The First Show!

I feel like a blogging fanatic!

Today was like a vacation - I spent the morning drinking coffee, bopping around Whistler, and looking at really interesting shops such as a totally natural/organic spa store (photo on left) where the workers there demoed several of the products for us. Super cool. Everything smelled lovely, and we promised to go back to make purchases.

For lunch, we (Kristen and I) visited our favorite little restaurant, Ingrid's for "Supreme Veggie Wraps". AMAZING! And it's one of the most economical places around - only $8 for lunch rather than $20, which is nice.

After lunch, we began our hunt for free ski passes as well as information on free yoga lessons we have been hearing about. Both rumors are true! Hopefully, we will be able to go skiing one morning super early (probably near the end of the games in case we injure ourselves), before we have to report for work at the Medals Plaza (around 12:45pm). Another possible excursion would be Vancouver, but since we're scheduled to work every day, that's not looking like too good a possibility.

When we reported for duty, the All American Rejects were already on stage for their sound check, so we quickly signed in and made our way to the stage. Hearing their songs brought back so many memories - I used to listen to them during my figure skating days, and so now it seems I've come full-circle at the Winter Olympics where figure skating is a huge deal listening to this band from the past. While it seemed anti-climactic to be right there on stage with the band, it did give me a new perspective on humanity. As I was telling my friend Rachael last night, people are people. That is one thing that I think will stick with me after the games. Sure, there are a few uniquely gifted people who are able to compete and win Olympics medals or who are able to play music that many people like, but deep down, they all struggle with the same stuff that "normal" people do. They all need food, water, and sleep. They have their little weaknesses, no matter how much they try to cover them up, and they all want to be loved. If I stay on the track to the film industry, it is very likely that I will encounter famous people along the way. Instead of being totally intimidated by them, I just need to realize that they are really just people when it comes down to it, and try to relate to them on that level.

Tonight was the first night of the medals ceremonies, so the president of the Olympic Committee came to give a short speech while someone lit the cauldron in Whistler. I really enjoyed the whole process, and even though every night will follow the same formula, every event will be unique in some way. I can't begin to express how blessed I am to be here!

I hope you all are doing well - I'm sending extra Valentine's Day love to all of you! :)

OH! I nearly forgot - one of the benefits of being on stage for the bands is that I will probably return with a whole collection of guitar picks! I was also fortunate enough to pick up a drum stick from the All American Rejects tonight. I gave it to Seth, another student from Asbury who is working in the rain, while Kristen and I are fortunate enough to be under the covering of the stage.

Tomorrow, pancake breakfast with real Canadian maple syrup, eh!