I'm Just a Beijing Baby

When one’s flatmate is an Olympics fanatic who did his thesis on Olympics host cities, well then you just sit back and get totally sucked into all the drama and excitement from Beijing! You also lose a lot of sleep due to the crazy time differences. I’ve been waking up at 3am each day this week to watch the Phelps Phenomenon! I’m like Batman’s Two-Face (but in a good way) as I cheer on both Team USA and Great Britain (GB). GB has had an amazing weekend and we’ve heard “God Save the Queen” many times. Speaking of Queen…

I Want to Ride My Bicycle
Seems like everyone on Team GB was riding their bicycle to a medal finish in these Olympics. GB’s first gold medal overall in Beijing went to the new “Princess of Wales” Nicole Cook for the women’s road race. That kicked off a gold rush of 4 more in cycling events as well as two silver medals and three bronze! GB now has 8 track cycling medals in Beijing – that’s more than all the other nations’ combined!

We Will, We Will Row You
Congrats to Teams USA and GB who both did very well in this weekend’s rowing regatta. USA got the full set for the mantle with a gold, silver & bronze! Team GB, well, they are coming back from Beijing with a boatload of medals, including gold in the men’s four which was probably the most thrilling race of the regatta. Those boys cranked it home! Also coming back are a bronze in women’s double sculls and men double sculls and silver in women’s quad and men’s eight.

But my favorites of all? Four words: Zac Purchase, Mark Hunter! Two more words: Gold Medal! This lightweight men’s double sculls team is on fire and are also smokin’ hot! Hunter in particular, who looks like a fitter Peter Petrelli from “Heroes.” Speaking of heroes….

Batmanian Rhapsody
Best movie of the summer, if not the year? The Dark Knight! Holy Sensational Cinema Batman! Heath Ledger – outstanding! He scared the bajeezus out of me. Rest of the cast? Also fantastic. Christopher Nolan should just be in charge of all superhero movies from now on..I’m just sayin…

Another Brick in the Wall-E
From superheroes to super animation, I fell in love with a “Mr. Roboto” named Wall-E this summer. Never have I found myself so enthralled and enchanted by a film that for the first 15 minutes has no dialogue, save for the Hello Dolly soundtrack, which works in so beautifully in the film. Oooh, I can see that as a pub quiz question - "What musical is featured in Wall-E?"...speaking of....

Crazy Little Quiz Called Pub
For two weeks in a row, our team could sing “We are the Champions” as we rolled to victory. The first time was with 6 players, including newcomer and fellow American Matt who helped immensely. The next winning week it was just me and Stuart! Categories such as “Name this sci-fi t.v. show or film,” “American Television” and “Authors” worked to our favour. Alas, this past week we were “Under Pressure” from one of our main rivals, who were up to their full strength of 6 players. It was close though, as Stu and I placed second by just 2 points.

I Want To Break Free
When not in the midst of Olympics-palooza or catching up on summer blockbusters, my flatmate and I just finished watching the first season of Prison Break. OMG, talk about addictive, appointment television!Every week a cliffhanger, with a fantastic ensemble cast. Who else is watching? (I know I'm a bit late to the party on this, but bring on Season 2 DVD!)

MC Hammershoi, a Night at the Opera, and Hamlet it be!
Ok, so I have not been a total couch potato all summer. I have done a few more cultural things. These included the beautiful “Poetry of Silence” exhibition of works by Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershoi. Cool, quiet, spartan paintings that are a bit like Wyeth or Hopper – I found them fascinating and often moving. From chilly Danish interiors to a hot night on Trafalgar Square as we took part in the Free Summer Nights from the Royal Opera House and watched a rousing production of The Marriage of Figaro! But the most exciting, thrilling cultural experience for me will take place on December 10. I have landed a ticket (courtesy of my new boss who is an RSC member) to see the much-hyped and raved about Hamlet! Patrick Stewart stars as both the Ghost and Claudius and Hamlet is David Tennant, aka the BBC’s “Doctor Who.” The Guardian calls him the Hamlet of this generation! Can’t wait!

Hit Me Beijing One More Time
This just in – Gymnast Louis Smith medals for GB in an individual apparatus for the first time in 100 years! He hit that pommel horse hard!

Total Eclipse of the Spitz!
Once upon a time Mike was following Mark, but now that record’s broken apart. Nothing more to say, a total eclipse of the Spitz!