The Year of Yes: Polar Bear Plunge

Happy Tuesday that feels like Monday, lovers! Easy, Easiest and JDate are all out today, extending their long weekend a bit more I guess, which means I’m doing even less than normal. I’m occupying my time with boredom eating (I maybe had two donuts earlier) and registering for triathlons (an interesting combination).

This past weekend, NewNew Roommate M came with me to the shore. Sure, I know it’s February and not exactly prime beach weather…well that didn’t quite stop us from tying on our bikinis and jumping into the Atlantic Ocean!

Sea Isle’s 14th annual Polar Bear Plunge took place on Saturday, and we were among the thousands who thought running into the 35 degree ocean was a good idea. It was insanity. People wore outrageous costumes and marched in a parade that was led by the newly-crowned Polar Bear Queen on her throne of ice. The retiring queen was over eighty! The new queen looks at least seventy! And now I have to add “Becoming Polar Bear Queen” to my list of life goals. My sights are set.

Anyway. With my cousin J’s help we convinced SisterOh to join us – she was not a happy camper, but we all had a blast. We stripped down to our bathing suits and made a mad dash into the ocean screaming all the way, then turned right around and bolted for the warmth of MomOh’s minivan. My legs and feet were entirely numb – I had a burr caught in my foot from climbing over the dunes and I didn’t even realize it! A shower has never felt so good. After we warmed up M and I went back down to the party that was still raging on under the tent at LaCosta. We drank a few beers, rocked out to the cover band and took pictures with all the goofy people there until it was time to go home for dinner with my family.

[Sidebar: I totally won the Craigslist Roommate Raffle yet again. M is the perfect houseguest AND she’s a good sport about my Year of Yes craziness. Anyone who responds to my “Let’s do this silly thing!” email with “I’m in!” is good in my book.]

The shore in the off-season is a different kind of wonderful. The town was packed to the gills for Saturday’s event, but it cleared out for the rest of the weekend and I kind of like having the place to ourselves. The Acme isn’t crowded, there was no wait for a table at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, and our post-dinner activity of choice was a cutthroat game of family Scategories. We’re really that freakin’ cute. I love it.

My cell phone, not wanting to be left out of the polar bear fun, took a little plunge this weekend, too - I accidentally sent it through the spin cycle along with the sheets from my bed. Whoops. I dried it out and it’s mostly working again but it was temperamental before and machine washing it on warm with like colors doesn’t seem to help the situation. Brilliant, Jack.