Six or seven Septembers ago three us went to an area that was new to us black bear hunting. It was really too warm to be bear hunting but driving about and seeing new to us country with grouse and bear licenses in our pockets seemed like an awfully good idea at the time. So, we spent the afternoon driving around telling each other lies and not seeing anything of note. Finally, evening was just beginning, and the long September light was lighting up the other mountain side. Literally cross canyon was a garbage can sized rock glowing in the late sun light. How far away who knows. I happen to like shooting rocks and I also happened to have a new to me 300 Weatherby rifle along in case a bear had made an appearance. Now I'd shot this rifle at paper, but this rock was just too tempting to me sitting there shinning in the sun light. I asked Bruce to stop the truck and began taking guess at how far away this rock was as I got out and made the rifle ready. Range estimates varied so only one thing to do, take a shot and look for dust to kick up somewhere. So, I sit down off the side of the road rest my elbows on my knees make my best guess as to the right amount of hold over and firer. Bob noticed where my bullet struck and let me know I was about seven feet low and even worse about 20 feet to the right. Bad holdover guess are one thing but trying to guess what the wind is doing with nothing for reference between me and the target is another. Windage for me has always been a real bugabo. Anyway, I make both hold over and windage adjustments and try again. No good, finally after 6 or seven attempts I finally get a wokk sound and dust off this rock. Now it's Bobs turn and same routine of take a shot and look for dust After a number of shots Bob finally smacks this rock. Bruce is now up and after a similar number of rounds he hits the rock. After 25 or 30 some rounds in fairly short order all three of us managed to hit this rock and were feeling pretty smug with our selves. Bruce goes to hand me my rifle back and he's holding the rifle one handed by the stock's wrist, bolt open. I grab the rifle by its barrel. Now my hand didn't actually sizzle, and the rifle didn't bounce off the ground, but both were way closer than they should have been. Why couldn't I have just grabbed the rifle by the forearm like a normal person, dumb things I do.
Dumb things you do
- Thread starter david s
- Start date
Snakeoil
Well-Known Member
I was waiting for the rock to stand up, growl and then fall over dead. I never expected the actual outcome.
I've done this casting bullets. Gloves give one a false sense of security. So, you have an issue and start handling the mold with the gloved hands until you realize it was a mistake. Of course, the heat is still moving thru the glove so even when you let go of the mold, the inside of the glove's temp continues to rise. I have snapped my hand while wearing welding gloves to eject a glove that is BBQ'ing my hand and have the glove go across the shop. But there is no flinging off a snug deerskin glove like I use for casting. You just have to sit there and take the pain.
As for sizzle, I think I probably experienced the sizzle factor. I was young and working on the NYS Thruway Bridge Crew. Fresh out of school and still living at home. I was making my lunch for the next day and took a package of hot ham out of the freezer. I put it in cast iron frying pan and stuck it in the oven to thaw out the ham. I know you can see what's coming. I take the pan out of the oven with a pot holder and set it on the stove. TV is on in the family room and I'm half watching the TV as I prepare to fry up the ham. This is when I grab the pan by the handle. I actually had a grip on the pan before the brain said I was in pain. I instinctively flung the pan, which sailed thru the family room and into the living room. If was the first time I missed a day's work. The palm of my hand, thumb and 3 fingers were seared and developed blisters that made my hand look like a balloon.
Yes, it is amazing we have survived this long.
I've done this casting bullets. Gloves give one a false sense of security. So, you have an issue and start handling the mold with the gloved hands until you realize it was a mistake. Of course, the heat is still moving thru the glove so even when you let go of the mold, the inside of the glove's temp continues to rise. I have snapped my hand while wearing welding gloves to eject a glove that is BBQ'ing my hand and have the glove go across the shop. But there is no flinging off a snug deerskin glove like I use for casting. You just have to sit there and take the pain.
As for sizzle, I think I probably experienced the sizzle factor. I was young and working on the NYS Thruway Bridge Crew. Fresh out of school and still living at home. I was making my lunch for the next day and took a package of hot ham out of the freezer. I put it in cast iron frying pan and stuck it in the oven to thaw out the ham. I know you can see what's coming. I take the pan out of the oven with a pot holder and set it on the stove. TV is on in the family room and I'm half watching the TV as I prepare to fry up the ham. This is when I grab the pan by the handle. I actually had a grip on the pan before the brain said I was in pain. I instinctively flung the pan, which sailed thru the family room and into the living room. If was the first time I missed a day's work. The palm of my hand, thumb and 3 fingers were seared and developed blisters that made my hand look like a balloon.
Yes, it is amazing we have survived this long.
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Geez, where to start?
Dumbest thing I've done?
Dumbest thing I've done more than once?
Most recent dumbest thing I've done?
Dumbest thing with no witnesses, WITH witnesses, with the worst possible witness witnessing?
Dumbest thing I've done after telling someone else not to do that exact same dumbest thing?
...
I'll pass on this one. I'm normally a pretty humble guy, but I'm pretty sure I could show the majority of you up this time.
Dumbest thing I've done?
Dumbest thing I've done more than once?
Most recent dumbest thing I've done?
Dumbest thing with no witnesses, WITH witnesses, with the worst possible witness witnessing?
Dumbest thing I've done after telling someone else not to do that exact same dumbest thing?
...
I'll pass on this one. I'm normally a pretty humble guy, but I'm pretty sure I could show the majority of you up this time.
Snakeoil
Well-Known Member
I have one more, not heat related. Well, I have a whole lot more, but will just share this one.
So, the wife and I are headed to our summer place for the weekend. I was still working so our SOP was to depart fo the lake on Friday after work. One the way, we drive past a soft-icecream place that I went to almost every day in the summer at lunch. But it had been sold and was not open that summer and had just reopened with new owners. So, I stopped to get us each a cone for the ride to the lake. Wife passed so it was just me. Back on the road and I'm not happy. The new owners were using the cheapo ice cream mix for their soft ice cream. You know the kind. It's mostly air, not even cold and has no flavor. I'm carping to the wife about wasting my money on this crap and it is a waste of calories I did not need and an am not enjoying.
I am going up an entrance ramp to the highway. I decide I'm done with the cone after a few licks. I open my window to fling it out into the weeds under the overpass next to me. I hold it with my index finger on the base of the cone to give it a good push and I throw. It's slips out of my fingers, but that index finger is still well engaged. The cone deflects upward and slams into the headliner right above the window. The cone explodes and covers me with soft-serve shrapnel. Now I'm really pissed. I manage to catch the remains and get them out the window. But I have this huge glob of ice cream sticking to the headliner. I take a napkin I had and wipe as much as I can off the headliner while keeping the car on the road. I run the window back up and realize that my wife is silent as I hand her the napkin which is the ice cream equivalent to a full diaper. I look over at her and she is turning blue trying not to laugh. Then she just slightly turns to look at me and of course, my head is covered in ice cream and bits of cone and she just loses it.
We did have a good laugh over it. No permanent damage to anything other than my ego.
So, the wife and I are headed to our summer place for the weekend. I was still working so our SOP was to depart fo the lake on Friday after work. One the way, we drive past a soft-icecream place that I went to almost every day in the summer at lunch. But it had been sold and was not open that summer and had just reopened with new owners. So, I stopped to get us each a cone for the ride to the lake. Wife passed so it was just me. Back on the road and I'm not happy. The new owners were using the cheapo ice cream mix for their soft ice cream. You know the kind. It's mostly air, not even cold and has no flavor. I'm carping to the wife about wasting my money on this crap and it is a waste of calories I did not need and an am not enjoying.
I am going up an entrance ramp to the highway. I decide I'm done with the cone after a few licks. I open my window to fling it out into the weeds under the overpass next to me. I hold it with my index finger on the base of the cone to give it a good push and I throw. It's slips out of my fingers, but that index finger is still well engaged. The cone deflects upward and slams into the headliner right above the window. The cone explodes and covers me with soft-serve shrapnel. Now I'm really pissed. I manage to catch the remains and get them out the window. But I have this huge glob of ice cream sticking to the headliner. I take a napkin I had and wipe as much as I can off the headliner while keeping the car on the road. I run the window back up and realize that my wife is silent as I hand her the napkin which is the ice cream equivalent to a full diaper. I look over at her and she is turning blue trying not to laugh. Then she just slightly turns to look at me and of course, my head is covered in ice cream and bits of cone and she just loses it.
We did have a good laugh over it. No permanent damage to anything other than my ego.
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smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
I feel sorry for anyone who's never done anything dumb. It means that they have never done anything.
Rick H
Well-Known Member
Lets see, a friend who thought he had a hot car, a rainstorm, me proving him wrong with my motorcycle. Oh, there was probably some alcohol involved. They say any landing you can walk away from is a good one. I was able to walk, gingerly, eventually the strawberry rash healed.
fiver
Well-Known Member
like that time i saved aluminum cans for 3 years figuring i'd make a killing.
then the tail gate on the old ford fell open at a green light dumping cans all over the intersection and piling up against the hood of the cop car right behind me..?
at least the scrap yard paid me enough to cover the littering ticket.
then the tail gate on the old ford fell open at a green light dumping cans all over the intersection and piling up against the hood of the cop car right behind me..?
at least the scrap yard paid me enough to cover the littering ticket.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
reminds me of my first wheel weight score. man, thought I was the berries! And leaving the parking lot, tailgate open, strung a bucket full EVERYWHERE! Wouldn'ta been so bad except my wife and kid saw it. And that is just ONE very small dumb thing! I could write a book - maybe even 2 volumes!
JonB
Halcyon member
Ya,,when them hers,start flapping there lips,they only stop to suck in air!