Gold, after all

In London yesterday Michael Phelps finally surpassed the 18 medals won by Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina ('56, '60, '64).  She was there to see it, and she was extremely gracious about it, even joking that it was about time a man did what a woman accomplished 48 years ago. 

I've become a soccer fan.  Well, at least as long as the American women are playing.  They won their group by winning all three of their matches and are on to the quarter finals.  I only got to see the first half of their game yesterday, but later I enjoyed seeing Great Britain beat Brazil.  I would enjoy seeing anybody beat Brazil.  And, of course, I would have to cheer for G.B. because they speak English.

After the wheels came off for the U.S. men's gymnastic team the night before, plus the flap over Jordyn Wieber not making the all-around final, I was a bit worried about the women.  I need not have been.  Team USA took the gold yesterday by the biggest winning margin since 1960.  Wieber came through for the team, and I really believe they couldn't have done it without her.  I hope she realizes that.

Day 4 Quote of the Day (Michael Phelps on his training regimen and personal expectations): "The decisions I've made over the past four years are the decisions I've made."

Okay.  Got it.

The O-Games

On my way to the grocery store yesterday afternoon, I made a point of checking out Twistars, Jordyn Wieber's gymnastics club, as I drove by. I thought it might be draped in black, but it looked the same as always.

Responding to accusations of sexism, the governing body of international beach volleyball passed a new rule earlier this year that women competitors are no longer required to wear bikinis.  Most of the women still do, however, and those who have covered up in London did so only because of the cold weather.

From what I've seen, the American women are the only ones who had sense enough to put their number, name, and country on shirts. Without such garments, other players have had to wear the bikini top outside their shirts, like this:

Unfortunately for the players from Brazil, their country's official three-letter abbreviation makes it look like they have labelled their bikini bras as such.

The protesters might not be too far off, as many male spectators admit that it's the scantily-clad women, not the competition, that attracts them to the sport.  And that leads me right to ...

Day 3 Quote of the Day (a British spectator on watching women's beach volleyball when the competitors are not wearing bikinis):  "It's like drinking nonalcoholic lager."

O-Lumpit

The second full day of competition in London yielded some surprises, not the least of which was Jordyn Wieber not making the all-around final in gymnastics.  The top 24 scorers get into the final, but there can be only two from each country.  Therefore, although Jordyn was fourth best of all, she was only third best among the Americans, so she's out.

Some are claiming this new two-person limit rule is unfair.  Anastasia Grishina of Russia, Jennifer Pinches of Great Britain, and Jinnan Yao of China, who came in 12th, 21st, and 22nd, respectively, won't be in the final either since in each case, two of their countrywomen finished higher.  I haven't heard anybody making a fuss about them.

Some others are complaining Jordyn's routines were scored low, based on exactly what, I don't know.  She had significant goofs in all four events and just plain didn't perform as well as she might have.  Of course, it's possible that her reputation was part of the problem.  Even the most conscientious judge might subconsciously penalize a reigning world champion more vigorously.  And God knows outrageous judging is nothing new in women's gymnastics.

In other news, Michael Phelps seems to be finding out what it's like not to win everything.

One cyclist's long-delayed crossing of the finish line was due, according to a British commentator, to "a badly-timed flat tire."  There's a good time? 

Day 2 Quote of the Day (Kim Rhode, U.S. gold medalist in skeet, when asked about her future plans):  "I don't see the future ending any time soon."

Whew.  That's a relief.

Oh, Lympics

The Games of the XXX Olympiad are finally underway.  I've been looking forward to it for months, and I am sure I will not be able to keep myself from commenting upon the spectacle as it unfolds.

I've already seen seven or eight soccer matches.  I don't usually watch soccer, but if it's the Olympics, I even watch boxing and field hockey and beach volleyball, especially if Americans are involved.  Cheering on the home-town team is part of the appeal.  I've noticed that if there are no Americans involved in an event, I tend to root for competitors who speak English -- Canadians, Brits, Aussies, etc.

I was disappointed in the opening ceremony this year.  Not only was it boring, it was way too hokey.  Once the athletes marched in and they got on with the flag and torch and fireworks, it picked up some.  When one of the bright spots is guffawing at the ridiculous outfits worn by the team from the Czech Republic, there is obviously not enough to entertain me. 

It might be interesting to ask the people of Great Britain, Germany, and South Korea how they feel about BP, BMW, and Samsung being official sponsors of the U. S. Olympic team.

Today the women's gymnastics competition begins, and everybody in DeWitt, Michigan, including me, will be in front of their televisions to see Jordyn Wieber.

Day 1 Quote of the Day (Beach volleyball commentator about Australia's Natalie Cook):  "She has savvy coming out her ears."

Seriously?

Time for Breakfast

I love breakfast.  I can eat breakfast foods any time of the day or night, I love them so much, but there are some times when the first meal of the day is really special.  Breakfast on the road is one of those, especially at a cafe in a small town.  When there's company from out of town, making a nice big breakfast for everyone is always good.  Or just a cozy Sunday morning at home. 

Long about 20 years ago my partner and I got some good news at an early-morning medical appointment and decided we'd celebrate by going out for breakfast.  I'll never forget the doctor agreeing that was a good idea and then adding, "You could get a bran muffin and some fruit."

A bran muffin and some fruit?  Are you kidding me?  That's not breakfast.  Bacon and eggs is breakfast.  So is ham and eggs, sausage and eggs, country fried steak and eggs, which can be scrambled with or without cheese, fried in butter or in bacon fat, soft boiled, poached, or made into an omelet; also pancakes with or without blueberries, French toast, and waffles (Belgian or otherwise); not to mention breakfast casserole, breakfast pizza, breakfast sandwich, and quiche; plus English muffins dripping in butter, toasted bagels with cream cheese, hot buttered toast with blackberry jam, lemon-poppy seed muffins, buttery biscuits with honey, hash brown potatoes, American fried potatoes, potato pancakes; and, of course, biscuits and gravy.  Add coffee if you do, orange juice if you like, Mimosas if you're lucky, and -- oh, all right -- a slice of melon.

Excuse me.  I have to go make myself something to eat now.

Old Padalik

Looking for something else, I ran across my birth certificate this morning.  I noticed the name of the attending physician, one Adolph J. Padalik, M.D.  He was our family doctor until we moved to a new town when I was six.  There are a couple stories involving him that my mother would tell, and on the rare occasions when his name came up, my father would always nod his head and say, "Yeah, Old Padalik."   I don't really remember him at all, but because of my father saying that, I've always had a mental picture of him as an old man.

On a whim, I Googled the name and found the guy's obituary.  I was surprised to see he died only five years ago at the age of 92.  That means he was only 31 when I was born and, in fact, was actually three years younger than my father.  Maybe my father was thinking "Good Ol' Padalik" and truncated it.

One of my mother's stories about Dr. Padalik concerned his coming to her bedside after I was born and telling her that her husband would be in shortly to see her.  "Now, no matter what he says," the doctor told her earnestly, "I know he was very concerned about you."

She didn't understand what he meant by that until later when she discovered that when the doctor had gone to the waiting room full of nervous, pacing husbands to tell my father the news, he found him slouched in a chair fast asleep.

Killed with kindness, not kilowatts

This morning I had to call Consumers Energy (gas and electric utility) about the bill I just got.  Two months ago it was only $50, which is wonderful and which I attributed to our weird warm spring with furnace and air conditioner off and windows open.  Last month the bill was only $29.  Wow.  The one I got today was for $27.  Uh-oh.  It has been between 90° and 100° for over a month.  This bill should be about ten times that much.

I had to wade through four menus but finally got to talk to Jeremiah who discovered that we were charged for 1 kilowatt hour of electricity last month and 0 for this month.  He said the meter was probably broken, so he transferred me to Jackie who agreed with him and said she'd send someone out today.  I understand Consumers doesn't want to give me free electricity, but I was still amazed when Ryan showed up in his white truck within half an hour.  He confirmed that the meter was broken.  That little wheel that goes around wasn't moving.

Wouldn't the guy who reads the meter notice that?

Anyway, Ryan waited while I shut down my computer, since he had to cut the power briefly, but the whole thing was done in less than five minutes.  Ryan was very nice and polite.

And so were Jeremiah and Jackie.  In fact, they were so nice and friendly and polite and upbeat and helpful that I remarked upon it to both of them.

Isn't it a shame that good customer service is so unusual that you notice it?