FIFA World Cup Games 3, 4 and 5

Stacks of singles at Brian’s record store in downtown Vancouver, WA

Wow, what a day I’ve had. This post is going to cover a lot of territory. You might want to get a snack before you get started.

I was up at 6:45 for the 7am Argentina v Nigeria game.

During the half I threw together the stuff for fast no-knead bread..

After the game I did my online stuff, rec’d a story rejection, threw a bunch of stuff in the crockpot and did my yoga practice.

10:30a the pre-game for the USA v England game started. The phone started ringing.

It’s the U!S!A! in the World!Cup! Why are you phoning? It’s like you don’t know me. I answered during the pre-game but ignored after that.

During the national anthem the Asimov’s with my story came through the mail slot. (newsstand June 22 – don’t worry I’ll remind you) I had to look at that and was mortified to find that I completely misunderstood about the bio. I thought they wanted some biographical information so I sent a bunch of stuff. I didn’t realize what I sent was the actual words they print before the story.

Now it’s sitting over there on the desk. I’m too embarrassed to look at it again.

Ah, I’ve learned so much.

Then I watched the USA – England game which took at least 10 years off my life. I need a lozenge because I was screaming my head off.

During the half the Timbers revealed their MLS logo down at Director Park where I could watch the game if I wanted to watch it in a giant mass of people where I’d be worried about where I could use the bathroom instead of at home where I wouldn’t have any distractions and could use the bathroom anytime I want PLUS I could pause the DVR.

There were several points in the game where I wanted to fast forward because the suspense was killing me. Wouldn’t that be a handy device?

After the game I got my bread ready for the oven and ran outside to work because not only is it not raining, it’s over 80 degrees. For the first time in 2010. And yes, there was a parade.

I dug all over the yard and I got a sunburn. I’m usually paranoid about sunscreen but I was lazy today and ended up being out there longer than I expected. I started pulling ivy and couldn’t stop.

Later, I baked my bread and dinner was ready.

I’ve still got the Greece v. S. Korea game on the DVR. I watched the first 20 minutes of it earlier. I already know the outcome so I probably won’t watch the whole thing.

So games.

It was nice to hear Adrian Healy again. He’s one of my favorite commentators. He used to always work with Tommy Smyth who is my total favorite but the Internet tells me he’s on ESPN radio this time. boo!

Also during every game they show the coach yelling in slow motion. Why would they do that? It’s really creepy. I don’t think you can become a coach unless you look like the kind of person who kicks dogs and makes orphans cry.

Argentina v. Nigeria.

Does Argentina have the greatest hair or what? That link doesn’t really show how great their hair is. I thought Mexico had damn good hair but Argentina blows Mexico out of the water. Someone in Argentina should organize tours where people (ladies like me) can go and run their fingers through the hair of the Argentine men. I would pay a lot of money for that tour.

My new boyfriend is the goalkeeper Sergio Romero (his name is Sergio, how adorable!) who unfortunately looks like he’s about to be finger-printed and thrown into a cell in this picture. You should see him in action. Oh look, here’s a clip.

Argentina has been elevated to TOP PRIORITY.

Messi photo courtesy of Rafael Amado Deras

I also love Lionel Messi. I can’t find a great photo of him but he has the same hair I had in the 8th grade.

They also have a player named Maxi Rodriguez. Every time they said his name I thought of Jar Jar Binks saying: Ohh, maxi big da Force.

Nigeria is awesome, too. All the players have fantastic names. My favorite was Kalu Uche. I also like Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi. I could go on. They all have great names.

USA v. England

The ref was from New Zealand. How cool is that?

Wow, that was the fastest version of the Star Spangled Banner that I’ve ever heard. I didn’t love the USA uniforms. What’s up with that “Miss World Cup” sash?

For the first 10 minutes of the game, USA looked so awful that I was already planning whether I’d even watch to the end or not. But then everything turned around. They got better the longer they played. Too bad they can’t play for a half hour before the games starts.

Tim Howard is my hero. He was fantastic in goal, for those of you not watching at home.

Usually when something horrible happens, it’s not in favor of the team I’m rooting for. It was nice to finally be on the receiving end of a tragic mistake. (Hm, that doesn’t sound right.) I think England’s goalie should probably pack up and look for a job in the MLS because I don’t think anyone in England will talk to him again. Poor guy.

Having said that, a goal is a goal. The commentator couldn’t seem to emphasize enough how lucky the US was again and again.

Two great, exciting games. And I get to see Germany tomorrow.

Unrelated to soccer #1

Because I’ve had the TV on at random strange times I’ve been able to enjoy a variety of weird infomercials.

So is the general public finished with wanting overall fitness? Are we just looking for a flat belly/great abs? Because there was commercial after commercial for something that would give you great abs. I could burn 3 inches of belly fat in just three weeks doing some sort of hip hop workout. Secret to flat abs. Ultimate flat abs. Super duper flat abs. No crunches! No machines! I’m not sure if the exercise involved waving a magic wand.

I’m no fitness expert but isn’t about 80% of the flat ab battle all about “putting down the cheeseburger”?

Unrelated to soccer #2

On Thursday co-worker and I decided to finally try Habibi this traditional Syrian-Lebanese restaurant that we’ve walked by a million times.

We go to lunch early so we were only about the third table there. It’s not a huge place.

It filled up crazy fast. We were sitting by the window and I kept saying, “Look, more people.” Strollers, people in suits, bike messengers, fauxhemians — they just kept packing in. It was crazy.

We thought we were on to something huge.

They brought out our mezza platter on a giant gold leaf. The baba Ghannouj peeled my face off. People kept on coming. The service was spotty but not awful considering the mob. The pita wasn’t as good as Karam where they bake it and then bring it too you so hot that you burn your fingers. (Very happily.) But it was a good lunch.

As we were waiting for the check I noticed something. Everyone had a groupon. We were in a groupon mob. I’ve never signed up for groupon because I don’t want to get an email from anyone every day.

We will return. It was that good.

Unrelated to soccer #3

I like how in movies/TV they show a bra on the on the floor, draped over a pillow or hanging from a doorknob so that you’ll know the couple had sex.