Ireland...Bitches!!!

The Toast with Kool-Aid in tow fly out of Philly tonight around 8pm and are set to land in Dublin at 8am following a sweet 7 hour flight into the future. From there the itinerary is just jam packed to the gills with stops in Kilkenny, Cobh (pronounce Cove), Clonakilty (home of the Big Fella), Dingle, Galway, and trip rounds out with a couple days in Dublin. Ay...Great Success!!

So, hopefully the internet will be able to keep on truckin' without my witty banter and general nonsensicalness. Pictures to follow. Till then, I'm OUT!!

"What could be Better than a beer with Eddie Vedder"

Ahhhhhh Magic Hat....thou art so wise.

Wait a tic...hold the phone....I'm going to Ireland on Friday?!?!

Yeah...so it's kinda come to my attention that I am slated to head across the pond as they say at the end of the week; Friday to be exact. Not gonna lie to you internet audience, this has sort of caught me off guard. I mean, reservations have been made. My passport still flies. I can afford to take this trip. I know how to drive stick. Tessie Girl staying at her weekly dogwalker's arrangements have been made. Realistically, all I have to do is make sure I have enough underpants for 9 days in Ireland.

And yet...something seems amiss. I mean, am I excited to go; you bet your sweet bippy I am. I am looking forward to touring the Irish Countryside with Kool-Aid something very fierce. But how can it be that it is still to sink in?? Really, I've known about this trip for quite some time, this really isn't a surprise here. I don't know, perhaps it's due to the fact that my mind really isn't quite here at the office today and I've already checked out for this vacation that I can't seem to remember fully. Maybe I was sooo into Playoff Hockey that I am not really a part of the "real" and just mindlessly floating along?? Maybe I just need to suck it up and come to grips that I am heading to Awesome Town come week"s end?? Yeah...that last one seems about right.

To tell you the truth Toastedblog friends, no one could be as up for a trip to Ireland as your's truly. I mean, Europe, a few beers, a few laughs, my kin, fellow Cregg run-ins, QT with the Kool-Aid, boiled meats, Guinness, what-have-you's: this sure sounds like the real deal to me. And don't get me wrong, I am all-up-ons here. I just think that my head is a bit too focused on the task at hand (i.e. workies) and not really set with this whole kickass vacation thingie. Don't you worry, I'll be gettin' there. If not....there is something really wrong with me.

Guess I'll have to wait a little while longer.

Well, I've already waited close to 30 years to see my beloved Bruins win the Stanley Cup (a total of 37 years since the last time they triumphantly hoisted the trophy), what's a little while longer?? I was sooo damn angry the moment I saw that puck go in the net in the waining minutes of the first overtime. Following that moment, there was only pain. Felt like hurty.

The sad thing is, I really thought that this was going to be the year I finally got to see it happen. This was to be the year, THEIR YEAR!!! Top flight goaltending, Big Z, the ability to roll out 4 lines all of which can put the puck in the net, good powerplay, even better penalty killing. I'm not going to go on and on on their loss last night, ousting the B's from the playoffs. As much as it pains me to say it, it is only a game. That being said, it is a game that I was heavily invested in; whether it be time, heart, beers, money for beers, and a desire to see my team just keep on keepin' on.

For the first time in a long time, my team had a shot. They showed promise. Now all I can think about is, how long will it be till I can once again invest all that I have in them?? Is it next year?? Please let it be next year. On that note, thanks for the ride this year B's. True I'm a little disappointed but like anything else worth having, I can wait and I know full well that in time I will come to forget how bummed I am this morning, just a few short hours after your season, and mine has come to an end. Besides, it's summer. Time to get outside and do some shit. Look at that sun. Look at that puppy!! Look at that hot ladyfriend!! Hell, you're going to Ireland in a week.

Sure Toast, go ahead and tell yourself whatever you need to. I mean it...I'm very upset!!

BEAR MAD...BEAR BASH!!

Let me set the mood here for you folks. Think Tuesday evening at 7:30. A certain Toastmaster General is about 4 beers in and some delicious Toast-made chicken wing pizza with all it's freaky naughty fine aroma's fill the air. Tessie girl has worked herself into a pants biting frenzy. She knows what time it is. Yeah...it's business time. The time for business. Business hours are not over. Who else knew what time it was?? Well a certain team from Boston that has garnered a lot of this blogger's attention of late. You see, the Bruins, they too knew it was business time and last night they pretty much held one of those lame informal seminars for the 'Canes winning Game 6 of their Best of Seven series with Carolina 4-2 to force a Game 7 in Boston on Thursday.

Now, they weren't the dominant Bruins per-say, the ones that we saw on Sunday night in Game 5. Nevertheless they looked damn good when it counted and really took it to the 'Canes in the first period; a period that saw them jump out to a 2-0 lead. More importantly, all of this talk of Carolina poking the Bear and that Bear has finally woken up awfully ornery; well now it is starting to have some merit and not just some one time deal with their backs to the wall. When the going got tough last night with Carolina coming within one goal of tying Boston and those "Caniacs" all-up-ons and getting that joint a-rocking, the B's got going. They coolly stuck to their game and what was an edge of his seat situation for the Toast, and all Boston fans, quickly became a 3-1 lead with some steady heads up play, and one hell of a set-up for Mark Savard by Milan Lucic.

Long story short, the B's didn't get rattled. They didn't let the whole Walker-Ward debacle from Sunday get them out of their game. Lucic and Thornton weren't taking wild runs at the Carolina skaters. What can really sum up last night's game is the play of center Patrice Bergeron. In one word, SOLID. To add some more words to it, an all around, kick ass, both sides of the game, 110% effort, fucking awesome-a-thon.

So, where does this leave the Toast you ask?? Well, since Detroit couldn't close out their series last night against the Ducks like I so desparately wanted them to, both series are set for their finales tomorrow night. And since the only hockey channel that shows playoff games (FUCKING COMCAST, why do I pay more for the NHL Network to not get any sweet, sweet playoff action?!?!) I seem to get is Versus and Versus loves to slurp the Wings as they're kinda the Yankees of hockey guess what game they shall be showing?? Finally, since I am slated to see the Shins tomorrow night and said Bruins Game 7 is out there, unable for me to DVR. Do I feign illness and not go only to run out to a bar to watch it?? So far, my only other option is to call the 9:30 Club and see if they'll put the B's game on for me. I can watch hockey and have the Shins show in the background right?? Maybe some chicken tenders to boot?? My fingers are now crossed.

"I said GODDAMN!!!"

Above you'll see Boston Defenseman Aaron Ward amidst his getting sucker punched by Carolina Hurricane Scott Walker late in the third period of last night's Bruins win 4-0 of Game 5 of the Best of Seven series. Ward doesn't even have his gloves off.

Now, a lot is starting to be made of this event in the Hockey Community. The fact that Ward shouldn't have stood there defenseless like this or that Ward was obviously asking for a cheap shot for all of the stuff that he does night in and night out to opposing players behind the scenes. Nevertheless, at the end of the day what remains is that Walker took a run at Ward and followed that up with a shot to his mush that busted up Ward's orbital bone. For this, the anticipated response from the league was an obvious suspension for Walker. Instead, he received a fine that I could pay off should I choose to not pay rent for a little bit. Ward's status for Game 6 remains to be seen but I wouldn't be surprised to see him out there with a cage on.

I'm not pissed off at the league, or officials, or at 'Canes fan's that clearly have some kind of misunderstanding at what playoff hockey is all about. I am actually a fan of the nonsuspension as it gives some of the more physical B's to line up Walker and take a clean shot at him (although that probably won't happen so I should expect something chippy). I'm more kinda peeved at what Carolina Coach Paul Maurice had to say in response to last night's events.

Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice laughed off the possible repercussions.
“Scott probably has sore knuckles,” he said. When asked whether there will be a fine, he added: “I may have to sell my truck.”

Kinda makes him sound like a bit of a dick doesn't it??

In any event, I'm looking forward to a hard fought Game 6 and good news is that should this series go to Game 7, which would probably be played on Thursday night (I am assuming that Thursday would be the night, will probably look into it following this post) I am slated to go see the Shins here in the district with Kool-Aid. How the hell am I going to get out of that one?? I'm hoping that this series doesn't turn into who can out trump who in regards to playing like a bunch of assholes and the two teams turn to playing ol' time hockey Eddie Shore, Bobby Orr style. This isn't a slam, but I wonder how many 'Canes fan's get that reference??? Easy Toast...let's pump the breaks here.

The Toast of Yore

Back in the day, you know, those freshman in college days (circa '97-98), we used to rock this shit!!! Still, the best version of "Stars" by Hum belongs to "Iceberg Slim", my bestest buddy Chuck's band during those same college years. Now, if I had my way, they would have been named "Horny Rottweiler". Hmmm..I wonder what other things would be different if they'd only gone according to the Toast. I tell you what, I'd probably have a cheese-steak right now.

**Sidenote** And the award for most awesomely blunt band update goes to Hum's wikipedia page: "They have not been consistently active as a recording or touring group since 2000." oooh....you hate to see that.

Taking a page out of Dunford's book.

Because I couldn't think of anything to write about today I've decided that an old adage is the best way to go. "Chances are someone else has already done it better than you ever could so just copy them."

I present to you, five awesome things (recent):

1. Wilco in July

Wilco is playing here in N. Virginia in early July. Haven't had the luxury of seeing them yet but when I do it'll be at a local outdoor venue known only as WolfTrap. You know what's sweet about WolfTrap??? It's a small outdoor venue that allows you to bring coolers to the lawn seats. Hot Damn!!!

2. Chicken Vesuvio

This is some Italian Dish that I made on Sunday Night that went along nicely with a Bruins loss (dangited!!) It's chicken, a couple cut-up taters, cooked in marsala wine, a shit-ton of garlic, a few eye-talian herbs and spices, and according to the Dinosaur Cookbook, some Dino BBQ sauce. Delicious does not do it justice.

3. Dog Walking

You want random people to tell you that you're awesome, get puppy dog that does puppy things, like bark at inanimate objects.

4. Mickey Rourke

Rented "The Wrestler" the other night. Do the same and try not to reference this movie in your blog afterwards. You've just been dared...BOOM!!! (no seriously, Rourke is awesome in this flick, plus any guy that played Marv, digs chihuahuas, and gave up acting to return to the ring has gotta be awesome. He. Just. Has. To.

5. Bangkok 54

This is a local Thai restaurant that Kool-Aid and I have both been to and ordered from in the recent weeks. Sure, it's no Thai Restaurant/Bar/Karaoke hydra like you'll find in the "Electric City", but does it have delicious and super spicy Pad Thai and Fiery Chicken Kaproa??? You bet your sweet ass it does. Plus, I have no idea what the sauce is that comes with the spring rolls, but god damn is it tasty!!

As an added bonus, I'll give you the sixth free (take that Dunford)

6. Free chicken parm and wine after your friend teaches you to drive stick.
In preparation for our trip to Ireland, Kool-Aid and I are learning how to drive stick. Oddly enough, we never were taught the ways of manual transmission, through no fault but our own. Were we naturals?? Sure. Did it take long?? About 30 minutes, then we hit the mean streets of the District. Did Emily, our instructor/fellow Ireland traveler make us some fried stuff with cheese and and sauce?? You damn right!!

Great Caesar's Ghost....It's the "Brass Bonanza"!!

Sweet Jebus, I miss organ music at hockey games. Now everything's all rock n' roller on the grunge tip, but hockey games were meant to feature the likes of the organ during stoppages in play. The majesty that presents itself above is none other than the "Brass Bonanza", the theme song for the since disbanded Hartford Whalers. Hartford, the whale????

Why this little piece of hockey nostalgia today?? Well, the Bruins are set to begin their playoff series against the former whale tonight and this guy is set to show his Kool-Aid a night she'll never forget. What's that consist of you ask?? Well, a date night including damn fine deep dish pizza, Batty Blues, a sports bar full of dudes (of which she'll already have the proverbial "pick of the litter" and high brow Eastern Conference Playoff Hockey. This here is the stuff dreams are made of. You ladies out there should wish you get this kind of royal treatment. It's like she's a freakin' Princess or something.

In any event, even though the Bruins come in favored this series, the Carolina Hurricanes are certainly no pushover. It's going to take a good amount of Canadian Beer to console me should the B's drop Game 1 and that stuff is like moonshine. (Hell Yes!!) See, that guy knows what I'm talking about.

In related news, Tessie completed a walk (incident free) around the block last night, her first non-difficult walk in almost a week. There was much rejoicing. I was starting to wonder if we'd scarred her or but she pulled something out of her bag of tricks and acted like a normal pup for a minute there. She would later knock over a full NALGENE bottle and respond by going to the bathroom on the rug. ACES!!!

Ah hell, just root for the Bruins tonight so I don't ruin this "date night" with my special lady by creating a scene, possibly while blindingly drunk. That's not going to help things at all.