Comments on: How To Fall Down and Get Back Up Again http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/ Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work, and Travel Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Angela http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-21152 Angela Mon, 03 May 2010 07:21:17 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-21152 My invisible door is on a convenience store near a freeway on-ramp in a small Texas town near the Louisiana state line. The friend who was with me still busts out laughing whenever it is mentioned. I have learned to just laugh about it, too. My invisible door is on a convenience store near a freeway on-ramp in a small Texas town near the Louisiana state line. The friend who was with me still busts out laughing whenever it is mentioned. I have learned to just laugh about it, too.

]]> By: sarah http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-16379 sarah Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:27:21 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-16379 The same thing happened to me last January at a dessert place in Singapore! I had a greenish bruise on my forehead for a few days as a reminder .. but at the time I think my pride was hurt more. Good to know someone else who "survived" this experience. The same thing happened to me last January at a dessert place in Singapore!

I had a greenish bruise on my forehead for a few days as a reminder .. but at the time I think my pride was hurt more.

Good to know someone else who “survived” this experience.

]]> By: Scott http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-13926 Scott Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:11:06 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-13926 I've done it twice now, once when I was about thirteen, on my very own front door, and at a running pace, cutting open my knee exactly as Luis described above. Not that I realised that yet either, being more worried about what my mum was going to say, who was more worried about the incredible pool of blood that was spreading out around my feet. Talk about misreading facial expressions. That time wasn't really so embarassing, at least not compared to the second time, which was when I was applying for a job, or really had just got a job, and was walking out saying goodbye to the reception staff and heading for the panel of glass <i>beside</i> the door, which of course didn't yield as a door would, and I had enough momentum to keep going until I'd smashed it. Now that was cringeworthy, I still cringe when I think of it, and I'll bet the new boss was thinking, "O **** what have I done" I’ve done it twice now, once when I was about thirteen, on my very own front door, and at a running pace, cutting open my knee exactly as Luis described above. Not that I realised that yet either, being more worried about what my mum was going to say, who was more worried about the incredible pool of blood that was spreading out around my feet. Talk about misreading facial expressions.
That time wasn’t really so embarassing, at least not compared to the second time, which was when I was applying for a job, or really had just got a job, and was walking out saying goodbye to the reception staff and heading for the panel of glass beside the door, which of course didn’t yield as a door would, and I had enough momentum to keep going until I’d smashed it.
Now that was cringeworthy, I still cringe when I think of it, and I’ll bet the new boss was thinking, “O **** what have I done”

]]> By: Rob - @formerfatguy http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-11228 Rob - @formerfatguy Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:36:15 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-11228 I've been to that Starbucks with the stealth door but I had a "sense" it was there before I ran into it. Thanks for sharing, very funny. Not an embarrassing story but a comment about Singapore. Wow, what a clean city. While I was walking around, I saw some construction going on. Just inside the fence there was a washing station where they washed the truck tires before the trucks pulled back onto the street. They didn't want any dirt from the site to get onto the roads. Amazing. I’ve been to that Starbucks with the stealth door but I had a “sense” it was there before I ran into it.

Thanks for sharing, very funny.

Not an embarrassing story but a comment about Singapore. Wow, what a clean city. While I was walking around, I saw some construction going on. Just inside the fence there was a washing station where they washed the truck tires before the trucks pulled back onto the street. They didn’t want any dirt from the site to get onto the roads.

Amazing.

]]> By: lava http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-9733 lava Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:19:21 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-9733 Glass doors and windows are evil. People who install them should make sure they're frosted or have some sort of design at eye-level to prevent accidents (which are more common than you'd suppose, seeing the number of comments here). Glass doors and windows are evil. People who install them should make sure they’re frosted or have some sort of design at eye-level to prevent accidents (which are more common than you’d suppose, seeing the number of comments here).

]]> By: Mark ("Travel Wonders") http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-8316 Mark ("Travel Wonders") Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:19:50 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-8316 I've done that once and it was embarassing and a bit of a surprise. I suspect the real worry is if someone walks into the same glass door twice. I’ve done that once and it was embarassing and a bit of a surprise. I suspect the real worry is if someone walks into the same glass door twice.

]]> By: Louis http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-7825 Louis Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:04:25 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-7825 I guess this is just a coincidence, but it made me shook my head. I just came out of the shower, pulling off the surgical tape on my knee, looking at my unwanted new scar and swearing against evil glass, and I sat down on the sofa and read Chris` glass door story (without doing web search about that). I don`t want to play "who hates glass doors and windows the most", because that kind of accident must happen to many people, everywhere, or so I like to think... There are people who walk into glass doors, and there are other who dash and jump into a window. Unfortunately, I`m in the second group. That happened in Sao Paulo airport, 2 weeks ago. Me and my girlfriend had to catch a 2am flight to Dubai. We checked-in early for the flight, at 10pm, to have enough time to have a meal with my girlfriend`s cousin and her husband, who brought us to the airport. But just before that, my girlfriend asked us to go outside to smoke. So we went. Me and the husband were talking about "parkour" (for those who don`t know what parkour is, please search for it in Wikipedia or Google). I love this sport, and have a couple of moves of my own. So I had the brilliant idea of showing one. Faster than you can spell fast, I jumped over the bench and ran towards that 10-feet circular hole in a wall adjacent to the airport building. 3 seconds after, I was above ground jumping knees joint and head first in the hole. My magnificent jump, however, was accompanied by a massive pressure on my face and an amazing crashing sound. I fell on my back, not understanding a thing of what just happened. I looked up, and saw that huge window, smashed but still standing on itself. I immediately stood up, hearing the comments of disbelief of the 15 or so people watching, apologizing for the windows and telling everybody I never saw it. My girlfriend and our friends made me sit down and they checked my head. It was apparently OK, but I had had a really strong shock on my skull. I noticed that my jeans were cut, so I looked inside and saw something white. It was my knee plate. I was cut open to the bone on 5cm. Then all the security staff and airline personnel arrived and walked me inside the airport. I started seeing black, and more black, until eventually I couldn`t see any colors at all. Did I just become blind?!? Oh God! Cold sweat, panic, girlfriend crying, tons of people around looking. My eyesight came back a minute later and I was transported on a stretcher to the airport emergency room. I was then transferred to the closest hospital by ambulance. The next hours were filled with tests, x-rays, a skull CT-scan, and questions, most of which where like : Q.: What happened to you? A.: I jumped into a window. Q.: Eh, what? A.: A god damn window. Q.: Why did you jump into a window?!? The results of all this : -My gf`s cousin and her husband taking back all our suitcases and waiting for us at the hospital until 4am. -We missed our flight to Dubai. We had to pay 200$ of penalty because we changed day. -Our hotel in Dubai was already paid for, and there was a 24-hour cancellation policy, so we said bye to this money. -A huge broken window at Sao Paulo airport. -5 stitches on my knee and a wound that swole big time. Doctors told me it`s gonna leave a bad looking scar. -I never got so embarrassed of my life, oh my God. I really thought I did the most stupid thing in the history of the whole airport. I really hate glass doors and windows. They are evil. P.S.: We went back to the airport to fly the next day. The moment we walked past the entrance, 2 staff came to ask us if I was alright. They said that all the airport has been talking all day about that ghost, who tried to run trough a window... I guess this is just a coincidence, but it made me shook my head. I just came out of the shower, pulling off the surgical tape on my knee, looking at my unwanted new scar and swearing against evil glass, and I sat down on the sofa and read Chris` glass door story (without doing web search about that).

I don`t want to play “who hates glass doors and windows the most”, because that kind of accident must happen to many people, everywhere, or so I like to think…
There are people who walk into glass doors, and there are other who dash and jump into a window. Unfortunately, I`m in the second group.

That happened in Sao Paulo airport, 2 weeks ago.
Me and my girlfriend had to catch a 2am flight to Dubai. We checked-in early for the flight, at 10pm, to have enough time to have a meal with my girlfriend`s cousin and her husband, who brought us to the airport. But just before that, my girlfriend asked us to go outside to smoke. So we went. Me and the husband were talking about “parkour” (for those who don`t know what parkour is, please search for it in Wikipedia or Google). I love this sport, and have a couple of moves of my own. So I had the brilliant idea of showing one.

Faster than you can spell fast, I jumped over the bench and ran towards that 10-feet circular hole in a wall adjacent to the airport building. 3 seconds after, I was above ground jumping knees joint and head first in the hole.
My magnificent jump, however, was accompanied by a massive pressure on my face and an amazing crashing sound. I fell on my back, not understanding a thing of what just happened. I looked up, and saw that huge window, smashed but still standing on itself. I immediately stood up, hearing the comments of disbelief of the 15 or so people watching, apologizing for the windows and telling everybody I never saw it. My girlfriend and our friends made me sit down and they checked my head. It was apparently OK, but I had had a really strong shock on my skull. I noticed that my jeans were cut, so I looked inside and saw something white. It was my knee plate. I was cut open to the bone on 5cm.

Then all the security staff and airline personnel arrived and walked me inside the airport. I started seeing black, and more black, until eventually I couldn`t see any colors at all. Did I just become blind?!? Oh God! Cold sweat, panic, girlfriend crying, tons of people around looking. My eyesight came back a minute later and I was transported on a stretcher to the airport emergency room.

I was then transferred to the closest hospital by ambulance. The next hours were filled with tests, x-rays, a skull CT-scan, and questions, most of which where like :
Q.: What happened to you?
A.: I jumped into a window.
Q.: Eh, what?
A.: A god damn window.
Q.: Why did you jump into a window?!?

The results of all this :
-My gf`s cousin and her husband taking back all our suitcases and waiting for us at the hospital until 4am.
-We missed our flight to Dubai. We had to pay 200$ of penalty because we changed day.
-Our hotel in Dubai was already paid for, and there was a 24-hour cancellation policy, so we said bye to this money.
-A huge broken window at Sao Paulo airport.
-5 stitches on my knee and a wound that swole big time. Doctors told me it`s gonna leave a bad looking scar.
-I never got so embarrassed of my life, oh my God. I really thought I did the most stupid thing in the history of the whole airport.

I really hate glass doors and windows. They are evil.

P.S.: We went back to the airport to fly the next day. The moment we walked past the entrance, 2 staff came to ask us if I was alright. They said that all the airport has been talking all day about that ghost, who tried to run trough a window…

]]> By: Oktober Five http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-3729 Oktober Five Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:27:33 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-3729 That's not embarrassing--it's hilarious! I like having a good laugh at others' misfortunes, but I hate it when it's my own misfortune. That seems like such a backwards thing, but most of us are like that; and most of us can let it ruin our day (or our plans to take over the universe) quite easily. Thanks for sharing a good laugh. That’s not embarrassing–it’s hilarious! I like having a good laugh at others’ misfortunes, but I hate it when it’s my own misfortune. That seems like such a backwards thing, but most of us are like that; and most of us can let it ruin our day (or our plans to take over the universe) quite easily.

Thanks for sharing a good laugh.

]]> By: Stephen Hopson http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2195 Stephen Hopson Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:07:08 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-2195 Chris: Gosh, LOL. That was funny - it brought on a chuckle and a vivid scene as the whole thing unfurled in my mind. Believe me, I've had my own embarrassing moments. In fact, if you don't mind, I'll give you a <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6849r4" rel="nofollow">link to a story</a> I wrote about my encounter with the "James Bond" lady/hooker. Not trying to top your "Most Embarrassing Moment" there but it was certainly one of mine and I now tell it to audiences in my speaking engagements. The moral of that story? Be authentic and don't try to hide what's obvious (like my disability-deafness). Smiling.... Chris:

Gosh, LOL. That was funny – it brought on a chuckle and a vivid scene as the whole thing unfurled in my mind. Believe me, I’ve had my own embarrassing moments.

In fact, if you don’t mind, I’ll give you a link to a story I wrote about my encounter with the “James Bond” lady/hooker.

Not trying to top your “Most Embarrassing Moment” there but it was certainly one of mine and I now tell it to audiences in my speaking engagements. The moral of that story? Be authentic and don’t try to hide what’s obvious (like my disability-deafness).

Smiling….

]]> By: Pieter Friedrich http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/comment-page-1/#comment-1281 Pieter Friedrich Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:55:24 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again/#comment-1281 I'd venture to say that a café au lait is called different things in different countries because it's actually French for "coffee with milk." Although, not usually ordering it, I'm not sure what it's called in other countries, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a local approximation of "coffee with milk." I’d venture to say that a café au lait is called different things in different countries because it’s actually French for “coffee with milk.” Although, not usually ordering it, I’m not sure what it’s called in other countries, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a local approximation of “coffee with milk.”

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