Last week I went to Victoria as a representative of the Act Now BC Athlete Ambassador Team to be part of the
B.C. Journée de la Francophonie, since their theme this year was "Sports and the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

The event was held at the Legislature and one of the agenda items, apparently, included having an Anglophone development athlete in an obscure sport give a speech. To a group of Francophones. En Français.

So we were driving around the other day and Jason says to me "What's that noise?"

And I am like "What noise?"

And he turns off the radio, looks at me like I have my brain stuck in a blender and says "The muffler."

I reflect on the extremely loud, rumbling, you-have-a-hole-the-size-of-your-muffler-in-your-muffler noise that my car is emitting.

And he's like "You didn't notice that sound?"

So, I am a Pre-Games Volunteer Track Host at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Essentially, this means I donate my time and expertise to a multi-billion dollar organization in exchange for a fleece pull-over and the opportunity to attend a volunteer-only scrap booking seminar. But it also means that I get to wear a lanyard with official venue credentials and look important and knowledgeable for about four hours every second weekend throughout the summer. And really, who can argue with that kind of opportunity?

This here is my good ... nay, GREAT ... friend Peter Fox. A sliding buddy from Germany introduced us in January, and I have since spent a good part of every day for the past ... oohhhh ... 37 days or so ... letting him whisper sweet German nothings (and a few somethings) into my ear.

Last Saturday I opened up the back door to sunshine and melting snow, and thought to myself ... Self ... do you know what this means? IT'S SANDAL TIME!

There are few daily tasks that I find more tedious and irritating than tying shoes (I know, I know ... it's a rough life I lead).