Opening Day

The Iphone took that photo, not bad eh?

I have to get better at carrying my real camera around with me to snap better photos. I snapped one on the Iphone of John Furlong watching the medals ceremony from backstage. He seems like a very nice guy. He was chatting and dancing to drums with the volunteers backstage.

Our opening ceremonies happened last night and went off very well. Our cauldron lighting was great! It involved a torch runner throwing his torch into the air and a rocket seeming to come from top and shoot across the audience to light the giant (really giant) torch replica at the back of the house (causing it's flame to light). Some great pyro.

We only had two ceremonies because Alpine was cancelled so I was running my butt off getting the IOC/IF presenters to the stage. Seeing the athletes backstage with the medals was pretty great.

We also had All American Rejects last night, and there were a big hit with what seemed to be a largely young crowd. It wasn't as packed as it could have been, but it also poured rain all day and the tickets were free (so there was no cost associated with not going).

The Rejects were nice guys, the lead singer is a bit of a character but they were professional and on time so what more can you ask?

Today we have Estelle and I have heard she is a handful, wish me luck!

Sad Start

Location:Village Stroll,Whistler,Canada

Peak to Peak

My view for lunch today.

Location:Whistler,Canada

Day Off

Today is another day off due to the venue needing to have a security sweep. All the venues have to do this in order to make sure that none of the workers left anything "suspicious" on site before the ceremonies begin. There are tons of RCMP in town right now, which is interesting.

Yesterday was a long one (1pm-11pm) as we finished Q to Q and had an evening rehearsal with the drummers, announcers, medal/flower bearers and stand-ins for the athletes, IOC and IF (the people who hang the medals on the athletes). It was basically a blocking rehearsal, not much for the ASMs to do but wrangle volunteers.

I have to wear a com and a radio for this show, and it is fascinating to listen to the PSM call cues. I keep thinking its too bad CAEA are so against anything non-union because my job would be an excellent opportunity for an apprentice SM. I love it when the PSM calls pyro FIRE! and cryo FIRE! She has to call it over an over again and she always sounds so excited.

We are back to work tomorrow for two days (rehearsal with PYRO!!!) and our host and dancers will be on site after tomorrow. The host is Hank from Corner Gas, which is pretty hilarious, I get to wrangle him alot.

Needless to say it is all coming together!

Gone

Had a nice solo lunch at Gone Village eatery in Whistler today. Great cafe and they are cheaper than Brick Street.

Great soup and sandwich list.

And then

As we were leaving dinner the torch went by. We ran right beside it since there were no barricades. It was pretty cool.

Food

I have to say our staff eats are pretty good. Also all the free diet coke I can drink.

Snow!

Usually I can see the mountains from my room, not today!

Should make rehearsal interesting!

The New Digs

Moved in to my condo yesterday and found I had been moved to the bunk room. No worries the bed is comfy and the rest of the condo is sweet! Hot tub! Giant kitchen and living room and 2 bathrooms. It is about 5-10 minutes by bus to our venue.

Don't know how our wireless Internet in the condo works, will hopefully figure that out after training today.

Location:Squamish-Lillooet D,Canada

Squamish

At a little stop in Squamish. Many of the volunteers here are being housed on a cruise ship called the Mona Lisa.



They basically live at the shipping yard. Scenic but also a bit creepy.

Location:Squamish-Lillooet D,Canada

First Day on the West Coast

After a nice night out with Stephanie and Hazel last night I treated myself to breakfast at the Bread Garden.

It is so warm here I ate outside! Today I travel to Whistler and will update from the road.

Location:Bute St,Vancouver,Canada