We Are the Dead...

So, that was not very much fun. Losing to the Wild, and looking rather disinterested in the process. That said, Phil Kessel's (first true) goal was a beauty. I am feeling rather melancholic, let's get to the links, but please join me after the jump for a quick personal story...

• Steve noticed one piece missing from the Leafs attack last night.
• Mrs. Tavares was snapped by the paparazzi doing some rather mundane tasks. Barry Melrose Rocks has the expose.
• For years, people have complained about the haphazard approach to suspensions the NHL offices seems to take, but Down Goes Brown has proof there is a method to the madness.
• Bloge Salming is a genius. Even with cough drop commercials.
• Kavel Pubina's game recap. Short and sweet.
• MLHS proposes that Vesa Toskala is nothing more than a scapegoat for the Leafs woes, terrible stats aside.
• Mike Ulmer wrote a piece on Jonas Gustavsson recently. He believes that the Monster has, what the French call "I don't know what."
• Brit Selby. The last Leaf player to win the Calder trophy for his 1965-66 season. Why is that significant? The Monster could have a shot this year...
• The Faceoff Factor thinks J.S. Giguere's recent comments do one thing for him: paint him as a "me first" teammate. Still interested...?
  

Today is Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day in the US.)  My grandfather served on the HMS Ajax in WWII and I am so very proud of him.  He passed on about 20 years or so ago now, but I still remember his tattoo, an anchor, he received for crossing the equator.  I still remember the stories he'd share with my brother and I.  I remember how he'd keep them light and fun.   Mischievous tails about a mischievous boy, seeing the world.

Never did we hear about the war, and it wasn't until many years later I realized it was because of how much he must have still hurt from what he'd seen and lost.  I don't mean for this to be a long wrought out disertation on the bravery of our armed forces and the necessity of their sacfrifice, or whatever other jingoisms people spew on days like today.

I mean no offense to anyone, I just wanted to say thank you Grampa, and thank you to all the men and women serving or who have served.

If you or a loved one are serving, or have served, feel free to share your stories in the comments.  Or, if you'd rather just talk hockey, we've been known to enjoy that as well!

Thanks,

blurr...