Most interesting thing you've ever done in your WHOLE life?

[Clintonista2]

I once swam with the dolphins in the Domincan Republic. You could swim right up to them, and they would let you hold on to their fins and swim you around and stuff.

[Roon]

1. Drove an 18-wheeler over the road

I have been in all 48 states and Canada. It's kind of cool being online and hearing a new friend telling you where they are from. I can picture it because I have been there!

[zanne]

4. I lived in a cabin in the woods for two years...

No electricity or running water. Located in an animal sanctuary. I used to go blueberry picking with the black bears. I'd wake up every morning, looking forward to every minute of the day. I was also in love. That's about as good as it gets, folks.

[AlecBGreen]

8. sounds great!

im sure it was tough at times but all the good things are!

[Crazy Dave]

22. That does sound great

I'm studying and considering many different ways for me and the wife to live "off the grid". Not talking about some big 5,000 sq. ft. house either. Something small but with some privacy for when you gotta take a dump.

[CGowen]

2. I only swam with an embarrassingly small swarm of calamari in the Mediterranean n/t

[Critters2]

3. Preaching in Zimbabwe. nt

[Brigid]

14. Really?

Tell us about it. Seriously. :)

[Critters2]

15. I visited a friend who was working

for the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe, serving as chaplain at a secondary school run by the church. The UCCZ is our sister church there. When the local pastor learned that I was there, and that I was a pastor, he asked me to preach at two of the 5 churches in his charge. So, I did.

Both services were outdoors, in shelters like park shelters here. The first service was supposed to begin at 10 am. So, I was already to go at 9:30. We still hadn't started at 10:30, because they start when a good-sized crowd has gathered. The starting time is kind of a loose target, as it turns out (I could live like this!!). The service started with a lot of singing, line singing, basically. A leader would sing a line, and then the congregation would repeat it. They sing in the most beautiful harmony!!
I had given the pastor my scripture text ahead of time, and a church member read it in Ndau, the local language. Then I began to preach in English, and a church member translated line by line, which took a few minutes to get used to. I expected them to be expressive and vocally responsive during the sermon, but they weren't. They sat very quietly and just listened. I preached the healing of the bent over woman from Luke, and talked about how the Gospel helps us to stand up under the challenges of life, to have the courage to stand up when the world would keep us down. I'd preach it differently today, because of some newer insights I have (again, Girard), but it was well-received. Much more singing after the sermon--I was beginning to think we'd be there all day. Then a huge lunch of sadza and fresh fruits and veggies and beef, and this wonderful orange drink they have in Zimbabwe, of which I actually brought two jugs home at the end of my trip.


At the second site, things were pretty much the same, except that I was one of those who were quite late, because the first service and lunch had gone long. But they didn't mind at all. Again, beautiful singing. I was more much at ease, and worked into a real rhythm with the translator. The moderator of that congregation asked, after the service, if I would consider staying in Zimbabwe to serve a church, which was a real compliment because, though they technically ordain women, the majority of church members are not real comfortable with women in ministry.

I was in Zimbabwe for three weeks, and it is a beautiful country!! When I was there, things were stable, even with Mugabe in the presidency. The people were warm and generous in their hospitality.
Along with the Sunday described above, I visited the Great Zimbabwe ruins, Victoria Falls, and went hiking in the Save Valley and the Chimanimani Mountains.

I'm really saddened to see how things have gotten so bad in recent years. My friend, and most Americans serving there, left a few years ago, because of the violence around the land seizures. Then came the AIDS crisis (which was beginning when I was there), famine, and the ongoing repression by Mugabe. It's really upsetting to know that such good people in such a beautiful place are suffering so. I pray for them often!

Thanks for asking! :hi:

[Brigid]

17. Thanks for telling!

How cool is that?

I love seeing Christianity from non-European perspectives. I once saw a Catholic Mass on EWTN where the celebrant was from Kenya, and he mentioned in passing that while he was in seminary he used to walk eight miles to classes. He also told about the time he was late returning after a break because he stayed at his parents' home for a week to protect them from the land wars that broke out at the time. Now I ask you, what American priest would have a story like that to tell?

[Initech]

5. Drank beers from all 50 states in one night

[AlecBGreen]

6. climbed a mountain on a lark

my buddy and I hiked straight up this mountain in China to a hole that went through it to the other side. The locals said "dont do it, you'll die!" Im not kidding, they made us pay for the hotel room before we left cause they thought we wouldnt make it. Once we got to the top, they all waved and set off firecrackers for us. Getting down was even harder... NOT smart in hindsight, but what a great experience!

We made it!
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mbauserm/the%20top.bmp

The view
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mbauserm/view.bmp

[alfredo]

10. I bet that Lark was worn out.

[AlecBGreen]

25. lol

it was a specialty breed of lark native to the region. they were bred with tiny hooves for just this reason.

[alfredo]

28. Keeps falling off its perch now.

[skygazer]

7. I'm not sure what the MOST interesting was

I've done a lot of interesting things. Hitchhiking around the US was definitely right up there - saw some neat places, met some great people.

[bikebloke]

9. Travelled the world

It really opened my eyes. After the first trip to Europe, I saw something better and wanted to live there. Easier said than done. And then I reached further afield. Friends told me I shouldn't have wasted my money on travelling because once back I'd have nothing. I should spend it on things like stereos and cars. Well, if I had to go back and do it again, I would.

[alfredo]

11. Lived in Eritrea for three years. Many adventures happened there and

soon after.

[AlecBGreen]

26. id like to hear more!

[alfredo]

31. Some of them I do not repeat in polite society. Some I can't tell

because I was in the USASA. Some day I will put my adventures in my journal.

The first soldier to lose his life in Vietnam was an ASA agent. His name was SP4 James T. Davis. He was a DF (direction finding.) His job was to find the source of a signal.

The magician Blackstone was ASA. Gen Odom was also associated. Juan Cole was living on my base at the same time, so was his bibliographer. His bibliographer was also ASA. Juan was an Army dependent. Joseph McMoneagle a guy who could be crazy, could be for real.
http://blog.mceagle.com/about/joe-bio-personal/

One of my buddies took a bathtub sized boat across the atlantic.

[RebelOne]

12. Went skydiving. Only made 6 jumps, but they were awesome. n/t

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

13. I vomited in a side room at the Midwestern Ball at Clinton's first inaugural

I hadn't eaten anything all day except an apple croissant from Au Bon Pain at the inaugural parade and then had 2 glasses of champagne while waiting for Bill and Hillary to show up at 2 a.m. Had to retreat to an adjacent room to barf. I felt so crappy! I don't ever drink now and have never been a big drinker anyway - having that champagne was a baaaad idea. At least it was worth it when they FINALLY showed up!

[av8rdave]

16. Hard to choose...

Flown supersonic, rafted the Grand Canyon. They were both pretty cool.

[cobalt1999]

18. Spent a week hiking and camping on Stewart Island, New Zealand

The place was basically a Jurassic Age jungle, the animals all exotic, the camping primitive, the water had icebergs and penguins in it. Amazing time that I'll repeat when my daughters are old enough.

[1gobluedem]

19. I helped Will Shortz create a word puzzle

Goodness, I'm boring.

[tigereye]

20. pregnancy and parenthood - nothing quite like it!

2. Playing at the Knitting Factory with my band.

[Arugula Latte]

42. I agree -- having babies/raising kids ---> Everything else pales in comparison.

That is one heck of a ride!

[Crazy Dave]

21. Shot but missed an intruder who tried to get into my house 15 years ago

As a human being I'm glad that I missed and nobody was hurt but I was also equally disappointed at being such a piss poor shot and that they never caught the guy that I know of.

[jgraz]

23. Programmed the optics for Pixar's camera lenses in Cars

Actually, it sounds a lot more interesting than it was. :boring:

[IndianaJones]

24. knocked the Prince of Poker out with a full house on the river. nt.

[bif]

27. Took 6 months off school and hitch-hiked around Europe

[XemaSab]

29. Birding

So far I've birded in 38 states and 2 provinces. I'm at 617.

Major birding trips have included Washington state, Texas, Florida, Maine, Arizona, and a Virginia-South Carolina intensive. Everywhere I've been has been really cool. Even Texas. :)

I've also birded all over California. I have seen over 100 birds in 25 counties in the state. I'm only "missing" a few birds for the state.

Major birding trips still ahead for the US include Alaska, Texas, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona, and at least two more trips to Maine. And I'd really like to go back to Florida, even though I completely toasted the state earlier this year.

Now that I've hit 600 I think it's time to bird Central America too. Maybe that will be my trip this winter. :)

[XemaSab]

30. duped

[NMDemDist2]

32. IMO I think the drive back from Denali on the AlCan with plenty of time

to stop and goof around

I've rafted many rivers and the 8 days on the Green/Colorado trip was pretty cool too.

I can't narrow it down to the 'most' I've been blessed with so many wonderful adventures.....

[BrotherBuzz]

33. Exhuming graves

Politics, anthropology, history, religion, feather bedding, all rolled up into one. My employer was very happy he hired me because he was paid per body exhumed, and I had the magic knack of finding them. My secret was using a 1906 topo map of the area that showed what the local terrain was like before the area was leveled for irrigation. I directed the tractor to dig a trench to locate the stream and the rest was easy if you used even the most rudimentary reasoning where they might have worked, slept, cooked, and buried the dead.

[leeroysphitz]

34. I taught my dog to say I love you.

[datasuspect]

35. i died

and was resuscitated.

[stuntcat]

38. :headbang:

:headbang:

[BlueIris]

39. Seriously? What were the circumstances?

Did you have a near-death experience?

[Kali]

36. hmm

probably going to Turkey. Japan is a close second.

[EstimatedProphet]

37. I raised endangered fish at a hatchery in the Grand Canyon

Very remote. There were the hatchery employees, a couple of people at the marina, and no one else for 50 miles.

[VenusRising]

40. I went to Space Camp twice.

I also lived on a shiitake mushroom farm for a month.

[GalleryGod]

41. Landed in a scorchingly Hot LZ surrounded by PAVN Regiment !

I was 22.

2nd Lieutenants were the "first off" the Hueys.
The 1st Air Cav "held up their end" that day.*












*The PAVN (the People's Army of North Vietnam) unlike the hit n' hide Cong, stood belt buckle-to-belt buckle with us. WHAT an Army !:patriot:

[BreweryYardRat]

43. Nothing worth repeating, yet.

But I intend to go bumming around the world for a year or two after I get out of college.

[Ellen Forradalom]

44. Studied Hungarian

Took 3 trips to Hungary to do so, '86, '89 and '90.