reflections

I'm home! a little sad...but glad to be home! looking around my little room that has been home away from home for scraps and me, I have some mixed feelings. This was not what I expected from my Olympic adventure. In some ways it was better, some not so much. like my role with VANOC. I was not clear what to expect, and after a couple of role changes, and a workplace change, I was starting to think this was a mistake. But throughout my role, I met so many people that most of us never expect to meet, like figure skating judges, speed skating judges, international hockey referees, hockey officials, and olympic coaches and athletes! And as my role unfolded, Cheryl, our scheduling goddess, started calling me her Superstar! Since I was willing and available for anything. And that turned out to be a good thing, since I only repeated a driving role once in the whole experience! Nothing like driving a route for the first time in a city not your own, with a couple of figure skating judges in the back, not talking! wheee! Not having tickets for any events was a bummer, but I was able to find some great places to watch. Like Canada - Germany at the Swiss house! Or the gold medal game from the top of Whistler mountain! Bobsleigh on a fifty foor big screen at Live city! The people! I cannot get over how crowded the entire city became! there were lineups everywhere! At times it was insane! But there was such incredible energy everywhere! And everyone was so well mannered and polite. Nothing like hearing half a dozen different languages spoken in a single walk into a Starbucks!
So, overall I had a great time! Would I do it again!?! In a heartbeat! London anyone?

sunday 28

Day Sixteen! One gold medal to go! And what a gold medal performance it was! I watched the game from Steeps restaurant! 6100 feet elevation! Lucky to get a table, it filled up quick! I started out early, 0500 to catch my greyhound to Whistler, at 0630. Slept the whole way, but it was dark. Found the rental shop, got my board, picked up lift ticket, and up we went! Scraps loves gondolas! I knew I would have a tough time, since I've only skied Ontario hills, but I did ok. Lasted till noon, then took the board back and exchanged them for skis. Much better! Made one run before coasting into the lodge. That was one of the best games I have seen! And I'm sure you agree! Doesn't hurt that it was the desired outcome. Fourteen Gold Medals! After a couple of quick runs, we jumped on the Peak to Peak Gondola in time to go across, and back! What a ride! Zipped down on one last run, and I gotta say, they are long! Feel the burn baby. Turned my stuff in and Grabbed a little apres ski action at the bottom.

saturday

I have a little time to this morning to consider a few things. Pins. Who knew I have more pins here, I have to go get another lanyard! One of the referees gave me her pin! It is quite a phenomenon. VANOC gave me a few gifts at the end of my last shift last night. A medalion, a Swatch, and of course a pin! I have quite a few keepsakes from this experience. I'm going to Whistler tomorrow, do some snowboarding, and maybe watch the game from the top of the mountain!

friday 26

Last shift! woohoo! So here I am driving the officials to the Canada Hockey Place! Timers, security, referees, linesmen...awesome! Since the girls are done, and the female officials are the most fun, I will tell you that I drove a whole vanload over to a undisclosed place in this city for some R&R during the men's semi-final...Canada-Slovakia...and WOW these grls Know how to party! Enough said! Lots of passengers to the rink today! Since I was only working 11-7 I was done in time to get to the bar to watch the game! Sure enough, my collegue from Air Canada was there first holding a seat for me...what a team player! And what can I say...what a finish! WOW! Bring on the American's!

Thursday 25th

Back to work! I actually slept in a little, but when I arrived at the hotel, turns out I was three hours early! Crappolla! But that was ok, jumped on the bus to English Bay, and sat in the Starbucks at Denman and Davie, and watched the ocean. Of course Aikira is just down the street! you know what that means...takeaway sushi! mmm mm. Today is actually a big day...driving officials to the gold medal game! Go Girls Go! And they sure did, taking it to the U.S. 2-0! Gold medal, number 8! And I finally got a chance to visit Dr Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden! what a place of tranquility in a busy city! Tonight we are going to Heineken House with some refs! shhhh.

wednesday

A day off! got up early, and met my friends at the iconic White Spot for breaky. I was a lot better than I remember! then on the bus to Capilano! What a beautiful place! The bridge is great, but the trees and water and peace! awesome! We stayed for three hours, I could have stayed all day! Left there about two and got back on the sea bus and made our way to the casino! they have big screens in the bar, and a theatre type area where you can watch stuff. We opted for the bar, and watched the boys kick some Ruskie butt! I won at roulette, and it was enough to cover our tab! and a big tip for Tiffany, our overworked waitress! She was great tho! We all split up after and Val, Chris and I went to Ontario House, worked a little magic with the doorman, and got us straight in! After they left I went to join the others at Hudsons Bay Olympic Store. crazy. There was even a lineup to pay! After that, we went looking for our Friend from Newfoundland, said he was playing poker, but no sign so called it a night! Long day!

tuesday(continued)

430! AM! oh ya I'm tired. Boring shift, but then a couple of friends from Ontario got in, around eleven, and on my last run about one pm I met up with them in Stanley Park, and we drove around that magnificent park in the Olympic Van! We got back to the hotel, and I was relieved, so we strolled down Robson to grab the bus to Granville Island! I am so smrt! Atlantic Canada house was closed for a private party, but my backup plan was the Swiss house! We got an awesome table as soon as Switzerland won in the shootout! So we ate, we drank, ate some more, we drank some more, we drank some more...joined by two more friends from North Carolina! and Canada Wins! 8-2! Awesome time! Got back late, and after a three hour sleep last night, was ready for bed!