Amazing and Not So Much Stuff

Amazing and Not So Much Stuff was Originally Posted on February 21, 2013 by lavarock

Sometimes I’m amazed at myself. I could not stand learning Spanish in college, yet I gravitated towards Hawaiian.

I decided to start prospecting for gold and at an old age started camping out so I could be near my gold finds.

Although I had a small garden a few times as a kid, I never thought of running or owning a farm.

Although I wanted to move to Hawaii, I never honestly considered it until later in life.

For a “team-building” exercise, I once flew a T-34 trainer plane. My “co-pilot” said he had to keep checking to see if the auto-pilot was still on because the plane flew as smoothly as a train down the track. Having no actual experience or training, it was fun, but I was scared almost to death. I *knew* if I jiggled the stick, we could be flying upside down!

I also never thought I would work for the same company for 18 years. What is more amazing, is that they LET ME work there 18 years!

Along with a couple friends, we actually wrote a fairly useful operating system.

In high school I once rand a respectable 660 sprint and climbed to the top of a rope in gym class. I never thought I was a very good athlete and never tried out for any sports. I regret that now. Then again, I never broke a bone or had a sprain until I started farming).

I used to be afraid of heights until I realized something. I was not really afraid of the height, rather I was afraid of falling from that height. As long as I didn’t hall, what is there to be afraid of?

I didn’t used to be afraid of the water, an used to swim in the Atlantic ocean. I also earned an advanced swimmer certificate. However a single panic attack I had, cured me of ever wanting to go swimming again. Almost drowning can do that to you. I know the saying about getting back on the horse, but then we both would drown.

Until I tried, I never knew I could wiggle my ears. Granted, I am not an expert but can still make them move enough to count.

At my high school, everyone was issued a gun. believe it or not. I qualified as Pro Marksman, yet have not yet owned a gun. That might change!

I once got frequent flier miles for getting a colonoscopy.

I have a photo of myself with Teddy Kennedy and George McGovern. I keep them hidden, what with me being a Republican and all.

I am a pretty quiet and careful guy, yet once in Georga I was in line with a friend. A guy comes running through the crown headed for the exit. Someone yelled “Stop Him!” and I jumped over a velvet rope and chased the guy into the parking lot. As he slowed down and started to turn to face me, I realized there is a very thin line between being a hero and a complete idiot and I had just crossed that line!

At a large convention the unbelievable happened. Our newsletter, one that 2 of us put together, won the Vest Newsletter award and I had to quickly compose a thank you speech in about 30 seconds. I had been a disk jockey but that usually involves talking in front of a couple of live people, not thousands of your peers.

I hate mimes, but that is NOT amazing. Most people I know do too!