An 8-dog night and the Olympics

Well, it's still cold here. Had a blizzard of sorts all day Monday. I only did one hour of work then went back to the place I'm house/pet-sitting (the 7-dog one, plus mine makes 8). Settled in and spent the whole day and evening watching the Olympics, two dogs on either side of me, a couple more at my feet. There's a cat in the household now too, a brave and funny one. Seems to get along with all the dogs (to whom she was introduced one at a time, smart). She has a habit of jumping up on your shoulders as you pass by a counter, but keeps her claws in luckily.

I am a dog nut, obviously, and also an Olympic nut. I especially like the Winter ones. Love watching the figure skating but even more the ice dancing. I am rooting for the girl from Arcadia, CA, a town right next to my hometown Pasadena. The couples skating were all fabulous, but I wish the American couple had won, Charlie and Meryl. They were exquisite! I marvel at all of them though, and can hardly believe that people can jump up in the air and land again on those blades. I have ice skated a few times and it's impossible, for me anyway! I can stay up, that's about it, have to run into the edge of the rink to stop. Oh well. An athlete I never was. And I am glad the American guy won the gold, not cause he's from the states (I really don't care) but because he was wonderful, strong and exciting. I've always liked Plushenko, what a cutie, but he looked so sour when he "only" got the silver. Actually the Russians always seem to be a bit sour-looking, esp. if they don't win. Who knows, maybe they get back home with their silver or bronze medals and get demoted at work! Altogether, it makes me so angry, this emphasis on getting the gold medal. I mean, even the ones who don't win are Olympians. They are giants in my eyes. All the time, work and passion they have put into it should be applauded. So there.

One more word, I hope the parents of the luge guy who was killed get a lot of support and compensation from the O. Committee. I feel terrible for them. How come no one noticed the possibility of that pole that was not padded?! I know it's a dangerous sport, like a lot of them, but come on! And what a sad joy for the girl whose mom died.