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January 01, 2004

We kicked off the New Year in a VERY cool way!

Or maybe I should say what we really said: FRICKIN COLD! Eli, Jake and I participated in the annual Polar Dip on base today. This was the first time we have done it. We thought "how cold could it really be?"

There were about 60 or 70 people of all ages that participated. We first had to shoot darts at a poster to determine how long we each had to stay in. Eli hit a polar bear and so only had to stay for one minute. Jake and I didn't fare so well and earned eight minutes. It could have been much worse, some people had to stay twenty!

<img src=http://debcodding.com/polardarts.jpg></a><br>

While we were nervously waiting on the side of the pool (the air temp was about 49 or 50 degrees F.), Jake tested the water with a finger and announced "it's not that cold". I didn't test it at all, I figured it would be better just to jump in blindly. Another kid read the in-pool thermometer and said that the water temp was 52 degrees F. YIKES. The lifeguard announced that the clock would not be started until the last person jumped in - talk about peer pressure hahahahahaha. We decided to hold hands so no one would chicken out.

<img src=http://debcodding.com/polarjump.jpg></a><br>

I think Jake lasted about 30 seconds and Eli was able to stick out his one minute. I could not believe how cold it was. My legs felt like two hunks of cooked meat. Fortunately there was no requirement to be in the deep end so eventually the crowd wiggled and danced and bounced their way to the shallow end. Let me just tell you that eight minutes is a REALLY long time.

<img src=http://debcodding.com/polarcheating.jpg></a><br>

Seth had been sitting on the side of the pool in his stroller but got scared when people started screaming so I ended up holding him for the last five minutes suspended above the water which he thought was hugely funny. It actually helped me feel warmer too.

<img src=http://debcodding.com/polarseth.jpg></a><br>

Anyway, we survived it and got hot chocolate and a really neat sweatshirt out of it.

<img src=http://debcodding.com/polarsweatshirt.jpg></a><br>

So how was everyone else's New Year's day?

Posted by DebC at January 1, 2004 02:18 PM

Comments

It looks so sunny and warm. I think you're pulling our leg. Just kiddin. I thought you had better sense than that. Just kiddin.
Great pictures of all of you. Happy New Year, Love Ya, Dad

Posted by: Dad at January 1, 2004 04:16 PM

Those pics are so funny. You are a brave person.

Posted by: Carrie Orlich at January 1, 2004 06:53 PM