 | 15 Aug 08 |
So I woke up sick Sunday morning. A delayed aftershock I think of National. It was a whirlwind week, and the week that followed was equally as draining, hence the creeping crude Sunday morning. And since I can’t remember the last time I took a sick day (or four), I dug in under the comfy covers and told the family they were on their own until such time I deemed myself healthy. 
Then, upstairs in my room where no one dared venture for fear of getting my germs, whilst coughing my brains out, and shivering with fever I became addicted to the Olympics. My only regret was that I didn’t watch the opening ceremonies, which I heard were stupendous. We were out that night. But I have been rabidly watching ever since.
I have to say the Chinese have done and incredible job. Aesthetically everything is beautiful. I am amazed by the Chinese men’s gymnastic team, and the Chinese synchronized divers, and hell, their divers in general. Poetry in motion.
But! I have to say our young guns (men’s gymnastic team) looked damn good on team night. Our girls Misty May and Kerri Walsh are kicking up the sand, our 2008 men’s basketball dream team is making us all proud with their composure and American pride, our dynamic duo, Shawn Johnson and Lastia Liukin, took silver and gold in the all around, that men’s 400 m relay team that whopped up on that French speaking team (was that not the most amazing race? I was screaming so loud I woke everyone in the house and paid for it with a huge coughing fit) and then, how proud I am to have the one and only human dolphin, Michael Phelps, wearing the stars and stripes!
Have you noticed it’s only the Americans who place their hand over their heart when their national anthem is sung? Have you noticed how composed and polite our athletes are? How polite they all are to each other? Although, I did hear a story about a wrestler who tossed his medal. Not very sportsmanlike. Please tell me it wasn’t an American wrestler.
I have to say I’m very, very impressed not only with the host country but the monumental endeavor it is to put something like this on. Years and years of planning. Billions of dollars spent. And the athletes? Many of them have been training since they could walk. How is that for dedication? No social lives, just eat, sleep, train, school and compete. Wow. Amazing. Some people say Americans are lazy, not willing to put the work in to achieve. I say take a look at the medal count and listen and watch the stories of our athletes, then tell me Americans are lazy.
Lol, I didn’t mean to end on that note, but since I did, I’ll leave it. So, any of you watching the Olympics? Who do you like and what is your favorite event?
And for those of you who love a good contest, the Black Diamonds, one of my RWA chapters is running a great synopsis contest. The deadline had been kicked back to 8/31. Go checkout the site for contest info. Great final judges and it’s open to pubbed and unpubbed!
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I’ve been watching too much Olympics. Way too much. I wish the events I wanted to watch weren’t on so late, although I also have the tv on MSNBC most of the day. I’ve also enjoyed watching the equestrian events. Even caught some fencing.
I have a question: Has anyone kept track of how many times the commentators say “WOW”? Seems to be a common thread regardless of the competition. I’m starting to miss Dick Enberg’s, “Oh, my.”
by Terry Odell August 15th, 2008 at 3:09 amNo. The wrestler who threw his medal away represented Sweden, IIRC. No American athletes behaved badly, and I’m very proud of every single one of them.
by Nadia August 15th, 2008 at 3:37 am3-day eventing has always been my fav, ever since the 1976 Montreal Olympics. I was privledged to see the jumping phase in the hot Atlanta Olympics, but cross-country is the pinncacle of excitement. I still dream of it, especially after I was able to run a baby CC course on my horse. And talk about being totally hyped when an American Won silver in the individual!
by Margaret A. Golla August 15th, 2008 at 3:38 amOkay, my bad, only HOT was supposted ot be italicized.
by Margaret A. Golla August 15th, 2008 at 3:38 amI somehow managed to miss the three-day eventing, and am kicking myself for not trying harder. It’s the one thing I wanted to see.
That’s got to be one of the gutsiest (and most dangerous) sports in the world. Very sad that that great little warrior, Teddy O’Connor, didn’t get there this time. I guess we never no the time nor hour. R.I.P., Teddy!
by J. Carson Black August 15th, 2008 at 4:39 amOops, “never know the time nor hour”.
by J. Carson Black August 15th, 2008 at 4:41 amI watched the last part of the women’s gymnastics last night, catching the balance beam and floor exercises. Those girls were great! I was hyped up because of the slanted judging on the balance beam, but in the end excellence prevailed. Yay for Lastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson! They deserved their medals.
by Edie August 15th, 2008 at 5:00 amHey Karin, hope you’re feeling better today!
My heroine is Dara Torres for all the obvious reasons. Women flat-out rock! We’re never done, till we say we’re done by golly. Today, she has a chance to win, what could be, the 11th medal of her long career. Go, Dara!
by LaDonna August 15th, 2008 at 5:17 amThe wrestler was from Poland or somewhere like that, (the one who threw his bronze down.) I love all the competitions, but especially the swimmers. Phelps is amazing. I did hear one of our swimmers say, “Any medal in any color is a honor…” Now there is some class. We do put our hand over our heart and I never noticed any other countries doing it. I raised my boys, to take off their hats when the anthem is played to put over thier heart. Now I’ve been at ball games with my grandsons, and I am very proud to say, they’ve been taught the same thing. Even the two year old, does it…Sniff, tears in my eyes.
by Lee August 15th, 2008 at 6:57 amHugs on the conference crud, Karin! I got it too. So did several of my chapter mates. It was awful while it lasted, but at least it didn’t hit until I was on my way home. Add in the exhaustion from conference, and it totally wiped me out.
I’ve not caught too much of the Olympics (central time zone and I’m done by 11PM), but that diving has been something. Those Chinese! And Michael Phelps. Wow. He’s amazing to watch. Caught some of the gymnastics last night before I had to go to bed, so very pleased this morning to see our girls took first and second.
I love the horse things too, but I only caught a very small part of the 3 day. There was a time, when I was much younger, that being an Olympic rider was my dream. Somewhere along the way, I traded that for writing, but I’m not sorry about it.
by Lynn Raye Harris August 15th, 2008 at 7:00 amDayum, you ladies are up early! Did the three day come and go? I haven’t been able to see any of the equestrian events. What gives?
by Karin August 15th, 2008 at 7:50 amI have to run out for a sec. BRB!
I’m really bummed that gymnastics was on so late last night that I missed it. I was watching recaps this morning–amazing!
Glad you are feeling better, Karin.
by Jen August 15th, 2008 at 7:55 amThe Oxygen channel has been the only place that I’ve seen Equestrian.
by Margaret A. Golla August 15th, 2008 at 7:56 amIn Athens, there was a big brouhaha about the amount of space equestrian required–they almost canceled them. Instead they cut down on the Roads and Tracks section of 3-Day, though I think they still have the steeple chase, which is usually prior to the cross-country jumping leg.
Margaret
Hope you’re feeling better Karin!
I watched some of the swimming with my two-year-old niece Fluffly on my lap. (Don’t worry, her parents did not name her that. But when she says her REAL name it sounds like that, so I adopted it.)
She said, “They simming?”
“Yes, they’re swimming.”
“Why?”
“They are racing, to win a gold medal.”
“Medal?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To represent America.”
“Merka?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
It went on like that. But she stayed and watched, so there we have the beginnings of a patriot.
by Natalie August 15th, 2008 at 8:35 amTerry, I have heard, Wow, an awful lot. Wow.
Nadia, thank you for that info. So glad it wasn’t one of our guys.
Margaret, how exciting you were able to ride the course! I’ll checkout the O channel. thx.
Jake, I can’t believe you of all people missed that event! Bad, Jake.
Edie those two girls did us proud, and I was about to come unglued with those shitty balance beam and uneven bar scores…
LaD. Dara is amazing! When she swam that last leg of the relay the other day she really impressed me.
Lee, we did the same thing with our kids. It really pisses me off when we’re at a game and the kids today yack on their cell phones and mess around while the anthem is playing.
Lynn, you too? Are you feeling better?
Jen, the gymnastics have been running very late. but worth staying up for!
Nat, that is so cute.
by Karin August 15th, 2008 at 8:56 amI’m off with the hubster to see Dark Knight!
by Karin August 15th, 2008 at 9:23 amHi Karin,
by Toni Hingleton August 15th, 2008 at 9:52 amHope you’re feeling better. I stayed up late but watching the girls gymnastics was worth it–they were great. I also try to watch Michael Phelps everytime he swims. The last time we saw something like this was back in 72 with Mark Spitz and MP is getting reading to break MS record. It will be eons before we see something like this again, if we ever do…..
I hope you and your Hubby enjoyed the movie…..I have heard great things about it
Toni
Karin, sounds like you are feeling better. My kids have always known to take off their hats and put their hands on their heart for the National Anthem. One night we were watching the Olympics and the anthem was playing. The gold and silver medalists had their hands on their chests (USA) but not the bronze medalists (other country). Daughter asked why? I explained he didn’t have to, it wasn’t his anthem. Oh, she says. Nice to know you are never too old to learn something new.
by Amanda August 15th, 2008 at 10:32 amToni, the movie was great. Heath Ledger was awesome!! It was hard to watch him and know he is gone.
Amanda, the gold medallist of other countries don’t put their hand over their heart when their anthem is played. Which I find odd.
by Karin August 15th, 2008 at 2:18 pmI’m late returning, but yes, feeling better, Karin! Still a bit stuffy, but mostly back to normal.
I haven’t seen Dark Knight yet. Perhaps I’ll get a chance this weekend…
by Lynn Raye Harris August 15th, 2008 at 5:21 pmI’ve been watching a lot since I had surgery right after I got home from Nationals.
by Jennifer McKenzie August 16th, 2008 at 2:25 amI think our athletes have been fantastic in every way. AND I love that they’re on late. Like now. It’s 3am and I’m watching volleyball. Of course, I love the whole patriotic, world togetherness thing.
love basketball, gymnastics
by kh August 16th, 2008 at 8:51 pmLynn, did you go see Dark Knight??
Jennifer, I love the whole patriotic, world togetherness thing too!
Kh, I’m glued to the tube when the gymnastics are on.
And Michael did it! 8 GOLD METALS!!!!!!
Oh, and the Norwegian wrestler? Stripped of his medal and sent packing.
by Karin August 16th, 2008 at 10:57 pmOh, and Dara Torres? Amazing lady. Amazing!
by Karin August 16th, 2008 at 10:58 pmyes go michael. yes dara she is awesome. such close competitons. Go Team redeem men’s and women’s basketball. Go Ladies.
by kim h August 18th, 2008 at 9:05 am