I got this idea after reading a couple of my favourite blogs. It’s really just a list of a handful of websites that I’ve visited on my travel through the internets that I thought you might like. So, without further ado, I present to you…
Things I Found While Eff’ing Around (all links will open in a new window)
In 2010 alone, more than 3,400 button battery swallowing cases were reported in the U.S., resulting in 19 serious injuries and in some cases, deaths. Get the facts here.
Amazing and stunning works of art that aren’tphotographs.
I’ve always been fascinated by linguistics. In fact, a game I like playing (it makes an especially fun ice-breaker!) starts with compiling a list of 20-30 words that have different pronunciations (depending on what part of the country you’re from). The list is then provided and everyone takes turns saying each word out loud. OK, so when I type it all out like this, it sounds really nerdy and lame. Oh, well. Here’s a list of words to get you started:
I’ll be bringing back some of my previous posts from an earlier iteration of this site. Here’s one that was originally published on December 3, 2013.
The majority of my mom friends only have one or two children. So whenever we get together and/or have a chance to talk, it’s inevitable that they remark about how much more I have to handle and deal with.
And it’s true. Having 5 children certainly does make for more chaos! I just brush these comments off though because little do they know that I have a handful of secrets to manage the stress. Most moms with less than 2 or 3 children will not understand these methods, and that’s OK. Moms of 4 (or more) will totally get this. There are numerous issues I encounter while trying to get through my day. These issues include:
Idle hands spend time doing terrible toddler things (e.g., picking their nose, putting their hands in their diaper, dumping cat food into the cats’ water bowl).
When toddlers step out of line, the punishment must be swift and harsh.
When toddlers do good work, the reward must also be swift (and sometimes harsh.)
The following are 4 of my secrets for getting through the day without beginning to drink at 8:45 a.m.
Secret #1: Your 2-year-old is more capable than you think. Put their incessant energy to good use by making them perform the household chores that you hate. For example, let your toddler wash their own bottles. In addition, have them finish up the leftover dishes from the previous night’s dinner:
Also, cleanliness is next to godliness, so have them wash their hands repeatedly. This is a double bonus, because they will have relatively clean hands (for a couple of minutes) and they find this exercise enjoyable:
Secret #2: 2-year-olds are excellent at doing laundry. Here you can see Coraline cleaning out the lint filter. Another double bonus, because the lint problem gets taken care of and thoroughly punishes the toddler who has just spent 20 minutes washing her hands:
Secret #3: Your 1-year-old is more capable than you think.
For example, Halsey does an excellent job of (re)formatting his father’s Kindle:
Also, they say a 1-year-old’s mouth is cleaner than a dog’s, so let him disinfect those germ-ridden game controllers:
When your 1-year-old does his chores appropriately, a suitable reward is letting him play with plastic bags:
However, when your 1-year-old tries to run from helping fold laundry…
Suitable punishments include making him smash his own fingers in the kitchen hand towel drawer:
Locking him in a dark bathroom:
Making him watch TV from outside of the family room gate:
One item of importance is making sure your 2-year-old doesn’t get lazy. You’ve got to make her sharpen her incredible gymnastic skills:
Also, you can’t let your toddler get too comfortable. A good way to keep them in line is making them nap without their favourite blanket. Note the look of glee on my 2-year-old’s face. She clearly enjoys my creative methods for compliance:
Secret #4: Your cat can actually be helpful.
Here is Lieutenant Clawhugs reporting for duty:
He helps by using his entire furry body to dust off the kitchen table:
Cats are also excellent inspectors:
In fact, cats are very thorough inspectors:
Once your cat is done inspecting your toddler’s work, he’ll likely want to take a break by laying on a cleankitchen towel. (This is because cats are notoriously lazy.):
At least he makes up for his laziness by voicing his complaints. (Cats hate the paparazzi.)
Y’all, I’m about to go on an epic vacation but one thing I suffer from when I travel is horribly swollen feet. That’s why I’m super excited about these highly rated compression socks. I really hope these work as well as described.I’ll be writing a review upon my return.
Disclosure: I may earn a small commission from affiliate links on this site. Purchases made through these links support us at no additional cost to you, and Ionlyrecommend products that I genuinely believe in. Thank you for trusting my recommendations!
He’s finally done it! On April 6,2025, Alexander Ovechkin broke what many believed to be an untouchable milestone—Wayne Gretzky’s 894 career NHL goals. It’s worth revisiting the serendipitous journey that brought the Russian phenom to hockey’s biggest stage.
The story begins with his birthdate. Born on September 17, 1985, Ovechkin missed the cutoff for the 2003 NHL Draft by a mere two days. Yet even at 17, his electrifying play for Dynamo Moscow had already made him the stuff of legend. So much so that the Florida Panthers, in a bold and unconventional move, attempted to draft him a year early during the later rounds of the 2003 event. Their argument? By factoring in leap years, they claimed Ovechkin technically met the age requirement.
The NHL swiftly dismissed the loophole, but the audacious bid became a memorable footnote in draft lore—a testament to the hype surrounding the teenage prodigy. As scouts and executives swapped stories at Nashville’s airport post-draft, few could fault then-Panthers general manager Rick Dudley for his creativity, let alone his eye for talent.
When the 2004 draft arrived, there was no ambiguity. Ovechkin, now rightfully eligible, was selected first overall by the Washington Capitals, launching a career that would redefine goal-scoring greatness.
The Call That Changed Everything
In 2004, the NHL Draft Lottery wasn’t the glitzy primetime spectacle it is today. Instead, then Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee—now architect of the Vegas Golden Knights—received the franchise-altering news via a mundane phone call: Despite holding only the third-best odds, the Capitals had won the right to draft first. The prize? A generational talent who would redefine hockey in the nation’s capital.
The decision quickly narrowed to two Russian phenoms: Alex Ovechkin, a wrecking ball of speed, power, and scoring instinct, and Evgeny Malkin, a cerebral playmaking center. For the Caps, Ovechkin’s electrifying blend of physicality, relentless drive, and raw charisma made him the undeniable choice—a player who could reignite a struggling franchise and captivate a dormant fanbase.
A Delayed Destiny
Yet fate had other plans. The 2004-05 NHL season vanished in a haze of a labor dispute, forcing Ovechkin to spend an extra year in Russia with the Dynamo Moscow. When the lockout finally lifted, the Caps faced a race against time. McPhee later recalled having just three days to pry the 19-year-old from his family’s protective grip and secure his signature. Ovechkin’s determination to conquer the NHL tipped the scales. By August 2005, he was in Washington, crashing temporarily at McPhee’s home—an unlikely prologue to a legendary career.
The Russian Machine Arrives
Author’s Note: The term “Russian Machine” refers to an interview done with Alex in response to questions from the media about a potential injury after being hit by a puck, Ovechkin was quoted in 2006 stating, “I’m OK; Russian Machine never breaks.”
The wait proved worthwhile. Ovechkin exploded onto the scene with 52 goals as a rookie, claiming the Calder Trophy over a silver-medalist runner-up: a fresh-faced Sidney Crosby, linchpin of the Pittsburgh Penguins dynasty. The irony wasn’t lost on hockey historians.
Two decades later, the “Russian Machine” has shattered the unthinkable: Wayne Gretzky’s 894-goal zenith. Ovechkin’s résumé reads like a video game cheat code—nine 50+-goal campaigns, 12 All-Star nods, three MVPs, a spot among the NHL’s Top 100 Players of all time, and, in 2018, the cathartic hoisting of the Stanley Cup.
In the 2005-2006 campaign, Ovechkin captured the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year and finished third overall in league scoring. Ovechkin has won the award for NHL’s leading goal scorer a record nine times while also being the runner-up for the award one other time (2010). He holds the NHL record for most 40-goal seasons with fourteen and co-holds, with Mike Bossy and Gretzky, the record for most 50-goal campaigns with nine. He is also the only player to have tallied 200 or more goals in three different decades, with 245 in the 2000s, 437 in the 2010s, and 200+ in the 2020s. He has won the Hart Memorial Trophy for most valuable player three times (in 2008, 2009, and 2013) while also being a finalist two other times (2010 and 2015), and the Award for best player as voted on by the National Hockey League Players’ Association three times (2008, 2009, 2010) while also being a finalist two other times (2013 and 2015). In 2018, the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup for the first time, and Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player in the 2018 playoffs. He has also been named to the NHL first All-Star team eight times, and the second All-Star team four times.
Alexander Ovechkin boasts numerous NHL career milestones, in addition to cementing his legacy as hockey’s greatest goal scorer. He holds the all-time records for most power-play goals, most away-game goals, and most overtime goals, while also surpassing peers in two unique categories: scoring against the most goaltenders and tallying the most goals with a single franchise. Notably, Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe as one of only three players in league history to reach the elusive 800-goal mark, a testament to his enduring dominance on the ice.
A Legacy in Bronze and Blood
When Washington immortalizes Ovechkin in statue form, the pose is inevitable: coiled at the left circle, stick down, eyes locked on the puck—a frozen moment from his “office,” where so many power-play daggers were unleashed.
Reflecting on the 2004 draft, McPhee’s dry wit cuts through the nostalgia: “It was a very good pick!” But his deeper admiration lingers. “He makes scoring look easy,” the GM once mused. “It’s not.” For McPhee, Ovechkin isn’t just a Cap’s icon—he’s “one of the greatest things to ever happen to the NHL.”
And as Gretzky’s record fades into Ovechkin’s rearview, one truth remains: The “GR8” didn’t just chase history. He rewrote it.
If it’s worth so much to anyone to wag their tongues about what I am and what I am not, and what I say and what I don’t, then the generous thing to do would be to let them have at it.
Got questions, comments, concerns, regrets? Tell me about it:
