skygazer

I am always posting with a quations or a problem. Thanks to everyone for the help and support - hope these make you smile!!!!! _______________________________________

I am still so high I could just burst!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a bummer - stuck at work - looking at my skydiving pics on the wall. Man, I need to hit that Lotto!!!!!!!!!!!!!! _______________________________________

Hey all! I just wanted to thank everyone that helped me with my issues (breathing probs, opting out on my last jump). I was out at the DZ two weeks ago - way too overcast to jump - no breaks in the clouds. I went back on Saturday and had THE BEST JUMP EVER!!! It's my LAST tandem - AFP at Skydive Chicago is next! No breathing probs, watched my altimeter like a hawk, did my practice pulls and deployed at proper altitude. Had the greatest canopy ride ever, the only non perfect thing was the landing - went for a slide and the wind caught us and dropped me flat on my butt - ouch!!!! Actually after two perfect landings before this was not a bad thing. Not that you take the ground for granted (yikes) but it was an awakening. Thanks to everyone who commented to me and gave me encouragement. My confidence had really been shaken the last time and I was not a happy girl. Now I know I am a skydiver (well, a student skydiver anyway), I WILL do AFP and I WILL get my license! I love all you folks...thanks for listending to me cry and giving me hope. YAAAAY

I had to throw in my two cents. Even though the movie is not the greatest I still love it for the skydiving scenes. Definately escapism. The other day at work I was in a meeting listening to a boring presentation about our quarter end financial results - lots of charts and graphs. Our CFO said "notice the RED LINE on the graph" and that did it I spent the next half hour daydreaming about Tom Berenger (Redline was his name in the film). Good thing nobody asked me any questions - I have no idea what the rest of the meeting was. Oh well...sure made the time go by!!!! _______________________________________

Coffee in the morning...Diet Mountain Dew the rest of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oops, sorry, hands won't stop shakin' _______________________________________

I'm a long suffering Cub fan too...I am thrilled for Ron Santo. Go Cubbies!!!!!!!!!! _______________________________________

Welcome to the family!!!! Blue Skies! _______________________________________

And your very own Otter...complete with pilot? _______________________________________

How cool is that? Ok, family, shall we get out our Christmas lists? Ha! _______________________________________

Thank to everyone, I just love you guys and gals. What a great "family". I feel so much better! _______________________________________

Your are right about that.I think had I jumped when I first got there I think I would have been OK, just normal butterflies. My husband bitched me out...said jump for yourself, have fun, ya don't have to be the tour director. Damn, I hate it when he's right! _______________________________________

Will be out at SDC this weekend, will be glad to pitch in! _______________________________________

N/A

Hi All, Me again...in spite of everyone's help, Sunday turned out terrible. Got to the DZ early...had promised to wait for some friends...they were late...didn't eat all day (just lost track of time) By the time we were together it was about 5 hours later. By the time we got ready to jump I was starting to get lightheaded (no food, warm weather). So there I was, all harnessed up, and now not only not feeling good - it played with my head, I was terrified at the thought of jumping. I kept saying, I did this before (hell, it's a TANDEM, for God's sake, I could just try to enjoy the ride) but I was totally freaked. The Otter rolls up and I told my instructor, I just couldn't do it, something screamed at me that jumping at that moment was not something I should do. I was MORTIFIED...had to take the long walk back to the hanger and wait for my friends. My instructor was great...told me always listen to the heart and don't overthink it. Well, overthinking is my specialty. I hope I'll be ok, I am hoping to go out this weekend and try again. Maybe it was the lack of food, but man, it messed up my confidence (which, if you saw my prior post was not exactly rock hard) and upset me big time. I have to say, I regret not be able to complete the jump but I do NOT regret the decision, it was the right thing to do. I was sure I wanted to start AFP next year, but now I am going to be happy to complete the tandem (I have done 2 prior) and make sure I don't freak out again. I LOVE what this sport has done for me and my life so far, I don't know what is happening in my head. It's crazy...sitting here at work I feel like I could go up right now with no problem. Crap, it's like stage fright!!!! Anyone have thoughts here...sorry for the length of the message, I debated if I should post or not...I feel like a fool. Thanks to all. Love ya's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! _______________________________________

Sunday is one of my girlfriends B-days, I wish I could go back to 21!!! NAAAA...I am at a good place in my life! Happy BDAY to you, too. We are gonna come out around 10 or so. The 4 of us that made our first jump together are coming along with our buddy from Dayton that has made a ton of jumps and turned us on to the sport. He went with us the first time too! Should be a great day, we'll look for ya. _______________________________________

Trust me, I know about the husband thing. Mine is great about my obsession and comes up to the DZ BUT he cannot QUITE understand what all the excitement is about. Whuffo!!!! How has your hubby been? Will he jump, too? _______________________________________

Yep, were are going this Sunday the 21st - weather sounds like it will be good (crossing my fingers). We are doing third tandem. We are bringing out a birthday cake for my friend - there will be PLENTY for all. If you are out there it would be nice to meet you!!! Thanks for the great ideas and words! _______________________________________

Yep, we jump at SDC. I love it there. Everyone has been super. I need to wait on AFP for a number of issues (family, work, etc). Any suggestions on what you can do over the winter to prepare? _______________________________________

Thanks so much for the support, I guess this is not so unusual. Nice to know I am not alone!!!! _______________________________________

Mmmmm. works for me. So much for enjoyable to do at work instead of work!!! My friends don't want to hear about Skydiving anymore...I get that glazed, "Oh God, not again" look. Glad you all don't mind listening to me!!! HaHa _______________________________________

Thank so much to everyone. Another friend told me that part of my "problem" could be that we waited so long in between jumps, first one In late June, another in mid-August, now in late September. My hope is that Sunday's jump will be awesome and then I can do AFP in Spring. Hmmm.what the HELL do I do all winter? Yikes!!! _______________________________________

Hi Everyone, Here we have yet another newbie with an issue. Please forgive the length, it is hard for me to put into words the feelings that I have going on. I have done two tandems and am doing a third this Sunday (will be doing AFP in Spring) and going out with a group of friends that will be doing tandems as well. Problem is this…first tandem, no fear…only problem was a breathing thing that several folks have now given me suggestions on how to work through. I was so overwhelmed with the sights I missed pulling and my tandem guy pulled.We had only four of us jumping that load, even with the video folks, plenty of room in the plane. Second jump – plane was chock full – 3 tandems, everyone else jumping on their own. We had waiting all day to jump and on the ride up, I got totally freaked out – claustrophobia set in but I got through that – when we headed for the door I was scared witless. Once out, I did ok, same breathing thing (I got the suggestions afterward on how to get through, will be trying them on Sunday), pulled on my own, had a blast and had a great landing again. Best high ever. My weirdness now is I wonder (and I think waaaay to much) is will I be freaked or cool. I have to admit this is really getting to me. I feel like I want to do AFP but now I have a case of the jitters I never had before. Am I nuts? I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts here. I feel like Sunday’s jump will do where I learn if I can do it or not. I love what jumping has done for me, the high, the people I have met, everyone here in the Forums. As the day draws closer I get more edgy. We are planning a day long party, beer and birthday cake one of our friends who is jumping. Help………………….

Way to Go!!!!!!!!

My friend has went twice with Donna, she is really a teacher - she let's you know what you are doing right (and wrong..ha ha). I went with Wade. Actually all of the folks out there are great.

The dream is what makes like worth living. Way to go!