An Early Start

I did something quite unusual (for me) today: I set my alarm clock. Well, that’s not quite true since I no longer own an alarm clock. I set my cell phone, same diff. I had to get up early, as today was The Annual Feeding of the Vampires, courtesy of the Cannon AFB hospital clinic. At 0830 hrs. Which, as you know, Gentle Reader, is as close to the crack o’ dawn as it gets these days, unless I watch the sun come up from the wrong side of the bed. But I was a good boy last evening, retiring sometime just after midnite and sleeping fitfully until the cell phone went off at 0600. I also set the timer on the coffee pot last evening before I hit the sack, so all I had to do this morning was roll out, get the half and half out of the fridge, and pour that first cup: no waiting required.

Nice, that. I’d do it more often… if I kept regular hours.

So…I’m back from the base, the vampires are fed, and the car has been fed, too. At $3.73/gallon (premium). About which: Aiiieee! The Green Hornet took a lil over eight gallons this morning, for a total of slightly less than $32.00. I’d damned sure hate to fill up El Casa Móvil De Pennington at these prices…

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Well, this guy might know a lil something about the Rangers, but it’s clear he don’t know sh!t about Deetroit:

I never liked the Avalanche. Still don't. But, rooting interests aside, I have to give them the edge over Detroit.

Right from the get-go, I never endorsed Mike Babcock having ancient Dom Hasek in goal. Sure, Chris Osgood has been an effective pinch-goalie, but Jose Theodore has been out of his mind all year. In goal, it's no-contest.

Colorado's defense hardly impresses me, while Detroit's -- thanks to Nik Lidstrom -- does. But what I can't feel strongly about is the Red Wings' offense delivering in the clutch.

Nashville proved that the Wings are vulnerable, and I expect that Colorado will be more invasive than the talent-short Predators. Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Ryan Smyth and Paul Stastny comprise a formidable quartet. They should drive Hasek or Osgood nuts, and either replacement will have migraines.

THE MAVEN PICKS: COLORADO IN FIVE

Heh. Need some picanté sauce with them words?

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So… there was this interesting link in Site Meter this morning and I chased it up to find…

Buck Pennington: Docked in Portales