Taking What I Can Get

Cough cough cough cough cough.

I managed to leave the house for a while on Sunday morning but that was it. Today, I'm feeling much better. Good thing because we have no food and there is a cheque that really needs to be introduced to our bank account.

The nice part about the time I have spent on my sofa is that I have a great view of the nightly light show called Vectorial Elevation. Spot lights, set up in English Bay, dance around the sky behind my view of the city skyline. The little kid in me likes that. 

Even though I haven't been getting out, I have my spies. I have it on good authority, direct from Athletes Village, that the Russian woman's hockey team are really hot. (Didn't see that coming) Thank you, code name Carlos Spicy Weiner. I hope he uses his own special brand of hotness to distract the American hockey team for they are much more of a threat. I also know that Sarah McLachlan was amazing at the opening ceremonies rehearsal, sorry to spoil the surprise.

The bad part about being trapped at home is that I spend too much time on the internet where cynicism rules the day. It's depressing.

Like yesterday morning's weather, sometimes the sun can shine and it can rain at the same time.  I have trouble with absolutes and black and white.  I'm against capital punishment and pro choice. I think gambling is a destructive tax on the poor and addicted, but don't complain when arts and culture organizations receive money from gaming. Life is messy.

Years ago, I worked for a politician. I remember being upset when he was meeting with industry lobbyists that my lefty heart didn't approve of. I wondered how he could possibly talk to these people. After some time I began to understand his thinking; if you play all or nothing you'll probably end up with nothing.  If you don't show up for the game, you loose.

My local arena was originally scheduled to be renovated to be a practice facility for Olympic hockey.  A petition was formed. The security will be too much! The character of the neighbourhood will be destroyed! The kids will have nowhere to play! The petition was successful and the upgrade went to another arena.  I bet, after all is said and done, the kids at the renovated rink will really appreciate my neighbourhood's moral indignation.

This massive expensive machine is coming in town and at least we'll be left with some infrastructure improvements. Yes, they are going to cost us dearly. Yes, if I was one of my friends or relatives that is a teacher or a nurse I'd be really worried about my job right now. Yes, almost everyone in the business that pays my bills (film and television) is not working because the industry is shut down for the month. But not taking advantage of what is actually happening seems ludicrous.

I read an article, (sorry, can't remember where) one of the one's that insists nothing good can possibly be attributed to the Olympics. The author stated that the improvements to the Sea to Sky Highway are useless because it is still going to snow. Somehow, I doubt he would have made such a statement if the improvements hadn't been connected to the Olympics. I can only assume that he had never driven the old sea to sky highway which, even in the summer, was akin to a death wish. I drove the improved highway a couple of times this summer and not once did I come close to pissing myself in fear. Go ahead and hate the Olympics but, come on, it's a massive and necessary improvement. Oh yes, there was environmental damage, not a good thing, that. Unfortunately, I can't imagine how it will ever be possible to build anything anywhere without environmental damage. Sometimes it's a good idea to fix the road so fewer people will die.

I'll watch some of the Olympics on TV. I'll get misty when our flag goes up or when one of those "athlete overcomes adversity and their family loves them" pieces that are part of the Olympic soap opera. I really like a good race. The men's short track speed skating final at the Salt Lake City games (where all the leaders crashed into each other and the lagging Australian cruised across the finish line to take gold while the favorites crawled on their knees to get silver and bronze) was damn entertaining. I might stand in line for a free zip line ride six stories above Robson or drink a beer in the Saskatchewan Pavilion and check out the show at the Art Gallery. If you are willing to have a little fun, join me. I'll take you to a free event. I'm planning on packing my camera and taking in as many of them as I can.

Talk to you later, I'm out of here.