I am so excited you came by!

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Finally an update!

As I sit here, waiting patiently for my Host family, my aunt and uncle, to buckle down, and relax. i will take this opportunity tot write my experience thus far. Having been 8 shifts in to my work schedule, I cannot comment on who my favorite athletes are thus far.

As some of you may know I am working in the Athletes Village in Vancouver, a place that is full of excitement and the expectations of Olympic Gold for their respective countries. Yesterday, Tuesday, was Media day. Where only the elite of media where able to have full access of the village to experience what their fellow countrymen/women are up to. Try holding back a 250 pound Russian and tell him he can only come in to the athletes dinning hall on the 15 minute intervals. They had a tour of the amazing hall every 15 minutes, but they couldn't wait that long. Impatient, just a little.

on Monday night we greeted the Canadian and American women's hockey team, back from their practice. And what an uproar at the Athletes entrance that was. Seeing Kim St. Pierre, and Haley Wickeheiser walk through was awesome. WE CANNOT PLAY FAVOURITES, but when there are no supervisors around, hell yeah we are going to cheers our butts off for the Canadian girls. Sorry to all my American friends, your ladies are lovely, but our are, well, it's CANADA.

The speed skaters are all the craze, practicing onwards of two times a day, coming back for a shower and dinner, then off again to the rink. the Americans take their skates everywhere they go, it's like a piece of them, they cannot leave behind. There is a lot going on in the Village with welcome ceremonies for all the countries, its an atmosphere that is so astounding and full of energy, that it's hard to describe. You become friends with them all, that you want to see them all succeed. Then you remember that there can only be one winner... and pray its your country that wins.

Today my cousin, My aunt and Uncle and myself, will be heading to BC Place to see the Dress rehearsal for the opening ceremonies. It is going to be amazing. NO CAMERAS ALLOWED, is like telling me not to breathe, so sad, oh so very sad.

There are 8 locations we can be posted as hosts in the Olympic Village, the Guest Entrance, Athlete's Entrance, Welcome Tent, Workforce, NOC Entrance and Quebec street entrance, the Athletes Dinning hall, and Baggage claim/storage. All amazing experiences, but you can always tell where people want to be. I love baggage claim simply because i get to be organized, there aren't security people trying to tell you what to do at all times, when they have no right to. It's not the warmest, but it's the funnest.

More to come,
Ali

P.S. Thanks Jim for inpiring me to write this, I owe you one.

Tuesday 9 February 2010

PEACOCKS!! - article

~*~ Thought you might like to hear some fun stuff from Vancouver ~*~

Flock of peacocks a nuisance for Surrey residents
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
By Frank Luba, The Province

Some residents in the Surrey neighbourhood of 150th Street and 62nd Avenue aren't too happy with their guests — a flock of peacocks that are roosting on the rooftops of their homes.

A Surrey neighbourhood is in a flap over a flock of problematic peacocks.

At least 12 peacocks — and maybe as many as 35, according to some reports — have taken up residence in the Sullivan Heights area near 62nd Avenue and 150th Street.

The area used to be acreages, but is now home to subdivisions with new homes that are no longer gleaming because of the peacocks' poop.

But the worst thing is the noise, according to new resident Adam Perzow.

"In the middle of the night and early morning, they are screaming," said Perzow. The sounds from the bigger birds are "like someone is being murdered," he added.

Perzow and his wife moved into their home in November.

"I had no idea they were there," he said.

He knows now.

"They pretty much poop all over my yard and all over my driveway," said Perzow. "They roost in my tree and on my front porch.

"I would like these birds gone."

The birds are part of the pheasant family. Their bodies are 90 to 130 centimetres tall, with a tail approximately 1.5 metres in length. Peacocks weigh about four to six kilograms and have a lifespan of about 20 years.

Nobody is sure exactly where the Surrey birds came from, but a dozen or so regularly sun themselves on a building located on a neighbour's property.

Perzow thinks the neighbour is feeding the birds.

Other neighbours have complained to the Surrey bylaw enforcement department, but nothing has been done.

A call from The Province to the animal-control division of the department was not returned Monday afternoon.

Peacocks and their magnificent iridescent tails are not native to B.C. but have a long history in the province. The birds used to roam Stanley Park, although the Vancouver parks board said the park is no longer home to the birds.

They can even be found in the Gulf Islands, specifically Mayne Island.

They are popular with people who have larger properties, according to Shawneen Esson of Art Knapps Plantland in Surrey.

Esson helps take care of the live birds sold at the garden-supply centre, including the peacocks that sell for $150.

The birds can "make a mess," Esson admitted. "It would be like having a Labrador retriever running around the neighbourhood."

Except these Labs can fly and are omnivorous, which means they hunt for tasty treats in the garbage bags they rip open.

Esson advised the residents to get the birds comfortable by feeding them regularly in a designated indoor area, and then "close the door."

"Then you can snag them," said Esson.

What you do with them after that? Esson didn't say.

Saturday 6 February 2010

ELECTRICITY

~~** OLYMPIC SPIRIT **~~

Although i cannot confirm, or tell you all the excitement that i am experiencing while in Vancouver, working int he Athletes Village, I can tell you this... IT"S AWESOME!!!

China, Russia, Italia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden and a few others were introduced to the Vancouver Athletes Village on Thursday, and i have been at the village for the last 4 days. I love everything that i do is awesome.

I can't post any pictures up yet, as we have a clause out right now, but i can put up some of the scenery we see from the Athletes village. It's an amazing experience that I cannot fully explain. I have met so many amazing people that i cannot wait to pass the stories on.

I wish CANADA and all the athletes all the best, I am back onthe saddle from 2pm - 11pm Saturday to Tuesday. It is going to be a crazy week, with the preparations of the Opening Ceremonies only a week away. I'll post as often as i can.

11 days until my 1 year anniversary with my new lungs.

Cheers
Alison

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