Reasons to Celebrate

Ok, I know I'm a bit crazy. I've known it for years -- it's nothing new. Some may think I'm a bit over the top with my love for Celine but really, it's just another reason to celebrate! And to celebrate LIFE (and eat cookies!)!

So, that being said...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CELINE! 42 -- WOO!

I love celebrating Celine's birthday! Like I said, it's an excuse to celebrate life and it makes me happy! It reminds me of the palooza parties that we would have when I worked at Brentwood. My friend Freeman had the idea to just celebrate someone on any random day. We would have a dinner party and make a cake and the only stipulation was that the person who was honoured had to share their life story. It was a great excuse to get together and learn more about each other! Fun times!

I celebrate Celine by either making cupcakes (2008) or cookies (2010) in some artistic expression of her and then it's all about picking out the right outfit and clearly listening to her music ALL the day long. Today, I opted to wear the jeans that I wore to her concert in Vancouver on October 20, 2008 along with the t-shirt from the Las Vegas concert on June 2, 2007. All this is topped off with my selection of the scent, 'Springtime in Paris' which Auntie Anita bought for me!

Man, I'm cool! ;)

Oh, not to mention...this day happens to be the end of my Olympic experience too! I'll be packing my car tomorrow and heading away from Whistler with a whole case of memories! There are going to be times in the coming years where random things will remind me of something that happened here and it will bring back a wave of memories. Something as simple as seeing a security guard at an event will remind me of the many times going through security...or perhaps even just seeing the colour blue will remind me of my uniform. And who can forget about the sound of the cowbell??? How about that time I worked at the Olympics...yeah, that sounds pretty neat!

We went to Pemberton

...and that's all I have to say about that.

I love having my car here!

My legs hurt

For my birthday, one of my co-workers got me a 'Fresh tracks' pass. It's a pass to have breakfast on the top of the mountain early in the morning and then catch the fresh tracks before anyone else! Well, that's what we did today! We stood in the rainy line-up at about 7:15am and were transported into some intense snowy conditions at the top. My plan was to really settle in for a big breakfast (since Nathalie and I have been very good for the past week in eating right and using the gym after work...you know, the Olympic one...!). I had forgotten how long the gondola ride was or maybe I was just really excited for the buffet breakfast but either way, we were eating by about 8:10am and eating I was! YUM! Eggs, pancakes, BACON, hashbrowns...you name it! It was so good the first time, I just HAD to try it again! Half way through our breakfast, they rang a bell and that signaled the time that you could go and get those fresh tracks! Half the place cleared out but as I mentioned, I wanted a big breakfast (and the snow was still storming down) so we waited and hit up some seriously FRESH POWDER at about 8:45am. Yahoo! I have become a better skier since being here and am way more confident in powder -- my favourite part is when the powder hides your skies as your going down and it is so deep that my shins and knees get cold from it billowing up my body as I power through! Woo!

Because it was the last day I could ski, I wanted to make sure I went all over both mountains. So, we started the day on Whistler and then when the line-ups there were too long, we caught the Peak to Peak over to Blackcomb. I skied 7th Heaven until my legs hurt and then headed back home. I am fatigued! (even after my nap on the couch!)

What a day!

International Snowmen

I forgot to mention that when the snow fell hard right at the start of the Paralympics, a bunch of the countries made snowmen outside of their town-homes. It was really cool to see them all decorated!

People were even making snowmen in the open spaces -- this first one is in one of the main areas. The buses were taking the athletes to the Opening Ceremonies.

This one is of a biathlete and a wheelchair competitor...

...and then there's the old gondola with an inukshuk.

About time

Yikes, time just seems to fly! It's on my mind constantly to write on this blog and I just don't do it...so, I'm sorry!

The Games are over! All of it! Over! I was sitting at home last night watching the Closing Ceremonies on tv until I decided that it was lame that I was sitting at home when this huge event was happening a short distance from me! So, I tried to pick the right moment so to not miss anything and headed into the village. It was cloudy and rainy (one of the main reasons for my decision to stay home)...but as I drove in (YES...DROVE! Jenny brought my car up last weekend and this freedom is AMAZING!) the sky was lit up with what seemed like fireworks on a cloudy day until I turned the corner and saw the last explosion! My mouth dropped open! It was spectacular! Obviously, that means I missed the celebration but I parked and joined the crowds of happy people walking through the village. It was a good sense of closure.

I'm just coming off two days of skiing (!) and the snow on the mountain keeps on coming! It's awesome...PLUS my skiing endurance is much better so I don't have to stop as often on my runs down the hill! Yay! Now, with work tomorrow, it might come as a shock to my system for me to actually work (there hasn't been much to do but find hiding places the last 2 weeks)...but now it's all about 'load out'. Making sure that everything onsite gets taken away! Lots of boxes are in my future -- boxes that have been moved countless times are requesting one more shove. Yipee!

9 days to go -- and then it's home...then to KANSAS to visit Mark and Kendra (!!!!)...then on to Vancouver Island...and then, the Lord only knows! Seriously.

Snow in March...naturally!

Hello again, friends!

A lot has happened since my last post -- and I guess I've been pretty busy (which traslates to tired) and slightly deflated after all the excitement of the Olympics. It's really too bad for the Paralympians that the Olympic hype is so intense that it's hard to build yourself up to do it all over again! Not to mention the week in between the events turns into the busiest time for housekeeping when you have to turnover close to 2000 beds! But they got it done and the Paralympics are already half way through! Last week it snowed over 60cm in about 48 hours (needless to say the skiing was EPIC!) and it finally made the athletes village actually look like the Winter Games! But today it's POURING rain Westcoast style...such is life!

As I mentioned, the skiing has been amazing and full of powder! I had my first wipeout last week -- thankfully in slow motion and it didn't hurt at the time (and there was noone with me to laugh at me...) but now my body/knees are reminding me that they've been through a lot in their 31 years. It tried to slow me down but my skis are so fast and my confidence is growing so I'm just going for it and loving it!

The Kunka's came for a visit this past weekend and it was SO great! I could finally play host to my family instead of free-loading off of them all the time (!) and it was fun to show them around the village and see the kids get excited with all the ceremonies etc. We went to watch the alpine sit-ski slalom which was pretty cool! Very exciting to see these athletes pushing themselves -- some with legs, some without...Makenna was very interested in why they were like that. It's encouraging for me to see that too as I think about my knees...that even if something were to happen (like knee replacements for my 35th birthday...haha!), I'd still be able to hit the slopes!

The kids took turns with the cowbell until Peter dropped it down the bleachers. The lost and found process was a little ridiculous...they sweep out under the bleachers one hour after the daily events and then gather all the stuff and send it to some warehouse in Vancouver for pick up! Seriously! Jenny left her phone number and THANKFULLY they called so Jenny and I ventured back out in the snow and I had to run up the huge hill, then down and snowy slope to the chair lift to take me to the grandstands...and then get the cowbell, take the chair lift down again and then run to the car! It only took 30 minutes but the cowbell is back and doing well!

After the Olympics, there was an appreciation lunch where we got to eat in the athletes side of the dining tent and just have at the food! YUM! All you can eat ANYTHING! Pizza, a grill, stir-fry...salads, soup...you name it! Chef Michael Smith was in action again and gave a little speech. They also had draw prizes and I scored BIG TIME!! I got the cream of the crop prize! It was a whole bunch of Olympic souvenirs -- a sweet shoulder bag, a matching toque and scarf, a stuffy of each of the mascots, an Olympic torch relay picture book, an umbrella, a t-shirt, stickers, key chain and so much more!! Basically, everything I wanted to buy in one sweet gift! I tallied it all up and it was worth $330!!! Amazing!
I also received an AMAZING package from Mark and Kendra with goodies from Kansas and a whole lot of encouragement! There was a 'garden in a can' that I just add water and place in a sunny spot and as soon as I opened it and put it by the window it started snowing but the amazing thing is that just today I looked at it and it's starting to SPROUT!! More thrilling than I can even imagine! I'll be there in Kansas soon enough to help Kendra with her garden and to eat all her goodies and I CAN'T WAIT! :) Karen also sent me some family pictures and it felt like big hugs coming through the mail! So, thanks!
It's hard to believe that this dream is almost over but the timing is going to be just right. God only knows what's next -- I'm going to enjoy some time at home and in Kansas and on Vancouver Island in April with lots of cuddles with my boy, Jamal...and from there, I can only trust that the plan is ready and will be unveiled to me at the right time.

Happy days are ahead...especially tomorrow for St. Patty's Day!! Top o' the mornin' to ya!
:)

My Glowing Heart

I think we all became a little more Canadian over the past few weeks...and for those of you who aren't Canadian, I'm sure you wished you were for at least most of February. And even though my Celine did not perform for either the Opening or the Closing Ceremonies (reports say she is trying to have another baby...you go girl!), I'm pretty sure I have never felt this proud to be Canadian...and I was pretty proud already! Proud in the most humble of respects, of course...I mean, I'm not going to get a(nother) maple leaf tattooed on me or anything! But that description of a 'glowing heart' really does it and, after the women's hockey team won their gold medal, I heard one of the athletes explain that she didn't feel pressure because Canadians don't pressure, they support. I love that! Obviously, we're always happy to just see a Canadian out there on the big stage and when they win, wow! But now, we've really made a name for ourselves and have only scratched the surface -- I can sense the legacy and momentum for all the kids out there who, in two, four, six and eight years down the road know that they too can excel because they are supported. And I think of my own nieces and nephews and the potential they have and wow...I'm excited!

I wanted to take a moment and share my highest of highlights from my time working at the Olympics. There were about a million highlights (yes, one million!) but these 8 really struck a chord and will be ingrained in me forever. Basically, the real reason they made the list was that they made (or still make) me cry. Whenever people accomplish something so beyond human potential, I always try to picture myself as them and what it would feel like. I imagine what it feels like to put your life on hold for years of training, what it feels like to know that you are loved no matter what the result but when you do win, you win for everyone who has ever had an impact on your path, and what it feels like to know that you have accomplished your full potential as an athlete. I just LOVE sport and all the dimensions and curve balls! Woo!

Right...the list. Here we go...!

1. The Opening Ceremony Rehearsal. What an epic event! Sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for what surprise was next...anticipating that Celine was going to be the next performer. The visuals, lights, pictures, sounds...the confetti and leaves falling. The story of Canada, the diversity of Canada. Just terrific!

2. Joannie Rochette. Full stop. More than an inspiration. Especially now that the intensity of the Games is over, her new reality is just setting in. To skate is what she knew how to do, her comfort...but I still couldn't imagine the courage it must've taken to tie the laces and be focused for her performance. She nailed it when she said, "Mom's should live forever"...and that's all I have to say about that.

3. Women's 2-man bobsled Medal Ceremony (Canada: Gold AND Silver)! I remember

watching the races on tv and the story how the girl who won silver this time missed a medal last Olympics by like, one-one-hundredth of a second...and then we win a gold too! The day of the medal presentation I saw one of the girls in the athletes village who won the silver and I cheered for her and she was all excited and it was cool! Plus, on the day of the ceremony the Canadian women's hockey team had JUST won the gold (and I watched the last 5 minutes on the big screen with the crowds in Whistler before running to the line to get in for the medal ceremony...!). It was crazy and I'll explain more later as this ties into my next moment. But the medal ceremony was just AWESOME! So many flags and cheering and HUGE cameras and cameras on a huge boom an arms reach over my head...and the symphony sound as the athletes are paraded to the podium to receive their medals (which shine and sparkle SOO much!)...all of this is just so great! It's standing room only and it's a tight fit! It's just a really cool thing to be able to see your country's flag (or two!) be raised by the RCMP and hear everyone sing the anthem!

And then they came out on stage and danced with the band that was playing that night! Jimmy Fallon opened and introduced them...it was pretty cool. The band was called the Roots and they apparently are the house band for Jimmy Fallon's show. Say no to drugs, kids...seriously.

4. Ben singing the national anthem for when the Women's hockey team won. So, on this same day as mentioned above, I watched the end of the women's hockey game but then had to run to the other end of the village to get in the standby line for the medal ceremony thus sacrificing me seeing (and crying to) the presentation of medals to the hockey girls (it gets me every time!). Anyway, Karen had facebooked me if I was going to the ceremony and I didn't get a chance to reply so, once I got into the venue for the ceremony, I gave them a call and wouldn't you know it...it was at the MOMENT that the anthem was being played!!!! So she put the phone to the tv and that got the tears a flowing...and then at the end of the anthem, she put the phone to Benny who was singing along and that just set me off!!! Tears streaming (almost bouncing) down my face...in public, no less!! And THEN, after I had a chance to talk to everyone in the family, Karen snagged the phone to the tv again for the "Believe" song that turns my faucet on regardless of the situation but did BIG TIME this night as I was picturing the video montage of the hockey!!! Hilarious, yet AWESOME! :) Thanks for that!

5. Men's hockey semi-final with Mom and Andrea. That save of Lu's at the end of the game....HELLO! It took me at LEAST 45 minutes to shake that one off! For more details, see my last post, 'life with a little more cowbell'. The cowbell was the moment here...would've been a mess without it!!

6. Speed skating -- men and women. The support and excitement behind it all was an incredible drama...and I loved it! Not to mention the sheer size of their quads brings tears to my eyes but what they can do with them and how competitive they were was awesome to see...the not so nice Canadian way. Digging in to win...most of them were French too...I don't know what that means! The one I really remember was the long track team pursuit. I was in town again and all of a sudden I could hear the big tv at the base of the mountain building some excitement. Canada vs. USA...first one across the line wins. A big crowd was forming too and encouraging the guys from miles away. My favourite part was when you could see the guys fatiguing, they just gave each other a little push by putting their hand on the back of the guy in front of them. You could just see that they wanted it and were so determined to get it...and when they did cross the line a huge elation broke out...and so did my tears! Ha! Since I was all by myself, I decided to move on to the bus and get home because I could feel the emotion just boiling inside. Plus, I had to get back for the men's curling final...which leads to number 7.

7. Oh Canada. I can't remember what end it was in...I think the 9th...when the crowd just started singing Oh Canada right in the middle of the play! The players just stopped and let it happen before throwing another stone. What a moment! And when they won?!?! I think I cried three separate times. I mean, I've watched curling for probably 10 years or more and I know Kevin Martin and what he's gone through and won and not won...and he was an old guy (no offense old guys) playing with young guys (a good looking third, I might add!)! It was just so cool how they did it and how they celebrated. Loved it!

8. Oh, my number 8. I'll be lucky if I even get through typing this without crying! All I have to say is Sydney Crosby. When that puck went into the net...I've never been so excited!! I was jumping up and down for what seemed forever! And I was screaming and clapping and jumping and, and, and! It all goes back to my first comment about putting myself in their position and imagining what it would feel like...to score the OT game winning goal in the Olympic FINAL for a GOLD medal (at 22 years old!!!)!!!! And what it meant for every Canadian watching! For the rest of that evening, I was walking around trying to do some audits and keep busy but I kept reliving that goal and I honestly teared up every single time! And every time thereafter! And into the next day when I saw the highlights in the dining tent...same thing...even today! One of my American co-workers saw me get all emotional yesterday from seeing the highlights and she said to me, 'well, for this reason, I'm really glad you guys won because I definitely wouldn't have this type of reaction to it'. For whatever reason, it really means something to me when people accomplish such great things and bring so much joy to other people by doing what they love.

I guess that's sport. People doing what they love against people who are doing what they love for people who love watching what people love. So, basically, people, love people who love people no matter what the score.

I love you people!

Life with a little more cowbell

Wow! What a ride – and I didn’t even pull a hamstring! I don’t even know where to begin so I might just shoot off the hip and tell stories of the last week that are in no particular order. Even just sitting here trying to orchestrate my thoughts is almost discouraging to, first of all, think that it’s over but also to find the right words to describe what has just happened in a way that makes you feel like you’ve been here with me…because that’s what I want most of all. I’m always reminded of what an incredible opportunity this is and how it’s not exactly ‘normal’ to see the grandstands and race course of the Olympic downhill and Super G on a bus ride into town or to see the Olympic rings on a day to day basis but I have to be honest and say that there were times that it felt like it was just another day at work. Thankfully I have some incredible friends who remind me where I am and it sets me straight – so, thanks, Friends. ;)

A few short days ago I realized the importance of the cowbell in my life. Yes, it’s true, I had joked that only at the Olympic Games is it ok for humans to wear a cowbell around their neck but that was before I knew the value of the cowbell. Let me explain. My Mom and cousin Andrea came up to Whistler for a visit on Friday to take in the sights and sounds of Whistler. Mom had been volunteering in Vancouver as a driver so she came up here when she had officially retired. One of the benefits from her position was that she had to clean out the vehicle before handing it back over…cue the cowbell! A Vancouver 2010 cowbell was left in the back of her car and her supervisor said she could have it! (Side note: while shopping around the village for a while, we discovered that this cowbell was worth $40!!!! Whoa!). Anywho, this cowbell is what has been missing in my life! We spent most of the day in the rain (and yet, protected under another forgotten item from the vehicle) but then headed back to my place to warm up and watch the women’s curling final followed very closely with the men’s hockey semi-final. Our plan was to watch the first period here and then head into town to watch the rest in the crowds by the big screen. You’d figure that a 3-0 cushion would allow for some great festivities but it suddenly turned into a very stressful and intense event. With that cowbell strapped to my hand, I was able to release the pent up distress I was experiencing as I could holler ‘Luuuuu’ with the crowd and jingle that bell! Seriously, if I did not have that cowbell…wow…I’d be a stressed out mess! (Kind of like I was during the final where I did not have the cowbell and made it through but was so tense even WAY after the game that I had a hard time sleeping! Good thing we won!!) Basically, life is good with a little more cowbell!

Go Canada Go!