Mostly I just sit around in my housecoat, sipping champagne and eating chocolate-covered strawberries, watching reruns of General Hospital.

Occasionally, however, I am required to attend certain public functions in order to pacify my adoring fans who are perpetually waiting in the wings to catch a glimpse of the graceful and alluring figure that is me in a snowsuit, sucking wind while hauling my sled around on my shoulder.

This past week has been a parade of public relations (interrupted only by periods of compulsive rearranging of furniture, and, of course, meeting with my sports psych ... )

On Monday and Friday I had presentations at elementary schools for the FLEX Athlete Amabassador program (which used to be the Tobacco Free Sports Athlete Ambassador program, which is about to be rolled into the Act Now BC Athlete Ambassador program. Long story made short: we go to elementary schools and use our athletic charm and stunning good looks to convince young influential minds to make healthy choices).

I had to laugh when I got to the front door of Ridgeway Elementary School in North Vancouver and was presented with two options:

Of course, I decided it was my duty to flaunt the leftover shrines to the historical oppression of women in the face and go in through the boys door.

It was locked, and I had to use the girls entrance. Go figure.

Thursday was the One Year Countdown to 2010, and there was a myriad of activities I could have been a part of. I am not even a 2010 hopeful and I was overwhelmed by the days events. First I had the big luncheon. Then in the afternoon there was the official television taping of the Countdown to 2010 at the Richmond Olympic Oval and the new Athlete Ambassador team was invited to be apart of the program, as athlete representatives.

And here we go again ... yet another event in which I play the role of gum on the bottom of a sneaker (my sports psych and I are currently working on confidence and belief in my abilities ... ) surrounded by people who have actually authored the pages of history with the very ball point pens found in their jacket pockets.

So I sit down in the athletes' section. Let's see, start chatting with Karolina Wisniewska, 6-time Paralympic medalist. Oh, there's Adam Kreek and Ben Rutledge up behind me, and Simon Whitfield over there. And there is Cindy Klassen, Canada's all-time most decorated Olympian. And the Premier. And the president of VANOC ... wait who am I missing ... oh right ... DR. JAQUES FREAKIN' ROGGE. I was in spitting distance of the president of the IOC himself. No. I didn't spit.

I even grabbed a quick self-portrait with the Premier, you know, because we are old buddies now ... (yeah, ummm ... pretty sure that he didn't have a clue who I was despite having to haul my sled around a stage only hours before. I really make an impression you know ... )

There were, no joke, hundreds of current and former Olympians on hand for the ceremony, which I have to be honest, boasted an Olympic cheese factor that even I had trouble tolerating (and you are talking about someone who will burst into tears at the mere hint that an Olympic commercial is about to come on ... ) But I was so busy having my eyes glaze over while I lurked in the presence of star power that is much more inspiring than anything you could find in Hollywood, that I barely noticed the teeny-bopper choreographed dance routine à la High School Musical or the touching Olympic-Star-mentors-young-aspiring-athlete moment or the Mounties bringing forth recognition certificates on Bay blankets.

Just barely.

Even though I felt completely and totally out-of-place, it was exciting to be smack-dab in the middle of Olympic preparations, surrounded by the very people who regularly inspire me. It was a taste of what could be. I like the taste. A lot.

After the Countdown celebration, the Athlete Ambassadors were invited to a reception, where I mingled with people WHO WERE CARRYING OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS IN THEIR FREAKIN' POCKETS.

This is Adam Kreek and Ben Rutledge, members of the Men's Eight Rowing team that won gold in Beijing. And no, they are not standing on milk crates. Nor wearing platform shoes. No. I am not standing on my knees.

Finally, on Friday night I attended the launch of the new Athlete Ambassador program at the LG Mountain Festival.

So, that should keep the adoring masses at bay for awhile.

Oh, geez, General Hospital is on. Gotta go. 

P.S. Ask me why half of my photos Suck with a capital S. I dare you.