Security!

Day one of uniform wearing means that it's really getting close to becoming very real! Now we have to go through some pretty serious screening before getting to work and getting on site. We were picked up about an hour earlier this morning to allow time for the extra screening -- for instance, our accreditation was checked 3 times within 100m and then the vehicle we were in is stopped inside a tent and checked over by a bunch of RCMP (some single...don't worry, I'm checking!!!). From there, we can drive on site and park outside our workforce tent where we go inside to have our accreditation barcode scanned and go through an airport-like security treatment. Phewph! And that's just to get to work!

It didn't take us nearly as long as we thought so we headed into the workforce dining tent area to have a coffee and sit around until 8:30am. Cue the RCMP coming in for breakfast! HELLO! That was cool...oh, but before that happened, Chef Michael Smith came out to see the breakfast buffet and have a little to eat himself! My heart was POUNDING...it was cool! I tried to get up and just meet him and tell him I love his show, but the timing wasn't quite right...my staring at him was probably enough! Some of the police were trying to sneak a picture of him too! He's huge and totally normal. In all seriousness, his fanny-pack (yes, fanny-pack!) would seriously be at my shoulder height! Ha! Lunch was really good too and will be the highlight of my days this week!

Back to the RCMP...there are some good looking specimens I tell you (and from right across this beautiful country!)! And we have one constable on the lookout for my roomie and I -- I have his number so a group of us can meet up for a ski day!! Woo! More on that when it happens! ;)

On top of the world!

Well, I was able to ski Whistler this weekend and put a big check mark off my bucket list! I spent Friday evening studying the mountain map and let me tell you...I was intimidated! The mountain is HUGE! For instance, every night the groomers are on the hill and from the village, the lights on the groomers just look like stars in the night! I mean, they are WAAAAY up there!

So Saturday morning rolls around and it's time to go! Yay! I get my gear on and walk down to the bus (yes, in my ski boots!) trying not to smile so big! Two stops later, I'm in line for the tickets -- my plan is to get a 5 day EDGE card and then turn it into a Season's pass...you know, when else am I going to be able to ski on an Olympic mountain DURING the Olympics? I think I may have mentioned that before...but seriously, sometimes it takes a lot for it to sink in! After I get my pass (which is a photo ID on a lanyard...so official!), I head to the gondola and I'm off! It takes one gondola ride and two chair lifts to get to the very top!

My first run was the Peak to Creek (which was on my bucket list!)

...it literally goes from the very Peak of Whistler to Creekside where you actually have to take your skis off in order to get back on the lift. It's 11km long and takes well over 15 minutes (if not 30!) to get down to the bottom...all depending on how many breaks you take and frankly, I took a lot of breaks! But what a moment! Just amazing! I mainly couldn't believe how high up I was and how HUGE this ski resort is! There are chair lifts everywhere! I didn't even make it over to Blackcomb (that happened today!) -- it was just a fantastic day (not to mention I ate at Splitz after...my fav burger shop!).

One of the cooler things was on the way up the gondola and seeing the Grandstands and Olympic rings on the mountain for where the mens and women's downhill and Super G races will finish! I was able to ski the last portion of the race today, right into the Grandstand...and just in time as they are closing this section of the mountain next week to get it ready for the Olympics! Saweet! You can see the Grandstand from a distance on this next picture -- I just couldn't believe how far away I was and trying to imagine what it would feel and look like with it packed with people! You can also see the blue fencing that marks the race course as well.

From the Grandstand, you look up the hill and see the Olympic rings that are right there!

Overall, it was the best weekend of skiing in my ENTIRE LIFE! The Black Tusk looked amazing though out the day...God's beauty is everywhere! He is so good to us for allowing us to see, experience and play on his creation! I am truly blessed.

(This was a fun run!)

;)

Not so ordinary

When I woke up on Wednesday, I figured that I had a regular ol' day ahead of me...boy, was I ever wrong!! Everything around the village is really starting to pick up and it's getting to crunch time. The moment I arrived into the building, one of the guys I work with said that Michael Smith is on site and had JUST been in the building for a meeting on the couches where we usually sit! I had missed him but it certainly didn't stop me from going directly to the spot he was sitting and sit there! Woo! And that was just the beginning...!

The next surprise was a cute one...plays on the ol' heart strings! First of all, if I see any video about the upcoming Olympics with a tonne of Canada hype and Vancouver/Whistler specific photos and memories of the previous great moments of the Olympics...I weep. It's that simple. There's one video in particular (you can find these on vancouver2010.com) that I've be

en getting better at making it through but then they show the women's hockey team win and then glimpses of prideful Canadians and I lose it! Thankfully a new friend that I work with here is exactly the same so by the end of these videos, we're a mess!! Now that you're caught up on some background that has no connection to this next little story...........

We're at the process of delivering the right amount of linens and soap and whatever else to the rooms for them to be set up and there were new boxes in our storage units this week full of cards. And not just any old card...these are hand

-drawn welcome cards made by elementary kids from around Canada that will be placed beside each athletes bed! They are so adorable! And quite a nice touch, I might add! Yay Canada!

And I can't stop there!

As I've mentioned before, we're getting ready for what we call 'the sweep'...where the army etc. come in and check everything! So before that happens and we're in total lockdown where we're the only ones allowed onsite there are tours galore! Wednesday was media day...the only day that the media was allowed on site! Media from all over the world were here on a tour and if you saw Global news last night you would've seen it all (well, all that we were prepared to show people!). This was where the Village GM had to keep Michael Smith in the back of the kitchen so the media could only see the McDonald's in the dining hall and not know that a pro chef is in the back of the real kitchen! Anyway...

Next on the list of excitement was when we discovered that the Olympic Rings for the village had arrived!!! And they postponed their placement until after our Operational meeting so we could all go and get our picture taken with it! I mean, how COOL is that?!?!?! I totally touched them (no big deal)...and now they're on the first level roof of one of the buildings. They're lime green...weird, I know. But still cool!

And THEN we discovered where team Canada is staying so we've been doing a little snooping. They have a gigantic moose (red and white with Team Canada tattoos!) in their garage and they're going to set up hockey nets to play road hockey!! How sweet is that??!!! I love it!

Next up was the original plan for the day which was to play darts at night. Clearly, being a part of the housekeeping team (and seeing as there were hundreds of extra toilet brushes ordered) we all get one and are going to bring them everywhere we go! So, naturally, we played darts and brought along our torches!

I'm off to our managers hockey game and well, yes...the torches are coming there too! If she gets a hat-trick, we're throwing them over the glass!! Woo!

Standing at attention...but not really

Probably one of the cooler things about working here is the chance to wear some really sweet gear! Monday morning we headed back into Whistler Village to be fitted for our Vanoc uniform! All the volunteers and workforce have the same items but there's a difference between the city and mountain people based on the pants (mountain staff get actual ski pants!)!

It's a sweet colour and the reflective stuff is super reflective...you know, like the ACTUAL Olympic rings on the back and the 'Vancouver 2010' written on the legs and arms! Other than the fact that each item is made in China........I'm pretty pumped for the opportunity to wear it (especially the fact that we only get 2 long sleeve shirts for 2 months of work...but anyway...)!

Let's start from the top:

1. Vancouver 2010 toque (awesome!)

2. Two long sleeve t's -- made of BAMBOO which is soooooo soft! One is solid blue, the other has a design.

3. A fleece vest with Vancouver 2010 on the front and back

4. A water proof shell jacket with Vancouver 2010 in reflective on the arm -- the zip on the front is on an angle...and I share this only because it was told to me at least 3 times when trying it on! Not only that but there are OOBER reflective Olympic rings on the back! WhaBAM!

5. Navy blue ski pant with Vancouver 2010 down the leg.

Not bad, eh?

Now, we won't officially start wearing them until January 29th but thankfully that won't stop me from trying it on every so often! Until then, the army is moving in to check every square inch of the athletes village. So far, they've started coming in and driving their equipment around which is beyond cool. Apparently, they're going to be opening every single space possible and every box and lifting every bed and and and...it's quite the operation to say the least -- and they'll do it in about 3 days! It's pretty impressive...just like their mustaches!

Church on the Mountain

Going to church by myself kind of reminds me of the Ab Ripper X from P90X. Before you get started in the grueling 15 minute ab workout, my dear friend Tony Horton gives a little pep talk and then says, 'Ab Ripper X...you hate it...but you LOVE it'! And it's true!

I heard about this 'Church on the Mountain' from a friend of mine here at work -- she knew some people who had gone to it in the past...so I thought I'd check it out. One thing I love about it from only hearing about it was that it starts at 4:30pm and they do this so that people can get a full day of skiing in and then come to church for Apres (as they say). So, I gathered my accreditation for my free transit and headed into the village. I knew it would be great to just be around some other believers and just to go to church...but I also knew it would be awkward. One thing I've taught myself is that not going is just too easy so I challenge myself to go (whether it be to church or some other new adventure). God doesn't make things easy...He'll present an opportunity and it's our challenge to meet Him where He wants us. Anyway, I walk in to the Golf Club, where they meet, and it was a cute little set up. I definitely felt awkward and didn't talk to anyone or be welcomed by anyone but as the service got going and we started singing, it just felt like God's house with God's people and I love that! During the meet and greet time, it turns out I was sitting beside a guy I worked with at the Penticton museum about 10 years ago! Ha! How crazy is that?!

The message was great -- about Jesus being truth and the answer to every question and the cool thing afterward is that they open up to the group after the message for a time of questions, comments and concerns! It was great! Then, before leaving, I met a girl from Australia and had a nice chat...and I'm looking forward to next week!

So, yes it was hard and there were times during the day that I was trying to come up with excuses to not go but I just knew that it's too easy to not go and I knew that I would love it. And now I'm sitting by the fire that I just made in our fireplace and am so happy that I can share this with you all.

Be encouraged, be blessed.

SunIce adventures

Well, it's almost been 2 weeks since I've been in Whistler so it was time to bring out the ol' SunIce fluorescent jacket! I think I got this jacket about 15 years ago...I was obviously STOKED to have it (especially since my previous jacket had a fluorescent strip of fabric sewn on it...of which I also loved, don't get me wrong, Mom). Anyway, last year after Christmas, Donny and Tamara were visiting (trust me...I'll get on with it) -- we went to go play outside and when that happens in the winter ALL the old gear gets put out for all to wear. Tamara donned the SunIce and revived the fluorescent movement. From then on, it has been the only thing I ski in and it is really as awesome as it looks! The only kicker is that it has a short body but clearly, that is the most minor of offenses -- I get more compliments on this jacket then anything else I know! I have to add here too that my toque (made by my good friend Jenna in Maui) is also experiencing some fantastic adventures!

Ok, so, on Saturday afternoon, the Vanoc supervisors and the Sedexo supervisors headed up to the mountain for some old fashioned fun of tubing! There were 8 lanes ranging from Green runs right to Black Diamond! The Black Diamond runs were closed because they were too fast but the Blue runs did the trick. Like, it's no 93km/hr but it was super fun...and wow, what a beautiful night! Clear skies and fun times!

The other cool part was that we got to take the gondola up to the tube park -- that in itself was enough for me! I just love having adventures outside and especially under the lights! Super fun times! I was even able to take a picture en route down my last run (as seen below!). My plan is to be on the hill next weekend to take this jacket for a ski...and I can't wait! Donations to my season's pass can be directly deposited...I thank you all in advance! Seriously. :)

Say CHEESE (but don't smile!)

While losing a snowball fight with God, we ventured into town to get our official accreditation on Friday! So, it's official! The ol' picture time but 'don't smile' is always fun...and by fun, I mean difficult especially when there are 6 of us trying to be serious for half a second! You'll be happy to know that I was practicing smiling with my eyes and I do that by thinking of Celine. Yep...true story! You'd think I'd be good at that...and deep down I believe I am...but the sad ending is that I look a little freaky and I sure wish I put my hair behind my ears. Ha!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that on the momentous occasion of eating a burger from Splitz, Celine came along...in t-shirt form, of course (the Vancouver one, for those of you who are visual and know my collection!). She couldn't miss out! :D