Poor Jack had his 6th birthday party yesterday. And he broke his arm on the slide. Little man has a cast and he looks SO sad. It was a LONG night last night, as every time he rolled onto his arm, he woke up crying.
Off to the store today to get an actual Jack-size sling, and more Tylenol/Advil.
He had a lousy stinky birthday - send him your good wishes please!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Olympics - The End
In an effort to fill the gaping hole that is my post-Olympics life, I have been spending time with the kids and sleeping. Ahhhhh.... sleeping!
The morning of the Closing Ceremonies, I was up at 6am so I could pick up the car and go get a dignitary and his wife, pick up their luggage and take them to see Paco in the last Cross Country race. Back at WVL, absolute chaos reigned. We were helping them finish packing, checking them into their flights, packing carry-on luggage into the cars, and going through the checklist to check them out of their accommodation. (Making sure they weren't taking a VANOC coat rack home with them or something)
Paco and everyone watching him got back to WVL and we all had about 15 minutes to eat and get the athletes onto the buses to go to Closing. I drove the dignitary and his wife down, which was quite a pleasant ride. Right around Squamish, we realized that the Canadians must have won gold in men's Hockey, as all the police lining the road began honking and waving, and literally dancing along the highway. The president said, "Police don't act like that in our country!" I said, "Normally not here, either - gold medal hockey makes everyone act differently!" I got them to the hotel in Vancouver around 4 pm, then drove on to get changed and pick up a key at Ben's place. On the way to Ben's, I got stopped by a peaceful protest. They were walking down Hastings towards downtown, blocking all the traffic so we were stopped dead. I felt a wee bit vulnerable all by my lonesome in my VANOC car, surrounded by protestors. I took this photo while they were still far enough away not to realize I was taking pictures. I put the camera down once they were surrounding the car. You never know what a mob can do...
After I left Ben's, I prepared the car for the turn-in by washing it and cleaning it out. I got to the Vancouver Athlete's Village around 7 pm. Here's BC Place during Closing (as close as I got anyway!) 
I watched about 5 minutes of the Ceremonies from the Vancouver Athletes' Village and then before I knew it, the team was all coming back to the village. They all got changed and off we went to downtown for our 9:30 dinner reservation.
Walking through Vancouver was 100% crazy. Red and white everywhere, people dancing, singing, high-5ing, screaming, honking, waving... NUTS! It was packed, wall to wall people. We barely made it to the restaurant without losing our athletes in the crowd!
I've got lots of great photos from the night, but only one's ok for posting: Here are me and Mariana at the restaurant:
After dinner ended just after midnight, off we went dancing. We finally got back to Ben's around 4am (I am TOO old for this...) but I wasn't able to sleep due to his very inquisitive cat. She would NOT leave me alone. You try sleeping with a cat who is combing your hair with her claws. Even hiding under the covers didn't work as she found her way inside somehow, ending up meowing on my chest.
As of about 6:30am, we were on call as the first batch of Andorrans headed to the airport. They didn't need help, thankfully, and we are assuming they got on their flights ok as we didn't hear from them. We got to the village for 9:30 and on the bus to Whistler at 10. Once we got to Whistler, we finished packing our stuff and reported for our last shift. It involved simply turning in our cell phones and accepting our last shift gift - a Swatch watch.
Then we raced to the 4pm shuttle and Mike picked me up at YVR just after 7pm. It was SO good to get home! Now I've slept a little more, and we're getting back into our regular routine. We will really enjoy having Spring Break in the next two weeks! WIth Jack's party on Saturday (Big man turns 6), we are kicking spring break off with a bang.
Summary of Olympics: FUN FUN FUN. Most definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will never ever forget it.
The morning of the Closing Ceremonies, I was up at 6am so I could pick up the car and go get a dignitary and his wife, pick up their luggage and take them to see Paco in the last Cross Country race. Back at WVL, absolute chaos reigned. We were helping them finish packing, checking them into their flights, packing carry-on luggage into the cars, and going through the checklist to check them out of their accommodation. (Making sure they weren't taking a VANOC coat rack home with them or something)
Paco and everyone watching him got back to WVL and we all had about 15 minutes to eat and get the athletes onto the buses to go to Closing. I drove the dignitary and his wife down, which was quite a pleasant ride. Right around Squamish, we realized that the Canadians must have won gold in men's Hockey, as all the police lining the road began honking and waving, and literally dancing along the highway. The president said, "Police don't act like that in our country!" I said, "Normally not here, either - gold medal hockey makes everyone act differently!" I got them to the hotel in Vancouver around 4 pm, then drove on to get changed and pick up a key at Ben's place. On the way to Ben's, I got stopped by a peaceful protest. They were walking down Hastings towards downtown, blocking all the traffic so we were stopped dead. I felt a wee bit vulnerable all by my lonesome in my VANOC car, surrounded by protestors. I took this photo while they were still far enough away not to realize I was taking pictures. I put the camera down once they were surrounding the car. You never know what a mob can do...
After I left Ben's, I prepared the car for the turn-in by washing it and cleaning it out. I got to the Vancouver Athlete's Village around 7 pm. Here's BC Place during Closing (as close as I got anyway!) 
I watched about 5 minutes of the Ceremonies from the Vancouver Athletes' Village and then before I knew it, the team was all coming back to the village. They all got changed and off we went to downtown for our 9:30 dinner reservation.Walking through Vancouver was 100% crazy. Red and white everywhere, people dancing, singing, high-5ing, screaming, honking, waving... NUTS! It was packed, wall to wall people. We barely made it to the restaurant without losing our athletes in the crowd!
I've got lots of great photos from the night, but only one's ok for posting: Here are me and Mariana at the restaurant:
After dinner ended just after midnight, off we went dancing. We finally got back to Ben's around 4am (I am TOO old for this...) but I wasn't able to sleep due to his very inquisitive cat. She would NOT leave me alone. You try sleeping with a cat who is combing your hair with her claws. Even hiding under the covers didn't work as she found her way inside somehow, ending up meowing on my chest.As of about 6:30am, we were on call as the first batch of Andorrans headed to the airport. They didn't need help, thankfully, and we are assuming they got on their flights ok as we didn't hear from them. We got to the village for 9:30 and on the bus to Whistler at 10. Once we got to Whistler, we finished packing our stuff and reported for our last shift. It involved simply turning in our cell phones and accepting our last shift gift - a Swatch watch.
Then we raced to the 4pm shuttle and Mike picked me up at YVR just after 7pm. It was SO good to get home! Now I've slept a little more, and we're getting back into our regular routine. We will really enjoy having Spring Break in the next two weeks! WIth Jack's party on Saturday (Big man turns 6), we are kicking spring break off with a bang.
Summary of Olympics: FUN FUN FUN. Most definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will never ever forget it.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day 17 (Sunday Feb 28)
All I am going to say about the last day of the Games is WOW.
I really need about 18 hours of sleep before I can properly process everything that's happened in the last 40 hours, since none of those 40 involved sleep.
But for now, I am just feeling very happy and satisfied. And HOME. I'll write more tomorrow!
I really need about 18 hours of sleep before I can properly process everything that's happened in the last 40 hours, since none of those 40 involved sleep.
But for now, I am just feeling very happy and satisfied. And HOME. I'll write more tomorrow!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Day 16 (Saturday Feb 27)
Ethan scored his first goal in hockey today! He was pretty pumped. I was SO sorry to miss it; you have no idea. Everything I have seen and done here has been so worth it, yet I will be ecstatic to get back home to them. This has been a long LONG time to be apart.
I spent a lot of the day packing and tidying up. I didn't have much to do in the athlete's village today, besides hanging out with all my skiers who were unexpectedly clad only in their underwear. These Europeans have no shame. It's pretty hard to discuss logistics for closing ceremonies when you are the only fully clothed person in the room. I took off my jacket and shoes, so I could fit in a little, but I drew the line at removing my pants, thank you.
They were all excited to go see Usher tonight at the Medals Plaza. I didn't have a ticket but I have a spot on the wall opposite the entrance where you can see into the plaza. And of course it's open air, so you can hear the concert all the way back to the cabin anyway! So I stood on my wall for a few songs, then headed home to clean the toilet. Oh, it's glamorous here, let me tell you! Royalty one day, toilets the next.
Tomorrow morning Paco competes in the 50k Cross Country event, as we're racing around checking them out of the accommodation and checking them in for their flights. Then we race them down for the ceremonies and afterwards, relax for a nice dinner out downtown. I'll be up early and to bed late, so off I go to bed now. I have packed Kleenex for tomorrow...
I spent a lot of the day packing and tidying up. I didn't have much to do in the athlete's village today, besides hanging out with all my skiers who were unexpectedly clad only in their underwear. These Europeans have no shame. It's pretty hard to discuss logistics for closing ceremonies when you are the only fully clothed person in the room. I took off my jacket and shoes, so I could fit in a little, but I drew the line at removing my pants, thank you.
They were all excited to go see Usher tonight at the Medals Plaza. I didn't have a ticket but I have a spot on the wall opposite the entrance where you can see into the plaza. And of course it's open air, so you can hear the concert all the way back to the cabin anyway! So I stood on my wall for a few songs, then headed home to clean the toilet. Oh, it's glamorous here, let me tell you! Royalty one day, toilets the next.
Tomorrow morning Paco competes in the 50k Cross Country event, as we're racing around checking them out of the accommodation and checking them in for their flights. Then we race them down for the ceremonies and afterwards, relax for a nice dinner out downtown. I'll be up early and to bed late, so off I go to bed now. I have packed Kleenex for tomorrow...
Friday, February 26, 2010
Except I Totally Forgot This...
OK, how could I forget that I bumped into the 51-yr-old Mexican Alpine skier, Prince Hubertus, today? He's German or Austrian royalty, I forget which. And he's 51 and still skiing at an Olympic level! Last week, I nearly walked into the King and Queen of Sweden, today Prince Hubertus. Also this week, the King of Norway brought us a cake. It was the absolute best cake I have ever eaten in my life. (And I knows me some cake) Turns out it was baked by the official bakers to the royal house of Norway. No wonder it rocked!
Royalty. Wow. And l'il ol' me.
Royalty. Wow. And l'il ol' me.
Day 15 (Friday Feb 26)
I don't think my heart is strong enough to watch another hockey game. They won, but oh lordie they made us sweat at the end! Please, Canada, go hard on Sunday for Gold!!!
Today the Andorran assistant based in Vancouver came up to Whistler for a field trip, since he hasn't had much to do during the games. I showed Jefte around Whistler village, and took him to see the Sliding Centre too. Then we watched Mimi and Sofie race (not a great day for Andorran skiers) before heading to WVL.
We met up with Mariana and Erin, and all four of us assistants signed the cards we got for the athletes and coaches. We had a brief meeting with Vicky to discuss how we're going to manage the whole check out / closing ceremonies / departure process. It's just like the logistical nightmare we faced for Opening Ceremonies, only more so as we are getting baggage down to YVR and returning vehicles and cell phones... ay ay ay. I have only two more nights in Whistler, and I have completely mixed emotions about that! I can't wait to get home to Mike and the boys, and to my lovely bed in my lovely house and my lovely life. YET. This experience has been so amazing that I really don't want it to end!
Tomorrow we say goodbye to Xoke. Sniff sniff. Then Sunday night the Andorrans are taking us out to dinner and dancing after Closing Ceremonies. I'm going to crash on my brother's couch that night, since we'll be up early again Monday morning to get them all to the airport, and get us assistants back up to Whistler just to check out and catch the 4:00 bus home with all our luggage. Sigh. But Monday I should be home before the kids go to bed!!!
Vicky gave us all more gifts tonight - a pen / wallet / keychain set nicely engraved with Andorra on it. More hugs, more kisses. I have kissed more cheeks this month than ever in my life. So please forgive me if, when I get back to Real Life, I greet you by laying a big smackeroo or two on you. And if I speak in French or Spanish, I apologize in advance, because I seem to be having a hard time with English lately!
Tomorrow I sleep in. Then I clean up and pack up. 2 Whistler sleeps to go!
Today the Andorran assistant based in Vancouver came up to Whistler for a field trip, since he hasn't had much to do during the games. I showed Jefte around Whistler village, and took him to see the Sliding Centre too. Then we watched Mimi and Sofie race (not a great day for Andorran skiers) before heading to WVL.
We met up with Mariana and Erin, and all four of us assistants signed the cards we got for the athletes and coaches. We had a brief meeting with Vicky to discuss how we're going to manage the whole check out / closing ceremonies / departure process. It's just like the logistical nightmare we faced for Opening Ceremonies, only more so as we are getting baggage down to YVR and returning vehicles and cell phones... ay ay ay. I have only two more nights in Whistler, and I have completely mixed emotions about that! I can't wait to get home to Mike and the boys, and to my lovely bed in my lovely house and my lovely life. YET. This experience has been so amazing that I really don't want it to end!
Tomorrow we say goodbye to Xoke. Sniff sniff. Then Sunday night the Andorrans are taking us out to dinner and dancing after Closing Ceremonies. I'm going to crash on my brother's couch that night, since we'll be up early again Monday morning to get them all to the airport, and get us assistants back up to Whistler just to check out and catch the 4:00 bus home with all our luggage. Sigh. But Monday I should be home before the kids go to bed!!!
Vicky gave us all more gifts tonight - a pen / wallet / keychain set nicely engraved with Andorra on it. More hugs, more kisses. I have kissed more cheeks this month than ever in my life. So please forgive me if, when I get back to Real Life, I greet you by laying a big smackeroo or two on you. And if I speak in French or Spanish, I apologize in advance, because I seem to be having a hard time with English lately!
Tomorrow I sleep in. Then I clean up and pack up. 2 Whistler sleeps to go!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Day 14 (Thursday Feb 25)
I started off today with a nice gentle run on the Valley Trail. My original destination was Meadow Park, but then this happened to the trail: 
Which wasn't such a happy thing for my knees as every step in the ice and snow seemed to wrench. So I returned back over the River of Golden Dreams 
and headed for home. Although I got tired while running, I get too bored of walking, so I ended up running most of the way home too. It felt good to get some exercise after all the free meals at the athlete's village. Seriously, when you can have McDonald's Cinnamon Melts every day for free, you really do need to be an elite athlete to work it all off. March = Salad month for me.
When I got back to the house, the plan was to watch Mimi's race, then shop for a goodbye gift for our chef de mission (leader of the Andorran delegation) before heading to WVL for my afternoon shift. Poor Mimi DNF. But then I found a very pretty BC jade pendant and necklace for Vicky (chef de mission) from us assistants. As for the rest of the day - Of course, as always, plans change by the minute. Instead of sitting in the break room at WVL for 8 hours, waiting for something to do, would I like to go to the Ladies' Figure Skating final program tonight?
Why yes I would. Thankyouverymuch.
So I drove our chef de mission to Pacific Coliseum.
Although our seats were quite high up, we were in athlete seating. So we were quite literally surrounded by athletes. I am in a million pictures tonight! People were snapping away at the USA team behind us (one alpine skier Kaylin, one ice dance figure skater Emily, etc.), the Japanese speed skaters, the Georgian and US ice dance teams, and on and on and on. I was a little star-struck, to be honest. So many faces I recognize from TV, and I'm sitting among them!
And then our girl Joannie skated to bronze. Sigh. This is her at the kiss and cry. Can you see her? Squint into the jumbotron, and into the lower left corner above those people's heads...
The Korean girl was especially beautiful to watch, as well. So it was lots of fun and muchas gracias, milles mercis to Vicky for asking me to go with her! I feel very privileged!!!
Which wasn't such a happy thing for my knees as every step in the ice and snow seemed to wrench. So I returned back over the River of Golden Dreams 
and headed for home. Although I got tired while running, I get too bored of walking, so I ended up running most of the way home too. It felt good to get some exercise after all the free meals at the athlete's village. Seriously, when you can have McDonald's Cinnamon Melts every day for free, you really do need to be an elite athlete to work it all off. March = Salad month for me.When I got back to the house, the plan was to watch Mimi's race, then shop for a goodbye gift for our chef de mission (leader of the Andorran delegation) before heading to WVL for my afternoon shift. Poor Mimi DNF. But then I found a very pretty BC jade pendant and necklace for Vicky (chef de mission) from us assistants. As for the rest of the day - Of course, as always, plans change by the minute. Instead of sitting in the break room at WVL for 8 hours, waiting for something to do, would I like to go to the Ladies' Figure Skating final program tonight?
Why yes I would. Thankyouverymuch.
So I drove our chef de mission to Pacific Coliseum.
Although our seats were quite high up, we were in athlete seating. So we were quite literally surrounded by athletes. I am in a million pictures tonight! People were snapping away at the USA team behind us (one alpine skier Kaylin, one ice dance figure skater Emily, etc.), the Japanese speed skaters, the Georgian and US ice dance teams, and on and on and on. I was a little star-struck, to be honest. So many faces I recognize from TV, and I'm sitting among them! And then our girl Joannie skated to bronze. Sigh. This is her at the kiss and cry. Can you see her? Squint into the jumbotron, and into the lower left corner above those people's heads...
The Korean girl was especially beautiful to watch, as well. So it was lots of fun and muchas gracias, milles mercis to Vicky for asking me to go with her! I feel very privileged!!!
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