olympic-size lessons

wow. so....i dropped the ball on THIS! hahaha. february 11th was really my last post? i could've sworn it was later than that. but the MAnderson Report doesn't lie...so it looks like i haven't reported in here since....well, before the games began. if blogging about the olympics were an olympic event, i would've been DQ'd long ago.

so i have tons of stories and pictures to share...but today, to catch you up, i just wanted to share some quick lessons that i have learned over the past week+ of being part of the games...and look forward to the next week and what lessons lay in store.

lesson 1: no matter how many times you've seen one on tv, there is nothing like sitting in the crowd for an opening ceremonies...especially that MOMENT when the host nation walks in. i just got goose-pimples again thinking about it. as cheesy as it sounds, i will cherish that night forever.

lesson 2: i always thought i loved american patriotism...and i do...but i have learned here that i just love 'patriotism' - american or canadian or ghanian or whatever nationality. i have been choked up more than once at these games seeing someone express their love of their country in the myriad of ways people choose. i love learning this lesson....again and again....

lesson 3: i have learned that the energy and excitement of the olympic games will compensate for the extreme tiredness and sleepless mornings and nights that come with a job like this. even if i went to bed at 1am and have to wake up at 3:30am to catch a 4:30am bus up the mountain, there is an energy that fills me and makes living this schedule for 2 weeks possible. i would like to bottle and sell it.

lesson 4: i love both the idea and the execution of the idea behind the $2 coin. i love it. more than once i have thought, not feeling any paper cash in my pocket, "UGH! I am out of money again except for some stupid change!" only to pull the 'stupid change' out and realize there is like $18 in there...thanks to the genius of the $2 coin. i will love it forever.

lesson 5: there is nothing wrong with french fries and gravy. nothing. i've tried to think of something...and there is nothing.

lesson 6: i never had a real thought on scalpers before this event...except that i think they were always a bit shady in my mind. i come away from this HATING them. H to the A to the T to the E. Scalpers are pure evil in the form of disgusting humans and should be banished from the earth.

lesson 7: this is all moving too fast. imagine how you feel when you say, "it's already february 21st? this month is moving too fast." now speed that feeling of fast up like.....times 10...and you will begin to understand how fast this is moving. it suuuuuucks!!!!

lesson 8: i have loved learning that there are other people - many other friends and family out there - who are fans of the olympics like me! it has been amazing sharing this with you all!!!!

there is a handful of my lessons for today. i am going to make a real effort to finish up strong this next week with posts and pictures and stories and fun - because i don't want to forget ANY part of this amazing experience!