Month: February 2018

Olympics.4

Sent: Wed, Feb 14, 2018 at 8:51 PM

Recipients: Daughter, Son, Daughter-in-Law

Email Body:

Doubles Luge.  This is a head -scratcher for me.The guy on the bottom cannot see anything; therefore, he can’t steer, etc.  I don’t understand what the bottom person adds other than doubling the damage in the event of a wreck.  Plus, he gets smashed by the top guy the whole way down – just not seeing the point.
The skeleton looks more practical – head first – see the landscape.  However, I certainly don’t understand the nuances.
Then…commercial for….the Kentucky Derby.  Wait. What?  Seems way out of place.
American men just won their first match – I started my interest in this sport about 3 Olympics back.  I still don’t understand the scoring.  At all.  I even read up on the subject once, but if I figured it out, I’ve forgotten it.  You guys will have to explain it to me.
The Pursuit – again, this somehow carries over from Biathalon, but I just get lost trying to track everyone.  Nothing like a good swim meet when its rather obvious who won.  Plus, they all start at the same time.
The venues look nice…lots of ice.  More ice.
Time for men’s hockey- beating peeps up with body slams and sticks…..
We’ll catch up soon!
USA USA!
Is anyone out there?  Hello?  Does this  thing work?
Notes: My SIL has learned how to use Google magic to respond with a auto-fill reply. Her response to this? “Love it!” 

Olympics.3

Sent: Tue, Feb 13, 2018 at 9:16 PM

Recipients: Daughter, Son, Daughter-in-Law

Email Body:

I realize I have never been on snow skis and never show boarded before and most likely never will in my lifetime due to my infamous feet issues.
However, when I was younger, I water-ski’d.  As I recall, hitting a bunch of choppy waves was no fun – water smooth as glass was pretty awesome. ( I quit when I started infertility treatments and not sure I ever did it again.)
So…I’m watching the men’s qualifying in moguls.  I know – I’m way behind.
Anyway, that does NOT look like a fun time for your knees.  I’ll throw your back in that category as well.  Maybe I’m all wet here (I certainly was when I fell on water skiis…hee hee), but I am again having trouble understanding why this is fun.  A hill here and then would be fun while snow skiing; however, I’m just not seeing the thrill of continuous pounding of your knees.  Plus, if you pick up too much speed (it looks pretty steep to me), I really think disaster is a real possibility.
I need you guys to explain this to me – you have all ski’d.
Please explain why this is a fun sport.
Thanks!
Notes: I think skiing is the worst. So I’m of no help on a response here. 

Olympics.2

Sent: Sun, Feb 11, 2018 at 7:52 PM

Recipients: Daughter, Son, Daughter-in-Law

Email Body:

Ok, I just talked with K and mentioned my thoughts on the women’s biathalon:
Forget the skiing.  Forget the shooting.  Forget the frostbite they got on their faces.  I couldn’t do this event because there are too many choices in the ski path.  They have staggered starts, so you aren’t just following the pack.  I’d be skiing in the wrong lane for sure.
I’m watching USA women vs Finland in ice hockey.  You couldn’t pay me enough to referee one of these matches.  People basically skiing on knives wielding sticks  and bad attitudes – a recipe for disaster.
Back to figure skating.  In one of my favorite TV shows (‘Haven’), one of the characters says “Man, you have the heart of a figure skating judge”.  That was referring to back in the day, when there was a panel of judges from various countries rating the skaters on a scale of 1-10.  Now, you have to pay attention to colored boxes in the upper left corner.  Although I often got frustrated with the obvious “…and a disappointing 7,2 from the German judge” results, the system they have now is ridiculous.  Same thing with gymnastics.  I remember Mary Lou Retton getting a perfect 10 on her vault.  Now, they have to brag that they got a 42.3756 and that put them on top – where’s the excitement in that?
I’m recording everything I can and some things are overlapping.  The amount of commercials borders on crazy town, but they didn’t ask for my opinion.
Just fyi in case my comments don’t match up with current results.
I have to iron again tomorrow, so we’ll see who wins Round #2.
Have a great week kids!
Notes: I think this subject line naming convention is going to REALLY help us out in the long run here. Also, I too miss the Perfect 10’s.

Olympics.1

Sent: Sat, Feb 10, 2018 at 5:42 PM

Recipients: Daughter, Son, Daughter-in-Law

Email Body:

OK.  I know I have regaled you in the past with my version of the summer Olympics.  The winter Olympics is another animal.  I ‘m watching men’s luge on dvr.  Memories of the luge track in Park City is haunting.  I have NOTHING around here to duplicate that….other than my treacherous trip down my drive-way last week!
This sport begs the question:  Who woke up one day and declared “I really want to lay on my back on an uncomfortable sled while straining my neck to lift my head slightly to see what I need to do to steer with my thighs and toes!”
It just makes you wonder how these things started.  Then….where do they practice?  I understand the skiing sports – you can find mountains with snow in several locations around the world.  But luge?  I have been to a lot of places and, other than Park City and its former luge track….you just don’t happen upon random luge tracks.
Obviously, former Olympic sites are a good bet.  BUT, only if the host country maintains them…I’ve seen some scary pictures from the RIO summer games and those were just 2 years ago!
This sport looks very dangerous.
Thank you, K and J for not selecting luge as your sport of choice.  I realize I sat through HOT weather at baseball tournaments with no shade and sat in rain and cold watching you play soccer; however, other than being legitimately concerned about those ‘headers’ you both made, I was really never afraid of serious injury.
Yeah….I know, it took 4 surgeries to fix Kaitlin.  Ok.  Perhaps it was dangerous.  But, it paid tuition.  hee hee
Have fun watching the Olympics!
Notes: I’ve missed you all. And it only seemed fitting to come back for the Olympics. Let the games begin – and let us all cherish the MIL emails we will receive this week.