I have it again!

Maybe it comes from being disappointed so many times this season when watching the Oilers blow leads and or come out flat or have goaltending trouble (again and again). Maybe it comes from being beaten by Dallas year after year in the playoffs. Maybe it’s because I was already guarding myself after I thought the Oilers might not even make the playoffs. Maybe it comes from pure exhaustion after a long winter of work and erratic home life.
Wherever it comes from the fact is this – I felt very little anticipation or excitement leading up to this year’s NHL playoffs. I watched game one of the Oilers/Detroit Series mainly out of duty after being a lifelong fan. I watched them play trap and blow a lead and lose in OT. It was to be expected. I didn’t care all that much… it didn’t hurt me. I was indifferent.
I watched the next game – threw popcorn at the screen when I saw them playing trap hockey again. And because of the nature of the victory (trap hockey) was ho hum about it all. Not excited… not moved in any appreciable way.
And then a funny thing happened while watching game three.
I began to care… and care a lot. I was swearing at Chris Chelios and biting my fingernails and really enjoying the game… and I realized with a shock that they were playing Oilers hockey again. They were skating, forechecking, passing, and lpaying with passion. I would rather watch them lose a game playing like that than win a game playing like the Minnesota wild (which they did in game 2). They won me back… they made me want to watch them. They made me feel powerful watching them play. I was entertained and I was at one with the universe… and then it happened.

They scored in OT.

And now they have me in the grip of hope. I believe in them. I think they can win the cup. I want them to win. I care again… I feel like a nutty fan again. I have playoff fever… and man did I miss it.

Go Oilers Go.

… just don’t play the trap…

month end sucks

I work for a public company and at the end of the month it is a huge pain in the butt getting all your reporting and alalysis done in a short period of time. In short, it sucks. Sometimes it results in very late nights and weekend work, so it affects my life as well as just my life at work. I like the company I work for but it is one of those things that just might make me quit one day and go into a small ring circus where I don't have to deal with all this crap.

Now... back to work for me - it's almost the end of my lunch break.