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

[just27]

I'll probably never have the pleasure of meeting any of you in person, but I feel like I am part of a "special community", being part of this team. Ron

Oh, you just never know ... we're a fairly mobile herd!

[Kona2]

Just a quick check in using battery packs - we are without power...and just before I was going to do my rowing for the day

Congratulations to all the milestone makers the last few days!!!!

Wowzer - who would have thought there would be such a need for blazing headlamps this season! The moon, though waxing, is not yet bright enough (although reflection on snow = higher intensity!)....

Btw, I like the "ad astra" ..... to the stars! Good one, Ron!

[just27]

Btw, I like the "ad astra" ..... to the stars! Good one, Ron!

Ad Astra ... Wasn't he on the Mary Tyler Moore Show?

[Kona2]

Btw, I like the "ad astra" ..... to the stars! Good one, Ron!

Ad Astra ... Wasn't he on the Mary Tyler Moore Show?

Minnie's in fine form -

[Kristine Strasburger]

Ron,
Do you have time to be the designated Mixologist for our upcoming virtual New Year's Eve party? All you have to do is take the drink orders from the members who post them, and post them every so often, like the stats are posted. Sometimes our Mixologist even adds interesting comments, info and pics for the various drinks as the list grows.

From the Command Deck your enthusiasm and participation here looks like you are THE ONE FOR THE JOB this year. Will you accept your new assignment?

[Kona2]

And now, another episode of Deep Space Mysteries....

Eleven to row.....you can do it!

Our new teammates, 15 of them, have need for many reindeer and antler lights. We'll sort through this as the day progresses. I've captured the meter numbers for newbies as of this morning, so will not have a daily meter total for those new teammates until tomorrow. Welcome to: Jim K, Ray, Rosi D (another soccer player!), Elton, Cathie, Samuel, Bobbie, Mario Jackson, Tristan, Dalton, Ashlee, Kaylee, Ethan, Ronnie and Allie. We've definitely gained some new international dimensions! We now have 116 Lunies.

Recap of past team history:

Keep in mind that a person's meters will "follow" them if they change teams, so if someone was on the LUNA-TICS team in 2003 and they changed teams after that, their picture and meters do not still show up in the LUNA-TICS stats for 2003. Likewise, if a person was recording meters in their logbook in any year, and they only recently joined the LUNA-TICS, their profile and meters will be showing up as a LUNA-TICS team member for each year that they have logged meters, even if they did not belong to any team in those years. So these stats are only partially reflective of the actual team mates, numbers and meters for each year.

2003 - Virtual Teams instituted by C2. Matt Forsbacka, being slightly influenced by his work for NASA founds the LUNA-TICS year-round team. His goal? To row to the moon. Calling all hands...Calling all hands...
The year end stats show 7 team mates, and the team placing #72 out of 1437 teams that year. Total team meters: 3,874,123.

2004 - The year end stats show 11 team mates and the team placing #94 out of 1233 teams in existence that year. Total team meters: 4,500,044.

2005 - The year end stats show 15 team mates and the team placing #71 out of 1211 teams in existence that year. Total team meters: 8,321,188.

2006 - The year end stats show 19 team mates and the team placing #72 out of 1066 teams in existence that year. Total team meters: 8,507,331.

2007 - Formation of the LUNA-TICS challenge team by Kristine Strasburger. The year end stats show 25 team mates and the team placing #47 out of 1137 teams in existence that year. Total team meters: 14,265,122.

2008 - Challenge team captain discovers the C2 forum, and begins team recruiting efforts for the Holiday Challenge. LUNA-TICS Team Room on the forum established. The year end stats show 59 team mates and the team placing #11 out of 1234 teams in existence that year. Total team meters: 48,110,121.

2009 – Team forum pages grow into the 200’s; 92K + views of pages. Team looks like it is going to finish the year with 81 teammates and the team placing # 6 out of 1475 teams in existence. Total team meters will be in excess of 85 MM –meters per team member average is over 1 MM.

2010 - Team finishes the year with 109 teammates - and 115,415,070 m. Team is ranked # 5 in the Rowing Universe.

2011 - We believe we will reach the moon this year. The team currently has 116 members, and 32 million meters to go for Lunar Landing. Plan the party!

I think these stats prove that the forum participation is a huge factor in helping people achieve their goals, and in setting goals they never thought possible. Everyone is encouraged by sharing our lives with one another, so thanks again to all of you for taking the time out of your day to visit with us here. You never know whose life you are affecting in a positive way with your presence and words.

.....And every mother's child is going to spy,
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
From The Christmas Song....

Season meters as of 227/365 = 64,717,961 m (whoa...a logrithmic shift propels us into 5th place)

Total meters on the day = 12,265,649 m (astrogator faints)

Oars in space (participation) = 28 percent

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations: generally only acknowledge increments of 100K - under 16, more frequent intervals

5.1 MM Jim K
2.4 MM Ray
1.2 MM Cathie
1.2 MM Peter G
900 K Mike M
700 K Rosi
500 K Tristan
500 K Greg H
400 K Peter H
300 K Dalton
300 K Kaylee
200 K Bobbie
200 K Mario Jackson
200 K Ashlee
100 K Elton
100 K Samuel
39 K Ronnie
27 K Ethan
50 m Allie

ONE Million Meter Watch:

Ross with (8,665 m) to go!

Mike M with (93,745 m) to go!

Full moon over Florida as Jerry posts 44,500 m
Half moon over Australia...plus some! as Baz posts 30,000 m
It's a half marathon for a half moon over the Netherlands....and while some Dutchies aren't sure reindeer can fly....we're pretty sure that Amerigo/Peter H will find a way to help out!

.....thanks for rowing Holiday Challenge meters!

Tom P 3,700 m
Harold 4,115 m
K2 4,242 ....just to land on 7.5 MM lifetime meters!
Terri H 5,015 m
Bill L 5,017 m
David T 6,000 m
Kenny H 6,200 m
Karyn 6,828 m
Tony whew...still playing with a full deck...
Teresa 8,500 m....just 13 meters shy of a yearly total of 222,222 m!
Danno 10,005 m
Jim B 10,011 m
Mike M 10,035 m
Greg C 10,272 m
Rodrigo-go-go 10,811 m
Barbara 12,209 m
Peter G 12,500 m
Dan E 12,501 m
Greg H 12,503 m...for a cool half million!
Rick 12,729 m
Ross 13,000 m
AJ 14,058 m
Laurie 15,000 m
Minnie 15,402 m
Tom M 16,290 m
Peter H 21,097 m
Baz 30,000 m
Jerry 44,500 m

Row strong, Lunies! More holiday meters mean more dollars for water! Concept2 community has raised over one-third of the amount....last year, as a rowing community, we didn't quite make the goal....wouldn't it be great to exceed it?! There's time, friends, there's time!

[Kristine Strasburger]

Thanks for the team re-cap, K2. It is always good to take a look at where we have been, and where we are going. And I agree, forum participation, as a reader and/or as a poster, is the defining factor in how we all experience our daily exercise, and motivates us to do more than we otherwise would. I have seen my rowing go from just another way to keep fit (boring, and hard to keep up over the years) to a truly enjoyable part of my life, and this is only attributable to how it is tied to the team competitions and events C2 hosts, and the venue the forum provides which makes it a whole lot more than just exercise.

One thing that makes the LUNA-TICS virtual team really unique is the way we all participate in encouraging each other with our milestones and accomplishments in the rowing world, and ALSO how we share other important aspects of our lives. Nobody owns and nobody controls the LUNA-TICS Team Room, per se. We all share ownership, and we all share control to the degree that we are responsible for the things we decide to write about. One of our strengths as a virtual team is that we share the work of keeping the team going because we all enjoy and benefit from it.

Team mates come and team mates go. A hearty welcome to all the new members who have decided to join us during this challenge. We sincerely hope you stay for the New Year's Party, and beyond. You are welcome here, and we encourage you all to jump right in here, and share a little of who you are. We encourage others in ways we never even realize when we take the time to share ourselves.

My personal push as Challenge Team Captain is to encourage everyone on the team to have a profile photo showing on the team roster (the year-round team roster, that is, since there is no challenge team roster to look at). If you don't want to put an actual picture of yourself on your profile, how about a picture of your favorite animal, pet, food, activity, etc. to show a little bit of who you are. If anyone needs help making an image resized or cropped for uploading, I am glad to help you out with it. Just let me know.

Now let's get some meters on!

[Kona2]

Presenting.....the Luna Herd!


........Dasher/Chip ...............Dancer/Baz...................Vixen /Minnie...................Prancer / Danno....




........Comet / Will S ............Cupid / AJ ....................Donner / Harold.................Blitzen / Ron .....


........Olive / Jerry................Joker/ Kenneth G ...........Ringo / Jim.....................Winston / Karyn ....


........Mitten / Robert.............Jingle / Bruce ..............Jangle / Rick ...............Amerigo Jewel / Peter ...



........Gem / Kristine.............Meteor / Dan E ..............Solis / Greg H................Syrus / Peter G...


........Clem / Tony .............Starburst / Rodrigo.....Bubba w/ twinkle/Mitch..........Starbuck / Barbara



........ Nova / Kenny H..........Blinx / David T..........Moonstone / Terri H.............Stewball / Jim K



........StarGaze / Ray............Polaris/ Mike M ...........Glimmer / Rosi D...................Winx / Elton ....



........Aurora / Cathie ............Apollo / Samuel ..................Inx / Tristan.................Io / Dalton .....



........Duster / Jackson.............Saturn / Bobbie .............. ...

Ok - I think I've captured the categories correctly....if not, give me a shout...

[bg]

welcome to all the new folks....and i love my green boston celtic antlers......luna-tics are the best....

[Kona2]

Glitzen (wife of Blitzen) has the right idea....what's the worst that can happen?! You'll have a good time with this stretch assignment....and I'll go forage for a bunch of mixologist graphics for you to use....

[Kona2]

Ron - here's a copy of what Jane came up with for last year's drink orders...

OK Folks – time for your beverage of choice on the way to the moon and 2010. First up, those who requested beer:

We have two requests for Black and Tans –one for Baz and one for Barb. Here is what the replicator says:

To prepare a Black and Tan in the American way, first fill a glass halfway with the ale, then add the Guinness Draught (from the can, bottle, or tap). The top layer is best poured slowly over an upside-down tablespoon placed over the glass to avoid splashing and mixing the layers. A specially designed black-and-tan spoon is bent in the middle so that it can balance on the edge of the pint-glass for easier pouring.

Baz has requested a Cooper Stout, which is described as follows:
Now here's a beer with punch!
Coopers Best Extra Stout is a beacon for lovers of a hearty brew. With its robust flavour it is everything a stout should be. Brewed naturally using a top fermentation method, Coopers Stout's unique rich, dark texture comes from specially roasted black malt. Coopers Best Extra Stout contains no additives and no preservatives.

Not to be outdone in the beer department, Dan and Moose have both ordered beer from New Glarus Brewery. For Dan, it’s Spotted Cow:

Cask conditioned ale has been the popular choice among brews since long before prohibition. We continue this pioneer spirit with our Wisconsin farmhouse ale. Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts. We even give a nod to our farmers with a little hint of corn. 

Naturally cloudy we allow the yeast to remain in the bottle to enhance fullness of flavors, which cannot be duplicated otherwise. 

Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you're in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow.

For Moose it is the now illusive - New Glarus Ilf Da Bock

Here is a Bock brewed to appease the Gods of Winter. Hearty and full-bodied this is a "Big" bier. Brewed in the Reinheitsgebot tradition, our Bock comes by its mahogany hue naturally. You can expect this bier to be complex and smooth with deep chocolate and coffee undertones, complementing the rich bouquet. No matter if you choose to enjoy our Bock before, during or after dinner, remember to serve at about 48°F. Because like many good things in life... the warmer Bock is, the sweeter it gets.

And Debbie rounds out the beer requests with a Samual Smith’s Oatmeal Stout:
Originally a drink for lactating mothers, oatmeal stout was described as nutritional on early labels. Oats are in the same family as barley, and a small addition yields great flavor. Popular in the late 1800’s, the last oatmeal stout was brewed before the First World War until Samuel Smith reintroduced this style in 1980. Almost opaque, with an unusually silky texture and complex, medium-dry velvet palate. Bittersweet finish.

We have three whiskey and scotch drinkers in the group: Karyn with a whiskey sour, Dave with scotch and water and AJ who likes it neat.

Karyn’s choice: Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey is the ONLY vintage dated single malt Irish Whiskey. The 1995 is the latest vintage in this award-winning series of Irish single malts. It was distilled in 1995 using copper pot stills and bottled in 2008, after aging for 13 years in bourbon barrels. Unlike single malt Scotch, no peat is used in the drying of the malt. Knappogue is lightly chill filtered and, unlike many whiskeys, no artificial coloring is added. The result in a unique, clean, and mellow flavor that varies from vintage to vintage. Begin your journey of discovery with the Knappogue 1995 vintage. Follow your passion. Discover Knappogue.

Dave’s choice: Dark intense Lagavulin (pronounced Laga-voolin after the Gaelic Laggan Mhouillin, “the hollow where the mill is”) comes from a whitewashed jumble of buildings by the sea on Islay’s rocky southern shore. Founded in 1816, this is a great Islay malt. Pungent and potent, with richly peaty, deep, smoky flavor, it has an intense, long, ambrosial finish.

AJs selection is Caol Ila: Strength: 43% ABV Appearance: Pale straw. Nose: Subdued, citric fruitiness; a whiff of bath oil and dentist's mouthwash. A fresh and appetising nose, with little or no trace of smoke. A little water raises almond oil and old-fashioned oilskins; still a fresh fruitiness (lychees?), a trace of olive oil, and after a while pot pourri or scented hand-soap. Body: Firm, smooth, light to medium. Palate: Drinks well at natural strength; sweet start; pleasant, light fragrant smokiness and a lengthy finish. Smooth, pleasant mouth-feel; with water light acidity, some salt and still the sweeter notes. A complex balance of primary tastes. Finish: Sweet smokiness in the lingering, slightly sour finish

And now for what Debbie would call the foo-foo drinks.

Chris has requested a Kir Royale, made with 1 part creme de cassis and
5 parts Champagne. Here is some history about the Kir:
Kir is a popular French cocktail made with a measure of crème de cassis (blackcurrant liquor) topped up with white wine. The Royale version is made with Champaign.
Originally called blanc-cassis, the drink is now named after Félix Kir (1876 - 1968), mayor of Dijon in Burgundy, who as a pioneer of the twinning movement in the aftermath of the Second World War popularized the drink by offering it at receptions to visiting delegations. Besides treating his international guests well, he was also promoting two vital economic products of the region. According to Rolland (2004), [1] the reinvention of blanc-cassis (post 1945) was necessitated by the German Army's confiscation of all the local red Burgundy during the war. Faced with an excess of white wine, Kir renovated a drink that previously was made primarily with the red.

Our newly weds Lilia and Peter credit a horny margarita with giving them the courage to commit:

Horny Margarita
kosher salt
1-1/2 ounces Sauza Hornitos reposado tequila
1 ounce Cointreau juice of half a lime
3 ounces sweet-and-sour mix lime wheel Rim a margarita glass with salt. Pour the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and sweet-and-sour mix into a blender with a cup of ice and blend. Pour into the glass and garnish with the lime wheel.

In Tequila: Panegyric and Emblem, the Mexican poet Alvaro Mutis wrote:
Tequila has no history;
there are no anecdotes confirming its birth. 

This is how it’s been since the beginning of time,
for tequila is a gift from the gods

and they don’t tend to offer fables when bestowing favors.

That is the job of mortals, the children of panic and tradition.


Now two of us have alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. Jan has requested a club soda and lime or a cosmopolitan. Jane wants either a tonic and lime or a pineapple upsidedown cake: Recipes as follows
Cosmopolitan Cocktail recipe
Serve in a Cocktail Glass
Scale ingredients to 1 servings
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz Rose's® lime juice
1/2 oz cranberry juice

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.

Pineapple upside down cake
2 oz. vanilla vodka 
1 oz. vanilla liqueur 
1 oz. pineapple juice 
1 oz. grenadine Maraschino cherry for garnish

Speaking of Desserts, here is a Mud Slide for Kristine. I know of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic recipes. I am guessing anyone who actually throws the pie into the blender is having the alcoholic one:
1 oz vodka
1 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
1 oz cream

Shake all ingredients with ice and pour over ice in an old-fashioned glass.

In our designated rowing version, we have a need for milk. Four gourmet hot chocolates for the Newall-Vuillemot children. Gourmet hot chocolate includes real milk, whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate chips and sprinkles.
Mitch would like a tall cold chocolate milk.

Tomo requests an orange Fanta.

All for now from Ten Forward. Tip your bartender.
If you seek peace in 2010, be peace to all you meet.
Guinan – aka Jane

PS Exercise is a hangover cure.

[rsdavr]

Hi Kris,
Thanks for all your encouragement. You make the team fun to be a part of. I think I'll get my million tomorrow, but I'm rowing in pain. I was diagnosed with a torn left shoulder rotator cuff yesterday and I pulled a muscle in the middle of my back lifting weights over the week-end. But rowing neither increases nor decreases my pain - it's just there. I'll bet I'm no different than many others who row everyday - for the love of it. I'm going to row as much as I can before surgery on the rotator cuff (last week in Dec). I'm betting that other rowers have gone through this and used rowing to recover. I should hit 2011 ready to go! By the way, besides rowing for distance, do any Loonies race the 2k?
Ross Drown

[Kona2]

Ross - what a bummer on the rotator cuff ! Go gently!

As to the 2K racers....there are several. Peter H, Gina, Karyn are just a few of them ! Perhaps they'll check in on this one!

[Kristine Strasburger]

Ron,
Do you have time to be the designated Mixologist for our upcoming virtual New Year's Eve party? All you have to do is take the drink orders from the members who post them, and post them every so often, like the stats are posted. Sometimes our Mixologist even adds interesting comments, info and pics for the various drinks as the list grows.

From the Command Deck your enthusiasm and participation here looks like you are THE ONE FOR THE JOB this year. Will you accept your new assignment?

Hi Kristine, I'm probably not qualified to be the Mixologist. I don't drink much, and even though I'm a Scotsman I couldn't tell a single malt from a blend if my life depended on it. I do like to participate in the activity on the team page, but I'm afraid my computer skills are sorely lacking. I have no idea how to go about adding those wonderful graphics that others post. Heck, I just traded in my wood-fired computer last year
Knowing my limitations, if you think I could do it, I'd give it a try. As my wife is fond of saying,"What's the worst that could happen?" Maybe someone could give a crash course on making my posts more colorful
Ron(technically challenged)Blitzen

It sounds like Team MacBruce could pull it off in fine fashion. The worst that could happen is you could have some fun...the best, well, that is still to be imagined. Jan/K2 is our graphics maven, but you would be surprised at how easy it is to do...unless you have dial-up internet connection, and then maybe you really might not have the time to do it. Don't want to burden you beyond what you want to do. If you want to pass on it, maybe we have another newly joined member just dying to throw down behind the bar. Any other volunteers out there?

BTW, Jan, are we possibly going to actually be ON the MOON during our party this year???? Could all the new members possibly be boosting us forward way ahead of the last projections?

[bg]

Hi Kris,
Thanks for all your encouragement. You make the team fun to be a part of. I think I'll get my million tomorrow, but I'm rowing in pain. I was diagnosed with a torn left shoulder rotator cuff yesterday and I pulled a muscle in the middle of my back lifting weights over the week-end. But rowing neither increases nor decreases my pain - it's just there. I'll bet I'm no different than many others who row everyday - for the love of it. I'm going to row as much as I can before surgery on the rotator cuff (last week in Dec). I'm betting that other rowers have gone through this and used rowing to recover. I should hit 2011 ready to go! By the way, besides rowing for distance, do any Loonies race the 2k?
Ross Drown

ouch...please be careful....