Woooo, we're half way there, wooooo, livin on a prayer...

The title was my LAME attempt at Bon Jovi (in case you weren't aware of the tune you need to humm along with the words).

And YES....the Olympics are now a week in, with about a week to go. And boy oh BOY are they FANTASTIC! There's literally TOO MUCH! I'm recording about 15 hours a day, and obviously I can't even attempt to watch it all...but thankfully I can FF thru the parts I don't care about and just TRY to watch all the good stuff.

Lets see...going back to last night (Thursday)...the US Mens indoor volleyball upset Brazil 3 games to 1...woo-HOO! (they DESPERATELY needed the win to have any chance at making it out of their pool).

Then we had Kayla Harrison, the JUDO QUEEN, kick everybody's ass and win the gold...including that opponent in the final who I SWEAR looked like a MAN! But was Kayla fazed? NOPE. Just got down to business, and when it went to the ground she gets an arm and BAM...it's all over and the monster WOMAN taps out QUICK (before she gets her arm broke). Who knew Judo has so much in common with cage-fighting? And they also said that her manly opponent for the Gold had beaten her 4 out of the last 7 times they were matched...but it didn't seem to faze her one teensy bit. And I LOVED it during her Gold Medal ceremony...she was OPENLY singing the National Anthem...not just sort of moving her lips some...but outright singing! She's my new HERO! And she is now a TWO TIME Olympic Gold winner! WAY TO GO KAYLA!!!!

Then I watched some table tennis (ping pong)...it was 2 Chinese guys (big surprise) going for the gold...boy do they ever make it look easy!

And then I watched the Womens Gymnastics All-Around...and holy crimoly...SIMONE is the word! That little powerhouse flat CRUSHED all comers! And her teammate Aly righted the wrong from 2012 (when she was tied for Bronze but due to some tie-breaking rule she was denied and was 4th)...this time she took Silver, and the girl who got the bronze last time got bronze again (she fell flat on her butt TWICE in the final 4 events). That Simone...she's just ridiculously good. I love that little 'helicopter' move she does on the balance beam and then out on the tumbling field (much easier on the tumbling field I'd think)...but it's the same exact move, and NOBODY else even TRYS anything similar.

Then we had the Mens 200 IM, Phelpes against Locte...and BOY did Michael CRUSH it! And it was his 4th Olympics in a row he's gotten the Gold in that event..which is the first time ANYBODY has ever done that (4 golds in 4 successive Olympics in the same event). That's he's still beating the WORLD at 31 is pretty unbelievable! Can you just TRY to imagine how much work he is doing to make this happen? I'm surprised he has TIME for a fiance and a baby! But he sure is going out in STYLE...London wasn't what he wanted, so he upped the ante and is back to finish on his terms...and NOBODY can say he's not the greatest swimmer EVER! What's he got, like 90 Golds now? And he's not even DONE!

Then we had the black girl Simone Manuel in the 100 free, and WON IT! First African  American woman to win ANY medal in swimming! How is that possible after all this time? Anyway, good for her, she sure deserved it and is a real role model! I hope we see more of her!

And then, yes...MORE Michael Phelps! He swims a semi-final 100 butterfly only 37 MINUTES after he won the 200 IM, and only 7 minutes after he was on the medal stand getting his Gold! That just seems like some crazy scheduling if you ask me (which NOBODY did).

And that took us thru Thursday night (which I didn't finish catching up on until today btw...there's just NO WAY I can stay current on work-days). And today (Friday) was my first day off in our new 9/80 work schedule that we started 2 weeks ago...(if you don't know that that is, you work 9 hour days Monday thru Thursday, then an 8 hour Friday the first week...and the next week you work 9 hour days Mon thru Thurs, which gives you 4 extra hours from this week, and the 4 extra hours from last week...so you get that Friday off. So in a nutshell, I will get every other Friday off! So I went for a long hard MTB Ride...I figure going for a bike ride on my Fridays off is a great way to use it in STYLE! (I've been slipping on my ride schedule these last 2 weeks...simply have TOO MUCH Olympics to watch!)

And so far from Today's Olympics viewing, I saw Kim Rhode (pronounced roadie) take the Bronze in Skeet shooting (blowing up little clay pigeons with a 12 gauge shotgun). Actually they shoot 2 of those little guys with each pull...they give little purple puffs when they hit them. I shoot some skeet once in a while out at the base range...and I'm only shooting one at a time, and not even CLOSE to hitting them all. These ladies are like "BAM-BAM" and there are 2 purple puffs in the air...how on earth they aim and shoot, re-aim at the other one and shoot so very quickly is beyond me...but they are quite fantastic for sure! And Kim is the 1st Summer Olympian EVER to win an individual medal in SIX consecutive games! How's THAT for awesome!! Way to go KIM!!!

I also watched some archery (also amazing...shooting their arrows from 75 meters away), some field hockey, the US womens indoor Volleyball (won against Italy I think, it was a clutch win, 3 games to 1)...love it that Karch Kiraly is their coach...I still remember him PLAYING for the Gold Medal winning Mens indoor team (didn't he play and win in at least 2 Olympics? Can't seem to remember for sure...but I do recall he and the team were AWESOME).

And some Track and Field has started, but I haven't seen ANY of it yet...but I hope to. I've also recorded all the Equestrian events I could for Jeannie (she's been back in Ohio and Florida on a "girls vacation" for the last 2 weeks...which even tho I miss her, I get free reign on the TV for my Olympic viewing). I pick her up down in LAX on Monday...and then my Olympic viewing will have to winnow down some as she isn't into sports very much. But I'll watch what I can when I can. It's all just Olympic OVERLOAD! And Team USA is doing SO FREAKING GREAT!!! But we always have been a Summer Olympics country.

OK...I need to get to bed...tomorrow I am starting work on painting the inside of the house (a little side project I've been putting off). It will likely take MONTHS for me to finish up, but I can get started in the one bedroom...

For now, I need some SLEEP! Goodnight and GO TEAM USA!!!

Cheers!



OK...I'm BACK. It's Sunday night....I'm in a short reprieve in my Gold Medal contention of the Olympics VIEWING event...(it's a full 2 week event, and so far I'm doing quite well!). These are just my updates from when I posted this on Thursday night. SO much has happened. And AWAY we go!

All the way back to Fri night, we had Maya Dirado swim the 200m backstroke, and her COME FROM BEHIND WIN! Way to go MAYA!!!! It was horribly exciting to watch! 4 swims, 4 medals for Maya!

Then we had Mr. Olympics (M.Phelps) in a THREE WAY TIE for silver in the 100 fly! Never seen that happen before! He's now got only 1 event left...the medly relay.

Next we had Mrs. Olympics (that would be Katie Ledecky of course) and her 800m free. And HOLY SMOKES! She was finished, out of the water, went to a drive-thru for coffees and snacks, wash and waxed the rental, and got back in time for the rest of the field to finish! The World Record she broke was her own! And she's only 19 years old! Who is going to contend for her WR in the next 8 or 12 years but herself?? She is simply INCREDIBLE!!!! (and when interviewed, she doesn't ACT like she's 19...she acts like she's 29, or 39...full of poise and grace...quite a remarkable woman!) I'm glad she's on our side!!!

Next was the 50 free (mens)...Anthony Ervin gets told, Nathan Adrian (who will swim the free leg in the upcomin relay) took bronze. Anthony won in 2000 @ 19 yrs old, then dropped out for 12 years and came back....way to go ANTHONY AND NATHAN!!!

Then we come to Saturday. The womens 8's rowing team won gold...WOW! Way to go ladies!!!

Then I watched Mens indoor volleyball against France...they lost a game but pulled it out winning 3 games to the 1 (whew!!!). They really needed that win!

Then I HEARD about Wiggins and his team winning the track cycling pursuit....but I didn't get to see it and it wasn't recorded for some reason...RATS!

Next I saw Simone Manuel take 2nd in the 50m free...THAT is a hard race, way to go Simone!!! She also comes across very articulate and mature...certainly an honor for US to have her on our team...way to go Simone!

Then was the mens 1500 free (UGH..that's like a MILE!). Our guy Conner Jaeger took SILVER in that grueling event, way to go CONNOR!

And THEN was suddenly some track and field (I was only vaguely aware T@F had begun in earnest)...and suddenly the womens 100m dash final...Tori Bowie took Silver! The Jamacians took Gold and Silver...those Jamacians have a dynasty going in the speed running for sure!

And FINALLY...the end of the swimming for Rio...the womens and mens medley relays. Our ladies Kathline Baker, Lily King, Dana Volmer and Simone Manual WON IT! All 4 of those fabulous ladies had medaled in the stroke they were swimming...it was most impressive to watch! I got all teary eyed during their medal ceremony for some reason...maybe it was just the COMPLETE AWESOMENESS of how many times OUR National Anthem had been played thus far at these games...and it was the final ladies event. Way to finish it ladies!!!

And last but not least by ANY measure, the mens. Ryan Murphy, Cody Miller, Michael Phelps, and Nathan Adrian. Ryan set a NEW WORLD RECORD in his opening 100m backstroke leg, Cody Miller kept it close against the Gold Medal winning breast-stroker, then Mr. Olympics brought home a lead in his 100 fly, and Nathan closed it out in STYLE adding to that lead for the WIN! What a way for MP to go out...in peace. SO very glad he came back (and was SERIOUS)..in London he knew he wasn't prepared, and his performance surely wasn't up to his dreams, so he came back and did it right. What a treat for us to see him in full strength ONE MORE TIME! I can't help but wonder how it felt on that podium FOR THE VERY LAST TIME...knowing his AMAZING career in the water is over. But at least he is going out on HIS terms. The greatest Olympian EVER...that's a nice title. Way to go MP...and thanks for the memories...a LOT of them!

So...the total tally in the pool (and I'm only talking swimming races, not water polo, diving or any other water events)...33 total medals, 16 gold! That's the most medals in swimming in one Olympics EVER! It sure was fun to watch, I'll say that. WE (the US of A OWN THE FREAKING POOL)! Take THAT you doping Russian swimmers!!! And yes, I was all teary eyed AGAIN during the mens medal ceremony...knowing I won't see MP up there ever again. It was quite an honor for sure!!!

And on to some T@T...the mens 100m dash prelims...Usain Bolt looked like he could carry a tray full of Ice Teas with him and still win. He is ridiculously fast. We shall see how Gatlin can do against him in the final I'm sure. There were a total of SEVEN heats of prelims in that race...that's a LOT of racers!

Then onto the mens 400m semi-finals (wow...that snuck up on me...when were the prelims?)...Lashawn Merritt, the 2008 Gold winner, makes the final....and Gil Roberts (who had AT LEAST 2 lbs of gold chains on his neck...give me a FREAKING BREAK) did NOT. Love that! Maybe you'd be faster if you didn't have to show your awesomeness with your gold chains DURING YOUR RACE?? Just a thought. Better like in 4 years Gil!

And that about wrapped up Saturdays events (that I got to see)...on to Sunday!

I got to see the Mens Omnium track cycling race (at least the first evvnt...60 freaking laps of the track)....that is one odd event. But with only 1 racer from each country, it's evreybody for themselves....as evidenced when a few guys make a breakaway and NOBODY chases, cuz they're all used to having a TEAM chase down the breaks....so they ALL LOSE cuz they don't want to do the work. LOVE IT that boldness pays off in this event! For 60 laps it was actually kind of fun to watch (after the first 20 or so laps anyway, when some bold racers took a chance...and the American was one of the first to go...sadly he faded quick and finished 17th or so...as he was eventually caught by the 'peleton'. Still, no guts, no glory!

Then I saw Alex Nador (Mens Gymnastics) in the finals for the Pommel horse. Sadly he went VERY early in the event, and even tho he did the best exercise he's ever done in competition on the pommel horse, the earlier performers seem to always be graded lower...and finally towards the end, the 2 GBR guys were 3rd from last and last...and they both got GREAT scores...and sure, their exercises looked good...but then I rewound and re-watched Alex's performance again, and I think he got gypped...he was at LEAST as good as the 2 Great Brittian guys...sadly that's just how judging goes so often...they grade lower early so there's room to put people over them...but then they forget about the earlier scores and how good they really were sometimes...at least it sure seemed that way today. But you know what? He wasn't a crybaby or sad-sack over it, he was ELATED with his bronze! It was quite refreshing actually! Way to go ALEX!!! He was SO HAPPY with that medal!

ooh...the mens 100m semi-finals...Bolt was just that...a relaxed lightening bolt. He looked like he could read a book (albiet a VERY SHORT book) during his heat...he seemed that relaxed.  Then Justin Gatlin ran in the next heat and won it, but he looked like he actually had to work some...I think Bolt will run away with it in the final..but we shall see.

And just now they awarded the womens 100m medals...the Jamacian with the green and yellow hair (isn't that Brazil's colors?) only took bronze...her teammate with NORMAL hair won it. I kind of like that...I hate it when people get so flashy thinking they're all that...and then are not. Bolt kind of fits in that category, only he ACTS like he's the king of the world...(but I'm guessing he will back that up with his legs...and I just heard the mens 100m final is TONIGHT! I won't stay up for it, so I'll see it tomorrow.

 And finally...I just finished watching the US Womens indoor volleyball against China (before I started making this update)...whew! They really had me sweating! China won the first game, and IF the US were to lose the match, they would have not won their pool...but they came back and won 3 games straight and ended up undefeated in their pool. NICE LADIES! I just love it that Karch Kiraly is coaching...he was SUCH a fantastic player OH so long ago it seems.

And that puts me current with Sunday night viewing...there's Trackk @ Field going on in the background all the while I type...but quite honestly I'm beat...I think I scored a 15.975 in my weekend Olympics Viewing...which puts me near the top...but can I maintain that score? I don't think so...I've had FREE REIGN with the TV while Jeannie has been gone (to Ohio and Florida) the last 2 weeks...she flys home tomorrow and I'll be picking her up in LAX around noon (taking the day off work). And that wraps up my Olympics coverage for the week.

Good night, and good luck.

CHEERS! (again).