Beachbum

turpentine on a rag will take it off ... and lighter fluid might also ... either way ... WELL ventilated area to do it in, and rinse really well when done (both will dry the pooch's skin out badly) ... if you're really nice to it ... some lotion afterward would be cool from it's point of view

Ditto the thanks, congrats, etc. ... to Todd and ALL the Aggieland staff ... Pablo ... you'd BETTER make it next year!! I'm back in the air finally ... and ready to try a sit again. Dave's just WAY too fast to stay with my floaty little behind ... so ... Whoever it was that couldn't figure out which way east is ... watch the sunset as you have that beer ... it's the opposite direction ... Nobody mentioned AggieDave's singing ... ???? ... hmmmm ..... ears too distracted by that fire dance?? And someone please find some tiny chihuahua sized earplugs for that poor pooch so it doesn't have to half die of fright everytime an airplane comes near it. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

That looks like a great thing to get involved with. I know how you feel in a way ... I lost 2 friends to cancer in June of this year ... one lung cancer, another a brain tumor. Judging by my experiences with both of them, not talking about the cancer is a way they help keep from thinking about it themselves. I never brought that subject up, but both would let me know what they felt I ought to know when they decided they were ready to talk about it. I sure had no problems with that, other than feeling a bit in the dark at times .. but I felt that it was up to me to help them deal with things however worked best for them ... not for me. I have to commend you, and anyone else for getting involved with that group ...

It sounds like the video is different than the printed manual that came with mine. It does not mention or show anything about "turning in" any cells ... can someone give me a little explanation of just what that means? thanks!

That's really strange that Aerodyne suggests rolling the nose. A friend had her 175 (fairly close to new at the time) blow out on her when a packer rolled the nose on it. Aerodyne did honor the warranty, but according to her, said that rolling the nose they could consider the warranty invalidated. This took place several years ago ... I wonder if their viewpoint has changed (thus the video). Do you know the date the video was put out? I'm gonna have to see what I can find on their site ... will update on here if I have any luck. I have a 160, and I get great openings with a pro pack. I was told by several people that rolling the nose on a Triathlon could get you slammed. I do roll the tail pretty good, and that gives me a nice snivel ... soft openings. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Thanks John ... I think Phree may have supplied the answer ... but I took your advice ... will see what they have to say! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

First ... I don't have a problem with posts being moved (mine, or otherwise). I guess I am having a problem with understanding the categories though, since I do endeavor to put a post in the correct forum, but have had one moved. I posted about my return to the air/currency jump, and placed it in the "general skydiving" forum. The description on that one contains this: "If it's not related to skydiving, please post in the Bonfire or Speaker's Corner.". Well, I kind of thought that making a jump IS skydiving related? The description for the "Bonfire" (where it was moved to) includes "This is the place for non-skydiving related discussions.". Can you see where my confusion arises?? Are the descriptions too vague, am I misunderstanding them, moderators misunderstanding them ... what?? thanks! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

N/A

I never posted ALL that much anyway, but some may have noticed I hadn't been around much the past year. After my lung collapse and subsequent grounding, I just didn't feel like reading/participating in all this knowing I couldn't go DO it. Well ... after slightly more than a year off ... I did my currency jump today

I sure can't say for certain ... but I wouldn't think that likely as long as you are deploying properly in the first place (palm facing the same direction as your back). Seems to me it would be very difficult for the bridle to go against the wind and come down and wrap your arm?

it's a boc ... (pud isn't the correct term?) ... it's like a hackey sack on the top of the pc I don't have a death grip on it, tho I guess I could hang on if I made the effort ... I just never have tried. It does get removed about the time I get my arm to full extension (I DO have long arms ... I'm 6'2") This isn't something I ever made a concious effort to do this way ... but around my 4th jump on my own rig (student rigs were all ripcord) I just noticed that it worked like that in my case. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I sort of treat it like I was told JM's do the student on the first AFF jump ... hold on until it's yanked out of my hand. I just pull the pud and keep going away from my body with it until it's literally removed from my hand by force. To me, "throwing" is sort of asking for trouble because as stated by others ... you may get tired ... or just complacent ... and not get it far enough away from you to miss the burble. I have wondered why that isn't taught instead of the "throw" concept ... you JM's ... ???? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

thanks ... I can't wait! I had what they called a spontaneous collapse late last fall. The pulmonary doc in charge of me at the hospital told me "NEVER jump again" ... but when I questioned him, it was obvious he didn't know anything about it ... he couldn't tell me any real reasons. I'd figured on starting a serious search soon ... got lucky thanks to a friend who knows the guy who runs life flight here. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I finally found a doc who knows both the pulmonary stuff and aviation ... he said if I got a ct scan of the lung done and it is clean, no reason I can't start jumping again. I got the results back today ... getting my repack tomorrow evening ... I can't WAIT!!! ALMOST as good ... my original doc had told me if the lung collapsed a 2nd time, they had to literally lay my chest open and sew it back into place. The new doc said no way ... there is a procedure called a video assisted abrasive pleruodesis (sp?) which boils down to them going in similar to an artho job and abrading the two surfaces, which causes them to grow back together stronger than ever. AND ... instead of a mulitmonth recovery time, with that procedure it's only 30 days!! I'm just a LITTLE BIT happy !!

Here is a site with a letter John wrote not long after he found out about his cancer, and his note about his ash dive request: http://www.aotwiki.com/MoinMoin/AOTWiki/moin.cgi/JohnChoate

N/A

Kay would like to use the song in John's memorial ceremony. Does anyone have a copy of it, or even of the lyrics? I did a quick google and came up empty so far ... will try more later when I have time ... but I'm betting someone on here has it, or access to it?? THANKS!!!

Thanks Don ... I will relay the sentiment onward for you. and yes ... it DOES suck. It is nowhere near as tough as losing both your parents, no doubt ... but besides John, I also lost another friend to a brain tumor earlier this month. I've been participating in the ACS Walk-for-Life each year now with a group in John's honor (team is named "Trackin' for the pond", and is composed mostly of skydivers) ... anyone who wants to help out, please check into joining in on this in your area ... it is done nationwide.

First ... thanks everyone ... I'll pass the sentiments on to Kay if she doesn't read out here. Dave ... I don't have access to post out there ... but I figured one of the other Ags would handle it? I've got a little more info to pass on ... A viewing of John will be held tomorrow, Thursday, July 1, 2004 from 12:00 pm to 8:00pm at the Nobles Funeral Chapel in Navasota. Their address is 402 E. Blackshear. Telephone number is 936-825-7776. The family will be there from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. A memorial service will be held sometime next week in College Station after which the Ash Dive/Missing Man Formation will take place at Coulter Airport in Bryan ... date/time undecided as of when I got the info. I'm trying like heck to get hold of a doc that knows enough about both aspects (pulmonary and aviation) to find out if I'll be able to participate ... but will be up there for it either way. I HOPE I'll be able to make my return to the air and join in ... sure been missing it. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

John passed late this evening (around 10 pm) at home. He had been battling lung cancer for quite a while, and had outlived his initial prognosis by about 5 years!! He did not want to be in the hospital when he died, so was at home under hospice care. He had asked me to come up today and drive him into town to do a few errands and such ... well, I got up there this morning to find his wife still home, and John not doing well at all. He had a lot of fluid on his lungs and sounded very raspy when he breathed. The docs had called in some new drugs that his wife went to pick up while I stayed with John, that they thought might help with the fluid. He seemed to be breathing a little easier before I left, but I got a call from his wife around 9:45 or so that the noise was back full force, and that she couldn't get him to stay awake long enough to take his meds. John is the person who got me started skydiving, and I was lucky enough to do several long trips with him, including 3 times up to the Lost Prairie Boogie in Montana (the last time, we went on up to Alaska to fish for salmon). He has been very much like a brother to me since we met, and I'll miss him tremendously. I do not know details yet, but do know he wanted an ash jump done.

Thanks for the link ... I'd heard about them but hadn't actually seen one set up that way. It looks and sounds like a good concept, but I have one concern. With the stows so close together, is a baglock from line entanglement more likely (particularly on larger bags, which using this 50% method, would put a little more line outside the bands on each side)?

Believe it or not, I actually did a search before finding Hook's post ... LOL!! It looks like I'll be out for at least another 10 months if I ever get back in the air (still trying to find a doc who jumps to discuss THAT with) ... so am looking at storing my gear for an extended time. I know to keep it all out of light and extreme temperatures ... but what else?? Container ... anything specific?? Canopys ... better stored packed, or loose ... airtight or breathable ... etc. ... ??? thanks!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

LOL ... is Todd not keeping you busy enough ... or do you just need to carry more hours??? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I always log in, so didn't even know it had changed ... LOL! Good point tho ... could always set it up to require a login. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I have no idea as to where responsibility lies with this ... probably is not delineated anywhere (I'd think the S&TA would ramrod it) ... but I think it's a great idea! Sort of a "local" incident reports kinda thing so you get firsthand discussion of incidents with other local jumpers. I like it!! Most DZ's have websites now ... it could easily be done online too (lots of forum software is available for free). I agree with the others about the goodwill generated by following up on injuries too ... sure couldn't hurt a dz. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?