Anyone else watching the Olympics?

sarahp · Feb 16, 2010

I'm watching! I'm also DVRing it so I can skip through all the commercials and the boring stuff

I just love watching all the different sports that I would normally never watch. I much prefer the summer Olympics because I know the sports better, but I still appreciate the winter skills. I've found the ice skating really boring so far.

LOVE the speed skating. Moguls and any downhill is fun to watch, and the cross country sports have been good too - biathlon amazes me. How do you do cross country, then get your heart rate down enough to shoot a target before zipping off again?! Amazing!

Looking forward to more sports getting underway

c1atsite · Feb 16, 2010

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

because of the olympic debt we will start paying 13% tax on necessities like water, electricity, and heating oil; personal services (hairstylists, accountants, lawyers); veterinary care; membership fees (ex: gym); new homes; landscaping; vitamins; summer camps; gasoline; taxi fares; postal stamps; car services and maintenance; bus tickets; electrical and plumbing services; dentist fees and some doctor fees. Sadly, that's not even the complete list.

omg, i'm so sorry to hear this. 13% is far far too much

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

No wonder there are so many protests!

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

Montreal just now finished paying off their debt for the 1976 olympics!

i was wondering about the protests! thank you. i assumed they were environmentalists or something until your post. i had no idea about Montreal's debt - that's scary

Originally Posted by sarahp

biathlon amazes me. How do you do cross country, then get your heart rate down enough to shoot a target before zipping off again?! Amazing!

simply from watching them i get fatigue especially when they're near the finish line. then when they cross it, they lie down on the snow in exhaustion

silverstone · Feb 23, 2010

While you're watching the beagles, you may want to watch this video with them of the first ever Winter Dog Olympics. They are actually at Whistler Mountain Canada. They are dogs with their trainers from the US and Canada. The video is really cool and I always keep my dog entertained watching videos of other animals.

It's a short clip, but it's always fun to watch a pet's reaction.

nanner · Feb 24, 2010

I was in tears on my couch last night, watching Joannie Rochette skate. She did her short program two days after her mom died of a heart attack at 55. I don't know how she did it.

And her program was wonderful. She concentrated on what she's been trained to do, and delivered. At the end, her emotions broke and her face crumpled in tears. It was so powerful. I well up just thinking about it.

And she ended up placing 3rd in the short program, which means she qualified to go on in the competition. And I don't think it was sympathy judging, either. I think the judges truly thought she gave a great performance - technically and artistically.

The audience in the arena embraced her in love. It was incredibly moving.

c1atsite · Feb 24, 2010

Originally Posted by nanner

I was in tears on my couch last night, watching Joannie Rochette skate. She did her short program two days after her mom died of a heart attack at 55. I don't know how she did it.

And her program was wonderful. She concentrated on what she's been trained to do, and delivered. At the end, her emotions broke and her face crumpled in tears. It was so powerful. I well up just thinking about it.

And she ended up placing 3rd in the short program, which means she qualified to go on in the competition. And I don't think it was sympathy judging, either. I think the judges truly thought she gave a great performance - technically and artistically.

The audience in the arena embraced her in love. It was incredibly moving.

OH i wish i saw it. i was so tired i needed to turn off the tv. i'll look for her long program (tonight i assume)

nanner · Feb 24, 2010

Originally Posted by c1atsite

OH i wish i saw it. i was so tired i needed to turn off the tv. i'll look for her long program (tonight i assume)

I think the long programs are on Thursday.

laureen227 · Feb 24, 2010

Originally Posted by MonaxLisa

I'm watching. I'm DVRing everything but I'll fast forward through half of it.

same here - altho i'm watching all of the figure skating.

ut0pia · Feb 24, 2010

Originally Posted by nanner

I was in tears on my couch last night, watching Joannie Rochette skate. She did her short program two days after her mom died of a heart attack at 55. I don't know how she did it.

And her program was wonderful. She concentrated on what she's been trained to do, and delivered. At the end, her emotions broke and her face crumpled in tears. It was so powerful. I well up just thinking about it.

And she ended up placing 3rd in the short program, which means she qualified to go on in the competition. And I don't think it was sympathy judging, either. I think the judges truly thought she gave a great performance - technically and artistically.

The audience in the arena embraced her in love. It was incredibly moving.

I am not sure what to think of Joannie Rochette- whether to admire her or not. I mean, I feel horrible for what happened to her mom, but skating regardless of the death of her mom is what I'm not sure I can understand. At least the way I've been raised and within my culture, taking time off to mourn is to respect the person who passed away and the meaning they had to you, sit around with family and talk about the person who has passed and honor them by dedicating a what otherwise be working time to the deceased.
Her mom died and she did not even go home?? I probably come off as too judgmental, but really, IMO she should be home with her family, not because she's too weak to skate and do what she's been trained to, but because her family most likely needs her more than anything. There are bigger things that an Olympic medal.

rapunzel47 · Feb 24, 2010

By all reports, her mother was one of her biggest fans and would not have wanted it any other way. She skated for her Mum.

For what it's worth, my SIL was in Hawaii for a paddling competition when my MIL died. The family debated whether to tell her or save the news until after the race. They decided to tell her, and she decided to go ahead with the race, because she, and all of us, knew that MIL would have felt horrible to have "taken" that from her. She, too, paddled for her Mum.

BTW -- Joannie's Mum was in Vancouver with her.

seiko7 · Feb 24, 2010

I hate to change the subject but I am watching hockey game CAN vs RUSSIA.
We are winning,at this point.
Nice to see after the game against the US.Personally I believe we played much better than US however, their goalie was acting like a brick wall.(good for him, and I hope he is noted for this accomplishment)go team go!

nanner · Feb 24, 2010

I also heard that her mom was in Vancouver with her.

There are so many cases of sports stars and stars going ahead with games/events in the wake of tragic deaths of family members. Dan Jansen, speedskater, went ahead with his Olympic race on the day of his sister's death. Brett Favre played an important football game the night after his dad's death.

The dedication and devotion of these athletes to their sports is what makes them special. Usually, IMO, they're special because of loving support and dedication from their parents.

Her mother was devoted to her daughter's love of skating and wish to be an Olympian. This was her daughter's dream come true - skating in the Olympics - and she was in the Olympics because of her mom and dad's support.

I'm sure making the decision to skate was a hard one for her.....sure of it. But I'm thinking the part of her that decided to go ahead decided to do it in honor of her mother. The real grieving will come after she's brought her dream to life. And her dad seems to be solidly behind her in that. He was right there in the stands, cheering and crying.

I admire her and have alot of respect for her in going ahead. I'm sure anyone who really knows her and knows the dedication that an Olympic athlete must have understands what she did.

rapunzel47 · Feb 24, 2010

Originally Posted by seiko7

I hate to change the subject but I am watching hockey game CAN vs RUSSIA.
We are winning,at this point.
Nice to see after the game against the US.Personally I believe we played much better than US however, their goalie was acting like a brick wall.(good for him, and I hope he is noted for this accomplishment)go team go!

Final score 7-3 Canada!!! YESSSSS!!!!!

sandra · Feb 25, 2010

I have been watching the Curling competiton sporadically.

c1atsite · Feb 25, 2010

Originally Posted by nanner

Her mother was devoted to her daughter's love of skating and wish to be an Olympian. This was her daughter's dream come true - skating in the Olympics - and she was in the Olympics because of her mom and dad's support.

I'm sure making the decision to skate was a hard one for her.....sure of it. But I'm thinking the part of her that decided to go ahead decided to do it in honor of her mother. The real grieving will come after she's brought her dream to life. And her dad seems to be solidly behind her in that. He was right there in the stands, cheering and crying.

i should've fought the sleepiness and stayed up to see it!! ugh

i hope a full clip gets re-aired (doubt that) because i'm all about emotions! thanks for your take on it

Anyone else watching the Olympics?

sarahp

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c1atsite

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silverstone

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nanner

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c1atsite

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nanner

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laureen227

Darksome Duo!

ut0pia

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rapunzel47

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seiko7

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nanner

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rapunzel47

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sandra

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c1atsite

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