Jules

I feel that way about living on the East Coast.

I am not athletic enough to rock climb anything. I'd build a speakeasy room with whiskey bar and arcade games. So, George is right: Holland isn't The Netherlands. Holland are, these days, two provinces (North and South Holland) of the twelve that make up The Netherlands. It's where all the big cities and most people are. The word Dutch stems from the historic word for the language ("Diets"), which has the same origin as the German word for German ("Deutsch"). Even more confusing but of interest to baseball fans: the kingdom of The Netherlands includes several Caribbean islands that have since, some in recent years, become independent from the country, but voted to remain parts of the kingdom. Which is why certain baseball stars from Aruba and Curacao (like Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts) can play for "The Netherlands" in international baseball tournaments. Smooth. The first big big supermarket I walked into was a Walmart in North Carolina and I couldn't get over the fact that they sold ammo. I do miss Amsterdam in general. Not as much the Red Light District, but there are some fantastic restaurants and bars adjacent to it (I mean, it's touristy and busy as hell and it's right in the historic downtown). It's a good city and it's been over two years since I was back.

Awesome man. Yeah, Grace and I are doing well. Married eight years this spring and pretty excited to own our own home soon. We're all getting old.

Really fucking close to the wildfire. The East Troublesome Fire in 2020 (until last month's Marshall Fire the most devastating fire in Colorado history) was within half a mile from our house. We know at least a dozen families who lost everything. Over 250 houses in my community were nothing but dust after that night. We evacuated down a road with 100ft flames creeping down the hillside towards us. Our street just got really lucky. I'm moving to the Ann Arbor area. Close to Big Ten sports, close to the Detroit airport and within three hours from Chicago. Not bad at all. The Netherlands won't go far. Team lacks the top end talent to compete. Depay is no Robben. Ice fishing isn't for me, but I am an avid fly fisherman in the summer. Already booked a Yellowstone fishing trip for this summer. Rangers will be lucky to make it out of the first round. Too reliant on the PP. I wish I knew, but I've seen them (but they aren't installed anymore). Oh, and black licorice. We should've had Rice Table, which is a tapas style Dutch-Indonesian thing. Sorry. Meeting a bunch of the players before a game at Minnesota that we won handily. It was a great weekend to St. Paul when I was on exchange at Wisconsin and guys like Danny G and Cally couldn't have been nicer. Ha, you may not remember him, but how about Dutch soccer striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Also, there's a Dutch politician named Tiny Kox. Worst? I've done some wooden rollercoasters that left my rib cage aching and I've been puked on by a child in front of me before. No bueno. Two words: "gezellig" and "uitwaaien". Gezellig is a word that describes a cosy, friendly setting and describes either a setting or situation as pleasant. Uitwaaien translates into letting the wind blow thoughts out of your head. It's for going outside on a walk to clear your head a bit. I have seen a person vs. moose encounter in person here in Colorado and they are not to be fought. I would tame it with food and by staying far away otherwise. They're murder horses. Can I get $10M for two? Speaking of easing people in, how's the married life, dude?!

I think Gallant is fine. He's not the x and o's kinda guy I prefer, but he brought some swagger and confidence to the crew. I just worry he isn't the right guy to develop Laf and Kakko. I visit the board occasionally and will try to stick around. Ha, I'm not going to fall into the trap of naming favorites, because I'll never hear the end of that, but I've been around various boards with some of these people for 15+ years and it's just been great to stay in touch about life. Tough one on the current favorite. It's probably most awesome to see Kreider be who we always wanted him to be.

1) I've been in Colorado since 2018, but moving to Michigan for family reasons in the next few months. I'm going to miss being in the mountains. 2) I'm blaming this on Signal. 3) It would be most unfortunate if we fired Tortorella and replaced him with someone like Vigneault. We'll never get close to a Cup. 4) Polo is the whitest > Curling > Rowing > Golf > Skiing. Probably. 5) No. But you could argue that tea is herb stock. Stock isn't soup though.

More than five years between posts. That has to be a record.

Fine, fine. Hi everyone! I'm, in fact, very much alive and, contrary to what @Phil will have you believe, do actually still watch the games.

The new Metallica is number one in 57 countries and a top five record in more than a 100. That's awesome.

Damn, HARDWIRED... TO SELF-DESTRUCT is really cool. There are some lulls, but it's a near 80 minute record and trip through Metallica history in terms of sound. Some seriously fantastic tracks on it and Spit Out The Bone is an instant classic. If you want to hear just one song, that's the one. It's mayhem, satisfying mayhem.

If Belgium doesn't have as many injuries, they go on and make the final. Their best defensemen were all either out or playing in a different position than with their club teams. Imagine this team, but with Kompany to lead them. Different story.

Fun as a player. Still an ass.

It was awesome. Really cool to work a party where Carl Lewis casually walks by and all.

Working on Times Square tomorrow for the US Olympic Committee (celebrating 100 days to the Rio Olympic Games!). Come find me. :D

It might be a little far from NY, but this place is pretty nice. I go here weekly, because across the lake is our rowing training center facility: http://boathouseatmercerlake.com