……HI FOLKS!!!!! PATRICK HERE!!!!

Sorry it’s been so long since you’ve heard from me, between battling a cold, keeping Dadzilla (said lovingly) healthy and well, and work, it’s been…hectic. To say the least. %-P

I have indeed begun work on the Polar Plunge 2009 costumes: this year’s theme is from Jerry Samuels’ (aka Napoleon XIV) hit “they’re coming to take me away ha-haa!!!” (Here’s the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They’re_Coming_to_Take_Me_Away_Ha-Haaa!

 
I have again made simple costumes: bright orange hospital gowns with the words HAPPY ACRES FUNNY FARM stenciled on, and accessorized with props…a napoleon hat, a colander hat with a towel cape, a butterfly net and a tutu. I claim the tutu, Bob and Dave can fight over the Napoleon hat and the colander helmet. As for production costs, you can buy me breakfast or lunch since I’ll be staying at a hotel for Friday and Saturday night this year. (So I can thaw out!!!)

As for codenames: I’ll take Prince(ss) Screwball (aka George Washington). (When you see my hat, you’ll know why!!)

*****So Bob sez, he sez: A day later, we’ll be holding our annual Intergalactic Food Festival. We considered trying to hold the festival following the plunge but we felt it just was a bit much to pack into one day.

**********Yeah, not to mention it’ll be C R O W D E D as anyone who’se been there on that day can attest. %-) it’ll be good to have a nice weekend down the shore with my crazy pals!!!!

Let’s hope it’s not like Rura Penthe outside like the last couple weeks….BRUTAL cold. This beaing my 5th sraight year of this madness, I should be committed!!!!!

See you in the funny pages! My prayers and best wishes to Kenny!!!!!! Patrick (on behalf of DaiMon Pong @^_^@)

Well, fear not I'll keep it short and will simply extend a very Happy Hanukkah to those of you who observe that holiday and a Merry Christmas to you that observe that holiday.

It has been quite a year for all of us. We've had good times and bad and I'm hoping that 2009 is a better year filled with more good times and that when we look back to 2008 we can remember some of the good times that marked it.

I know for Challenger we had quite a few including our 20th anniversary parties, Farpoint, Shore Leave, I Con, the various Monstermania cons and comic book shows I attended, functions held by other chapters, our times out having lunch after meetings and shooting the breeze or breakfasts before a meeting. There will be plenty of that in the new year.

We always enjoy the holidays be they Halloween, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day and especially the 4th of July weekend and New Year's Eve/Day.

I'll be away along with Counselor Emily from Dec. 24 to Dec. 28 so I want to extend a happy healthy holiday to each of you and to say that I'm glad that you are a part of my time in fandom and in my life in general.

I always get a bit reflective and sentimental this time of season and this year is no exception. Sure this year has been grueling for many of us but we've survived it (or at least we will within the next week). It has been a year of change and I think 2009 will bring us even more change.

Take care and see you in the new year!

Adm. Bob Vosseller
CO USS Challenger NCC-1676-D

Cookies, cookies and more cookies! Some were shaped like classic Star Trek T-Shirts in red, blue and gold. Some had butterscotch icing, others resembled sushi. Some had nuts in them and then there were the soft scones. We also had our share of holiday themed cookies.

It was all part of the fun of the USS Challenger’s annual Cookie Swap/Holiday Party held on Dec. 7. The event drew 20 members of SFI Region 7. Along with members of the USS Challenger crew, we had guests from the USS Avenger, USS Odin chapter in training, USS Sovereign and the USS Top Gun.

Our headquarters of the Seaside Heights Community Hall in Seaside Heights N.J. was decorated with snowflakes hanging, a blinking Christmas tree and red table cloths for the occasion. Beside the tree was a green and red tote, filled with donations of toys for the Seaside Heights Police Department’s annual Toys 4 Tots drive.

It was bitter cold outside but there was plenty of warmth inside. We skipped the CD and tapes of holiday music this year, and focused on all the cookies that were being added to the tables as people arrived on an almost half-hourly basis.

The arrival of Top Gun member Joe Horton also brought a Star Trek flair to the event, with cookies sporting the arrow head emblem, the aforementioned classic T-Shirts and numerous other cookies. But it was the gingerbread Shuttlecraft Galileo that he and Janek made that was the most incredible of all.

Everyone brought something interesting and delicious. We didn’t really keep track of who brought as we too busy adding it our plate. The tables were arranged in a type of cube so we all had multiple conversations going ranging from the latest Starfleet news, to movies we just saw, to Sci-Fi Channel films were saw and regretted to Sci-Fi Channel films were to afraid to see. Not to mention the worst British accents ever attempted and Amanda Tapping now of Sanctuary fame was among the list.

Challenger’s own Communications Chief, Commodore Laura Victor, originated the cookie swap event several years ago. A traditional event, we took what we liked from it and adapted it to our own needs.

That meant adding a regular lunch element after the first year (when we all dipped into a sugar coma after the first hour). Pizza worked out fine for all of us, and while nine large pies seemed appropriate, we actually had some left over. Probably because we all ate way too many cookies.

After several hours, reluctantly we said our goodbyes after hours of fun and headed out into the dark cold world, commuting back to our respective homes. It was cold and blustery that Sunday afternoon. I know because for about 45 minutes I had to duck out from the party to cover a work assignment at a town Christmas parade. The cold air did take my breath away, and I was very happy to return to the party and that wonderful hot chocolate Laura made.

One of our last conversations concerned the upcoming Star Trek movie, and our still mixed feelings about just how good it will/won’t be. We concluded that 2008 will have its mark in history — both real and in STARFLEET — and that our hopes were high that 2009 will bring good times and more fun for us all!