My 40th Year on Earth: The Plunge

A few weeks ago, I shared my plans to boldly enter my 40th year on Earth. I define "boldness" in this statement as those things that make me move outside of the comfort zone I've created for myself in my little life with my enormous cat. (I get it, Dr. Vet, he's fat. You try getting a shelter cat to love you without the aid of shrimp flavored snacks.) I've identified twelve things I plan to this year that range on a scale of terrifying to fun stuff that I've always wanted to do, but don't ever plan to do so I'm doing them. It's a great list. I encourage everyone to do something similar this year. I'll be your list cheerleader if you need one.

I listen to the JSS Morning Show on 98 Rock, a rock station out of Baltimore. The show is the right balance of comedy, news, music, sports, and weirdness to get my day going. Since my commute is much longer now, I get to listen from the six am hour sports through just after the seven am news, depending on traffic. Usually in December, the guys start talking about the upcoming Polar Bear Plunge event they're part of in Maryland. When they started talking about it this past December, I knew I was planning my list, but hadn't quite figured out what all the events/things were going to be. The guys talked about their experience at past plunges, and it clicked in my head. I should find a plunge event near me. It combines my love of participating in random things and giving back to my community/being a good citizen. It just so happens a new plunge event would be taking place this year in the Mosaic District in Fairfax, sponsored by Plunge Virginia. I had found my event.

Plunge Virginia sponsors multiple events in January and February to support Special Olympics Virginia. Money raised at the events helps the organization provide training and other support throughout the year, and helps support sending athletes to the World Games (this year in Abu Dhabi). Virginia has seven athletes going to the World Games this year. I've donated to Special Olympics before, but never done any fundraising for the group. I know a few people who work or volunteer for the organization, too.

The Mosaic event was sponsored by the Fairfax County Police Department, and has the distinction of being Plunge Virginia's first pool plunge. I'm glad I picked a pool plunge for my first event; I'm not sure I would have actually gone through with running in and out of open water. This was the perfect event for me because it was small enough that it didn't take forever to actually jump into the water, but there were enough other people plunging that I wasn't singled out in any way. Eighty people took part in the event, mostly from the Fairfax County Police and a few of the other sponsoring groups.

The pool was set up near some shops on the far end of Mosaic. It was one of those temporary above ground pools, smaller than the ones I remember from childhood, but big enough for an adult to jump into. I'm on the short side so the water came just to my waist as I was getting out of the pool. For the much taller people who jumped, it was barely at mid-thigh. County Fire and Rescue crews were on hand, including divers, who were in the water as we jumped. It was comforting to have them there. I jumped in the first group of 10-15 people; I made sure I was as close to the front of the line as I could be. The random DJ from a station I don't listened to called my name and I jumped in. It was cold, but not so cold that I couldn't get myself together to get out of the pool. I found Anita and Scott who had my towel and dry clothes, and raced over to the changing tent. By the time I jumped, got out, and changed, the event was over and the costume contest winners were being announced.

I'm the kind of person who enjoys roller coasters, but also says something like "this was a very poor life choice" right before the first drop. I feel the exact same way about doing the Polar Bear Plunge. The idea of it is appealing; it's for a good cause, it's over in about a minute, people are there to cheer me on. But like the roller coaster, I had a moment went I said to myself, right before I walked up the stairs, "this is a horrible idea, you shouldn't do this." But I did it, and I'd do it again. It was invigorating and fun, and helps a great organization. I plan to do it again next year, and maybe get a team together so it's not me plunging by myself. It's more fun if others make terrible/wonderful life choices with me!

Thanks to everyone who donated to my fundraising goal; I hit my $500 goal the day of the plunge. If you're interested in donating to Special Olympics Virginia, you can donate on my page or the main Special Olympics VA page. A special thanks to Scott and Anita, my photographers, cheerleaders, and towel/clothes holders - you're the best!

Next month: It's February, so it's the return of "Stuff I Love" month! This month we'll explore axe-throwing, being in a Mardi Gras parade, more on glitter, and the parts of Valentine's Day I can truly support (hint: it involves chocolate). We also get to celebrate the 400th Island post! It's going to be a great month!

Photos by me and Anita
Video by Scott

Guest Post: Surprise Winter

Howdy Island readers! It's been a long time since I've invited a guest to blog on the Island. We've been experiencing what a friend described as "surprise winter" this week here in the DMV, so it's only fitting that my friend Lindsey share her thoughts on how to survive winter when you're not from a cold weather climate originally. Regular Island readers may remember Lindsey from that time I filled in as her fake bridesmaid and we got makeovers. Lindsey and I share a love of baking and nerdy things as well as a dream to create a series of videos on appropriate workplace behaviors that are mostly just me saying "Don't do anything inappropriate" in different voices while looking exasperated.

We've been discussing her idea for this blog for awhile now; Lindsey's wanted to share this information with everyone to better humanity and save some unsuspecting Floridians and other Southerners (I guess that's a bit redundant if you consider Florida a part of the South - I understand some people do not) from making the same mistakes she did moving to a colder climate. Lindsey has learned much in her short time in the DMV, braving a blizzard and surprise winter like a champ. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. 

A Floridian in Winter by Lindsey

Hey there, people of the internet! My name is Lindsey, and I have graciously been offered the opportunity to have a guest blog post. Okay, I had some advice the world needed to hear but no platform, and Erin was kind enough to mention that occasionally she has guests post on her blog. Thanks, Erin!

What you need to know about me: I've got two cats, and I love baking, Star Wars, and Victorian literature (no idea why I get along with the resident blogger). Also, about 3 years ago, I moved from Florida to the bitter, bitter cold of Northern Virginia. Now that winter has arrived (in March), I have a need to share what I've learned with my fellow Sunshine Staters. My list is by no means exhaustive, but let it be a lesson to any other northern-inclined Floridians.

1. You will need a new coat. Your Florida winter coat is not going to get you past Fall. Don't buy it in Florida. Parameters: it should cover your butt(!), have a hood, be waterproof, and be big on you. Put that coat back on the rack if it fits snugly. Also, it is possible that you may want to own more than one coat (It seems like overkill, I know, but I got a super warm coat with a hood with fur lining that goes down to my ankles and is basically like wearing a down comforter, and it's awesome, but it's too warm for, say, 40 degrees. Or even 30 degrees. Now that you're out of Florida, guess what—it gets even colder <shudder>.)
2. Scarves. They are apparently for more than decoration. They also catch snot and tears when you're out in the cold and the wind. Gross? Absolutely. But think of how much you're saving on tissues.
3. Cold sucks. Cold with wind is worse. One word: ChapStick <quickly checks Google to see if that really is one word>.
4. Snow is disappointing. It's wet. It only occurs when it's cold outside. It's heavy. It leaves your floors wet and gross and sandy (Sandy? Yeah, sandy, and not from a day at the beach. This area puts down sand to give you traction to drive instead of just salt.). The pristine beauty of fresh snowfall will turn into sandy/muddy brown slush. Also, snow has not yet learned to fall only in grassy areas, so it's a pain in the ass to go anywhere—by car or on foot. Snow Days? Ha! Not if you can work from home.
5. Buy a snow shovel before a snowstorm is forecast. Like in summer. Because there won't be any in stock when a snowstorm is looming. Once the snow has fallen, unless you can get a shovel through same-day delivery from Amazon, good luck digging out to get to a store. (I have found that a large mixing bowl will make a dent. Also, if your neighbors see you scooping snow with a mixing bowl, they will take pity and offer to let you borrow their shovels. Like, multiple offers. Not that I know this from personal experience.)
6. Pedestrian life sucks when the sidewalks are covered in snow. Get snow boots. If you forge a new path, you will be covered in snow (wet and cold) and potentially trip over covered things or fall into holes. If you step in footprints, the snow has been compacted and has melted and refrozen, so those footprints are actually ice. Pedestrian life sucks worse when the sidewalks are covered in ice. You will slip. Snow boots help, but they are not suction cups.
7. You're a better driver in snow than a lot of people. No, really.
8. Don't use your windshield wiper fluid from Florida. It will freeze. You will then realize this is obvious, but it was always above freezing in Florida by morning, so you weren't thinking about it. You're welcome.
9. Get a windshield ice scraper thingy. Your credit card will no longer do the trick. Get one that has a brush on one end so you can brush off the snow from all over your car, too.
10. Have a pair of waterproof gloves. Otherwise your hands will be cold, wet, and numb meat mallets as you try to scrape off snow and ice.
11. Get cats. Then you don't have to try to walk an animal in snow. Also, if you need traction in snow to, let's say, back out of your parking space, apparently you can pour some kitty litter around your tires. I've never tried this. I need that stuff for the cats.
12. Wake up earlier. It takes longer to dress yourself for winter. When you finally get your layers on, now put on that new coat, boots, gloves, hat and scarf. Promptly overheat as you sit in rush hour traffic for more than an hour, toggling the heat on and off and finally settling on heat on with the window down.
13. Ice is slippery.
14. Everyone will tell you to layer. This is confusing to Floridians. Let me explain: you have to go buy those other layers; they're not in your closet yet. Why the hell would you layer anything in Florida? Basically it's sweaters. Invest in sweaters. Put lighter layers (your "sweaters" you wore in Florida for winter) under sweaters. Put a cami under the lighter layer. Put a coat on over all that. This is why you bought a larger coat size, see? Plus side: layers help cushion your fall when you slip on ice.
15. Get lots of lotion. You, from Florida, are an amphibian, and your skin will shrivel and die in the winter. It will suck. Hydrate your skin! Also invest in saline spray for your nose. Your nose will dry out and bleed, and you will thank me later. Oh, and a humidifier is a must to create a tolerable habitat.
16. Northern Virginia is not even considered The North. I don't have any advice for this. Let's just sit and contemplate the fact that my list is for what is generally considered a "mild" winter.
17. There is some good news. Here is where YOU are the expert: Up here, there are two hazardous road conditions that get me every time an advisory is issued: sun glare and road spray. No, that's real. ...Because driving when it's sunny is an event. A dangerous event. As is driving after it "rains." The rain up here is mostly weird and insubstantial phantom rain. Sometimes you can hardly feel it. If it actually rains enough, though, you'll get an advisory about wet roads. ...I just...

So hang in there, displaced Floridaperson. They will tease you about winter, but you can roll your eyes all day long once we hit summer and they start complaining about how humid it is.

Ennui, or an open letter to winter

Dear Winter,

Let us begin with a short film:

February is the month that I most often feel a sense of overwhelming boredom and restlessness with the world or as the French would say "ennui." Henri seems to get my feelings and so I share his first film here. I tried explaining Henri and ennui to a co-worker recently and it didn't work out so well. It's possible he was really cold and couldn't focus on what I was saying. Too many layers make it impossible to hear things clearly.

Winter, what is it about February that makes life so difficult? Why is is such a drag? Is it because a little groundhog "predicted" that we'd have six more weeks of winter (which by the way we'd have even if he didn't see his shadow because that's how calendars work)? Is it the lack of sunshine and vitamin D that your perpetual gray skies block? Is it the frigid, frigid cold winds that you believe we deserve? Or is the mountains of snow and the sheets of ice that you fling about this country like confetti?

I get it - seasons are how nature works. I live in a place that experiences all of the seasons so I am prepared to be cold and experience snow a few times during your yearly reign. But seriously Winter, below zero temperatures in Northern Virginia for multiple days in a row? Temperatures that don't get about 10 for more than a week? Snow squalls on a Saturday night? Why have you sent Minnesota to us? What did the people of the DMV do to make you so angry? Wasn't the polar vortex of 2014 enough of a punishment for whatever slight we have committed? My poor plastic dinosaurs had to find refuge in my scarf yesterday. That is just sad.

You have a lot going for you so I'm not sure why you have to make it so difficult for us to like you. Think of all the positive things we associate with colder weather:

• cozy sweaters
• flannel sheets
• Peppermint Mochas
• hot chocolate
• a nice hot toddy
• the warm glow of a fire
• Christmas
• scarves
• binge watching television shows on a snow day
• snow days
• sledding
• other activities outdoorsy people enjoy
• mittens (especially if kittens are wearing them)
• boots 

It's even a thing now to name winter storms like we do hurricanes. Granted the names are sort of lame but it's something. It should make you feel special and appreciated. Doesn't the love affair that Jim Cantore has with thundersnow count for anything?

Let's come to an agreement today about how the rest of the season is going to work. I think you'll find that I'm a reasonable person who just wants to be a smidge warmer until Spring arrives. Here's what I'd like (and you know I'm serious when there are two lists in a post):

1. Raise temperatures to the slightly warmer 40 degree range. 
2. No more snow or ice. You may throw in a wintery mix or two but only if it doesn't stick and doesn't occur during rush hour.
3. Tell the wind to go bother someone else.
4. Keep the snow around pretty landmarks in DC like the memorials and the White House. They look so beautiful with a covering of snow.
5. BUT make it so people can still get to those places and enjoy them in moderately cold temperatures.
6. Wrap up your reign in the allotted six weeks. I have vacation at the end of March. I'd really like it if I didn't have to deal with snow and ice like I did last year. Not cute. 
7. Let those poor meteorologists and other news people come inside. They look so cold and shouldn't be covering any more oddly named winter storms this year.
8. Leave people's electricity, hot water heaters, heat pumps, and roofs alone. And no pipe bursts either. 
9. No more flight cancellations. Airline and airport employees (as well as travelers) deserve a break.
10. Exit this year like a lamb. Just call it day, pack up your stuff, and go quietly into the night.

And what will I do if you agree to my terms? I promise, dear Winter, that for the remainder of this winter and for all of next winter I will not complain about the weather or criticize your life choices during your time of the year. I will go out and enjoy the snow. I will wear a hat even though I look terrible in them. I will not drive to work on days when I should work from home. I will sing your praises and discuss your better qualities to anyone who will listen. Next winter, I will declare you my favorite season.

I am not asking you for a lot really just some common seasonal courtesy. In exchange I am willing to give up Fall as my favorite season for one whole year and worship everything that you, Winter, have to offer. Can we agree to these terms?

If you agree, please meet me at Starbucks for a hot chocolate to toast our agreement for the year. We will then switch to ice coffees because 40 degrees is perfectly reasonable for drinking cold beverages. You can help me pick out my new hat for next year since I'm sure I'll need it as a true devotee.

If you don't agree, I will find a way to punch you in the throat (I'm sure you have one) and I will tell everyone how terrible you are and that you can't be reasoned with. I will start a campaign to revoke your named storm privileges and I will make it my mission to get Jim Cantore to never speak of you ever again.

Let's end this on positive terms, Winter. I know in your cold, cold heart you only want us to be happy.

Love and warm, warm wishes,
Erin


Check out all of Henri's musings:  http://www.youtube.com/user/HenriLeChatNoir

I may not leave my house once winter starts

Conferences are exhausting. It's nice to be home and have a day to do absolutely nothing (and by nothing I mean laundry and watching tv - you, know things I don't have to leave the house to do). I feel like a bit of an old lady this time around; I don't think I stayed out past 10 pm the entire conference.

Anyway, the important thing that I learned during this conference is that I am grossly unprepared for cold weather. It's only October so I don't think anyone was expecting it to be as cold as it was even though the conference was in Denver. When I checked the weather report a few days before the trip, it said that it would be in the 60s and 70s  during the day and the 30s in the evenings. No snow was in the forecast and I believed that I packed accordingly. I even grabbed my fall weight jacket just in case. The forecast lied. It was in the 80s the first day I was in town but then it got super cold and there was a light dusting of snow. My fall jacket was not appropriate and I really should have brought different shoes. Ballet flats were not the best choice.

I left northern Virginia after Snowpocalypse 2009/2010 (two blizzards in less than 3 months was enough for me). Living in Northern California was no day at the beach (that's SoCal). We have "winter" where it ranges between the 30s-40s and rains all the time. If you're an outdoorsy kind of person, you can go up into the mountains and ski and do other things people who like cold do in the winter the months. Obviously, I stayed in my cozy apartment watching Hallmark holiday movies and drinking hot chocolate. This behavior has in no way prepared me to be back in a place that has actual seasons and the potential for snow.

Now I know that NOVA winters are not like winters in Minnesota or Maine or Vermont, but for real, it's cold and the potential for snow is real. Now that I don't have my SUV, I have visions of myself stranded on the side of the road in my little blue car. I'm sure that this won't happen but the thought is still there. I guess I should probably keep a blanket in the car and maybe some water or something. Right?

One thing that I do love about the fact that winter is coming is that we have to go through fall first. Fall is my favorite season of them all and I've been without fall for two whole years. No pretty leaves and no real crisp weather. I like getting my sweaters out (and buying a few new ones), wearing my cute boots (that are in no way winter weather appropriate), and Halloween and Thanksgiving (best holidays ever).

You know what else happens in the fall? I make pumpkin cookies. I'm making the first batch of the season today (the photo is from last year). One of my co-workers describes these cookies as "pumpkin crack" and I can't say that I disagree with him. My apartment will smell pumpkin-y and fall-y. And I will temporarily forget about my fear of the winter and the cold.

Possibly my favorite thing about the Colorado Convention Center.