The NaNo Chronicles: Up to Day 14

 

Day 11 (Part II): There is very little to Part II. The plan was for some massive writing when I got back, but that never developed. There’s a lot going on, including job-hunting and Special Olympic Polar Plunge.

 

Days 12-13-14: Can you say “Wedding Hiatus?” My daughter got married on Nov. 13, so Nov. 12 was a planning day and Nov. 14 was a recovery day. Plus job-hunting and a little Plunge stuff. The Plunge, By the way is Nov. 20, and things really open up after that.
So on Day 15, I am starting between Days 4 and 5.

 

Plunge race enters final week . . .

By Joe Bagadonuts
Daily Vindicator

LAKE GEORGE, NY – Sit on the edge of your seats, start biting your fingernails and hang on for dear life.
With five days remaining – and an overall fund-raising record well within reach – the plungers planning to frolic in Lake George Saturday for the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, are still knocking on doors, sending e-mails and handing out donation postcards.

“It’s ain’t ovah until the fat guy gets all wet,” said plunger Bill Toscano, who will be dunking his head for the seventh time, the fourth at Lake George. “We’re gonna take it one day at a time. Each day’s donations are the most important donations of the drive, until the next day’s.”

Toscano sits in second place among fund-raisers with $1,475, and his two-year run as the top fund-raiser at Lake George is threatened by John Scharf of Team Momentive, who has a temporary lead with $1,530. Eric Guenther, of the fast-moving Adventures in Food Trading team, is third at $1,000.

Team Momentive is at $5.546, which is estimated to be the highest team total in Lake George Plunge history. Agni Dentati, having one of its best seasons ever, is at $3,805 and Adventures in Food Trading had jumped intro third at $3,510 and had produced about $1,200 in five days. Max’s Buddies, led by Lisa Jackoski, whose son Max is a Special Olympian, is in fourth at $2,295, and the James Gang is fifth at $1,809. Those five teams have raised half the total so far.

“Only one human captain has ever survived battle with the Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else,” Toscano said. “To announce your presence with authority?! This guy's a first ball fastball hitter, looking for the heat.”

What Toscano meant to say was: “Yes, we’ve got five days to make up $1,700, but hey, the Red Sox have won the World Series – twice.”

Last year, the Lake George Plunge raised $42,000. Going into the day of the Plunge, the participants had raised about $24,000 and brought in the remainder on the day of the Plunge.
If donations continue the way they have been coming, the Lake George Plunge, the third of 12 this season, may put the early-season  total up over $100,000. The first two plunges of the season, St. Lawrence Seaway and Plattsburgh, combined to raise slightly more than $40,000.

What makes a person a peer?

As some folks here know, the polls for the three peerages and five Orders of High Merit for the East Kingdom went out over the weekend.

For those in other kingdoms, the East uses a polling system where people are nominated by a member of the populace, the members of the specific order are polled, and the king and queen decide what to do based on the polls.

This post focuses on the peerages -- Chivalry, Pelican and Laurel.

(For the non-SCA folks, consider the peerages as the awards that go to the people who truly exemplify the spirit of the SCA in various areas.)

Sometimes, when you have an award, you have a fairly pre-defined idea of what you're looking for from a candidate. It's not always easily codified, but it's sorta like the Supreme Court justice's comment on pornography. You know it when you see it.

(Yes, I came up with the whole concept of this post so you could say, "Liam says peerages are like pornography.") ;)

Seriously, though. Two questions.

As someone who does not (yet) have a peerage, what do you expect in someone who has just been made a peer? What things that they have done/said/etc. would make you you, "Hey, that's pretty cool. He/she really is a good choice?"

As a peer, how do you articulate to non-peers why you think someone would make a good peer? If you are talking to someone you trust and they say, "Why do you think Lord Heywood is not a peer yet?), how do yo answer (if you choose to answer).

Thanks!

Today's last Polar Plunge Post . . .

OK, here's the deal.

For the last two years, Agni Dentati has finished second among the teams in the Lake George Polar Plunge for Special Olympics.

In 2008, we finished behind Saratoga Rugby, which sent a coach bus to the event.

Last year, we finished second to an Old Navy team that had all its donations doubled by the company.

This year, Team Momentive, a well-organized team from a major company in Albany/Waterford has a big lead on us going into the final week.

Now honestly, I love the fact that teams are raising more and more money for this event. We have more individuals, more teams and have raised more money pre-plunge than ever before.

But winning? Winning is cool.

As of right now, we are at $3,880, and Team Momentive is at $5,546.

Here are our team totals right now:

Me:            $1,475
Carl S.        $635
Nicole T.     $480
Jen M.        $445
Stephen L.  $325
Neffie S.     $260
Alex M.      $100

If we can get people to the following levels, I believe we have a shot at winning!

Me:            $2,000
Carl S.        $1,000
Nicole T.     $750
Jen M.        $750
Stephen L.  $500
Neffie S.     $500
Alex M.      $300

Please see the team link above and help if you can. Choose an individual you want to help.

If you want to join, I have a sheet that will show you how to raise $250 before Saturday! You do *not* have to go in the water. ;)

If you need to send a check or have one of us pick it up, please ping me.

If you know folks who are friends of these folks, please passt it on!

Thanks!

Liam