Shindagrl

I have a friend that drives OTR, and he's gone through several companies because so many have left him sitting in a town for a day or more, waiting for the next load. He doesn't jump, but if he did, I bet he'd have some time to do it. Print out a list of US DZ locations and phone numbers, and keep it with you in the truck for easy reference. Good luck. Blue ones- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

My, my dear, you need to relax!!!!! You didn't get this far by being an idiot (or even prone to failing, for that matter). Your negative energy could bring you down!!! Think positively and believe in yourself, for crying out loud. Sounds like you need a break more than an all-nighter. STOP! BREATHE! Do something FUN for a bit, then go to bed early. Get up early, take yourself and your study materials to a restaurant like Country Kitchen or IHOP, and sit there for hours drinking coffee, eating good food, and cramming your butt off. That's what go me through nursing school, anyway. I have a feeling you'll be fine. {{{hugs}}} Blue ones- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

I'm so excited for you, and really wish I could have been there. This Micro Mini Leek better be worth all the WATCHING and not JUMPING in my future........ Blue skies and NO SNOW! Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

WAAAAAAAA HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Congrats!!! Blue ones- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Well, I'm sure someone will eventually persuade me to do a Naked Jump, but I'll look like a big dork because I'll still be wearing my shoes!!! Heck, I can barely walk barefoot in the street, much less land in Mother Nature with nekkid feet.......OUCH! Blue ones- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Welcome to the fold, Boomer. Have you put up your Christmas lights yet???? Yikes, it doesn't feel like the time, but it IS.... Hope you enjoy our world. It keeps me sane. Blue ones-- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

I'm watching "Cutaway", which I really like, I suppose b/c it has so many shots of actual skydiving in it as compared to other movies. I know very little about the different disciplines, since I've only made three jumps, but I think I've figured out a few things......namely, the tighter the suit, the faster you fall......the looser, the more freedom of speed you have, be it fast or slow desired (and in that statement, I may have answered my own question). So, here they are, a speed star team. The goal is speed. I notice their jumpsuits are pretty loose (and most are lacking the arm grip-thingies, which doesn't make much sense if you PLAN on grabbing onto someone). Do they not wear tighter suits in that disclipline so that they can alter their speed whichever way they need to???? Had I not read the notes on the creator of the movie and his involvement in the sport over the years, I'd just add it up to Hollywood error (like in "ER"). But this has me befuddled. Thanks, and blue skies to all---- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

This subject hits very close to home for me....except it's my hubby that isn't really too keen on my jumping (although he doesn't hyperventilate when we discuss it). You have quite a dilemma. I firmly believe that a couple needs to be comprised of two individuals with personal freedom, and I think it strengthens a marriage. She doesn't really sound like a tandem candidate, but I do think if you can just get her to the DZ so she can meet the other folks and see a bunch of people (you included) land safely, it might give her some relief from her fears. If she refuses to allow you to jump, you could always by a cheap set of clubs and "take up golf" . Actually, that's a bad idea.......she'd probably offer to drive the cart one day and you'd be BUSTED!!! Blue skies (with you in 'em)--- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

If you decide to try and file your claim on your homeowner's policy, keep this in mind....... Most people have a deductible of at least $500, so you're going to be out that. When you file a claim, will it really be worth not just replacing the canopy with one of equal value, with similar wear and tear? If someone fell off of my porch and the medical bill was $700, I'd just as soon eat the whole thing as raise my premiums for years over $200. Food for thought. Sorry it happened to you in the first place, but at least you're still here to tell us about it! Blue ones- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

My last jump, two weeks ago, 3rd jump of my life.... Uneventful exit and opening. Due to radio issues, I had no contact with the ground until about 1800 ft. That had me pretty freaked out, and I was having trouble finding the airport, so I was checking out the landscape for SOFA's (of which there are many near my DZ). I was scared as hell by the time I got radio contact, and it was immediately apparent that I wasn't going to land on-site. My landing area happened to be a field full of cows, two pastures over from the DZ. There is nothing quite like that moment you're flying over a herd and they notice you when you're about 30 ft. up; I still haven't figured out who was more suprised, them or me. I'm praying to every diety known to man, "Please don't let me land on a cow!!!"---luckily they scattered to the other side of the field. I love cows and really wanted to pet them, but figured the DZO would NOT be happy if they trampled his chute, and I had already tempted fate enough for one day. I have learned four things from this: ~Navigation & flight paths need to be at the top of my list of Things I Need to Figure Out Quickly ~I now know how to get my gear over a barbed wire fence ~Cow #95 is very friendly and likes it when skydivers give her a diversion from the endless monotony of her day ~I can do a stand up landing in a crosswind Blue ones, but hold the cattle, please...... Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Jennifer, my dad had the same concerns when he jumped with an Infusaport. He brought dressing pads and medical tape to pad his chest, but didn't do it because of where the harness hit him. In hindsight, it could have been a problem, but fortunately it wasn't. I love the idea of padding your jumpsuit. I think it would offer protection over a greater area than padding the harness. Take care of yourself first, and then go have some fun! Blue ones- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Welcome to the forums, Darren. This is a fun place.

Geez, that got me laughing harder than anything has all week. I have a feeling that's how mines gonna go............... Blue ones- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

There are scads of places that you can take a picture of yourself and have it turned into Christmas cards. You should definitely buy some beer for the jumper who would take your photo while in freefall, but how cool would THAT be?????????? Don't forget to smile!!! (like that'll be hard! ) Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

I was referring to the links to "How parachutes work" and the skydiver's manual, etc. For some reason there is NOTHING to be found about skydiving at the bookstores in my neck of the woods. Since I'm very new to the sport, I really appreciate that stuff. Blue skies- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Nicely done, Dan. From the pics it looks like you had a helluva lot of fun, and I'll let everyone else find the "boobie suprise" on their own...... I enjoyed the links to the simple, neophyte stuff as well. Keep up the good work, dude, and keep jumpin'! Blue skies, low winds, and WARM freakin' weather-- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

It's not the "fear", it's the MOTION. Same thing with ships.......I hate sailboats but love the big cruiselines. This last time I jumped I took ginger beforehand to calm my stomach, but it didn't do much for me. I might be better off using Meclizine (Bonine), which is what I use on cruises and it has no side effects for me. Or I might just buck up and deal with it...........as many have said, I'll get used to it and condition myself to thinking, "Hey, if I'm airsick, I'm just about to have fun!!!". Funny thing is, the second I'm outta that plane I am F-Y-N-E FINE. Thanks to everyone for their responses. I knew I wasn't alone on this one. Blue (calm) skies- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

I'm not a doctor, but I am an RN, and I would say that whoever does your surgery DEFINITELY needs to know what you plan on doing with that hip when you're healed! I know that different docs have different techniques, and some will use a bigger joint than others would in the same patient. If your doc was prone to keeping a bit more space in the joint by using a smaller prosthesis (there's a reason for that school of thought, but it's escaping me at the moment), it could up your chances of dislocation when you hit the ground. Good luck!!! Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Actually, the takeoff isn't that bad. It's not the thought of crashing that freaks me out, although I will say that I don't ever even think about it when in a bigger plane. It's when we're getting near-altitude and doing all the banking that gets me. WHOOOOOP-----instant "stomach in the throat" time! I do sit and go over the jump sequence in my head, I sing in my head, I look out the windows.....it's just the motion. Oh, well, cruise ships make me seasick too, but I've still cruised four times and I'm not about to stop! Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

I've done two jumps, which will turn into many, many more. I've gotta say, though........ I DO NOT like the plane! At all. I get mildly airsick, actually. There's no way I'd get up in that thing without a parachute and the intention of getting out of it! Makes it a whole heckuva lot easier to get out on that wing strut and let go. My DZ has a Cessna 182. I've been flying all of my life, and love the bigger jets, but I don't even much care for the commuter planes we occasionally take to the big airports when we travel. Then I get in one that holds five people, barely........ooooh, no, I don't like it at all. I know I'm not alone here, right? I'm just waiting for the day when I can get my license and jump out of something bigger occasionally (they have a King Air every other weekend). Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Welp, if that didn't scare the crap outta ya, you're born to skydive! Welcome. Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Yep, non-skydiving friends are thinking, "She's talking about it AGAIN". Every night since my first jump I've had dreams of skydiving. I'm ate up. An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Hmmmmmmmm........interesting. I'm planning on taking my second jump this Saturday, weather and Post-Halloween-Debauchery permitting. If I'm hung over, no freaking way; I'll just go the the DZ and watch everyone else. However, I think wanting to jump Sat. will have an affect on my actions the night before. On the way home from that first jump, I thought to myself, "Self, throughout the years you've partied to get away from the Big Blah of Normalacy; even though you're jumping out of a plane this a much healthier way to do that". That's when I knew skydiving would change my life. That's part of my story, and I'm sticking to it- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Hello, all. I've had one big awesome jump, and am not about to stop now!!! Everyone at the DZ and on this forum is wonderful. I've noticed that I see things in a different way, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Most people I'm around think I'm nuts for doing it once, much less wanting to do it again and again. I think THEY'RE crazy for what they're missing out on. I really didn't have much of a problem getting out on that wing and letting go; it just seemed right (plus I was plenty happy to get out of the plane--the banks were making my stomach whoop!). I had Permagrin the whole way up, down, and pretty much since. My co-workers have commented that I seem much happier with life in general. Besides the obvious things listed below, what are the other ways skydiving has changed your life? -You meet new and fabulous, open people -The adrenaline rush -The view -The sense of accomplishment you get after landing -The fact that it's FREAKIN' FUN, in the words of the great Floyd, "Learning to fly............" Loving to learn this stuff- Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........

Dad thought it was pretty cool. He won't be getting his license or anything, but he doesn't regret it for a second. I must say my hubby isn't too thrilled with this, though! He has a pretty strong fear of heights, and I doubt I'll ever get him to try it. To each their own, I say. I'm just happy I found this sport. I'm not a "sporty" kind of girl, but this is right up my alley! Shinda An audience of 35 head of cattle was not exactly what I had in mind for that last landing.........