I gave up a lot of hours over the past 2 weeks, hence my online absence. But if you weren't aware, the Olympics has been on.    It's been a rough go staying up until midnight every night to see Olympic stars like snowboarders Hannah Teter and  Kelly Clark and Sean White win medals in the halfpipe, Lindsey Vonn overcome injury to finally win a gold, and it's been stressful every time Apollo Ohno steps on the rink for big race- even in the heats, my heart rate increases by 30 beats a minute! (Can you tell I might be obsessed?) 

The Olympics give people and countries a chance to come together and celebrate so many beautiful forms of athleticism and competition. Some athletes are there representing a country that's never before been represented like "The Snow Leopard," the first Ghanian to ever represent his county at the Winter Olympics.  Others, though, are seeking only one thing, the gold medal, which is often times, the one thing that continues to elude them after a successful career in a sport.  I'm still a little bitter that Michelle Kwan, winner of 5 World Figure Skating Titles, somehow, never achieved Olympic Gold.  

Even besides the competition, every Olympian has a story.  Dan Jansen is a US speed skater that lost his sister the day before he skated at the Olympics in 1988.  This year he was able to reach out to Canadian skater Joannie Rochette when her mother passed away the day she skated her short program.  She also went on to win a bronze medal last Thursday night.  The men's nordic skiing team made US history by earning medals in the sport for the first time ever.

My only criticism is the money involved with the production of the Games.  Canada spent $40 million on the opening ceremony alone, and then when it was time to really cap it all of with the torch lighting, they had a mechanical error.  Apparently, Greece is now several decades into debt to the EU because they still owe so much money for Athens.  Perhaps in the future, they could award the Olympics to a city with the most sustainable plan, both economically and environmentally.

But for now, as I watch the gold medal USA v. Canada hockey game, which is tied by the way and just got even more exciting,  and prepare for the tonight's Closing Ceremonies, I will mourn for a few minutes that I can't watch any Olympic event again until London 2012, but also be relieved that I can get back to a normal routine.