15 things (and one bonus)

15 things that made for such an amazing, wonderful, memorable, delightful Olympics week in Vancouver. And an honourable mention.

1. My sister. Hostess to many MKs over the course of the weekend (and an MK herself, oddly). Shopping companion. Dining mate. Hockey connoisseur. I don't think I show her enough appreciation.

2. Other family - a nice lunch of dim sum with my brother Carlos. I'm sorry Mark couldn't make it. I'm sorry we didn't get up the coast. I apologize a lot for something that was a good time, I know. Sorry.

3. Chris. Read his blog already! Also, he'll kill me, but I will set him up with anyone who meets my exacting standards for awesome enough to be his match.

4. Brian and Giuseppe. We love these guys no end, and we're glad we get Chicago and Vancouver time with them. Bonus points to Brian for his past Olympics experiences to share with us. Bonus points to Giuseppe for introducing me to Dan Mangan's stuff and then for being so adorkably tongue tied around the man.

5. Dan Mangan.
OK, I wasn't wild about the woman who was on before him (OK, I was so unenthralled as to sit reading the Globe and Mail - a TORONTO newspaper, for crying out loud! - on my iPhone while I prayed for her to be done her set), but the man put on an awesome show. Among many wonderful moments, I loved that he halted "Pine for Cedars" to tell us how, when he was touring Australia, he had to explain the lyric about winning a home in a hospital lottery. So BC. Love him.

6. This sweater on me. I never said I wasn't shallow.

7. This scarf on me. In fact, I'm very very shallow.

8. Coffee at Safari. If I can't have a flat white, then this will do nicely, though I realize I forgot to go to the place Janet recommended. In May, when we return.

9. Seeing Canada's first gold medal on home soil - EVER! - draped around Alexandre Bilodeau's neck, and having tears running down my cheeks during O Canada.

10. Getting to dress in Swedish drag and be a Svenska fan for one hockey game.

11. The First Nations presence around the Games (photo from the Coast Salish carvers in a house at the Art Gallery). Wonderful, special. I've commented already. Conrad and I ended up buying a print from the Edzerza Gallery to keep in our Vancouver home. I'm stunned that Alano Edzerza designed the really cool Netherlands uniforms. Wow.

12. Curling. Never really played it, still love it. How can you not love a sport that opens sessions with a round of bagpipes?




13. The houses and pavilions. Best by far was Canada's Northern House, but I think I actually liked Maison du Quebec most for its entertainment and proximity, its' blue glow at night.

14. Vancouver in the spring sunshine. Yes, it was spring. Yes, I am still bitter about being back in wintry Chicago.

15. Sharing in it all with this man. My Valentine the night of the photo, but so much more, and every single day. Thanks SB!


Honourable mention (no photo): meeting Mark and Maureen, even fleetingly. Marie may be the one hosting people, but I felt more than a little pleased at having been able to lend our condo for one night to the brother and sister-in-law of a good friend. I hope they enjoyed their Olympics experience and greatly!

curling

Ah yes, all you Americans, you know you've been keenly awaiting this post. Curling, the sport that fascinates you, in all its glory!

Oh, I mock a little, but only just. Truly, I have heard from a number of people here in Chicago that they watch the curling and try to understand it. I think that's lovely, really. Too bad that the American men (more later) have struggled to the point of benching their skip. I take no joy in saying that.

We had tickets to two rounds of curling, in fact. Last Tuesday, it was the first round of women's. Four games, eight teams, all on at once.



The skies in the photos look cloudy, but we were so warm as to have to unbutton and unzip and leave jackets open or off. A short walk from the King Edward station on the Canada Line, we joined the throngs at the Vancouver Olympic Centre. Many many fans, a lively atmosphere. And some odd characters sent out to keep us all entertained though, in truth, all lines moved briskly enough. And then inside to our seats. The place was packed,
and around us sat many Canadians, most of whom seemed to know the sport well. Which made for interesting eavesdropping.

From where we sat, we could not see the Canada-Switzerland game below us well. Not a worry - from what I could tell, it was played conservatively. We found much to enjoy in the other games.

Ultimately, it was the USA-Japan game at the opposite side of the rink that captivated us. The Americans jumped to an early lead, one that seemed too much for the Japanese. Midway through, though, the Japanese stole three and were back in it. From there they chipped away and pulled ahead. In the last end, the Japanese were up 8-7, but the USA had the hammer. Neither team played it easy, and with one stone left to play, the Japanese sat in the button. The US skip threw, and it ended up pretty darn much where she wanted it, or so I believe: right in the button next to the Japanese stone. The other games were over, a number of people had left, but those of us who stayed held our breath as an official came out with a device to measure the distance of each stone from the center of the house. Close, USA, but not quite. Japan won it 9-7. It was so slight, the difference. As I tweeted: Curling, a game of mere inches. 1, 2 and 3/4, 6.5. The Americans and Japanese learned that lesson again today. Amazing finish.



The next day we went back for the second men's session.



No Canadians in play, and - sadder still - no Norwegians with their remarkable pants. Is it wrong of me to covet them a tiny bit?

In any case, another sunny day
to move through the crowds outside, this time with the added bonus of those Mounties I mentioned before. Inside we found we were on the opposite side of the rink from the day before, and closer to the action. We also found ourselves surrounded by Americans, and I heard some terminology from a couple of other sports being deployed (I swear I heard someone describe it as scoring a goal). Knowledgeable or not, they were enthusiastic, and while the chants of USA USA became a little sadder as their team


sailed rocks wide or through the house, it was a good atmosphere.

Funny thing is, I don't know that I was as gripped by the games as the day before, though I did enjoy watching the Britain-France match unfold. The Brits, defending world champs, looked strong. Alas, four ends in, and we knew we had to get going. Marie had hockey tickets for us, and we didn't want to be late for that fine gift.

I will not apologize for wanting my country to sweep the gold, but I do wish all the curlers good curling inasmuch as it remains to them this late in the tourney.