frequentflyer

Go to www.ramusa.org for details “A series of national television programs about the work of RAM is under consideration. Doctors and nurses interested in being featured in these programs as members of a RAM mission team should read the guidelines for submitting a brief introductory videotape. A completed submission form must be included with the tape. Candidates should be physically fit, as rugged environmental situations may be encountered. Doctors and nurses who are parachute jump qualified are also being sought. More information is available in the guidelines. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE.” All applications must be received in Knoxville by December 22, 2006. See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

That's the song - just sing it over, and over, and over "Cuz. . . Tigger's a piranha killer, Tigger's a piranha killer. . .!" - while doing a jiggy dance that Waldo would do: head down, arms out, hips swinging, fingers darting out like John Travolta, smiling - clothing is optional. Don't forget the other campfire song that started with "Rum, rum, rum, rum. . ." (too many lyrics to post, but unforgetable) and one of many hilarious moments with Tigger. The rainforest will never be the same and it's a lot more quiet, without his world-class belching. It would be something else, if it were on video. Karen See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

Here are links to my pictures of Waldo: http://www.karenhawes.com/images/pictures/high-res/2003/03-08/P3080092.jpg http://www.karenhawes.com/high/2004/02-27-to-02-28-2.html http://www.karenhawes.com/high/2004/10-13-to-11-13-1.html (start here and click "next" for more) http://www.karenhawes.com/high/2005/06-10-to-06-12-1.html (same thing, click "next") I am collecting pictures of him, for his parents. I already have videos (RAM missions mostly) and audio recordings (of him snoring!) and hope to put together something nice for his parents to see him in his best of times. As his friends send me their thoughts, I think that it would be a good thing for everyone to put together their thoughts about Waldo, so I can put together a collage of their son, all the lives he touched, and in what ways he made a difference in this world, for the short time he was with us. No parent should witness their child's death, so maybe this will be a way for them to still get to know Waldo, through the eyes of his friends. Karen See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

Mike, I don't know if we've met, but thank you for posting this for everyone. There's more to say but I just miss him intensely right now. Please let me know about any arrangements, I am putting together what I have of him (videos, pictures, audio recordings), from the RAM missions especially, for his parents. Thank you. Karen [email protected] See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

"RealTV" shows only the videos that are provided by the people making them. . . so, it's up to everyone as to what to send in for consideration. There is some "amazing" video out there, that doesn't involve cheating death - and I hope the owners of it want to send it in and even make a little money in the process. Of course, people with the death-defying videos will probably send it in too, because that's what people are drawn to. . . car wrecks, houses on fire, slow-motion-instant-reply of crashes of all sorts, etc. Skydiving is not exempt from this fact of human nature. I only have non-death-defying video to send in, and perhaps it may not be shown, but it's good stuff and it's a start. If you're reading this, I hope you see this as an opportunity to "Be the change you want to see." and send in what you've got. See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

As of today, I have a contact in Hollywood who is looking for video footage to include on their show “World’s Most Amazing Videos”. I'm sending in mine, and you can send in yours too. Yes, I'm being serious. It's for Spike TV and they're producing 26 one-hour shows, airing this winter. If you've got good (aka "Amazing") footage (duh) that's been shot within the past 5 years, then give it a shot! There is a deadline, it takes time to sort through things and edit it together by this winter - so the sooner you reply, the sooner things can happen. Yes, you get money too - but probably not enough to consider it "sponsorship by an employer" If you've ever found yourself thinking, "I wish I knew someone to send my video to, so I can get it on TV". . . I've met that person today, and am sharing it with you. Got any questions? The guy's name is Todd Lindsey and he can be reached at [email protected]. Just include in the subject line "Karen Hawes" and your name, so he can filter out the spam and keep your message, then he'll be able to help you from there. I can try to answer any questions, if you want to ask me instead - I'll do the best I can, when I have the chance to get to the internet (which isn't every day). Good luck to everyone! See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

To refresh/repost old articles and add more variety to the main page, the www.msn.com site revolves through three new topics each day - adding exposure to previously-posted articles. Not that I'm a big MSN fan, but the revolving-topic layout is actually very effective at drawing more attention to the main page, for a longer period, and drawing attention to the content buried in the website. K :) See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

I'm sure this topic has been brought up before, but in case it hasn't, does anyone have any recomendations for coverage, for US citizens while in the US and while outside the US? The well-known problem being "rider statetments" (i.e. exclusions) against skydiving-related injuries. Lists of company names for coverage is definitely a bonus! Makes me wonder how anyone is able to do anything, and still get medical coverage of any sort (other than direct donations from friends/communities, post-trauma). Thanks!

Yes, there’s a catch, but a good one! Read on: Remote Area Medical, www.ramusa.org, is working on testing out a concept to provide medical support in remote areas; ones that can’t be easily reached, except by plane, in this case - a DC3. Volunteers are needed and they will need to cover all of their own expenses for travel to and from the RAM headquarters in Knoxville, TN, plus lodging for one or two nights in a local hotel – in other words, this is a true *volunteer” effort. Travel to and from the site for the medical mission will be covered by RAM. If you’re still interested, here are some additional details. . . and more is sure to follow, as questions are received: Who is needed? A total of 10 skydivers, with the following skills: 2 Dentists (US Licensed) 2 Optometrists or Ophthalmologists (US Licensed) 1 Medical Doctor for general practice (US Licensed) 1 Registered Nurse (already assigned) (US Licensed) Plus 4 Additional volunteers who will assist the dentists and eye doctors, to handle the medical instruments and process the patients - no medical training required, but preferred (two volunteers are already assigned) In all, there are 7 openings, 5 of which requiring medical training (US Licensed) as described above – camera flying skills are also preferred if more than one candidate is vying for the same slot. What will we be doing? The plan is to hold a small RAM clinic for one weekend, providing dental and vision care, at a remote location in Tennessee with the team members parachuting in to the site, from the RAM DC3, with the equipment airlifted in as well. The team will cam there for two nights and will be removed by ground transportation Sunday evening, after the clinic is finished. What will you need to bring? Your skydiving gear A backpack Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, etc) and personal supplies for a weekend in the mountains of Tennessee Food, if you choose to not eat what is provided Keep in mind, anything that is not attached to you when you exit the plane, will be dropped in under a cargo chute – “breakables” will likely be broken, even with the softest of landings When? Team members need to arrive in Knoxville, at the Knoxville Airport (airport code TYS), on Thursday June 9th to be ready for a Friday morning departure as a group. Everyone should be back in Knoxville on Sunday night, June 12, available for various airline departures on Monday morning June 13. Volunteers are welcome to come to Knoxville a day earlier, to prepare the dental equipment, eye glasses, food, etc. for the cargo drop so as to avoid a departure delay on Friday morning. Where? The actual site for the mission is currently being assessed. RAM volunteers in the area are investigating suitable landing areas, in remote parts of eastern Tennessee; Lamb’s Mountain near Jellico, TN on the Kentucky border is one area under consideration. Previous RAM missions have been held in areas throughout Tennessee; holding these clinics is not new for RAM, but the airlift operation is a new twist to the plan. How? After a landing area has been determined, and FAA approval confirmed, then residents living in the area will be advised to come to the dropzone-clinic on Saturday morning and Sunday morning - to have bad teeth pulled or filled and eye glasses prescribed. In past RAM missions, no matter how remote the location, people always show up in large numbers. Team members would need to spend Thursday night at one of several motels within walking distance of the Knoxville Airport, at the volunteer's expense (remember, this is a volunteer mission). On Friday morning, June 10, the RAM DC3 will depart from Knoxville Airport, with the volunteers and gear on board, then fly approximately 60 miles to the Scott County Airport staging area. From there, the team and equipment will be flown to the remote location. In parallel, at the Scott County Airport, RAM will be holding a large medical clinic on the same weekend in a large hangar belonging to a fellow RAM volunteer. This will be a large event involving a few hundred volunteers so Scott County Airport will be very busy. Included in the airlifted gear/equipment, there will be: The volunteers' personal gear (roughly one backpack per person) Two portable dental chairs, each weighing 60 lbs Two lightweight “rota-dent” units for filling teeth Several hundred pairs of prescription eye glasses, approximately the contents of two large suitcases A small generator probably weighing about 60 lbs Food and water RAM does not intend to supply the team from the ground, since this exercise is to demonstrate RAM’s capability to supply everything needed from the air. RAM will, however, extricate the team by road vehicles on Sunday afternoon and take everyone back to Knoxville Airport, or to the Scott County Airport, if the actual clinic/dropzone is relatively close. If we add in all the gear and food etc, everything should fit in the DC3 in one load, with sufficient take off length at Knoxville as well as at the interim stop at Scott County. If it’s necessary, the volunteers could be dropped out, without first landing at Scott County; either way, the DC3 would spend the weekend on the ramp at Scott County helping to treat patients in the RAM hangar. Video coverage is planned for the drop, so helmet cameras would be splendid, plus there will be an additional cameraman (already assigned) in the aircraft. Another camera may be arranged on the ground, at the clinic’s site/dropzone, before the volunteers and equipment are dropped. The weather has been rather uncooperative lately and this has interfered somewhat in the aerial search for a suitable DZ. RAM plans to resume the search at the earliest opportunity. It is much too early for team members to purchase airline tickets to Knoxville but RAM is making a serious effort to make this long-delayed operation a reality. Please stay tuned! Are you interested? If so, please contact me at your earliest convenience and I will enroll you in the RamAirborne Yahoo Group for further information (please note, you need to be able to get on this group, for participation): [email protected] Please forward this to anyone you know who may want to join in this mission! Karen :) See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

Yes, there’s a catch, but a good one! Read on: Remote Area Medical, www.ramusa.org, is working on testing out a concept to provide medical support in remote areas; ones that can’t be easily reached, except by plane, in this case - a DC3. Volunteers are needed and they will need to cover all of their own expenses for travel to and from the RAM headquarters in Knoxville, TN, plus lodging for one or two nights in a local hotel – in other words, this is a true *volunteer” effort. Travel to and from the site for the medical mission will be covered by RAM. If you’re still interested, here are some additional details. . . and more is sure to follow, as questions are received: Who is needed? A total of 10 skydivers, with the following skills: 2 Dentists (US Licensed) 2 Optometrists or Ophthalmologists (US Licensed) 1 Medical Doctor for general practice (US Licensed) 1 Registered Nurse (already assigned) (US Licensed) Plus 4 Additional volunteers who will assist the dentists and eye doctors, to handle the medical instruments and process the patients - no medical training required, but preferred (two volunteers are already assigned) In all, there are 7 openings, 5 of which requiring medical training (US Licensed) as described above – camera flying skills are also preferred if more than one candidate is vying for the same slot. What will we be doing? The plan is to hold a small RAM clinic for one weekend, providing dental and vision care, at a remote location in Tennessee with the team members parachuting in to the site, from the RAM DC3, with the equipment airlifted in as well. The team will cam there for two nights and will be removed by ground transportation Sunday evening, after the clinic is finished. What will you need to bring? Your skydiving gear A backpack Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, etc) and personal supplies for a weekend in the mountains of Tennessee Food, if you choose to not eat what is provided Keep in mind, anything that is not attached to you when you exit the plane, will be dropped in under a cargo chute – “breakables” will likely be broken, even with the softest of landings When? Team members need to arrive in Knoxville, at the Knoxville Airport (airport code TYS), on Thursday June 9th to be ready for a Friday morning departure as a group. Everyone should be back in Knoxville on Sunday night, June 12, available for various airline departures on Monday morning June 13. Volunteers are welcome to come to Knoxville a day earlier, to prepare the dental equipment, eye glasses, food, etc. for the cargo drop so as to avoid a departure delay on Friday morning. Where? The actual site for the mission is currently being assessed. RAM volunteers in the area are investigating suitable landing areas, in remote parts of eastern Tennessee; Lamb’s Mountain near Jellico, TN on the Kentucky border is one area under consideration. Previous RAM missions have been held in areas throughout Tennessee; holding these clinics is not new for RAM, but the airlift operation is a new twist to the plan. How? After a landing area has been determined, and FAA approval confirmed, then residents living in the area will be advised to come to the dropzone-clinic on Saturday morning and Sunday morning - to have bad teeth pulled or filled and eye glasses prescribed. In past RAM missions, no matter how remote the location, people always show up in large numbers. Team members would need to spend Thursday night at one of several motels within walking distance of the Knoxville Airport, at the volunteer's expense (remember, this is a volunteer mission). On Friday morning, June 10, the RAM DC3 will depart from Knoxville Airport, with the volunteers and gear on board, then fly approximately 60 miles to the Scott County Airport staging area. From there, the team and equipment will be flown to the remote location. In parallel, at the Scott County Airport, RAM will be holding a large medical clinic on the same weekend in a large hangar belonging to a fellow RAM volunteer. This will be a large event involving a few hundred volunteers so Scott County Airport will be very busy. Included in the airlifted gear/equipment, there will be: The volunteers' personal gear (roughly one backpack per person) Two portable dental chairs, each weighing 60 lbs Two lightweight “rota-dent” units for filling teeth Several hundred pairs of prescription eye glasses, approximately the contents of two large suitcases A small generator probably weighing about 60 lbs Food and water RAM does not intend to supply the team from the ground, since this exercise is to demonstrate RAM’s capability to supply everything needed from the air. RAM will, however, extricate the team by road vehicles on Sunday afternoon and take everyone back to Knoxville Airport, or to the Scott County Airport, if the actual clinic/dropzone is relatively close. If we add in all the gear and food etc, everything should fit in the DC3 in one load, with sufficient take off length at Knoxville as well as at the interim stop at Scott County. If it’s necessary, the volunteers could be dropped out, without first landing at Scott County; either way, the DC3 would spend the weekend on the ramp at Scott County helping to treat patients in the RAM hangar. Video coverage is planned for the drop, so helmet cameras would be splendid, plus there will be an additional cameraman (already assigned) in the aircraft. Another camera may be arranged on the ground, at the clinic’s site/dropzone, before the volunteers and equipment are dropped. The weather has been rather uncooperative lately and this has interfered somewhat in the aerial search for a suitable DZ. RAM plans to resume the search at the earliest opportunity. It is much too early for team members to purchase airline tickets to Knoxville but RAM is making a serious effort to make this long-delayed operation a reality. Please stay tuned! Are you interested? If so, please contact me at your earliest convenience and I will enroll you in the RamAirborne Yahoo Group for further information (please note, you need to be able to get on this group, for participation): [email protected] Please forward this to anyone you know who may want to join in this mission! Karen :) See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

Now that there's the new upgraded service, will there be a full-service POP3 for paying customers, so that they/we can check our e-mails in Outlook or another e-mail client? Also, on a side note, the FAQ page for the e-mail service seems to be out of date, since the introduction of the Premier service. Thanks! K

I love having everything available on the road - and my PDA is indespensible. I download everything I can, for easy access to info while traveling - and I hope it's easy to translate the DZ info into one file for PDAs. It would be even more fantastic if all of the DZs would include directions to their dropzones along with the other info. I'm sure it would be revised almost daily, given the number of dropzones - butmaybe there's a handy/streamlined way to do this?! K :) See you later. . . sometime, somewhere.

Does anyone know who to contact or where to go, for a skydive in French Polynesia? This includes the islands of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, and many more. The timeframe is June 8-14, 2004. Thanks! K

Does anyone know if it's possible to get in a jump in Tahiti (in early June), without having skygod status? Contact info would be great!

Hello again! Several who have sent in e-mails were cc:'d from Jaime at Richmond - they're working on it and it's looking good! The timing is short, but that can be worked out, in time I guess. DivaSkyChick - how'd you get this contact?? I'll try calling today - and will post the results on this bb, because I don't have access for updates to my website (till next week maybe). Yup, Seth, BBIV was a wash. . . thankfully (given the twist of "the ex-factor". Besides, the Late Show is only 1 hour, not 100 days (but there's no $500,000 prize either!) As for my "home town" that's changing, and the movers came by today - leaving Aston and heading back west to CA. . . hope to see friends out there! Thanks again for everyones support, keep spreading the word! K :)