OK. First off I AM NOT CRAZY. I DO NOT WANT TO DIE. <P>So here goes. <P>For the past couple of months I have been thinking realy hard about doing something in the extreme sports area. I'm in my early 40's and I am almost driven to do something like Hang Glide, or Para Sail, or something. <P>I want to do some of the things I never got to do before or during my screwed up marriage. This is by no means a death wish, but is close to the edge (Not bleeding edge). As its not the fall but the sudden inpact that gets ya.<P>I'm now starting too play racquetball with the "A" level players, Getting my butt whipped pretty good but they (The "A" Level players) know I'm coming after them. I'm getting in pretty good or at least better shape. Another 20Lbs and I will be in flight range. <P>Another Idea: The Texas Moter Speedway has a deal that for $400 You can get 10-15 laps around the track in a NASCAR at speeds up to 165MPH w/ you at the wheel and a pro driver setting in the right seat, vidio taped from inside and outside the car.<P>I feel the need for adrenaline, endophines, fun, excitement, hopefully not much pain,;-), <P>Am I going daft?<P>Is this what a mid-life crisis is?<P>Is this a second childhood?<P>As a Side Effect: Would this scare off potenially available women? <P>Tex. ;-)<P><BR><p>[This message has been edited by AgoodManInTexas (edited May 04, 2001).]

Yes, Tex, you are going loopy. Head to the nearest institutional facility and commit yourself. <P>Hey, things get pretty wild here in the wild west, so I just HAD to tease you! It is conceiveable that this is somewhat linked to a MLC, you being 40yo and all , but my suspision is that you are starting to feel the sheer JOY of being alive again. It is literally coursing through your veins. You are FREE, you are in good shape, you are alive enough to be able to enjoy life yet old enough to have some money to do it!<P>Some folks are more risky than others. Some folks, while totally in their right mind, will settle for the steady job, the steady paycheck and the steady life. Other folks are a little more lively, and while also totally in their right mind, will go for the gusto and try to climb the ladder, go for the commission paycheck because they can make so much more, and strive for great passion and joyeau de vive (joy of life). <P>I bet you are more toward the risky kind of person, and then throw in there the JOY of being alive and in control of your life again, and boom...you want to jump out of an airplane! Okay--it's still a little crazy, but you wouldn't be the cowboy we know and love if you were TOTALLY sane! <P><BR>CJ<P>P.S. Where knee pads and a helmet!<P>------------------<BR>Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Naw....<BR>some women find it exciting too.<P><BR>My stbx-brother-in-law was in the Xtreme games in land-luging.<BR>Another stbx-b-i-l tried for the Olympics in sailing and now has his pilot's license.<BR>Stbx-s-i-l was also a pilot and sailor until a neck injury at a rave put a stop to that. <BR>My stbx is also a road rasher and does sword fighting.<P>I started doing sword fighting when we met, stopped for the duration of our marriage due to politics, and am now trying to get back into it (because I really do like it).<P>So you're feeling a need for a primal rush. I think this is more normal for men than women.<P>But, there are various ways of getting it. <P>Your raquetball is kind of like the sword fighting and skateboarding ---- low cost, low level adrenaline rush.<P>So now your expressing that you want a bigger rush.<P>Personally, I'd look for something that can give the biggest bang for the buck. Because chances are that this isn't a one-time thing. <P>How many times can you jump out of an airplane for $400?<BR>How much would it cost for you to learn to fly your own plane?<BR>How much does it cost to take your own car and race it on the local drag strip?<BR>Ever think of entering a marathon? Or bicycling?<BR>What about amateur rodeo?<BR>Any martial art, or boxing?<P>My primary concern would be for body conditioning. Some things you can do without much conditioning. Others are things that you have to build up to. <BR>An-ti-ci-pa-tion.<P>The important thing is that you've got to learn to control it, so that it doesn't control you or take over your life. A release valve that you control, so that you can do it when you need to and do it safely.<P>~Amy

Hang gliding is $1200 for leasons and testing for your Novice II cert. and a good glider that would fit my size is between 2500-3500$. There is a glider hill in SE. Okla. which is about a 2 Hr. Drive away from me. <P>I have also been looking into the Martial Art - Aikido.<BR>(The name Aikido is composed of three Japanese words: Ai, meaning harmony; Ki, spirit or energy; and Do, path, or way. Aikido is the way of the spirit of harmony.) I thought this rather appropriate. <P>Tex.

I'd have to say, nope not crazy at all!<P>I guess I am kind of easing into this need for excitement/thrills, but the desire to embrace these things is definately there!!<P>For me, wearing a sexy shirt to a U2 concert was a big deal. <P>That really cracked me up, how you started your post<BR>I AM NOT CRAZY, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!! <P>I hear ya, I just want to have fun too. So, watch out, as I leave you in my dust on that Speedway!!!!!<P>Petrie

U2 and a sexy shirt could thrill me right now.. (Shame on Me) <P>At some point that would be so much better than a muscle shirt and bugs in your teeth.. LMAOx10,000.. <P>Thinking about my first line. "I AM NOT CRAZY. I DO NOT WANT TO DIE" That could have two meanings. <BR>1st.) I don't want to die in an extreme sport.<BR>2nd.) I don't want to die by doing nothing exciting or nothing w/ my life. <P>Tex. <p>[This message has been edited by AgoodManInTexas (edited May 04, 2001).]

Yeah, I like the martial arts idea too.<P>My daughter wants to take dance lessons, and I want to do fighting. There's some places that have parent-child martial arts lessons. I'm thinking about locating one of those. She'd learn the control of body movement and discipline and I'd still get exercise as well as learning to defend myself. And we'd be doing it together.<P>How's that for a mother-daughter activity?<P>But I must say, I'm cringing at those prices. <P>You know? That's something I noticed about my stbx. The moment we were separated, he started spending skads of money. I had to get him to shelve the credit card because it wasn't getting paid off each month.<P>But hey, you know what your finances are like. (I know that mine are bare thin.) Do what you feel is right.<P>Have fun!<BR>But do it safely, please.<P>~Amy

Funny this thread should pop up. I am struggling so with self doubt and want to be carefree and really throw caution to the wind (in a healthy sort of way).<P>My best friend is soooo supportive and she really encourages me. She got the concert tickets, made me take my jacket off- and just relax and forget about everything and just enjoy. I did and it felt great and totally invigorating.<P>She also wouldn't take no for an answer and we are going to Maui in August. Already bought a new bikini, and I will show it off. Can I wear a sarong? I hate self doubt, I hate self doubt.<P>Tex, you need to drive 165MPH and I just need to be carefree! <P>I say go for it!!!!!!

Amy, What's your e-mail address? <P>Tex

Well let's see....For the last 10 years or I had wanted a tattoo. Once the divorce was final, I went out and got the tattoo.<P>Now another thing I have ALWAYS wanted to try is skydiving. I have yet to take this step, but there's still time. Maybe this summer perhaps?<P>I don't view it as a deathwish, but a true and pure rush

I've looked into skydiving. they now teach it differently. after about 4 hours of instruction they will freefall you w/ 2 instructors flying w/ you to make sure YOU pull the cord. <P>I thought Hang gliding would be more fun because if you found a thermal you could stay up for an hour+.. And the different types and colors of foils would be cool to watch frolmthe ground.<P>Tex.

AGMIT,<P>"the best of men, are men at best"......do whatever doesn't get you killed!<P>Hey Jayhawk, I've always wanted a tatoo but never had enough guts and money at the same time! Now at 46 I could put "g-ma" on my......arm! Just kidding! A peach is really what I want....put somewhere not visable to all!<P>Ragamuffin

Hey OOTF<P>Check this out.<BR> <A HREF="http://www.hsaikido.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.hsaikido.com/</A> <BR>----<BR>I came very, very close to getting a couple of tattoo's a week or so ago. I want a U.S.Navy anchor on my right upper arm w/ USS Manley DD940 1976-'79. On my right peck, I want a yen/yang dragon were one dragon is kinda eating the tail of the other dragon and vise/versa. But two things happened. 1.) I ran out of beer and 2.) My buddies wife wouldn't let him go with me.. I wonder why? <P>I don't know, I just have to do something!!! I feel like I'm going to explode..

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AgoodManInTexas:<BR><B>Amy, What's your e-mail address? <P>Tex</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>@<P>~Amy<P><BR>[This message has been edited by out of the fog (edited May 04, 2001).]<p>[This message has been edited by out of the fog (edited May 04, 2001).]

Tex,<P>I think you're normal. Growing and learning to be you and to be unafraid to live.<P>I'm in my early 40s and took up karate last year with my kids. Kids got tired of it and I no longer have the time right now, but I understand. I still lift weights and jog and have a heavy bag in my garage.<P>Hang gliding sounds fun, but someday I'd like to fly a plane.<P>As to martial arts, Aikido looks good when Seagal does it in the movies, but it doesn't seem to be successful in competitions which attempt to mimic realistic fighting conditions, like the UFCs (Ultimate Fighting Championships). People who win there, under conditions of few rules tend to train in a grappling art, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or Sambo and possibly a striking art like boxing. Here is one <A HREF="http://bjj.org/" TARGET=_blank>link</A> re BJJ.<P>Anyway, go for it, I'm glad you're feeling good.<P>I can't speak to the effect on eligible women, though , someone else will have to do that.<P>Steve (fellow Texan--in Houston)<p>[This message has been edited by StillHers (edited May 04, 2001).]

A couple of things...<P>First: You're NOT crazy! I've done a few of the things you've talked about, and I'm happy I did them!<P>The NASCAR thing sounds like something I did last year. I drove a Winston Cup car around Phoenix International Raceway at 150+mph. Please, please do this! It is worth every penny, and if you go with the guys I went with (www.cupcars.com), you will really get a feel for what it is like to drive in NASCAR.<P>Skydiving is one of the safest, easiest sports to get into. I went on a tandem jump a few years ago and I was hooked! I cannot begin to describe the feeling of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane at 10,000 feet!<P>You are not crazy, and you don't want to die...in fact, you want to LIVE in a way most people only dream about!<P>Go for it.

Oh yeah.<P>Definitely do the TMS trip. I've been toying with the idea of buying one of those 1200cc crotch rockets. Speed is really addictive.<P>One thing I noticed after my STBX split, was that my conservative nature disappeared. I skiied everything with my son this winter. I'm taking back up rock climbing.<P>Something about having your life ripped apart must make you want to live more, I guess.<P>------------------<BR>nick<P>it's only time that heals the pain <BR>and makes the sun come out again

Hey StillHers.<P>I looked into Aikido And what you are talking about is not what I am talking about. There a two types of Aikido. The one you are talking about is a spin off of the original. The Orig. was Devloped specifically not to use weapons, and basicly uses the permise that most attacks are liniar or straight forward and the kind of Aikido I'm talking about uses circliar motions to counter and throw. I would say its more like Judo.. matter of fact these guys and gals don't even have matches. Do a google seach on "Aikido of Dallas"..<P>And speaking of an extreme sport. What about Salsa Dancing? Talk about something that would get the juices flowing? I was watching a ballroom dancing show on PBS,, All I got to say is WOW. <P>Tex!!

I think a really great thing would be to take part in that eco challenge race. Talk about pushing yourself to the limit!!<P>Not that it is really extreme or anything but white water rafting is a total blast. That is something I really want to do again!!!<P>Salsa dancing you bet. I hung out with a lot of Latin people in grad school. Did a bit of salsa dancing in my day!! <P>Frankly a guy who is into extreme sports is <B>very</B> attractive. Anyone who can tackle that kind of physical challenge must have a pretty good mind to go with it. <P>

Ok now I want to do sme thrill seeking!!<P>I sold my "Crotch Rocket" last year! Damn!! Thought about a martial aned even sky diving...<P>I reckin I'll thinking right now I get my biggest thrill seeking out of watching coffe roast in my oven, it really gets my juices flowing to each of the "cracks" it goes through!! LOL<P>I need to get a grip!!<P>Bill