Vancouver--Light at the end of the tunnel

Almost done!

I thought I'd post a few of my favorite signs in Vancouver. This first sign is the path I walk each day to the oval. Yes, I walk the Dyke Trail on a daily basis.

Not a sign most men would want outside their homes:

And the epitome of Canadian politeness. Nothing else needs to be said.

One more day at the 2010 Spring Olympic Games. US Speedskating is leaving with 10 medals! My shuttle to the airport leaves at 1:30 on Monday morning, so in just a little more than 24 hours, I'll be on my way home!!!!

Vancouver--O Zonian

Finally made it to the O Zone tonight--home of the infamous Heineken House. Wasn't impressed. In the O Zone, there were some creepy, glittery animals doing Olympic sports--but I'm not sure what event Mr. Piggy was entered. Falling down drunk?


This is the Ice Gate, created by artists painting colors on ice and assembling them in a long display of ice. What do you do with an ice display after the Olympics? Make colorful margaritas?

During the event today, Ryan Bedford showed off his new coif. He had it done last night and his mom saw it for the first time when he took the ice for his race. He was a media sensation. Hey, if you can't win the gold, at least have a funky hairdo.

Just a few more days to go. I might just make it.

Vancouver--Honk!

I'd scheduled the morning so reporters from the Chicago Tribune, AP, NBC and USA Today could come talk with the skaters when they got off the ice at noon. HOWEVER, they all skated early and were gone by 11.

So I got to explain to reporters from the Chicago Tribune, AP, NBC and USA Today that their trip to the oval was in vain. Stupid day.

Since I was done earlier than I thought I would be, I decided to walk to the O Zone to check out the local festivities. A mile later, I found out the O Zone didn't open until later in the afternoon. So I visited with the Canadian geese for a while.

Geese are everywhere. They graze like livestock. "Canada: where the men are men and the geese are scared."

Tomorrow is the Men's 10K event where skaters skate 25 laps!!! 25 laps x 16 skaters = hours of boredom. For many Dutch fans, this is a favorite event. I've never understood the Dutch.

Vancouver--The Final Week

I went to my first medal ceremony tonight to see Shani, Apolo and a lot of foreigners get their medals. It was an intimate setting with about 22,000 people there to cheer them on. I couldn't take a picture of the actual medal presentation but this is the arena at BC Place.

Following the medal ceremony, Linda and I walked to the train station and bought some yummy cinnamon and sugar crepes. Gooey and delicious!!

While waiting for the train to go back to our hotel, we saw Canadian Man! Faster than maple syrup, able to leap totem poles in a single bound--it's a bird, it's a plane--it's another crazy Canadian!! (I wonder if he's been decorating flower beds in his spare time.)

Practice tomorrow until 3 but then I'm off for the evening!!! I might visit the O Zone (not what you think, pervert). It's pretty close to the hotel and is supposed to be THE place to go during the Games. Or I might just go to bed at 5.

Vancouver--D'oh!

So instead of getting five medals tonight like we thought we would, we had to settle for two: Shani with silver, Apolo with bronze. That's okay.

I've noticed Canadians have way too much time on their hands.

Example number one: Someone created these Canadian maple leafs out of rocks all along the walkway. Get a life Mr. Canadian.


Example number two: Someone recreated the space needle just hours away from Seattle. A little redundant, doncha know?



Example number 3: 75,000 people applied to volunteer at the Games!!! They only selected 25,000 people. The volunteers in the picture below work the media center at the oval. They take their jobs VERY seriously--almost fanatically. Damn better have your credential or you ain't gettin' anywhere. A little old lady yelled at me today for trying to get Derek Parra in to talk with the media. He didn't have what she considered the RIGHT credential. Sounds a little elitist to me. Crazy Canadian.

Vancouver--Director's Cut

How long have I been living in the Great White North? Two years?

This is the first day since the Games began that I didn't have an event to cover. So I had some down time this evening. I met up with partner-in-crime Linda at the U.S. Olympic Committee's headquarters at the Main Media Center. Quite glamorous, eh?


Then began our quest to find the Olympic flame. If you look over my shoulder, you'll see a boat. If you look over my other shoulder, you'll see a star-shaped creature writhing in flames. That's the Olympic cauldron. There's been much discussion about how the cauldron is barricaded away from the public but after mingling with the public here--that's probably a really good idea.

After we found (and extinguished) the cauldron, Linda and I went to Caldero's for some seafood. I had some really good salmon and a delicious brownie sundae. Tasty and wonderful. Then another train ride home and bed. Lovely bed. G'night all!

Vancouver--Eh?

Day 7 of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games--DONE! Our ladies did pretty good today (two top 10 finishes). That's the strongest they've been for a long time.

During breaks the chart-topping Dutch band Kleintje Pils performs for the crowd. Their name means "We only know three or four songs" (which I've heard every day for a week now). I'm ready to shove chopsticks into my eardrums. They're also lecherous.

Dr. Heiden, Carrie and Fikre love posing for pictures. All this dressing alike is starting to get a little creepy.

The rink looks really pretty before all the skaters get on it. But it's damn cold when there are no spectators. I need to get a job with a summer Olympics.

Curling is Canada's favorite pasttime; right next to drinking beer, watching hockey, being overly polite and making maple syrup. At the mall tonight, people were gathered around the TV watching a curling tournament. Crazy, eh?

There are NO events for speedskating tomorrow. Woo-hoo! But there are three practices scheduled. I'm not sure why all the skaters can't skate at the same time. I might stop by figure skating tomorrow night to watch the men prance around in sequins and feathers. I might watch the figure skaters, too.