Yes, I am alive ....

.... things have been busy these last few months as I negotiated a new employment contract, finished up the curling season and dusted off my gardening tools. As you can see I have a lot of work to do - even tho I planted 5 rhododendrons, 12 hostas, one boxwood and some grass seed. I also have a bit of a trench at one side of my front square of dirt as I'll be putting in some tile there. Yikes, all the dirt I have there and I don't even have a big and active dog to blame it on!

Vancouver and Canada say farewell to the world

I must admit that I've been addicted to the television for the past two weeks while the beautiful Canadian west coast city of Vancouver hosted the 2010 Olympics. Tonight I watched the closing ceremonies and admit that I had a tear in my eye more than once.

These games were spectacular for Canada as it showed a side of its people it's never seen before ... pure and golden patriotism... and I don't think I met anyone who wasn't blurry-eyed in Toronto because they stayed up late to witness all the events. Here are some other recollections:

There were the usual triumphs and defeats highlighted by the wonderful Dutch speedskater Sven Kramer who won the Netherlands all-time 100th Olympic medal by winning gold in one event and then being disqualified in another event that he would have won after skating in the wrong lane!

Clara Hughes - how can one really describe this amazing athlete? She's a Canadian speed skater who won her sixth piece of Olympic Hardware. She is the only athlete in the world to have won medals in both Summer and Winter Olympics over multiple games. I can't recall how many Olympians I heard speak of her as their hero. Well done Clara - a true representative of the spirit of courage and sport.

The youth taking over figure skating - Two 19 year olds winning gold and silver in the women's event. Yu Na Kim of Korea breaking a world record in point accumulation and Japan's Mao Asada landing three triple axels in the competition. As well, the Canadian gold medal ice dancers, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir who won gold at the tender ages of 20 and 22 - the first North American couple to win Olympic gold in the event and the only ones to win without prior Olympic experience.

Two vetrans winning medals in the snowboard parallel giant slalom. Canada's Jasey Jay Anderson and France's Matthieu Bozzetto had won everything in their sport except an Olympic medal. Both well into their 30s would never have another chance and ceased the day with Anderson winning gold and Bozzetto claiming the bronze.

Canada breaking a gold record - The curse is over. Canada was the only country to host an Olympic games without winning a gold medal. This changed in Vancouver as Canadians won a record 14 gold medals. No other nation in the winter Olympics have won so many gold. 13 gold medals was the previous record set by Norway in 2002 and the Soviet Union in 1976.

Now the best for last ...... Joannie Rochette of Canada and Petra Majdic of Slovenia. Both were winners of a special "Terry Fox award" created by the Vanoc committee. This award was to be given to an athlete who embodies the same values that Terry Fox did. (Terry Fox attempted to run across Canada with one leg after losing the other to Cancer. He didn't complete the run as the Cancer returned and he passed away. His mother said before he started his run that "He wanted to try the impossible - to show that it could be done". She believes that he proved to us all that the only limitations we have are those we impose on ourselves).

Despite four fractured ribs and a collapsed lung after a huge fall, Petra Majdic of Slovenia won a bronze medal, the first olympic cross country medal ever for her country.

Just days before her skate, Joannie Rochette's mother suddenly died of a massive heart attack at the age of 55. Joannie captivated the world and won a bronze medal in figure skating.

I stand in awe of these two women who are not only remarkable athletes but two very special young women.

The Olympics are an amazing thing. Thank you Pierre de Coubertin for resurrecting them in the modern era.

Lacrosse? LaWhat?

Lacrosse is a team sport in which players pass, catch and carry a rubber ball using sticks with a netted pouch at one end. The object of the game is to accomulate points by shooting the ball into the opposing team's goal. It's a sport that is played with many variations: on a field with ten players per side; in an arena with six players per side; with wooden sticks; with plastic sticks; time differences and other variations.

The origins of the sport lie with North America's native Indian nations. Many believe that lacrosse is the root of which Hockey came from.

Last night Jim and I took Crystal to see a professional lacrosse game at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Rock were playing the Edmonton Rush from the National Lacrosse League. This version of the game consists of four fifteen-minute quarters with six men per side. Last night's game was easily won by the Rock 16 to 7.


It's a good idea that if you go to these games, that you like Rock music. Throughout the game a variety of hard rocking, toe tapping music is played. AC/DC, INXS, The Clash, Steve Earle, Cheap Trick, Jon Bon Jovi, Aerosmith etc.... But I think AC/DC is the team's favourite. After most of their goals, the sound system plays "For those about to rock, we salute you".

We all had a fun time and weren't sad that the Olympic opening ceremonies were on because I had the PVR recording the event at home. Once we got home, we watched them.

Perfect segue .... did you know that Field Lacrosse was once an Olympic sport? In 1904 Canada won both a gold and bronze medal. However, its the mohawk nation's bronze medal win that makes me chuckle. Here are the names of these bronze medallists: Almighy Voice, Black Eagle, Black Hawk, Flat Iron, Half Moon, Lightfoot, Man Afraid Soap, Night Hawk, Rain in Face, Red Jacket, Snake Eater and Spotted Tail ...

Travelling north to see winter

There is no snow in Toronto which is a huge disappointment to Crystal, my Korean Border, who wants to experience a snow storm and enjoy the wonders of frolicking in it.

For her benefit, I would really like there to be a snow storm here in Toronto - as long as she helps me shovel the driveway!!! However, I'm not sure this will happen (even though I read that Washington DC received a record 78cms of the white stuff this week-end).

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day so I decided to drive Crystal north of the city to where I heard that there was snow on the ground.

First we went to Port Perry, a little town on the shores of Lake Scugog, to see fishing ice huts. There were indeed ice huts - but only a dusting of snow meaning we'd have to drive further north! However, when looking at the ice huts I noted that many cars and very heavy trucks were on the ice so I decided to drive out there to get close to them. For Crystal, this was a new and scary experience as she never even had walked on ice before!


Here she is on Lake Scugog beside my car with the fishing ice huts in the background, in a moment that she'll never ever forget.

After getting off the lake I drove to Orillia Ontario, on the shores and at the intersection of Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe. Finally there was enough snow of the ground for Crystal to enjoy....

- - - -

Here I am lying on the icy surface of Lake Couchiching making a snow angel.


Here's the completed snow angel that Crystal made.

- - -

Next Friday I'm taking her to an Ontario Hockey League game and in two weeks we hope to hit the hills for some snow tubing.

A $100,000 winner

Below is a link to a short film that won a $100,000 prize in a competition put on by LG Electronics.

It's on this blog because this film, Nuit blanche (or white night) was produced by my cousin's daughter Stephanie and directed by her boyfriend Arev.

Hundreds of entries were submitted in four categories. The winners in each category then competed for the $100,000 grand prize - which Nuit Blanche won in the narrative category.

This is a huge victory for these two in a very competitive field. They plan to put the prize money towards their next film. The National Film Board of Canada has actually approached to collaborate with them. This is wonderful news for these two striving for success in an extremely competitive and tight industry.

Hope you enjoy this very artsy film with wonderful special effects.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tifuN6P7go

The Countdown is on

.. and we're getting close!

Addition: for my sister Dale - The torch on the shores of the lake in her little town:



Too bad it came out so small here, but for a better view go here: http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-photos/#photoScrollHref

In a couple of days they may have a video posted of the event as well.

Canada loses a musical icon

It's a sad day when you wake up and hear that one of your country's greatest folk singers and musical mothers has died.

Kate McGarrigle, mother to Rufus and Martha Wainwright,passed away overnight from a rare form of cancer at the age of 63.

The McGarrigle sisters were born in Montreal and raised in one of my favourite Laurentian Mountain ski-towns, Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts. They recorded 10 albums in French and English, and their songs have been covered by artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Billy Bragg and Emmylou Harris.

I was lucky to see them live on several occasions in my earlier days within small pub-like environments, which is perfect for their style of music.

For a smile in rememberance you should view the Logdriver's Waltz. The National Film Board's video here at http://www.nfb.ca/film/log_drivers_waltz/ The song is an old traditional Canadian folksong.


Kate (left) with her sister Anna (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)