When my daughter’s cord prolapsed as the midwives and I were preparing to go to the hospital (she’d flipped breech and my water had just broken in very early labor), I immediately got on the ground on all fours with my ass in the air, yelled at one to come upstairs and the other to call the squad (they were helping my husband get the bags at the time). I then just used self hypnosis to keep my breath deep and calm, which was helpful when the paramedics were carrying me downstairs in a body bag so I (and my midwife with her hand in my vag keeping pressure off the cord) could stay in that position. My daughter is now three years old, perfectly healthy, and lived due to everyone’s quick action that night.
I also get some atheist cred for not even thinking about prayer for the whole 25 minutes or so, even though I never truly relaxed until about 30 seconds before I was put under, when they told me the ultrasound was still picking up a heartbeat.
When I realised that six months ago, I’d carefully noted down everything I needed to know about the code I was working on, and now I could easily find the answers to whatever I was trying to do to it!
Once I was running around getting ready for work, late, and when I saw myself in the mirror downstairs, realized I had put on a shirt that was too wrinkled to wear to work. I plugged in the iron, cursing that I’d have to get half undressed (jacket, tie, shirt) to iron it, then get re-dressed, and I really don’t have time for this today, dammit. As it was heating up, I thought, hmmm… I wonder if…
Grabbed the iron, flipped my tie over my shoulder, and ironed it while I stood in front of the mirror. To be fair, it hadn’t heated up all the way yet, and I used steam to speed the process along, and I was wearing an undershirt, but it was hot and getting hotter. Once it was pressed enough to be respectable, I unplugged the iron and flew out the door.
Another time my study group in law school met to prep for our civil procedure exam. We had previously decided that we’d each come up with a sample question that involved as many of the course concepts that we could think of, and we’d each try to write an essay for each member’s question as practice. Our professor was crazy about skiing, so I came up with a question that involved ski boots manufactured in one country, skis in another, a ski trip to another country, foreign diversity, jurisdiction, etc. It was pretty involved.
The exam had nearly the identical question on it. Score!
I was having lunch yesterday with my best friend, who is Canadian. We are both fans of the local minor-league hockey team, which just ended the season by winning the league Championship. As we discussed the team - who will be coming back, who might be moving up, who is or might be retiring, the decisions Coach has made this season and in the past - I got a big grin on my face and said “Listen to me! I actually sound like I know what I’m talking about!”. She replied “Because you do know what you’re talking about!”
Not bad for someone who had never watched a hockey game before 1996 and didn’t get season tickets until 2000.
I got mentioned by name in the Chicago Reader for my Shakespearean acting. They absolutely panned the rest of the play, but of me and two of my cohorts, they said, “When these three are absent, they’re missed.”
I got through university, had a decent career, then quit and went back to school for another bachelor’s degree…in mechanical engineering. There were several what the hell am I doing? moments, but I’m damn impressed with myself that I did it! Now I know that I can do anything!
A couple of more minor things:
With only about 3 hours to think about, a scavenge of supplies and a half-day to actually do it, I made my best friend’s wedding cake. Well, I decorated it, as the cake consisted of stacked cheese wheels, but it looked rather amazing. The cake received a lot of “Best. Cake. Ever!” comments, and I’m very pleased with myself for that.
At the same wedding, in the UK, we wanted to introduce a few North American traditions - namely having the guests do something throughout the meal to have the bride and groom kiss. Also, someone had to embarass the groom with stupid instructions leading up to the garter removal and toss. Somehow, that person ended up being me. I’m a painfully shy person and I was terrified, but I did it and even got lots of applause and people even laughed at my jokes (admittedly, alcohol may have largely contributed to that). My friend actually thought I had prepared the bit before the garter toss, but it was all on the fly.
Also, I made theselast week. It was a trial run, and there are a bunch of modifications that I want to do, but I think they turned out pretty good (they were definitely good tasting!)
