I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Friday, December 31, 2010

Ten Things I've Done That You Haven't

Because it's a meme.

1.) Had drinks with an officer that served in the German, Soviet, and US Armies (and in that order). He faced one of the first usages of ski troops, and helped create them for the USSR. Fought in more wars than I remember, and knew how to down Scotch and beer with great skill.

2.) Gave back talk to West German Border Guards who were carrying submachine guns while I was unarmed.

3.) Marched in the (Football) Hall of Fame Parade, 2 miles, in August, with a 60lb silver tuba, wearing a wool uniform and no people with water or towels marched with us.

4.) Played guitar in a rock and roll garage band, an award winning rhythm section for a jazz band, and for a record on vinyl, played tuba for orchestra, marching band, symphonic band, as well as playing euphonium and trumpet.

5.) Broke into every single building on the U of A Campus in one night (1am - 6am)

6.) Had a glass of hundred year-old port with $25 cigars on the Whitney Estate (as a make good for some conference problems we were having). As a side, the lunch buffet included lobster tail. Best food I've ever had.

7.) For a week we bathed in creeks because we had no showers available.

8.) Been at the controls of a helicopter.

9.) Saw a man in front of me die of a massive myocardial infarction.

10.) Looked up into the center of a tornado.

5 comments:

sheila the fabutronic said...

WOW! I never knew!

I am amazed to find that in my very small circle of friends, I can say that I have THREE people who have piloted a helicopter. My Steve hasn't flown one regularly since NZ, but the husband of one of my barn chums is a Metro Life Flight pilot (I'll bet he is having a busy new year's eve, per usual).

Your item #5 cracked me up! That's quite a feat in 5 hours!

Happy new year!

Steve Buchheit said...

Sheila, to be fair there was a fully trained pilot in the seat next to me, and I only got to fly it for a few minutes (so that I would have familiarity with how to control one... just in case). And #5 was a dare (and more than 20 years ago).

Anonymous said...

Out of curiosity, how many buildings was that? (I think I remember about 20 buildings in the 70s.)

I also know 2 people who have tuba-ed the HOF parade.

Anonymous Cassie

Steve Buchheit said...

Cassie, it was 29 or 30 (I'm thinking 30). Not including the residence halls and EJ Thomas (EJ had a decent alarm system and we didn't want to disturb anybody's sleep). To be fair, once into the engineering building (window left cracked open in lecture hall), the other science buildings were easy. Most of the buildings had some easy vulnerability like that.

Anonymous said...

You're right! I have done none of those things.

HAPPY 2011, Steve!!