Duck

Sorry, just catching up on the threads. . . Dude, your DZ has a pool?! Anyone ever land in it? . . .well, it was the first question that came to mind. . . Quack

Gotta go with ObeseFeline's opinion. The detailed stories of the jumps helps me get back into the swing of things. So for all those out there that risk ridicule by posting their experiences, thanks. Keep it coming and I hope to keep learning. Quack

6 years between jumps 50 and 51, what a weird concept. . . It was nice. I guess I was expecting to be jumping up and down with glee after landing, but it wasn't like that. I was just very mellow, like a quiet kind of wow, where have I been all this time? Came out of it with some lessons learned, like I need to re-develop a sense of time in the air, 10K to 5.5K went much faster than I remembered, I definately took too much time on my initial manuevers and didn't complete my dive flow. In fact, my JM pulled my ripcord! I looked at alt, saw we were passing 5.5 (man, we didn't get all the flow done!) turned mainside to him just in time to catch his finger pointing at me, then reached for my ripcord. But for some reason (a lingering habit, bad in this case?) I thought, "Wait, I have to wave off" and went back to wave off. Then I reached back for my cord but before I got my hand on it, I was jerked by the deployment of my chute. Canopy time was great, I've always loved canopy time, very peaceful, but landing was a little rough as I flared low and skipped my ass to my feet. I've got video, it's pretty comedy. But I was a little upset because it's never a good thing to have a JM pull for you regardless of how everything else went. If a JM says pull, then fucking PULL, I just don't know what I was thinking about the wave off. But the debrief went well. We talked it over and he told me that he understood why my reflex was to wave off. I definitely understood his perspective as a JM, that when he points a finger, he expects only one result. They've got some courses for people that want to develop their RW skills, and we'll do stuff like that knock the rust off of my flying. No question that I need it, and I appreciate the help. Of course I was expecting to knock out the entire flow with a 1000 to spare. . . What a reality check, "Hey stupid you haven't jumped in six years." I should count myself lucky that I don't have to go through the AFF from scratch. Usually I get pissed off when I don't do as well I think I should have, as in manic-compulsive. But for this it was, "Y'know, that was still a great time. Think I'll do it again next weekend. Think? Yeah, right. I'm there already." Thanks for the encouragement. Good to have everyone in the corner. I had no idea how much I missed this. Quack

Oh, man, that's a hard question. . . They're all good! Just make sure you don't forget where to apply, you want to make sure you pass for a "real _____ (insert your color here)" ! Quack

SkyDekker, I've been spending a lot of time on the web reviewing stuff, and there's a ton of info out there. But I think the best two site are: http://www.uspa.org/ (download/print the SIM if you can) http://www.afn.org/skydive/sta/ (pretty much covers whatever you want to know) As for anything else, it doesn't get better than DZ.com for specific questions! Hope that helps some. Would have linked these for you, but I haven't cracked that code yet. Quack

LOL! CF, that's pretty comedy. I couldn't wait to transition to a throw out because I lost the ripcord on two of my AFFs. . . It was the running joke with my JMs, they were making money everytime I tossed the thing. What's so funny is, now that I'm going back up to get current (on a student rig of course), that I'm actually concerned I'll toss the ripcord. They cost $25 now! Quack

Pammi, I am no shit sorry to hear about that. Man, that sucks, don't you have any recourse or defense? Is it worth fighting for? I have friends involved with labor organizing, sometimes I give them shit, but things like this make me reconsider. What will you do, where to next? Are you OK? Quack?

HAHAA. . . Before I even start this thing, I know you guys will be like "What the fuck is up with this dude. . ." I DON'T CARE!! HAHAHAAHA I'm gonna jump my 51st jump this weekend and I am psyched! Why? Because I got so fucked up on my 50th and haven't jumped in x number of years! See, we got a little extra money from this guy named Bush, and my wife said, 'Ok, I guess you can do your jump thing' because with the family thing going now, we actually got to think budget about LVL IV and gear rentals. I didn't think I'd have the chance until next payday. I know some of you have said "no wife or kids for me, ever," and are looking at this post, "man, he needs to ask permission from his wife? Fucked up!" Well, yeah, that's the way it works. I even have to get a will done. She doesn't have a problem with me jumping, just wants things sqaured away when I go up. I mean, she saw me in hospital after my last jump, I can see where she's coming from. What's so ironic is that she has no problem with me jumping, but won't entertain the remotest possibility of my getting a bike! But I digress. . . I'm just happy that I'm actually going to get back up this weekend! A little nervous, too, but I can rope that back in, no worries. Yeah, I'm pretty sure. . . . I think. OK. Yeah, I'll admit it, a little encouragement would help too! I can't help it, I was about to burst! I had to tell someone! Quack! QuackquackqauquaquackackackQauck (ever see a duck on the water and everthing seems calm but you just KNOW those little feet are churning away underneath?)

Whoa, I guess I opened this thread expecting something else. This must be what it's like backstage at Lilith Fair! Hey! Watch it with that shoe! Quack

The most common one I've heard - million times it seems - is when people see one of my scars and ask what happened. Not wanting to get into details, I usually just say, "From skydiving." To which they invariably reply, "Oh. Did your parachute not open?" Y'know, and I'll probably get it for this, but I never heard the term 'whuffo' before I joined this shindig. "Cherry" or "Leg", yeah, but 'whuffo' was a new one on me even after about 9,10 DZs. I know that's not a lot, but you'd think I'd heard it. 'Course I was out for a few years. Is this a relatively new term? Quack PS excuse my ignorance, please

DSC, did you sing in the Crack Choir? How about posting those pics? Please? Quack

See, Sis, what did I tell you?! I KNEW IT!!! Perchance to paraphrase Kipling: "'E's a giddy type of hurumphrodite, a jumper and a drinker, too! Our boy's a mighty Morphin, all grown up and out of the jumplocker. . . *sniff* brings a tear to the eye. Quack

Alrighty, then. I guess that's cleared up, although the numerous references throughout this forum to AA's dick are more information than I actually needed. Don't know how all that digressed, but AA: Yes, it would alright if you were gay, there's no need to be defensive. Those petty biases have no business on a dropzone, right? So it's OK. The macho routine is not necessary. What did you do, anyway, give Sis the heisman during one night of drunken revelry when she wanted to check you out with a metal detector? Quack

Yes, apparently LOTS of confusion. After reviewing some other posts, I'm obviously missing something. So much gets lost through the electrons, it seems, even gender. Ok. . . *deep breath* would someone enlighten me?

How about "All by Myself" by Eric Carmen? . . . What? What'd I say? Hmm, this may make for an interesting thread. I know Viking's looking for a particular 'theme' song, and it would be cool to hear what everyone's preferred 'break away' song is. The song that gets me pumped the most for jumping is "Blinded by the Light" by the Manfred Mann earth band. It rocks, has funky lyrics and a smooth spirit solo near the end. Doesn't exactly have a theme, but. . . Other songs: Freefalling/Petty (of course); More Human than Human/White Zombie; TCB/BTO; Learning to Fly/Floyd; Fly Away/Kravitz; . . . Songs NOT to put on the video: Don't Worry Be Happy; Friends in Low Places; Rock Me Amadeus; Flight of the Valkrie; La Vida Loca; anything by 'NSync or Britney Spears Quack