Update

Thanks to my very sweet boyfriend, I now have a link where I can see online live the World Cup games, so now I don't have to worry about missing any of them while I'm at work. Talk about someone who knows what I like . Baby, muito obrigada, beijinhos. It was the best Valentine´s Day present EVER! (**last week was the Brazilian Valentine's).

In this spirit, group phase is almost over, until now Argentina makes the game, Italy sucks as always, but I still looooove them, France sucks, which is nice, and Spain seem to have regained their confidence and Raul. I'm still waiting for Ronaldinho to show us what he can really do, as Brazil was kind of boring until now, sorry honey. Portugal vs. Mexico today, don't fight, chicas!

Two weeks more until I start my Portuguese class, it's cool, plus I'll be going with Maria, so we'll be able to meet each other, since lately we haven't as much as we were... I'm only going because it's free and because professional help is never useless; still I'm talking Portuguese every day at work, so this won't be too difficult for me.

What else? Aaahhhh... team building this weekend in Cheia, the company I work for is paying, so this will be soooo cool, I hope, at least, I'll get a little tan and if there's also a TV there so I won't miss the first phase of the eighth finals, everything will be perfect. Yeah, I'm missing the Deftones concert this Saturday at Arenele Romane, but it's not like I had so much money left until next paycheck (I had to pay the rent, I hate my father!!!), so a free weekend in the mountains sounds perfect. Photos will be coming soon.

¿Qué tal, capitán? ¿Seguimos navegando o nos quedamos parados hasta que se acabe el mundial?

Opening for a Magic Month

Of course, as every 4 years for some time, my every cell is connected to the World Cup spectacle, this incredible show that unites all football fans all over the world. I hear people saying ¨what´s the point¨, since Romania is not there... I say, I don´t care. I´m not watching football because Romania is playing or because Italy is playing... I´m watching football because it´s magic. I truly believe it´s the only thing in the world capable of uniting so many millions of people under one flag - that of hope, happiness, or maybe sadness that their team lost, that of admiration for those magic (magic magic magic, I'll repeat this word, because it is the only one that describes this) players that make our hearts bounce when we see them.

This year, every eye is directed to Brazil, to that magnificent attack they have, with 5 "craques" that you don't even know whom to choose - Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaká, Robinho and of course, my favorite, Adriano. Will they or will they? Win, of course... there's a myth saying that Brazil never wins when they are favorites. And there's another saying that, according to some predictions made years ago (and which, incredibly, do come true), they will win this year.

As every World Cup or European or whatever, my heart will be next to the Squadra Azzura. I know, everybody tells me they are boring, they don't play Latin football and so on, but who cares? I've been supporting them since a little girl, first because of that Roberto Baggio, whom I always admired for his character in the field and outside the field, and then because I got so used to it that I can't really switch teams, not even when Romania is playing against them. And as every cup, I will passionately love Holland and the Czech Republic, although they have defeated us in the preliminaries, and Argentina, because half of the team plays at Inter. Of course, I will, also passionately, hate France (because I hate Zidane, though I admire him), England (because I hate all of the English players), and Japan (just because, there's no reason for that).

This year, of course, although I have been fighting against my own convictions (that of disliking the Inter traitors - Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, and that I don't like the teams that always win), a piece of my heart will also be cheering for the "verde-ouro"-s.

But most of all I want to see beautiful football. I don't care who wins, as long as they deserve it. And though the beginning was somehow disappointing, and I only liked Germany and Argentina so far, I do believe this is going to change and I will feel, on the 9th of July after the final, that I have been watching a show with great performers.

To all of you who don't like football, I'm really sorry, but this month is ours and you will only hear us talking about this. So hang in there...

PICTURE FROM EUROSPORT

The Music in My Life

Today I wanted to talk about music. As I was really inspired by Iris' concert last night, it was extraordinary, and what can I say? I missed them, really... True fact : it was raining before they started to sing, it stopped the moment they got on stage. After all, it's IRIS.

So, as I was saying, this post is about music, Feel free not to read it, it will be long, maybe boring. It's about my music, what is it that inspires me, what makes me go through every day. I need music, I have music in my life, I hear it at every step, and I can't live without it. Different days, different moments make me listen to different music. It's just who I am, although some people may criticize this, the lack of one unique style.

I grew up listening to Queen, Kraftwerk, Beatles, Phoenix. My mom loved music and she taught me and my brother appreciate it. I still listen to Queen and Phoenix ; I never understood Kraftwerk, and I hate Beatles.

I started listening to rock in the 3rd grade, it was when I discovered Guns'n'Roses. Then, in the 5th grade, I started listening to Bon Jovi. It was and still is my favorite band. And although I could listen to any rock band, sometimes even punk, I will always return to my first love. It is the only music that makes me find peace, that accompanies me in all my happy and sad moments. I have a friend that asked me one day why I like them, because she thinks they don't make real music... I don't know, I just do. They're poets.

When I wake up in the morning, there are 2 bands I always listen to to put me in a good mood. It is either Cargo, or Rammstein. It's either "Ochii din sertar" or "Sehnsucht". They wake me up and make me start the day smiling. I don't listen to music that makes me feel sad. I think it sucks to drown yourself in depressing thoughts, it makes you a loser. Everything I choose to listen to has the only purpose of making me feel better. Like Pasărea Colibri, they make me happy.

And when I'm angry, really angry and need desperately to calm down, I usually go to Craddle of Filth, Deftones, Marilyn Manson. My boyfriend said I am a suicide girl because I like Craddle of Filth. It's not true, it's not auto-distructive, just anger releasing.

And then there are the classics... I mean, IRIS. No offense to American, English, German rock, but Iris are the best, in my point of view. No additional comments needed. Who knows them, knows what I'm talking about.

There are a lot more, I won't put them in here... I will just say this, I like poetry. And of course, I like music with a message. Poems accompanied by music. And I recently discovered, thanks to Ric, two magnificent poets : Renato Russo and Cazuza. Rock musicians, outcasts of society, POETS. I recommend their bands, Legião Urbana and Barão Vermelho. Of course, you'll need to know Portuguese.

PICTURE© 2006 moonlight

Entry for May 30, 2006

They approved my vacation plan!!!!! Rio, here I come!!! (in 6 months, but who cares???) Hopefully I'll spend Christmas with my baby! Will we have enough patience until then?

PICTURE FROM WEBSHOTS

Some News

1. As you can see, I have changed the theme, matching with the summer and with my missing... you know what, the usual, THE BEACH. Unfortunately, this summer no sea & sand for me, but hopefully the upstairs guys will approve my vacation plan so that I could be able to spend some time on the nice sunny Praia de Ipanema (or whatever other beach) in Rio.

2. Really really good news (for me, of course) : started working with the Portuguese clients, amazed on how well I speak, and improving, making someone proud and waiting to see if they really increase my salary, as they said they would.

3. Unfortunately, I need to go home this weekend. The single purpose of that is having a fight with my father, on some unresolved issues, I hope it will be BIG, because I have gathered a lot of tension and need to eliminate the stress . Sadly, I'll miss 3 whole days from the Tuborg Festival... By the way, does someone know when will Iris sing??? Please please if you do, let me know, I might postpone my trip to Piatra if they are due to sing this weekend.

4. And finally... 2 more weeks until World Cup!!! Sadly, I won't be able to watch all the games live, as I was used to since... forever, I'm proud to say I have never missed a WC or EC game since I started liking football, back in 1994 (I'm not that old, so '94 is a reasonable year to start watching football). I'm letting you know now, so there won't be any complaints :

- I won't take into consideration any offers to go out, attend parties,walks in the park or whatever, unless it's related to the World Cup, meaning unless we go somewhere to watch a game ;

- the TV will be mine, I don't care if there's something else on that might seem important to you, I won't care (this is for my brother and his girlfriend) ;

- nothing will be more important than this, I don't care what problems you might have, I won't be available, even if I might be online on messenger (unless you are a really really good friend and the problem is a life or death one, which I hope it won't happen) ;

- and of course, although you might not like it and although some might be entitled to believe, I won't be wishing for Brazil to win, unless Adriano will play and unless Italy will be out of the competition (but not being defeated by Brazil). So, I'm sorry, sweetie, but Forza Azzuri!!!

See ya!

Carta aberta

Amor,

Hoje tô sorrindo, desde a manhã, junto com o sol, com a primavera... Hoje tô apaixonada da vida, e de você, com a mesma intensidade de sempre. E estou feliz, não sei porque, só isso, estou feliz. Mesmo que a saudade tá apertando, mesmo que já não tenho paciência, mesmo que meus lábios estão esperando com tanta ânsia um beijo seu.

Tô nascendo de novo, cada mês de Mayo, mais ou menos quando nascem as flores e quando meus dedos dos pés começam a sentir o ar. Tô nascendo de novo, livre como o vento, e cada dia você está mais e mais cerca de mim, da minha alma que brota.

Hoje tô apaixonada de você, um pouco mais que ontem, cada hora um poco mais que na de antes. É tão doce esse abandono nos braços das lembranças, é tão doce ficar sonhando de olhos abertos com todos essos beijos que me vai dar... Sou tua, amor...

PICTURE BY SOMEONE IN CORUÑA

Ally

I've got this new obsession - Ally McBeal, you know, the series... I've been watching it day after day, mostly because it's fun, but part because I find myself amazed by how much of me it shows.

Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near being this cute little lawyer throwing shoes into people's heads, but... I am such a drama queen sometimes, aren't I? I mean, I like, no, I LOVE to make a tragedy out of everything! What the hell, I've got this great job, some people even find me pretty, I have great friends... and still... I've got issues, and I make them sooo damn big, that sometimes I think I need to seek professional help. Just kidding, They're not that big.

So, what exactly makes my problems bigger than anybody else's? Well, as Ally would say, they're mine. And I love them. I love having problems. My life would be so boring without them, that when I don't have one, I make it up. Is it sane? Definitely not. I'm nuts, I don't deny it. Sometimes I like being in the center of attention. Especially in the center of HIS attention. I got really freaked out when I found out he's joined a rock band. Why, would you ask me... I don't know, maybe it's the thought that now I'm not the most important thing he's got going in his life. He's trying to talk to me in Portuguese, so that I'd learn faster, I've been bugging him with this the whole week. And what do I do? I tell him I don't want to. Yeah, he started yelling... Who wouldn't have? I mean, it is in my best interest, I'm the one talking with the Portuguese clients at work, right? And then I started crying, he felt blackmailed, which is kind of true, cause I'm using every possibility I get to make him feel guilty for not having enough time for me... although now to be honest, I looooved to hear him play, and I'm quite proud of him.

God, my problems seem so unimportant... and most of them don't even exist. So I am a bit like Ally. I actually love crying, I love the drama, I look for it intensely and live it up to its extremes...

I know something about love

You've gotta want it bad

If that guy's got into your blood

Go out and get him

If you want him to be the very part of you

That makes you want to breathe

Here's the thing to do

Tell him that you're never gonna leave him

Tell him that you're always gonna love him

Tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now

I know something about love

You gotta show him it and make him

See that moon up above

Reach out and get it

If you want him to

Make your heart sing out

And if you want him to

Only think of you

Tell him that you're never gonna leave him

Tell him that you're always gonna love him

Tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now

Ever since the world began it's been that way

For woman and man were created

To make love their destiny

Then why should true love be so complicated? Oh

I know something about love

You gotta take it and

Show him what the world is made of

One kiss will prove it

If you want him to be

Always by your side

Take his hand tonight

Swallow your foolish pride and

Tell him that you're never gonna leave him

Tell him that you're always gonna love him

Tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now

Tell him that you're never gonna leave him

Tell him that you're always gonna love him

Tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now

PICTURE FROM GOOGLE / SONG BY VONDA SHEPPARD

Entry for May 06, 2006

They say that for every beginning there's an end. And for every end there's a new beginning. Maybe it's easy for me to talk, maybe I should just shut up, stop pretending that I'm good at giving advice to people...

I just know that for every bridge we cross, we leave behind a world, a friend, a feeling, some good things, some bad ones... and for every bridge we cross, we also face a new world, and we have no idea what it would bring us, whom will we meet, what will we experience, what will we feel...

I have met many great people in my life, and you are two of them. You will always have moments no one will ever be able to take away from you. I wish I had the power to make things right again. To compress the time. To dissolve the distances. To imprison all the beauty, the magic, the intensity of love in a little box and then release it when time comes, when the hands would find each other again and the spirits would be united in one incredible dream that would finally come true...

Maybe my words are worthless. My point was : never be sorry it's ending, be happy it happened. And never forget that a new morning comes after each night.

P.S. Why isn't love enough to get us through life, why aren't we happy and need a lot of other useless things like money, career...? Help me out, people, am I one of the few true romantic persons left on the earth? I hate this world, that doesn't let us live in peace, if we say we don't need anything else as long as we have that one person that makes our heart bounce...

PICTURE BY SOMEONE IN CORUÑA

Contramaestre del Amortotal

Y mira que hoy estoy escribiendo en castellano... Tal vez sea porque me resulta más fácil, ahora, después de hablar español toda la mañana. Tal vez sea porque hay una persona que lo va a leer, y es para darle un descanso del inglés...

Pues en realidad ni siquiera sé que decir. Solamente que estoy aquí. Por aquí. Sintiendo la primavera con todo mi ser. Resfriada y esperando que se acabe el día. Queriendo que venga el fin de semana, para que pueda disfrutar del sol. Más tranquila. Estoy entendiendo que nada se puede hacer bien si no pones todo de tu parte. Y entendiendo que el amor no se acaba después de una ausencia de 2 días.

Hoy escribí un mensaje para alguién. Petición de un amigo. Leí su blog, bueno, sus apuntes, y me conmovieron. En realidad, todo lo que tenga que ver con los sufrimientos de amor me conmueve. Soy una romántica, siempre lo fui. No me gusta ver la gente sufrir por amor. Yo pienso que hay que luchar, hay que hacer todo lo posible para que el amor venza. No sé si lo he puesto bien, si me va a entender, o si algo de lo que le he escrito le va a ayudar. Quizás no. Quizás sí. Lo único que espero es que no deje de luchar por lo que quiere.

Y también voy a añadir aquí mis gracias. Gracias a una persona que me trae cada día el mar. Y aunque mi nostálgia sea por el Atlántico y aunque nunca estuve cerca del Mediterraneo, para mi cada imágen, cada sonido, cada olor que tenga que ver con el mar me ilumina el día. Estoy aquí. Tal vez no tan presente como quisiera, pero estoy aquí. ¡Un saludo, capitán!

PICTURE BY SOMEONE IN CORUÑA

10 Things I Hate About...Me

I hate myself for remembering things I thought I'd forgotten. Persons I thought I'd forgotten. Conversations. Afternoons. Even the never-ending sad moments.

I hate myself for wishing that things were different. That things were the same as they were some time ago. That I were in peace. I hate myself for wishing not to feel. For wishing not to love. For wishing to live in that sweet indifference I used to, when it was easier not to care, when I was so sure about my future.

I hate regretting the things I did. I hate missing the times when I had only dreamt about going away. I hate thinking to start hating Spain. Do I make any sense? Guess not...

The sun is shinning and I'm stuck at work. Maybe that's the reason for my melancholic state of mind. I hate the air conditioning that makes me not being able to breathe normally. And I'm wondering how much time do we have left and who will be the first one to give up the fight for this incredibly beautiful dream.