February 19th.

I have to start my making a correction to the last post. I mentioned that we were riding with Wilbur and Stadler when we all know that it is Waldorf and Stadler. On the way to our game on Wednesday evening we ran into Lanny MacDonald and his son and had a short visit as they were off to Molson's Hockey House and were running a little late. The security to get into Canada Hockey Place is really something. Once you get into the area you have to walk a fair distance up over the road and back down and along the road until the back down (door 9) , then you into the building. Once we got in we go down to the parking level only to find our room locked a game still on. We then ask someone where the work area check in is and we were told we were supposed to check into at the security gate we came in. So off we went back to the security gate going over the road and then all the way back. By now I'm tired and ready for a nap as we continue our journey. We go for dinner and tonite we have stir fry or ravioli and soup. The process for a meal is really something and it seems to work against anyone working. When you work a 2pm game we have to be there 11/2 - 2 hours prior to shift. They have lunch at 1:30 - 4pm and we have to be in position at 1hour before face off so we miss lunch and it normally is not worth much. Dinner is the same and it is not much either but I'm at the Olympic Games and it's great. We did the Czech vs Slovakia game and it was a great game and I think all the players are NHLplayers and they are very proud to play for their country. We ride the sky train to the stadium and the system is running to full capacity and it operates without a driver. We have about a mile walk to get into the arena as they don't allow you to get off at the Stadium stop because of security so we have to get off at the Scienc Center and walk along the sea wall. Speaking of the sea wall someone is piling all the rocks into different designs and it is really something to see.

On Thursday we had the US vs Norway and the US won with a few goals late in the game. I work on the 5th level and right on Center Ice and they did an interview Brian Burke the US general manager about 5 feet from my locations. The crowds are great the people really get into the action and they dress up with the team colors. I'm really glad that no one is over charging the people here as you can buy a coke in the machine for only $4.50 and they take Visa. We then had Canada vs Switzerland and you all know the final score on this one. It reminded me of the Saddledome as everything was red with both team colors are red and white and very loud. Team Canada brass sit in a booth right behind us and they were very quiet. We rode the elevator down with Steve Yzerman and he didn't look very happy. Of course some guy who had one or more too many beers asked him for a photo and he said sure. He didn't want to but he knew he had to and of course the guy asked him a thousand questions and he coundn't wait to get out. When we leave the arena we exit at gate 10 and walk up to the stadium station (we just can't get in there).
Today we went to the O zone in Richmond and the Heineken House and had a blast. They sell a bunch of Dutch products and have all the winter sports in virtual reality and you can try any of them from snowboarding to bobsleigh and downhill racing and of course the most popular was beer drinking and I didn't do any as I had to rest after my snowboarding event. Again we took the sky train and the weather here is very warm and while I was standing around waiting for the other people I saw a bee working on the flowers and the guy down the street cutting the lawn and it's only February. The people here are watering the flowers and grass and the foundtain's are all in full operation. Saaturday we have the late game and then on Super Sunday we have Czech's vs Russia and US vs Canada and then maybe we'll try and watch Finland and Sweden.