Gold medal

I wanted to share some thoughts I posted yesterday on my Facebook page.

Driving to church this morning, I found myself thinking about last night’s game – AND BAWLING!

1. I was very tired.

2. I was thrilled with the outcome.

But more than anything:

3. Games like that, verses Canada, take me back to all the wonderful memories of college & dear friends that I am so incredibly grateful for.

While we had (have) a good natured rivalry, and I (15 years ago) had to give a nod to their 2 gold medal wins during my graduation speech, it’s mostly about friendship to me. Sibling love. Our closest ally.

From living there when 9-11 happened (and the fear of being stuck outside of your homeland when the borders closed) to the Salt Lake games or grieving the tragedy of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, there’s no other Country and friend I want on my side more.

To the True North, see you in Beijing 2022 ❤️

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Reverse the Curse

I’m a sports fan. Due to my health, I’ve never been much of an athlete – but ever since I was 14 and the 1995 Mariners pulled me in to a new world, I’ve been a sports fan.

Sometimes, this is awesome. As a teenager, all of a sudden, I had things I could talk about and really enjoy with my three brothers and dad, all of whom love sports.

Sometimes, this is not awesome.  Let me give you a quick summary of all the teams I’ve rooted for over the years:

*Seattle Mariners: In 1995, after beating the Yankees in a 5 game series (after being down 2-0) they couldn’t get past Cleveland. They lost Game 6 of the ALCS. To this day, have gotten to the ALCS one other time, but never made it to the World Series. (Even the year they won 116 games – tying the record for most wins in a season.)

*USA Hockey: In 2002, I was living in Canada for college. The Salt Lake City Olympics featured TWO gold metal hockey games (both Men’s & Women’s) where Canada beat the USA. It was miserable to watch with my Canadian friends.

*Edmonton Eskimos: I was still living in Edmonton Alberta in 2003.  The CFL team went to the Grey Cup. And Lost.

*Edmonton Oilers: 2006 – Since I went to school in Edmonton, I adopted the Oilers as my hockey team. They were the come from behind kids, only to get to the 7th game of the Stanley Cup finals, and lose.

*Seattle Seahawks: Lost the Superbowl in 2006

*Chicago Bears: They did win the Superbowl when I lived in Chicago, but I was only 5 years old and don’t remember the win.  In Grad School, it was 2007 and I lived in Chicago again. The Bears lost the Superbowl.

*Seattle Super Sonics: This one is so bad that the Sonics moved to OKC in 2008 and changed their name. I’ve been rooting against the Thunder ever since. (Maybe the one bright spot? I was forced to root for the Miami Heat to beat the Thunder in the finals. And the Heat won….Lesser of two evils.) I wrote off the NBA for a few years, until I was married to a Spurs fan.

*San Antonio Spurs: My adopted team, thanks to my husband, made it to the finals this year. As is the pattern of my life, they lost in the finals.

So there you go. And I’ll not even attempt to claim all the foibles of the Cubs as mine. They are my second favorite baseball team.  Since I was born in Chicago and have lived there a total of 8 years, the loveable losers have a special place in my heart as well.

All of that being said, I refuse to give up. I WILL cheer for my teams. And one year, one of them will WIN. I’m hoping this is the year. I’m banking on the curse being reversed. I’m ROOTING for the SEAHAWKS.  — And that’s all there is to it.

Got my new Toque

Tim is recovering nicely. “Slow & steady wins the race”

I got my Canadian toque today. I had it mailed to Tim a few weeks ago because they would not ship to the US of A. After living in Canada for 3 years, I had no clothing that said Canada at all. For the last few years I have been on the lookout for a nice hoody.

When the Olympics came around this year, I decided I really like the white toques the Canadian team had. The one with the red maple leaves and red strips. I look forward to wearing it in Chicago.

Got to have coffee with an old school friend today. It was great to be able to catch up. I have a few more individuals that I would love to spend some time with. It seems like one visit a day or two visits a day is working out nicely. Plus it is a chance for me to escape the hospital for a while.

I think my goal for tomorrow will be to eat a bit more food. I tend to lose my appetite when I travel.

And tonight, more time for reading Pride & Prejudice. After reading Emma, I did not think Pride & Prejudice could top it. Now however, I understand why it is the “masterpiece.”

Opening Ceremonies…What Opening Ceremonies?

Bailed on that pretty quick. After it took close to an hour to even begin, I got bored quick and started to flip through the channels.

To my surprise, I am so glad I did. Today on Larry King Live, it was an “exclusive” interview with one of my favorite musicians in the world. Michael W. Smith.

My first concert was on 9-19-93 and it was a MWS concert with DC talk opening during their “free at last” days. The first cassette tapes I owned, MWS tapes. (Got to love “Project”) First CDs, where his. I have a book of sheet music for some of his songs. I had a stuffed animal I named MWS (I won it the day of that first concert). The best two Christmas cds of all time, his. Did at least two art projects in Jr. High where it focused on MWS in some way or another. I used to be in the know regarding all things MWS (the W stands for Whitaker)

It seemed as if Smitty knew I was watching. He mentioned Switchfoot, U2, & Seattle all within about 5 minutes of each other. Said Bono told him he should run for office.

He has a movie opening this next Friday “Second Chance.” His favorite song that he wrote, “all is well” a Christmas classic in my family.

In all, it was a refreshing interview to see. He was very well spoken. It was the first time in a long time that I have watched a Christian speak on national television that didn’t get hung up on words, divisions, and negative issues. Well done.

All that is left now is for me to find where his movie will be playing in the area and off I go.

Let the Games Begin…

I am just about to go watch the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics. I really like the Olympics. I think the winter Olympics are much more fun to watch than the summer ones, so I am really glad it is winter this time around.

After this, I have to wait 4 more years, and then Vancouver BC hosts them. Close to home, except I won’t live here then. Maybe I’ll have to come visit…

The sock hop dessert thing I was going to tomorrow was cancelled 😦
I am really bummed that I no longer have a reason to wear my poodle skirt. It was suggested to me that no one is stopping me from wearing the skirt tomorrow, but hanging out at my house with a poodle skirt on is just not the same. Next time. Now I have more time to put off fixing the hole.

What’s that? The games are about to begin, you say? The music is starting? All right, I’d best get going.

Everyone together now…. “What time is it? GAME TIME, HUH!”

The State of the Union is Strong

Listened to the State of the Union tonight. Cracked me up!

It was as close as American politics ever gets to being as entertaining as the British House of Commons. Different sides of the isle standing and cheering at different points in the speech. You could almost hear the groans and boos seep into the mix as well. Especially when the President commented that Congress did not pass his measures on social security.

It was almost as good as an Oscar winning Motion Picture (which, by the way I have seen none of those nominated for best picture today). It made me laugh; it made me cry; it made me frown; it made me applaud. I liked the President’s joke about he and President Clinton being his dad’s two favorite baby boomers.

I cried at a handful of points when the Troops were mentioned, especially when the President read from a letter of a fallen soldier and then that soldier’s wife and parents stood.

On nights like tonight, I am even more proud to be an American. Whether I agree or not with what the President said, I am proud that I live in a country where individuals on polar opposite sides of issues can come together in the same room in Peace.

I am proud that the systems set in place so long ago can be the moving force of today’s actions. Actions like the confirmation of a new Supreme court Justice. Again, disagreement, discussions, decision, all while peace is maintained.

I am proud of our history, through good and bad moments. The US of A has been established on great traditions. Maybe our leaders no longer speak with such eloquence as Lincoln did. Maybe we do not write treasured documents as Jefferson penned. All the same, we continue building, we move forward, and we live with prosperity at a moment in time that presents opportunities exceeding any our forefathers could have dreamed. What we do with this moment will define us and the generations who follow.

I enjoyed time well spent in Canada with good people and dear friends. But it is nights like tonight that if you cut me open, I know I would bleed Red, White, and Blue.

And on that note, I will end by nicely adding, Canada, your going down in Torino. Four year has been too long to wait for Hockey gold.