


Progresso Soups - Classics 18-19 oz cans are $1.00 each, again - you have to buy 10 of them in order to get the discount at Cub.  And again, there are printable coupons at couponmom.com to save $1.00 off of 4 cans so that would bring the cost down to 75¢ each.  Cheap hot lunch or dinner on the run...say before a hockey game, or whatever.


Cub Large Eggs Coupon: 78¢.  Cub coupon for 2 lbs of free bananas - a bunch of 4 medium size bananas were free, so for those of you feeding a family that's buy 2 lbs/get 2 lbs free for a week's worth of potassium.


Rainbow -
Notice Cub is now actively competing with Rainbow on the same 10 for $10.00 items.  What makes the deal at Rainbow better is A) you don't have to buy 10 in order to get the discount, B) Rainbow doubles the value of coupons on Wed and Sat each week (up to $1.00 & 5 coupons total), C) if you're a Rainbow Fuel Perks cardholder then your purchase goes towards saving money at the gas pump through the end of this month.  I've also read that Roundy's (Rainbow) is considering another extension of the fuel perks program.  I'm no Vicki with her $1.00 off per gallon savings but I'm doing the happy dance this week with 50¢ per gallon accrual.


Progresso Soups - Classics 18-19 oz cans are $1.00 each on their mix and match 10 for $10.00 special.  Note that there are about 8 Classics flavors to choose from for this deal.  Again - use those printable coupons at couponmom.com to bring the price down to 75¢.  Use the coupons on Saturady and you're only paying 50¢ per can.  Use the coupons on the other types of Progresso soups and you're still saving 50¢ per can.  


Yoplait Yogurt - 32 oz size are 2 for $4.00. Hit up couponmom.com for 50¢ off one and those 2 containers are now $3.00.  Double the coupon on Saturday and each container is now only $1.00 each.  Compare that price to the individual serving size and it's easy to see where you're throwing away money.  I know the individual servings are fast and easy.  This time of year, with so much fresh fruit in season, I prefer to slice up those 99¢ per pound peaches and nectarines to throw in the yogurt as a means of dairy and fruit intake without the threat of slobbering juice all over my shirt.  Oh, and check the 'best by' dates to find that you're a good 30-45 days out from having to even think about the yogurt going bad before you get to it.


Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes are 10 for $10.00. Yep, you guessed it - there's a coupon for those online too.  50¢ off of 2 boxes, bringing the cost down to 75¢ per box or 50¢ if you're shopping on Saturday.  I'm a sucker for all things salty so you know I'm digging the au gratins!


Hunt's Pasta Sauce: 10 for $10, Creamette Pasta: 10 for $10.  Even if you only pick up one each you've got yourself an extremely cheap dinner for two plus leftovers.  There are easily enough spaghetti noodles left in the box for any number of future meals. **Target Alert** Target sells the Hunts Pasta sauce for 84¢ each and the Market Pantry pastas are 82¢ so if you're already making the trip there, hold off on these items at Rainbow.  If you're not heading to Target go ahead with them.  You're saving some serious bucks with the other items so the 34¢ per sauce/pasta purchase won't break you.  Throw in some Italian sausage or marinated/grilled chicken to the sauce, along with some extra basil or your favorite Italian seasoning.  Fix some garlic bread and call it as good as dining out.


Target -
Gold-N-Plump Chicken Breasts 38 oz packages on sale for $6.99 (better deal than the smaller packages) and take $1.00 off with yet another online coupon from you-know-where and you've got a better deal than the Market Pantry brand of frozen chicken breasts.  For those of you with the Food Saver sealers - it's time to get cooking and sealing! Grilling chicken breasts now for salads, fajitas, and casseroles later is the way to go.


Market Pantry Frozen Garlic Toast - on sale for $1.42.  This is cheaper than Aldi, Roundy's and Cub's brand.  It's faster than having to prep a loaf of french bread.


Kwik Trip -
If you pump your gas here then you should also be picking up your bananas, onions and potatoes: 39¢ per pound for each of these items, all the time.


Pull your cash from their ATM inside if you're not pulling it from your own bank's ATM.  Kwik Trip doesn't charge a fee for using their ATM's.  I know folks who are pulling cash 'to get through the week' several times a week.  You can save from $6.00 to $20.00 per month this way and the way I look at: That's parking and soda for a hockey game.  Hey - I've got my priorities, you've got yours. 


Your Mailbox -
Most of us sort the mail by throwing the advertisements into the recycling bin on the way in from the mailbox.  Start reading through those local coupon inserts - you'll be surprised to find gas station discount coupons,  buy one-get-one-free lunches and dinners at local restaraunts and discounts for car washes (Paradise in the southern burbs has an exterior wash but with the hand towel drying for the same amount that the gas stations are charging).

Hockey, Get Yer Hockey Right Here!

Headlining today's "God Punishes" news:
James Sheppard is out for 3-4 months after having had emergency knee surgery thanks to an ATV accident while he was "training" in Vail.  Here's the link to why I'm ROFLMFAO!!!  Apparently, James hasn't been riding ATV's since he was three years old, otherwise he would have known to stay off of a machine that could pretty much END A CAREER.  A career which, not incidentally, was totally on the line for him in just a matter of days at this point.  Things that make you go hmmmm - and then Muwahahahahahahha!  And just for the record - I never like to see one of our own get hurt, but seriously - WTF were you thinking, James??  And who's the complete idiot leading this individual training camp that thought a 'scenic tour' is required for conditioning???  And to the Wild Management - I hope you're seriously looking into what kind of contractually supported discipline action you can take with Mr. Sheppard over this.  And to Casey Wellman - get ready to prove you're NHL-ready, my little puck puppy!  No Houston for you this season, hopefully!   

This one's for Nancy -
Owen Nolan didn't catch on with the Sharks so he's still on the market...for an NHL team, that is.  I don't know if the Wild simply told the Angry Irishman that the team was going in a different direction (youth movement, specifically) or if the parting of ways was amicable, meant to give Owen the opportunity to play for a CONTENDING team in what may be his last year in the NHL.  Maybe there's a door open for a conversation still?  

Twitter for NHL purposes - really, that's all I use it for...
Russo was tweeting tons of enlightening and delightfully funny things today as he visited the X to see some of the guys scrimmaging. 

Greg Zanon's beard has it's own zip code - the pic from Russo's twitter account.  P.S. that's John Scott next to him - just here for the scrimmages.    
   
Josh Harding:


New Ice!


Kovalchuck's new contract approved by NHL
Instead of 17 years/$102 million, he's getting 15 years/$100 million.  Man, I don't know HOW he's going to support himself on that much of a salary cut.  I'm guessing he'll be supplementing with food stamps by 2020 just to make it paycheck to paycheck.  Way to set a much more fiscally-responsible tone for contract negotiations going forward oh great minds of the NHL.  *Sarcasm in high doses here, in case you didn't catch on.*  I suppose it's some small consolation that the Devils will now need to clear just under $5 million in cap space before October 8.

Another NHL Player With Financial Woes -     
I've always subscribed to the motto "There are Things You Can Say Out Loud, and Things You Can Only Say Inside Your Head."  Hopefully, the Lightning's backup goalie will learn to keep his mouth shut from now on, or at least until the current economy rights itself.  For the full story: Puck Daddy.  The short version:  Dan Ellis bemoans a reduction in his salary should the players have to pay out on the escrow issue.  In his first NHL season, Dan Ellis' base salary was $500,000.  Since 2008: a $3.5 million contract with the Preds, followed by a $3 million deal with the Lightning this summer.  That's a total of $7 million dollars, hockey fans, for a guy who gets to play a sport for a living.  He's worried that an 18% reduction in his salary will put him in the same company with Kovalchuck...needing food stamps and visits to the local food shelves in order to make ends meet.  Hell, just give me the 18% ($540,000.00 - based on the $3 million he signed for just 2 months ago) and I'm sure I can find a way to live quite comfortably on that alone, Mr. Whineyass.     

Vicki - 2 Weeks and Counting!!!

Annoying Commercials

I'm not experiencing PMS, thankfully all of my 'equipment' was removed years ago, and it's not that I'm in a particularly bad mood.  I just watched a marathon of recorded shows and repeatedly found a number of commercials which annoy the shit out of me.  God bless the invention of fast forwarding. 
   Here are my top picks for companies that should fire their advertising staff - and the VP's and Directors that approved the ads.             

The reason I'll never eat at Quiznos & probably why their shops are closing all over.  Okay, all of their commercials are idiotic but this one has jangled a nerve...


It's safe to assume my insurance policies are not with Progressive:


Nor are they with Geico...


Thank God I don't have an annuity or structured settlement...


This is just creepy...


Not annoying enough to make me give up chocolate but Willy Wonka should be ashamed...


Feel free to share the commercials or radio jingles that make you stab at the channel changer with lightning speed and I'll post them here.  I think everyone should get one of these bad boys stuck in their head, at least once a day...cuz I love you all!