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Confessions of an Olympic Curmudgeon
Where there are Olympic Games, there are pins and pin traders.
I was so not looking forward to the Olympics. The crowds, transit delays, favourite places jammed with people…ugh I just didn't want to have to deal with it. I even had everything planned so I wouldn't have to leave the house much during the two-weeks of the Winter Games. Then a couple things changed. First Dave Olson guest lectured to my class at BCIT. My students and I were all inspired to get out and chronicle the Games. That got it going, but that didn't seal the deal. Sure I started to get excited Thursday and Friday, but watching the Opening Ceremonies on Saturday. That did it.
I was speechless. I was moved.
The next day my fiancée and I (she was also pretty curmudgeonly too) were excited for the Games. We stopped at not one, but two Bay stores to look for Olympic gear (I got a hockey jersey and she got an Vancouver Olympics hoodie). We were pumped. We had a Valentines dinner out and watched figure skating with the whole restaurant—including people visiting from Russia—which I think made the whole experience that much richer. We watch the Games on all three TVs, just so we wouldn't miss anything (a set on each floor).
Monday I, who likes to sleep in, was up early to be able to get the Olympic pins from the Apple Stores. Yes, stores. I went to Oakridge to get that store's pin then down to Pacific Centre to get that store's pin. Proudly wearing my Team Canada hockey I walked around town just soaking it all in. Chatter on the usually silent Canada Line. Happy people in the streets. It was pretty darn cool.
Today my fiancée and I spent the day wandering town and checking things out. Wow, I tell you those Czechs and Slovaks were pretty excited today. Haven't seen so many creative outfits in a long time. And after a long day of walking around, there we were in line to get into The Bay to get the Olympic troggs we couldn't find before.
There really is an Olympic Spirit. There is something about welcoming the world to your city. There is something about watching people achieve amazing things.
So while I still have a lot to do, and I do have to have more than a few days sequestered in my home office, but I'm going to go out at least a few more times. Especially to watch hockey.
I was so not looking forward to the Olympics. The crowds, transit delays, favourite places jammed with people…ugh I just didn't want to have to deal with it. I even had everything planned so I wouldn't have to leave the house much during the two-weeks of the Winter Games. Then a couple things changed. First Dave Olson guest lectured to my class at BCIT. My students and I were all inspired to get out and chronicle the Games. That got it going, but that didn't seal the deal. Sure I started to get excited Thursday and Friday, but watching the Opening Ceremonies on Saturday. That did it.
I was speechless. I was moved.
The next day my fiancée and I (she was also pretty curmudgeonly too) were excited for the Games. We stopped at not one, but two Bay stores to look for Olympic gear (I got a hockey jersey and she got an Vancouver Olympics hoodie). We were pumped. We had a Valentines dinner out and watched figure skating with the whole restaurant—including people visiting from Russia—which I think made the whole experience that much richer. We watch the Games on all three TVs, just so we wouldn't miss anything (a set on each floor).
Monday I, who likes to sleep in, was up early to be able to get the Olympic pins from the Apple Stores. Yes, stores. I went to Oakridge to get that store's pin then down to Pacific Centre to get that store's pin. Proudly wearing my Team Canada hockey I walked around town just soaking it all in. Chatter on the usually silent Canada Line. Happy people in the streets. It was pretty darn cool.
Today my fiancée and I spent the day wandering town and checking things out. Wow, I tell you those Czechs and Slovaks were pretty excited today. Haven't seen so many creative outfits in a long time. And after a long day of walking around, there we were in line to get into The Bay to get the Olympic troggs we couldn't find before.
There really is an Olympic Spirit. There is something about welcoming the world to your city. There is something about watching people achieve amazing things.
So while I still have a lot to do, and I do have to have more than a few days sequestered in my home office, but I'm going to go out at least a few more times. Especially to watch hockey.
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