Tinkerblue

Village Mayors, and Victory Ceremonies

Not much to say tonight as I'm in a crabby mood.

Honorary Mayors of the Olympic and Paralympic Villages were announced today.  Rick Hansen and Tricia Smith will be Mayors of the Vancouver Olympic Village, Anna Fraser Sproule and Alan Kristmanson of the Whistler Olympic Village.

During the Paralympics Dr Douglas Clement and his wife Diane Clement will take on the mayoral duties in Vancouver, while the Whistler honours go to Marni Abbott-Peter and Patrick Anderson.

Read the full details here.

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Keep an eye out tomorrow for an announcement regarding the Vancouver Victory Ceremonies.

                         image VANOC/COVAN

According to the VANOC website, "Check back December 8 for a full list of performers and to purchase new premium Vancouver Victory Cereomy tickets for $50*."  

The Whistler lineup will be announced December 15th.

Mum and Dad have tickets to the Victory Ceremonies on February 20th and 21st.  On the 20th there are no medal presentations just a concert.  There are still tickets available to the Vancouver Victory Ceremonies.  I'm quite interested to see who will be playing.

Cypress Mountain - Venue for Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding!

 VANOC/COVAN
 

Cypress is 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver.  Home to downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshowing and snow tubing. Years ago hubby and I had season passes to Cypress.  Every Monday night we went skiing, at least hubby did.  I kind of snow plowed very slowly behind him.  But hey, I did get off the bunny hill and on to the green runs.  I even managed a few blue runs.  We haven't been in years. And it's been a while since we've been snow shoeing or snow tubing even.

 

click on map to open an interactive map from Cypress Mountain. 

Next February Cypress will host the freestyle skiing (moguls, aerials, and ski cross) and snowboarding (half-pipe, parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross) competitions.  

My Mum and Dad have tickets to the Ladies Snowboard Halfpipe (qualification, semi final and final) on Thursday the 18th.

And I think Morag has 4 or 6 tickets for some of our group to the Ladies Snowboard Cross on the 16th.

So what do you need to know about Cypress Mountain as an Olympic Venue?

• Gates open 3 hours prior to the event start time.
• There's no shelter and you'll be outside for hours, wear warm clothes
• Bring your cowbell to make lots of noise
• Cypress is part of the Olympic Bus Network.  
• Bookings open on December 11th.
• Fare is $14.00 per person until January 10th. (after that it will increase to $25.00).  
• The departure hubs for Cypress are Capilano University, Simon Fraser University and Lonsdale Quay.
• Tickets are non refundable
• Parking is limited, but with your event ticket you can ride public transit for free
• Arrive at the departure hub at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time
• There is an approx 2km uphill walk from the bus drop off point to the stadiums
• The last bus back to the departure hubs leaves 2 hours after the competition ends.

 More information is available at:

TravelSmart 2010

Click and Park

Vancouver 2010

Cypress Mountain

Cypress is still open to the public right now. So if you live locally why not take the opportunity to go skiing or snowtubing or snowboarding etc at an Olympic venue? We're going to try and go tubing before Christmas.

(don't worry about booking the bus hubby and I will do it for you shortly)

 image Cypress Mtn.

Google street views recently covered the slopes at Cypress on a snow mobile, so look for those images to show on google maps soon.

 image Cypress Mountain
 

 

Cedar Springs Bed and Breakfast Lodge in Whistler

10 years ago Joern and Jackie were generous enough to gift us a weekend in the honeymoon suite at Cedar Springs Bed and Breakfast Lodge as a wedding gift.  Back at the beginning of November we finally managed to cash it in.  The night we went up was the first snow big snowfall of the season.

 image - Cedar Springs
 

If you need a place to stay in Whistler go stay with them. Don't just take my word for it, check out the reviews on Trip Advisor.  They are fully booked for the Olympics, but they have rooms before and after, and they still have rooms during the Paralympics.

Sleep in big comfy pine beds, ours even came with chocolates on the pillows.

 Image - Cedar Springs
 

Watch the snow fall while keeping warm in the hot tub on the deck.

Relax and watch a movie in the guest lounge

 image - Cedar Springs
 

Fill up for a day of skiing, snowboarding or sightseeing with an awesome breakfast.  It was delicious - fruit, toast, blueberry pastry thingy of which I ate two because it was so good and hubby doesn't like blueberries, toast, frittata, orange juice, tea, coffee and more. I needed a nap after breakfast.

Go spend a night or two with them. Please tell Joern and Jackie I said hi.

YVR - Vancouver International Airport

Hubby and I'll will be spending our fair share of time at YVR over the next couple of months as friends and family come and go. And if you're coming to visit us, you'll no doubt spend quite a bit of time there as well. Hanging out at airports for hours on end can be somewhat tedious, so here a few ideas to keep yourself amused.

Have a drink and/or dinner at the Flying Beaver.  One of hubby's favourite places. We are both rather partial to the black and blue burger - a burger topped with melted blue cheese. It's on south side, on the riverfront and if you time it right you can sit and watch the float planes finishing up for the day. And there's not many places you'll find a float plane crossing sign.

 

Check out the Air Canada Hangar and you might spot the Air Canada Boeing 777 all decked out in Vancouver 2010 livery. You'll have to be quick as there is only one plane all dressed up.

 

The airport itself has the usual assortment of fast food and beverage places.  There's also a Milestones and the Globe and the Fairmont. Or you can grab a coffee and take a wander. And because most of the airlines don't offer food anymore, the food court places will wrap your meal in a flying friendly bag. (whatever that means).

 

There's a new Public Observation Area that opened this last summer - in the pre-security area of the domestic terminal on level 4. Floor to ceiling windows allow an uninterrupted view of the airfield and out to the Strait of Georgia. 

Information panels, telescopes and interactive kiosks provide facts, features and stories on the airport, the aircraft, the jobs and the people who work there.

 

Children - there is a nursery with cribs and change tables opposite the US check-in counters on the departure level.   After the security check points there are several unsupervised children's play areas.

Internet access - currently there is free wireless internet access if you have a laptop.  I don't know if that will change.  Probably.

The Fairmont at YVR is located right in the terminal.  The Jetside Bar and Globe@YVR restaurant have awesome views of the runway. And there's a spa, you could have a massage while waiting for your flight, or for Dave and I to pick you up (cause no doubt we will be late!).

 

There's also a medical centre, a dental centre and a pharmacy, but lets hope you don't ever need them.

And of course don't forget to go shopping in the Olympic Stores at YVR.  

 

Celebrating Hubby's Birthday in Style - at The Fairmont Hotel at YVR

Today was Hubby's birthday.  He met me after work and we headed out to Vancouver International Airport. Don't get too excited we didn't actually go anywhere.  We are spending the night at the Fairmont Hotel at YVR.  

 

 We have a great room on the 11th floor with a king size bed, a nice size bathroom and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the runway, the mountains and two of the departure piers. 

 

The windows are soundproofed so there's no noise, which is almost odd, we can see the planes but not hear the roar.

 

Hubby opened his pressies - a step stool from his parents, and a camera book and a ballhead for his tripod stand from me.

 

We had dinner and watched the planes come and go.

We debated having a hot tub or a cocktail in the bar, but hubby didn't want to and it's his birthday so we hang out in the room watching the planes.  It seems such a waste to be here and not have a drink in the Jetside Bar, and then go for a hot tub.  Oh well.

 image Fairmont

Thanks to Blair from the Fairmont for helping me organize the surprise and for the treats on arrival.

 

I think hubby enjoyed his birthday.  If he didn't?  Tough.
 
 

Paint the Town Red

The Canadian Olympic Committee is inviting all Canadians to Paint the Town Red.

What? It's a chance for Canadians to show their team spirit and be part of the biggest celebration Canada has seen.

How can you paint the town red?  How about wearing red?  Flying a Canadian flag? Make red cupcakes? Drink red wine? Dye your hair red?

What are hubby and I doing?  Well as it's December 1st and Christmas is only 24 sleeps away, so that makes it easy:

christmas gifts in red paper

 

red pajamas

 

red mittens

 

my new red bag

 

red and white decorations on the tree

 

red fairy lights (they'll go up later this week)

and who could forget the red nosed reindeer.

Today was the first day of our advent calendar.  Behind pocket #1?  Wrap a Christmas present.  Which was harder than it should have been.  I finished shopping about 3 weeks ago, and all our gifts have been wrapped and in front of the fireplace for about 2 weeks.  But we did find a gift we'd forgotten about.  It's now wrapped too.

And finally, in honour of Paint the Town Red, the first person to leave a comment describing how you paint the town red will win this red toque pin.  Isn't it cute?

 
 

 

And I managed to stay on my feet

Hubby and I and our friends Kim, Joanna and Miss M made our way out to Richmond Olympic Oval yesterday to go ice skating.

 

Miss M had been throwing up all day, but she was so excited to be going skating at an Olympic venue, she desperately wanted to go. So away we went.  Miss M was fine, until we pulled into the parking lot, and then she threw up in the car. But she still wanted to go.

Good thing Kim, Joanna and Miss M brought their own skates. The line up to rent was huge. An oval staff member said the wait was about an hour! I know it was longer. Hubby and I waited for a whole 5 minutes, when we left the oval an hour later, the family in front of us was still in line.

 

Our friends hit the ice for a couple of laps, by then Miss M was exhausted.

Then I borrowed Joanna's skates and took a spin around the ice.  A very slow spin.  Hubby chose to stay off the ice and be the official photographer.

  

 

 

Speed skating, Stephen Colbert and Ice-Holes

We are going skating at Richmond Olympic Oval this afternoon, so I thought it was timely for me to post this....it's been sitting in my drafts for a while.

Stephen Colbert, speed skating, ice-holes, syrup suckers.....  No idea what I'm talking about?  Have you been living under a rock?  Or not, do you even get The Colbert Report in Australia and England?  

It's been well covered in the media, blogosphere and everywhere else, so a quick summary:

US athletes complained that Canada was being nasty and they were not receiving enough training time at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic venues, the Richmond Olympic Oval among them. Even the New York Times weighed in.

Canada says nuh-huh.  Canada is following rules established by the various organisations that govern the sports.  

Stephen Colbert announces on this nightly show that Canadian's are syrup sucking ice-holes and launches his Don't Be an Ice-Hole letter campaign encouraging viewers to download and send a letter to VANOC.

US Speed Skating loses its sponsor (and therefore it's funding) when Netherlands-based bank DSB Bank (DSB) declares bankruptcy.

Stephen Colbert announces that the Colbert Nation will sponsor the US speed skating team, and requests donations from his viewers.

The City of Richmond (Richmond Olympic Oval is home to long track speed skating) fights back. 

Chief syrup-sucker, Ted Townsend, otherwise known as senior manager of corporate communications, issues an invitation (PDF file) to Stephen Colbert to be the official Richmond Olympic Oval ombudsman during the Games in February.  The position even comes with a uniform - a lovely pink toque (beanie).   

Stephen Colbert would like to take up the offer but is not sure if he can work in Canada.

And now you can even buy a syrup sucker hat.

 

 

More Mascots and The Paralympic Torch Relay

Besides being our 10th wedding anniversary, yesterday Miga, Quatchi, Sumi and Mukmuk celebrated their 2nd birthday. Today is their birthday party at The Bay Downtown.

Did you know that at www.vancouver2010.com there are colouring pages and 3D paper mascots you can make yourself.  Clicking on any of the images below will open the full size pdf file.

 This is last years colouring page, Mukmuk has a 1 on his head.

  

 alll images VANOC/COVAN

Check out all the mascot souvenirs available at the online store. I think the hooded towels are adorable.

 

Did you miss out on being an Olympic Torchbearer?  Maybe you'll get a change to be a Paralympic Torchbearer.  

 VANOC/COVAN
 

From the news release:

Beginning March 3, 2010

The Paralympic Flame — which has no ancestral home — will spring to life in a special Aboriginal-themed Lighting Ceremony with a uniquely Canadian flair on the lawn of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Each of the 10 provinces and three territories will select a torchbearer to participate in the ceremony.

Apply to Become a Paralympic Torchbearer 
Any Canadian over 13 years of age who is interested in becoming a Paralympic Torchbearer may apply though the Province of British Columbia at http://www.yougottabehere.ca

Potential torchbearers will be asked to tell their story in 250 characters or less, explaining why they want to be a torchbearer in the 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay. They’ll also be asked to tell how they demonstrate the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality in their lives. What would being a torchbearer mean to you?

The Paralympic Torch Relay will light up the following Canadian cities and towns:

March 3 — Ottawa, ON.
March 4 — Quebec City, QC 
March 5 — Toronto, ON. 
March 6 — Esquimalt/Victoria, BC
March 7 — Squamish, BC
March 8 — Whistler, BC
March 9 — Lytton/Hope, BC
March 10 — Vancouver (Hillcrest)/Maple Ridge, BC
March 11 — Vancouver (UBC)/Vancouver (downtown)
March 12 — Vancouver (downtown)

 
 
 
 

Happy 10th Anniversary

Can you believe we've been married 10 years today?  Some days it feels like yesterday, some days it feels like forever.

In 10 years we have

1. bought 2 planes and sold none
2. owned 2 cars and 2 trucks
3. lived in one house, one flat and one townhouse
4. traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Mexico, San Diego, Disney World, Disneyland, Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, on a Caribbean Cruise and across Canada.  And I went to England
5. had one job (Dave) and 8 jobs (me)
6. repainted the bathroom 3 times
7. found a favourite Indian, Mexican and Italian restaurant
8. been to so many air shows and aviation expos that I have lost count
9. spent 10 days kayaking the Bowran Lake Circuit
10. taken Spanish and swing dance classes together.

When I get home I will edit to add some photos!