With the start of the ACE starting in only 5 days, things for preparation was moving into the finals. There were also some new ideas for some parts that were originally part of the IAC or similar events. Also, thanks to Diego, the newest addition to the ACE was the ACE Winter Games.
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The massive lake from the IAC Triathlon was repurposed for several winter events that involved large plots of ice. While speed skating, hockey, and figure skating were familiar to some people, whether actually doing it or seeing it on TV, many uplifted Animalians weren't familiar with it at all. Fortunately, there was several Winter Olympic Athletes who were more than willing to perform their sports for both fun and for the Animalians' benefits. However, Sylvia Rattlerton, wanting nothing to do with it, had gotten a "winter migration ticket" to Mieni Atoll, mainly because she didn't want to face her parents and/or explain her choices to them.
"Now remember," said Mike, explaining some things to Mary and his new clan, "We can't do the ice rink sports until the ice is at least four inches thick."
"Why?" asked Mary, not knowing about that.
"Because we have a saying in Boy Scouts: One Inch, Keep Off; Two Inches, One May; Three Inches, Small Groups; Four inches, OK."
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With the snow at the right consistency at the time, it was deemed a good idea to begin constructing the trenches for the Great Snow War. There were also plastic cutouts where the heavy snow artillery or snowball machine guns would be placed, even if some of the NIT student couldn't agree on where to place certain things.
The Boy Scouts also managed to show off how to actually build igloos, not just slap large 'boulders' into a rough dome shape. They also helped out with the building of the trenches by both demonstrating the process of 'quarrying' the snow blocks to make the igloos, and turning the quarries into the trenches. Those snow blocks that couldn't be used for igloos, either because of error, or that the igloo-bunkers were completed, were given to the snow sculptor contest for shaping.
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One surprising thing that happened around this time was a visit from a representative for Absolut Vodka. They wanted to shoot the start of the Great Snow War, as well as a few scenes from the War proper, to use as advertising for their Vodka. Rick was able to help Clara understand their "In an Absolut world..." commercials.
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With 5 days to go, they were getting ready to celebrate Christmas in a way that was to be fun and educational.