Hello Friends

by Anne

I've picked a fine time to post in my blog. How's about that lockout stuff going on? Yeah...

Anyway, I'm 27 years old. I started this blog when I was 22 and for years it was a really big part of my life. I posted in it daily, sometimes multiple times a day. While I don't love hockey any less, I guess I just got over blogging. I always regret that I stopped writing in here. It was so much fun being a part of the Sabres/Kings bloggosphere. I'm not going to write some grand statement about starting this up again because I know I won't stick to it. Ah well, we'll see what happens.

Speaking of being 27, I'll be 30 in 2.5 years, so I decided to make a 30 before 30 list. It's a list of 30 things I've never done or want to do again before I turn 30. My sister made one but she's 29.5 so she has a lot less time to do the things on her list. Mine can be a little more complex.

I wanted a place to put this list, and since Facebook isn't helping me out, I thought blogspot could do me a solid and let me post something not hockey related in my dormant hockey blog. Sounds good? Yeah? Right? Sweet? Ok, thanks.

Here's my list:

1. Run a 5K

2. Go Cross Country Skiing

3. Get engaged (this was added with the permission of the gent who likes it and will more than likely be putting a ring on it before I'm 30)

4. Climb a mountain in the Adirondacks

5. Take a yoga class

6. Get back to my lowest adult weight

7. Improve my Spanish skills

8. Get a massage from the massage therapist my mom and sister love named Jen

9. Take a Zumba class

10. Watch all of AFI's top 100 films (Using this list as reference, I've only seen 26)

11. Completea project 365 (To be started Winter/Spring 2012/2013)

12. Get a facial

13. Learn to play poker

13. Dye my hair blonde

14. Learn how to shoot a gun

15. Learn how to make pasta

16. Learn all the words to It's the End of the World As We Know it

17. Learn how to say hello in 25 languages (I'm up to six)

18. Go Snowshoeing

19. Get my ears re-pierced

20. Register for the bone marrow list

21. Get a spray tan (I'm thinking sometime in mid January, just to make it extra jarring)

22. Eat at the Chophouse/Oliver's

23. Leave a 100% tip for a server (Not at the Chophouse or Oliver's)

24. Do a pub crawl

25. See a movie by myself

26. Rent a nice car I would never buy for myself

27. Take a cooking class

28. Learn a new type of dance

29. See a Kings game in LA (this is the one most likely not to happen for $$ reasons and if this friggin' lockout never ends)

30. Learn to french braid my own hair

I'd better get cracking. I'll have plenty of time in between work and trying to track down all my favorite players as they've been spread out haphazardly around the globe.

Bittersweet Symphony

by Anne

There is no more ambivalent time of year than the NHL playoffs. My first exposure to this phenomenon was the Sabres' unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999. I was 13, emotional, and ridiculous. In the intervening twelve years, a lot about me has changed, but my roller coaster emotions during the playoffs have not, and being a tried and true Buffalonian I'm definitely not alone.

For months, fans scream, cheer, rant, rave, complain, laud, and, in general, prognosticate their team's futures and playoff chances.

Then, the blissful day arrives when your team clinches their coveted spot in the top eight teams of their conference. Hooray! Hockey in Late April! Then hopefully May! Then, hope against hope, in June as well! The sun is shining! Food tastes better! There's a spring in your step and a song in your heart. It's going to be a glorious time for the fans, the players, and the city they represent. What could possibly go wrong?

Then, the playoffs actually begin... and so does the stress.

It's no big secret that everything is magnified during the playoffs. The goals are bigger, the wins are riotous, and the losses are soul-crushing.

Every year (ok, well, every year the Sabres make the playoffs) I go through this. I'm a somewhat emotional person. I tend to take the playoffs a BIT too personally.  There are many ways in which I have evolved since the age of 13, but my overt emotional involvement with the Buffalo Sabres in the playoffs will never change.

Are there terrible moments during the playoffs? Yes, absolutely. Are there glorious moments? Duh. Would I trade it for anything? Are you new to this blog? Fuck no!

I'M NOT SCARED.

LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO!!

Comparative Market Analysis of Ilya Kovalchuk

by Anne

I'm a Realtor by trade, and as part of the job of a Realtor, we do comparative market anaylses for homes we list. This determines what dollar amount a house is likely to sell for in today's market. In different market conditions that dollar amount would be different but we're only looking at the here and now.

I saw a headline debating the market value of Ilya Kovalchuk and it got the wheels turning. Here now is my CMA for Ilya Kovalchuk's annual cap hit.

When doing a CMA, you must find comparable houses (or players in this case). Therefore my criteria shall be this:

Objective Criteria:
Born between 1977 - 1985
Top-six forward
Signed a multi-year UFA contract or contract extension within the last 2 seasons (July 1, 2009 - day of writing September 1, 2010)

Here are our comparables:
Marian Hossa
Rick Nash
Marc Savard
Ryan Kesler
Mikko Koivu

We're basing these stats on the 60+GP seasons they played BEFORE they signed these contracts/extensions.

We're using cost per goal and cost per point to determine where Kovalchuk fits.

Now here's how Kovalchuk fits into this chart:

Based on the cost per goal, Kovalchuk's cap hit should be $10,587,153.00

Based on the cost per point, Kovalchuk's cap hit should be $7,809,064.90

So, based on the CMA, my recommended cap hit for Ilya Kovalchuk should fall between those two numbers. There is subjective criteria such as Nash and Koivu being the Captains of their teams and lifelong membership with their young organizations, Kesler's potential to captain the Canucks and whether or not he's always been a true top-six player, Savard's injury history, and Hossa's potential circumvention of the salary cap rules. Therefore I leave it to your discretion as the GM to choose the potential cap hit you feel the subject player should have. The length of the listing period contract is your decision to make. I recommend several years as this player has shown great consistency and is highly desirable to many.

These are my recommendations as a professional Realtor, the final decision is ultimately yours. Should we disagree strongly in the value of the subject player, we will have the opportunity to walk away from the deal. This must be a mutual decision moving forward.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Stop being hurt.

by Anne

The LA Kings announced today that my future babydaddy defenseman Matt Greene recently had shoulder surgery and the recovery time is about three months.

They didn't say exactly when he had the surgery but I imagine it was within the past week. That puts the end of those three months at around Halloween.

The Kings play in Buffalo on November 19 which means unless he does something dumb like getting hit by a car (again), he should be good to make me swoon play on the 19th. He only missed time twice last season, both times before games I had a lot of emotion invested in (the Sabres/Kings game in January and the game I attended in Nashville on March 30).

Feel better! Take it easy! Lay on the beach! Have sex with a silicone-based California chick (carefully)! I can totally quit the job I just started to come help you pick up things that require two hands. Whatever it takes for you to get better.

Blogging Everyday

by Anne

Starting today, Tuesday, March 16, 2010 I resolve to blog everyday until the Stanley Cup is handed out.

Do any of you care? No probably not. However, I miss this little guy and I always enjoy reading blogs and writing my own so I'm going to vow to post SOMETHING everyday until I put a new magnet in the "Stanley Cup Champions" circle on my standings tracker. They only way this could go wrong is if by some miracle the Flyers win because I lost my Flyers magnet somewhere in my bedroom. 

GUESS WHAT?! I can't watch tonight's game. I know everyone must be stunned and flabber-ma-gasted. The Sabres for real need to stop playing on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, aka the nights I have class. Jerkfaces.  Kings, same goes for you.

SPEAKING OF THE KINGS. 

Two weeks from today I will be in Nashville, TN preparing to watch my beloved Kings lose to the Nashville Predators!! Woo!

So there were some good suggestions for signs. "Going Greene"suggested by my sister of all people. Someone tweeted something about Drew Doughty which I can't remember. Suggestions still being taken. I plan to make the sign the weekend before we leave (the 27th and 28th) if I make one, so keep the ideas coming.

Tonight the Sabres play the Thrashers. Last season the Thrashers had the Sabres number but this year we've won two of the three previous games so here's hoping to end the season series above .500? :)

This coming Thursday I have NO OBLIGATIONS. No classes, no meetings, no forums no war tribunals, NADA. I will have the entire evening free to enjoy the Sabres and Kings and beat myself up over how badly the lesson I taught at the middle school where I'm observing went. Should be GRAND.

See you all tomorrow!

This iz unacksetptible

by Oscar

Dear Sabrez,

I haz a complaint for yoo.

When yoo winz hockee gamez, my Mommy makez me do vicktoree dancez.

I haz now had to do 20 victoree dancez this seezon. I doesn't apreesheeate dat, Sabrez. Espeshully yoo, Ryan Miller.

Love,
Oscar

Dear Pat Kaleta and frendz,

My Mommy made up a noo dance just for yoo.

Also, Danny Paille, Drew Stafford, Tim Connolly and Thomas Vanek have dancez. My Mommy iz mentally unstable if she iz making a kitteh do dancez after a hockee game. Danny Paille playz for the Brewinz and she still makez me do it. But not for Sissay. She iz mad dat he left for Montreeall, whatever dat iz.

Pleez stop skoring goalz and looze moar gamez.

Love,
Oscar

Dear Kingz,

My Mommy doesn't make me doo dancez when yoo win. But just in kase, pleaz keep loozing gamez like yoo did last nite agenst the Canuckz.

Thank yoos.

Love,
Oscar

I tried to hide but she founded me.

I did dancez.

It wuz terruhbull

New Blog?

by Anne

I've been kicking around the idea of starting a new blog. I'm tired of the name of this blog, mostly because it's not original and it belongs to something that already exists.

It's not as though this just started bothering me. We've been writing in this thing since January of 2008.

I've mentioned this before but I'm more serious about it now.  I wouldn't want to delete this blog and lose the over 900 entries that have been written over the last almost two years. I've already exported it to put it up somewhere else with a different name.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not going anywhere, I love writing in this goofy blog and I won't stop blogging any time soon, I'm just looking for a new venue. We shall see what happens.

Would you guys follow my ramblings to a new URL?

Danny will come too:

Where we goin'?

I don't know Danny, we'll see what happens!

Blogger Delinquency

by Anne

I haven't blogged since Tuesday?!

Yet I don't have time now.

See you all at the game tonight!

Islanders @ Sabres 7:30!!

I haven't used this picture in a long time and I love it

Blogging

by Anne

I realized the other day that there are A LOT of blogs I read that irritate me. They irritate me for a variety of reasons. Most of the time they irritate me because they're not clever, they're not interesting, they're just someone regurgitating what happened in a game as it happened, not with their own thoughts, that are unique to them and I can't read in the Buffalo News tomorrow morning. I like people who are funny, who offer a different way to look at something, offer content that can't really be found anywhere else or talk about subjects rarely discussed.

One thing in particular that bothers me is when someone refers to a team as theirs or acts as though they are the only person to ever have loved a team or an individual player. Blogs are personal responses and I totally understand that, but one of the things I love about blogging about a team or teams is finding other bloggers who are as passionate and dedicated about the team you both love. Playing hockey is not an individual effort, so cheering for a team shouldn't be either. Share the love, people.

Before you go all "But Anne, you're really not all that interesting or blahhhhhh...." I'm not saying that I am, and if I checked my analytics sometime and no one's reading my blog, I'll stop. However, this blog, tiny though it may be gets thousands of hits every month, so someone must find something I have to say on the outside edge of interesting.

Back to the individual player thing: several other bloggerladies and I have discussed this so I want to know what you guys think too. It drives us CRAZY when someone who has never professed any affinity for a team or player suddenly LOVES a player when they do something good. I won't give examples of individuals who do this because that would be rude but if Tyler Kennedy scores a hat trick tomorrow, I won't suddenly be all "I LOVE TYLER KENNEDY AHHHH!!!!" I'll say "Well done, sir. You are still really fug." Ok that was mean, but he is. A good hockey player, but fug. On the converse, I have a short list of players whom I adore but I do not hope to pretend I am the only person who cheers for these players. Except for the fact that I'm probably the only Matt Greene fan in Buffalo, I don't claim any exclusive ownership to loving individual players. I have a short list of favorite players and it occurred to me the other day that not a single one of them is a Sabre. Now that Sissy has left, there are no other players that I'm consistently excited about. So, anytime Darcy wants to acquire one of those boys, I'll be ready to buy their jersey :)

I felt a little disheartened over the summer with my lack of interest in blogging and the corresponding lackluster hits, so I'm very glad to see that people are coming back to read not only this blog, but hockey blogs in general.

Thanks for coming back!

Is it just me or...

by Anne

Does Dany Heatley's NHL 10 persona look like Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?

Twins.

Anne's Western Conference Boyfriends 2009-2010

by Anne

Oh hey there, readers, didn't see you come in.

Well, with training camp upon us and the start of the season fast approaching (!!), I've realized that it is time for me to re-evaluate my Western Conference Boyfriend (WCB) list.

I started this list last year because I discovered that the way for me to get into a team was to develop an interest in one particular player. This endeavor proved quite successful. In fact, through my Los Angeles Kings WCB (Matt Greene) I became a legitimate Kings fan. Therefore, I've decided to re-vamp my list because, in my woeful ignorance at the time, I made some very poor decisions over whom to give my heart to.

I know that its a little early, but I want to get my selections in place before the kickoff of the regular season.

So here we go:

Anaheim Ducks

2008 - 2009

I never really committed to any particular player, I think I bandied back and forth between Ryan Getzlaf and a poorly chosen J.S. Giguere. I paid zero attention to the Ducks when they weren't playing one of my four teams. Meaning, I was watching the game when Bobby Ryan did this:

Let me just say, I watched this game in my bed, half-awake, on my laptop
Its really cool to watch something and know instantly that it was something really rare.

2009 - 2010
The Ducks didn't do much in the off-season to make me like them. They sent Pronger to the Eastern Conference and traded Drew Miller to the Lightning. Ugh, gross me out. However, it was their in-season actions that gave them a ray of hope:

Mr. Wiz Wear himself,
James Wisniewski
(Also, people like to look for shirtless hockey players and find this blog and I never miss an opportunity, so: James Wisniewski shirtless, you're welcome)

It is not difficult at all to accept Mr. W as my Ducks WCB. Welcome to the club, Wiz. First Runner-Up is, of course Mr. Ryan Getzlaf, should Mr. Wiz Wear be traded or start being a douchekebab.

Calgary Flames

2008 - 2009
Jarome Iginla

2009-2010
There can be no other choice. He's my favorite NHL player. Duh. Although Jay Bouwmeester is 15 kinds of dweeby and adorable, he will only ever be playing Michelle to Iggy's Beyonce. Its just the way it is.

Those are my heartstrings he's pulling on
:)

Runner-Up: There's really no reason to need a back-up when your starter is Iggy, but I'll pick Jay Bouwmeester just because.

Chicago Blackhawks

2008 - 2009
Patrick Sharp. He's kind of pretty. But about as interesting as dry toast.

2009 - 2010
I discovered the Blackhawks are one of the more inherently annoying teams in the NHL.

I cannot deny I had quite a few chuckles over their debacle of an off-season and I feel that they've received their come-uppance for their irritating habit of finding themselves FASCINATING and HILARIOUS. Nothing is more annoying than someone who laughs at their own jokes.

That being said, I have no idea whom to choose. I can tell you it won't be Toews, Keith, Kane, Burish, Eager, Byfuglien, Versteeg, Huet, Campbell, Hossa, Bolland, Sharp, Barker, Sopel, Brouwer or Seabrook. That leaves only like 5 players. I think I'll pick Fraser because he hasn't done anything to irritate me... yet.

When I first saw this image in thumbnail form, I thought the horror on that little girl's face was brought on by looking at that creepy bastard, Dave Bolland
Alas, it is not Dave Bolland, but newly-crowned Blackhawk runner-up, Andrew Ladd
And still, Dave Bolland remains a creepy bastard.

Colorado Avalanche

2008 - 2009
JM Liles. I only picked JM because I don't give a HOOT about the Colorado Avalanche and I know he and Ryan Miller are BFFs or something like that. He's pretty but the team was pretty underwhelming.

2009 - 2010
I was all set to select JM again until some random person on Twitter reminded me about Matt Duchene. The more interviews I watch with this guy and the more I learn about him, the more I like him, so I'm down.

I'll refrain from nicknaming him "The Duch"

Runner Up: JM Liles

Columbus Blue Jackets

2008 - 2009
Rick Nash.

2009 - 2010
Rick Nash. I adore Rick Nash. He's probably my 2nd favorite NHL player. Possibly 3rd, but definitely top three.

Nasher at a benefit for this little boy's foundation; He has Cerebral Palsy


Nasher giving Luke an autograph
Awwww.

Runner-up: Derek Brassard, because James Neal punched his face in. Speaking of James Neal:

Dallas Stars

2008 - 2009
Marty Turco... then Fabian Brunnstrom... then I stopped caring.

2009 - 2010
This request was put out on Twitter (one of a few). I was suggested many players but I was most drawn to James Neal. He's young and feisty and he'll be interesting to watch on what will be a season of ??? for the Dallas Stars.

Tres chic

I enjoy how he lets up in this (his only) fight when Brassard cries uncle. Yet he still tosses away his opponent all authoritative-like:

Runner-Up: Brad Richards

Detroit Red Wings

2008 - 2009
Brett Lebda. He was demoted and then replaced by Nick Lidstrom. I wasn't too thrilled about any of my prospects.

2009 - 2010
Valtteri Filppula. Mostly because of his bogus, fake-looking hair:

So European it hurts

Here he and Matt Ellis read part of How the Grinch Stole Christmas:

Noise, noise, noise...noise

Runner-Up: Nick Lidstrom because he's pretty badass.

Edmonton Oilers

2008 - 2009
Cap'n Ethan. Ethan Moreau.

2009 - 2010
Cap'n Ethan played most of the season and he managed to shrug off what could've been a pretty serious eye injury. He shall remain.

Ethan Moreau will Pump. You Up.

Runner-Up: Shawn Horcoff because he has two different-colored eyes.

Los Angeles Kings

2008 - 2009
Matt Greene

2009 - 2010
Teddy Purcell....

Juuuuust kidding.

Ha.

Runner-Up But Not really because I love him almost as much: Drew Doughty

Minnesota Wild

2008 - 2009
I don't remember, I have to look this up...
HOW COULD I FORGET OWEN NOLAN?! Cuz heeeee didn't play too much last year, only 59 games. I love him and his grumpy Irish ways.

2009 - 2010
Owen Nolan it shall remain.

Don't let the smile fool you, he's delightfully grumpy

Runner-Up: Brent Burns, because his picture is so jolly.

Nashville Predators

2008 - 2009
JP Dumont. I just picked him because I didn't want to investigate too heavily and Jason Arnott is kinda boring.

2009 - 2010
Shea Weber.

Why? I'm not really sure. I just like the guy. He's good and is forced to play in Nashville. I feel for him.

Something these dudes use every day, yet they usually look so awkward holding one off the ice

Runner-Up: Wade Belak because he's funny

Phoenix Coyotes

2008 - 2009
Peter Mueller. He's cute but he's kind of a snoozefest

2009 - 2010
Uhhh, I don't really plan on committing to anyone in Phoenix. Just like everyone. Else.

San Jose Sharks

2008 - 2009
March-Edouard "Pickles" Vlasic

2009 - 2010
The Sharks are kind of in a tizzy so I'm going to stick with safe, reliable Pickles.

Keep hydrated, Pickles

Runner-Up: Kent Huskins, for no particular reason.

St. Louis Blues

2008 - 2009
Jay McKee :(
At least he's a Pittsburgh Penguin now

2009 - 2010
This has been a source of great debate. Berglund v Backes. Blonde v Brunette. American v Swede. It wasn't easy, but I ultimately chose:

I enjoy the looks of pure terror

Runner-Up: Clearly, Patrik Berglund:

Ahhhh...

Vancouver Canucks

2008 - 2009
Big Bear, duh.

2009 - 2010
Big Bear, duh.

This off-season saw Mr. Bernier drop some weight and look even foxier than previously, if that is possible.

Here's a scruffier, um, "softer" Big Bear in January


Here's the newly re-foxified Big Bear
I adore him pudge or not.

Runner Up: Shane O'Brien, or SO'B.

Any questions?

That took freakin' forever. Last season I was saved from the certain DOOM of loving multiple players that I did not realize at the time where douchebags. If I have inadvertently selected a d-bag, PLEASE save me.

I Will Not Write A Post Examining The Schedule

by Anne

Because its pretty cut and dry.

There's a long road stretch in the later part of the season but we knew that was coming because of the basketball tourney in HSBC Arena. Other than that, we travel fewer miles than last year according to some wacky chart over on On the Forecheck.

Shakespeare has taken over my life and I have neglected hockey. I'm a bad fan.

Its a good thing there's no Shakespeare in the Park during hockey season. My loyalties would be all over the map.

Confession of the day: I'm a terrible blogger and I have so many posts to write but I just don't have the energy.

I'll be back soon, I promise. I can see you're all devastated.

Also, I'm "friends" with so many hockey players on Facebook and its hella boring. All the interesting ones don't accept random friendship requests from total strangers. Psh.

Insomnia, You Win

by Anne

Here is a list of things I think about when I can't fall asleep at night, which is quite often:

• If Herbie Hancock married Nathan Gerbe, his name would be Herbie Gerbe

• Why has Chris Butler still not accepted or rejected my Facebook friend request? I assumed he had denied our friendship but, several weeks after I last checked, it is still "pending." I also learned that you cannot remove a pending friend request

• I would not be surprised to find out that Sidney Crosby is really terrible on a first date

• Do you think it really annoys Marc Staal that his little brother entered the NHL before him?

• Speaking of Sidney Crosby, did his parents just try to cover their bases and pick unisex names for both their kids? Taylor and Sidney could be male or female names.

• Would I be more or less grossed out by Tim Connolly if he still had hair?

• If Joch Hecht married Olli/Jussi Jokinen his named would be Jochen Jokinen (if you don't know how to pronounce those names, the joke is lost on you).

• I think being married to an NHL player would have more downsides than upsides.

• Why do people get so worked up about the draft? After Tavares, Hedman and maybe Duchene, the likelihood that any of these boys will see serious NHL time this coming season is not good

• Even if the Sabres tanked with the hopes of getting the #1 pick, I still think they would lose the lottery, because that's how the Sabres roll.

• I don't care about the NHL Awards because no Sabres or any of "Anne's Top 10 Favorite non-Sabres" are nominated for anything. Unless you can guarantee me shots of Vinny in a well-fitted suit, I'm not watching. Wait, I just remembered Iggy is nominated for something about being totally badass and bald or something like that. I will watch

• I desperately need rehearsals to start. I'm going out of my skull with boredom.

• Why do I bother choosing favorite non-Sabres? The list changes drastically every year or so. Its very hard for me to keep on loving a player if his team is annoying. The notable exception being Jarome Iginla and his Lames.

• Why does Bucky Gleason still have a job?

• What will it take for Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier to be fired? Can I help speed along this process in any way? Let me know.

I love this picture so much

• Sometimes I think about moving to New York or Chicago or Pittsburgh or Boston but then I realize that it would be tough because I know I'd always want to come back to the B-lo

• It really drives me crazy when people try to out do each other by proving they were fans of a musical artist for SUCH A LONG TIME. No one is impressed. "I WAS A FAN OF LADY GAGA BEFORE SHE EVEN HAD AN ALBUM." Whoa. Ok, calm down there, captain.

• Katy Perry can't sing, yet she's a recording artist. Honestly, have you ever listened to her "sing" her song "Thinking of You?" She sounds like a goat choking on its own saliva

• I miss these fools:
  

I miss them :(
I don't like the playoffs without them
Or the offseason
Also, I'd really appreciate it we re-signed Jaro :( Pretty please? :)

Buffalove

by Anne

On Sunday I went to the Allentown Art Festival with Jimmy. My entire purpose for going was to buy this shirt:

It really does.
Especially down by the Arena when they're putting sugar on the cereal
Mmmmm

I don't think its much of a secret that I'm a huge fan of the City of Buffalo and Western New York in general. Therefore, I had no problem trucking down to Allentown and then weaving my way through the throngs of people to track down this tiny stand way off the beaten path.

Support your local businesses!

BorninBuffalo.net

They, of course, have at least one hockey t-shirt on there, because, let's face it, Buffalo is a hockey town. Maybe one day it'll be a football town again.

We ate the largest order of curly fries I've ever seen, drank some tasty lemonade and tried to go to the Wilcox Mansion/Teddy Roosevelt Historical Site but the house is closed until next week. Boo. They have a nice exhibit about the Pan-Am exposition and for our $2 we got a coupon for $2 off admission to the mansion itself when it opens back up next week. I went there a few times when I was a kid and I think its pretty neat to show the youth of WNY that our city and region have some historical significance, as sad as a Presidential assassination is.

107 days til the season starts.

I just discovered they have it in yellow for toddlers:

Love it.
Love my city.