Times I'll Never Forget

I can't possibly think of all of them at once, but here's a first cut:



Bipity-bopity-boom - Orrin had discovered that by swinging one of those balls (you know what I'm talking about, with a handle that you can bounce around on) he could transfer enough energy into his 40-50lb brother to make him fly 5-10 ft. We were in 3rd grade and it was great, right up until PJ got hurt. And then came a sound I will never forget, "Orrin Michael Barnhart get over this instant!" As far as childhood summers go, that was the best. We'd call each other up at the same time at times, both get busy signals, shit like that. I was always racing down there and we would do something.

Camping up on South Hill in the leantoo, middle of winter. "Steamroller" "La Chavaleros"

13th birthday party - chillin around a campfire, meatloaf playing cause it was cool at the time

Camping in the winter up at scout camp, Orrin burning his boots into sandles and the shovel handle too.

Scout Camp '96 - Redneck Olympics. Running around staff week with Pete, Joe and the rest of campcraft/skills in the red truck. The nights off, the Courtney couch, Racing on Super Nintendo with Orrin, hearing Melonchollie and the Infinite Sadness playing in the tent next to ours, OA Tapouts (the old ceremony, but post "knock out" era).

The Last Sasquatch District Camporee - Taking some medals with the Oneonta Boys, waking up to being 16 with Joeseph.

The Party up at Top of the World. Being DD and hearing "Tony's a player" the whole ride home.

Scout Camp 97 - Rob and Joe being badass. Going out to the Cobelskill fair, Tony taking a picture of the cute girl doing traffic duty.

Going up with John to see Cathrine, going to a party and having a good time.

Hanging out down in the shack with John, Joe & Tony. Falling asleep on Joe.

Winning 3 Klondike derbies in a row.

The staff parties - aka fuck _____ . Steak & Potatoes, jumping off the roof into the pool, hide and go seek, jumping on the ice, lawn ordement shopping, sledding. Tony waking up at 3am the first time and getting put back to sleep. Having breakfast made by Glens parents for us the next day. The Big hairry beast, Die Hard trilogy, playing cards.

Driving out to SU with Tony to visit Glen. The waterbotle incident, going out to college parties, pizza afterwards.

Going to see Titanic on Valentines Day '98 and getting my first kiss afterwards. Yeah, I was one of the record breaking crowd that went.

Stroke of Penis and Cantis atallis fuckis. Leave it to William to come up with that readin the back of my T-shirts. Good times chillin with William in Math.

BVJD - "I finally understand what it means!" Boys nights up at John's cabin.

The times up at William's cabin. Pulling both barrels at once. Watching a movie one night, not wanting to get up to go hunting the next morning. Having them throw it back in and me responding later with "Of course I wasn't going to get up, I'd already seen that scene."

The snowmobile trip to Marks. Getting stuck coming back.

AP History - Hoffie, froggie, Mark doing math hw in the back of the class, me giving answers to the rest of the class when we were reviewing for the regence. (My back itched that day for some reason, and being distance learning, well, everyone on our side got everything right)

Junior Prom - Topping the Lancer out and holding it between Oneonta and Schenevus. Driving out to a westford party to pick someone up cause I was the only sober one who could drive stick. - I was sober for both junior and senior proms, of which I'm proud of.

RYLA - It was a good week. Hanging out the dorm windows talking to the ladies, toga-ing, hiking our asses up and down hartwick.

Scout Cap '98 - Being on the waterfront for the first time. Titanic theme skit. Running to Conneticut and back in a night so Pete could visit a lady. Orrin and Pete doing the volleyball challenges.

Going out with Joe and Tony to the Milford dances senior year.

Sitting outside listening to Back Street Boys while waiting for Tony at Joe's one night, till he finally called us at 3am to tell us he was staying at Kims. I'll never forget the next morning when I went and picked him up either.

Crazy times with Joe & Tony - Playing pool, cruising up and down main street oneonta in the LTD with tunes cranked, going to Albany, my missions, the puppy dog look of rejection on my face and them cracking up. Bombing through the back roads to go to a dance competition in West Windfield, making time in the lancer. Walking with Tony to stop and say hi to Mike on the way back.

Teaching Orrin how to downhill. Bouncing off the guardrail and going skiing anyway. Tony wipping Orrin and I out.

Tony's 16th birthday party. Will zipping himself up and being asked about it later on while getting his baseball physical. The two of them side by side getting ready to pray to the porcelin god. Will or Joe asking me how I was doing and me responding "I'd be fine if the shit would just stop spinning!"

Cranking my best hit ever in our game against Wocester. They say I woulda had a home run if I hadn't stopped on 2nd, oh well. Taking 3 was enough to make me smile.

Winning sectionals after losing tri-valley and going to states.

Senior Prom - King Orrin & Queen Emily, the Oneonta-Schenevus speed record revisited.

Graduation - Graduating regents with honors, the party afterwards. There's nothing like sitting around a campfire talking about the times.

Scout Camp 99 - Out in the cabin with Joe, Nick and John. Morning wood, bringing a couple milford girls up despite being sick, cause Joe wouldn't expect anything less, being worse the next day and getting caught. Spades. Going up to Jim's and jumping off the bridge.

Arriving in Germany - Having my luggage miss one of the flights, bombing down the autobahn doing 200 kmh. Having something to eat, going with Martin to go play soccer, falling asleep on the bus, but having a good time once we got there.

Ostwerk 9.9.99 - My first clubbing experience and a damn good one at that. Got introduced to the Hochzoll crew and couldn't fall asleep that night. Doing something no one, including myself, thought I had the guts to do, writing a letter in German and hitting on a girl the next day at Mo'town. The greatest risks yield the greatest rewards.

Going to the nearby lake a few days after school had started and having someone say hey, look, looking and seeing some guys ass and his balls hanging down as he was changing. That's culture for you.

Umweltwoche - Scott being Scott. Carrying stone, Thomas's crosseyed kid, playing bad touch and 3.14 every morning. Sitting up at night in the cabin, Scott trying to use the translator to translate dirty american sayings into spanish. Fernanda telling me that I work too hard.

Going to München with a couple other exchange students, having my first Maß, having to drink it in a half hour so we could go to the movies. Not daring to close my eyes for the first half of it cause the room would spin.

Going to see Creed one night, getting back at 3am, getting up at 6 and going to Heidelberg for the exchange student Christmas party, walking down the street after dinner with a case on my shoulder, people taking fresh ones out, putting emptys in all the way back to the hostle. Another thing you'd never see in the states.

New Years 99/2000 - It was one hellofa party. The fireworks, Melanie, someone else and I standing in the middle of the street making a wish and throwing empty champange bottles over our shoulders.

Moving out to Könnigsbrunn, Brother-Sister conversations with Julia. All of the movies, going skiing in the Alps, going to Köln and Bonn. Watching Stefan Rabb.

Having the Fam and Joe minus dad come visit. Going out to Peaches the first night. Going and seeing Harte Jungs, PM with the topless dancers and Ostwerk.

Big Band - The practice week, trip to England, chilling in the youth hostle with the boys, being sick the next day and not going on any of the rides at the amusement park, the concerts.

Moving up to Neusäß - Going out to Mo'town with Basti till 2am on a school night, but I got up and went to school the next day too! Going out with Mini & Hanna.

Going to get ice cream during afternoon break one day with Melanie.

Walking back from KFC to Neusäß with Scott one night in June.

Altbau Fest

The last days, saying good bye to everyone.

Getting off the plane in JFK, going through immagration and having the guy tell me welcome home. Stopping at Mt. Cisco the next day on the way home. Coming home and having Orrin, Beth and Sarah come by for a visit.

Driving out to Darien Lake with Tony and Joe to see Creed. Them making out with two random chicks, Tony getting cool-aide on his neck and shirt from her dyed hair. Moving to RIT the next day.

Building my computer with Lt. Dan (my roomie John). RSA-ing, LEAD retreats, Marci, B-dog, cornbitch.

Getting stuck up at Hartwick on new years and having to call the old man.

The spring quarter from hell. Working on the race car. Getting Promoted, getting a D in calc 3.

Going out to Indy for Scott's graduation. Staying a bit longer.

Scout Camp 2001 - The Camp Video!! The first Watermelon run. Hans & Franz skits. Speed runs over the back roads to Cooperstown while moonlighting as a painter. OB helping out the one night, sitting on the back deck, smoking a cigar.

Being an RA. Staff training, dad's second heart surgery, running to Albany and back in a day. Weekly Staff meetings.

Driving the race car, F8 for the first time.

Having my keys tossed around the floor, so I would stay longer.

Driving Sunday nights out to Buffalo, coming back Monday mornings half dead with the sun in my eyes. Pam and Aaron keeping me awake in Dynamics. Sleeping on the floor of building 6 in the basement, waiting to take notes in German. But we built F10, one of the finest formula cars ever.

Turning 21 in Detroit and getting a speeding ticket. Having it snow that day.

Spending 3 weeks in Augsburg. Brunnen Fest, Open Air Movies, Cappuchinos, Running in the rain to Murphys Irish Pub, going to München and walking around for the day.

Scout Camp 2002 - Lip Sync, men in tights. Laying out in front of the dining hall. Being one of the older guys. The Watermelon run 2. Partying with Joe and Tony on Cherry Street. Letting Tony try to cut my hair, Joe fixing it(yes, there was alcohol involved). Getting the wisdom teeth out.

Brake Leader, trying to RSA/narc again. Failing Numod mid quarter, having to quit RSA-ing but getting a B in that class. Lindsy & Amy giving me the occassional jab so that I would stay awake. Thank you ladies!

Going to Toronto with Aaron, Jess and her roomie. Talking about writing the engineers guide to dating.

Going to Australia to race F10. Meeting up with Koren in Melbourne. Trying for a second chance.

Going skiing with the waterfront crew.

Driving from home to RIT and back every weekend for winter quarter. Getting blown sideways on top of the mountain outside of Herkimer, driving by looking out the side window and gauging how far away I was from the bank. Believe it or not, I was leading people at a 5 mph pace.

Going out to Rain for Erika's birthday, getting my car towed. Opps. That's how you know you're a country boy in the city.

One crazy spring quarter. Building the car, mackin it. Working at reman, doing FEMA analysis. Driving skidpad in Detroit.

Going backpacking with Jeremy, Tony & Keith. We went a total of 3 times. Jeremy only got us lost twice. Not on the trail mind you, but on the way to his house, where we'd stop for a good home cooked meal.

Going to the Indy 500 with Erin.

Emily's graduation party.

Going to the firemans carneval. Having a good time with John S. Going to Nancy's afterwards, seeing Beth, emily and everyone. Talking with John about how does my brother do it, while he was working his magic. Staying at Banners for the night.

Having summer classes with the appartment all to myself. Cranking the oldies in the am while going into the bathroom, just like the old man used to. Grilling out behind the shop. Driving the car all summer long.

Taking 3 6 packs of Weizen to Oswego to visit Orrin. Going to his favorite bar for a Guiness and then over to some friends for a night of cards.

Vintage GP at Watkins Glen with Erin.

The fall quarter from hell. Going to the USGP, flying to Chicago, eating at the cheesecake factory. Going to the ER and getting diagnoised with migraines. Getting a second chance.

Reel Big Fish Concert with my bro. Who else could beat 2 girls out in a lap dance competition.

Going down under with F11. Racing in autocross and endurance. Getting 3rd in endurance. Being 3-4 seconds a lap faster than anyone else on the team.

Co-op at Bausch - talking to Jerry for hours on end. Running tests, late, which always seemed to fall on a Friday. Staying late till a report was done, working on the car at night. Brainstorming meetings with PMD and people from Waterford. Moving out to Scottsville. The first Live Run, process discoveries, software changes, talkin to the man D. Brown.

The Summer of Coffee! 22 Hrs of classes a week the second half and 20+ hrs a week at B&L. It was great getting to train Matt, even more rewarding seeing how far he's taken things. You're the man. Of course I got a reputation for drinking 32 oz of coffee a day, Wednesdays I'd go to sleep at 6, get up at 12 and go 24 hrs till 12 Thursday night, but I did it all. I work best under pressure.

Going hiking at Letchworth with Jeremy, then getting the look on the way back from some dudes girlfriend as they went by us in a Mitsu. Well of course I have chase and passed him back, but then it was on, and the old van was no match for him as he passed me again. We made him work for it though. He was alughing his ass off and so were we. What a riot.

It was great going to the USGP again, better weather for sure. Who else could run a Corvette out of gas on the highway. I'll never live that one down, right Scott?

Going to see Puddle of Mud, 3 Doors Down & Nickelback with Tony & Jess. Having Jess cock-block Tony the whole time!

Camping out in the infield of Watkins Glen. Sitting around a lantern, having Weizen with dad and Tony.

Moving to Marrysville, OH

The standard Honda issue white uniforms, name included, laundry for free. Dirty all you like.

Kyle getting wacked in the head with a caliper. Zip ties becoming standard issue to co-ops.

The weekly co-op crew newsletter. Have you flogged your crew today?

Playing soccer in the Honda League. Hearing people on the opposite team say watch out for that guy. Practicing one day, yaking, continuing practice in a dazze and scoring mad goals. -shoulda done that in a game, I might have actually scored then.

Winning our last indoor game.

The autocrosses, with James getting it tail happy, Chris taking out mad cones and Kyle being the man in the knockout ternament. Big thanks to James for getting my own tail happy experience on film.

Climbing. Great times, great talk.

"Enhanced" Grand Turismo - Spec racer Mini, stick racing (on the controller), going to Wendys afterwards with late night hunger to order just about everything off the dollar menu.

The Halloween Party! I need not go into details. All who were there will remember.

Going to visit Pam in Cinci. Going out to the Hofbrau Haus in Cinci. Going to the renessance fest a few weeks later.

K-Factor - bending a couple clamps in the process

Setting up static tests with the boys. Getting ripped on the whole way. There was a day when my face turned as red as the writing on our shirts.

Working with Howard to set up the test car.

Getting yelled at for using the test car as a shuttle car. Opps. Live and learn, but more importantly take responsibility for your actions.

Rollin in the ride with DVD audio crankin out Linkin Park's Reanimation disk and Dendis driving. Getting to gather road data myself.

Chris's 21st. "Enhanced" bowling style.

Bowling as a sub for Fink while he was on vacation with his woman. I still haven't been able to beat the 146 I bowled that night.

Chris demonstating how the control system was not working on the test car. Stopping for meatball subs.

Working with big Paul out in 40. "My &%$ hurts" and learning what it meant to make all bolts "German"

The 555TT. Getting brake fade, and having smoke come from the left front wheel. Locking the rear brakes up cresting a hill. Seeing Kyle chase James and being able to keep up with them by pushing the Breeze and using the gears.

Going out to the Stonehaus with Joan, Krista & Paul for some beer.

My going away party. I was overwhelmed by the attendance. I can't even begin to describe.

Picking up Aaron from the airport, going back to our appartment and having a cold one in salute to his experience in Würzburg, then going off to class.

Honda Prom. One more outstanding night of fun. Save a Horse, Ride a Capristo. Hey, all in Capristo style, no one would expect anything less.

Senior Design, wanting to bang my head into the wall with all the dumb lectures. I coulda learned more drinking hops and barely down at McGreggors.

Going out to a Feuerzangebowle Party. I'll never forget trying to stuff all those Hershy Kisses in my mouth with the stupid mittens on. Aaron, you're my hero.

Going home and out with my bro. There were many nights like that, but only one where I went to a party and met Jenn and Doozer. Dooz was mixin up some good shots. Country Rock was jammin that night. There were many nights when we all went out, sometimes to breakfast afterwards. Good times.

Of course I'll never forget coming back from the Fox and having Tony make breakfast, or the night we picked up the last 2 calzones from the pizzaria at 2:30 am. Brothers always!

And I sure as hell won't foget the night we were out till 5 am, after coming back from Utica in a snowstorm, going out, going to Neptune for breakfast and then driving home. I swear that car would go anywhere, well, almost, and that night I ran through the snowbank at the edge of the driveway doing about 20-25 mph. She made her way through it, snow flying everywhere, pushed all the way back to be big shed before getting hung up. And I still managed to get up and help clear the snow that day. Damn, now thems the stories to tell grandchildren. Not my children, I won't make the mistake my father did. We always wanted to be just like dad when we got older. *grin*

Sunday night dinner with Pam, Laurel & Aaron. Making Radlers & Rußs.

Graduation - It was certainly the fastest 5 years of my life to date.

Running back home on the weekends to visit dad in the hospital and finish the porch for Bethann's graduation.

Live runs 8 & 9, process development, LBI.

July 4th weekend! Getting pizza with Liz. Driving back and catching the Rochester fireworks with Aaron and Melissa.

Doozer's birthday party. I hope I never see my brother in a speedo again.

Fireman's Carneval - hanging out with our old baby sitter, Tony calling up the old man so that a girl could ask him about the Capristo secret/practice.

Golfing with the B&L crew. The going away/celebration party the week after.

The vintage GP weekend with Dad & Tony. Exploring more of the track.

Going to the IRL race at Watkins Glen with the parents and Orrin. Sitting in the Stratus talking to Orrin, lookin at pictures and joking around while having a couple German beers.