Compelling Reasons to Jump in Freezing Cold Water

December 5 is the Polar Plunge here in Denver, an excuse to jump into freezing cold water (costumes optional) to raise money for Special Olympics.  We may have friendly competition between our different properties in Denver.  Sadly, I will just be an enabler....strongly encouraging friends and co-workers to do it, knowing that I will be relaxing (warm and dry) with friends in Germany on the day in question.

As a child going to girl scout camp in Wisconsin (a state known for frigid water), you had the option to go "polar-bearing" in the lake before breakfast.  You just had to tie a sock around your platform tent pole if you and your tent-mates were going and the counselors would wake you up.

Polar Bear Jumps are also a tradition in Milwaukee as people hop into Lake Michigan at 12 noon on New Year's Day.  What a way to wake up / sober up after a long New Year's Eve!  I had the opportunity on 1/1/07 when I was there, but opted for glorious sleep instead!

Wicked

Very excited to see Wicked earlier this week as it's only in Denver for 6 weeks this time.   I knew the music in advance, but the show itself is so fun; great jokes, sets and dance.  I highly recommend it!

Give A Day

I saw this today and thought "Brilliant." Many people donate hundreds of hours of volunteer time a year. There are some who don't volunteer at all. If this offer opens the eyes of just a few people to the joys of volunteering, it's worth it. For myself, I learned about volunteering from my parents; active in both the community and in our church. As a child, you do what your family encourages you to do. As an adult you make a conscious choice whether you will focus entirely on yourself or if you will share your time, talents and resources with others.

Looking for a sign? Here you go.

8 Places?

Maui Sunset

I read an article on the 8 places every American should see. Of course, every American has a different idea of what is great, historic, natural or cultural and people are already adding their comments on what should make the cut. I have my own opinions. Of the 8 on that list, I've only seen 3, but it reiterates that no two people will have the same list.

Jenni's Unofficial Off the Cuff List: Places Americans Should See

Yellowstone National Park
(wildlife, hot springs, mountains, lakes, bubbling mud!)
San Francisco / California Coast
(seafood, cliffs, ocean, cable cars)
Door County
(summer fruit, sunsets and ice cream)
Chicago
(Lake Michigan, Sears Tower, Grant Park, Pizza, Michigan Ave at Christmas)
Maui
(volcanoes, whales, snorkeling, luaus, leis)
Boston or Washington DC
(for your crash course in US History)
Disney World
(a little make believe never hurt anyone)
Yosemite National Park
(wildlife, waterfalls, El Capitan & Half Dome)
California Coast

Enjoying What You Know

In contrast to my normal endeavors of trying new things, this weekend, I relied on some places that I know and like. As my parents were visiting, I enjoyed picking restaurants that were fun, local and have really good food.

Crepes and Crepes
Cafe Calore
Gelazzi
Hickory House
Cherry Cricket

And we watched some football. Illinois and Wisconsin didn't do so well. Iowa, the Broncos and the Colts did.

VOLAR strikes back!

Towards the end of summer, I was pondering what the year would bring, specifically in regard to travel (always a pressing concern). VOLAR is the "voice of reason and logic." In Spanish, it's the verb "to fly."

I think I am abandoning listening to reason and instead looking to fly whenever possible. I had been casually talking with a Peruvian friend who was planning to go home to visit family in the spring. Casual conversation became a reality this week. Friend comes into my office and says, "The fares are a little over $500, tomorrow they could be $1000, you really should come, I'm buying my ticket tomorrow and so is another friend of ours."

When I asked my boss about taking vacation in February he said "4 months to you is in the blink of an eye."

Needless to say, in 4 months I will be on my way to Lima.

(more new things this week: my first time eating dim sum in the US at Superstar Asian, yum, playing games on Invesco field, and of course, buying a ticket to South America, which will be continent number 6!)