yeah.

So... um... it's been a very long time since I have written. Because I have been busy! It's great. S and I have done lots of fun things around town and I am going to miss him a lot when he leaves...

I don't like the heat. I see why I have avoided summer so much...

Happy Birthday to the best Mom ever!!

Good times ... and bad times

It has been a whirlwind past few days. I love having S here! It's great! And our natural reclusiveness as a couple appears to be mostly influenced by constantly being in winter. It's a lot easier just to go take a walk somewhere if it doesn't require putting on eight layers of clothing and freezing all the way. Not that we particularly enjoy the hot weather, either, but we get out and do things. Like actually see downtown. Yes, S was here... um... 2 months? in the winter and we never got around to going downtown. But we did it yesterday while a friend of his was visiting, so that was a pleasant time. Basically, we've just been having a great time. A blast, you might say.

S also brought me two more Chilean movies for my collection - my very own copy of Mi mejor enemigo, which some of you all might recall me raving about a bit back. He also brought me Fuga, which was also an excellent film. I can see why it might not have been a huge box office success - the end is a bit difficult to figure out - but it was really good. I really enjoyed it. I mean, come on. Mystery, classical music, a crazy composer, and excellent actors? Good times. I recommend it if you can get a copy. Which is unlikely, considering that it was just released in Chile. But it was excellent. I recommend it.

I am sort of in news shock. It's odd... I read the headlines but it doesn't really mean anything anymore. This is how I've felt about Israel Palestine for ages (in my own short life, ages is of course relative) and I have done it with Iraq, too, but now Lebanon? This is just not cool.

The world is falling apart, so at least S is going to be with me...

S arrives tonight! Which is excellent. Though I feel like I am going to fall over... since I didn't sleep yesterday. I was too worried to sleep. But everything was slightly better when he called to tell me he is OK. Phew.

Jon Stewart on the Daily Show sums up how I feel about most of the news right now... though look, Bush finally had to use a veto. No signing whatchamacallits on this crap. So here I quote because it makes me feel better...

Sit at my desk, turn on the TV, and notice that WORLD WAR III IS BEGINNING. AAGH. After that the day is kind of a blur. So let me, if I may, explain to you how I am feeling. Anxious. Sad. Scared. Hopeful? Just a hint... a dusting... but mostly... f*cking scared. Can't we get just a couple of days of stability in this world?

I don't know if you have been following what has been happening in the Middle East... But man, democracy and liberty is flowering... no, that's not the word, it's ... napalming. It's, uh, spreading like liquid fire that deforests the entire world. Oh boy.

A reading Katherine is a happy Katherine

Today (yesterday if you look at the clock) was S's birthday. Yay!

I just felt the need to share that my reading has now picked up and I have really liked a few of the things I have read. I admit that I avoided certain areas of my specialty as an undergrad, but for my current degree I have to read them. There are some works that are just really impressive to me. Really impressive. There are others that drag, but those gems make it worthwhile.

At the rate I'm going, I might even finish my summer reading *early*. This would be excellent. Then I could get a jump on the school year, too!

Bullet points!

I feel like making bullet point lists today. Two of them. We'll go with the downers first.

• Israel making war on their neighbors. I'm not cool with that.
  
• All the men in my life thinking that Zizou's headbutt was totally acceptable.
  
• Thunderstorms ruined the pool plans for today.
• I find it much more entertaining to read mindless articles than do the things I had planned.
• The world is falling apart... and The Onion told us it would.
  
• Juventus, Lazio, and Fiorentina were send town to Serie B. Deserved, but still a bit of a downer.

And the positives:

• I get to eat lots of delicious food.
• I finally slept well last night. Though it was terrible to have to wake up.
• Not having to go to the pool. Meaning I didn't have to find myself a new (modest and teacher-like? Do they exist?) bathing suit.
• The books I ordered are here.
• My sister is coming home soon! Yay! :-D
• S will be here on Wednesday!!!
• I get to see an aunt and uncle who I haven't seen for a loooong time soon.
• I finished a play. And started another one.
• You Tube. I'll probably start linking to videos. They make me happy, like the Daily Show and the Colbert Report make me happy.
  

Rankings, flawed as always

FIFA's new rankings are up here. And let me tell you, they make amusing reading. Brazil played horribly, yet they are still ranked 1st. Italy's 2nd, Argentina's 3rd. How did England end up 5th? Also, Mexico dropped more than the US. Seriously, they are greatly entertaining. Check them out. And chuckle.

EDIT: If you look at the breakdown among confederations... well... why did T&T go down so much? But CONMEBOL (yeah South America!) didn't have anyone go down. Their worst performer was... ahem... Brazil. With no change in first (undeserved...). The largest jump was made by... Peru (???) who went up 24 places. Chile's up 18 to 46th. I guess that those friendlies before the Cup helped.

Oh my goodness

I miss the World Cup. Luckily for me, Argentine league is starting up soon. :-)

On an entirely different note - there is someone in the world who thinks that The Onion does real news. Seriously. His name is Pete. Check out what he wrote here and his "clever" response here. I laughed. A lot. And if I was in a feisty mood, I would mock him... mother a hamster... father ... elderberries...

Italy, you're not Argentina, but you beat France. Congratulations.

And so ends the World Cup in Germany... with a headbutt and penalties. Though I have never been one of Zizou's followers, I admit I was shocked and dismayed to see him headbutt an Italian player. In extra time! That was just irresponsible. It doesn't matter what was said, control yourself!

Congratulations to Italy. You're not Argentina, but still, I am glad you beat France. Even if it was on penalties. Speaking of penalties, I really hate them. They make my heart race unhealthily. If I were in charge of FIFA (step over, Sepp Blatter... the day they let a woman head FIFA...), I would recommend the following changes. After the 90 minute regular time, I would maintain the 30 minute extra time divided into halves. At that point, if the game remained tied, I would have 20 minute periods played (not golden goal) with an additional substitution awarded for each side for every additional 20 minutes played. And they would play until someone won. While I have read and heard that many people are in favor of penalties because they force an end on the game, I just find them anticlimactic and fundamentally an unfair way to decide who wins. So make them play until someone scores. That is what I would do.

I can't believe the Cup's over. Over a month of obsessive following... when does qualification start again? :-)

Oh, no.

So the World Cup final has begun. Much to my dismay, Henry suffered an injury (but came back on) and then the Italians gave up a penalty, which resulted in a goal. Which is quite unfortunate. I don't want the French to win.

What will the World do in 2 hours when this game is over? I believe I asked myself the same thing after Brazil won in 2002... I guess I will find other ways to take up my time.

Try though I might...

So try though I might to be resentful and not follow the Cup... well, that just isn't happening. I was totally wrong in my predictions for the semis so I am somewhat nervous about making any for the 3rd place or finals... so I won't. But I'd like Italy to win, insofar as I can want any of these teams to win. I just really don't like the French team. But such is life.

Instead of doing a lot of productive reading, as has been my habit for the past few weeks, I have been doing pleasure reading. Which is great, except that I feel guilty about not doing the school reading. But I am doing well on that front, so I really shouldn't feel guilty. But I do.

I got myself a hand blender. It is very exciting! Seriously, it is. I made vichyssoise and used that as the occasion for getting my new hand blender. It is delicious, and I like my new toy. :-)

Italy. Wow.

Italy. Wow.

I was sure they were going to lose in penalties to Germany... c'mon, there were only 2 minutes left in the 2nd extra time period, so it was safe to make assumptions... wait... no it wasn't. And Italy won, 2-0. I'll admit that I was rooting more towards Germany than anything else... though I didn't really have a strong opinion one way or the other. It is sort of how I felt when Switzerland played Ukraine - interesting, but no real opinion. But wow. My jaw dropped, seriously. I don't know what happened, but it felt as if Lehmann (Germany's keeper) just disappeared. Wow.

And even though it happened like 2 minutes ago, All Things Considered just noted that Italy beat Germany 2-0. They didn't mention the drama, though.

"Se hizo justicia"

Frings suspended for Semifinal

As my title, borrowed from the Argentine sports daily Ole suggests, it is only fair that the Germans are investigated for the incidents following Friday's penalty shootout. Cufre is suspended a game as well, and they are investigating Maxi for possibly hitting Schweinsteiger.

What this means in terms of tomorrow's game, however, is somewhat distressing to me. I would like Germany to win, and more importantly, for Italy to lose. Just like in the other semifinal, I would like Portugal to win and France to lose. Without Frings, Klinnsman will have to reshuffle... but we shall see how it all turns out tomorrow.

A random and non-systematic collection of information rattling around my head

I can't believe that the World Cup will be over in less than a week. And that I don't really want any of these teams to win... well, Portugal would be OK. And Germany would be reasonable since they are the host. But Italy? France? Uf.

Today is my suegra's birthday. Happy Birthday!

I find it very odd that we can have torrential rains and thunder last week and never lose power, but when we have a 2 minute long lightning fest, the power is out for 4 hours. In the entire city. I was again reminded of the convenience of my own placement of my emergency flashlights.

My reading is going well and I am quite pleased with everything on that front for now. However, if by the end of July I am not almost done I might feel a bit stressed. However, S is going to be here! So I probably won't be too stressed, because he is good at helping me see things in perspective.

The other day (perhaps as a sign of mourning...) I made myself a chocolate cake. And frosting to go on it. It is quite delicious, and I have no intentions of sharing it with anyone. And yes, I am still a bit sad about the quarterfinals, but I am moving forward. It's interesting to me that the AFA hasn't accepted Pekerman's resignation. I just hope that if they do, they don't do something stupid like putting Maradona as coach. Maradona is one of the most unstable public figures in the world. He's more like a mascot than anything serious, like a coach. So please, if anyone at AFA ia reading this (and I highly doubt that, but still): if you need to find a new head coach, don't make it Maradona.

Speaking of coaches... what should the US do? I say we need someone who can develop younger players, choose a team based on TEAM dynamics and not built around X, Y, and Z star players that must play no matter what, and who will actually have a team that attacks. Maybe even scores goals. Suggestions? Speaking of feedback... no one leaves me messages anymore. I know you people are still reading this... and if my WC obsession bores you, well... um... then that is your deal, not mine.

Another random piece of information is that I checked out Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy from the library, and it is quite enjoyable. I am pleased. And that I think it is interesting that there is still no "winner" in the Mexican election... but that is another (possible) post for another day...

The morning / afternoon after

I am still quite upset about Argentina getting knocked out. And I can't even read about it in the English speaking press because they are so incredibly biased against the Argentines... the British most of all. I'll just note that when covering the violence at the end of the game, they only get German perspectives and don't take into account (or choose to ignore) German verbal provocation. I am not saying that it legitimizes anyone's actions, but people really shouldn't be passing judgement as they do. Just like so many English (or so they called themselves - on the Internet you never know) hate Elizondo, who was the referree for their game against Portugal, because he is from Argentina. Harumph. But English language bias against the South Americans is an issue to be dealt with at a later time. I need more distance from my disappointment.

That said, I am thrilled that Portugal won, even if it was on penalties. Unfortunately Brazil had a horrible first half, but with any luck they will pull it together to keep a non-European in the semi-finals.

EDIT: The Quarterfinals were an emotional rollercoaster ride. I cried (a lot!) about Argentina, I fumed (a lot) about Italy, I shouted (happily) for Portugal. And I asked myself, will Brazil help me smile again? Or will I be cursing the French team like I did back in '98?

And I'm cursing the French.

GO PORTUGAL. You're the only ones who have never won it before. And the only ones I can stomach. I'm not forgiving the Germans.