Tags
Australian Census 2011, Jezebel, John Safran, Mary Gaitskill, Samoa v Australia, The Brothers Karamazov
It’s Sunday afternoon and Eddie’s inside watching the Samoans paste the Australians in the rugby (OK it’s nearly half-time, so they haven’t pasted them yet, but) and I’ve been outside on the deck with William and reading my book. Each time Samoa scores a try Eddie roars with surprise, pleasure, and then doubt, worrying that he’s just being teased and the Australians are going to come back and take it from them. I unhelpfully tell him to just enjoy the lead and accept it for what it is. William has just popped inside again to check his bowl for the biscuits we’re refusing to give him and this time he’s given in to his hunger and eaten a few crumbs of the chicken and vegetables in jelly. I tell Eddie it makes me feel powerful to make William B eat what he’s given and we have a laugh about that, because really, we’re weak when it comes to that little brat.
The second half has just started and Australia has scored a try and there’re only four points between them instead of 17. “Useless! Already.” “Oh don’t say that. Just enjoy it.” “I won’t enjoy it. Useless bastards.” Sigh. A few minutes later Samoa scores another try. Eddie can’t believe it. “Go! Go! Go! It’s not the full Aussie side, but still.” I’m excited too, but I’m also trying to find a funny article I read on Jezebel called What to do when you realize that horrible smell is you.
It’s 29 – 16 to Samoa and there’s a break in the game, but I’m not sure why because I’m not really paying attention. Eddie says “I was thinking maybe we should go and watch Harry Potter or something, but.” “Seriously?!” “Yeah, but the Samoans are doing good.” “Yeah!” “Robbie Deans has held back his big guys ’cause he doesn’t want them damaged, but still…” “It may be their B side, but they’re still getting pasted.” “I know. Oh, now he’s sending out the big guys. They’re upping the ante.”
In the mean-time, I’m thinking about Australian Census night, which is in three weeks. I can’t remember what I wrote down for the religion question last time, but on Tuesday night I plan to stay up past my bedtime to watch John Safran talk to people who seriously mix their popular culture with religion in Jedis & Juggalos: Your Census Guide. Apparently, there are people who will write down Jedi and Matrixist with no irony intended. A couple of people have already seen it and reviewed it here and here. And at the end of the first review John Safran mentions a new project… ”I’ve been reading a book about gay people in the deep south in the 1950s; about how there was this quiet accommodation of them, whereas in the north, you couldn’t be gay at all. It was something different to being in the closet or being out of the closet… But I’m still a while away from revealing what it is. At the moment, it’s still my top secret little project.” I can’t wait.
There’re about 15 mins to go now. Eddie says “I hope they hold on. The Aussie side isn’t treating them with respect. They wouldn’t play like that against the All Blacks.”
I’m trying to make sense of this post, which is going in directions I hadn’t intended. I’m also telling myself it’s OK to listen to Veronica by Mary Gaitskill on the train tomorrow even though I said to Heather I was reading The Brothers Karazmov as part of our informal book club, which I am, and I’m enjoying it too, but I’m distracted and I really want to listen to Veronica…
There’s about a minute to go in the game. “That’s it boys. Wind down the clock. Here we go ten seconds. Here we go. Here we go. Woo hoo! Fuuuucckkk!”
