I noticed that a lot of the journals and personal web sites I like to read weren't updating this weekend. My guess is that they were all glued to the tee vee this weekend, just as I was, watching the beginning of the World Curling Championships in Winnipeg.

I mean, c'mon--what could be more riveting than watching a bunch of rather badly dressed folks slide extremely heavy hunks of granite down long narrow aisles of ice towards a barely visible bull's eye painted on said ice, eh?

My thoughts, exactly.

Now normally I am a rabid fan of whichever Canadian team is well on the way to crushing the opposition. I mean when you're talking rocks, ice and questionable fashion sense, really, you're talking Canada.

This year, however, I am committing treason of the highest order. Yes, the rumours are true. I am rooting for Team Norway and their winsome skip, the one, the only Dordi Nordby.

It all started in the team interviews before the current championship began. Last year our Canadian Women's Curling Team got shellacked but good at the world championships in Bismark. When interviewed, the Canadian women's skip mentioned that last year she couldn't get into the ice in Bismark and that there was a lack of knowledgeable fans. In other words, instead of just saying her team played poorly, There Was Whining.

Then a while later they interviewed Dordi. She pondered each question, pushing her constantly slipping glasses up with her forefinger, peering semi-myopically at the interviewer. She said it was a thrill to play at any tournament. She said there is so little interest in her sport in Norway that when she plays in her country the crowd is usually just her mom and whoever is running the concession stand that day.

I am a sucker for people who are insanely good at what they do and are self-deprecating about it.

Plus something about the sound of her name tickles my funny bone. Just saying the words "Dordi Nordby" makes me grin. Yes, I am that mature.

The Canadian women's curling team doesn't miss my support a bit. As of today, they haven't lost a game yet whereas Dordi and her posse are in fourth place with two wins and two losses. One of those losses was to Team Canada. You can well imagine how conflicted I was during that game. My anguish was palpable.

It will be nail biting time for me all week as round robin play continues until Saturday when things wrap up for the women.

Yep, ahead of me stretches a week of watching fashion challenged people slide big round hunks of granite down a narrow aisle of ice.

Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

--Marn

P.S.--Today I got two wangitude tee-shirt transfers made from Moviegrrl's design and Carol said that if any of my three loyal readers want a transfer, she will be glad to make one and mail it off to them. Pop me an e-mail at marn at diaryland dot com if you want more details.

Mileage on the Marnometer: 188.51 miles (303.3 kilometers)
Goal for 2003: 500 miles - 804.5 kilometers