Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Sweet Baby Girl


My emotions over another girl are many, but mainly, I am delighted to give Kate a sister. Now that we know who she is, or rather, that it is a she, I feel like I can start to plan and prepare and discuss the new arrival with Kate. She still doesn't understand what is going to happen here, but now we can talk about the baby sister and how to be a great example of a how a big girl behaves. Let's hope that works...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Figure Skating

I finally went out to see an event. When Kate woke up this morning I was ready to go, and we headed down to Qwest Arena to see what we could see. I had heard rumors that Joe Biden would be there today for a medal ceremony and that we should get there early. Unfortunately, upon our arrival we learned that a) we should have gotten there a lot earlier than we did (the lines where insane!) and that Biden hadn't left the ground in Washington DC yet. That didn't really matter to me - I was there to check out the skaters. It was great. We saw all different skill levels and a lot of excitement and smiles. I ran into a Volunteer with whom I worked on Saturday, and we sat together and enjoyed the event. Just prior to Kate's cut off point Scott Hamilton made an appearance and announced good and bad news. The bad news was that Biden STILL hadn't left Washington DC. The good news... Michelle Kwan were there! This was very exciting for me, as I'm a big fan. Both Michelle and Scott are supporters of the Special Olympic movement and it was great to see them there. As the medaling stands were being erected, Kate started to melt, so we headed home for a long winter's nap. What a great event!

Tomorrow are the Closing Ceremonies, which I won't be attending. I suspect that although I'll stop in the office tomorrow, my 2009 Special Olympics World Games experience has come to a close. I wish I had been able to see and do more, and I wish I had been able to interact with the athlete's more. I suppose that no matter how much I had done I would have been left wanting more. It was a fantastic experience that I'll remember for the rest of my days!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

More - The Games

The Games are in full force and it seems that Boise is pumping with the energy of the athlete's excitement. I've spent the last 6 days in the middle of the chaos; however, every time I speak to another staff member I realize they are more stressed/sleep deprived/chaotic than me. I was asked to help out with Food and Beverage. Never having been a part of an event before, I didn't really know what that meant.
Friday I visited the Floor Hockey events (they were "divisioning", or playing to determine skill level and who they would play against in competition) and then I worked in their dining hall (tent). What that meant for me was clearing tables as fast as possible in order that athlete's with full plates could find a place to sit. Athlete's were very excited and were singing and dancing in the isles. It was fantastic! When that rush had passed I was pulled into a Floor Hockey Coaches meeting. I learned my lesson quickly - stop offering to help! I was assigned to taking meeting minutes, which was horribly boring, although it did give me the opportunity to learn about floor hockey - something about which I knew nothing.
Saturday I was asked to work at a dining hall (HUGE tent) outside of Opening Ceremonies where I assisted in serving lunch and dinner to hundred's of athletes. This was very hectic, somewhat disorganized, but incredibly fun. I ducked out of there just in time to see the ceremonies and then quickly ducked back in to help serve dinner, and finally to clean up. I was exhausted at the end of the day, but rewarded by the smiling faces, hugs and cool pins I received from athletes.
Sunday I drove to Sun Valley (SV) to, again, help out with Food and Beverage. There is one dining hall in SV which is feeding all of the athlete's breakfast and dinner (boxed lunches are served at the venues). When I arrived there was a lot of confusion over various issues - specifically when the dairy truck would be arriving, final headcounts for meals, etc. Luckily I had a list of phone numbers and a cell phone, which made me incredibly useful to the caterers (Full Moon Catering, Sun Valley, Idaho). We were instant friends. I wish I had an event for which I could hire them, as they were fantastic people and absolute pros. I spent a total of 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts there, which required me to get up at 5am both mornings, but it was another awesome experience. Monday afternoon I was able to break away and check out the snowboarding venue on Dollar Mountain in SV. It was a blue bird day and there were school kids everywhere out on a field trip to cheer on the athlete's. It was great!
Today I am back to my "real" job - HR for this Organizing Committee. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and these Games are celebrated with Closing Ceremonies in two days. With the closing of the Games comes the departure of some of the staff, and the wrap, up involving reports and closing down the building. I don't know how much longer I'll have a job, but for the short-term I have to make sure every one's departure is handled appropriately.
Tomorrow I hope to take Kate to some figure skating events, and maybe some speed skating. I don't feel like I've been able to enjoy these events as a bystander and I think that would be a great way to wrap up the week.
This has been an incredible experience - all due to the joy and excitement of the athlete's and the group of people who have planned this tremendous event in a short amount of time and on a shoestring budget.
For those of you out of the area, check out some of the coverage of the Games at www.ktvb.com!!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Special Olympics Day of Fun

Pictures to follow, but I felt I had to share after such a day. I had the pleasure of helping to feed hundred's of Special Olympians in a huge tent just outside the Idaho Center, Nampa, ID. It was crazy at times, as well as confusing, fun, but mainly rewarding. I didn't realize how exhausted I would be at the end of two days serving food, wiping down tables, pretending to know when more food would arrive or when the buses would arrive and where. People confused me with someone who would know the answers to important questions because I wear a "staff" uniform. What they don't know is that all I did was hire the people who made the decisions about the important details. Regardless, it was a ton of fun, and the smiles of the athlete's will stay with me for ages to come. And the best part? Opening Ceremonies! My friend and neighbor, Jen P joined me, as well as Aunt Pat and a friend of hers. There were celebrities, politicians, Olympic athletes, and hundred's of Special Olympians. I can't wait to share my photos.

And then there was Brad's day with Kate. From the sounds of it, it was a day that Brad won't forget for a long time to come as well. He took Kate to see her first movie, with popcorn and everything.

After her nap they went for dinner and Kate received a fortune in her cookie stating, "Your charm has intrigued a secret admirer." I think the admirer is her Dad.

Friday, February 6, 2009

A Very Special Day!


Julie P (triplet mom) put it best in her blog, so I've provided a link here. Plus, her camera is fantastic! www.prairie3.blogspot.com

I will add that it is very exciting for me to see the hard work of my co-workers come to life with the arrival to Boise of the Torch and Athlete's from around the world. Over the course of the next 5+ days I get to help at various venues doing whatever they need two hands to do. I am very excited to be a part of the execution of the plans these people have been putting into place over the course of the last 2 years. It is bound to be an incredibly rewarding experience!

Check out our website at www.2009worldgames.org!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Boob Tube

Move over Disney Channel, there is a new tube in town. The cabin we've rented for the winter is located near a fantastic tubing hill and we've lucked out - the minimum age requirement happens to be 2. I see this as one of the first steps toward Brad and Kate zooming around on roller coasters. A baby step; however, Brad quickly realized that it isn't much of a baby step, as these hills are very fast. After the first run he decided to ride on his stomach in order to slow them down a little bit. Rules state that everyone has to be in their own tube and Kate apparently loves it. Unfortunately, much like roller coasters... no pregnant people allowed.