Randomness, Olympics edition: I think the women's figure skating results are sort of perfect. Kim Yu-Na, widely regarded as best in the world, skated the performance of a lifetime and won her much deserved gold. I think even Kim Il Jong was rooting for her. Mao Asada from Japan had to follow her and did not buckle under pressure, successfully did her unprecedented triple axles (I say this as if I know what a triple axle is), and scored silver. And Joannie Rochette, whose mother died unexpectedly a couple of days of the Olympics competition, skated bravely and beautifully for herself and her mother and ended up with bronze. This is the way Olympics stories should be, unlike the men's competition, which were underwhelming and ended with controversial results...Apolo Ohno is now the winningest U.S. Winter Olympian ever. He didn't win any gold this time out though - those South Koreans are speedskating demons. But good on Apolo for everything he's accomplished...I feel so bad for the Netherlands' Sven Kramer, who was speedskating his way to a gold medal when his coach mistakenly pointed him into the wrong lane and got him disqualified. Yikes!...Apparently when Bode Miller is not partying and drinking up a storm, he can win medals. Who knew?...My least favorite American Olympian has to be that Lindsay Vonn girl. Too much hype and too much drama. She's like Lindsay Lohan of the slopes...I really like Vancouver - what a wonderful city. I always say that it's one of the few cities in the world that I would totally just pack up and move to...Those medals are really cool looking this time. They are all pieces of a bigger artwork and have a very abstract, wavy shape. I really want one of those. Maybe in the next life, the same life in which I win an Oscar and a Pulitzer...My favorite win is by Alex Bilodeau, who won Canada's first home soil Olympic gold ever. I have no idea what a mogul is, vs a slalom, but I couldn't help but cheer for this nice guy to make his home country and his older brother, who has Cerebral Palsy, proud. Alex Bilodeau says of his brother: "My brother is my inspiration. He taught me so many things in my life. He taught me determination: When you want something, you can have it."...And then there is the snowboarder who didn't even make it to the Olympics - Kevin Pearce - after he injured his head shortly before the games and is now trying to re-learn how to talk and walk. NBC did a profile on him and his family. He has a brother, David, who has Down Syndrome. His parents said that they now realize having David was their preparation for dealing with Kevin's ordeal - most importantly they learned patience. And when David visited Kevin at the hospital, he went around and hugged all the staff and told them to take good care of his brother...We should all remember Nodar Kumaritashvili, the young Georgian luger who died in his Olympics practice run. If there is any consolation, it's that he died chasing his dream...Yeah, sometimes it's not all about victories and medals, but about conviction and courage and family and love. I know that's what they want you to think about the Olympics, but I am okay with that, because I want to think that too. It is supposed to inspire you to better yourself in whatever you do, to be reminded of what the human body and spirit are capable of. I am sad that the Olympics are ending, and it will be another two years til the Summer Olympics. See you in London.
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