I love these days when something happens..  no need to be philosophical during blogging.. just report the facts. Today’s happening was the Special Olympics Penguin Plunge.. It’s when hundreds of lunatics (like me) .. Shuck most of their winter clothes and jump into Lake Champlain in mid winter. Today wasn’t too bad.. It was abotu 7 degrees F when I left the house around 9.. I suspect it was warmer by the time I hit the water..

First stop was Mexicali.. this is the 3rd time I’ve plunged with them.. They’ve invited me to go in with them both in jumping into the lake and in fund raising (Thanks to all of you who pledged !) .  They all got there around 8 AM.. By the time  got there by 9 they were already deeep into jello shots and jagermeister (ewwwww)  Nothing like a little jager in the morning to warm you up  ..

It was great hanging out with my Mexicali freinds.. I haven’t been in there this year.. mostly becasue my calendar doesn’t usually give me time for lunch.. much less time to go out for lunch..

Here’s Nick the mad Latvian looking tequillesque

Erin getting her hair braided

Relics from plunges past

AT 10 the van came to pick everyone up  I followed behind …

There were lots of folks down at the waterfront..   some jumping.. some not

We were team number 7.. which was great .. we were in and out in about 30 min..

The mood in the staging tent was great.. people yelling and singing.. the heat blasting… folks clapping.. lots of adrenalin

IThen, it was our turn  it’s a short jog to the water.. then ‘splash’.. you’re in. All that build up.. and it wasn’t even that cold .. Well.. let me rephrase that.. it wasn’t painfully cold .. but cold enough to bring you right back into your body. there’s no doubt where you are when that water gets around your lungs.. It’s very real and grounding.. I just love it !.. Then.. it was time to get out.. I was one of the sign bearers.. we spun around and ran back tot he dressing tents.. What a hoot !

I don’t have the pics form our run to the lake.. I’m hoping soemone from the team got those . I’l post them here when I get them.
I dressed quickly.. then drove home to meet Diane.. We headed over to Sharron’s house for Finn’s first birthday.. Here’s the little guy with big sister Lilly

Here’s Finn’s whole family.. Lilly, Marci and Matt. such nice folks..

The rest of the day was uneventful.. around 8 we headed into essex in a snowstorm to watch Paulo, Will, Sumner, Mallorny and freinds play indoor soccer..   It was actually really fun to watch..
Afterwords the kids all had an epic snowball fight.. followed by an equally epic car stuck in a snowbank resue.

All in all a very good day..

Time for sleep..

nite all, nite sam

-me