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3 events scared the living daylights in order of fright:
In 1984 I was working on the 5th floor poured in place structure for the new Irvine Hiltion. I had on my safety belt and the lanyard was attached to the lower of 2 safety cables designed to prevent falls. I was leaning over the side holding on the the same lower cable, trying to see the chief who was giving signals for line to set the grid line, I was holding a folding ruler with a target cinched in at 1.00' and marking the 3.00' as he was on a 2' offset control line for the exterior of the structure, on the ground floor. Suddenly the cable gave, and my body went over the side, I looked down and saw the rebar sticking up on the ground floor, and while my whole life did not flash in front of me, every emotion short circuited thru my brain in a big flash Then I lifted to my feet on the same floor. Thank God for His angels, is all I could explain, as we had been praying for safety every day on the job. I told the party Chief Ceasar Chacon, and we examined the cables and found that whoever had used them only finger tightened the bolts and there were only 6 U bolts, OSHA requires 4 for each cable, tightened with a wrench. Ceasar then went to the Project Managers office and literally chewed him out (he could have been fired for that). Later we noticed the cables were being tightened and had the proper bolts.
2) Once I was set up on a centerline of Olympic Blvd in Los Angeles, and had just wrapped up my angles and measured my distances to the adjoining intersections, and shot in local control near the lot in question. I picked up the gun and walked to the sidewalk, no sooner then my foot hit the top of curb then a 4 car collision occurred, cars spun all over the intersection, and had I been 1 second later I would have been wiped all over the street. Again I thank God Almighty.
3) I was surveying an area north of the Soboba reservation in San Jacinto, CA, due to a uncooperative neighbor, I had to hike a half mile through rough terrain. I was trekking down hill via a small valley between saddles, trying to avoid brush where rattlers might hide, as usual I was making enough noise so the snakes would avoid me. Suddenly I heard a rattler, very very close to my back leg, I could not see it, and my leg started shaking like the muscles on a horse, this has never happened before or since to me. I was frozen as I peered into the bush, when I located the source I pivoted and began stabbing the viper with my prism rod, which, thank God, I had brought the bid pod, giving me 3 points. The viper started to me, and I continued my attack, when the snake had enough it tried to get away, I could not let that happen, because I was coming back the same way, and finished it off.
That day I ran into 5 rattlers, but none got close enough to pose a threat. Later I found that the neighbor was a good guy, but had some misgivings with the tribal members, and thought I was working for them, I was not.
Yeah, I have eaten many type of them but that happened when I was a child and Yeah, I killed them a lot... But I still scare. (*_* " )
“It is the snake”
On one nice day, I was picking up survey points using a total station which had been set up under a big tree. It was a nice place and nice weather when suddenly, a big snake (python) fell down from the branches of the tree above, very close to where I was standing.
I was so scared, I jumped away from that position and run away...you know how I ran so fast (neary could be an Olympic racer).
The snake also scared of me too, ran away in the opposite direction but he still slower than the villager who ran after him to catch him for a good dinner. In the end, the snake was caught and killed by a villager who used a big rock and hit his head many times (so terrible). I ran back to see that scene and took a video...So frightening. T_T "
I happen to like snakes, so delicious! I know the moral of the story isn't "if it scares you, kill it and eat it", so did you get to eat some snake? ;)
Being attacked by crazy man while running a chainsaw..... Never heard him sneak up on me... Luckly my crew mate whacked him in the head with shovel before crazy dude could get chainsaw from me..
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?...I got one hand on my chainsaw, and the other one is whackin' crazy men...to paraphrase Alanis Morrisette.
Man o man Kathleen.. you sure do have fun in Alaska!
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