Weekly Wrap

A Chick at the Olympics #4

In case you haven't heard, Chick Karin's husband, Phil Housley, is a member of the United States Olympic Hockey team. Karin and her family headed to Salt Lake for the games and is filing a sporadic report from the city. See Report Index.

Wow, what a day Thursday was!! Way to go Sarah Hughes!! Attending the women's figure skating final was just about the coolest thing I've done in my lifetime. But my day didn't start out so exciting.

We were at the doctor. Both Wilson and I have been feeling like dog poop so we trekked on down to the clinic to get checked out. A couple of popsicle stick gags later, we found out one of us really was sick. It was Wilson. I just have the flu/cold and need to rest. Whatever. I popped some Advil Cold-n-Sinus, downed some Robitussin DM and off we went. (He got some amoxicillin for an ear infection.)

Then the kids and I headed to the AT&T Center which is the home base for all the U.S. athletes and families. (This translates into free food and drinks.) We were in search of that speed skating Home Depot Derek dude. We thought it would be cool to get our picture taken with him (or anyone else we found). He and Wilson had the same sunglasses. Reason enough. Well, there wasn't an athlete in sight, but there were plenty of high speed internet computers. We spent the next hour sending video emails to everyone we knew. Well, there may have been some athletes walking in, but we were busy playing Movie Star. That video email stuff is so cool. If somehow it could synchronize the words coming out of my mouth with my lips...

After the mini-series of emails we headed back to the hotel, changed clothes, and headed out to the women's figure skating finals. We had to leave the hotel at 4:30 to get there in time for the start. Someone should have told me I wasn't going to get out of my seat until 10 pm. They really mean long program when they say long program. It was interesting, though, to watch the four different groups of skaters, starting with the 19th-24th place girls on the way up to the final bracket. It's amazing how much better they got as the night went on. Avery fell asleep as soon as we got there, and woke up when Sarah Hughes took the ice. Smart girl.

I, too, woke up when Sarah started her program. Wow... it was soooooo beautiful, and the crowd went wild. None of the other skaters got that kind of ovation. We were so excited for her, and then... the turn of events. Can I say WOW again? What a night for Sarah, but poor Michelle. Dems da breaks. That's what the Olympics are all about.

Did you see the USA vs. Canada Women's Hockey game? You see, anything can happen.

Oh man, we play Russia tomorrow. I'm sick. So sick to my stomach. Candace Cameron Bure (married to Russian player Valerie Bure #20) called and left a message on my voice mail. She said she'll bring me some tissue for after the game, and that I'm going to need it. Let's hope there's nothing left of the box before I see her at the buzzer.

Be sure to watch the game. The kids and I are going to make some signs. Hopefully the camera finds us. (I'm still debating at how tacky it would be to hold up the book. Hmmm... maybe I should wear my Chick pajamas.)

Chick Karin