Doohicksie

I'm lucky that so far (knock wood) since I've moved, I have two garages in my neighborhood that do quality work at fair prices. One is literally at the end of my block, but they're a small place with limited hours (no Saturdays, close at 5). The other one is at the other end of my hood.... technically walking distance; I've done it, but it's over a mile. But they're a bigger shop, several mechanics, open a little later and Saturdays. I usually go to the close place first and if they're busy I go to the other place.

fify 😉

If we're still figuratively talking about Necas, he's making $6.5M per year for the next two years.

We went to a Christmas concert with Marie and the Statler Brothers (I think? One of those harmonizing groups) back in the 1990s. We were on the last row of the bowl seating closest to the floor. There were risers between our seats and the floor seats, and she walked around on the risers while she was singing. As she got up to us, the heal of her shoe found a gap in the risers and she went down hard right in front of me. Feet in the air and everything. BTW she was wearing polka dot underwear under her skirt. Her mic went flying; I picked it up and handed it back to her. She had a terrible look of pain on her face but put a show biz smile on and finished the song. After that though they rearranged the play list and she didn't sing anymore.

She's also an excellent singer. Just not my style. This gives some perspective on her singing technique. And is also a poignant story of loss in her life.

A story: When my wife was 10, she went from Albany to Syracuse by herself on a Greyhound Bus. Her dad put her on the bus in Albany and her aunt collected her in Syracuse. Her aunt took her to the State Fair, where the Osmonds were singing that night. So her first concert was Donny Osmond. I've seen him in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and he his a helluva singer and entertainer. I'm just not too keen on his style of music. But I can put up with it for a night.

I don't think there's any rain in the forecast for north Texas until October. And when it's 103°F, if it does rain, it evaporates before it hits the ground! (Plus, the concert is indoors.)

Another 15 miles tonight

Going to see Donny Osmond this Friday. That's how much I love my wife.

First ad just dropped. I suspect Biden planned to drop out for some time, probably decided for sure after the debate and its aftermath. I think he timed it to deliberately steal the momentum from the Trump campaign in the aftermath of the GOP convention, and to make him regret picking Vance as VP candidate. It will be interesting who the Dem VP candidate will be. I think it will be a popular senator or governor from a swing state, but I also think Buttigieg would be an excellent campaigner and debater.

I think that based on the changes already made, and the system Lindy will implement, the team will be playing better in front of the goalie, compared to recent seasons. So goals against will go down for Ukko Pekka Luukkonen even if his save percentage remains the same.

So Ziemer is Sabrespace's new draft darling?

Our usual Saturday morning group ride... 30 miles worth for me.

18 miles tonight: Downtown and back

I wonder how this maps to distribution of players by age. Could it be that the blue window also contains the most players?

Yeah, I see what you mean, but I think my point still holds... McD & D end up playing so much that they are rendered ineffective, and okay, so your old guys aren't worn down... but without those two carrying the load, the old guys aren't good enough to carry the load either. On a deep playoff run, McD & D are so worn down that the team becomes kind of meh.

The Sabres will make the playoffs this season if UPL signs a multi-year deal before going to arbitration.

OMG look at you guys paying attention to fashion. I never would have looked at that picture and thought, "That coat doesn't fit him."

It doesn't change a thing, but I personally like to hear what he says, if only because he's not part of the Sabrespace echo chamber.

The Hockey Guy likes it.

The Madame Tussaud version of Rick Dudley.

Can you bring back some Elbonian mud for me? I'll pay you back.

14 miles this evening. Temp was only 83 when I started; downright cool for July in north Texas.