Ten days ago, my dear friend Damion celebrated his 34th birthday. In honour of his day, still important 10 days past, I give to him a series of lists. The lovely man asked for a list from everyone which ennumerated their top ten favorite books.
My mind has been way too out there to focus on moving, let alone lists of any kind. But given I have finally been able to write something cogently, slightly substantive, I think I can now push myself on with this. Not a hard thing, just a sweet thing to a sweet friend.
...in no particular order...
Top 10 Favorite Albums
1. St. Matthew Passion - Bach
2. Lateralus - Tool
3. Perseverance - Hatebreed
4. War - U2
5. Boy Hits Car - Boy Hits Car
6. Joshua Tree - U2
7. Thriller - Michael Jackson
8. A Kind of Magic - Queen
9. Available for Propaganda - Linea77
10. Master of Puppets - Metallica
Top 10 Favorite TV Shows
1. Quantam Leap
2. MacGuyver
3. Stargate SG-1
4. 24
5. Smallville
6. Spongebob Squarepants
7. House, M.D.
8. Battlestar Galatica (2004)
9. Gilmore Girls
10. G.I. Joe
Top 10 Favorite Movies
1. M - Expressionist German movie from 1933
2. A Touch of Evil
3. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
4. Saving Private Ryan
5. V for Vendetta
6. Philadelphia (also for one hell of a song from the Boss)
7. The Empire Strikes Back
8. American History X
9. Gladiator
10. Dazed and Confused
Top 10 Favorite Books (Including Plays)
1. In Cold Blood
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Of Mice and Men
4. Hamlet
5. Our Town
6. The Hobbit
7. 1984
8. To Serve Them All My Days
9. The Great Gatsby
10. Jane Eyre
Top 10 Favorite Experiences
1. Telling the girl I love her
2. Kissing the girl
3. Running back and forth atop a slightly swingning bridge on a cliff in Italy whilst holding hands with the burly man Jon to the riotous laughter of the girl and Anna
4. Graduating from University
5. Seeing my Welsh family again
6. Studying at Cambridge with Erin, Damion, Andrew, and Marshal
7. Making sushi with the girl's family
8. Anytime I've ever pitched
9. Visiting Atlanta to spend time with my Cambridge friends
10. Swimming & Writing (If I can combine the two I'll be happy as a clam)
To you Damion.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Those Amazing Aussies
As the rain cascades all around me, on this the second or third day of summer in a classic summer thunderstorm, I finally feel inspired to write. Ever since I got back from Wales I have not been able, for the life of me, to write more than a few half-hearted sentences. And if there's anything I hate doing, it's doing things half-heartedly. But now, now it comes back. And I am excited!
What has inspired me? A burning love? The girl always inspires me, this is true, but no. A recent revelation that has cleared the murky paths of my life? Nope, still coasting in that regard. The inspiration? 13 Australian men.
The World Cup is now well into the endgames. After group play, it's now "You lose, you go home." The games so far in this round of 16 have been mundane. In group play the games ranged from similarly mundane to spectacular.
Yet none of the previous games quite prepared anyone for the matches that played and are still playing today.
As I write, the Swiss and Ukraine are in the 24th minute of overtime. In 6 minutes the match will be decided by penalty kicks. A game impressive if only because it is being pushed this far. As in yesterday's spectacular performance by David Beckham, the playing men are exhausted and, right now, are quite literally keeling over. This game is made by the desparation of two teams fighting for everything. And penalty kicks are always fun.
Unless you're Australian.
You see, the game that is winding down just now isn't half the game that was Australia versus Italy. Why? Italy was called to dominate. After all, the national team was only Australia. The only good football tehy're known for is Aussie rules. Yet they nearly had it. Australia almost defeated one of the favorites, the powerhouse. Admittedly, Italy has not been dominant this Cup. Much like England and Germany, Italy has yet to hit the stride they're supposed to. But for all of that, nothing can take away from the struggle and the fight of the Australians.
Here we go. Penalty kicks to decide the winner of Ukrain versus Switzerland.
This match that I am watching right now is where the Australians were a very few seconds away from getting to. And I mean seconds.
Report of penalty kicks:
Save by Switzerland.
Save by Ukraine.
Goal by Ukraine.
Miss by Switerland. Ukr 1, Sui 0
Goal by Ukraine.
Save by Ukraine.
Goal by Ukraine. Ukraine wins on penalties - 3 to 0.
So, the Ukraine will face Italy in the next round. How did Italy get there? By playing incredibly smart soccer. One incredible play with, as I said, seconds to go in regulation. Even more, for I can take nothing away from Italians - from the 53rd minute on the Italian squad played with a man down because of a red card. Incredible.
However, with all of that, the Aussies not only played just as smart as Italy but with a greater tenacity and courage. Why tenacious? Why courageous? They held off the freakin' Italians for 94 minutes, 40 seconds!!
And add to that, the Australians missed a game winning bicycle kick by about one and a half inches. Then the penalty kick the Italians won on would have only been the equalizer instead of the game-ending goal. What if, what if, what if.
But with an incredible fake out in Australia's penalty box, the Italians won a penalty kick in the 95th minute. And Francesco Totti, largely absent in the debacle with the Americans, easily punched it in. A devastating dagger through the heart of the self-proclaimed Socceroos. And, hey, another addition to the case against the overzealous referees.
The refs are ridiculous. But one thing is still absolute.
This is a beautiful, fabulous game.
...at least in terms of the World Cup, otherwise I couldn't care less.
What has inspired me? A burning love? The girl always inspires me, this is true, but no. A recent revelation that has cleared the murky paths of my life? Nope, still coasting in that regard. The inspiration? 13 Australian men.
The World Cup is now well into the endgames. After group play, it's now "You lose, you go home." The games so far in this round of 16 have been mundane. In group play the games ranged from similarly mundane to spectacular.
Yet none of the previous games quite prepared anyone for the matches that played and are still playing today. As I write, the Swiss and Ukraine are in the 24th minute of overtime. In 6 minutes the match will be decided by penalty kicks. A game impressive if only because it is being pushed this far. As in yesterday's spectacular performance by David Beckham, the playing men are exhausted and, right now, are quite literally keeling over. This game is made by the desparation of two teams fighting for everything. And penalty kicks are always fun.
Unless you're Australian.
You see, the game that is winding down just now isn't half the game that was Australia versus Italy. Why? Italy was called to dominate. After all, the national team was only Australia. The only good football tehy're known for is Aussie rules. Yet they nearly had it. Australia almost defeated one of the favorites, the powerhouse. Admittedly, Italy has not been dominant this Cup. Much like England and Germany, Italy has yet to hit the stride they're supposed to. But for all of that, nothing can take away from the struggle and the fight of the Australians.
Here we go. Penalty kicks to decide the winner of Ukrain versus Switzerland.
This match that I am watching right now is where the Australians were a very few seconds away from getting to. And I mean seconds.
Report of penalty kicks:
Save by Switzerland.
Save by Ukraine.
Goal by Ukraine.
Miss by Switerland. Ukr 1, Sui 0
Goal by Ukraine.
Save by Ukraine.
Goal by Ukraine. Ukraine wins on penalties - 3 to 0.
So, the Ukraine will face Italy in the next round. How did Italy get there? By playing incredibly smart soccer. One incredible play with, as I said, seconds to go in regulation. Even more, for I can take nothing away from Italians - from the 53rd minute on the Italian squad played with a man down because of a red card. Incredible.
However, with all of that, the Aussies not only played just as smart as Italy but with a greater tenacity and courage. Why tenacious? Why courageous? They held off the freakin' Italians for 94 minutes, 40 seconds!!
And add to that, the Australians missed a game winning bicycle kick by about one and a half inches. Then the penalty kick the Italians won on would have only been the equalizer instead of the game-ending goal. What if, what if, what if.
But with an incredible fake out in Australia's penalty box, the Italians won a penalty kick in the 95th minute. And Francesco Totti, largely absent in the debacle with the Americans, easily punched it in. A devastating dagger through the heart of the self-proclaimed Socceroos. And, hey, another addition to the case against the overzealous referees.The refs are ridiculous. But one thing is still absolute.
This is a beautiful, fabulous game.
...at least in terms of the World Cup, otherwise I couldn't care less.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Not Dead Yet!
Good greetings and good morning to everyone!
Forgive me for not having written anything yet. I've been home for 11 days now and so much has happened since I've been back in the states. What a joy it is to relish this hot, hot sun. Especially after surviving the west coast of Wales during its wettest, coldest May in 30 years. Only me, right? And I must reiterate how badly I was burned during that wettest, coldest, cloudiest Welsh May.Yep. Only me.
For all of that, I am so glad to have spent 2 weeks in Wales. Reconnected with my
wonderful family. And thankful that so much Welsh blood runs through my veins. As the World Cup begins and the French Cup ends, it's an amazing thing to discover some national pride. Not that I'm not proud of America. Yet, as I think any international traveler and/or sports fan, almost everyone else outside of the States has a deeper, more passionate sense of nationalism (in its most idealistic sense). And as I watch a reflection on Germany's sense of pride as a nation, the point of America's lack of national identity is driven home even further. 'tis an interesting thought, think you not?(What a great match between Paraguay and England. Well...good.)
As for actually being home, yesterday I locked in the price for a very nice apartment in Chapel Hill. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with all of this furniture my parents are leaving me. Ummm...it's a lot.
I really just wanted to say 'Hi' to everyone and get myself going again.
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