ita, is there anything I can do to help out?

Oh, ugh, ita. I hope it does anything for you.

So essentially, it looks like my kids have an Iron-Man Bear Mp3 Player.

Ha!

I am beginning to realize my lack of any sort of dating in high school/college was due to the fact that I didn't actually know any straight male people.

Heh.

Sarameg, you're making a difference. Those are good kinds of hangups to have.

True fact.

I hope you guys watched or will watch the Mens Doubles Final because it was alot of fun!!

(I believe that Canada has a good chance for some Showjumping medals.)

Oh and I remind myself - last week sometime the color commentator for Equestrian mentioned that the Equestrian events were one of three where men and women compete together - what are the other two? Are there mixed doubles in tennis and/or badminton? Do they do mixed teams in volleyball?

what are the other two?

I think one of the shooting competitions.

It looks like shooting is all single-gender, which now seems odd to me. [link]

Edit: Badminton has mixed doubles: [link]

Archery, I think is the other.

I'm in Chicago! And realized I didn't bring the wedding invite, and was like 'CRAP, I don't know when the wedding actually IS!!"

But luckily I had the website of their plans booked, and it had the time, as well as the location. WHEW. Cause I don't actually know the phone number of anyone going to the wedding--I'm that out of touch with all of them. I *think* i have a couple of people friended on facebook, and they MIGHT have their phone numbers on there...I was about to start getting creepy there.

But am ensconced in hotel room, and since my "red eye" flight was actually three hours long (Seattle to Minneapolis), I'm going to take a nap. Whee.

OK- I seem to have hit some gayboy highschool jackpot on facebook and now I have 7 more friends! I am beginning to realize my lack of any sort of dating in high school/college was due to the fact that I didn't actually know any straight male people.

Weren't you a Theatre Chick even back in high school? It goes with the territory!

Article about how David Durante took Sasha Artemev under his wing:

David Durante took it upon himself to make sure Artemev became more professional. Durante, also a reserve, realized that both Paul and Morgan Hamm might not make it to the Olympics due to nagging injuries. He knew Raj Bhavsar would probably get the first call; and, with Artemev's talent on pommel horse, Artemev, 22, could be next.

The team couldn't afford a disaffected Artemev to have wasted 6 weeks. Durante, 28, is the team's anointed leader after winning the 2007 all-around national title. Most elite gymnasts don't participate in college gymnastics. Durante is a Stanford grad.

Here, as reserves, he and Artemev had to train apart from the rest of the team.

"I know what it takes to operate as a team," Durante said. "Sasha doesn't even usually have a training partner. He usually trains by himself. I tried to impart to him that he had to put the team ahead of himself."

Skipping and poking my head for a sec, because according to the Buffista Calendar, today is DebetEsse's birthday.

Happy birthday, DebetEsse! With lots of wishes for a great day and a wonderful year!