and christ's last week continues...
Silence.
Silence.
We have not a single word from the Gospels on what Jesus said on Wednesday, or what he did -- but it prompts thoughts about the value of silence and sometimes solitude that we often forget. Silence in our prayers to listen, silence at church to ponder, silence in our lives to regenerate. Beginning with his 40 days in the wilderness, the Savior showed us the pattern and value of spiritual silence and solitude -- not as a constant thing, as some Catholic orders of monks and nuns do, but as a rejuvenative enterprise.
There is no way to underestimate the value of occasional silence, of the pause, of the coda. In the world of art, it is one of the strongest tools. In reading poetry, it is pivotal. In sculpting, it is essential. In painting, it allows perspective. And so on. In classical music, it is often the signal that the crescendo is about to come -- and that's what we have here on Wednesday. Knowing what was coming on Thursday and Friday, did the Savior need to regroup? Did he need to offer final words and counsel to those he loved -- his mother Mary, Mary-Martha-Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, the apostles?
Did he convey deeper doctrine to the Apostles to embolden them for the mission ahead? Will it be in the third set of scriptures to come from the Lost Tribes? Do we already have some of what he said in the Book of Mormon?
Then again, it is all the Latter-day Saints can do to follow the commandments and doctrine we already have. Time and again, Joseph Smith showed spiritual restraint by not conveying all that he knew, because he didn't want us to be condemned for not following higher laws and truths he knew.
So ... my personal feeling is that Wednesday was a quieter day than the marvelous teaching Tuesday. The scriptures say that he "taught daily" at the Temple -- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. But I believe that because Tuesday was so doctrinally significant at the Temple and later at the Mount of Olives, that he particularly needed all the lessons to sink in with the Apostles. With the people, like the master teacher he was, he probably used repetitions to let the lessons of Monday and Tuesday take hold.
Then, too, on Monday and Tuesday, he was challenged to debate by the Pharisees and their ilk intending to discredit him. But Tuesday night, the debate was over for them. They made final plans to kill him, using the betrayer Judas to bring him to them away from the crowd. The Savior well knew this, and must have appreciated Heavenly Father's love to probably give him some or most of Wednesday to gird up his loins and take a breath, a pause of peace, less than two days before the agony of the Atonement that has saved all of us for a time, and the best among us for eternal life...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
tuesday
christ's last week continued, dad's retelling....
Whereas for Monday there were only a few verses, we have multiple chapters full of parables and teachings recorded from the Savior's last Tuesday -- one of the most amazing of which was to declare what two commandments encompass all others.
If you have time this Spring break without Seminary, I would urge you to read about his Tuesday for yourselves. Tuesday can be found in Matthew 21:20-46; all of chapters 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26: 1-5, and 14-16. It is also found in Mark 11:19-33, all of chapters 12 and 13, and 14: 1, and 10-11. The Luke version includes Chapter 20, and some of 21. In John, it is 12:20-43.
First, on the way from Bethany to Jerusalem, they stopped at the fig tree Jesus had cursed the day before. It had "withered away" and "dried up from the roots" in less than a day. He used this as an opportunity to teach the Apostles about faith, prayer and forgiveness. He explained that just as he had "removed" the tree from fruitful life, so too did the Apostles have power to "remove" a mountain. "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matt. 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26)
When Jesus arrived at the Temple for his daily teaching, the "chief priests" asked him by what authority he taught. He used the popularity of John the Baptist with the people to stump the priests, who would not answer by what authority John was baptized. They would not say. "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."
In succession, he then taught the Parables of:
* The Two Sons
* The Wicked Husbandmen, and
* The Marriage of the King's Son.
Then he was asked about money -- whether "tribute" or taxes should be paid to the Roman ruler Caesar. (It's personally interesting to ponder this around the time of the April 15 tax deadline for all of us!) His famous answer was to render unto Caesar what was Caesar's (temporal, monetary system) and to God the things that are God's.
He was asked about Marriage and the Resurrection, which was already a growing religious "theory." Said the Son of Man, who would personally become the most powerful proof of resurrection at the end of the week: "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." He sided foursquare, then, with the doctrine of resurrection by declaring that God was always a God of the living, whether on earth or in heaven, including those who were once on the earth in mortal life.
At this point, since he had stymied the questions of the Sadducees, the Pharisees decided to have a go at Jesus in debate. For once, I am very grateful for a lawyer who asked a question. "One of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" He answered that there were two, loving the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Now, he turned the tables by asking them who they thought Christ would be the Son of. Since they called him (not knowing Jesus was the Christ) the Son of David, how could that be? "If David call him (Christ) Lord, how is he his son?" Pure doctrine is always this rational and logical.
At this point, the same Savior who threw out the merchants and moneychangers now warns against and condemns the Scribes and Pharisees for their opposition to true doctrine -- which takes up the entire Chapter 23 in Matthew. That we have it preserved might suggest that the same words are well applied to apostates, and may have given comfort (and voice) to Joseph Smith's righteous anger and anguish when he was beset upon by ex-church leaders and others who tried to debate, trick and "destroy" him.
After this repudiation, things quieted again, and we read about The Widow's Mite in Mark (12:41-44) and Luke (21:1-4). He was sitting near the "treasury" at the temple, or money offering box and watched as the wealthy cast abundant and noisy coins into the box -- publicly demonstrating their "worthiness" to eye and ear-witnesses. He did not denounce the tithing of the wealthy, however showy, to the public. Instead, after a widow put in a mere "two mites," which was greater in relation to her income than the offerings of the rich to theirs, he pulled "his disciples" or Apostles aside and instructed them that the widow had given all that she had, and this was greater in the eyes of God than what the rich had done. In this, he was giving critical PPI-type advice to the soon-to-be leaders of the church who would be taking in offerings themselves in future that they should greatly honor alms from the poor, even though it be less than from the rich.
It was after the Widow's Mite that scholars have placed another private discussion with the Apostles at the Temple, when Jesus lets them know about his coming death. Greeks who came to Passover asked Philip for an audience with Jesus, and it was at this point that he and Andrew report this to Jesus. "The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified." In John 12:20-36, he now talks about being "lifted up" in death soon. This conversation is overheard by others nearby, who begin asking questions. He speaks carefully, using the wonderful expression, "Yet a little while is the light (of his earthly life) with you." Then he follows this with a sermon on his relationship to the Father.
After this, John says, he "departed" by disappearing among the crowd and then out the city again. After he left, John reports the reaction of some people to these teachings who fail to understand, despite the many miracles Jesus had performed, and the perfect truth of his teachings, who the Savior truly is.
Now that the subject was raised, once he got outside the gates of the city, he and the Apostles stopped on the Mount of Olives, which was on the way to Bethany. At the bottom of the Mount is the Garden of Gethsemane. It is on this Tuesday evening that he offered the most-quoted and fullest discourse on the signs of the times (Matthew 24; Mark 13). "The disciples came to him privately (as) he sat upon the Mount of Olives" and asked him about the signs. His first mention of being "lifted up" in death soon at the end of the teachings at the Temple had naturally spawned the questions. He tells them about the signs of the destruction of the Temple and of his own second coming. He tells them the parable of the fig tree, which has been a "visual aid" on these first two days. He tells them the parable of the man taking a far journey, and that the Son of Man will come again like "a thief in the night."
It is as part of this discourse privately on Tuesday evening with his Apostles, sitting on the mountain where he will soon be betrayed (Garden of Gethsemane at the bottom), and the mountain on which he will stand and break in half at the Second Coming -- it is in this discourse that he appropriately reveals the Parable of the Ten Virgins -- which has everything to do with being prepared for the Second Coming. (Matt. 25:1-13)
He follows that with the equally powerful and important Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).
He then reveals that it is he, Jesus, who is the Bridegroom and who will judge the world. (Matt. 25:31-46).
After he "finished all these sayings," he told them that in two days, during the Thursday evening feast of the Passover, "the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified."
As he was speaking, the chief priests and scribes were conferring on how to kill Jesus, according to the Gospel writers. They were probably still stinging from his specific rebuke of them hours before so that even those who might have been more moderate could not speak up for saving his life (or ignoring him). As they tried to figure out how to do it, one of the Apostles, Judas Iscariot, arrives and says he will "deliver" Jesus to them. Did he know it was to deliver his own Savior and Rabbi to his death? The text is not clear. We'll not get into speculating on the motives of Judas. It is interesting that he either left early from the private teachings of Jesus about his death and Second Coming, or after that discussion was over and Jesus moved on to Bethany. The priests promised him 30 pieces of silver, which was the price of a slave, for betraying Jesus. Many, many years before, it was Judas's namesake -- Judah (since Judas is the Greek version of Judah) -- who came up with the plan to get rid of brother Joseph by selling him as a slave for the going price then. And yet ... in both the case of Joseph and Jesus (or Joshua, his true Hebrew name), while Judah and Judas sought to do evil, God turned it to good. It was only through these betrayals that, in Joseph's case, Israel was saved temporally and, in Jesus's case, we all may be saved with eternal life through the atonement.
Tuesday stands for us as the most important set of teachings prior to the Last Supper during the last week of the Savior's life.
Whereas for Monday there were only a few verses, we have multiple chapters full of parables and teachings recorded from the Savior's last Tuesday -- one of the most amazing of which was to declare what two commandments encompass all others.
If you have time this Spring break without Seminary, I would urge you to read about his Tuesday for yourselves. Tuesday can be found in Matthew 21:20-46; all of chapters 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26: 1-5, and 14-16. It is also found in Mark 11:19-33, all of chapters 12 and 13, and 14: 1, and 10-11. The Luke version includes Chapter 20, and some of 21. In John, it is 12:20-43.
First, on the way from Bethany to Jerusalem, they stopped at the fig tree Jesus had cursed the day before. It had "withered away" and "dried up from the roots" in less than a day. He used this as an opportunity to teach the Apostles about faith, prayer and forgiveness. He explained that just as he had "removed" the tree from fruitful life, so too did the Apostles have power to "remove" a mountain. "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matt. 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26)
When Jesus arrived at the Temple for his daily teaching, the "chief priests" asked him by what authority he taught. He used the popularity of John the Baptist with the people to stump the priests, who would not answer by what authority John was baptized. They would not say. "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."
In succession, he then taught the Parables of:
* The Two Sons
* The Wicked Husbandmen, and
* The Marriage of the King's Son.
Then he was asked about money -- whether "tribute" or taxes should be paid to the Roman ruler Caesar. (It's personally interesting to ponder this around the time of the April 15 tax deadline for all of us!) His famous answer was to render unto Caesar what was Caesar's (temporal, monetary system) and to God the things that are God's.
He was asked about Marriage and the Resurrection, which was already a growing religious "theory." Said the Son of Man, who would personally become the most powerful proof of resurrection at the end of the week: "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." He sided foursquare, then, with the doctrine of resurrection by declaring that God was always a God of the living, whether on earth or in heaven, including those who were once on the earth in mortal life.
At this point, since he had stymied the questions of the Sadducees, the Pharisees decided to have a go at Jesus in debate. For once, I am very grateful for a lawyer who asked a question. "One of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" He answered that there were two, loving the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Now, he turned the tables by asking them who they thought Christ would be the Son of. Since they called him (not knowing Jesus was the Christ) the Son of David, how could that be? "If David call him (Christ) Lord, how is he his son?" Pure doctrine is always this rational and logical.
At this point, the same Savior who threw out the merchants and moneychangers now warns against and condemns the Scribes and Pharisees for their opposition to true doctrine -- which takes up the entire Chapter 23 in Matthew. That we have it preserved might suggest that the same words are well applied to apostates, and may have given comfort (and voice) to Joseph Smith's righteous anger and anguish when he was beset upon by ex-church leaders and others who tried to debate, trick and "destroy" him.
After this repudiation, things quieted again, and we read about The Widow's Mite in Mark (12:41-44) and Luke (21:1-4). He was sitting near the "treasury" at the temple, or money offering box and watched as the wealthy cast abundant and noisy coins into the box -- publicly demonstrating their "worthiness" to eye and ear-witnesses. He did not denounce the tithing of the wealthy, however showy, to the public. Instead, after a widow put in a mere "two mites," which was greater in relation to her income than the offerings of the rich to theirs, he pulled "his disciples" or Apostles aside and instructed them that the widow had given all that she had, and this was greater in the eyes of God than what the rich had done. In this, he was giving critical PPI-type advice to the soon-to-be leaders of the church who would be taking in offerings themselves in future that they should greatly honor alms from the poor, even though it be less than from the rich.
It was after the Widow's Mite that scholars have placed another private discussion with the Apostles at the Temple, when Jesus lets them know about his coming death. Greeks who came to Passover asked Philip for an audience with Jesus, and it was at this point that he and Andrew report this to Jesus. "The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified." In John 12:20-36, he now talks about being "lifted up" in death soon. This conversation is overheard by others nearby, who begin asking questions. He speaks carefully, using the wonderful expression, "Yet a little while is the light (of his earthly life) with you." Then he follows this with a sermon on his relationship to the Father.
After this, John says, he "departed" by disappearing among the crowd and then out the city again. After he left, John reports the reaction of some people to these teachings who fail to understand, despite the many miracles Jesus had performed, and the perfect truth of his teachings, who the Savior truly is.
Now that the subject was raised, once he got outside the gates of the city, he and the Apostles stopped on the Mount of Olives, which was on the way to Bethany. At the bottom of the Mount is the Garden of Gethsemane. It is on this Tuesday evening that he offered the most-quoted and fullest discourse on the signs of the times (Matthew 24; Mark 13). "The disciples came to him privately (as) he sat upon the Mount of Olives" and asked him about the signs. His first mention of being "lifted up" in death soon at the end of the teachings at the Temple had naturally spawned the questions. He tells them about the signs of the destruction of the Temple and of his own second coming. He tells them the parable of the fig tree, which has been a "visual aid" on these first two days. He tells them the parable of the man taking a far journey, and that the Son of Man will come again like "a thief in the night."
It is as part of this discourse privately on Tuesday evening with his Apostles, sitting on the mountain where he will soon be betrayed (Garden of Gethsemane at the bottom), and the mountain on which he will stand and break in half at the Second Coming -- it is in this discourse that he appropriately reveals the Parable of the Ten Virgins -- which has everything to do with being prepared for the Second Coming. (Matt. 25:1-13)
He follows that with the equally powerful and important Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).
He then reveals that it is he, Jesus, who is the Bridegroom and who will judge the world. (Matt. 25:31-46).
After he "finished all these sayings," he told them that in two days, during the Thursday evening feast of the Passover, "the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified."
As he was speaking, the chief priests and scribes were conferring on how to kill Jesus, according to the Gospel writers. They were probably still stinging from his specific rebuke of them hours before so that even those who might have been more moderate could not speak up for saving his life (or ignoring him). As they tried to figure out how to do it, one of the Apostles, Judas Iscariot, arrives and says he will "deliver" Jesus to them. Did he know it was to deliver his own Savior and Rabbi to his death? The text is not clear. We'll not get into speculating on the motives of Judas. It is interesting that he either left early from the private teachings of Jesus about his death and Second Coming, or after that discussion was over and Jesus moved on to Bethany. The priests promised him 30 pieces of silver, which was the price of a slave, for betraying Jesus. Many, many years before, it was Judas's namesake -- Judah (since Judas is the Greek version of Judah) -- who came up with the plan to get rid of brother Joseph by selling him as a slave for the going price then. And yet ... in both the case of Joseph and Jesus (or Joshua, his true Hebrew name), while Judah and Judas sought to do evil, God turned it to good. It was only through these betrayals that, in Joseph's case, Israel was saved temporally and, in Jesus's case, we all may be saved with eternal life through the atonement.
Tuesday stands for us as the most important set of teachings prior to the Last Supper during the last week of the Savior's life.
Monday, March 29, 2010
monday
to celebrate the approach of easter, my dad has initiated a daily email to his sunday school class discussing what christ was doing on that same day some 2000 years ago.
this, is monday:
On Sunday, during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, he was so delayed by the time he got to the Temple, that it was time to leave the city without, so far as we know, teaching. He stayed in Bethany, about two miles away, and probably at the house of his good friends -- Mary, Martha and their recently "arisen" brother Lazarus, whom Christ had brought back from the dead. Sunday was the only day he rode into Jerusalem on a mule -- which was to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy.
Monday is found in Matthew 21: 12-19; Mark 11: 12-18; and Luke 19: 45-48.
On Monday. as he walked to Jerusalem, he was hungry and saw a fig tree, but there were no figs on it. His disciples probably understood his disappointment, and the cursing of the tree, as related to other fig tree parables. To me, being a convert, it reminds me of one of the reasons I was attracted to the LDS church, and knew it was the true church -- "by their fruits ye shall know them." The LDS church was no barren or sparsely-blossomed fig tree, like so many other religions I had tasted -- it was full to overflowing of good fruit, and I am still savoring all the truths upon our tree.
When the Savior got to the Temple this time, he would not teach sacred truths without "cleaning" its outer courtyard first. "My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves." He cast out all the salesmen and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers before he taught. Some new agers types do not realize that the Savior eternally demonstrates, like his Father, the two "arms" of true doctrine -- a mighty arm of justice, and an equally mighty arm of mercy. That is how he is the God of the New AND Old Testament. That is how he can show his righteous fury in the Temple courtyard so that all the "den of thieves" flee before him, and moments later, heals "the blind and the lame (that) came to him in the temple."
Just as there had been a chorus of Hosannas on Palm Sunday -- his triumphal entry -- now it is a chorus of specifically children who "cry" in the Temple courtyard, "Hosanna to the Son of David." Their adulation of Christ, and declaration that he was the Messiah (as the Son of David) "displeased" the chief priests who urged him to silence them. The previous day, he had told the dissenters that if he silenced the crowd, the very rocks would cry out in exultation. At this point, he says that "perfect praise (comes) out of the mouth of babes ..."
Mark adds that the angry priests "sought how they might destroy him." In fact, the chief priests had been plotting to destroy Jesus since he had raised Lazarus from the dead. It was a miracle they could not dispute, and which most threatened their power and hold on the people. The scriptures say that "from that day forward" they sought to put him to death. Their resolve continues, then, Monday at the Temple when he tossed out all the merchants.
For safety, he returned the two miles to Bethany before the gates of the city of Jerusalem were closed.
-DVA
this, is monday:
On Sunday, during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, he was so delayed by the time he got to the Temple, that it was time to leave the city without, so far as we know, teaching. He stayed in Bethany, about two miles away, and probably at the house of his good friends -- Mary, Martha and their recently "arisen" brother Lazarus, whom Christ had brought back from the dead. Sunday was the only day he rode into Jerusalem on a mule -- which was to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy.
Monday is found in Matthew 21: 12-19; Mark 11: 12-18; and Luke 19: 45-48.
On Monday. as he walked to Jerusalem, he was hungry and saw a fig tree, but there were no figs on it. His disciples probably understood his disappointment, and the cursing of the tree, as related to other fig tree parables. To me, being a convert, it reminds me of one of the reasons I was attracted to the LDS church, and knew it was the true church -- "by their fruits ye shall know them." The LDS church was no barren or sparsely-blossomed fig tree, like so many other religions I had tasted -- it was full to overflowing of good fruit, and I am still savoring all the truths upon our tree.
When the Savior got to the Temple this time, he would not teach sacred truths without "cleaning" its outer courtyard first. "My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves." He cast out all the salesmen and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers before he taught. Some new agers types do not realize that the Savior eternally demonstrates, like his Father, the two "arms" of true doctrine -- a mighty arm of justice, and an equally mighty arm of mercy. That is how he is the God of the New AND Old Testament. That is how he can show his righteous fury in the Temple courtyard so that all the "den of thieves" flee before him, and moments later, heals "the blind and the lame (that) came to him in the temple."
Just as there had been a chorus of Hosannas on Palm Sunday -- his triumphal entry -- now it is a chorus of specifically children who "cry" in the Temple courtyard, "Hosanna to the Son of David." Their adulation of Christ, and declaration that he was the Messiah (as the Son of David) "displeased" the chief priests who urged him to silence them. The previous day, he had told the dissenters that if he silenced the crowd, the very rocks would cry out in exultation. At this point, he says that "perfect praise (comes) out of the mouth of babes ..."
Mark adds that the angry priests "sought how they might destroy him." In fact, the chief priests had been plotting to destroy Jesus since he had raised Lazarus from the dead. It was a miracle they could not dispute, and which most threatened their power and hold on the people. The scriptures say that "from that day forward" they sought to put him to death. Their resolve continues, then, Monday at the Temple when he tossed out all the merchants.
For safety, he returned the two miles to Bethany before the gates of the city of Jerusalem were closed.
-DVA
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
time keeps tickin' and i keep travelin'
is march over yet?
i've been anticpating it, but the reality is sometimes harder than the expectation. three shows in a row with brief overnight's at home in between. i'm currently on the second leg after spending a few days in wisconsin, and still hate vegas as much as i always have.
i'm here attending a conference for exhibitors and while it's a really wonderful thing to actually be around others in my industry, it's really bad timing, and i really don't like vegas. i was finally getting over being sick from when i was here in february and now i'm getting sicker again. vegas always makes me sick. but today i decided to skip the afternoon class and take some me time, poolside.
probably my best pool experience EVER. upon arrival, an attendant followed me to the chaise of my choosing, and covered it with a fitted towel, laying an extra one over the back to serve as a headrest. then a pitcher of ice cold lemon water was left on my table. i placed my lunch order, a yummy wedge salad and a rootbeer float.
i immediately noticed how quiet it was, and 'quiet' in vegas, is a priceless commodity. not only was it quiet, but it was the purrrrrfect weather. 75 degrees today - cool enough not to overheat, hot enough to welcome a refreshing dip. bliss.
i've been anticpating it, but the reality is sometimes harder than the expectation. three shows in a row with brief overnight's at home in between. i'm currently on the second leg after spending a few days in wisconsin, and still hate vegas as much as i always have.
i'm here attending a conference for exhibitors and while it's a really wonderful thing to actually be around others in my industry, it's really bad timing, and i really don't like vegas. i was finally getting over being sick from when i was here in february and now i'm getting sicker again. vegas always makes me sick. but today i decided to skip the afternoon class and take some me time, poolside.
probably my best pool experience EVER. upon arrival, an attendant followed me to the chaise of my choosing, and covered it with a fitted towel, laying an extra one over the back to serve as a headrest. then a pitcher of ice cold lemon water was left on my table. i placed my lunch order, a yummy wedge salad and a rootbeer float.
i immediately noticed how quiet it was, and 'quiet' in vegas, is a priceless commodity. not only was it quiet, but it was the purrrrrfect weather. 75 degrees today - cool enough not to overheat, hot enough to welcome a refreshing dip. bliss.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
the winter olympics: 2010 redux, day 2
the morning began with a very important task: hit the olympic superstore.
each olympics has a superstore, sometimes more than one depending on the venue locations, but usually there is one, main, gigantic store for you to buy all of your over-priced olympic gear. it was my hope to pick a pair or two of the 'it' item, the red canadian mittens, but i knew it was a long shot. every olympics has an 'it' item, but usually by the time you figure it out, they are impossible to find. i hoped this time would be different.
for the first time ever, the olympic superstore was housed in a previously existing retail space (usually they build giant tents), and as a result, finding it was slightly more confusing than we expected. when we arrived at the hudson bay co., an iconic canadian department store type retailer, we followed signs to the superstore, which took us up no less than five flights of escalators up to the top floor.
when we arrived at the top, i was severely disappointed, as the selection was so paltry compared to that of salt lake. instead of all the usual gear, and the diversity of price points, each of the major companies had a section, and each section was comprised entirely of clothing items. since ralph lauren sponsored the us team this year, finding anything under $200 was impossible. i'll admit that i was a little heartbroken as we made our way back downstairs.
when we arrived back on the bottom floor, we saw signs we hadn't seen before, these saying that the superstore was located on the main level. we followed those signs until we found ourselves at the back of a line wrapping around the outside of the building to get in to the store. as it happened, the line wrapped around two sides of the building, and it just so happened we had approached on a non-line side.
we waited roughly 45 minutes to gain entry into the store, and while that was mildly frustrating, once we were inside, all my disappointment faded away. here. here was the mecca of olympic junk. pins and lanyards and vancouver (not team) clothing and hats and bags and anything you could slap a logo on. it was wonderful.
i was on a strict budget, and met it easily. i had a very specific idea of what i wanted. i was looking for a top (jacket, sweater, shirt) that wasn't too colorful or logo-covered. i wanted something that i could still feel good about wearing in five years. and i found exactly what i was looking for. so much so that i expect you'll be seeing it in lots and lots of pictures for the next few months! i also felt like i got a steal on my new hoodie (compared to some of the other prices i saw), so when i found a total novelty item - but one that excited me to no end, i couldn't pass it up.
i'm not sure why but my eyes and ears are really sensitive. my eyes to light and wind and any number of other things, my ears, to cold. in fact, in cold climates it's a rarity if i DON'T end up with an earache. hats are better than nothing, but i don't always want to wear a hat (nor is it always appropriate). i've looked for earmuffs before, but they're all pretty lame.
what i found at the superstore rocked my world.
they're called 'earbags'. they are individual ear coverings that slide over and lock onto your ear to keep them warm. they are super comfortable and super discreet, and made this girl super happy!
sadly, there were no mittens to be found, but i expected as much, and after making our purchases, we were on to the next priority of the day: find somewhere cool to watch the usa v. canada hockey game.
as i mentioned previously, granville street was where it was at in vancouver. the street was shut down to auto-traffic, and was the largest congregation of people i ever saw, outside of the arenas. we knew that whereever we ended up, we wanted to be close to granville street when the big game started.
it was then that we stumbled on the vogue theater. apparently spencer had seen it before, but i somehow missed it when he told me about it. the vogue is a combination indie movie theater/performance venue restored in the last several years, and was offering tickets to see the game on the 42' screen. it seemed perfect, so we bought our tickets, found a place to eat lunch (where i had some really, really good pizza), and headed back to the theater before the game.
the place was already packed. i learned later that the theater holds 1200 people, and every seat was full. i'd estimate 1195 of them were filled with canadian hockey fans. and that WAS just perfect.
as much as spencer and i, and the three other americans in the theater were rooting for team usa, i was excited to be surrounded by all that awesome energy. the excitement level topped the charts.
as much as spencer and i, and the three other americans in the theater were rooting for team usa, i was excited to be surrounded by all that awesome energy. the excitement level topped the charts. and as the canadian team scored, it reached an even higher crescendo.
during the period breaks we were 'treated' with live entertainment. actually, not bad, but just out of place a little bit. during the second period break, the 'announcer' took a few minutes to remind us that this was a 'friendly' rivalry, and that they are happy to be hosting their american visitors. spencer and i had to laugh as we had endured chants of 'BOO S A' among others. but even despite those chants, for the fans, i believe that it mostly IS a friendly rivalry. had the canadians lost yesterday's gold medal game i would have expected them to be heartbroken, but would have been surprised at any anti-american sentiments. they are rooting FOR their team more than they are AGAINST ours. they just know that we are one of the few countries who can give them a run for their money!
you should have seen the look of confusion on his face: 'wait, you're...' 'american,' i finished for him. he responded with mock dismay, then bought me a diet coke (although apparently he thought i was kidding about that and really wanted to buy me a beer!)
it was all in good fun. made even more so by the fact that team usa won that game.;) even after the game as people poured out of restaurants, bars, other theaters, or joined in on granville after watching on the giant outdoor screens, the mood was still fun and festive. no doubt they were bummed, but they weren't going to let it get them down.
we had a little bit of time to kill before heading over to canada hockey place for our event that evening, so we slowly made our way down granville taking in the crowds and enjoying the buzz. we saw street art and street performers, and enough red to make you feel like your eyes were bleeding, and eventually, we saw the crowd at canada hockey place and became part of it.
the usa/canada game ended at a little after 7pm, and our game, sweden/finland began at 9. it would have been fascinating for me to watch that place get turned over and cleaned. it must have taken an army!
we waited for roughly 20 minutes, during which, i found my own entertainment. namely two giants for men, who were clearly rooting for sweden, complete with old school hockey style helmets with miniature movable crocs (the shoes) attached to the helmets in a movable fashion. sadly, the crowd was far to dense for me to make my way over for a pic, but i enjoyed watching, nonetheless.
as we made our way into the stadium, i attempted to take a self-portrait of myself with the massive crowd behind me, but as the timer counted down, i nearly tripped on a step. thankfully the two strangers behind me were ready with a pose.
eventually, we made it safely into the stadium, and it was covered with yellow and blue and blue and white.
the couple sitting next to us spoke very little english and had come from stockholm to see their team take on the fins.
sadly, the fins didn't put up much of a fight, and i wouldn't have guesed THAT night that they would go on to take the bronze! despite the lack of a fight, the fins did provide some good entertainment. i noticed these guys across the stadium...
then i saw them on the big screen...
then i got up close and personal with them.
after the game, we took the opportunity to go down and sniff the ice (and take some photos)
we also watched the ctv broadcasters do their nightly report
and as we made our way out of the stadium, we ran into these guys!
look how small they make me look:)
it was a really fun way to end a truly amazing day.
each olympics has a superstore, sometimes more than one depending on the venue locations, but usually there is one, main, gigantic store for you to buy all of your over-priced olympic gear. it was my hope to pick a pair or two of the 'it' item, the red canadian mittens, but i knew it was a long shot. every olympics has an 'it' item, but usually by the time you figure it out, they are impossible to find. i hoped this time would be different.
for the first time ever, the olympic superstore was housed in a previously existing retail space (usually they build giant tents), and as a result, finding it was slightly more confusing than we expected. when we arrived at the hudson bay co., an iconic canadian department store type retailer, we followed signs to the superstore, which took us up no less than five flights of escalators up to the top floor.
when we arrived at the top, i was severely disappointed, as the selection was so paltry compared to that of salt lake. instead of all the usual gear, and the diversity of price points, each of the major companies had a section, and each section was comprised entirely of clothing items. since ralph lauren sponsored the us team this year, finding anything under $200 was impossible. i'll admit that i was a little heartbroken as we made our way back downstairs.
when we arrived back on the bottom floor, we saw signs we hadn't seen before, these saying that the superstore was located on the main level. we followed those signs until we found ourselves at the back of a line wrapping around the outside of the building to get in to the store. as it happened, the line wrapped around two sides of the building, and it just so happened we had approached on a non-line side.
we waited roughly 45 minutes to gain entry into the store, and while that was mildly frustrating, once we were inside, all my disappointment faded away. here. here was the mecca of olympic junk. pins and lanyards and vancouver (not team) clothing and hats and bags and anything you could slap a logo on. it was wonderful.
i was on a strict budget, and met it easily. i had a very specific idea of what i wanted. i was looking for a top (jacket, sweater, shirt) that wasn't too colorful or logo-covered. i wanted something that i could still feel good about wearing in five years. and i found exactly what i was looking for. so much so that i expect you'll be seeing it in lots and lots of pictures for the next few months! i also felt like i got a steal on my new hoodie (compared to some of the other prices i saw), so when i found a total novelty item - but one that excited me to no end, i couldn't pass it up.
i'm not sure why but my eyes and ears are really sensitive. my eyes to light and wind and any number of other things, my ears, to cold. in fact, in cold climates it's a rarity if i DON'T end up with an earache. hats are better than nothing, but i don't always want to wear a hat (nor is it always appropriate). i've looked for earmuffs before, but they're all pretty lame.
what i found at the superstore rocked my world.
they're called 'earbags'. they are individual ear coverings that slide over and lock onto your ear to keep them warm. they are super comfortable and super discreet, and made this girl super happy!
sadly, there were no mittens to be found, but i expected as much, and after making our purchases, we were on to the next priority of the day: find somewhere cool to watch the usa v. canada hockey game.
as i mentioned previously, granville street was where it was at in vancouver. the street was shut down to auto-traffic, and was the largest congregation of people i ever saw, outside of the arenas. we knew that whereever we ended up, we wanted to be close to granville street when the big game started.
it was then that we stumbled on the vogue theater. apparently spencer had seen it before, but i somehow missed it when he told me about it. the vogue is a combination indie movie theater/performance venue restored in the last several years, and was offering tickets to see the game on the 42' screen. it seemed perfect, so we bought our tickets, found a place to eat lunch (where i had some really, really good pizza), and headed back to the theater before the game.
the place was already packed. i learned later that the theater holds 1200 people, and every seat was full. i'd estimate 1195 of them were filled with canadian hockey fans. and that WAS just perfect.
as much as spencer and i, and the three other americans in the theater were rooting for team usa, i was excited to be surrounded by all that awesome energy. the excitement level topped the charts.
as much as spencer and i, and the three other americans in the theater were rooting for team usa, i was excited to be surrounded by all that awesome energy. the excitement level topped the charts. and as the canadian team scored, it reached an even higher crescendo.
during the period breaks we were 'treated' with live entertainment. actually, not bad, but just out of place a little bit. during the second period break, the 'announcer' took a few minutes to remind us that this was a 'friendly' rivalry, and that they are happy to be hosting their american visitors. spencer and i had to laugh as we had endured chants of 'BOO S A' among others. but even despite those chants, for the fans, i believe that it mostly IS a friendly rivalry. had the canadians lost yesterday's gold medal game i would have expected them to be heartbroken, but would have been surprised at any anti-american sentiments. they are rooting FOR their team more than they are AGAINST ours. they just know that we are one of the few countries who can give them a run for their money!
perfect example: after the 'announcements' during the second period break, at which time canada was down on goals, i went downstairs to use the bathroom and get a drink. while standing in line for my drink, the guy behind me sidled up next to me and nudged me a little bit with a big smile on his face. 'hey, hey!' he said, ' we are totally going to come back, aren't we?' i smiled back and playfully responded, 'no, i don't think YOU'RE coming back from this one.'
you should have seen the look of confusion on his face: 'wait, you're...' 'american,' i finished for him. he responded with mock dismay, then bought me a diet coke (although apparently he thought i was kidding about that and really wanted to buy me a beer!)
it was all in good fun. made even more so by the fact that team usa won that game.;) even after the game as people poured out of restaurants, bars, other theaters, or joined in on granville after watching on the giant outdoor screens, the mood was still fun and festive. no doubt they were bummed, but they weren't going to let it get them down.
we had a little bit of time to kill before heading over to canada hockey place for our event that evening, so we slowly made our way down granville taking in the crowds and enjoying the buzz. we saw street art and street performers, and enough red to make you feel like your eyes were bleeding, and eventually, we saw the crowd at canada hockey place and became part of it.
the usa/canada game ended at a little after 7pm, and our game, sweden/finland began at 9. it would have been fascinating for me to watch that place get turned over and cleaned. it must have taken an army!
we waited for roughly 20 minutes, during which, i found my own entertainment. namely two giants for men, who were clearly rooting for sweden, complete with old school hockey style helmets with miniature movable crocs (the shoes) attached to the helmets in a movable fashion. sadly, the crowd was far to dense for me to make my way over for a pic, but i enjoyed watching, nonetheless.
as we made our way into the stadium, i attempted to take a self-portrait of myself with the massive crowd behind me, but as the timer counted down, i nearly tripped on a step. thankfully the two strangers behind me were ready with a pose.
eventually, we made it safely into the stadium, and it was covered with yellow and blue and blue and white.
the couple sitting next to us spoke very little english and had come from stockholm to see their team take on the fins.
sadly, the fins didn't put up much of a fight, and i wouldn't have guesed THAT night that they would go on to take the bronze! despite the lack of a fight, the fins did provide some good entertainment. i noticed these guys across the stadium...
then i saw them on the big screen...
then i got up close and personal with them.
after the game, we took the opportunity to go down and sniff the ice (and take some photos)
we also watched the ctv broadcasters do their nightly report
and as we made our way out of the stadium, we ran into these guys!
look how small they make me look:)
it was a really fun way to end a truly amazing day.
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