I'm anxiously getting ready for the new season. The Capitals look like a much stronger team this season. The young guys are still feeling the sting of the seventh game meltdown to the Pittsburgh Penguins in round two of the playoffs last summer and are hungry for more success. Defenseman Mike Green and superstar forward Alex Ovechkin both reported to training camp leaner and meaner, having toned up and bulked up, respectively, to improve their physicality.

The addition of veteran winger Mike Knuble adds a tough, gritty presence in front of the opponent's crease. The Capitals have been lacking someone to go to the net and take the punishment needed to effectively screen a goalie. With him more likely than not taking first line duties along Ovechkin and his regular center, Nicklas Backstrom, I'm feeling some high scoring numbers from all of them.

Right now I'm listening in on the first preseason game of the year; the Capitals are playing the Buffalo Sabers in Buffalo. So far the Caps are up 1-0 and the rookies are acquitting themselves well.

On the art front, I've been dedicating all my free time to working on a portrait commission that is slowly coming together. It's been a long time since I did pencil work and I'm glad to be able to test my abilities to draw what I see.

The subject is the girlfriend of an acquaintance I know through hockey. She's russian, so the portrait will feature her in Red Square in Moscow. It's to be a birthday gift for her. I've already gotten a nice frame for it, now I just have to finish. So far my buddy is pleased with my progress, as am I. It's nice to know that despite my long absence from expressions in reality I can still do so to my satisfaction.

Once I'm done with the portrait I'll probably go back to noodling with the several works in progress I have going on during my commute. Until then, I'll keep updating my gallery with the progress I'm making.