tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43250916008780625392024-03-13T06:50:16.340-04:00Grassroots CurlingFor curlers everywhere, at every levelJean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-88860266825807492362022-04-27T20:00:00.001-04:002022-04-27T20:26:05.158-04:00LOOKING BACK: Returning to the grassroots: confessions of a busy curling writerI'm waking up this blog! I left my job at Curling Canada in 2019, just after my first Young Adult book was published. Since then, my writing life has been all about writing fiction for teens, and my curling life has been about playing at the club, leading Learn To Curls, and watching all those curlers on TV that I used to write about - everything from club bonspiels to national and Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-87311444001726034142019-10-21T22:09:00.000-04:002019-10-22T15:16:27.584-04:00Apparently the etiquette of curling never gets oldSeventeen years ago, I wrote an essay that was published in The Globe & Mail. It was titled "Curling etiquette offers rules for life", and it got lots of love. Recently, I've been getting tagged on social media by clubs and curlers who have re-discovered (or maybe discovered for the first time?) my little commentary on the way the on-ice culture of curling could make our larger off-ice world Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-337965376777536612014-10-07T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-07T12:21:58.519-04:00Five things I learned from hanging out with Team Glenn Howard
The Team Glenn Howard Fantasy Curling Camp wrapped up at the Guelph Curling Club on Sunday afternoon, ending three days of - of - of what? Learning, laughing, and a fair bit of pain (delivery, after delivery, after delivery....!) Moments of illumination, moments (long ones!) of frustration. Good times with new friends. Lots of failure. A few successes. And a long list of "Things I'm going to do Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-11522690069679476392014-09-30T17:10:00.000-04:002014-09-30T22:47:17.484-04:00Things I learned at a Learn to Curl session - and I was the teacher!
Learn to Curls are in full swing at my curling club, and I'm doing my volunteer duty by helping out at a few evening sessions.
Last night was a classic. Eight complete newbies followed my teaching buddy (Tiffany, a university student) and me out to Sheet 4. We did some warmups, split the group into two, and got to work on sliding, sweeping, rules and more. Two hours (and one scoreless end) Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-65301812958481557092014-08-18T07:00:00.000-04:002014-08-18T07:00:01.855-04:00Curling treasuresA few curling treasures discovered recently on the bookshelf in the parlour of my cousin's old farmhouse in Nova Scotia:
Looking for instruction, anyone?
I want one of those sweaters. Just saying.
It's all about the draw, says Mr. Weyman.
And inwicks, outwicks, chaps and chips, of course.
I love this so much, I don't even know what to say about it!!Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-73655220313553446192014-07-29T14:53:00.003-04:002014-07-29T14:53:09.258-04:00Summer means...I miss curling!
I
miss curling.
There,
I said it. I know it’s summer here in Ontario, and I should be grateful for the
decidedly ice-unfriendly weather, and that if I really, really wanted to go
throw some rocks, I could probably find a club that has summer ice and leagues…
But,
well, it’s not the same as stepping out into the cold, starting the car with
heater full blast, scraping the windshield, Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-54852675673747838442013-11-11T14:23:00.000-05:002013-11-11T14:24:36.092-05:00CurlingGeek is for curling geeks - I mean, fans - anywhereSo, there I am at the Capital One Road to the Roar - the Canadian Olympic Pre-Trials - in Kitchener this past week, watching Draws 1-18 until I think even I have the tricky ice on Sheet E figured out...
I'm writing a game summary to go on the CCA website (yes, this is my day job) and get distracted by a question/phone call/great shot on another sheet. When I look back, there's Gushue's teaming Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-56523455873957889572013-10-13T11:01:00.002-04:002013-10-13T11:05:42.458-04:00What makes a good Thanksgiving Weekend for a curler?What makes a good Thanksgiving Weekend for curler? Here's my list:
1. It starts on Friday night by helping at a six-sheet Learn-to-Curl at the Guelph Curling Club for a group of non-curlers in town for a wedding, and realizing I'm still feeling the effects of the Team Howard Fantasy Curling Camp a week ago...
On the ice with Team Howard at the Guelph Curling Club
2. There's beautiful Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-14422421095021197692013-05-10T07:30:00.000-04:002013-05-15T21:48:00.966-04:00Curling lingo: Anyone ready to weagle?<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-51447442688838702252012-12-07T19:17:00.000-05:002012-12-07T19:17:07.605-05:00Grassroots Curling goes behind the scenes at the Canada CupCurling is finally on TV again - the Master's (Slam event) from Brantford a month ago, and the Canada Cup (CCA Season of Champions event) from Moose Jaw a week ago. Yes, the season is off and running.
For me, the season has been off and running since the summer when I started my new job writing and editing stories for the CCA website, Curling.ca. Dream job, what can I say?
I've been Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-27227669571499409162012-08-23T08:30:00.000-04:002013-06-25T21:33:53.840-04:00Howie's Curling Trophies
Howie's curling trophies, 1950s to 1970s, Liverpool CC (Photo Jean Mills)
Two random curling moments recently clarified something for me: curling in Canada starts at the grassroots and grows from there. And we wouldn't have it any other way.
Moment #1:
I'm at our cottage in Nova Scotia, chatting with a lovely elderly Chinese woman who is visiting her daughter and Canadian husband (our Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-54698237516849697532012-06-22T12:02:00.000-04:002012-06-22T12:02:16.089-04:00Remembrances of (curling) things past...
Jacket and broom, tucked in the corner since the season ended in April...
Ah, summer. Love it.
But as I was doing some tidying up today, I found myself in the back door hallway picking through jackets and fleeces that needed to be put away, and what did I find, but my son's curling jacket and broom.
Talk about flashback!
Despite the heat, and the slower pace, and the brighterJean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-46464402088859695662012-06-04T16:12:00.002-04:002012-06-04T16:12:25.435-04:00Name that team! That curling team, I mean...The curling season is over, summer is creeping in, and - let's face it - I'm bored.
One of many little pieces of paper I collect - this one withcool curling team names I noticed at the club.
So I'm going through the stack of papers piled on my desk. I'm a writer, which means everything I read is a possible prompt for a story, interview or article. My collection of scrawled notes and Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-45996554781328653182012-03-14T16:13:00.000-04:002012-03-14T16:13:50.730-04:00Thoughts from The Tim Hortons Brier 2012
The view from Section A, Row 12, Seat 7
I've just come home from Saskatoon, where I spent the weekend enjoying the big party that is The Brier. And what a party - not just in the Patch, but in the hotel, at the rink, and around town as well. Saskatoon put on an amazing show.
Some thoughts:
1. Volunteers make the world go round. That is never more true than at an event like this. Those bright Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-3667185568205481102012-02-26T16:31:00.000-05:002012-02-26T16:31:09.664-05:00Marie-France Larouche, you are my heroDear Marie-France,
You don't know me, but I feel as if I know you.
I'm one of those curling fans who has watched you at the Scotties all these years, you and your variety of teams out of Quebec. I've cheered for you as you chipped away at the top teams in the country, so often in the running for the title, even if you didn't always make it to the final.
Okay, you didn't make it to the final Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-15931197171332702622011-12-30T10:40:00.022-05:002011-12-30T10:55:40.576-05:00Grassroots Curling: 2012 Predictions and ResolutionsNew Year's is the time to look ahead, so here goes with a few resolutions and predictions for the new year.
1. Prediction: Curling will grow at the grassroots level.
Yes, the 2010 Olympics had a great influence on the sport, and Learn-to-Curl sessions all over North America went crazy after viewers had a chance to see the madness that was Olympic curling (thank you, fans!). But the appeal of Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-17736985546783016682011-10-29T16:36:00.000-04:002011-10-29T16:36:33.764-04:00Grassroots Curling: Busy off and on the ice this seasonThe 2011-2012 curling season is going to the busiest one ever - for me, anyway.
Am I a competitive curler with my sights set on zones and regionals? Am I signed up for multi-leagues, major leagues, three or more nights a week of rec curling at the local club?
Nope. But here's what I am doing:
1. Writing
I'm writing about curling. Writing a lot. Last year it was The Curling News; this year, Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-55053889943969148532011-03-30T11:48:00.004-04:002011-04-01T09:35:51.916-04:00The Life of a Curling Writer: Not always easy to convince editors that curling is a story worth telling
Action at the Fergus Curling Club (Photo Jean Mills)
I'm a curler, yes, but I'm also a writer, and writing about something you love has got to be the best way to spend your time. (Getting paid for it is nice, too, which happens sometimes...)
One story I really want to write about is curling families - you know, all those grassroots and elite curlers who are out there on the ice with various Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-63005775217142928492011-03-06T13:27:00.000-05:002011-03-06T13:27:52.462-05:00Piss-cutter and Make It Go Away: Curling words to live byAs a curling writer, I'm fascinated by the language of the game. Friends of mine told me that when they tried to watch the Olympic curling event, they were in stitches over the indecipherable language - "code" they called it - used by the announcers. Try it: turn your curling antenna off and just listen to the lingo used to describe our game. It's pretty darn strange.
But there's always room forJean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-91815889016420989282011-02-23T23:01:00.000-05:002011-02-23T23:01:50.929-05:00Jennifer Jones vs Cathy Overton-Clapham: Let's move on, please.Okay, it's done. Thank goodness.
Cathy Overton-Clapham and her Team Manitoba won the big grudge match against her former team, led by skip Jennifer Jones.
Now, let me translate that statement into the unspoken language of the media feeding frenzy that surrounded this game:
Poor Cathy Overton-Clapham and her second-choice Team Manitoba kicked butt in the big grudge match against her mean Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-73933324642364500362011-02-22T10:49:00.000-05:002011-02-22T10:49:00.209-05:00Scotties: Why didn't Jennifer Jones play her last shot against PEI?Some action on Twitter suggests that people are not happy with Jennifer Jones for bailing on her last shot in Monday night's game against PEI.
She should have thrown it, tried the triple, made a go of it (think some people). Why would she just give up? Don't the paying customers deserve to see her at least try?
All good points.
But the way I see it:
She analyzed the situation - and we Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-35098601243760469132011-02-07T10:35:00.000-05:002011-02-07T10:35:22.244-05:00Curling in the news: NotI'm feeling pretty cranky this morning.
This weekend saw two fantastically exciting games in the M&M Canadian Junior Curling Championships. Team Saskatchewan (skip Trish Paulsen, third Kari Kennedy, second Kari Paulsen and lead Natalie Yanko) won the Junior Ladies' title on a steal when Alberta's Nadine Chyz's last shot rolled out. Team Saskatchewan (skip Braeden Moskowy, third Kirk Muyres, Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-54958071952221430692011-02-04T11:28:00.000-05:002011-02-04T11:28:16.247-05:00Jennifer Jones v Cathy Overton-Clapham: Chill, People!Okay, I know many curling fans are wondering what's going to happen when Team Canada meets Team Manitoba on February 23 in the evening draw at the Scotties. We all know the story - which I blogged about, here, and which curling writers, including The Globe's Bob Weeks, have covered with enthusiasm. After all, it's fun to watch real-life drama unfold before your eyes, isn't it?
But I think Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-33497083312978559712011-01-26T11:30:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:30:43.686-05:00Curling Club Bonspiels: Good Play, Good Name TagsI remember when I was really little, my mom would head out to her Ladies' bonspiels and come home with a prize (usually) and a cool name tag. No sticky pre-fabs proclaiming "Hello, My Name Is..." No, the bonspiels she went to were organized by old-school traditionalists who knew how to do it right. Name tags in the shape of Scottish tams, or flowers, or curling stones, or brooms. All Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4325091600878062539.post-57452958553883214592010-12-23T18:54:00.001-05:002010-12-23T18:54:20.614-05:00What’s on your curling wish list this Christmas?‘Tis the season for Christmas lists, and here’s one that caught my attention. My friend and editor at The Curling News, George Karrys, has written a night-before-Christmas wish list that hits the button. Here’s the link to his Curling Guru column in the Toronto Sun. George knows what he’s talking about – and he’s not afraid to take some heat either. I can see competitive women curlers getting Jean Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03093633693766205852noreply@blogger.com2