ITA 3:0 UKR

Montreal, Canada

Perhaps an easier path to the quarterfinals than other teams, but the Italians are looking better with every game that passes.

Saw the camp crew today at le Pistole to see the ARG-GER game. Perhaps to my surprise, the person I enjoyed seeing the most was Andrea Fox, who now speaks Italian and is moving to Boston. I can't believe I used to think she was so abrasive. Then again, I used to be that abrasive to people, so maybe I didn't like her because I didn't like me? Meh. I love me. Me is cool. Nevermind that last thought.

So it'll be Italy vs. Germany in the first semifinal. Of course, I'll be in Philly by then, but there must be a good place to watch the game.

Right?

Nic

ITA 1:0 AUS

Toronto, Canada

Wow, what an ugly finish! This one will be talked about for a while yet. But despite this ugly finish, Italy deserved the win. They played better, and for 40 minutes, they played a man short after Materazzi was sent off.

I should have been on a plane to Philadelphia at the time the winning goal went in, but bad weather and ineptitude kept me grounded in Toronto. Fortunately, I wasn't the only one who wanted to see the game, and I quickly made a new friend. Dianne, an Aussie from Adelaide, happened to ask about the possibility of watching the game in the terminal with that unmistakable accent. I just had to take the opportunity, and as our flight kept being pushed back in 30-minute increments, we shuttled back and forth between terminals to watch the game at the Molson Bar. Cool girl.

So, though I got to see the game, I never made it to Philadelphia and the IBB quarterly meeting, and that was disappointing. It now looks as though I'll be starting work with teammates who won't even be in the same time zone.

Not much time left before the workaday life begins, so I better make the most of this day.

Picard out!