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.

02.20.2010 - Day 10 - Family goes home (Seattle)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting in group and reviews in crews.
Mom, Dad, Katie, Ava and Cory stop by the hotel on the way back to Seattle, but there are extra game tickets to the 2:30pm game, so they delay their departure. Note: they are picking up a duffel bag that I purchased full of stuff; extra set of equipment and souvenir things.
I do some things around the hotel, run for a quick shopping trip with Anna and meet the family at the China vs. Swiss game. Ava is cheering for the team China because they are red and her new favorite color (in addition to the pink and purple) is red. After the game Anna and I walk them back to their mini van and see them off. Ava told me she wanted me to come home with her. Anna was a super trooper taking a ton of photos of us, in hopes of a good Christmas card photo, she was a ton of fun to hand out with!

... so you will most likely see one of the following on your Christmas card this coming year:)Anna and I caught the shuttle back to the hotel and catch a group leaving for the medal ceremonies at BC Place so we tag with. We get into the VIP section and have free food and beverages plus media area, box seating. The main reason the trip was made was to see the Great Britain female skeleton athlete receive her gold medal; one of the officials, Joy, is from GB. We only saw the medals being given out on the screen as all of them were presented in Whistler today; we will have to get back for another with live presentation. This ceremony was followed by a concert: Stereo Phoenix (not the name of the surround system) from Whales.

We ran into some of the male officials at BC Place, who had come from the Hockey House and were told it was easy to get in and get passes so we headed over there. We got past the main gatekeeper, but were stopped as you need a pass to get into each room and were denied. We walked back and Anna and I broke from the group and hit the official Olympic store; still no mittens. There is a coke pin you can buy off the wall of pins, you get your photo taken with the torch and then they put the sticker photo of you on the pin. We then walked back to the hotel and I ran into Mr. Matt and Anika in the lobby. A large group of us walked to Moxie's to eat and some of us went home after the food and I am heading to bed.