More favorite athletes

Presenting ....
Team SAG (slots, ann, gina) .... the Arhythmic Gymnastics Team for the USA.

Team members are recent immigrants who brought their talent and love for this "sport" to the USA in hopes of winning a gold medal.

Gina Danskoshoesnova
Marilyn Van der Slotsalot
Annie Blogonandonski

There has been suspician that two of the members were too 'Young' and there was also rumor that a third tested positve for performance enhancing liquids (beer).

Nevertheless, the team members worked hard and performed magnificently (and in only one take). Although the athletes realize they need work on sticking their landing for the finale.

Special thanks goes to videographer Erica, Van der Slotsalot's next door neighbor.

Gina, marilyn and i did this project in response to a challenge put out by gina's cousin margaret. i'd spent a bit of time last week pooh poohing the "sport" of rythmic gymnastics. her other cousin, louise actually likes the sport. So margaret thought we should all come up with a routine.. I think we get gold medal for being first, if not best. Enjoy.

Our favorite Olympian

Susan Nattrass.... age 58 her 5th Olympic Games... and the nicest gal with a gun you could ever want to meet. Well, she is Canadian, afterall. They are all nice.

She lives here in Seattle, and measures our bone density every couple years. For which we are grateful.

Olympics

a gold medal and a new car !!! congratulations !!

14 hours

I've got 14 hours til start time of the ironman... guess it 's time to delete that countdown clock.

Coach Lesley is up there, ready to go... and Rose, and Eileen, and Anne Judd.... I'll be sitting in front of the computer all day, keeping up with their checkpoints, then at the end watching the screen as each competitor gets their moment of glory crossing the line.

I did a bit of a walk on the treadmill, a spin class, and then a swim in the lake... my own little triathlon today. I wish the same conditions for the ironman athletes.

Now, back to the Olympic marathon... I must say, I think I've been a bit of an Ironman in the sport of Olympics watching....

Clean and Jerk

Shane Hammond... My new favorite announcer.
He's the color analyst for, you guessed it, weightlifting.
He has a nice Oklahoman accent. "He almost made bacon outta that" (whatever that means)

Here he is in his glory days in Sydney.

Opening Ceremonies spoiler alert

A couple quick thoughts... after watching the CBC's replay version of the opening ceremonies.

Thumbs down on the French women's outfit. The Polish ladies' dress was nice, just not so on some huge must be weight lifter lady. And what was with the Swede's sort of Japanese look, complete with fans ??

The Chinese are big on the 8/8/8 business, down tot he 2008 drummers, tai chi-ers, But I loved the drums... and the oar/flags ... Did anyone wonder which orphanage the little 9 yr. old girl who sang that song came from ? we are cynical..

And no one really thought that volleyball woman was going to be the torch lighter? right. but it was cool to watch

But right now the Canadian Bob Costas (Ron McClean) is interviewing the parents of a gymnast guy. This interview epitomizes why we love Canada. These folks are from Calgary, sitting there in t-shirts and jeans, not team gear, sponsor gear, not a Maple leaf flag in sight, they are NOT there in China, they look like some kid's parents...totally nervous to be on tv.. Just regular people. Not over the top pushing their kid...

And Ron is calling it 'pollution'. Not mincing words like the NBC folks who spout the party (China, IOC) line

OK, so no spoiler ... they light the caldron at the end. as usual.

I day til........THE OLYMPICS

2 full weeks of tv to watch !!! not to mention the millions of blogs to read.

I've spent the morning putting together a chart of all the tv stations with Olympic coverage, and times of day.. It's not just NBC at 8pm Not with MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, CBUT. I'd post it here for you but the cut and paste thing isn't happening with the chart.

Now I have to match up what is actually happening on which channel and decide what gets taped. Cuz, no, not even I, sports freak that I am, will stay up from 3am to 9am.

I think I can skip Oxygen channel.. it seems to be mostly equestrian and boxing. I'm just not into horses beating each other up.

Randomness

I'm listening to this cd... by sufjan Stevens...
Song titles include Detroit, Holland, Upper Penninsula, Sleeping Bear Sault Ste Marie, Romulus, Woverine, Marching Band, For the widows in paradise-the fatherless in Ypsilanti, They also mourn those who wear black (for the homeless in Muskegon)


Kudos to Kyle Mc Hugh who shot a bulls eye with the bow & arrow, after a tough week of archery lessons at Cub Scout camp. I'm amazed... I remember trying archery as a 13 yr. old, and failing miserably... fortunately my PE grade was not affected.


THE famous Kyle !



Bike crash week... Joan crashed and burned in Portland. But it sounds like she'll live to ride again. Bruising and swelling. I prescribed some of Dr. Jamieson's medicine. Fortunately she only hit the trolley tracks and not the trolley. I cannot believe she hasn't posted photos.

And we just heard from our buddy Rock (the surfer) who got hit by a car, coming around a traffic circle near his house. He inflicted a bit of pain on the windshield.. and as he says it has led to numerous "rock hitting windshield" jokes. not by me, dammit. He's OK, cuz he had his helmet on but scary.





So, I don't think that the mother of this blogger has been pictured on this blog lately so here she is, Mary K. Rinehart. Pre digital photo era... but just barely. I presume she is enjoying the lake this weekend. And, yes, mom, you were the first item, but I don't know how to rearrange photos on the blog. I can't know everything.


Now, back to Facebook... Allah, am I having an exciting Saturday night ? yes.

Practice Triathlon

Tri Geeks


Discussing the fine points of the transition area. with the dog


which end is up Izzy?

Today we did a practice triathlon with Pam and Lisa. A swim in the lake, which was very wavy. Then 3 hot laps around the lake on the bike (2 for Ann) and they did a run around the lake. I walked to the corner and back (yes, the far corner). Then like after every tri we sat around and re-lived it... with a beer.

You may notice the rowing boats in the background. A friend from Gina's rowing days is using the yard for storage this weekend. There is a regatta tomorrow on the lake.


Then the dog, Izzy, tried to make a run for it... lap dog goes crazy !! fortunately, she was fine, even with the attempted street crossing.

Everyone gets Tested

There will be no performance enhanced stuffed animals in Le Tour DAY France !!!

Latest news is some Russian gals have been swapping pee samples... that's a no no... No running in the smog for them this year.

I'm having withdrawals from watching televised international sporting events... Hopefully I can hang on til 08-08-08.
Stay tuned.