Not too long ago while eating dinner or playing with my daughter, out of the blue, I told my wife I wanted to learn the “Art of Animal Ballooning” (or its latin name "twisting"). When she asked “Why?” I said “Just because”. She’s use to this kind of thing.
I get these random urges to do whatever looks interesting and to stretch, as Napoleon Dynamite calls it, my “skills”. Be it learning to play a banjo, cave repelling, doing a gallery show, or even making balloon animals.
Once I think about it, the idea brews and then I’ll likely try to find a way to do it.
When I die (in the year 2186 after cryogenic freezing) I don’t want to say, “I wish I did (whatever), and now I’ll never get the chance again” just before an asteroid slams earth or technological superior aliens destroy the human race.
I did get my Balloon Making Kit, they sell them online of course under Magician or Clown supplies, and then started with a Level 3 dog (In my mind, Level 1 is for people with missing thumbs and lungs). I followed the directions intently, concentrated and then my wife showed up and joined me in the balloon makin’ fun. In about 5 minutes she had a perfect dog, in fact it looked even better than the picture. My dog looked like it was hit by a mail truck – twice.
My wife put her dog on the fireplace mantle and left the room. My dog ‘accidentally’ popped. That was the end of my dream of becoming a professional ballooner.
If anybody has suggestions for odd skills that don’t involve animals or balloons, I’m asking.