I’ve been spending way too much time watching TV this week, but for me the Winter Olympics have always been simply mesmerizing. Whether it’s the awe-inspiring figure skaters or those insanely talented freestyle skiers, I can’t get enough of it.

Nothing is getting done around the house because we’re both glued to whatever event they’re showing us that evening from Sochi. My husband is equally taken with the Olympics coverage this time around, and this is unusual for him.

He’s always declared he’s not really “into” men’s figure skating, but following Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu’s first flawless performance last week, my husband declares that young Hanyu “skated with the reckless abandon of youth.”

“Wait, who are you and what have you done with my husband?” I’m wondering.

More than once I’ve caught him talking to the TV.

“You can do it. Come on, honey ... let’s go.”

“Who you callin’ honey?” I inquired.

That would be Hannah Teter of the U.S.A. She came in fourth in the women’s snowboard halfpipe.

I had to chastise my better half when he burst through the door a few nights ago with the news of a huge upset when U.S.A snowboarding phenom Shaun White lost out on his gold in the men’s halfpipe and in fact had come in fourth. Apparently he’s never heard about spoiler alerts.

“Thanks a lot,” I said. “Now I won’t have to watch it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he offered. “I thought you would’ve heard about it, being in the news business and all.”

Yes, it’s a tricky thing trying to elude the news of the day so you can be excited about the outcome when you watch the events in the evenings. It doesn’t always work.

On Thursday we were sucked into the action of the women’s skeleton competition, which can only be described as fearless females going 80 miles an hour through an icy course on little more than a big cookie sheet with handles.

The Olympics are a wonderful unifying force, whether in one’s own home or on the world stage. For those 17 days we come together to rejoice with the winners and to agonize over those who have fallen short, often by the smallest of margins.

Both my husband and I admittedly were sad to see legendary Russian men’s figure skater Evgeni Plushenko bow out of the competition after severe spinal pain. At 31, Plushenko has gone through numerous surgeries through the years, the latest an operation on his back a year ago. Some critics are calling him a quitter, saying he should skate through the pain, but I believe it takes tremendous courage to step aside when the stakes are so high.

Plushenko said afterwards, “I think it’s God saying, ‘Evgeni, enough. Enough to skate. You did a lot of figure skating.’”

We’ll continue to stay tuned to the happenings in Sochi. Frankly, who can stay away? The games have reeled us in so completely we’ve succumbed to the emotional roller-coaster that is the Olympics. Even the commercials are getting to me — you know the ones, those sentimental snippets from the mothers of the athletes.

I’ve always liked my husband’s take on the Olympics. “There are no losers,” he’s said more than once. “To me they’re all winners.”

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.