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February 19, 2006
Hello, My Name is Eileen.
And I'm an Olympaholic.
I love the Olympics. From the goofy opening ceremonies to the weirdly cloying personal interviews to the fake fireplace behind Bob Costas. I completely groove on them.
I particularly love all the weird sports that I never really see otherwise. You know what I mean, the ones where people cross country ski at a blistering pace than fall face first into the snow to shoot at something. Or maybe the ones where four people on snowboards careen down a hill at the same time, knocking each other around like kids who all yelled "shotgun" at the same time. This year, I am completely enraptured by Curling.
I know I'm not alone. I can't be the only one spell-bound as Pete Fenson, the USA Skip, works out his strategy and the crouches low to release his stone before he hits the hog line. I got so excited the other day, I didn't really how loudly I was screaming, "Hurry! Hard!" to the Brushers until Thing One came running out of his room to see what was wrong.
Part of my fascination might be that my two exercise buddies (the ones who dragged me through 13.1 miles of running a couple weeks ago) think that Curling may be our last chance to be Olympic athletes. None of us have ever Curled. Two of us have very poor depth perception, but here's what we think is the real problem. We don't like the clothes.
The U.S. Olympic Curling Team seems to wear Polo shirts and black pants. There's something terribly wrong about a face as semitic as mine popping out of the collar of a Polo shirt. My Sisters-in-Sweat aren't too taken with Polos either. And the shoes? Totally orthopedic looking. Yeesh.
I think we should wear dresses like the ice dancers wear. We're still working on the shoe issue, but we're leaning toward some kind of cute boot like thing.
Once we have that figured out though, look out.
Posted by Eileen at 12:59 PM | Comments (11)
Comments
Whew! It's good to know that I'm not the only one! I've been fascinated by the shoes for about a week now. They slide yet they grip. How cool is that? Yesterday, the Seattle PI did a story on the gentle sport of curling now I feel like I really get it and yes, this may be my last (and only) chance to actually participate in the olympics. Yes, the clothes need to change. But I digress... one shoe has a teflon coating on the bottom for maximum slide, the other has a special gripping sole. Genius! {cough} maybe my shoe obsession's getting a little bit out of hand?!
Posted by: Kelley at February 19, 2006 4:01 PM
I totally get the shoe thing. It's fascinating. But do they have to make the tops of them look like my mother's Rockports? Just because they're all from Bemidji, Minnesota doesn't mean they don't want to have style. All you have to do is look at Pete Fenson's hair to know that.
Yes. I do need to get out more.
Posted by: Eileen at February 19, 2006 4:30 PM
Eileen, You should sign up to carry the torch. I bet they'd let you wear cute boots for that. Maybe that pair you bought in Dallas? Not too comfy to jog in, but you'd look fantastic. ~Susan
Posted by: Susan Hatler at February 19, 2006 11:15 PM
I've just gotten a curling movie from Netflix called Men with Brooms. It's by that Paul Gross(?) who was on the mountie show, Due South(?) - I obviously don't know much today. It's my President's Day treat.
Holly
Posted by: Holly at February 20, 2006 7:06 AM
There's no reason why functional can't also be beautiful--go for it, Eileen! I so see what you mean about the attire - I accidentally caught some Curling when looking for the Ice Dance, yesterday :-)
Posted by: Michelle C at February 20, 2006 7:58 AM
Curling... one of the few sports that allows beer drinking in the middle. How can you go wrong with a sport that encourages snacking?
Posted by: Eileen at February 20, 2006 10:44 AM
Susan,
Actually, for the torch carrying I thought the British team had one of nattier outfits. I'd go for that. They had long coats with fedoras. Very smart.
Michelle,
DID YOU SEE IT WHEN THAT WOMAN GOT HURLED ACROSS THE ICE LIKE A RAG DOLL??!! I screamed. I thought she was dead and then she popped up and took her bow. Of course, then she couldn't walk off the ice.
Posted by: Eileen at February 20, 2006 11:37 AM
Holly,
I had no idea there was an actual curling movie! I just looked it up on imdb.com. I must must get it!
Posted by: Eileen at February 20, 2006 11:46 AM
Um, curling? Swiffering on ice? How is that possibly a sport?
Alesia, who doesn't get luge, either
Posted by: Alesia Holliday ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 20, 2006 2:07 PM
Eileen said: Michelle,
DID YOU SEE IT WHEN THAT WOMAN GOT HURLED ACROSS THE ICE LIKE A RAG DOLL??!! I screamed. I thought she was dead and then she popped up and took her bow. Of course, then she couldn't walk off the ice.
Eileen, I did see it, yes! Yikes! And the couple-- aren't they like, what, now in 7th place instead of higher? Still 7th place after that? Gotta feel for that poor gal...
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle C at February 20, 2006 3:18 PM
I am glad I am not the only one who is not entranced and charmed with the Olympics. All it has done for me is make me go to Hollywood Video a lot. Oh, and catch up on reading. Just finishe "Maybe Baby" and starting "Call Waiting". I know I am behind, I know. Just coming out of another MS flare. BTW - rent "Cake" - chick lit on film and totally charming and enjoyable!
Posted by: vadreamer at February 21, 2006 8:15 AM
