And that's all she wrote...

The party is over, and it definitely ended with a bang. The Canadian hockey team won gold in probably one of the most exciting games ever. In fact Canada won the most gold medals ever (in a winter Olympics). There were some incredible feats from world-class dedicated athletes. It was very exciting and the spirit of the city was vibrant and shining with good-feeling. The closing ceremonies were okay. The highlight for me was watching Neil Young (a quintessential Canadian icon) singing alone with his beat-up guitar on the main arena, like an old street busker who'd accidentally found his way into the ceremonies while the Olympic torch was being extinguished. Fantastic.

I keep hearing people people say that it's going to change Vancouver forever (for better or for worse). I'm not so sure about that. It's easy to imagine epic changes when the euphoria of a fabulous event is forefront in our minds. But it seems to me similar to the euphoric feeling that accompanies "feel-good" company weekends and two-day team-building seminars. You go home excited with possibilities of how you are going to change your life for the better. Anything seems possible. But then after a couple of days you find you're still in the same job, same commute, same life. Not a bad thing, just a reality check. I never felt that Vancouver needed to change and I'm not sure it will. However, if anything changes, perhaps it's Canada's national identity. Perhaps the Olympics has lessened the divide between east and west Canada and created a more cohesive country that people feel good about celebrating. I also think the Olympics show-cased to the world Canada's beauty, sophistication, humility and friendliness; it is not a backward arctic tundra and a poor relation of its American cousins. I am definitely proud to be Canadian, even if I wasn't born here!

I think Vancouver did a great job, while the world was watching. This is a picture of all the press working on their computers during the free-skating competition at Pacific Coliseum.

And it was amazing for the kids to watch all the winter sports and get involved in the games. Bronwyn even had an Olympic ski-cross event for her stuffed kittens! (skis and poles courtesy of me, some cardboard and some tape...is there no end to my talents!). Kitty, the well-loved...and a bit smelly...competitor on the right, won gold. She's Bronwyn's favourite stuffy...."The Great One" as far as Bronwyn is concerned.

And now, the end is near...

I was tail-gated by someone driving a Smart car today. I do not usually feel intimidated by tail-gaters (although a Ford f-350 following about 5cm from my back window can make me a tad nervous, primarily for safety reasons), and am considerably less intimidated if the person behind happens to be driving a Smart-car. What would happen? If I stopped suddenly I have visions of it rebounding off my bumper and being tossed into the air like a beach ball, spiraling upwards in an arc and then bouncing to a stop some distance away. It seems weird to drive aggressively in a Smart car...only in Vancouver. And speaking of "only in Vancouver". As well today I saw a woman strenuously biking while pulling her (two) young children along in a bike-trailer...and holding a dog on a leash that was running along beside her. For heaven's sake! Are we that short of time?? Taking the kids out, getting exercise, AND walking the dog. And, I might add, it was raining! You can exercise 5 times a week here and still feel like a lazy slob. But we love Vancouver for all its quirkiness.

So the Olympics are coming to a close. Mark is going with a friend tonight to see the speed-skating final...sniff sniff...I was supposed to go with him. Unfortunately, we had a babysitting mishap (i.e., we couldn't get one). However, I think I've seen my fair share of events and so I don't mind too much. And now Kyle owes me a beer... It's always nice when someone owes you a beer.

I took the kids downtown to see the Olympic cauldron (that isn't actually a cauldron) yesterday. I didn't want to wait in line for 45 minutes to go to the only unobstructed view, so we looked at it from the fence. I didn't get many pictures. I had to have my wits about me. There were crowds of people and River has the ability to teleport. That is the only way I can explain the fact that he can get from one place to another in the time that it takes me to blink. Bronwyn was completely underwhelmed...as usual. I did a bit of a spiel on how the flame never goes out and comes all the way from Greece...etc, etc. Meh....she was more interested in getting a donut. But at least I took her to see it. One less thing to blame me for when she's older and asks why we didn't do "Olympic stuff".

Mark and I also went downtown the other night and we took a couple of pictures. The cauldron looks dazzling at night.

And here is Mark in front of it...

Oh Canada....(one of the installations from the Festival of Lights on Granville street)

The city has definitely come alive and it has been great to see the events and feel all the party atmosphere. And of course, the Canadian athletes have excelled. But I'll be glad for the city to get back to normal. I have really enjoyed the art installations and am planning to do a trip to check them out.

Festival of lights...

A visit with the oncologist and more Olympic skating!!

Wow! What a day it was yesterday! The day started with my first visit to BC Cancer Agency and my (extremely nice) oncologist. He gave me a lot of info about my upcoming radiation therapy, which will start in mid-March...but blah blah...no need to talk about that right now!

So I was home for a little while and then got a call from Mark to say I could have a last minute ticket to see gold-medal ice-dancing...if I wanted it?!?! (silly, silly question). So he came home early and off I went....and Canada won! It was amazing to actually be there. Thanks so much to my friends Paul and Suzanne!

During the national anthem...the crowd was singing at the tops of their voices!

What an experience. The stadium was a sea of red and white (and Canadians are not usually so given over to massive displays of patriotism). I feel so lucky. Unfortunately, my camera couldn't catch all the red...but trust me...it was there!

 And now I have just be given tickets (courtesy of one of Mark's bosses) to the Ladies short program tonight. Brilliant seats. I'm taking my sis. Mark's been coming home early so that I can take off to the Pacific Coliseum. These opportunities have been simply fantastic! And I am learning. Event number 3...do take a water bottle ($4 a bottle inside)...don't take bag (security headache)...do take camera...! I am very excited. The Olympics is an event like no other. I had no idea.

What a night!

And there is Evan Lysacek realising his Olympic dream (a press photo...not mine). He won a well-deserved (and stunningly designed) gold medal.

Last night I took my seat in Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum to watch the finals of the men's figure-skating. It was an amazing experience from start to finish. The ticket was a gift from friends (a million thank-you's!!!) and I went along with 3 other friends. I have never been to an Olympic event and this was also my first time seeing a major figure-skating competition live. Pacific Coliseum seemed almost entirely wrapped in Olympic colours. Flags from every country waving in the breeze and Mounties standing at the entrance. As we walked up to the coliseum, we really got the a feeling that an Olympic event is unlike any other sporting event; it is purely about sport. Volunteers, in their bright blue jackets were everywhere, smiling and helpful. Some local high school kids performed songs and dance routines as people walked by, some stopping to listen for a while. People who had travelled from far and wide to be at the event mingled and chatted with one another. I repeatedly heard the question, "Where are you from?" There were plenty of children enjoying the atmosphere, some excited and mesmerized, while others, over-tired and exhausted, were carried in baby-carriers, on shoulders, or in arms. It was wonderful to be part of the spirit of this international event.

Then there was the skating itself. We had good seats, over the "kiss and cry" and looking down the ice. Just behind a Japanese family and in front of a couple up from the States and another Russian couple. It was fantastic to see these skaters live. Their athletic and artistic ability is simply stunning. I got an absolute sense of their speed, agility, artistry and technical ability...up close. And it was interesting to see the whole competition from start to finish (no commentating or instant replays). They warm up, they skate their hearts out, and they go and wait for the results. The final 6 were spectacular. After the short program I was rooting for Evan Lysacek and he did not disappoint. His skate was beautiful, flawless and technically impressive. I know there are some nay-sayers going on about how he should have done the quad...but I am not one of them. If it was all about the quad (which most can't land), then you'd only need a 15 minute program and there could be a new sport called, "figure-jumping" where you go out and do as many jumps as you can and not bother with anything else. I enjoyed the figure-skating the way it was and, in my opinion, the best man won gold. Having said that, no matter who won gold, it was a fantastic experience!

Riding Past

All the olympic coverage in Vancouver is making me very proud of my town. It is beautiful here. I think I have caught something of the olympic spirit. Mark and I went downtown last night to walk around among all the people. Vancouver is not usually a particularly busy city and it is amazing to see the crowds gathered downtown. So many visitors from other countries and from different parts of Canada. The mood is definitely "up-beat" and nearly everyone seems to be sporting some kind of olympic garment. Strangers are chatting and laughing with each other. Even a crowded bus ride, normally a source of grumbling and unease (standing and being pressed against, with my face uncomfortably close to some strange man's armpit...) was relaxed, jovial, and (almost) fun. It is quite something. And it's good to take in the moment. We may never see anything like it in Vancouver again. The weather has been spectacular; bright sunshine and a clean crispness in the air. So, seeing as the spotlight is on Vancouver, I decided to post a poem by Vancouver poet, Pat Lowther.

Riding past

Long street of houses
with lighted roofs
black against

winter sky blue as Venetian glass
with Venus hanging
like a small yellow moon

In the houses people
are cooking food and scolding children
the ones home from work

are hanging their coats up
telephones are ringing
behind the yellow windows

Come, open the doors
yellow rectangles and steam
of meat and potatoes

Stand on the front steps
stare at the sky and wave
Look, we're riding past Venus




Pat Lowther (1935-1975)
From: Time Capsule

Catching the spirit...

A torch runner...just up the street from where we live.
Passing on the flame...

We went out to watch the torch relay. The buzz in the air here is palpable and quite exciting. Bronwyn sat on Mark's shoulders and gave her usual non-stop commentary. The most remarkable thing to her was that someone stood on the roof of their camper van, "That man is stood on the roof of his van!", she yelled. "That's dangerous!" River enjoyed the police motorcycles.

Well...the olympics are GO! We watched the beginning of the opening ceremonies with some friends down at the Jericho Youth Hostel cafe. The rest we watched at home. Not too shabby. I think the whole ceremony was actually enhanced by being held indoors. As one producer mentioned, it gave them more scope for artistic creativity. And I think it showed. It was all very beautiful without being at all "showy". A couple of gliches, but all in all, a fine job. I think I've caught a little of the olympic spirit, now that it is here.

A friend has given me a ticket to see the final of the men's figure-skating, taking place on Thursday and I am so excited! I have always loved skating. I even spent quite a long period of my youth training to be a figure-skater. That was before my self-conscious, shy, insecure, anxiety-ridden, 17-year old self forced me to believe I was overweight and rubbish and hang up my skates for good. And if you don't believe me...here's proof. Me in my skating outfit at about 15 years old (my mum made it!)

But I am really looking forward to this event. It's going to be a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime type of thing. I read some blurb about the American skater, Johnny Weir, being in fear of animal rights activists for adding white fox fur to his costume. Don't wear fox fur...problem solved. The wearing of real fur in this day and age is repugnant in the extreme and a shocking display of pure superficial vanity (okay...perhaps not if you are Inuit). Do we need an industry built on the exploitation and abuse of animals? Can we not move on? Actually, I thought we had moved on...but apparently not. Think of the fringe benefits...we wouldn't have to suffer any more terrible PETA anti-fur ads! Let's hope he loses the fox fur.

Anyway, tomorrow we are heading downtown to see the sights and check out some of the free stuff. Should be fun, although Bronwyn told me she'd rather go swimming. No sense of occasion, that girl!

If you can't get out of it, get into it....

A MAJOR, and I mean MASSIVE sporting event is about to begin in Vancouver...that's right, it's Olympics 2010! Unfortunately, I have not been looking forward to it. In fact, there was a referendum back in February 2003 in which citizens voted whether to give "permission" for Vancouver's Olympic bid (seven years goes by fast). I did not vote in support of the Olympics. I did not want it here, and I have not changed my mind since then. There are plenty of reasons for this and they have been well articulated by people who can voice their opinions without ranting, unlike me. Suffice to say, I have a different set of priorities when it comes to spending taxpayers' dollars. Especially, the millions of dollars that we do not actually have. I'm not against the Games themselves (although I think the "Spirit" of the games has long since up and left and probably watches them on TV from its motel room; wrapped in a shabby bathrobe with the remains of the mini-bar in it's lap). I just didn't want them here.

I remember at the time of the vote that a common argument on the pro side was that the Olympics would put Vancouver on the map. I never understood that argument. Vancouver is essentially populated by people (including me) who located it on the map long before there was talk of the Olympics. It was well positioned "on the map" over 20 years ago when Vancouver hosted Expo '86. Everything was here, if you wanted the type of thing Vancouver had to offer. No point in coming to Vancouver if you were looking for the cultural and architectural delights of New York, Paris, or London (and calling everything newly built in the city an "Urban" something-or-other does not in itself create a chic, mature, culturally important city)...I am among many who cannot stand the smuggest slogan on earth; "The Best Place on Earth". There was nothing wrong with the slogan, "Beautiful British Columbia". It is beautiful and we are lucky to live in such surroundings...humility is better than arrogance. And surprise!, the water, the mountains, the forests, the parks, and the amazing coastline did not just plonk themselves here because of the Olympic buzz. Hmmmm...I am almost ranting...deep breaths.

Anyway...the Games are fast approaching and, reluctant as I am, I can feel a definite buzz in the air. And the fact is that I find myself anticipating what the city will be like during the games. Asking myself how many people will come here? Will I be able to visit friends or get out and about? What's it going feel like? What things can we get up to? We actually do have tickets to one Olympic event...gasp! Mark received tickets from work (we couldn't afford to put our name in the lottery to buy them). He got tickets for the Men's Hockey: Czech Republic vs Slovakia (imagine my excitement). He almost got tickets for the men's gold medal speed-skating, but his name was put into a draw and he lost. There were two sets of tickets and only four people in the draw...that should give you some idea of Mark's luck in gambling. He must never go to Vegas.

Although, I don't like the fact that parts of Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks are going to become RV parks...I decided I can live with it. Particularly because I read that the concession will be selling breakfast. I think that it will be fun and unusual to go buy breakfast and sit at the beach...in Winter. I'm quite looking forward to that. And apparently, there will be lots of free stuff to see and do. There's also a few sporting events...eh eh...(but we'll watch those on TV like the rest of the world). It's probably the only time I will live in a city that is hosting the Olympics. So the excitement builds and, to use one of my life's mottos, if we can't get out of it, then we may as well get into it.