Like A Teapot

So the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics one year countdown has begun. There is much hype in the national media today. Locally, I do not feel much.

I can apply to be a torchbearer if I want. That is the beauty of living in a democracy. I won't though.

The Olympic Flame will be lit on October 22, 2009 and handed over to a representative of Canada in Athens before crossing the Atlantic. The Torch Relay will start on October 30, 2009 in Victoria, BC.

The Flame will travel through 106 days and visit over 1,000 Canadian communities. It is the longest torch relay route in a single country. And it is so designed that over 90% of Canadians will be within an hour’s drive and able to share an exciting moment. I shall see if I can get close to it when the moment comes.

I need distraction today and happened to have an appointment that brought me out of the house.

The weather is not good. It is cloudy and raining. Not a heavy downfall, but rather spare large raindrops hitting the head. I appreciate the cool air, especially in light of the fact that a heat wave is coming up on Thursday, which is forecasted in both west coast Canada and the United States.

I bought lots of grocery. I also bought Chinese medicine for my sprained ankle. I got both herbal pastes and a special oil that is made of herbs. I have the paste on right now.

I was a bit dazed the whole time I was out, due to bad news received earlier in the day. I sighed loudly a few times in my friend's car and also when walking on a parking lot. My friend brought up the topic of the Olympia. She watched synchronized diving but missed the opening ceremony.

Synchronized diving and artistic gymnastics, two of my favourite events are over now. There should be more diving though, for the indivicuals. I do not know the schedule, as I am not as crazy about the game as some people thought. It is just the fact that China is the host this year that makes things more interesting for me. It is interesting to learn of the world's reaction to the Chinese approach.

The opening ceremony is a fantastic showcase of Chinese creativity and ingenuity. It cleverly and successfully reminds the world that the four great Chinese inventions - gun powder, paper making, printing, and the compass - forever changed China and the world. At least this is a clear message that Canadian television viewers received when watching the ceremony at home, as it is repeatedly emphasized by CBC's star presenter Peter Mansbridge, who was doing the live coverage in Beijing.

I do not know how other national news networks covered the opening ceremony. But I feel no one could have done a better job than Mansbridge. He is respected by Canadians and is respectful of Chinese history and culture. I mentioned him in a post on the US Super Tuesday election coverage (without giving his name). He is simply cool and is definitely fast becoming an icon of Canada.