Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Phase IV is complete

Sometime late this morning the professionals from HWC completed wrapping the last window and finished Phase IV of our home improvement plan. This project was planned to take three days, but it sort of over ran its schedule. The large picture window in our living room was a lot more difficult to remove than originally thought, so this slippage affected the rest of the project. Also, yesterday Chris and Jim had a devil of a time installing the storm door. I have to paint the outside of the door this weekend, and as soon as that is done look for pictures on this blog.

As if there was not enough entropy in the house...

For frequent visitors to this blog, you are aware that there has been some churn and chaos at our home. Last week the professionals at HWC Homeworks began work on replacing 9 windows, our front door and the two large sliding glass doors in our back room. Yep, lots of chaos, dust and entropy. We also found out late Thursday afternoon that this project would continue into this week as they had a very difficult time removing two of the windows, which set back the installation schedule. Thankfully, the HR Maven was able to work from home on Tuesday so Jim and Chris could finish their work.

Well, just when we thought things could not get any more fun, I noticed that the ice tray in our 5 year old Amana refrigerator had water in it. This was a bad sign, because it meant that the freezer was no longer holding temperature. I knew that the design of this
refrigerator uses a single compressor to power the cooling system, so I knew that it was only a matter of time before upper fridge part of this appliance would start to fail, too. In my previous line of work, we called this a "cascading casualty." We decided to save all the perishables that we could, packing two coolers with ice and food. First thing on Tuesday morning, Dee called Apex Appliance Repair and in the early afternoon one of their technicians arrived and he quickly diagnosed and fixed the problem. In a few minutes, the temperatures in the freezer and the refrigerator started to drop.

We just need this fridge to work for another 8-10 weeks. Hopefully, this repair will enable us to bridge the gap between now and when the entropy meter will be pegged again for the kitchen remodeling project!


Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day

Today is the unofficial start of summer. Spring is essentially over, the days are getting longer and longer leading up to the Summer Solstice. It is light out well past 9PM right now and we are enjoying some of the best weather of the season as I type this. Last night I fired up the grill and cooked some baby back pork ribs. Summer is indeed upon us.

This meaning of this holiday weekend is actually much more important than marking the start of the summer. Today is a day when we remember the men and women who died while on active duty as a member of one of the armed forces of the United States. Contrary to what some people think, Memorial Day is not about firefighters or police or EMS technicians who died in the line of duty. Today is a day to honor those who
paid for our freedom with their lives. I want to share with those who read this blog the words of my friend and shipmate, Commander Dan Shanower. Dan was murdered on September 11th, 2001, when he was working at the Pentagon. Dan was an Intelligence Officer and he was working as an analyst and briefer for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). Dan's day would begin at 4AM or so, when he would get to work, look at the intelligence and situation reports from the previous night and prepare the daily intelligence summary for the CNO and other senior Navy officers. Dan was in his office when American Airline 77 slammed into the Pentagon.

Dan was a prolific writer and in 1997 he wrote an essay for the magazine Proceedings of the Naval Institute. In this essay, he described how as a young officer he learned that freedom isn't free. I want to share his essay as I, too, know that freedom isn't free.

Freedom Isn't Free
(then) LCDR Dan Shanower
Proceedings, May 1997

Lieutenant Commander Shanower is a Naval Intelligence Officer assigned to the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific Detachment at Yokota AB, Japan.

The military loses scores of personnel every year in training or operational accidents. Each one risked and lost his or her life for something they believed in, leaving behind friends, family and shipmates to bear the burden and celebrate their devotion to our country.

In a era of downsizing and tight budgets, it's easy to let the issues of the day and our different cultures and traditions distance us from our peers in the other military services. Memorial Day is one day of the year when those differences seem insignificant, when all service members reflect on the one defining experience many of us have felt that sets us apart from the rest of society: the loss of close friends in the defense of our nation.

It seems that anyone who has spent a few years in uniform has a story of a shipmate who died in combat or while preparing for it. Those memories are something that many of our civilian counterparts cannot fathom. They realize that those of us in the military are expected to make the ultimate sacrifice when called, and they are willing to take the day off in observance of the many who have, but few realize, and fewer have experienced, the incredible price the military pays to ensure freedom in both peacetime and war.

The issue is important enough that once a year we take time to remember and pass along a story of when we first learned that freedom isn't free. It is the tenth anniversary of one such experience for me.

By tradition, an aviation squadron's most junior officers are packed in the least desirable bunk rooms on board an aircraft carrier. BK 10 on the USS Midway (CV-41), directly under the starboard catapult, was home to seven frocked lieutenants and three lieutenants junior grade of VAQ-136, as the carrier entered the Indian Ocean in late 1987. We had all been to sea before, on shorter cruises to the Philippines, Thailand or Korea, but this was the first time that we felt there was real potential for combat. The Iranians had threatened to restrict transits of the Strait of Hormuz, and we were en route to provide air cover for reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers and their U.S. Navy escorts.

In preparing for our role in what was dubbed Operation Earnest Will, Carrier Air Wing 5 air crew had filled out authenticator cards and reviewed procedures in the event an aircraft emergency necessitated search-and-rescue operations some distance from the carrier. I remember a lively discussion among the junior officer air crew in BK 10 that started with, "If I mort, I want you guys to . . ." The light-hearted banter resulted in an agreement that if somebody didn't make it, the rest would throw a wild party in his honor at the Oak Harbor Tavern in Barrio Barretto, Philippines.

Late on the evening of 22 November 1987, the last cycle recovered on board the Midway but without our EA-6B Prowler. I remember walking into the ready room that night. Shock written on every face, the remaining air crewmen busied themselves computing the aircraft's possible maximum time aloft, in the hope that the Prowler had just lost use of its radios and soon would be "in the groove." It had been an emissions-control launch and recovery, so no radar operator could have seen a blip disappear from his screen. No emergency call had been heard, and no other aircraft reported seeing an explosion. We assumed the worst and broke out the gouge for dealing with an aircraft accident.

Assignments were passed out and, as I headed back to BK 10 to seal the wall lockers of my three bunkmates, I noticed a large cake sitting in front of the commanding officer's ready room chair. It was to have been his 1,000th trap. The Navy lost four fine officers that evening. Despite an extensive search, no wreckage was ever located.

These four guys were really good people. The pilot was superstitious and had a favorite pair of socks that he always wore when he flew. He told me once that he had not read a book (except NATOPS manuals) since his junior year in college, because he wanted to fly more than anything in the world and did not want to risk losing his perfect vision.

One of the flight officers was the subject of good-natured ribbing because even though he was on cruise, 5,000 miles from home, his mother felt the need to buy and mail off complete wardrobes for future wear in port. In each package, she was thoughtful enough to include socks to match the trousers and a new package of underwear.

One of the other flight officers had a love of Tai Kwon Do, and would always try to startle us with a fancy move as we entered the BK. I often felt a bit like Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movies, fending off his most recently improvised "foot chop to the face."

And then there was the Skipper, who had a rare gift for being at ease with the responsibilities of command while being able to enjoy a little fun along the way. I remember him chewing me out in the ready room one morning on cruise, for being out of uniform. I was utterly confused until he pointed out that I was wearing lieutenant junior grade bars where my bull ensign bars had been the night before. I looked down and to my horror saw that someone had switched my rank insignia during the night. I had not noticed it as I dressed in the darkened BK that morning. My face flushed and I struggled with an explanation. The Skipper broke into a smile, handed me the already prepared letter of promotion and said, "You might as well keep 'em on, Lieutenant." I had forgotten that the day marked my second year of service, so his well-planned trick provided us all with a good laugh.

These four men have been dead ten years. I miss their friendship, but I believe that because they died in the prime of their lives in the service of our country their sacrifices take on a special meaning. Maybe those three departed junior officers would be upset that the rest of us never did get around to having that party in the Barrio. I think, however, that to a man, what really would have impressed them was to know that, to their shipmates, they had come to personify the virtues that we salute on this national holiday.

A few years ago I visited Pensacola to see the place where my Navy life began. I toured the much expanded National Museum of Naval Aviation and found a large plaque on one wall listing all the pilots and naval flight officers who had reached the 1,000-trap milestone. It says a lot about this Navy of ours that someone had ensured that my late Skipper's name was included on that list.

The military loses scores of personnel every year in training or operational accidents. Each one risked and lost his or her life for something they believed in, leaving behind friends, family and shipmates to bear the burden and celebrate their devotion to our country. For those of us who were on the Midway in November 1987, the loss of Commander Justin Greene, Lieutenant Dave Gibson, Lieutenant Doug Hora, and Lieutenant J. C. Carter gave meaning to words such as sacrifice and duty. They knew the risks they were taking and gave their lives for something bigger than themselves. I'll never forget them, and I'll never forget the day I learned that freedom isn't free.



I am happy to report that the Plan of the Day was executed according to plan over the course of the past two days. On Saturday morning I picked up our friend Deb at 8:30AM, we scoped out the project, then headed to Lowes to pick up paint, stain and a few other supplied. The new trim and the front door needed to be primed before we could apply the finish coat of semi-gloss white paint. The first stokes of fresh paint was applied to the front door at 9:45AM. In order, Deb and I worked on the front door, the picture window in our living room, the window in our third bedroom, the bay window in our bedroom, and finally we stained the unfinished pine in our back room. We took a short break for lunch around 1230, as we needed to allow the primer to dry before we could apply the finish coat. On Sunday I spent most of the morning putting the window treatments back up. Deirdre and I worked for well over three hours putting everything back up. I still need to put a few more coats of paint on the front door and the sidelights, which I will knock out Monday afternoon.

I had never used stain before, but I am happy to report that my first attempt at staining was an unqualified success. The pine wood trim had virtually no discernible grain so the wood easily absorbed the stain. I could not have been happier wit the end result. Deb and I finished our painting around 2:30PM, and we made her promise to return at 6PM or so for dinner.

I often joke with Deb that if the GE thing does not work out for me, and her gig as a professor at Calvin does not work out, that we should start a painting business. Deb said to me, "I always like painting with you as we don't have to talk to each other. We just always seem to know what the other is doing and we compliment each other's strengths."

Deb returned a
little after 6PM so we could make her dinner (Delmonico steaks on the grill), and so we could watch our beloved Red Wings take on the Penguins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Dinner was served at little after 7PM and it was delicious. Dee, Deb and I were all seated in front of our TV by 8PM in plenty of time for the first drop of the puck. The Wings were awesome, shutting out the Penguins 4-0.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

PLAN OF THE DAY

For frequent readers of my blog, you know that chaos has been running rampant in our home. The professionals from HWC Homeworks replaced 9 windows, our frond door and four sliding glass doors over the course of the past three days. We also found out on Friday that this project will run into Tuesday as the exterior trim work still needs to be done. Persnickity Jim and his able assistant Chris completed the interior trim work by 4PM Friday afternoon so now the work shifts to me. I need to accomplish the following today:

1) Prime all trim wood surfaces. Wait for the primer to dry...
2) While waiting for the primer to dry, stain the wood in the Back Room...
3) After staining the wood, return to the aforementioned primed wood and paint the trim with a finishing coat.

Thankfully, I will not be working alone. In a little while, I will pick up our friend Deb, head to Lowes, get our supplies and start to work. It is going to be a long day, but I am hoping to get the painting done so I can start putting the house in order and eliminate the entropy that is now governing our lives. Updates to follow as conditions warrant.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

WINDOW TREATMENTS, DUST AND NOISE

Last night we started the preparations for Phase IV of our home improvement projects. Phase I and II were the remodeling of our main bathroom and our small bathroom, respectively. Phase III was the replacement of about half of our windows. Phase IV is the replacement of the remaining windows in our house, our front door and the sliding glass doors in our Back Room. In preparation for the work, Dee and I had to carefully remove the window treatments from the affected windows and we had to move the furniture away from these same windows. It was a lot of work, as is evident in the pictures from our work last night. It is as if an entropy bomb went off in the house. Chaos will remain here on Argentina for a few more days.

The
new windows and the front door have been installed, but the sliding glass doors will be replaced on Thursday. Friday is the trim day. The windows look great, but the trim is definitely something that needs to done. It also appears that the window installers will return to wrap the outside of the windows with aluminum cladding, which will make the windows maintenance free. I will have a lot of work to do this weekend. I will need to prime and paint the trim, as well as to paint the inside and outside of the front door and the side lights. There is a little chaos, noise and dust here in our slice of heaven in the Enchanted Mitten. However, it is just a matter of a little work and time and things will be back to normal.

I just have to remember this statement: "In the end, everything will be OK. If things are not OK, then it is not the end."

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Lord Stanley's Cup


It is often said that there are two seasons in the NHL: The regular season and the eight weeks of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It takes sixteen wins over the course of four rounds of the playoffs to earn the right to hoist the Stanley Cup. The Wings have twelve of the sixteen victories needed to bring the cup back to Hockeytown. Their opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins also have twelve wins and they want the Cup as much as the Wings want it. I am hopeful that the Wings will be the first to sixteen wins. Last night, the Stars were dispatched with nary a thought. By the end of the first period, the Wings were ahead 3-0 and they never looked back. Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals is this Saturday night. Say it with me, "Let's go, Red Wings!"

Monday, May 19, 2008

We are breathing a little easier now...


The Wings are up 4-0 against the Stars in Game 6. It is almost the end of the second period. Life agrees with me. Say it with me, "Let's go, Red Wings!"


Sunday, May 18, 2008

Our next home improvement project

Later this week, the professionals at HWC Homeworks and Window World of West Michigan will begin the next phase of our home remodeling projects. Window World is going to replace 9 windows in our bedrooms and living room, while HWC will replace the sliding glass doors in our back room and install a new front door. Currently, our back room as two enormous sliding glass doors. The extant doors are Pella and they have clearly outlived their usefulness. The sliders as they are called, are drafty and at times, leak water when it rains. The four sliders are 8 feet long and are no longer made by Pella. We will replace the sliders with three picture windows and a single sliding glass door. In designing this project, we realized that we needed only a single door, and by installing three fixed windows we will most likely reduce our energy costs. However, before work can begin we will need to remove the window treatments and move some furniture. The works starts on Wednesday and is projected to last three days. Updates to follow!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

It happened again...

On the way home from work, I stopped at D&W (our local grocery store) to pick up a six pack of oat pops and a few other necessities. Normally, I use the self check-out lane, but since I had beer, I went through a lane with a cashier. Luckily, there was no waiting, so I put my beer and groceries and on the conveyor belt and they rolled towards the cashier, show was named Barb. Barb looked at me and said, "I need to see you ID please, young man."

Seriously.

I smiled and I removed my license from my wallet and I handed it to Barb. She looked at my birth date and said, "Oh, my, you look so young! I never would have guessed your age!"

I am 45 years old and I am still getting carded. Life agrees with me.

Monday, May 12, 2008

The concert was great!

Elvis and the Police did not disappoint us last night. Elvis took to the stage at precisely 7:30PM and he played for 55 minutes without a break. He had a few words for the crowd, but he stuck to his business, singing such greats as "Pump it up," "Alison," and "(What's so funny about) Peace Love and Understanding." Elvis trotted off the stage following his last song and the lights went up in Van Andel Arena, meaning that his night was done. About 30 minutes later, the lights dimmed and the Police took the stage. Once again, Dee and I were not disappointed. Sting (Gordon Sumner), guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland played like they had never split up, dancing about the stage with renditions of "Roxanne," "Message in a Bottle," and "Every Breath you Take." Sting's bass guitar and Andy's Stratocaster were clearly well worn instruments, but they made great music.

Sunday, May 11, 2008



Tonight Dee and I will head down to Van Andel Arena and see Elvis Costello and the Police in concert. The Police have been on a world tour since 2007 and Dee has seen Elvis and the Police before, but I have never seen either play live. To be frank, I am more interested in seeing Elvis than the Police. No doubt that by the end of the night I will be humming the tune of "Accidents Will Happen" or "Sychronicity."

Saturday, May 10, 2008

31st 5/3 Riverbank Run

I am happy to report that this morning's Riverbank Run was simply great. The weather at the start of the race was cool, about 45F, and there was not a cloud in the sky. The weather was perfect for an early morning run. I left the house at 0645 and proceeded to where I had parked in the previous races. However, because of all of the construction downtown, my secret little lot was unavailable. Undeterred, I drove a few blocks down the way and found another place to park. I parked my car, grabbed my camera and headed to the 5/3 main office where I met up with the other members of our running team. The photo to the right of this text shows most of the team, as well as our handsome tie-dyed Navy team shirts.

The leader of this whole evolution is a retired Navy Captain named Paul, who is a senior VP at 5/3 Bank. Paul drilled in my Reserve Center when I was stationed in Grand Rapids. Paul arranged for the four Navy teams to participate. We had two 5K teams and a single 25K team. We all congregated in the parking lot of his building, which is conveniently located right next to the starting line for the race. Paul was already present, along with a few other Sailors who would be running with us today. We were able to step inside Paul's building for a little warmth before the race, and we are also able to make a final head call before stepping off. By 0745 all of us were ready to start our respective races.

The 25K race began at the 0800. There were literally thousands of people running in the race. I watched that race start, and then I took my place in the crowd for the start of the 5K race. I promised Paul that I would run with him throughout the race. Paul is not much of a runner due to some knee issues, so I wanted to stay with him during the race and keep pace with him. We walked to the back of the pack of people lining up for the 5K, assembling near the sign that said, "9 Minute Pace." That meant that we were starting the race with runners who hoped to run the race at about a 9 minute per mile pace. We took our position and the race began. The start of a 5K with 12,000 or so of your closest friends is more of a brisk walk up to the starting line, as there are literally thousands of people ahead and behind you trying to start their respective race.

Paul and I made it up to the starting line and we were off. Paul and I ran at an easy pace, and the cool weather made the run nothing short of fantastic. It was not too cold, and not too hot. As Goldilocks would have proclaimed, "It was just right." Paul and I made our way around the roads and bridges in downtown Grand Rapids, and before we knew it, we were approaching the finish line. Paul and I crossed the finish line together, so my mission was accomplished. Runner 11346 does not have an official time yet, as that will be posted on-line later today.

It was great catching up with some of the Sailors I knew and led when I was here in Grand Rapids. I was asked when I had retired from the Navy, as well as what I was doing now in "retirement." I filled them in on my employment with General Electric, and Iwas able to find out what they were doing. All of them reminded me that I had the honor and pleasure of spending 22 years playing in the greatest team sport the world has ever known: The United States Navy.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Race Day

Early tomorrow morning I will head to downtown Grand Rapids and participate in the 31st Riverbank Run. I will run in the 5K race with a bunch of current and former Navy members. Each member of our team has a custom t-shirt. Mine is drying in the basement as I type this. I will leave the house around 0645 and make my way downtown for the race. Tonight I enjoyed a "high carb" dinner with a few of my fellow runners. This will be my fourth Riverbank Run, and I am looking forward to it. Updates to follow!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

DEB UPDATE & MY CALL TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT...

Deb is doing just fine. I saw her a few days ago. I stopped by her house after I went for a run at the track at Calvin College (I am preparing for the 5/3 Bank Riverbank Run this coming Saturday). She is putting weight on her leg and is now walking around with a single crutch. When I stopped by her house, she was on her riding lawnmower, cutting her grass. Dee will take her to her next appointment with her surgeon in a few weeks.

As most of you know, I received a call from the U.S. Department of State offering me the position of Director of the National Passport Agency. On the same day that I accepted an offer from GE, I wrote a letter to the person who interviewed me telling her to remove me from contention for consideration for the position. I also scanned the letter into a PDF and I e-mailed it to her so she would know immediately that I no longer wanted the job. Needless to say, I was pretty surprised when I received the call telling me that I selected for the position. I called Nancy (who the women who interviewed me and who is the Director of Passport Services for the State Department) to tell her directly that had withdrawn my name from the competition for this position. I told her that I had sent her a "snail mail" letter as well as an electronic version of the letter. To wit, Nancy said to me, "I received both letters, Paul, but I did not understand that you wanted to withdraw your name from consideration." The call ended on a positive note and I wished Nancy well in her search.

Yep, I made the right decision to take the job with GE. Besides, the State Department does not offer discounts on appliances.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

And the job offers just keep rolling on in...

I am well into my second week of work at GE. Each day, I am learning more about the duties and responsibilities of my position as Technical Manager. This afternoon, I was in a teleconference with another division of GE Aviation and a major U.S. aircraft manufacturer. Whenever I am in a meeting or a teleconference, I leave my cell phone at my desk. Today's teleconference was no different. I left my cell phone in the top drawer in my desk and went to a conference room for my 1:30PM teleconference. I got back to my desk a little before 2:30PM and there was a voice mail on my cell phone. This was the message:

"Hello. This is Renee from the U.S. Department of State. This message is for Paul Kra-tack-o-will. I am calling in reference to your application for the position of Director of the National Passport Information Center. I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the position. If you are still interested in this position, please call me at ..."

As soon as I received and accepted the job offer from GE, I sent a letter via "snail mail" to the State Department person who interviewed me, and I sent her an e-mail with a scanned copy of my letter, informing her that I was withdrawing my name from further consideration for this position. I will call her in the morning and let her know that I have taken a position here in Grand Rapids.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

PMR Meeting

I am starting wriggle my way into projects at GE Aviation. This week, my boss, is out all week. He is putting out fires with a production facility out west. SO, I have sort of been left to my own devices this week. Well, today I sat in on a day long meeting with the prime contractor. The meeting is called a PMR, or a Program Management Review meeting. GE is a subcontractor for a major Department of Defense aircraft program. GE has delivered a bunch of prototypes and is now gearing up to make a limited number of production models, which will be shipped in the near future. I keep learning more and more each day. Life agrees with me.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

I did not ask for the Knack. It just sort of happened...

A few of my friends are wondering how in the world did I end up working for GE Aviation, as I had spent my career in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. Well, GE Aviation is all about engineers. Engineers are people who have a background in mathematics or physics or chemistry or computer science or mechanical/electrical engineering. My undergraduate degree was in chemistry. However, to complete a degree in chemistry, you had to take physics classes. And to complete the physics classes, you had to take mathematics classes. It was a natural progression of things, I suppose. In order to do well in chemistry, I also had to do well in physics and mathematics, so there was a symbiotic relationship between these three disciplines. My siblings all studied things in the social sciences. The degrees for the four of us independently followed were chemistry (me), accounting (brother), political science (sister) and English (brother). All of us have had successful careers, but I was the only one who studied physical sciences.

Most of my career in the Navy, I was assigned to engineering jobs. It was a natural progression that when I transitioned from the military that
I would leverage my knowledge and experiences in engineering. At the end of the day, engineering is engineering. It does not matter if you are designing a spacecraft, or a submarine or a garage door opener. The underlying principles are all the same, rather the medium of the work is different. This is how I ended up working in the Design Assurance group of Digital Systems for GE Aviation. I have a strong engineering background and I can apply my skills to engineering issues for GE.

There have been times when my spouse would look at me after I would explain how something worked, or why I knew how to rewire a light socket or electrical outlet. She would look at me and wonder how in the world did I know how or why something worked. Sometimes I could tell her why, other times I had no real explanation other then to say I know that is how it works. I have the Knack.

Friday, May 2, 2008

One week in the life of a Technical Manager

Today I finished my first week of work at General Electric Aviation and so far, so good. Monday was a bit of a blur. I reported for work at 8:15 as directed and I was ushered to Security where I had my picture taken and was issued an employee badge. All GE employees here in Grand Rapids are required to have and wear their badge as there are some export controlled items manufactured here. A few minutes after I received my badge, I was met by one of the HR people who took me back to her office where I handed over a few documents and was given a few more for my signature. In a matter of moments, all the necessary paperwork was done and my boss was called and told to come collect me. My new boss showed up a few minutes later to get me and my career with GE began in earnest.

This week has been a sometimes steep and sometimes shallow learning curve. I have been doing my best to ask all kinds of questions and learn everything that I can about my new position. I have been introduced to a couple of programs I will be overseeing, and I have met some absolutely wonderful people. Everyone I met this week said to me, "Welcome to GE," or "Welcome aboard. We are glad to have you here." GE is a great company and I am having a blast in my new position as a Technical Manager.

Johan Franzen 9, Avalanche 9

Late last night the Red Wings crushed the Avalanche 8-2 on the Av's home ice. Johan Franzen notched yet another hat trick as the Wings swept Colorado to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Mr. Franzen scored as many goals himself against the Avs as the entire Avalanche team scored against Detroit. The Wings will play the Dallas Stars or the San Jose Sharks. The Stars are leading their series 3-1 and play the Sharks tonight in San Jose. I will be hoping for a win by the Stars tonight. Say it with me, "Let's go, Red Wings!"


Thursday, May 1, 2008

It is not a matter of life and death. It is the playoffs. It is much more important than that.

Late tonight, our beloved Red Wings will play the hated Avalanche in Colorado. The Wings are up 3-0 in this best of seven series. Tonight, the Wings can eliminate the Avs and wait for the Stars-Sharks series to play out. In any sport that has a "best of seven game series," winning the fourth game is the most difficult. Your opponent knows that it is win or go home. A team facing elimination is a lot like a wounded animal. They will fight for their life... that is, until you end their existence. What do you do when your opponent is down but not out? You step on his neck and do everything in your power to turn him into a former opponent. The puck will drop at the Pepsi Center at 10PM EDT tonight. Way too late for me to stay up and watch the end result as I have to be at work by 8AM tomorrow (I really like the sound of that), but the first thing I will check when I wake up in the morning is the score of the game. Let's go, Red Wings!