Monday, March 11, 2013

IT'S OFFICIAL....I'M CANADIAN

I know, you are all wondering what I am talking about

 but
I was born in Canada
so that makes me Canadian
but I also took out American Citizenship
and have an American passport
it gets confusing

But this past weekend
I SEALED THE DEAL

I went with some neighbors CURLING

  Yup
I actually played the sport I used to mock 
laugh at
wonder "what the heck" 

BUT IT WAS SOOOOOO FUN

  I wasn't sure what the dress code
for curling was
so I played it safe and wore my Duck Dynasty t-shirt

 that's Uncle Si there on the back

I have a WHOLE NEW RESPECT
for this game
It's HARD

See those black things there on the ice
Those are for you to put your foot in
and position yourself

you use the broom to support  you as well
I must have had a defective broom
as I did spend a few times splayed out on the ice
less then graceful

on the bottom of  your shoes you can wear SLIDERS
slippery devils
It wasn't working for me very well

 these were just some "spares" they had around there
you can buy OFFICIAL sliders
(I prefer buffaloe pork sliders...tee,hee) 

We divided into 4 teams

 spouses had to be split up
so as we'd want to go home with each other later

I didn't have a clue about how to play
or any of the terminology

like, these are NOT balls
I was corrected, stones


these suckers weigh 42 lbs folks
HEAVY

each game I learned is NOT
called a round, set, or inning
but ENDS
who knew 

 At the start of each game
we all put one loonie in the pot
then at the end of the END (cause that's what they are called)
The winning team collected all the loonies

   for all my American peeps
a loonie is ONE DOLLAR
In Canada they don't make one dollar bills
we have loonies
and Toonies
(I KNOW, Canadians are weird)

SO LET THE GAMES BEGIN
go big or go home

(some photo's were taken by a friend)


I am admiring the form, he was one of the better curlers there 
for sure
unfortunately NOT on my team 

getting some instructions
"huh"...was my usual reply

me and my team mate sweeping
  this helps the ice get slicker
(or something like that)
so the stone will go further
you got to sweep FAST  


my team capy-tan (captain)

I'd ask


so, do you want me to put it over there

or over There??

And that's important to know
KEY to the game
because

are you ready for this
DRUM ROLL PLEASE

the way you twist your hand on the stone
is what makes it
CURL
hence, CURLING

who knew


Mr Gorgeous (now wannabe Olympic curler)
did it the easier way
you get  this pole thing
slide it over the handle
so you don't have to bend down and push the stone
(hence, less time splayed out on the ice)

(but I don't think they'd allow that technique in the Olympics??)


here is a photo of one of the winning teams

Big smiles
and hands full of some of MY LOONIES

My team didn't win one single game


I am making the LOOSER sign

So there you have it
I'm Canadian

I always wondered how that game even got started
like
maybe some Eskimos were sitting around in their igloo
one cold afternoon, bored
eating whale blubber
then one of them says
Hey, lets go gather up some frozen polar bear turds
and see who can slide them the furthest on the ice

BUT NOT SO
if you want the official history, I'll just let you google it
I think mine is more colorful

the
END

(get it.....)

30 comments:

Unknown said...

That is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. So do they have curling alleys there, like bowling alleys here? I learned a lot from this post of yours!

Saimi said...

My, my Wendy dear I think you are an All Star! What a fun game, but the ice concerns me a bit. The last time I did something on ice (that required ice skates) I broke both my elbows(that's what falling does to a person)

So You Canadian woman you, You have my ut most respect - Go Canada!

Vintage Gal said...

Congrats on being Canadian ~ way to go ~ you curling little wonder. NEVER tried it.
Don't know if I would land smack on my face on the ice. Glad you had fun ;-)

Unknown said...

Curling!!! It's the only winter Olympic sport we watch. We love it, even the kids :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Wendy! I'm not Canadian (you knew that) and I've never heard of curling! Looks like you're having fun even if you didn't win! :) You're too cute! I'm sure I couldn't do it. I know I couldn't stand up on that ice. I can't even roller skate! :)
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

You may have a new hobby...looks like you had fun! Some Minnesotans play, too...

DB Stewart said...

"Balls!" You're awesome.

" Hit It......." said...

I have to admit I didn't know a thing about "curling." Don't you hate it when you love something you used to mock? Unfortunately, I eat my words a lot. :) Look at it this way, you are broadening your horizons.

Great pictures.

Pondside said...

It's fun, isn't it!? I had to laugh at the comment about Curling Alleys!

mCat said...

You ALMOST made curling seem fun. ALMOST. I'm still not sure I really get it, but by the smile on your face, you looked like you were enjoying yourself!

lesa said...

How fun!! I would love to try something new like that! :)

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Those are some seriously cute pictures! Curling? Really?
You are an adventuresome soul.

AND you are awesome!!!!
Thanks for the phone call. Your voice makes my day. You have that Canadian accent goin' on!

Roslyn said...

Well you learn something new every day, they say, I learned a little about curling.This would not be my forte so it's good I will never be tempted to try it!

Diane said...

You make it look so easy, I have never played the game, but it looks like fun! You go girl....Canadian girl that is, world Curling Champion. :) Diane

DesertHen said...

I can actually say that I learned something new today. The only time I've ever seen anything about curling is when the Olympics are on. Hmm, guess I learned two new things today...I had no clue your "dollar" was called a Loonie, which I think is very cool! Love the Uncle Si shirt! He and Jase are my Favs!

oldgreymare said...

I had no idea how this was played or accomplished. You gave a great tutorial :D

The Gathering Place said...

That looked like a fun group of friends having an unusual game. I think being Canadian must have its perks!

jeanne, backyard neighbor said...

Hello you pretty Canadian. I really loved reading this post. You are a real trooper Wendy. I am frightened silly of falling on ice. When we skied for all those years I have had plenty of falls on ice in the nights when we would go out to celebrate our wonderful skiing ability on the days runs. HA! You know, a nice hot buttered rum goes a long way towards warming one up. I once had a huge bruise in my bum as big as a small plate. Yikes.

The detail in the game of curling sounds like it is hard to do. I love your photos so much. They tell your story very well. Winning or losing is not important...it is how you played the game and how much fun you have. You obviously had a blast. I am so glad you are enjoying the winter season this year Wendy. There is an upside to all the winter weather. Thank you for sharing your wonderful outings. I love reading about them and it makes me remember all the fun we had skiing with friends out West all those years.

Love you much,
Jeanne

camp and cottage living said...

Wendy
Thank you for explaning the sport so well!! I have often wondered what it was all about.
You look like you had fun. So are you going again?

Anonymous said...

You make me laugh I need to be around you I bet I would turn into a better person by far.. Enjoyed your post and sorry you did not win - I was thinking you might of.. but reading on - so sad..wink! But it look like to me it would be a workout..and FUN!
Hugs

Doran & Jody said...

Well now those are some heavy "turds".

Looks like a back breaking game but a fun one!

Anonymous said...

This is soooooooooooooo cooooooooool!!!
Now I want to be Canadian! :)

Honey I'm Home Blog said...

Oh you brave girl! And you look adorable in the photos too. :D Congrats on learning something new. How inspiring!

Warmly, Michelle

GardenOfDaisies said...

LOL Wendy! Looks like you had a LOT of fun. When You said you had to put a loonie in the pot, I thought it would be a good game to play with my crazy neighbor. ;-) jk!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for popping in to see me, Cute Patoody! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

teeeheee...OH WENDY,you make me LAUGH!

I have NEVER EVER heard of this game, and so many other fabulous inventions up north above me! YOU LOOK FABULOUS PLAYING!

This is so darn fun. Getting to know so many dear souls and what they do, what they love, etc.....

I wish we had something like this here; we have ICE FISHING, but we (my husband and I) are from CALIFORNIA and still after 27 years of living in the colder climates cannot get used to the super cold.

I love how you figured out that maybe the Eskimos decided to invent this game....teeehee

WELL, thank you precious one for coming to visit my post. teehee...I bet you thought I was gonna ask you to clean out your closet!!!!!!! Nope, just musing on a metaphor of sorts. Heaven knows I need to wear my robe of grace more often; I often opt for tattered and raggedy garments of other unsightly habits. But HIS grace and love is powerful to change our hearts, isn't it?

MUCH LOVE TO YA! Anita

koralee said...

Oh my friend...curling is not so easy! I have done it before. I am proud of you! xoxo...every Canadian should have to try it at least once..xoxo

Mimi Sue said...

Well that was so interesting! Who knew?? Looks like I could break a hip pretty easily playing that game. Lots of exercise too. Glad you finally made it official. Mimi

H.K. said...

I love your version of how curling started- funnier! We started watching Curling two winter olympics ago & found it fascinating. Based on the pictures, I can tell Curling looks really fun!

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