Polar Bear Plunge 2/27/10!

Today was the big plunge day! I'm currently sitting in my sweats after a steaming hot shower trying to defrost my limbs.  Let's just put it this way; the air and water were f'ing freezing.  Like, really really flipping freezing.  Sadly, the sun decided not really to show up today...but that didn't stop 300 participants from taking the plunge anyway on behalf of the amazing kids and adults the Special Olympics benefits :)

As promised, Zach and I dressed up in "Jersey Shore" gear for our costumes.  Behold, Pauly D and Snooki:

I even purchased the wonder that is the "Bump-It" for the occasion.  I tried to pay for the Bump-It in the back pharmacy check-out of Walgreen's, thinking that would be less embarrassing somehow...but my plan was mega foiled when it wouldn't ring up on the register and the pharmacy tech thus had to shout to her manager "Mina! How much are the Bump-Its? No...a BUMP It...Yea the hair thing..."  I swear my life is a cartoon at times. I can't decide if it was the best or the worst $10 I've ever spent in my life;

A Special Olympian gave an adorable speech before the countdown letting everyone know how much the program has meant to her over the years and expressing her gratitude for those participating today... which was so sweet to hear.  She also announced that this year we'd raised $131,000 (and counting as people were still donating today) for the Northern California Special Olympics...$10,000 more than last year!  Recession or not, people are still reaching deep into their pockets to help a good cause.  Generosity gives me goosebumps;

I tried to capture the true Snooki spirit by doing gymnastics to the music (including a flash of the panties aka bathing suit) and fighting back the beat...not a bad view in the background!;

When it came time to run into the water they announced our team as "GTL, Baby!" and I got so excited when the announcer said, completely unprovoked, "which of course stands for Gym, Tanning, And Laundry...which you won't be getting any of today!"  Here is me and my fat butt (dang girl, time to hit the gym...too much of a Snooki booty) cheering when he correctly identified "GTL";

The crowd was too big for Nik, my trusty camera gal, to get a shot of us actually getting in the water...but she sure did grab a few gems once the frozen/in shock/drowned rat version of myself emerged...prepare yourself...I'm cracking up....

I basically squealed and screamed the whole time in the water.  Since we were the first ones in (we wanted to get it over with!!) we ended up getting a bit trapped by the following crowds in the bay much longer than we had anticipated.  Some (most, actually) folks didn't go under water but we figured if we were going to do this, we were going to do it all the way.  Thus, my Snooki bump-it was a sad, wet sight post plunge.  Is this how she looked after her hot tub antics? I love that Aubs told me I looked more like Amy Winehouse than Snooki because I'm not orange and 'a twig'.  It's kind of ironic that I chose Snooki for my costume since when, on the wet walk home, these 2 blonde bitches stared at me with their judgey eyes and not-so-whispered 'what.the.hell is she wearing'...I turned around and shouted "It's a freaking costume! Snooki? No? Keep staring, whatever..." in my most Jersy-esque accent.  My neighborhood is occasionally too vanilla for my liking.  Might be time to explore less yuppy hood options....

Thank you again so much to everyone who donated to my plunge...it was truly a fun experience and I'm so grateful for your support! Love!!

xo,

trish