Oli Lemieux, the Trampoline Machine

I thought I was cool because I could do a backflip on the trampoline when I was a kid.  Apparently I was just scratching the surface.  Check out this video of Cirque du Soleil performer, Oli Lemieux (warning: song contains adult content, so turn down the speakers if you’d rather not hear it…the amazing stuff is all Oli, so don’t worry, you won’t lose a thing):

(Thanks to Paul–AKA Dr. Bounce–for the submission!)

Before Balloon Boy: Larry Walters, lawn chair pilot

Up, up, and away…in my beautiful lawn chair.  Good thing he brought his second pair of glasses so he could see Marineland  (his conversation with his girlfriend is my favorite part).

I guess it goes without saying that you shouldn’t try this at home.  Mr. Walters was arrested upon his descent, received the top prize from the Bonehead Club of Dallas, and and was an honorable mention for the 1982 Darwin Awards.  However, as Walters told reporters when asked why he did it, “A man can’t just sit around.”

Indoorcycling…and a successful triathlon!

Back in August I told you about the amazing day-improving power of doing something you never thought you could do.  Well, I DID IT!  This past Sunday I successfully completed my first triathlon (yes, swimming, biking, and running, one after the other), and I can’t wait to do it again.

So in honor of adult-onset triathletes everywhere–and in thanks to my amazingly supportive family and friends–here are some feats of bicycle dexterity.  Although I’ve not seen these done in a triathlon, never say never…

Seriously.  NEVER say “never”.  You might cut yourself off from a wonderful life-changing experience.  Instead, do one thing today towards a “crazy” goal, and see where that takes you.

(Thanks to Betty for the submission!)

Real-life Superman

Free runner Damien Walters flies through the air with the greatest of ease–and over bars, over (and into) cars, and even out of his clothes.  Celebrating all that the human body is capable of…

(Thanks to Olivia for the submission!)

What are you so afraid of?

For me, it was drowning.  Well, swimming, actually.  Despite growing up in Florida, I’ve never been a strong swimmer.  And it’s a fear that’s kept me from participating in so many fun times with friends and family–they go swim in waterfall pools, I stay on the rocks.  Need a day-improver?  Need to conquer that fear.

For me, it took the idea of a friend and the final nudge of my wonderful husband to give me wings (or, in this case, fins).  So I signed up for a triathlon.  No Ironman, just super-sprint distances (still pretty challenging if you’ve never done it before)…but obviously it starts with a swim.  Yes, over the past six weeks, as part of my triathlon training, I’ve relearned to swim–actually, we figured that I’ve probably swam more in the past six weeks than I have in my entire life.  And not only have I not drowned, I’m kinda loving it!

Which is a really long way to say that a great day-improver comes from doing something you never in a million years thought you would or could do.  In mid-October I’ll hopefully post that I’ve just finished my first triathlon.  In the meantime, however, I’m celebrating all firsts–like swimming in a waterfall pool with my husband and our two great friends, Eric and Chrissy, up in the North Carolina mountains.  That first picture up above is the actual waterfall…here’s the proof that I actually plunged myself into the freezing depths and SWAM in it with people I love:

So what are YOU so afraid of, and what’s it holding you back from?  Time to take a little step out of your comfort zone and experience something new.  It’s the ultimate day-improver, not just for the day you do it, but for all the days after!

(Thanks to Eric for finding the path down to the pool, to Chrissy for braving the cold with me, and as always to Paul for knowing I could do it…next step, triathlon!)

Rollercoaster reactions

I’m a huge fan of rollercoasters (except for those evil straight-up-and-down hairpin things), so I got a kick out of seeing all these folks…um…enjoying a really scary one. It does look pretty terrifying, but you’re OK, you’re OK, you’re OK, you’re OK!

(For more funny rollercoaster videos, check out The Best Rollercoaster Videos, Now All In One Place!)

(Thanks to Paul for the submission!)

RV Demolition Derby

Leave it to Orange County, California to make a big summertime event even bigger.

Check out these highlights from the first ever RV Demolition Derby (for more details, including where the idea came from and how they prepped the RV’s, read the full story here).  And congratulations to the giant stuffed panda for holding on as long as he did…he’s one heck of a rooftop rider.

North Korean flying trapeze

Not only do they fly through the air with the greatest of ease, they also do multiple flips, twists, and wrap the whole thing up with a heart-stopping finale. Watch, you’ll be amazed:

(Thanks to Tina for the submission! Paul, I think you’ll particularly like this.)

Indoor skydiving

Really cool stuff…

Christian the Lion

Although the events in this video happened 37 years ago, it’s still a great story about friendship and reunion. (Note: I worried the first time I saw Christian going for the hug…you don’t have to.) From the documentary, Christian, The Lion at World’s End:

(Thanks to Louisa in London for the submission!)