With that she clamored into the foyer, clutching the still cold newspapers from her driveway and her breakfast cereal, bowl and all.
The sun had not yet come up over Buffalo Grove and the coffee was brewing.
We were going to watch the U.S. Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Team play Team Canada, before she had to go to work. It was 6:30 stateside. I was and still am having trouble trying to figure out what time it was/is in Sochi.
I offered to make blintzes in honor of Russia, the host country, as we prepared to cheer for our hometown girl Megan Bozek and her teammates against the Canadians, our neighbors to the north. Kimberley said not to go to the trouble with the blintzes.
She scarfed down her oatmeal squares, I a yogurt and we rushed into the family room to watch the puck drop.
Lots of these morning viewing parties were going on across the country. Bozek's elementary school opened its doors early so the students could watch the game together and cheer her on.
The time difference and 24-hour spoiler alerts are agonizing to us Olympic watchers. Last time I got up this early for a televised event was a Royal wedding. Didn't need any spoiler alerts for that event.
The time difference and 24-hour spoiler alerts are agonizing to us Olympic watchers. Last time I got up this early for a televised event was a Royal wedding. Didn't need any spoiler alerts for that event.
In the good old days of my writing/editing career I would throw Americas Cup viewing parties with sailing friends. Generally we were just rolling in to watch the early-morning broadcasts from Perth.
I dazzled Kimberley with my remote control savvy, turning on the TV and finding the right HD channel on the NBC sports spectrum. I was recording the game on the DVR so my husband could watch it later. And so I could replay anything NBC didn't replay ad nauseum.
I had no idea I had put a delay on the recording and we were actually watching the game a good 20 minutes behind its live showing.
I had no idea I had put a delay on the recording and we were actually watching the game a good 20 minutes behind its live showing.
Coffee in hands we got involved in the game. Veteran sports moms, and good friends, we were now cheering for other moms' daughters.
Bozek is actually Kimberley's neighbor and a peer of our own four daughters, who are stalking her on line from Paris and the southern cities they now live in.
Bozek is actually Kimberley's neighbor and a peer of our own four daughters, who are stalking her on line from Paris and the southern cities they now live in.
If it had been at all feasible, geographically, economically, and timely, I know Kimberley would have been in the Sochi stands. Covering an Olympics had always been a goal of mine as a sportswriter.
I met and wrote about a lot of aspiring athletes, a few who accomplished the goal and even a few Olympic medal winners in my career.
I met and wrote about a lot of aspiring athletes, a few who accomplished the goal and even a few Olympic medal winners in my career.
Meantime, we were sitting in the family room, chewing our nails, clutching our coffee mugs and wishing for a U.S. victory. Between periods we discussed broadcaster Bob Costas' eye infection and the "disappointing" performances of our favorites in other Olympic events. We were sad for Shaun and Shani, who were denied their third gold medals. We were trying to put it in perspective that despite NBC hyping the heck out of our heroes, there might be other athletes (even teammates) who would outperform the best athletes from the Vancouver games four years ago.
After a scoreless first period the U.S. women scored the game's first goal in the second and we were riding the rush and the caffeine buzz as the game headed into the third. Despite my protests (I am very superstitious about people changing their seats and disrupting the momentum of the game), Kimberley had to go to work. As she drove to work she listened to the game in her car. I had poured my third cup of coffee and settled in to cheer on my own.
"Why are they saying Canada has scored two goals?'' Kimberley queried from the car (I am going to assume she was parked at work and not calling and driving at the same time).
I didn't know but I immediately grabbed the remote and saw that when fast forwarded, the U.S. was in fact down 2-1 in the third.
Crap, we had been watching behind the live action. Worse, it wasn't going to get any better. Canada rallied to win the game, 3-2.
The U.S. women will play Sweden at 6:30 a.m., Monday, in a semifinal game. Canada plays Switzerland in the other semifinal.
Kimberley will be out of town. I will most likely watch the game against Sweden alone.
We're hoping for a rematch between the U.S. and Canada in the gold medal game. We're also hoping for a better outcome.
And I am hoping to master the TV remote.
After a scoreless first period the U.S. women scored the game's first goal in the second and we were riding the rush and the caffeine buzz as the game headed into the third. Despite my protests (I am very superstitious about people changing their seats and disrupting the momentum of the game), Kimberley had to go to work. As she drove to work she listened to the game in her car. I had poured my third cup of coffee and settled in to cheer on my own.
"Why are they saying Canada has scored two goals?'' Kimberley queried from the car (I am going to assume she was parked at work and not calling and driving at the same time).
I didn't know but I immediately grabbed the remote and saw that when fast forwarded, the U.S. was in fact down 2-1 in the third.
Crap, we had been watching behind the live action. Worse, it wasn't going to get any better. Canada rallied to win the game, 3-2.
The U.S. women will play Sweden at 6:30 a.m., Monday, in a semifinal game. Canada plays Switzerland in the other semifinal.
Kimberley will be out of town. I will most likely watch the game against Sweden alone.
We're hoping for a rematch between the U.S. and Canada in the gold medal game. We're also hoping for a better outcome.
And I am hoping to master the TV remote.
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