freeflyflunky

Okay... you guys will have to cut me some slack. I've only recently shook off my whuffo status and I'm not sure I'm quite ready to enter Jimmy the Legend commentary just yet... But here it goes... "Newton didn't discover gravity when an apple fell on his head. Jimmy Coiner explained it to him -- and then told him that it didn't apply to him." Also, " Einstein once thought that energy = Jimmy Coiner squared (E=JC2) Um.... "Jimmy Coiner once said 'Ask not what the Legend can do for you, ask only what you can do for the Legend." "When you play the White Album backwards it doesn't say ' Paul is Dead' it says ' Jimmy is a freefly God' " _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

I'll second that on the Mendoza Malbecs....my favorite

Hey! I love Argentina -- extremely jealous that you are there right now! That being said, I don't recall there being a DZ in Salta. Santa Fe, yes -- and I believe outside of Rosario as well -- but not Salta. I could totally be wrong and of course the simplest thing for you to do is check the DZ listings on this site :-) On another note -- don't know if you are traveling around or living in Argentina -- but I have heard great things about two other DZs in SA, one just outside of Bogota and one an hour outside of Caracas. True - es muy lejos de la Argentina a ambos ésos -- but just in case you're traveling through all of South America Good luck and drink some Malbec for me! _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

The band on Sunday night was County 79 -- just to clarify -- and they were freakin' awesome

Hello :-) Anyone driving through Omaha on the way to Nationals? I could provide good company and gas money :-) Not picky at all about what days you're going and I would be flying back ... so you'd just have to deal with me for a few hours and I promise to be entertaining Jenn _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

Just wanted to let you guys know that I will be back in just two weeks -- and I plan to take a lot of your money :-) While I haven´t really played much (or at all) in the past year -- I have ´very recently honed my skills against the Israelis here (who are very tough by the way...)-- and I think I´m ready for y´all -- especially you Cory! _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

Just because it's a cold, rainy night in New Zealand and I have nothing better to do ... And, just because I happen to know a few people who've posted thus far on this very entertaining thread... I'll go to the effort of tossing in my two cents. Not that I really give a damn Having spent a fair amount of time at SVCO -- and knowing a fair amount about Adult League -- I would have to say the following: Julie asked a legitimate question. Tipping --like it or not folks,-- is sort of a part of the whole tunnel culture (and it goes without saying that I don't mean just at SVCO.) I'm not implying there's an obligation or expectation -- just that it is done a lot. And, in my opinion, rightfully so. I don't think the question was ever "Gee, should I tip or not?" She merely wanted to know WHAT she should give the guys. Secondly, Why couldn't this have just ended with an actual tunnel instructor saying what seems to be the general consensus -- that they don't expect it, they do appreciate it. I think that's what Jason, et al.. are trying to get across to y'all. Not that difficult of a concept to wrap your head around and really not that controversial, is it? Are some of you genuinely arguing that tunnel instructors should never be tipped because "they knew what they signed up for?" If you really do feel that way, fine, don't tip when you're there. No one will shoot you a dirty look or trip you as you go down the stairs. It really isn't that big of a deal. But to go to all the effort of going online and inserting yourself in this conversation (yes, I am familiar with both the pot and the kettle, but I'm in the South Pacific. What's your excuse?) with your own negativity and your own (in my view) inaccurate opinions about what is or isn't or should or shouldn't be expected at the tunnel -- well, that's just BS as far as I'm concerned. Really. Since I've already joined in on the mudslinging (there's some lovely filth over there...) I'll just add one more dig. JP -- no offense man -- but what kettle are you trying to stir up with the whole HD Adult League thing? I don't think Julie ever said that some instructor took her aside and said, "hey, listen Jewels, I really like league and all, and I think you're swell -- but my shoulder's really been killing me since that spot last week. I know you want to learn HD, but I really want to be able walk up stairs when I'm sixty -- or, if not that -- at least have a five spot to tide me over..." Whatever. I know you weren't around when AL and Kid's League (extreme sidenote: is that still around by the way?) were started -- but I can assure you that I never saw anything other than enthusiasm from Instructors when it came to doing league. Bottom line: (since this is now beginning to cut into my Orbitz time....) I think instructors and instructor/coaches should be tipped if they are doing a good job and making your experience more valuable and enjoyable. Hell -- tip (some of,) the counter staff while you're at it Seriously though -- it's like the stupid sign says -- it really isn't expected -- but it is appreciated and if the guys feel like you appreciate the extra mile they may be going -- they're going to keep going above and beyond. There's nothing unusual or sinister about that. It's human nature. We all like to know that we're appreciated. Wow. I just became one of those people I generally really dislike on DZ.com. I wasted ten minutes writing that post. Oh well. I feel better - and I'm pretty sure that's the whole point of these forums: to give each of us a soapbox from which to vent our individual frustrations and opinions I'm going to go to the bonfire now and comment on someone's new haircut. Definitely time well-spent

Why is this topic thread so interesting to you two limeys anyway? It wasn't titled "Why Earl Grey is better than English Breakfast". Seriously. Go back to your tea. _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

I wasn't really lashing out at you -- and to be honest -- I suppose I must be fairly sensitive to the fact that I'm in the service industry at the moment if I felt the need to reply in the first place! It's interesting that you say hospo workers aren't really respected in the UK -- I worked with tons of English and Irish in Queenstown -- and come to think of it, it honestly did seem like the English (and maybe Welsh too) kinda had a complex about working as a waitress or bartender. In conversation it often came up that they were "only doing this here". Didn't seem to be the case with Irish though -- I met plently of lovely Irish guys who were happy to tell you they worked in a pub at home -- or more likely, they worked in a trade at home. Didn't seem to ever matter though and it seemed like work was just there to give them good stories to tell over a beer or nine -- not there to give meaning to their lives. I thought that was really cool. _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

Sorry -- not trying to take the fun out of this post -- but I just had to reply to: While I'm sure you're just trying to be funny -- I would like to remind you that not all of us define our existences by what we do. Some prefer to be defined instead by who they are. I used to have a really cool job. I mean really cool. The sort that when you told people what you did -- they got really excited and wanted to talk to you about it for hours. Maybe they even wanted to hang out with you specifically because you had said "cool" job. In the past year -- I've abandoned my career completely. Most people who thought it was so damn cool don't get why I quit. I'll admit that some days I have my doubts too. In recent months I've been both a waitress and a "minimum wage service monkey" at a coffeshop , and you know what? I enjoyed being a half-ass barista more than you can imagine. The work was fun and stress free and I got to drink as much freakin' espresso as my heart (beating extremely quickly mind you,) desired. The best part of the whole experience was that I was NOT defined by what I did. And I can happily say that I never will be again. Good luck with your life-defining job -- whatever it is. At least you can feel smug every morning when you get that cup of coffee from the service monkey across the counter. I mean, thank god that's not you, right? Whatever. _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

Right... I seem to remember some polls about hairstyle options in the nether-regions as well. Guess there was no need to worry there. As far as backpackers go -- I've already gone that route. All the dorms are booked! Thinking of asking the owner of one of those places if I can camp out somewhere on the property and use the kitchen/showers. I am really nervous about the flys and mosquitos though. Paradise apparently comes with some nasty big bugs. _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

Right then. Time for my bi-monthly forum post where I shamelessly ask for help. Prepare to feel pity: I'm going to Tahiti. Wait, wait...it's not as glamorous as it sounds -- well, actually it probably is. I'm kinda expecting the whole turquoise waters and white sand beaches thing. Plus, I just googled Tahiti + temps and found that it's almost always 80 F there! But, I digress. This is a plea for help afterall. I am actually only going because it was cheaper to stop in Tahiti on my way to LA than it was to fly straight on through (sidenote for those travelling to NZ or Aus. This seems to usually be the case -- I got cheap tickets flying into NZ too when I stopped in Fiji. It pays to do a quick search before you book a direct or layover only flight.) Anyway, I failed to look into how much accomadation was and now I am floored by the $250 + nightly rate. I really CAN'T afford that! The destination itself was sort of a fluke. Not really living the rock n' roll lifestyle and all that. So -- has anyone out there been to Tahiti and done it one the cheap? Any thoughts or ideas? Better yet .. anyone have a distant cousin or ex-pat friend there? Seriously, I know that this hardly qualifies as the worst dilemna a person could find themselves in -- but I am sorta screwed at this point anyway. Thanks. P.S. Sorry for using DZ.com as a travel advice forum rather than a skydiving forum! _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.

Thank you guys so much for your help. Seriously. I haven't made a jump since I've been here (actually, since August,) and I'm beginning to feel like notta-skydiver It's nice to remember how friendly a community like DZ.com really is. I've missed being a part of the whole skydiving community in general -- I may just go live at skydive AKL to get the vibe again. I would love to hear from your bro though if he knows of anything those areas. Thanks all.

Hmmm... that might be too far -- the other option doesn't sound terrible. Isn't Mercer really far out of the city though? Still could be pretty wicked I suppose. $70 a week is pretty cheap :) Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look at the Fat Camel too

I've moved up to Auckland and am having the worst time finding anywhere to live short-term. I'll only be here two months or so -- but I just can't do the hostel scene that long, not in the city anyway! If any kiwis out there know of someone in the city (really anywhere is fine -- probably not S. Auckland -- but other than that ) who would take on a short-term border for a weekly fee -- or, better yet, know someone who wouldn't mind a flatmate that's taking off in 7 or 8 weeks -- I would LOVE to know. Seriously, I'm not usually that picky aboug my housing -- but I've had a couple things stolen in the last few days and the last hostel I was in was also the abode of a lovely young prostitute. Apparently, she's not supposed to bring clients back -- but her pimp/boyfriend still waits around the lounge in the evening. Interesting on an anthropological level -- but not on a sharing-my-room-with-this-person level. Thanks again for any and all suggestions. Jenn _______________________________________ Oh, and one more thing...Ninjas ARE way cooler than pirates.