It's over... it's all over... just about...

Well my last shift is over.  It was a bittersweet moment... I had a chance to work with some great people, some not so great ones, and some really annoying ones (I probably fall into this category)... but still I find an emptiness creeping over.  There was a time when it seem the day would never come, when the madness would start, and then when it did, it seemed like it would never end... and yet I find myself wishing now that it wasn't over.  I met cops from around the country, IOC members from around the world, Russian ballerinas, and members of the Moscow Choir... but the ones I'll treasure the most are the volunteers.  From moments of mindless boredom to moments of purest elation, we shared it all.  It seems weird not being at a competition venue to be able to say that, but in a way being away from it all and the boredom that came with it forced us to come up with different ways to amuse ourselves, and in the end they were the people I celebrated with when Crosby scored that game winning goal.  So as part of my last posts some of the pics of the volunteers I worked with (I apologize in advance because I know I forgot at least one person's name because I was only on shift with them once)

Kelly, Marianne and Cathy

Watching the opening ceremony in the accreditation center

Courtney and Derek

Cathy, Me, Nancy, Martine and Ray

Martine, Jason, Ray and myself at a quarterfinal game

Can't remember... Ray, John... (yes me and John Furlong are on a first name basis :)) and Lyne

Meghan and Cheryl

Canada's Finest

With the Olympics now over, one of my most anticipated posts... for those who knew what I was doing.  With the enormous amount of security required to put on these games police were brought in from across the country.  Being posted at the Bayshore, we had cops from across the country providing a visable presence.  For many it was a big change from their normal duties, and I must say I've made a bunch of new friends who hopefully will allow me to get away with speeding tickets in a variety of cities across the country... but in case not, well it will still an amazing experience.

But for the up shot... duty caps from across the country... see if you can pick out the obvious missing one, oh and try and guess where the last one is from:

Hamilton

South Simcoe

Montreal

Bellville

Ottawa

Peel Region

RCMP Duty Cap

RCMP Muskrat Cap

 

RCMP Beaver Cap

Niagara

Rothesay... it's in New Brunswik

Quebec Provincial Police

Calgary's Finest

Ontario Provincial Police

Fredericton

Peterborough

Prince Albert

Regina

Barrie

London

Quebec City

Quebec Sheriff's Department

Victoria

Peterborough's Winter Cap

A special midnight post...

Well today was definately a memorable one... lots of pins, lots of people asking for pictures... oh ya and one very cool piece of free swag:

Yep yours truly was given a ticket by some generous soul at the Olympic Family Hotel to go watch the quarterfinal game between Finland and the Czech Republic.

Lets just say the tickets were amazing... and the game even more so. It was 0-0 until 6 mins to go in the 3rd period and the Finns added an empty netter to win 2-0. Kipper was amazing to say the least and I think the Americans are in tough against the Finns.

Anyways some more pics:

A special one for Tish:

And just for Ashif:

Finally went to an event

My buddy had tickets for the Belarus vs. Swiss game yesterday and brought me along. It was fun alternating between cheering for Belarus and the Swiss... Be-la-rus sounds a lot like Shia Le-Bouef,while the Swiss did Haupt Suisse... which sounded alot like Hops Wheat... two vital components for beer.

Anyways the Swiss won, though I missed the end because I had to run to my shift... Stay tuned for more updates. Until then some pics... T I have a goalie one just for you :)

On a slightly unrelated note... GM place ... er Canada Hockey Place is a really nicely designed arena. The sightlines are amazing it looks like regardless of where you sit, and none of the bleachers like we have in the Saddledome. Anyways with Canada in for a fight today only one more thing needs to be said GO CANADA GO!!!

I'm burning up

I haven't posted in a few days, so a quick update. It's been a blast, it's been busy, and my hair is on fire... actually no, but it's my signature shot at the Olympic Cauldron. I was there a few days ago and introduced what I call the flaming potato head. It's one where I make people look like they are burning up.

Cheers Y'all

A Great Meeting

So one of the benefits of working at the Olympic Family Hotel is meeting dignataries. Some of the highlights have been the King and Queen of Greece, Prince Ranier of Monaco, Princess Anne, Dick Pound, and by far the nicest person so far Charmaine Crooks.

So after all the dignataries you'd figure yours truly is well versed in meeting famous people... and then today... A brusque VANOC lady comes in and says to me "Don't make a fuss". To which I flippantly reply "We never make a fuss"... which is true, with so many famous people coming through the order for the day is to treat everyone deferentially and expediently... and maybe a little bit of smarm.

So after the VANOC lady my mind begins to churn... probably Jacques Rogge, or maybe some other high official, so imagine my surprise when I look up and the Great one... yep Wayne Gretzky was there. I've seldom been unable to come up with a glib reply... and with the famous people these last few days, I've seldom been unable to greet them politely and hustle them on there way... until now... yep show me a big time hockey star and I'm giddy like a school girl...

So in an instance like this, you'd think a "Welcome sir, an honor to meet you" or maybe slightly gushing "I'm a big fan, you've made my day can I please have a picture" or downright creepy "Would you please autograph my chest please" would be in order... Nope, nothing like that... rather yours truly, the first face and person the Great One talks to on his way in to the Olympic Family Hotel is greeted with... wait for it... "I'm sorry sir you do not have the proper accredtitation..."

After the (Oh sh!t what did I just say to Wayne Gretzky you stupid idiot) thought ran through my mind I seek to salvage the situation... "please go through the security screening"... Yep WTF??!?!??! The one chance I have in my life to have a few words with Wayne Gretzky, maybe a picture or an autograph, and I tell him in effect he's a nobody and please go into the cattle like security scanner... well suffice it to say he took it very well nodded politely and went through the magnometer (didn't set it off) and then chuckled when his companion did... and then he was gone. Yep a chance to meet a Canadian hero and yours truly just did the job... Mama did raise an idiot. Of course after the Great one left others mobbed him a bit and got pictures while I stood there like an idiot at my post... oh well...

On another note Gary Bettman also came in later... I spent the remainder of the day trying to convince a QPP officer that he had a duty to Quebecers to arrrest Bettman for get rid of Canadian Hockey Teams (namely the Nordiques).

Chinese New Year

Hope everyone one is enjoying a prosperous New Year... it's the year of the tiger! A slight delay in the update as I've been busy the last few days, but some pics of the feast prepared to celebrate the new year.

On the menu:

Clams in a black bean sauce
Marinated Beef Shanks
Roast Pork
Buddha's Vegetarian Delight
Steamed Basa Filet w/ Ginger and Green Onion sauce
Stir Fried Pea Shoots
Seasame Rice Balls

Enjoy the pics

Happy New Year All...

So it's a weekend full of celebrations. First off the Opening Cermonies have finally come... to be completely honest based on what I saw on TV it didn't compare to being there. A pity because even during the dress rehersal it was a magical experience. I do have one complaint though... the national anthem... don't get me wrong, the singer is really cute, and a very good singer, but a stylized national anthem?!? I mean how american is that?!? Blahhhhhhh

On another note Gong Hei Fat Choi... yep it's Chinese New Year. I was able to go down to Chinatown today and it was quite the atmosphere!

Anyways have a one day break just made a psuedo traditional Chineses meal and about to crash. Another shift tomorrow... I have to say things are much busier now that things have started but some minor annoyances which I will get to in due time in a blog. Until then...

One giant ass flag...

The Italians apparently have taken over one of the construction sites (no not a mafia joke... okay maybe kinda one) and have made their loyalties clearly known:

Anyways off to another shift. Keep the comments coming! And for T&P no the touque is not mandatory, but with the cold and wet weather coming it may make an appearance.

Wow...

With most sincere apologies to VANOC... I believe this one picture will not give away any secrets of the opening ceremonies... and neither will this post.

I will say this though my hands and voice is a little sore... from all the clapping and cheering!!!

I highly recommend and encourage people to watch it, I really felt it reflected Canada and as you can see Mike and Jade are also in the pic (the people I'm crashing with this month and stealing broadband access from to report this blog to you) and they were totally enthused about the opening ceremonies. No I don't know who the torch bearer is going to be and the last 20 mins is still a complete mystery, but if what we say was any indication it's gonna be a gooder!

Of special note the Mayor, Premier and Prime Minister showed up to say thankyou to all the volunteers... yep Stephen was in the house... and his French was atrocious as ever. But that is all I will say until after the opening cermonies!

Why I like Vancouver

So aside from the plethora of toned attractive women (who always seem to run away when I try to take a picture... or it could be because they are out jogging), the wonderful weather (pretend I'm writing this blog entry on Saturday when it was clear, sunny and +10), is a wonderful special place that I call Ben's happy land, but locals refer to as Granville Island. To get there from where I'm staying, we have a 5 minute walk down to the Yaletown docks, and then a 10 minute Aqua taxi ride to Granville. While we were waiting for the taxi, the buddy I'm staying with Mike and I decided to pose with Miss Ling a 100 foot china white thing of beauty:

I think we would look much better on deck, but alas the crew couldn't be convinced. Anyways back to Ben's happy land... first off I would encourage two of my friends who will be joining me next week to enjoy the Olympics to visit a particular store in Granville. I won't mention their names, but imagine in between the fresh produce you stumble across what appears to be a quaint bookstore and then upon closer examination of the titles:

But the best part of Granville, and Vancouver in general? The fresh food! I've been having fun cooking with so much wonderful fresh food... some hi-lights of the past week:

Roasted Vegetables in Phyllo Pastry

Pan fried 3 treasures in black bean sauce (it's shrimp paste stuffed into veggies and fried)

Jambalya w/ Jalopeno corn bread and hickory smoke ribs

French Toast done w/ Walnut Bread and fresh blueberry compote

I'm think fish tacos for tonight with a fresh pico de gallo... anyways that's why I like Vancouver :)

Oh a parting image of the food market on Granville Island each of the stalls are independant so nice to support local: