Day 13 (Wednesday Feb 24)

WOOT WOOT Canada!!! Awesome competition day!

I had pretty much zippo to do for the team today, so I sat in the break room and did Sudoku as I watched competitions on TV. Half of the ladies' Giant Slalom got delayed so we were kind of in a holding pattern for most of the day. One of our girls DNF but the other is waiting for the second run, rescheduled for tomorrow! Here's a picture I took today of the fire pit for the athletes: All the Andorrans but one were at Creekside today. We had to laugh when we went to deliver the competition DVDs to the house - Xoke had tidied the common room while everyone was gone and wrote a big note on the whiteboard in English for everyone to keep it tidy!

This is what it said (be forewarned, they like to swear!)

"Hey Mothers Fu**ers - Keeps it Ranged!"

Xoke (that's his nickname; it means "Crash") asked me to correct it, so I did. I am SO glad I majored in English at University, because you just never know when you may need to tell any Mothers Fu**ers to keep the room tidy in proper English.

Anyway, we sat and chatted for a while. Then, since Erin was there, I no longer needed to stick around on call. I had been getting so nervous about the Canada-Russia hockey game, and I just couldn't stand watching it at the NOC Services Centre with a bunch of other assistants. In fact, I got so nervous about the game I couldn't stand to watch it at all. So I found a last-minute Bobsleigh ticket for the Ladies' final tonight. And off I went!

I stopped at home to throw my long underwear and jeans on, and got to the Sliding Centre just in time to watch the first sled. Luckily I can stay well within VANOC rules of posting competition shots as all I could get with my camera was ice after the sled had passed! Here is a nice shot of the bottom of the Sliding Centre, taken from near the top. I worked my way up to the top during Heat 3, and then worked my way down during Heat 4 so I was at the finish for the GLORY GLORY of Canada winning Gold AND Silver in this event!!! I was THERE y'all!

Unfortunately I saw two crashes during the event, but all four of the ladies walked away. The British girls looked pretty shaken, and upset about losing, but the German crash was more freaky for us. The crash knocked the back girl clear out of the sled and she slid by herself for FOREVER. Unbelievable that they can walk away.

So I was already riding the Gold-Silver high when I heard that not only did Clara Hughes get Bronze in speed skating, but the Canadian men had beaten the Russians! Unspeakably Awesome. Now we wait to see if we face Sweden or Slovakia in the semi-finals. Next game: Friday! What event can I distract myself with then???

Day 12 (Tuesday Feb 23)

I didn't get to take our athlete to the airport today. I was supposed to go down to help him with his bags as, due to his injury, he is unable to lift them himself. However, when push came to shove, he needed to choose between space in the car for me to sit to help him at YVR, or space in the car for the last of his bags. He chose to take his bag home with him. I hope he found someone to haul his stuff once he got to YVR! I was ridiculously sad to say goodbye to him. We had a nice hug and farewell, and I promised to send him our pictures. Sad, sad, sad to say goodbye.
:(
So I consoled myself by watching Team Canada spank Team Germany in hockey. Sigh of relief at a happy result! And I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when someone offered me a ticket to tonight's Victory Ceremonies at Medals Plaza. Isn't the torch purty? Here are the women's biathlon teams getting their medals: This shot makes me swell with Canadian pride: the Mountie saluting Canadian Gold in Ski Cross. Then they gave out the Men's Alpine Giant Slalom medals; here are the flags being raised: After all the medals were awarded, The Fray played a set. It was fun! Now I'm tired and need my beauty rest. Bonsoir!

Day 11 (Monday Feb 22)

I'm pretty sure I was told not to bring any animal products through security into the athlete's village. So how did these end up in here? Oh wait, they ARE security. You wouldn't believe what a hit these cuties were with all the athletes from all over the world. It was very hard to snap this shot WITHOUT an athlete in the frame.

I took the ripped ski bag to the seamstress today. They had a very expensive pair of skis escape from their bag in transit to Whistler, and the skis completely broke. They want to make sure their skis arrive safely home! We wandered a little bit in behind Nesters, and eventually found her condo. She sews out of her home, and is perhaps the only seamstress in Whistler! While she repaired the seam, she told us stories of the business she's had lately: sewing badges onto the Mounties' red serge uniforms, crests onto Olympic uniforms, and also sewing black armbands for the Georgian delegation in the wake of the luger's death.

What is heartwarming about this story is that although this woman is obviously struggling to make ends meet, she is doing most of this Olympic work for free! She wouldn't take any money for the repair today, although I did make her accept an Andorran Olympic pin. She wanted to volunteer for the games, but couldn't find anyone to watch her young son. So she is giving back to the games in her own small way. I just stumbled upon her name at the drycleaners, and I'm so glad I found her!

Mariana and I completed the repair with upholstery glue to reinforce the seam, and then enclosed it all in an attractive layer of duct tape inside and out. The bag ain't pretty, but if the skis escape again, it will not be through THAT seam, I can promise you!

We also had a little free time to just hang out at the Andorran house. One of the girls was showing us all her 2010 souvenirs she's purchased, one of the boys was jokingly trying to make me do his laundry (I politely declined), and we chatted a bit about favourite places to ski. Apparently I need to go to the Swiss Alps and the Dolomites in Italy, although he's been pretty happy with his time in Whistler!

I googled "Dolomites". Um, yeah - I could hang out there!
Tomorrow's another YVR run I think. I may not get to a computer tomorrow night to post... but I'll try!

Day 10 (Sunday Feb 21)

Mike and I slept in this morning! This is news-worthy, for sure. We both feel like we never get to sleep late. So this morning = 8 frigging 30. Yee haw!

We got to our event (Men's Super Combined Alpine Skiing) a little late, but we were happy as we avoided most of the lineups to get in, and we got to see the Andorrans' and the Canadians' runs in the downhill.

Then, as everyone went to find food and go pee between the downhill and the slalom, Mike and I eased our way up to the front fence. Although we were in the shade and so it got cold by the end, I was very happy to be up front so we had a great view of the course, clear view of the Jumbotron, and as an added bonus we were right at the skier's exit so we saw all the racers come by after they finished.

We got some great photos that I am not allowed to post here, including one of me and Roger after he raced as he stopped to chat with me. It was another fun day!

Now we are watching the men's hockey game: Canada vs. USA. I'll let you know in about 2 hours if it's going to be a good evening or a bad evening... :-)

Day 9 (Saturday Feb 20)

Lots going on today!

I met Maria Ana in the morning and we went for waffles at Norway House. Let me just say TAKK to the Norwegians for my delicious breakfast! We had gone to Canada House first for their pancake breakfast, but got there a little late to eat, so we changed allegiance and visited Norway! I have to say, however, that it is very cool to be a Canadian at our Canadian Olympics. We have definitely seen a surge in patriotism this year! And what I love, too, is that I have never in my life been embarassed to be a Canadian. In fact, I've always been darned proud. There are other nationalities that should be ashamed of themselves and their general behaviour, but not us Canadians. We are the BEST! And being among so many happy Canadians has been so much fun! Having the opportunity to be together with a mass of other proud, happy Canadians when we win a medal = So Awesome.

After my waffles, I went to Creekside to meet up with my crew. We drove up to watch the men's cross country. I hadn't attended a cross country event before; and it was pretty cool to watch. The athleticism of these guys - holy cow! And the stadium is beautiful.

Here is a snow sculpture in progress at Whistler Olympic Park. It was so warm up in the Callaghan - 11 degrees Celsius!!! I had dressed in all sorts of layers based on our ski jump chill, but I ended up shedding all but my long sleeved T. Our guy DNF, so it was a quiet car ride home.

Once we got back to the village, I was happy to do a couple of mundane tasks like picking up Andorra's mail and getting a little shopping done in the athlete's shop. I found the tuque Mike has been looking everywhere for, so he was pretty happy once I got it to him later that night! It's the one like our Canadians have been wearing on the podium. I also found a place that repairs ski bags in Whistler.

Here is the Truce Wall in the athlete's village. This is the wall the athletes sign to adhere to the Olympic Truce, to promote peace at games time. Last duty before leaving was to translate for our physiotherapist. It involved some medical terminology that I had no idea how to translate to French! But we muddled through anyway, and I think she was happy I was there.

I got back to the cabin sometime after 6pm. Mike, his dad and Connie had made dinner plans with friends so we got ready. I needed Tylenol after squinting into the sun all day (wah, wah, poor me - too much sunshine!!!) but we had a nice dinner at La Rua. Unfortunately, we texted back and forth with Aaron all night but never connected. Mike and I went to check out the ice bar at Monk's after dinner, but I got psyched out from going inside after I saw the parkas they were putting on everyone. It cost $20 to borrow a parka, head inside the giant freezer, sit on an ice block and sip freezing cold vodka. Hhhmmm. Maybe sitting in front of a fire at home is better? Yup. So home we went.

Day 8 (Friday Feb 19)

I stayed in bed late today. Throat feeling ok; lots of tea and soothing drinks. Luckily I didn't have much to do today Olympically speaking. Besides watch my boys on the Super G, of course - this time on TV. I am like a nervous mama watching them race! It's nerve-wracking! I can't breathe, I'm sweaty, my hands are shaking...

So far, they have all made it down the hill in one piece. Huge sigh of relief. But I was so angry with CTV who decided to cut to commercial when it was Kevin's turn at the end. Was it fair to televise every single racer but him? I saw all of Roger's race, though! He looked so happy at the end and he really did well. I heard him yell "Go Andorra!" to the cameraman. I MAY have yelled it back to the TV. Witnesses? No? Good.

I can't wait until we see them race again on Sunday. It will be the Super Combined, rescheduled from Tuesday when we had all that snow. The Super Combined is a downhill race in the morning, and a slalom race about 2 hours afterwards. The combined total fastest time wins, so the medallists have to be good at the speed events and the technical events. It's exciting!

I'm so proud of all of them I could just burst!!!

Day 7 (Thursday Feb 18)

I am the luckiest girl on earth. My only "job" today was to wave the Andorran flag frantically while our girl raced in the Super Combined Alpine skiing. Again, we had fantastic seats! It was a beautiful day (my sunburned nose speaks for itself) and I had tons of fun cheering Mimi on. Here's the scoreboard just after she finished: We also got a picture with Olympian Allison Forsyth, who gave us an inspirational speech in one of our training sessions. She tore her ACL in Torino 2006 and had to retire from her illustrious skiing career in 2008. She's very cool!
I also finally watched the Opening Ceremonies that I had recorded last Friday. I haven't had the chance before now! I loved the ceremonies. The singing, dancing, special effects, parade of athletes - all so awesome. My favourite parts were the slam poet (with an inspiring, tear-provoking poem about Canada) and k. d. lang singing Hallelujah. Oh my God she was awesome!

Oh, and um - uh oh? My throat is sore. Nnnnooooo - there are ten days left!!! No sickness allowed!!! I am SO going to bed early and SO sleeping late tomorrow. I had thought I would ski tomorrow but I will have to see how my throat is. I gotta stay healthy!

À demain - bonsoir!