I had a lovely day today… first in the Olympic Superstore and then volunteering in the evening at the BC Showcase.  The best part about volunteering this evening??  The ice is being made for the GE Ice Plaza at Robson Square right now!!  With the opening planned for Monday!!  Woohoo!!  I will certainly be there to catch the festivities!  Here’s what it looks like now!

This is a beautiful outdoor rink!! The ice is just being built now for the opening on Monday, November 23rd!! On the ice (heck! making the ice) are Ron and Aaron Fell from Smart Ice.

I even got to talk to the guys making the ice for a while tonight.  Ron and Aaron Fell are father and son and work for Smart Ice Consulting.  They are layering the ice up, one flood at a time (usually about 4 per day).  And yes, apparently there is a lucky loonie in the ice!!  Actually, it sounds like a ‘lucky frozen water fountain’!  I guess when they first started building the ice up lots of people were keen for there to be lucky loonies so there may be quite a few coins frozen into the ice now!  I of course also had to ask if there is going to be a Zamboni for this little ice rink (it isn’t quite as big as a regulation hockey rink) and apparently there is!!  A 3/4 size Zamboni to clean the ice (I’m counting on you Ron and Aaron to comment and correct any mistakes I make here! ).

There is going to be a little café at the rink, and of course a place to rent skates!  Skating is free if you bring your own skates!!  That’s just way too cool!!  (I gotta go get my skates from storage!).  If you need to rent skates they’re only $3!!  And if you’re smart you’ll also rent a helmet for an additional $3.  But… children 12 and under get free rentals as far as I can tell (don’t hold me to that, but I’ll confirm soon!).  Skating will be open to the public on Tuesday, November 24th.  It sounds like there are festivities planned for Monday but I haven’t managed to get a schedule for it yet (email me at 2010vanfan@gmail.com if you know what it is please!  I don’t want to miss anything!).  Here are a few more pictures!

The Skate Rental shop... still in progress.

The Café, also in progress.

The "boards". And Ron and Aaron making the ice.

I may be a little excited to go skating soon! Thanks Erina for taking the photo!

I’m sure I’ll have a whole lot more to report in the next few days so stay tuned to 2010vanfan for all your GE Ice Plaza needs!!

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Just a reminder… only a few days left to enter to win an oversize Torch pin from me!  All you have to do is comment with the answer to the following questions before Sunday evening when I post!  The questions?

Where was the first Winter Olympics Torch lit, by whom, and in what year?

See this previous post if you would like a hint!

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One last thing before I’m done for tonight… Welcome to readers from pincollectorssite.com!  And thanks to pincollectorssite.com for the link!  Wow, just looked at his New Additions and I am boggled!  There are way, way too many fantastic pins out there!!  This, dear readers, is why it’s best to have a preferred type of pin (for example ‘must have Mascots’ or ‘only media pins’ as there is a dizzying array of pins out there!  And I’m only going to make it worse with mine!  Sigh.  Ah well, it is too fun to stop now!

Oh la la!!  I’m so excited that I got to see a new HBC (Hudson’s Bay Company) pin today!!  It has all three Mascots plus Mukmuk!!  Wow!  It’s quite a neat pin and it does draw attention.  I was given one to photograph and post about tonight but I had to hide it ’cause everyone wanted to trade!  However, never fear… I’ve heard that I may be able to get a few to give away here at 2010vanfan!!  It sounds like it won’t be until January but keep your eyes open!  I will do my best to have a few to give away as soon as possible!  Here’s about what it will look like!

The new, soon to be released, HBC Vancouver 2010 pin!

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Tickets – Sounds like there are still a lot of tickets around if you’re interested, more than 40,000 of them!!  Including 12,000 for hockey preliminary games and 10,000 for curling preliminaries!!  Also, the website where you will be able to resell your unwanted tickets is supposed to be available soon.  I will of course post up information on that as it becomes available.

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Torch Relay – The highlight for many today was when Sidney Crosby, the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins and hometown boy of Coal Harbour, Nova Scotia, carried the Olympic Torch in Halifax.  I didn’t get to watch it but it sounds like there were a few “Torch Parties” where people gathered together around a computer or television to watch the few minutes live as an athlete we are all so proud of did something that made him very proud to be a part of.  Please find more on this story here, it’s pretty darned nice.

Sidney Crosby with his Olympic Torch ! (Photo by Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail).

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OK – I worked late at the Olympic Superstore tonight, and am back in there early tomorrow morning so it’s a short one tonight!!  Hope you all had a good day and aren’t being blown away by the storm battering Vancouver tonight!  Goodnight, bonsoir!

OOPS – nearly forgot!!  Don’t forget to enter my latest pin contest!  I’ll be drawing a winner on Sunday so click here for info and to enter now!!

I have come to the conclusion that Canadians love, love, LOVE our Red Mittens!!  Is it ’cause they’re warm and fuzzy, or ’cause they’re red with a white maple leaf, or ’cause buying them helps to support athletes?  I think it is definitely some combination of all of them, and a powerful combination at that!  Every Torchbearer wears these Mittens and I’m starting to see just everyday folks on the street wearing them too!  We have a hard time keeping them in stock in the Olympic Superstore!  We got a shipment in tonight and had people arrive at opening today to fill up basketfuls!  So… the point of my story?  Buy your Mittens as soon as you can!  It won’t be long until there are no more available!  I’m pretty sure that they’re still planning on sticking to the one million pairs produced and, at a guess, I’d say that half of that number is sold already!!

Morning walk with Mittens, our dog and the Inukshuk at English Bay!

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Now, some number of months ago I had a woman from the States send me a message about trying to find somewhere to park their RV/van thing so they could come up for the Games.  I had assumed that the RV parks around town were full, and had sort of enquired a bit of the few people who I know that actually own homes (and yards) to see if they would be willing to share some space, but a story in the Vancouver Sun today makes it look to me like there is still definitely some places to camper-van in Vancouver!  (Sorry to the woman in the States, I looked for your message to tell you directly but I’ve not had luck finding it so far!).  Anyhow, I had no idea that the Vancouver Parks Board had offered up the parking lots at Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach for RV sites!  There are no hook-ups (such as electricity) but it is a great view and I bet there will be a lot of Olympic Spirit around!!  The sites are $95 + GST per night (minimum four nights) and you can find more information here if you’re interested!!  Bonus -  if you’re a Vancouver 2010 volunteer or stay the entire 21 nights there are discounts!!

View from the beach at your potential camp site!! Wow!

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Hey!  Do you read this blog on pincollectorssite?  If you do why not check it out on its original site at http://2010vanfan.ca!  I’d love to have you stop by and enter my contests or leave me a note!  Thanks!

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Speaking of contests… don’t forget to enter my latest contest!  You could win an oversize Torch pin!!  It’s very special and pretty.  I like it and plan on wearing mine a lot for the next few months!  Anyhow… to enter just comment on this post and answer the following questions:

Where was the first Winter Olympics Torch lit, by whom, and in what year?

I will draw a name at random Sunday evening (November 22nd) from all of those that answer correctly!  Find a clue here, as well as a bit more info!

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Today’s Olympic experience – Sandy, a previous pin contest winner, came into the Olympic Superstore today to pick up her prize.  It was very nice to meet her!  She is also volunteering for Vancouver 2010 and is also assigned to the Vancouver Athlete’s Village!  I love getting to meet new people and it’s really very neat to have people come and say hi and have a chat about anything Vancouver 2010!  If you do find yourself in the neighbourhood, please stop by and say hi!  While I’m not always at the Olympic Superstore, I am there quite a bit, and do feel free to email me in advance at 2010vanfan@gmail.com to see if I’ll be around.

Actually, I’d like to add a few names to my visitors list today, besides Sandy (pin winner) there was also Rosemary (Vancouver 2010 enthusiast), Jim (enthusiast and pin fan), Fran & Jim (some of my family), and Radar (Ok, he was there for pins but said hi to me too, that counts doesn’t it ).  A lot of the fun that I get out of the Olympics and Paralympics coming to Vancouver is getting to meet new people and to share stories!  And I would love to hear yours!

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Right then, well, it’s gone and gotten late again, darn it all.  So that’s it for this evening, other than to say… “I’m going to Montreal for the Torch Relay and I’m really, really excited!!”  I can’t believe I’m doing it and I find every now and then I have to say it to remind myself how close that is!  I leave Vancouver on December 8th!  That’s only 20 days away!  Gosh!  And with direct Air Canada flights the trip will be a breeze!  (I’m still wondering if Air Canada is doing anything “Vancouver 2010″ on their flights… does anyone know?).  OK, sleep time!  Thank you merci for reading and sharing!

Wow!!  I can’t quite believe that the numbers have added up so quickly!  Thanks to everyone reading and commenting and participating with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and with 2010vanfan!!  It’s really great to be involved with so many people excited, happy and participatory in the Games!!  I really do believe this is a once in a lifetime experience and am so glad that you’re all along for the ride with me!!

Now, speaking of the ride… I know I talk about pins a lot, but somehow they’ve become an integral part of my Vancouver 2010 experience.  I did get a few pins today (ok, a ‘few’ may be a mis-representation, maybe closer to ’scads’).  And my pin purchases today of course included the new oversized Torch pin!!

The pin is really huge!  I’ve heard 9.5cm!  (I have not measured it to confirm this myself, but that seems about right!).  So this is the pin that you can win in my latest contest (check it out and enter here!) but I also got some of the other new pins out like this year’s Mascot Christmas pin… and maybe a few others ).  I’ll take some photos and put them up soon, but you can bet on the Mascot Christmas pin being in a contest sometime soon!  So keep checking in to enter for that!

(Oh, and in case you’re wondering, no, at this point we do not have the Oversized Torch Pin in at the Olympic Superstore, but I’m hoping soon.  I got mine from Hudson House Trading in Gastown ’cause I’m impatient and needed at least one for my contest and they always get new pins first!!).

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Next up… Coins!!  The second “Olympic Moments” coin will be released today, Tuesday, November 17th through your local Royal Bank Branch!  It’s the ‘Women’s Hockey Gold 2010′ coin! I plan on stopping by and getting some for myself.  I’ve written about them a few weeks ago so you can check out that post here, but do also try to get yourself a few of the coloured coins, they’re pretty darned neat!

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I’m afraid I’ve run up against sleepiness again.  But I will endeavour to get out and do something Vancouver 2010 related that has nothing to do with pins tomorrow to tell you all about!  Any thoughts or suggestions?  I will have a tiny bit of time outside the Olympic Superstore (I work through the day) but maybe something nearby, or maybe you could stop by and say hi and share your Olympic story!!  Thank you merci, goodnight, bonsoir!

Wow!!  I am so excited by the interest that I’ve received about my latest pin contest!  It’s pretty wonderful! Thanks to everyone that has entered a friend so far!  I will be drawing on the evening of Sunday, November 15th so keep your fingers crossed that you will win this pin!

Coca-Cola's 90 days to go pin! Just released today! (Not bad for a photo taken on my mobile phone!).

If you’d like a chance to win this pin, just get someone you know (or don’t know if you’re particularly cunning and devious) to post a comment answering this question: What sort of creature is Quatchi? And get them to include your name! (First name  and last initial will be sufficient!).  The names posted in the comments with the answer will be entered to win!  Good luck to everyone!!

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Thanks to Kate, Rosemary, Patti, Carol and Henry for stopping in to the Olympic Superstore today, it was nice to see those of you I already knew and very nice to meet some new people who are also a bit Olympic Mad!  It was a pretty darned busy day in the store, which was nice, but it was also interesting to hear how people made out with ticketing.  Since I had to work I had no luck getting through the waiting room but it sounds like many people did.  Did you?

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It’s gonna be short tonight.  It’s late and I am sleepy!!  But I wanted to post up a link that I found on Kate’s website to get a Molson pin (actually two! one for you and one to trade) just by donating $20.10 to the Canadian Olympic Foundation!  I have just ordered my pins (thanks Kate!… I think… ).  And I would also like to congratulate all of our athletes that have been competing this weekend!!  Sounds like an even busier weekend of sport and medals!  So congrats to Shawn Sawyer (Figure Skating), Lyndon Rush and his teammates (4-man Bobsleigh), Francois-Louis Tremblay, Charles Hamelin, Kalyna Roberge and Marianne St.-Gelais (short track speed skating), and Christine Nesbitt and Kristina Groves (long track speed skating) for all winning medals so far this weekend!  Woohoo!!  Go Canada!!