LUNA-TICS TEAM ROOM: Year-round "Looney" fun.

[Kona2]

Alas, we have no junior rowers in the Challenge...will this be a year without Rudolph???!

[Kona2]

Reindeer are migrating herds, and yet it was astonishing to see that we had an increase in our herd overnight. Selfishly, I was working on earning my own reindeer today, so I am a bit late with the posting. Astro is happily grazing out there with the herd, though, and while I am not "caught up", I am in better position than I was before I started rowing today. I have family visiting from Arizona, and they are impressed with our current reindeer herd. Wait until it snows tonight...hope they brought warm jackets (the family, not the reindeer).

Meanwhile, we have some reindeer to name, AND Ed's reindeer has got some swagger as Dasher now has antler lights, flashing harness AND a tail wag. Probably graduated from flight school already, too.



Frost (Andrea)



Belle (Michelle S)



Ringo (Marie)



Spyro (Scott R)



Sarah H (Aurora)



Thor (Michael W) ...welcome to the team, btw!



Astro (Kona2)



Dasher (Ed)

Season meters as of 226/365 = 55,586,793 m

Total meters on the day = 4,602,797 m

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

4.35 MM Ed
2.05 MM Minnie
1.05 MM AJ
900 K Jane
700 K Mikkel
400 K Ted
400 K Kristine
300 K Teresa
250 K Laurie - a cool quarter million!

Thanks, everyone, for rowing and ski-erging with us...and playing reindeer games!

K2 2,096 m
Kerry 3,053 m
Dan E 3,585 m
Paul S 4,000 m
Norton 5,000 m
Rachel 5,000 m
Bernie 5,044 m
Larry 5,178 m
David G 5,592 m
David W (AZ) 6,305 m
Ian 6,479 m
Mikkel 6,772 m
Terry 7,005 m
AJ 7,074 m
bg 7,306 m
Danno 10,000 m
Mike C 10,000 m
Chip 10,123 m
Andrea m ...a starry palindrome!
Jane m ...a starry palindrome!
David A 11,276 m
Steven D 11,361 m
Kristine 11,698 m
Laurie 12,000 m
Minnie m ...hula hula and a palindrome too!
Teresa m ... a starry palindrome!
Stuart 13,209 m
Chuck 13,485 m
Sarah A 14,264 m
Howard 15,389 m
Ken G 20,000 m
Ted 21,000 m
Dan O' 21,097 m ....this might be a first...but I am not sure...
Ed 67,247 m

[danwho]

I took a little break yesterday to pack on a little more snow - don't want to suffer the fate of these poor fellas.

[danwho]

Did someone say Pickles?
Not to rush the season, but in nearby Mount Olive, the New Year is brought in with the Pickle Drop.

[Kona2]

Did someone say Pickles?
Not to rush the season, but in nearby Mount Olive, the New Year is brought in with the Pickle Drop.

Whoa. That looks like the real dill.

[just27]

Whoa. That looks like the real dill.

Uff da!

[Kona2]

Rudolph (Juliette)

We have a Rudolph! ..and just in time, too. Our Rudolph is traditionally claimed by the youngest junior rower or ski-erger to input meters in the Holiday Challenge. And, no matter how much our kids like the season and the concept, getting actual meters produced can be difficult. Not to be outdone by the Flying Wallendas, the Rowing Tudury's have stepped up to make sure that we have a Rudolph this year. Thanks to our young astronaut Juliette for freeing Rudolph. The reindeer really like to plan for all sleigh flying conditions, and Rudolph's glowing nose will definitely be a plus.

And, a small bunny trail....

This is surely crunch time for package delivery whether by postal carrier or a delivery service. I always thought the phrase "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." was like the mantra of the US Postal Service. Alas, another myth. Turns out that the phrase was put on a postal building in New York, and was derived from a quote from the ancient Greek work of Herodotus describing the Persian system of mounted postal carriers c. 500 B.C.E. (Persia had postal carriers?!!?)
" It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed." —Herodotus, Histories (8.98) (trans. A.D. Godley, 1924)



Great reindeer weather here in the Rockies !

Welcome back to some of our long time teammates Jeff G, Michelle, Marie, Scott R, and Sarah H. And, wowzer mates! Dave H, Ed, Laurie and Minnie all earned half moons!

Season meters as of 227/365 = 56,216,351 m

Total meters on the day = 629,558 m

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

1.75 MM Michelle
800 K Rebecca
350 K K2
350 K Dave G
150 K Chip

Thanks, everyone, for rowing and ski-erging with us!

Juliette 107 m
James S 5,000 m
Marie 5,000 m
Sorin 6,173 m
Scott 7,000 m
AJ 7,027 m
K2 8,000 m
David W (AZ) 9,000 m
Rebecca 9,000 m
Terry 9,018 m
Ken G 10,000 m
Michelle 10,000 m
Jane m ...starry palindrome!
Ron m ...starry palindrome!
Steve G 10,683 m
Sarah A 10,774 m
Chip m ... a double aught double !
Andrea 11,043 m
David G 12,213 m
Teresa 13,541 m
Howard 15,385 m
Ian 16,352 m
Larry E 20,000 m
Mike C 20,000 m
Peter G 20,859 m
Laurie 21,097 m
21,097 m
Ed m ... a starry palindrome!
Dave H 31,097 m .... a half moon in there for sure!
Jeff G 82,450 m
Michael W 176,377 m

[Kristine Strasburger]

Rudolph (Juliette)

We have a Rudolph! ..and just in time, too. Our Rudolph is traditionally claimed by the youngest junior rower or ski-erger to input meters in the Holiday Challenge. And, no matter how much our kids like the season and the concept, getting actual meters produced can be difficult. Not to be outdone by the Flying Wallendas, the Rowing Tudury's have stepped up to make sure that we have a Rudolph this year. Thanks to our young astronaut Juliette for freeing Rudolph. The reindeer really like to plan for all sleigh flying conditions, and Rudolph's glowing nose will definitely be a plus.

Woo hoo, Juliette! Thanks for working so hard to make sure we have a shining light for our sleigh. You are a true leader!

[Dave_H]

Hi K2, if a reindeer were to appear from "Down Under", it would have to be called "Bruce" wouldn't it? (Blame the Python crew again!)

[macbruce1]

Hi K2, if a reindeer were to appear from "Down Under", it would have to be called "Bruce" wouldn't it? (Blame the Python crew again!)

"I drink, therefore, I am"!
Big Python Fan,
Da Do Ron Ron

[danwho]

Hi K2, if a reindeer were to appear from "Down Under", it would have to be called "Bruce" wouldn't it? (Blame the Python crew again!)

"I drink, therefore, I am"!
Big Python Fan,
Da Do Ron Ron

Well, G'day Bruce.
And quite right, Bruce.

[Kona2]

Welcome back for the 2015 season to Ken H ! And greetings to Harold J also!

Well G'Day indeed. And a fine one it's shaping up to be as we welcome three reindeer (no, they are not all named Bruce), light up two sets of antlers, and put on our sunglasses to dim the flashing harness of Steve from across the Pond. Truly an international start to our day - always an important element anyway!

Overall Concept2 participation now exceed 32,000 people and we've crossed the $10 K milestone for donations earned! Whoop, whoop, and keep those meters coming in !!

Congratulations to those earning our new reindeer (and the first bits of the Concept2 donation $$$ ):




Bruce (Dave H)



Regatta (Jane)



Radar (Mikkel)

Congratulations on earning antler lights:



Thrasher (Laurie)



Starlight (Larry E)

Congratulations on earning the coveted flashing red harness:



Prancer (Steve)


Season meters as of 228/365 = 56,559,279 m

Total meters on the day = 342,928 m

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

3.45 MM Steve G
1.75 MM Ron
900 K Bernie
850 K Mike C
600 K Sarah A
200 K Larry E

Million Meter Milestone:

David T with (2,000 m) to go! Maybe he wants to celebrate getting his reindeer at the same time he becomes a meter millionaire?

Thanks, everyone, for rowing and ski-erging with us!

Kenny H 1,000 m
Scott 2,000 m
Paul S 4,003 m
Sarah H 4,588 m
Marie 5,000 m
Norton 5,000 m
Patrick m ... a double double!
K2 6,123 m
Karyn 6,510 m
AJ 7,518 m
Michelle m
Peter G 8,023 m
Dave H 10,000 m
Jessica 10,000 m ....keep going....there is a reindeer with your name on it...well, not YOUR name...
Lynne 10,000 m
Mike C 10,000 m
Steven D 10,000 m
Bernie 10,018 m
Sarah A 10,132 m
Dan O' 10,500 m
Steve G m ... a starry palindrome !
Andrea 10,890 m
Rebecca 11,000 m
Dan E 11,103 m
Jane m ...a palindrome to earn her reindeer!
Michael W 11,540 m
Da Do Ron Ron m..a palindrome !
Danwho m ... a whovian palindrome with Monty Python overtones
Laurie 16,903 m ... another big row earns antler lights!
Mikkel 21,097 m
David A 21,965 m
Minnie m ...truly a boatload of two's
Larry E 25,000 m

[just27]

... if a reindeer were to appear from "Down Under", it would have to be called "Bruce" wouldn't it? (Blame the Python crew again!)

"I drink, therefore, I am"!
Big Python Fan

Well, G'day Bruce.
And quite right, Bruce.

http://www.montypython.net/scripts/bruceskit.php

This is hysterical; how could I have missed the Bruce Sketch, all those years ago!

[Kona2]

The Holiday Challenge is built around Christmas eve, but there are so many other celebrations in this time frame. Tonight starts the Festival of Lights at sundown....Happy Hanukkah !


Somehow about this time of the season, especially after a stint in the post office line, "Ho Ho Ho" makes me think more of Jimmy Buffett's "Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum"....Stats gal that I am, upon taking my spot in the post office line, I informed my fellow standees that it would be 50 minutes to reach the counter agent. The fellow behind me told me I was dreaming. No...I'm using an approximation that there are 20 people in front of me...two counter agents...and five minutes a person. Time to counter: 48 minutes! Woohoo and we beat the goal ! Made it more fun.

Ho, Ho, Ho, And A Bottle Of Rum
(lyrics by Jimmy Buffett & Ross Kunkel
music by Jimmy Buffett Roger Guth & Peter Mayer)

Santa's stressed out as the holiday season draws near
He's been doing the same job now going on two thousand years
He's got pains in his brain and chimney scars cover his buns
He hates to admit it, but Christmas is more work than fun
He needs a vacation from bad decorations and snow
Mr. Claus has escape plans, a secret that only he knows
Beaches and palm trees appear night and day in his dreams
A break from his wife, his half frozen life
the elves and that damn reindeer team

Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum
Santa's run off to the Caribbean
He thinks about boat drinks and fun in the sun
Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum

Plastic creations and crass exploitations aren't good
He wants to go back to simple toys made out of wood
Just for the weekend he'd like to be Peter Pan
Get out his long johns and dance with a sword in the sand

Chorus:
Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum
Santa's run off to the Caribbean
Marimbas, calimbas, he's playing steel drums
Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum

(Bridge)

Chorus:
Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum
Santa's run off to the Caribbean
Marimbas, calimbas, he's playing steel drums
Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum

Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum
Santa's run off to the Caribbean
A week in the tropics and he'll be all right
Sporting a tan as he rides out of sight

(over the drums)
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night


And, not to be irreverent, we do have some lights that are shining more brightly here today!

Congratulations, Ed, on reaching the pinnacle of reindeer-dom, with your entry of 500,000 m plus some change. As of this morning, I'm pretty sure Ed was at $18 plus some change in his Concept2 donation earnings! Well done!


Dasher (Ed)

Congratulations, Minnie, on earning Hula Hula's antler lights! Ah, accessories!


Hula Hula (Minnie)

And, one more tiny reindeer enters the Challenge!


Gandolf (Adian)

Season meters as of 229/365 = 57,380,954 m

Total meters on the day = 821,675 m

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

4.4 MM Ed
3.3 MM bg
2.75 MM David A
2.1 MM Minnie
700 K Peter G
700 K Howard
450 K Dave H
300 K Steven D
250 K Melissa
200 K Chuck B
150 K Dennis

And, for those in pursuit of meter millionaire status, an update!

Million Meter Milestone:

David T with (2,000 m) to go!

Jane with (62,716 m) to go!

Bernie with (91,413 m) to go!

Patrick with (112,528 m) to go!

Mike C with (124,038 m) to go!

Thanks, everyone, for rowing and ski-erging with us...and playing reindeer games!

Adian 405 m .... another junior rower enters the mix!
Mike M 3,000 m
Dan O' 4,000 m
Norton 4,000 m
Paul S m ...a starry palindrome from Aberdeen!
Sorin 4,095 m
Kenny H 5,000 m
Rebecca 6,000 m
Larry 6,211 m
Rick C 6,382 m
Sarah H 6,500 m
Patrick 7,026 m
Karyn 8,549 m
Mikkel 8,903 m
Michael W m ...a double double!
Dave H 10,000 m
Scott 10,000 m
Paul R 10,289 m
Steve G 10,456 m
Jane m ... a starry palindrome!
Ron m ...a onesie palindrome!
Dan W 11,721 m ...egad...not a palindrome!
Andrea 11,807 m
Teresa m ...a palindrome!
Peter G m ...a count em up and count em down palindrome!
Sarah A 13,172 m
Chuck 13,506 m
K2 14,037 m
David A 14,755 m
Minnie m ...a palindrome! hula hula !
Chip 15,050 m
Howard m ....a palindrome!
Steven D 16,119 m
Dennis 20,000 m
Ted 20,000 m
Melissa 21,000 m ... well done!
Mike C 21,097 m
bg 22,216 m
Ed m ...a palindrome!

[Kona2]

Starts January 1st !


Now that you've got the erging habit going, keep it going into the New Year and make your resolution to be healthy have an action plan! We've participated in a LOT of virtual team challenges....and it's time for another one as soon as we get through the Holiday Challenge. You can sign on to the team through your online logbook. Just scroll across to teams, and then down to the section that says Virtual Team Challenge. We'd love to have you be part of the Challenge Team.