WORLD MEN'S CURLING IN REGINA

This has been such a busy week that I haven't gotten around to telling you about our day at the world curling in Regina.  Since that was one week ago today, I'll relive that day for you now.

Todd and Kristy spent four days and nights in Philadelphia on their way to "the west". Todd has always been a Flyer hockey fan so this was his dream to attend a home game.  Although the Flyers lost after overtime and a shootout, it was a very exciting game.  They arrived early so found the team parking lot and were able to see the players drive up and walk in one by one.  An extra thrill for Todd was to have his picture taken with a former Flyer goalie, Bernie Parent.  It was Bernie's 66th birthday that day and he was also doing a book signing.  I'll post two pictures and then get on with the curling!

I should have had Todd and Kristy do a guest blog on their time in Philadelphia but  I don't think they've had time to do that either.  They spent last night in Lampman, went to Carlyle for a supper and took part in a hockey draft for the upcoming NHL playoffs, thanks to Kirk and Precision Ag.

Bernie Parent on his 66th birthday
Todd, soon 34

Todd and Kristy arrived in Regina around 11:30 pm on April 6th.  There was no one there to meet them but Laurel had booked a hotel room for them and a ten minute taxi ride took them to the Holiday Inn Express on Albert St. where they found a king size bed waiting for them.

 We joined them at the hotel on Thursday afternoon, great to be together again.  A year ago we had been with them on a Mediterranean cruise.  Now we were off to watch the last game of the round robin in men's world curling, Canada vs Norway.  Team Canada was hoping for a perfect record as they had won all ten of their previous games.

Visiting with Team Norway

We arrived early and met up with Laurel, Greg, Dawson, Eric, Clare, Jodi and Abbey. (Kirk and Shauna has spent Wed. there so didn't join us)  Todd and Kristy brought Norsk toques for all the kids so they were easy to spot - red with the Norwegian flag on the front.  Many people asked where we had gotten those toques.  Kristy thought they should have brought a suitcase full of them and sold them to help pay for the trip! (I guess they'd have needed more than a suitcase full!)

Two Norskies, Todd and Kristy

Dawson, Eric and Abbey with members of Team Norway

Laurel, Todd, Clare, Elaine and Howard

Todd and Kristy
Notice the thumbs up in the background!

This was such a special evening and to top it off, Norway defeated Canada!  We didn't feel guilty cheering for Norge that night as Canada was already guaranteed first place with its ten wins.  It did spoil Stoughton's chance for a perfect record at the games but he did go on to win the gold medal for Canada.

After our experience taking in this live game with three of our grandchildren, the rest of the games were sort of an anticlimax for us. Todd taught them some Norwegian cheers and they entered into those with great spirt.  Later in the game they moved right down in front of the sheet where Norway and Canada were playing.  Sandra spotted them on TSN's coverage of the game.  Clare taped it and Abbey was excited to see herself, arms in the air jumping up and down.

We didn't even watch the gold medal game as we were in Milestone having family pictures taken!  We were happy to hear the results when we got home on Sunday evening.  It was a close game and the young Scottish team had to settle for a silver medal.

We were disappointed than Norway lost out on the medals.  But their skip, Thomas Ulsrud, won the Colin Campbell award for sportsmanship as voted by their fellow curlers.  Last year it was won by Norway's third, Torger Nergard.  The Norwegian team bring a lot of "life" to the game of curling.  They are probably best known for the pants that they wear, not standard black ones like most teams, but "Loud Mouth Golf" pants in patterns of red, white and blue to go with the colours of their flag.  The latest ones were modelled after the flag, as seen in the above pictures.  The team members are full of fun, even when preparing for an important game.  They signed autographs before the game, visited with Norsk fans and posed for pictures.  They even presented Team Canada with a big pizza before the game!  In my eyes, win or lose, the Norwegian team are great role models for sport in general.  Way to go, Norge!

Now I better get at some housework before the weekend is here with a houseful of 17 Johnsons.  Fun! Fun! Fun!  First I need to mix up a batch of ginger cookies!  Tomorrow is the big day, first time that Todd has been home on his birthday for eight years.  We are going to celebrate all weekend!