Re: Try it! You'll Like It!

Drythe · ‎07-09-2011

Surfk,

Isn't Italy Wonderful? Love, love, love it. My work 'requires' me to travel too - isn't it awful?

Similar - Hot air baloon over Cappadocia - I see there are others of us.

Parachuting from an airplane. Did it long enough to be able to free-fall, then quit. My RA joints are grateful!

I'll be in Italy for the Month of September. Wheeee.

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras

kittymomNC · ‎08-09-2012

@dooBdoo wrote:
Hot air balloons!

Participating in the crew and also "flying" as a passenger.

dooBdoo, I hadn't thought about it in a long time, but I must tell a story about my younger days. I've always been afraid of heights, don't like tall buildings and elevators, almost fainted going up the outside elevator to the top of Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta once-had a couple of drinks in the revolving restaurant on top and loved coming down!

I was a young Marketing Assistant for a company that had a hot air balloon that was featured in billboard ads and TV commercials, and it went around the country for exhibits, etc. We found out that the balloon was going to be in our area for a couple of days and I was offered the chance to go up.

I helped set up the balloon for some other people to go up, and I thought there is no way I can do this! But the next day we took off and went up to 1,100 feet... I was leaning out of the basket taking pictures (holding on to one iron thing that went up from the basket to the balloon), and boy, when he turned on the burner to put more hot air in the balloon, that was scary! We could see the whole city, the pilot was a real hoot, and he took us down to the tops of trees and told us to catch the trees and see if we could stop the balloon! NOT!

I know that balloons go in the direction of the wind, and I don't know how he knew the wind direction was changing, but we were low enough over a residential area where he yelled down to someone watching us and said "which way to Wilmington Delaware?" -- This guy pointed and OMG, the balloon started going in that direction. It was hilarious -- people were stopping their cars in the street and watching, dogs were running around and barking at us!

When we finally came down (only two plus the pilot could go at one time), the pilot got us out along with a couple of other people who had gone up before us and were riding in the chase van, made us get down on our hands and knees and worship at his feet with our eyes closed. Then he proceeded to spray us with a bottle of champagne -- and then we drank the rest of it!

I'm still afraid of heights, tall buildings and elevators -- and that is probably the scariest, most adventurous thing I ever did in my life, but I'll never forget it... And wouldn't do it now if someone offered me a million dollars! Well, maybe for a million...!! giggling emoticon

The one thing I've never done but would still love to do, just once even at my age, is drive a NASCAR race car around the track at Daytona or Charlotte! That would really get my blood flowing!

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

For the first time in my life, I bought a car that was something other than black or white. RED. It's a year old, and I'm tired of it already........

♥Surface of the Sun♥

dooBdoo · ‎06-27-2010

surfk wrote:
dooBdoo wrote:
Hot air balloons!

Participating in the crew and also "flying" as a passenger.
You should come some day to Albuquerque for the ABQ International Balloon Fiesta if you haven't already. Its an amazing sight (when hot air balloons aren't crashing into I-25 or high power lines, that is). its a huge spectacular event - NM's biggest event actually.

But the sweeeeeping landscape of NM is a great place to hot air balloon. Although I have to admit it scares me since I have a fear of balloons - long childhood birthday party story...for another time (joking).

I haven't been to the festival, but I've been "ballooning" in Albuquerque. We were installing a new computer system in a hospital there and one of the local computer reps was/is a balloon pilot who owns a beautiful antique craft. He took us to an area where a group meets -- I think he said it's every Saturday morning -- and 'way before the crack of dawn (for the cool temps) we fired up multiple balloons and took off over the desert. Landed among the cacti! It was beautiful. It can be a scary activity, though... just a few weeks after I was in Albuquerque, a balloon in another locale hit some power lines and the pilot and passengers were killed. It's just so hard, sometimes nearly impossible, to guide the aircraft and the direction it takes can be unexpected. The accidents are the exception rather than the rule but they remind us there's no activity that's 100% safe.

@Moonchilde, Give it a try if you ever get the chance!

@kittymomNC, It's true, the sound up there is so quiet and peaceful except for the periodic blast into the balloon, and it's really interesting the way the voices carry from the ground. The champagne spray, or sometimes pouring it on the head of an unsuspecting person, is a tradition for first time passengers and part of the fun!

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova

VioletEyes · ‎03-12-2010

OK, this will sound stupid but for myself it is a big step. Years back I had an insulin pump for my Type 1 diabetes and failed miseribly with it. I heard that they are easier to use now and may give me a lot more freedom with my diet and exercise. They kind of work like an artificial pancreas if you calibrate them perfectly. Now I am not perfect, lol, far from but I have decided to take the plunge again and try.

I love reading everyone's posts on this thread. I guess I will live precariously through all the travelers on this thread. Your lives sound wonderful and full.

Thanks for sharing. And as always, Surf, I love reading your threads....

MaggieMack · ‎10-01-2014

A couple of things come to mind:

The year before I turned 40, I wanted to plan something to celebrate my 40th year, so I decided on a marathon. It took a lot of training, speed work, hill runs, etc., but I accomplished the task and even qualified for Boston with my time (which I declined). I also did my first triathlon in my 40th year.

When I was 61, I decided to try Hot Yoga, a 90-minute class in 105 degrees and high humidity. I thought I was going to die, but the endorphins were really up, and I continue to do it a few years later. The scariest thing about it: being in class with all the young cuties 40 years younger. Lol. Like it so much I got certified to teach yoga last year. I have discovered that the things that seem the least attainable are the most precious once attained.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - Aesop

VioletEyes · ‎03-12-2010

@MaggieMack wrote:
A couple of things come to mind:
The year before I turned 40, I wanted to plan something to celebrate my 40th year, so I decided on a marathon. It took a lot of training, speed work, hill runs, etc., but I accomplished the task and even qualified for Boston with my time (which I declined). I also did my first triathlon in my 40th year.
When I was 61, I decided to try Hot Yoga, a 90-minute class in 105 degrees and high humidity. I thought I was going to die, but the endorphins were really up, and I continue to do it a few years later. The scariest thing about it: being in class with all the young cuties 40 years younger. Lol. Like it so much I got certified to teach yoga last year. I have discovered that the things that seem the least attainable are the most precious once attained.

Wow, what an inspiration you are. My SIL is certified to teach yoga and she told me recently it was harder than getting her Nursing license. It really is quite an achievement!

Hot yoga is grueling. I really admire you for doing the marathon. My daughter did something called The Tough Mudder and said something very similar that you did about "the things that seem the least attainable are the most precious once attained.