I'm jonesing for some fucking World Cup, and have to wait until Friday for my fix. Sigh. Next to the Olympics for me is the World Cup -- I love the international events, makes me glad to see the rest of the world. The US is so insular and parochial -- it's nice to see us out in the big, bad world.
So, Exene's still sick. She responded somewhat to the meds they gave her, but the symptoms haven't vanished -- still swollen glands at the neck, night sweats, sore joints, fever, loss of appetite. She's 121 lbs. right now. She's got some follow-up appointments with doctors. She's peeved. We'll see how it develops. All of the infectious disease tests they did (and they did a lot) came up negative. Not sure what to make of it all, exactly.
There's the Exene people think they know, and there's the Exene I know/knew, and there's whatever she actually is, somebody nobody but her actually knows. I know her better than anybody (including her family), but even I only know a sliver of whatever is actually going on behind the mask she wears. That Exene (or those Exenes) will be colliding in the face of something serious, healthwise.
I've been productive on some prose fiction -- a book I'm working on. I shelved the screenplay; it was nagging at me, and I don't want to pay to enter it into a competition only to lose and be out that money at a time when money's at a premium for me. I'm comfier in short story writing and novel-writing, so I'm staying in that primarily at the moment, even though the opportunities for me to be noticed seem as remote as ever. We'll see.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Worldly
Spain won! Yay! (1 - 0 over Portugal, no mean feat, given Portugal's great defense) So, we're in the quarterfinals, now. I'm rooting for...
With Germany, I'm supporting their dynamic, attacking style of play. They're a young team, but have played with remarkable tactical finesse that is impressive to watch. Their match against Argentina should be fucking cool, as Argentina is very much of an attacking team. I think Spain should be able to stomp Paraguay, judging from how Paraguay has played (very, very defensive -- Portugal, the #3 ranked team tried that against #2 ranked Spain, and lost -- I think Spain should beat'em).
Ghana is another young team, and they are the little engine that could -- bold, dynamic play. Not nearly as tactically ironclad as the other teams I've seen play; they tend to rely on a strong offense, versus positional play like, say, the Dutch (or, surprisingly, Brazil). They should be able to smoke Uruguay -- which is a little bittersweet, because if the US had managed to advance past Ghana, we could've been up against Uruguay, who would've been arguably easier than anybody else we had to face.
The Brazil v. Holland match could be cool if Brazil kicks it up another notch, or it could be excruciating, if they just mutually grind against each other in this positional, tactical kind of play that depends on the other side making a grievous error for your side to win. We'll see. Or I'll see, anyway.
We're nearing the last week of the World Cup, which is, after the Olympics, my favorite sporting event. I just love the international spirit of it, seeing those teams go at it (and it's only every four years, so you only have to see me nattering on about it once every four years -- hahah!)
The final match is July 11, which'll have me in North Carolina with the boys, visiting my family at my older stepsister's summer place. I already told my folks we totally have to watch that final match, which'll surely be more soccer than my family can handle, but I'm sooo not missing it.
- Spain
- Ghana
- Germany
With Germany, I'm supporting their dynamic, attacking style of play. They're a young team, but have played with remarkable tactical finesse that is impressive to watch. Their match against Argentina should be fucking cool, as Argentina is very much of an attacking team. I think Spain should be able to stomp Paraguay, judging from how Paraguay has played (very, very defensive -- Portugal, the #3 ranked team tried that against #2 ranked Spain, and lost -- I think Spain should beat'em).
Ghana is another young team, and they are the little engine that could -- bold, dynamic play. Not nearly as tactically ironclad as the other teams I've seen play; they tend to rely on a strong offense, versus positional play like, say, the Dutch (or, surprisingly, Brazil). They should be able to smoke Uruguay -- which is a little bittersweet, because if the US had managed to advance past Ghana, we could've been up against Uruguay, who would've been arguably easier than anybody else we had to face.
The Brazil v. Holland match could be cool if Brazil kicks it up another notch, or it could be excruciating, if they just mutually grind against each other in this positional, tactical kind of play that depends on the other side making a grievous error for your side to win. We'll see. Or I'll see, anyway.
We're nearing the last week of the World Cup, which is, after the Olympics, my favorite sporting event. I just love the international spirit of it, seeing those teams go at it (and it's only every four years, so you only have to see me nattering on about it once every four years -- hahah!)
The final match is July 11, which'll have me in North Carolina with the boys, visiting my family at my older stepsister's summer place. I already told my folks we totally have to watch that final match, which'll surely be more soccer than my family can handle, but I'm sooo not missing it.
This and that
I'm about to watch Spain v. Portugal. I sure hope Spain beats'em!
I love how my left foot is nearly better from the hairline split last month, and then I fuck up that toenail on my right foot! D'oh!
I got to work on some fiction last night, which always makes me feel good. I love writing. I'm going to write every damned story I have in my head, just get'em all down on paper, and see what I can do with them. My peril is always that I love the art of writing, but not the business of it -- I try to write good fiction, but I'm not so good at self-promotion and marketing. Gruh. I need to tackle that and get aggressive about it.
B2 is going to be a skilled musician. I can see it already. He's naturally dextrous and is a born performer (for example, he's playing on the toy piano, a "song" he made, and then when he's done, he says "Okay, CLAP!" I usually applaud, anyway, but if it's not forthcoming, he exhorts the applause). And when he sees any new instrument, he wants to know how to do it, asks me how to play it, and I show him, and he picks up on it immediately. He and I were playing a vuvuzela duet this morning (not full-on playing it, more like using it as a megaphone, since if you actually play it properly, you only get that B flat) -- I'd play a melody, and B2 would match the melody I played. He loved going back and forth with that. Love it. I can see him doing that, can see him acting, can see him being a chef, and something athletic. He's a natural with that stuff -- that blend of dexterity and charisma -- and he's naturally assertive (and is a total diva). I see it so clearly.
B1 is more complicated -- very smart, very sensitive, he keeps so much of of himself in reserve on some level. He's open and accessible and is, in his own sweet way, very willful. But what he honestly likes to do is a little less clear than it is with his baby brother. I can see B1 being a doctor, engineer, architect -- something like that. He's interested in systems and a sense of order, and has a warm and open personality -- and yet, he also keeps a lot of it close to the vest. In that way, he's a lot like his mom. My task is to encourage him to explore and really find what he enjoys and is good at. He was playing on the toy piano the other day, and was curious about the scales -- I walked him through some of the ones I knew, just so he could hear them. I think the internal order of them intrigued him.
B1 mastered the proper vuvuzela sound immediately, which was cute to see and hear. I'm always going to encourage my boys to explore and really stretch themselves.
Off to watch Spain v. Portugal!
I love how my left foot is nearly better from the hairline split last month, and then I fuck up that toenail on my right foot! D'oh!
I got to work on some fiction last night, which always makes me feel good. I love writing. I'm going to write every damned story I have in my head, just get'em all down on paper, and see what I can do with them. My peril is always that I love the art of writing, but not the business of it -- I try to write good fiction, but I'm not so good at self-promotion and marketing. Gruh. I need to tackle that and get aggressive about it.
B2 is going to be a skilled musician. I can see it already. He's naturally dextrous and is a born performer (for example, he's playing on the toy piano, a "song" he made, and then when he's done, he says "Okay, CLAP!" I usually applaud, anyway, but if it's not forthcoming, he exhorts the applause). And when he sees any new instrument, he wants to know how to do it, asks me how to play it, and I show him, and he picks up on it immediately. He and I were playing a vuvuzela duet this morning (not full-on playing it, more like using it as a megaphone, since if you actually play it properly, you only get that B flat) -- I'd play a melody, and B2 would match the melody I played. He loved going back and forth with that. Love it. I can see him doing that, can see him acting, can see him being a chef, and something athletic. He's a natural with that stuff -- that blend of dexterity and charisma -- and he's naturally assertive (and is a total diva). I see it so clearly.
B1 is more complicated -- very smart, very sensitive, he keeps so much of of himself in reserve on some level. He's open and accessible and is, in his own sweet way, very willful. But what he honestly likes to do is a little less clear than it is with his baby brother. I can see B1 being a doctor, engineer, architect -- something like that. He's interested in systems and a sense of order, and has a warm and open personality -- and yet, he also keeps a lot of it close to the vest. In that way, he's a lot like his mom. My task is to encourage him to explore and really find what he enjoys and is good at. He was playing on the toy piano the other day, and was curious about the scales -- I walked him through some of the ones I knew, just so he could hear them. I think the internal order of them intrigued him.
B1 mastered the proper vuvuzela sound immediately, which was cute to see and hear. I'm always going to encourage my boys to explore and really stretch themselves.
Off to watch Spain v. Portugal!
Sonshine
Monday, June 28, 2010
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRZT*
The boys' (and, hee hee, my) vuvuzelas arrived! Two green, and one orange. The boys loved'em, began blaring them immediately. I showed them how to "play" them, had them aim them at Exene.
She grumbled "NOT an Elvish instrument." *BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRZT*
She grumbled "NOT an Elvish instrument." *BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRZT*
Univision
I have to say that Univision gives the best coverage of the World Cup. Who cares that I can't speak Spanish?! I'm amused that they have special-issue team soccer kits for the babes!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
I believe it!
http://www.salon.com/books/nonfiction/index.html?story=/books/feature/2010/06/27/sex_at_dawn_interview
Although I'm more of a serial monogamist, in some way, shape, or form. Still, I think their critiques of American conceptions of love, sex, and marriage and what-not are on the mark.
Although I'm more of a serial monogamist, in some way, shape, or form. Still, I think their critiques of American conceptions of love, sex, and marriage and what-not are on the mark.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sacre Bleus
I am highly amused by the French National Team's coach, Raymond Domenech, and his apparent dedication to astrology in laying out his team. Especially his apparent distrust of Scorpios (wise man! "Domenech has a particular aversion to picking Scorpios for his squads, referring to them as 'feckless, unreliable, troublesome, pleasure-obsessed attention-seekers'" -- CACKLE) and not wanting Leos in his defense ("When I have got a Leo in defence, I've always got my gun ready. I know he's going to want to show off at one moment or another and cost us.")
Whatever his team's astrological lineup (and I'd love to know what signs he deemed worthy of fielding, but I'll wager from the results that he didn't have nearly enough Ariens on the front lines. He should have; then maybe France would've had better results.
Ah, here's the team. Yep, on a quick glance, I only see one Aries on his team (midfielder Franck Ribéry). Big mistake. One of the goalkeepers (Steve Mandanda). Beyond that, a fragrant melange of Cancerians, Virgos, Pisceans, maybe Capricorns. Too much Earth and Water make for mud!! You need FIRE to win!! Wind and Fire!
Whatever his team's astrological lineup (and I'd love to know what signs he deemed worthy of fielding, but I'll wager from the results that he didn't have nearly enough Ariens on the front lines. He should have; then maybe France would've had better results.
Ah, here's the team. Yep, on a quick glance, I only see one Aries on his team (midfielder Franck Ribéry). Big mistake. One of the goalkeepers (Steve Mandanda). Beyond that, a fragrant melange of Cancerians, Virgos, Pisceans, maybe Capricorns. Too much Earth and Water make for mud!! You need FIRE to win!! Wind and Fire!
Sheesh
Sorry about that foot photo; had to share, it was so annoying and painful! Stupid big feet and tiny apartment (and it was because I stumbled on a toy one of the boys had left on the floor. D'oh!)
So, the US were bested by Ghana. I warned'em! Ghana's a really good team. I wanted Ghana to advance, but not at the expense of the Americans. But Ghana mostly outplayed'em, and the US just couldn't match them.
Tomorrow I'm rooting for Germany over England, and Mexico over Argentina! Hope they're good matches.
So, the US were bested by Ghana. I warned'em! Ghana's a really good team. I wanted Ghana to advance, but not at the expense of the Americans. But Ghana mostly outplayed'em, and the US just couldn't match them.
Tomorrow I'm rooting for Germany over England, and Mexico over Argentina! Hope they're good matches.
Footie
I just fucked up my toenail (third toe) -- I was cleaning in the boys' room, and totally snagged that toenail, almost completely ripping it off. OUCH! I snapped a picture of it, although it frickin' annoyed the hell out of me. Ironically, I had fucked up the left-hand toenail years ago, almost identically, losing that toenail, too. I mean, I basically ripped that toenail off (like 85% off)...
Piano Key
I got the boys a toy piano; it's mainly for B2, who loves any musical instrument he runs across, and I'd like to find some constructive outlets for his passionate, fiery spirit! I love watching B2 play on it. He really enjoys it, saying "I LOVE to play on my piano!"
Today I'm looking forward to the USA v. Ghana game in the World Cup. I'm really hoping the US advances. It's something of a longshot, as Ghana is a very good team.
Today I'm looking forward to the USA v. Ghana game in the World Cup. I'm really hoping the US advances. It's something of a longshot, as Ghana is a very good team.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Lookin' & Cookin'
*Which I habitually avoid, because it's insane and who really wants alligator cheesecake on a stick?
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