So that's it. It's over. Just like that. Special "Best Place On Earth" license plates, endless media attention, Olympic village and funding debacles over what feels like a decade, and poof - 17 days seemed to vanish, just like that.

For the past two weeks, I have been an uncontrollable Olympics junkie. There were days where our TV was on for 14 hours straight. For someone who spent the past five years with a pretty pessimistic view of the Olympics coming to this town, that's saying something.

To think that all this Canadian patriotism, back-slapping, spontaneous bursts of Oh Canada (which happened twice tonight while I was at Big Ridge Brewing) and seeming endless celebration is likely over... is... well... a bit depressing. And so, here I will happily chronicle little details of what are for me the most memorable commercials, moments, joy, horror and otherwise that I will take and remember from these games. In no particular order:

That Visa Commercial About Maple Syrup
Morgan Freeman: "Hope you like pancakes, Norway."

That Guy Who Won That First Gold Medal
The day that Alexandre Bilodeau won our first gold medal on Canadian soil was one of those days where I was trying to work, but had the TV on right behind me. Most of the day the TV won out. I'm glad it did, because watching that as it unfolded was amazing.

That Guy With The Pitcher Of Beer
We were in Whistler the night that Jon Montgomery won his gold medal. After we watched him walk through the village with a pitcher of beer, we wondered what the heck we were doing at home, and high-tailed it into the village to join the antics. That guy is as Canadian as they come.

Those Ice Dancers
I don't really like figure skating. Or ice dancing. But Virtue and Moir have crazy chemistry, and it was an absolute pleasure to watch them skate to gold.

Those Pants
Norway's Curling Pants. Wow. I don't think anything else needs to be said.

That Guy Who Scored That Overtime Goal
Dear Sidney, I'm glad I can type this, because I don't think I have too much of a voice left after all the screaming I did today. Dear Roberto, you are awesome, even though you play for the Vancouver Canucks. If there is anything, that could ever make me a Vancouver Canucks fan - it would be the way you played for Canada in these Olympic Games.

The Enthusiastic Girlfriend
If you did not see the video of Marianne St-Gelais cheering on Charles Hamelin while he raced in the 500 meter short track speed skating, you need to. She is epic.

That Guy From Ghana
Snow Leopard, and not of the Apple variety. "I'm waiting for my Canadian Passport".

That Girl Who Finally Got To Light That Cauldron Thing
Closing ceremonies. Mime. Catriona Le May Doan. Laughed. So. Hard.

Eh?
John Furlong, in his speech during the closing ceremonies: "If the Canada that came together on Opening night was a little mysterious to some it no longer is. Now you know us, eh? If we were once the few we are surely now the many. That quiet, humble national pride we were sometimes reluctant to acknowledge seemed to take to the streets as the most beautiful kind of patriotism broke out all across our country."

Excellent and Friendly
Jacques Rogge, in his speech during the closing ceremonies: "To the athletes of these Games, we say: You have made us proud. You are worthy role models. You have reminded us again that people from very different backgrounds can compete in a spirit of respect, friendship and fair play… These were excellent and very friendly Games!"

Rest In Peace
I saw the first replay of Nodar Kumaritashvili's crash on CTV, not long after it happened. I've never seen anything like it. My heart sunk. The first thing I though was "he's not moving". My wife saw it. She cried. May Nodar Kumaritashvili rest in peace, and may his family and countrymen live fearless lives, and remember him long after he's gone.