In 1988 I was 5 years old. I watched figure skating on TV with my parents while my mom explained the Battle of the Brians and Kurt Browning trying a quad. So began my love of this sport (as a spectator anyway). In 1993 I watched on TV as Canadians finished 1 and 2 in men's and 1st in pairs. At the time I told myself that one day I would be there when a Canadian stood a top the podium at Worlds. I did that in 2001.

When Vancouver was awarded the games in 2003 I was ecstatic. I believed that I would actually get the chance to see figure skating live at the Olympics. I looked forward to it. 2010 seemed so far away. Well it turns out that 2010 really was far away because in the intervening years I have had 4 different jobs, graduated from university, started a career and gotten engaged. Life is not the same as it was in 2003 (in such a good way). So when the lottery for tickets started I hemmed and hawed and in the end, didn't try for tickets. I told myself it didn't matter. I kept telling myself it didn't matter and got increasingly irritated and cynical about the Olympics.

Not all that long ago, I began to really realize how much I really did want to see the skating. I mean, I imagined such a thing as a little 5 year old. With a bit of patience and persistence (who knew Wollmeise stalking skills were transferable) I was able to get tickets, and tonight, attended the men's short program.

I wasn't sure it could possibly live up to the dreams of a five year old me but you know what, it really did. The skating was, for the most part, top notch and the atmosphere incredible. I was just about giddy the whole time and could scarcely believe I was there.

I brought my Ravelympics project of course. Progress continues.