Jeji

I made a jump on Monday and followed a four-way w/ camera out the door. I gave 7 sec. seperation as I was told. Well, as it turns out I counted a bit fast ( about 4 or 5 ) and opened a little to close to the camera man. I spotted him as I was kicking out some line twists, when the line twists were gone so was he. After the jump he caught me in the hanger and asked me if I had seen him. He also asked how long I gave them before I jumped. He very politly told me to make sure I slip in a Mississippi between seconds and if I happen to see anyone close to me while under canopy to open and close my legs until I get the same response in return, just so both jumpers know the other has seen them. Turns out a few others with considerably more jumps than me didn't know about the leg thing either. As a very low # jumper ( #20 yesterday) I have to wonder what other little points I may be missing? The stuff that just never makes it to the books and class info. but is still really nice to know?? Jessi Ü

I finally got to practice for my second solo on Friday!!!! WOOOHHOOO!!!! Got to the DZ pretty late, about 5:30, wasn't in any hurry because the winds were pretty high most of the day so I was sure I wouldn't get to jump, but when I rolled down the driveway the wind sock was just hanging there!!! So I bop on over to manifest and they're making a 25 minute call. I was going to sit it out and get on the next load, but they really weren't sure if another load would make it up. So up I go. First one out the door, got stable ( no problem getting stable, just staying that way!!!) stayed stable ( oh my GAWD, I STAYED STABLE!!!!!!) actually found the airport in freefall!!!! Did a backloop ( not overly pretty but good) then did a L turn and forgot my legs and started to backslide. No problem, I'm still where I want to be. Pulled at 4000' ( still getting used to BOC ) Really sloppy pitch, just could not seem to get more than the tips of my fingers on my handle. Ok its open, pump out some end cell closure, check my air, controlability check, left turn and I'm already downwind of the airport, Oh S**T!!!!! So I just held into the wind and I'm still getting blown backwards. Ok, there is this beautiful soybean field behind me I can set up there. Ok there goes my pretty field. Try for my front risers to lose some altitude, but I just can't pull on those bad boys. Ok there is another even prettier plowed field on the other side of the power lines right before I get to town. So I'm at 2000' now and I do a 360 to lose some altitude, set up for landing and stand it up right in the middle of that field ( I can't believe it I'm on my feet!! ), about a half mile/mile from the DZ. Great jump, I don't think I could have done better all things considered. Sorry to ramble on, I still have a grin on my face!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ü Ü Ü Ü I love this sport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lead feet fall fast!!!! Jessi

Well... it looks like a Protec may be the way to go for the time. I have a loooooong way till I can even think of flying a camera. Just off AFF!! Then maybe I can go ahead and get an audible. So that poses another Q. How well can you mount one inside/outside of a Protec? And it is worth it to spend the extra $100 bucks for a Pro Track ( I'm a sucker for gadgets ) or just go ahead and get a Dytter. The Pro Track looks really cool, but is it cool enough to spend the extra cash on???????? Also, ( I know I just have a million and 1 Q's!! ) any comments on a Gath???? Looks a bit COOLER than a Protec, but not as expensive as most of the others??? Thanks soooo much!!! Jessi

Ok, this is the third time I've been stashing a bit of cash aside for the sole purpose of getting some gear together and everytime I wait to buy anything, something always comes up and I end up spending it. So... this time I'm not going to wait. Right now I have an altimeter and a pair of gloves. Don't want to get my jumpsuit yet because I really don't have much idea of my fallrate, and unless I get it all green it will probally be stained beyond repair in 5 jumps! Any comments on a decent helmet to get ( not sure that I would like a full face ) or any other toys that I just have to have???????? Thank you!!! Jessi

Thank you guys! I knew I came to the right place with this Q. I'll be out to the DZ again on Monday and I am jumping!!!!! I guess if I could manage to get myself on the plane and out the door on my L-6 try 3 ( out of 4! ) I can do it now!!!!!!!! I think I'll just plan on NOT backsliding and landing on my feet!!! Oh and the last time I posted I had asked for some advice on flaring. My L-7 I did a nice smooth 2 stage flare looking strait out on the horizon, and stood it up!!!! Thanks everyone, I'll report back on Tuesday!!! Jessi Ü

Was out to the DZ on Sunday. Beautiful blue sky, Otter flying all day and I didn't jump!!!!!!!! Fresh off AFF, this is supposed to be my Presecond solo and I passed it by!!!!!!! My mind has been quite preoccupied these days and I've had a string of pretty bad luck, just stupid things, but enough for me to know that Murphy has been paying me some extra special attention. I was at first pleased with my decision. I know that especially this early on in my advancement, if my mind is not fully on my task at hand I won't give 100%. I was pleased with myself that I know when to sit a day out. Now 3 days later looking out at a clear blue sky, light wind... I am so peeved at myself!!!!! I'm coming up on my 30 days AGAIN!!! I should have jumped, it was just a bunch of BS excuses!!!!!! Just wondering if anybody else has had this dilema. To jump or not to jump.... when should you sit one out????? Jeji

Now, now folks... there is no "correct-thinking". Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Even if if differs from the next. That is what makes our world such a wonderful place. Myself, I'm a recovering Democrat. But it's all good. I made this wonderful discovery. If I happen to be offended by anyone's opinion, I just politely change the subject and don't bring it up again. If I don't like what I happen to be reading, I don't finish it. If a TV show is offensive, well I have a ton of other channels to choose from. Same goes with raising my kids. If I find that the show they are watching is violent, I TURN IT OFF!!! If I don't agree with the child-rearing tactics of my kids friends parents. Well... they just don't go there. It's sooooo simple. I just made the decision to take control of my and my familys life and then did it!!!!! WOW!!! It was very liberating to realize that I do not need to depend on the government or the media or any special interest groups to make certain decisions for me!! Now that is freedom!!!! I hope this dosn't sound too sarcastic, really it's not. I value everyones opinions, even if I don't agree with them. I think I'm up to about .25 on these few forums. Jeji

OK, I got it!!!!!! It seems to me that most owners of hand guns feel that to keep their guns locked up in one place with ammo in a seperate hiding spot is the safest deterent from little hands, however it also defeats the purpose of defending your home from late night "visitors". Who has time to fumble around the house unlocking cabinets and such when there is someone breaking into your house??? DOG OWNERS!!!! I live in a fairly safe community for 9 mths. of the year. However when all of the tourists show up in the summer, the crime rate dramatically increases. Nothing serious, missing pieces of fence, outdoor light fixtures and all of that misc. dumb stuff. But since I got my Lab 6 years ago I have been alerted to any and every potential problem on the entire block. Just got to thinking of this last night. My hubbie was out with some friends pretty late and my dogs (Morrigan a 6 yr old Lab/Dobie and Nemo a 4 mth Mastiff) started their late night patrols. About an hour after I was in bed both poochies started to flip out, I mean they went ballistic!!!! Woke the kids up and everything!!! I have no doubt that if there was a potential problem I had time to get my bearings. However once Nemo is full grown, I'd think you would have to be pretty doped up to think he'd let you pass him at a door, window etc. So my solution... get some really big dogs!!!!! Just a thought!!!! Never heard of a kid taking a dog to school on a rampage???!!!! Jeji

Thank you everyone for all of the input. I think I do fixate entirely too much on the ground right in front of me. Glad I get to graduate AFF next week (weather, babysitter depending) but it won't be quite so sweet with that radio back on me!! Thinking back to my L-1 I remember them saying over the radio to not look at the ground and me thinking, "WHAT!" I'll let you all know how the next one goes. Thank you all!!! Jeji

I certainly believe that there is a prolem with gun violence in our society. I however do not believe that removing guns will solve this problem. This is a problem that runs much deeper that the weapon. It is the violent thoughts that go thru a individuals mind that make them pick up a weapon (gun, knife, bat, etc.) and go commit an act of violence that we need to address. I was brought up shooting guns before I could tie my shoes. I was tought what they were capable of, DEATH! It would NEVER have occured to me to play with my parents guns, EVER! But they were also not taboo. I was never told, "Don't touch that! It's bad!" I was shown how to PROPERLY handle, load, fire and clean them. My daughter just turned 4 and has already shot a BB gun a few times. She has a toy gun that she plays with, but will never point at anyone. I have always taught her to treat EVERY gun as a loaded weapon. I have 2 young brothers who's father hates guns. He owns none and will not let them ever fire one. He tells them they are bad. So guess what? When they get there hands on a toy gun they run around like mad "shooting" each other. Education is key, especially for young ones. Take away the mystery and you have taken away at least some of the temptation. We need to spend more time with our kids, learn about them. The trick is not to abolish or regulate guns, but to teach that violence of any kind is not an answer and teach our youth a better way. Jeji .02

I don't know why I can't seen to get this part of my jump right!!!!! I don't know if I just have lousy depth perception or I just need to take up knitting!!!!!!! My last jump was my first off the radio and it went great, just 15 ft from the peas, but I flared 10' too high. So yesterday I redid my L-6 (didn't do my backloop) off the radio still and flared aout 20' too high. Hit the ground like a sack of you-know-what!!! Getting REALLY good at my PLF!! They did move me up to my L-7 because I have demonstrated that I have all of the survival skills I need at this point, BUT they are putting me back on the radio so I can work on my flare. I swear it looks like 6' when I pull those toggles at 25'!!!!!!!! Any advice whould be greatly appriciated!!! Jeji

An article from a Md paper in Dec 2000 Insights from an old gun: It's not my fault I got out an old gun the other day and began to ask it questions. Q: Mr. Gun, how old are you? A: Oh, aout 60 or 70 years old. I was your fathers. Q: Have you ever been fired in anger? A: No, but my human was once disappointed when I missed an easy clay pigeon. Q: Would you ever rob a bank or commit a crime of violence? A: Are you nuts? I can't even get out of the gun cabinet without my human! Q: Many are accusing you of being violent and evil. Any comment? A: Having a brain of gun oil it is not possible to do anything without my human. Q: There are those who advocate making you register, like cars. Do you think this will help decrease abuse of your kind? A: Well, registration of cars certainly doesn't decrease the numbers killed in car crashes. There's way more people killed by cars than by guns. Me and my bretheren are not dangerous by ourselves. It is our human handlers that are the problem. Q: Some claim that if you were locked up there would be less school shootings. Any comment? A: The killing of school kids is indeed a tragedy. I am appalled at the evil misuse of our kind, but I cannot control an evil mind. I have not harmed a single soul in my life. I was not at Columbine; I've never even been to Colorado. To attempt to lock me up for the evil intentions of a human mind would be a grave mistake. Q: The second amendment to the Constitution guarantees your human the right to keep and bear you, yet some want to trash this right. Your comments? A: There's a vocal minority of power-hungry people who would like to have absolute authority over every thought and deed. These are the ones the second amendment shields us from. When my human is well armed he is a citizen. Stripped of this right he is a subject. Q: Any closing comments? A: Yes, do not blame me for the faults of others. I am a peaceful old gun, but I will not be registered, locked up or violated. My advice to politicians: You swear to uphold the Constitution. Read it! Written by Floyd "Doc" Turner of Salisury MD

I'm with ya, wind STINKS!!!! I've been at the DZ at least once a week since January and I am STILL on L-6, and I did L-2 and 3 the first week of Jan!!!!!!! I'm starting to feel like I bring the wind with me!! Actually was greeted last week with "should have know you were here, they just put AFF's on hold..." I hope my patience and perseverence pay off before they run my bad weather karma self off the DZ!! YYEEAACCHH!!! That is a horrifying thought!!!!!! Here's to knowing that our time WILL eventually come!!!! Jeji Ü

My heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved Peter. What more can I say........ blue skies brother!!! Jeji

My Uncle is starting his S/L progression yet again. I think my starting AFF has him motivated to actually go for his A this time!!!! He and I have always been close, but now the phone bills are just getting outragous!!!!! Can't wait until we can jump together!!!! Might even have my mom talked into a tandem this summer too!!! I was over her house for a bit with the kiddies last night and had the SIM with me. She was really impressed at how serious skydivers take their sport. Who knows, Nana next??????!!!!!!!!!! Jeji Ü