This afternoon I fulfilled what I believe to be my patriotic duty; I watched almost the entire soccer/football/futbal match between the U.S. and England. I missed the first 10 minutes or so, but I watched the rest.
I don't care for soccer. But I certainly don't want to be one of those self-absorbed Americans who does not take any interest in the rest of the world, so every so often I'll tune in to a soccer game and try to work up some sort of enthusiasm, or at least see what all the fuss is about.
Thus, I watched the whole thing- nearly.


I'm not the type to make fun of soccer. Sure, I would rather listen to John Ashcroft sing than watch any more soccer for at least the next two or three years. I would rather watch old people eat potato salad (with buzzing flies) at a picnic. I would even prefer watching the NBA finals.
The sport is just so incredibly popular in the rest of the world- the shots of thousands of people watching on jumbo screens in Hyde Park were amazing- and I'm just so incredibly indifferent to it.
I think the main reason I tune in every few years is that I can't help thinking I must be missing something. There must be something to it that I don't see. But I just don't get the attraction.

Years ago, a group of Vietnamese used to play basketball on weekends on the St. Agnes playground. I (and Jimmy and Jay) would sometimes play with them. As they played, the Vietnamese kept up a steady stream of chatter in their native tongue. We would play and play and play, and they would all just keep talking and talking and talking, and then suddenly they would all start laughing hysterically at some apparently funny joke. It was baffling. And as a self-conscious 13-year-old I was aways afraid the joke was on me.
That's sort of how I feel when I watch soccer. I just don't get it.
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One thing that I think would improve the sport greatly: no one should be allowed to use their hands. The other 10 guys aren't allowed to grab the ball, so why make an exception for the goalie? There would be more scoring, and thus a lot less chance of a stinking one-one tie like they had today.

ANOTHER OIL SLICK MONSTER SPOTTED

According to CNN's day-by-day map, this monstrous whale was spotted near the Louisiana coast May 20th.
It was hoped that Godzilla, who was previously utilized to fend off the giant sea lion, would be on hand to fight the leviathan. However, Louisiana officials say Godzilla was only employed to put on a 'dog-and-pony show,' and that BP sent Godzilla home as soon as federal officials left the area.
Memorial Weekend vacationers are being warned to take appropriate precautions. Those planning to visit Pensacola, FL are asked to be on especially high alert, as the whale appears headed in their direction.

Going to the Gulf Coast anyway? Here are some helpful tips for your safety:
*If overweight, avoid going in the water. The whale may be feeling amorous. (Not sure if you are overweight? Here's a good rule of thumb: Do you have a Social Security Number? If the answer is 'YES' then you are probably overweight.)
*Avoid wearing or displaying Sea World merchandise.
*Don't dress like krill or exhibit any krill-like behavior.
*Don't bring "Moby Dick" as beach-reading. It really, really sucks.

Phonetics

Today I noticed a helpful parenthetic phonetic prunciation on an Rx label (not mine- it was work-related). Next to Diclofenac was written "(DYE-KLOE-FEN-AK)."

I've been puzzzling over such helpful guides a lot lately- I think maybe since Mark wrote about something similar a few months ago. The 'phonetic' hints do nothing but puzzle me, because if I interpreted them the way I was taught I think I would be led very far from the correct pronunciation.

But the first syllable is what most caught my eye. I can't help but wonder if the drug company's advertising department was in any way involved in choosing "DYE" over "DIE."

I put Super Saver on top of my trifecta. I had to. My Derby handicapping ended up with three horses on top- Super Saver, Lookin At Lucky, and Awesome Act. And so of course when I had to toss one to fit my budget, I tossed Super Saver. But I thought even before Derby that he looked like a great Preakness horse.

Then 20 seconds before the race the on-track announcer (Barton?) said Lookin At Lucky appeared healthy and strong, and Super Saver has lost weight since the Derby.
I wish she'd told me that an hour earlier.
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While out for a walk with the family on Mother's Day, we spotted Bigfoot. I gave him some beef jerky.





Here's what a gorilla thought of my Derby bet. The Preakness bet was about the same.





Jill cooperated with a nice smile as she stalked the peacock, but the darned bird wouldn't stop to pose.

According to CNN's day-by-day map of the oil slick, on April 30th the Louisiana coast was threatened by a giant sea lion. The threat was averted when BP befriended Godzilla and attained his help in fighting the monster.

I tried to drive around Cherokee and Seneca parks during the rain today, just to see how high the water was.
I figured I wouldn't get very far before I had to turn around due to flooded roads. I was right.


A heron (just left of the big water drop on my lense), next to Beargrass Creek near Seneca GC holes 11 and 12. There are also a few ducks paddling around in the grass right in the middle of the smudge.



Eighth hole at Seneca



Big Rock lower parking lot.

Apparently, I picked the wrong horse.

I didn't think the 4 looked very fast. Guess I was wrong.

Yet again I suffered just about nothing but losses. Derby weekend is really a drag, except for all the fun.

I was bummed about my losses until I remembered two things. Or actually, until I remembered one thing and realized I could not remember another thing.
First, I recalled what I always think to myself when I deposit money in my wagering account. I always remind myself that the deposited money is as good as gone- it's to be listed under 'entertainment expenses' already spent, I have to assume I'll never see it again, and the only things yet to be determined are how much entertainment it is and how long it lasts.
Second, I realized that my last deposit was $150 (raising my account total to about $151 at the time), that even after this weekend I still have about $200 available, and that I had deposited the original $150 so many months ago that I can't even remember exactly when it was.
So it's lasted a good long while, I'm still ahead since that deposit, and the $200 should last me a whole lot longer now that I've weathered the annual Derby fiasco.

And it was still lots of fun.