And it begins

It's 8/8/08, and I'm about to head off to watch the Opening Ceremony.  (Not in person again; on a big ole TV at a big ole sports bar).  The city has been absolutely buzzing for the past few days, as people from all over the world have been mingling in the bars, the streets, the shops, the Olympic venues and practice grounds.  

 I watched a few middle-distance runners (country unknown, but if I had to guess, an African nation) practice yesterday, and their "warm up" was faster and more powerful than I could even dream of being.  Watching the actual Track and Field competitions up close will likely require a change of pants when each medal event is done.  (Classy!)

 Beijing is crawling with journalists right now, and thus the city has become a crankier, drunker, saltier place. Every other English word I heard in the lake bar district last night was some conjugation of "fuck", and I love every crotchety minute of it.