I currently lack anything profound to say, but I do feel the need to express my extreme jealousy over a friend’s trip to Mozambique. He seems so carefree in his travel planning – wandering around the world at his own pace, checking off continents from a to-do list (I’ve already got Africa, having boated over from Spain during my undergraduate years).

In Cuba he wound up playing stickball with local children. In one of the European countries ending with ‘A’ (maybe Croatia, maybe Slovakia, maybe even Slovenia – the point is, he’s been enough places that it’s easy to forget the details) he got ridiculously smashed at a local pub on dollar pints – not a revelatory experience, but he sure made it sound colourful.

Maybe it’s just the way he writes (unfortunately he’s deleted the earliest entries from his travel weblog, citing poor writing), but everything always seems so fantastic.

Or maybe it’s just that I don’t appreciate the things I’ve done and need to stop using words like “jealousy.” I once had an anonymous comment left on my Facebook profile that read: “I’m secretly jealous/impressed by all the things you’ve done in your lifetime.”

In any event, while he’s off galavanting overseas, I’ve got priority seating for the NHL Entry Draft in two weeks.

Photo © SuperTopher.

For as much as the Washington Capitals have struggled over the past decade, there are certain things that they’ve done right.

I spent much of last week in the Washington, DC area, tagging along on Elly’s business trip to Arlington. We were staying at a hotel near the Ballston Metro and to amuse myself while Elly was in meetings I wandered the neighbourhood.

Fortunately for this stereotypical Canadian boy, the Capitals operate a practice facility/public rink (the Kettler Iceplex) just a few blocks away from the hotel. …so I played the role of a rinkrat for much of my spare time. Waking up early for a $1 morning skate (skates included) one day, watching USA Hockey operate a clinic for young prospects the next.

Even apart from the ridiculously cheap skating (and in May no less!), the facility really is something to be admired. Two ice surfaces. Located at the top of a parking garage (which means ample parking, though perhaps awkward pedestrian access and signage). A Capitals team store that almost had me buying a T-shirt with Cyrillic characters.

To top it off, though the team was out of the playoffs by just a few days, most of the Capitals’ practices are open to the public, which is fantastic for team-fan relations.

Snow in April. 2008 Gatineau Park. One week later and it’s 26ºC out.

Photo © choci.

Status? Incomplete.

Photo © topgold.

Status? Incomplete.

Sandboarding in Oman. Photo © stefan3D.

Status? Incomplete.

To the 3rd degree. After 2004 Maho Bay, St. John, USVI. Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen.

NYE bonfire. Our wedding trip. 2004 Reykjavik, Iceland.

Our wedding trip. 2004 Akureyri, Iceland. Photo © my mother.