Offseason Game Thread

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
sigh...

I am rooting for
1. Colorado
2. Islanders
3. Dallas
4. Vancouver
5. Vegas
6. Philly
7. Tampa
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
Vegas or bust for me.

Honestly, I usually get butthurt after the Bruins are eliminated and refuse to watch anything for a round or two. We'll see how this year goes.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Vegas or bust for me.

Honestly, I usually get butthurt after the Bruins are eliminated and refuse to watch anything for a round or two. We'll see how this year goes.
Agree normally, but I've been enjoying the hockey so much, I'll be in (I assume). I wish I could have been a nuetral for that last series, because games 1/2/5 were some high level hockey.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6lTJx5kVuY

Sports are like the reward of a functioning society.
The Trump administration has never and will never take responsibility for solving the pandemic. As long as they remain in power, professional hockey will not be played in Boston or the United States. I want that to change, but I'm also terrified that it won't, for a bunch of non-hockey related reasons too.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,376
I'm openly rooting for the Islanders. They were the first hockey team I liked (the first game I ever saw was in 1979-80, while visiting my relatives on Long Island...knew nothing about hockey, except that I saw Bobby Nystrom pummeling some dude from the Flyers, and of course my cousins were going crazy...), at the start, as it turned out, of their dynasty. As I got more into hockey I came to love the Bruins more, but I've always continued to have the Isles as my #2 team.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
In other news, I'm about to trade my tiny condo for a gigantic house. Home inspection is Saturday.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
Nope. Headed to Worcester. Sort of a homecoming for me, as I grew up in Holden. We scoured the Merrimack Valley but the post-COVID market flurry took what we want beyond our interest in paying. I know we could afford a lot more than our budget, but I really don't want to risk future issues. So we looked at Worcester... and wow does money go a lot further. There's this 30-35 mile radius of boston. Inside prices are astronomically higher right now (and rising), and outside the market increase has been much less pronounced.

The house I'm getting in Worcester would cost probably $70,000 more in nice parts of Lowell. I have nothing against Lowell (I've lived in Dracut or Lowell for the better part of 20 years), but I'm not paying that premium for the privilege of a Lowell zip code.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Sick - Worcester is still a great spot with easy access to Boston/Providence/Hartford too.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
Yup! We're right near Newton Square. Great area, lots of stuff nearby. I'm working remotely through at least next summer, and hopefully after that I'll only have to go in to wherever my office moves a few days per week at most.


And once COVID firmly enters our rearview in 2093, the Sox AAA team (I can't bring myself to call them the WooSox) should be open and playing home games for actual fans.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,464
Gallows Hill
They have a good craft beer scene out there as well. Wormtown, Redemption Rock, Greater Good, Bay State and 2-3 other ones I’m forgetting off the top of my head.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
Plus Armsby Abbey assuming it makes it through the crush. They regularly get Hill Farmstead, which is nice.

And once COVID firmly enters our rearview in 2093, the Sox AAA team (I can't bring myself to call them the WooSox) should be open and playing home games for actual fans.
If it leads to a Ric Flair affiliation, you're goddamn right I'm calling them the WOOOOOOOOOOOSox.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
I absolutely love the Abbey. Back when live music happened, it was my go-to pregame spot for Palladium shows.

And ha! I hadn’t thought of a Ric Flair tie-in. Hmmmm.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
Nice.

Values jumped very bigly in the valley. Asking prices are up 10-30% over the past 90 days.
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,291
About a year ago today I was losing my shit waiting for closing. Although I guess technically we were actually in Italy trying to forget about house stuff. Glad we didn't have to go through it this year, especially here in North Jersey where prices are absolutely insane. To put it in perspective, our house is on the older side, but in a really great town, and got in $15k under asking. Would have been impossible today.

Of course one of the few couples friends we'd met in town both lost their jobs and are moving away, but at least they are making a profit two years after buying. We are probably the youngest homeowners in town, and we are fairly introverted + don't have a baby to roll around in a stroller for attention, so hasn't been easy getting out there. Not to mention the, uh, global pandemic. Thinking of throwing some open tailgate parties in the driveway this fall and seeing what happens.

For anyone who hasn't closed yet, make sure not to get scammed. Someone spoofed our attorney and title agency's emails and tried to get us to wire the deposit a couple days before closing.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
Wow, that's crazy. Any requests for money would be followed up with a phone call, and not to any number in the email. We have the numbers for our attorney and realtor and would call that.

I've been conscious of buying during a market increase, but we plan to be there 10-15 years so that should mitigate that issue. Plus, I can't spend any more time in my current situation. I outgrew it years ago.
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,291
Wow, that's crazy. Any requests for money would be followed up with a phone call, and not to any number in the email. We have the numbers for our attorney and realtor and would call that.

I've been conscious of buying during a market increase, but we plan to be there 10-15 years so that should mitigate that issue. Plus, I can't spend any more time in my current situation. I outgrew it years ago.
We would have been in the same boat 100%, especially after however many months of both working at home in an apartment (or spending a lot of time at my in-laws, oof).

And yeah, the scam was pretty obvious given the sudden urgency of the financial demand, various typos, and wiring instructions that looked like a ransom note with the letters pasted from various magazines. It was not well-disguised for us, but for an older person? Could certainly see someone falling for it in the stressful days before closing.
 

Myt1

educated, civility-loving ass
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 13, 2006
41,576
South Boston
Business email compromises are no joke. Low tech, low cost, potentially big return on investment, and many insurance policies won’t cover the damage from an intentional, but mistaken and fraudulently obtained, wire.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,464
Gallows Hill
Future home owners be advised: yard work sucks. I’m about to thrown my weed wacker in the fire pit if this spool thing keeps popping out.

Other than that, congratulations!
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,442
Rooting for:

1. Stars (Dobby + Seguin +even Bowness)


2. Tamper (I like Kucherov, Vas, and Shattenkirk, sue me, and they probably "deserve" it)
3. Islanders (NY sucks but they haven't won in a long time and have a history)
4. Vegas



5. Phuck the Phlyers
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,442
In other news, I'm about to trade my tiny condo for a gigantic house. Home inspection is Saturday.
Congrats, man! Once/if Covid ends, I maybe looking to somewhere there too next summer, especially if in a quiet area yet walkable to commuter rail for Red Sox games/Boston. Not sure if I will be renting or buying.

I agree 1000000% that Worcester + cash/space vs. Lowell makes it an easy decision. Looking forward to COVID ending for a million reasons, but one of them being learning the area. I can't afford to buy where I know the area (Metro West, Metro near North)
 

TheRealness

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2006
11,694
The Dirty Shire
Homeownership is better than renting but it still sucks. I’m currently ripping out the side of my daughters room because of a water leak that’s destroyed most of the flashing. What we figured was a half day project is now 2-3 days with multiple contractors. Add in the serene sounds of my children screaming for 24 hours straight, and I believe I’ve achieved the America dream.

fucking kill me
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,464
Gallows Hill
Rooting for:

1. Stars (Dobby + Seguin +even Bowness)


2. Tamper (I like Kucherov, Vas, and Shattenkirk, sue me, and they probably "deserve" it)
3. Islanders (NY sucks but they haven't won in a long time and have a history)
4. Vegas



5. Phuck the Phlyers
I’m hoping that if Tampa finally wins this year, maybe in the refs eyes they’re even for 2011 and we can finally get a fair shake against them with the officiating.

Oh who am I kidding.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
Homeownership is better than renting but it still sucks. I’m currently ripping out the side of my daughters room because of a water leak that’s destroyed most of the flashing. What we figured was a half day project is now 2-3 days with multiple contractors. Add in the serene sounds of my children screaming for 24 hours straight, and I believe I’ve achieved the America dream.

fucking kill me
Had a chuckle and nodded. Been there a few times.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
Anyone had the "contractor sub-contract the work to an amateur and split" issue? Pro tip: ask to see a contractor's license first.
 

Myt1

educated, civility-loving ass
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 13, 2006
41,576
South Boston
Homeownership is better than renting but it still sucks. I’m currently ripping out the side of my daughters room because of a water leak that’s destroyed most of the flashing. What we figured was a half day project is now 2-3 days with multiple contractors. Add in the serene sounds of my children screaming for 24 hours straight, and I believe I’ve achieved the America dream.

fucking kill me
We’re closing Friday, because @Deathofthebambino doesn’t care about auspicious closing dates.
 

Myt1

educated, civility-loving ass
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 13, 2006
41,576
South Boston
Winchester, despite the inability of the spirits of my ancestors to go north of Charlestown, save when bound for New Hampshire or Maine.

Edit: I exaggerate, but only slightly. The Polish part of my family originally hails from Chelsea. So, still Suffolk County.
 
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Myt1

educated, civility-loving ass
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 13, 2006
41,576
South Boston
Thanks! We got super lucky and found a place with a good-sized yard for the Woburn side of town, and got it $40K below asking. It’s pretty close to a commercial/industrial area, so that helped us a lot. As did the fact that the five or so kids were selling their parents’ vacant place. As did my natural charm, of course.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
Congrats man! Winchester is beautiful.

We leveraged our home inspection (which was actually super positive) to shave $5000 off asking/agreed to price. Amended offer signed, P&S to be signed this week, hoping for a mid/late October close. We will have some plumbing work to do on the main drainage stack, but otherwise it's move-in ready.
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,291
I confess that I kinda like yard work, especially these days. Gets me outside, gives me time to catch up on my podcasts now that I'm not commuting anymore, and I can pretend that it is contributing to some nebulous concept of improved property value even though we have no plans to move anytime soon. I dunno, I like having projects. Winter is going to be rough.

Recently rented a jackhammer and dug up our ancient, root-busted sidewalk to nowhere (it literally connects only to the bottom of our driveway and then to nothing else, and there are no other sidewalks anywhere nearby). Spent this past weekend filling it in with new soil to meet the level of the rest of the yard. Once it's seeded it will make mowing much less of a PITA—the front edge of the yard leading to the sidewalk has a slope with a several inch drop to the sidewalk itself over a little retaining wall, so I'd have to go all the way around to get to the street-adjacent grass. And one less area I'll need to shovel, so that's nice.
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
Count me in as liking yard work, especially this summer. I hate to sit around and without anywhere to go it keeps me busy. My lot was on the edge of an old farm and as a result one side was years of accumulated dirt and rock overgrown with brush. I've been working down the line the last few years excavating out a 3-5 foot mound and building a stone wall with all the rock I pull out of it. I did about 75 feet the last 3 years, but this summer have already done twice as much. It really is just stupid work when it comes down to it. I might spend an entire afternoon digging out a large rock and then moving it 5-6' to get it in line with the wall. If I rented a bobcat I'd be done with it, but I look at it as exercise and keeping me out of trouble. Any other project would have me dropping $$$ at Lowe's.

More relevant to RMPS, one project this weekend was to pull out 4 huge tarps I've pushed off to the edge of the woods over the years. Those are the remnants of the backyard rinks I put up every year. I also pulled out most of the plywood rink sections and have them ready to be hauled away by the junk guy. Kid is in college and the boards will be dust before there is a need to put another one up.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Yard work kinda stinks. Each year I tell myself this is the year that I'll really commit to doing more than just the minimum of mowing my lawn. If it didn't happen this year during a pandemic when there was very little else to do, it'l probably never happen.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
I am so happy that the "natural yard" movement is picking up in the PNW. Lots of people are planting native bushes/trees/foliage in front yards instead of lawns. Helps natural fertilizers and are way lower maintenance If I ever own land again, I'm not going to own a single blade of grass if I can help it.