Over a month ago I wrote up and scheduled Part 5 of my little blog series on Never Have I Ever for this week! Hilariously, the Best of Both Worlds podcast released a Never Have I Ever episode this week! Check it out for some fun listening.
Apparently there are a lot of things I have never done.
- Gone axe throwing. (I have used an axe to chop wood, though.)
- Sewn an entire article of clothing (this includes knitting).
- Done a Polar Plunge.
- Had a personal run-in with poison ivy. (My son had an especially memorable – for all the worst reasons – experience with poison ivy.)
- Learned how to competently play an instrument. (One of my biggest life regrets is not sticking with piano lessons).
- Gone white-water rafting.
- Had my legs, armpits, or eyebrows waxed. Ouch!
- Sent food back at a restaurant.
- Ridden inside a limousine.
- Walked out of a movie theatre before the movie finished.
Your turn.
- What movie(s) have you walked out on?
- What instruments can you play?
- Any horror stories involving poison ivy, or is that just Indy?
Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.
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mbmom11
I have only done #2 – I made a pair of summer pants that came out a little jodhpur-like. I still wore them. I tried multiple instruments, and nothing worked past “Hot cross buns”. I have no sense of rhythm or coordination. I did stick with choir,though.
Poor Indy with poison ivy – so far have managed to avoid it for myself. Ido get bitten by mosquitoes with alarming frequency, so I prefer staying inside anyway.
Elisabeth
I am so uncoordinated. I cannot do something like Zumba to save my life. And dancing? That would be a big fat NO.
There is a pheromone component to the mosquito thing which makes some people far more “attractive” to mosquitos and susceptible to bites.
Yes, his poison ivy experience is the thing of family legend. Funny now – in a way – but horrific at the time. Let’s just say he answered nature’s call on an island, and used poison ivy to wipe and you can imagine the rest. SO BAD.
Suzanne
I am with you on all of these! I did play the piano for many years but sadly I wouldn’t call myself a competent player.
So sorry Indy had a poison ivy run in. My kid had an awful experience with it and I hope to never repeat it.
Elisabeth
I think piano is such a great skill to carry through life. About 10 years ago John bought me piano lessons as a birthday present and I was very into it for a while, but lost enthusiasm in the middle of the pressures of parenting/life. There is still time if I decide I want to make a big push, but I realize it’s 1000x easier to learn these sorts of things as a kid.
Poison ivy is AWFUL.
Melissa
I have done #2, #5, #6, #7 and #9. At school I did a couple of semesters of sewing and made a tennis skirt and a formal dress and I wore both of them. I did music performance in year 12 as a 6th subject. (in our system our final scores for our top four subjects were added together then we got 10% any extra, most people took five subjects anything else had to be done outside normal school hours) I did electronic organ as my main instrument and piano for my second. White water rafting I went once with my parents and siblings near Cairns. I had my legs waxed once and never went back. I realised I just don’t care that much. The limousine was for my year 12 formal with a bunch of friends. I’m sure if poison ivy was a thing here I would have managed to get tangled up with it
Elisabeth
Well, colour my impressed with your sewing skills!!
Count yourself lucky poison ivy isn’t a thing – it’s no fun 🙁
Maureen
I am half and half on the list. Things I have not done:
Done a Polar Plunge – not a fan of cold. I would so much rather be hot!
Had a personal run-in with poison ivy – nope!
Gone white-water rafting – I have such anxiety, that I would have a heart attack. My biggest fear is drowning.
Had my legs, armpits, or eyebrows waxed. Ouch! – I’ll spend my time shaving thank you very much!
Walked out of a movie theatre before the movie finished – almost walked out on the first big movie of Star Trek, but I stayed.
Things I have done:
I have gone axe throwing and it was a lot of fun. More fun than you think. And they sell beer too!
Always used to sew some outfits. Things never came out right tho. I’ll stick to curtains and mending clothing.
Marched in a drum and bugle corps growing up playing the base baritone. Traveled all over the US and Canada for competitions.
And I have sent food back in a restaurant. If I am paying for something to be prepared correctly, I will send it back.
And my sister had limousines for her wedding so we got to ride in one and drink champagne.
Elisabeth
I also HATE to be cold and do everything humanly possible to avoid being cold.
The axe throwing + beer combination is a bit puzzling!
central calif. artist Jana
That is so funny, coming from a Canadian!
Nicole MacPherson
Well, I have also never had my legs, eyebrows, or underarms waxed but I get my bikini area done regularly. To be honest, it’s not waxing, I get sugaring instead. It’s much better IMO. I can never go back to wax!
I can’t think of a time I walked out on a movie except for once. It was Pulp Fiction and I passed out at the scene where she gets an adrenaline shot to the heart, and so my date had to take me home. I did see the movie later and I just closed my eyes at that part. This was back in the day when it was cheap to go see movies, so I went all the time. I loathe Quentin Tarantino generally, but I love Pulp Fiction. It’s so funny! The boys and I watched it together a year or so ago and we had such a blast quoting the movie while the movie was playing. Rob opted out because he HATES when we do that, talk through a movie. But some of the lines are just so hilarious. But generally, QT gets a big frowny face from me.
As for your other questions, I play the piano and I have for almost forty years. I still play every day. I have white water rafted, and ridden in a limousine. I have also technically sewn an article of clothing, although it was completely unwearable (see also my home ec woes). I sent food back at a restaurant only a few times, and generally it’s because it was the wrong thing – like a meat dish. I haven’t done a polar plunge but Rob did one this New Year’s.
Elisabeth
Nicole, I really must try sugaring. I’ve had some waxing done “down there” and was NOT a fan.
I’ve seen Pulp Fiction once and – wow. INTENSE.
I just love that you play piano every day.
Jenny
I’ve definitely done #5, 7 and 8. It seems like I must have walked out on a movie at some point in my lifetime, but I can’t remember any specifics.
I’m amusing myself by reading some of the previous comments. Melissa sewed a FORMAL DRESS that she was able to wear??? That’s some impressive sewing skills! And… Maureen’s comment about axe throwing. Why do I feel like axe throwing and beer is a bad combination?!?!
Elisabeth
I also had to chuckle at the axes + beer.
Your family is a stellar example of maximizing #5! I find your musicality so inspiring.
Birchie
Perfect timing, because I’ve got that episode in my podcast queue. Let’s do this!
1. Oof anything that involves hand-eye coordination is not my jam. I won’t participate in anything that involves throwing a ball, let alone an axe.
2. I have, but not in this century. It was not cost effective back then, and I am sure that it would be even less so now.
3. Nope! I would be way more likely to do a polar plunge than throw an axe.
4. Only once! The summer that I took the CPA exam I did not manage to fit in yard work, so the moment I got home from the last exam I went straight into the back yard and took care of business. A few days later I got some weird bug bite looking things on my arms and legs, and I had no idea what it was. I showed them to my then boyfriend/now husband and he laughed and said “those aren’t bug bites”. If not for him I would have no idea what it was. I still don’t know how to ID poison ivy – there are a lot of plants out there with three leaves.
5. Same, not for lack of trying
6. Same. I think I would choose the polar plunge over rafting, and to be clear I don’t want to do a polar plunge.
7, 8, 9, 10: Same!
Elisabeth
There ARE a lot of plants with three leaves (including sassafras – we had a very scary run-in with that and I was imagining worst-case-scenarios and it ended up being nothing).
Colleen Martin
Oh wow, I’ve actually done a lot of these! Axe throwing was so fun! I played the violin in a youth symphony orchestra, so I was competent but I gave it up so I’m not now. I’ve had my eyebrows waxed, but I prefer threading now. I got raw chicken tenders once that I sent back! My dad surprised me by having a limo pick up my sisters and I on my wedding day to bring us to the church. And I have a vivid memory of Phil and I walking out of a movie because it was too scandalous, but I can not remember what movie it was!
Elisabeth
Okay, I would be with you on sending back RAW MEAT. Ugh!
What a sweet surprise on your wedding day <3
central calif. artist Jana
Splitting wood is one of my very favorite activities, so I would LOVE to try ax throwing.
Knitting is an obsession; I have enough slightly weird sweaters to outfit a small island nation. I’ve always hated sewing, but have made many articles of clothing in the past.
Never will I EVER do a Polar Plunge.
Waxing?? Life’s hard enough; why add more hassles, especially painful things that cost money.
I have fallen asleep in movies and I have wanted to walk out.
I got poison oak on the tops of my thighs from a cat sitting on my lap. Took awhile to understand what it was and how it got there. Horrid.
Since I live in Three Rivers, it seemed like white water rafting ought to be experienced at least one time. My conclusion: the sample was ample.
Elisabeth
“Life’s hard enough; why add more hassles, especially painful things that cost more.” So true!!
I never fall asleep during movies. It always amazes me that people pay big money to go to the theatre to, in essence, take an expensive nap.
Ernie
I have sewn an article of clothes. More than once, and not just Halloween costumes. I bought a great brown skirt and fancy top along with shoes for a gala at the kids’ school. I planned to wear the same outfit at BIL’s wedding. When I ended up being pregnant, I made a brown maternity dress to match the brown shoes. It turned out great.
I’ve never walked out of a movie or had poison ivy (Lad did as a 10 yr old but not in a challenging um area- if that’s what we’re talking about). I begged to play an instrument as a kid. My parents had selected my younger brother to be an Irish musician, so they decided they could save money and just have him teach me. That did not end well. My sisters and I took Irish dancing lessons. I hated it. My one sis got up dance and play the fiddle. In other words I was not ‘chosen’ and I grew up feeling glossed over and less than for things like this. A recurring theme. My bro is a very well known Irish musician. My Irish dancing career never quite took off. I’m tall and I looked like a newborn colt, not quite able to control my legs.
Elisabeth
In addition to not being able to do anything with any instrument, I am incapable of dancing or any dance adjacent movements. I am hopelessly uncoordinated 😩
Michelle G.
This is so fun! I have sewn clothing, and I’d probably do more of it, but finding good fabric is really difficult where I live. By the way, there’s an awesome Canadian pattern designer, Helen Wilkinson, of Helen’s Closet Patterns. If anyone wants to try sewing clothes, definitely check her out. She writes such good instructions.
I used to play the piano. I took lessons all through school. I still have my childhood piano, but it’s more of a decoration now. I just can’t muster up the interest to keep playing. I think I had just enough negative experiences with it that it affected my willingness to keep playing.
All the other things on your list I have not done! Axe throwing? That one made me smile!
Elisabeth
I’ve never tried it but based on my coordination I’ll go out on a limb and guess I’d NOT be good at it.
Gigi
Oh, I’ve had run-ins with poison ivy multiple times – not fun is a major understatement!
Other than that, I’m with you on the rest of the list.
Elisabeth
Yes, it’s an experience I Hope never to repeat either personally or by proxy via my kids!
Diane
I walked out on The Quick and the Dead when I was in high school. I was all excited to see a Western with a female lead (Sharon Stone), but when it became clear that the movie was just one gun shoot out after another, I couldn’t stomach that and decided that wasn’t worth my time, and left. I remember waiting in the lobby of the theatre because I had gone with my brother and he was my ride home.
I haven’t had poison ivy, but I think I might not be susceptible since we had it in our backyard and both my husband and oldest got it.
I’ve done some of the things on the list though- whit water rafting, sewed a dress, ridden a limo. I took piano and voice lessons for many many years, but I don’t know where I would fall on the competent scale.
I do want to try axe throwing some day
Elisabeth
Isn’t it odd how some people are so much more sensitive to things like poison ivy and mosquito bites?!
Stephany
I have gone axe throwing – it is seriously SO MUCH FUN. (And it’s very safe; they take that stuff seriously!) I did it with a date and then with my book club. Some of the girls were very nervous but it wound up being their favorite experience of the year.
I have gotten my underarms and eyebrows waxed. I will NOT do my bikini area. I can handle the underarms and eyebrows even though it’s painful (but only for a moment). The bikini area is just so sensitive. And people who get the whole shebang done? Oof.
I’ve sent food back, although the enneagram 9 in me HATES having to do this. I did a limo for a few school dances, which was always a blast! And I’ve walked out of two movies. One was Training Day. I was 13 and my brother was 15 when my dad took us to see it, and it was definitely too violent for us! The second was This Is The End, which was just such a laughably awful movie that me and a few friends just ended up walking out of it.
Elisabeth
It does sound fun and everyone’s positive comments about it are making me even more curious to try.
I have had the whole shebang – twice – and it was she-painful. Eeeks. I think I could handle my eyebrows (though I just pluck) but something about my underarms makes me quiver.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Axe throwing. — No, but I have also chopped a LOT of wood.
Sewn an entire article of clothing — Nope, I can sew a button or a sock but not an entire garment.
Polar Plunge. — YES. I am going to say yes to this, as I have swum in snowy areas many times.
Poison ivy. — YES. We have poison oak, and I have had it many, many times. Not fun.
Play an instrument. — YES. Clarinet and trombone, but it has been many years so would take a bit of remembering to get back into them.
Gone white-water rafting. — You will not be surprised at this but YES, many times.
Legs, armpits, or eyebrows waxed. — NO, and no bikini either. Hair there, I don’t care.
Sent food back at a restaurant. — NO, but I have been with people who have.
Ridden inside a limousine. — YES, several times. Baller! 🙂
Walked out of a movie theatre before the movie finished. — NO, but I wanted to when I watched Borat. I disliked it so much that I snuck into a second theater and watched Babel as a palate cleanser.
Elisabeth
You’re right, I’m not surprised about the white-water rafting 🙂
Stacey in the UK
I do enjoy reading the Never Have I Ever posts, gets me thinking
1. No
2. Yes, both sewing, crochet and knitting.
When I was approaching my last big birthday I decided that I wanted to learn all the crafts that I knew as a child but didn’t continue with. I did a couple of evening classes to learn crochet and love it. I did a few terms of sewing and have made several made to measure garments. I can do basic knitting and have made a couple of jumpers but I prefer crochet (and I seem to be quite good at it)
3. Nope, never going to happen
4. No
5. No- tried piano but I’m more arty/crafty than musical
6. No
7. Yes – all three!! (but not all at the same time)
8. Yes, a few times mainly because the food is cold.
Most memorable was I sent something back because it was cold and the replacement was also cold! Never went back to that restaurant
9. Yes
10. No but sometimes wished I did
Elisabeth
I think hand work is a great source of stress relief. My mom always had something to do with her hands/occupy her if she was waiting somewhere. I don’t tend to be overly patient so I think I’d get frustrated with knitting/crocheting, but then again maybe that signals it’s just what I need to be doing!
Suz
Gone axe throwing. YES–it was fun.
Sewn an entire article of clothing (this includes knitting). NOPE
Done a Polar Plunge. NOPE
Had a personal run-in with poison ivy. YES, NOT FUN!
Learned how to competently play an instrument. NOPE.
Gone white-water rafting. YES, FUN!
Had my legs, armpits, or eyebrows waxed. Ouch! YES, NOT FUN!
Sent food back at a restaurant. OF COURSE
Ridden inside a limousine. YES, kinda overrated.
Walked out of a movie theatre before the movie finished. NOT THAT I REMEMBER
Sorry for yelling, thought it would be easier for you to see. 🙂
Elisabeth
I’ll admit that I have zero desire to try a limo. I think when I was younger I would have thought it to be tremendously cool, but now it just seems a bit gross?
I am here for CAPS. And it did make it easier to see 🙂
Alexandra
Oh, I love these, though mine tend to be more along the lines of Things I Have Done, more than I haven’t. As you know, I’ve been doing a lot of things in my life. Though it’s true there are still a large number of things I Haven’t Done … yet!
And yes … I’ve walked out of a movie, it was a Kevin Costner movie. The one where he’s playing Eliot Ness, I think? New York in the late 80s.
And no, I can’t play any instrument. Well, I can play chopsticks on a piano, but then, so can everyone. And no, no encounters with poison ivy thankfully. I had an encounter with a skunk but the dog I was walking took the brunt of the ‘High Tail’. And I lived to fight another day!
Elisabeth
I have never come face-to-face with a skunk.
As a tangent – what has happened to skunks? Growing up I used to smell dead skunk regularly. And now I feel like I can go years and years. Has there been a mass culling or dying? Or am I just not in a rural enough area anymore?
Alexandra
You’re lucky then. I was happy I had the dog between me and the skunk. And poor fido took the brunt of the skunk’s displeasure.
And yes, you are right? I haven’t smelt a skunk in years. We use to have one come around here regularly. But, now you mention it. I don’t remember seeing or smelling one since pre covid at least.
Lisa's Yarns
I haven’t nor will I ever do a polar plunge. Phil has done it several times for charity events. I also never had poison ivy or sent food back at a restaurant!
In college, we walked out during the movie Magnolia. It was SO BIZARRE and when they got to the part where it started to rain frogs were like – ‘we’re out.’ And that might have been over 2 hours into the movie. It was TERRIBLE.
My nephew has had so many run ins with poison ivy that he can have a reaction even if he doesn’t touch the poison ivy!
Elisabeth
I am pretty sure the only way I would EVER consider a polar plunge is for a good cause. But even then I’d likely look to see if there were other options for raising money.
Elinoora
Love sewing – it’s a stress release activity, plus I get clothes that properly fit me! Also totally would recommend Helen’s closet 😊 I’m working on a jacket now, with fabric I bought in Paris.
I walked out on An American werewolf in Paris. It sounded really interesting but I was so jumpy after about 30 minutes my mom convinced me to just go home. Horror movies just aren’t a good fit, the music does my head in every time. I know better now.
Elisabeth
I cannot imagine sewing being a form of stress release. My clothes are soaked with sweat and my fingers have become a human pin cushion by the time I finish sewing on a single button. Okay, that’s a SLIGHT exaggeration, but I think it sounds wonderful to have such a hands-on experience offer stress release.
I don’t do horror either!