What is the most unusual or the weirdest thing you can

[NightOwl]

tell us aboutYOURSELF--maybe s strange place you have been or some famous person you have met or a really freaky hobby or  unusual talent.  Maybe you  have a far-out job? Are you related to someone famopus (or infamous?) Do you have an uncle arrested as a horse thief or cattle rustler?  A mother who was a Go-Go Dancer?   Maybe  you collect purple  plastic shoes with 4 inch heels?  Have you been married 7 or 8 times?

You can tell it has been a slow news day  here in North Georgia.  but I thought it might be fun while we are waiting to go camping to see what wild things people here are willing to  share about themselves.

OK, I'll  get things rolling:  I have just finished a welding course at our local vo-tech school.  (And I LOVE it!  Painted:  "Born To Weld" on the back of my welding jacket  and am the proud owner of  a $200 Miller  automatic darkening  hood. :S )

[NCSunshine]

Well this is nothing to be proud of, but my cousin has made the local news and local papers this past week.  They arrested about six people in the house for operating a meth lab, and arrested her for misdemeanor child abuse for the child living in the house where the lab was.

I bet my uncle and aunt are turning over in their grave, because it was their house she lives in now.

[B-flat]

I am one eyed, one armed flying purple people eater.  :J  

I've had 6 "brushes" with death: nearly drowned twice-once as a child and once as an adult, had gangrene in a foot but it cleared up, have fallen down the stairs in a house, was walking in a parking lot and got hit by a car backing out of a parking space which knocked me away from it and onto the pavement, went into anapholytic shock once.  Let's see, I have "native" ancestors, also kin to Napoleon (guess I would call him infamous!)  and to the famous master potter Ben Owen III of NC, and one of my other cousins Jeff Smith was a star on Hee Haw (don't laugh.)  My half brother is a photographer for the News & Observer and was assigned to cover John Edwards everywhere on the campaign trail and also has done work for the Associated Press. I spend a lot of time with the stars of the Grand Ole Opry at Bluegrass festivals. I don't know if any of this is weird or unusual, though.    :rolleyes:  :cool:  :J

[NightOwl]

Well, Nancy, those little flirtations with death sure sound unusual to me!  And the other stuff is certainly not  garden-variety  information either.  Good post.

 
come to think of it, I can add something a bit  wild  When I was a little kid growing up in the wilds of western Jersey, the lady who lived across the garden from us was the mistress of an important mob member.  He was in charge of the  Fulton fish wharf rackets and spent weekends with his girlfriend and was very cordial with  her friends and neighbors--always brought us wonderful fresh fish, seafoods  (lobsters) and OHHH what wonderful fresh flounder.  Fried flounder roe is just spectacular!

He always arrived in a chauffered Caddy, I remember him as a very pleasant and kind man and  at Christmas time he brought bottles of licquer for the adults and always had presents for the kids in the neighborhood. (We called him "Uncle Frank")  His mistress told my mother that before we met him, he had spent time
in The Tombs for putting out the eye of a "business rival" with a lighted cigar.

[birol]

This is juicy ! here it goes !

I saw the tunnel and the light at the end of the tunnel; and I was going so fast towards the light ! Woke up crying of course (I was around 9 or 10)! I just had a concussion which lasted 3 minutes and (by chance a nearby doctor)  said it was a miracle that I woke up after being in a concussion that long. Had another one (out 15 minutes) just before graduating from university, I still feel the effects of that one though, my thinking sometimes gets all cloudy and I can't think straight.


During the high terrorism years of Turkey my brother was arrested for killing a known terrorist, he was acquited and re-arrested after 5 years as the case was appealed unknown to our lawyer. I had to start working right after graduating from university to pay off the house we were living in as he had purchased it and was paying for. (See, families live together in Turkey, till one marries and moves away).  This route took me to Saudi Arabia to make more money, and my dreams of being a professor (Phd and all) in my profession went down the drain.

Oh the weirdest of all, I distribute newspapers  :J  :J Went to university for 5 years to be able to do that  :W

[MommaMia]

I can write with my toes.  Print as well as cursive.  Left foot as well as right foot.

[birol]

Are you serious ?? Wooow ! I never heard that ! You are talented lady !

I can write with my toes.  Print as well as cursive.  Left foot as well as right foot.

[MommaMia]

Are you serious ?? Wooow ! I never heard that ! You are talented lady !

Yup... seriously!

[angelsmom10]

The only thing I can come up with easily is.... Years ago there was a TV celeb (at least in our area) named the "COOL GHOUL" (wore heavy make-up).  He has a band called the Grave Robbers... I personally knew a band member and was invited to a show that they were doing.  This guy came up to me and was asking me about the group and the "Cool Ghoul"... and me (OPEN MOUTH AND INSERT FOOT) ... not liking ghoulish things, proceeded to talk how I hated the guy and thought about how stupid I really thought he was.  A little while later the band member I knew came over and asked what we were talking about and I proceeded to tell him.  He then informed me that the guy I was talking to was the "COOL GHOUL".  Boy was I embarassed although I did share my actual feelings.
 
RIP Dick VonHane aka "Cool Ghoul" 2004

[labontefan]

Hmmm...famous people? Well, I have a cousin who's a young movie and TV star! If any of you have kids that watch Lizzie McGuire on Disney/ABC, the young actor (Jake Thomas) that plays Matt McGuire is my cousin. (His dad is my first cousin, so I guess Jake is my first cousin once removed.) If you haven't seen Lizzie McGuire, Jake was also in Steven Speilberg's A.I. (he played the real boy), and in The Cell with Jennifer Lopez (he played the serial killer as a little boy). Just recently, he was in a TV movie with Randy Quaid & Ed Asner, National Lampoon's "Cousin Eddie's Christmas Vacation".

For any of you that are Civil Way buffs, my great-great-great-grandfather is somewhat famous (at least around the East Tennessee area). He was Captain Dan Ellis and he was a Union scout. He would guide Union soldiers who escaped from Confederate prisons back across the front lines into Union territory. He wrote a book about his experiences called "Thrilling Adventures."

For NASCAR fans, I know Matt Kenseth's spotter (Mike Calinoff)...had dinner with him and his fiance at their home in Charlotte once. And at the Coca-Cola 600 in 2000 when Matt won his first race, Mike had breakfast with us at our campsite that morning. He parked his truck there and I drove him to the track. He didn't get back to camp that night till about 2am because they were so busy celebrating Matt's win!

I went to college with Glenn Close. However, I don't know that I ever met her, and didn't realize I went to college with her till after I graduated and she became famous! LOL!! (I graduated from William & Mary in 1972; she graduated in 1974.) Had I only known.... :rolleyes:

My hometown has become a little famous. Big Stone Gap is the setting of the three best-selling novels (the first one was titled "Big Stone Gap") by Adriana Trigiani. They're supposed to be making the first one into a movie and plan to film most of it right here in town. Don't really know Adri, although I knew her parents.

Don't think I have any unusual abilities. I can't write with my toes. But they are pretty long and I can pick things up with them.  :J  I usually score in the genius range on IQ tests, but I manage to keep my intelligence well concealed most of the time.  :p  :rolleyes:  :J

[Starcraft Dad]

Well lets see. I'm a decendent of the King of France in the late 1600's. The first born of each family is considered a prince. So I guess I'm Prince Starcraft Dad. Now if I can only find my castle.
 
Plus Josh Groban is my nephew. But we really don't let that one get out to much. You wouldn't believe how many times I have been asked about autographed CDs.:eek:

[NightOwl]

I can write with my toes.  Print as well as cursive.  Left foot as well as right foot.

Cindy, I know that if someone can write with both hands, they are called Ambidextrous.  But, do they have an official word for someone who can write with both FEET?

Speaking of writing, when young I had allegies that caused me to be "Dermagraphic."  (i.e.  if  someone "wrote" on my skin it would appear as a raised red line.).  Growing up in South Florida, my friends and I were at the beach a lot and people used to fight over getting to write their names on my back.  (It was sort of like having a  temporary tatooo :J  )

[2manytoyz]

Well I guess I qualify for the cool job category.  I work for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center.  I've worked on the Space Shuttle, Atlas/Centaur, Titan/Centaur, Scout, and Delta launch vehicle programs.  I also worked in the Payloads division for 9 years.  I'm currently in the Biomedical Engineering office.  We are developing new technologies, such as a Supercritical Breathing System.  It's a cryogenic air mix under pressure.  Provides 2 hours of breathing air, and a cooling suit, versus a Scott Air Pack that's currently used, which only provides 20 minutes, and no cooling.  The new pack operates at a lower pressure, and has about the same weight.  A big plus for firefighters, and those wearing environmental clean up suits, having to deal with toxic spills, or terrorist biological agents.

I've met a number of astronauts and actors at the Space Center (Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, etc.).  I've also stood very close to Prince Charles, and the Queen of England.  Honestly, they don't impress me much.  If I had a chance of having lunch with one of them, or one of you, they'd have to take a raincheck.  

I'm 1/16 Cherokee Indian, but you wouldn't know it by looking at me.  

We adopted two wonderful sons a little over a year ago.

I'm one of the lucky people that can fix most anything.  A skill I learned from my father, one I'm now teaching to our rugrats.

I was a Military brat the first half of my life.  Basically moved every 3 years.  Lived over much of the USA, England, and in the Philippines.

I've always been about 80% ambidextrous.  I can easily bat left or right handed, etc.  I can write with my left hand, but it's slow... which is why I didn't give myself top marks.

I played rough as a kid.  I've broken more than 10 bones.  Stopped counting after that.

I have more hobbies and toys, than I have time.  

[Gone-Camping]

Well let's see, famous people....
 
I'm a direct decendent of Capt John Parker, who was in charge of the minute men at Lexington Green on that fateful morning a couple hundred years ago!
 
I'm also a partial decendent of an Iriquios Indian Chief (have no idea what the name is), but married into the Bedouin family in Canada...
 
I personally know (former) Winston Cup car owner Joe Falk, we're on a first name basis including his son Jeff and wife Shirley, and have met his drivers (at the time) Kevin Lepage and Andy Hillenburg (I was employed by one of his brothers, the other brother was my boss). I've also met Ricky Rudd's dad. I also sat in some grandstand seats many years ago at Langley Speedway, sat next to Mr. & Mrs. Bodine (Geoff, Todd & Brett's parents....they are very nice, friendly people)
 
I was once working for a tow company operating out of a Texaco Station on Battlefield Blvd when a huge MH pulled up to the full serve pumps, out stepped James Doohan (Mr. Scott from the original Star Trek TV series), he was handing out "Beam me up Scotty" business cards, and I still have mine!
 
Close calls: I once nearly became lightning fodder! About 12 years ago I was operating a tow truck (same one mentioned above) and was picking up a car at the Hampton Inn parking lot, I was outside the truck and had my hand on the controls when all of a sudden every single hair on my entire body stood on end, I could feel the electrical energy rushing through my body. This lasted all of a split second or so, and them KA-BOOOOM!!! The lightning found something nearby that was taller (thankfully)...
 
As for myself, I guess my greatest claim to fame is my racing website, I'm also a writer for it, and apparently well known throughout the NASCAR circuit. All the big teams have checked my site out on numerous occassions. I've swapped info via email with Jayski numerous times. And used to get email from Morgan Shepherd, and was once threatened with a law suite by NAPA Auto Parts and Dale Earnhardt Inc once over a story I wrote. They demanded a restraction, so instead I named my source for the story, after that they couldn't do a thing to me because it was the truth!!!

[jpreiser]

Ok here goes... my 5th great grandfather was a king in poland, he was then moved to Nancy France where there is a statue of him to this day. Also a Hugh "castle", that I would love to visit on day..King Stanislas was his name.
 He died when he fell into a chimney at the estate!!


http://www.cr-lorraine.fr/english_version/guide/guide.htm