Smurfs

The Olympic volunteers are being called 'Smurfs' due to their bright turquoise blue uniforms. Each uniform consists of 2 long sleeved t-shirts, one pair of ski pants, a fleece vest, and a parka. Squamish is crawling with Smurfs right now. I'd love to have even one piece of that uniform.

"Val-unteer"

Our Olympic volunteer Valerie updates her blog for the folks back home.

We welcomed our first Olympic volunteer on Saturday. Valerie the 'Val-unteer' arrived from Olympia, Washington. She is working at the help desk centre at Creekside in Whistler during her stay. We have discovered we have many mutual loves. Food, wine and travel being the top three.

We are looking forward to the arrival of my cousin Eric tomorrow. He's flying in from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He'll be volunteering in the Athlete's Village in Whistler for the next couple of weeks.

The official Olympic Games haven't started yet, but they have certainly begun at our house!

The Olympic Torch!

My Olympic mittens, worn for the first time.

The torch bearer running by my school, as the torch heads up to Whistler.

The Olympic excitement is mounting! Yesterday, my school's population was out in full force on the sidewalk cheering on the torch bearer who ran by our school.

We are halfway through Squamish Elementary's own Olympics. One more day of competitions, followed by our closing ceremonies on Friday. And then the real Olympics begin! Whew...I hope I have enough energy to sustain my current level of excitement.

Olympic Fever

Our little town of Squamish (pop 15,000) turned out in force last night to welcome the 2010 Olympic flame. The weather held off, Olympic mittens were worn, flags were waved and the torch came in. Dancers danced, singers sang and fireworks lit the night sky. I don't think Squamish has ever had such a big party thrown in its honour.

Olympic Spirit @ SES

The 'Olympic Flame' burns brightly at Squamish Elementary School.

Students sit in the gym to watch the torch relay. Can you see the torch bearer in the back?

The skeleton event. Where else could athletes hurl themselves onto a scooter board and fly down a school hallway while spectators cheer?

Our school held it's 3rd Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony today.

Our Olympic cauldron is an old lamp covered in tinfoil with tissue paper flames rising out of the top. Our torch is a flashlight covered in foil and tissue as well. The torch bearers wanted to run to the theme song from "Chariots of Fire", so we had that blasting from our delapidated old sound system as they ran their relay around the gym.

We sang 'O Canada', recited the Olympic Athlete's Oath, and had a guest speaker: Squamish's own Mae Palm who just happens to be an Ironman triathlete and ultra-marathon runner. And did I mention she is 70 years young?

After our Olympics were opened, the students competed in hockey, skeleton, bobsled, snowshoe (a new Olympic sport?), speed skating and free-style skiing. We have a couple more Tuesdays to hold sporting competitions so that everyone can participate.

We are excited to see the real Olympic flame pass our school on Friday, February 5th. Our closing ceremonies will happen the same day that the official 2010 Winter Games open in Vancouver on February 12th.

Go, Canada, Go!

Our town is getting into the Olympic Spirit as well. To check us out go here.

Spring Has Sprung?

Fern fronds in the forest that surrounds Brohm Lake.

Although it has been VERY rainy here for weeks and weeks, the temps have been high for mid-January. Everything is so green. It feels as if spring is just around the corner, even though the calendar says it is months away. It makes me wonder how things will go for the 2010 Winter Olympics just 3 weeks from now?