WFFC

Emily was a brilliant ray of light in this sport that we all love. I recall the day she did her first skydive with Kiwi. (the dropzone was never the same from that moment on...) I've (unfortunately) attended too many memorials of friends in this sport but this one touched a bit more. I've never seen so many attend from so far and so wide. This is a testament to how many people's lives that Emily (and Lee) have touched over the years. Emily's spirit will live on in all that she touched and be remembered in all that accomplished in her years. ----- ~~~Michael

They don't have anything better to do and it's rather lucrative for them in the end - I spend a bit of time in Nigeria and know a couple people that actually do this stuff for a living. Below is Sonny001's response from my providing additional info on the gear. ----- ~~~Michael

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12236980

Not sure if you remember, but I was over in (Aberdeen) Scotland when the smoking ban went into effect there. Its honestly made every other place that's put a ban in place look like a picnic. The Scots like their pubs and their smokes. ----- ~~~Michael

I'll get it from Phil and we'll swap travel stories. I've got a few scary ones of late. I've been home since just before Christmas waiting for a client to decide if the sky is blue or not so I've been a bit stir crazy. ----- ~~~Michael

Hey luv! It has. You don't write, you don't call. thought the love was gone. Might be that I've just been all over the place the last couple years. Care to be my stalker? http://my.flightmemory.com/mbruso ----- ~~~Michael

Michael, do you feel stalked - I mean, just sayin', with all these people lurking your username and then posting about it? Kinda Creepy - no? Personally I think it's funny that I login since I've really been too busy for 3 people and this creates a bunch of stir. Creepy? Maybe...is she cute and does she have a twin sister? ----- ~~~Michael

I need to reset that PW. ----- ~~~Michael

Beth...if somethings going to happen, I think I need a phone call ----- ~~~Michael

There's insurance for everything. ----- ~~~Michael

You flew the wrong puddle jumper - flying out in 2006, the pilot was a former jump plane pilot. (BAE Jetstream 32 if I recall correctly - no cockpit door and no FA) ----- ~~~Michael

As a long term follow-up to this, I was transiting thru ORD on my way back from Africa recently when the TSO says 'What, no parachute this time?'. I recognized this TSO as one that was standing around during the incident and jokingly laughed and say no, not this time. TSO proceeds to tell me that additional training was provided to all TSOs and the supervisor that was responsible for my hassle refused to accept any of the knowledge he was getting from this additional training. So, the best thing happened... They fired him. I liked the TSA, if for just that one day. ----- ~~~Michael

No comment but my phone has rung a few times looking for phone numbers. ----- ~~~Michael

current results from wgem.com: ----- ~~~Michael

Just got back so here are some good things to occupy your time: Zip Line - http://www.skylinehawaii.com/ - The guides were telling us that another spot was going to open up near Lahaina Whale Tour - http://www.pacificwhale.org/ - Non-profit group. Excellent tour. Bring your high end SLR as your pocket digital will probably not be able to catch a whale breach fast enough. Binoculars are nice depending on where the whales are at. U'lalena - http://www.ulalena.com/ - An offshoot of a Cirque performance with some Hawaiian flair. Aquarium - http://www.mauioceancenter.com - Small aquarium but very impressive. Good rainy day stop. The road to Hana - Once you actually hit the road (this is where it becomes very twisty), travel about 10 miles in, then turn around. You'll predominately see very similar things over and over and over and over. If you do decide to go, take your Dramamine - 613 turns in a short distance as I recall. A motorcycle (cruiser) is actually better than a car as the road gets very narrow in spots. Paia - local town on the east coast. Just south of town is a spot where the windsurfers hang out. Very cool to watch. Charley's is a good stop for food and drink. Food spots to avoid - Gia Don's (Kihei). Very poor service, expensive for Italian out of a can. For better food options, get out of the tourist zone and find some restaurants off the main strips. Pineapples for the trip home - http://www.mauitropicalplantation.com/ - Prepackaged pineapples in 1, 3 or 6 pack boxes already inspected and packed to be checked. Alcohol runs - Beer is cheaper at Costco near the airport. Pick yours up on the way to the hotel. Costco is also a good spot to pick up bulk boxes of the Maui Carmacs that you're sure to become addicted to while there. The Hawaii Super Ferry - http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/ should be running by the time you get there as well. Take the rental over to the Big Island (if feasible) and roam around Volcanoes National Park. Best spot at sunset is a walk out on the lava flow (where the lava meets the ocean. Bring a fleece and a flashlight as it gets cold here at night and the footing isn't great. ----- ~~~Michael

Hey, just because I got shipped off to Nigeria for a couple stints since the last WFFC doesn't mean the show cannot go on. ----- ~~~Michael

booking tickets now... ----- ~~~Michael

Behr - And I believe it's onsale at home depot this weekend 25% off. ----- ~~~Michael

I travel down to Houston tons (I write this from a Houston hotel room) and T-Mobile works well for me. Co-workers down here use Verizon without complaints. ----- ~~~Michael

I'll refer you to my first thread after I returned from retirement. If there's a question, send it my way. If it's a rumor, it's solely that (a rumor) until I let you know it's fact. I didn't hold out too long on the jet did I? I wanted to make sure the ink was really dry. ----- ~~~Michael

Open the phone book: Eduardo's Giordano's Gino's East Pizzeria Uno Pizzeria Due Not necessarily in that order. Giordano's is my favorite, but all the rest will work in a pinch - I'm not that picky. ----- ~~~Michael

No worries. I know of at least one clothing optional raft jump that occurred so wasn't sure if that's what you were referring to. Cajones has all of the originals so drop him an email and he'll get it. As far as I know, 'most' of the pictures are online, although there are a bunch that I shot as part of the crew that I don't see. ----- ~~~Michael

Desea - The WFFC is a 'family' event and we do not do 'clothing' optional raft type skydive thingys. Cajones has all the originals and I'm sure these 'alleged' photos do exist somewhere. I'd contact Cajones at Rodriguez Brothers dot com and that will forward to his 'real' address. Arano Rodriguez Keeper of Dark Places

We did a review of them and ended up going with the blackberry 8700 as there were still some learning curve bugs in the device that we didn't want to be beta testers for. ----- ~~~Michael

That's where I live... ----- ~~~Michael