Weekend of soccer, chicken coops and music. I think it was a productive one, yeah? We saw the Earthquakes play a friendly against Tottenham on Saturday afternoon. We actually played pretty well, a lot better than I expected. Granted, playing well is relative after a summer of the World Cup, but they definitely played a good game. Was a little frustrating. They had plenty of good opportunities to get the ball in and missed them. Tie game in the end, but still fun to watch. We're contemplating getting season tickets next year.

Came home and helped Oppa and James build a chicken coop. Yeah, James's wish to raise chickens might actually come true. With the raccoons in the area, though, I'm not sure if it's going to end well. Kind of nervous to find out.

Went to Oakland last night and met up with Dinah to see the New Pornos and The Dodos. It was a fun show. They're kind of fantastic live and I really need to see Neko Case once. She was so amazing. Was trying to write something up for the other blog. Not much is coming, so I might just crank something out at some point and post pictures.

Now I'm tired. I've discovered that I actually did finish grading all the Writing Competition entries. I didn't really get much of anything else done. Really need to start cracking with journal. Gah. So tired though. I'll save that stuff for tomorrow.

Also I got my Treasure Island ticket for the Sunday show. So expensive.

Did I mention that I hate spiders? Seriously, they are the worst. This place is a haven for spider and during the last few weeks, I've had some run-ins with some pretty epic spiders that probably can kill me. Means that while I've been a lifelong fan of night showers, I've definitely held off for the morning recently. Like tonight.

Am I a chicken? Probably, but whatever. They are the worst.

It's finally over. I guess I have to go back to all of my normal obsessions. I actually didn't mind either way who won this game, but I went in rooting for the Netherlands for several reasons. I thought they played consistently better than Spain, was still a little grumpy at Spain's beating Germany (okay, they deserved that win), I put money on the Netherlands, wanted to prove Paul the Octopus right, and I figured the parties would be all sorts of crazy in Amsterdam if they won. In the end, I'm glad Spain won. I really didn't like the way the Dutch played this game and Spain played a good game. To be honest though, I thought the Germany-Uruguay game was much more entertaining. I was kind of depressed that Klose didn't get to beat Ronaldo's record and the German team really didn't have their hearts in it, but it's been so much fun watching Forlan play.

Been a good, if not short, weekend. Saw Sir Paul McCartney in concert last night. That was kind of amazing and he did a lot more Beatles songs than I thought he would. World Cup partying both yesterday and today (way too much food today). Gianni and Laura came up for the weekend. Tomorrow it's back to work and real dieting. Also seeing Miggs tomorrow night. It's been too long since I've seen them.

Got back a couple of days ago from one of those SoCal weekends where I got to see some people and relive the relaxing and carefree days of undergrad life. Kind of. Also, we got in a fight with the staff at a restaurant in Diamond Jamboree.

Can't believe the week is almost over. Nor can I believe that the last of the teams that I've been rooting for has been eliminated from the World Cup. Germany put up a good run. It's too bad Paul the Octopus sealed their fate. Also, they probably should have not been sleeping during their match with a surprisingly strong Spain. I guess I'm wearing orange on Sunday to root for the team that I have distant blood ties to. Also, they played a lot better than Spain overall.

MPRE is fast approaching. Might want to start studying for that on my BART rides to/from the city instead of playing Pokemon. Don't want to have to take it more than once. And I should also get around to finishing grading those competition entries. Such a bother. Deadline is fast approaching though. Crazy.

Other random tidbit of today, I actually bought music today. Hasn't been happening much this summer (especially compared to last summer). I got The Like's new album. I like it a lot more than their first. It's super 60s poppy and very catchy. It was between that and the Blitzen Trapper album, which I will get around to buying eventually. I think the only reason I chose The Like is because I've had Release Me stuck in my head for the last few days.

Anyway, it's getting late. Probably time for bed.

It's Chris' birthday in 27 minutes. Exciting.

I've also experienced major laundry fail. Now have a lot of tinted yellow clothing. Yay? I hate doing laundry.

Oh, in more entertaining news, we bought mini passes to see four Earthquakes games. Get to see them play Galaxy...was so hard trying to get tickets for that. Speaking of which, life was sad today without any World Cup games.

Back to folding laundry. At least I'm folding laundry to David Bowie.

No more posting long incoherent posts before I go to bed.

This has been shaping up to be an interesting summer. I kicked it off with an intense comic book obsession as I finally decided to start working my way through Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. I also played an unhealthy amount of Super Mario Galaxy during that time.

Now, I've been living and breathing football/soccer because of the World Cup. I actually got up at an absurd time so that I could be in SF by 7 to watch the US-Algeria game. That kind of crazy.

It's led to some interesting patterns for me. I'm pretty sure that I've spent more money on World Cup-related expenditures than music, for one. In fact, I am so not on top of my music hipsterness. It's ridiculous. I haven't even listened to the new Blitzen Trapper album. Been meaning to get that, actually.

Another interesting development: I'm the one talking about sports at work. Usually, during sports conversations I'm the one smiling awkwardly in the corner while everyone else talks about basketball or football or whatever. Right now, I'm considered the soccer fanatic. It's a weird change of pace for me.

It kind of makes me want to go back and read Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch. I wasn't obsessed with soccer back when I read it. I read the book and compared his obsession with my music obsession. The themes were similar, but I think it might be worth a revisit. If I can find that book at all, that is.

Anyway, Thursday and this Saturday have led to a lot of sulking. Sulking that Lippi decided to play a team of old fail-tastic Juve players instead of the younger Italian players. Sulking that Uruguay beat South Korea (though, in their defense, Uruguay has been on fire this year). And, of course, sulking about US's loss to Ghana in a game that we probably could have won. Effectively, those three games knocked all of my nationalities out of the running. Italy didn't really disappoint me. I saw Italy's fail coming. Wasn't sure how far South Korea would make it. On the other hand, I did honestly think this would be the US's year this year. I thought it'd be the year that we'd go far and maybe increase US interest in the sport. I guess there's always 2014, right?

Donovan's still my hero, though. I've been trying to get tickets to see San Jose Earthquakes play LA Galaxy. If I do and Donovan's playing, I might have to change my team allegiance for the game.

Anyway, now I'm rooting for Germany. My fondness for the German national team goes back to that backpacking trip in 2008 during the Euro Cup. I hope the Argentina-Germany game this weekend is as amazing as it seems. Also excited about the Brazil-Netherland's match up. In the end, I think I want any team but Brazil to win this year. So over them winning.

All of this also reminds me that it's been four years since my summer in Florence. It's crazy. It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but so much has really changed. Or so I say. That summer, Chris and I were still licking off the wounds from that Ed debacle. Lost some friends to do that and, at that time at least, we thought we'd be losing more.

The thought of losing so many of the friends who I spent most of undergrad growing close to is what eventually pushed me into joining CalPIRG. I figured I'd throw energy into something new. I can't say I regret it. I made some great friends from those experiences. It help me focus on what I really wanted to do. Gave me a thirst for activism and "fighting the good fight." It made me go from being politically apathetic to actually paying attention to what was going on in the world. Granted, I've changed my focus and passions a little since my CalPIRG days, but it's the same general idea.

I regret how things ended between Chris and Ed. I don't think either of them are ever going to completely get over it. Sometimes, though, I really think it helped me. I don't think I would have gotten into law school if things had continued the way they did, where I did nothing but go to school and then watch stupid television shows with everyone until late at night. So maybe the Chris-Ed fallout wasn't entirely bad. It sparked a new flame in me that led to some of my most memorable undergraduate experiences.

Another interesting thought. One of the people who helped me through that whole Ed incident (in some respects at least) hates me and no longer speaks with me. Had I known that even two years ago, I might be sad about that, but life is a little less stressful with her out of my life.

So, this was a long incoherent and tl;dr (it's way past my bedtime). I guess where I was going is that I've already been planning out my viewing schedule of the 2014 World Cup. However, the difference between 2006 Alea and 2010 Alea makes me wonder what things will be like for me in 2014.

We are heading off on another family adventure today. As per usual, the accounts of the adventure will be recorded on a blog. Hope you enjoy: http://beachsocceroil.blogspot.com/

Also, my room is disgustingly messy. I've been trying to sort out Journal Competition entries the last few weeks (people need to write onto journals to become members of them), so they are EVERYWHERE in my room. It's insane.

Tomorrow is my first Yelp Elite party. I'm excited.

Other than that, have been busy trying to do work with a longer commute than what I have for school and a daily hour long trip to the gym. Means every day is pretty tiring and I'm out by 11:30. Trying to get laundry done right now before the trip (going on a family trip next week) and Gianni's graduation.

Oh and i used the rest of my LexisNexis AmEx card on Pokemon Soul Silver. Don't judge me.