That extra dash of excitement

I've noticed a change in myself lately.

Used to be, when I was really excited, or passionate, or feeling extremely expressive about a particular topic in my writing, I would indicate this with three exclamation marks (e.g. !!!) My natural state of excitement led to three exclamation marks.

Lately I've noticed that now, when I am feeling that same level of energy, excitement and passion, my fingers automatically type FOUR exclamation marks. And sometimes that doesn't seem like enough. Sometimes there are five.

What does that mean? Am I suddenly *more* passionate? Is there suddenly *more* excitement in my life? Or, like any drug or vice, have I simply developed a tolerance to three exclamation marks, so that they just don't seem to possess the same power they once had? Now, four exclamation marks are required to do the work that three did before?

I'm not really sure. But it does leave me wondering if and where it will end. At what quantity do the exclamation marks become excessive?

I think I'm safe until at least seven.

Can you haiku?

A couple weeks ago I mentioned to my sister that I had lost all motivation in my attempt to lose weight. Since then, she's been trying to sneak in motivational tricks and conversations (despite my obvious resistance to discussing the topic).

In an unrelated topic, on the phone yesterday she mentioned she'd written a haiku poem. I said that I often write haikus. This took her by surprise (likely because I a) hate poetry and b) am not really a writer - she's the writer in the family) ). She was disappointed she had never read any of my haikus. (And felt like her haiku was worth less given my sheer volume of haikus. I pointed out that all my haikus were lost to the ethers because I make them up in my head and never write them down - while her one haiku is forever saved and, therefore, more valuable.) I joked that I would get a notebook, call it "Can you haiku?" and start recording my haikus.

So tonight she sends me a motivational article from Weight Watchers to help me get back on track. In it she includes the title of a book she was talking about (also related to weight loss).

In honour of her DOUBLY motivational email, I have written the following haiku:

Losing weight slowly
A never-ending journey
Pass another pie

The happiest day of the week so far!!!!

So I started checking out the webpages of the major networks to see what was on tonight. I start with nbc.com to find the BEST NEWS EVER!!!!

NBC IS SHOWING THE NEW SEASON OF PROJECT RUNWAY!!!!!!

I get Canadian Bravo. So when I saw a new season of Project Runway was starting, I was bummed because we wouldn't get it until later - likely after it ran in the States. But now! I can watch! At the same time!!!

I love NBC! This is the best day of the week!!!

YAY!!!!!!

Don't forget the lemons!!!

I'm having some friends in this weekend. I was talking to one tonight and I mentioned that our first activity would have to be a grocery store trip and a liquor store trip because I ended up working late, and still had half a house to clean, and so have pretty much no food and no booze. Not exactly the picture of organization.

She replies "That's okay. I just realized the only thing I've packed so far is a bottle of wine and a bottle of tequila."

Really, aside from the lemons, I don't think we really need anything else. :p

To be or not to be

I live in a town known for its rather large theatre festival - runs roughly end of May until end of October.

I like theatre. It was one aspect of the town I looked forward to when I was thinking about moving here. Saw 8 plays last year.

This year, as part of my New Year's Resolution to have a life (and get it under control), I decided to again take in as many as possible. This would require a bit more organization and starting earlier in the season. So I got started.

I've seen 5 so far and have purchased tickets for 4 more.

As I sit here trying to make some more theatre plans, I realize it's actually a fairly ambitious task.

It's easy to sit here and say "I will see them all!" when the season seems to be 5-6 months. But there are 15 plays. One a week is almost 4 months! 4 months!

No wonder it's not always easy to get them in. And no wonder I sometimes I have stretches where I feel like I'm living at the theatres.

But when I sit in the theatre, watching the performance, I love that I live here.

With extra gravy please!

I booked my vacation yesterday. I'm going to Turkey!!!

Here's my itinerary:



I am so so excited for a couple reasons:

1) I was planning an 8-10 day trip. I really wanted to see the rock formations at Cappodocia. Every trip I was looking at that went to Cappadocia was at least 15 days. I don't have that much vacation time. I thought I had decided on a trip, but went into a travel agent to ask anyway. She pulled out this trip! 11 days! (I can do 11 days - it'll make a killer return to work on the Monday but oh well. :p) WITH Cappadocia!!! I get to see the rock formations after all.

2) It's a bit more of a chi-chi trip than I usually take. Nicer hotels than I generally stay in (usually go for the "as long as it's clean and safe it's fine, I'm not here to see hotels). A little bit of luxury (relatively speaking - this is still Europe/Asia ;) ) might be nice. (I fully see myself hitting the resort hotel in Kusadesi on Day 3 and deciding to stay there forever. I've already warned my family)

3) This will get me one continent closer to achieving my goal of setting foot on all 7 continents before I die. (Asia will be number 5). I hope to see the spot in Istanbul that is the line between Europe and Asia and take a picture with one foot on either side. I'm not sure if I'll have this chance, but it is a hope.

4) I'M GOING TO TURKEY!!! :)

Every woman's fantasy

Two firemen just randomly rang my doorbell.

Unfortunately they were only here to perform a smoke alarm check/quick information session.

Maybe next time...

FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONQUERED THE CURSE OF THE PENALTY KICKS!!!!!! WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!!! FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!

Fratelli d'Italia
L'Italia s'è desta
Dell'elmo di Scipio
S'è cinta la testa.
Dove'è la Vittoria?.
Le porga la chioma;
Chè schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
Stringiamoci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte:
Italia chiamò!

Disgrace

You know, I don't know a lot about the French team, but they were always one I liked more than disliked on the indifference scale. Whatever comments were made about their attitude, I ignored. I didn't mind Zidane and could respect him for his talent.

But after that last move? Why? Even just setting aside discussions of fair vs dirty play, real falls vs dives, why would you do that to yourself? You're considered one of the great soccer players. You're about to retire and your final game is a World Cup final (during which your team is, at that point, showing the most promise to win). Why would you so disgrace yourself, in your final moments of glory, and pull a such a stunt? So blatant, so harsh. One single moment exhibiting no class cancelling out years of hard work and glory.

Disgraceful.

Buy Buffon a beer!

Or a bottle of wine! Or whatever the man wants!!

What a beautiful save!

Which way are we going again?

I think someone forgot to tell Del Piero which direction they were playing. I don't think I saw him kick the ball forward once in the time he was on the field.

Of course, the same could be said for most of the Italian offense. The whole front line spent most of the second half kicking it back to the midfielders rather than taking it to the goal. It's like they weren't even interested in playing!

I don't feel good about this.

Redemption

Materazzi getting the first goal, after causing the penalty kick that got France their first. Well done!

For two teams that are so defensive, it's odd to have a score of 1-1 20 minutes in. And yet, it makes sense given they were both set up kicks.

The Big Day!!! (Pre-Game Thoughts)

* Was out running errands. Saw an old man decorating his car. His car was Azzuri blue even. Two huge flags attached to the roof of the car. Two car flags on passenger and driver side doors. He was in the process of strapping a 3 foot tall replica of the trophy to his roof rack. His wife standing on the sidewalk, smiling in amusement, with an excited twinkle in her eye. When I came back they were gone. Off to watch the game presumably. And waiting for the celebration...

* All the news articles talking about how the only goal scored against Italy in the whole tournament was the own goal by Zaccardo during the U.S.-Italy game. Turn on ABC for some pre-game coverage. American announcers refer to the only goal being scored when the Americans tied them. Yes, let's ignore the minor detail that the Americans didn't actually *score* that goal. I'm surprised there's room for commercials with the ego filling all the airtime.

* Went in search of a more balanced game. Found a montage on Omni (a channel that presents programming for what seems to be about 10 different ethnic groups). Montage ends and commentary begins - in Chinese!!! World Cup coverage in Chinese!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

* Italian national anthem playing. Totti persists in looking incredibly gorgeous. Great way to start the line-up. Gattuso again singing with his eyes squeezed closed tightly - full of passion. Camonaresi (sp?) not singing, looking fierce, like a wired bulldog about to pounce. And Cannavero's endearing little jumping at the end.

* Seconds away from starting!!! FORZA ITALIA!!!

Scared and confused

I used to describe my music tastes as "liking anything but heavy metal and country". Since I've moved up here, the exposure to country music has increased, even if only because the whole hip hop/rap scene doesn't really drown it out. Just meant there were more stations I scrolled by.

But lately, there's been a change. Every once in a while, as I scan radio stations, I'll stop on a song that sounds good. And partway through? I'll realize it's country.

Or I went into a music store yesterday and went to look at a CD I was inexplicably drawn to. Also country.

And, just now, noticed that, for the last 15 minutes, the country music video station has been on the television. I don't even know how I ended up on it. Even worse, about 3 songs played before I even realized it.

It's one thing if my tolerance of country music is growing. Tolerance is a good thing. But I'm worried it's a bit more than that. I'm worried that I'm actually starting to *like* it.

Please help.

Flaw in the storm door plan

For my birthday my parents gave me a storm door so that I could keep my front door open and create a nice cross-breeze. It was installed last week.

Now, my house has a bit of an "open concept" entrance/kitchen/living room. Plus it's not that big. And it's in a neighbourhood of semi-detached homes located fairly close together. So, when people are around, they can see in.

It really isn't until one has a big glass door open to the sidewalk, and road, and well... entire world, that one realizes just how much one has grown used to walking around half-naked, or starting to undo one's pants before one actually gets to the washroom (located right next to said glass door) or to being upstairs, half-dressed and running down the stairs (located directly in front of said glass door) in underwear only, or, maybe not even that much, to grab clothes from the basement.

In fact, once the door has been installed, it takes one perhaps, ooh, 3 hours to realize there may be a flaw in the plan. The thing is, despite the speed of this initial realization, it's also interesting how one tends to forget about this little flaw and so continue to behave this way.

Must break these habits soon. Before the neighbours get know me just a *little* too well.

Where good plants go to die

I've been away for several days. It was rainy so I was hoping my plants would be okay.

Turns out my hoping was futile.

When I returned, I took a walk around my flowerbeds. 65% of the last batch of annuals I planted are fried. Others are on their way out. The hanging plant that was sitting on my porch looks like someone poured bleach all over it. It actually looks like it belongs in a horror movie or something. (It sorta looks like cooked swiss chard. It used to be a lovely impatiens.)

On the flip side, the hydrangeas in the one bed are completely hidden by the weeds, which appear to be thriving.

(Actually, there is a bit of a bright note. My little batch of portulacas that came up has greatly increased in volume. There also appear to be two little plant type things (not weed type things) that are coming up in the back flower bed. So, overall, about 10% of what was planted, in total, is still alive. Great record. I either need to give up before another plant is harmed, or find myself a hot lawnboy)

The cheese stands alone.

As I've been watching these World Cup games, my heart continuously goes out to the goalies. The more I watch, the more I feel for, and respect them. They have one of the loneliest positions in all team sports and yet need to display a great amount of strength.

- While not the captain, they must often step up as leaders, organizing their team members for optimal defense during crucial times.

- Despite the other 10 players on the field in this team sport, the goalie is the last line of defense. Often, when that ball is zooming towards the net, it's all on the goalie to keep the team alive. While this is also true in hockey (and not to detract from hockey goalies at all - that's a very small puck to block), the soccer net is much larger, requires much more energy to cover and doesn't move when your body crashes into it while you're flying through the air. Corner kicks, penalty kicks, breakaways, oh my!

- Penalty kicks - aye yie yie! I think these have to be the most stressful part of any sporting event. What a horrid way to end the game. Just the kicker and the goalie. And the expectation is that the goalie doesn't really have a chance. I don't know how they get through these - I have a hard time keeping *my* stomach under control!

- Slightly detached from the team. Not only do they have to miss out on goal celebrations because the team is at the other end of the field (again, true in hockey - but the soccer field is much larger, therefore the team is much further away), they have to wear a different colour jersey so that, even visually, they are separate from the team. Seems a bit lonely.

Immense pressure. A bit separated from the team. And yet they fly around and make miraculous saves time and time again. Something about their craziness and dedication and talent make them my favourite sports position. The good news is it's not a thankless job. Their teams love them. Their fans love them. And they deserve every ounce of it.

Forza Italia!!!

What an incredible game!!! As much as I wanted Italy to win, I admit I didn't necessarily believe they would. Germany's been playing really well -they're bigger, they seemed a bit more aggressive and offensive and well, after years of disappointement from Italy, I was waiting for them to choke.

As the second half of OT wound down, I was starting to accept the loss (since Italy couldn't win at penalty kicks if their lives depended on it). Two hours of holding my breath. All the missed shots. All the anticipation and anxiety and excitement. All the dreams. About to die in penalty kicks.

And then that goal by Grosso! OMG! The way it curved into the goal just a split second before the goal post and swung into the net! Stunning shot!! The elation!!! The relief!!! The joy!!! (I'm about to watch it again on the game being replaced on TSN right now ;) Just as beautiful the second time! )My hands hurt from clapping so hard. Tears welled in my eyes. Joy abounding.

I didn't think we were in the clear. Germany wasn't going to give up without a fight. I hoped that Italy wouldn't lose focus and let one in.

Then Del Piero's goal!!! 2-0!!! Cementing the win!!!

ITALY'S GOING TO THE FINALS!!!!!

Jubilation and peace. Sunday is too far away.

Two beautiful goals from two beautiful passes. I love this game.