12 more days to go

It's February 2 and things are starting to pick up. On Sunday I moved to Margaret's in Steveston and in less than 48 hours she has spoiled me rotten. I worked my first day shift yesterday and second one today and can definitely, without a doubt, confirm - I am not a morning person. As far as I am concerned a 630 start is not a fit and reasonable time for humans, at least not for this human!

I staggered around for an hour on Monday then went for a coffee and that certainly helped. But if Margaret had not driven me in - I am not sure I would have made it - talk about zombie! Yes you read that correctly. Sweet Margaret got up at 6 to drive me to work and then to top it off she picked me up at the end of my shift. There is definitely a benefit to living 10 minutes form the airport!  And she did it all again on Tuesday.
So let me introduce you to my hosts as of Sunday the 31st. Margaret (picture to come later), Morgan and Sidney, a cute little pair of Shih-poos, who have quickly accepted me as their latest house guest!
 

 

And on Monday night Margaret made Biranyi Rice and Chicken for dinner! So I get fed and cuddles and a drive to work.

Although I worked in a quiet area today - transborder (US) departures - it was pretty busy with arrivals of athletes, media and IOC officials from Germany and Switzerland and Italy and China. So the onslaught has started and is likely to continue.

Today was a much busier day - the people are really starting to our in - at least the athletes and media. I almost met another Ukrainian team but the flight was quite delayed (coming in from Germany and something about lots of snow there!). So my colleague Andrey (remember his picture from the last post?) was meeting them, especially as the two women from the advnace team actually spoke better Russain than Ukrainian!

And yes the weather is still a balmy 8 - 10 degrees. Whistler and Blackcombe are full of snow and have perfect weather for making snow. But Cyoress Mountain which you can actually see from Vancouver is as green as a Toronto early April grass. So Vanoc is building up with bales of straw and truking in snow from 300 lm away.  Yes Virginia, there is snow for the Olympics in Canada, even if it hasn't fallen from the sky.

Roads around Olympic venues are being blocked off to cars, Vancouverites who want nothing to do with the Olympics are starting to leave town, Transit Link is warning that  people should allow themselveslots of extra time to get to their destinations and Vanoc is telling ticket holders to be there two hours in advance!  It looks like it is all coming together, but I haven;t ventured into downtown so I'll give a better report this weekend.

In spite of the many local naysayers, Olympic fever is catching on as the torch getes closer to the city. It is in Surrey this Friday and Larraine is taking her granddaughter Emily to see it. And it is Richmond next Tuesday, so Margaret and I will try to catch it then.

More later.