Luna

Oh...big puppy vibes for your adorable little guy. Parvo is the worst!! I hope he pulls through okay. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3074245.stm I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Oops! I didn't mean to get her in trouble! She was traveling with much family...I'm SURE that's the reason she didn't drop in on you! In fact, if it weren't for said family, she could have made it up here in a day and jumped with us on Sunday, so don't feel too bad! And I have NO idea where it was that they spent the night in North Carolina on the way up! Now I'm going to go hide from her because I KNOW I'll get in trouble for letting that part out!! (Sorry Andrea! ) (Maybe this thread will be buried by the time she gets back...I can hope, can't I? ) I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Yep, cause I got to see her!! She had a family reunion here in Williamsburg, VA all week, and I had dinner with her on Monday. They were set to head back today so she should be back home tomorrow. Edited to add that she did not get to jump while she was here. Our local DZ is only open weekends, and the ones open on weekdays were a little too far a drive for her. Hopefully I'll get to jump with her another time! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Glad to hear that you're okay. Be careful! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I totally agree, we shouldn't need this specific law, we should just have a total reform across the board. However, it's good to know that someone in Washington is finally realizing that it's getting totally out of control, and taking some steps in the right direction to abate it. While it's probably not the best idea, it's better than just sitting back and letting this BS continue. Total tort reform will be very difficult to get passed (though it is terribly needed). This one law will probably be much easier to get through. And just maybe a victory with this might inspire someone to try something more far reaching. Well...I won't hold my breath... I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030718/D7SBTA680.html I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

This sounds like the footage: the student was a lawyer and ended up and sued over his problems. Anyone remember the outcome of that? I don't think it went anywhere because he obviously f'ed up, and he was actually on radio and claims that they put him in those power lines...like he couldn't see them coming himself and avoid them. He must have used the FJC as an opportunity to catch up on his sleep. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if he is the one who sold the footage, and no, I don't believe that he stuck with it. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

25:1 (Jump #3, spinning mal) I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

OMG...you have a Memaw?? I have a Memaw!!!

This is actually very common. I was kicking for at least the first five jumps or so. It's an unconscious reflex thing. Don't worry about it! Everyone has stability problems at first. I mean, if we didn't have problems, we wouldn't need training, would we? And you will find that you may have a nearly perfect jump one time, and the next time it all goes to shit. It just happens. The main thing is to accept that you are learning, that you will get better, and that as long as you learned something on every jump, you did not fail! And most importantly, try to relax. It really helps with your stability when you can relax. Good luck! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Just want to clarify that you will be logging them online in addition to in your logbook and not instead of. If so, that's a great idea. If not, re-consider. You have to have a logbook with signatures on every jump to get your licenses and ratings in the future. I don't think this is what you were talking about, just wanted to be clear! Good luck! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I've read all the replies so far, and there's some good points made. I just wanted to add one thing. A marriage is all about compromise. Neither of you will be 100% happy with everything, and so you just learn to give and take. If you are committed, it's not so hard. From what you are saying, I'm not seeing a willingness to compromise on the skydiving issue. I think counseling will be good, and one thing that you really need to get clear on while you are there is exactly what upsets her about the skydiving. Is it the danger aspect? Is it the frequency? Is it because she no longer feels a connection to you because she cannot share this thing that now is your whole life? Find out what it is, and then find a way to either address it (for example, if it's the danger, you can explain that you never take extra risks, and explain all the safety devices you use, etc.), or you can find a way to compromise (for example, if it's a loss of connection, agree to find something else that you can both enjoy together, and most important, agree to give up some of your dedicated skydiving time to do it with her). Frankly, from what I'm reading, she is probably feeling like skydiving is more important to you than she is. Hey, if it's true, get out! Don't keep her in that kind of a relationship. That's like having an affair with another woman and refusing to give it up, but not wanting a divorce either. But, if it's not true, you need to find a way to make her feel that you love her more. Good luck to you! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Finished the new Harry Potter next weekend, have a bit of time before I have to tackle the last LOTR book, so I'm doing some serious reading right now, a book called Power Vs. Force by Dr. David R. Hawkins. Simply amazing stuff. If anybody else has read or reads it in the future, PM me! I'd love to discuss this book with anyone who has read it. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Well, keep in mind that in the beginning you will either be on radio, or they will have some other means to communicate with you as to where to go and when to flare, so it's really not as bad as you might think. Now, radios do sometimes not work, so you should pay close attention when they go over what your patter will look like and all, but generally speaking, parachutes are very easy to fly. Flaring at the right time is probably the toughest thing, and again, with a radio they solve that for you. I've seen many, many first jump students stand up their landings. Me, I'm not so fortunate, but I'm not the norm. Good luck to you, and let us know how it goes!

Not sure why SOS systems are still being used for students...but then I'm not sure why rip cords are still sometimes being used for students either. The argument about flexibility goes out the door when you consider many experienced jumpers use an RSL, which does the same thing, unless you think ahead and disconnect it. Well, at least you have that option, and with an SOS you don't. My DZ had SOS when I started AFF, and while I was still in AFF (but after I had a cutaway on the SOS), he switched to a 2-handled SOS system...either handle performs both functions. Yes, you are absolutely right and he is deadly wrong! NEVER rely on your RSL to deploy your reserve for you! It is there ONLY as a backup system, in case you can't get to your reserve handle for some reason. Not pulling your reserve handle because the RSL will deploy for you is just plain stupid. You are also very correct about ingraining the full procedure. What if he borrows gear sometime that doesn't have an RSL on it, has a malfunction, and then never pulls his reserve? It just doesn't make sense to not practice and use full and proper emergency procedures at all times. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Why is a 160 your only option? Couldn't you buy something in between to ease the transition? I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Oh, so it's probably on my end, then? I'll try a few things to see if I can figure it out. Thanks! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Hopefully I'm not the only one trying to click on the banner ads, but many times when I do, the link takes me to a page different than what the ad is for. For example, I try clicking on the Preyor Pins ad and go to Square 1 instead. Can anything be done? I'd think the advertisers would be a bit upset about this little bug, as well. Thanks! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Oh, yep, all the time. Glad to know I'm not the only one that feels that way! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I think it's pretty universal that DZ's don't want you jumping your own equipment before you have passed the traditional AFF jumps and been cleared to solo, at least. Check with Elsinore and see what their policy is. I would not be looking for gear so soon, though. If a wind tunnel is a convenient and affordable option, I'd take it. However, instability is something that ALL students deal with, and far more students overcome it in the air than in the wind tunnel. The whole AFF program is centered around teaching you to keep or regain stability, and perform basic maneuvers such as turns. Before you are cleared to solo, you will have to perform intentionally unstable maneuvers (barrel rolls, front and back flips) and demonstrate an ability to recover stability from them. It's just part of the program, and everyone deals with it. Read the forums here and you will find countless students who have struggled with either instability or spins (myself included). Just don't give up, and eventually you get it. Good luck!

The ISP is basically the same at any DZ that uses it, and I went through it at West Point, VA (somewhere you might also consider, not too much farther for you, PM me if you want more info on it). What questions do you have about the ISP in particular? I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

And today, July 6, she celebrated her 14,000th freefall with a 19-way that was even uglier than the 13 way (hey, they got at least 2 points on the 13 way, I don't think they got even one on the 19 way, but then there were some freefliers who wanted to be in on it and all...). Pics were taken and will be submitted to both Parachutist and Skydiving. Yes, Carol is truly the Queen!

How reasonable? There is one at Skydive the Point in West Point, VA July 18-20. PM me if you want contact info or anything. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

It it's an otter, you will be on the outside of the plane, holding on. If it's a Casa, you'll be standing right on the edge of the tailgate and hop off. In either case, like the others have said, it will not be a "just jump" situation because your instructors have to get hold of you and then leave with you. You'll get in position, check with them both to make sure they are ready, then give a three-count to exit. Don't worry, it's really not as bad as you think it is. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!