World Cup and Quote Quiz

Quarterfinals begin tomorrow so how did I do in the round of 16?
Germany v Sweden - Germany - correct
Argentina v Mexico - Argentina - correct
England v Ecuador - England - correct
Portugal v Holland - Portugal - oops, I picked Holland
Italy v Australia - Italy - correct
Ghana v Brazil - Brazil - correct
France v Spain - France - oops, I picked Spain(underachievers again)
Ukraine v Switzerland - Ukraine - oops, I picked Switzerland


So here is how the quarters shape up:
Argentina v Germany - I have no idea who to pick. Argentina has looked solid the whole time, while Germany keeps looking better and better. Can Germany ride this momentum even more? I don't know. They have a good chance. I am going to still go with Argentina but if I am wrong, I won't be surprised.

Italy v Ukraine - Ukraine's offense has only looked good in one game whil Italy has a strong defense. Sounds like a win for Italy to me. 1-0 maybe, but still a win.

England v Portugal - England still doesn't look that good and yet, they have made it to the quarters. Can this keep up against a good Portugal team. Honestly, I think England has one more surprise suckout win in them. England wins in penalty kicks.

France v Brazil - 2 games ago, we weren't even sure that France would get out of the group stage. Now they have a chance to upset Brazil. If France gets something behind their shots, they csn win as Brazil's defense is shaky. France will have to score as Brazil's offense is solid. Still Brazil wins. Unfortunately...

Quiz time, name the actor and movies he says these in:

1. "From now on I see a red sash, I kill the man wearing it. So run you cur. And tell the other curs the law is coming. You tell 'em I'm coming! And Hell's coming with me you hear! Hell's coming with me!"


2. "Okay, I get the picture White Tigers, Lords of Death, guys in funny suits throwing plastic explosives while poison arrows fall from the sky and the pillars of heaven shake, huh? Sure, okay, I see Charlie Chan, Fu Manchu and a hundred howlin' monkey temples, and that's just for starters, right? Fine! I'm back! I'm ready, goddammit let me at 'em!"

3. "When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of alot more important than the one on the back."

Transformers Teaser

Well, I had it here so you could just click on it, but that link was taken down. Just go to the official site, and you can now watch it. Be warned, it is going REEEEEEEEEAAAAAALLLY slow right now probably because of everyone watching it.

http://www.transformersmovie.com/


Tired of waiting for it to load, watch the really cool teaser for Spiderman 3! Man this looks good!




Working again for now...

My Unlovely Lady Lumps

What the heck? Like I haven't has enough stress lately...

Saturday, as I was driving home from the Bay Area and the whole GG thing, every bump in the road that I hit sent pain through my left breast. Every time I moved my left arm and hit my boob, it hurt. I mentioned it to Manuel, but didn't make a big deal of it.

Then Sunday night, laying in bed, my boob started hurting again, so I checked it out. Yeah, I found a lump. When I squeezed it, it seemed to pop. I made Manuel feel and he felt it too. He got fairly alarmed and encouraged me to make an appointment to see the doctor.

Which I did first thing Monday. My appointment was for the next day, Tuesday at 10am. And of course, my breast hurt off and on all day Monday.

So today I went for my appointment today and naturally, no pain. It never fails - whatever ails you enough to go to the doctor goes away the second you sit on that exam table.

She felt around, the "good" boob first, to get a baseline. Then onto the "bad" boob. She said she felt some fibrous tissue that didn't really concern her. As she was feeling though, it hurt, so I mentioned it, and she dug a little deeper.

And as she dug, I saw her face change. She got quiet, and looked like she was concentrating. Sure enough, she said she felt a lump (not the one I had felt) and wants me to get an ultrasound. She said it's nothing to be seriously worried about - we'll wait to see what the ultrasound says - and better to be safe than sorry. She also had me make an appointment for 2 months so she can check and see if things are better, the same, or, god forbid, worse.

So yeah, I'm a little worried. My great grandmother (GG) had breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy. I don't know about my grandmother, but I know my mom has had breast issues and has had to have a few biopsies.

So I have lady lumps, but not the lovely kind. Good thoughts, please...

Confused...

Martin Luther King Jr. was a brilliant man who advocated for peace. Why then, I ask you, does every ghetto in this country have a Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard? Wouldn't you think, because he is so revered, his street would be in a nicer part of town?!

Let's check those predictions

Ok, the round of 16, the elimination round starts tomorrow, well, actually in 6 hours since it is 130 in the morning. Let's check my predictions on who would be in it against what actually happened.

Group A - I said Germany and Poland advance - actually Germany and Ecuador
Group B - I said England and Sweden advance - CORRECT
Group C - I said Argentina and Holland advance - CORRECT
Group D - I said Portugal and Mexico advance - CORRECT
Group E - I said Italy and USA - actually Italy and Ghana
Group F - I said Brazil and Croatia - actually Brazil and Australia
Group G - I said France and Switzerland - CORRECT, but in reverse rder
Group H - I said Spain and Ukraine - CORRECT

Not too bad. Let's see the matchups with predictions
Second Round
Germany v Sweden - Germany
Argentina v Mexico - Argentina
Italy v Australia - Italy
Switzerland v Ukraine - Switzerland
England v Ecuador - England
Portugal v Holland - Holland
Brazil v Ghana - Brazil
Spain v France - Spain

Quarters
Germany v Argentina - Argentina
Italy v Switzerland - Italy
Holland v England - England
Brazil v Spain - Spain

Semis
Argentina v Italy - Argentina
England v Spain - Spain

Finals - Argentina v Spain - Argentina

Got a few controversial picks, but just going on gut from what I have seen so far. We'll see. Bedtime...

An interesting concept

The United States is out of the World Cup(more on that tomorrow), so I thought it would be good to write something positive(the anger comes tomorrow). I stumbled across a great site today while reading the comments on Val's blog. This guy, the Complimenting Commenter, has a very cool site where aims to get people to leave positive comments on other people's blogs. As today is the first day of summer, he is challenging people to leave 100 comments to 100 different people by the end of the summer. Doesn't sound too hard. I actually think it is an awesome idea. I get to see what other blogs are out there while maybe(hoepfully) getting people to come pay me a visit. I added a link on the side here as well as a couple of other cool blogs I have discovered in the last couple of days. Check them out if you get a chance and wish me luck in my goal to leave 100 compliments. As angry and pissy a person as I am, it might be a good thing...

Civil War

I got back into comics recently because I heard that there was a storyline coming out called Civil War that sounded interesting. Through 2 issues, I have to say that I made an amazing decision to start reading again. The storyline has been amazing. Basically, this is what is going on. Some young superheroes have a tussle with some villains which leads to an explosion and the deaths of hundreds of kids at a school. The public turns on heroes and demands super hero regulation - training, organization, and the topper, the unmasking of secret identities. It passes and becomes law. Naturally, not everyone agrees with this. Some heroes see it as way to make the public happy and support it. Others are clearly against it, mainly because of the secret identities thing. It puts them AND their families in danger. A bunch of heroes have now gone into hiding as vigilantes led by Captain America while the heroes who support it vow to track them down. At the end of the second issue which came out last week, the ultimate unmasking occured at a news conference set up by Iron Man and Spider Man(You can click on the pics to make them bigger):

Peter Parker's boss, Jonah Jameson, watches the press conference on tv...









Peter Parker voluntarily unmasks in front of the cameras....












Jonah Jameson faints. A classic moment in comics. Loved it. Can't wait for the next issue...

Let's look at those World Cup predictions...

Each team has played 2 games now and the final group games for each team start tomorrow. Let's review and look at my predictions...

Group A
I said it would be Germany, Poland, Ecuador, Costa Rica. Well, I was wrong here. Especially about Poland. They have stunk it up. They play Costa Rica tomorrow in a game that is strictly for pride. Germany and Ecuador tomorrow should be fun. Ecuador is actually in first on goal differential and only needs a tie to win the group. How crazy would that be? But you know what, Ecuador has played pretty good. Germany has been ok, but will need to step it up in the knockout stages. I predict a 2-1 German win tomorrow with Germany and Ecuador finishing 1-2 in the group.

Group B
I think the biggest surprises have been the heart of Trinidad and Tobago and the difficulty that England has had in scoring. With England/Sweden and T&T/Paraguay tomorrow, there is still a little doubt in the air. England has already advanced. They move to second though if Sweden beats them. T&T can squeeze past Sweden for second if England beats Sweden, T&T beat Paraguay, and T&T make up the minus three goal differential. I would love to see T&T advance because of how hard they have played. It is a longshot though. I see Sweden and England drawing making the other game pointless. England and Sweden go one-two in the group as I predicted.

Group C
Ivory Coast has played well, but Argentina and Holland have been the class of the group. They have won both their games and now play each other for control of the group. Because of goal differential, Argentina wins the group with a draw. I still predict a 2-1 win by Argentina making Argentina and Holland go 1-2 in the group as I precited...

Group D
Well, it SHOULD end up Portugal and Mexico. Portugal has looked ok, while Mexico looks lost without Borgetti. Unless Mexico loses big to Portugal in the last game while Angola beats Iran by a bunch, it should be Portugal and Mexico going 1-2. Mexico can get first in thr group if they beat Portugal, but I don't see that happening. My predictions should remain correct.

Group E
Well, after that gutty tie by the US against Italy and the upset win by Ghana over the Czechs, I actually think the US will advance. As you may know, they have to beat Ghana and have Italy beat the Czechs. There are other scenarios possible, but they are LONGSHOTS. Yes, I see the US doing it. Italy and USA go 1-2 like I predicted...

Group F
Blah, blah, Brazil is going to win this group. What will be interesting is the fight for second place. Australia needs just a tie against Croatia while Croatia advances if they can beat Australia. Australia has been a pleasant surprise while Croatia has been so-so. I don't see Australia letting down now. The game will end in a tie making Australia the second place team to the Brazilians. I thought it would be Croatia, but I think I'll be wrong here. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, OY OY OY!!

Group G
The biggest surprise has been how bad France has looked again. However, they play Togo last while the two teams ahead of them have to play each other. If France wins and Switzerland and South Korea doesn't end in a tie, France will go on. They can even go on if that game ends in a tie and France wins by two goals. There are a lot of options. Therefore, I see Switzerland and South Korea drawing, with France beating Togo by two goals. Switzerland gets first and France gets second. Just the reverse of what I predicted, but the right two teams...

Group H
Despite being rocked 4-0 by Spain, Ukraine is still the second best team in this group. Both will win their matches against Saudi Arabia and Tunisia respectively making Spain and Ukraine go 1-2 as predicted.

I will make my predictions for the second round on Friday. Thank you to those who got this far. I had pictures for all these groups, but they aren't loading for some reason...damnit...

Running out of time...

My job is killing me! No matter how hard I try, things just aren't clicking right now. I mean, I do what they ask me to, I try to stay busy, but the $ is just not coming in. I'm tired of things falling through for me and watching others who started at the same time as me start to get deals. I am not doing anything differently than them. They tell me that. Well, one lady just has a ton of friends who suddenly want to buy and sell, but I don't see that happening for me right now. I have my listing right now, but that still hasn't sold and it is frustrating. The overabundance of houses for sale and the way the market is right now is just killing me. I picked a career change at the absolute worst possible time. I talked to an experienced agent the other day and she said it has been the worst 6 months of her career. How is a new agent like me going to survive like that? If I could sell my listing it would be great because I will be getting 2 deals out of it. They tell me that they understand that I am doing all I can so at least I have that going for me. But they have given me until the end of July to sell it. Basically, I have 6 more weeks to sell it or I lose 2 deals. And if I lose them? Well, I could get lucky and pick up some more buyers in the meantime, but my luck hasn't gone that way yet. Jessica and I have basically given ourselves till the end of the Summer for this Real Estate thing. I love my job, she loves that I am happy, but we can't live with no paycheck from me. I only need about 8 deals in a year to make what I did as a teacher. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it isn't going that way for me. And then what do I do? Well, I guess I have to find another job. I don't know what. I don't want to go back to teaching. I hated teaching. I guess I could get a state job. I just don't want to end up in some job that they will give to anyone with a high school diploma. I have a college degree from a good school. It would kill me to waste it. I don't know where to begin. I could always do Real Estate part time when deals happen, but that would require me switching companies as my office doesn't allow part timers. Who knows, maybe I will find the perfect job. I think I have the perfect job right now. Just not the perfect timing. Well, I guess we will see in a few more months.

I HATE YOU!!!

There is this doctor at work who, I think intentionally, gives me a bad time. Every time I speak with her on the telephone it is a battle. I can't remember every single instance, but for example, she has interrupted my report then accused me of not giving her all of the information. And last night, the following exchange occurred. For the sake of anonymity, we'll call the doctor Dr. A (and yes, Mom, she's taken care of you...)

Background: I had a patient with a bad rash and the skin had broken open and was causing the patient a great deal of discomfort. Being the good nurse I am, I called Dr. A.

*ring ring*
Dr. A: (speaker phone) Hello?
Me: Dr. A? (it didn't sound like her)
*silence*
Me: Hello?
Dr. A: Yeeeessss...
Me: It's Jessica from San Juan. I'm calling about (patient) who has a rash on her (location) that...

At this point she interrupts me and tells me what medicines to give her, which is cool, but I feel it is important to give her all the information and let her know that the skin is broken (which I was about to do before she interrupted me). So I tell her.

Dr. A: Ok... Give her the Diflucan and Neosporin like I told you.
Me: Ok, can you tell me how the Diflucan comes? Milligrams and all?
Dr. A: No.
*silence*
Me: Well, I don't know how it comes, Dr. A.
Dr. A. *sighs* 150 mg.
Me: Ok, how often? (There are always 4 things you need for a correct medication order: 1) the drug 2) the dose 3) how to give it 4) how often to give it)
*silence*
Dr. A: (very patronizing) Just once.

When I hung up I honestly was on the verge of tears from anger because speaking to a doctor and advocating for your patient's safety and comfort should not be that difficult. I should not be given a bad time, harassed or spoken to like I'm a 5 year old retard for doing my job. If it was only once that this happened, I could let it go, but every time I speak to her on the telephone, without fail, I hang up pissed off because she does something like this.

A wise woman at work said that I'm probably especially sensitive to it because I go into the call with her on the defensive. And that makes sense - if she's treated me like crap every phone conversation we've had before, why wouldn't I be prepared for more? But also, in so doing, it's like I'm looking for it, thus more sensitive when it does happen. It makes sense...

But it doesn't make it right. Whatever I did to piss her off or get on her bad side, I wish I could take back because it is a horrible feeling to be spoken down to/harassed/belittled for doing your job.

Hopefully, there is More Than Meets the Eye

Yup, just a little over a year away until my movie dream comes true. They sure are keeping a tight wrap on the filming right now. Most pictures that get leaked quickly disappear for fear of lawsuit.

Crap....

Well, the U.S, got watch the mighty Czechs celebrate three times today. Just depressing. Guess we have to go and beat Italy now. Yeah....

What many Americans wouldn't understand...

The first three days of the World cup are over and what a spectacular time it has been. There have been beautiful goals, hard play, and a few surprises. No surprise can top 0-0 tie that Trinidad and Tobago was able to get with Sweden. In fact, this may have been the best of the 8 games so far. Wait, a 0-0 tie is the best game you may ask? See, this is where American sports mentality comes in. One of the reasons that many in America hate soccer is that they feel it is too low scoring. They feel a game can't be exciting unless many goals/points are scored. But they are so wrong. Let's look at this game deeper. This was Trinidad's first game in their first ever World Cup. They were going up against a fairly strong team in Sweden. By all accounts, they were supposed to get blown out. Yet, with one half down, they were still at 0-0. Then 1 minute into the second half, a Trinidad player gets ejected and now Trinidad has to play the entire second half with one less player. So, they are inexperienced, playing a good team, and have one less player. Yet somehow, they were able to play their hearts out, giving it all on the field. The last 5 minutes, as they blocked shot after shot from a charging Sweden side were some of the most tense moments I have ever seen in a soccer game. When the ref finally blew the whistle, the players of Trinidad mobbed each other as if they had just won the World Cup. They had accomplished what nobody thought they could. It was straight out of a movie. Yet, American mentality will look at the final score and say that it had to be boring. Little do they know, the game had a storybook ending. Trinidad may lose their next two games, but they will probably return home as heroes for the shocker they were able to pull on a Saturday afternoon. Not bad for a "boring" 0-0 game.

World Cup Time!!!

It only happens every four years and it is the greatest sports event in the world. Nope, not the Olympics, but the World Cup. For one month, I am going to be on the edge of my seat as the greatest soccer players in the world will compete in the game I love. Being that it is only every 4 years only adds to how great it is. Mess up in the first round, you have 4 whole years to think about it. So, here are my predictions and don't worry, if you don't care about soccer, there will be some movie trivia at the bottom...

First Round features 8 groups of 4 with the top two in each group advance. This is how I see each group finishing...

Group A
Germany
Poland
Ecuador
Costa Rica

Group B
England
Sweden
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago

Group C
Argentina
Holland
Ivory Coast
Serbia and Montenegro

Group D
Portugal
Mexico
Angola
Iran

Group E
Italy
USA
Czech Republic
Ghana

Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Group G
France
Switzerland
South Korea
Togo

Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia


Second Round
Germany over Sweden
Argentina over Mexico
England over Poland
Holland over Portugal
Italy over Croatia
France over Ukraine
Brazil over USA
Spain over Switzerland

Quarterfinals
Argentina over Germany
Italy over France
England over Holland
Brazil over Spain

Semifinals
Argentina over Italy
England over Brazil

Finals
England over Argentina...and I will rejoice in England's win!!! It's finally their time to reclaim the cup. A betting man would put the $$$ on Brazil, but I hate Brazil and refuse to proclaim the winner. We shall see....


Movie trivia time...We'll make them sports movies in the spirit of the Cup. Name the movie and the character who said it.

1. Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid.

2. If we play 'em 10 times, they might win nine. But NOT this game.

3. Yeah, starting defense! PLACE AT THE TABLE!!! YEAH!!!

Early Morning Telephone Call

I was up this morning at 615am, which is no big deal, since I work tonight and will nap at some point today anyway. So I got up, fed and pottied the dogs, ate breakfast and checked e-mail/played on the computer until 700am, when I woke Manuel with a kiss to the forehead and the morning paper. When he got up to get ready for his day at work, I went back to the computer.

At 725am the telephone rang. Normally when it rings at that time, it is either my mom or step-mom calling, thinking I worked the night before and trying to catch me before I go to bed. I was sitting in the living room and when the ringing started, I looked up to where the phone usually is, but alas, it wasn't there. I stood up and looked around for it but still couldn't find it. I ran to the bedroom to answer the phone, and by the time I got there, the answering machine had picked up, so as the recording was going, I kept saying, "Hang on, hang on" to whoever was on the other end so they knew I was there and wouldn't hang up.

It was a good thing I couldn't find the phone and the answering machine recorded the whole conversation because it was entirely bizarre and what follows is a direct transcript I took by listening to the recorded conversation over and over again. The person calling had an VERY thick Indian accent and the words in parentheses are what I think he said.

Me: Ok, go ahead.
Him: Yes, Miss. Can I speak to Manuel?
Me: He's in the shower.
*pause*
Him: Ok...
Me: Who's calling?
Him: My name is (Satchel?) and I'm calling, uh, from the credit team at (paytroll?), ok?
*pause*
Me: And what is that?
Him: Well, this is regarding an online purchase that he made (out of a trite?), ok? What I will do is I'll just give him a call after 5 or 10 minutes, Alright? That ok?
Me: Ok, but, I mean, where are you calling from?
Him: I'm calling from United States.
Me: Well, I know United States but, I mean, it's 730 in the morning here.
*silence*
Him: (VERY quietly) Ok. I'm really sorry Ma'am.
Me: Ok.
Him (Still VERY quietly) Bye bye.

Yeah... Whatever online purchase Manuel made isn't important enough to require a telephone call at 730 in the morning.

Oh, and by the way, it is 845am right now, and he still hasn't called back. So much for that 5 to 10 minutes... I think I scared the crap out of him.

Free Money

I got a call from my boss at work a few days ago. She said she was embarassed to tell me this, but Human Resources never got the paperwork notifying them that I took my boards. So all this time, HR had me as an RN-IP, working under an interim permit that is good for 6 months or until I pass (or do not pass) my boards. My IP started 6/04, when I started working, and was due to expire 6 months later, 12/04. Well, I took my boards in 9/04 and passed, thus nullifying my IP and becoming a REAL nurse, and I've been working like that ever since.

Only, like I said above, HR never got that info (which REALLY gives me faith in our HR department, working under a licence that expired over a year and a half ago and nobody caught on to it...) But the good news is, and I did not know this, there is a pay difference between IP and real RN status, which I have not been receiving since 9/04 - 21 months! So yours truly is apparently going to get a check for retro pay, paying me 21 months worth of IP and RN pay difference. I don't know exactly how much the difference is, but regardless, it's like getting free money!

Now we can get those hardwood floors! Score!