Science of Curling

The Professor is really disappointed that NBC hasn't been showing any curling competitions in their evening broadcasts. He complained, "I've been waiting 4 years to see this!" So, to console him, we've been watching some of the curling videos on the NBC Olympics website. This one on the Science of Curling really helped clear up some unexplained points of the sport. In fact, there is a whole Science of the Games section here. We've been enjoying those short little science clips during lunch time.

The one called, Curling House of Horrors is really funny...not scary at all unless you count the clown pants on the Norwegian team! Oh and we liked this one too. People making faces and yelling funny things...what's not to love?

O Canada!

Despite the weirdness of the tap dancing fiddling rockers wearing flannel, I have to say that I really did enjoy the opening ceremonies. I might not have understood everything, but I liked it. I loved the fabric mountains and all of the projections. The whales, the leaves, the ice breaking... so cool!

What impressed me most was finding out from Tom Brokaw's introduction what the Canadians did for us on September 11th. Did you know that when American airways were shut down on that horrific day, Canada allowed over 200 flights to land and then provided food and shelter for over 33,000 people until they could get them back home? I remember that day and remember the deafening silence of the runway approach over our house. It never occurred to me that those planes might have had to land outside our borders. The bravery in accepting those strangers on that uncertain day and the charity the Canadians showed in taking care of them speaks to the generous character of our friends to the north.

While it is a small reward for such a great act of kindness, I am just thrilled that they got the home gold medal they were hoping for!

Opening Ceremonies

If I was live blogging, right now I would be asking...

...what's up with the tap dancing-flannel-wearing-Canadian goth fiddle rockers?

And now they're on fire.

How many Molsons does it take to make this make sense?

USA! USA! USA!

The Winter Olympics are set to begin in a couple of days! Whoo hoo!!! So, Friday night, when we hunker down to watch the Opening Ceremony with the Parade of Nations (our favorite part!) and our globe handy, we will also enjoy some Fluffy Canadian Pancakes with Maple Syrup. We have been using a lapbook to study up on some Olympic history and will spend the next few days learning about the athletes that we will be rooting for.

I would love to know if you have any specific plans for opening night. I admit that we are flying by the seat of our pants here. An out-of-town trip got canceled and now I'm trying to throw some ideas together.

A thrill

Am I the only one who got a thrill when an email titled "Countdown to Vancouver" arrived in my inbox this morning? It has nothing to do with a secret passion for maple syrup or Kraft Dinner. No. I am an Olympic junkie. I'd like to blame it on my oldest child who made us watch hours and hours of Olympic ice hockey the year he was born. See he decided that sleeping was for other babies, not him, but my Olympic habit started long before then. Mary Lou's flawless vaults. The Battle of the Brians? What's not to love?

Anyway, for you fellow junkies, you can get your own countdown widget here. Whoo hoo, eh?

08/08/08

Popping in to say "hello" and that things are getting off to a slower start than I wanted due to some illness, but they should be ramping up here quite nicely next week. Also wanted to say that we are heading off to Mass to pray for the persecuted people in China and for everyone attending the Olympic Games. We are big Olympic Junkies! It started the year The Professor was born with lots of late night nursing and no cable TV. Hockey can be very interesting... when you are a walking zombie at 3 AM. (Sorry Nutmeg!)

After Mass, the kids will be treated to donuts and cinnamon twists (they kind of look like 8's) and then Chinese food for dinner with fortune cookies for dessert. Have a lovely weekend! Let me hear you chant U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A. Bye!