NoShitThereIWas

The Veleveteen Rabbit and Peter and the Wolf. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I like the high anxiety just before and during exit on a 10 way speed formation dive (epsecially during Nationals) or multi aircraft formation skydives. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

"Be YOURSELF no matter what they say." ~Sting "Don't waste your time with jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind, but in the end the race is only with yourself." "Why worry for worrying is about as effective as trying to solve an algebra problem by chewing bubble gum. The real worries in your life are the things you'd never expect to cross your worried little mind. Something that blind-sides you on some idle Tuesday." "Don't compliment yourself or berate yourself too much. Your choices are half chance ... so are everybody else's." ~Baz Luhrman Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I know a couple people who might be interested in doing an AFF course at Skydive Monterey Bay. My suggestion is to check out Parachutist under the Rating Courses section. If nothing is scheduled that works for you, you can always contact a course director after getting a few committed candidates together and ask them if and/or when they would be available to come to your home DZ to conduct a course. Blue skies! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Yep, you are scared. Been there done that. I have been on jumps when in the airplane I was sure something would go wrong. Somehow I always managed to get through it. It is totally normal to feel the way you do, I was way scared to do my first solo jump so I asked a friend Johnny Luv if he would go out and shoot some video of me on my first solo. For some reason I just felt safer knowing Johnny was there and geeking his camera took my mind off of being alone. I guess it wasn't a "real" solo jump since he was there but I didn't care, I felt comfortable and that was what mattered to me. So I would say if you are so nervous that you are getting stomach aches over it yet you really want to skydive and it sounds like you do and like you need to ... find someone you trust or an instructor and go out with them. Then when you clear the cobwebs a little from being uncurrent wait you said you have not made a jump since August??? Well in that case you definitely should jump with an instructor. In fact I believe if you have not gotten your A license and go more than 30 days without jumping you need a refresher course and a level 4 skydive with an AFF I. Contact your home DZ and ask them but it is my understanding that you would need to complete a refresher. Does anyone know for sure who can enlighten me? I will check the Skydivers Information Manual and post what I find out tomorrow. Blue skies. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

By the way, my closest girlfriend who now is a video hotshot with 3 times the amount of jumps as I have was one of the customers who called our DZ asking the same advice as you are. I told her the same thing I told you. She said if she hadn't talked to me, she would have just come in, done a tandem, gone home, blah blah blah. Now she thanks me for taking the time to convince her of how fun AFF is. She is now a professional videographer at our DZ and I also made a dear friend. You will never meet a more fun and interesting group of people as skydivers. This sport has changed my life in ways I cannot even comprehend. Good luck on whatever path you choose and Blue skies! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

My suggestion is GO BIG, do AFF. I used to manifest and answer the phones at my home DZ and people always asked if they should go tandem or do AFF. My question back to them was what was their motivation to skydive? Do you want to pursue skydiving as a hobby or just get thrown out of a perfectly good airplane? I personally knew skydiving was for me before I even experienced it and looked forward to being scared to the Bejesus on my first jump. But some people think I am a little insane in the membrane so you may not want to take my advice. Doing a tandem will give you a small glimpse of our world but AFF will open your blinders to a way bigger picture of what skydiving is all about. How badly do you want to be scared to the Bejesus? I think anyone who is determined and focused can skydive. I said screw the tandem I want the whole experience and I want it now, with video, the whole 9 yards. But that is just the kind of woman I am. I went into AFF with a purpose. Got through it in 7 jumps, pursued the sport fiercely until I got my AFF rating and now I get to take other people skydiving and watch them get scared to the Bejesus and it is just as much fun. Yes I love what I do. The point I am trying to make is that you are only limited by your own limitations. It is always important to know what your limitations are but my advice would be to GO BIG. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

OMG. I can't believe I just read that! Roy! You are a naughty naughty boy! You need a spanking! SPank YOU! No wait a minute, Spank Me. No Spank you hard. Wait spank me harder. Spanking is fun . Dang I need a boyfriend. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Ok you guys (and gals too) ... I just want you to know that after opening that and reading everyone's replies I now have tears coming out of my eyes. Thanks all for the laughter Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Kelly here is that picture of us all at SDC Summer 2002. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I have seen the top Of the mountain Beavis I am a post whore And yes it is good To be an Enthusiast I now have no life And it is Friday The weekend is soon to come Skydiving at last Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I like that picture of you Arthur, are you like a model or something??? Pretty cute Models are like cool. huh huh Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

You are way too brave and I am way too spoiled. Nice thought though ... Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Well close enough for now. I have just made my first major accomplishment on Dropzone.com and I am proud of meself!!! Cleared from that Newbie status thing. Yay! Now I didn't really know what the whole Newbie thing was all about so I did a little research on it. I have now attained Enthusiast status and it makes me feel so much better about myself. Ha! Look out because now I am an "experienced" DZ.commer. Just another something to be excited about on this beautiful Friday afternoon. Fridays rule! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I think he use to post as Short&Quik, for what it's worth. LMAO!!! Okay well short and quick, that just about sums it all up. I have all the information I need. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Spank you for the information. I love wine, sounds yummy. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Oh Kelly, I remember you telling me about that. Well thanks for boosting my ego about being a hottie. You're a hottie too! The weather in California has been great. I am excited that today is Friday and hope there is lots of AFF this weekend. I put a camera on my head so I have been doing some video work too. I am sending good weather vibes to you out there in Missouri. Hope to see you this summer! BTW, did you ever get that picture I sent of you, Troy, Bickel and me after the AFF course? I have it on my bedroom wall right next to my TFX team picture and my Bronze. Blue ones Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

What is Shiraz BTW? Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I love the Stouffer's Lasagna. They make the best ones! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Hmmm AirAnn, I looked at his profile and such but couldn't find any info on him. That is a bad sign. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Depends on my mood: Miami and Its All Good -Will Smith Don't Fear the Reaper and Burnin- Blue Oyster Cult When Will We Fall Down- Toad the Wet Sprocket Wastin away again in Margaritaville- Buffett Satellite or any Dave Matthews Band song Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Personally I look way too forward to my weekends at the DZ during my week but that is mostly because I have way too much responsibility during the week. I go to school (I am a marine biology major), have a 2 year old daughter who I like spending as much time with as I can and I work out at the gym at least 2 days a week 2-3 hours at a time. When I am not working or skydiving on the weekends I enjoy traveling to other DZs and visiting friends. When I lived in Hawaii I SCUBA dove every weekend but now living in California the water is just way too cold. I love to water-ski and kneeboard but haven't met anyone lately with a boat. Its all enough to keep me busy. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Nope but that sounds very healthy. I am having BBQ'd chicken off the grill, rice pilaf, salad and sourdough rolls. Yummy! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Hey if none of that works, try Good Sex Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Filet Mignon, Medium Well, Baked potato with butter, sour cream and chives, salad with blue cheese dressing, battered artichoke hearts for an appetizer, bottle of Dom Perignon, slice of Key Lime Pie and slice of white raspberry chocolate cheesecake for desserto. Mmmmmmmm. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."