I checked in and there were only 2 other people at the Delta check in. The attendant at the counter was super nice and found a way to waive the overweight baggage fee (17lbs over). Security was a little slower, but only took about an hour and I breezed through customs. I think that the airport set this scare up because all you had to do once you got inside was eat and shop; the goal is to spend the rest of the Canadian currency that you have so you don't have to pay the fee to change it over and they did have Olympic apparel at the shops. I also changed the Swiss Francs over; it's hard to do this in the US because the local banks make you mail in the currency and it takes a few weeks to post in your account. I ran into a few of the men's officials and their wives in the airport and finally got on my plane. I slept most of the way on the plane.
I was walking to gather my bags at MSP and people kept looking at me; then I realized that I had an Olympic sweatshirt on and not everyone in the Mpls airport was wearing the same, like in Vancouver.
I got my bags; I think that I had the biggest, heaviest bag on the flight and met Cory at the car. Thanks Cory for coming to pick me up!
On the way home we coordinated with Mom, Dad and Katie they were there at the house when I got back with Ava and Mom had made Zebra Flags and put them in the snow banks of the house. We ordered Chinese from the good place, 88 Wok, in Andover.
When the extended family left the kids came out and Cammy and Cat didn't leave my side. Didn't get much done last night. The photos are still in the memory card the souvenirs are still scattered and the dirty laundry is in a pile, but still dirty.
I can believe that my adventure is over that my Goal of working the Olympics is reached and that the Goal medal game is complete! It seems like yesterday that I was at my first USA Hockey camp, working my first WCHA and Junior game, and traveling to Salt Lake for my first international tourney (with overweight baggage on that trip too!)
Thank you to everyone who has put up with me missing things (birthdays / Christmas / Thanksgivings, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, just hanging out and more) and to all my friends and family that have helped me. You have made this 13 year ride the best ever!
I can't believe that I am going back to work tomorrow; most of my vacation time used up for the year, already taken by March, but well worth the use of the vacation time!
My new dilema is setting a new goal, but it's a great problem to have.
Kelli's 2010 Olympics Highlights:
- Getting the call to work the games from Mr. Matt.
- Having Cory, Mom, Dad, Katie and Ava out in Vancouver; even if they only did get to watch me skate on TV.
- During the Swiss vs. Sweden game looking over to movement and realizing that they were doing the wave during my game.
- Getting assigned to the Sweden vs. Canada game as they fought last time they played.
- Pre-game of the first game I skated at Canada place semi-final game Finland vs. Canada. I was rounding the next when the video was playing the crowd went nuts and I looked up and the place was packed; there were people there to see the game I am working, the bottom bowl was full the middle bowl, the boxes were full and all the little people up on top too! I stood over by the referee crease and took it all in; this was the moment that I sacrificed so much for (and my family too).
- When I walked in and saw the assignments for the Gold medal game; and my name was on it! Then calling my family and telling them. Mom said "I told eveyone you wouldn't get that game because US was playing. Now I'm going to have to call them all back!"
- The closing ceremonies; knowing I've reached my goal and the dilemma of figuring out what to do next with my free time and what the new goal will be to chase. Then asking myself what is free time and what do you do with it?
- Checking email, facebook and the blog and having messages of love and support coming in from everyone! Thanks guys!!!
2010 Olympics Highlights:
- The Olympics got off to a somber start when, on the opening day, luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a tragic accident during practice
- American skier Lindsey Vonn won a gold medal in the ladies Super-G and set a new record for U.S. women's World Cup wins record despite undergoing surgery just a few weeks prior to the games http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/skiing/news/story?id=392582975
- American snowboarder Shaun White pulled off a Double McTwist 1260 and scored 46.8 out of 50 to take gold and dominate the men's halfpipe competition
- Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic won a bronze medal in the cross country ladies sprint classic despite breaking four ribs during practice just hours before the race http://ca.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idCALDE61J0DS201002216
- Alex Bilodeau, the winner of the men's moguls, became the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal in his home country
- Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette skated for a personal best score in the short program and win a bronze medal despite the fact that her mother passed away unexpectedly just two days before the figure skating competition began
- After winning the Men's hockey tournament, the host country, Canada, broke the record for the most gold medal wins at a Winter Olympic games, with a total of 14 gold medals, but the USA still took home the most medals total!
