The World According To John Rae the Great

I’m really frustrated right now because I can’t watch any of the US Open matches on TV. I have no sports channels on cable in the apartment, and then even the local sports bar here in Subic doesn’t have the Super Sports channel which airs the matches. (Damn Star Sports, Solar Sports and ESPN!!!) So now I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I have to watch the live scoreboard updates on the www.usopen.org. (whooppee, how fun!) It’s so pathetic, I know. Right now I’m watching (or rather waiting for the score updates) of the Venus Williams-Kim Clijsters match, with Venus leading 6-4, 3-1. I hope she pulls through against Kim. She’s been playing great lately with the confidence of old.

Argh as I just finished that paragraph Clijsters just broke back. Now it’s 6-4, 3-2, back on serve in the second set.

On the men’s side, it would be great to see Federer win again, if only to secure his place in history (hasn’t he yet?), and to keep his amazing record running. But I’m also cheering some of the underdogs, like Robby Ginepri, who has a had a great hardcourt season, or James Blake, who battled an unfortunate 2004 (broke his neck, came down with a rare illness, lost his father to cancer) but is on a comeback trail this year. Also, although I never really liked Agassi much, it would be a sentimental victory if he won this year’s open, with retirement looming just around the corner.

Yipee, Venus just broke Kim’s serve again. 6-4, 4-2 now. Argh how I wish I was watching this match…

On the women’s side, I hope Venus will go all the way.  I want her to catch up with sister Serena.  Maybe it’s because I’m the eldest in the family so I can empathize with feeling inferior to a younger sibling. ;-P 

Oh no, Kim Clijsters broke back again and won her service game.  Now it’s 6-4, 4-4.

My friend Bruno was probably out there today watching the matches in Flushing Meadows.  *turning green with envy*  That’s something I have to be able to do before I die — turn up in a Grand Slam tourney.  The French Open maybe, or Wimbledon?  Those two might be the most likely candidates in the next two years, since I’ll be in Europe already anyway.

Waaahhh she broke Venus’ serve again!  6-4, 4-5 now, Kim serving for the second set.  C’mon Venus, bring out the goods!

Anyway gotta go for lunch now.  I wish I could watch the match on my cellphone just like those three guys in the Nokia commercial.

Yay Venus broke back!  6-4, 5-5 now.  But I really gotta go now…

Two more months to go before I finally expatriate, but the time already seems too little to prepare.  Can’t wait to do A LOT of shopping for things around the house.  I’m eyeing a great cocktail set for cool alcohol-filled parties.

Anyway I’m lovin’ Hanggang Kailan by Orange and Lemons right now.  I know this is a few months old already but it’s only charmed me this past week.  Here are the lyrics:  (for my non-Filipino friendsters, just ask me for the translation!)

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Hanggang Kailan
Orange and Lemons

Labis na naiinip
Nayayamot sa bawat saglit
Kapag naaalala ka
Wala naman akong magawa

Umuwi ka na baby
Hindi na ako sanay ng wala ka
Mahirap ang mag-isa
At sa gabi’y hinahanap-hanap kita

Chorus:
Hanggang kailan ako maghihintay
Na makasama ka muli
Sa buhay kong puno ng paghihirap
At tanging ikaw lang ang
Pumapawi sa mga luha
At naglalagay ng ngiti
sa mga labi

Di mapigilang mag-isip
Na baka sa tagal
Mahulog ang loob mo sa iba
Nakakabalisa, knock on wood
Wag naman sana