The Polar Plunge

We rose, downed some Tylenol, grabbed some coffee, registered, and received our numbers. It was a beautiful sunny morning and in a few short hours, we would be plunging into the cold Atlantic Ocean. We donned our tutus and ears, painted our hair orange and our noses blue, and headed out the door. Somehow, the air seemed much colder as we held our Tony the Tiger sign high and walked down the street.

On the way to the parade

Horns honks, wolf whistles and manly calls of “meeooooww” echoed through the street. We are tigers damn it, “GRRRRRRRRR!”

We passed pirates, mermaids, superheroes, the entire Pac Man cast, candies, cavemen, wild hair, winged things, and a whole lotta things stuffed in spandex. We joined a parade, danced across a stage, and posed for dozens of pictures; all while the air seemed to get colder and colder.

The Pac Man Bunch

There were moments that warmed our hearts; watching a special needs PacMan gobble up dots and be grabbed by a ghost over and over and over again, with the same passion and fun and spirit each time. We posed for pictures time and time again, but I do not think any of us will forget the special young man who we surrounded and embraced for a photo. The sound of pure joy escaped from him as he clapped in excitement after our pose.

Watching the youthful spirit of the Bathing Beauty Costume Contest Winner and the sheer awe of the Redskins Bikini Lady made our spirits soar. The beach was filled with people really doing for others and being eternally fulfilled in return.

The Bathing Beauty

The chants of PO-LAR-PLUNGE-PO-LAR-PLUNGE let us know it was time and we ran down the boardwalk to the beach. As my feet hit the cool sand, my heart began racing. The four of us grabbed hands and began racing toward the shoreline. You could not help but hoop and holler in anticipation, the crowd calling out with the pure joy we heard earlier. We made it to the water and it did not seem quite so frigid, we continued running until it became increasingly difficult. I fell to my knees, dunked my head face first and spun up and brushed my dripping wet hair out of my face. Whistles and waves from the dive team sent us back towards the shore. The climb up the sand towards the backpack full of towels began.

PO-LAR PLUNGE

We wrapped up in towels and made our way through the cattle like crowd and onto the boardwalk. Somehow, we hung around with the crowd then walked three blocks, dripping wet back to our hotel. I’m not sure if it was the thought of the warm shower getting closer with each step or the sheer fact we were in physiologic shock that kept us in the “it’s not that bad” perspective. We rode home warm, munching on Wawa snacks, and renewed. It was truly an amazing 24 hour period for me.

I read a banner that struck a chord in my heart...

 Really, I might do this again… "they" deserve this and so much more.

A Pirate's Booty

A long drive is not so long with the laughter of friends. We arrived at Virginia Beach expecting adventure. We added some cute shoes, sprayed a little perfume and giggled across the street toward the sound of a live band. The band sounded way better then they looked and jammed out some great tunes. We laughed over the juvenile bartender who retreated to the back room seemingly checking The Bartender’s Guide for cranberry & vodka and margarita recipes. He returned with our drinks; including my white russian, which he apparently thought would no longer be white if he added kahlua. With an adorable smile, he remedied the drinks and was sure the next round packed a punch. The laughter continued as we discussed life, love and the differences between corn hole and cornholio. Four grown women giggling over simple statements and wondering if fifty would bring us the interesting perspectives we saw on the other side of the bar.

A few passerbys caught our eye stumbling in the alley. We finished our drinks and exited stage left. The sound of the rushing ocean was more distracting than the crowd and we ran across the boardwalk. The thought of sand in my peep toe boots stopped me short but we felt the wind and tasted the salt in the air before we entered the Tap House. This band was just as rockin’ and the crowd was much bigger. We found a table and ordered another round.

It wasn’t long before we became those old women we laughed at in our youth, dancing in front of the band… “You don't have 2 be cool to rule my world, ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with, I just want your extra time and your [insert air drum and air guitar riff] KISS.”  One of us must not have been too bad, because it wasn’t long after we sat down to the left a young boy appeared, wrong table young man… no Mrs. Robinson here, but thanks. We chatted with the shy guy who turned out to look in many directions at the same time, possibly due to his “hidden booty” of jello shots and the beer on the table, but he was a plunge expert and pretty amusing to me. While the bar stool across the room seemed to hold the man in the plaid shirt balanced in place with a magnetic attraction, the scene across the table was that of magnets repelling. The shy guy had become known as Pirate Dave and his friend was just creepy. It became time to go, Pirate Dave said he would have booty to share and a wee mermaid on his shoulder at the plunge, “ARRRRRRGH.” Our laughter echoed in the ally and we cried in hysterics as we navigated the crosswalk. Four women, two bars, two bands, a few thousand laughs, and the adventures have just begun.

Countdown to the Plunge

Today, I spent a few extra minutes in the middle school pickup circle clipping tulle and slipping loops of it onto ribbon, the fourth tutu is complete. I drove to pick up an amazingly crafted Tony the Tiger sign that my mom painted. I came home to sit in front of the television and sew together tiger striped and black triangles to create ears. I am typing with mildly blistered fingers for minutes ago I hot glued four pair of ears to headbands. The Frosted Flakes costumes are complete!

In less than 48 hours four crazy women will be on their way to the Atlantic Ocean to spend the night giggly like little girls, waking to don tutus, tiger ears and blue noses and PLUNGE into the frigid ocean…

all in the name of the Special Olympics and a Flying Fabulously into Forty.  

Thanks for following us… let the fun continue!

The Making of a Polar Plunge

When I came up with the idea of completing a Polar Plunge, I have no idea what I was thinking. I decided it would be a good idea to jump into ocean water in the winter to simply say I have done it. I committed to it, blogged it and talked about it. I even had a few fantastic people caught up in my excitement and agreed to commit to it as well. I may not have been really thinking at all, but it is happening less than a week from today.

It was over a month ago I began this plan… and just a few days ago realized it was crunch time. Fantastic foolish friends involved and committed, check. Team page created, check. Donations for the Special Olympics being collected, check. Hotel room reserved, check. Costume contest? Hmmmmm….

Early on, part of the fun was creating a team theme and name. Frosted Flakes; perfect! It certainly speaks to the frozen crazy chicks we are and will be. Picture Tony the Tiger, toe in the water, shivering…”The Water’s GGGGGGRRRRREAT!” It couldn’t be any more perfect! But really… a costume? A costume that would be fun, fantastic, and perfect to parade around the boardwalk and jump in the freezing cold water? A trip to Joanne’s was in order for some inspiration.

I walked out of Joanne’s with 1 ¼ yards remnant of zebra striped fabric, a box of orange RIT dye, a few yards of orange tulle, a few yards of black tulle, and two rolls of black organdy ribbon. Step one, create a tiger out of a zebra, check (with the unfortunate addition of eight orange fingers.) Step two, fun and fantastic with tulle. Roll it, cut it, loop it, check. Add a few extras from the craft collection, check. Entertain the cat and calm my soul, check.

The rest is in progress. I am afraid you will need to return in a few days for an update. In the meantime, would you care to visit this link Jen's Frosted Flakes page and make a donation in our fantastic, fun, and out of our minds honor to the Special Olympics?

(How's that for a commercial break? LOL)



Roxy, too quick for a real action shot :)