DottieBear

Oh yeah! I love it there!! I don't know the reason Scotland Run had the fireworks but I am really hoping for them again tomorrow night. After all, this is the last weekend of the summer!! ::: ducks and runs for cover after that reminder ::: Are you going to be around CK tomorrow? Say "hi" if you are. I have more AFF tomorrow! Woohoo!

Haha, as soon I read this I checked your profile, KNOWING your home DZ must be CK. I love when they have the fireworks!!!! They even had them on my birthday one year, it was the perfect end to a perfect day! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I remember first visiting this forum when I realized, 3 years ago, I wanted be a part of this sport. I had to make myself aware of the risks, the dangers, and accept them before I would allow myself to finish AFF. perhaps my need to do so was increased because my first TI was Yonatan Ran, and I learned that night(from others) how just the summer before he had held one of those most dear to him after the jump that would be her last. Perhaps it was because I finished AFF at Cross Keys, with the memory of that double fatality fresh in their minds. And it maybe that I am still so acutely aware of the dangers because it was just months into my skydiving career that one of the most heads-up jumpers and respected people at the dz lost his life when he did everything right, and never gave up, fighting all the way to the ground. I owe it to myself, my family, and the other jumpers around me to be a little scared. A little cautious. I'm grateful for that. And I hope I never lose that fear. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I'm not sure how the topic relates to the subject matter. Those yelling at the person who was wrong or offended someone WERE being honest. Sometimes people need to be told they are doing something wrong. Perhaps noone was harmed this time, but we are in a sport where a small mistake can kill some one else. I have no problem if someone comes up to me and rips into me if I did something unsafe....it will make me angry, for sure, but it will also most likely stop me from ever doing it again. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I was offered a job in Versailles, KY today. It represents a good promotion and a significant increase in salary, but of course, I have to make sure there is somewhere good to jump before I say yes! I looked up the nearby dzs, but of course, its hard to tell what is what by those reviews. Skydive KY and Greensburg look the most promising....anyone have any experience with either of these??? I need a dz that is open during the week, and puts up loads on weekdays, since that is when my days off are. Any information is appreciated!!! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I went through a phase right after I got off student status, up until I got my A almost, that I suddenly became more aware of the risks. I made a point to read ALL the fatalities, I read everything I could find about how to be safer in this sport, and I listened and learned from EVERYONE who offered advice to me when I made little mistakes at the dz....mistakes that at my level weren't a huge deal, but I as I got more experienced, downsized more, and did more challenging things, they could have ended up with me getting really hurt. Now I've gone through the first fatality of a friend, but I hasn't kept me out of the sky. Its a risk you have to accept. Its a knowledge and fear that will make you give the sport the respect it deserves, and that respect will help keep you alive and in one piece. But for me, skydiving gives me a pure happiness that nothing else in my life has ever given me....and its worth it. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I still have a quote from the night I graduated at xkeys(my first time jumping there) when he defined my wit as "insincerity spiced with sarcasm". I just thought that was the most hilarious thing I had ever heard. I always appreciated his advice. The last night I was at cross keys, a month ago, he was offering views and opinions on what the best course of action for a horseshoe mal is(when its on your main, of course). We were all captivated and listened to his honest, humble advice with the utmost respect. While his wit and sarcasm and rudeness ran wild, he was every bit a professional and serious when it came to important matters. Its hard to believe that he won't be there the next time I go to xkeys. His absence will surely be felt. Blue skies, PJ.... ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

Either Sussex(about 1 hour or so, I would say) or Cross Keys(about 2 hours). Sussex is smaller and more personal, Cross Keys is one of the biggest in the country. Both are operated by Freefall Adventures and awesome places to jump :) Check out both! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

can I have it too, please???? ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I felt like this thru my after my first tandem too. I did another one that day. And more the next week. Then started AFF right away. My friends and family, knowing how I can be about things, thought this was something else that I would exhaust myself of quickly. Six months, two licenses, and 64 jumps later, I still get giddy before I make my 4 hour drive to my dz of choice, jump my ass off whenever I get there, and feel high all day long. I call it crack, because its truly what it is. Its my drug. I long for it, live for it, budget myself for it. I've given up a lot of little things I used to enjoy(shopping, pedicures/manicures/frequent haircuts, etc) to help pay for it. Not a day goes by that I don't think about when I can go again, what I will work on, how I can improve off my last jumps.... Welcome. Skydiving has enriched my life in more ways than I ever imagined. There's just nothing quite like it. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I've talked about it at length with my mom. When I started getting very into the sport, I told her how I studied the old fatalities so I could learn from mistakes, explained to her all the actions taken to try and prevent injury(e.p's, wing loading, coaching, etc etc), and also have a deal with her that I call her after every day of sky diving to let her know I am ok. I have had a living will since I turned 20 and lost someone young and unexpectedly. it made me realize that you never know what will happen, and I wanted to make sure that things were carried out as I wished. When I started skydiving, I added to that a clause which stated that no legal action was to be taken against the dz, the instructors, the manufacturing companies, or anyone at all associated with skydiving in the event of an accident. My mom feels much better knowing that I am aware of the risks and, as such, am doing everything in my power to aviod them! My dad and sister on the other hand.....well, let's just say I don't tell them as much ;) I must confess tho...I do not talk to my family about skydiving accidents. Only among my skydiving friends do I discuss such things. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

Its been a month between my visits to Cross Keys(although I did manage a trip to a cessna dz and get two jumps in between them), but I finally got down there again this Sunday and Monday. I did 8 jumps on Sun, 5 yesterday, and had a great time celebrating birthdays and various licenses, and hated to finally make the 4 hour drive home last night. I was working on my sit, accuracy, and also did an awesome tracking dive and a chopper jump(which was SOOOO cool!!!). After lots of experimentation and two excellent coach jumps, I feel like I have an idea of what sitting is, and my landings were the best they have ever been. I finished the two days with taking my B test, and passed! Woo hoo!! just under 5 months from first tandem to my B...not too shabby ;) It was such an incredible 30 hours. I still can't believe that I found this sport. I just keep loving it more and more, as I work harder to become more skilled, and keep learning new things. Once again, thanks to everyone at Cross keys who always take the time to teach me something, even tho I am an infrequent visitor and such a newbie! Yay! Beer! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

Congrats!!! I just got my "A" too....doesn't jumping just feel different after? I felt so much more relaxed(also aced my exit on my first jump after). Even doing a two way that didn't accomplish everything we had planned, I still had so much fun. I didn't feel like I was getting judged on it, and suddenly, I feel like I can just learn at my own rate, and don't have to worry about deadlines or passing anything. Its an incredible feeling. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I log first because 1. I pack REALLY REALLY slow. LOL. I have only packed about 5 times, so it takes me forever. 2. Packing takes a LOT of thought and focus for me, so I would definitely lose some of the detail about my jump while I was doing it 3. its way for fun for me to relive the skydive immediately! I always log in detail, because its not uncommon for me to have a few weeks between jumps, and so much happens in that time, that I often forget the things I was working on. By reading my logs before I go to the dz, I remember what I improved on and what I needed more work on, and it puts me back in the mindset I was when I left the dz(or at least close to it). I just got my A, and thus, just started jumping with friends more, and thus just started getting smart ass comments ;) I love them! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I've ALWAYS wanted to do it. Anytime someone I knew did I was jealous, and whenever I talked about my list of things I had to in my life, skydiving was on it. I am almost obsessed with feeling free and the thought of flying and being one with nature, and I just really wanted to try skydiving...I knew it must be something. This winter, a new friend mentioned casually that he was going on skydiving. I freaked out and invited myself. I think he didn't quite believe me, but I bugged him all week about it, and even drove up to dz with him and another newbie. As soon as I landed from the first tandem, I asked "when I can I go again?" I did another tandem that day. I, at first, put off AFF, because I was scared of the financial and time commitment required to graduate. But the next week, I was at the drop zone again and did an insane 3 more tandems, which we did in a progressive style(pulling, learning to turn and do forward motion, and canopy control). And I knew it was futile to continue to resist. I started AFF the next week, and now have my "A", and am completely won over by this sport and the amazing people I have met through it. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

Where DID Harry find that girl?? LOL. It was definitely a great time(at least when I showed up late Sunday until I left this afternoon!) even if Jimmy T and his pooch had eaten all the jello shots by the time I got there :) Thanks everyone at CK and especially CK1 for organizing such an awesome time! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

Saw them last a little over a year ago at the House of Blues in Orlando. I only knew a handful of songs, but absolutely LOVED the show. The vibe, the vocals, the music, the energy in the crowd and off the stage....definitely in my top 10 shows. And I've been to MANY MANY concerts, so that's saying a lot! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

Wubbie, you best take lots and lots of pictures so that I can live the rocky horror night vicariously through you!!! Can't wait to see you Monday(or hopefully Sunday night). ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

And might I add that if you have never had Jacob's cooking, you just don't know what you are missing. He is a fantastic cook! I definitely regret that I will not be able to make it out to Sussex this weekend! ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

everyone who is going to should make it a point to stay over and jump on Monday too(especially you Rudderrow!!!) so you can hang with us crazy people who work on weekends and will be there all day Monday, hopefully with a few tandems(gotta get plenty of loads up!) ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

Thanks everyone for your comments! I definitely feel better about my moving around. Its just so hard....I work weekends most of the time and get one day off a week if I'm lucky, so finding the time to jump is difficult to say the least. Plus, I like having the whole dz experience....I'm not the type to jump and leave. I love the social life at dzs(tho don't get the wrong impression of whore, ) so I want to make sure that I feel totally welcome at the places I go. But I listen to the advice of those that brought me into the sport...I listen to the instructors, am far more patient than those close to me could imagine, and buy lots and lots of beer ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

N/A

The conversation in the "Sebastian Rocks" thread brought up a question that has been floating in my mind for a while....keep in mind I am just starting out. While I definitely consider Freefall Adventures(Seb during the winter, CK during the rest of the year) home, I cannot help but be a bit of dz whore. I travel all the time for work, and I am a 4 hour drive from Cross Keys when I am home, so its not always reasonable for me to go there. Despite my low numbers, I have already been to 4 different dzs(bad weather kept me from jumping at one of them, tho).Does this reflect poorly upon me when I arrive at a new DZ? Or make the DZs I love feel I have a lack of loyalty toward them? No one has ever said anything to me....but I was just wondering what you guys thought. ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

I think screening would be really hard, because, lets face it, a lot of us who chose to sky dive are not....well, we could easily spend all the money we spend sky diving on counseling, I am sure(though with less results!) To sky dive takes a certain acceptance of death, and often a morbid sense of humor about it(in my own case and many of the sky divers I have meet in my short time reflect this). To participate in a sport where the number one goal is to survive...well, it just takes a special kind of person to love and feel so passionate about a sport like that. How could even a highly trained psychiatrist tell the difference between someone who was ready to end it all, and the rest of us?? ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights

it amazes me the people(who seem to be a few people who feel the need to say it on every thread on the subject) who feel this way. Are these the same people who , at a bar, drink the shots YOU buy, but never buy a round for anyone else? Who will take the drink you buy them at the bar, but never offer to buy you one? Who come to the party empty handed, but eat all the food and drink all the beer they want?? Not someone I want to be friends with, for sure. Even tho it is tradition, even tho they do all joking demand it as I haphazardly throw the "f" word around, the instructors, pilots, manifest, and everyone at the dz always thank me when I deliver my cases of beer. And even tho the enthusiastic "we LIKE having you here, you can come whenever you want" was said in jest....I know it has helped me feel at home at the dz. I couldn't imagine not buying my beer....thankfully as I owe more and more beer, the jumps are getting cheaper ~Dottie “Everything looks perfect from far away.” Postal Service, Such Great Heights