host cities

I could probably rattle off the Olympic host cities from 1992-2020 for both summer and winter Olympics. I've been alive for all of these, anything before 1988 gets a little hazy. But I could pull a few of those out too. I started making a list of all the Olympic host cities/sites I've been to. Surprisingly it was a few!

Lake Placid-1932, 1980 Winter Olympics
Passed through this place on a family trip back east. I was like 12 so I don't remember too much. I think we ice skated on the rink there. And there really was a lake.

Los Angeles-1932, 1984 Summer Olympics
Didn't really see anything to commemorate these games, but I've been to the city at least!

Rome-1960 Summer Olympics
Does the Colosseum count? The Gladiator Olympics maybe. I also walked by Circus Maximus and could totally see some track and field going on there.

Paris-1900 and 1924 Summer Olympics
Again, nothing to really show Olympics, but I was totally there.

Vancouver-2010 Winter Olympics
I've actually been twice, once before and once after the games. We found the Olympic Cauldron in the city center and took some pics where we attempted some ice skating type jumps. I also got to ski at Cypress Mountain where they held some of the Alpine events during the games. It was pretty rad.

London-2012 Summer Olympics
Watching the games I was totally, "I've been there! I've been there!" anytime they would show a venue. Should have made time to ride out to see the stadium but we ran out of time and it was probably all fenced off anyway. But we did get pictures in front of the official countdown in Trafalgar Square and I bought a Union Jack Olympic pin. Oh, and we did see the medals on display in the British Museum.

Salt Lake City-2002 Winter Olympics
I've ice skated at 7 Peaks where I think they had some hockey. I've skiied at Snowbasin where they had some Alpine events. And I've been to the Utah Olympic Park near Park City. This is where they have the bobsled run (still need to try!), cross country skiing, and ski jumping for US athletes to practice on. AND they actually have a decent museum. Part is dedicated to winter sports/Utah sports in general but another part is all about the 2002 games and has all kinds of paraphernalia. I totally ate it up and needed the highlights dvd to part with. I'm glad that they keep a memory of the games because I think for a lot of cities it just passes away and years later there's not really much to show for it. There were rumors that SLC wanted to bid for the 2022 games but I think they've pulled out. I'm crossing my fingers for 2026 because I can't think of a good place to have the 2024 summer games in the US.

One day I shall witness the Olympics!

some notices

-January has got to be the most fun-sucker of all the months. Having to go back to work/school after all that vacation is the worst. Also I am having cabin fever real bad. I haven't been outside for a good amount of time since I took my bro on a walk when he was home for Christmas. Ufff. I want to see some sunshine, and more than that I want to feel "sunshine on my shoulders." This whole inside all the time thing also makes work a real drag.

-I got released from my calling at church. (A little celebrating going on here.) I totally celebrated by not going to FHE. And instead I went to the Body Flow class at my gym and did some yoga/Pilates and am all kinds of stretched out and sore.

-My aunt totally sent me a card today with Harry Potter Forever stamps just because she thought I would like them. They are seriously cool and I'm not sure if I'll actually use them. Good thing I'll have "forever" to decide. Haha.

-I leave for sunny AZ in 15 days am I am so pumped. Bub, Mike, sun, Olympics, warm, birthday, ice cream cake. Waaahooooo.

-Between Downton, Sherlock, and Midwife I am running out of Tunnel Bear like crazy. British TV go away!

-For some reason I have this compulsion to get books off my Goodreads "To Read" list, so I've been reading a lot lately. But this will be shot when the Olympics start airing because I will be glued to the telly.

-I'm so glad that "crowd funding" is helping the Jamaician bobsled team go to the Olympics again.

Yep.

olympic playlist

Ok, so if you know me, you know I am an Olympics junkie. Well folks, we're 30 days away and the Olympics coincides with my birthday (it's like the Universe wants to wish me HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY), and I decided to also visit AZ for the occasion which also holds my sis and bro-in-law, so pretty much I'm going to explode.

Anyway, I've already written so much on why I love the Olympics. But what I haven't shared is my Olympic playlist. I've got a certain number of songs that inspire that Olympic feeling within, some are actually official songs, some were just on commercials during the Olympics, but they are all great. PS. They are all pretty awesome to exercise to. Here goes:

Of course you have to get the official Olympic Fanfare by John Williams. (Think music you hear on NBC when you watch the games). And also you can group this with the Summon the Heroes. Makes me think of strong and noble Greek warriors getting ready to duke it out.

I Believe I Can Fly and The World's Greatest by R. Kelly. The first is merely reminiscent of the Olympic spirit but the second was actually the soundtrack to the Coca Cola commercials from the 2002 SLC Games. (Wait, that may have been Beautiful Day by U2?) All good songs about winning and being the best.

Free by Elliot Yamin-was an actual team USA Olympic song one year, possibly the 2008 Beijing games? Pretty good song by the American Idol Alum.

Dreamer by Chris Brown-also was in the same year. Keeps in the theme of working really hard and being the best.

Sing by Gary Barlow-ok, so this song was written for Queen Liz's Diamond Juilbilee, but as I visited London the same year of the 2012 Olympics it made me get all patriotic for the motherland and it's all inspiring and emotional because Gary traveled the globe to former commonwealth nations to get all kinds of people to sing on it. The 2012 official song was by Muse but it was weird and I couldn't get into it.

All These Things I've Done by The Killers-this was on a Nike Olympic commercial that always made me cry when they showed the picture of Lance almost dying of cancer, haven't watched it since the "confession" so not sure if I'll still cry. (Probs) And look for Oscar at the end.

One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston-not really one I've listened to before but it could fit and who doesn't love Whitney?

Let's have a moment for the Star Spangled Banner-Whitney of course did the best, but Josh did a dang good job too.

Light the Fire Within by LeAnn Rimes-this was the official Olympic song for the SLC 2002 games (also began on my b-day!), it's pretty inspiring.

but

The Ultimate and Most Inspiring Olympic Song goes to The Power of the Dream by Celine Dion. I. Mean. She sang it at the 1996 Atlanta games and it is so so powerful. (You also see a young Bill and Hillary in that link, haha). And then when you watch the youtube video set to Olympic clips...yeah. Celine is a powerhouse and thank you for honoring us Americans.

So that's me little playlist. Bon Appetit.