What's your greatest fear?

[sue71]

Slow day on the OTB. ;)

I was going to make this a poll, but realized that the choices are endless, so post away.

For me, I've got an issue with heights. A pretty big one. But I can fly in planes no problem (maybe something about being enclosed?).

If I'm at a hotel on a high floor (I was on the 68th floor in Vegas once- YIKES!), I can barely get within 2 feet of the window. I CANNOT do the Eiffel Tower, Stratosphere, or the like. NO WAY I get near the top of the Empire State building or Space Needle. Even if I park on the 6th or 7th floor of a parking garage, and have to walk up/down stairs that are open (I cannot STAND open stairs, especially when they're outside) or that I can see through, I have a near panic attack. Oh, and no glass elevators. Ever.

Of what are you afraid? Post away! Happy Friday!

[hc5duke]

butterflies... no, really, butterflies (and moths)

[EarlJam]

Spiders.

Snakes don't bother me a bit. But spiders. They're creepy and can just drop down on you out of nowhere. And there's so many species, you never know if you are just going to have a slight irritation from the bite or if you've just had your ticket punched for a one-way trip to meet your lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

-EarlJam

P.S. Bigger picture fear is of growing old and losing the ability to care for myself.

[BlueDevilBaby]

When I was around 10 years old, I read a book about a man who survived a small plane crash in remote Washington state, but was severely burned. The book had a picture of his basketball sized head. That did it. Fire for me. I can deal with fireplace fire, campfire fire and the grill, but I don't like lighting them.

[hurleyfor3]

spending another winter in the midwest

[billybreen]

Leaving aside the obvious ones (death and public speaking, in that order), it's a tie between roaches and EarlJam's mom.

[CathyCA]

It used to be fear of failure--failing at anything.

Now, my greatest fear is that something bad (death, serious injury) might happen to one of my children.

[Bostondevil]

Hey EarlJam, me too. Petrified of spiders, even dead ones, and I can't look at pictures of them either. I'm phobic. I once volunteered for a study where the wanted to do MRIs of phobic brains, I qualified.

I have a heights thing too but I'm not as bad as sue. I can deal with being up high if there is a window between me and the ground. Eifel Tower? No way. 68th floor in Vegas? No problem.

[billybreen]

Hmm, I'm totally cool with spiders because they eat roaches. Who's with me?

[rthomas]

Biggest fear: heart attack on the golf course or while making whoppee (as they say on The Newlyweds Game Show).

[rsvman]

Hmm, I'm totally cool with spiders because they eat roaches. Who's with me?

Me. I like spiders. I'm not really afraid of any kind of bug or creepy-crawlie.

Come to think of it, I don't really have any true phobias, although I guess I'm scared of puking. In the wintertime when the puking disease goes around, I'm a major germ-o-phobe, and God forbid somebody who lives with me or works anywhere near me gets the stuff.

[hurleyfor3]

EJ needs to read this (http://www.amazon.com/Nice-Spiders-Margaret-Bloy-Graham/dp/0060220732).

[Lavabe]

Leaving aside the obvious ones (death and public speaking, in that order), it's a tie between roaches and EarlJam's mom.

How about fear of having your iPhone replaced with a Zune?

EJ/BD: We had these HUGE spiders (Nephila inaurata) the size of your hand. They are best known for their yellow webs that can stretch several feet. I know you are phobic, but these are absolutely gorgeous. Much different from ye old smushable types here in the US. And they do a great job removing bugs from the area.

My biggest fear (aside from health/safety issues with family) is physics.

Oh yeah, and chiggers.
Cheers,
Lavabe

[devildeac]

Biggest fear: heart attack on the golf course or while making whoppee (as they say on The Newlyweds Game Show).

yea, but WHAT a way to go:o:D.

(did you mean whoopee?):eek:

[devildeac]

EJ in my living room (or kitchen) (or bathroom) or...
(just kidding, big fella, the set up was just too easy;))

[EarlJam]

Hmm, I'm totally cool with spiders because they eat roaches. Who's with me?

I just can't stand the eight hairy legs, the prickly feet, the large bug eyes, the fat hairy bottom, the supple demon-like head and the secretions from the jagged venom-filled mouth.

But enough about your mother.

There's just no WAY I'm getting on board with the Spider Train.

-EarlJam

[Lavabe]

I just can't stand the eight hairy legs, the prickly feet, the large bug eyes, the fat hairy bottom, the supple demon-like head and the secretions from the jagged venom-filled mouth.

But enough about your mother.

There's just no WAY I'm getting on board with the Spider Train.

-EarlJam

Didn't you read Charlotte's Web when you were a little EarlJam?;)

[dukemomLA]

All bugs/etc. don't really cause me much angst. Neither does acrophobia or agraphobia, etc.

As someone who loves to read and loves watching sports, etc., my biggest fear is the possibility of going blind. Hearing is a distant second, but I panic about blindness. I'm sure of this phobia is because my great-grandfather went blind. (Then again, he was 98 at the time).

[devildeac]

Serious response for a change (nothing to do with EarlJam or his momma;)).
My biggest fear is probably drowning. I do not swim very well and the thought of not being able to breathe with 2 lungs full of water is a frightening prospect.

[Bostondevil]

Didn't you read Charlotte's Web when you were a little EarlJam?;)

I did. That's the thing about phobias, it irrational! I read the book but I didn't take my kids to see that creepy animated Julia Roberts voiced movie, ugh. In the truth is stranger than fiction category, I have seen Arachnaphobia but not in a theater, no way. I saw it on a ferry going from Maine to Nova Scotia, the room wasn't very dark, I sat in the back row (for easy escape in case I couldn't take it) plus there was some reflected sunlight hitting the screen so it wasn't that clear a picture. I'll even say it was a pretty good film.

And bb, I'm cool with spiders existing, I'm glad they eat roaches and other bugs, but please do it somewhere else. As long as I can't see them, we're good. I even tell my husband that he doesn't have to kill the ones I find in the house, he can take them outside. He usually just smushes them though. He says there is a certain way I say his name that let's him know to just go get a tissue and ask "Where is it?" Since I'm also afraid of dead spiders, killing them is just step one, they have to be removed from the premises, dead or alive. As I get older though, I find I can tolerate the really small ones, but only really small, like the size of an emoticon.

Lavabe? Just reading your post gave me the shivers.

How about this though. Public speaking doesn't bother me at all. I'll get up and talk in front of any size group of people, no problem. Whenever someone tells that giving talks or what not makes them nervous, I always tell them to think back on how many times they were in a lecture and they weren't even paying attention. I always figure at most one third of the people are listening to me, so really, what is there to be afraid of?

[DukieInKansas]

Spiders are definitely creepy, but for true fear I would have to go with fire and causing an accident that injures someone. First one is due to knowing a family who lost 3 children to a fire when I was in elementary school. One was my sister's good friend and my sister had spent the night before at their house. I can still remember Monday morning finding out about it in school. (One of the kids was my age.) We slept with our mother for a week - then Dad got back in the country and made us return to our own rooms. (We even had a cement house.) Since my current bedroom is three stories above the ground, I asked for, and received, an escape ladder for my birthday shortly after moving in.

I don't obsess over causing an accident, but it does cross my mind - especially when riding bicycles in a group. It won't stop me from the family cycling trip to MichIana though. :)

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

And don't start about how they aren't real. We all know that's a myth.

[devildeac]

Another great fear I have is that we make it to the MBB FF again (soon hopefully), the officials are introduced and I hear karl hess' name or the idiot crew that called the semi-final game against u-cons in '04:(.

[SmartDevil]

1. fear for my children.
2. nuclear war
3. choking (had a very serious incident once--a horrible experience)

[YmoBeThere]

That a sh@#^&le down the road school will win another men's BB title before we do...

re: Werewolves - apparently some have been in a small town in England called London.

[Jfrosh]

I with EarlJam. Spiders, especially the big ones creep me out. Twice (including last week) I have killed big ones only to have hundreds of spider babies that I didn't notice were riding on its back came pouring off. eeeech.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Yay I fear no one (and nothing) for I am the meanest sunofabitch in the valley. :D

[Indoor66]

Yay I fear no one (and nothing) for I am the meanest sunofabitch in the valley. :D

I'm staying the heck out of Smithfield! ;)

[captmojo]

Another root canal surgery, as the one I've been recovering from, performed on me last Friday, when this thread was started.

As an advice notice, when attending a dentist visit in NC, keep the Duke wearing apparel at home, as most of the oral butchers here are shingle holders of that rival place down the road. :eek::eek:

[devildeac]

Another root canal surgery, as the one I've been recovering from, performed on me last Friday, when this thread was started.

As an advice notice, when attending a dentist visit in NC, keep the Duke wearing apparel at home, as most of the oral butchers here are shingle holders of that rival place down the road. :eek::eek:

Mine graduated from TheOSU (is that the proper designation?) and is a Duke season ticket holder and hates them tarheelians. He takes care of our entire family and we all like him:D.

[sue71]

Mine graduated from TheOSU (is that the proper designation?)

Yes, it is. Though I've never quite seen it as "TheOSU". The Ohio State University is correct, so by extension, I assume TheOSU is correct (as is OSU, or Ohio State).

Thank you for asking and being concerned enough to care. :p

Sue (I'm a Buckeye by way of grad school) 71

[devildeac]

Yes, it is. Though I've never quite seen it as "TheOSU". The Ohio State University is correct, so by extension, I assume TheOSU is correct (as is OSU, or Ohio State).

Thank you for asking and being concerned enough to care. :p

Sue (I'm a Buckeye by way of grad school) 71

We have had several posters over the years with OSU connections and I thought that was the way they referred to their school, but I could not remember. No offense, but some folks think of OSU as Okie State or Oregon State, too, I guess:(:o.

[sue71]

We have had several posters over the years with OSU connections and I thought that was the way they referred to their school, but I could not remember. No offense, but some folks think of OSU as Okie State or Oregon State, too, I guess:(:o.

I'm in Pac-10 land now, and I NEVER confuse OSU with Oregon State or Oklahoma State. ;)

And more importantly, neither does anyone here.

Sue "Not looking forward to USC/OSU on 9.13.08" 71

[YmoBeThere]

That I will go on PW'ing frenzy of such massive scale that I will pass BB to become the #1 poster here...

[devildeac]

That I will go on PW'ing frenzy of such massive scale that I will pass BB to become the #1 poster here...

THAT would indeed be monumental:eek:.

It would also probably draft Lavabe with you and I would hope no one is injured in the process;).

[2535Miles]

As far as a fear that I deal with on a daily basis, I am also with EarlJam, Bostondevil, Jfrosh, and any other posters who feat the spider. I'm rarely malicious (except that one time (http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showpost.php?p=170232&postcount=15)) but the lil buggers give me the major creeps and I'm usually on edge for a while after I've encountered one.

In the grander scheme of things I suppose I am most afraid of going insane a la Alzheimer's. I volunteered at a nursing home in high school, spent a lot of time with Alzheimer's patients and their families and in the past few years watch Alzheimer's slowly eat away at my grandfather. It scares the crap out of me to think I might go out that way.

[blublood]

I hate snakes, worms, and anything else creepy and slimy and wriggly. (yes, I know, snake-lovers, snakes aren't actually slimy, but they might as well be!) I had an earthworm charge at me this spring while planting some hydrangeas and I swear I actually screamed, jumped up, dropped my shovel, and made my husband finish the job. He's like, "Wait, don't you want worms in your garden? Isn't that the very project you've been working on for the last 6 months? Weren't you just complaining because the soil needs to be more aerated?" I just hate it when he tries to argue. ;)

Big picture, I am deathly afraid of barely surviving a car or plane crash. I don't mind if I actually die, but I'm afraid of waking up in tremendous pain only to find out that I'm paralyzed from the neck down. For this specific reason, my family knows never to *ever* resuscitate me if it's one of those situations where it looks like I'm going to die anyway. Also, I'm afraid of being the victim of a violent crime.

[UVaAmbassador]

Another root canal surgery, as the one I've been recovering from, performed on me last Friday, when this thread was started.

As an advice notice, when attending a dentist visit in NC, keep the Duke wearing apparel at home, as most of the oral butchers here are shingle holders of that rival place down the road. :eek::eek:

Funny, the opposite for me. When I had my wisdom teeth out as a teen, they hadn't emerged (erupted? I don't know the technical term) so they had to go in and cut them out. I woke up half way through the surgery to the sound of the doctor crushing the tooth inside the socket so it could be removed in pieces, followed by "He's awake. Put him out! Put him out!" After than, I'm not sure what there is left that I could possibly have to fear in the dental genre.

Besides, you get chocolate pudding afterward.:D

[The Gordog]

1. Terrorist attack in Washington, DC while my kids are at school (their school is a little over a mile sount of the Pentagon.)

2. Drowning

3. 4 more years of Republican Presidents - not because I think the world would end or anything. It's just that I would be pretty depressed, and my more liberal wife would be even more so, and you know if Momma's not happy - nobody's happy.

[Johnboy]

Hmm, I'm totally cool with spiders because they eat roaches. Who's with me?

Me, too. I had a roommate at Duke who had a tarantula. I came to really like the thing after watching how it trapped and ate cockroaches. I'm a softie when it comes to spiders and snakes, though. I like 'em both because they keep the vermin population down. Add bats and purple martins, BTW.

My greatest fear is for bad things happening to my family, and it's usually manifested in worrying a little whenever I know they are traveling - by car, boat, plane, bicycle - it doesn't matter.

[Turk]

Spiders don't creep me out very much, and I like the fact there is some oddball running around naming new species he finds after people like Neil Young...

Snakes - well that's a different story... I don't care if I know it's a harmless little garter snake that is more scared of me than I am of it, I am generally looking to make tracks in the other direction. And I don't care if I get funny looks from people when they see me walking around in the woods with a canoe paddle to use in self-defense in case one jumps out from behind a tree and tries to ambush me...

I'm gonna lay the blame on Momma Turk for my phobia - when we were kids and couldn't find something missing that was right in plain sight, she would say, "If it was a snake it would've bitten you..."

"Snakes. Why does it always have to be snakes?" - Indiana Jones

[YmoBeThere]

Me, too. I had a roommate at Duke who had a tarantula. I came to really like the thing after watching how it trapped and ate cockroaches. I'm a softie when it comes to spiders and snakes, though. I like 'em both because they keep the vermin population down. Add bats and purple martins, BTW.

Add me to the list of those who appreciate spiders...

[ForeverBlowingBubbles]

I just can't stand the eight hairy legs, the prickly feet, the large bug eyes, the fat hairy bottom, the supple demon-like head and the secretions from the jagged venom-filled mouth.

But enough about your mother.

There's just no WAY I'm getting on board with the Spider Train.

-EarlJam

My buddy had a huge fear of spiders and bought a tarantula in order to get over his fear. He was a Chilean rose hair... very docile - you could pick him up and he'd just chill. Needless it did get him over his fear of spiders.

Brown recluses however just piss me right off. They get in your house (never know how) and will try to go hang out in your bathroom or kitchen (2 places where you know your usually busy and not paying attention) because they like cool moist areas. I think they have invaded Wilmington, NC. I need to find some natural predators of them and release them into our habitat.

[sue71]

To those afraid of snakes... does this guy (http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Most-Emailed-Photos-Penn-State-University/ss/1756/im:/080803/481/6f4152e3348347708029860f12660a0c/) bother you?

I'm being serious.

[YmoBeThere]

My biggest fear is starting to manifest itself. I've been PW'ing it up all over the place.

[devildeac]

My biggest fear is starting to manifest itself. I've been PW'ing it up all over the place.

Did anyone investigate the group therapy option several months ago? I think DA was one of the 1st to discuss it:o.

[devildeac]

My biggest fear is starting to manifest itself. I've been PW'ing it up all over the place.

The bad thing is, I appear to be following you (NOT stalking):o:eek:.

[blublood]

To those afraid of snakes... does this guy (http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Most-Emailed-Photos-Penn-State-University/ss/1756/im:/080803/481/6f4152e3348347708029860f12660a0c/) bother you?

I'm being serious.

Yes. It's not necessarily the snake itself as the disgusting way it moves that freaks me out. To that end, it doesn't matter if it's a python or whatever that little yucky thing is - they still wriggle.

It was only with great effort that I resisted killing a king snake that was hanging out in my hydrangea bed and only because they (supposedly) serve a useful function. However, if it ends up eating my little pal, the garden toad, all bets are off!

[dukestheheat]

Seriously, here it is:

I am afraid of walking out of the men's room with my zipper down!

Admitting that was somehow cathartic for me.

dth.

[EarlJam]

My buddy had a huge fear of spiders and bought a tarantula in order to get over his fear. He was a Chilean rose hair... very docile - you could pick him up and he'd just chill. Needless it did get him over his fear of spiders.

Brown recluses however just piss me right off. They get in your house (never know how) and will try to go hang out in your bathroom or kitchen (2 places where you know your usually busy and not paying attention) because they like cool moist areas. I think they have invaded Wilmington, NC. I need to find some natural predators of them and release them into our habitat.

True story: A couple of years ago, I was at my brother's house in Raleigh. I was staying there after back surgery. I was propped up on the couch but had little mobility. Over on the wall by the TV set, I saw a black spider creeping up the wall.

I just watched, from the couch, about ten feet away.

Up the wall it went until it reached the ceiling. At this point, no problem. I was a mere observer of this little creature who was entertaining me since I was limited to the house.

I looked on as the prickly legs grabbed hold of the ceiling. It began to crawl......in my direction. A sliver of fear rose from my feet to my neck as I watched this eight-legged supple mass of God knows what make its way towards me millimeter by millimeter, agonizingly long second by second.

As my mind calculated, accurately I might add, that the spider was on a direct course to be over my air space in minutes, two thoughts raced through my head: 1) Is that a black widow? and 2) I know he's headed for me, but no way he actually goes right over me. Too far. Too unlucky.

About a minute later, he was directly over me. "Son of a......"

I couldn't believe it. But worse, I couldn't belive what happened next. He, it, the mass of ugliness, stopped. The spider stopped directly over my lap, still on the ceiling, hovering like a Blackhawk helicopter ready to take out the enemy.

Again, I could hardly move - at this point partly because of my healing back; partly because of pure, unblemished terror.

Then, it happened.

The spider fell from the ceiling and landed in my lap. All in a millisecond, I thought, "That mother just travelled the equivalent of two miles to hover right over me and drop into my lap!"

I freaked. Pain be damned, I got up and started swiping away. The mini-beast landed on the seat of the couch and I took my shirt off and crushed it dead. Dead, dead, DEAD.

I was pissed and scared buttocksless at the same time. Yes, I am a complete wuss when it comes to spiders. So sue me.

But here's the kicker. I go to examine the dead eight-legged evil. True enough, it was a black widow. I saw the orange hourglass on it's belly.

I felt like the victor in a dogfight with the Red Barron. I took comfort in a percocet (maybe two), and just sat at the kitchen table for a while.

True story.

I hate spiders.

-EarlJam

[CameronBornAndBred]

Failure. I've yet in my life to completely, totally, fall flat on my face in failure. It has to happen some day, and it probably would have been better for me if it happened years ago. I've faced it plenty of times, but I'm pretty resourceful and have figured out a way out one way or another. I've had plenty of experiences that weren't so memorable, but never set out to accomplish a goal set by myself or someone else and not at least produced something for it. One day......it's coming.

[CameronBornAndBred]

The spider fell from the ceiling and landed in my lap. All in a millisecond, I thought, "That mother just travelled the equivalent of two miles to hover right over me and drop into my lap!"


LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! That's too awesome, spider of destiny.

I'm a bit of herp freak, so I'll go out snake hunting now and then. Black widows and snakes share common habitats, under rocks. Often I would flip a rock over to find one of the two. I would usually say they won't bother you if you don't bother them, but it looks like EJ had one of those rare encounters. I'm gonna think of that story now every time I see a bug on the ceiling.

[sue71]

I can't decide what would've been more entertaining to watch:

1. EJ & the spider
2. CBAB dancing around while painting

Should this be a poll? :p

[EarlJam]

I can't decide what would've been more entertaining to watch:

1. EJ & the spider
2. CBAB dancing around while painting

Should this be a poll? :p

Using both elements, I think it should be turned into a musical.

-EJ

[sue71]

Using both elements, I think it should be turned into a musical.

-EJ

Genius!

BostonDevil can write the book, I can choreograph... I know we have musicians here but can't think of who at the moment, but they can write the music. Tony Awards, here we come!

[EarlJam]

Genius!

BostonDevil can write the book, I can choreograph... I know we have musicians here but can't think of who at the moment, but they can write the music. Tony Awards, here we come!

Hey! I'm a musician (though I jokingly denounced it a while back). I'm a "simple musician" (guitar) but my lyrics, tunes are pure, honest.

An intro to the musical:

(melancholy (sp) tone):

Here I sit, nearly paralyzed;
Weakness in bones, tears in my eyes.
Over on the wall, along came a spider;
I thought nothing at all, as I picked up my lighter.

[transistion to scene of CB&B)

Someone out there is afraid;
Of an eight-legged black widow raid!
Embrace your fear, embrance taking chance.
I will paint and do the anti-spider dance!

[Back to EarlJam]

Such a small thing that scares me so;
Eight legs of evil, on the wall, on the go.
Setting its sights on me.
A black widow oh can it be?

Afraid, arachniphobia raid;
Fear;
It draws so near;
Oh no.

[back to CB&B]

It must be the DBR vibes!
I feel EarlJam fearing his life!
I sense he is feeling faint!
I must do an anti-spider paint!

Brush just a touch on the canvas;
Right now I must have a sandwich.
Wait, EarlJam wait;
Fate, EarlJam, fate.


Okay, it's a start.

[devil84]

Of what are you afraid?

Spiders. I'm now over daddy-longlegs and small ones that neither squish nor crunch when stepped on. Should they be large enough to squish or crunch, or worse -- JUMP -- I'm outta there. I've had to get over my fear of smaller, common spiders because a Girl Scout leader just can't shriek louder than the little girls she's leading. :eek: Not the example we want to set! So I now stifle my reaction for the larger ones, and I can give them a wide berth (and call my husband to dispatch it if I'm at home). With the girls, I can say, "That's Fred. He's my friend. Can a few of you watch Fred to make sure he gets safely ?" I'll have three girls appoint themselves Fred's guardian and shepherd him to the appropriate location, feeling very good about their new leadership authority. And they'll stand between me and Fred, keeping me alerted to his whereabouts. Everybody wins!

Edges. I can ride in an airplane, or even a 4 seater helicopter with windows down almost to the floorboards. But [I]do not let me get close to the edge of the Grand Canyon, any observation deck on buildings in NYC or Chicago, or even ladders. However, I now can climb up the 30-40' ladder and videotape concerts from the catwalk in the auditorium, thanks to the band director asking me to do so in front of the 80 student band (and I know almost all of them by name), so I just couldn't admit to being scared to climb up there...

Public speaking. I used to be mortified to speak in front of crowds. When I was 26, I had my first paper accepted to a conference. I'm a design and history double major, and I'm working for an engineering firm as a software developer (meaning, I have no professional certifications like the civil engineers I'm going to speak to). Not only that, it's my first trip away from my 3 month old first baby, and I was breast feeding. I addressed the standing room only crowd of 300+ men (and I counted only 10 women) the very youngest seemed at least twice my age (most seemed like they should have retired years ago). The managing partner of my firm was sitting with the client's project manager. I began to speak, and my PowerPoint presentation wasn't working. As I'm beginning to panic about my slides, my milk lets down. Fortunately, the slides came up and I kicked into gear, and gave one of the best presentations of my life. Thank goodness for thick business suits, so I was spared the added embarrassment of stains! That about cured me of my fear of public speaking, as every speaking engagement after that was a piece of cake!

So what's left? Fear of failure/making a mistake tops the list. Also, fear of something horrible happening to my children (I have teenagers who drive). Long term: Alzheimer's, as in not being able to remember my family or losing the ability to communicate.

Oh -- one more. Fear of dealing with auto mechanics and home improvement contractors. Nearly all past transactions with these service providers have required me learning way more than I want to about their service so I can get them to fix what they've screwed up.

[sue71]

Edges. I can ride in an airplane, or even a 4 seater helicopter with windows down almost to the floorboards. But do not let me get close to the edge of the Grand Canyon, any observation deck on buildings in NYC or Chicago, or even ladders. However, I now can climb up the 30-40' ladder and videotape concerts from the catwalk in the auditorium, thanks to the band director asking me to do so in front of the 80 student band (and I know almost all of them by name), so I just couldn't admit to being scared to climb up there...



For me, this is more heights than edges. And I've never been too embarrassed to tell someone off when asking me to go up to the catwalk (yes, for work several times). :p

As for public speaking, no problem. I think I tend to overprepare for these. A few nerves maybe, but no real fear.

[devil84]

For me, this is more heights than edges. And I've never been too embarrassed to tell someone off when asking me to go up to the catwalk (yes, for work several times). :p

If I had been asked in front of a group of adults, I think I'd have answered "No Way." (Well, I think I'd have said a few more words than that, but you get the point!:D) But these kids see me as a role model, and we spend a lot of time with these kids building character and talking about rising to challenges. When a student says, "I can't do ____," my answer is either "I don't know that word 'can't'" or "I think 'can't' means, 'I'll give it a good try'" The band director didn't know I was terrified of the ladder/catwalk. The kids were so excited about being videotaped when the director asked me, I just couldn't I listen to them repeat my words back to me!

The things I've done for kids...

[sue71]

If I had been asked in front of a group of adults, I think I'd have answered "No Way." (Well, I think I'd have said a few more words than that, but you get the point!:D) But these kids see me as a role model, and we spend a lot of time with these kids building character and talking about rising to challenges. When a student says, "I can't do ____," my answer is either "I don't know that word 'can't'" or "I think 'can't' means, 'I'll give it a good try'" The band director didn't know I was terrified of the ladder/catwalk. The kids were so excited about being videotaped when the director asked me, I just couldn't I listen to them repeat my words back to me!

The things I've done for kids...

Ok, good point. Then in your case, the proper ;) answer would've been, "I'd love to but I have to run to the restroom so I'm sure that [insert name here] would love to do it."

ie, throw it to a coworker :p

[devil84]

Ok, good point. Then in your case, the proper ;) answer would've been, "I'd love to but I have to run to the restroom so I'm sure that [insert name here] would love to do it."

ie, throw it to a coworker :p

Of course that's the proper answer! And as I looked around the room, it was me, the director, 80 students, and ... absolutely nobody else. I panicked! I couldn't remember a single parent to throw under the bus! It was 80 imploring eyes hoping and praying that I'd videotape so they could spend the next class period watching the concert (instead of learning new music for the next concert).

I'm happy to report that I can now videotape from the catwalk with no major meltdowns, and a heart rate that is fairly normal upon getting to my location on the catwalk (once I'm set, it's OK), and after climbing down that ladder. They've suckered me for four concerts this year, and each one gets easier. I guess if I ask the kids to grow, I ought to try it, too! And it wasn't toooooo bad. Particularly the two concerts where I was able to capture my son with particularly incredible percussion solos -- one of which garnered him some national honors. I guess it was worth it!

The director did announce at the last concert that I was up there videotaping rather against my will, and I've got volunteers lined up for next year! YAY!

I love to learn. While I'd rather not learn by facing my fears, I did grow a lot from this, just like I've learned not to flip out in front of Girl Scouts when I see a spider. The Girl Scout tagline is "Girl Scouts. Where Girls Grow Strong." And I'll add, "And Adults Grow Stronger.":eek::D I had no idea that band boosters had the same idea!

I'll still stay away from observation decks and the edge of the Grand Canyon, thank-you-very-much!

[blublood]

I began to speak, and my PowerPoint presentation wasn't working. As I'm beginning to panic about my slides, my milk lets down. Fortunately, the slides came up and I kicked into gear, and gave one of the best presentations of my life. Thank goodness for thick business suits, so I was spared the added embarrassment of stains! That about cured me of my fear of public speaking, as every speaking engagement after that was a piece of cake!


Oh, that sucks! Gee, thanks a lot, mommy body, how did you know I needed you to not act up right now?? :)

I will never forget coming out of a movie theater (one of my first outings post-pregnancy actually) with my shirt front almost completely wet. This happened to be one of the suburban swanky movie theaters, filled with beautiful and rich people, and then here's me - not a part of that crowd to begin with, mind you - emerging from a theater covered in milk.

[pamtar]

We have been invaded by the golden silk spider in Wilmington. They are EVERYWHERE! At first it was cool - a hand sized spider with beautiful markings and a feeding show that was unreal. Then, I walked face first into one in a drunken stupor. I hate them. I do landscaping so I'm constantly dodging these bastards.

I chose this image for scale, but check out other online pics to see the cool markings.
KILL THEM ALL....
http://www.dannesdjur.com/bilder/nephila_sp_2.jpg

[Lavabe]

Yes, that looks like one of the Nephila spiders I was talking about. That's a female.

The Madagascar ones had HUGE yellow webs, and had a little red in them.

[2535Miles]

We have been invaded by the golden silk spider in Wilmington. They are EVERYWHERE! At first it was cool - a hand sized spider with beautiful markings and a feeding show that was unreal. Then, I walked face first into one in a drunken stupor. I hate them. I do landscaping so I'm constantly dodging these bastards.
That spider would force me to carry a gun. My heart rate went up just looking at that picture. I have a great appreciation for these guys, but they still scare the dickens out of me.

[devil84]

Oh, that sucks! Gee, thanks a lot, mommy body, how did you know I needed you to not act up right now?? :)

Even more embarrassing was after speaking, the managing partner and client came up to congratulate me, and I had to excuse myself to my room. Neither was taking the many subtle hints, so I wound up blurting out what happened. The looks on their faces were priceless!


I will never forget coming out of a movie theater (one of my first outings post-pregnancy actually) with my shirt front almost completely wet. This happened to be one of the suburban swanky movie theaters, filled with beautiful and rich people, and then here's me - not a part of that crowd to begin with, mind you - emerging from a theater covered in milk.

Coming out of a theater drenched in milk around all kinds of pretty people would be ummm...let's call it "character building!" ;) It's a select group of us who have experienced such growth through mommy body malfunctions, and a darn fine lot we are (if I do say so myself!). I think this is nature's way of preparing us for some of the other "joys" of motherhood, like when you don't know what adorable-but-mortifying comment will emanate forth from your child's mouth. If you can make it through a social situation with a shirt full of milk, you can handle anything.

Well, except deal with that spider that pamtar has posted. Eeewwww. Up until now, my fear threshold for spiders has been those that squish or crunch. I hadn't contemplated the fact that there are spiders that may not fit under a shoe. Ewww. Hopefully they'll all stay well away from Raleigh (and PLEASE, may nobody be ever so "helpful" and tell me they're here!).

[sue71]

Oh my!

I'm not generally afraid of spiders, but that thing scared the bejeezus out of me and it's just a picture!

[Lavabe]

Oh my!

I'm not generally afraid of spiders, but that thing scared the bejeezus out of me and it's just a picture!

Scorpions are worse than spiders.

Leeches are okay, except for the tiny ones.

[sue71]

Scorpions are worse than spiders.

Leeches are okay, except for the tiny ones.

Ok, first scorpions. I lived in Las Vegas before LA, and everyone tells you to shake your shoes out before you put them on. Never know what... critter... could be in them. :eek:

We actually found scorpions in my parent's house (in Vegas) on a few occasions- little itty, bitty ones. This only happened maybe 2-3 times in an 9-year span. Darn if they aren't easy to miss (I'm talking small).

As for leeches, ahhhh, memories of summer camp. (Not that I personally had any encounters with any but the stories of those that did... we had a lake that we'd swim in sometimes. Sometimes.)

[sue71]

No one's afraid of bats?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/08/vampire.bats.ap/index.html

[EarlJam]

We have been invaded by the golden silk spider in Wilmington. They are EVERYWHERE! At first it was cool - a hand sized spider with beautiful markings and a feeding show that was unreal. Then, I walked face first into one in a drunken stupor. I hate them. I do landscaping so I'm constantly dodging these bastards.

I chose this image for scale, but check out other online pics to see the cool markings.
KILL THEM ALL....
http://www.dannesdjur.com/bilder/nephila_sp_2.jpg

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!

OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!1

HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRGH!!!

CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPS!

Never, NEVER do that again!

Spiders are Satan's pets!

-EarlJam

[Lavabe]

No one's afraid of bats?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/08/vampire.bats.ap/index.html

No vampire bats in Africa/Madagascar/Asia. No worries here. Bats eat insects (and fruit) in these locations. We just have to deal with those awful scorpions, parasites, and disease-bearing mosquitoes.

Those Nephila spiders take care of the mosquitoes.

[2535Miles]

I was sleeping with my girlfriend one night and kept feeling this itching sensation on my face. Not thinking anything bad, I just kinda brush my face and go back to sleep. Then it happens, I wake up and feel something in my mouth! So I reach in, pull out what I think is a feather or a piece of cotton and hold it up to the window for some light. There, squirming in the moonlight is little effin spider! I screamed like a six year old boy, and threw the spider. The little bastard landed on my girlfriend's naked back. Without pause, I instantly pummeled the monster into oblivion. Unfortunately, my girlfriend had to take one for team. She woke up naked, slightly perturbed, and covered in spider guts and parts.

Spiders suck.

[BlueDevilJay]

Not being a good daddy. That has to be the biggest fear that I have. Once I had a child of my own, I realized just how great my mom and dad were to me, how much they took care of me, prepared me for the 'real world', and my biggest fear is that I may not be able to do the same for my daughter. I think I'm doing okay so far, but I hope when she is my age, she looks back on me like I do my father.

[blublood]

I was sleeping with my girlfriend one night and kept feeling this itching sensation on my face. Not thinking anything bad, I just kinda brush my face and go back to sleep. Then it happens, I wake up and feel something in my mouth! So I reach in, pull out what I think is a feather or a piece of cotton and hold it up to the window for some light. There, squirming in the moonlight is little effin spider! I screamed like a six year old boy, and threw the spider. The little bastard landed on my girlfriend's naked back. Without pause, I instantly pummeled the monster into oblivion. Unfortunately, my girlfriend had to take one for team. She woke up naked, slightly perturbed, and covered in spider guts and parts.


Let me guess - you guys are not together anymore! :)

Between that and the bees, I'm starting to think you have some supernatural gift for calling forth insects and arachnids.

[2535Miles]

Let me guess - you guys are not together anymore! :)
You are correct, we are no longer together. Thanks for bringing up such a painful breakup. :-( HAHA, just kidding. She was actually very cool about the whole thing. She was obviously shocked and a tad bewildered as to why her boyfriend would assault her in the middle of the night, but she has also seen first-hand the panic attacks and other freakouts I've gone through thanks our little 8-legged monsters, so was understood once I told her the story. She's also a good healer. I swear those bruises didn't last more than six weeks.

Between that and the bees, I'm starting to think you have some supernatural gift for calling forth insects and arachnids.
Don't get me started! I also have an uncanny knack for attracting camel crickets. These lil buggers used to live in my garage (where we kept the laundry machine/dryer). If I walked out there to get the laundry, they would swarm all over me but if my roommate went in there, they wouldn't even look at her twice.

Imagine the scariness of spiders coupled by the ability to jump freakishly long distances.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/60739525_02bcbd8060.jpg

[2535Miles]

Not being a good daddy. That has to be the biggest fear that I have. Once I had a child of my own, I realized just how great my mom and dad were to me, how much they took care of me, prepared me for the 'real world', and my biggest fear is that I may not be able to do the same for my daughter. I think I'm doing okay so far, but I hope when she is my age, she looks back on me like I do my father.
Right on BlueDevilJay! I can't even imagine how I'm going to live up to the standard my parents set.

[blublood]

Imagine the scariness of spiders coupled by the ability to jump freakishly long distances.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/60739525_02bcbd8060.jpg



:eek::eek: OH MY GOSH!! Oh, make it go away!! :eek:

[2535Miles]

:eek::eek: OH MY GOSH!! Oh, make it go away!! :eek:
Uh huh! Now imagine about a hundred of them at once, jumping back and forth, bouncing off the walls, trying to eat poor 2535Miles' eyes!

[CrazyCat]

spending another winter in the midwest

I am so with you on this one. My fear of heights has nothing on my fear of having to plow 30 inches of snow.

[YmoBeThere]

New greatest fear, that woman from the cloned puppies thread does what she says she would do...yikes!

[UVaAmbassador]

We have been invaded by the golden silk spider in Wilmington. They are EVERYWHERE! At first it was cool - a hand sized spider with beautiful markings and a feeding show that was unreal. Then, I walked face first into one in a drunken stupor. I hate them. I do landscaping so I'm constantly dodging these bastards.

I chose this image for scale, but check out other online pics to see the cool markings.
KILL THEM ALL....
http://www.dannesdjur.com/bilder/nephila_sp_2.jpg


I was sleeping with my girlfriend one night and kept feeling this itching sensation on my face. Not thinking anything bad, I just kinda brush my face and go back to sleep. Then it happens, I wake up and feel something in my mouth! So I reach in, pull out what I think is a feather or a piece of cotton and hold it up to the window for some light. There, squirming in the moonlight is little effin spider! I screamed like a six year old boy, and threw the spider. The little bastard landed on my girlfriend's naked back. Without pause, I instantly pummeled the monster into oblivion. Unfortunately, my girlfriend had to take one for team. She woke up naked, slightly perturbed, and covered in spider guts and parts.

Spiders suck.

While I had a fear of spiders as a kid, I had basically gotten over it (notwithstanding an incident where I stumbled into a black widow in my shower). I'm going to have to kill both of you, as I spent last night waking up every 45 minutes thinking I had one of those yellow demon spawn on my face trying to get into my mouth. Thanks for setting me back psychologically 20 years.

[2535Miles]

While I had a fear of spiders as a kid, I had basically gotten over it (notwithstanding an incident where I stumbled into a black widow in my shower). I'm going to have to kill both of you, as I spent last night waking up every 45 minutes thinking I had one of those yellow demon spawn on my face trying to get into my mouth. Thanks for setting me back psychologically 20 years.
Sorry to set you back 20 years. But hey, think of it this way, at least all you have to do is rinse and repeat your therapy. You've done it once and you can do it again. Whenever I think back to that dreadful night, I try to remember some of the better details in the story, minus the guts and spider parts.

[devil84]

Thanks to this list, I've added a new fear: Reading threads with ghastly, horrible spider pictures in them, and then realizing that I'll see the same horrid picture AGAIN and AGAIN as people quote the hideous picture!

Thanks, y'all! :rolleyes::D