Today is Day One

Well, I finally made it.

Okay, let's start from the beginning.

I get on the plane in Ottawa and have an uneventful flight to Edmonton (I did watch Public Enemies, which was quite good). With about 1.5 hrs layover, I began walking around as I had never been to Edmonton's airport. While doing so, I ran into friend and fellow ski patroller Renee Lafrancois. Renee travels for work....a lot. So she kindly invited me to the Maple Leaf Lounge while we waited for our respective flights. Walking into the Maple Leaf Lounge must be a lot like going to Heaven and seeing the gates of the bar open. Nice food, free wine and beer, leather seats...very refined. Thank you Renee!

Then it was out with the rest of the mortals to get on my plane. As I was waiting, I noticed another familiar face - Cary Mullen, Olympic and World Champ (ex) skier turned motivational speaker. Wonder if he was on his way to give Team Canada a pep talk? Also on my flight, some dude from Team Finland.

A 20 minute delay and we were finally on our way to Vancouver. Again, a very uneventful flight, finished watching Surrogate (with Bruce Willis - no, don't bother, it's a pretty bad movie), and arrived at YVR at 2:15 p.m. It's here that through Facebook I found a fellow volunteer to pick me up and bring me to the Uniform and Accrediation Centre. Gary, you rock!

As we were talking, I heard about Georgian Slider Nodar Kumaritashvili and his fateful training run on the luge track. Not the way anyone wanted these Games to start, and sadly, a quick end to a young man's Olympic dream.

At the PNE, I was shuttled through a very efficient process to receive my accreditation card and fitted for my uniform. I also received a nice welcome bag of swag, which as a volunteer, is always appreciated. This is where Gary and I parted ways, and I began making my way to my accommodations - Dana's house. Three trains, one bus, one missed stop, and six blocks of walking with two heavy bags later, I arrived at 6 p.m, just in time for the beginning of the Opening Ceremonies.

I had heard through volunteers who had attended the dress rehearsal several nights before, that although sworn to secrecy, the world would be amazed! Sure enough, it did not disappoint. I'm not one for watching ceremonies on television, but this was extremely cool. As I sat down with my gracious hosts Don and Dana, eating great Chinese take-out, drinking Kettle Valley and watching the ceremonies on HD, everything started sinking in. I'm in Vancouver, for the 2010 Olympics, a part of history. What an incredible opportunity bestowed to me! So my plan is to embrace it, smile until my face hurts, soak it all in, and be the best little Canuck possible.

Today is Day One - cloudy, 5-10mm of rain expected, and ladies moguls at Cypress. Let's see what the world brings.

Lisa, Aiden and Marissa - thank you for the little surprise you left for me in my luggage. Your words and awesome drawings mean so much, and are above my bed so that I can read them and feel that home is not so far away.