Calgary, episode IV
I am writing from a hotel room in Calgary, this is my 4th thanksgiving in a row “on the road” away from family pursing skating, and my 4th time in Calgary itself (3rd time racing the Can-Am). It does suck to be far away on turkey day, but like any moth doggedly battering itself on a porch light, once I made my choice to pursue skating with every ounce of commitment, a lot of other choices cascaded from that, including missing thanksgiving these past 4 years.
However, unlike in years past, when during the traditional american communal feasting I would sit in my hotel room alone eating things like Wendy’s, Asian take-out, or just a big pile of deviled eggs (one of my “comfort foods”), this time my Brother has joined me in Calgary!
He decided that this was a good excuse to visit a part of the world he has never seen, and it’s been great hanging out with him, even if he picks on me all the time. His blog posts about his woes traveling here, & my issues with airports, and then other posts about my general/systemic lack of a clue, are only a tiny portion of the grief I am getting from him. It’s great to hang out with someone who shares so many of my own faults & eccentricities, and even takes them to a new level.
For example, today we drove from Calgary up to Banff, and as we were winding among the mountains in our rental car, we come around a corner and are blown away by this view.
After a long moment of awestruck silence, I begin this Obi-wan Kenobi quote, and David and I are both shouting it by the end.
That’s no moon, it’s a space station!
(bonus points if anyone can name the other movie & context where someone says this to great effect)
David has posted a ton a wonderful photos from Banff today, you can see them on his blog here. I lived in Colorado for 8 years, and thought I would be jaded to see more (yawn) huge mountains. But Banff is absolutely spectacular beyond any words or jpgs. A huge thank you goes out to my cool in-laws who told me I really needed to see this, Thanks Peg & Lore!!!
Hanging out with my Bro has distracted me quite well from the fact that I felt pretty crappy both times I have skated here, I should be reaching my highest speeds of the year right now, but something is not clicking. 4 days away from the ice when the World Cup was in Salt Lake, and also adjusting to a new pair of skates (more about my “death star disco skates” in a week or so) and I feel like I have slipped backwards somewhat. I got a really nice email from coach Boris though, a giant bullet point list of things for me to mentally rehearse & visualize during each phase of each race. The final bullet point of technical instructions for what I should do as I cross the finish line states this:
- as usually, look at the clock and celebrate life.
I could not agree more. Just someone remind me of that if I screw up my races, and am all pissed off.
Filed under: on the road
Happy Thanksgiving Andrew!
Just let the speed come to YOU!
JD
Hi honey! I miss you! How was your race today? If you’re not going to call me, at least post on your blog so I know what’s going on.
I’m at Piper’s, stuffed full of an amazing Tgiving dinner. We’re about to play Cranium. Yay!
Love you,
J
How was your race today? If you’re not going to call me, at least post on your blog so I know what happened. (Bitter wife? Slightly….) BTW Banff looks amazing.
I’m so stuffed from delicious T-giving dinner with Susie and Joel and family. It was a great time. We played cranium and though our team didn’t win (me, Paul, and Brad), we had some brilliant moments.
What is the movie that uses that quote other than Star Wars? Is it space balls, or something like that, a spoof?
J
wow, what kind of a geek have I become??? my wife asks me to update my blog so she can see what is happening to me…..
(p.s. I did call, before I ever saw this comment..)
HA! I loved your tone in this post, Andrew — and then to get to see Jess’s messages was a hoot! I can’t WAIT for you two to come out. It’ll be here in no time. I’ll have Settlers of Cataan and a couple of other games waiting.
I’m having a sick little fantasy today. I’ve been thinking about Abel lately. God, I miss him. I’ve missed him for years, but last time I wrote his responses were more distanced. Anyway, I was thinking if he’s single he should come out here with you guys and we could play and go skiing and hang out like old times (Only I never hung out with Jess and he together, but you know what I mean). I don’t dare write to ask him (too much water under that bridge), but *you* could!!!! He’s at his name firstlast@hotmail.com, I think.
If he’d agree to it, I’d even pay. In a heartbeat. Wouldn’t even think twice. God, I’d love to see him again. I can’t imagine he’d throw cuation to the wind like that — and I think he’s married, anyway, but it could be fun.
Now that I’m far away I really get the line from that Baz Luhrman “Wear Sunscreen” song about needing people who knew you when you were young.
I know this sounds slightly crazy, but it’s true.
B
LOOOOOOOOOVE Banff. It just makes you feel relaxed.
Glad you’re not doing it alone this time, and best of luck in all your races. I expect 36. something now, even if it’s .99!!! GO get em!!!!
Doesn’t anyone know the answer?? If not, I’ll post it in 24 hours. Clue: The movie was from 1996.
anyone? anyone? Buller? Buller?
When Stephan Leacock, the Canadian humorist got his Phd from McGill, he announced that he had been pronounced “completely full”
In reading Jessie’s post, I sense that she has reached that point and sending you a signal
With your business experience at Ft Collins I can see a joint venture that will keep you together
After you accomplish your immediate goals don’t wait too long
Ok, I kind of cheated. I knew I had heard it and remembered laughing at it, but couldn’t quite remember the movie. I was thinking along the lines of Kevin Smith, but that wasn’t right. The answer is “Twister.” Right? What would we do without IMDB?
Good racing in Calgary! I know you were hoping for a little more, but I’m sure things will click at trials.
Thanks also for being a good support and distraction for me durning my challenging races. Much better to talk about biking after a bad skating race than to dwell on it.