The Olympic Games

Now that you’ve had a full month (and slightly more) to reflect on the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, do you have any favourite memories, observations, complaints?  I always want to bitch about NBC’s lousy coverage and how they show the same events over and over again (beach volleyball, anyone?), but I have to admit that I was really impressed with all the streaming footage available on their website at NBCOlympics.com.  Not only did they show entire events online live from start to finish, including every single competitor, they had interactive chat with a host who would describe the action and answer questions.  I was most interested in how some of the Canadian athletes fared (especially Canadian swimmer and cat rescuer Brent Hayden), and the website kept me informed.  I also watched all the women’s Modern Pentathlon competition, a sport which has become my secret obsession, and in which I want to compete.  I can be the next Sheila Taormina, I’m sure of it.  The only difference between us is that she’s already been in three prior Olympic games in two different events, and she only had to learn three new sports to participate in Pentathlon.  Me, I’ll have to get up off my death bed and learn all five new sports in the next three and a half years but hey—it’s good to have a dream.

I thought the people of China came off looking warm and wonderful, and it’s a country I continue to want to visit.  I also still think the Chinese government is evil and corrupt and cheated in many events to improve their medal tally.  If the government could have kept their grubby mitts off things and stopped interfering and being overly controlling, I think this truly could have been the best Olympic games ever.  As it was, I think the games were great, but the stench of cheating hung in the air at the gymnastics venue, for example, and just reinforced the lack of free will afforded to Chinese citizens who are deemed to be talented. 

I’ve been an Olympics junkie since I was 10 (1976, the years of Dorothy Hamill and Nadia Comaneci), and I’ve always dreamed of being a competitor.  I’ve got to get my CFIDS under control first, but at the very least, I’d make a fine volunteer in Vancouver, 2010.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 09/24 at 09:04 PM

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  1. Hi, Leigh-ann! I’m glad you liked the Olympics. I watched the highlights this year and was disappointed by the politics intruding on what was supposed to be a gathering of great athletes.

    You know we lost Bonnie suddenly at the end of May? Well, at the end of August, we brought home Nina, a one-year-old brown tabby with orange (almost a torbie). She and Victor are becoming great friends.
    Take care! Thinking of you,
    Tabbymom Jen

    Posted by Victor Tabbycat's Mom  on  09/26  at  12:57 PM

  2. Oh Jen… I’m so incredibly sorry about Bonnie.  I had no idea, and she’s had me crying over her since you told me.  I didn’t know Bonnie, of course, but I totally understand what it is to lose a member of the family that way.  My very first entry in this blog was made when my first cat, Sweet Pea, died, and Bonnie seemed to have a similar temperament (and their passings were similarly sudden and unexpected).  My current cat-centric life is really an homage to Sweet Pea… it’s for everything I didn’t know, everything I did wrong, and the way she loved me anyway.

    I’m happy that Victor continues to thrive and entertain, and that you’ve welcomed Nina into your lives.  She’s so beautiful!  I’ve found that it can as long as 2 years for a new cat to be fully and completely integrated into a household, so it sounds as if you guys are doing a great job after such a short time.

    Again, I’m sorry for my long absence and for taking so long to send my sympathies.  I came home from Canada around May 15th, and that was about when I started to shut down and avoid the computer.  I’ve missed you all so much, though… I’m really trying to find the energy to have my online social life again (it’s the only one I have!).  Much love to your entire family smile

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  09/26  at  09:13 PM
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