A Brief Moment of Light and Beauty

[crfriend]

And so it came to pass that when I wandered into my local for my afternoon meal it turned out that they'd put the Winter Olympics on the television I usually face, and which they usually have tuned to the local news. However, this time it all worked out spectacularly as there was ice dancing on the programme which is one of my winter favourites. I find I like this even more than the overt display of power and prowess that's in the pairs competitions, because in dance the rules are slightly different and the objectives are thoroughly involved with the aesthetics. And I gazed in wonder at the spectacle. How is it possible, in a world so awash in horror, scandal, war, genocide and greed is such beauty even imaginable? It bafffles me, but I'm glad it came, because it brought me several minutes of peace and distraction from the dross and ugliness of reality.

I've got fairly predictable tastes, and the staff there knows me quite well. It's a good mix. My favourite winter events are the ice skating, curling (baseball may be a "game of inches", but curling is "a game of millimetres"), and biathlon. How anybody can perform such diverse things as cross-country skiing and precision shooting utterly baffles me.

But, it was a delightful respite from the sewer that is daily life. And much needed -- and appreciated. Mainly for the momentary escape.

[Seb]

Sweden usually does good on the curling, I don't watch it though.

I like watching the XC ski competitions though, most of them are very demanding and it's usually Swedes and Norweigans on the top.

I like to ski myself, both XC and Alpine(though must be 15 years since I went downhill last). But I'm no where near the athletes level but it's nice to get out even when it's cold, I have a field around my house that I can XC ski on, so that makes it very easy to practice, just out the door and put the skiis on the driveway.
I'll skate when I get the opportunity too, but as with skiing, it's just for fun.