SHATTERED...

ITALY 1 AUSTRALIA 0

If only the score told the whole story...

WORLD CUP DOWNUNDER

For someone who has been guilty of never being very interested in 'SOCCER' I must say I'm finding myself getting quite excited about it in recent times. I truly never thought the hype would rub off on me, and the ridiculously addictive discussion about (who might beat who, and if they beat them, then they'll go through and I reckon the form of that team is lookin better than....etc etc). But actually when your country is in it, a part of you is there.

Ask me a year ago if I ever thought I'd be getting up at 3am in the morning to go and watch that crap game called 'SOCCER' and I may have answered with a resounding - "JEEPERS MATE - what 'dya think I am, I already have a previously diagnosed problem with waking up at dawns crack, let alone watching some greasy haired spankers prancing around at 3 in the morning, diving at every opportunity they can get to earn a free kick cause they're too gutless to actually admit that the guy was too good for them in the clinch......STOP IT WITH THAT DIVING BUSINESS......I HATE DIVING, if there's one thing they gotta do, its get rid of those prissy little poofos who keep DIVING!!!

anyway.........so now I get to Thursday night, AUS V CROATIA - biggest game in OZ history, to put us into the next round. Well bugger me, haven't my opinions somewhat readjusted now that I have some sort of 'investment' in the worlds BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT. I find myself trying to get a few hours of shut-eye, waking up every hour or so, thinking I've missed Veduka and his men marching up the ramp.....I couldn't help it, my heart was racing and I had to get down to the pub to watch it.

All I can say is that I think this world cup is definitely going to change the Aussie sporting culture. A game of this magnitude, on this world stage is what our dreams are made of down-under. We grow up with sport as our motivation, in our veins, talked about at dinner...and we love the sports we're good at (which is most of the majors) but not until now, have we had the inspiration to embrace the worlds BIGGEST crowd puller.


ROUND OF 16
AUS V ITALY - may the revolution continue...


PS.. thanks for a great article Tom

MELANCHOLY OF THE WEE HOURS

"It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom" - Aristotle

(Yeah, so I've heard STOTS.............but there's gotta be an easier way)

Well I guess I must concede..........I am not a morning person. I have mused over my lethargic inefficiency in the morning for many years. Finally in the last 6 months or so, it has become ridiculous. Mornings SUCK!! I find myself aimlessly wandering around the loungeroom, then the kitchen, then back in the bedroom, somehow oblivious to reality and the need to actually get in the shower, which will then hopefully wake me up. I've tried some different strategies in my attempt to defeat the habitual 'morning melancholy'.......setting my alarm earlier so as to embrace my morning stuper and gradually warm up to the day, but of course I then just stood there thinking about how stupid it was that I was already up when I could be still snoozing for another half hour........I tried leaving my alarm really late, so that I'd shock myself with adrenalin because of the rush factor, but of course then I forgot stuff that I needed to take (even with everything ready the night before).........I tried hot and cold showers, walking fast laps around the flat, even cuddling up to Peta and pretending time doesn't exist.

Now some may say its the result of too many late nights, far too much to drink and a general lack of exercise. However these factors are only minor influences on effective sleep habits. I recently did some research into this 'morning melancholy syndrome' and did you know that:
1. It doesn't matter what time you go to bed at night, you just need to go when you're tired -
2. You're not supposed to drink before going to bed.........but I've had some of my best dreams after a few glasses of wine, so bugger that
3. You should only exercise in the morning or afternoons cause otherwise your heart rate is too high and your nights sleep is stuffed.........well thats handy isn't it, I have trouble getting out of bed let alone putting the 'in-built undie' running shorts, wife beater and previously moist sweat bands on for a trundle around the local 'hills' AND THEN I work all day.
4. You should wake up the same time EVERYDAY not just weekdays...............well thats a bugger isn't it, cause on weekends thats half Peta and my quality time gone right there

So I guess it all comes down to self discipline. Can a relaxing, comfortable morning routine be attained? Is it possible to ever actually enjoy that part of the day, or even look forward to it?

.........cool website http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm