Scotties 2019 According to Shelley

I have a very busy week coming up.  Watching three draws a day of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.  Quite frankly, it is difficult for me to keep track of all the personal stats that I keep track of.  The days before twitter were easier to manage, now my engagement is so much more time consuming.  It was simpler back in the days when it was the Scott Tournament of Hearts.  Back in the early days, the winning skip would make a speech in the closing ceremonies.  Heather Houston and Connie Laliberte.  I remember when Sandra Schmirler was Sandra Peterson.  Alison Goring gave the worst speech ever and I think that was the last time that happened.  I usually root for the underdog.  Except when it came to Sandra Schmirler.  I think she could have curled for decades more and I still would have cheered for her.  She was pure magic on and off the ice.  She came from Biggar and my parents meant in the curling rink in Biggar. 

I'm sorry but I can't cheer for Team Canada.  I know that is controversial for so many who think Jennifer is the best curler ever.  I don't think that, but that is not why I am not cheering for her.  Each team is allowed one member on their team who doesn't reside in their province.  The Jones team is based out of the St. Vital Curling Club.  Jones lives in Ontario.  Jocelyn Peterman joined the team in the off-season and lives in Alberta.  They asked for an exemption as they were team Canada.  The exemption was granted.  I have been in many organizations where different rules apply to different people.  It never is healthy.  Now that they were given an exception, expect the rule to be history in the next 5 years. 

I have mixed feelings about the Wild Card and the two pools.  I like it that it adds one of the best teams in the nation in the mix.  I don't like two pools of teams.  It has added to some free spaces on the bingo card, so to speak.  With only one pool, we seemed to get to know the personalities of the teams a little bit more.  There was always a Cinderalla team that we had never heard of before that we ended up cheering for.  That was so Canadian.

Also, now that curling is business, we tend to watch the same teams over and over again.  It has become a little less exciting. 

That is me three ends into the opening draw.  You can see watching curling takes a toll of me.  I usually mute the commentary.  I can do better myself and I get annoyed when they tell me the same things over and over again that I already know !!

I am really cheering for Team Manitoba to go far this week.  Tracy Fleury has been a wonderful addition.  She has a great perspective and is a wonderful soft spoken leader who laughs easily.  That sounds like most of the woman who I love in Manitoba. 

I always cheer for Kerry Galusha.  I don't hold her brothers against her.  I love John Epping as a coach and as a curler.  I didn't like one of his off-season acquisitions but how can you be disappointed in him.  He is such a classy guy. 

Krista McCarville is always competitive and worthy of cheering for.  I like the Carey team with the additions of Rachel Brown and Dana Ferguson.  They always look like they are having fun. 

I kind hope that neither Jones nor Homan are in the final.  Nice to see someone else's dreams come true. 

And, that's me with hanging out with one of BFFs, Alison Krevaizuk.  Yeah, we hung out together poolside at the Orleans for a consecutive days.  To my shock, she was as interested in me as I was in her.  We really did have some great talks while getting some Vitamin D and enjoying a beverage.  When it comes down to it, she was just another woman who enjoyed curling and her success did not change that.  That is who I am cheering for.  Someone who remembers why they love curling. 

So, I may not be available much this week.  Cheers !!!