Soccer and Metamorphosis

Things went back to normal pretty quickly after the World Cup...almost too quickly. Before the Spanish team touched down in Madrid, our street vendors were back to selling coat hangers, socks and DVDs - and not the flags and mirror socks we has gotten so used to - as if the last month hadn't really happened.

I am not going to give my opinion on the actual sport, as other than now understanding the "off-sides" rule, knowing a little more about which flag belongs to which country, and who has the best looking team (Spain) - I still dont have nearly enough knowledge to make any comment or judgement on players skills.

Being the adamantly patriotic gal I am, I stuck to supporting only African teams for as long as I could, and then traded my allegiance daily as the rest of South Africa tended to do. I hear that this team swapping phenomenon amazed the British. But then again, we're into loving our neighbours. (Ouch!)

There were so many reasons for South Africa to hold her head as high as she possibly could when it came to the planning and running of this super large scale event. Especially when you think about all the doubts many locals (sis on you) and foreigners had of our capabilities, infrastructure, and processes.

As for me - my absolutely, totally most proud moment of the entire experience was the day every host citizen became Ghanaian to support our fellow Africans into their Round 16 game. The dedication, love and support that Team Ghana received...THAT's Ubuntu baby! Everyone felt it, and it is something that should be practiced and celebrated daily!

Here is Zapiro's portrayal of how the game (sadly) panned out:


Despite all the goals, the "stop, drop and roll"s, the vuvuzelas, and every detail that made the World Cup the spectacular event that it was, my favorite moment actually had very little to do with soccer.

There was more honesty and more charisma in what one man had to say than in any other report during all 64 matches. I dont think anyone was more blown away by the magnificence of everything Soccer City is, and represents, than our very own Archbishop!


The speech that Desmond Tutu made on the night of the Celebration concert was my highlight of the entire month! I am sorry to say that I dont think Madiba himself could have made it more entertaining. Tutu dressed up, he might (or might not) have had too many Red Bulls during the day, but regardless, he and his rainbow nation were in Dreamland...and you couldn't hold this dreamer down!

He had some classic statements that were so unexpected/random that they have even been incorporated into a song! Here are my two favorite comments:
"I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming. It's so beautiful - wake me up!"
"We want to say to the world: 'Thank you for helping this ugly, ugly worm, or caterpillar which we were, to become a beautiful, beautiful butterfly"

Sadly, our religious leader has decided to call it quits to public appearances. Just as he was getting entertaining, 'someone' suggests that it's time to hang up his mauve outfits and sip Rooibos at home while watching the soaps. Oh well, at least he got to experience the Africa he had always dreamed of, and fought so hard for.

Thanks for the laughs, Des!



"Africa is the cradle of humanity so we welcome you all, every single one of you. We are all Africans" Desmond Tutu

Amen, indeed.

Our world

Remember these...

Rock 'n Roll Confidential

Rock 'n Roll Confidential have a section on their website for worst band photos...and then they comment on them...(please excuse some of the language)
There's not a thing in this picture that makes a lick of sense

The honesty's too much for the guy on the right

Take away the guitars and you've got a typical Saturday night for these guys

So very close

Passengers, we may experience some slight turbulence due to some Emo-geek accumulation on the right wing

Okay everybody, smile and Jeremy, pull your nipple and massage your genitals. Great

It's a start

It's all about the music for these guys

ISLANDS IN THE STREEEEAM, THAT IS WHAT WE AAARGH

If only there was a way to warn just the cute girl

If only...

How wimpy do you have to be to catch a beat-down from these guys

His moves are so raw. He's got to let you know

Guess! The! Singer!

Guess who had no idea the Superbowl was on last night

Fred, get Central on the horn. Tell 'em 47 is clogged up with Douchebags again

Break's over, Douchebags. These groceries ain't gonna bag themselves

Bowl-mullet thinks he has a shot with the singer. He is mistaken.

Being in a band with this guy has got to be a ball

Bag...Douche Bag

Backwards Hair - This Year's Trucker Hat

At this point, the elevator inexplicably went sideways

Another example of how band dudes will f*** up a perfectly good photo

and a**holes with laughable haircuts

Cards you might, or might not want to receive

Where it all began...

Quote of the Day

‎"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." - Malcolm Forbes

Toxicty

Something to read...I havent had anything interesting to come up with myself.

I-TUNES SHUFFLE QUIZ

RULES
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button (ONLY ONCE!!!) to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS - even if it is incredibly embarrassing.
4. Tag 15 friends who might enjoy doing the same as well as the person you got the note from.

1.IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Be Still and Breathe - Ivoryline

2.WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Perfect - Nemisis
(I swear it's what came up!)

3.WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
You and I - aKing
(You are a lung full of water...me, I am an appetite...)

4.WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Lonely, lonely - Taking Back Sunday
(Gee - great!)

5.WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Redeeming Love - Harbourlight

6.WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Walk the World - Charlie Hall

7.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Summer, man - Taking Back Sunday
(Ha ha ha...soooo true!)

8.WHAT IS 2+2?
Beautiful Mystery - Harris Tweed
(I try keep my dyslexia to myself - FB busted!)

9.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Brainiac - Chevelle

10.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Against All Odds - aKing

11.WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Hurt Enough - Harris Tweed
(No Comment)

12.WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Pure Shores - All Saints

13.WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Ever Wondered - Harbourlight
(Ha! YES!!?)

14.WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Saturdays - Chevelle
(They think I treat every day like a Saturday maybe...)

15.WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Faith - George Michael
(THIS IS MY FAVORITE PARTY SONG EVER!!! I will SO dance to it - even if it's by myself!!! Well, I guess it would be nice...if I could touch your body...)

16.WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
God of this City - Chris Tomlin

17.WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Better Days - Farryl Purkiss
(It's all the day-dreaming I do)

18.WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Diary of Jane - Breaking Benjamin

19.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Holy Train - aKing

20.WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Somebody - Depeche Mode
(NNOOOOOOO!!)

21.HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Only Reason - Evolver

22.WHAT IS ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Lets Start a Fight - Parlotones

23.WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Did you feel the mountains tremble - Hillsong United & Delirious

24.WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
I'm in love - Madrugada

25.WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
*holding thumbs*
Hearts & Minds - Ivoryline
(That'll do...looking more positive)

26.WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Once I Arrive - aKing
(Ha! I hate going to places on my own - this is seriously something that scares me!)

27.DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Set ourselves up - aKing
(*Sigh*)

29.IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Everything Counts - Depeche Mode

30.WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Love in an Elevator - Aerosmith

31. WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN LIFE?
Remind me I'm Alive - Ivoryline

32.WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Toxicity - Josie Fields (Covering System of a Down)

THEY CAN FLY!!!

I'm really trying damn hard not to write too much about the soccer. Maybe because I know that the day it's all over and all the foreigners have gone home, to Cape Town or the Kruger Park, it will all be a happy, yet distant memory.

I came across this image while looking for pictures of the Spanish team to show Claudia that my new found passion for any form of sport is justified.

Not only are they an uber bunch of hotties, spectacularly talented, and have an accent to melt your knee caps...but they can FLY! For real!!! Check it out...



I'd let them join my team. So would Peter Pan.

So worth a yellow card!

Christian Authenticity

I am passionate about Christian authenticity. As Michael W Smith said: "If the church was doing it's job, there would be no poverty", and I agree 100%. It's mission in everyday life - where you live, where you go out, with friends and with strangers.

There IS enough to go around - we need to be the example when it comes to God's provision through His people. I hope I can provide one day even more than what has been provided for me. And that's been a LOT!

George McLeod has this to say:
I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the centre of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church.

I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves, on the town garbage heap, at a crossroad so cosmopolitan they had to write his title in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.

It was the kind of place where cynics talk smut, thieves curse, and soldiers gamble.

That’s where he died.

And that’s where Christians ought to be and what Christians ought to be about.

Dont buy this!!!

Not only does this Shampoo smell like raw egg when you put it on your hair, but it slowly progresses into a wet dog smell. Waste of money. At least they didnt lie about the 'nature' aspect.

There can only be one...(@ChrisMcEvoy_)

DIY: FIFA Ticket collection in Joburg...things to know

Today I had to deal with two of the few things that annoy me the most when I'm alone - big moving crowds (unless they are all facing a stage), and foreigners (unless they are Coldplay).

When collecting FIFA tickets and spending a few hours in Sandton City, you are guaranteed swarms of both…and thankfully…soccer fever seems to carry an element of tolerance and I left the collection office ten tickets happier!

I got an email reminder that I hadn’t collected my tickets (thank you FIFA); and as I had no idea where Laico Isle was, I plugged the address into my Garmin and went for a drive. Great…it’s the corner with Village Walk on the one side, and tons of other ‘this-could-just-be-where-you-have-to-be’ places in it’s vicinity. Urgh.

So, as my contribution to all that is World Cup, here is my COLLECTING FIFA TICKETS heads up list:
1. The building you are looking for is across the road from Village Walk with the fanciest gym ever built (the one where you bench press solid gold and you get fanned on the circuit – I’m just guessing).
2. I parked in the actual building’s parking. Just drive around the complex and you’ll see it.
3. While driving around, see which queue leading to the Ticket Office is shorter – people were forming lines both ways.
4. Make sure you remember where you park. I did, for a change, so I always feel it’s my duty to remind others. There is also only one place where you can pay for your parking. It’s between parking levels 2 and 3, at the exit next to the Mini Cooper shop. Walk past Mini and the Rolls Royce that is the size of a cathedral and keep going from there towards the queues.
5. At this stage, you will encounter some foreign media. It could just be your 15 minutes, so make the most of it…or avoid eye contact and run past them like I did.
6. Only start talking to the person next to you if you want to carry on with a conversation. Awkward silences in the sun are heavy.
7. They let you into the Ticketing Office in groups, so if the line aint moving for a while, don’t panic.
8. Once inside. If you have your credit card with you, DON’T stand in a queue! The World Cup people still had tons patience today, and they’ll direct you to one of the ticketing machines. DON’T PANIC if it says your card is invalid – this happened to 90% of the people in the group…but it’s better to try. When your card doesn’t work in the machine, stand in the queue on the right hand side. The staff are extremely helpful.
9. Make sure you have your ID book with you.
10. When leaving, go back past Cathedral car and Mini, and make sure you have the exact change for the machine – there is a sign that indicates it doesn’t pay out. My parking cost me R7.00 for just under an hour.

It’s really not as time consuming as I thought it would be. I wouldn’t do it again…but it is worth seeing the fuss that Sandton has made over the event that is finally sparking the patriotic flame our country so badly needs.

My only other advice is go now before any more foreigners arrive and our city starts sounding like the hot spots of Cape Town.

It's a pizza LIE!

The old wives tale/tip for the modern woman about heating up cold pizza in a frying pan is a LIE!!!!!

I'm guessing the idea is that it is quicker than heating it up an oven, and stays crispier than it would had it ended up in a microwave. Both ideas are true. The result, unfortunately...not so much.

Yes - my lack of patience (YET AGAIN) got in the way of my experiment, and I guess I shouldn't have put the gas up the highest it could go. I shouldn't have ignored the sizzling I heard from the kitchen while I was trying to warm up at the heater in the lounge. And as for testing one piece before tossing the entire thing in wasn't my finest moment of the day.

The base was scorched, the topping ice cold, and the kitchen is filled with smoke (AGAIN), but some lessons you have to learn the hard way I guess...which is, incidentally, why I am warning anyone who feels the need to test this ridiculously stupid theory.

So unless you enjoy food that leaves a carbonised aftertaste, or something that looks a bit like a lung of a heavy smoker, or scrubbing the burned bits off your mom's frying pan - I'd advise you take the time and use the oven.