Goodbye, Marco!

I was supposed to go to Sepang that day, well, at least that was the plan but somehow I abandoned it because of so many reasons. I'm glad I did... I loved Marco, his recklessness, his character, his hair... I loved him, I'm glad I was not there to witness everything, well, I saw it on TV but still... I will miss you, really.

Oh! Hello There, Blog.

Sorry. I haven't been a very loyal blogger lately. I've been woozy for the past two weeks, being in and out of medication and all. Nothing serious just an acute cold urticaria, I was told by the doctor.

I'm taking Iterax by day and Xyzal by night, no time to get sober, I'm afraid. Both drugs are making me sleepy and dizzy. I have no idea how I got to the office and home everyday!

Anyway, I went back to the doctor last week and told her about it so she took out Iterax and replaced it with Telfast, it sounds like a telecommunication company, I know. My condition has much improved, no more itchy welts and my wooziness has been reduced. Hopefully, I'd be back more often.

My Vale!

I have a confession to make, I haven't been watching Motogp in full lately. It's so heartbreaking to see Vale at the back row. It can't be right... I'll always be his fan but this is just too much to bear. specially with Stoner leading the pack, I'd rather see Pedrosa win, to be honest.

I got these photos from the Yellow Community, I'm a member so I hope they don't mind if I repost it here:

Marquez Again!

Did you happen to watch Moto2 this weekend? Wow! Edge of your seat entertainment that race was! Marc was so fierce and Ianonne would not give up that easily! I really thought they'd crash, thankfully they did not and after the dust has settled... Marc Marquez emerged victorious! 6 points separates him from Bradl... let's see what happens next!

Didn't I tell you he's the one to watch! If he weren't too young he should make a move to Motogp!

Matador for a change!

Rafael Nadal of Spain enters the Plaza de Toros de los Califas, "Toriles" or bullpen is written on the door above him. This is where bulls enter the arena where the matador awaits. This time though, Rafa, will play the matador and Tsonga, the bull.

Kill the Bull

Just like a matador celebrating his victory, Rafa looked every inch a matador not the bull which fans all over the world lovingly and admiringly compare him to. The venue is actually a bullring in Cordoba, Spain. Very fitting.

Rafa butchered both France's Richard Gasquet yesterday, September 17 and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's today, September 18, on their (Spain) to the finals for Davis Cup.

Today is also my mother's birthday! I would post a picture of hers but I'm too afraid to post it here, she'd kill me if she ever saw her photo in my blog so... Happy birthday, my dear mother! I love you!

Rafa on clay in Cordoba

It was France vs Spain last Friday for the Davis Cup in Cordoba, Spain. Rafa was precise and efficient, he practically demolished Richard Gasquet out there.

After the loss to Nole it's really nice to know is back on clay.

What is it about clay that makes Rafa so... alive! Clay + Rafa = magic.

The red dirt heals Rafa.

Here's the rest of those gorgeous Spaniards. Hmmm... Daveed.

Blur - Out of Time (TOTP 2003)

I was never a Blur fan, I'm not a big fan of synthesizers! And I just discovered this song and now I take back all the not so nice things I said about them! I totally love this sad, sad song. I ave favorite word and it actually fits this song... FORLORN.

To be honest, I think I only know three songs by Blur, Beetlebum, Coffee and TV and Girls & Boys. So now, I think I'll be busy backtracking and listening to their songs!

I'm so sorry, Damon, I never liked you when you were young but now that you're a little older I think I'm starting to like you! Those eyes and its thousand yard stare... love it!

Buffy!

Buffy! How nice of you to "drop" by.

You have no idea how happy I am to see you! I knew I could count on you!

No words!

I'm out of words. I was hoping Rafa would win this time but I guess the deal with the devil is still active otherwise the record breaking winning streak would have been expired by now.

Have you seen how Rafa killed Andy? Well, I guess none of it matters now.






We're dealing with someone out of this world now and what we really need is a slayer...
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Blue vs Red

I've always made fun of Andy every time he's up against Rafa because I know in my heart that he's got nothing from his arsenal to beat Rafa! But this semifinal I felt something for Andy that I never felt before... I felt bad for him. It's pity actually but I don't think I have the right to feel pity for him. Pity is such a strong word to use. Pity is for someone who quits in the middle of the game and Andy's no quitter!

I know Andy did nothing wrong, he was doing everything he could and he actually won the 3rd set doing everything he could, like those annoying (but effective) drop shots he gave to Rafa but it wasn't enough and it wasn't funny anymore... the way he's losing his chances to win a grand slams. How does it feel to have your dreams shattered in front of a million viewers? I can only imagine. Not to mention the look on her mother's face, she's scary!

If I would summarize the whole match, Rafa reduced Andy into pieces. Specially in the 4th set, he was everywhere, Andy just couldn't put the ball away. Rafa gave him great passing shots and solid ground strokes. This is the Rafa of old. Ooh, I just love Rafa!

On the other side of the court I just couldn't understand why in the middle of a good game Andy had to change shorts? I'm loving those short shorts, by the way! And then when it was imminent that his grand slam dream was about leave him... his wristband was somewhat irritating him and then there's the hip problem.

Poor Andy!

The Game of Thrones

The last thing I need now is being hooked on a TV series, it takes commitment and time and I'm afraid I don't have any of those to spare. I already have my tennis and motogp to keep me busy all year round not to mention that I have 2 kids, a husband, a job and church commitments. So you see, I can't be hooked on a TV series but that was what exactly happened the moment I watched Boromir... I mean Ned adopt those direwolves pups... I was hooked! Don't you just love Boromir... I mean Sean Bean? Well, that and the fact that the author of the book is being compared to Tolkien is enough reason to watch the show, you know... just to prove them wrong!

Boy, they were wrong... Game of Thrones is a lot darker than LOTR, they have bromance and incest in there! I will not have my kids watch it for now. And don't you just love Tyrion Lannister? The cleverest dwarf you ever saw! I could not get myself to hate him and yet he's a Lannister! I hate them, Lannisters... specially the Kingslayer for pushing Bran out the window!

I shouldn't get attached to the characters, I know, but I can't help it. I am hooked!

Here are the characters that I really love:

Ned Stark, Lord of the Winterfell, Right Hand of the King and Protector of the Realm (almost).

Loving father and an honorable man.

Most of the honorable man in this series end up dead... just like in real life.






Arya Stark, 3rd child of Ned and Lady Catelyn, she's clever and shows great interest in fighting, she was given a sword by his half-brother called needle. She has a close relationship with her half brother, Jon. She calls her wolf, Nymeria.

I love it when she knocks some senses out of her stupid sister, Sansa.











My heart just broke when he called his father "Lord Stark" at the beginning of the series, he's a bastard and he knows just where to put himself, "There are five pups and you have 5 trueborn children, they were meant to have these pups, my lord."

The pups were enough for the Stark kids because he excluded himself, I almost cried.

But as fate would have it they found an outcast pup, he got a wolf as well, he named it Ghost.



Tyrion Lannister, he's clever, educated and very entertaining to watch. I love all his lines, I hope he wins an award.

I particularly love his character because although a Lannister he shows great support for people like him, an outcast. He gave Bran a design of a saddle specially made for a cripple. He also befriends Jon Snow.

A lovable Lannister.

I don't particularly love Drogo but I just want to point out that he's so scary. Every man on the series will look like a little girl in his presence... and he's the one wearing eye make-up!








Daenerys Targaryen, the only surviving child of the Mad King, dethroned by King Robert Baratheon. She's polite, well-spoken and has a kind heart. She started out as a naive little girl but her time spent with her husband Drogo and the Dothraki has eventually taught her confidence and skills to rule.













And who would ever forget the story Old Nan told Bran one night:

Oh, my sweet summer child, what do you know about fear? Fear is for the winter, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides for years, and children are born and live and die all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little lord, when the White Walkers move through the woods... Thousands of years ago, there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts, and women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept, and felt their tears freeze on their cheeks. So is this the sort of story that you like?


Season 1 is about to end and I'm getting restless, I just might read the book just to keep me from missing them too much.

War Horse

The cast of Steven Spielberg's movie War Horse. This is taken from the Vanity Fair photoshoot.

I don't think I know anyone except for Benedict Cumberbatch!

End it already!

Sam Stosur and Maria Kirilenko's match this morning was so full of emotion. I could only imagine what the audience were feeling inside the Ashe stadium, the 32-point tiebreak seemed endless. I wish I was rooting for anyone of them but I wasn't so I felt nothing but impatience. :-)

U.S. Open 2011: Round Three

Nadal is through round three! He opened the door wide open for David Nalbandian last night. But what was amusing was when he got out from the pit the background music suddenly changed to Welcome to the Jungle, the person responsible for it must be having fun.

Nadal won 3 sets but Nalbandian made Rafa work hard for every point specially in the first set. And then Rafa got ferocious in the second set leaving Nalbandian a broken man. They had a good fight on the 3rd but David's volley did not work on Rafa as much as it did on the 1st set. It was a good fight, Davis was admirable for finishing the game when everyone knew that he was not a hundred percent okay considering all the operations he had on the last 24 months.

Vamos!

Andy, you can't transform into a vampire now!

Gael, I didn't know you could fly!

U.S. Open 2011: Round Two

Yey! Rafa is through with round two! I know he's going to win the title again, I feel it in my bones.

Nevermind what Nicolas Mahut is telling the media:

"I think maybe he doesn't have as much confidence as he had at this time last year. He doesn't go for it as much as he used to. He's not as aggressive as he used to be."

It's all mind game. That statement comes from a man who lost two games in a row, 6-2, 6-2 and to save his ugly face, he retires at the start of 3rd set from abdominal pain. Excuse, excuses!

Rafa may seem to lack confidence but really he's just being his humble self and being realistic about his game. Anything can happen when it comes to tennis.

This is what Rafa told the media last year:

"The people remember the last day when you are with the trophy, when you play fantastic in the final. But to arrive at [that] moment is not everything in the way of roses. You don't play fantastic every match and every moment."

And he won the title!

Even Novak should watch out.

U.S. Open 2011: Round One

Normally, I watch all (Rafa) Grand Slams from day one but this time I miscalculated the time and I ended up missing Rafa's round one. Good thing he won! Yey!

By the way, I'm glad he's wearing yellow! Love it!

So now, I might as well say something about round one of the players I've watched. Starting with...

Andy played good but I couldn't help but stare at his legs while he's playing... he's wearing a very short shorts! It's distracting me...

If it was up to me I still don't want him to win any grand slam, I know it sounds cruel but... I still enjoy it when he's hitting himself with his racquet whenever he's playing badly.

It's not your time yet, Andy!

Gael, you're broke my heart... you were doing so great! You could have won this morning (local time).

JC called for a medical time-out, he had a finger malfunction and you, on the other hand, got a massage but you were hitting the ball like you didn't care (and still making points). You looked tired but so was he, you should've tried harder.

"Shayaaaang!" My nephew tells me after screaming so loud whenever you hit the ball wide. Or maybe I was screaming because my back is killing me!

You broke my heart big time! And my back too! Yeah, I'm blaming it all on you!

Ouch!

Three days!

My back is killing me for three days and now I have a slight fever... I can't be sick right now. I have a sinking feeling that this could be UTI, please, please, please, let it not be that!

Saying Goodbye

AXN Beyond announced that the Series 3 of Being Human will start airing this September... I have mixed emotions, really. I can't wait to watch it but I am a bit sad knowing that Mitchell will be killed by George this season. Sigh.

Have I told you that I have this nasty habit of not finishing reading a book that I really love. It's true! I just stop reading them, a few chapters shy. Why? Because I feel sad when I say goodbye to a book, it's like saying goodbye to a friend. It sounds corny but it's true. One book that I haven't finished reading is Ring of Fire by Rick Broadbent, I got hold of the book since March of this year. Just can't say goodbye yet. It took me years before I said "goodbye" to AC's book, Dispatches from the Edge. FYI. True story.

I've started reading Eat Pray Love since last year, not finished yet. The Hobbit, still reading it. A Thousand Splendid Sun, not finished yet. To Kill a Mocking Bird, not finished yet.West of Kabul, East of New York, same thing. I will take me a long while if I write down all the books so I'll stop right now.

What I'm trying to say is, I've grown to love Being Human, Mitchell in particular, what a complicated vampire, and now that he's left the show it's like I have this big gaping hole in my heart with the shape of Aidan Turner. Sigh again.

So now that I'm done with the drama, I'm posting this lovely photo of AT. Really, I was just finding an excuse to post this photo. Ha-ha-ha! But mind you, the story about the book all true.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The poster that I've been waiting to see, the movie that I've been dying to watch. Can you see Benny?

Puppy anyone?

Big thanks to Mark Gatiss for tweeting this! Can't wait for Sherlock Series 2. How many times have I mentioned that already? Can't wait, can't wait!!!

Called Out In The Dark

Snow Patrol has a new single!

The video was shot by Brett Simon (The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age), choreographed by Noemie Lafrance (Feist) and features Tara Summers (Boston Legal) as the video's director and Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean) as Snow Patrol's new vocalist.

The EP featuring ‘Called Out in the Dark’ will be released on September 4th and will also include the new album title track ‘Fallen Empires’, ‘I’m Ready’ and ‘My Brothers’, a song that was written for Irish Award winning director Paul Fraser’s film of the same name.

14th on the grid. 5th row.

I can't help it... just watched the replay of Motogp QP, I know I said I wanted to be surprised later about his row and position but couldn't get my mind off it. So there it is.

He's in 14th position, 5th row, next to Aoyama and Elias. It pains me to see him start at the back.

I wouldn't miss this for the world!

I just saw Russell Tovey on Sherlock's new season! Lovely fella, I like him a lot. I wonder how they'd be doing without Aidan on the set? What a stupid question, of course they'd be great... I guess they'd have to work extra hard specially the writers. But that's BBC Three so I better stop.

I thought I should mention that if I had BBC One on my cable I don't think I'll ever switch channels again but that would be lying wouldn't it? Ha-ha! All I want to say is all the shows I've seen in this video look very promising.

Oh, and love song too! Feel So Close by Calvin Harris.

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Scruffy Vale

Vale looks a bit scruffy... but scruffy is good, I like scruffy not everyone can do this look and still manage to look gorgeous.

As of this writing I still have not looked up his position and row for tomorrow's gp. Not that I don't care it's just that... I want to be surprised!

Rafa on The Late Show

Rafa was on Letterman last August 24! And boy did he looked nice! I particularly love the pants, I often see him in his shorts so this is a very welcome look. It really fits him well, probably by Armani anyway so it has to look good on him.

As usual, he was very humble. It's kind of sickening really but hey that's just the way he is and we all adore and love him for that so... He was promoting his book, an autobiography aptly titled Rafa and shamelessly promoting his racket, Babolat.

We all know that Rafa still stuggles with his English, he's used in answering questions regarding tennis but with Dave asking questions... we'll you'll never know where he'll take the conversation so I was a bit edgy throughout the interview. Why am I always anxious for Rafa? It beats the hell out of me. I swear if you could see me while watching him play on tournaments, you'd laugh. Anyway, Dave was great, he stuck to tennis mostly and Roger Federer. Rafa even made a joke “sometimes it’s better if he’s not here” about Roger. It was so funny and so honest.

Also, here's a photo of Rafa for Armani Jeans. Gorgeous!

Rafa

13 Heroes

The 13 dwarves are finally revealed in this group shot. Led by Thorin, of course!

(L-r) JED BROPHY as Nori, DEAN O’GORMAN as Fili, MARK HADLOW as Dori, JAMES NESBITT as Bofur, PETER HAMBLETON as Gloin, GRAHAM McTAVISH as Dwalin, RICHARD ARMITAGE as Thorin Oakenshield (center), KEN STOTT as Balin, JOHN CALLEN as Oin, STEPHEN HUNTER as Bombur, WILLIAM KIRCHER as Bifur, ADAM BROWN as Ori and AIDAN TURNER as Kili.

Anderson Confusion

I'm a bit confused... a friend from Arizona tells me that Anderson is moving to CBS (I knew it... he'll be following Erica Hill) and yet from what I know... he's not! He's got no business with them other than 60 Minutes. But this friend tells me the teaser is being shown in Arizona already. It's either she's lying or I'm in denial.

Oh, please, let it not happen! Not that I don't want Andy to grow it's just that CBS is unknown in this country, we only have CNN, BBC and Bloomberg. Or, I could be wrong...

This is what I know, come September Andy will be hosting a daytime talk-show on CNN and I have the photo to prove it, this shot among others was taken exactly on my birthday... we are so connected, aren't we?

Just because...

I found me a photo of Andy walking about in NYC just because... full story can be found here.

No Explanation Needed

Really. you don't need to explain... we love you... I love you just the way you are.

The Secret is Out!

Benny's character poster for the movie!

I miss Mitchell all of a sudden!

This made my day!

An hour long of giggle fit is just what I need after a busy day or night in my case!

BLUE

Can't help but feel blue as well. Sigh.

Podium at last!

I'm so happy for Marco Simoncelli, he got on to the podium and nobody got hurt or crashed in the process. ;-)

Hope is the last to die!

Brno this weekend. Still waiting for that elusive podium finish. And Jerry, it's so nice to see you back in action!

Anarchy

My mind is finally clear enough to think straight now, I think. So here's my two cent's worth of opinion about the riot in London.

What the hell! Have I been wronged again? I thought the people in London are polite and good mannered? Are you telling me that what we read in the papers and books and what we watched on the TV are all lies?

At first I thought they were all teenagers but the news tells us that the youngest looter is an 11 year old and some looters actually hold a respectable day job. They are not polite at all, aren't day? What's even more disturbing is that they are not stealing because they're hungry, they're looting because they're greedy! Anarchy took over the streets and they all joined, they've all gone mad.

What a pity.