What's Up, Ya Sieve

Yesterday was pretty great.  What more could you want out of a vacation day spent shoveling mulch and mixing concrete?

Me, some guy, Josie, some other guys and Rhea

You should all come to the Kaboom Caps playground build next year, but only if you’re prepared to work your butts off.  We had a great time building equipment, even if it took a few tries, and doing manual labor on a gorgeous day.  Team Tiana – obviously we were assigned to a Princess team – included me, Jen (who refers to Nicky B as “Hanson” and then takes off singing) and  the awesome Josie (@jgoggs23) and Rhea (@raedanda).

Sure beats a day at the office.

Mike, Nick and Brooks arrived around 1 PM, did a bunch of interviews and then got right to work.  I don’t know why that impresses me so much because they look capable of lifting my car, but they were shoveling, carrying, raking and sweating with the rest of us.  Nicky accidentally shoveled mulch all over Josie – not exactly what she meant by “getting dirty,” but she’ll take it.

Josie and Nick make a great team.

One of the ladies who lived in the development said, “Hey, hockey player, let me get your autograph!” and he said, “Just the hockey player? That’s her then,” and pointed at me.  It was all chipmunk cheeks and talking about yard work – seriously, he’s Piglet.  He is also STRAPPING: that is the only word for him and must be in all caps at all times.  There should be a few !!!!!! too.

 (In)action shot

Sometime later, Mike grabbed a rake and started helping me.  It wasn’t even Monday!  I said, “Hi Mike,” like I’m a normal human and not the King from The King’s Speech trying to get all those words out at the end with the whole world listening.  Really impressive stuff.

Me and Mike, doing work.

He asked how I was and I replied, “OhmyGodIloveyourhair!” (or something) and we talked about the playground.  I managed not to put the rake through my leg.

Like I said: impressive.

I was almost a chalk outline on this patch of mulch.

He was soft-spoken, really nice and was just so… Mike Green.  Hormone tsunami warning.  Later we carried easels and on the way back,  I asked him for a picture.

If you’re keeping score at home, that’s two coherent conversations.

All roads lead to Mike.

He even smiled!  I’m pretty sure gravity multiplied and a bird dropped straight out of the sky.  He’s tall and healthy and gorgeous and scruffy.  His hair’s all long under that hat, I know it.  Please season, start on time….

Okay, now you just want more pictures:

Passing the weight limit test

Team Bromance

Brooks speaks perfectly about being perfect.

Skinny jeans, construction edition

The playground turned out beautifully, the day was really well-organized and there were lots of snacks.  The kids all got off the school bus to a totally revamped park and they were tiny balls of running and shouting happiness!

 At the end of the day, Rhea won a jersey signed by the whole team:

And Nicky said, “Give me a hug.”  How lucky can one girl be?!

It was great to meet Stacey, Alli (@alliknode) and her son Connor, who knows the way to my heart is through an awesome fauxhawk.  He was the hit of the party!  Check him out in the Caps Playground Build video, along with Rhea and Slapshot dancing.  Also District Sports Page has a ton of photos, including our group shot above and great one of Connor, Mike and Brooks.  Capitals Outsider also features Connor, of course.

Thanks again to Robin (@rockinredbirdie) for sending this in time for us to sign up!  I owe you some beers, girl.

On Thursday night, Gator and I went to the Washington Auto Show to meet John Carlson and Brooks Laich.  It was more than a little disorganized, but we sweet-talked the right people and ended up getting to hang around their interview filming and then cut the whole line.  Unintentionally awesome!

My vacation tan > John's vacation tan

Be jealous.  They were super sweet.  And if iCarly looked more like a Ken doll in real life I think Gator would have hurdled the table.  He is ADORABLE.  Even all caps is not enough to accurately describe him.  Brooks’ eyes are even bluer in real life – not possible, but true.  Makes a girl wish she’d get a flat tire in the rain.

Karl Alzner came with John, because they can’t be apart.  We didn’t get to see him but here’s Exhibit A: “Caps Roomates: Karlzner” video [link].

Then yesterday happened.  Brooks left the game in a bad way with 8 minutes to go in the 2nd period of the 4-1 loss to Boston.  The team hasn’t not commented on his apparent left knee injury because no one can handle anymore bad news around here.  He didn’t practice this morning [link].

The Caps play Florida tomorrow night, and a win would make them #1 in the Southeast.  And it would make us really happy.  So we’re going to be optimistic and Rock the Red and hope there’s anyone left on the ice to Unleash the Fury.

BONUS: If you’re in Chicago (or want to road trip with us), the Chicago Auto Show has Seabrook, Kane, Toews and Stalberg.  Holy Moly. [link]

Gator and I are like a married couple who have the same argument all the time, over and over.  It goes like this:

Gator: “I can’t believe you like Mike Green.  He’s so….”

Pants: “… Mike Green.”

And that is the only explanation, besides falling down and looking so relieved when he scores a goal.  Case in Point:

Caps Breakaway - ”Who Drives the Worst Car on the Team?” [link]

Call us old. Get bad picture.

Troy Brouwer says it’s Mike with his white SAAB.  Then he calls Mike a “middle aged man.”

Be adorable. Get adorable picture.

Mike cites his own white SAAB.  Then brings up the scooter.

Meanwhile the winner is really Brooks for some old car he had…

Drive crap car. Still get girls.

that is apparently from between WWII (says Nicky)…

Smile. It distracts people while you make fun of them.

 and Ovi’s grandfather’s birth.  In 1968.  When they made Escalades.

Show only bottom teeth. No one notices gap on the top.

Gator and I had the best time ever at the Caps Home Opener on Saturday.

First of all, the warm-up skate.  Mike Green, no helmet, cruising around like the Fresh Prince in Summertime – “Two miles an hour so everybody sees you.”  Yes, he’s fresh from the barber shop and basketball courts in the summer got girls there.  I am telling you this guy does his hair with a mascara wand.

Bonus Round: Troy Brouwer.  Gator might be trading in both halves of Carlzer for the new guy.  Welcome to DC!

And the Hurricanes.  As I Tweeted, Eric Staal in person is a MAJOR AWARD.  Carolina, you are now at the top of the WUYS Road Trip List.

And Intern Jeff Skinner is… such an intern.  He can’t stop moving (not for a second) and just runs around the ice like a puppy who ate a whole birthday cake, grinning from ear to ear.  We might have to start paying him for being so adorbs.

Then the game.  EStaal gave my fantasy team 2 goals and 1 assist, and Intern Jeff Skinner had 3 assists.  Show off!  It wasn’t enough though because every Capital had a point.  Sasha Fierce scored on this sick breakaway pass from iCarly [link]:

Brooks scored on a wrister from Ovi & Nicky [link], and Nicky had a couple of big hits in the game.  Everyone was on the board and I said to Gator, “All we need now is a Mike to score on a pass from Nicky!”  Right?!  This whole “I control the universe” thing is getting a little out of control.  The Canes tied the game with just 1:19 to play and then in overtime, this happened:

From stam-bam-thankyou-maam.tumblr.com

Yes, that’s Mike with the OT winner from Nicky just like I ordered.  And Wideman  for the fantasy team bonus!.  In real life it looked like:

I tackled Gator.  It was pandemonium and Mike was First Star AGAIN.  That’s two games in a row!  GAME OVER, thank you very much.  Mikey post-game interview here.  Post game Pants & Gator:

Tonight, it’s Stammertime.  We won’t even know which way to look.

Drew Stafford of Buffalo wins in the NHL player post of their work out videos. This is why WUYS loves YOUTUBE, HOCKEY, NHL players, their work outs and their sense of humor! Kris Letang - you are hot – no contest. Brooks Laich – you can do it on skates – no contest. But Fu Man Drew – your sense of humor is so sexy, WE LOVE YOU!

Buffalo rarely gets WUYS love. You are now so on our radar – Other-Brother – Drew, I love you for your  PAUL GAUSTAD 28 cut-off shirt baring mid-driff, your All-for-One song and your new Cat-Scratch work-out move! Buffalo Gals, come out tonight, come out tonight! Buffalo gals, come tonight! And beware of Yakub … !

Deb submitted this video with the Tweet “Brooks Laich showing Tanger up in the workout department.”

Ladies, discuss.

My first thought was, “Ha ha (insert Beavis and Butthead laugh), they said ‘lower body’.” Then (out loud), “Stop, you’re hurting my knees!” and then “Why are you wearing a life preserver?”  It is, of course, a weight vest.  Which I’d never heard of before these workout videos starting popping up.

Since Mikey did a workout vid, Brooks has to do one.  It’s part of the up-all-night girl talk agreements they made during that sleepover, after which Brooks made Mike cereal for breakfast.  Mike was not impressed.

He makes a bid for All Time Squat Champion by doing them with skates on.  I look away in fear.  (My vote: Tazer still wears this crown.)

And in today’s episode of Cassy’s New Job – being this spotter person.  Put on some Pitbull and let’s dance.

OH MY OKAY!!  When you get to 2:16, Brooks wins.  All in, he takes the pot.  And he is not bluffing.  See for yourselves:

I’m sure you’re all thinking, “Thanks Deb!”  Or you will be when you regain consciousness.

I'm sorry ... he's hot. he's perfect. he's a hockey machine. I love him!

I just wanted out of Florida really.

they got caught coming out of Ihop ... nicky's mom is really disappointed.

Carlson and Alzner went to sleep away camp together for some more bonding time in the off-season even though it looked like one may not make the cap deadline. Luckily McPhee came through with the cash at the expense of another player but you can’t come between the bobbsie twins.

iCarly sneaks a cuddle with Ovi - who WOULDN'T!

I may not pump your tires, but I'll change them, ladies!

I’ll be wearing my highest rated googled sweat pants and this on that day and every game there after … GO CAPITALS!

I needed an accessory to go with my sweat pants did I?

Oh and when the Caps aren’t playing and Mr. Cherrie let’s me watch the Penguin’s : I made this:

And yes, I do wear these.

It is a day of rejoicing around the WUYS offices!

1) Ray Shero, you are a beast.  The Pens have signed Pascal Dupuis for 2 more years at $3 million.  Now he and Sid can stay up talking all night about Sid’s one fight again.

2) Six more years of Brooks Laich!  GMGM and the Caps obviously read our blog and ponied up $27 million to quiet us down.  Cue my awesome in-office version of “Baby, I Laich It.” (have I mentioned I love Pitbull?)

3) MAX TALBOT’s bestie pal Bruno Gervais got a 1-yr deal to backup dance for Stamkos in Tampa Bay.  That team is getting better looking daily.

Apparently the Capitals need more incentive to give Brooksy a contract.  So we’re going for the heart-strings, breaking out Mike’s scrapbook and saying PLEASE DON’T TAKE HIM AWAY.

The Hockey Junkies have a great Date Night feature that once included Mike.  Even they pointed it out: Mike picks you up in this ridiculous white Lamborghini and of course opens the door for you.   Brooks Laich is in fact in the backseat because Mike doesn’t do anything without him. 

Epic Bromance

So, we present the following evidence into consideration for why the Caps must re-sign Brooks, and do it now.

Exhibit A: When Brooks’s hair was long and Mike’s was short…

Good people doing good things.

Exhibit B: Book Club

Mike knows there's a Playboy stuck in there.

Exhibit C: Sleepovers

Guess which one of them snores.

Exhibit D: The Wolfpack

We are the three best friends...

This just scares me more.  Please GMGM, don’t break up the band bromance.

Happy 28th Birthday, Brooks!  So nice of you to tell us exactly what gift you want.  But you should be getting a new contract.

Of all the Caps, you’re the one I feel the least bad about liking.  Well, you and Nicky B (because not liking Nicky is the same as not liking ice cream and puppies).  But still.  This will be severely impacted if the Caps allow you to become an unrestricted free agent, which could happen any minute now.

Brooks has played all but 1 of his career games with Washington, has had three 20-gal seasons, plays on the power play, shorthanded, blocks shots… and made $2.4 million last season and only hit the salary cap for $2.07 million.  He’s the guy: consistent, versatile, not flashy but always shows up to play.

You can track the situation here: isbrookslaichstillacapital.com and expect a very aggro post if that changes.