McKayla is Not Impressed....

....with some random chick who is dressing as her for Halloween.

Olympics

So, I recently spent a lot of time watching the Olympics.  I am going to do my best to not use this as an excuse as to why I haven't been blogging (seeing that it wasn't simply at 16 day hiatus).

Anyhow.  I really love the olympics.  I don't know why I like them so much.  I even like watching sports that I would normally have no interest in watching if it were ANY OTHER COMPETITION.  It's almost a branding issue.  It's THE OLYMPICS!  I'll watch competitive paint drying, for goodness sake!

Regardless.  There's one thing that's hard to deal with in the Olympics.  The thought of the heartbreak.  All those who've worked so hard the previous four years (or their whole lives) who don't make the team.  Or make the team but then have a bad meet the day of competition.  Or those who are injured at just the wrong moment.  I feel for these peeps.  For everyone who wins, there are ton who end up unsatisfied.  Sigh.

Anyhow.  I am secretly glad to have several hours of my day and my weekends back.  Till the next four years!

Of Course I Have to Comment on this

Yev vs. Ev

Or, battle of the Evs (this is a throw to any figure skating enthusiasts who know the reference).

So, someone's a sore loser. His name is Plushenko. Seriously.

So, in short, he's making a big deal that Evan Lysacek didn't do a quad and he did, therefore he should be the winner. He half bashes Evan, half bashes the figure skating scoring system. In regards to the second half of his argument, he might have a point.

However. It's the system that's in place. And he knew that. He knew how it worked. This scoring system has been in place for several seasons now. Whether or not he agreed with it, he knew that this was how it was going to be and he could have worked harder on his transitions, footwork, style, etc., the past nine months to be prepared to get a higher score; instead he decided to be stubborn and assume he could win on jumps alone.

Well, now he's winning the gold medal for bad sportsmanship. Evan was better and worked the system better. And seriously, Evgeni - that haircut? And that costume?!?! A sequined version of the tuxedo shirt?!?! That alone probably hurt your marks (although I can't say I love Ev's snakes either).

And the Award for Best Dressed Olympic Figure Skater Goes to....

Jeremy Abbott of the USA.

Classic, understated, non-effeminate, can't-go-wrong all around good choices.

My Favorite Non-American Male Figure Skater

Stephane Lambiel. The Swiss man.

He is an outstanding spinner/footworker (word?) - he has all the details of skating down pat. He's the male Sasha Cohen. Absolutely beautiful to watch.

That, and he is GORGEOUS. It's too bad he is younger than me. And lives on the other side of the world. And we've never met. And who even knows if he's single. Sigh. If this were a beauty pageant, though, he'd be at the top of the medal podium.

They're HERE!!

Expect a lot of figure skating commentary to come (that I know most of my most loyal blog readers skip over, but whatever).

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....

Emily is in Mexico over the next couple days, including the weekend! What am I EVER going to do? Who am I going to constantly email/text? Who am I going to go to a BYOB with this weekend? Who am I going to report my EVERY MOVE to?

This is devastating. I really honestly don't know what I'm going to do. The only remote consolation for this is Olympic figure skating coverage, but even THAT isn't enough.

Tonight!!!!!!!!!

For Those Who Care....

I am back on the Sasha Cohen 2010 bandwagon. I honestly don't know how I briefly fell off for a moment there!!!

My Top Five U.S. Male Figure Skaters at the Moment

Evan Lysacek. No explanation needed.


Brandon Mroz. I'm calling it now - rising star. I hope he makes the 2010 team.


Ryan Bradley. Although I'm not all that into the quirky style he embodies - he can bring it. He was the U.S. silver medalist back in 2007, I believe.


Johnny Weir. Great style, but I might be a little over him....


Jeremy Abbott. I like him but he doesn't stand out as much as the prior four.

Google Thinks It Knows Me....

My 'Google Ad Preferences', along with my thoughts on their accuracy (thanks Piper!):

Your interests

Below you can edit the interests that Google has associated with your cookie:

Category

Arts & Humanities - Books & Literature (yes)
Entertainment (check)
Entertainment - Dancing (oh how you know me)
Entertainment - TV - TV Networks (for sure)
Entertainment - TV - TV Programs (I'm an open book)
Home & Garden - Home Furnishings (sure, somewhat)
Lifestyles - Self-Help & Motivational (hmm. is this a not-so-subtle hint, google? what's THAT supposed to mean?)
Local - Regional Content - US & Canada - USA (Canada?!?!)
Real Estate (not buying real estate any time soon)
Reference - How-To & Expert Content (I'm a blogging expert, that's for sure)
Social Networks & Online Communities - Dating & Relationships (I'm the popular social networking site, bookface!)
Sports - Olympics & International Competitions (YES)
Sports - Winter Sports (YES! YES! YES!)

(Editor's Sidenote: My cookie?! What is my cookie?!?! Not just a cookie, MY cookie. Yes, cookies are an interest. I do like cookies. Not as much as cake or ice cream, but moreso than candy.)

Your thoughts? What has been left out? Other than blogging. And wine. And byobs.

Life Goes On

For the 2010 Olympics, I have moved on to Team Alissa Czisny. For those keeping track.

Devastating News

Well, I am inconsolable. It looks as though Kimmie Meissner (directly above) has withdrawn from this skating season due to a knee injury. Kimmie is the 2006 world champion and the only US woman (besides Tonya Harding) to have landed a triple axel in competition. Wait a second.... Tonya Harding? Knee injury? Was Tonya anywhere near Kimmie at the time of this injury? Perhaps she wanted to remain alone on that triple axel podium.

Anyhow. I was really cheering for Kimmie to make a comeback and hit the medal podium at the Olympics. I thought she really has the potential.

Sasha Cohen has declared an attempt to qualify for the 2010 Olympic team, although it appears as though she, too, has a nagging injury and, realistically speaking, even if she makes the Olympic team, it's unrealistic that she'd best her 2006 silver medal, so in a way, what's the point? I love watching her skate but she may as well continue on the professional circuit instead of the competitive one, especially considering she's been out of the competitive circuit for the past three years.

Anyhow. Anyone else care about figure skating the way I do?

No Further Comments

Note the red ring....

For the Record....

I'm as against them as ever....

Chicago 2016?

I LOVE the Olympics.  And I LOVE Chicago.

However, these two are NOT peanut butter and chocolate.  Much more like sushi and waffles.  Or riesling and Henry.  Or dance moves and my wine glass collection.  Two things I love that should NEVER be mixed.

Am I ALONE in saying I do NOT want the 2016 games in Chicago?!!?!  It sure seems like it!!  

I could understand people from other areas of the country cheering on the Chicago games, but my fellow Chicagoans?!!  Hello!!!  

For one, our city is crowded enough on a regular basis.  We have enough sporting festivities going on, thankyouverymuch.  I do not need any more challenges in finding a parking spot.  Do my fellow Chicagoans realize just how much of an additional crowd these events are going to attract?  This is an international event!! 

That, and maybe this is also just me, but I have a New Yorker's attitude toward tourists.  As I'm going about my daily life trying to cross the street on my way to work, I do not need to go out of my way to walk around someone trying to take a picture - or worse yet, asking for my help in taking said picture (and then asking for a redo because of someone's eyes being closed, etc.) .  Additionally, I do not need said tourists scoffing at me because I walked through their pictures (because they seem to think the city stops to acknowledge their family's vacation).

Also, think about it - the preparation (construction, etc.) that would have to be put into the events would cause many inconveniences to our daily commute and what have you.  And DON'T get me started on the tax dollars - we've had enough useless spending around these joints (see also those Rod Blagojevich signs on the expressway over the open road tolling lane).

Let's all get past the 'omg, wouldn't it be so cool to have the Olympics in Chicago?!!' perspective and let's take a look at the real potential consequences. 

I am not the hostess with the mostess, and neither is my city.  And I would like to keep it that way.  Thank you.

(Editor's note:  Do you think Daley possibly reads my blog?)

Did You See?

It was incredible, wasn't it?  

Are We Better Off With Modern Medicine?

An interesting point from today's Quick Takes Column in the good old CST:

Bitter pill

Kevin Perez, a Chicago reader, writes:

''While watching Michael Phelps seek the eight Olympic gold medals, the story of how he became a champion swimmer kept coming to mind. His mother said he was an energetic boy to the point where it was hard to keep him still, and he was finally given Ritalin. But he talked her and the doctor out of it after a while, and the energy went into swimming. I wonder. How many potential champions have the pharmaceutical companies sabotaged? When will our country start teaching to the child's potential instead of to arbitrary standards?''

Countdown to the Olympics

Two days!!!   Don't expect to see me in any social context over the 16 day period.  Just sayin'.