That was back in February of 2010. I'd flown down there to catch another flight to Cuba to catch another flight to an aircraft carrier off of Haiti. In the midst of the travel I was blogging here and mentioned I might be out of pocket a while because I'd left my laptop at home, etc, etc.

Next thing I know, I get a message from Hockeytown Todd ("Gramps" to most of us). He asked for my address. Two days later a package arrived and he'd sent me a damn laptop.

I see that Herm has been in and out. Our Brazilian buddy. In case you didn't know, we (about 19 of us) got together and brought his crazy ass up to Hockeytown for a game. Why? Because he's one of us and he'd never seen a Wing game.

Captain Dennis Polonich, Surfer Ken and I are going to try and get together to watch a game before I depart Southern California, if (if, if, if, if) the Wings can extend this thing to the weekend, or beyond. IF we can make it happen, Rummy may join us. Hopefully some of the other SoCal tranplants can get there, too.

RWBill said in the comments the other day, "the heart wants what the heart wants." Sounded pretty deep and a little sappy to those of us who weren't in DC for an A2Y get together like six years ago, or something. Naturally, he was referring to my wife and the fantasies he's harbored (with my permission) for years.

The 19 have come and they've gone. Some pop in from time to time and go away, like me. Others have stayed. Others may never return.

We bitch about Tick Tock. We take great pride and perverse glory in our status as the greatest fans of the greatest organization on earth. We know for a fact that Gary Bettman hates us and our team. We know our Diggers don't dig and our Hasek stays filthy and filled with a stench known only to those of us who have littered it with stress-induced vomit.

New additions have joined the ranks over the years. New voices. Some with an edge, some with great humor. Others know the pressure points that raise the collective blood pressure (Garth), but we dig that, too.

It's a Live Blog, you bitches. It won't be the last this year, but on a day where we're all on edge, I thought it might be a good idea to remember who we are, and where our loyalty lies...to the greatest franchise in all of professional sport.

LGRW.

Do it.

15 to 12.