Postcards From Gino #008

Gino sent me this a whiiiiiile ago! I hadn't posted it before, so here it is now!

Euro 2012 stickers

There's one week left until the Euro 2012 begins! I'm excited despite Portugal's iffy performance against Macedonia in a friendly. Anyway, I just wanted to share with you all something I've been really into these past few years:

I'm a disorganized person, but when it comes to putting stickers in my stickerbook, I do it in an orderly fashion. I carefully open a pack and place it in a pile. The top part I rip off of the pack goes on another pile. The stickers in the pack go in another pile. The back part of the stickers that I put in the stickerbook get their own pile and next to them, repeated stickers. I think it's easier to tell in the photo.

My best friend got me into this whole stickerbook business. She was collecting stickers for the World Cup 2006 and convinced me to do the same. I became addicted. I'd say that sticker book was responsible for getting me more interested in the actual World Cup and later on club football. I don't think she does these collections anymore, but I carry on. I enjoy them, although I think Panini is ripping off it's fans more and more each time. Four stickers for a team photo?? It's gotten a bit ridiculous and to be honest, it's pretty expensive, especially if you have no one to trade with. This is why I only collect these stickers during World Cups and Euro Cups.

Despite all this, I find a certain peace in sitting down with newly purchased packs and glueing the stickers in their place.

Going Through Sam's DVD Pile #012

(2005)
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Tilda Swinton, Julie Delpy

Review in a few words: Thank goodness I didn't spend a cent on this DVD. Despite the fabulous cast, the film was a total disappointment. It seemed promising in the beginning but it lead nowhere. 2/10

While I've been gone...

I just thought I'd share with you what I've been up to. To be honest, I haven't been up to much, but I did go to Lisbon to see Benfica x Chelsea at the Estádio da Luz in March! It was a little awkward because I went with a bus full of Benfica fans (including my brother), but it was fun. It was fun, that is, until Chelsea won. My brother was not happy and still goes on and on about how Chelsea cheated their way through the game. (Though I don't think I'm being biased when I say that's not true).

My favorite part was before the game! Before the rest of the team came out to train, the goalkeepers came out to train! I screamed out their names everytime they came close. Eventually, I got a thumbs up from CFC's second goalkeeper, Ross Turnbull and then...a thumbs up from my favorite player of all time, CFC's first goalkeeper Petr Cech! I was so thrilled! Ross gave me another thumbs up as well. I officially love him more! xD I tried to get the other players' attention when they came out, but to no avail! Here are a few photos from the game. Chelsea won 0-1 with a goal from Kalou and the 75th minute:

And unbelievably, amidst a terrible season where Chelsea ended up in 6th place (!!), they managed to win the Champions League! They beat Barcelona, considered the best in Europe right now, and then went on to defeat Bayern Munich IN MUNICH. It was incredible. I'm not going to lie, but when Drogba scored the winning penalty (I hate games ending in penalties!!) I cried and cried. It was wonderful. And I saw my team play a Champions League match the year they won it. I saw them on their path to Munich. I'll never forget it. :) Other than that, I also went to a concert. I didn't really take any photos because no one was taking any, but I managed to take one, but without flash, meaning it's awful. But I'll post it anyway.

Kaki King! She was wonderful! I really suggest checking her out. She has amazing guitar skills! And she's so funny! I loved it when she spoke to the crowd, she was so sweet and funny! My best friend and her boyfriend also came over to Portugal from Spain, but I'm not sure if I'll post pictures of that. But it was fun! And well needed. I've been going through a dark period, I've been very down and unmotivated and I definitely needed my best friend to help me out with all these yucky feelings. Right now, I'm much better and much more motivated! It's great to be back. :)

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

But this time it's for real! I think. I pondered for a while moving to another website, but I'm sticking around here. I also thought about ending the blog, but I really do want to share with someone! Plus, it's a way to always be writing, even if it is a little. I have lots of cool things planned. Believe me, I've been feeling very inspired lately!