Ragnarok

Surviving Iraq and getting divorced from an unfaithful wife led up to me going skydiving. I just wish I would have started earlier in life. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

Maybe you should be sober before you post a pic that you think is funny... On a scale from 1-10, I give it a 3. Here is a funny pic..... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

I took care of prisoners while I was over there. I will tell you with absolute truth - we did reach some. They could not believe that we would take such good care of them. When they would leave the hospital, they would tell me how thankful they were for what we did and I did believe them when they said they would never be "bad" again. Unfortunately, not enough of them will 'turn to the good'. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

My first jump was THE peak experience of my life. I no longer felt afraid of anything. I think skydiving brought all the deepest fears to the surface and made them go away. I am just afraid of having my life cut short and dying without first having some real cool skydiving experiences. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

I had to repeat the same jump twice yesterday. I would practice on the ground heavily until it burned into me. I knew how to 'present to the prop' and get a good exit. I knew how to arch and stay stable. I get in the door with the jumpmaster and after checking in, I say - "Prop, Out, In, Out - and look down. I liken it to a flinch, I just need to look at the prop and not down when I exit. THis is holding me back and bothering me a bit. I am not excited to require repeating jumps like this because of cost - but what eer it takes, I will master it. I think it is just going to take me a bit to get it, and a couple more jumps. I think as soon as I do, I will finish AFF without a hitch. Honestly, I like the moment of instability out the door. I think I am going to really like RW - when I get to it, anyway...... What would be a good thing to do to get over loking down out the door...? _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

got the rig checked out this weekend. Had the rubberbands replaced and that was it. Everything else was good to go. I am going to get a monkey fist to replace the hackey-sack pull-handle, thoug. Now all I have to do is pass AFF, get an A license, AND become proficent enought to jump it...... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

My first rig, used of course. But, it is my first....... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

Genera G4, DOM 2000, 250 jumps. Triathalon Main - 225 jumps, DOM 1998 2 years left on the Cypress. (which will be replaced with a Vigil before I jump the rig) _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

I was looking at all the things that might need to be replaced, compile a list to see what kind of expence I am looking at. Since it will be some time before I jump the rig, I have time to get it set up right. I hate not being able to ask the 'right' questions. I have been looking at basic and rigger maintainence on rigs just so I can be familiar with things when I do get the rig checked out. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

Actually, it is just hard for me to watch stuff like that now. I can deal with 'creative license' - it is that possibility that it may hit close to home that I can't stomach right now. I caught Rambo - First Blood about 3 months ago on the tv. When he was talking about his friend getting blown up, I cried like a baby, don't really know why. I felt like a train hit me for the rest of the day. You see, it is kind of like skydiving. Those that have never jumped can never understand, those that do - can't explain. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

Diet for me, please. Watching the figure and all!

I got my 'used' rig in the other day. I looked it over and everyhting looked to be in reasonable shape. There are a few things I want to relpace, though. I will put in new rubberbands, pin, and pilot chute. I am looking to go with a monkey-fist, too. Anything else I may need to consider replacing? There are 225 jumps on the main, 250 on the container. I am getting the reserve re-packed and will be putting in a Vigil when I am getting ready to be able to jump it. Thanks. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

I am still trying to get the nerve to watch this show. They should have spent a week with us in Baghdad. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

,X-GRUNT LAST MIL. JUMP VIET-NAM(QUAN-TRI) - a "real" war...sorry about them calling that training excersise in Iraq a war, it pisses me off too The war in Iraq is real, ask anyone there. I don't know why we are over there, I don't agree, either. I spent a year there. I worked in the hospital in Baghdad. I am not Pro-War, I serve my country. I did my duty. I took care of the wounded and I bagged the dead. Last I checked, training exercises are not like that. I agree with you that the situation over there sucks. Peace. edited to remove personal attacks _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

?????? _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

Dear Paul, Sorry, just because they call you 'Pee Wee' does not mean I am going to be interested. You are too old for me, straight, and wear more makeup than me. I can't have that. Just friends, Michael _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

When I can't mainline adrenaline, I drink NOS - the energy (read caffiene overload) drink, not the gas. Tastes great, less filling, and will wire you 6 ways to Sunday. Red Bull is for sissies........... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

I stopped counting my first day in Baghdad.......... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

'tis truly better to be on the ground wishing you were up in the sky - than to be up in the sky and wish you were on the ground.............. Glad to hear you are ok, bro. Takes alot of guts to fess up to something like this.....props, dude. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

OK, I am obsessed. I think about skydiving more than sex (being a guy, that is SERIOUS!!!) I look at the sky with new eyes - there is where I want to be. When I hang out with other skydivers at the DZ, that is where I want to be. I have 4 jumps into the AFF, and I got my new (well, used - but new to me!!!) rig in the mail today. I just had to pull it out and look at it, feel the material, look things over - and attempt to re-pack it. I really am looking forward to learning how to re-pack a chute. When my days off come around, all I want to do is skydive. My dreams at night are about skydiving. My life changed that first jump - and I know now what life is all about...... If everyone skydived, the world would be a better place....... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

The problem I have with pot is that I am on Active Duty - if I even breathe the secondhand smoke and have to do a piss-test (randomly ever 3 months or so) I will get sooooo busted. I can't risk that. BUT, I think if someone wants to smoke it - more power to them. I won't judge anyone. Smoke it before jumping, well, I don't want to think about that....... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

When you can pee in front of each other - things are comfortable. Security is an illusion. I will settle for someone I can pee in front of............. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

you gotta love the Man Show! BTW this is about 5 years old....... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

^ that is really fucked up. I agree that the draft is uncool. A Voulnteer Army is the way it needs to stay. I don't know why we are in Iraq, I hated being there. I don't want to go back so Bush can line the pockets of contractors and pay 6 figure salaries to gaurd Iraqi VIP's - while Soldiers die for an extra 275.00 a month..... _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever

I have been having dreams about skydiving lately. It has been one month since my first AFF jump. Over the past few nights, I just remember being in freefall and under canopy for only a moment. The other night I remember more than just a brief moment - being in the Otter flting up to altitude - and realizing that I should not jump with the rig on my back. It being a 190 sq/ft canopy and me still being on student status. The DZO was on the flight and he was mad that I was let up with a 190 instead of a student canopy, but he was glad I caught it before I jumped. I don't mind dreaming about skydiving, it is better than some of the dreams that wake me up in a panic and I momentarily forget where I am..........I'll take skydiving dreams ANYDAY. It is nice to have something so amazing encroach on my sub-consious. _________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever