Synchronized Diving

So you already know I am an Olympics enthusiast (to say the least), but seriously, can we talk about synchronized diving...  WHOA! AMAZING!  Did you watch it?  It is just crazy how synchronized these divers are, down to the last spin, turn, tuck, pike...you name it!  I mean, diving off a diving board, somersaulting 4-5 times in the air before seamlessly breaking the water is hard enough, but doing it in sync with another person, phenomenal!  I can barely manage an ordinary dive off the low board...

I saw a friend comment on facebook, something to the likes of "I wish the commentators would explain how these athlete got into synchronized diving!"  AGREED!  I just simply can't imagine my parents suggesting, "Okay kids, after soccer practice, we're heading to the diving boards, ready to hit the water?!"  

This event was fascinating to watch, and I was especially impressed with the Mexican team (who earned silver), their form was literally breathtaking!

Did you watch?

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Olympic Memories

Happy Olympics everyone.  The summer Olympics may be one of my FAVORITE things ever, specifically track & field, swimming, diving, and of course, every girl's favorite event...gymnastics!  

I have vivid memories of watching Olympic gymnastics, perhaps since I have am fascinated by the sport and the physical strength and flexibility of these athletes!  I fondly remember the pizazz of the "Dominique duo" from the '96 Olympic team (Dawes and Monceanu).  And you can't forget Kerri Strug's amazing clincher of a vault, with the dramatic limp to the gold medal platform.  Seriously, we can always count on the Americans to pull off a show-stopping finale!  

I also remember watching the gymnastics overall competition from the '04 Athens games with my sorority sisters in their room at a UW fraternity, where they were living for the summer.  We were decked out in our party attire, as it was about 10 pm, ready to go out, but unable to peel ourselves away from the live gymnastics coverage.  I have this visual of us sitting huddled around a smallish TV, nursing strong vodka-somethings, while cheering on our girl, Carly Patterson to the victory.  I remember leaping up, cheering, and hugging one another other excitedly as Carly was crowned the individual all-around champion, narrowly beating our Svetlana Khorkina.  

There's just something about the Olympics that brings out that national pride in me, and I'm sure in others too.  So I ask: Do you have any memorable memories from Olympics past?  

Are you planning on watching the Olympics?  What is your favorite summer Olympic event? 

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USA!

Anyone else watch the USA/Algeria game?? I missed the first half, but tuned in for the ending, and what an ending it was! Suspense down to the 93rd minute and GOAL! It's moments like these when I love the patriotic energy our country displays! Way to go Landon Donovan!

Sweet 16!

My team is playing today! My alma mater twice over, University of Washington, beat New Mexico to make it to the Sweet 16! Tip off is at 4:26 this afternoon, I'm hoping to jet out of work fast to meet up with friends at a local pub to cheer on my huskies!! GO DAWGS!

Anyone else into the March Madness? Tell me about your bracket!

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Olympic Fare

While it seems Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I admittedly am more excited about the Winter Olymics. Not that I don't love my special someone, I just love the camaraderie, competition, and blending of cultures that comes 'round every couple of years for the games.

Being in Seattle, we aren't too far from the hype - Vancouver, B.C. is just a few short hours North. One thing that has me intrigued about the Olympic Village is the cuisine! Seattle Times had an article in the Sunday paper entitled - Gold-Medal dining in Vancouver. One of the Vancouver native's favorite eats: Japadog - Japanese inspired hotdogs. In lieu of ketchup and mustard, try grated relish, special soy, and green onion. Here's a pic of the famous "Oroshi" dog at Japadog. When in Vancouver...

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Victory!

This weekend was epic in Washington football. My alma mater the University of Washington Huskies defeated #3 ranked USC in the ultimate Pac-10 upset of the season! USC is a tough-to-beat, all-star team that historically pretty much destroys everyone and everything in their path. Led by our new coach Sarkisian and QB Jake Locker, the Huskies managed to out-match the Trojans 16-13 at home. Now USC is out of the top 10, and Washington is ranked (for the first time in 6 years). Quite a milestone!

Seattle was a frenzy of excitement Saturday evening, with the new catchphrase "Bark for Sark," on everyone's lips! It was a great day to be a Husky!!

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Bike Thoughts?

I'm going shopping for a new bike next week with my dad. I haven't had a bicycle of my own since I owned one with pink over-sized handlebars, pedal brakes, and a banana seat, so needless to say, it's been a while. This time around, I'm looking for a bicycle that's equipped for riding distances. I'm kind of a novice in this area, any suggestions?

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Long Weekend

I can now say I've been to the Midwest! I took a long weekend and jetted back to "the middle" with my boyfriend for some Big-10 football! We hit up his alma mater, Purdue University for their big rivalry game versus I.U.

It was such a fun weekend, we toured the campus, enjoyed the college bar scene, tailgated with the best of them, and cheered on the victorious Boilermakers, winning (62-10)! After watching a dissapointing season of Washington football, it was nice to enjoy a winning team for once! Aside from the below freezing temperatures (brrr, which I am so not used to), it was an amazing weekend!

On Sunday we rose early to drive back to Chicago and spent the afternoon enjoying some deep dish pizza and seeing the sights. This morning I am a little exhausted, but it's definitely worth it!

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Oh Oh Olympics!

I am obsessed! The Olympics are taking over my life. Today I watched Misty May-Treanor & Kerry Walsh in women's volleyball, Michael Phelps earn his 10th medal in swimming, the American's just miss out on the medal competition in synchronized diving, and then...my all-time favorite, women's gymnastics!

I can remember watching gymnastics since the 1992 Barcelona games, where Shannon Miller shone as the stand-out American, barely missing the gold. And of course, who can forget the white knuckle moment when Kerri Strug landed the vault with a dramatic wrenched ankle, hobbling to the start line and continuing through the pain to save the day with a team gold at the '96 Atlanta games.

I love gymnastics! Of course, I can't even do a cartwheel, but that doesn't stop me from cheering our girls on! At the last Olympics, my friends and I sat glued to the TV on a Friday night, awaiting the declaration of Carly Patterson as individual all-around winner. Hoping for the best this year with our newcomers Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, and Bridget Sloan. U-S-A! U-S-A!

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Baseball Country

With baseball season is in full swing, and team loyalties running high as the season heats up, I thought this map was an interesting representation of fan distribution. State lines don't apply here...welcome to baseball country! See where the majority of fans congregate and how far the loyalties stretch - literally, we're talking hundreds of miles!

Personally I'm a Mariner's fan, as are most Seattle dwellers...except for my sisters. My two younger sisters traded their hometown favorite when they moved back East, jumping on the bandwagon of über-enemies, Red Sox and Yankees. Now there's a duel to be had if I ever saw one!

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