We Saw some Athletes, Guys!

I think I've already mentioned that we have some birthdays here in February, so this year, the coincidence of the Olympics provided an easy out on the gift buying.

Yeah Huh


So here's the thing. No one in my house actually knew the rules to curling until after we got home from the event. Because, really, knowing what is going on at sporting events is so cliche! Also? We like to make up the rules for things like curling while watching it live, in front of die hard fans in the stands. It doesn't make for an uncomfortable situation at all... if you speak quietly... which you can't do really when six thousand people are SCREAMING and CLAPPING and CHEERING and CHANTING all around you. Thankfully no one around us actually took the time to explain the real rules, as that would have made our normally anti-social behavior kind of awkward. Our rules were nowhere near the real rules, but they made sense at the time.

Someone is Screaming


Russian women beat the snot out of the Swedes, which was a shame, and the Swedes ended up conceding after 7 rounds (or as I later found out - ends). Someone explained why but at the team we just thought they were lazy, and or bad at rolling rocks on ice. We were wrong on all fronts. Considering they were ranked 2nd for most of the .... uhh tournament? At any rate, at some point there was some debate about something for scoring, and this guy came out of a garage or the basement or something with this contraption.

Settling the Score


There were some more surprises while we were there, and I'll save a couple for tomorrow. The last thing for today might shock you to your core.

Did you know that curling teams have COACHES? Yeah, I always just thought they were kind of like dart players - the kind of athletes that drink beer and talk shit with their fellow competitors and don't really have....coaches. I figured curling is a skill much like shooting pool - you don't really need a coach for it, but then I could probably benefit from a coach for shooting pool.

Strategizing


More curling action coming!

Dinners In

Most of the month of February is just one big excuse for date nights or celebrations in our house, what with birthdays and Valentine's Day. We like to cook dinner for each other because we're party animals. That's how we party. With food.

Not Yet Frozen Sorbet, Birthday


Coq au Riesling, Holiday


Curried Cauliflower


Mangetout with Sesame Sees, Curried Cauliflower and Chili Pork

Don't Trust Technology!

Ha! I just realized that all the posts I had scheduled to publish all week haven't actually published! Excellent!

So I'm going to jam some of them together starting tomorrow.

Russia is hosting the next Winter Games. They have a nice location to show off their country here at these games.

Sochi House

Party like it's .... 2008?

Dedicated Fan

Logos

Vancouver Olympics logos as made by Vancouverites on False Creek.

Foreground Inukshuk, Background Olympic Village


Olympic Housing


Drawing a Crowd


Surfing

Around Vancouver

Last week, when I wasn't stuck on the couch bundled in sweats, a robe, three blankets and a fever, I went outside. It was a pretty place, with people and coffee and even some sunshine.

Downtown


Stones


A few of the 20,000 cops in town


Canada House, Aussie House, Olympic Village


Russia House (Science World)

Truth in Signs

What with the international feel to the city, I felt this was appropriate. The shot was taken on my iPhone, and edited with The Best Picture app.

Opening Ceremonies, a la German Style

I spent the Opening Ceremonies night with the Germans. And I thoroughly enjoyed the cheese-factor of the band that will be performing every single night of the Games. If you're in town and looking for some entertainment, you'll find it at the German Fan Fest Tent!

Magical, Indeed

I'm Baaaack! And EN FUEGO!!

After a long hiatus, let's just get straight to the new photos, eh?

The Olympics? They're in the city where I happen to live. So get ready for a lot of Olympics centric photos! They'll be over at the end of the month-ish.

I've several shots from today's torch relay in Downtown Vancouver. The torch went all over Vancouver this morning, going over the Lion's Gate Bridge, through Stanley Park, around east Vancouver, to Granville Island, through the water in False Creek, around Yaletown and finally landing at the Library for a rest before the Opening Ceremonies tonight. I stayed home and took shots with my telephoto from my balcony for the False Creek and Yaletown legs. Observe, for we have fire in Vancouver!


Please note: I bookended these flame shots with shots of City Hall, Vancouver for the reason that before and after the torch relay through Yaletown, the Canadian Flag flying over City Hall was lowered to half staff. During the relay this afternoon, the IOC confirmed the death of Georgian Luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili. He died on his second of two training runs on the most difficult and fastest sliding track in history. It is such a sad event to start off the Games in Vancouver, and one can only hope his family finds solace in such a difficult time.


City Hall before the Torch left Granville Island


Pacific Blvd. Before


Canadian Armada


Leafs and Flames, co-existing happily


A Sea of People on Pacific Blvd.


Yaletown corners
(Apologies for the Where's Waldo feeling of this one, but the atmosphere in Yaletown looked so fun!)

Reflections of the Flame


City Hall, After the Torch lands at the Library