host nations

There are some things I steadfastly refuse to say the American way. The last letter of the alphabet is "zed", freezing is 0 degrees (Celsius, of course!), and the structure where you leave your car while parking is a "parkade".

I also tend seldom to use the word "Indian" unless I mean someone/thing from India. For some time now in Canada, "First Nations" has been the term in use, and I think it captures certain essences well. First Nations were here before the English and French and others. And they were and are nations with marvelous cultural traditions, systems of governance, language, trade, and more.

Did I always feel this way? No. As a young person in northern BC, I didn't always have the most understanding attitude. And I'm not so sure I have the broadest, best appreciation for the First Nations now - I sometimes wonder if I reduce them to creators and purveyors of gorgeous works of art.

Vancouver (and Canada) did some things very right with these Games, and the involvement of the First Nations has been one major thing. Oh, there were missteps with some merchandise, I know, and I suspect not all BC and Canadian First Nations have been so supportive. I can't and won't address the complex issues in this blog post. Let me just laud some of the good for now, and let me start with the Four Host First Nations.

In a nutshell, the events are taking place on land claimed by four different First Nations, and out of respect for that, the four nations are involved as host nations. Their leaders are being treated as dignitaries of the highest order, their art and artisans is being showcased, and I can only hope that there will be economic benefits that reach all members of the nations. The four nations were a prominent part of the opening ceremonies - and you can make penis jokes all you want, but the welcoming figures, the projected images/motifs, the dancers, and the participation by and support from other First Nations was one thing that impressed the heck out of me early on.

Still, there is evidence of involvement permeating the Games in many ways: the merchandise, the pavilions, faces seen around. Again, this isn't solving deeper social issues, but it is perhaps a good step made in good faith.

Some images for you, then, that show ways in which the First Nations, the host nations, share in these Games with all who have come to celebrate them:

From the Canada's Northern House (our favourite so far by a long shot), there were magnificent works of art such as, in a tall case,
a granite sculpture of a hunter and a polar bear facing off over a seal; a carved narwhal tusk showing scenes of the hunt;
that beaded blanket blazing on the wall;
masks;

smaller sculptures, crafts, and artwork. There were also northern people demonstrating some of the sports and games that have developed among their nations.

We stood a long while in line outside the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion - immensely popular on a sunny Sunday - before ultimately deciding to dash through the gift shop and keep going so as to take a lot in.



I am keen to go back, though.

At BC Hydro, there are two welcome figures carved by a Hydro staff member, as I understand it. Yellow cedar? Tall, imposing, but such a wonderful sight. Welcoming indeed.

Design and motif in many places, like the Taiwanese-Canadian collaboration on lanterns and art on Granville Street. Of course, there is merchandise, too, and we are shopping. Non-Games specific, the First Nations art collection at Vancouver International Airport is stunning.




Again, this isn't solving deep issues within the Nations themselves or between each nation and the government of Canada. I'm not so naive as to think that. I simply appreciate all that I see of the First Nations presence, and am grateful that peoples with so much to give to the Games have had that opportunity.

really bloody tired

So we've been here not quite 36 hours, and here's the tally:

• two meals at Campagnolo
• one meal at the Club we joined
• one meal of sushi with Chris
• five pavilions, I think
• three live musical performances
• two trips to the Olympics Store at The Bay, and lots of stuff bought
• 5 km swim at the Club
• blogging and Flickr-ing

I'm really very knackered. I started swooning a minute or two ago. I need to get to bed.

There's tons more to write, I feel. It will come. A taste then of something that has struck me, impressed me: the conspicuous and welcome inclusion of First Nations participation in the hosting and staging of the Games.



Carvings from the Canada Northern House, a worthwhile stop we made this morning.

Bedtime. See you bright and early in the AM!

my Valentine

A very Happy Valentine's Day to my wonderful SB. There are many reasons why I love him:

He makes faces for the camera.

He wears the special ties I buy him and lets me make sure the tie is tied properly and the collar is straight.



He's so darn cute when I catch him semi-unaware.

He puts up with me. And that, friends, is no small thing!

8+ years of this wonderful man. Yes, you can be jealous. Just don't try to steal him away, please!

my friend the superhero

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Glowing Heart Man!

Able to dance to his heart's content at his employers sustainable energy dance floor pavilion.



Strong enough to pose sensitively and adorably with my handsome guy.

Blogging more wittily and regularly than I.

Secret Identity: Chris. Single, tall, great swimmer, super super guy. Will go for fish and chips and deep fried Mars Bars and make it feel like he's the naughty one, not you.

I hope we get to see him again Thursday!

those harsh Canadian winters

So, my American friends, tell me again all those great jokes about snowshoes and igloos and dogsleds in abundance once you cross the border. Yes, it surely MUST be cold where I come from. I mean, gosh, there are barely any flowers in bloom
or buds on trees here in Vancouver.
Bitter conditions indeed.

;-)

In fact, the snow on Cypress Mountain has been an issue. Me? I'm not so concerned as I've been able to roam the city in a handsome new sweater with a scarf draped on merely for effect. Vain creature that I am, I did think it an absolutely perfect spring day out there.

Oh, and to my friends in Baltimore, DC, and nearby: in now way am I trying to rub in how hard a winter you've had, I promise. Just exulting in the lovely sunny Sunday it turned out to be here is all...

sea of red

Sure, he flashes a hint of blue and yellow, but really, Conrad has fallen deep into Canuckistani identity. Just look at that tuque on him! Roots! Actually, the Right to Play tuque, a cooperative effort with Roots. Just wait until we start dressing in all the gear we were buying at The Bay today. I know we'll be back at the Olympic Store again.

In fact, the gear is one really cool things about this event. Oh, quibble with the design (I like a lot of the Canada stuff, not so much of the blue and green Vancouver 2010 stuff), but it's a kick to see so many people wearing it. Red, everywhere. The mittens, for example, are ubiquitous. Marie had a pair for Conrad,
and I already had mine, so we fit in well.

We're not a country that is so very unabashedly patriotic, but it wouldn't be a bad thing if we were a little more demonstrably proud of our heritage than usual. Walking around the city, today, the sea of red was a glorious sight. Tomorrow, I don more red and join my people. With glowing heart, of course!

Campagnolo

Yes, yes, we got an upgrade, and thus we "enjoyed" breakfast on the plane.

(not so secret confession: I'm fond of a lot of airplane food and have long had an especial affinity for eggy breakfasts)

(United, this was not one of your better efforts)

It was just after 1:00 when we got to the apartment, and Marie hadn't had lunch, so we wandered down the block to a favourite place, Campagnolo.

(oooo, another aside: fireworks out there - great view, too!)

Brunch it was: all three of us each had the pancetta, spinach, and goat cheese fritatta. Not at all stodgy, very light. A half litre of an Italian white to wash it down, and we were good to get out and start walking.

Poor Conrad. A cold has him down, jetlag hasn't helped. We considered a few familiar options for dinner, but in the end we went back down the block. Twice in one day, but I doubt they mind. The front of the house was busy, but we wanted to park at the bar in the back,
and found ourselves for a few minutes the only ones there.

My pork shoulder was fine (also fine but not photogenic, apparently, were Conrad's flank steak and the olives and hazelnuts we shared), but the winner was the albacore tuna crudo for a starter. Wow. The sushi we had a couple of nights back in Chicago wishes it were such good quality fish.

A half litre of an Italian red kept the food company, and Conrad, worn down, finished and headed back to the condo to climb into bed.

pavilions

Gosh, is it really after midnight Chicago time? It's barely gone 10 here in Vancouver, and the city will not go to sleep for some time yet. The pavilions within sight of the apartment give ample evidence of that.

I'll post a lot from the Olympics (or so I plan, for the week we're here, that is). Not in order, either. Things that strike me, things I want to report on. A lot.

Conrad is in bed right now - fast asleep, I hope. I have on some music, softly, but I can hear traffic out on Main Street and some thrum of music coming from over at the pavilions at False Creek. Now then, here's where I'm admittedly naive. I didn't think about the Olympics being an ideal venue for other provinces and countries to promote themselves, only BC. Nope, not the case. Many countries have set up pavilions in temporary structures (tents, for example) or taken over space in bars and clubs and other facilities around the city and up in Whistler. More awesome? They offer free stuff! Pins, food, entertainment. All up for grabs, and a big reason why on this Saturday night there won't be an early night for the folks not far away.

I love that I can see a few of these places from right here. Saskatchewan Pavilion, for example, includes a globe that appears to spin an image around and around, changing, bright in the night.



Behind it is a solid blue glow from Maison du Quebec. Alluring, and after I sent Conrad home from the restaurant (jetlagged and fighting a cold, poor guy), I wandered over to take in a bit of what was going on. I wish I'd had someone to go with over to the Atlantic Canada pavilion on Granville Island, if only to see Ashley MacIsaac live, but oh well.

In fact, we wandered through the pavilions area a little after lunch today, the three of us. Poked in one or two: Right to Play (a wonderful organization, I think) and Quebec (a musician being unjustly ignored, though I confess I did not catch his name). Not all are freely accessible - Molson Hockey Place costs a pretty penny, I gather, so many people (like Marie), contented themselves with photos outside.


We also wandered by the Chinese pavilion (or so it seemed) by the casino. The musicians deserved a bigger crowd, I think.

Speaking of musicians, I did get to enjoy one Canadian artist tonight: Elisapie Isaac, a singer from northern Quebec.
With Conrad at home and the night still young, I set out to catch some video and photos from the nearby sights. In the process, I found myself back at Maison du Quebec listening for a handful of songs before going over to buy a CD and go home. She had people dancing and cheering by the time I left.



On the way out, I caught the distinctive (and potent) scent of marijuana on the breeze, and thought, "How very Montreal!". How very Vancouver, too, for that matter. I wonder what I'll see/hear in nights to come.

three new desserts at Yoshi's

In all the time I've been going to Yoshi's, I've never known such a dramatic change to the dessert tray. Oh sure, the creme brulee flavour will change (we still miss the purple potato one) or a sole dessert will be swapped out for another, but a week ago we were stunned to see most of the standby dishes gone. Instead, Yoshi has new, intriguing options. We've now (bows head shamefully) tried three:

Cassis mousse wrapped in green tea sponge, served atop a dark chocolate terrine.

Purple potato cheesecake with a red bean center.

Creme caramel with persimmon sorbet.

The winner? Hmmm. The mousse, I think. A very complete dessert. The creme caramel is the best single component, but persimmons are a little indistinct for sorbet no matter how lovely the hue.

Sometimes even the regular things we take a little for granted can change things up, right?

more vanity

This is me, in the men's room at Yoshi's, enamored of my look. But really, the sweater/tie thing is a very cute outfit on me, right?

Back to baking

I sat on writing this post a handful of days. Surprises. Always well-intended. I had meant to surprise both Conrad's sister Karen and TK with shipments of cookies baked on the weekend. Two small wrenches in the cogs: I clicked the box to notify Karen that she had a shipment, and I sent the cookies to TK's work. Which sounds like it should be fine, but a day after delivery, no one had alerted him that the cookies were there. A nudge from me spoiled the surprise but got him cookies.

Anyway, I've been in a baking mood lately. As Jeph commented to me today, it's fun and freeing not to have to do it out of some holiday obligation. I do like the holiday baking, I swear, but it also burned me out a little.

Sunday afternoon I got busy in the kitchen. Up first, an old standby, a favourite: buttermilk ginger cake. I diverge some from the recipe, but I think it works well. No, but don't ask me, take the word of one of Conrad's colleagues - I had sent the cake in with him to work on Monday: "Be sure to tell Peter how divine his cake is. Wedding dress be damned. I’m going to take a second piece."

Unlike, say, Luis and scones, that woman is welcome to my baking ALL the time.

:-)

As for the cookies, well, I had thought it would be appropriate to send TK some cookies from the cookbook he got me for Christmas. Not many cookies recipes in it, however, and I wasn't inclined to make tuiles. Instead, I opted for the chocolate chocolate chip recipe. Different than the chocolate chip recipes I've done before, but word back from Baltimore is that the cookies are good.

The other batch was of peanut crisps. I love these cookies immensely because they hit the salt/sweet bingo in my mouth. An easy recipe, too, this one from Martha's book.

Scones for Smelts will continue this weekend before a two-week hiatus for the Olympics. I'll also likely get some more cookies shipped off to hold friends over while I'm gone - TK, how many of the cookies have you eaten already, I wonder...