Edited to add photo's of our actual jump...as promised.

Good news, we're still alive. Even better, our 2-man team was able to raise $750 to add to the more than $300,000 raised by White Bear Lake plunge participants!

Pictures and whatnot after the jump.

1,600 people took to the water at White Bear this year and together, we outperformed last year in excess of $40,000. In addition, plungers for events throughout the state have already raised $1,035,641 in contributions in 2013!

I would probably do this anyway, but raising funds for a good cause makes explaining why a whole lot easier.

Those who went before us.

edit: The look on my face says it all

Here's how it goes for me:

That first instant, it feels bracingly, shockingly refreshing...you just scream and yell. However, that feeling doesn't last long.

You're very quickly surprised by how damn cold it is that all you can think to do is get to the edge (unless you're me and you stop mid-stride to take a picture).

Once you get out, if the air is as cold as it was that day, your skin burns and you just want to, a) get back in the water or, b) get quickly to the hot tubs. I opted for the latter though unfortunately, they were 75-100 yards away.

In all, I probably spent less than 15 seconds in the water. If I had a hot tub or sauna close by, I'd probably be back and forth between it and the water a half-dozen times!

Thanks again for your generous contributions. If you want to participate in a plunge yourself, there are still a dozen more opportunities to do so this year. Check here for locations: http://www.plungemn.org/locations

Once I receive them, I'll be following up with pictures of our actual jump - in addition to the before & after photos attached to this message. Our "support staff" was a little thin (i.e., not in attendance) so I had to order some from the event photographers.