02.26.2010 - Day 16 - Almost time to leave

Early breakfast at the hotel and off to curling with Anna to see the Bronze medal game.

We got lost but made our way there. We watched China pull out a win over the Swiss and took Anna over to the curling store to go shopping. At the curling store we ran into John's sponsor Erin (on the CA men's curling team) and an autographed jersey that we got to try on! Thanks Erin!

We also met the Silver Curling medalist from Nagano. I will have to look up his name later...

We ran over to Canada Place after and met Johnny and a friend to watch the USA play Finland in men's hockey. After the game we met Johnny at the hotel and I was off to Gibson. The ferry wasn't till 5pm so we went and had a pop at the local stop. I wish I would have had more time to visit longer and see the sights in the daytime. We went over on the ferry and I got to visit with Mary Jo, her Mom and Johnny for a bit before Johnny dropped me at the ferry to get home. Good people.

I took the ferry and jumped on a bus to get back to the hotel. It went pretty smooth and dropped me just a few blocks from the hotel.

Found out when I got back that our 10am meeting was changed to 8:30am for group photos at the rink. Early to bed.

02.24.2010 - Day 14 - laying low and getting ready

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting at 10 with the group; it was nice to sleep in a little.
I went back up to the room and took my much needed nap from yesterday and tried to sort out the room a little. I have found living out of a hotel for the past two weeks that when things come up you run up to your room and throw things then try and get back out the door so I have many piles in my room.
I met Anna, Kerri, MA and T in the lobby at 3pm to grab the shuttle to the men's Canada Russia game. The place was packed and even wilder than the USA Canada game; they have been building this match up in the media up here for some time as many Canadians thought that this would be the Gold medal game.
I started talking to the guys that were sitting behind us and they happened to be the Canada men's curling team. Note: John was super fun to talk to and it was easy to relate as these guys have "real jobs" too!

John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Ben Herbet

After the game Anna, T and I went over to the Czech Finland game at UBC and we sat by the Alpine skier Marino Cardelli and his coaches from San Marino.
Went back to the hotel and am going to bed.
RACHEL I got some really good photos of Jagr for you! I heard him mention that he likes pink laces:)

02.23.2010 - Day 13 - Curling

Got up early and grabbed a little something downstairs from the hotel.
We met in the lobby at 7.30 am and left on our curling adventure. We took the shuttle (van) to the train station and rode about 4 stops, them got off and walked the 10-15 mins to the venue. We went through security and got inside and found out that we could get into the VIP / Olympic family area here too. This turned out to be a great thing as T, MA and I had bad seats all the way up in the back corner along the wall.

The Venue The USA Curling Team!

Bernard: MA calls her the Michael Jordan of curling

Sitting in the Family area I started asking the neighbors questions about the rules, as this is my first official curling match (I don't think when we played at the NCAA finals years back counts; especially when you play with the officials falling rules).

I met the president of the Canadian curling association and his wife then the US curling association president and his wife; they were from AK (Alaska) and super fun. I ended up sitting next to and asking many questions of Beau Welling from South Carolina who was the US curling president and also designs some big golf courses: http://www.worldgolf.com/news/pga/tiger-woods-design-beau-welling-pga-tour-cuts-5330.htm He was super nice and fielded my questions about the rules and explained the scoring and strategy of the game.

Most of the group went back to the hotel, but Joy and I jumped another train to try and hunt down some mittens at another Bay store. We searched the mall and came up empty so we headed back. Joy went back to the hotel and I stopped for a street dog and did a little more shopping, yes, more shopping.

I went back to the hotel, in the rain, yes the beautiful weather is now overcast and drizzly.

When I opened my door the game assignments had been pushed under the door. I was thinking that I would not be skating so I couldn't read it as first as I would not let my eyes focus on it, but then I saw ROLSTAD on the sheet and was overwhelmed with emotion and excitement. I then focused a little more and realized that the game I was assigned is the GOLD medal game! I called some family and friends and sent some emails to thank them for helping me get here and couldn't take the nap that I was planning on...

Cleaned up and got ready to meet the group at the hockey house tonight.

Met up at the Hockey House at 7:30 pm and finally got in. We ate dinner at a buffet, drank at an open bar and checked out the dessert table. The kicker was if you had to use the restroom you had to walk outside in the rain into a modified construction trailer toilet area set up; very entertaining. We then filtered into the Molson Fan Tent and didn't really stay long as the people were crazy and it was super loud. There was a group playing and I bought a "women's fit" hat at the store and also showed Michelle around and she was a ton of fun!

Anna (our IIHF host from Switzerland) and I at the hockey house

IIHF team photographer at the hockey house

The group took a shuttle back to the hotel and ended up walking a few blocks in the end as it stopped short. Went to bed.

02.22.2010 - Day 12 - Game Day!

Breakfast at the hotel and meeting with the group.

Ran over to UBC with Brenda, the driver, who was kind enough to wait for me to gather my equipment and bring me back to the hotel.

I went a took a nap!

Went to lunch at Joey's, again, with Melena, who I am linesing with today. We walked back to the hotel, picked up our stuff and were off to Canada Place for the Canada (5) vs. Finland (0) game.

Nicole (Germany), Melena (Denmark) and I worked the game and it was packed. I came around the net as the crowd exploded to the jumbo tron video and I looked up and realized that not only the bottom bowl was full, but the top and the boxes and even the tippy top of the seats were full. I went over and stood by the crease and waited for Nicole to check out the video goal judge communication and got teary eyed as the whole rink was full and this is what I came for and gave up all, well a lot in the past 13 years for, to experience this moment. The game was fun to work, but I'd still say the Canada vs. Sweden game was more fun, other than the attendance factor. Melena and I worked together for the first time, but it was great and like working with someone from home; it just flowed. "We rocked the house!"

Brownie: Please note the my zebra friend is with... if you can figure out how to get online and check this!

After the game we hung out in the officials lounge and watched the reminder of the Russia Swiss game that went into OT and shootout.

We shuttled back to the hotel and met up with most of the group and walked about two blocks to the "red" wings place (the sign that said WINGS was red) and had some food and beverages. We walked back to the hotel and talked a bit before bed.

Curling tomorrow!