Burrito West Blog

So I'm vaguely aware of the fact that there has been some bad press internationally about the Olympics ("worst winter olympics ever" according to the Brits, apparently). It's funny because I'm right in the heart of it, and down here, it's all looking pretty good! People are in amazing spirits, having a great time, the events run incredibly smoothly (even security is a breeze - we've always gotten through in about 10 minutes), everyone is super friendly.... really, it's an incredible experience. I'm not sure what the criticisms are, but it must be an outside-looking-in kind of view!

Last night Peter and I checked out the Damian Marley concert.... that was.... smoky. Today we head to Cypress for Men's Aerials Finals! That should be amazing!

At this point all I can do is a bullet list:

1) we went to the Canada - Switzerland hockey game the other day, it was insane. Very tense. Very loud. Awesome. The stadium exploded when Crosby scored that goal and Brodeur made that save. Canada can go ahead and win by a large margin in all future games so I don't die of stress. The photo at left is us winning.

2) The streets of downtown Vancouver are insane. Robson and Granville are a mass of humanity. A mass of humanity that spontaneously bursts into O'Canada periodically. It's an amazing thing to see - so much Canadian patriotism on display, it's like Canada Day in Ottawa x 100. They keep having to close more and more streets because there are just so many people hanging out downtown, enjoying the atmosphere.

3) Today I worked a long day at LiveCity Yaletown, then Peter and I went to a Victory Ceremony at BC Place. All the medals were in Whistler tonight, which they simulcast on the big screens in BC Place and it was so awesome to see everyone in the stadium cheer the medal winners and stand for the anthems even though we weren't where the athletes were. Then Stereophonics took the stage and rocked the joint. After that, Peter and I walked through Yaletown, which is where the party really is. We stumbled onto a sweet reggae busker/band and they had a dance party going on in the street which we joined. Then we were at Robson Square for the fireworks/lightshow they do every night (it involves bursts of fire and is awesome). Now I'm home and very very tired and I have to work again tomorrow!

4) I am very tired. But enjoying all the craziness!

5) Added awesome new photos to my flickr account, including one of Crosby's game winning goal. Yes, really.

Wish I had time to sit and write a proper post, but there's just too much to do! The Olympics will be over in a flash so life is kind of on hold for now while I go out and enjoy it all!

Peter and I went to short track speed skating yesterday and got to see Canadian Marianne St-Gelais win a silver medal!

It was awesome - the place exploded, I went hoarse from screaming.... it was loads of fun. We should win more medals, it's good times.

Short track speed skating is very entertaining to watch - you never know what might happen. It's the kind of sport where the person in last place, who may be way way behind, could still win because all the people in front wipe out.

The men's 5000m relay qualifying round was fun to watch (we got a little dizzy). And it was entertaining to see how much the crowd loves Apolo Anton Ohno (American).

It's awesome going to these events and watching such amazing athletes compete.

Tonight Peter and I go to another hockey game, this time with team Canada. I suspect I will be hoarse and deaf by the end of it. =)

Photos of all my olympic stuff are here at my flickr account!

Today I went to see my first live hockey game ever!

Row 8 seats to USA vs Switzerland. It was loads of fun!

Last night Peter and I went to Ontario House for some free live music, which turned out to be one of our favorite singers: Serena Ryder!




Only about a 20 minute wait in line and we were in the cool temporary club they've set up.







Had some fries and drinks while we waited and then the opening band took the stage: Swing, a Franco-Ontarian band that mixes techno/urban beats with traditional fiddle music.

It was AWESOME. Seriously, they were fantastic, I'm a huge fan.









And Serena was amazing and funny, as always. I'm loving all the live music in town right now, it's pretty fantastic.

You'll kind of have to take my word for it (cell phone camera) but this is the external olympic flame that Gretzky lit.... not long after he lit it. It's down at the end of my street. Seriously, you come out our door, look down the street and there's a big flame down there by the water.

I can also tell you that standing all day long is hard work but everyone here is in a great mood and so work is easy because I'm just helping people all day long and everyone is happy and awesome. I love it.

Also, people really like free stuff. =)

Just got back from my first shift at work! Tonight was torch night! It was really neat to see everyone get so excited for the torch, I can imagine the effect it's had on cities and towns far away, if it gets Vancouver people this revved up. =) The Yaletown Live City site is pretty awesome - the stage is amazing, with 2 huge screens that you can actually see in bright daylight (colour me impressed). They also do this thing where they spray water behind and above the stage, creating a screen of water and then they project images onto that! Nifty!

Tomorrow the site opens at 11am and they'll be showing the opening ceremonies from all the previous winter olympics until the opening ceremonies here start at 6 - then they'll show that live. Unfortunately for me, I'm working right through the opening ceremonies so I'll miss them. :( C'est la vie!

Downtown is buzzing - Robson Square is hopping.... hope everyone local gets a chance to come downtown and hang out at some point, it's got a great vibe right now!

It's my birthday week! However, this post is only obliquely related to my birthday and instead is about blatant consumerism.

Every year RW&Co sends me a coupon to use on the week of my birthday. It always compels me to go down the street and check out what they've got because I secretly covet their clothing. The coupon is a very effective marketing tool.

Today I went in and hit the jackpot. Two pairs of dress pants, one perfectly fitting pencil skirt, and two sweaters.... all for $40. I am ready to go to the office in style now. Except that for the next two weeks I'll be hanging out outside in a raincoat (see previous post). Oh well, anyway.

I'm off to do a little celebratory dance and then find 4 articles of clothing to purge from my closet so I can fit this stuff in.

(Side note - did you know RW&Co is a Canadian company.... that it is owned by Reitmans? That floored me when I found out. Go Reitmans!)

I'm ready! Bring on the Games.

Ask me where the the bathrooms are, I can totally point to the right spot. I am highly trained. ;)

Seriously though? It's going to be loads of fun. If you come to the Live City Yaletown during the day, keep your eye peeled for me.

If I may recommend a particular night, I would suggest coming by Feb 27th for Matt Mays who is a fantastic singer from my hometown.

(Please note how they cut these jackets - apparently someone forgot to account for hips. Seriously. Just wait until you see the floppy brown toque, then you'll be really jealous.)

My new favorite blog - Color Me Kate - is the happiest blog ever. I highly recommend it if you're looking to get a glimpse into the colourful life of someone who looks for the happy side of life.

Things are picking up around here - preparations for the Olympics are everywhere. I mean - they're building a zipline from the courthouse across the street to the art gallery, just as an example. It's pretty awesome. At work, since so many staff will be working at the Live Sites (free celebration sites with concerts and pavilions and broadcasts of events, etc), everyone is frantically trying to get stuff done now before we all disappear for 2 weeks. It's very odd - this feeling of anticipation in the air... the feeling that something very big and very special is about to happen. I intend to experience as much of it as I can and count myself lucky that the Olympics have come to my doorstep. Totally worth all the lineups I know will be everywhere. =)

For any locals looking for free stuff to do - there's a TON of free stuff, and this website does a great job of listing all those events.