been a tres bonne semaine.
8:30 AM
i've totally wrecked my french past tenses, I can't remember how they go.But anyway.
I think I'll give a bit of thanks to God for blessing me with such a wonderful wonderful week.
1) Monday - Mom's operation - CANCELLED.
I'm not really happy in the sense that I'm kicking for joy. But the good thing is I do know Mom will be sore to have her teeth removed. And now it's been put to October at a clinic near you. And that means she can keep her teeth for a bit more. Well it's her rezeki, Alhamdulillah. Maybe they'll find it's alright, somehow. We shall keep praying, God is great.
2) Tuesday - Took cab to An-Nur.
I know this is soooo trivial. But my sister sees how cheap it is, maybe she'll let us take the cab more often seeing how fast it is.
3) Wednesday - nothing much.
4) Thursday - OUT WITH THE ONLINE PALS. GOD. I HAD SUCH A BALL OF A TIME. SERIOUSLY I WILL REMEMBER THAT DAY FOREVER. It was something really special, to be able to hang out with SY-chan and Lyzie. Lyzie's my oldest friend, and SY I consider her my closest because we hung out a lot just before she left for Australia....so it meant a lot to me to have been given the chance to see them both. Sigh. I miss her already, and it sucks that there is no Internet easily available where she is. Having them around gave me an important sense of normalcy I've not been able to enjoy properly for ages.
5) Friday - NA'IM GAVE ME THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD ALL WEEK.
I AM GOING TO OWN NAKAMURA SHUNSUKE'S JERSEY, WHICH IS SOMETHING I'VE DREAMT ABOUT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS. (alright I'll admit my wildest dreams are a lot wilder than just owning the jersey but yeah, you get it.) I mean, really. After Michael Owen sort of spoozled out of action...I've just been out of football for a really long time. And Nakamura sort of inspired me to get back to it again, I really fell in love with the unique way he plays. It's a pity that I won't get to see him play much but I'm going to keep an eye out for international tournaments and the Champions' League, who knows the Celtics might make it. But more importantly, I'm a Japan supporter for life. I need a Japanese jersey, and what better than Nakamura's?!???!?
Actually I wouldn't have minded Inamoto but he and Nakata are too popular for their own good. Besides, Nakamura looks so decent. I'm not saying they look indecent mind you, I love Inamoto's playing style and he's cute, but Nakamura, for an European-based player, is so unique.
I half fiddled with the thought of owning Miyamoto's. He's gorgeous and he plays really well mostly. But nah, no one strikes my heart like Nakamura does. Though he really could have done better in the Brazil match, but with his disadvantages of speed and physique, it's probably really tough. But in spite of Japan bowing out, I personally think this team is a notch up the previous. If Zico'd put in Inamoto from the beginning....and had not been content to hold on to the 1-0 lead....i really think they had a good chance making it into second even with Brazil in the group. And I think they were doing alright until Ronaldo sort of killed their hopes with an equalizer just before the half time. Argh, I should stop harping about this, it's OVER. IT'S THE FINALS FOR GOD'S SAKE.
but I almost can't believe it...beyond my wildest dreams....i've always dreamed or imagined that I would be clasping a Japanese jersey in the next four years....and forever....now it's going to come true....Gosh.....I really owe Na'im. He's a wonderful friend.
Speaking of which, he seems to be a bit moody. I think I probably am too exuberant with him, but I can't help it. I miss him loads. I consider him and Maryam to be like my other 2/3rds if you get what i mean. It's always never complete if it's just any two of us. We're best buddies. We went through the worst times and the best times together. How can anybody accuse us of the high regard and affection we have for each other? But I can understand I suppose....I'd be jealous too, if I was his girlfriend. Still, it's difficult for me to understand, because his girlfriend happens to be really good friends with us. So....maybe it's not us, okay, i get that ...it's just the whole priority thing....but you know, for Na'im to say such a thing sort of took me aback.....I never thought he'd tell me to be careful about how I talk about him because I know very well and I feel that everyone knows that the three of us go way back. But I suppose it's all about getting old....I mean if we're all married...fine, if they both get married with their spouses....I suppose the three of us couldn't hang out like old times any more.....
I don't think I want to grow up if you think of it that way.
But still, he's been a wonderful friend and he's always trying his best to cheer me up and I really can't express my gratitude how cheered I am by the prospect of owning a Japanese jersey. I shall seriously make it my most prized possession. I thought it would never be possible because those things are Expensive. actually i'm still a bit in denial...it's unreal....but imagine...to hold it in my hands....arrrrrrgggggggggggghh....a real adidas blue japanese jersey...i might weep. and to have number 10 on it....sigh....i'm so lucky. the boys are going to howl.
6) that was long. Kak Lijah came by and gave us a lot of interesting stories. but she told me that i should really go for SEP and you know, I think I'm gonna give it a better go. I'm going to print out that brochure and give it to my folks. They might change my mind and feel a bit better then. I still have about 10 days or so.
I'm ont banking on it but I'm not giving up and I'm redoubling my efforts. She's really inspired me to be brave and put aside my fears and believe in Him. Insya'Allah if I get through I'll be able to make it...I mean look at Na'im, he's brave enough to have stuck it for a year....Kak Lijah too...I'll be there for 3 months....it'll be alright. I just have to put my best foot forward. there's so many things going on for me, I can live so many of my dreams for a while - especially meeting the muslim community in Japan....it'd be really a huge pity if I passed up the chance.
7) I managed to catch the semifinals match FINALLY. BOTH G-I AND F-P. of course I missed bits and pieces because i dozed off and things like that but I got the gist. And yeah, I believe that as for Germany they were playing alright but I still think Italy just sort of improves with every game. They've not slipped up yet and never let a win get to their heads. I think it's because it's the notion of having to play champions that has them refusing to let their guards down. On other hand, teams playing Italy recently have had the excuse to remember that they've gone further than italy for the last 3 finals. when you play like you need to claw your way up, it's with a hunger and a thirst that you pursue your win. Germany is trying to win for the sake of Honour, for their countrymen that they are playing in front of....
Italy on the other hand, realise that they've no home support or little, so they want to prove so much that they can do this....i can get the pressure of not having a lot of people cheering for you but having practically the whole house cheering for hte opposition. it's painful but apparently for Italy it gives them mental strength and a nothing-to-lose edge.
oh wow, i can really go on and on about this.
they will face the same thing in the finals with France, France being nearer --> more supporters. I will give it to france. But I will say this also. Their defence is the one that I will commend. The Striking has not been creative at all. And it was italy's creativity that got them through the OT - beautiful play by del piero to grosso! italy is a truly creative, all rounded team. Solid in their defense - sth everyone has - but their edge is their creative striking tactics. Something that France and Germany lack a bit. Germany has the odd shine of brilliance, but it pales. Brazil, is also creative but unfortunately they've lost the chance to really display it. But I watched a bit of the B-F match - not all - I'll admit that I was not that impressed by france, but I didn't watch enough of it...but i do remember that air play title is hel dby brazil. nobody handles the ball in the air as well as brazil does, and i'll say brazil's edge is that - their ability to handle the ball in the air, because not all teams can do that, not even italy, definitely not germany and france, portugal can but not as well - and brazil really outclass all teams in that area. I'll say it helped them a great deal in winning, you should see it - nobody can get the ball when brazil has it in the air.
Problem is football isn't entirely a game in the air. and on the ground, brazil has a lot of contenders. france has just as fancy footwork - italy even more - so I daresay even if it was, say, brazil vs italy - it would have been one damn close match. i'm not saying it wouldn't be, but a brazil-italy match, or a portugal-italy match - would have been an extremely creative one, with lots of football flair. that's what i think anyway. france and germany are more boring teams with not as much creativity, apart from the occasional spurts of brilliance, germany more than france. but not enough for italy.
well yeah....i think taht's about it, my low-down on it after I've Finally watched the semis. but i'm still not satisfied...i want to watch the brazil -france match esp. the second half, because from teh first half i'm not as wowed as I think i should be by france, judging from reports....what's so good about france???? i want to see!!!! even ac says france were at their peak then, and after that not so - i tend to agree judging from the f-p match the way they just stuck with thedefense after the penalty and let portugal do all the attacking, i'm not impressed by that, shows just impenetrable tenacity, not uniqueness or creativity. let's hope that it's true, so that italy can finally hold the cup after 12 years.
yeah...s'about it....and 7) the wedding. been looking forward to it! i think i'm going to go sleep, but sy-chan is online. hmm...but i'm rather tired....darn....