“Oh, figures!' answered Ned. 'You can make figures do whatever you want.” ― Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

For instance, I can make them the subject of a blog post. 

1,646

I love this. We sold tickets for a cash prize
drawing at this rate: 1 for $1; 7 for $5;
or an inseam measurement's worth for $15
(advantageous for the tall people with lengthy inseams!)
This was a suggestion from the guy who
cut my hair a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic!

Last Friday, we pulled off an amazing feat: we held our trivia night despite horrendous weather/roads and our trivia master guy being stuck in Austin, Minnesota. It was a fun, high energy night. We raised $1,646 for the MS Society in a matter of three hours. I think that is a job well done! 


2:  Two teams guessed that the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which is near Vancouver, separates Tierra del Fuego from mainland Argentina. If that were the case, it would probably be called the Juan de Fuca Ocean. (The answer was the Strait of Magellan.)

1:  First American in Space? Cookies the Space Chimp??!?!? Uhm.... No.


9:  Nine teams guessed that a dromophobiac is afraid of camels and/or humps. Three teams used their pre-paid free answers on this question. We only had twelve teams, which means that no one got this right: crossing the street.

3:  The three funniest answers in my mind: 

What sitcom character often advised: “Stifle yourself”? Horshack (instead of Archie Bunker)

What must be held by anyone wishing to speak during meetings in Lord of the Flies? One team guessed a B.F. Stick, another similarly guessed a pig head on a stick. I think these teams were seated next to each other, ahem.

What was the first name of Mr. Guinness who gave his name to the drink? The answer was Arthur. Good guesses included Seamus, Paddy, and even Jimmy. Best guess? Miguel. 

1849:  One team got the final question right. In what year did Minnesota become a territory? Congratulations, Team One!!!

100

We start the ride in 100 days. Meanwhile, we have many feet of snow on the ground, subzero temps, scary ice on every road, and are all in a deep depression. 

This weekend, I'm finally going to put together our training ride calendar and map out a few routes I've been dreaming up over the winter. (That trivia stuff has kept me quite occupied.) It will be interesting to see when we'll be able to start riding outdoors. The first year I did the MS ride and bought my road bike, I rode it on March 15. I think this will be impossible this year. We need to start riding on about April 1, though, to train for the June ride. Hmm.... 

31

I have already reached 31% of my fundraising goal of $4,000! This is great progress, and I hope to be able to keep it up! Thank you to those who have already donated. Please feel free to share my information with anyone who might be interested in supporting me as I raise money for the MS Society.

Meanwhile, check out this picture from the paper. Look in the red circle. That's me! It was pretty cool to be so close, and to be in the restored Union Depot to hear about transit proposals. Thanks, Joan, for helping me get this good seat!

Stay warm, stay sane.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMS150