The day I met Miss Universe
No, this is not a mushy story about how I met my girlfriend; this is about when I actually did meet Miss Universe. This story takes place when I was about fourteen years old.
Me and my little brother were playing land hockey outside our house, you know with sticks and a tennis ball, when a car drove into our parking lot. We didn’t pay much attention to it, when you’re a kid you don’t care that much about grown-ups coming and going. Especially since my parents have had a dog kennel with an extremely good reputation for way longer than I’ve lived, breeding German Shepherds, we got pretty used to meeting a lot of different people.
So, we just kept on playing, and as I remember it, they were nice and said hi to us, and we probably reacted like most kids do: with silence. I was standing there in jogging pants, a dirty t-shirt, sweaty and with snot running from my nose, being all worked up. As they passed me towards the door to the house, I realized how extremely good looking she was, and how hot her ass was. I mean, come on, I had just become a teen with all the accompanying hormones to go with it.
Their visit piqued my curiosity, and soon after that we stopped playing and went into the house. Mom and Dad sat talking to her and her husband, and seemed to have a really good time, while I and Martin were just gladly watching. They were, naturally, there to get a dog but the conversation seemed to cover a lot of other topics as well (bear in mind, my memory might be a little vague on the details here… :-)).
When they had left, I found out that she was Yvonne Ryding, the Miss universe of 1984 and her then husband was famous Swedish actor Kjell Bergqvist. Interesting experience, to say the least. I just love to take walks down memory lane now and then… π
Did I tell you that I strongly feel your articles are getting weirder by the day — and honestly, I am frightened π
She really is extremely beautiful. I applied for a job, a long time ago, in Eskilstuna where she's from. As I was driven from one part of the company site to another, my driver was very proud to point out the soccer field where Yvonne used to play. In fact, he talked more about her than about the job offer. π
I've seen ex-Miss Sweden Johanna Lind a couple of times. When she won the pageant, I didn't get it: I didn't think she was all that pretty. But when I saw her in real life, I understood why. She's really gorgeous, but somehow the photos didn't convey that.
Yes, I remember you telling me about her Tommy and how you were friends.
What most humanoid forms don't know, is that the actual Miss Universe in 1984 was from my planet of Xdvghlip. Yvonne was runner-up to Hyqert (that beauteous being with 7 gorgeous legs and that stunning 5th eye!). There was 683 contestants that year.
Yvonne was the best candidate earth's given to the pageant in a long time, so this is still an excellent memory you have.
Here in Canada (and probably other lesser places too :-)), we call it street hockey. Do you yell out “CAR” when a car comes down the road and you have to move the net out of the way (with an icy look at the driver for interupting the game)? Did you use a “real” net or just a couple of snow piles or bricks?
Can’t say that I have met anyone famous (well, just Joe Clark but, well, he probably wouldn’t participate in a beauty pageant).
No, Robert, I said I'd like to befriend her. And I only used that polite term to avoid upsetting your British sensibilities. We all know how uptight you are in Yor'shire… π
(BTW, Robert, why does it say 'Image' underneath this text area? Did you forget an <code>alt</code> attribute by any chance?)
Jeroen,
But still entertaining, right? π
Gtypeozyq,
Ha ha! π
You're a freaky guy, Devon.
Robert W and Tommy,
I'll leave you guys to your own conversation. π
Tommy,
I have no idea where you would find the text "Image". This sounds like one of your weird Opera mysteries… π
Jules,
Yes, street hockey would be a more suiting name. Land hockey is directly translated from the Swedish name for it.
Yelling car, icy looks; the works, basically. π
But we did have a real hockey goal that our dad had managed to get for us.
Regarding famous people, I have my arsenal to bring up for posts like this… π
WTH, you didn't get her e-mail? π
Jens,
Well, this was in the mid-eightes, I don't think she had one then. π
I looked at the source. Your submit button has <code>type="image"</code> but not <code>alt</code> attribute, so Opera shows it's default alternate text, which is 'Image'. Try adding <code>alt="Send"</code> to the <code><input></code> element.
Tommy,
I know, but it has a <code>value</code> attribute. Shouldn't the <code>value</code> value be displayed if it can't show the image or if you have images turned off?
Neya, Tommy it is called tight-fisted ratha than upteight I' yorkshire; men wi' shoarts arms 'n long pockets 'n naw you've spoilt uz delusion.
Though I bet it was good while it lasted.
Robert, I don't think the <code>value</code> is used at all with <code>type="image"</code> (other than as the parameter value in the HTTP POST request).
That's why the <code>alt</code> attribute is valid for <code>INPUT</code> elements.
Mr Wellock: you're one sick puppy! π
Tommy,
I've always thought the <code>value</code> attribute was used to display a regular submit button with that text if it couldn't find the image.
Anyway, I've added the <code>alt</code> attribute as well to make you happy. π
I had a similar experience once. I think i was about 14 as well, when i got to meet Miss Universe 1989 (Angela Visser, Holland). I was at boyscouts at the time and there was a local radiostation in the same building. She came over for an interview there…
The only things i really remember is that i couldn't believe she was a miss universe. Because she was really squint-eyed. But i guess the judges weren't looking at her eyes…
Maarten,
Thanks for sharing!
Maybe we can have some "14-year-old-boys-meeting-miss-universe"-club. π
Mr T. I was referring to my delusion and your meeting as two different entities.
I seriously don't know what you were thinking I meant by: "Though I bet it was good while it lasted."
It was the lasting experience of meeting someone world famous outside of the internet. π
Now, that's more like it! π