The Winter Olympics have been on for a while now, and I’ve been kinda into them. I marveled over the dirty water and deplorable housing conditions in Sochi, admired Shaun White’s new haircut, cheered the American bobsled team on to Gold while wondering exactly how much skill “driving” a bobsled really involves (doesn’t it pretty much glide down the icy track on its own?), and skipped on over to The Food Network when ice dancing came on. Hit and miss, in other words. After 8:30 and before bed, if I happened to think about it, I’d turn on NBC and maybe catch an hour’s worth of coverage. It was nothing I consciously sought out, though.
That all changed Tuesday night, when I stumbled upon Snowboard Cross.
What a thrilling event! You’ve got a group of six or more snowboarders racing down a tricked-out hill similar to a motocross track, with fast turns and jumps. Almost every race features a jaw-dropping collision and wipeout. First can easily finish worst, while worst can catapult to first in seconds. It’s exciting, fast-paced and unpredictable. I quickly declared it my new Favorite Olympic Sport. Wednesday night I put the Olympics on again, hoping for a repeat, only to find Women’s Slalom. Not to take anything away from that event, but it’s not nearly as thrilling as Snowboard Cross. I tried to get into it, but the women were simply skiing down a hill trying to stay inside a bunch of flags, and I quickly lost interest. We switched over to an episode of Judge Judy instead.
Now I’m left wondering how to fuel my Snowboard Cross craving. It’s not like you can turn on the TV on some random night in April and watch the latest event unfolding live in the Swiss Alps. I did a little research and, other than the Winter X Games, it doesn’t appear that Snowboard Cross ever shows up on TV anywhere. And that does me no good, since the X Games already happened this year. Suddenly, I’m like a junkie without his fix. I’m liable to find myself stumbling through some dark alley muttering, “Anybody seen Alex Deibold?”
This almost makes me want to take up snowboarding. After all, I live in a great part of the country for it. The skiing and snowboarding around Mount Hood are top-notch. Unfortunately, I can’t even walk across the living room without stubbing my toe on the coffee table (it’s still sore a month later!), so the idea that I could even conquer the Bunny Slope, let alone my own version of Snowboard Cross, is laughable.
But that’s why they invented video games, right? Plus, there’s always PyeongChang in 2018…
Celebrate Good Times? No, thanks!
Tara put on some music this morning while we were getting ready for work, as she often does. I was in the shower when Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” came on.
“I hate this song,” I declared.
“Really?” she asked.
“Yes, and I know that makes me some kind of weirdo. Everybody loves ‘Celebration.’ It’s such a happy and cheerful song, how could you not?”
“You’re right. How can you not?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve heard it approximately 3000 times since it first came out in the early 80s.”
But there are other songs I’ve heard 3000 times that don’t make me grate my teeth in displeasure whenever they come on the radio. Like “American Pie” and “Another Brick In The Wall.” There’s just something about that jangly music and party-atmosphere vibe that rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s the constant way-too-happy shouts of “yahoo!” that bug me. Maybe it’s the subtle and erroneous message the group is sending, that it’s cool to be in a gang. I dunno, but whatever, if I never hear it again, I won’t complain.
In the meantime, we’re headed up to Seattle for a visit this weekend. Bringing Audrey for the first time. It’ll be a nice little getaway for us as we gear up for the big move in a few weeks.
Yahoo!
What’s your favorite Olympic sport?
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Mark Petruska 
Where have I been? I didn’t even know there was an event called Snowboard Cross. But, yeah, you live in an amazing place for snowboarding. Go for it. Just don’t kill yourself. I fear, I would.
Hope you and Tara have an amazing weekend.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
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The snowboard events seem to be expanding with each Olympics…in inverse proportion to Shaun White’s hair. Which means by the time he’s bald, we’ll probably have 95 separate opportunities for medals in snowboarding.
Which is fine by me!
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Mark, can you believe that I haven’t watched a single moment of the Winter Olympics this year?!?
And believe it or not, you’re gonna think I’m crazy, but I prefer watching the Summer Olympics – like diving and gymnastics.
“This almost makes me want to take up snowboarding. After all, I live in a great part of the country for it.”
Yes, exactly….you live in a GREAT part of the country for that.
I’ve never snowed skied, but I have water skied (in Florida) and LOVED it! But being a snow lover, I really do need to try it because I bet I would adore it.
Have a super weekend in Seattle, buddy!
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A lot of people prefer the Summer Olympics. I believe ratings are always higher for those. And I agree, there are a lot of great events – like diving, as you mention – but I dunno. I think I prefer the events where athletes are speeding downhill at 80 mph and – INSERT DRAMATIC MUSIC – “death is lurking around every corner!”
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You know, I totally associate ‘Celebration’ with high school basketball because they always played that song when we won, (I graduated in 1981). I don’t dislike it, but I’d change the station if it were playing. Some songs just don’t carryover to the 21st century.
I have zippo interest in the Olympics.
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That’s exactly it! The music is dated, and not in a retro-is-cool kind of way. It kind of feels like so many of those synth-heavy mid-80s pop tunes that leave you scratching your head in amazement over the fact that people actually liked this stuff…
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I totally dislike that song too. I have others that just give me a headache anytime I hear them. GAG!!! I just don’t think I could put them all on here because it might take up 3 or 4 pages…but…anything, and I mean ANYTHING but The Police or Sting just wants to make hit somebody…HARD!
I just haven’t been into the Olympics that much the last couple of years. But I was always a huge fan of Ice Skating, especially when Michelle Kwan was still skating. Such grace and eloquence. And it’s much harder to do than what it looks like.
I have a snowboard if you really decide to start snowboarding. Just a plain board but I’ll sell it to you. Real cheap!!
Excited for the weekend. Woot!!
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Ummm…should be “anything ‘by’ the Police and just wants to make ‘me’ hit somebody.
Just so you know!
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LOL. Thanks for the clarification. What is it about The Police that people don’t like? I’ve read the same thing from others. I’m not a huge solo Sting fan, but his work with the group was by and large pretty good, I always thought. “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” is especially clever and brainy.
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I love watching the Olympics. I don’t think I’ve seen this event though. I will have to keep a look out in the recaps. Crazy how much stamina and balance some these athletes have.
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Oh, I know! And I’m tuckered out playing with my 2 y/o nephew for a few hours. Wimp! I discovered last night the Olympics are On Demand, and you can even search by category. I found a slew of Snowboard Cross and other events I hadn’t seen yet. Score!
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I got totally into the Olympics! I fell in love with Snowboard Cross at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, so I also watched them carefully in Sochi. My favorite Olympic sport is figure skating (go figure!) but I also like the sliding events & the speed skating (both short track & long track).
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I’d think because you’re Canadian, you’d be into Curling. No?
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Definitely into curling (where we won gold in both!)
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