SP*RS at home

I'm just going to gloss over the reality of what actually happened and concentrate on positive things. I figure through positive thought good things will happen. When good things start happening then I can relax my positive thinking. Sort of like being 2-nil up.... OH wait... fuck.

Friday was good. I went and saw Brian Poshean or however you spell his name. I ran into the Librarian and T-Bone. It seemed like I hadn't seen T-Bone in quite a while but I know it had only been a few weeks. All and all a good comedy night.

Saturday morning, however, I should have just stayed in bed. The pub enjoyed quite a lively crew, even if I was half asleep and feeling the effects of the night before. I know at one time I had done a cartwheel across Howard Street. I distinctly remember that and running away from ScouseDrummer as he was trying to jump on me. I can't even remember why.

In essence, me and a rolled up hoodie found a comfortable spot to enjoy a nice easy Saturday morning. And like most things in my life, it started out well, shiny and bright. The sun rose in the east and the moon set in the west.

However the bane of my existence decided it would monkey-wrench my good feelings. If ten tons of bricks could come down and knock me in my head, I would call it the second half at Ashburton Grove on 20 November 2010. My own personal disaster.

I remember leaning over to GrumpyGooner at one point and making the statement of how those people had done this before. How the singular instance of stupidity residing in North London had come back from a 2-nil deficit and stole points.

I shouldn't just vent my anger, but in short, it ruined the rest of the weekend. I became physically sick and stayed in bed the rest of the day, dancing between sleep and mild annoyance. Thank the gods for Ken Burns Jazz streaming on Netflix.

The only consolation was a Chelski loss, which I had forecast before walking out the door at the pub. I guess not all is loss then.

QUICK non-football update, for those who care.
STATION, otherwise known as my band, will be playing Sidebar on 26-NOV-10 and 4-DEC-10, for those who care. 4-DEC-10 is ScouseDrummer's birthday show, so make it an effort and show for that one or both if you really like us.

And for sticking around, here's some video from the Barclay Show.



~LeChat

FAILURE

-interview excerpt clipped from Arseloba Magazine.

M. LeChat, apparently you failed at picking who would come out of group and beyond. Can you explain this to us?

That's correct. I am no ocotopus. I can't believe I got beat on my picks by an 8 armed freak that lives in an aquarium. Seriously, who would have thunk it.

Is that your excuse or better, the reason for your failure?

What do I have to say for myself, absolutely nothing. The cup this year had a fair number of surprises and we're edging up to a final that is probably the least enthralling since... I don't know when. I am not that old, even though there are some who may beg to differ.

What was your desire for the final?

I was really hoping for a minnows versus shark final. Now, we have a bloated whale versus whale plankton eating fest. *le sigh*

Can you hear the whale song?
HOoOOOOOoooland.. spAIIIIIIIIIIINN.... ppppsshshhhhhhh
Last bit is blowhole noise, if you don't know what whales sound like, I suggest you go to one of those new age hippie shops and buy a soundtrack.

Do you at least plan to watch the game?

I will take my normal stroll and head to the pub for the action on the weekend. I will just be there for the football though. I don't really care which side ends up with the cup. Sure, it would be nice for Spain to bring it and it will make me stop with all my paella and gazpacho jokes.

So, any regrets M. LeChat?

My only regret is I didn't get to watch enough games with the local crew. Well that and having to endure the incessant babble from the rabble, which more or less subsided once certain squads got knocked out.

So the crowds were mostly rabble?

No, not at all. It was a good crowd for most every game, that I attended. You know this is good for football in general. I would love to see a regular crowd show up in August when the EPL kicks off but that is just mere wishful thinking on my part.

You don't see the crowds being around come start of the European seasons?

Meh, maybe for the first couple, as it will be right after the ManShitty and Inter game on July 31st. It would be nice if the football fever stuck around, but come the middle of November, they'll be gone. You may get one or two, but it would be a pleasure to have a few more.

Mentioning the EPL and European seasons, what is your take on the Arsenal transfers?

I don't discuss those until I see the man kick the ball in red and white.

There have been two confirmed signings, what are your thoughts?

I do not discuss those.
*glaring at the reporter*

Well, um, alright, what are your feelings on the French meltdown?

The FFF meltdown was bound to happen. Domenech should have been fired years ago. Gallas has a short blurb in the Guardian about it. I mean, he's not the say all and be all of French football but he does make the point I've been making for the last few years.

So mentioning the French, how do you think Koscielny will pair with Vermaelen?

*throws litter box at reporter*

~LeChat

Villa at Home (and other holiday stuff.. so it is long)

Alright, here we go. I was debating on whether I should start this from mid-week or not. I decided, probably against my better intuition, why not... funny things did happen. So grab a cup of tea and some warm slippers.

Christmas Eve-Eve

The night prior my old indoor friends were looking for people to fill in for their match at local indoor arena. I had nothing better to do so figured I would make an appearance and run around a bit. I jotted out a quick, "I'll be there," and that was done.

After work, I decided it would be best for me not to travel all the way to the homestead and go have some food and drinks at one of the fine establishments between the arena and work. I made some calls and met up with ChelskiGirl for a couple. She was filling me in on her trip, since I hadn't heard anything from her since she had returned.

Somewhere along the second cocktail or so, a bright idea came across to go see this Polish Christmas Carole Parade. We met up with a couple of her friends and ended up amongst a mob of Polish/Semi-Polish or whatever. There was a truck pulling a guy with an accordian, a drummer with a full drum set and a couple of horn players.

I mean it had to have been well over 100 people all massed on Broadway singing Jingle Bells. When we got up there with the santa hat wearing friends, it was just in time for the critical mass to begin its movement.

Things to note: Christmas Eve Eve was bloody cold, well bloody cold to be walking around and caroling. I just wanted a beer. Apparently, there are other people who really like this sort of thing. Correction: A shit ton of people who like said thing.

That's me hiding my face with one of the Santa Hat wearing friends.

Well after following the procession around for five more minutes, ChelskiGirl and I ducked out to her other place of employment to imbibe in some Chocolate Stouts. It was just the thing needed for a cold winter night.

My infinite wisdom, having about 3 of these Stouts, was in a mood to go play some football. I was tip top as they say. I make it to the arena and play had already started. I changed into the old uniform, felt good, made my way to the floor and hopped on as a sub. Less than 1 minute on, the other team wanted me to change, for kit clashing. The ref was even a little confused and whispered a comment as such.

Being the uniformly anal person I am about my kits, I put on the other black one, without the white fade and all was good. There's not much to mention of the game. I stumbled around for a bit, shoved a couple of people but didn't gain any cards.

I was having a good time though, so I hope I can fill in some other time. My ankle didn't even bother me, which is always double plus good. Now if I could only get the defense to pump the ball forward to me, then maybe I could have one of my little cheeky goals that I like.

On the way home, in my mind... I started calling randomly selected people from my phone. I still don't know why. A Certain Scouser was the unlucky one who answered. We talked for a bit, apparently she was in Buffalo robbing houses or something. That's all I can really remember her saying and something about not driving crazy, still unsure on that last part.

Actual Christmas Eve

The day started out nice. I was surprised that my ankle wasn't giving it to me, which had me overjoyed. That evening, some of us were getting together for a Christmas Eve dinner. I was bringing the eggnog or so it had been decided over Chocolate Stouts the night before or somewhere along the line.

I will point out two cool things, besides giving ChelskiGirl her BFF mug, which was more embarrassing to buy than anything else. A big giant pink mug for my BFF, I know the girl at the register was thinking I had some issues. Well I did get this great Madness tea towel. I need to figure out where to put it, but that's the first cool thing.

Second cool thing was Birmingwho coming in late, a bit well for the wear. He offered some vodka that he had but there was less than a quarter of the bottle left. He was in rare form and kept saying "Arsenal are going to lose to Villa, you know that right." He must have repeated it like 5 times before knocking over several glasses of water and then passing out on the couch.

Christmas Day

Two words: BRUGAL RUM!

My Real (facist) loving cousin's wife had me in the family Christmas exchange. We cracked it open and had cuba libre's all afternoon. Beauty, eh?

Boxing Day!!! (St. Stephen's Day)

This has seriously become my favorite holiday, especially over the most recent years since you can get so many games on the satellite now. It's footballing heaven. Well, the Arsenal weren't playing til Sunday, due to whatever genius who created the schedule. However, the day did hold some nice points dropping surprises and a Scouser win. You don't see too many of those lately.

I just realized my speakers have gone to shit on my desktop. It took an Untouchables song to realize it. Hmm, surround sound here I come.



Boxing day had a weird non-influx of people. HalfArseDean pointed it out but I hadn't noticed. It was a significantly smaller crowd than in the past. Maybe the weather, maybe people traveling cause of the weekend being long but it still had an energy about it in my opinion.

I LOVE BOXING DAY!

St. John the Apostle's Day (otherwise known as the day after Boxing Day)

Did I ever tell you I love the Saint's calendar? It's a very interesting hodge podge of people who have been beatified. Now don't think I'm some over zealous religious nut but I do find the subject interesting to say the least. I blame it on Art History, you can't escape the subject.

The Arsenal were playing early, so as normal I did not go out late the night before. I make it into the pub to be greeted by an overly jovial GrumpyGooner. Well with a very loud, "Yah fahkin Cunt!"

His excuse is that he had been up all night, enjoying the life and got zero sleep. I do feel bad that his girl had to wake him up and drag his big ass down to the pub. GrumpyGooner was in rare form, even tried picking a fight with a 4 year old, who probably could have taken him in his state. The 4 year old was non-plussed to say the least. His mum is a Gooner, so she made sure GrumpyGooner didn't get the bottle to the head.

Well the pub Gooners are starting to have some injury woes as well, LilBlondieGooner broke her clavicle or something. She's in a brace, but seriously, don't help her cut her French Toast. She was about to stab NightCaller.

HalfArseDean wound her up a little bit as well. I thought she was going to have him. I thought they gave you pain medication to sedate you. I mean she's small and all, would figure she'd be half knocked out.

Bayern gave me a nice shirt. I felt kind of bad, cause as usual I was present-less. I just wanted to give a big hearty thanks mate and seriously...

Who the Fuck Are MAN UNITED?

I am going to give it to Hull, making them bastards work for their points. I just wanted them to drop two. I hadn't counted on a Hull win but it would have been nice. It would have been nice. It would have been nice. MancScum!

Oh and for those that read this and like American Football.

FUCK PITTSBURGH! FUCKING SCUM!

MONDAY (Sorry I am not looking up the Saint)

OK, I know it's not the day after but this is comedy gold, and I quote, The Guardian of course,...

Roberto Mancini, the new Manchester City manager, predicted his side could catch Chelsea at the top of the Premier League after their 3-0 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers maintained his immaculate start as Mark Hughes's replacement.

DUDE, you beat Wolves! Calm down. Calm Down.

Ciao
~LeChat

Carling cup West Brom at HOME!

I was of course at work. I understand that someone scored, someone got slapped, someone else scored and the ref is still a bastard. So in order to not bore you with my boring day of not being able to watch midweek matches here are a couple of videos.

Explanation: Nike did an advert.. video 1...


Someone did a parody.. video 2


And one of the true Mancs sent me this Evra ad.. tres cool!


~LeChat

Emirates Cup Weekend.

Around 1000 Saturday
Phone Ringing
"Hey...nothing, watching a movie... what? What game?...Are you serious?.. You down the pub? Fuck.... Where? No fuck that place... haha funny... I'll see ya down the pub."

That was the beginning of a very strange day.

I figured the pub would be empty, as it was raining and the mass-hole roaches who were here for the baseball game, don't like to venture out in the rain. At least that is what I was hoping for. It ended up being true. The pub is usually empty pre-season besides the tourist and other locals who come down for a pint.

Pub + Summer - World Cup(Euros)= Tourist Haven

"Hey Martha, look an Irish Pub. What's it called?"
(horrible mispronunciation)
"We must buy a drink here."
(sounds of Ride the Ducks going by which is quacking and YMCA or some other equally annoying disco sounding song)
"Martha, we got to go ride the ducks!"

Not that I am saying that I am something special but it does get a little annoying when you just want to have a pint and some breakfast, watch the football and enjoy pleasant conversation with like minded individuals.

Hmm, new person sitting at the bar. As you say, first impressions should be good ones and his was a pretty bad one. "Hey man, O2 shirt, love it." One of my top annoyances is calling out the sponsor on my shirt, unless it's within a proper context to be determined by myself. I try and ignore it but it is so hard.

Second impression wasn't much better. Being loud is one thing but being loud and off the mark is a whole different hemisphere. How many times do I have to mumble corrections into your directions? Seriously dude, did you really play this game when you were younger or are you saying that to make it sound like you know something? And honestly, grasping onto a player who has played a total of maybe 100 minutes in my teams kit, does not make that said player a bloody legend.

I'm still calm at this point but between me and the host, we're having a laugh at this poor guy's expense. I'm not a mean person but twice in less than 30 minutes he crossed the line of my sanity, PLUS he is very loud. He is sitting with people I like, so I keep it calm and pray that I don't have to deal with it again.

I have never prayed that hard for the three tweets at 90 minutes in my life.

Sunday on the other hand was rather uneventful. I popped down to the pub ahead of time, had another good breakfast, and one of my Chelsea friends came and sat through most of the game with me. They had a game on later and she was bored or something to that matter. By the way, that is a real woman, not a dig at the nancy boys.

(text out) Hey we are looking really good against the rangers.
(text in) Who doesn't? HAHAHA

The Arsenal pasted the Rangers, onto victory for a useless dinner plate, but hey it's something and at this point in time something is better than nothing.

OH and an internet gem for those familiar with Danny Dyer, Football Factories, The Real Football Factories and Guy Ritchie movies.

This is class and quite funny. A nice piece of satire.



Ciao
~LeChat

Preseason has begun!

Meh... really not much happening and I'm lazy so here's a video...