Why we sign off with *Blue Skies*

[steve1 5]

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. . Our exit count was:
Ready!
. . BLUE SKY!
. . BLACK DEATH!
. . EXIT!

.

..........................................
There are a series of jump commands that a jump master in the army gives. It's been thirty years or more but (if I remember right) it was
1. Get Ready
2. Standup
3. Hookup
4. Check equipment
5.Sound off for equipment check
6.Stand in the door
7.Go!

Well one day we were standing, all hooked up, nervous as hell, waiting for this "Narly" looking jumpmaster to get his commands over with, so we could jump.

So, after sounding off for our equipment check, this sargent yells at the top of his lungs....("F*** God, and stand in the door.")

About then everyones eyes got really big, and everyone knew we were gonna die for sure, or the aircraft would get struck by lightning, or that something really bad was about to happen. But everything usually went really well after that.

I think some of those salty old jump masters really enjoyed playing with our minds.

A few years later, I became a salty old jumpmaster myself, instead of giving the proper hand signal to stand up, I usually just gave everyone the bird. This seemed to take the pressure off and most jumps went well after that.....Steve1

[livendive 8]

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Jacuzz told me that the first time he heard the phrase "Sport Death" uttered at a dropzone was one evening at Casa Grande following a showing of the USPA 16 mm movie "This Is A Sport."
As the movie ended, Bullit Bob stood up and said, "This is a sport? Wow man, this is Sport Death!"

I haven't been around nearly as long as most of the people in this thread, but Bullit is my friend and I'm thinking he's due for another leg humping. I sign off "blues" rather than "blue skies", because it can denote both the varying shades of blue we love and "the blues", as in a melancholy sadness or those haunting, "woe is me" songs. Over the years I've been saying it, it's taken on the same yin-yang, comedy-tragedy thing for me as I think BSBD means to many who pre-date me.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[steve1 5]

I haven't been around nearly as long as most of the people in this thread, but Bullit is my friend and I'm thinking he's due for another leg humping.

[livendive 8]

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I haven't been around nearly as long as most of the people in this thread, but Bullit is my friend and I'm thinking he's due for another leg humping.

Bullit Bob still jumps. I made some with him at Lost Prairie, Boise, and Hamilton last year....I'll have to talk to him about Jacuzz. I didn't know they were friends....Steve1

[steve1 5]

Yeah, I jumped with him at LP and Hamilton too, and possibly Richland and/or Davenport, but I didn't make it to Boise last year.

Blues,
Dave

[livendive 8]

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Yeah, I jumped with him at LP and Hamilton too, and possibly Richland and/or Davenport, but I didn't make it to Boise last year.

I'll bet I know you too Dave, but can't place your face....

[jdobleman 0]

Hey, put me on that list of vouching you being an asshole.

blues,
madjohn

Main goals in life: Be on the "Jumpers Over Eighty" (JOE) World Record and attend the Lost Prairie Boogie once after I'm gone.

[livendive 8]

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Hey, put me on that list of vouching you being an asshole.

blues,
madjohn

I wouldn't have it any other way.
Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[bozo 0]

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Hey, put me on that list of vouching you being an asshole.

blues,
madjohn

Hey, add my vote.

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[steve1 5]

Baker, Beeze, Hanson, and Leegan will all vouch for my being an asshole.

Blues,
Dave

[livendive 8]

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Hey, put me on that list of vouching you being an asshole.

blues,
madjohn

Hey, add my vote.

I don't think Sangiro has the bandwidth for me to name EVERYONE who thinks I'm an asshole. I was just naming a few of the Missoula folks who do! Still, I am feeling the love.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[bozo 0]

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Hey, put me on that list of vouching you being an asshole.

blues,
madjohn

Hey, add my vote.

I don't think Sangiro has the bandwidth for me to name EVERYONE who thinks I'm an asshole. I was just naming a few of the Missoula folks who do! Still, I am feeling the love.

Blues,
Dave

Ya know what though Davey ? Ive never met anyone who would attest that youre an asshole that wont also , in the same breath, say what a good guy you are. So there goes all your credibility...SWOOOSH.

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[livendive 8]

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Hey, put me on that list of vouching you being an asshole.

blues,
madjohn

Hey, add my vote.

I don't think Sangiro has the bandwidth for me to name EVERYONE who thinks I'm an asshole. I was just naming a few of the Missoula folks who do! Still, I am feeling the love.

Blues,
Dave

Ya know what though Davey ? Ive never met anyone who would attest that youre an asshole that wont also , in the same breath, say what a good guy you are. So there goes all your credibility...SWOOOSH.

Jeezus Jim, you're making me hard over here! Race ya to 5000?

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[bozo 0]

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Jeezus Jim, you're making me hard over here! Race ya to 5000?

Blues,
Dave

Ten years ago I would have taken that race. I'm getting a little long in the tooth and am hoping I can make it to 3k.

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[livendive 8]

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Ten years ago I would have taken that race. I'm getting a little long in the tooth and am hoping I can make it to 3k.

I believe we already agreed you'll make 3k, even if I have to bring a tandem rig or two down there and carry your ol' busted up ass.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[bozo 0]

[replyI believe we already agreed you'll make 3k, even if I have to bring a tandem rig or two down there and carry your ol' busted up ass.

Blues,
Dave

[steve1 5]

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Hey, put me on that list of vouching you being an asshole.

blues,
madjohn

.............................................
Gee whiz, Mad John is on here. I'll bet all those jumps he makes without even taking a break are making him mean.

I wish I was still tough enough to work that hard. He's the toughest old fart I know....Steve1

[Zenister 0]

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As the movie ended, Bullit Bob stood up and said, "This is a sport? Wow man, this is Sport Death!"

Same 'Bullit' Bob who still jumps at Eloy?

this is rapidly becoming my favorite section on DZ.com

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[steve1 5]

I think Bullet Bob may hail from Boise. He could be retired and jumping elsewhere now. Last I saw of him he had a homemade toe protector taped to his shoe. I think he jumped with this all last summer to protect his bad toe on landing. So, if you see someone hobbling to get on a load with a big chunk of metal taped to their foot, it's probably him.

He had a white jump suit and white Z-1. Which was exactly the colors I had. People would get us mixed up. On one load someone chewed me out for messing up. We finally figured out it was that damn Bullet Bob, who screwed up.

On another load, we watched the video of a jump in which I looked really crappy. Of course it wasn't really my fault! (I can explain that one!). At any rate someone said come on Bullet Bob, you can do better that that, (as they watched the video). So, I said, Damn it Bullet Bob get in there. The thing was Bullet Bob wasn't even on that load.....Steve1

[freeflyimpaired 0]

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Same 'Bullit' Bob who still jumps at Eloy?

I was thinking that same thing, so I asked Bullit earlier today. He wouldn't tell me how long he's been in the sport but ventured a guess that he had been around longer than I've been alive. I mentioned the black hearse and he knew Jaccuzzi, so I'm under the impression thats the same person.

On a side note, I jumped with Bob today and we turned 4 points on a VRW 4-way. Cool guy!

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this is rapidly becoming my favorite section on DZ.com

I've been finding myself in this forum more and more. Lots of fun stuff!

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

[patworks 5]

artwardo ---just reread your beautiful post. Well said. ... and blue skies!

Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

[steve1 5]

Pat,
Thanks for sharing your memories with us. I'm sure enjoying your stories. There's a lot of history in your words.

I visited with Jeff Jacuzzi, via e-mail, about a year back. He's alive and well. He survived Nam, the Gulch, and years of flying rescue helicopter. Many of my heroes are now gone. I'm glad he's still alive and doing well.

Blue Skies and Black Death!