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Half-Drowned Heroes in a Half-Shell

Every February for five years running, Jason and I have shouted an anxious battle cry and then charged into the frosty depths of Utah Lake. This year we again participated in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Utah, even though the frosty depths refused to take their part in this ritual.

Jason and I made turtle shells out of disposable roasting pans.
Jason and I made turtle shells out of disposable roasting pans.

Utah has had the most bizarre weather the last few months. We’ve had little snow and even less winter. While this strange alteration in climate is sure to impact fauna and fowl alike, far worse than that, it has impacted me. No winter = no ice = no plunging polarly but I’ll get back to that in a moment.

This slippery chute added an entertaining element to the plunge.
This slippery chute added an entertaining element to the plunge.

Our plunging team this time consisted of six friends and friends of friends. We decided to dress up as characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, all of the green guys plus April and Shredder. I came as Leonardo, fitting as I am such a responsible leader. (I’ll have none of those remarks from you!) And Jason appeared as the technological genius Donatello, which is also appropriate.

Yes, that water was every bit as cold as our shocked faces suggest.
Yes, that water was every bit as cold as our shocked faces suggest.

Since the aforementioned lack of cold and precipitation left Utah Lake low and iceless this February, Special Olympics came up with an alternative strategy for their event. Their plan consisted of a massive pool accessed by a slick slide, which was placed at the side of the lake. We were a little disappointed at first when we found out we wouldn’t be jumping into the marina but the slide and pool turned out to be pretty fun…and quite polar. Yes, oddly, the absence of ice-bogged waters didn’t really warm up our dive. As confirmed by a thermometer, the pool’s temperature was just a few degrees above freezing, plenty frigid enough to take breath and courage away.

This picture was among the ones featured in the news.
This picture was among the ones featured in the news.

Our polar plunge may have been atypical this time in that neither lake nor ice was involved but it followed normal patterns in many other ways. The water we tumbled into was, as ever, glacially inhospitable and, as in years past, our gang was interviewed by local news channels and featured in the newspaper.

This was my best attempt at a turtle face. Good thing I don't try doing turtle often.
This was my best attempt at a turtle face. Good thing I don’t try doing turtle often.

A big thank you to those that donated to help the Turtles support some very special athletes. Due to your generosity, we raised more funds than all but two teams, over a thousand dollars in total.

Rachel March 9, 2015 No Comments

The Y of the X

Jason and I recently attended Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperience. The frequency at which we go to events like this may have you thinking that we are clearly deranged or it may have you feeling superior in your non-con-attending coolness. I assure you, we are crazier than you are cool and, frankly, we aren’t that crazy. Allow me to elaborate.

People attend “nerdy” conventions for all sorts of reasons and most of them don’t involve a communicator and a cube of butter. If you haven’t gone to one yourself, you should give it a shot and here’s why:

  1. Connection.

Where else can you congregate with other fans of your favorite TV show, cartoon, movie, videogame, or book series? Don’t lie, I know you have one.

Matt Smith, Billie Piper, and Karen Gillan joined FanX and the Doctor Who Ultimate Xperience, which was pretty ultimate.
Matt Smith, Billie Piper, and Karen Gillan joined FanX and the Doctor Who Ultimate Xperience, which was pretty ultimate.
  1. It’s cool.

Being a diehard nerd wasn’t always cool. I was one long before it was en vogue. However, for those of you that need the world’s permission to geek out, you now have it. Superfans outnumber sports fans these days. Those that wouldn’t be caught dead at one of “those conventions” are in the minority and clearly have delusions about their degree of refinement.

Matt Smith was quirky and peppy, all that a doctor should be.
Matt Smith was quirky and peppy, all that a doctor should be.
  1. Cosplay.

Whether you fancy becoming a Borg or just like to admire the slave Leias, the cosplay at these cons can be quite amusing. You can’t help but be impressed by the creative and elaborate ways people pay homage to their most beloved characters and genres.

FanX included scheduled cosplay meetups this time. This cosmic picture was taken by Bryan Rasmussen of Chiseled Light.
FanX included scheduled cosplay meetups this time. This cosmic picture was taken by Bryan Rasmussen of Chiseled Light.
  1. Celebrities.

I’m no celebrity stalker. Celebrities aren’t magical; they’re just flawed people like the rest of us. However, interacting with some of your favs from the big or small screens can be rather fun. At FanX this time we met Tom Felton, Nichelle Nichols, Paul Wesley, Felicia Day, Ralph Macchio, Anthony Michael Hall, Matt Smith, Billie Piper, and Karen Gillan. Nichelle Nichols, Billie Piper, and Felicia Day were particularly nice but we didn’t have a bad experience with any of the lot.

Felicia Day was every bit as funny as expected.
Felicia Day was every bit as funny as expected.
  1. Curiosity.

Never been to one of these affairs before? You never know what you might be missing.

It was pretty fantastic meeting Nichelle Nichols, a spunky, intelligent, kind, iconic woman.
It was pretty fantastic meeting Nichelle Nichols, a spunky, intelligent, kind, iconic woman.
  1. Merchandise.

You will find innumerable magnificent collectibles and unique originals at these cons. Trust me, you won’t walk away empty handed. I found a handmade chocolate-caramel sonic screwdriver this year; it was audibly delicious.

Since I am a nerdy foodie, these treats made by The Truffle Cottage were a perfect find.
Since I am a nerdy foodie, these treats made by The Truffle Cottage were a perfect find.
  1. Knowledge.

Interested in publishing your own book or learning how to fight like a Jedi? This is your chance.

Paul Wesley was even prettier in person.
Paul Wesley was even prettier in person.

My fellow Utahans, Salt Lake Comic Con returns in September and FantasyCon reappears in 2016. Don’t let your “I’m too cool for my shirt” attitude stop you from checking out these events. You may find that your shirt is a lot cooler than you think.

Rachel March 3, 2015 No Comments

Hike n Bike

I’ve been planning on posting about our summer hiking and biking adventures for months but I didn’t want to do so until the season was decisively over. Well, since it is now February and it oddly feels like warm weather is nearly upon us again, at this point I think it’s safe to summarize last summer’s trail flings.

This nameless path up the North Fork of American Fork Canyon provided great views and no company.
This nameless path up the North Fork of American Fork Canyon provided great views and no company.
Silver Lake was secluded and stunning.
Silver Lake was secluded and stunning.

We frequented American Fork Canyon with both bikes and boots last summer; it was our most common outdoor playground. Besides a few trips to Lambert Park and Corner Canyon, it monopolized our mountain time.

The peaceful waters of Silver Lake doubled the expanse of the encircling summits.
The peaceful waters of Silver Lake doubled the expanse of the encircling summits.
This is my favorite meadow and a frequent pedaling point of ours in AF Canyon.
This is my favorite meadow and a frequent pedaling point of ours in AF Canyon.

We were rambling in AF Canyon on foot before the ski resorts even closed last spring, hitting both renowned and anonymous paths. Silver Lake, not to be confused with plainer Silver Lake Flat Reservoir, is about a 4.5-mile hike roundtrip and was our favorite destination discovery last summer. Its trail gains about 1500 feet but it’s too short to be too difficult. The lake is situated in a narrow basin surrounded by towering peaks and boulder-strewn hillsides; ideal about covers it. We walked around the whole lagoon at Jason’s request, or insistence really. Circumnavigating Silver Lake was a little rough, especially where chutes of rock chunks invaded the shore, but we had a good time boldly going where no man had gone for a few days.

Although barely a hike, Jason and I enjoyed walking to the Silver King Mine at Park City Mountain Resort.
Although barely a hike, Jason and I enjoyed walking to the Silver King Mine at Park City Mountain Resort.

As fun as our two-legged meanderings were, we pedaled in American Fork Canyon more than we trekked. We regularly visited our usual tracks, like Great Western and Ridge Trail 157, but we also checked out an area in the canyon we’d never been to: Pole Line Pass. Pole Line Pass separates Utah Valley from Heber Valley at a little over 8,000 feet. You have to travel 8 miles on a dirt road to reach it. Eight miles doesn’t sound like much but the path is pretty bumpy so our Subaru needed an hour to churn through it. Unfortunately, that left us less time than expected to fling ourselves, and our cycles, down Pole Line’s dusty crest but, taken as a whole kit and caboodle, it was still a gratifying adventure.

Heading south from Pole Line Pass, valleys hugged both sides of our path.
Heading south from Pole Line Pass, valleys hugged both sides of our path.
Fall is a terrific time to bike American Fork Canyon when cooler conditions turn the aspens and oaks into fiery forests.
Fall is a terrific time to bike American Fork Canyon when cooler conditions turn the aspens and oaks into fiery forests.

Summer, like its cooler counterparts, provides ample opportunities to get your heart tuckered out in scenic style. Jason and I are not ones to save our energy and waste a season. No sir, we like to expend and experience it all.

Rachel February 24, 2015 No Comments
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