I made a bad decision.

After a week riding high on confidence from multiple things, I was asked last Friday (first day of the second half of the year) if I'd put together a show with my band in a week. Over a holiday weekend. Without much chance that we would be able to get together for a practice before the show.

No one said no. And neither did I. Even though all signs were pointing negatively.

One band member was going out of town for most of the week. Another wouldn't make the gig (but said we should play it anyway). And I still had to get two more bands on the bill.

I should have just said no.

But every time I thought I'd get the closed door, I didn't. And so I kept pushing it. Eventually we booked two other bands. And, somehow, they got the show in the local weekly's ad.

I kicked myself all week. One of the bands dropped out. One of my band was working a double on Saturday (so he'd be rushing, kinda tired, to the show). But by this time, there was no backing out.

The show went off. It was sparsely attended, but the opening act was amazing. And our band as a trio did a pretty good job (although, as ever, never perfect).

All week I'd had trouble sleeping. Mostly because it's been so hot, the apartment doesn't cool down much all night. Keep the swamp cooler on, and it's too cold. Turn it off, and I'm sweating. One night (morning), I didn't really get good sleep until about six in the morning. And I should really get up by eight (if not earlier). On Friday I happened to wake up and realize it was already 8:30. I would be late to work.

This phenomenon hasn't changed. We haven't started to receive the monsoon rains yet (still stuck at 0.19 inches of rain all year), but it keeps getting more promising. Maybe this afternoon. Maybe tomorrow.

So, even though I didn't get to sleep after the gig till after four last night, I woke up around nine today. Dragged myself out of bed around 9:30 to find that the US Women's World Cup soccer game was just starting. I went into the kitchen to make some coffee. While grinding the beans, the TV went crazy. The US had scored on an own goal by Brazil in the opening couple of minutes.

And that wasn't the craziest thing to happen during this game.

If you saw it, then you know the insane mood swings.

I thought it would be decided by a horrible red card in the box by a US player. Then Hope Solo (great freakin' name) blocked the penalty kick. But a re-kick was called...we still don't know why. And blocking two penalty kicks in a row is almost impossible. Then Brazil scored on an offsides (although amazing shot) by the Brazilian who was branded the villain by the crowd. 2-1 Brazil and the US only had a side of 10 on the field.

And it was all over, right? The refs took over the game and handed it to Brazil. Their decisions would send the US packing the earliest they'd ever been booted from World Cup play.

But, after a gratuitous "injury" waste of time by Brazil (a decision that would eventually give the player a useless yellow card), the US scored in the last few minutes of extra time in the overtime period. Knotted at 2-2, the game went to penalty kicks.

And, almost impossibly, the bad ref decisions were negated with a US win.

I'm not saying everything happens for a reason. Or there's instant karma going on. I'm just saying sometimes bad decisions turn out okay. If you give them the time to turn.

Matt Worley tries to do the right thing.