As a member of the Army Air Calvary ---- After being "delivered" by helicopter --- established and commanded perimeter defenses on hills in Vietnam that didn’t even have names. They were only identified by a number. Survived a crash landing in a helicopter brought down by enemy fire. Participated in numerous firefights. (For those who don't know a firefight is a battle or an exchange of small arms fire with the enemy. Witnessed the aftermath of killing zones. (A killing zone is an area where most people are either killed or wounded) I hope none of you ever have to experience the above.... The nightmares never go away..... Major
My father was a green beret in Vietnam. My family said he never talked about his time there and I can only imagine why. There was a picture of him taken that was in Life magazine. It was him pulling a man through a rice paddie (sp?)
Back in Middle School, I climbed a 20-something foot phone pole at a "ropes course" and stood on the top which was only about 7 inches in diameter. We were strapped and told that the way to get down would be to catch a rope swinging about 5-6' feet away. I missed but gently came down since we were safely hooked up! Several other people missed but I was very proud of myself to start climbing even though I was very nervous doing it! I was proud of myself to make it to the top.
I've held baby raccoons and fed them bottles! (This was at an animal rescue place I volunteered at for a day with my friend who was a regular) Pretty neat place! A bald eagle flew over my head while I was cleaning his inclosure there too.
We had to wake up my sleeping dad with a broom handle and I can't count the nights I woke up to him roaming the house unable to sleep. Big salute Major
Taught a grad class for 3 semesters Moved 12 times in 17 years Been at a party with Shaq, Diddy, Omar Minaya, Dwayne Wade, Constantine from American Idol (I teach some kids who have interesting lives) Marched in the NYC St Patrick's Day parade Been backstage at 'Wicked' on Broadway (see interesting lives, above)
Been interviewed by Eyewitness News. (1986, the Mets were due to clinch the NLE Pennant, so my friend and I drove to Philly and stayed the entire weekend-- they lost all 3 games. But John Johnson interviewed Mets fans, and I was one of the few women there )
I have... *climbed to the top of a Mayan pyramid *eaten two-and-a-half large Papa John's pepperoni pizzas in 5 minutes *looked at the coast of Cuba from a boat still in international waters, and wondered whether or not someone on the island was looking at my boat as it cruised past. *stood on the steps of the Art Institute of Chicago with thousands of other people, watching the sky darken substantially during a 95% annular eclipse of the sun. Imagine looking at the world through dark sunglasses...while not wearing sunglasses. MathManTim
-I have found a mouse in the midst of labor as I was walking a weekly paper to my front door -I have cut and wrapped tens of thousands watermelon quarters -I learned how to say the alphabet backwards in less than ten seconds in fourth grade after hearing someone on Jeopardy do it -I have used a pulley-block to lift furniture into the loft of a barn -I have driven a Model-A Ford Sedan
College pizza-eating contest during Homecoming week. I took 2nd place. The winner, who ate 3 whole pizzas in that time, was about 6'7" and was starting left tackle on the football team. I actually didn't get sick! And I won about 50 free pizzas for my dorm buddies. MathManTim
I almost got sick just thinking about it...although my sons always did love PJ's dipping sauce...alas, no PJ's around these parts...
I have shot-and cleaned-my own shotgun! (I hunt) I have met U2 (that is for you Sarge!) I have 7 tattoos (kind of addicted to them, and our BF is a tattoo artist) I an an expert Harley passenger! I have flown from Germany back to Ohio with a newborn anda Boxer in tow!
I would not even consider an eyebrow ring now, but I wanted one badly in high school...completely inspired by Elka on The Real World: Boston.
Okay thought of a few more to add *hair model for Paul Mitchell during Long Beach hair show *I went to 10 different schools K-12 - military *eloped to Vegas and still married 24 years later *45 and have never dyed, highlighted or changed the color of my hair everyone at the salon today thought this was pretty amazing to my surprize
Oh yeah! I have my natural hair color too and my last hairstylist said not too many people have virgin hair still.
Ooh, one more... Got to play with baby sea turtles a friend's dad had rescued (he was a marine biologist on beach patrol & found some idiot teenagers digging up the nests)... then got to go help release them! So exciting!
Here's a few about me: *won $20 as a bet for jumping over a bill holding my toes. (go ahead try it-I've never seen anyone else do it! :lol *slept in a tent for over a month in the Bahamas *paved a dirt road by hand in the Bahamas *robbed at gunpoint. Sent a minor to prison. *been in the delivery room for 6 different births *first classroom caught on fire
I have climbed the Great Wall of China to the top. Also, in my six years of bartending/serving at an outdoor concert venue, I have been involved in many odd things. I met Gwen Stefani in the outdoor bathroom, been interviewed for a Motley Crue documentary, and ate pizza with Rob Thomas on his tourbus, not to mention many other weird things.
Fished for paranha in the Amazon River. Hiked halfway up Mt. Ranier through snow while six months pregnant. Sailed on the Queen Elizabeth to Europe when I was eight years old. Spent the summer at a farm in Germany where no one but a friend spoke any English when I was a child. (My mom and my friend's aunt went touring while they left us with the aunt's parents.) Drove from Mexico City to San Jose, Costa Rica, sometimes on back roads, with my father, a good friend, and a cousin. My father kept a machete beside him in the car. Ate a fried grasshopper. Drove down the median in a VW bug with husband blowing horn and flashing lights just before a Washington Huskies football game with fans all over the streets. I was in premature labor and about to give birth. The premie neonatal center was at the University Hospital. Got a police motorcycle escort after my husband yelled, "She's in labor!" and all the fans started cheering us on. (Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have gone hiking????)
That reminds me! Two years ago, all seven of the girls in my class grew their hair long and donated it at the end of the year! They were a special group of girls.
Went to school w/ actor Richard Thomas' kids. He was best known for being on the Waltons. Also went to school w/ the Agaganians, a lg grp of siblings whose parents owned a racetrack.
I had both kidneys shut down completely due to a amphicillin allergy, and I was able to make an almost full recovery. Other than that, I'm pretty ordinary.
I cannot thank you enough for your service and your sacrifice. My dad was in the Big Red One as point man for 2 tours. We have finally in the past 4 years or so been able to maintain a healthy relationship. Coincidentally, he was finally diagnosed with PTSD about 4 years ago.
I went to a german speaking school from 1st to 4th grade where nobody spoke english to me. In 1976, my stepdad and I smuggled money into East Berlin to the parents of a friend of our who had jumped over the wall years before. I went swimming and fishing in the english channel. I lived in Hawaii for 3 years and worked for the YMCA for all three. I used to live in DC and dated a marine at Quantico who was the mechanic on the president's helicopter. So I got white house m&m's and matchbooks and christmas cards etc.... I survived a flood in SOuth Dakota, earthquake in Germany, hurricane in Hawaii, flood in Houston from tropical storm Allison and Hurricane Ike 7 years later which left me without power for 16 days. Almost died from pre-clampsia / HELLP syndrome, my baby girl did die.
Moved across the country and did not know a soul in a 500 mile radius. I run into famous NASCAR drivers occasionally since I do not live far from them. I also deal with crew members since I work at a Charlotte area Dodge dealership and we get all the race team business. (I'll never forget the day my caller ID came up 'Elliott Sadler'. I could barely speak when I answered!!) On a related note, I have seen my favorite driver win 5 times in person- he has won 10 in his career, so I have been there for half of them. At one point, it was 5 of 8. I have been to a no-hitter MLB game (yay Justin Verlander and the Tigers!) Had a tonsilectomy and had them grow back Read an entire Nora Robert's trilogy in a single day. Ridden a bicycle built for two- (and actually a 6 person one- both at Mackinac Island). Had a severe allergic reaction to a brand of deodorant. That is actually quite torturous! My life is boring :lol:
* Saved a man's life by pulling him out of a burning car singed all the hair on my arms and a little on my head it turned out he lived only 2 blocks from me. * Performed the Heimlich maneuver on my stepdaughter in a Wendy's. * Had to give the ok to turn off the machines so my mother could pass on * Have been in the pit for 3 Nationwide races * Have been in 40 states
Played (with my college band) for a sitting president and had him sing along. Learned how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in 2nd grade--it counted for all 5 of my challenge words that week!
I agree with gossamer -- thank you Major for your service. I understand where you are coming from. I have PTSD (albeit from much more personal traumas than exposure to battle). The nightmares are the same. My sympathies.
Completely shaved my own head and facial hair once Never had a Snicker's bar until a few months ago Never had "parents" for longer than a year Never learned how to read and write print (except for my signature)
*Traveled through parts of Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos) on my own, including riding a public bus in Laos with chickens! *Won a pickle eating contest in college (56 pickle spears in 5 minutes...I weighed about 110 lbs then)
