Ada's Run: Behind The Scenes

Photo Credit: Winnie Chan

Red & White From Chapters

I decided I needed a little notebook to carry around during the Olympics. Just in case. In case of what I'm not sure but since I'm embracing my inner blogger it seemed like a prudent thing to have. Anyways, so I almost bought "The World Needs More Canada" notebook until I discovered this one. They also have water bottles & bandaids that say "Keep Calm & Carry On". I really wanted them but maybe I'll wait until my next Chapters trip.

Olympic Memories

It was the fall of 1991. Team Canada was gearing up for the Albertville Olympics, I had just turned 14 and was totally in love with Eric Lindros. Imagine my excitement when my Dad managed to arrange an introduction. We took a road trip to Vancouver to watch a "friendly" between the Canucks & Team Canada. And on that Grey Cup Sunday afternoon I got to meet Eric Lindros, which was the highlight of my young life. He was so shy and nervous -- which was not what I was expecting. LOL.
Now the 2010 Olympics are almost here, I've pulled my Lindros jersey out of the closet and taken some time to wander down memory lane. I'll be wearing it with pride when I watch Team Canada in their hunt for gold (both mens & womens) and looking forward to making new memories in it.
BTW, if this jersey was a person it would be legal!!!!!!! This is the oldest piece of clothing that I own!

Cowbell2010

Don't worry if you don't have an actual cowbell to bring to the Games b/c you can turn your iPhone or iTouch into one! Download the app here.

Growing up we only took cowbells to away games. It was a good way for a small amount of people to compete w/ the noise of the home crowd. I went to a Junior A hockey game over Christmas and lots of the home fans were using them too. Just goes to show you that everyone can use a little more cowbell!!!

Ada's Torch Run

I wasn't able to see Ada's run in person but thanks to CTV's Torch coverage I was able to watch it live! So exciting!!! Way to go Ada!!!

Olympic Countdown: 5 sleeps and 3 working days!!!

Six Sleeps Left

Volunteer Report: The Athletes Are Here

From Todd: "Whew, I have recovered from last night's shift. We had hundreds of Athletes flooding into the village after it's Grand Opening. Czech Republic, Slovaks, Russian, Polish, Japan, Italians, Germans, Spainish and even a few Canucks! The looks on their young faces is priceless. There is wide eyed excitment with a tinge ...of anticipation as they enter their "home" for the first time. Needless to say they are all VERY impressed with the Village...makes us all feel very proud to host them!"

ONE WEEK

SEVEN SLEEPS

FOUR WORKING DAYS

IT'S ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!!

My Flag Arrived

My name was spelled incorrectly and they wrote the wrong address but amazingly enough the flag found it's way to me. YAY! And thank-you to Canada Post for making sure it got to me!

A cute story from my boss. They were out for lunch and spotted a whole group wearing Team China uniforms. But they didn't really look like athletes so my boss and her friends were trying to figure out what sport they might be from. Ping-pong? No. Gymnastics? No. They were at a loss but since none of them spoke Mandarin they couldn't ask. As they were leaving the restaurant, she ran into a friend who does speak Mandarin and sent her over to the table to ask. It turns out they were Team China officials.

Sprechen Sie Deutsches

So we have a little more news on the German Fan Fest. It's hosted by the Thuringian sports association and the German Olympic sports association. The 600(?) person beer tent will be open from Feb 11th - 28th. From 10am - 5pm admission is free and then there will be a cover charge from 6pm - 2am. There will be live music from the Thuringian band Acoustica beginning at 7pm.

According to the Vancouver Sun there will be Köstritzer beer and Thuringian bratwurst. I'll make Keri try the beer and have her report on it.

FYI - The 600 person thing might not be accurate as I can't remember where I read that number.

Source & Source

LOCATION: almost forgot to mention the German Fan Fest will be held in the parking lot next to Steamworks Brewing Co in Gastown. Steamworks is located at 375 Water Street.

Am I Media Enough?

Now that I've been invited to my first media event, do you think I qualify to ride on the media bus? A number of media are staying in my neighbourhood and they have their own bus stop. I was thinking it would be so much more convenient to use their bus instead of regular transit. No, you don't think I qualify? Well, it was worth a try.

Ode To Quatchi

I know how much Centenie loves Quatchi & she wrote a cheeky little poem for him (way back in the summer but I just discovered it thanks to Quatchi Watch). The last line is my favourite! Maybe she'll write one for Mukmuk.

“Ode to Quatchi”

by Centenie Narusis

O Quatchi, my Quatchi

With widely spaced dots for eyes

You watch me

You’ve got perpetually cold ears

But that doesn’t compare

To paying off the Olympics for years

You clomp along in your mukluks

But your Olympic Games

Are draining all of our bucks

You have such a creepy voice

And for us who voted “NO”

We don’t have much of a choice

It’s cute you like hockey

But did you hear the news?

The economy’s kind of rocky

O Quatchi, my Quatchi

You and your little friends are cute

But your Olympics are as extravagant as Versace

Source

Volunteer Report: Village Store

From Todd: "One of the HUGE perks of working at the Athlete's Village is the privilege of having access to the Village Store before the athletes arrive. During the games, only athletes and their guests have access to this store. There are items at this store that are Village specific and ONLY available at the village. This store also carries all of the venue specific items."

Photo credit: Todd Hochban

I like that there will be venue specific items. Kind of like going to Disneyland, you can get something that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else.

Olympic Countdown: 8 sleeps (and 5 working days -- we didn't magically lose a working day, I was able to get my vacation to start a day early). YAY!!!

I'm On The List

Earlier today I received an email from Sara at Karyo-Edelman inviting me to attend the media opening of the Panasonic Pavilion at LiveCity Yaletown. The media opening is the day before the public opening! I love getting to do things before the general public!!!!! And the pavilion sounds so cool b/c Panasonic will have two 3D HD theatres which will show off the "future of television viewing" (I recently saw a news report about this, it looks really interesting) and this is the FIRST time this technology is being screened publicly. Awesome! So make sure you check them out as of Feb 12.

My Dad got a Panasonic big screen TV for Christmas and it's gorgeous! I can't wait to see what their pavilion is filled with!

Want to win a 42 inch Panasonic Plasma TV? Join LiveCity Vancouver's Facebook page and enter to win an amazing prize pack! Well, there's actually no reason for you to enter as I'm planning on winning it. :-)

But back to the media opening, I'm also excited b/c Soprano Sarah Brightman will be there to sing AND there will be refreshments! Sweet!

Wednesday Randomness

A few more pics from around the 'hood. Does that shirt say "Canuck"? I think it must. Looks like I might have to stop in and try it on.

New information signs are popping up in South Granville.

I am so VANOC's dream consumer as I will pretty much buy anything Olympic related. I don't even like Excel mints. LOL.

I was excited to get some Cindy Klassen quarters today and especially happy to see one with red on it. That one will most likely be turned into a magnet and go on my fridge. Nerdy, I know. Don't judge.

- Todd's volunteer report via Facebook "All set for shift 5! Athletes begin to arrive at the village tomorrow so things are ramping up nicely. Should be VERY exciting when I return from Saskatchewan late next week. It seems CBS is setting a full blown broadcast point on the roof of our condo. This is great as there is a great view of the city 43 stories high!"

- Today's Olympic sighting: the official Olympic car of a German TV station (I've forgotten which one). No photo as I was carrying groceries.

I Believe - Gillian Apps

Apparently it's video day here at The Red & White Chronicles. I love the "I Believe" ads that CTV is running, I especially love that Donald Sutherland is voicing them (love him!). This one featuring hockey player Gillian Apps was new to me, I guess I don't watch enough TV b/c most of these commercials are new to me. LOL.

And of course I'm teary-eyed. I'm going to be a mess at the actual events, I just know it.

Suzie McNeil - Believe (Olympic inspired video)

I already liked this song but having seen this new Olympic inspired video for it -- I love it! And it's even more appropriate now for my Olympic themed CD.

Olympic Countdown: 9 sleeps (& 7 working days)!!!!

Volunteer Report

Todd is volunteering at the Athlete's Village and this is his current Facebook status: "It was fun to see some of the decorations that the teams are adding to their residences at the Vancouver Village. Canada has a big white moose out front, Australia has a BIG flag with a kangaroo, New Zealand has a sign post on a balcony showing kms to New Zealand cities."

Have fun volunteering Todd and please keep us in the loop!

Free Canadian Flag - Update

I just received an email from Steven, who is an assistant to my MP. He is sending me a flag! YAY!!! Each office only gets a certain number so it's not a guarantee that you'll get a flag but it's worth trying. All it takes is an email. Find your MP here.

Today's Olympic sighting: members of the Canadian Navy Dive team.

Jealous

An associate of my Dad & Brother's came in to the office to show off his torch. Very cool! Hmmmm, I wonder if Ada will bring her torch to work after her run?! I'll have to ask her and make sure I bring my camera that day.

Photo credit: someone at Royal LePage

How Swede It Is

My Dad came across a couple members of Team Sweden yesterday. He knew I would be interested and asked them what team they were on. They answered "Sweden" to which he replied "no, I meant what sport?". Turns out they're on the cross country ski team and will be in Penticton until Wednesday. Then they're off to Canmore, AB to compete in the the Alberta World Cup.

Al's wife is volunteering at the Opening Ceremonies (exciting!) and got this bottle of wine from Jackson-Triggs in her volunteer goodie bag. I love the label and would proudly have it on display.
Photo credit: Al Kaba

Olympic Countdown: 10 sleeps! (I've switched to the ever popular "how many sleeps are left countdown") and 8 working days!

More Canadian Houses

Aboriginal Pavilion

Alberta House

British Columbia Pavilion

Canada's Northern House

Ontario (still looking for their website)

Maison du Quebec (en Francais)

Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion

Saskatchewan Pavilion

And of course, the previously mentioned Atlantic Canada House, Canada Pavilion, CentrePlace Manitoba and French Quarter.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Ziptrecking in downtown Vancouver?! Awesome! I've known about this for awhile but seeing the pics from Ziptreck Ecotours makes it feel real (well, it IS real but you know what I mean). Anyways, it's going to be FREE! I'm sure the line-ups will be insane but I'm gonna do it! It's going to start at the Law Courts & end beside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Photo credits: Ziptreck Ecotours

ID Please

I found it amusing that you have to enter your birthdate before you can enter Holland Heineken House's website.

Anyways, I have discovered The Lodge (Holland's restaurant) will charge 2.5o (Euro) per person to make reservations AND there's something about a Holland Heineken House pre-pay card, which "can be purchased & recharged in the Holland Heineken House". They're already full for dinner on several nights. I think we'll try getting in for lunch (without reservations) and if that doesn't work, we'll hit up the Food Plaza for some Dutch fast food.

Olympic Countdown: 11 Days!!!

It's true! Everything IS exciting with a countdown. I can't believe the Olympics are 11 days away (9 working days!) -- so awesome!!!

Buy the tshirt.