Stardust

I got up to go the gym this morning and started my car (because it's really cold). Somehow, I hit the lock button and locked my keys in my running car. I guess my first clue this morning should have been my anticipation of going to bed tonight and waking up tomorrow. It's only 7:21 am. Happy Birthday to me. "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

I don't think that anyone, really, is disagreeing with your right as a consumer to choose who will service your needs. Quality wan't the issue. It was a pissing contest. "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

I guess my friend didn't want to continue the apparent pissing contest or be a shit-disturber. It isn't his home dropzone, but one at which he used to feel at home. He also needs to pay rent. "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

I have a question: recently, a friend of mine was hosed at a dropzone by another packer. The other packer was leaving for the day and said to my friend, those two packs in the plane? Leave them for me, I'll do them tomorrow. My friend said, why don't you do one and I do one (cuz my friend's keen to pack). The other packer said, no, I'll do them tomorrow, and had the jumper put the gear in another room. Is that kosher? It seems wrong to me. At my dropzone and from stories I've heard from other dropzones it's first come first serve, elbows out, running to landing area to get packs. If you leave, you forfeit. So, is it dropzone packing politics? Packing bullies? Is it like that at a lot of dropzones? Or is the other packer just a jerk? "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

Death is a pretty certain thing. Death is not new to skydiving or exclusive to skydiving. People also die crocheting in their rocking chairs. I feel sad when I hear of a skydiver who has died, even if I've never met or even heard of him/her. Everybody has friends and family who will feel the void left behind by their absence. I hope I never see a fatality. That would mean it has happened at my dropzone and that I knew them. It would be an extremely painful thing to have to deal with. People talk about fatalities they have seen because it is cathartic. It also causes introspection and helps to prevent other accidents/incidents. People should talk about fatalities they have seen. And we'll be able to recognize the people who are talking about them to garner attention for themselves. Fly safe. M. "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

My stats prof came into class once wearing a t-shirt that said: "To save time, let's assume I know everthing." "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

Here are my goals: Get over my 'pull anxiety' Get my A license "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

Currently it is a balmy -15F. When you add the wind chill factor the temp here is -29F. Don't you wish you were here? "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

I think it's a fun custom. Personally, I don't like beer. I did my first freefall this summer and had to bring it. It was actually the first case of beer I'd ever bought (I got ID-d) and didn't end up drinking any. But, I got to be part of the community and in wasn't about the beer. It was about celebrating my achievement. But it doesn't sound as though you have to buy beer. Is anybody going to shun you if you don't? "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

Nice word! I've used this word in this context before, too. Here's my contribution: venturesome, bold, exceptional, giddy, rush "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

I had the privilege of witnessing three pie-ings at our DZ this summer. The first one was actually for two guys for their 100th jumps. They were fairly traditional as far as I could tell - both cream pie-ed in the face. Fun. The second was for a 1000th jump. He knew it was inevitable but we managed to surprise him anyway. Whipping cream, chocolate and caramel sauce and icing sugar ("not the pants, guys, not the pants"). That was a mess. The third pie-ing of the summer involved making a pie on the guy's head: whipped cream, chocolate sauce, cherry pie filling and graham crumbs. Oh yeah, and a chocolate cream pie. We took the quad out to the landing area and got him as he landed (we did remove his gear first). All these on video. As far as I could tell everybody was pleased about getting pie-ed. Sure, there are the good-natured complaints about being gross and sticky, but I got the impression that they were honored. I am looking forward to getting pie-ed. I'm still a skydiving neophyte, but I can't wait to be honored for 100 jumps with a cream pie (please, not banana or coconut). "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

Yeah, I should plan a trip somewhere. Thing is, I'd end up going by myself and I'm really shy off the hop... "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

*sigh* It's bittersweet. This coming up weekend marks the end of our DZ season. I don't know what I'm going to do. It has pros: I can't remember that last time I had a day off (not complaining, boss). I'll save on gas. Mostly there are cons. And I'm really going to miss the community. It's been a good season (despite bad weather). I'm stoked about next year. "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

I'm HP-UX - "still strong despite the passage of time". I'm not that old. "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."

Will the results still show a normal distribution? "It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams. Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends. But those who reach walk in stardust."