#039 Olympic Medal AmbiShawns

Well thus far today we've watched a little over 8.5 hours of Olympic coverage. And we've seen Canada win our first Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals!

And even though we've been watching everything PVRed, we've been avoiding all other media and limiting our viewing on Facebook so as not to spoil the excitement of watching the events and our athletes winning. It's no easy task, but we're managing.

Our three medalists have to be so very proud of all they've accomplished, and too, all the other Olympians that have competed so far. Certainly they all want to win a medal, but I see they're even being there as an immense accomplishment. As they say on award shows, 'It's an honour just to be nominated', so too, it's an honour to simple qualify and make it to the Olympics.  In pure and simple terms it means that you are among the most elite of those in your sport in the World. And to represent your Country on the World stage is no small thing. 

For us to have one three medals on the first full day of competition has to be a huge inspiration and incentive to all the other athletes.

So far Canada has impressed.  

There are a few more hours of today's events left to watch and  even still, we cannot wait for tomorrow.

...but now to get up off the sofa and stretch.

GO CANADA, GO!

#038 Winter StaycayShawn

It's official.

I am on Vacation!

After the past two weeks, it will likely take the following two weeks to properly unwind!  And that's fine.   This is a stay-cation. With little planned other than watching the Olympics, and sleeping in. We'll try and venture out every couple of days for provisions as needs warrant.

The official uniform of the next two weeks, consist of flannel pajamas, flannel pants with t-shirts, and jeans with flannel shirts. And I do not intend to shave until Sunday Feb 23rd. 

Tonight we'll watch the Opening Ceremonies that we DVRed, and then first think tomorrow, let the Armchair Judging begin!

GO CANADA, GO!

#037 Armchair Judge PreparaShawn

I am so excited I could scream! 

After tomorrow I am off until the 24th of February. I still had 2 weeks of vacation left to take before the end of April, and I thought what could be better than taking the two weeks of the Olympics off, so that Marcel and I could take advantage and watch them live... day and night. 

Marcel and I love watching the Olympics. Both Summer and Winter; but truth be told, it's really about the Winter Olympics. We met only a few months before the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and we spent as time as we could during those two weeks watching every event we could. We became experts on event sport, judging all we saw. 

It's a little different this year. To watch or not to watch. There's been so much talk about the Anti-gay laws on the books in Russia. Protests and boycotts, are buzzwords that are forever twinned with Sochi.  What to do? I agree that the laws are barbaric, ridiculous and downright fucked up, but these athletes have spent years, if not most of their lives training for this moment. Who really wants to deny them their moment to shine? I don't.

I think the World has judged Russia already, and I think the World will also judge Russia harshly on their Olympics.  If the news reports coming out of Sochi the past few days are any example of what we will remember (along with the Anti-gay laws) about unfinished venues, unfinished Media venues, unfinished accommodations. Tandem toilets. Yellow water. Corruption, and on and on and on... then karma is being served.  And hopefully in time these insane laws might be reversed.

My hopes over the next two weeks are that our athletes do their best. If they medal, all the better. And I hope even more so that there are no tragic events, no terrorist attacks, no violence. 

Marcel and I are ready for the Olympics. We're ready to be be amazed by the athletes performances. And we're more than ready to judge every event we watch. And we've done our voodoo to ensure Canada wins more medals than the US. ;-)

GO CANADA, GO!