T-13 #37 - Musings of my Mind this Morning

Make Time for Small Reflections

13 Musings of my Mind this Morning
(mostly about the Olympics it seems)

1. I'm frustrated with NBC's coverage of the Olympics ... holding events until 'prime time' instead of really broadcasting them LIVE because staying up until midnight here in Southern California to watch an event that's been over for HOURS seems silly to me. I did it the first few nights but have given up and now I end up watching the next morning ... trying to avoid 'news shows' so I don't learn of the results before I see the event itself. I'm currently watching the 'all around men's gymnastics event' from yesterday ... hoping my DVR will cooperate ... worried that it might fail me. Other networks like ABC manage to show the events at the 'actual time' live knowing most of us possess the technology to 'capture' and watch as time permits. I wish NBC would 'get this through their heads' and get with the program. I can't be the only frustrated viewer out here ... can I?

2. Methinks my DVR is about to give up the ghost and I'll need to call Time Warner Cable for a replacement sometime soon because some of the 'recorded' programs won't play today ... sigh! This kind of 'exchange' is always frustrating, but bothers me just a bit more today because of what's 'recorded' that I'll lose when they replace my old DVR with a new one ... so I'm in a quandry as I try to decide whether to let go of the old (sooner rather than later) in favor of what's ahead. Of course, there's no telling exactly when the cable guy would be able to get out here ... but since I'm caught up in the Olympics at the moment, I really want to see as much of it as possible. Decisions ... decisions ... LOL

3. How about that Michael Phelps? He's won 11 career gold medals (more than any other Olympic athlete in any sport) in 'new world record times' already and still has 3 events to go. I marvel at his 'schedule' during these Beijing games and wish him the best, but he does look more tired to me in each interview after his swims. At the age of 23, it's possible he could return in 4 years to swim in London ... but for now, I'm hoping he's got enough left in the tank for the 200m Individual Medley today, the 100m Butterfly on Friday, and the 4 by 100m Medley Relay on Saturday. Would someone get him a few new pair of goggles that won't fill with water, please?

Photo source: Yahoo Sports

4. How 'kewl' for China's women swimmers, Liu Zige and Jiao Liuyang, to take Gold & Silver in the 200m Butterfly in World Record time ... surprising everyone with the accomplishment, but disappointing Jess Schipper of Australia who took the Bronze!



5. How disappointing for the American Women's Gymnastics Team ... plagued by injury and mishap ... when they showed such promise. These two videos demonstrate what they're capable of doing ... but weren't able to do 'on the night' that mattered.


I'm sure we all 'feel' for Alicia Sacramone who would love to roll back the clock on her last two events in the team competition. I hope she can pull things together in the 'all-around' competition.

6. Can you believe these shots from Yahoo Photos (and the ones of the men's competition below) that I collaged with Photoshop? The expressions on their faces tell it all!

7. Watching Hiroyuki Tomita, the Japanese gymnast, fall from the 'rings' just now (watching last night's competition remember)... I'm hoping he's okay. I've never seen anything like that happen in competition previously. His left hand just slipped off the rings as he was preparing for his dismount and he was (in Tim Daggett's words) like a 'rag doll' as he fell to the floor.

8. Seems like Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, defending Olympic women's beach volleyball champions, are on on track for a repeat performance as they advance to the championship bracket in Beijing.

Photo Source: Yahoo Sports

9. How surprising to learn this morning that 8th seeded American James Blake was able to 'oust' Roger Federer from these Olympics in straight sets ... Elena Dementieva of Russia defeated Serena Williams in 3 sets ... and Li Na of China took out Venus Williams ... 7-5, 7-5. I've got tennis 'recorded' but haven't seen any of those matches myself.

Photo source: Yahoo Sports

1o. Watching the men 'all around gymnasts' compete this morning was fun ... (though a bit sad without the Hamm brothers who were both sidelined with injuries). It's amazing to see what these guys do 'flying high' in the air. As expected Wei Yang of China took the Gold ... finishing almost 3 points ahead of Silver Medalist Kohei Uchimura of Japan. Benoit Caranobe of France won the Bronze after Fabian Hambuechen fell from the high bar and ended up 7th.
11. Alexander Artemev (2nd alternate for) the United States made the most of his Olympic experience ... saving the Bronze medal for Team USA with a wonderful performance on the pommel horse and finishing 12th in the 'all around' ... but Jonathon Horton couldn't quite 'stick' the landings in last night's competition and finished in 8th place.

12. I've enjoyed putting my PSE6 skills to effective use creating these collages from photos found at Yahoo Sports again this morning.

13. I had a nice 'catch up conversation' with my sister on the cellphone just now ... making this post even later than it might have been. She and her husband are both enjoying the sites and 'lobster meals' in coastal Maine ... hanging out as they wait for their 'mail' to catch up with them before the head south.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

For easy access, I’ve listed more T-13 links along with the Thursday Thirteen Blogroll at My Blog Rolls.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." Auguste Rodin