My Green progress

Well I was not as successful as I had hoped to be...I was carried away with the Games more than I thought.

I knew it would not be easy but I thought that time in my life wold be freer and I could accomplish all I wanted and more..bla bla bla, excuse, excuse, excuse.

So I was able to keep up the dishwashing goal, dispite my husbands nagging that he did not like even the clean dishes sitting out. I did use the washer 2 or 3 times when we had friends over, and probly more grean to use the washer for all the crap.

I had too hard of a time keeping only 2 lights on in the house at a time, as I would often have to turn one off that might be in use, just to be able to use another one and found myself running around trying to figure out what would be better. I ended up just making sure a light was off when I left the room and not to have lights on that were not being used.

The trash thing was a little difficult when you are out and about..but managed, but the cloth dipers were set to the side most days.

I did not mind having no paper towels in the house, although it drove my husband crazy, teling everyone that I did not belive in towels rather than educate them. As soon as March was over he purchased a big bag and been using them us like a greed monster ever since.

All in all it definitely made me think a little about what I do and use a little more, switching to hand washing the floor vs. the swifer..and still doing.

The environment is for everyone to enjoy.. something that we should all be making small steps everyday to change, something that should not just be a 2 month project for me to see what I can, (what my husband can) live with out and what we can change.

Change is hard but in the right direction it is always for the better. What is going to be the permeant change in al our lives we can live with?

how Olympics/Paralympics changes me and my life

We have all seen the adds saying how "the olympics united us an the Paralympics will inspire us". This is so amazingly true. I feel closer to people in Ontario cause I know they cheered just as hard as I did on the final hockey game, and had tears for Joannie Rochette as I.

The tourism adds helped as well, but I feel the love for all my Canadian counterparts as I indeed never did before. I cant wait to have the opportunity to travel around this great country a little more in depth. On that note the first spot plan to came in Wells Grey park - a place I learned of from the beautiful waterfalls featured in the BC Hydro house film.

I realized not just what an amazing country we live in but also what an amazing city we live in. We pulled off a fantastic games, with little social problems. What other things can we do or have here? Our citizens are up for anything. Despite our horrible night life Vancouverites like to party and love to make new friends.

I met and made so many new friends over the past 2 months, mostly waiting in lines to get into places, but inside as well as we all marveled that the amazing things we were witnesses. Huddled around a TV on the corner of Richards and Pacific st. watching tensely outside Digital Smart Homes shop... cheering and hugging with strangers after we won, and groaning together when we lots, we were one people one city and one country.

Along came the Paralympics, something that I have to admit a year ago I had not much interest in. The men and women that competed in this were truly truly amazing and gives one something to reflect on your own life about.

There is so much more that I can do with my body, my life and realize that yes even though I am in my mid-30's dreams are not ever dead.. anything in life is in deed possible as long as you have the goals and courage to make it happen.

Having said all this, it has made me realize that I need to wake up a bit, and start chipping away at my list of goals and dreams. I have always wanted to be in better shape and make our world a better place.

I have joined Greenpeace and working out as often as I can. My current fitness goal is to do the sun run this May. I have wanted to for the past 8 years and finally I am getting off my butt and doing it. Time goal 1hr 15min.

Simple enough? Well we all need to start our goals some place... lets see where the journey takes me

Whisler the perfect host city.

The random high-fives that everyone loved along with the constant Woo woo's were deffinitly missed during the paralympics in Vancouver. It was fun and refreshing to find it in Whisler.

Whisler was the perfect host...as Whisler is always a nice touristic place. Friendly people on holiday enjoying the events in the village.

The houses/ media centers were nice looking..not just a big tent put up in the village. They did not look out of place, and with all the light at night it all looked very prity. The whole village was like the most amazine "Live City" venue but with absolutly no line ups of any kind.

The closing ceromonies were sold out but that did not mean that you were not going to be part of the festivities. The athlests were paraded trough the town to the venue.. giving everyone there a wonderful opotuinity to celibrate.

Whisler went beyond the expected. After the closing ceramonies the village had it's own closing ceramonies celbrating both the Paralympics and the Olympics. Two hours of concerts and a party Whisler style in the middle of the village.

Way to go Whisler, you are the best host thank you for your fun you provided. The only complent is you need to learn to controll your weather. Yesterday the rain was so horible...and snow during the games would have been nice.

Paralympic Press

There was many people that i have met that, like me, was hoping the paralympic to be an amazing party like the Olympic's were. Now that it is all over and passed we know that too be false.

Many people blame the media. It was hard to find any channels that even broadcasted the events, let alone news programs giving any updates in the medal counts.

Canadian paralympic athletes in many ways are the real true athletes, having to overcome so many things in there lives. Relearning to walk and reorganize life as they knew it.... true heros and inspiring to not just other disable people, but to us "normal" folks.

TSN did show some of the highlights and still had "The difference makers" for some Athletes, but what happened to everyone else? CTV was camped out on the streets during the Olympic games and was a party place, but what happened to them after? There new hour barley raised an eyebrow to the paralympic games.

I understand that the games don't have the same sponsor ship and thus has a hard time finding channels that can put up the airtime..sad but true. But is it not the duty of all of the news broadcasters in all channels to report the news?

What more do people need to prove to get broadcasting of important events?

Perhaps the Paralympics should be the "open act" for the Olympics not the other way around as it currently is.. what concert do you ever go to where the headliner comes out first? Opening acts pump up the crowed.. not that the Olympics need any pumping up. After the Olympics is over though it is hard to gather your tired body together and do all that hard parting all over again.

Paralympic Sport

I had the great pleasure of going to Whisler this past weekend and attend Alpine skiing while I was there. It was amazing to see people that have been delt a hard hand in life accomplishing something that I am not even capable of doing.

Such speed and agility that they sped down the mountain. Crazy

I was so proud and happy that I was able to partake in the achievements of these amazing individuals, and it was such a different feeling for the athletes then the Olympics. Whenever anyone was doing well and getting a faster speed the crowed was impressed and cheering on the new winner. Canadian or not, we were just all so proud and happy for that person.

That is not to say that we were not jumping up and down going bonkers when any of the Canadian's skied down, and when Silver was won by Viviane Forest for a total of 5 medals won by the visually impaired woman.

It was an experience that I will never forget and a feeling that I hope that I can hold on to. I am inspired and I wish all the best to everyone who lives in this world everyday.

I complain when I have to push my stroller though a crowed and how inconsiderate people can be...we must remember that they are dealing with always and for life, not just till their kid can walk. I think we can all learn a little humility and love and kindness for all our fellow Canadian's and world citizens.

Paralympic/ Olympic venues

I have had the pleasure this week to go to the rest of the venues that still remain open during the Paralympics. The Royal Mint at the Library is a scaled back version that they had during the Olympics...but the most important feature that everyone wants to see the medals is there in all their glory. The weight is still almost as long as a few weeks back
After 4 hrs and 45min Mykah and I entered into a room that we spent 10 min being able to see and touch the 2 medal sets. Worth it???

The BC House and the Northern House had no line up at all, and they were both beautiful. Family things to see and do interactive fun things to do in both houses.
definitely a good things to spend some time.

Off tomorrow to the BC Hydro house, and the back to the happiness cafe, and the downtown Live City....

Paralympics is the poor cousin of the Olympics

I have come to realize why Live City Yaletown is no more... the rich bastereds don't support the Paralympics. Yes, the coke cafe and pin trading centre is still open, but it was shudualed to close after the games closed, decided not too as the olympic superstore is still open and a gapping hole would have looked bad.
It is a sad side kick that I find people are just not concerned too much about these games. VANOCC has tried to do its best to keep the fun going during this time.
The BC pavilion and all the stuff along Robsen Square is still on. A few other canadian pavilion/houses are still around and kicking too.
What happened to all the other countries? Even Russia took off, you would have though that since they are hosting the next Olympics they would have stuck around. Are they not hosting the Paralympics too?
It is really a shame though cause the games are really not that expensive. $20-$15 for most events, hundreds of dollars cheeper it is surprising too me that more people are not wanting to partake.
What is you reason too not want to be involved in this equally amazing event?

Geared Up or Down for the Paralympics?

Walking around the Olympic hotspots I felt something I was not expecting. The paralympic are days away and you can feel the mixed emotions. Some people are raking this calm period to do some things before the line up start.

The cauldron is bare with a few strays people around, drawing a few peple as I am sure its permanence will always contiune to do. Once re-lighted more droves again. People were in place fixing the one fire area.

One thing that people can take advatage of in the Olympic superstore. No lines to get in, however it is a bit lacking in product. Multipuls of the same things no one wanted and none of the the popular things that you saw the athletes wear..or the beloved red mittens. If you dont have them, you will never get them now. (sorry Harry I asked you lots of times if you wanted them - too late now).

The feeling in the air is not the same as Olympics. I would like to have some fun again, a few of change, but I am not sure that it will be the same...can we rev our self back up again?

Is the Party over?

I know the Parolympic is coming and I am tentative about what it will be like, after all nothing can compair to the amazing Party the last 2 weeks were. Perhaps it should have been the other way around, that way we would not feel so empty.

Watching daily the take down at David Lam park "live city yaletown" it has almost completely be demolished. An amazing task to be completed in a few weeks when it took about 5 months for it to be put together. I feel that it is all over.. the other pavilion/houses that were around my are now gone as well, back to what they needed to be as if like never changed.

What are they in such a rush for? The park is not scheduled to be open till june, three months away. It that so they can grow all the grass back? If it was going to be close till then, and it took only 2 weeks to demolish what is the rush why could the sponsors not have there booth there till end of March. It is a sad reminder of the party is over.

I dont want it to be over..do you? It was the most amazing two weeks ever. fun things to see, yummy things to eat, concerts, and partying like I was 23 again. I guess we will have to wait and see what it turns out like come March 12th.

Keeping the Olypmic sprit alive.

We have all heard on the news that the games were a success, and how it brought us all together... as if we did not feel that ourselves. It was so amazing, beyond words fun. It has also been reported about how it has changed our city, and will we ever be the same again, in Vancouver, or in our vast and beautiful country.

I feel different. I feel like there should be more to my life than the work from home mom that I am. I feel inspired, as I am sure others must be. The athletes that came here over came so much to be here, and while they were here as well, deaths, and losses of loved ones. SO many stories that touched us, the "difference makers". And yes we "believed"

That part is over but I am determined to figure out something to keep this thrill inside me alive. What I dont know.

The random high fives seem like a nice option, but will people think that I am nuts? Definitely random Woot woot's are out of the question ( sorry sindy people are going to think you are strange).

I can feel that others out there are like me. I can see it in there faces as I walk down the streets down town, and hear foreign voices still in the air. Any one of you have any suggestion for me to keep the flame burning in our hearts?