SpinDoctorTX
Recycles dryer sheets
Who, like me, is grateful that during the 70s & 80 there was no social media and few carried around cameras?
No one's talking.
We admit to nothing.
No one's talking.
We admit to nothing.
Most Daring/Crazy Thing You've Ever Done
- Thread starter Rianne
- Start date
Infiltration: the act of getting into places authorities would prefer ordinary people not go. Just to do it, explore, and get back out, all without damaging anything or being detected. The most daring would probably be an actively guarded military facility, and I don't mean via the front gate.
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RunningBum
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2007
- Messages
- 13,236
I felt prepared for it but my non-running friends would say the craziest thing is the two 100 mile races I ran.
Kroeran
Full time employment: Posting here.
No one told me to not cross flag ropes when skiiing on a glacier. Saw the narrowish crevaces, I somehow skiied over, the next day when the fresh snow had melted.
Can’t believe my dad let me hitchhike from Ontario to BC at age 16.
No one told me that there are bear in the BC wilderness trolling for groceries. Thank god I left the food outside the tent.
When I took a dishwashing job that was a canoe commute from the hostel, Whistler decades ago, no one told me there could be bear between me and the canoe at midnight when I was booted out the restaurant door, or that the wind could be almost too strong to paddle against.
Travelling by motorcycle to Aspen, needing to get out of the rain, didn’t know hostel would refuse entry after midnight. Searching for a campsite, ie anywhere, learned the importance of checking for train tracks nearby. Was woken up by approaching train.
No one told me about altitude sickness and the impact of going OVER the continental divide into Aspen. Felt like I was going to die. Nearly losing control one evening on that road, likely saved by skills from youthful dirt biking, gave up motorcycles permanently.
Always looking for a deal, I learned the hard way what a $15 hotel with bulletproof glass meant in Manhattan in the ‘70s. The cockroaches on the walls were ok, but after midnight the crazies came out of their rooms.
Who knew some subways are express that leave the island for the Bronx? Interesting those stops that you have to go up and cross the street, everything boarded up, no lights.
Later in life some high risk thrills learning how private subprime lending works, when things go bad.
Can’t believe my dad let me hitchhike from Ontario to BC at age 16.
No one told me that there are bear in the BC wilderness trolling for groceries. Thank god I left the food outside the tent.
When I took a dishwashing job that was a canoe commute from the hostel, Whistler decades ago, no one told me there could be bear between me and the canoe at midnight when I was booted out the restaurant door, or that the wind could be almost too strong to paddle against.
Travelling by motorcycle to Aspen, needing to get out of the rain, didn’t know hostel would refuse entry after midnight. Searching for a campsite, ie anywhere, learned the importance of checking for train tracks nearby. Was woken up by approaching train.
No one told me about altitude sickness and the impact of going OVER the continental divide into Aspen. Felt like I was going to die. Nearly losing control one evening on that road, likely saved by skills from youthful dirt biking, gave up motorcycles permanently.
Always looking for a deal, I learned the hard way what a $15 hotel with bulletproof glass meant in Manhattan in the ‘70s. The cockroaches on the walls were ok, but after midnight the crazies came out of their rooms.
Who knew some subways are express that leave the island for the Bronx? Interesting those stops that you have to go up and cross the street, everything boarded up, no lights.
Later in life some high risk thrills learning how private subprime lending works, when things go bad.
Diving into Movies
I quit a perfectly good job to work for a relatively new movie company. Turned out well because the movie was, "Star Wars".
The scariest part was, after 20yrs, I wrote a book about it. Tough to find an agent and harder still to find a publisher, but I did.
It's called, "Inside The Star Wars Empire: A Memoir".
I quit a perfectly good job to work for a relatively new movie company. Turned out well because the movie was, "Star Wars".
The scariest part was, after 20yrs, I wrote a book about it. Tough to find an agent and harder still to find a publisher, but I did.
It's called, "Inside The Star Wars Empire: A Memoir".
Oh yeah... fun times... no recordings of them. Drove across the country in driveaway cars a couple of times, in retrospect it was insane but I have good memories. Lots of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll... went to Woodstock but left, very wet, after a day. The 60s were crazy times!
Amy T
Dryer sheet wannabe
Lived in the remote jungle of Papua New Guinea for a year.
Joined the circus
Took the ferry from Spain to Morocco and drove through the mountains to Fez. Two 30 year old women. Neither of us speaking any language but English.
Moved to Ecuador never having visited before.
Running after purse snatcher down a dark ally in early morning hours in Brussels.
Looking forward to ER and many more adventures!
Joined the circus
Took the ferry from Spain to Morocco and drove through the mountains to Fez. Two 30 year old women. Neither of us speaking any language but English.
Moved to Ecuador never having visited before.
Running after purse snatcher down a dark ally in early morning hours in Brussels.
Looking forward to ER and many more adventures!
Nemo2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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- May 14, 2011
- Messages
- 8,368
Did you encounter the Kuka Kukas (sp)? Guy I worked with in Riyadh had spent some time there, (operated a crocodile skin plant, or somesuch, under CUSO*), and said that these guys, although small, intimidated the other tribes.
(* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuso_International )
Amy T
Dryer sheet wannabe
No. The people in my village were kind and peaceful. Very happy considering their lack of access to work, education, healthcare, food. Amazing what all you can eat and build from what you find in the jungle.
nafddur1
Recycles dryer sheets
I got to ride on the wall of death sitting on the gas tank of a motorcycle at an upstate NY county fair when I was 9.
Moemg
Gone but not forgotten
Winemaker
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
My buddy and I went to a Catholic high school about 5 miles from my house and we did not have access to a school bus, so we walked or hitchhiked. We were never late for class once. But we had several "perceived" close calls when we got in a car and found out they were perverts. One guy had porn taped and stapled to the inside roof to his car. Another guy drove past our dropoff point. We had several offers to drink booze, smoke dope, and have sex, group sex, and other oddities. YES! WE DECLINED ALL OFFERS.
A buddy and I hitchhiked at 4 in the morning after our ride abandoned us. It was in Laramie WY, we had closed the bars down, and our ride got ticked off because he was going to be matched up with the least attractive girl. The 2 girls that my buddy and I were with, told us that be no problem they would see us home. The problem was the least attractive girl had the car, and was furious with being rejected. So here we are, hitchhiking in the middle of February, it's snowing, 10 degrees, and 125 miles from our apartment. An extremely short, drunk kid picked us up. ( I laugh at calling him a kid as we were only 19 at the time.) He knew 2 speeds, fast and go like hell, but he would drive that 1972 Chevy Bel Air right up to the bumper of an 18 wheeler, and swerve around him at the last minute. After driving for 2 hours on interstate 80 for 2 hours, he sobered up, and realized he was not going in the direction he wanted to go. He veered off on the exit just before ours, pulled on the berm and ordered us out. We threw him a twenty, jumped out and ran. He got stuck in the snow bank, so we came back and pushed him out, then walked home from there. Got home about 11AM, but alive. Last time I ever hitchhiked.
A buddy and I hitchhiked at 4 in the morning after our ride abandoned us. It was in Laramie WY, we had closed the bars down, and our ride got ticked off because he was going to be matched up with the least attractive girl. The 2 girls that my buddy and I were with, told us that be no problem they would see us home. The problem was the least attractive girl had the car, and was furious with being rejected. So here we are, hitchhiking in the middle of February, it's snowing, 10 degrees, and 125 miles from our apartment. An extremely short, drunk kid picked us up. ( I laugh at calling him a kid as we were only 19 at the time.) He knew 2 speeds, fast and go like hell, but he would drive that 1972 Chevy Bel Air right up to the bumper of an 18 wheeler, and swerve around him at the last minute. After driving for 2 hours on interstate 80 for 2 hours, he sobered up, and realized he was not going in the direction he wanted to go. He veered off on the exit just before ours, pulled on the berm and ordered us out. We threw him a twenty, jumped out and ran. He got stuck in the snow bank, so we came back and pushed him out, then walked home from there. Got home about 11AM, but alive. Last time I ever hitchhiked.
Jim in PA
Dryer sheet aficionado
Infantry or camping out
In early 1971 after completing my third year of college, I enlisted for two years in the army. I had no academic issues and since it was a State school, no financial issues, either. I worked full time and paid for ALL of my education. At least some of it was looking for the adventure.
I was a bright young college kid and I was sure that the army would have a better job for me than carrying a rifle. Wrong! They had all sorts of schools and jobs that I was qualified for - if only I would add a year to my enlistment. But I wasn’t going to do that, so after 8 weeks of Basic Training and 9 weeks of additional infantry training, I was in the jungles of Vietnam.
For my entire tour, I had guardian angels working double shifts. While many in my squad were wounded, I didn’t get a scratch. Once we were briefed on an upcoming BAD mission, and I came down with malaria the night before and missed it altogether. On another occasion, we were extended on a mission twice and missed a devastating attack on our Firebase. My bunker was destroyed and I am SURE that I would have been killed if we were there that night. I still have survivor guilt over that incident as 30 were killed and over 70 were wounded.
But I did survive and after my military stint, I returned and finished college. Now here I am retired.
In early 1971 after completing my third year of college, I enlisted for two years in the army. I had no academic issues and since it was a State school, no financial issues, either. I worked full time and paid for ALL of my education. At least some of it was looking for the adventure.
I was a bright young college kid and I was sure that the army would have a better job for me than carrying a rifle. Wrong! They had all sorts of schools and jobs that I was qualified for - if only I would add a year to my enlistment. But I wasn’t going to do that, so after 8 weeks of Basic Training and 9 weeks of additional infantry training, I was in the jungles of Vietnam.
For my entire tour, I had guardian angels working double shifts. While many in my squad were wounded, I didn’t get a scratch. Once we were briefed on an upcoming BAD mission, and I came down with malaria the night before and missed it altogether. On another occasion, we were extended on a mission twice and missed a devastating attack on our Firebase. My bunker was destroyed and I am SURE that I would have been killed if we were there that night. I still have survivor guilt over that incident as 30 were killed and over 70 were wounded.
But I did survive and after my military stint, I returned and finished college. Now here I am retired.
lucky penny
Full time employment: Posting here.
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- Jan 23, 2010
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- 734
I jumped out of an airplane in my 50's. I did it impulsively at a sports camp for older folks & it was so thrilling & really cool. I like to think I'm adventurous, though in many ways I'm not, so I just did it.
I have a great video to prove it (a Tom Petty soundtrack - "Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'," "Learning to Fly"). I look amazingly calm & very happy.
I have a great video to prove it (a Tom Petty soundtrack - "Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'," "Learning to Fly"). I look amazingly calm & very happy.
Ready-4-ER-at-14
Full time employment: Posting here.
Craziest thing was coming back from Colorado in a new rental van that had like 50 miles on it when I got it.
We went from bad rain to hail and I saw a funnel cloud on the ground heading directly towards the interstate we were on.
It required an immediate decision and I said I can beat it and got it up to about 100mph before passing the intersect point. There was an overpass slightly past that point but too close to stop.
Every panel of the van was pounded by hail.
The only saving thing was the new van I got had been punned by hail the day before I got it and all panels were documented as multiple dents.
We went from bad rain to hail and I saw a funnel cloud on the ground heading directly towards the interstate we were on.
It required an immediate decision and I said I can beat it and got it up to about 100mph before passing the intersect point. There was an overpass slightly past that point but too close to stop.
Every panel of the van was pounded by hail.
The only saving thing was the new van I got had been punned by hail the day before I got it and all panels were documented as multiple dents.
Most daring thing I did was with DW. I was in grad school, couldn't afford to stay there, couldn't find a job, had loads of student debt, the US was in a major recession, DW couldn't get her visa renewed. So we got married. 
29 years ago yesterday (2 August, 1990) I enlisted in the USMC.
2 years later my buddy and I dove (SCUBA) from the surface straight down to 155 feet (Okinawa Japan). He got disorientated and went straight back up. I surfaced 30 minutes later after assending safely thinking I would find him dead or with the bends. He was fine. Doc said he wasn't down long enough for the nitrogen to accumulate in his bloodstream.
I got marrid in 1993.
20 years ago this month I was commissioned in the USMC.
11 years ago this month I found myself alone outside of the green zone in Baghdad. I did have an unarmed interpreter with me and an Iraqi general. Turned out ok. Made sure that never happed again.
In 1985 I took my step fathers Ford LTD full throttle down a straight country highway. I remember 130 or so before I took my foot off the gas. Got my first speeding ticket in that same car trying to get back to see my GF. The cop wrote 110 on the citation.
While supporting ops in Somalia in 1993 we were at a bar in Mobasa, Kenya. Some guys (plain cloths cops) grabbed a buddy. 5 of us pummeled them and we all got away. The consulate called our CO the next day. Nothing happened.
Many more. That's enough for now.
2 years later my buddy and I dove (SCUBA) from the surface straight down to 155 feet (Okinawa Japan). He got disorientated and went straight back up. I surfaced 30 minutes later after assending safely thinking I would find him dead or with the bends. He was fine. Doc said he wasn't down long enough for the nitrogen to accumulate in his bloodstream.
I got marrid in 1993.
20 years ago this month I was commissioned in the USMC.
11 years ago this month I found myself alone outside of the green zone in Baghdad. I did have an unarmed interpreter with me and an Iraqi general. Turned out ok. Made sure that never happed again.
In 1985 I took my step fathers Ford LTD full throttle down a straight country highway. I remember 130 or so before I took my foot off the gas. Got my first speeding ticket in that same car trying to get back to see my GF. The cop wrote 110 on the citation.
While supporting ops in Somalia in 1993 we were at a bar in Mobasa, Kenya. Some guys (plain cloths cops) grabbed a buddy. 5 of us pummeled them and we all got away. The consulate called our CO the next day. Nothing happened.
Many more. That's enough for now.
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MRG
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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- Messages
- 11,078
I lived in Memphis for 3.5 months.
Drove home through a tornado warning to rescue DW. Living in Memphis was worse.
Worked in a logyard in KCKS for 4 years. Almost killed twice, living in Memphis was worse.
Had 8 guys trap us in a wilderness area, they wanted to rape DW(we weren't married yet) and kill me. They couldn't shut my vehicle off as it had been in a wreck, when they sent a car off for a sledgehammer and axes I took off without headlights in the dark of night. I managed to get around them and eventually came to a farmhouse where we called the state police. Living in Memphis was worse
Drove home through a tornado warning to rescue DW. Living in Memphis was worse.
Worked in a logyard in KCKS for 4 years. Almost killed twice, living in Memphis was worse.
Had 8 guys trap us in a wilderness area, they wanted to rape DW(we weren't married yet) and kill me. They couldn't shut my vehicle off as it had been in a wreck, when they sent a car off for a sledgehammer and axes I took off without headlights in the dark of night. I managed to get around them and eventually came to a farmhouse where we called the state police. Living in Memphis was worse
frayne
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Lets see, 1970, Airborne and Ranger School and then an all expense paid vacation to the republic of Viet Nam and playing grunt in the 1st Cav. Or scuba diving down 185' in the Bahamas, working thirty two years in a chemical plant, retiring at 54, riding a motorcycle 600 miles in a day, doing well into the triple digits on my FJR scooter (was about 65 years young at the time and still didn't have any sense) or telling the wife of 40+ years, no. That's it, telling the wife no.
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lucky penny
Full time employment: Posting here.
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- Jan 23, 2010
- Messages
- 734
I love reading this thread. We certainly have run the gamut of daring/crazy.
And have been very lucky.
Life is good.
And have been very lucky.
Life is good.
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