As usual, XKCD says it best
Jun. 10th, 2010 12:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
laliandraHey everyone!
So I have been woefully sick for the last few days. It has been most unpleasant and I have been living in a cave of pillows and listening to this weekend's cricket commentary and tennis. The sound of other people excelling at sport is soothing to me!
But there are Events looming on the horizon, exciting events the like of which are unparalleled in the land of Lal (Lalistan? Lallandia?).
Firstly, the World Cup is nearly upon us! I love the World Cup at the best of times. Like I said, I really like watching other people be amazing at sports that I myself fail miserably (read, most sports). Me and my Dad used to watch Match of The Day together every week (sons? Who needs sons?!) and I love football and also really love huge sporting events. I love people doing things for their countries and achieving these huge, impossible sounding goals. I think one of my very first LJ entries was about how addicted I was to the Olympics in 2008 (and also about how I was shipping some rowers).
But this year is extra special for me because this year my country is the host nation! YAY SOUTH AFRICA! I am a child of apartheid and I still struggle to be proud of the land I was born in, it's full of crime and disease and terrible inequality. But it's also amazing, beyond amazing, and probably the only country in the whole continent that could even consider holding something on the scale of a World Cup. So, there is a lot of oversimplification of the unique situation South Africa finds itself in now, and of its past. So, yes, 99% of the programming surrounding the World Cup makes me want to throw things at the television (one trip to Soweto does not make you an expert on the "Legacy of Apartheid" or the "spirit of the African people" - I'm looking at you Piers Morgan) and go on rants about how there is a fine line between admiration and plain patronising.
But, for the first time in a really long time, the first time in my lifetime apart from those few brief shining years where we said the words "A rainbow nation" without irony, there are news stories about my country, and they are positive.
Also there will be a lot of hot men in shorts. :D
Secondly, all the books on the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bookdeyada poll this month look amazing. I am never going to be able to pick! So many books, so little time.
Thirdly and best til last-ly, at the end of this month, I will be moving in with Nat. Oh yes internet, me and the boyfriend are renting a house together. Cohabitation! My feelings are pretty much a mixture of
and also
I mean, I am looking forward to it a lot. A huge amount that cannot really be covered by "a lot" but that I am loathe to go into because I fear The Sappy. I'm sorry, ok, I have this whole romantic cynic conflict going on. And the house is gorgeous, all wooden floors and big windows and a huge spare room to fill with books (mine) and drums (Nat's) and guests (who doesbrimtoast belong to).
But I am also a little bit !!! about it. I am weird! And kind of messy! I like to sing a lot and practice arabesques in the kitchen. I stay up way too late reading and I cover surfaces with post-it notes that say things like "MAKE OUT?!" on them. And also, Oh my god, I think I'm a grown-up *freaks out*.
Overall though, I am super excited and you should all come stay.
I hope y'all are well and if you would like me to talk soppy nonsense, football (not soccer, never soccer to me) or general chit chat, I am all ears. Apart from the parts of me that are typing fingers :).
Ps. I am also excited fornovembersmith 's jacket (Prizes for anyone who gets that reference!) Bandom BB fic! OMGYOUGUYSITISSOAWESOME.
So I have been woefully sick for the last few days. It has been most unpleasant and I have been living in a cave of pillows and listening to this weekend's cricket commentary and tennis. The sound of other people excelling at sport is soothing to me!
But there are Events looming on the horizon, exciting events the like of which are unparalleled in the land of Lal (Lalistan? Lallandia?).
Firstly, the World Cup is nearly upon us! I love the World Cup at the best of times. Like I said, I really like watching other people be amazing at sports that I myself fail miserably (read, most sports). Me and my Dad used to watch Match of The Day together every week (sons? Who needs sons?!) and I love football and also really love huge sporting events. I love people doing things for their countries and achieving these huge, impossible sounding goals. I think one of my very first LJ entries was about how addicted I was to the Olympics in 2008 (and also about how I was shipping some rowers).
But this year is extra special for me because this year my country is the host nation! YAY SOUTH AFRICA! I am a child of apartheid and I still struggle to be proud of the land I was born in, it's full of crime and disease and terrible inequality. But it's also amazing, beyond amazing, and probably the only country in the whole continent that could even consider holding something on the scale of a World Cup. So, there is a lot of oversimplification of the unique situation South Africa finds itself in now, and of its past. So, yes, 99% of the programming surrounding the World Cup makes me want to throw things at the television (one trip to Soweto does not make you an expert on the "Legacy of Apartheid" or the "spirit of the African people" - I'm looking at you Piers Morgan) and go on rants about how there is a fine line between admiration and plain patronising.
But, for the first time in a really long time, the first time in my lifetime apart from those few brief shining years where we said the words "A rainbow nation" without irony, there are news stories about my country, and they are positive.
Also there will be a lot of hot men in shorts. :D
Secondly, all the books on the
bookdeyada poll this month look amazing. I am never going to be able to pick! So many books, so little time.Thirdly and best til last-ly, at the end of this month, I will be moving in with Nat. Oh yes internet, me and the boyfriend are renting a house together. Cohabitation! My feelings are pretty much a mixture of
and also
I mean, I am looking forward to it a lot. A huge amount that cannot really be covered by "a lot" but that I am loathe to go into because I fear The Sappy. I'm sorry, ok, I have this whole romantic cynic conflict going on. And the house is gorgeous, all wooden floors and big windows and a huge spare room to fill with books (mine) and drums (Nat's) and guests (who does
brimtoast belong to).But I am also a little bit !!! about it. I am weird! And kind of messy! I like to sing a lot and practice arabesques in the kitchen. I stay up way too late reading and I cover surfaces with post-it notes that say things like "MAKE OUT?!" on them. And also, Oh my god, I think I'm a grown-up *freaks out*.
Overall though, I am super excited and you should all come stay.
I hope y'all are well and if you would like me to talk soppy nonsense, football (not soccer, never soccer to me) or general chit chat, I am all ears. Apart from the parts of me that are typing fingers :).
Ps. I am also excited for
novembersmith 's 
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
appropriate icon is appropriate
Date: 2010-06-09 11:36 pm (UTC)I am excited about the World Cup too, and none of my friends are! IT IS TRAGIC. I wish I could invade your flat and cuddle up and watch football with you. There would be lots of shouting and dirty innuendo, I feel.
<3 <3 <3
new icon is new and inappropriate
Date: 2010-06-10 12:04 am (UTC)Such innuendo! All that talk of balls and tackles and men jumping on other men...
10 million <3s
I need more football icons, I only have two left over from the last WC
Date: 2010-06-10 02:07 am (UTC)YAY for massive sporting events and watching people be excellent at doing balletic things with their bodies - I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS.
And I totally agree with you on the ~news coverage... well, not that I have seen any so far (I scorn television... until Friday, that is), but the thought is making me roll my eyes.
I AM TOTALLY GOING TO CALL YOU 'COMMONLAW' AS A NICKNAME FROM NOW ON JUST TO TAUNT YOU. And dinnae fash, I'm sure you will have wonderful stories and experiences of cohabitation and Schmoopy Coupleness (Besides, uhm, didn't you write a fic once that proved that people in cohabitational situations find it ~~awesome~~ when their roommates performed arabesques? AHUHUHU)
Re: I need more football icons, I only have two left over from the last WC
Date: 2010-06-10 12:50 pm (UTC)ZOMG, so excited, can't wait, can't wait, so excited. YAY FOOTBALL! Who will you be supporting?
Siiiigh, it is kind of exasperating on many levels but I am trying to stay positive. Sigh.
AHAHA, YOU CRUEL TEASE. I will probably have all sorts of stories of mishaps and such, schmoopey coupleness will have to be wrangled out of me :). Also, hee! I had totally forgotten about that. I am at once the Jon and the Stephen of this relationship...
Re: I need more football icons, I only have two left over from the last WC
Date: 2010-06-11 09:50 pm (UTC)The Toronto Star's WC correspondent is Cathal Kelly and he is AMAZING and my favourite person/writer/fanboy ever and so you should follow his media if only to be entertained and not failed.
WAIT BUT HOW ARE YOU JON. JON DOES NOT DO ARABESQUES, DOES HE? UNLESS YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE BF ALSO DOES ARABESQUES IN WHICH CASE FOUR FOR HIM.
Re: I need more football icons, I only have two left over from the last WC
Date: 2010-06-12 11:00 pm (UTC)AWESOMESAUCE. I so loves me some good punditry so will check him out.
Hee, not so much. It's just that I always very much identified with your and then my NBNW Jon... We are just history geeks trying to make our way in the world, you know?
Re: I need more football icons, I only have two left over from the last WC
Date: 2010-06-12 11:08 pm (UTC)I would normally be cheering for Argentina a lot, but I was more on the Nigeria side this morning, idk why. IT'S ALL VERY AWESOME, WHAT CAN I SAY.
I am so far loving all the graphics and WC commercials though! Very awesome. And my mother was thoroughly entranced by the vuvuzelas, the word 'vuvuzela,' and the fact that I knew the word 'vuvuzela' (I thank you).
<3 I FEEL YOU THERE, HON. JON = ME as well (except for the getting beaten up and stuff, but w/e w/e creative license)
Re: I need more football icons, I only have two left over from the last WC
Date: 2010-06-12 11:22 pm (UTC)Well, France had to beat Ireland to get into the Finals. And Thierry Henry (who I usually love! He has the sexiest voice EVER) handballed a goal in extra time to put France through. He admitted cheating after the game and everything.
England and Argentina have this whole long and complex rivalry. It's long. And complex. Also I really want some African teams to do well. Come on guys!
I am so happy about a lot of things. OMG, isn't it the best word? It's said kind of "foofoosela". And sounds like killer bees, apparently. My Dad says they started blowing them at 5am on the day of the SA match...
WELL OF COURSE, seeing as you are me as I am you as we are one etcetctetc.
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Date: 2010-06-10 07:25 am (UTC)And yes, the books for this month all look awesome! Sadly, my choice seems to be lagging behind... but the leader was my second choice, so I'm cool with it.
And hey, xkcd is on your side. Can't get better support than that.
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Date: 2010-06-10 12:54 pm (UTC)Heh, that sounds kind of awesome. I have zero interest in playing sports so I have no idea where this sport watching love of mine comes from. But football is super easy to understand, and the World Cup is kind of not about the actual sport? I guess it's a bit different here because the whole country basically comes to a stop when England are playing, and there are flags everywhere and such.
I am super excited about this month too! All the books have been so good so far. :D
There are so many times in life when I want to have an XKCD comic to hold up to people and be like, "See? THIS."
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Date: 2010-06-10 07:26 am (UTC)AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR PICS OF THE HOUSE dude I need to know so that I can pick out ace house-warming gifts, remember ;DD
PS FUSSBAAAAAALL man Germany better make it far this WC or I will Be Annoyed. Also I will totally find a chance to legit wear my Trikot to work XDD yay casual as fuck dresscode
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Date: 2010-06-10 07:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-10 12:59 pm (UTC)I only have one pic RN
Which is the lounge and that sliding door into the kitchen that is Nat's favourite thing in the house. It is so pretty I can hardly stand it!
Also I think I want it to be Hero too, or maybe Guardian of the Dead because that book has been pimped all over and sounds AMAZING.
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Date: 2010-06-10 04:36 pm (UTC)!!!!! pretty picture! I love the colorful glass bits above the door! How many square meters is the place?
Yeah, I just fear that if it's another book besides Hero I will either have to work some mysterious book acquiring magic or sit it out. CMai is great, but well-stocked bookstores they generally do not have. I mean, okay I think Life of Pi would be doable but I am weirdly not that thrilled about the idea of reading it. It's probably a weird and irrational thing, like the time I thought I hated avocados, only to then realize how delicious they were and that I could've been nomming on them FOR YEARS ALREADY.
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Date: 2010-06-10 05:17 pm (UTC)I love that tooooo. Errrr. I have absolutely no idea. There is that room and the kitchen, which is kind of tiny. Then upstairs there is a fairly large bedroom and a bathroom, then another bedroom in the attic. *_* ILIT.
I hear thebookdepository are pretty awesome at world wide shipping. If not, we totally have ~ways and means, okay?
Heh, that is such a random thing! I am not a fan of the avocado, it is a texture thing. Like raw tomatoes. Ew. Slime.
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Date: 2010-06-12 11:09 pm (UTC)Seriously. I am enamored. Also I can see the shoebox houses out the window (AND STAINED GLASS seriously I am so jealous rn)
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Date: 2010-06-12 11:24 pm (UTC)It is so lovely omg I get all <3_<3 just thinking about it!
Also, shoebox houses! That is so cuuuuuute. The window and the wooden floors are my favourite parts, and the stairs that come up into the attic room.
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Date: 2010-06-10 02:23 pm (UTC)I'm not that excited about the World Cup, but I do understand the excitement, especially since I was kind of EEEEEEEE OLYMPICS! this winter which has never happened before but is probably going to happen again. Because it was pretty awesome!
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Date: 2010-06-10 05:12 pm (UTC)The Winter Olympics was amazing! I loves me some crazy random sports... Both of my countries, England and SA, are football obsessed, so the World Cup is this great big massive event, even if you don't particularly like football.
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Date: 2010-06-10 05:53 pm (UTC)I feel that during the World Cup, people tend to get a bit too fanatic in Germany, for my liking at least. There is always excitement when there are Olympics and stuff, but with the World Cup... well, maybe it's just me. :D Ah, but it's nice to have people all over the world being excited over one event!
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Date: 2010-06-10 09:23 pm (UTC)Yeah, there is definitely that element here, too. Which is unfortunate and sad. But I am trying to focus on the positives this time :D
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Date: 2010-06-10 06:02 pm (UTC)Oh my gosh, cohabitation congratulations! Also, that second xkcd describes how I feel ALL THE TIME.
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Date: 2010-06-10 09:25 pm (UTC)Thank you! :D and yes, me too. What is this, you expect me to pay taxes?! Be responsible for stuff?! But I still watch cartoons!
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Date: 2010-06-10 09:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-10 10:20 pm (UTC)Luckily the bf struggles with said balancing act as well, so at least we understand each others ineptitude :).
Aw, well, enjoy things like shops being quieter during match times!
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Date: 2010-06-12 11:06 pm (UTC)Having these good things to look forward made being ill easier, yes. I am much better now, thank god. I missed eating!
It is sad when you miss out on something as fundamental to most people as patriotism. It's funny because some of those things are completely not what I would associate with your country, but no, history has not been kind to it overall. You shouldn't be ashamed though.
Yes! I am very happy. And also happy not to be dealing with house hunting, which was seriously sucky. I have a new found loathing for estate agents. Thank you for the vote of grown up confidence, btw :).
It is a good combination. My bf is genuinely shocked about the number of books I own, or at least have in Leeds. Whereas I think that less than 100 is a tiny amount. He does play the drums, yes! His drumkit is red, that is about the extent of my knowledge :/. I am looking forward to having people to stay.
It is lovely lovely lovely to hear from you! <3
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Date: 2010-06-16 06:50 am (UTC)Anyway, you'll still have somewhere my hugs, and if not, I'm giving you some more. *hugs*
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Date: 2010-06-16 04:58 pm (UTC)*hugs tightly*
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Date: 2010-06-16 10:38 pm (UTC)The rest of your comment was most charming! I always envy people with houses full of books and hope to have one of my own some day. I think such people are clearly superior :)
Also the "blindness on his house" thing made me laugh SO MUCH.
I think you have excellent priorities <3
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Date: 2010-06-11 10:42 pm (UTC)Like Winter Olympics, this is the first time I have heard of the World Cup. I feel like such a failure.
Also, you are in South Africa? Why did I not get that memo? I blame Lal. Wait, maybe I am reading too much into it. Maybe you were born in South Africa, and are now in England.
...my head hurts.
Back to the football thing. I HAVE REREAD YOUR POST AND I NOW REALIZE THAT WHAT YOU CALL FOOTBALL IS WHAT I CALL SOCCER. I despise soccer also. 1) It is too hard to kick the ball, 2) The ball is too hard (Do not get me started on basketball), and 3) IT REQUIRES TOO MUCH RUNNING. I like running on an elliptical, that is fine. A muddy grass field is too much.
You British make things complicated. See, why must you have three pronunciations for "merry," "Mary," and "marry"? We Americans only have one. (Play calls it the "freakish vowel sound." She was horrified to hear that "berry" and "Barry" are pronounced the same way. Also that random not-rhyming words in the UK rhyme in the US.)
And according to dictionary.com, we have a perfectly fine excuse calling football soccer.
Soccer = association football = (as)soc(iation football) + er.
American football, I assume is called football because of the whole punting thing. (I feel that punting is not an appropriate word. See, if one does not know what "punting" means, it does not make sense. The phrase "drop-kicking" makes so much more sense.)
Okay, random, long essay done. I need to...um...pretend to be busy...because it is summer and school is out...and yeah...
"Berry," "cherry," "hairy," "marry," and "sherry" rhyme. They do!
--The Great Eveandriss Who Is Back In Business Because The Filter Has Let Up :D (mostly)
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Date: 2010-06-12 11:16 pm (UTC)Ahahaha, yes, I mean what y'all call soccer. If you had grown up in England there is no way you wouldn't have heard of the World Cup. It would be like never having heard of the Superbowl. You are slightly let off because Americans are only interested in sports where they are the only people that play them and therefore win all the time, right? ;)
I was indeed born in South Africa and then moved to England. When I was 3 years old, actually. But most of my family still live there. I am very international!
OMG, I do not play football myself. I agree about it being stupid and muddy. I am seriously crap at most sports. At least the ones that involve throwing, catching, hitting things with other things and running. Which is pretty much every sport ever! I admire your elliptical skillz :D
Now, see, the clue in the different vowel sounds? Is that they are spelled using different vowel combinations.
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Date: 2010-06-13 12:02 am (UTC)I was born and raised in California and have never been out of the state much less out of the country. You are indeed very international.
My crappy sports skills, I think, are also due to how I don't wear glasses when playing them, and my left eye is MUCH MUCH MUCH worse than my right. (Read: My right eye can discern one of the rows of smallest letters at the optometrist's office, but my left eye can barely make out the largest letters which I have memorized. FZBD. In case you're wondering.) Also, bad cardiovascular skillz and hand-eye coordination skillz. Don't believe the thing about piano players being good at hand-eye coordination. :P
Speaking of glasses, I am getting new frames next week! They are purple like the ones I have now, but they are plastic (and I think they might be a bit metal too but I forget since I was a bit overwhelmed by the nice woman's suggestions) and they are a different shape! Rectangular! The ones I have are circular/ovalish! :) I cannot wait! (Yes, my eyes were bad enough that I could got a new prescription. xD My right eye didn't change, but my left eye got worse.)
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Date: 2010-06-14 10:09 am (UTC)<3 <3 <3
And I'm afraid to say that I am not excited about the World Cup at all. :( I am a terrible stereotypical girl who has never had even the tiniest interest in football (apart from when my best friend supported Newcastle when we were six and I decided I would marry Alan Shearer and he got cross because then Shearer'd stop playing but anyway...) and does not even care who wins. Most sports I do not watch I do at least root for England or Belgium or someone but the football? I just want it over and done with. But I am glad to see you are excited for it! And that there is such postivity regarding South Africa, which I'm ashamed to admit I don't know that much about. But I will try to learn. :)
So I am sorry I cannot share in this interest with you! But I shall read my books and nod sagely when you mention footballing things and smile at appropriate moments with prompting!
I love you billions!
xxx
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Date: 2010-06-16 10:32 pm (UTC)I only hope that you can find it in your heart to be friends with such a dull old person ;)
&hearts &hearts &hearts
Aw, that is alright. We cannot all be interested in the same things, after all. That is very adorable about you and your friend and Alan Shearer. :D, South Africa is a very interesting and complex place. There are 11 official languages.
I will always be happy to hear about books, too. You know that!
I love you kajillions x
That's my girl
Date: 2010-06-18 03:21 pm (UTC)