Luck of the English

Off to New York today with a suitcase the approximate size of a Volkswagen. Crammed with everything I could think of and every patent medicine on the shelf at Duane Reade.

Tried on every pair of jeans in my closet looking for the perfect one to live in for weeks at a time. When I reached in the pocket there was a 1 pound coin left over from London. This is either a good luck charm or an indication that I never washed these two years ago. Either way I'm bringing the coin with me.

Just my luck. I will be missing the introduction of the new Crest chocolate flavored toothpaste. Also New vanilla and lime flavored Crest toothpaste. I'm not kidding.  Always interesting to read the extended forecast and live music listings and realize none of it applies to me.

Giving much consideration to tonight's last dinner before departure.  Don't know what it will be, but I don't expect it to be health food.

The slog ahead

I'm nearly packed. All 25 pairs of socks have been loaded into my gigantic suitcase. I've also been promised the complete on camera wardrobe the real talent gets to wear.

I have also received many messages questioning my sanity and state of mind as we prepare to depart for Sochi. I expect to be spending all my time in the hotel room, the commissary, and the announce booth so I'm not fretting.  Except for my normal worries about the mindnumbing 12 hour days.

The biggest danger will be when I begin to post to this blog and my hosts get a look at the name of it. If upon arrival there are no posts being added, contact the authorities. But not the Russian ones.

If you only learn one thing…

Thanks to Cook's illustrated, who used 1000 eggs amid testing this, the perfect way to make a soft boiled egg:

Bring one half inch of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat

Add eggs up to four or five in number. When boiling resumes cover pan and cook for exactly 6 1/2 minutes.

Transfer pan to sink and run water through pan for 20 to 30 seconds.

Best soft boiled eggs you'll ever have. Absolutely foolproof.

You're welcome in advance.

It won't be long

I am getting a bit concerned.

My wise guy stuff might not fly with our genial hosts. Wait till they get a load of this blog.  Which they will, because everything we see or send online will be checked out.

The drumbeat of fear was heard yesterday when a U.S. Senator said on the radio that he would not travel to Sochi, and would not suggest his family go there either.

More good news:
http://theweek.com/article/index/255173/the-many-many-problems-of-the-sochi-olympics 

The good old days

Children's menu from our Beijing hotel.  Yum.

The overall mood last night At our morale fest was, we're screwed. But we'll get through this.

I was just reflecting back on the great old days in China. Which of course I complained about incessantly. Including me with Olympic gold-medal winner Rulon Gardner who is showing me how much he missed his wife.

             

Love these instructions for riding the toboggans down from the wall.

Don't think we'll see a tourist attraction this good in Sochi.

Andy Baker. Winded Brit.

The end is near

Well, only 15 days two hours and 15 minutes until we depart.  But who's counting?

Getting together with some of my fellow foot soldiers tonight at Smith and Wollensky for a big dose of courage, fellowship, and spirit bolstering.

Expect to hear some reports from those already at the front.

Almost time.

Final details trickling in.

Saw the doctor today.  Unfortunately, she could not find a pressing health issue that will keep me from going.

The accommodations should be nice.  Outbound flight leaves at 6:30 pm, arrives Sochi at 1:30pm.  Thanks for the lie flat bed, overlords.

From the brochure from my hotel:

"Excellent infrastructure provides everything for careless rest of individual travelers."

Because after all isn't careless rest the best kind? Just make sure you remain individual.