Go Canada Go

Yesterday Canada won their first Olympic gold on home soil!!!!!  But I can't start at the end I have to start at the beginning.   So here it is.  


Valentine's Day dawned clear-ish and sunny-ish.   Cody-Anne dropped us at the bus stop after a little detour at Starbucks and once again we took the bus and the SkyTrain downtown. 

Inside the SkyTrain Waterfront Terminal

 This time we were headed to the Richmond Oval to watch the Ladies 3000 meter final.  After about a one mile hike (some would call it a walk but it was a hike for me) along the river we arrived at the beautiful new facility.  

But a bit of back story first.  Through Facebook, I have recently gotten in contact with a some old friends from my Rawhide days.  Vic and Jayne were/are some of my favorite people and it has been great to hear about their lives from afar.  Vic is a police officer in Ontario and Jayne mentioned on Facebook that she was missing him as he is in Vancouver providing security for the Olympics.  To make a long story short she said he is stationed at the Richmond Oval and of course I said I was going to be there so she gave me his phone number and while in the security line I texted  him (texted - is that a word?  Really?  Shouldn't I say, "I sent him a text message"? Well anyhow I did whatever it is it's called)   to see if he could take a few minutes away from his duties to say hi.  I told Mar to get her camera ready cause this would be photo- op I didn't want to miss.

He met me at the security gate and when we caught sight of each other we both broke into huge grins.  He swooped me up in his big arms and it was as though the years just vanished.  We figured we hadn't seen each other since 1988 at a Rawhide reunion! His Australian accent is still discernible and his graciousness has not dimmed.  He is still a kind, humble, caring family man albeit with a profession that tends to harden one.  Both of us are older, grayer, wider and, hopefully, wiser but the days of our youth seemed like yesterday.  I told Vic seeing him was almost eclipsing the event I was about to watch and a day later I can say it was the highlight of my Valentine's Day. 


After bidding Vic a reluctant goodbye we made a pee break and found our seat.  The Oval is beautiful.  It was very bright inside and the ice shone like glass.

  Like I do, I had to look around and try and take it all in before I could even watch the race already in progress.  The first thing I noticed, and anyone in my position would, I think, was the proliferation of orange.  Orange, orange everywhere I looked.  Those Dutch sure love their speed skating.  Crazy people I tell ya.  Just barking loony! The costumes were crazy and their enthusiasm infectious.

  Canada had 3 gals in the race with Cindy Klassen being the favorite but really not in medal contention.  That left Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves and I must say there were some close close heats.  

Kristina Groves warming up for her bronze medal win.

Cindy Klassen cooling down. She brought the house down with her effort.

Clara Holmes cooling down.  Pooped!

The US gave everyone a run for their money as well but it was a skinny little Czech gal that took the gold.  The inside of my cheek was practically a bloody pulp by the time the race was over.  Kristina took the bronze and it was a proud moment.  


The lady next to me was a friendly sort and mentioned that she was a volunteer for the Opening Ceremony.  She worked back stage with the dancers and met David Adkins the director and choreographers.  Of course I was all ears at that point and picked her brain for technical details.  Very interesting.  She said she was helping with the Closing ceremony, too.  How fun.  I know I would have wanted to participate in that area had I lived closer.  


After that event we made the one mile trek back to the Sky Train and then into downtown Vancouver and followed the crowds in search of the cauldron.  Poor Mar.  Her feet were really hurting and she was limping but she was a trooper and she kept on the trail like a hound dog.  It was fun to walk along the streets and sidewalks with so many from around the world.  All seemed to be heading somewhere specific as opposed to the more random wanderings at night on Robson St.  


When we finally got to the lighted cauldron it was a bit of a let down as it is surrounded by a chain link fence and really quite difficult to see or get to.  (We did hear on the TV today that that is a common complaint of the people and Vanoc is talking about perhaps loosening the security a bit and putting up a different type of fence.) 

 The cauldron is near Canada Place and those wonderful sails stirred memories of Expo '86 in my heart. 

A long trek up Hastings and over to Robson and down Robson back to BC Place didn't help Mar's feet - nor mine for that matter- but it got us to the Victory Ceremony with 30 minutes to spare.   As we approached the entrance they said we needed to walk to East entrance as their was no waiting there.  Well little did we know the East entrance was another 20 minute walk all. the. freaking. way. around. the. stadium!!!


Along the way we made these elaborate plans about where to meet after the ceremony as we had seats in different sections of the stadium.  We tried to exchange our tickets for adjoining ones with scalpers along the way but they wanted $40 each in addition to the tickets we had and so we said "forget it."  We made sure we had our phones, knew where one another was seating and figured out exactly where to stand to wait for the other.  I found my seat and settled in quickly as the ceremony had already started. Then Mar came tripping over the others in the row and plopped herself down right next to me.  It seemed we had adjoining seats after all.  It just didn't show that on our tickets.  

Each day at the Victory Ceremony was a celebration of a particular Canadian province and yesterday was BC day.  It began with First People's dancing, then many other dancers, drummers and singers from all cultures and from all over the province performed. About this time we broke out the Advil and took a couple to ease the aching in our feet and prepare us for the walk back up Robson to meet Kev and Cody-Anne.  


Then the big announcement - Ben Mulroney interrupted himself and said he was getting information in his ear that Canada had won a gold medal!  Well let me tell you, that place erupted.  I have never heard so many people in one place all hollering and cheering at once.   Flags waving everywhere, people going bananas and Ben grinning from ear to ear.  He had no word as to who it was but said he would get back to us.


When the crowd settled they began the medal ceremony portion of the evening.  Kristina Groves, Jenn Heil and my other boyfriend Apollo Anton Ono all received their medals.  So amazing to watch the race that afternoon and see Kristina get her medal that night. 

Apollo getting his medal

Taken of the big screen

 Apollo is so cute and I love his charisma, dedication and enthusiasm.  GO USA!!!!  In addition to Apollo medaling there were 2 American girls in the Gold and Bronze position in Women's Moguls. 

We only sat through 5 Nelly Furtado songs before leaving BC Place to make our way back up Robson to meet Cody-Anne and Kevin.

  They had gone to Yaletown to a free concert and were happy to hang out with us later.  Mar and I were starved and stopped at the Pita Pit.  I love that place.  Don't have those in CA and I wish we did.  Once again we just wandered around downtown, took some pictures

Proud Canadians

Silly Canadian

Cranky Canadian (not really but I couldn't resist)

 and then headed home on the Sky Train.  

Another day to be proud to be Canadian.  Go Canada go.

With Glowing Hearts

With Glowing Hearts...that phrase is everywhere here in Vancouver.  And Canada's heart should glow.  They've done a fabulous job preparing for this Olympics and are gracious hosts as well.  I've seen glowing faces, glowing lights, glowing athletes, glowing fireworks and yes, lots of glowing hearts.  My face and heart, too, have been glowing like mad since I arrived on Wed.  


On Thursday Cody-Anne and I made a trek to The Bay to pick up some Olympic wear and even the air was glowing with palpable anticipation.  We picked up my sister, Mar, at the airport and then suddenly it was real!! I was going to the freaking OLYMPICS!!!   A long held dream finally coming true.  


Friday around noon Cody-Anne dropped us off at the bus stop and after almost getting on the wrong bus we crossed the street to the correct bus stop bench and soon we hopped aboard.  We met 2 couples who were less familiar with the city that us so we took them under our wing and got them to the SkyTrain station.  The SkyTrain whisked us across town in record time and dumped us in wet, drizzly downtown Vancouver.  The "Blue Coated" volunteers helped us find the BC Place ticket outlet and the CoSport ticket place, too.  Tickets in hand we were ready to rock.  A quick bite at Subway 

- which by the way was filled with a multitude  (well 2 or 3 anyway) of folks from all over the world and we made our way back to BC Place.  

The press of bodies all headed through security was a bit daunting but everyone was in such a good mood and dressed so partioticaly it was just another chapter in the whole story.

  Security went quite quickly and there we were looking for our gate!  As we walked around the perimeter of the stadium we saw more- many, many more - countries represented by people all around us.  

When we got in we hit the pee room ( we are girls after all), filled our water bottles from the fountain and made our way to our seats.  

The next hour was spent discovering the contents of our audience participation boxes, rehearsing our parts and being entertained by the pre-show festivities.


To try and describe, in words, the next few hours would  never really tell you how I felt. I'll try and hit some highlights, however.  


If you remember the audience participatory countdown right at the beginning well, Mar and I were number ones!  We held up our cardboard drum boxes and yelled with the best of them.  The snowboarder shot onto the stage and we were off!  Then the RCMP made their appearance with the Canadian flag and my chest and eyes filled up and I had to struggle to see through the tears.  Something about those scarlet coats and what they represent  gets me every time.  There is no greater Canadian icon. 

The spontaneous show of support, grief and respect the audience showed when the Georgian athletes entered the stadium showed me once again the true spirit of the games and filled me with sorrow and heartbreak for that boys mother.  

Then the  US athletes entered and I was stunned by the warm, loud, encouraging response they received from the mostly Canadian audience.  I couldn't see who was carrying the flag and no one around me seemed to know but I was proud of my second country in that moment as well. 

The Canadian team took my breath away and we waved our full sized Canadian flag like maniacs.

And I think this.  This says it all.  This made goose bumps erupt all over my body, my nose tingle and heart swell with the honour of being a citizen of this great country. 

We Are More

by Shane Koyczan

When defining Canada

you might list some statistics

you might mention our tallest building

or biggest lake

you might shake a tree in the fall

and call a red leaf Canada

you might rattle off some celebrities

might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie

might even mention the fact that we've got a few

Barenaked Ladies

or that we made these crazy things

like zippers

electric cars

and washing machines

when defining Canada

it seems the world's anthem has been

" been there done that"

and maybe that's where we used to be at

it's true

we've done and we've been

we've seen

all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine

and turned into theme parks

but when defining Canada

don't forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories

about the one that got away

we do more than sit around and say "eh?"

and yes

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One

who inspired little number nines

and little number ninety-nines

but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes

and some say what defines us

is something as simple as please and thank you

and as for you're welcome

well we say that too

but we are more

than genteel or civilized

we are an idea in the process

of being realized

we are young

we are cultures strung together

then woven into a tapestry

and the design

is what makes us more

than the sum total of our history

we are an experiment going right for a change

with influences that range from a to zed

and yes we say zed instead of zee

we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy

we dream so big that there are those

who would call our ambition an industry

because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow

we do more than grow wheat and brew beer

we are vineyards of good year after good year

we reforest what we clear

because we believe in generations beyond our own

knowing now that so many of us

have grown past what used to be

we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have

when they say things like "someday"

someday we'll be great

someday we'll be this

or that

someday we'll be at a point

when someday was yesterday

and all of our aspirations will pay the way

for those who on that day

look towards tomorrow

and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set

and we will get interest on our inspiration

because we are more than a nation 

of whale watchers and lumberjacks

more than backpacks and hiking trails

we are hammers and nails building bridges

towards those who are willing to walk across

we are the lost-and-found for all those 

who might find themselves at a loss

we are not the see-through gloss or glamour

of those who clamour for the failings of others

we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers

uncles and nephews aunts and nieces

we are cousins

we are found missing puzzle pieces

we are families with room at the table for newcomers

we are more than summers and winters

we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay

because we are more than what we say or do

we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are

we are students

students who study the studiousness of studying

so we know what as well as why

we don't have all the answers

but we try

and the effort is what makes us more

we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for

so keep exploring

go far and wide

or go inside but go deep

go deep

as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss

and suddenly there was this location scout

trying to figure some way out

to get inside you

because you've been through hell and high water

and you went deep

keep exploring

because we are more

than a laundry list of things to do and places to see

we are more than hills to ski

or countryside ponds to skate

we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait

we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes

a country that is all the ways you choose to live

a land that can give you variety

because we are choices

we are millions upon millions of voices shouting

" keep exploring... we are more"

we are the surprise the world has in store for you

it's true

Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"

so don't say "been there done that"

unless you've sat on the sidewalk

while chalk artists draw still lifes

on the concrete of a kid in the street

beatboxing to Neil Young for fun

don't say you've been there done that

unless you've been here doing it

let this country be your first-aid kit

for all the times you get sick of the same old same old

let us be the story told to your friends

and when that story ends

leave chapters for the next time you'll come back

next time pack for all the things

you didn't pack for the first time

but don't let your luggage define your travels

each life unravels differently

and experiences are what make up

the colours of our tapestry

we are the true north

strong and free

and what's more

is that we didn't just say it

we made it be.

The tap-dancing-fiddle-playing-lumberjacks filled the theatrical part of me.  Made me wish I'd directed that segment!  Made me feel proud of our Maritime families for the heritage they've contributed to the tapestry of the Canadian fabric.  

And Rick Hansen wheeling into the stadium with his torch made me burst into tears once more and with the tears streaming down my face I watched  those great Canadian Olympians (was so tickled to see Steve Nash) light the torch(es).  I haven't lived in Canada for 30 years but that did nothing to dampen my patriotism or dilute the fact that I am Canadian through and through.

After the ceremony we made our way- through the cold and rain, reveling beer sodden Canadians, bustling tourists headed home and lots of wonderful art, music and festivities- to Robson Square where Kevin's band The Left was playing at GE Plaza.

  Cody-Anne met us there adorned with her red mittens and crocheted scarf I whipped up for her the night before.  Their show stated at 11:30 pm and we had a great time. With the skating rink behind them, a laser show over head (not to mention the skiers, snowboarders and skaters on the zipline ) and a cheering, crazed audience, Kevin said it was the best crowd they've ever performed for.

Then it was time to go home and after missing our stop on the Sky Train, wandering around in the parking lot looking for Cody-Anne's car and unwinding with a glass of wine when we got home, we crawled into bed at 4 am.  Truly one of the greatest days of my life!

O Christmas Tree and Me - Part one

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the tree. I've always wanted to live in a house where I could have a tree  (or more) in every room.  Alas, I've been confined to tiny spaces.  My relationship with the ole Christmas tree has been kind of a roller coaster.  When I was a child my mom and dad would put the tree up after we went to bed on Christmas eve so we would see it along with the heaps of presents under it on Christmas morning.  As a consequence I don't have any memories,as a young girl, of decorating the tree.  


My mothers tree was very traditional.  By that I mean it was a mish mash of ornaments collected over the years; some handmade, some transported to Africa and back ( six ornaments of which I have carefully cherished over the years), some store bought.  No theme, colour scheme or forethought.  There was always tinsselly garland, colored lights and the crowning glory were icicles draped one by one over the branches.  Oh, and every tree had candy canes resting among the baubles.  In those days candy canes weren't individually wrapped.  We spent the rest of the holiday season picking them off one by one to eat.  As time went by and they absorbed the humidity from the house they got soggy and the dried pine/fir/ needles would stick to the "crook".  We would just pick them off and then chew up the softened minty goodness.  Decorating a tree was not my mom's thing but she always did it for us kids.



Being the youngest and with no one else to surprise and when the novelty wore off for me she had me put the tree up every year.  Dad and I often went out in the woods and cut our own tree so needless (or is that needles?) to say we had some hummers - too short, too tall, one sided, half dead, wrong kind, too wet/snowy/ugly/smelly... WHATEVER.  I was so happy when I was able to talk her into putting the tree up earlier than Christmas Eve.  


When we moved from the country into the city we could no longer go out into the woods and cut our own tree.  Heaven forbid that dad would ever spend money on a stinkin' tree!  Mom talked him into INVESTING in an artificial tree and that's what I put up for the next few years.  What a bear that thing was.  The holes on the "trunk" were color coded with the branches.  You had to match them up to get the shape right.  Well as the years went on and the tree got older pieces got lost, the colour codings wore off and it was all I could do to make it look right.  Still all the ornaments, garland, tinsel and candy canes went on.  And when I say all I mean ALL!  I never remember my mother every buying a Christmas ornament which means they were all purchased before I was old enough to remember.  I made some cute red felt and lace Victorian ones and my sisters made ornaments too but most of what we had was old, old, old.  Even when I went away to college she would wait for me to come home so I could do the tree.  (Really it was so she wouldn't have to!)


It's at this point I feel like I should apologize to my poor niece Kirstin.  When I got married and wasn't home for Christmas on a regular basis Kirstin took over the tree decorating responsibilities.  By this time that ole fake tree was an abomination.  REALLY.  It was HIDEOUS!!  And she had to put it up year after year after year...dad had made an 'investment' once.  He didn't see any need to make another.   I remember one year Norm and I went home for Christmas and by this time Kirstin had gone off to college.  When I saw that tree I burst out laughing.  I told mom that was the most hideous thing I had ever seen and why didn't she get a new one.  she told me dad had put it up.  I'm sure I hurt her feelings but I just couldn't help it.  I gave dad an earful too.  It wasn't long after that they put the ole tree out to pasture and from then on used a ceramic table top tree.


Next, I'll tell you about my adventures with Christmas trees after I got married and up to this year.

Pomegranates

One of the most anticipated seasons of the year for me, is pomegranate season.  I don't remember when I was introduced to them but I remember my mom knowing that I loved them and buying them for me as a treat.  In Canada they are expensive.  I was excited when I moved to California and could get them quite cheaply.  When we lived in Solvang there were places where they grew them and I could get one fresh off the tree.  Nothing prepared me, however, for the pleasure I received from my son Tyler.  Remember the dresses I made for the grandgirlies?  Well on that trip Ty said he had a surprise for me.  I had shared my love of this delectable fruit with my kids over the years so he knew I would be excited.  He produced a box and said, "Look at these, mom."  In that box were the biggest pomegranates I have ever seem.  Boulders, I tell ya, boulders.  They were huge!!!  Tyler is a letter carrier with the USPS and on his route he came to a house with several boxes of these on the porch.  He commented on them to the man in the yard and the guy gave him about 15 of them!  Several of them were so big that when I held them in the palms of both hands my fingers didn't touch!  And juicy...?!  Man oh man.  THE. BEST. EVER.  Eden and I shared one every morning. 

I have the method of eating them down to a science.  I can cut one open and cut away the segments with very little loss of juice or flying seeds.  A sharp knife and a big towel to cover your lap is the key.

Well then the artist in me took over and so Tyler and I did a photo shoot with them (before I ate them all.)

This is my favorite.  I think Ty has a good eye.

And this one... wish it was bigger. Cool though.
So it's been awile since I posted.  I'm gonna do better. Promise!

Earthlink VS Mozilla Firefox

Well, I'm sure the myriad followers of this blog have noticed my lack of posts recently.  I was having trouble with the enter key.  It wouldn't work when I went to compose.  I would have to either put in my pictures and type the journalling and then go to Norm's office to edit it into a readable format.  That has been a huge hassle but that's how I did the last couple of entries.  The other thig was to do nothing until I could get my computer wizard guy out here to look at it.  That's what I did.  He found out that the Earthlink browser couldn't support something about the Blogger code but when I use Mozilla it works fine!  So there ya go.  Good bye Earthlink...Hello Mozilla.  Oh and.............  wait for it....wait for it... waiiiiiiit....Tomorrow I'm getting Hughesnet satelite internet.  No more little hampster on a wheel making the interent work.  Stay tuned for deatails.

5 dresses in 3 1/2 days

Well I said I would update you on the progress of the dresses.  Kids are so unpredictable!  I purchased a lot more fabric than I thought I would use but within those fabrics I chose one specific fabric for each girlie.  I was very excited about the horse fabric I chose for Asher (5).  She is a horse crazy girl and I had been looking a long time for something cute.  I was tickled when I found some great little fabric at Joann's.  Then I chose blue with red strawberries for Eden (almost 2) and some cute pink and brown with flowers and polka dots for Micah (7).  When I showed them the fabric, Asher was less than pleased by the horses; she wanted the strawberries.  Micah grabbed the horse fabric right away and Eden was unconcerned.  I just wanted them to like whatever it was they got so we went with their choices of course. 

This is Micah.  You can't really see in this picture but there is a contrasting band along the bottom.  After this picture was taken I added a row of 3 black buttons down the front.

Asher's dress didn't have contrasting fabric so I added the ric rac.  Don't you love ric rac?  I do.  It's so happy.  And of course the buttons are crooked.  Ack!

This little cutie is Eden.  She LOVED her dress.  She wore it the first 2 days but that night at supper she got spagetti sauce oni t so her mom put in in the laundry basket.  The next morning she hauled it out and wanted to wear it again.  She was insistant so Dusti sponged it off the best she could and she wore it another day.  She has a yellow flower button on hers.

These are the coordinating dresses I made for the two older girls.  Micah's flower button is pink, Asher's is green.  Micah's dress gave me fits this time around.  You would think after having already made 3 identical dress patterns it would be a breeze but that was NOT the case.  Anyhow they turned out cute and the girls love them.  They both thanked me many times and asked me if when I got home I was going to make them more!  Little do they know Dusti and I picked out the cutest Christmas fabric with penguins on it.  Shhhh...don't tell.

Tyler sewed a few things for Dusti when they were dating and has since showed an interest in sewing.  He has made a couple of things for the girls and himself.  He showed me an old pitiful sewing machine someone gave him and I felt so bad for him that Norm and I got him a little inexpensive machine from Joann's.  The new machine cost about what it would cost to get the old one reapaired.  You'd think he'd died and gone to heaven.  I got him statred right away cutting out another dress for Eden.  We didn't get it done and so I brought it home to finish.  I'm sure he'll have great fun with it.  I'll keep you posted.  By the way that's my faithful, 30 year old machine in the background.  What a gal.

In Stitches

I enjoy sewing.  I don't LOVE it but I do enjoy it.  My sewing machine is thirty years old and has served me well.  There was a time in my life when I sewed a lot.  In high school I made most of my own clothes.  After I got married and had kids I sewed for both of them but mainly Cody-Anne.  I even sewed a prom dress.  I liked sewing for her when she was little cause the dresses were so cute and small.  They didn't take days and days to finish.  I enjoy craft sewing too; tea cozies, purses and bags, dolls, blankets and the like.  

When I was up in Canada recently at my sister Carolynne's we did a sewing project  i think you'll enjoy.  I was frustrated when packing because I had no way to keep my jewelry from getting all tangled up.  i proposed to Carolynne that we  make roll up travel bags for jewelry.  After unsuccessfully trying to find a pattern we came up with our own.  After a bit of trial and error this is what we made.

Carolynne had this gorgeous golden ribbon we used as a closure.  

  Fabric yo-yo's, ribbon and vintage buttons added the finishing touches.

I have no idea why this picture is sideways ....This is the flap we made to keep the jewelry from rubbing on each other when rolled.  Above the rickrack are pockets on each side.  I used a button and ribbon for a closure.

All my precious jewels tied in place!  

The ends tuck into a folded over area which formed a pocket.

We put a zipper in that part and I use it for bracelets.

So now I'm moving on to another sweet project.  I've bought some fabric to sew dresses for my grandgirlies!  Joanne's was having a great sale and I got all this fabric at half price.  Such a deal.  How could I resist?  

Today I sewed most of the day.

Micah was very interested in all the details and asked a lot of questions.  She asked me to teach her to sew when she turns 10.  I told her she had a deal!  Stay tuned for more pictures in the next few days.