Opening Ceremonies

[mariole]

For those of you who watched the Opening Ceremonies last night, I thought I'd throw my impressions into the pool (into the Pond?). It's fortunate that I'm having my annual writers retreat in the mountains, because my faithful 20-year-old television set finally died last week, and I've yet to get a new one. But it was lovely viewing this program

Comments

[shirebound]

It was AWESOME! The forging of the One Ring-- I thought that was a Tolkien reference for sure. Making it right on stage, and then lifting it up as a real ring-- fantastic!

It was! And I especially loved that the Queen's excited wee corgis were part of the ceremony.

I hope your retreat is awesome, too.

[mariole]

Oh, it is! I'm having a mammothly great time. Getting rejuvenated and enthused for the upcoming year. I finished a new story and I'm flying high. :)

[cookiefleck]

Defnitely a Tolkien reference... plus the green landscape and Party Tree and then the Scouring of the Shire.

It was all good... although the US announcers should have kept their mouths shut for most of it.

[mariole]

I guess the announcers varied. I don't remember any particularly weird comments. But then, we were talking a lot amongst ourselves and might have missed the doofiest parts. :)

I was thoroughly enjoying myself. True confession: it's my first Opening Ceremonies ever (that I remember). I haven't anything to compare it to, but I really enjoyed the show.

[cookiefleck]

Oh, they just yammered away a few times when they should've shut up. They were better toward the end, IMO. I am not normally all that interested in the opening ceremonies but after my trip to London last year, and knowing Danny Boyle was involved, I made sure to watch this one. The only other one I have seen in total was Bejing four years ago. The word "amazing spectacle" does not even BEGIN to cover it. You need to see it on a TV screen. Really. This is just a tiny taste of it: http://youtu.be/JsDY1Ha83M8

[mariole]

I need to see this. I saw a tiny fragment of the Bejing Games, but I agree, it needs to be seen on a proper TV. Perhaps when I get my new one, I hope a flatscreen, it will be a suitable venue.

[gilli_ann]

I loved the ceremony from start to finish. Loved, loved, loved it. Everything about it. I am so impressed. I could go on and on but writing on the ipad makes me do it brief. The UK can be very proud.

[mariole]

SQUEE! So glad to see you here. Nice for you to pop in, poor Internet connection and all. :)

Yes, delightful show. So very British, yet spectacular and fun, so enjoyable for everyone. I hope UK is feeling very chuffed.

*hugs hugs hugs*
Because I miss you. :)

[elenya54]

*huge grin*

Lynne Truss (aka grammar goddess of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves fame) pretty much summed it up for me this morning on that great British institution Radio 4: http://audioboo.fm/boos/900657-lynne-truss-on-the-olympic-opening-ceremony?utm_campaign=detailpage&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=

I think we were all dreading the naff, and now we're all proud to be Brits. :D

[elenya54]

And now the sun has set and I can't paint anymore of my windows, I'm watching Daniel Barenboim conduct a mixed Israeli and Arab youth orchestra for Beethoven's Ninth at the Summer Proms in the Royal Albert Hall - another great British tradition.

[elenya54]

Maybe not youth... some of the musicians are going bald :D

[mariole]

LOL! People often mistake old people for children. It's fine. :)

I'll play the link later; everyone is head's down over her computer writing. Can't break the mood!

Okay, here's how productive I am. I'm tidying up my pitch and preparing to send out queries for my unsold sf novel. I did a quick check on agentquery.com and plan to send to the top 10 candidates. Can't hurt, might even get one. It really helps to have other writers in the room saying, "No, don't worry about New York. Send it anywhere; it doesn't matter any more." There's an agency right in Denver that might be good. I hope to send off my first queries this week.

[aussiepeach]

Oooh, Australia just won gold in the swimming, I'm rather excited WOOT WOOT! They're playing Chariots of Fire when they're getting their medals and I can't help thinking of Mr Bean. :D

Ahem. The idea of Elenya and the bell-ringing gives me goosebumps. How BRILLIANT. I totally agree about the children's literature. Loved the Mary Poppinses.

"Too British?" Oh come on. We Aussies had our best singers/bands etc at our Games and it rocked my socks. Be proud I say!

Sounds like you had a great time at the writers' retreat, good luck with the story. Hope it's a gold medallist!

[mariole]

Aussies, you ROCK! Congrats on the gold medal. The instant I saw the delegation march (skip) into the stadium, I said, "Now, THERE's some team spirit!" Just made me grin to watch 'em.

Elenya is one rockin' lady. I'm having so much fun.

I humbly think my story is deserving of a Hugo. It ended up 2 people hated the ending, 2 people loved it, and 2 people could go either way. We decided, with such strong opinions, it was a winner and should be sent off virtually unchanged. I'm so excited. So glad to be in the Games again, re: writing. It's a relief and a delight. *hugs*