Hollywoodland

The only two events at today’s Olympics are the gold medal hockey game between the USA and Canada and the men’s 50km cross country skiing. So I’m watching the skiing and everybody’s going along nice as can be when all of a sudden five or six skiers get all tangled up in each other’s skis and every single one of them falls down. You just don’t expect a five car pile-up in cross country skiing! At least I don’t. *g*

Tonight is the closing ceremonies. Also tonight on Masterpiece, we have a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps which was based on the novel of the same name by John Buchan.

Reading: Finished up West of Bliss and barely started Death at Bishop’s Keep by Robin Paige which is the pseudonym of Susan Wittig Albert and her husband Bill Albert. This is the first book in their Victorian/Edwardian series featuring Kate Ardleigh Sheridan and Sir Charles Sheridan. I’ve been wanting to try this series for ages.

And now for my final Vancouver 2010 Olympics report! [»]

…I can’t celebrate. (Okay, I admit I haven’t got a clue what this excuse is good for.)

I overslept badly this morning. I didn’t wake up until after noon!!! Guess I was tired. *g* But it’s got my day all screwed up.

Today is the last full day of Olympics coverage. This afternoon and tonight we have the men’s curling gold medal round, the figure skating gala, men’s snowboard slalom finals, men’s skiing slalom, four-man bobsled finals (USA! USA! USA!), and men’s & women’s speed skating pursuit.

Reading: Since I got loads of new & new-to-me books yesterday, I had lots to choose from last night. So now I’m reading West of Bliss by Suzann Ledbetter. The spine says it’s a romance but it’s also a mystery. And fun.

And now for the Olympics report!

The U.S. was shut out of the women’s skiing slalom. Nor did we medal in the women’s snowboard giant slalom.

In women’s curling, the gold medal went to Sweden, with the silver going to Canada. China won the bronze.

Then it was time for gymnastics…. er, I mean short track speed skating. *g* We had many spin outs, slips, and falls. And Apolo Anton Ohno’s stint on Dancing with the Stars stood him in good stead because he had to leap over fallen skaters twice.

But alas, in the 500m race, Apolo was robbed. He was in fourth place and trying to pass the Canadian skater ahead of him. He barely touched him but because the other skater fell, Apolo ended up getting disqualified. But… (you knew there was a “but” coming, didn’t you?) another Canadian skater was in first place and he put his hand on the Korean skater who was in second place who also fell, but he wasn’t DQed. So, how fair was it that Apolo was? Not very, IMO. I mean, if they wanted to DQ Apolo for MAYBE causing that other skater to fall, that’s fine. But the same rules should have applied to the skater in first place too. But you know what? He didn’t whine about it like the Koreans have a tendency to do. Though maybe I’m making up for that on my own. *g* He did say he thought the call was somewhat biased but he also said, “That’s the nature of short track” and moved on.

Then we had the women’s 1000m short track final. Katherine Reutter of the U.S. won the silver medal! It was the first women’s individual medal in short track in 16 years.

The final event of the evening was the men’s 5000m relay in short track. I don’t like this event. It’s way too confusing to watch. Also way too chaotic. The gold went to Canada, the silver to Korea, and as everyone thought the bronze was going to go to China, if I recall correctly, because the U.S. just couldn’t get into medal contention. I can’t remember how Apolo edged into third place, but I’m so glad he did.

Not a real wall, I hope. Though now that I think about it, I do feel like I’ve hit a wall with my book. Hmm.

On this date in history:

• Actor William Frawley was born in 1887. He’s best known for portraying Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy.

• Actor Dub Taylor was born in 1907. He worked primarily in westerns.

• Comedian Jackie Gleason was born in 1916.

• In 1917, The Original Dixieland Jass Band recorded the first jazz record, for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York. (Yes, they used the term “jass” vs “jazz”, don’t ask me why.)

• Actor Tony Randall was born in 1920. He’s probably best known for his role as Felix Unger in The Odd Couple.

Tonight, we have yet more Olympics coverage. Women’s curling gold medal rounds, men’s 500m short track, women’s slalom, four-man bobsled, and other stuff, I think, but it’s hard to tell by the schedule.

Did some more tweaking last night. *g*

Reading: Finished up Reclaim My Life. Not sure what’s next. A bunch of new and new-to-me books arrived at my house today. Yay!!!

And now for the Olympics report! [»]