Beachbum

Well ... took a walk at lunch and about blew over a couple of times on gusts, so reckon y'all are in the classroom ... cool ... just let me know the "when". Course itself ... what all?? ... I did Scott's first level course when he was in town that time. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I don't consider myself a liberal, since I tend to agree with one party on some issues, opposite on other issues (and the split it probably much closer to 50/50 than I'd like to think LOL!!). That said ... why address this question only to "liberals"?? Are you implying that you believe nobody who associates themselves with the republican party ever partook of government handouts?? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I definitely would have shown up if not on what is a work day for me. With wind like it was yesterday, I suspect this may get rescheduled, since it's expected to be in the 15 - 25 range again this afternoon. If so, and you decide to try it on something other than sunday let me know ... low cost canopy coaching sounds like a good thing to me, and it's been a while since I've been up to see y'all!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Surely you jest! Smoking weed is illegal, and most skydivers I know would never even CONSIDER doing anything illegal. and yeah ... sure ... I'll stop calling you Shirley ... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Odd ... I just posted some of this in another thread in S & T before I saw this ... LOL! Been there done that ... 3 times. I had a "spontaneous" collapse, took off about a year then resumed jumping, had a 2nd collapse and following that was investigating surgeons to get an abrasive pleurodesis done when it went a 3rd time. Best guess of my initial doctor and the specialist who eventually was in charge of me was that mine was not caused by skydiving (I was out surfing when the first one occurred). After the first, the doctor who worked on me told me no more skydiving or scuba ... ever. I pursued other opinions and finally found a guy who teaches flight surgeons who gave me good info, and informed me about the abrasive pleurodesis procedure. Not sure what the surgery was mentioned in the earlier post in this thread, but based on what I was told about mine, if that is what it was, the person shouldn't have to worry much about further collapses unless the procedure wasn't effective. Since I had mine done I've logged about 85 jumps without problems. I was still told that scuba should probably be avoided because of the severe pressure, but he did say I could try it and see. I have done some snorkeling since, but no scuba. Once down to about 20 feet, the way the pressure made that side of my chest feel made me not want to go deeper very badly ... LOL! It wasn't a pain, just a really odd feeling, and I didn't want to risk causing further problems. 3 times going thru the chest tubes and such is bad enough, and if I rip it loose now, the only other option is to crack me open and sew it back into place. The good thing about the abrasive pleurodesis is the recovery time. He told me that even pilots are back in the air about 60 days afterward (that is how long I was told to wait when mine was done). For me, it boiled down to finding a doctor familiar with flying and associated risks, because they have a much better grasp on the effects skydiving could have. I agree with the concept that each person is different though ... and the decision ultimately rests with you as to what risks you are willing to take after such a procedure. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I think that a point you brushed on is one of the main reasons - doctors are like anyone else - they have their own opinions. When I had my first lung collapse, I was told I should never even consider jumping again by my doctor. It wasn't until I investigaged further myself, and with assistance tracked down a guy who taught the flight surgeons for NASA that I found out about abrasive pleurodesis, and also got very good info about how long I should allow healing before trying jumping again, etc. If I had relied solely on the doctor who worked on me initially, I quite likely would never have jumped again, and might not have known to request the abrasive pleurodesis when the lung collapsed a 2nd time. So, while I agree with the "what worked for John" train of thought, I totally understand wanting to get other ideas and opinions besides those of the doctor providing the actual care. I believe most on here are smart enough to realize that there are seldom, if ever, "one size fits all" medical solutions, but are really just looking for other opinions and ideas. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Can't say for sure about your case, but I had the entire upper part of my mouth done just before christmas (peeled back gums to scrape the bone to get rid of disease that causes bone loss, so had stitches in every gap between teeth) and I was told wait at least a week. To be honest, I didn't WANT to jump earlier. I had the lower half done last thursday, and it's been tougher then the top for some reason. I still plan to try to jump next weekend tho, weather permitting. Both sessions involved removal of one wisdom tooth as well as the other fun. When I asked, was told the pressure change shouldn't be a problem unless there was something else amiss anyway. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

This stuff was sort of preached to me by someone no longer with us when he got me into jumping, so I probably reflect a lot of his thoughts, but now I've been in the sport a few years and formed my own opinions about it, I have to say I agree with them. I feel like it has to be a combination ... what Skybytch said relative to government, and take into account a key phrase from Kallend "the sport of skydiving". To me this means the sport as a whole, drilled down to the individual level. Thus, my take would be that we each have to be responsible for ourselves, and also assist in responsibility for others and the sport as a unit, as we're each able. Obviously, someone with less experience doesn't have as much to offer in this respect, but each person needs to fulfill whatever portion of the role he/she is capable of handling. Unless folks would prefer the government get more involved ... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Possible translation: "I was busted for marijuana recently, and I think it was wrong. I shouldn't have been convicted, because marijuana shouldn't be illegal." Could just as easily have been "I was busted for carrying my pistol without a conceal license, and I think it was wrong. I shouldn't have been convicted, because carrying my own gun shouldn't be illegal" .... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

To me it's mostly just scary. I WISH I could believe it is based on patriotism, instead what I suspect is the true cause ... mindlessness. This is made especially evident in the women's list. 11% for Palin? What exactly do they admire about her ... ability to smile while showing her lack of knowledge about issues you'd think any person who follows the news would know, must less a VEEP candidate?? And the one person on the list who really deserves a decent ranking (Condi) being so low? The men's list surely isn't any better! I wouldn't put anyone on that list in my top 5. Looks to me more like a junior high election - strictly a name recognition/popularity contest. If that poll is much of an indication of how most people in the US determine who they admire, then yes, I'm scared!!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

You might check with Kay ... pretty sure she brought John's pistol to him when we drove up to Alaska and she flew into Anchorage, so he didn't have to go thru Canadian customs with it (and boy, was THAT a good idea!!!). As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

The Rigger's Wife ... ... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Yes ... access road 5 outside of Surfside. There is only one road along the coast (officially, the Bluewater Highway), and I'm pretty sure most folks who live around here who might want to help would know how to get there. The "if" to it at this point is the condition of the road. Many parts of the road washed out during Ike, and it's not been rebuilt. Last I heard so far, they've only delineated a place for folks to drive in the areas where the road is gone. I've heard that high tides from the strong south wind last week had water up again. I'll get down there before the 10th so I can make sure we can get in there ok. The signs are probably gone, but assuming we can get there, it's easy enough to locate because of a cell tower just across from the beach. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I've helped organize this for several years now, and thanks to Ike, this year we need all the help we can get, so decided to post out here about it. If you would like to help and can make it out to help place trees on the 10th, that would be great! I also need folks with trailers, or something they can haul one with (I may be able to get loaners) to haul the trees down to the beach that day. We usually get started around 10 am, and finish up early afternoon. Yes, the county runs their own program, but they only work the areas of beach around town. We work an area around access road 5. If interested, please let me know ... :) ... thanks! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I don't post in here often either, but read a bit more frequently (learning to bypass the "noise" ... LOL!) I think that the nature of the forum somewhat dictates that posters are predominantly folks with pretty strong opinions and thus less likely to be swayed. What would be interesting to me is the same question posed to those who only lurk! Perhaps some who don't hold such strong opinions are more likely to be swayed one way or the other? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Any child MIGHT like anything. The testing doesn't indicate a propensity to like or dislike, only the physical genetic makeup that the child could possibly be one who might be "naturally" good at something. I'd hate to see any child pushed into something they have no interest in, or discouraged from an activity they do show interest in based on testing. Just because their genetics don't meet the "standard" to indicate they can be good at something doesn't necessarily mean they can't be. I'm sure that the genetic possibility is only that, not a guarantee that the child WILL be good at whatever it is. Not to mention the fact that the science is still developing, and could be inaccurate or incomplete! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

That depends on how health concious they are ... ... might be the skinny ones like me that go first ... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

flip side ... those who don't show the "correct" genes could be discouraged from something they might well enjoy and be good at ... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

What impressed me was John's exit ... very stable in spite of both hands holding the cup. I followed him out to lurk and watch ... the spray would have made a cool video! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I had/have a similar problem. First jump one of my ears refused to equalize well, and I got a fluid buildup in that ear. I was doing AFF, and did the one, then 2nd a week later, 3rd a week after that. On each, got that fluid buildup (to the point that I could tilt my head and feel it move). I went to a specialist, who proceeded to eat up about $3500 of my money getting a detailed ct scan, and sticking little tiny cameras up my nose, etc. ... never could find a reason for it, but did tell me that if I jumped while the fluid is there, I'd do serious damage to the ear. So, my jump #s have risen very slowly, and I do it cautiously. I make jump 1 of the day and wait at least an hour to see if the ear is going to behave (except the rare times I get down and the ear has equalized ok and I can already hear properly when I get down). It is a frustratingly slow way to go about it, but I enjoy it enough to keep at it in spite of that. Most days, I only get 1 or 2 jumps, and then I have to ground myself. Thankfully, it has gotten a LITTLE better over time, and it doesn't impact my body's ability to handle a beer at the end of the day ... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I don't know anything definite about the otter ... only heard 3rd hand type info ... As for the helicopters ... if it's ok with Todd, I'm sure you'd get some takers (me included). As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

hmmm .... trying to envision this ... dive for 4 seconds or so ... spend the rest of the trip to the formation trying to slow back down so as to not shoot right past everyone ... ??? Does this mean you have a main you can do "regular" skydives with now?? Also ... not anywhere near verified, but heard a rumor that if enough people show up, the otter might still be an option Lastly ... (well, for this post, at least ... LOL!!) ... anyone plays a guitar or something, bring it along ... :) ... impromptu entertainment !!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

182 formation loads??? .... I'm still in ... sounds like fun to me! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Come on down! I'm sure someone will find a way to help keep you busy ... LOL! Did your husband ever do that tandem you wrote me about a while back?? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I know that there have been temporary dz's set up down there during spring break at least a couple of times ... but I don't know of a permanent dz. I'll check with a friend who lives down there and will post again if he knows of anything. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?