One Eye Open

As I write this quick update i have one eye open and one eye closed. The days are starting to wear me out and i worry a bit about my stamina and endurance since there are still 14 straight days to go at 16 hours per day. Was i crazy to accept this gig? It is a high profile position for sure. But at what expense?
I am lucky to be surrounded by a great crew and a supportive group of people who are all in the same boat.
I have loaded up on Berroca and oil of oregano and hopefully will come out on top of all this...
i will add some photos and do a real update soon...when i have a spare moment or two...
zzzzzzzzz

technical difficulties

Despite a few obvious technical difficulties i think Vancouver and Canada did us proud with a diverse, cultural and spiritual opening ceremonies.
Those of you who were in attendance should consider yourself lucky.

Bands start for me tomorrow....life has I know it as ended....

Olympic Update

For the last 4 years we the residents and citizens of Vancouver have been counting down to this day. In no small part thanks to a large clock that was erected at the Art Gallery. Now after all this time the day has arrived and tonight the world will watch what our city has to offer in the way of staging a global event and putting on the best possible games that we can. It will all begin tonight around 6pm PST with the start of the opening ceremonies and our chance to show how we excel in production, creativity, the arts, and culture. Never have i been more proud to be Canadian than I am at this moment. Last night on my stage the torch was brought in and the cauldron was lit before my eyes. Between that, the singing of O Canada, and the overall sense of pride, i actually became a little emotional and possibly may have shed a tear...okay okay, i did actually well up a bit. It was a combo for me of the moment, and of reflection of the 88 games in Calgary. I have mentioned before about what a positive experience that was for me as a 13 year old boy, hanging out with my father, trading pins downtown, and taking in the overall celebration.
Anyways, I am not afraid to admit that i did in fact have a bit of a moment last night, and i expect that will not be the last.

Now i would like to bitch a little bit, as no blog entry from Craigers would not be complete without a tad bit of whining and complaining. I am not really all that cynical or much of a baby, but i do like to vent when i am not pleased with something. Today's bitch comes in the form of the staff entrance here on my site at Live City Vancouver.
I fully understand the need for heightened security during the times we now live in , but i am unable to fully process why it seems to be such an exercise in patience.
As a crew/staff member of the Live CIty Vancouver site i have had to stand in a security line upwards of an hour in the morning to have my belongings searched as well as walk through the one metal detector they have for the hundreds of staff members. So now on top of an already exhausting 18 hour day, i need to be here an hour early in the morning to get onstage in time.
Today i also witnessed a lady behind me in the security line have her water confiscated because it was not Dasani, and this is a coke sponsored site.

That is my only gripe for now as i am quite caught up in the vibe and the whole celebration.
Its almost time for the opening ceremonies...45 minutes to go!

Must Sleep

Day 7 - Exhausted
19 Days to go... and thats just until my tour starts
It sure gets cold when the sun goes down
thank God for Derek living by me as commuting sucks

Don't forget that smiles are contagious and hugs are free!

I love the Olympics! And Samsung is Grrrrreat!!!

must sleep....zzzzzzzzz

The Calm Before The Storm

Not entirely sure where to begin to be honest. I have had a really good week getting ready for our contribution to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games here in Vancouver. The city has a vibe about it right now that i have not experienced in the 14 years i have lived here. I truly hope that everything comes off without a hitch and the legacy holds strong for years to come. I remember in 1988 during the Calgary games when i lived there. My dad and i would go downtown every night to watch the medal ceremony and trade pins on stephen avenue mall. The pin collectors and traders are a breed all on their own i must say. To this day i have a fairly serious collection of pins from the 88 Winter Olympics in Calgary. I was 13 at the time and remember it like it was yesterday. I wish my father was still around and could come out here to experience this one.
I have spent the better part of the last five days getting my world on stage left all set up and ready to go for the duration of the 16 days of the games. I have rope light, a cappuccino machine, a lazy boy recliner and a stripper pole, so its coming together. Alright alright...i do have rope light though.
Today was an unexpected day off , and the only one until my first tour leg ends in April. I am in a position at the moment where keeping busy is good so i am not complaining. This particular job for me is quite high profile for me and i am very lucky to be in the position i am in. In regards to my upcoming tour when the Olympics are through. We have already been contacted from a few reputable magazines to do tour features on myself and our FOH engineer. Very exciting i must say! Also hard earned. In any event it all comes at a cost of some sort or the other, and with me its the trade off between business and pleasure. The line is a hard one and i must respect it. Focus and determination are the keys, without getting sidetracked by silly people operating on agendas.
I should probably consider calling it a night. Personally i am happy to see the underdog Saints pull off the big super bowl win. This is despite me not being a football fan at all and really having no business having a say in it at all.
Things are going to get fucking crazy for me over the next two months and i look forward to handling every challenge that comes my way and not allowing minor bumps to distract me, as they are really and truly not worth it.
pictures to come soon my friends
thanks for listening

promises promises

I used to consider myself a man of his word, however i may be a bit of a hypocrite these days as i have yet to fully update you on my status to win the gold in the category of audio production.
i promise to write more when my eyes will stay open and i can do justice to my entry...

Wish

After day 2 on my Olympic site i headed off to Kits here in Vancouver to support and check out my friends photo exhibit. It was put together to help raise funds for Vancouver's Wish Drop In Center. A very noble cause to say the least and one that i was not personally aware of until a little while ago. I have plenty to write in the next few days regarding my road to gold , i however can no longer keep my eyelids open.
Please take a moment and click the following link, these causes are important to me and i am grateful to have friends who introduce me to them and who support and help fundraise for them.
http://www.wish-vancouver.net/