Awkward moments in parenting

I don't have kids of my own but even I know that having them walk in on you and your partner would be... uncomfortable to say the least. Some people would never live down the shame and embarrasment. Others however see the hilarity of the situation. Soemthing makes me think that I would fall into the latter category (unless we were doing something that you have to look up on Urban Dictionary for a name). I don't know if I would record it and put it on youtube (actually I know I wouldn't) but this is probably more in line with how I would react

Rockin' the Suburbs

I feel like Ben Folds this week because I have been rockin' The Suburbs all week. Arcade Fire's new album The Suburbs that is. It was released on Tuesday and I haven't been able to turn it off since. I don't really have the words to describe how much I love this band. I could try but it would just fall short, very short of doing them any kind of justice. All I can say is that this album sounds different from Funeral and Neon Bible while still sounding ArcadeFire... if that makes sense. Here's a little taste:

Sad puppy!

Not an actual sad puppy like the one in the picture but I am kind of bummed today. Why? Because I am a die hard Habs fan and last night their season ended. So close yet still so far. Luckily for me, I am also a realist and I realize that what the Habs accomplished is something to be proud of. The team was completely dismantled and rebuilt in the off season, played only a handful of games with a healthy lineup and squeaked into the playoffs yet still somehow managed to make the conference final.

Unfortunately they met up with a Flyers team that underachieved in the regular season but found it's groove at the right time and actually got healthier as the playoffs progressed. Them being a 7th seed is misleading, a wolf in sheep's clothing if you will. And now they get to play a wolf in wolf's clothing in the Blackhawks. It is shaping up to be an incredible final.

Don't look at the regular season, look at both teams on paper and what they are doing now. Very similar outlooks. These teams are probably to two deepest teams up front (any team that can sit Andrew Ladd or Dan Carcillo is doing alright), top end talent on both bluelines and good goalies playing like great goalies.

I also like the matchup of Toews and Richards. I am sure they will have different assignments but will see their fair share of each other in the next couple of weeks.

Speaking of Richards, he did something last night that speaks a lot to the Flyers attitude. He touched the Conference trophy. The susperstitious (most hockey players are) don't do that because they feel it is bad luck. Richards said luck be damned, we earned this, lets enjoy it. He might not end up regretting it though and susperstition might play a part in it.

THE HOSSA CURSE!!!! Three different teams, three straight Stanley Cup finals. So far Marion Hossa is 0 for 2. If he loses again this year, he will officially become the broken mirror of the NHL. Something makes me think he won't have to worry about it though. The Flyers are going to have to deal with something this round that they haven't had to before.... Dustin Byfuglien (Bufflin). If the Hawks win, Toews will deservedly win the Conn Smythe but I think Byfuglien should get an honourable mention on .

Prediction: Hawks in 6 in what will be one of the best Stanley Cup Finals in some time.

It feels good to laugh

I love living in Newfoundland. Couldn't be in a better place. If I had one complaint though, it would be the barriers the geography creates for entertainment. It is expensive as all get out for high end entertainment to come here. I guess that is why it feels that much more satisfying when it does happen. Neil Young and Queens of the Stone Age will go down as two of the best concerts I have ever been to and they both happened at Mile One.

I caught wind of some incredible news last week about one of the finest stand up comedians on the planet, Louis C.K., coming to The Rock in a few weeks. Needless to say, i scooped up tickets as soon as possible. I don't even care if he tells jokes that I have heard a million times, I am just excited to see him live. June 5th can't get here fast enough.

Ole! Ole! Ole!

It feels good to say it when it actually means something. Although I am a die hard Habs fan, I am not one of the ones that start chanting it during a regular season, first period powerplay. Too much of a good thing people, too much of a good thing!

That being said, I love the pride that comes with being a Habs fan. Through thick and thin, we love this team. Well they most certainly gave us something to cheer about last night by coming back from being down 3 games to 1 to eliminate Washington in their own barn. In Halak we trust!

Thing is, it wasn't just because of hot goaltending that the Habs won those last three games (it was the main reason though). All of the players that Bob Gainey was chastised for signing in the off season were massive. The Smurfs (Cammy, Gionta & Gomez) were all heart and soul, especially Mike C who was clutch. Travis Moen gave the team some jump on the forecheck in game 5 that really set the tone going forward. And Hal Gill... oh how we take back everything we said about you during the regular season. Jaromir Jagr once said Gill is the toughest blueliner in the league to play against. Me thinks Alexander Ovechkin might concur.

It doesn't get any easier for the Habs as they now take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. In fact, I would say it is a tougher assignment because unlike the Caps, the Pens will adjust when something isn't working. When it comes to the playoffs, Crosby & Malkin >>>>>>>> Ovechkin & Semin.

Do I want the Habs to win this series (and the Cup)? Of course I do. Do I think they will? Seems like a tall order considering the energy they spent playing the Caps full tilt for 2 weeks but stranger things have happened. Or at least equally strange ('93 anyone?).

Regardless of the outcome, this edition of the Habs have made me proud to wear the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. Vive les Habitants!

Murphy's Law

I don't know who this Murphy cat is but he (or she) has some 'splainin' to do! It is snowing like a mother in St. John's today. I know it is still April so I shouldn't be surprised and you know what? I'm not. The snow isn't my beef. The timing of it is.

We went weeks without a flake and then as soon as my girlfriend got her snow tires off, bam, we get dumped on. Seriously, it happened when her car was getting worked on.

Once that came and went, we barely saw even a hint of snow for 2 weeks. I decided it was a good time to get my car serviced and the tires changed. As soon as I did, bam again, snowing like a mother!

It leads me to ask, what happened to this Murphy character that pissed him/her off so much? They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned? Well you are doubley screwed if that woman is a Murphy?

I guess today's life lesson is 'be nice to a Murphy!' If not, they'll get you back, big time!

Havin' a time!

My body hates me right now. It is completely exhausted but it was well worth it. Juno week just wrapped up in St. John's and it was absolutely unreal. So many highlights, so many great shows.

While most people were either at Mile One or on their couch watching, I was on George Street. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. If you caught the show, you only saw a little bit of it. The party started a couple of hours before the broadcast. Kim Stockwood and Damhnait Doyle kicked it off with some modern versions of traditional NL tunes. Ricky & Bubbles of TPB's took over MCing duties and got screeched in with a couple of the lads from The Arkells and it was ridiculous. The Arkells tore up the stage after that. They left quite the impression on The Rock. Bubbles hopped back on stage to play Liquor & Whores and then handed it over to Deadmou5 who transformed George into a rave. Twas incredible.

After that, the show kicked in with Classified performing Oh Canada. I was a part of that crowd. If you watched from home and thought 'that looks like a pretty good time', you were only a quarter right. There is nothing quite like a street party on George. If/when the Junos return to St. John's, you'll know where to find me.