braindump
a very belated FUCK YES, AMERICA, MAKE ME PROUD. I will be missing the final, though. I am really looking forward to Women's World Cup though!
***
I'm back in New York City.
It's weird being back. It always is. I have such a weird relationship with this city. I love it to pieces but it's horribly expensive and disorienting and can get very lonely very fast (proof positive: "alone" and "lonely" are two very different concepts.) But I love it and there honestly is no place like it. It's hard to run out of things to do as long as you're willing to really walk and explore. I want to do as much exploring as possible in the time I have - it's one of my favorite things to do in this city, I think.
Things I've done so far:
* visited Adam, because well, he is perfect. Going again on Saturday and waking up at ass o'clock to do it. I don't mind, though. ♥
* Flushing, including the discovery of New World Mall. I have never seen so much Engrish ~fashuun~ in my life. I am a little intimidated by being surrounded by captivating, gorgeous young Asian ladies. Not sure why. I am still searching for my perfect Flushing dumpling spot - let me know if you have any recs.
* Adam's dad in town for Father's Day weekend, did the touristy stuff: Freedom Tower in progress, Bowling Green, Battery Park (a glimpse of the filming of Men In Black 3!), East River Ferry (passes under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges), Herald Square Macy's (USMNT red kit out of stock, booooo), Times Square, Patzeria's Perfect Pizza (46th between 7th and 8th, my ideal NY slice of white), St. Patrick's Cathedral, FAO Schwartz, Brooklyn Bridge Park at night, Central Park, Lincoln Center, Time Warner Center, Yankee Stadium.
* Life and times with my friend Jess: Chelsea Market (Lucy's Whey nom nom), High Line, Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village, SoHo (I am lusting after so many Uniqlo things - more on that later), Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.
Places I want to see before I leave in July:
* Russ and Daughters, and general exploration of the Lower East Side as I haven't been there much.
* Coney Island, especially El Dorado arcade - I hope they still have the In the Groove machines.
* At least one major museum
* At least one borough's botanical gardens
* attempt to actually explore Brooklyn (I live in Queens, and getting from one to the other is suprisingly tedious with public transit)
* Nevada Smith's
Random things I want to buy/am lusting after:
* USMNT red kit, as stated before. Probably hitting Nike Town on 57th and 5th tomorrow to try it.
* a foundation that actually works on my face. CURSE MY DRY SKIN AND ACNE SCARS UGH.
* Uniqlo: I kind of want to buy half the store. They have ~my aesthetic~ (functional, inexpensive, quality basics with flattering cuts) down pat. I'll probably end up picking up a pair of chinos. Also, the nerd shirts, GOOD LORD THE NERD SHIRTS. The Gundam Illustrations collection alone is genius:
and LORD ALMIGHTY THEY TEAMED UP WITH GHOST IN THE SHELL. kadjsfoihaoefhaofhoahfoa. The designs aren't quite as perfect (to me) as the Gundam set but the Tachikoma shirt is pretty sweet:
also oneshottoyour asked me some questions! Feel free to comment that you want questions and I'll ask. :)
1. Of the ones you have uploaded right now, which is your favorite and why?
I assume you mean my LJ icons: and ugh, I can't pick! I do love this paper crane because I fangirl the second season of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex to death, and origami is the one craft that I've stuck with through thick and thin over the years.
2. If you could have brunch with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
Oh goodness, the list is very long, but the general categories are: my footie idols, my food idols (yes I want some honest critique), my anime/manga/games idols, and maybe just for some ~cultural completeness~ some Filipino revolutionaries. I HAVE A WEIRD SET OF INTERESTS OKAY. And I would be cooking all night before brunch and fretting endlessly. :P
3. What, in your opinion, is the single best thing about the German NT?
Teamgeist. The idea that no matter where people play at club level, no matter what part of the country you're from, everyone comes together and works together to make it awesome. I mean, that may be true for a lot of NTs (certainly the Yanks love their bro-tastic teasing and bonding) but it seems particularly apparent for the Germans, and it often translates to exciting, lovely footie on the pitch.
On a more shallow note, the Strenesse sponsorship. YES.
4. Favorite soccer match of all time?
Ugh don't make me deciiiiiiiiiiiiiide. *fret* For pure nostalgia, I'll throw one out there: Germany vs. Portugal third place match, World Cup 2006. The first match I saw in a ~bar (ESPN Zone in Times Square, which is gone now) and it was basically a highlight reel of young, bright-eyed Bastian Schweinsteiger being a BAMF. Other candidates: Germany vs. Turkey Euros 2008 for nearly half naked Philipp Lahm being flawless at the last possible moment; Bayern vs. Man United CL 2010 (both legs), Chelsea vs. Liverpool CL 2009 (both legs), and, even though we lost, Red Bulls vs. Earthquakes 2010 playoffs, second leg. The MLS has no energy my ass. Still sobbing about that being Juan Pablo Angel's last Red Bulls goal though. WHYYYYYYYYYY.
...I like heart attacks, which explains a lot. >.>
5. What are your thoughts on WAGS in real person slash fic?
I think if well characterized and useful to the plot, the ladies certainly have their place and are welcome. I don't like them villanized without good cause, though I do understand letting them fade to the background in some fics. I think I would enjoy reading kinky player/WAG fic but I am probably deeply in the minority on that one lolsigh
***
I'm back in New York City.
It's weird being back. It always is. I have such a weird relationship with this city. I love it to pieces but it's horribly expensive and disorienting and can get very lonely very fast (proof positive: "alone" and "lonely" are two very different concepts.) But I love it and there honestly is no place like it. It's hard to run out of things to do as long as you're willing to really walk and explore. I want to do as much exploring as possible in the time I have - it's one of my favorite things to do in this city, I think.
Things I've done so far:
* visited Adam, because well, he is perfect. Going again on Saturday and waking up at ass o'clock to do it. I don't mind, though. ♥
* Flushing, including the discovery of New World Mall. I have never seen so much Engrish ~fashuun~ in my life. I am a little intimidated by being surrounded by captivating, gorgeous young Asian ladies. Not sure why. I am still searching for my perfect Flushing dumpling spot - let me know if you have any recs.
* Adam's dad in town for Father's Day weekend, did the touristy stuff: Freedom Tower in progress, Bowling Green, Battery Park (a glimpse of the filming of Men In Black 3!), East River Ferry (passes under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges), Herald Square Macy's (USMNT red kit out of stock, booooo), Times Square, Patzeria's Perfect Pizza (46th between 7th and 8th, my ideal NY slice of white), St. Patrick's Cathedral, FAO Schwartz, Brooklyn Bridge Park at night, Central Park, Lincoln Center, Time Warner Center, Yankee Stadium.
* Life and times with my friend Jess: Chelsea Market (Lucy's Whey nom nom), High Line, Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village, SoHo (I am lusting after so many Uniqlo things - more on that later), Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.
Places I want to see before I leave in July:
* Russ and Daughters, and general exploration of the Lower East Side as I haven't been there much.
* Coney Island, especially El Dorado arcade - I hope they still have the In the Groove machines.
* At least one major museum
* At least one borough's botanical gardens
* attempt to actually explore Brooklyn (I live in Queens, and getting from one to the other is suprisingly tedious with public transit)
* Nevada Smith's
Random things I want to buy/am lusting after:
* USMNT red kit, as stated before. Probably hitting Nike Town on 57th and 5th tomorrow to try it.
* a foundation that actually works on my face. CURSE MY DRY SKIN AND ACNE SCARS UGH.
* Uniqlo: I kind of want to buy half the store. They have ~my aesthetic~ (functional, inexpensive, quality basics with flattering cuts) down pat. I'll probably end up picking up a pair of chinos. Also, the nerd shirts, GOOD LORD THE NERD SHIRTS. The Gundam Illustrations collection alone is genius:
and LORD ALMIGHTY THEY TEAMED UP WITH GHOST IN THE SHELL. kadjsfoihaoefhaofhoahfoa. The designs aren't quite as perfect (to me) as the Gundam set but the Tachikoma shirt is pretty sweet:
also oneshottoyour asked me some questions! Feel free to comment that you want questions and I'll ask. :)
1. Of the ones you have uploaded right now, which is your favorite and why?
I assume you mean my LJ icons: and ugh, I can't pick! I do love this paper crane because I fangirl the second season of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex to death, and origami is the one craft that I've stuck with through thick and thin over the years.
2. If you could have brunch with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
Oh goodness, the list is very long, but the general categories are: my footie idols, my food idols (yes I want some honest critique), my anime/manga/games idols, and maybe just for some ~cultural completeness~ some Filipino revolutionaries. I HAVE A WEIRD SET OF INTERESTS OKAY. And I would be cooking all night before brunch and fretting endlessly. :P
3. What, in your opinion, is the single best thing about the German NT?
Teamgeist. The idea that no matter where people play at club level, no matter what part of the country you're from, everyone comes together and works together to make it awesome. I mean, that may be true for a lot of NTs (certainly the Yanks love their bro-tastic teasing and bonding) but it seems particularly apparent for the Germans, and it often translates to exciting, lovely footie on the pitch.
On a more shallow note, the Strenesse sponsorship. YES.
4. Favorite soccer match of all time?
Ugh don't make me deciiiiiiiiiiiiiide. *fret* For pure nostalgia, I'll throw one out there: Germany vs. Portugal third place match, World Cup 2006. The first match I saw in a ~bar (ESPN Zone in Times Square, which is gone now) and it was basically a highlight reel of young, bright-eyed Bastian Schweinsteiger being a BAMF. Other candidates: Germany vs. Turkey Euros 2008 for nearly half naked Philipp Lahm being flawless at the last possible moment; Bayern vs. Man United CL 2010 (both legs), Chelsea vs. Liverpool CL 2009 (both legs), and, even though we lost, Red Bulls vs. Earthquakes 2010 playoffs, second leg. The MLS has no energy my ass. Still sobbing about that being Juan Pablo Angel's last Red Bulls goal though. WHYYYYYYYYYY.
...I like heart attacks, which explains a lot. >.>
5. What are your thoughts on WAGS in real person slash fic?
I think if well characterized and useful to the plot, the ladies certainly have their place and are welcome. I don't like them villanized without good cause, though I do understand letting them fade to the background in some fics. I think I would enjoy reading kinky player/WAG fic but I am probably deeply in the minority on that one lolsigh