As an experience junkie, I value unusual and ridiculous opportunities. Hence, the chance to sit in a dunk tank this past weekend -- since I had never done it before and will probably never do it again -- was right up my alley.

Although I have good intentions, at this point in my life I'm unable to be as politically active in my neighborhood, Riverwest, as I would like to be. But, I do what I can, and when the Riverwest Neighborhood Association (RNA) asked me to sit in their fundraising dunk tank for 20 minutes during Center Street Daze, I was happy to do my part.

About two hours before I was scheduled to sit in the tank -- I started my shift at 4:20 p.m., which is funny to some people and you know who you are -- I thought about what I would wear. I considered the obvious swimsuit option, but then remembered I had a nurse's costume somewhere from a mid-'90s Halloween party.

The costume was easier to find then I thought it would be, and once I tried it on and decided I looked OK in it, I decided to wear it. Wearing a costume to sit in a dunk tank during Center Street Daze keeps with the "anything goes" spirit of Riverwest, and it also allowed me to make jokes about being a "wet nurse." (Bah-dum-dum.)

Luckily, the weather was amazing on Saturday, and as I walked into the festival in my nurse's costume, I got a lot of smiles and nods. My friend Melissa was sitting in the tank when I arrived, getting dunked three or four times in a five-minute period. I guess I didn't realize I was going to go down quite so many times.

In a 20-minute shift, I did take the plunge at least 10 times, probably closer to 15 or 20, but I lost count. I had one nasty water-up-the-nose situation, but for the most part, it was really fun, albeit unnerving when the ball is in mid-throw and I didn't know if I was taking the plunge or not.

The best part of the experience was getting to heckle the ball throwers, and saying things that I have never said before (and will most likely never say again) like "you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn!" and "nice try, rubber arms!" and "bet it isn't the first time you couldn't get a nurse wet!" (Doh!)

All in all, it was a good experience -- one I will definitely never forget. Next time I volunteer for the RNA, however, I think I'll just stuff envelopes.