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

[Kona2]

13th overall, and 7th virtual team

Oh...and btw...a belated explanation (although a prompt was given days ago...)

The first canoe has hit the virtual waters of the Moon River. Say whaaaaat? Some years ago, AJ created canoes and natives for the canoes (as well as various versions of same...all will become evident as the meters increase) to help motivate us to higher meterage than we might have initially planned. There are only two challenges where we have such incentives: the Holiday Challenge and the January Virtual Team Challenge. So here's how the January Virtual Team Challenge works:

At 100K, you and your native have managed to find your canoe and drag it into the virtual waters of the Moon River. Only problem? Well, you don't have a paddle yet, and this will be important. You are, after all, going to be part of the ArMoonda.

At 200K, you get a sleeker canoe...and a paddle. Things are looking up. But the virtual waters of the Moon River have many tributaries, and it is a LONG way towards the next milestone. In the past, AJ has somewhat personalized the look of your native if you have a posted photo - but I have not gotten his "yes" towards doing this this year, and I am not promising anything on his behalf. We'll see what happens.

At 500K, whew. You've worked hard. You've earned some time as a member of the Bathtub Brigade. This requires a level of dedicated erging that is really tough to do. It is memorable.

At 1 MM, and we've had a few who did this, you earn your Million Meter Boat.

And that, Lunies, is how we arrive at our first canoe. Ed eclipsed the 100K mark yesterday, and I bet there will be others in the waters soon.


..........................Ed.......................

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

Distance remaining to lunar landing: 32,623,766 m

6.35 MM Ed
3.7 MM Ron
2 MM Greg F
900 K Rebecca
350 K Keith J
150 K John D

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Patrick S 2,255 m ...a double double!
Jason H 3,115 m
Steve W 3,210 m
Tom R 3,759 m
Gene 4,012 m ....welcome back!
Larry 4,039 m
Ross 4,125 m
Chuck E 5,000 m
Kevin Mc 5,000 m
Lisa 5,000 m
Nancy 5,000 m
Rebecca 5,000 m
GMan 5,246 m
David T 5,500 m ...a double double!
Keith J 5,903 m
Anna 6,006 m ...a palindrome with a bit of bedevilment!
Leon 6,060 m ...a double double!
Trevor 7,000 m
Louiis 7,007 m ...a secret agent palindrome!
William H 7,088 m
Jamie 7,983 m
Andrea 7,996 m
Kellee 10,000 m
Sorin 10,000 m
Dan O 10,061 m
David A 11,059 m
Ian 11,581 m
K2 12,000 m
Danno 12,250 m
Norma 1..3...5...7...9 m ...the odds are in her favor!
John D 15,000 m
Zach 17,168 m ... hooyah!
Minnie 18,740 m
Ron 20,102 m ...a splendid palindrome!
Gary 21,105 m ...he moons us!
Keith F 21,131 m ... he moons us, too!
Ken 25,000 m ... he moons us!
Miles 28,102 m
Greg F 28,466 m
Ed 43,334 m ... he full moons us with a palindrome!

[Kona2]

12th overall...7th virtual

Welcome new teammate Jamie E!


Things that erging helps you continue to do!

Winter biking! Note the bar mitts and studded front tire! Our Bike Jeffco chairperson "rides the talk" even when it's a bit slushy on meeting days. I had never seen a studded bike tire until he showed up with his bike, but soon discovered there are many options out there. Wish I'd had those bar mitts when I commuted to university....

A week ago I noted that there were First Day Hikes in all 50 states at various state parks, and that for sure there would be one near you. As sometimes happens on these bunny trails, the trail continues long after the posting. The largest state park in Colorado has a somewhat redundant sounding name "State Forest State Park". It has many claims to fame, but the one that caught my attention was "largest moose population in Colorado." One of the sights that most visitors want to see is Colorado wildlife, and there is nothing bigger than the moose. In fact, some of the friends seeking moose sightings have come dangerously close to "objects in the mirror are closer than they appear." Given that there are approximately 2000 moose in Colorado, and 600 of them are in and around State Forest - the odds might just have improved in terms of sightings. This park is near Walden, CO...a place where other friends have whispered "nice people, but there's nothing there." But still. They have a moose visitor center and snowshoe trails. The mountains are calling....and may the moose be seen from a good distance. In truth, this may require visits in more than one season for some of the hikes. Take a look. It's been called Rocky Mountain National Park (it shares borders) without the crowds. https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/stateforest

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

Distance remaining to lunar landing: 32,025,522 m


6.4 MM Ed
2.8 MM Minnie
2.25 MM Miles
1.35 MM Danno
1.3 MM Norma
1.2 MM Doug
1.05 MM Dennis

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!


Kristine 2,199 m ...crosstraining?
Maria 2,714 m
Trevor 3,000 m
Jason 3,117 m
Laurie 3,375 m
Debbie 3,557 m
Gene B 4,033 m
Louis 4,770 m
Sorin 4,936 m
Kevin Mc 5,000 m
Rebecca 5,000 m
Chip 5,014 m
GMan 5,225 m ...a palindrome bookended with high fives!
Leon 5,332 m
Bernie 6,035 m
Josh 6,076 m
Steve W 6,128 m
David W 6,225 m
Andrea 6,445 m
Keith 6,452 m
Carol 6,588 m
Danno 7,000 m
Tombeur 7,720 m
David T 10,000 m
James S 10,000 m
John D 10,000 m
Tom R 10,000 m
Dan O' 10,436 m
m ...a one of a kind palindrome!
Howard 12,014 m
Derric 13,133 m
Karyn 16,318 m
Zach 17,527 m ... back in the erg saddle!
Minnie 18,020 m
Doug 18,639 m
Ron 18,981 m ...a palindrome!
Dennis 26,862 m ...a twofer, I think...mooning us!
Greg F 28,570 m
Ed m ...a palindrome - not likely to see frosty stuff in Qatar...?
Miles 38,854 m

[Insomniaklol]

Whoop, whoop and way to get ready to ride Switzerland's many bike routes!

Definitely will when the days get warmer! Thanks for the shoutout !

[just27]

Whoop, whoop and way to get ready to ride Switzerland's many bike routes!

Definitely will when the days get warmer! Thanks for the shoutout !

But, with studded bike snow tires, heated handlebar covers, a thermal base layer, and a flask of hot cocoa ... why wait for warmer days! The Epic Trail is calling your name.

[Kona2]

7th virtual or 12th overall...it's all good!

Two more canoes hit the virtual waters of the Moon River as Ron and Gary crossed the 100K milestone in the Virtual Teams Challenge!


..........................Ron.......................


.........................Gary.......................

And how's this Challenge working out for you?!
I'm going to have to spend a little more time to make my 15 hrs...uff da.

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

Distance remaining to lunar landing: 31,609,415 m

6.45 MM Ed
2.65 MM David A
2.05 MM Greg F
1.5 MM danwho
1.15 MM Howard
550 K Andrea

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

GMan 1,023 m
Liz 1,787 m
Sorin 2,000 m
Rich G 3,146 m
Larry 4,985 m
Rebecca 5,000 m
Steve W 5,000 m
Chuck E 5,190 m
Lisa 6,028 m
Josh 6,059 m
Anna C-S 6,201 m
Chip 6,765 m
Jim M 7,007 m ...a secret agent palindrome!
William H 7,066 m
Leon 7,215 m
Andrea 7,463 m
Danno 8,009 m
Kevin Mc 9,255 m
Dan O' 11,094 m
Tombeur 11,557 m
Howard 12,017 m
Norma 1..2..3..2...1 m ...a countem up and down palindrome!
Dennis 13,431 m ...a palindrome that generates an extra 10K every three days!
Karyn 14,855 m
K2 15,000 m
John D 16,737 m
Gary 17,786 m
Minnie 18,531 m
david w 19,098 m
Ron 20,202 m ...a palindrome!
Greg F 22,261 m
Salvador 22,500 m... he moons us!
danwho 25,252 m ...a palindrome with some high fives sprinkled in! And he's a cumulative mooner!
David A 30,933 m ... he moons us!
Ed m ...a threesie palindrome!

[TallErgs]

Hey all! It's good to be back, even if it is in a limited capacity. I had a fall over Thanksgiving, and I injured my left knee and my ribs on that side. I tried to row a bit during December but it was ... not good. I'm still a little slow, but I think I can safely do ~10 to 15k/day.

[Truthy]

Just noticed this team challenge and signed up. Hope I can make a few meters contribution myself too. Happy rowing!

[Truthy]

Hey all! It's good to be back, even if it is in a limited capacity. I had a fall over Thanksgiving, and I injured my left knee and my ribs on that side. I tried to row a bit during December but it was ... not good. I'm still a little slow, but I think I can safely do ~10 to 15k/day.

Welcome back. Hope you get better soon.

[Kona2]

12th overall, 7th virtual

Another canoeist!


..........................Tony W.......................

First paddler of the Challenge!


...........Ed..........

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

Distance remaining to lunar landing: 31,103,660 m

3.75 MM Ron
2.85 MM Minnie
1.75 MM Zach
1.75 MM Ian
900 K K2
550 K Rick
550 K Kevin zMc
350 K Karyn
50 K James S

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Debbie 1,060 m
Cornel 2,000 m
Steve W 2,391 m
Jason H 3,076 m
Gene 4,096 m
GMan 4,231 m
Kevin Mc 4,552 m
Tom M 5,000 m
Carol 5,006 m
Jim M 5,016 m
Karyn 5,190 m
bg 5,229 m
Gines 5,390 m
Anna C-S 6,127 m
Chip 6,765 m
Nancy 6,920 m
Sorin 7,000 m
Trevor 7,500 m
Danno 7,667 m ...a lucky 7 bookended palindrome!
Doug 7,965 m
David T 8,000 m
Josh 8,066 m
Andrea 8,280 m
Kym 9,077 m ...welcome back!
James 10,000 m
Rebecca 10,000 m
Rick 10,000 m
Dan O' 10,466 m
Louis m ...a onesie palindrome!
Leon 11,934 m
K2 12,000 m
Patrick S 12,035 m
Howard 12,045 m
Tombeur 12,058 m
Norma 14,141 m ....a palindrome!
David A 14,566 m
Ian 18,329 m
Minnie 18,420 m
Miles 19,717 m
Ron 20,402 m ...a palindrome!
Jamie 21,597 m ... he moons us!
Gary m ....a deuce of a palindrome! Mooner!
Truthy 23,385 m ... he moons us!
Zach 23,767 m ... he moons us!
Greg F 28,623 m
Ed m ...and it's the third single digit palindrome of the day!

[reelliott]

Signed up for this team challenge a few days ago ... happy rowing to all!

[DavidA]

Hey all! It's good to be back, even if it is in a limited capacity. I had a fall over Thanksgiving, and I injured my left knee and my ribs on that side. I tried to row a bit during December but it was ... not good. I'm still a little slow, but I think I can safely do ~10 to 15k/day.

Oy. I'm sorry. I am glad you doing better, and back to some rowing.

David

[Kona2]

I was more than halfway through the posting write up, and realized that in order to get to an appointment, I needed to just save a draft and finish later....and so it was.

13th overall and 7th virtual....

Welcome to new teammate Robert E! We wish you many good erging sessions and lots of camaraderie as we all journey to the moon!


The flotilla that morphs into our ArMOONda is growing with the addition of FIVE new canoes as Dennis, David A, John D, Miles and Norma have all found their canoes and wrestled them into the virtual waters of the Moon River. That means we have 9 canoes...but only one paddle. Yikes.


.......................Dennis.....................


......................David A.....................


.......................John D.....................


.......................Miles.....................


........................Norma.....................

And, so far in 2019 erging season, the team has hit some big milestones...! Today is no exception!

Million Team Meters !!

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

Distance remaining to lunar landing: 30,376,676 m

6.5 MM Ed
2.3 MM Miles
2.1 MM Greg F
1.85 MM Ken
1.15 MM Gary
1.05 MM Dan O'
300 K Leon
300 K Nancy
200 K John D
150 K Robert E

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Anna C-S 281 m
Tony 1,111 m ....a favorite palindrome! So good to see!
Maria 1,384 m
Jason H 1,834 m
Rich G 2,288 m ...a double double!
Liz 3,842 m
Larry 4,017 m
David T 4,500 m
Chuck E 4,810 m
Chip 5,000 m
Rebecca 5,000 m
Kym 5,061 m
Peter T 5,274 m
Gman 5,355 m
Steve W 5,503 m
Bernie 6,010 m
Patrick S 6,065 m
Gines 6,191 m
Karyn 6,223 m
Andrea 6,842 m
Sorin 6,957 m
Tombeur 7,032 m
Jamie E 7,019 m
Trevir 7,106 m
Nancy 7,170 m
Tom M 9,800 m
David W 10,000 m
bg 10,120 m ...ah, there she is!
Dan O' 10,172 m
Keith F 10,869 m
Leon 11,510 m
david w 11,829 m
Howard 12,036 m
Greg F 12,708 m
K2 13,000 m
Norma 13,531 m ...a different, but still odd, palindrome!
Chuck B 13,653 m
Keith J 14,548 m
David A 14,641 m
Minnie 18,327 m
Jonathan 18,831 m
Gary 21,097 m...Gary the mooner!
Ron 21,112 m ...he palindromes and moons!
Dennis 23,431 m...he palindromes and moons!
John D 25,000 m
Ken 31,002 m ...he moons us!
Ed m ... palindrome and moon!
Miles 40,778 m ...surely moon-worthy! Somewhere between crescent and half!

[DavidA]

David A 14,641 m

Also a palindrome

[Kona2]

David A 14,641 m

Also a palindrome

Ah yes - I missed it!

[Kona2]

13th overall and 7th virtual....

Hooyah! Bike erger Greg F has reached the 100K milestone, and found the canoe with his name on it. We've got TEN canoes in the virtual waters of the Moon River now! The ArMOONda is growing by canoe leaps and bounds. Good work, Lunies!


.......................Greg F.....................

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

Distance remaining to lunar landing: 30,006,611 m

6.55 MM Ed
3.8 MM Ron
2.7 MM David A
1.35 MM Norma
600 K Bernie
600 K bg
200 K Chuck E
100 K Anna C-S awesome!

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!


GMan 1,137 m
Liz 1,737 m
Maria M 2,197 m
Jim M 3,093 m
Gene 4,238 m
E Vos 4,785 m ...good to see !
Chuck E 5,000 m
Kevin Mc 5,000 m
Nancy 5,000 m
Robert E 5,000 m
Bernie 5,026 m
David T 6,000 m
Jason H 6,363 m ...a double double!
Gary 6,520 m
Andrea 6,809 m
Sorin 7,000 m
Josh 7,481 m
Tombeur 7,528 m
Keith J 8,000 m
Anna C-S 9,447 m
Rebecca 10,000 m
Rick 10,000 m
Norma 10,101 m ..a one aught one palindrome!
bg 10,211 m
Dan O' 10,472 m
Doug G 11,091 m
Patrick S 11,179 m
Ken 15,000 m
Minnie 18,072 m
David A 18,201 m
Ian 18,441 m
Ron 19,091 m ...a nineteener of a palindrome!
Zach 19,119 m
Louis 22,321 m ...and he moons us!
Greg F 26,072 m
Ed m ...he moons us with a palindrome!

Another episode...bunny trails of the mind...or hare we go again...

I take my comics seriously. My favorites are generally those that are the off-beat things that maybe not everyone "gets" - esoteric humor for sure. This is not to say that I don't appreciate the snort out loud ones that hit you in the face right away. But still. Comics help me see life in all its absurdity, and call it that. And they are educational on so many levels and topics. Yesterday was no exception.

A few weeks ago, much to my initial dismay, the local newspaper changed up the daily comics presented. Gone was Adam@Home and in its place was something called Macanudo by Liniers, an Argentinian cartoonist. I believe I wrote about this change up, sort of a "who moved my cheese" thing by the Denver Post. Now I'm ready to send in a comment to thank them for introducing Macanudo to me.

This was yesterday's Macanudo comic - which says "this is not a pipe." No, it's an image of a pipe.



What the heck?! So I started looking for "this is not a pipe," and what did I find: a painting entitled The Treachery of Images (or This is Not a Pipe, or The Wind and The Song) by Rene Magritte, a Belgian surrealist painter who apparently wanted to show that different art forms (other than words) can be surrealistic, too. Of course they can. The real thing is on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Naturally, naturally!, once I had the connection between the two ...I appreciated Macanudo much more than my first look at it.



And I finally looked up the meaning of Macanudo - it's an Argentine word, sort of an idiom, that means it's okay, everything's all right. Macanudo has been published since 2002 - and some say it is the best daily comic strip you've never read. It started out as a daily comic strip that appeared on the back page of Argentina's largest national newspaper La Nacion (it still is in La Nacion). 2002 in Argentina was not a good time - it was the end of some big tailspin kinds of economic downturns - the five presidents in five days kind of downturns and chaos. Liniers saw much opportunity for content in those times and in life in general, and there was something kind of reassuring to having a comic strip that called out the absurdity but said "it will be ok" at the end of a bunch of perhaps bad news in the paper. Cartoonist Liniers uses meta messaging - you have to read between the lines to get the hidden meaning or subtext. So if you thought comics were simple...