Here & Now

In My Backyard

The last week was an exciting one for St. Paul, as it hosted the 2008 Republican National Convention.  We had a few encounters with the convention over its four-day stint: Summit was awash in patriotism with flags adorning nearly every doorstep, traffic was constant and helicopters were the evening song.  On Thursday afternoon, my mom and I made it down to the center of the convention; MSNBC was the epicenter of the (public) convention action.  It was a fai-like atmosphere, with vendors, masses of people and free giveaways - throw in the occassional political sign and it was a gay place to be.  John and I had the chance encounter of another run-in with the convention happenings on Thursday night.  We headed to Sears to buy a vacuum (note: my first trip to Sears in 10 years) and noticed in the corner of the parking lot, a lot of commotion.  Little did we know, we walked into the middle of the last-night, major-story of the RNC protest!  It wasn't until much later that we realized the magnitude of standing on this corner in St Paul - the moment occurred when tear gas bombs started going off.  We fled the parking lot just before everyone (both the innocent shoppers like ourselves and the protestors themselves, we later saw on the news) was pushed onto the Marian Street bridge and arrested.  Needless to say, I didn't get a vacuum on Thursday night.  Just a few blurry pictures and a story of the RNC to remember.

A New Dawn

The song line "It's a new dawn, a new day" is running through my head today.  Tomorrow, Jenna starts her freshman year at St. Thomas.  I don't know what to think of it at this point ... but just wishing her well with every thought.

 

The Conclusion

As the Games of the 29th Olympiad conclude in Beijing, here is my top five list of the most memorable moments of these Olympics:

• Michael Phelps = 8 medals, 8 live races (the best being the relays)

• The beach volleyball gold medals: May/Walsh winning in the rain and Dalhausser/Rogers winning in the sun

• Seeing the Russian gymnast who competed for Germany, who supported her son during his battle against cancer, winning the bronze medal in the vault.  She was one of the oldest to ever do so.

• Jonathan Horton (high bar) and Shawn Johnson (beam)'s medals in the gymnastics competition

• The parents of the athletes -- always supportive and especially heart-wrenching during their kids' wins

In the News....

In Olympic news today:

From MSNBC.com -- "Poor Jennifer Lopez. The new mom is training for a triathlon, but everyone is too busy watching the Olympics to notice.

Lopez, who appeared on "Good Morning America" Aug. 18 to discuss her preparations for the Malibu Triathlon, was overheard saying after the segment that she “couldn’t understand why everyone is talking about that swimmer,” according to a GMA source. “She couldn’t come up with (eight-time gold-medal winner Michael) Phelps’ name, and then she yammered on about how she was the one training for a triathlon just six months after giving birth, and how that was the big story right now, not ‘the swimmer.’ ”

Is that for real!? 

Also in the news, Matt and Al's attempt at rhythmic gymnastic on the "Today Show."  While not as fabulous as their attempt at luging in Torino in 2006 (a personal television "best of" highlight for me), this is an amazing show of sportmanship (not to mention humor!).

I think the best Olympic news came from my grandpa last night, who inadvertedly announced the entire evening's winnings just past the beginning of the primetime broadcast.  Even so, it was nice to see Shawn Johnson win gold on the balance beam even if I did know the ending.

Today

Today:

I am thrilled for Holly and Chris, who married this weekend in Milwaukee.  We had a great party in their celebration (no wedding dance is as fun as one with those who own a dance studio!). It continues to amaze me how much fun weddings are.  I am also feeling so lucky today that we have such friends as the Starks, almost 20 years since we first met them.

I am at home, despite a supposed work trip to Miami.  I arrived at the airport this morning to find there is a hurricane arriving in Miami at the same time I would be.  Needless to say, I was in the airport for a pretty brief amount of time this morning.  Also, it is clear that I should be watching the news for more than Olympic updates.

I am in "heads down" mode to get some things done, now that I have the day back.

I am fully set up in my new home office.  Computer set up, chair in the apartment, lamp on, papers organized. 

I am printing out a 2009 calendar for the first time.

I am tired for the 10th day in row, after watching the Olympics into the wee hours of the night again and again.  Even traveling between Atlanta (work) and Milwaukee (wedding) this weekend, I managed to see all 8 of Michael Phelps' races live.

I am starting to work on my "MSP to ATL" to do list.

I am fascinated by th preparations for the Republican National Convention happening all around town.  There is a little change outside of my door yet (a few miles away from the RNC at the Xcel Energy Center), thank goodness.  But at the airport today, brand new ads were throughout the G concourse.  The political messages indicated just who the audeience was.  I am interested to see what else will start to shape up over the next few weeks.

Olympic Fever

I think this picture is so cool (two of my favorite things, scrapbooking and Olympics, combined!).  I continue to work and watch the Olympics from my hotel room in Atlanta this week.  It is entirely terrible that the Games play until 12.30am here...because I cannot turn them off until the news comes on!

That Time

It is August 2008 and this means one thing: the Beijing Games.  Just a few days in and there are several moments catalogued in my brain: these are Olympic milestones that will forever be for me.  First, the Men's 4x 100m relay on Sunday night.  Four Americans, a little behind from the get-go.  Somehow, on the last stretch of the relay, the final racer pulls ahead in the last second to win an unexpected gold for the US.  Michael Phelps screaming in excitement is already the picture of these Games.  Second, the Men's Gymnastics team on Tuesday night.  The 2008 team is a team of mostly alternates.  Their story?  Never give up.  And on Tuesday night, at the National Stadium, they proved that this mentality can carry you all the way to the top of your game.  Amazing vaults, tumbling and one pommel horse routine led this team of second-best to the team bronze medal.  It is both of these significant moments that declare what the Olympics is all about.  Other favorite moments so far: 36 minute win for the beach volleyball women's team, 3 gold swimming medals in 20 minutes and the most watched basketball game in history.  My TV hasn't been off since the Games began.