With the exception of a few loose posts from G, this might be it from me. The XXI Olympic Games are over. I know that the Para-Olympic Games open in another week, but most of the world, I suppose, has to return to some sort of regular life.
Oh. Kawawa.
I'm definitely buying the CTV Commemorative DVD.
Remember, I had no tickets - but it didn't seem to matter. The party was right here, all day, all night, for 17 days. Canada won 26 medals in total and before last week the national anthem had never been played at an Olympic Medal Ceremony on Canadian soil. At these Games, it was played 14 times officially and sang countless times on the streets and trains. It was a true celebration of athleticism and the bonus of having it in MY hometown was that I got a chance to also witness the power of the human spirit - the one that doesn't discriminate over culture or generation, the one that quite simply puts a smile on the face of the person next to you when you are shoulder to shoulder (or in my case, shoulder to mid-arm) in a crowd on any corner along Robson street. I'm not sure how many O Canadas I sang on the street and I'm not sure how many times I teared up when someone - not just a Canadian - won a medal. The only thing I know is that it has been an experience like no other and I hope that you felt truly Canadian with me, and continue to for a long, long time...
I wish the Olympics could go on forever.
How the heck am I going to get up for work tomorrow?
28 February 2010
BASKING IN GOLD!
Okay. Don't be confused. These photos are still from earlier this afternoon - when Canada won the gold. The post below this one is K's, which is from last weekend. Then, the one below K's is from this afternoon again.
Lisa Laflamme calls it "unbridled patriotism" - like K said flags everywhere, some which probably push the boundaries, but wotever (for you, Su).
After we got past the corner of Robson and Granville (we didn't dare push through to Robson Square - getting back in time for the Closing Ceremonies would not have worked), we skirted along Granville towards Smithe for a while. It was not an easy feat, I tell you, since people were still celebrating. Loads of people woot-woot-ing and high five-ing and even a truck full of boys trying to pick up girls, from the back of a, yup, pick-up. Apparently no seat belts are required when people paint themselves red and celebrate a gold medal.
Still, I have to marvel at how orderly things seem to be. People are actually listening to traffic patrol and no driver seems irate at having to detour endlessly...
Lisa Laflamme calls it "unbridled patriotism" - like K said flags everywhere, some which probably push the boundaries, but wotever (for you, Su).
After we got past the corner of Robson and Granville (we didn't dare push through to Robson Square - getting back in time for the Closing Ceremonies would not have worked), we skirted along Granville towards Smithe for a while. It was not an easy feat, I tell you, since people were still celebrating. Loads of people woot-woot-ing and high five-ing and even a truck full of boys trying to pick up girls, from the back of a, yup, pick-up. Apparently no seat belts are required when people paint themselves red and celebrate a gold medal.
Still, I have to marvel at how orderly things seem to be. People are actually listening to traffic patrol and no driver seems irate at having to detour endlessly...
Notes from Khristine
Hell yeah, my heart's aglow.
Whilst on Holiday in Mexico, M suggested that I write for her blog. Now let me begin by saying that this is terribly frightening for me as I have never before written for public viewing or such. So please forgive me as it will not compare in wit or manner of speech. I will simply do my best to describe what a wonderful time we had visiting the Olympics in my dear home town, this past weekend.
Feb 19-21, 2010
The first thing M said upon arrival late Friday night was "you guys need to go and walk outside!" It did not matter that it was 23:30 and long past the girls bedtime. You see, I had threatened sleep on them during the car ride up from Seattle and it worked! We managed to drive up and cross the border in record time. Never in the 10+ years that I have been driving the I-5 corridor to the Peach Arch border crossing on a Friday night had I experienced such an easy, no-wait border visit. (Thank you Olympics!) So off we went, leaving M alone to her own devices, allowing her to finish packing and re-packing for her cruise. We rounded the corner to Robson St. and our pace was slowed by the crowd of people that were revelling in the street. There were men, women, men? women? families, groups, animals...you name it. They were out in full force in a sea of Red and White. Maple Leafs and Canada flags were peppered with those of other countries. Finland, Korea, Russia, the USA....everyone was making noise, a joyful noise in celebration and though we were walking in the middle of the street, in a mob of people, I felt unusually safe. Canada's Jon Montgomery had just won Gold in Men's Skeleton and Canadian pride was overflowing on a beautiful Friday night in Vancouver. It was unseasonably warm, feeling more like Spring than Winter but perhaps because 60,000 people's hearts were radiating for the country, the people and the city. 3 blocks were just enough for us to get a taste of what our weekend would bring. A nightcap at Timmy's complete with a Canadian Maple Creme was the perfect way to end the evening.
It didn't matter that we didn't have tickets to any events. I was up before 8am on a Saturday, and for those that know me, this is completely out of character. M was wrapping up to head to the airport via Canada Line and I was just too excited to sleep. As I bid M farewell and happy cruising, I turned to my sleeping family and decided to wake the troops to start our day. We headed straight for Granville Mall, to see what was going on.
We stopped at every photo op, pretending to ski jump, snowboard and bobsled...the girls oooh'd and ahhh'd at the paper lanterns that lined the "trees" drawn by the children of Vancouver....we stood amazed at the 70 year old man wearing a Canadian track suit from the Calgary 1988 Olympics who had 1000+ pins all set out on a bench, ready for trading. (Apparently pin trading is REALLY BIG at the Olympics). Then the girls quickly reminded me that in my excitement,breakfast was amiss. Like good Canadians, we filed into the nearest Timmy's for a couple of double doubles and some chocolate milk, biscuits and bagels and we were back on track. We hit the 5th floor of the Bay downtown (thanks M for the tip) because at 10am on Saturday morning, the lineup for the Olympic Superstore was already over an hour. The girls were happy to have found tshirts, which was all we ended up getting, everything else was pretty much dessimated. Erwin walked around and took photos of the Team USA merchandise. The outfits were designed by Ralph Lauren and apparently that makes them ridiculously expensive. After grabbing our shirts and sneaking down to the women's lingerie department to pay for them (cashier on the 5th floor had a line up of 45 mins!) we hit the streets. Robson Square was alive. Walking to the Art Gallery, we caught glimpse of the urban zip line and the line up for BC Pavillion. There were lines everywhere, yet everyone was smiling and happy. It was a gorgeous day and my home town was showing off her best side, the Beautiful one.
The Mascots are a Big Deal. To my girls and apparently to every person who has a child or is a child under the age of 80. I was surprised that we didn't see more of them, other than on the billboards and murals, in all the bins of plush dolls that were everywhere, yet there were no "living" Miga's or Quatchi's roaming the streets. Sofie was on a hunt for the "living" Miga. Not the kind that is "flat" or "small" Mummy....the kind that walks and hugs. As promised, we went to the "Meet the Mascots on Ice" show at Robson Square, which is on daily at 13:00, 15:00 and 18:00. We should have known to get there at 17:00 for the 18:00 show because by the time we arrived, it was not standing room only, it was packed like sardines in a can-standing room only. We managed to elbow our way down to the rink. Sof up on E's shoulders, just to get a glimpse of the tops of Miga, Quatchi and Sumi's heads and Isabel climbed the counter at the skate rental as I held her feet down to keep her from falling. It might as well have been a Rolling Stones concert. The crowd was screaming, chanting "Miga! Miga! Miga! Quatchi! Quatchi! Suuuuumiiiii!!!!" and after the 3rd encore skate around, the referees had to escort the gigantic furry creatures off the ice and all you could hear is parents trying to explain to their children "it's ok, the mascots have to go to bed...it's getting late...say bye-bye now..." For some reason, I too was sad and as a result of a) being late and having to watch the show climbing up railings and on Daddy's shoulders and b) my own desire to actually see the show myself, I promised that we could come back tomorrow.
The cauldron is cool.
We walked down to Canada Place to see the cauldron at dusk. It was beautiful and the chain link fence that we heard about had been replaced by discreet plexiglass. Again, there was a huge line and because it was very close to dinner, rather than joining the line to get up close, we found an excellent viewing point from across the street and thankful to my Nikon and trusty Tamron telephoto lens, we shot photos of the cauldron and ourselves as though we were right at her foot. As the afternoon gave way to evening, the crowds of families began to morph into crowds of young adults, single people, out on the town on a Saturday night. But this was not just any Saturday night, it was the Olympics. The streets were packed and girls were wearing the Canadian flag in ways that even I would have to say was questionably "patriotic". We had been running all day. It was like a tour de force fueled by sights and sounds and after dinner, we all gave in to exhaustion. That is...after we lined up for the Olympic Superstore so I could buy my very own CANADA fleece blanket to wrap myself up in to sleep.
One more day. Sofie and Isabel woke up on Sunday morning clearly remembering our promise from the night before of returning to the ice show. I had to remind them that it was not until 13:00 and being only 10:00, we got up and headed out the door. We walked down to the Canadian Mint with the slight hope of maybe...just maybe...squeezing it in. But no, the line was just too long. So instead, we walked back over to Robson Square and watched a street entertainer balance a dozen chairs on his chin. He was quickly upstaged by the Eagle Song dancers from the Squamish Nation on the other side of the square. Public skate was also going (free with the exception of $3.00 skate rental) and the rink was packed with kids and families. We people watched and listened to the drummers with our left ears and the chair balancing guy with our right ears. Before we knew it, the Mascots on Ice show was about to begin, and there we were. Centre Ice with no obstruction.
The girls had made signs for Quatchi and Miga and they reached out and high 5'd, got hugged and screamed in joy. If this is all they remember from these Olympic games, it will be completely worth it. A bunch of huggable friendly mascots. a Sasquatch, a Sea Bear and a Spirit Animal. All friends who have come together to celebrate their heritage and embark on the adventure that is the Olympic games and what a privilege my children had to be there.
We walked down to LiveCity and through Yaletown to Chinatown and to the Olympic Village. We rode Canada Line and the Bombardier train to Granville Island and took the Aquabus back over to the Roundhouse and walked again up to Granville Mall. We met friends, new and old, tattooed our foreheads with Canadian flags and sang "Oh Canada" at the top of our lungs. If it was possible, downtown was busier today than yesterday. Today was THE HOCKEY GAME: Ice hockey, Preliminary Round Group A, Team Canada vs. Team USA. Everyone was decked out. Everywhere you turned, people were talking about the game, going to the game, going to watch the game......this afternoon, it was a matter of PRIDE. The game was not scheduled to start until 16:40 but people started staking their claim early. We did not actually sit down in 1 place to watch the game. We didn't have to, because everywhere you went, the game was there. In places where you would wonder what the power source was...there was a TV. The city roared with each goal....and silence was felt through the downtown core when at the end of the 2nd period, it became apparent that things were not turning out as originally planned. Our beloved Team....was struggling. And in the end the team that played a better game that night, won. And it wasn't us. A blanket of melancholy fell over downtown. The ruckus and joy of the day before was stunned by disbelief. After the sport analysts and media dissected the game and blamed everyone but themselves for the loss, (I don't even care to re-live it) the shock set in. What the world did not know is that Canadians are strong and resilient. We are the True, North, Strong and Free and a loss to the US was not going to stop us from coming back and fighting harder. A sleeping giant was awoken, we will win again. We had to bid farewell to the Olympics on Sunday night, it was a fantastic 2 days. We will never forget the sights, the sounds... but what I will carry with me for the rest of my life is the swell of love in my heart that will always be truly Canadian.
Whilst on Holiday in Mexico, M suggested that I write for her blog. Now let me begin by saying that this is terribly frightening for me as I have never before written for public viewing or such. So please forgive me as it will not compare in wit or manner of speech. I will simply do my best to describe what a wonderful time we had visiting the Olympics in my dear home town, this past weekend.
Feb 19-21, 2010
The first thing M said upon arrival late Friday night was "you guys need to go and walk outside!" It did not matter that it was 23:30 and long past the girls bedtime. You see, I had threatened sleep on them during the car ride up from Seattle and it worked! We managed to drive up and cross the border in record time. Never in the 10+ years that I have been driving the I-5 corridor to the Peach Arch border crossing on a Friday night had I experienced such an easy, no-wait border visit. (Thank you Olympics!) So off we went, leaving M alone to her own devices, allowing her to finish packing and re-packing for her cruise. We rounded the corner to Robson St. and our pace was slowed by the crowd of people that were revelling in the street. There were men, women, men? women? families, groups, animals...you name it. They were out in full force in a sea of Red and White. Maple Leafs and Canada flags were peppered with those of other countries. Finland, Korea, Russia, the USA....everyone was making noise, a joyful noise in celebration and though we were walking in the middle of the street, in a mob of people, I felt unusually safe. Canada's Jon Montgomery had just won Gold in Men's Skeleton and Canadian pride was overflowing on a beautiful Friday night in Vancouver. It was unseasonably warm, feeling more like Spring than Winter but perhaps because 60,000 people's hearts were radiating for the country, the people and the city. 3 blocks were just enough for us to get a taste of what our weekend would bring. A nightcap at Timmy's complete with a Canadian Maple Creme was the perfect way to end the evening.
It didn't matter that we didn't have tickets to any events. I was up before 8am on a Saturday, and for those that know me, this is completely out of character. M was wrapping up to head to the airport via Canada Line and I was just too excited to sleep. As I bid M farewell and happy cruising, I turned to my sleeping family and decided to wake the troops to start our day. We headed straight for Granville Mall, to see what was going on.
We stopped at every photo op, pretending to ski jump, snowboard and bobsled...the girls oooh'd and ahhh'd at the paper lanterns that lined the "trees" drawn by the children of Vancouver....we stood amazed at the 70 year old man wearing a Canadian track suit from the Calgary 1988 Olympics who had 1000+ pins all set out on a bench, ready for trading. (Apparently pin trading is REALLY BIG at the Olympics). Then the girls quickly reminded me that in my excitement,breakfast was amiss. Like good Canadians, we filed into the nearest Timmy's for a couple of double doubles and some chocolate milk, biscuits and bagels and we were back on track. We hit the 5th floor of the Bay downtown (thanks M for the tip) because at 10am on Saturday morning, the lineup for the Olympic Superstore was already over an hour. The girls were happy to have found tshirts, which was all we ended up getting, everything else was pretty much dessimated. Erwin walked around and took photos of the Team USA merchandise. The outfits were designed by Ralph Lauren and apparently that makes them ridiculously expensive. After grabbing our shirts and sneaking down to the women's lingerie department to pay for them (cashier on the 5th floor had a line up of 45 mins!) we hit the streets. Robson Square was alive. Walking to the Art Gallery, we caught glimpse of the urban zip line and the line up for BC Pavillion. There were lines everywhere, yet everyone was smiling and happy. It was a gorgeous day and my home town was showing off her best side, the Beautiful one. 
The Mascots are a Big Deal. To my girls and apparently to every person who has a child or is a child under the age of 80. I was surprised that we didn't see more of them, other than on the billboards and murals, in all the bins of plush dolls that were everywhere, yet there were no "living" Miga's or Quatchi's roaming the streets. Sofie was on a hunt for the "living" Miga. Not the kind that is "flat" or "small" Mummy....the kind that walks and hugs. As promised, we went to the "Meet the Mascots on Ice" show at Robson Square, which is on daily at 13:00, 15:00 and 18:00. We should have known to get there at 17:00 for the 18:00 show because by the time we arrived, it was not standing room only, it was packed like sardines in a can-standing room only. We managed to elbow our way down to the rink. Sof up on E's shoulders, just to get a glimpse of the tops of Miga, Quatchi and Sumi's heads and Isabel climbed the counter at the skate rental as I held her feet down to keep her from falling. It might as well have been a Rolling Stones concert. The crowd was screaming, chanting "Miga! Miga! Miga! Quatchi! Quatchi! Suuuuumiiiii!!!!" and after the 3rd encore skate around, the referees had to escort the gigantic furry creatures off the ice and all you could hear is parents trying to explain to their children "it's ok, the mascots have to go to bed...it's getting late...say bye-bye now..." For some reason, I too was sad and as a result of a) being late and having to watch the show climbing up railings and on Daddy's shoulders and b) my own desire to actually see the show myself, I promised that we could come back tomorrow. The cauldron is cool.
We walked down to Canada Place to see the cauldron at dusk. It was beautiful and the chain link fence that we heard about had been replaced by discreet plexiglass. Again, there was a huge line and because it was very close to dinner, rather than joining the line to get up close, we found an excellent viewing point from across the street and thankful to my Nikon and trusty Tamron telephoto lens, we shot photos of the cauldron and ourselves as though we were right at her foot. As the afternoon gave way to evening, the crowds of families began to morph into crowds of young adults, single people, out on the town on a Saturday night. But this was not just any Saturday night, it was the Olympics. The streets were packed and girls were wearing the Canadian flag in ways that even I would have to say was questionably "patriotic". We had been running all day. It was like a tour de force fueled by sights and sounds and after dinner, we all gave in to exhaustion. That is...after we lined up for the Olympic Superstore so I could buy my very own CANADA fleece blanket to wrap myself up in to sleep.
One more day. Sofie and Isabel woke up on Sunday morning clearly remembering our promise from the night before of returning to the ice show. I had to remind them that it was not until 13:00 and being only 10:00, we got up and headed out the door. We walked down to the Canadian Mint with the slight hope of maybe...just maybe...squeezing it in. But no, the line was just too long. So instead, we walked back over to Robson Square and watched a street entertainer balance a dozen chairs on his chin. He was quickly upstaged by the Eagle Song dancers from the Squamish Nation on the other side of the square. Public skate was also going (free with the exception of $3.00 skate rental) and the rink was packed with kids and families. We people watched and listened to the drummers with our left ears and the chair balancing guy with our right ears. Before we knew it, the Mascots on Ice show was about to begin, and there we were. Centre Ice with no obstruction.
The girls had made signs for Quatchi and Miga and they reached out and high 5'd, got hugged and screamed in joy. If this is all they remember from these Olympic games, it will be completely worth it. A bunch of huggable friendly mascots. a Sasquatch, a Sea Bear and a Spirit Animal. All friends who have come together to celebrate their heritage and embark on the adventure that is the Olympic games and what a privilege my children had to be there. We walked down to LiveCity and through Yaletown to Chinatown and to the Olympic Village. We rode Canada Line and the Bombardier train to Granville Island and took the Aquabus back over to the Roundhouse and walked again up to Granville Mall. We met friends, new and old, tattooed our foreheads with Canadian flags and sang "Oh Canada" at the top of our lungs. If it was possible, downtown was busier today than yesterday. Today was THE HOCKEY GAME: Ice hockey, Preliminary Round Group A, Team Canada vs. Team USA. Everyone was decked out. Everywhere you turned, people were talking about the game, going to the game, going to watch the game......this afternoon, it was a matter of PRIDE. The game was not scheduled to start until 16:40 but people started staking their claim early. We did not actually sit down in 1 place to watch the game. We didn't have to, because everywhere you went, the game was there. In places where you would wonder what the power source was...there was a TV. The city roared with each goal....and silence was felt through the downtown core when at the end of the 2nd period, it became apparent that things were not turning out as originally planned. Our beloved Team....was struggling. And in the end the team that played a better game that night, won. And it wasn't us. A blanket of melancholy fell over downtown. The ruckus and joy of the day before was stunned by disbelief. After the sport analysts and media dissected the game and blamed everyone but themselves for the loss, (I don't even care to re-live it) the shock set in. What the world did not know is that Canadians are strong and resilient. We are the True, North, Strong and Free and a loss to the US was not going to stop us from coming back and fighting harder. A sleeping giant was awoken, we will win again. We had to bid farewell to the Olympics on Sunday night, it was a fantastic 2 days. We will never forget the sights, the sounds... but what I will carry with me for the rest of my life is the swell of love in my heart that will always be truly Canadian.
GOLD!
Canada 3, US 2 in OT. Crosby. (Kuya Andrew, I choose NOW to gloat. It's all aboot patience.) My backyard barbeque continues...
So, Malou and I watched the game at my place and decided to walk around after the medals were presented. It was crazy, to say the least. People were high five-ing each other, woot-woot-ing... if you didn't know any better, you might swear everyone knew each other! The corner of Robson and Granville was... well, the photos will speak for themselves, but I'm going to offer you two things that are typically Canadian about the crowd:
1. Every single person who bumped into me or wanted to get by me apologized: "Sorry," "Excuse me, can I just get by you?" I'm serious. It's probably also why I felt completely safe when I lost Malou for a brief moment and everyone towered over me, which is also when a complete stranger said, "Dude, don't worry, I got you - just keep going straight, I see some room yonder..." It got to be so that amongst the woot-woots you'd hear, "so sorry" "are you okay?" "here, let me help you"...
2. When an American bearing his/her flag crossed into the crowd, a bunch of people said, "Hey, buddy, you're team's awesome, too." Pity complement or an attempt to diffuse the obvious tension, it didn't matter - people were just nice all around.
It was bizarre. I have no words to describe how packed the streets were and how safe I actually felt. It took Malou and I a good half hour to navigate the corner of Granville and Robson. You might think that crowds of that sort might get out of control - beverages and plants and shtuff. There were police everywhere, but I never once felt that I'd be smooshed. One dude actually started surfing the crowd.
It was just good, old Canadians celebrating. Fin.
Okay, so you're looking at the time and realize that I am blogging during the closing ceremonies... It's just performances right now. I've already seen the Sochi hand off (Neil, get Rosetta Stone because I think we should go to Russia in 2014) and the speeches are done. (Not too bad, actually...well, maybe except for the "wind beneath our wings" comment Furlong made... don't let me get started on his French! Poor guy... he really did do an amazing job...) What I'm saying is that Neil Young just sang and the flame is out and I can just listen to the songs...
More photos, then! This alley (the one between Seymour and Granville, and Robson and Smithe) is usually very dangerous, but today, it was a portal, a place for the over spill of crowds and quite the party place, apparently.
So, Malou and I watched the game at my place and decided to walk around after the medals were presented. It was crazy, to say the least. People were high five-ing each other, woot-woot-ing... if you didn't know any better, you might swear everyone knew each other! The corner of Robson and Granville was... well, the photos will speak for themselves, but I'm going to offer you two things that are typically Canadian about the crowd:
1. Every single person who bumped into me or wanted to get by me apologized: "Sorry," "Excuse me, can I just get by you?" I'm serious. It's probably also why I felt completely safe when I lost Malou for a brief moment and everyone towered over me, which is also when a complete stranger said, "Dude, don't worry, I got you - just keep going straight, I see some room yonder..." It got to be so that amongst the woot-woots you'd hear, "so sorry" "are you okay?" "here, let me help you"...
2. When an American bearing his/her flag crossed into the crowd, a bunch of people said, "Hey, buddy, you're team's awesome, too." Pity complement or an attempt to diffuse the obvious tension, it didn't matter - people were just nice all around.
It was bizarre. I have no words to describe how packed the streets were and how safe I actually felt. It took Malou and I a good half hour to navigate the corner of Granville and Robson. You might think that crowds of that sort might get out of control - beverages and plants and shtuff. There were police everywhere, but I never once felt that I'd be smooshed. One dude actually started surfing the crowd.
It was just good, old Canadians celebrating. Fin.
Okay, so you're looking at the time and realize that I am blogging during the closing ceremonies... It's just performances right now. I've already seen the Sochi hand off (Neil, get Rosetta Stone because I think we should go to Russia in 2014) and the speeches are done. (Not too bad, actually...well, maybe except for the "wind beneath our wings" comment Furlong made... don't let me get started on his French! Poor guy... he really did do an amazing job...) What I'm saying is that Neil Young just sang and the flame is out and I can just listen to the songs...
More photos, then! This alley (the one between Seymour and Granville, and Robson and Smithe) is usually very dangerous, but today, it was a portal, a place for the over spill of crowds and quite the party place, apparently.
thirteen???!!!
I'm away for seven days and Canada wins a bunch of medals... 13 GOLD, to be exact! I would love to have seen them in real time! (According to British media, "For the Canadians it's either gold or nothing...")
I have asked Khristine and Gail and a few others to send me their thoughts and so I'll post their recollections later on. (Apparently, when you don't check your email for a few days, people's posts get stuck in cyberspace.)
The general feeling on the streets has not changed and if you were watching CTV this morning, you very likely heard some athletes' comments on how upon arriving at the airport "everything was Olympic and [that] the village is supposed to be Olympic, but the streets... it's a gong show." (Bonus points if you can tell me which speed skater said that this morning, in the most positive of ways, of course.) I've been trying to convey how olympic Vancouver has really become and today, on the last day of the Games, I'm a bit sad at how QUIET it will be in just a few more weeks once the Para-Olympics, too, close.
Canada v. USA... in about an hour... Malou has had to wait for two trains to get here. (Neil, wish you could be here.)
More later...
I have asked Khristine and Gail and a few others to send me their thoughts and so I'll post their recollections later on. (Apparently, when you don't check your email for a few days, people's posts get stuck in cyberspace.)
The general feeling on the streets has not changed and if you were watching CTV this morning, you very likely heard some athletes' comments on how upon arriving at the airport "everything was Olympic and [that] the village is supposed to be Olympic, but the streets... it's a gong show." (Bonus points if you can tell me which speed skater said that this morning, in the most positive of ways, of course.) I've been trying to convey how olympic Vancouver has really become and today, on the last day of the Games, I'm a bit sad at how QUIET it will be in just a few more weeks once the Para-Olympics, too, close.
Canada v. USA... in about an hour... Malou has had to wait for two trains to get here. (Neil, wish you could be here.)
More later...
19 February 2010
Even when I don't do anything Olympic, it's Olympic
I wore flip flops today. It's the Winter Olympics and I wore flip flops. I needed a pedicure, what can I say. The point is, it was actually warm enough to stay in them for most of the afternoon. Can you believe it? The world is going to think that this is winter in Vancouver every year.
I told Lorna yesterday that last year we had tons of snow, to which she promptly replied (in the form of a polite question), "Now when you say it snowed lots, what do you mean?" Obviously not as much as Ottawa, but you all remember when it snowed for two straight weeks last season, no? Anyway... (I'm digressing, again)
I did nothing but clean, iron, and pack. (And watch Olympic coverage on CTV, of course.) I saw Jon Montgomery take the gold in men's skeleton - only 0.07 faster than the Latvian dude. Unreal. Canada's 4th Gold. Within minutes, I hear singing and dancing and yelling and celebrating from outside my window. It's still going.
Khristine, Erwin, and the girls arrive. Wide-eyed, "It's crazy..." K says.
I tell them to go for a quick walk.
I can't explain how incredibly packed it is - the world... in its entirety is outside my building. So are the police. No trouble, though. Just people with beverages and dried plant things rolled up in paper - harmless really - and in some areas some pick up games of street hockey - which is ideal since no one ever has to yell "CAR"...
I told Lorna yesterday that last year we had tons of snow, to which she promptly replied (in the form of a polite question), "Now when you say it snowed lots, what do you mean?" Obviously not as much as Ottawa, but you all remember when it snowed for two straight weeks last season, no? Anyway... (I'm digressing, again)
I did nothing but clean, iron, and pack. (And watch Olympic coverage on CTV, of course.) I saw Jon Montgomery take the gold in men's skeleton - only 0.07 faster than the Latvian dude. Unreal. Canada's 4th Gold. Within minutes, I hear singing and dancing and yelling and celebrating from outside my window. It's still going.
Khristine, Erwin, and the girls arrive. Wide-eyed, "It's crazy..." K says.
I tell them to go for a quick walk.
I can't explain how incredibly packed it is - the world... in its entirety is outside my building. So are the police. No trouble, though. Just people with beverages and dried plant things rolled up in paper - harmless really - and in some areas some pick up games of street hockey - which is ideal since no one ever has to yell "CAR"...
18 February 2010
Ice Dancing, anyone?
Today, I had the opportunity to go to an ice dancing practise, care of Neil and Lorna. (Thanks you two, again and again!) Granted it was only a combined practise, but still, they were in full costume (it was a full dress rehearsal, K) and most of the athletes we saw in our session performed most of their original programs, with the exception of the more difficult lifts. I was really exited mostly because I do really like watching the ice dancing over the figure skating, but also because it was an actual Olympic "event". If you've been following along, it's been mostly about the party for me, so this was über cool.Before you see the photos - in fact, this post will mostly be photos - I just wanted to comment on the whole security thing. On the news a few days ago and today, you probably heard about security breaches, but I just have to say, that I've been pretty impressed by the security measures. I know I was only at a practise, but still, the set up is unreal and those people are super professional and in good moods - can you imagine having to be that way when the queues are crazy??? Alison seems to have it down pat:
Okay now, here we go... in a combined practise, three to four pairs take the ice for 40 minutes at a time (had we arrived earlier, we probably would have seen the men's combined practise where we might have seen Plushenko or Takahashi or Patrick Chan) - they get a practise skate and then five variations of the tango play so the pairs can practise the compulsory elements, then each pair gets to skate their original program with their music... all the while, the other pairs are skating segments of their programs. The pairs get feedback from their coaches, etc. We got to see three rounds, which included Germany, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Hungary, France (the pink underpants which are echoed quite nicely in the scarf of her partner), Estonia (who will skate to Metallica - I know, right?), Israel, China, Italy, and Canada! (Lorna, did I miss anyone?)
So cool, eh?
When we got back to Stadium Station, the street performers were out already and so were the crowds getting to GM Place early in order to get through security for the 1630 start to the hockey game. The girls and I were at the IGA when we caught the Flower Ceremony, where Nesbit was being honoured with a first place finish in the women's 1000m Short Track.
Meeting an old friend...
I can't quite seem to post at the right time! It's past midnight, which means the time stamp on this post will read the day after these particular thought and events. The date probably doesn't matter to you, but it sort of does to me... woteva. I'm digressing again.
One of the coolest things about living downtown is definitely the crowds. Funny, I know. I have to admit that I didn't think I'd enjoy it at all and I'm kind of sad that I'm leaving on Saturday, even if it is going to be for a cruise...
Anyway, I've been running into people quite often. In fact, I ran into Una and Anne Marie twice in a 24 hour span. And, yesterday, Joy and Pete caught me as I was surfing the crowds to meet some other friends.
Today, Rich Liu (yes, STMC) called and we were able to meet for a quick Tim Horton's He was part of the Canadian Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympics and he was an Outfitter for these Olympics - his tour of duty is done today and so we were able to meet. It's pretty cool because he has been responsible for dressing a bunch of Olympic athletes, including Sydney Crosby and Hayley Wickenheiser (who spoke the Olympic Athlete's Oath at the Opening Ceremonies on behalf of the other athletes), and he had Wayne Gretzsky's boots... I got the skinny from him about pins and the Coca Cola Pavillion, which is supposed to be great. It seems like I have a bunch of Pavillions to visit before I leave on Saturday. (Hurry up and get here, K!)
One of the coolest things about living downtown is definitely the crowds. Funny, I know. I have to admit that I didn't think I'd enjoy it at all and I'm kind of sad that I'm leaving on Saturday, even if it is going to be for a cruise...
Anyway, I've been running into people quite often. In fact, I ran into Una and Anne Marie twice in a 24 hour span. And, yesterday, Joy and Pete caught me as I was surfing the crowds to meet some other friends.
Today, Rich Liu (yes, STMC) called and we were able to meet for a quick Tim Horton's He was part of the Canadian Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympics and he was an Outfitter for these Olympics - his tour of duty is done today and so we were able to meet. It's pretty cool because he has been responsible for dressing a bunch of Olympic athletes, including Sydney Crosby and Hayley Wickenheiser (who spoke the Olympic Athlete's Oath at the Opening Ceremonies on behalf of the other athletes), and he had Wayne Gretzsky's boots... I got the skinny from him about pins and the Coca Cola Pavillion, which is supposed to be great. It seems like I have a bunch of Pavillions to visit before I leave on Saturday. (Hurry up and get here, K!)
17 February 2010
THIS is what happens when Canada plays it's first hockey game of these Olympics...
Robson Street was packed after I got back from Marie's. I walked down to meet some friends at the Cactus Club and maybe watch the Russia v. Belarus game. What an exciting feeling in the air. There's a general air of friendship and camaraderie and you don't need to be Canadian to understand how much fun it is to be out late, singing and laughing (and maybe having a beverage of some sort). Later on, when Neil came to meet me and we were walking back through the sea of red, at around midnight-ish, he says, "This is a total mob and yet, I feel completely safe." When a man did get a little out of hand with sprinkling his water bottle on the crowd, another man calmly approached him to "just relax" - I'm not sure if he was a regular citizen or a plain clothes policeman, but it did feel very safe...
Neil and I decided we try The Bay to see if the lines had subsided. No such luck. We went up to the fifth floor to check out the Olympic gear of other nations and found a few Team Canada things - like mittens - which neither of us needed, but if you do, skip the line and go to the fifth floor. Olympic gear is very scarce right now. I've been trying to get a couple of scarves for the past two days and have experienced failure.As a side note: just when Neil and I reached the 7-11, we saw someone porting the moose that was at Saxony House two nights ago. Hmmm....
16 February 2010
Gold - Maëlle Ricker!
Lorna & Alison left early this morning for the Richmond Olympic Oval (the ROO); Neil, Amanda and I decided to try to check out the Mint to see the medals - it was not meant to be... the line was at least two hours long! We ended up watching the Mascots Ice Show at the GE Plaza (Robson Square, if you're a local) - fun for Amanda who got an amazing shot with Miga (see Neil's blog). We really just took it easy today.
All the streets are packed and I have to say Vancouver has done a wonderful job with finding street entertainers. GE Plaza has a ton of different shows, the zip line (reportedly a six hour wait, but a once in a lifetime experience and it's free), and on Granville Street, Right to Play has a bunch of simple games they've set up, not to mention a bunch of street buskers and performers scattered up and down Robson Street. Nobody seems that perturbed about the weather or about endless queues... look at the line up to get Olympic things at the The Bay!
Anyway, we decided to return to my apartment for a short break and it's a good thing because we were able to see Maëlle Ricker's snowboard cross race. Wow. Neil and Lorna and the girls are going to the medal ceremonies tonight - they'll get a chance to sing O Canada!!!
Alright, must get to Marie's for the Men's Hockey Game. More later...
All the streets are packed and I have to say Vancouver has done a wonderful job with finding street entertainers. GE Plaza has a ton of different shows, the zip line (reportedly a six hour wait, but a once in a lifetime experience and it's free), and on Granville Street, Right to Play has a bunch of simple games they've set up, not to mention a bunch of street buskers and performers scattered up and down Robson Street. Nobody seems that perturbed about the weather or about endless queues... look at the line up to get Olympic things at the The Bay!
Anyway, we decided to return to my apartment for a short break and it's a good thing because we were able to see Maëlle Ricker's snowboard cross race. Wow. Neil and Lorna and the girls are going to the medal ceremonies tonight - they'll get a chance to sing O Canada!!!
Alright, must get to Marie's for the Men's Hockey Game. More later...
just errands today... but they were very Olympic.
I actually drove my car today... to Walmart. (This post is about the 15th - I keep forgetting I have to publish the title of the post at the very least in order to have it dated correctly.) Traffic was fine, but as soon as I came back over the Cambie Street Bridge... well, let's just say I would not recommend driving around my area, though past this little core - everything seems fine. Still, after Walmart, I decided I'd walk around & get some day photos...
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15 February 2010
Where were you when Bilodeau won the first Gold Medal won on Canadian soil?
I know the date says the 15th - Monday, but I'm talking about yesterday - Black Sunday. Yah. Not so black at the Saxony House @ the Vancouver Rowing Club. Beer. Sausage. Need I say more?
Dave & Oswald were not too happy about having to wait in line - did we create a "Negative Universe" akin to "Angry World"? If we didn't, we should have because these two were from there. I'm pretty sure the only reason they acquiesced was because they bailed last night.
We were on the ramp, just a few metres from the front of the line, when Alexandre Bilodeau won gold - the first one on home soil. Win.
The evening began with a mini-docu-visual on Saxony (a region in Germany) and then the band played. 
Did you know that the moose is the region's mascot. Huh.
Even the immovable two enjoyed it. I imagine this is what Neil might have been like at Waterloo during Oktoberfest. These guys were fab AND they wore leather lederhosen. I'm serious.
Highlight tunes: Freibier, Autobahn, that Saxony one...
We left around 9ish to catch Mother, Mother @ Live City.
"There won't be a line." Dave says.
We get there and not only is there a line that wraps around the block, but the sign says, "Live City closed. See you tomorrow." Neil spends nearly ten minutes reading the sign aloud, in French and English, but everyone just stares at him and holds their ground. Dudes are probably still in line.
Plan B. It doesn't exist.
Marie, the Harv, and Malou head to Yaletown Brew Pub; John, Dave, and Neil go to the Keg to use the loo; I'm walking to meet them after dropping off my car. As I'm passing Blue Water, I get a glimpse of someone I think is Joe Biden, but I think woteva and take Neil's call on my mobile.
"We just saw Joe Biden... and I think you just walked by... are you wearing a white toque?"
Then, I start hearing, "USA... USA... USA..." It's unmistakable and I'm too slow to figure out where he's gone...
It's a live band at Yaletown BP and we have more beer, until Neil calls for shawarma, after realizing the only thing either of us has had to eat is the sausage at Saxony House. On our way home, we run into a man wearing a Calgary Olympics jacket. He tells us he was a torch technician for the 1988 Games. We take pictures.
Dave & Oswald were not too happy about having to wait in line - did we create a "Negative Universe" akin to "Angry World"? If we didn't, we should have because these two were from there. I'm pretty sure the only reason they acquiesced was because they bailed last night.
We were on the ramp, just a few metres from the front of the line, when Alexandre Bilodeau won gold - the first one on home soil. Win.
The evening began with a mini-docu-visual on Saxony (a region in Germany) and then the band played. 
Did you know that the moose is the region's mascot. Huh.
Even the immovable two enjoyed it. I imagine this is what Neil might have been like at Waterloo during Oktoberfest. These guys were fab AND they wore leather lederhosen. I'm serious.
Highlight tunes: Freibier, Autobahn, that Saxony one...
We left around 9ish to catch Mother, Mother @ Live City.
"There won't be a line." Dave says.
We get there and not only is there a line that wraps around the block, but the sign says, "Live City closed. See you tomorrow." Neil spends nearly ten minutes reading the sign aloud, in French and English, but everyone just stares at him and holds their ground. Dudes are probably still in line.
Plan B. It doesn't exist.
Marie, the Harv, and Malou head to Yaletown Brew Pub; John, Dave, and Neil go to the Keg to use the loo; I'm walking to meet them after dropping off my car. As I'm passing Blue Water, I get a glimpse of someone I think is Joe Biden, but I think woteva and take Neil's call on my mobile.
"We just saw Joe Biden... and I think you just walked by... are you wearing a white toque?"
Then, I start hearing, "USA... USA... USA..." It's unmistakable and I'm too slow to figure out where he's gone...
It's a live band at Yaletown BP and we have more beer, until Neil calls for shawarma, after realizing the only thing either of us has had to eat is the sausage at Saxony House. On our way home, we run into a man wearing a Calgary Olympics jacket. He tells us he was a torch technician for the 1988 Games. We take pictures.
14 February 2010
is this burning an e-ternal flame?
I got over the fact that I wasn't Dutch pretty quickly - Neil was still up for having a beer as soon as Amanda and Alison were in bed. The plan was to meet Dave & John after the Wilco concert at Live City Yaletown. They bailed. Something about having to still walk over the bridge and drive to Maple Ridge... blah, blah, blah. (It is now Day 3, but these events were from Day 2.)
Marie and HQ were still at Joey's Bentall and so Neil and I decided to trek out there - in the pouring rain. (Ask me how big my hair got. Go ahead!) It didn't matter which route we walked, everyone in the world was there. Granville and Robson looked like rave central...
How do I even begin to describe what this is like? Imagine a Bollywood film opening plus a 7th game in the second to last round of the Stanley Cup playoffs (and the Canucks have just won - duh), and multiply that by 100. Does that paint a good enough picture?
We had beer and shnacks with Marie and the Harv (HQ) and decide to go down by the new convention centre... let it go on record, here, that it was Malou, Marie, and the Harv who tried to harmonize like The Bangles. (By this time it's 2am-ish and those three had consumed some beverages...) Ask Neil or John what the structure reminds them of - I agree though if you ask me, I'll deny it. I still think Dave should've been part of VanOC - he thought it would be cool if Gretzsky shot a flaming puck into a structure that would ignite a cauldron of some sort...
Marie and HQ were still at Joey's Bentall and so Neil and I decided to trek out there - in the pouring rain. (Ask me how big my hair got. Go ahead!) It didn't matter which route we walked, everyone in the world was there. Granville and Robson looked like rave central...How do I even begin to describe what this is like? Imagine a Bollywood film opening plus a 7th game in the second to last round of the Stanley Cup playoffs (and the Canucks have just won - duh), and multiply that by 100. Does that paint a good enough picture?
We had beer and shnacks with Marie and the Harv (HQ) and decide to go down by the new convention centre... let it go on record, here, that it was Malou, Marie, and the Harv who tried to harmonize like The Bangles. (By this time it's 2am-ish and those three had consumed some beverages...) Ask Neil or John what the structure reminds them of - I agree though if you ask me, I'll deny it. I still think Dave should've been part of VanOC - he thought it would be cool if Gretzsky shot a flaming puck into a structure that would ignite a cauldron of some sort...
13 February 2010
no shirt, no shoes, no dutch passport...
Lorna and I decided that we should go check out Heinecken House, while Neil was at the short track final with the girls. (Apollo Ono won the silver; the gold went to Korea; another American took the bronze.)
It is so amazing to just walk around my neighbourhood right now. At the Yaletown-Roundhouse station, just before Lorna and I got on the Canada Line, it was a party.
We made it to the Richmond Ozone, where we found out that Heineken House was closed except to Dutch citizens. Can you believe it? I even asked Lorna if she was sure she wasn't a little Dutch... but alas it was not meant to be. 
We ran into Izzy and Lisa, and stuck around a bit to see Malou, Gail and Christine, who stayed to watch Bedouin Sound Clash. We took off soon after - Neil doesn't have a key to my apartment, remember? I'm so craving a beer...
It is so amazing to just walk around my neighbourhood right now. At the Yaletown-Roundhouse station, just before Lorna and I got on the Canada Line, it was a party.
We made it to the Richmond Ozone, where we found out that Heineken House was closed except to Dutch citizens. Can you believe it? I even asked Lorna if she was sure she wasn't a little Dutch... but alas it was not meant to be. 
We ran into Izzy and Lisa, and stuck around a bit to see Malou, Gail and Christine, who stayed to watch Bedouin Sound Clash. We took off soon after - Neil doesn't have a key to my apartment, remember? I'm so craving a beer...
Heineken House, anyone?
I know it's only Day 2, but I can't help but think I'm going to want to wake up every morning feeling very Olympic, which is what I felt like today. I have come to realize that while Neil's blog is about his and his family's trip and includes so many event anecdotes, mine is definitely just about the party!
It was a quiet morning until Neil came back from his run with news that protesters had thrown a mailbox or newspaper box into the window at The Bay. Oy vey. I'm sure some of the organizers were pretty pissed that the message got lost in the stupidity of a few people - anarchists really, who masked themselves and then changed their clothes behind a nearby dumpster. (After yesterdays mini-marathon, you'd think my dear cousin would forgo the run today, but oh no... he ran even farther: 12.2 miles or something like that - this is Canada, Neil, think metric.)
Neil and the girls went to some short track events at Pacific Coliseum, but it looks like the Richmond Olympic Oval was the place to be today. Sven Kramer just won the gold in the Men's 5000 metre. Heineken/Holland House is going to be the party house tonight.
Lorna and I are deciding where to go. Neil does not have a key to the apartment.
Wilco is at Live City Yaletown.
What do we do?
It was a quiet morning until Neil came back from his run with news that protesters had thrown a mailbox or newspaper box into the window at The Bay. Oy vey. I'm sure some of the organizers were pretty pissed that the message got lost in the stupidity of a few people - anarchists really, who masked themselves and then changed their clothes behind a nearby dumpster. (After yesterdays mini-marathon, you'd think my dear cousin would forgo the run today, but oh no... he ran even farther: 12.2 miles or something like that - this is Canada, Neil, think metric.)
Neil and the girls went to some short track events at Pacific Coliseum, but it looks like the Richmond Olympic Oval was the place to be today. Sven Kramer just won the gold in the Men's 5000 metre. Heineken/Holland House is going to be the party house tonight.
Lorna and I are deciding where to go. Neil does not have a key to the apartment.
Wilco is at Live City Yaletown.
What do we do?
12 February 2010
Run Baby, Run
Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics! Here we go...
I ran for the #9 bus today. Yep. With a backpack (yes, I own one). Ask me when I did that last. Go ahead.
My cousin Neil and his family (including by lovely goddaughter, Alison) arrived from Ottawa today. I taught one class, put my computer and my camera in my backpack, walked half a block too far, ran back that half block to get on the 99 B-Line, which passed me as I kept walking the half block too far (I had no idea I could get on at the back door until I saw someone else do it), took the Canada Line to YVR, met them, got back on the Canada Line, dropped them off at my apartment, walked back to the station, and took the train back to Cambie-City Hall.
Don't get me wrong: it was completely my pleasure to greet them - I'm not complaining. Honestly. I'm actually having a good laugh at my antics...
Anyway. Before I get to the actual running part, I should mention that I really don't mind taking the Canada Line. I have this nostalgic ideal about it: people walk at officious paces, everyone has a brief case or some piece of luggage, everyone always seems to be going somewhere or returning from nowhere, which I suppose can be true for any Translink service, but the Canada Line is different. I just feel like I'm in Madrid or London or some train station whenever I take the Canada LIne, and let's just face it, train stations are always romantic. But I am digressing...
By the time I'm exiting the Cambie-City Hall Station, I know that I have about eight minutes minutes before I'm supposed be teaching. (I like to think I'm important sometimes, so I called work while I was on the train and asked Adele to cover my class because I thought I might be slightly late.) The #9 goes by. I decide I'd better run to catch it and actually make it back to work on time. Well, I hadn't realized that the bus stop was at the end of the block. Pshaaa - you say. Well, I'll tell you, it's a pretty big deal to someone who doesn't take transit often, never mind making the correct connection points! I make it on the bus and nearly forget to pull the I'd-like-to-get-off-signal-cord. The driver was probably not too pleased at having to make an abrupt stop, which doesn't even dawn on me until much later because I'm thinking about the small hill I have to walk with only two minutes left before my class. I made it on time albeit it sweaty. Gross, I know. Sorry.
Anyway, the rest of the day goes swimmingly. I'm walking around downtown and it is like I'm at a fair. There are people everywhere - lots of people. I'm talking lots.
Everyone's wearing Olympic gear. (Go Canada Go!) Pedestrians have taken over the city.
Once I get back to my apartment, the girls and Neil and Lorna are ready to go get a bite to eat and walk around a little bit - so many languages, so many helicopters, so many mittens.
We decide we'll settle in and watch the Opening Ceremonies from my apartment. We're watching, we're listening, we're making jokes. (Oh good gravy, the orcas... the best effect!)
Lorna says, "Canada, land of the bad ass fiddlers."
We notice that the five Canadians who are in formation to light something are looking kind of lost and almost nervous. The hydraulics... blah, blah, blah. then Gretsky is outside BC Place with the flame and I say, "Hey, that's two blocks away from the front door."
"I'll stay with the kids." Lorna says.
"Are we going?" Neil asks.
I'm already putting on my sweater and slipping into my runners.
The elevator takes forever. Neil goes, "Let's take the stairs."
As I open the fire escape door, I hear about four other fire escape doors open, one from the floor below and then I feel like we're IN the Amazing Race.
Neil and I sprint down Robson towards BC Place amongst calls of "Where is he"s and "Which way did he go"s... (Actually, he sprinted, I jogged - quite pathetically actually.
We manage a glimpse of Wayne with the flame on the back of sooped-up pick-up. And, we continue running trying to get the photo. We have no idea which way it's gone (it's been a closely guarded secret, the outdoor flame site). I call the Malougan, the human sat-nav.
"Which way is Gretsky going? I need turn by turn directions." I ask Malou. By this time I can't keep up with Neil. I tell him, "Go! When you get to the next intersection make a left..."
I tell Malou to call Neil.
Half an hour later, Neil returns - he hadn't realized how far he had run - all the way to Waterfront, where Gretsky did indeed light the outdoor flame.
I ran for the #9 bus today. Yep. With a backpack (yes, I own one). Ask me when I did that last. Go ahead.
My cousin Neil and his family (including by lovely goddaughter, Alison) arrived from Ottawa today. I taught one class, put my computer and my camera in my backpack, walked half a block too far, ran back that half block to get on the 99 B-Line, which passed me as I kept walking the half block too far (I had no idea I could get on at the back door until I saw someone else do it), took the Canada Line to YVR, met them, got back on the Canada Line, dropped them off at my apartment, walked back to the station, and took the train back to Cambie-City Hall.
Don't get me wrong: it was completely my pleasure to greet them - I'm not complaining. Honestly. I'm actually having a good laugh at my antics...
Anyway. Before I get to the actual running part, I should mention that I really don't mind taking the Canada Line. I have this nostalgic ideal about it: people walk at officious paces, everyone has a brief case or some piece of luggage, everyone always seems to be going somewhere or returning from nowhere, which I suppose can be true for any Translink service, but the Canada Line is different. I just feel like I'm in Madrid or London or some train station whenever I take the Canada LIne, and let's just face it, train stations are always romantic. But I am digressing...
By the time I'm exiting the Cambie-City Hall Station, I know that I have about eight minutes minutes before I'm supposed be teaching. (I like to think I'm important sometimes, so I called work while I was on the train and asked Adele to cover my class because I thought I might be slightly late.) The #9 goes by. I decide I'd better run to catch it and actually make it back to work on time. Well, I hadn't realized that the bus stop was at the end of the block. Pshaaa - you say. Well, I'll tell you, it's a pretty big deal to someone who doesn't take transit often, never mind making the correct connection points! I make it on the bus and nearly forget to pull the I'd-like-to-get-off-signal-cord. The driver was probably not too pleased at having to make an abrupt stop, which doesn't even dawn on me until much later because I'm thinking about the small hill I have to walk with only two minutes left before my class. I made it on time albeit it sweaty. Gross, I know. Sorry.
Anyway, the rest of the day goes swimmingly. I'm walking around downtown and it is like I'm at a fair. There are people everywhere - lots of people. I'm talking lots.
Everyone's wearing Olympic gear. (Go Canada Go!) Pedestrians have taken over the city.Once I get back to my apartment, the girls and Neil and Lorna are ready to go get a bite to eat and walk around a little bit - so many languages, so many helicopters, so many mittens.
We decide we'll settle in and watch the Opening Ceremonies from my apartment. We're watching, we're listening, we're making jokes. (Oh good gravy, the orcas... the best effect!)
Lorna says, "Canada, land of the bad ass fiddlers."
We notice that the five Canadians who are in formation to light something are looking kind of lost and almost nervous. The hydraulics... blah, blah, blah. then Gretsky is outside BC Place with the flame and I say, "Hey, that's two blocks away from the front door."
"I'll stay with the kids." Lorna says.
"Are we going?" Neil asks.
I'm already putting on my sweater and slipping into my runners.
The elevator takes forever. Neil goes, "Let's take the stairs."
As I open the fire escape door, I hear about four other fire escape doors open, one from the floor below and then I feel like we're IN the Amazing Race.
Neil and I sprint down Robson towards BC Place amongst calls of "Where is he"s and "Which way did he go"s... (Actually, he sprinted, I jogged - quite pathetically actually.
We manage a glimpse of Wayne with the flame on the back of sooped-up pick-up. And, we continue running trying to get the photo. We have no idea which way it's gone (it's been a closely guarded secret, the outdoor flame site). I call the Malougan, the human sat-nav.
"Which way is Gretsky going? I need turn by turn directions." I ask Malou. By this time I can't keep up with Neil. I tell him, "Go! When you get to the next intersection make a left..."
I tell Malou to call Neil.
Half an hour later, Neil returns - he hadn't realized how far he had run - all the way to Waterfront, where Gretsky did indeed light the outdoor flame.
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