westcoastchica

that place misses you too.

mar! i'm working on getting a system set with the dz so that people can mail in checks and have their shirts held for the next time they visit OR have them mailed out. i'll keep you posted so that all of our of towners can make the donation and get their t-shirt some way or another.

edited 'cause rosa beat me to it. go on with yo' bad self girl! thanks for keeping the spirit goin'!!! you rock ma ma!

BWA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAA! dammit you! you were not supposed to notice that little typo on the website. hopefully it will be updated by the end of the day, i sent off a write up to be posted on the website. OOOOOOOOOPPPPS!!!!!!!!

we have some awesome people working on these shirts and the design efforts and shirt costs are all being donating. i love skydivers. things are really coming together well. it's going to be a great event!!

can i tell you? when marie and erin and i were sitting there with hammo talking about what would make for a successful fundraiser, your name popped up pretty quickly! we were like GIA AND HER JELLO SHOTS! ha ha ha! that is good stuff sister! that is super generous mama! i know you'll be a hit! big thanks and hugs for you! this is just another example of how darn many people are pitching in to make this event so amazing!!! we really are one lucky dz family!

no worries! i am not the biggest sushi consumer myself, BUT they have a wide variety of other COOKED japanese food. i had the beef teppan last night and it was super tasty! woohoo kokoro! and lew, i know you were as sad to see that ghetto pastel marble jumpsuit go as i was. that is why i knew i would never find closure without giving it a proper memorial.

Link Here (i know it's been posted elsewhere. ) anywho, we're scrambling to put together a kickass event. donors are stepping up all over the place to cover t-shirt costs, stuff to go in the bags, and tons of stuff for the raffle. it's going to be awesome!!! (in fact, for those of you that have eaten at the sushi place "kokoro" right down the street from the dz, i stopped by yesterday to pick up their $500.00 donation! go have some sushi! ) So...... When is it? February 7th & 8th (It’s coming up quick so start planning your visit now!) Who can play? Everyone who likes to have fun and wants to help our instructors get back on their feet. You don’t have to be a skydiver to register for this event and help out! What do I get for my $25 donation? You get $1 off every jump you make that weekend, an event t-shirt, a raffle ticket, goodie bag and the opportunity to help a very good cause! What else can I expect at the event? -A lot of hugs and thank yous from the instructors that you are helping! -An incredible “fire-side” raffle filled with loads of prizes ranging from free coaching, to reserve repacks, to gift certificates from restaurants and hotels in the area, and much much more! (So you don’t have to be a skydiver to enjoy many of the raffle prizes!) -Tons of load organizing! -Photo services from Joel Kiesel. Have Joel catch you on film landing and he’ll have a quality print available for purchase that day! (Joel is donating all profits to the instructor fund!) -A Saturday night party complete with bumpin’ music and fire spinners! -Lots of fun and much, much more! Come on out, makes some jumps and help out a good cause at the same time, what could be easier? We can’t wait to see you there! Let’s party down together and make this fundraiser an overwhelming success!

No No NO! I WAS THERE! and i dropped off the cookies with shark and in the front office. i'm so bummed because i really wanted to meet a few more dz.commers in person. i am so out of the social loop sometimes! der! anywho, i did, however, spend the day with erin, marie (and even grasshopper for a while) seeking out donations from local businesses for the "Instructor Burnout Benefit" weekend. It looks like this little boogie is pulling together with great force. EVERYONE keep your eyes peeled for more info soon about the weekend of 2/7-8 out at Elsinore. It's going to be a smokin' good time. hee hee!

Friday Vanillaskygirl Park1231 Park's friend Shark rkillian (late evening) Saturday Nightingale Cajones Lewmonst TheBachelor Skyyhi Skylord Shark downwardspiral Jen1129 Casurf1978 curtismelaniej rkillian RippedCord (trusting Rosa's assertion that, indeed, there is LO'ing at Elsinore each weekend.) westcoastchica (with choco-chip cookies in hand) Sunday Cajones Lewmonst rjf98 Shark downwardspiral Sparky curtismelaniej (after tunnel fun) rkillian Please add YOURSELVES to the appropriate lists!

OMG! mark, you weren't kidding when you said you found 3/4 of jake's jumpsuit! i'll e-mail him that picture. i think it will give him a bittersweet chuckle. you guys have all been so great about keeping your spirits up. it's just amazing. i'm so proud of you guys! thanks for posting those pics skylord and nightingale!

thanks for sharing this special jump with me chica! you were definitely in superstar form!! YAAAAYYY!

VIBES VIBES VIBES!!! there have been tons of super things said already here! all i can chime in with is encouraging thoughts behind the continued success of my mom's 8-year battle. believe in yourself! believe in the healing strength of the love of friends and family. know that nothing is final with a diagnosis or treatment path, you'd be surprised how many death sentences are dished out by doctors (who are just trying to give conservative information) and are proven wrong! you gotta fight! you gotta be your own champion! of course you are allowed to be angry/scared/sad/etc., but try your best not to dwell on the why, instead try and focus on a positive path forward. you've got a huge support system here, so hang in there and know that we all wish you lots of strength and hope!

totally didn't think of that. good point! you totally beat me on the post though. damn!

try playing with the word "parachute". the info it gives at the end is entertaining. according to the game, you can find a parachute in a salad bar...and it smells sweet....huh? have fun!

link here for animal rescue info seems like people are really doing a great job rescuing the animals. -Lara

fact sheets for LA and SD fires link here California Wildfires at a Glance A list of major California wildfires Sunday. CEDAR FIRE: Size: 100,000 acres. Homes: 100 in Ramona alone, 150 in Scripps Ranch. Deaths: 11. Containment: 0 percent. Start: Oct. 25 in eastern San Diego County. Key facts: Extends to Scripps Ranch, Poway, Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, portions of Santee, Lakeside and Blossom Valley, Poway and Ramona. Air traffic nationwide was disrupted when this fire forced evacuation of a Federal Aviation Administration control center. Personnel: More than 800 firefighters. Suppression Cost: No data available. Cause: Authorities believe a hunter set signal fire when he got lost. DULZURA FIRE: Size: 15,000 acres Homes: None. Deaths: None. Containment: 0 percent. Start: Sunday, Oct. 26 in southern San Diego County. Key facts: The fire prompted voluntary evacuations of parts of eastern Chula Vista and flames skipped over the border into eastern Tijuana. Personnel: 300 firefighters. Suppression costs: No data available. Cause: Under investigation. PARADISE FIRE: Size: 3,000-plus. Homes: 36. Deaths: One. Containment: 0 percent. Start: Oct. 26 in Valley Center area near Interstate 15. Key facts: Valley View Casino evacuated. Personnel: More than 500 firefighters. Suppression costs: No data available. Cause: Under investigation. GRAND PRIX FIRE: Size: 35,000 acres. Homes: 62 destroyed. Deaths: None. Containment: 23 percent. Start: Oct. 21 near San Bernardino National Forest. Key facts: Mandatory evacuations in Lytle Creek, Mount Baldy, Rialto and parts of Claremont, Upland and other foothill communities of the San Gabriel Mountains. Personnel: 2,427 firefighters. Suppression Cost: $6.5 million. Cause: Arson. OLD FIRE: Size: 15,000 acres. Homes: 300 homes, 10 commercial buildings. Deaths: Two. Containment: 5 percent. Start: Oct. 25 near San Bernardino National Forest. Key facts: Evacuations in foothill areas of San Bernardino and mountain communities, including Crestline and Lake Arrowhead. Personnel: 917 firefighters. Suppression Cost: Unknown. Cause: Under investigation, suspicious origin. SIMI VALLEY: Size: 80,000 acres. Homes: Six destroyed, eight damaged. Deaths: None. Containment: 0 percent. Start: Oct. 25. Key facts: Firefighters trying desperately to save Ronald Reagan Library. Voluntary evacuations for Moorpark. Personnel: 599 firefighters. Suppression Cost: $25,000. Cause: Under investigation. VERDALE FIRE: Size: 9,000 acres. Homes: None. Deaths: None. Containment: 50 percent. Start: Oct. 24 west of Santa Clarita in northern Los Angeles County. Key facts: Voluntary evacuations for community of Val Verde Park and parts of Piru. Blaze sparked the Simi Valley incident. Personnel: 500 firefighters. Suppression Cost: $1.3 million. Cause: Under investigation. CAMP PENDLETON: Size: 4,695 acres. Homes: None. Deaths: None. Containment: 55 percent. Start: Oct. 21 on the base north of San Diego. Key facts: Authorities are downplaying early reports that fire was ignited by live ammunition exercises on the base. Personnel: 999 firefighters. Suppression Cost: Not available. Cause: Under investigation. PIRU FIRE: Size: 1,300 acres. Homes: None. Deaths: None. Containment: 85 percent. Start: Oct. 23 west of Lake Piru in Ventura County. Key facts: The fire in Los Padres National Forest is threatening the Sespe Wilderness and Sespe Condor sanctuary. There are no condors currently in the refuge. Voluntary evacuations in Piru and parts of Fillmore. Personnel: 780 firefighters. Suppression Cost: No data available. Cause: Under investigation. MOUNTAIN FIRE: Size: 1,000 acres. Homes: Two damaged or destroyed. Deaths: None. Containment: 0 percent. Start: Oct. 26 in southern Riverside County. Key facts: Evacuations ordered for homes near Lake Skinner. Two civilian injuries. Personnel: 250 firefighters. Suppression Cost: No data available. Cause: Under investigation. Copyright © 2003 KABC-TV and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. *** sorry for the long post, but i thought people would be interested in how widespread this is. this is from yesterday, so i'm sure things have changed since then, but it's something to start a clear picture for you. keep those positive vibes flowing. cali folks need all they can get right now. -Lara

just jumping on the "we love katie bandwagon"! soooo happy she is on her way home. she is one kickass chica!!!! big hugs sister!!!

sooooo bummed we're going to miss it this time around. we had a blast last time! colleen packs a lot of punch in that petite little package she is! here's the clicky for the club http://www.rain-oc.com/ rock on party people!

hey! i'm pic #1!!! yaaaaaaaay!! good job on theese lew! we missed you up top. can't wait 'til you can get back in the air!! you are definitely one awesome addition to the elsie family!

are you nuts? you run those things...this, i walked. and looky here miss triathalon, you were part of the reason i actually thought i could undertake this challenge.

dude, randy, fall in a hole or something? you've totally been MIA! will be good to see you at the boogie! damn there'z gonna be a lot of dz.commers. (and just for the sake of roll call, i'm sure KOLLA wouldn't mind her name on the list, although she'll be pretty busy with PD stuffs.) woooooooooooohhhhhooooooooooooo!

you guys caught a glimpse of the event!!?? oh michele! i'm so glad!!! and thanks definitely for cheering! i can't tell you how neat it was to have people honk and cheer as they drove by. very exciting! wish i got to see ya! well, i know i'll see ya soon! you still owe me a fun jump together!

clickity here for more info... party on wayne!

chica chiming in here! i'll be there! now you KNOW it's a party! ha ha ha! freeflyz, we missed ya over labor day. you gots lot of making up to do at the boogie!