The Polar Plunge

IN THE NEWS: According to FoxNews. com, "Purdue University students are making some extra cash through a project that might turn some of their classmates' stomachs — by sniffing livestock excrement. Students earn $30 per session as they take whiffs of a variety of smells collected from barns filled with hogs, cows and chickens for odor research being conducted by Albert Heber, a Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering.
"Typically they're farm smells — manure, farm waste, hay. The only thing that is good is that we are not smelling it for a long time. It's just a sniff," said civil engineering graduate student Anuj Sharma.
The students' work provides Heber with data for his ongoing research on ways to improve methods for estimating a given livestock farming operation's odor emissions."

Well, I had a timid New Year's Eve.

Such is the way when you have a five year old. But that's OK. I'm not a night owl anyway. So we ended up going to a fantastic restaurant for dinner then we came home and rented Ratatouille. I was going to allow my daughter to stay up with us and ring in the new year, but when the movie ended at 8:30PM, she looked at us and said, "What am I doing up so late? I'm tired and going to bed." So she said goodnight and practically put herself to bed. She obviously likes her sleep, like her mother. (I found that pretty funny)

Anyhew, New Year's Day we ventured over to the beach in the afternoon where the town was having its official "first day on the beach" celebration and other fun happenings. The festivities included a 5K run you could participate in (my daughter's teacher came in fourth) and also (my personal favorite) tons of people storming the beach and plunging themselves into the frigid Atlantic Ocean.

Uh, I would never survive a dip in the 40 degree ocean now--I barely survive in June when the temperature is still in 60's--but we couldn't resist watching, and thus, taking pictures.

As you can see, many came out to watch the freaks--uh, I mean, brave men and women (and some children). It was like a big party out there.



I couldn't resist taking a picture of that guy in the wig, Jason Hockey mask, and coconut bra. (He's hard to see, but try to focus in the center)

The official start.

I couldn't believe people were lingering...

Well, after that and seeing too many people in town, we grabbed some pizza and took a walk on the beach.

It was a lot of fun. In fact, I think one of my goals for this new year is to work my way to enter the 5K run on the boardwalk next year. I think that's a pretty cool way to begin the year.

So what did you do for New Year's?