Dreams Do Come True

While in Sochi watching the Olympics I thought a few times about the "tragedy" of a silver, or a bronze medal as I watched some of the athletes disappointment. And I caught myself thinking something similar a couple times when people asked "What other Olympics have you been to?" like going to the Olympics was a normal thing.

But the reality is, I went to the Olympics. I set the goal. I made it happen. And it was AWESOME :)

Entering Olympic Park for the first time early in the morning when it was nearly deserted was such a cool feeling. 

There were a couple Russians walking in at the same time and as they spoke to me in Russian I just smiled along - until they said, "You don't understand what we're saying do you?" and I was forced to admit, no. They followed up with, "From this day on, you need to study the Russian language." To which I smiled and nodded.

Then I noticed the music playing, and they lyrics expressed my sentiments exactly:

"I like the way this feels..."

Indeed I did!

I thought seeing the Olympic rings was awesome, and it was, but then I saw the Olympic flame ringed by the country flags. What an amazing sight - at any time of day.

And all of this in the hush and muted, but growing, light of morning. Words and pictures just can't do it justice.

Over the next few days I went to four events, in the following order:

1. Curling

2. Skeleton

3. Short Track Speed Skating

4. Ski Jumping

Curling

I've been a little obsessed with this sport since high school when the Olympics came to Salt Lake City and we played a mock version on the food floor in our gym. And then someone gave me their curling venue fleece (yes, I wore it to Curling :) and that increased my love for the sport.

Containing my excitement before going into my first Olympic venue just wasn't possible:

While watching, I met a Russian superfan, and asked if he'd take a photo with me:

Skeleton

AMAZING (and a bit scary) to watch, especially when one of the male racers nearly crashed right next to me. As in I was close enough that if I was on my stomach instead of standing up, I would have been able to touch him. But I got some killer shots, and found out that I could wander around more freely than I originally thought - so I went up to the top and watched one of the runs from the push off area at the top of the course.

The icing on the cake was watching Noelle Pikus-Pace take the silver medal - and then running into her at Church a couple days later - say what? I had no idea she was a Mormon, and I had no idea she was the person being interviewed behind me when I took a picture with my new friend Sam...

Short Track Speed Skating

While this was a very tragic/ sad go for Team USA, I did still ultimately have a good time and enjoyed cheering. It was fun because one of the female USA skaters has the same name as my cousin - Jessica Smith. And because the vibe in the venue was so fun.

And while it was tragic, it blows my mind that I watched Emily Scott get pushed by a Korean skater in the semi-final round, get up having lost her glasses, and complete the round. And then minutes later, to watch a male skater from the Netherlands also be pushed by a Korean skater in the semi-final round - it was mind blowing. And I cheered my heart out (ultimately losing my voice) when Mr. Netherlands won the bronze medal!

Surprisingly, one of my favorite parts was watching all the prep work/ behind the scenes things that were done by volunteers that I never would have thought of...

Ski Jumping

On the way up to the Mountain Cluster for this event, I met Lars from Norway and we chatted a bit. He asked me how I, as an American, came to know much about ski jumping - since, as a country, we're not very good at it.

The honest answer? I don't know much about it (even still...). I have always found it very cool to watch, and it is something that I can't imagine doing. Not just from a lack of athletic ability standpoint, but from a "how could you hurl yourself from that high up and land on your feet?" standpoint. I have to say - this crowd was the best one of the four, narrowly beating out short track, but beating it. Which is good, because on my way up, I was a little nervous that my last event might be a let down after such an awesome few days.

I mean, come on - who can beat the space dance?

I was pulling for the 41-year-old Japanese ski jumper, and was a little sad that he got bumped into the silver medal spot. He was still very impressive, and cool to watch. It was so fun to see the different reactions of people when they made it to the bottom, and to watch the celebration of the three medalists.

There are just too many stories! So, I decided to create a Russian Tales post/ page for anyone who wants to read more (and I'll be adding more over time as well...)

I also created a Twitter handle for this trip - you can check it out: @NicoleinRussia

Russian Tales

Best Picture In the World!

"Photo please?" 

"Oh yes!" I say. 

With lots of gestures and few words he indicates how I should frame him in the photo. I must have done a decent job because he asked me to take a number of other photos as we leap-frogged each other across a Russian exhibit.

I ask him to take a photo of me after awhile, which he takes:

  

"Best photo in the world!" he exclaimed with a big grin and thumbs up as he handed me back my camera.

Princess of Olympic Park

"How was your day?" my smiling hosts asked me when we met up before their hockey game.

"So fun!" I exclaim. "The park was so empty this morning so I just walked around and took lots of photos."

"Ah, Nicole, the Princess of Olympic Park - here all alone!" Geniia quips.

"Now You Are Russian"

 "Well, people keep thinking I am Russian," I explained to my Russian hosts.
Laughter spills from them.
"Take a picture," they insist in front of the hockey rink.

I happily oblige:

















"Wait, hold this!" they insist shoving their Russian flag toward me.
Again, I happily oblige:

"Now you are Russian!" they say with more good natured laughter.

Encounter with NBC intern

"How's that?" I asked after taking the requested photo.
"Great, thanks."
"We should have a picture together."

"What's your name, by the way?"

"Nick"

"Oh, I'm Nicole!"

"Ah" with a smile.

"We are Russian!"

"Where are you from?" I ask the woman who has just helped me.

"We are Russian!" her son exclaims standing up straight and facing me.

I point to the boys sweater - "Russian, but Canada?" I read with a grin.

He lowers his eyes with a disgusted sigh while his mother laughs.

Russian Valentine

"Welcome! Where are you from?" bellows a tall man in a knight costume

"New York" I reply with a smile, my camera at the ready.

"Ah - New York! A great city," He says as he folds me into a bear hug. "Sorry my English is so bad!" he says as he pulls away.

"That's okay," I respond with a shrug, "my Russian is very bad."

"Ah!" I catch the knowing smile and grateful look in his eyes and he folds me into another hug. "A picture for your memory - here, my friend will take!"

Reading up a Storm - the Count

I'm about 80% done with my book reading goal - both parts!

• 83% done with nonfiction
• 80% done with fiction

That means 20 books left to go, at least 6 nonfiction.

It was so fun to look back over the books I've read. So many good stories I read and so many memories - like how I read seven books during my first trip to London... And thinking about some of the people who have suggested books to read and lent me some of them.

Can't wait for the last 20!

 

The States Map - Seeing Visual Progress

As mentioned in my Kentucky post, I now have a scratch off state map!!

Check it out, and check out all the x's below...they represent states I have been to. Good news, I've made a significant dent in the goal of having a meaningful experience in each state.

More good news, I've already written about a few of the states (the one's that are scratched off)

Now all I need to do is spend some time writing :)

(and visit the remaining 15ish states...)

Kentucky - Baseball, Turkey, Bridges, Derby - and more!

It never ceases to amaze me what putting a desire out in the universe can do. One day I mentioned I want to go to every state, the next my friend Emily told me to come to her place in Kentucky for Thanksgiving - "if you don't already have plans"...so I bought a plane ticket :)

And what a great trip it was! I think one of my favorite things about traveling and visiting new places is to get a glimpse into what life is like for people who live there. And when you stay with people who live there, that is even easier to do.

Weather conspired against me, but luckily it did not prevail. Even with the very cold temperatures and a little snow, we managed to get out and about and get a real taste for what Louisville has to offer. On my first full day there we went to a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich shop - they also had grilled cheese doughnuts. Quite the experience! I would recommend it, for the record:

After eating lunch, we bundled up again and headed to the store "Why Louisville?" that had some gems. This is where I first noticed that there were a lot of mustache themed items in Louisville, and found a great gift for one of my mustache loving friends. They also had scratch maps for the US. Emily helped me see this was a perfect way to track my progress on my goal to have a meaningful experience in each state. So excited to use it!

Outside there was a great picture board - where Emily's daughter Lily and I created the incredible two-headed bearded woman :)

The factory that makes most of the major league baseball bats is in Louisville - so naturally we went on a tour there. At the end of the tour they give you a miniature bat to take home (that can't be in your carry-on luggage...) which is in stark contrast to the HUGE bat in the front of the museum. In addition to the larger than life bat out front, there is a stone baseball glove inside that Lily and Ewan had a blast climbing up and sliding down. I stand by my opinion that most things are better when kids are involved - their joy is contagious.

Of course, Thanksgiving Dinner was a huge part of this trip. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays - I love the reminder to focus on what we are grateful for, the chance to slow down and spend time with people we love. It is also true, though, that I haven't spent Thanksgiving with my family in nearly a decade (that's weird in and of itself...) So it was nice to be with a family for the first time in awhile.

Emily and the kids had put up a ton of fall leaves in fun decorations around the house, which added to the festive atmosphere. And we went all out - making name cards even.

Lily requested an apple pie as she went to bed Thanksgiving Eve. As we adults were discussing it, we talked about how there were already going to be several pies...eventually we decided that Thanksgiving celebrates having more than we need, and there was no reason not to make an apple pie, so we may as well - and if we were making it, we weren't going to go half way in the endeavor. The result was beautiful and delicious, if I do say so myself!

One of the highlights of the trip was the post Thanksgiving dinner rocket launching...I wish I had pictures to share! There were several families that got together for this, and despite the cold, it was a smashing success - a hit with both adults and children alike.

We had talked about making this trip into a two for one state adventure since Indiana is just across the river from Louisville. There is even a walking bridge that connects the two states. So, we loaded the kids into strollers and walked across the beautiful bridge.

As fun as it was, it didn't end with us in Indiana. A chain link fence and some architectural drawings marked the end of our trek signaling that we'd have to turn around since the bridge isn't yet open on the Indiana side. Oh well - we still had fun (including watch and elderly couple dance to music played over some loudspeakers on the middle of the bridge) and this means I'll just have to go to Indiana another time!

We also did a drive by of some beautiful, large Victorian houses on our way to dinner.

We had tacos for dinner, but I think what really stuck out to me from the evening was the proof hanging on the wall that this restaurant believes in reducing, reusing, and recycling :)

Emily and I finished the evening going to "Light Up Louisville" while Kyle took the tired and cold children home (what a great dad and husband!). The Christmas parade reminded me of other fun adventures in Marble Head watching Santa come in on a lobster boat and then having the whole town in the parade, or watching the local parade in Buena Vista, Virginia while in college. In Louisville, Santa brings a large plug, which he plugs in and all the Christmas lights in Louisville turn on. And there are FIREWORKS! This was totally up my ally!

While this building above wasn't officially part of the festivities, I was captivated that there was a fake lighthouse on top of one of the tallest buildings in downtown Louisville...want to know the story behind that one!

Saturday morning we had a leisurely start and put up the Christmas tree and decorations. Such a fun post-Thanksgiving tradition and activity! And, once again, more fun with small children around. On our way to the airport we went to Churchill Downs (where the Kentucky Derby is held). The museum was fun, and the videos were entertaining. Since I had a flight to catch, we decided to only join the tour of the racetrack for a few minutes - and I'm glad we did. We were just in time to see a horserace! It was exciting, and the perfect end to my trip to Kentucky.

Special thanks to Emily, Kyle, Lily and Ewan for hosting me and helping me explore their city!