As usual, XKCD says it best

[laliandra]

Hey 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 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 for novembersmith 's jacket (Prizes for anyone who gets that reference!) Bandom BB fic! OMGYOUGUYSITISSOAWESOME.

Comments

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

You have a house! That is ridiculously awesome and scarily grown up (I think, incidentally, that the second xkcd comic you linked to is closer to how I feel most of the time; it's one of my favourites. Generally related to work; how can I expect people to ever give me a job when I am basically an incompetent child? I think this a lot, and then I flail a bit). I hope that it's great! (And I completely get the romantic/cynic thing. It's a hard balancing act!) Oh, and enjoy the World Cup; I am very bad at caring about sporting events myself, but it's nice seeing other people happy about them. :)

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

Only a rented one! But yes, I feel a lot of excitement coupled with a lot of OMGWTF this is a stupidly adult thing for someone who likes children's books and bright colours...

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!