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Friday Five: Winter Olympics Edition

Friday Five suggestions come from here.

Songbird writes: It's been two weeks of snow, or not enough snow, of heartbreak before the action even began, of snowboards and skis and skates, of joy and sorrow. At our house, we've stayed up too late, and we don't even watch sports any other time!


1) Which of the Winter Olympic sports is your favorite to watch?

Well, deep, dark confession time, I don't have television. I haven't since 2004, so I haven't actually seen any Olympics in real time since 2002, I think. Those were in Salt Lake according to Google. I haven't seen any of this year's Olympic Games, not even the opening ceremony. I thought they might be available on Hulu, but, alas, they were not. I have, in the past, enjoyed watching speed skating. And I would enjoy watching the biathlon.

2) Some of the uniforms have attracted attention this year, such as the US Snowboarders' pseudo-flannel shirts and the Norwegian Curling team's -- ahem -- pants.

Who do you think had the best-looking uniforms?

Having not watched, I'm not sure. But I dig those pants.


3) And Curling. Really? What's up with that?

I have friends who have curled and some who still do. They love it. And why not. According to my husband, it's more athletic than ice dancing. (Dearest Husband believes in a reduced Olympic program, summer and winter, but that's a different post.) I think curling is fun to watch and I'm always impressed by team sports that 1) involve ice sweeping, 2) the word "spiel" and 3) fun pants and shoes. Curling it is!

4) Define Nordic Combined. Don't look it up. Take a guess if you must.

Nordic Combined is when, in a Lutheran congregation, you have 3 vocal Norwegians who wish to celebrate Norway's Constitution Day and 10 semi- vocal Swedes who do not. Then you have some German-heritage Lutherans who don't care and one pastor of Polish origin who doesn't have a dog in the Scandinavian fight, but enjoys eating Danish. So you have a Hymn Sing and compete, antiphonally, with "Now Thank We All Our God" and "A Mighty Fortress." Then you eat lefse, lutefisk, Swedish meatballs and, of course, Danish. The winner of the Nordic Combined (loudest singing + most eating + most liturgically correct Jello salad) gets a Garrison Keillor novel.


5) If you could be a Winter Olympics Champion just by wishing for it, which sport would you choose for winning your Gold Medal?

Cross-country skiing.

Comments

Unknown said…
Your #4 is fantastic!!! I think we have a Gold Medal! Will you shoot me an email at revsongbird@gmail.com?
Thanks.
February 26, 2010 at 6:08 PM
gena g. said…
I forgot the Danish and didn't medal. Sad. The Danish has to be the best part...only if it's creamfilled.
March 11, 2010 at 5:43 PM
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