Sunday, July 02, 2006

唔OK...

Lonely...

Let me sum up today for ya...

Woke up at 2pm, hence missing the England vs. Portugal match, but woke up just in time for Brazil vs. France, so had a small lunch while watching that. Brazil sucked. Ronaldinho had no influence in this match, while Zinedine Zidane was back to his best with slick tricks and creating time and space for everyone around him. And finally he assists on a Thierry Henry goal, albeit only on a set piece. Nevertheless, the Zizou Swansong goes on, and he's a delight to watch even at 34.

After that, took a shower and headed out taking pictures of downtown Ponca City. Streets were quiet today. Went to Mazzio's for lunch/dinner, then drove to Kaw Lake to take more pictures. Got a little ambitious and wanted to see the lake from different locations, and nearly got lost in the countryside after taking a couple of wrong turns. On gravel roads no less. Then drove by this house with a couple of dogs that kept on chasing me and stopping in front of my car. I was more worried about running them over than them blocking my way.

So anyway, finally found my way back to the city before I ran out of gas, thank God. Planning tomorrow's trip down to Oklahoma City. First I'll need to fill up at a gas station...

Oh by the way... Happy Birthday Canada!

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Ho ma? OK la...

Watching Seinfeld in my hotel room right now.

Work's been fine so far... actually getting things done. People are nice and easy to work with.

Had a little problem with my luggage... couldn't find it on the carousel... so I was without clothes for the first day... thank God it arrived on Monday. No way was I gonna wear shorts to work two days in a row.

Weather's been fantastic... it's gonna start warming up over the week... I can't wait.

Oklahoman Quirk #1: "Iced tea" is taken literally here. The first time I ordered "iced tea", I almost spat out my first sip of "tea with ice". I was then told that real iced tea was called "sweet tea" down here. So tonight at dinner @ El Chico, I specifically asked for the sweet kind of "iced tea". So it came, and turns out it was "tea with ice and sugar", sorta like Vitasoy lemon tea. Still ick. Needless to say, I grabbed a bottle of Brisk when I went to Wal-Mart.

Oklahoman Quirk #2: Smirnoff Ice here @ Wal-Mart contains only 3.2% alcohol.

Both Monday and Tuesday are holidays. I'm not sure yet whether I can take both days off like Americans do.

Tonight I wanna cry...

Tonight I Wanna Cry
Keith Urban

Alone in this house again tonight
I got the TV on, the sound turned down and a bottle of wine
There's pictures of you and I on the walls around me
The way that it was and could have been surrounds me
I'll never get over you walkin' away

* I've never been the kind to ever let my feelings show
And I thought that bein' strong meant never losin' your self-control
But I'm just drunk enough to let go of my pain
To hell with my pride, let it fall like rain
From my eyes
Tonight I wanna cry *

Would it help if I turned a sad song on
"All By Myself" would sure hit me hard now that you're gone
Or maybe unfold some old yellow lost love letters
It's gonna hurt bad before it gets better
But I'll never get over you by hidin' this way

Repeat * x2

旧歌2

還是覺得你最好 張學友

作曲: 米米club
作詞: 劉卓輝
編曲: 趙增熹

△即使妳離開 我熱情未改
這漫長夜裡 誰人是妳所愛
花不似盛開 愛漸如大海
假使妳懷念我 為何獨處感慨△

但我不懂說將來 但我靜待妳歸來
在這深灰的冷冬 共你熱烈再相逢
全是我的美夢

▲但我不懂說將來 但我靜靜待妳歸來
在這春風秋雨中 共妳願望已不同
還是有點故夢 想傾吐

一切事情驟似一絲苦惱 回看妳我的路
是情是愛是緣是痛 今日我卻竟都不知道
我依然 而我竟然 還是覺得妳最好▲

Repeat △

即使妳離開 我熱情未改
這漫長夜裡 誰人是妳所愛

Thursday, June 22, 2006

World Cup (June 22)

As I thought, only one of Italy and Czech Republic would go through to the Last 16. Unfortunately, the Czechs, despite playing some delightful football against the USA in their first group game, are now out of the tournament. If they'd held their own against Ghana, they'd probably progress at least on goal differentials. As it is now, the golden generation that won the '96 Euro (the likes of Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky, and so on) have let their last chance at a World Cup slip away.

Ghana will be the sole African representative in the Last 16, as Ivory Coast, sadly, will not join them. If only they were drawn in a less competitive group - say, groups D, G, or H - they could very well still be playing in Germany this weekend.

Argentina has played the best football by a mile so far. Germany will be glad that they've kept two cleansheets since conceding two against Costa Rica on botched offside traps. Brazil and England have both struggled against international minnows like Australia and Trinidad & Tobago. But of all the so-called powerhouses, France has been the most disappointing. Managing only 1 goal in 180 minutes against Switzerland and South Korea, they must now beat Togo by two goals in order to progress on goal differentials. Compounding their problems is the fact that Zinedine Zidane is suspended on two yellow cards. Having to sit out your final group game and watch while Les Bleus struggle to net two against Togo of all people and crashing out of another World Cup? What a way to end your footballing career, eh, Zizou?

USA took a step back this year, despite their young stars from four years ago having supposedly matured. One point from three games from a team that's ranked 5th in the world and went to the quarters last time around is madly disappointing.

Michael Owen is out for at least 5 months with a cruciate ligament injury. That leaves England critically short of attacking options. They'll likely be stuck with Crouch and Rooney up front, Crouch leading the line and Rooney roaming in the space behind. What Eriksson said, though, about how England has numerous second-striker options (Joe Cole, Gerrard, Lennon, etc.), is pure bollocks. No way would any of them play in place of a fit Rooney. No way would Rooney be as effective leading the line so one of those options can be used in the hole. Rooney is there to stay as second-striker unless he gets hurt again. Should England ever go with a lone man up front, whether it be Crouch or Rooney or, heaven forbid, Walcott, they're better off deploying Carrick or Hargreaves in front of the back four to allow both Gerrard and Lampard to push forward, instead of sticking Joe Cole in front of those two and actually hampering their forward runs.

On the right, while many would prefer Lennon running at fullbacks the way the Coles do on the left, let's face it: Beckham will never be replaced by Eriksson. Don't you wish you could bring on deadball specialists whenever, the way they send on kickers in American football?

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Random Thoughts on Pain

Pain is good.

Pain is a blessing.

Pain is inevitable.

Pain makes one feel alive.

Pain should be welcomed and even celebrated, not avoided.

Pain is part of growing up.

Pain acts as a motivator.

Pain acts as a deterrent.

Pain makes one stronger.

Emotional Pain is as real and powerful as physical Pain.

Pain can induce different reactions, even laughter.

Pain can be induced by different actions, even laughter.

Pain cannot be separated from love.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Questions

Questions that beg for answers.

Questions that I don't want answered.

Questions that no long matter.

我为何苦笑? 因为我没有一个更好的反应. 面对着自己的愚昧, 我只有苦笑而已.

因为实在太可笑了.