Ann,

Thank you for your kindness. Spent kind of a sleepless and stressful weekend, but did write the eulogy. Because so many of you mentioned my post, I decided to read that as well. Should be interesting as the small town where the mass will be held lives still in the '50s. Personal stuff stays in the house.

Funny you should mention anxiety and space. I watched the shuttle launch last week and envied those aboard, thinking what a "rush." On the other hand, any amusement ride other than those little cars running on tracks usually leaves me more than a bit nauseous. Hmm, dilemma.

Dear Ann - how about I supply the "6th" people may not know about me for this comment?

Your "lost in simulated space" story from Epcot reminded me of my life long ambition to be the caption of a star ship.

Actually I would clean toilets for an opportunity to travel the stars.

That's what happens when you read every science fiction book in your small town library by 9th grade.

Warn your children. Big visions, big ideas and big passions show up when you let yourself dream.

Ann,
You're in good company on the Mission: Space ride. My wife felt so ill after riding it that we had to call it a night (although, thank goodness, we had already gone through much of the park by then). Not only was our ride delayed (they didn't tell us why, but I think they were cleaning up), but there was one poor lass losing it over a trash can on our way out.

I think I must have a little adrenaline junkie in me. I felt a bit cheated that the ride ended so quickly. :)

Thanks for the comments, guy. And Lewis -- good to see you online.

Michael -- From your photos, you do look a little like Captain Kirk.

Cam -- Thanks for your support! It wasn't so much the stomach upset (although that wasn't fun, either) as it was the complete enclosure/claustrophia of it -- I felt like I was being held in duct tape and I frantically was clawing at all the apparatus holding me in, screaming... to no avail, of course. My God, I'm starting to get heart palpitations just THINKING about it.....

I should have listened to the warnings on the ride...which are repeated early and often. But to tell you the truth, I think the warnings were what partially contributed to my ultimate freak-out.... it was a total head thing...!

Ann,
What a sweet thing to say. You wouldn't be so crazy about my real voice if you ever heard me try to sing! I'll have to try to think of some interesting things about myself. Hmmm...

Ann you wouldn't happen to have any pics of you in your Jack in the Box uni, would you? ;)

Damn you Handley! I'll get you and your little dog too!

My thoughts and prayers are with Lewis- good luck Thursday my friend. We'll all be thinking of you.

Darmano makes me feel tiny and pathetic. Why can't I be a genius? Is it the small brain and lack of intelligence?

CK kicks ass. I don't know how the girl does it. Dang! The book CKlub is so dang cool. I can't wait. Kudos to both of you.

I am looking forward to seeing what my fellow tag recipients have to say as well.

Great post Ann. I just want to echo how VERY impressed (and delighted) I am with Gianandrea for blogging in English. I would be lost blogging in another language and "G" (as I've nicknamed him) really steps up to the plate and adds much to the conversation. Gratzi! and Bravo!

Nedra & CK -- Thanks, & you're welcome!

Mack -- sadly, no. It was quite a sight...too....sort of a slouchy "pimp" hat done in polyester. Dangerous around hot fry oil -- melted on contact. All I can say is... it wasn't the WORST job I ever had (working as an operator for the phone company was MUCH more deadly...) but it was the first inkling I had that I DEFINITELY needed to go to college.

Tim -- You kiss your kids with that mouth? : )

So...anyone...what was the WORST job you ever had?

I've had lots of bad jobs...

1) I worked on a few shrimp boats. One of the boats I helped build. In the middle of a hot 'Bama early summer, I was in the catch hold "painting" the hold with fiberglass resin/ sealant. It had to be over 100 degrees with no air circulation/ ventilation... and I didn't put on a respirator because I was too hot with it on. Needless to say, I was high as a kite and sick as a dog for a few days!

2) I worked in a potato shed once, carrying 75 pound bags of potatoes from the shed to waiting trucks.

3) I worked for a roofer for part of a summer, crawling through attics installing fiberglass insulation. Thing is, it was another summer job in 'Bama and those attic spaces were way over 100 derees, so you would take off your shirt to keep from getting heat stroke... but then the pink insulation would eat you alive and you'd itch for days after the job.

3) I shucked oysters and peeled shrimp.

4) I worked at a stable and worked with horses and cows- scooping poop and giving vitamins. I was giving a horse a big vitamin once (they call big pills "horse pills" for a reason). The technique was to take the pill and place it in a special tube/ hose, put the hose into the horses mouth and then blow the pill down the horse's throat so they couldn't spit it out. You are SUPPOSED to place a small pin in the tube on your end to keep the horse from blowing/ coughing the pill down your own throat... but I didn't. The horse gave me the vitamin and I nearly choked on it, but did swallow it. I peed bright green for nearly a week. BUT... my coat was glossy and shiny for a long time.

I have others... but I'll save them for another time.

And, Potty Mouth Ann, I DO kiss my kids with this mouth! (If you folks only knew what we are talking about!)

first of all thanks to ann and you all for the support you gave and give me. i've never felt foreigner with you.
ck, next time i'm in new york book any restaurant you want: i owe this to you!
i've had some weird jobs, too.
1) at a stable to collect bulls semen for artificial reproduction. the entire process is crazy: you stay under a fake cow with a large raincover on and a huge plastic box and wait for (not suitable for minors). the wage was interesting, anyway, and then my summer trip lasted 45 days.
2) corn field to check the plants one by one for parasites. 12 hours a day in august. got burned.
3) milan fashion show: the see-don't-touch-show i used to call it. the show backstage was really painful for a straight guy as i'm. dozen of models running around, changing dress in front of you.ok, it's gone.

My 5 things are up now.
http://www.social-marketing.com/blog/2006/12/tag-im-it.html

I've been lucky to have had mostly great white-collar jobs - not too much manual labor. But I did work for a couple of years in the lower recesses of my college's dining commons washing dishes. Paid pretty well though, given the actual job.

Nedra...you SUED the BROWNIES?! That is a great little nugget....

I washed dishes in the dining commons in college, too. All that steam was good for my skin -- so it has its plusses.... : )

My worst job -- the telephone operator stint one summer -- actually was a white-collar job, in the sense that I worked sitting down, in air-controlled comfort, and never got dirty or had sore muscles. But god I thought I would DIE...... I have never been so bored in my life, and time just d r a g g e d . . . . . I think that summer was about 9 months long...or so it seemed.