We went to see men's curling, Canada vs Sweden, and Norway vs Switzerland.
And we did see that. It was very exciting.
But!
We also saw the pants. Yes, the ones in the picture. They're really the Norwegian uniform. And I bet everyone thought they were done hearing about what the Norwegians were wearing.
Actually, that is it for the pants and the Norwegians.
What else could I say about those pants?
There were a lot of older fans. Much older fans. Blue hair fans, I think. And ironically a guy buying beer whose shirt said 'this isn't your grandmother's sport'.
The older ladies and gents (who liked to loudly reminisce about how curling used to be and comment on how young all the players were) sat behind us. In front there were several empty seats. Until the other curling teams showed up. We sat near the women's team from Great Britain, and the German men's team. And the Estonian men's team. And the Dutch men's team.
Which was much more exciting than I thought it would be when I told people I had curling tickets with a sheepish shrug. It turns out it really is interesting, with strategy, and precision, and cowbells.
I really need a cowbell for next time.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Olympics - Day 11
Is it a martial arts competition?
Very tall acrobats?
Rhythmic gymnastics?
No! It's the Royal Canadian Mounted Police! More than that, it's their precision riding group doing The Musical Ride.
The horses were very pretty (not pictured, the maple leaf brushed into the fur on their rumps... really), the riders were great, and they all had these spear things with flags on them. Maybe it was a martial arts competition.
Now there's only one thing I can do to make this trip more quintessentially Canadian.
Good thing we already got the curling tickets.
Very tall acrobats?
Rhythmic gymnastics?
No! It's the Royal Canadian Mounted Police! More than that, it's their precision riding group doing The Musical Ride.
The horses were very pretty (not pictured, the maple leaf brushed into the fur on their rumps... really), the riders were great, and they all had these spear things with flags on them. Maybe it was a martial arts competition.
Now there's only one thing I can do to make this trip more quintessentially Canadian.
Good thing we already got the curling tickets.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Olympics - Day 10
From Slovakia vs China womens hockey, I bring you Panda Fan.
He defied any attempt to take his picture. Near, far, still, or on the run, his head is always blurry.
He was one of the top fans yesterday. There was also pink cowboy hat girl, and guy who was pressed against the glass anytime a chinese payer went by.
Somehow during the Olympics all this gratuitous national pride is charming rather than annoying. It almost made me want an 'American' shirt to cheer for the USA.
I'll just have to settle for the three Canadian ones I got.
Anyway. Our game was Slovakia vs China, which made us eternally grateful to have seen Canada vs Sweden. Slovakia was constantly losing the puck. China couldn't get it together past their sub-par passing game to score much. And most of the game was spent in the corners, trying to dig the puck out with as many players involved as possible (like six or seven).
On the upside, it wasn't crowded, and there was Panda Fan.
If there had been drinkable beer, it would have been perfect.
Next time I'll sneak some rum in.
*I've hit my flickr video limit for the month but I promise an Olympics final cut as soon as I get to a computer with After Effects.
He defied any attempt to take his picture. Near, far, still, or on the run, his head is always blurry.
He was one of the top fans yesterday. There was also pink cowboy hat girl, and guy who was pressed against the glass anytime a chinese payer went by.
Somehow during the Olympics all this gratuitous national pride is charming rather than annoying. It almost made me want an 'American' shirt to cheer for the USA.
I'll just have to settle for the three Canadian ones I got.
Anyway. Our game was Slovakia vs China, which made us eternally grateful to have seen Canada vs Sweden. Slovakia was constantly losing the puck. China couldn't get it together past their sub-par passing game to score much. And most of the game was spent in the corners, trying to dig the puck out with as many players involved as possible (like six or seven).
On the upside, it wasn't crowded, and there was Panda Fan.
If there had been drinkable beer, it would have been perfect.
Next time I'll sneak some rum in.
*I've hit my flickr video limit for the month but I promise an Olympics final cut as soon as I get to a computer with After Effects.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Olympics - Day 9
This guy* has been my favorite fan so far. Better than the hockey fan with the spinning red light on his helmet, better than the guys in the bunny suits, even better than the kid with six Canadian flag temporary tattoos on her face (though I got a picture of her too).
I didn't expect the level of excitement and endearingly dorky national pride that I saw at ski jumping.
From the cheap seats the crowd definitely made the whole trip (all seven hours of bus, train, car, and feet) worth it.
Everyone cheered whoever went the farthest. Even the viking hat guys cheered for the Swiss gold medalist. And there were cowbells all around.
Now I just need to get my own cowbell before the next hockey game. A girl can only yell so much for every goal.
*Viking guy didn't get arrested, though when the cops came to check his backpack he asked them to watch it while he went for a fresh beer.
I didn't expect the level of excitement and endearingly dorky national pride that I saw at ski jumping.
From the cheap seats the crowd definitely made the whole trip (all seven hours of bus, train, car, and feet) worth it.
Everyone cheered whoever went the farthest. Even the viking hat guys cheered for the Swiss gold medalist. And there were cowbells all around.
Now I just need to get my own cowbell before the next hockey game. A girl can only yell so much for every goal.
*Viking guy didn't get arrested, though when the cops came to check his backpack he asked them to watch it while he went for a fresh beer.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Olympics - Day 7
It was the best of times, it was-
Oh forget it.
Our snowboarding tickets were canceled. Not enough snow on the ground to build up the standing room section. Unless you liked standing on hay.
On the upside we got some women's hockey tickets instead.
Canadian ones.
Playing Sweden.
With Sweden and Canada to choose from, we decided to root for Team North America. We got red hats, those mittens with maple leaves on the palm, and team hoodies. If only we had known we would be horribly underdressed. The style for Vancouver was trending toward body paint and flag capes. And that was just downtown.
Multiply that one goal by thirteen. We were on our feet more than we were sitting.
I can't imagine what the finals will be like next week. But I can't wait to find out.
Oh forget it.
Our snowboarding tickets were canceled. Not enough snow on the ground to build up the standing room section. Unless you liked standing on hay.
On the upside we got some women's hockey tickets instead.
Canadian ones.
Playing Sweden.
With Sweden and Canada to choose from, we decided to root for Team North America. We got red hats, those mittens with maple leaves on the palm, and team hoodies. If only we had known we would be horribly underdressed. The style for Vancouver was trending toward body paint and flag capes. And that was just downtown.
Multiply that one goal by thirteen. We were on our feet more than we were sitting.
I can't imagine what the finals will be like next week. But I can't wait to find out.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Olympics - Day 5
This sign was one of the best things I saw today.
That and a guy wearing the Canadian flag as a cape being arrested by three mounties in full red dress uniforms.
Maybe he was a bronze medal pickpocket.
The best thing I heard today was Dick Button getting toasted with two ladies at the table behind us as lunch. Of course he told the waiter only the ladies were drunk.
That and a guy wearing the Canadian flag as a cape being arrested by three mounties in full red dress uniforms.
Maybe he was a bronze medal pickpocket.
The best thing I heard today was Dick Button getting toasted with two ladies at the table behind us as lunch. Of course he told the waiter only the ladies were drunk.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Smell of Death
With skiing postponed everyone is wishing for snow. This is what we got instead.
I'm posting a story with a little snow in it. Maybe it will bring some luck.
After all, snow helps slow the bleeding when you're running for your life.
I'm posting a story with a little snow in it. Maybe it will bring some luck.
After all, snow helps slow the bleeding when you're running for your life.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Olympics - Day 2
Big ducks all in a row.*
Today I crossed the border and went hunting for more event tickets. What I found instead was the longest line I'd ever seen (and that was just to get into the Olympic merchandise store at the Hudson Bay Company), people in red mittens milling in the street, and the Olympic flame protected from rabid picture takers by no less than three fences. You would think that anything that looked that much like the Fortress of Solitude could handle a few tourists leaning on the base.
Tomorrow it's all Olympic coverage on the big screen TV at home and trying to figure out the buses to get us to Cypress Mountain for Snowboarding on Thursday. And maybe some pictures of the lovely mountains. If they ever peek out from behind the clouds.
*Look! I figured out how to make the pictures link back to flickr where the rest of the pictures from the day are uploaded.
Today I crossed the border and went hunting for more event tickets. What I found instead was the longest line I'd ever seen (and that was just to get into the Olympic merchandise store at the Hudson Bay Company), people in red mittens milling in the street, and the Olympic flame protected from rabid picture takers by no less than three fences. You would think that anything that looked that much like the Fortress of Solitude could handle a few tourists leaning on the base.
Tomorrow it's all Olympic coverage on the big screen TV at home and trying to figure out the buses to get us to Cypress Mountain for Snowboarding on Thursday. And maybe some pictures of the lovely mountains. If they ever peek out from behind the clouds.
*Look! I figured out how to make the pictures link back to flickr where the rest of the pictures from the day are uploaded.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Olympics - Day 1
For a very short time this will be less of a short story blog and more of a travel one.
I am now in Blaine Washington, less than twenty miles from Vancouver and only six days from seeing my first event. The Canadian TV that we can pick up is showing the Olympic torch relay all day. I've been watching it in the vain hope that someone will come on and explain why Arnold Schwarzenegger was carrying the torch this morning. So far they replay the footage, but no one seems to think it's strange that he was in among all the Canadians running, jogging, walking, and rolling the torch along.
Tonight we're watching the Opening Ceremony (keeping a keen eye out for any CG enhancement).
For now I'm testing out how to upload things to Flickr. So far I have some lovely shots of Sea-Tac from last night. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennplatt/sets/72157623296373529
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Disguise
This story is based on a customer that used to come in (to a bookstore café I worked in many years ago) and order large decaf double depth charges every night. That's two shots of decaf espresso in a large decaf coffee. He always paid out of the wallet he had tucked in his motorcycle helmet.
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