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Hellz ya, I'll second that. Just bought a bottle 2 weeks ago - it was GREAT!! Course, in New England its $3 Jennifer Arianna Frances

Actually.... I vote libertarian. Still like NPR though - they have very interesting radio programs. Jennifer Arianna Frances

haha So much for this programming degree Jennifer Arianna Frances

hehe Ya, thats the feeling I was getting from it too, but then again I didn't hear what NPR said. I really like NPR personally. Jennifer Arianna Frances

Go to VIEW menu You can select toolbars and font size there. Jennifer Arianna Frances

http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed022698b.cfm Thought this was interesting - would love to get opinions. Jennifer Arianna Frances

I'm a chianti fan - doesn't matter what brand But I'm also a HUGE Yellow tail fan... hence thre reason my typing is so F*&ked up tonight Good stuff hehe Jennifer Arianna Frances

hmm - I can't see the video, just hear the sound. Any thoughts on why? I'd love to see it! Jennifer Arianna Frances

I drive up to Montreal all the time - 11 times since 9/11 They look at my license, ask me a bunch of questions and send me on my way. Getting back in is a little more involved. They've searched my car with mirrors and dogs before. not bad though - just a few minutes wait. Good luck - enjoy your trip! Jennifer Arianna Frances

Sounds good to me - never been up that way actually. Hope the folliage is changing - would look great under canopy! If you're up there on Sunday I should be there early in the day. I'll be the one in the bright yellow sweatshirt. Thanks again for everyones support! Jennifer Arianna Frances

Thats just what I"m going to do! My best friend and her husband live in Sunderland, so this is a good excuse for me to visit them (and perhaps drag them with me ). Planning on being out there this weekend? Sunday and Monday are looking good - probably plan on spending the night. With it being a 2.5 hour drive I'm not gonna bother driving home afterwards. I'll make a day of my time there! Hope to see you there! Jennifer Arianna Frances

Ya know, thats sound like a really good idea. I just got off the phone with my doctor. I'm trying to gather information for this appt. on Friday. The problem is that I'm very limited in who I can see for this problem and was previously seeing someone in Boston. That doctor was killed by an irate staff member a few months ago (end of May), and his patients records were transfered to someone else. I wasn't his patient at the time, transfered to someone here in Providence, so I wasn't notified of who has my records now and trying to find them is going to be VERY difficult. My doctor agreed that this is a HUGE hassle and questioned if I really wanted to go through with it. Yes, I do. I want to jump - why should this hold me back? I don't get it... So I'm left trying to figure out if I want to keep going with this clearance or not. I carry Medic Alert on me at all times - have a bracelet that I wear too. So if anything was to happen to me, I'd have that to identify how medical pesonnel should proceed. And that chance of that is pretty slim anyway... On the bright side, Jumptown said they would take me *woo hoo!*, for classes starting in April. Now to figure out what to do until then. Arianna Frances

Ya, thats what I'm going to do. I'm doing my best to get all my records in order now and I'll bring everything with me when I see the FAA dr. on friday. Then at least I can get the ball rolling a little bit faster. In the mean time I'll try to find a DZ that will take me without the medical clearance - but I'm not sure how easy that will be. Thanks for the info! Jennifer Arianna Frances

No. Frequently elderly people with ICDs have many other heart problems. These problems can cause rhythm disturbances that can fool the ICD. Unforutnately these devices have many algorithms stored in them for a variety of detection standards, which can get confused by arrythmias that are not troublesome or do not need a shock. That is frequently the reason that many elderly people would need to carry a magnet - its becuase the device keeps firing and keeps firing, and it doesn't need to. The magnet turns off the shocking part of the device, doesn't reset it (which should only be done under medical supervision anyway). The magnet is like putting a mask on the ICD - it makes it so it can't 'see'. As soon as the magnet is removed, it 'sees' fine and would go back to shocking you. The condition I have only makes me suseptable to ONE type of arrythmia - so if the device fires it is becuase it is needed to. When I first got this 3 years ago, they set the device to fire if my heart rate got over 180 bpm. Well.... for a 60 year old that would be REALLY high - but for a 20 year old, its very normal. So during an aerobics class it fired - not becuase I needed it, but becuase the algoithms read a heart rate over 180 bpm as being harmful. So I got shocked 6 times, needlessly (now the device is set to 220). But what I am thankfull about is that I know what a shock feels like and I am now aware of how to handle it if it does happen. Its kinda wierd, but I didn't even know what happened for the first 2 shocks becuase it happened so quick - it was only on the 3rd one that I sat down. But I'm not kidding - the entire event took about 20 seconds. I was super upset with my doctor - cause then the Y wouldn't let me go back and do aerobics there, and it wasn't even my fault! Jennifer Arianna Frances

That risk is pretty small. This was actually a big decision for my doctor. I spent alot of time talking to him about this. You would have to understand how an arrythmia and ICD work. An arrythmia is detected and the ICD fires a shock, all of which happens in miliseconds (depending on how full the battery is). You may/may not lose consciousness in the time period between detection and shock. When the shock is received, you regain consciousness practically instantly. I would equate this to a real hard opening. You can get hurt and pretty dazed during one of those, making it harder for you to control the canopy and a risk to others on the ground. What makes my situation unique is that I am so young. I will have a higher 'tolerance' for losing consciousness and will regain it faster than someone who is 69 years old, with a mirad of problems. I don't have any problems. Because the condition I have is so rare, I've been waiting 2 years for genetic testing to determine which type of this condition I have. When that is determined it will be easier for me to defend myself - but as with all medical sciences, they don't have the answers. My doctor does not believe I am a risk to myself or other divers - and it should be good enough. But I'm finding myself having to explain this not only to all of you, but now to the DZO - which I don't mind doing, but would think that a letter from a professional would do. Sorry for getting snippy, I'm just frustrated. Jennifer Arianna Frances

I am of the same opinion - but am not the one making the decision, unfortunately. There have never been any restrictions placed on me becuase of my ICD. As a matter of fact most of the time I forget I have one, which is a good thing. Jennifer Arianna Frances

It is a non-issue, medically. But these devices are not fool proof. Things can go wrong with it, just as any electrical piece of equipment - and it may just be a fluke thing. The chances of me having to use it are very slim - but if anything does happen I die. Such is the nature of the disorder I have, but I have never shown that I am in a high risk category, it is becuase I am in ANY category with this disorder that I have an ICD. But like any electrical piece of equipment there is always the chance of failure, and more often than not it is not becuase of a medical issue. I'd be happy to find NUMEROUS studies for you if you are interested. Jennifer Arianna Frances

omg - that would hurt! Some of the talons on those larger birds are like mini knives (or not so mini depending on the bird) Jennifer Arianna Frances

LOL! I wish I could color my hair anycolor - my hair is BLACK and unless I bleach it it colors nasty! My icon is the beautiful Jen Garner from ALIAS (my fav show!) Plan on it - I'll make some calls tomorrow - after I speak with the DZO at the zone I wanted to go to. This has been recommended to me a few times - not by anyone on this site though. The reason I don't want to do this is: 1. Out of harm to myself, if something should happen I want them to be aware of my device. 2. I want them to make an educated decision about my jumping there - they have regulations, and image and a business to run, and I don't want to be responsible for the closing or slowing down of business at a DZ (rare, but suppose it could happen) becuase I lied. This sport is about much more than any one person and I don't want to hold all that on my head. Only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch, so to speak. 3. I'm a bad liar Thats what I'm trying to do Thanks for the advice! Jennifer Arianna Frances

Ok... this is a thought. Once I get my A - I would like to be able to travel to other DZs. But if I have to go through this crap with each one - well, thats not worth it. Maybe it would just be worth it to go through all this FAA crap - try to force a waiver (which I can do but may take MONTHS or YEARS). In the mean time I could jump at the zone I get my license at (and anyone that won't give me a hard time with the dr. letter) and worry about traveling after/if I get the FAA clearance. Whatcha think? Jennifer Arianna Frances

Arianna Frances

Thanks for the article. Doesn't help my case.... but then again.... *sigh* The European Arrythmia Standards are more in my favor: Preexcitation syndromes. Preexcitation syndromes are considered disqualifying pending medical assessment. Arianna Frances

Yes he did. A pacemaker will at least get you the opportunity of a waiver - not even considered with a defibrillator. Which is crap in my case. But hey, I didn't write the rules Arianna Frances

Ok... the only thing with this. Being in New ENgland where everything is so close together, and with this being a tight knit sport - wouldn't 'word' get around? I'm not trying to burn bridges here - I just want to jump. I just want to get my license and jump - whats the big deal?? ok, I know what the big deal is, but I've take the appropriate precautions and have that letter.... this just stinks - I have to find another way of doing this. I work with someone who has his B license, and he recommended going to the DZ and jump withoiut telling anyone becuase my Dr. has already said its ok - I don't want to do that becuase I don't want to come off as a liar or 'cheater' in ANY way at all... I don't want to run out of options - I'm totally pissed off though. I can't believe they don't look at stuff on a case by case basis - oh wait, yes I can Arianna Frances

ha! Just got off the phone with some district manager... I have an ICD - automatically disqualified - no questions asked, no waivers given. great!! Really, I should be laughing at this. Who wrote that rule? 99% of the people that have these are 60+ years old and have a mirade of problems. I'm 24! I just happened to be handed an unlucky ticket and am genetically disposed to a rare condition for which I have this for. I've never used it, nor have I had any need for it. I'm in PERFECT health otherwise. Hell, I run 2 miles EVERY DAY! They won't even look at me - not a chance. My own PERSONAL doctor signed off on this saying "sure, go for it, sounds like fun" - he knows me better than some district person in Oklahoma City, I think that would count for something... Sorry to vent my frustration to all of you - but this is crap... Don't think there is anything else I can do... What a way to have a dream squashed. ugh!! I need to find a punching bag, cause I'm about to break my keyboard!!!!!!!!!! Arianna Frances