peregrinerose

I agree about reading the individual plans. The cheapest for my husband and I together was about $200/month. But I went for a $400/month that covered both of us with a plan with no deductable, lower copays, and was a PPO so I didn't need to go through the hassle of a referral... and this was $400/month I voluntarily paid, with an unemployed husband and more than 60% of our household income out the window, plus just starting the process of adopting a teenager so an extra person to have to support. I even sold my backup rig as well as a brand new rifle to ensure that our costs, including health insurance, would be covered. Since we are both instructors, skydiving was additional income for us, so we needed to get that insurance so that we could continue to skydive. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Very well said. I agree that 18 year olds don't always 'get it', especially 'invincible' males that like to think they are exceptions to rules and have mad skillz. However, that's what PARENTS are for. It's our job to teach kids about things like the importance of insurance, budget priorities, hell, at 18 most kids can still stay on their parent's plans (I was covered under my parents til I was out of grad school at age 24). I am the parent of a 16 year old, and I'm starting from scratch on these independent living skills as we've only had him for 6 months. He opened his first savings account yesterday and is already asking the financial advisor when he can open a retirement savings account. He's actively asking questions about health insurance because we've showed him his present (state) plan and my husband's PPO so that he can weigh which is better for him once his adoption is finalized. He didn't know about these things by osmosis... as parents we actively are teaching him how to be a responsible adult. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I was wondering if someone would bring this up. Considering that a young, healthy male can pick up a health insurance policy with a high deductable just in case of very catastrophic injury for very inexpensively.... as in under $50/month, with several more at under $100/month. I just did a quick search on www.ehealthinsurance.com (how I got my health coverage when my husband was unemployed) which is where I'm getting these numbers. So if someone has the money to go flying all over the country and skydive, yet they can't take two to four jumps a month worth of cash to get at least some form of health insurance coverage, they won't get any donations from me. Very poor planning on someone else's part regarding insurance is not my responsibility to take care of. My health care dollars are going to be in the end supporting them, so in my mind, they don't need any more of my money too. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Chad, glad you lived, pissed it happened to begin with, and you really need to change the thread title. This could very easily have been an ugly ending for multiple reasons, especially after having watched the video with you so many times. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Umm, I've never seen an aircraft pilot faceplant the cessna step on a bad exit. I wasn't aware that aircraft pilots engaged in full contact RW in the cockpit. There are a lot of variables that jumpers experience that pilots do not. Cracks to the face happen, not a lot, but they do happen in skydiving. Wind is much less a problem than some of the other factors that can happen. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Your doctor either doesn't know skydiving or doesn't know LASIK, then. I won't get LASIK specifically because of skydiving. Do a search for my name and LASIK and you'll find a ton of posts on it. Definitely not NO risk. PRK is a great match with skydiving, LASIK... not so much. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree with you. Wasn't it Ghandi that said something like "an eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind"? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Plus you actually pay more taxes as being an independent contractor, you have to pay both halves of social security tax. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Packing is a job, and if you pack for a DZ, chances are you'll get hit with a 1099 at the end of the year for packing DZ owned rigs (student, tandem, staff) and depending on the DZ, sport rigs may be on there too. I'm not sure why you 'can't' get a job, but better consider all facets of packing, including the tax/legal ramifications of it. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

absolutely. first things first though. the first piece of equipment you should buy is a closing pin necklace, then rig, then wingsuit, helmet, goggles, and finally altimeter. (all in that order) With only 6 jumps, what the hell do you know?.... you forgot the most important and first thing to buy... the skydiving tattoo. Seriously, how could you leave that out??? Such irresponsibility! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Congrautlations!!!!!!!!! You did a nice job in the course, by the way

This makes me cringe. At our DZ, we require PLFs on the first 3 landings minimum. Butt landings are the only things we will ream a student out for as they are so hazardous. We actively teach that students should be leaning forward in the harness for landing, legs under to slightly behind them, so that on flare, the legs are directly under the body, not way out in front. This works beautifully to set up for either a PLF or stand up landing. We beat PLFs into students heads so hard that a lot of them have nice standups and go striaight to the PLF from that position, knowing that it's so important. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

So, your theory is, you would rather the AAD fire and possibly cause a reserve/drogue entanglement than have the student pull higher than the AAD would fire, and possilby have a reserve/drogue entanglement? THE SAME MAL ONLY LOWER! Sounds to me like I would want more time to try to sort things out up high, not at a few grand and spinning. Im no genius, but if I was a student and looked up and saw something tangled up, and us going down funny, I would probably try to do something about it. Granted, not a whole lot a student could do (or an instructor at that point) but it does give them time if there is a possibility to clear it. A first jump student will have no idea what 'funny' is. A tandem passenger can't see the entire canopy. I rode front for a recurrency for my husband. We had a 2.5 foot hole in the canopy, and no matter how much I twisted and tried, I couldn't see any more than the front couple of feet of the canopy. I had to take his word for it that the hole was there and not growing But a tandem student having an alti has nothing to do with their responsibilities (or lack thereof) in the skydive. Whether they pull or not, I have yet to see a reason why a student should not have an alti, but a lot of very good reasons why they should. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Is there a reason, other than laziness, that a student should not have an alti? To me, no alti only re-enforces the concept that a tandem is no different than a roller coaster. Something simple like throwing and alti on their hand shifts the perspective slightly. Look at the recent NC tandem fatality where the TI alti apparently was not functioning properly. Did his student have an alti? If he looked at the student alti, could the fatality have been prevented? A student alti is also a nice backup for the TI to use. I've been on staff at 2 DZs and regularly jump at a 3rd.... all three put alti's on every tandem student. Disclaimer... I'm not a TI, but I sleep with one, so doesn't that count for something?

Result: The Battleaxe - Deliberate Brutal Love Master Sharp. Hardened. Dominating. The Battleaxe sweeps all before her, smiting and what not. You’ve had a number of serious relationships, so you obviously have many attractive qualities. You’re well experienced in dealing with other people’s weirdnesses, and it’s likely you’re good in bed by now, too. Also, like the drunken housewife chucking Heinekens at her no-good husband, you’ve got a lot of energy. People can tell you’re sophisticated, and so you find yourself the object of infatuations quite often. But it’s how you handle yourself in your relationships that gets you the ‘brutal’ tag. Controlling? Imperious? Overbearing? Yes, please. Remarkably, you don’t mind the same from your men. You’ve experience enough to take whatever you dish out. Overall, you’re a very good person and a capable lover, and when the time comes you’ll make a fine divorcee. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I also signed up on the 21st and haven't received it... but that was only 5 days ago, I'm not that worried about it. They probably got a flood of people there at the end.

Good call on not doing LASIK, and it sounds like you've done your research and are in good hands. Finding quantitative data is virtually impossible on any individual doc. CSA is just a custom PRK, same basic concept for the procedure with the end result of better optics. No flap means a safer procedure long term. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Then you might want to find a new PCP. Mine has an on call emergency doc 24/7. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Just remember that of that $1400 bill, they aren't actually getting paid anywhere near that.... and they don't bill you the difference. That's a fair and normal bill for an EMERGENCY service.... if you want lower billing, don't be seeking out emergency care for non emergencies. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Call your regular optometrist and ask who they refer to. It drives me nuts when my patients self refer to butcher ass laser surgeons without telling me about it then show back up in my chair wondering why they can't see worth crap. Believe me, as ODs we see the very best and very worst of every surgeon in the area and can recommend someone good for you. As a skydiver, I'd also reconsider LASIK and opt for PRK instead. It would be less expensive and long term much safer from a skydiving stance. There's not enough money in the world to make me consider LASIK as a jumper, but I've given some serious consideration to PRK. Do a search with my name and LASIK and you'll find a lot of information on here. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

ANY canopy can spank you occasionally, and there are lots of reasons for it other than canopy design that others have mentioned. I have about 450 jumps on a Spectre 150 at about 1:1, and got slammed one time (landed me in the ER), but all the rest were lovely opens. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'm an AFF instructor and have worked with a lot of first jump students decades older than you are Age isn't a factor, your physical shape is. If you're not flexible or not active on a regular basis, you'll have a harder time than someone who's older but is in better physical condition. Of course, skydiving is a great reason to increase strength and flexibility if you need to... yoga, hitting the gym, whatever strikes your fancy. Age is just a number, remember that. Definitely not a deciding factor. Heck, one of our AFF instructors started skydiving at 53 and got his rating at 55. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

From what I've seen, local marrow drives are often at no charge. I've just never been able to get to one. When I donate blood, being on the marrow registry has never been an option. This is the only site I've seen for it, and this site has been very publicized, so isn't phishy. I had no promo code to enter, just left it blank. The total fees were $0. I didn't even enter credit card data, just skipped that part entirely. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

From June 8-22nd, www.marrow.org will send you a test kit and add you to the bone marrow donor list at no charge. It's normally $100. The money is the only reason I never signed up before, and I just found out about this today, so figured I'd pass it along in case any of you were interested. Both my husband and I signed up this morning. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I was thinking the same thing [:) Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda