Flying-Wench

Michael''s birthday is on the 7th...but I'm not sharing his age...but he's a youngun he he fair enough!

he he.. well said RkyMtnHigh .. and i love your sig line.. about revenge. very true! oh and happy birthday for tomorrow michael/pop.. how old are you?

*shrugs* apology accepted.. we were debating after all. i CAN appreciate the different outlook you and others would have, unless you have been through the experience of actually having this virus, you wouldnt really understand. However, I like ot note that i wholly appreciate the objective outlook of HIV- people, it is truly needed as sometimes we do get caught up in the virus and how it is impacting us. But having said that, JUDGEMENTS are NOT what we need. As for my reaction and you feeling beat up, it was NOT my intention to make you feel that way, but perhaps now you can probably appreciate how we of the HIV community feel with regards to dealing with stigma, judgements and other political bullshit. I hope that you understand my situation and my reactions to your posts, even if you dont condone them or agree with them. What you are judging is of a very personal nature to me, i fele that my reactions were justified. cause and effect = agreed, well put. I agree, we need to deal with the cause and i do believe we will get there. But it is more complex than how you put it, it is so much more than just love and lust. That is just such a simplistic view, and as we have alluded to, nothing about human nature is simple. Even your wish to remain celibate is complicated as you point out. HIV is NOT a simple problem. There is so much stigma and fear that needs to be dealt with, cultural differences, plus resourcing issues and a whole lot of other stuff that people seem to forget. As for a cure *shrugs* if it happens good.. if not.. ill survive. The other thing you must realise is that HIV is not the death sentence it was 20 years ago. Yes it has devastating impacts on your life, anf for some people it can lead to illness and death. But cases vary person to person. You cant assume what happens for one, happens for all. In my specific case, for a young healthy specimen such as myself (truly one of the lucky ones i might add), im not likely to die earlier, im not even likely to develop AIDS, hell im a good 10-15 years off meds providing i look after myself the way i have been. But i have seen people that succumb after 10 years.. My point here is that it impacts people differently, you cant "box" people. Mmmm.. and mate, thats your opinion of society and you are entitled to it. However i happen to believe that there is hope, i have seen so much change in my life circles since i was diagnosed, and that does give me some hope. What you choose to do with your life, is your own choice. I can respect that even if i dont understand it. All i expect from you, is the same. I dont expect you to understand what i have done, or what i do, but dont judge my behaviours, class them as "bad", without knowing me (and even then, id think twice!). And what was your excuse for your behaviour in this thread? EVERYONE has an excuse.. so what was yours? Religion? Where ARE you coming from? You cant expect us to talk about our perceived "excuses" and "Bad behaviour" without you getting into yours eh? Peeves. ANOTHER of your peeves? So this was a peeve to you? *shakes head* and NOW you want to talk about McDonalds? So what do you do? Put your 2 cents in to stir people up, and then once you get a reaction, skip along on your merry way? Mate, you are a waste of my time and energy and id rather be posting in reply to some decent and sincere questions about HIV that the crap you have been hitting me with. If i were you, i would stop with the flippant attitude. Someday you are going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and i would fear for your safety. *growls* FW

Hey don't worry, I had to redo stage 4, and stage 7 twice! You'll get there, keep jumping

Is it after thinking about the joke...or after talking about it? cheeky. well.. both.. (most) women CAN multi-task better than (most) men.

he he he! at least WE women can take a joke

Hmm and in addition to my last. It would be useful for you Royd to actually MEET a HIV positive person and see how the virus has affected their life. You assume that we continue our "bad behaviour" and further spread the virus? Did you not read my earlier post on the total mind-fuck a person with this virus goes through? You wouldnt wish it on your worst enemy. In fact, most HIV poz people are the SAFEST people to have sex with. They know what they have (many dont) and they know how careful they need to be and they employ various strategies in order to reduce the chance on passing on the virus. (I dont mean that to be in any way discriminatory towards HIV- people .. its just a fact that if you get burned.. your careful around the fire from that point onwards. ) Many of us join volunteer organisations and the fight for cures, education and awareness. Some HIV+ people that i know have bascially dedicated the rest of their days to this cause. hmm and you want to talk about self control? i tell you now, im practising plenty of it in posting reply to you without resorting to what i really want to say *grins* life is supposed to be about living.. expanding your comfort zone. Is that not WHY you are a skydiver? How can you be so open minded about the risks involved in jumping out of a plane, but close minded to the HIV virus? *shakes head* mm as for the christian comments. My mother is christian (yeah yeah i know i know.. what happened to me then? not sure *grins*). Whilst what had happened to me and some of the reasons around it etc was a shock to her, and certainly NOT a lifestyle she would choose to live, she has been incredibly supportive. As she tells me, it is the christian way NOT to judge. Hear hear Freethefly.. i love reading your posts, you give me inspiration in disclosing and dealing with close minded people. Love the cartoon. And *shock horror* maybe WE should hook up?

I am sorry for your situation. I do not know you personally,nor am I attacking you personally. In todays society of promiscuity, where just having sex for sex sake is the status quo, one would do well to approach every potential relationship with a "guilty until proven innocent" mentality. Your life could be on the line. Again, I am not picking on you personally.I do not know where, why, or how you met your boyfriend. Chances are, that cheating on his mate was probably a lifestyle with him, and there were probably red flags that you chose to ignore. Especially if you were in love with him. As for my victims list, I should amend it to include anyone who comes into accidental contact with the disease. You have pointed it out quite clearly. Sex should not be a community activity, which it seems to have become. I have personally been celibate since 1990, after my exwife-God rest her soul- decided that a party lifestyle was more important than living a quiet, peaceful life with a jerk like me. I would prefer to live in a self imposed exile, and remain healthy, than be exiled by my community because of something that I brought upon myself simply because I had to fulfill my sexual lust. If those who have contracted the disesase through, as I put it " bad behavior", had practised as much saftey and precaution as is used in skydiving they more than likely would not be where they are at. As for being ignorant of aids, I don't need to know all of the medical jargon to make me knowledgable. Staying away from large crowds of people in the winter will greatly decrease your chance of getting a cold or the flu. If you don't have to do it , don't. *sighs* your sorry for my situation? hell mate, read my previous posts. I DONT WANT your pity, sorrow or judgements. I feel more sorry for you with your close minded attitude. Damn straight you dont know me personally, yet i find it interesting that you take the moral high ground and judge my activities WITHOUT knowing me? You contradict yourself in each post that you write. You have this "holier than thou" attitude, and preach "good behaviour" yet nothing you have posted has been constructive nor hepful, nor "good" but rather full of biased and uneducated judgements. *LAUGHS OUT LOUD* So i was promiscious was i? So fucking sue me. Im human, perhaps you should do some reading on the social instincts and activities of humans. And again, you judge me without knowing me, without knowing how many people ive slept with and why. Yes i was in love with him, but i certainly did NOT ignore any red flags, i dont consider myself to be that stupid, but again, interesting that you have AGAIN made a judgement and assume that im blind to other peoples actions and motives. If you have been celibate for so long, why do you claim to know so much and can take the higher ground when it comes to promiscuity, sex and how men and women generally work? Im sorry mate, but your lack of experience and your refusal to read up on the topic, to educate yourself and open your mind, tells me that you DONT practice what you preach and that your opinions are not going to be constructive or worthwhile to my cause. Harsh? Judgemental? Probably.. but i dont claim to be "perfect"!! Im human, female and a skydiver. Im wise beyond my years in some things, an infant in others. I can be cool calm and collected, i can be irrational. But its MY life, ill live the way i want, and im going to be the best that i can be and have fun doing that. WHY the hell would you deny that of any one person? Your lifestyle mate is your own business, and mine is mine. I dont push my lifestyle onto other people, (have i ever once advised you to go out this weekend, get drunk and get laid?) so dont push yours onto me. Yes i fucked up, and i have learned lessons, but why i should go into a self imposed exile is beyond me, thats not living in my defintions. And what makes you think that self imposed exile, and safety and precaution = health? Your not immortal, as freethefly pointed out shit happens even to the healthiest of people. You need to wake up and smell the coffee man! Reading your posts again, you are INCREDIBLY ignorant of the HIV virus. It isnt all about medical jargon (although this helps) its more to do with the social impacts and implications. It would do you well to read up on it if you wish to continue discussions in this thread. I certainly wont be holding an value to your comments in your current ignorant state. The fact that you would compare a cold or flu to HIV just amazes me. If life was that simple, we would all be alot healthier. HOWEVER i do have to thank you in a way. Your attitude and ignorance tells me that we still have a long way to go with our education and awareness strategies. It also indicates to me that we of the HIV community still need support services to protect our mental state from close minded people that project their judgements onto us.

mm keen i definetly am, any good in freefall? Nope not yet lol An update on my AFF course which seems to be providing much amusement at my DZ lol (did post this in bonfire thread, but thought id re-post and toot my own horn) First chute packing friday night, went very very well, apparently im a natural! More lessons this friday night.. good to get them in early. Two Stage 4 AFF jumps saturday, failed both times. First jump, I spun clockwise for the entire freefall aside when JM had a hold of me. . In the end he had to hold my foot so i could dump lol. We were both still laughing when i touched down, what a ride, a little frightening but how embarassing! Second jump, i was flat, stable and maintained hover and heading control for 30 seconds woo hoooo!!! i flew baby! But, looking at my alti fixed that, i spun clockwise for the rest of the dive. I was spinning prety fast too.. and started to freak out. I arched hard and slowed down enough to dump, but had pilot chute hesitation, a really hard opening (im so sore) and terrible line twists! What a learning curve! Did a perfect landing tho, but copped a ribbing from everyone about my turns lol I self medicated my pains on saturday night (beer!), too hungover to jump sunday, but went for a ride in the XL anyway, kept the pilot company and in turn he did some groovy manouvres and had me bouncing around in the seat, stuck to the ceiling and yahooing the whole way down lol i must be the only skydiver who doesnt mind landing in the plane! Needless to say, im doing Stage 4 again next weekend, they are even putting training wheels back on (back to two JMs) just until i can control my spins.. argg! mortifying, but a good learning weekend.

Hey Chrissie, Good luck on your A exam! Keep us posted eh? Cheers FW

going through that right now. I just hope the kick in the ass is just that.... a kick in the ass and not a total FU!!! mmm ok was more of a total FU than an ass kick for me *tendancy to understate, my way of dealing*.. whatever happens, be strong. You will deal with the outcomes in the best way you know how.. and thats what counts.

*hugs to dgskydive* not most of my life.. but wasted 3 years of it and paid a huge price. now my motto is "life's too short" and i put every moment to use, im motivated and am doing the things i want to do. a shame it took a huge kick in the ass to get here! i wont get back what ive lost, but sometimes, just have to move the goalposts to suit when you can. i dont believe it is ever too late to get things back on track.. its trying to work out what constitutes "back on track" that can be the hard bit!

0:2:2 First chute packing friday night (apparently i owe a case, but im a bit suss on this one). Two Stage 4 AFF jumps saturday, failed both times. First jump, spun clockwise for the entire freefall aside when JM had a hold of me. Second jump, flat, stable and maintained hover and heading control for 30 seconds woo hoooo!!! Looking at my alti fixed that, i spun clockwise for the rest of the dive. I arched hard and slowed enough to dump, but had pilot chute hesitation, a really hard opening (im so sore) and terrible line twists! I self medicated saturday night (beer!), too hungover to jump saturday, but went for a ride in the XL anyway, kept the pilot company and in trurn he did some groovy manouvres and had me bouncing around in the seat, and yahooing the whole way down lol Needless to say, im doing Stage 4 again next weekend, they are even putting training wheels back on (back to two JMs) argg! But a good learning weekend. My packing is good, my exits are great, my landings are perfect (unassisted now - another case), just the bit in the middle i need to work on *grins* its all about the legs/arms.

There are only three situations where a person is truly a victim of aids. Children who are born to someone who has the disease,Someone who has received a bad blood transfusion, and someone who is the victim of rape. There is a simple prevention. It's called" keep it in your pants." I also believe that alot of people want a cure for all the wrong reasons. The desire to continue a lifestyle of bad behavior is not a legitimate reason to prevent a disease. If someone says "Don't touch it, it's hot." Why should anyone feel sorry for you because of your foolishness? I was disgnosed with HIV last year. I contracted it by having unprotected sex with my partner of 3 years (whom was seeing other people behind my back). I dont consider myself a "victim" (that is so melodramatic) of HIV, but i am affected by it certainly. It has changed the way i live my life in both good and bad ways and has changed my whole outlook on life and the people i interact with. Judging whom is a victim and who is not, based on the source of their infection, is not going to solve any problems. Blame and stigma do nothing to help the cause. The majority of recent infections are young women in my age group (25-30) that are in long term and "trusting" relationships. Many of them dont see it coming (i sure as hell didnt). How do you propose "keep it in your pants" is going to help this group of "at risk" people specifically? Its just not that simple. Prevention of any transmission of HIV is not as simple as it seems. If it was, i wouldnt have been infected. Preventing the spread of the diease requires education at various levels and for a range of audiences, legislation and policy to back up this education and for people to talk about the virus to increase awareness and understanding. Most HIV+ people know that a cure for this virus is a long way off. I know i probably wont see it. Yes it would be nice to have my life back to normal, to stop living with fear for my own health, fear for the health of anyone i choose to be with. To be able to trust people again. To be able to again practice first aid without fear, to be able to do all the crazy things i used to do and not worry about having an accident and having to recieve first aid. To be reassured that when i have children, i am not going to pass it on, and to be able to undergo a normal childbirth, free of anti-viral drugs and to be able to breastfeed. To not worry about life insurance, payments for medication. Most of all to not feel shunned, guilty and ashamed when i disclose and choose to talk about it, simply because people dont/wont understand the virus and its complex social impacts and implications. I do not wish for a cure so that i can go back to my "bad lifestyle" as you so put it. If a "bad lifestyle" is having unprotected sex with someone you love and trust, i guess the majority of people are living that bad lifestyle right now! At any rate, how a person contracted the virus is irrelvant, any one person does not "deserve" treatment or undertsanding more than another. We are all human, this is a community disease, it must be tackled with us together as a community. And who should judge? Who should judge a person as being in a "bad lifestyle" or "foolish"? Who out there is so perfect that they can undertake this role? I dont believe anyone can. I have learned my lesson, as many many HIV + people have, and now live with many fears. We do not wish for a cure to return to our old ways, in fact many of us have changed in so many ways, for a better life. I do NOT ask for anyones pity or for people to feel sorry for me. I have my pride. Never ever assume that we want your pity or your judgements. What i DO want is increased understanding and awareness. I want to be able to share my story, in the hope that others might learn from my mistakes. Yes i may have been foolish, but can you honestly tell me that you have lived your life without doing anything foolish? If your answer is yes 1. you are probably in denial and 2. you obviously havent lived! Good to see this topic on the board, cheers again to you freethefly for getting it out there. If other users (poz or not) would like to chat, please PM me anytime! Please dont PM me if you do not have anything constructive to say, flaming will get you nowehere and will not be taken lightly.

World AIDS Day: KEEPING THE PROMISE National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Australia Media Release 30 November 2005 Australia’s remarkable success in combating HIV/AIDS is in danger of being squandered if governments forget the lessons of the past, the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) has warned. “The global theme for World AIDS Day 2005 is ‘Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise’, and today NAPWA promises the federal government that we will continue to press for the voices of positive people to be heard and respected,” said NAPWA President Ms Gabe McCarthy. Australia’s success in the past has been driven by the adoption of a coordinated national response with the involvement of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS at all levels of that response. But the federal government is showing signs of distancing itself from this approach despite its proven effectiveness. “We had to wait more than a year for the government to release the fifth National HIV/AIDS Strategy. They have promised an Implementation Plan for that strategy and we look forward to seeing that delivered in the next week,” she said. “HIV-positive Australians have been instrumental in the response to HIV/AIDS from the earliest years of the epidemic and today, despite continuing stigma and discrimination, many of us are living healthy, productive lives,” McCarthy said. “Yet the government seems hell-bent on making life more difficult for people who live with chronic illness and disability.” “The proposed changes to the Disability Support Pension (DSP) will penalise those who want to work but can’t and will leave many chronically ill people financially worse off. The government calls this ‘welfare-to-work’ but in reality it’s just shifting people from one welfare program to another. What we need are policies that encourage and reward workforce participation, not new penalties attacking the weak.” NAPWA has questioned how the proposed changes to the welfare system will affect people living with HIV/AIDS, typically an episodic condition involving periods of better and worse health. At present, people who qualify for the DSP are able to take on periods of employment when they are able and to come back to the pension when they need to; under the new system they could be shifted to the Newstart benefit with its more strict compliance requirements and harsher penalties. “For more than two decades, HIV-positive people have worked to end the AIDS epidemic and protect our fellow Australians; we promise we’ll continue to do that but we call on the federal government to keep their side of the bargain,” McCarthy said. “In 2006 we’ll continue to fight for the rights of positive people, to question the direction the federal government is taking us, and to honour the memories of our fallen friends.” “That’s a promise.” For more details contact: Gabe McCarthy – NAPWA President – (0407) 892 446 Paul Kidd – NAPWA Media Officer – (03) 9285 5358 or (0438) 203 754

HIV/AIDS- SOME BASICS AND AUSTRALIAN STATS FYI (Details from the Straight Arrows and Positive Women HIV Support Groups and the national Association of People Living wiuth HIV/AIDS in Australia) www.straightarrows.org.au www.positivewomen.org.au www.napwa.org.au "One of the basic truths about HIV is that gender, age, race and economic status are irrelevant when it comes to vulnerability to HIV. Anyone can become infected. At present there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that are effective in keeping people alive longer and healthier. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection." "HIV attacks the immune system's soldiers - the CD4 cells. When the immune system loses too many CD4 cells, serious opportunistic infections can develop (OIs). A person is diagnosed with AIDS when they have had one of 21 AIDS-defining Opportunistic Infections (OIs)." "Worldwide there are an estimated 43 million people infected, half of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa, and most of whom have no access to treatment. 99% of infections are mongst heterosexuals, about half being women, and with about 14 million AIDS orphans. In the US and Europe over half of new infections are amongst heterosexuals." "An estimated 14,840 people were living with HIV in Australia at the end of 2004. From the start of the epidemic until the end of 2005, there have been 24,962 diagnoses of HIV (or an estimated 22,030 after adjusting for multiple reports) and 9,687 diagnoses of AIDS. Australia has recorded 6,569 deaths of people with AIDS." "In 2004, AIDS incidence in Australia (1.2 per 100,000 population) was higher than that in Germany (0.6) but lower than that in the UK (1.4). Substantially higher AIDS rates were reported in a number of other Western countries including France (2.3), Spain (4.3) and the United States (14.7 in 2003)." "In Australia, about a third of newly identified infections are in heterosexuals." SURGE IN NEW INFECTIONS (27/4/2006) "A substantial rise in new HIV diagnoses in Victoria has meant the number of people diagnosed Australia wide has continued to rise, causing widespread concern among governments and community groups." "Victoria recorded 286 new cases of HIV in 2005, a 28 percent rise over the 223 cases recorded the previous year and the highest since 1991. All of Australia’s eastern states have recorded big rises in HIV incidence over recent years, prompting fears of a resurgent epidemic and heated discussion about the possible causes for the rises." "In NSW, new infections fell slightly from 405 to 392 last year, the second recorded fall in two years after rises in 2002 and 2003. Queensland recorded 150 new infections, up from 137 in 2004 – a 9.5 percent increase and the state’s second increase in a row, and rises have also been recorded in other states." WOMEN AND HIV it is reported that of new infections approximately 30 percent are women. AIDS stereotypes can prevent women, and their healthcare providers, from seeing themselves at risk for HIV infection. Some women do not access care and treatment as readily as men. The reasons are multiple and complex. Women have families and life difficulties that they often put before their own healthcare. They may be isolated geographically and culturally and may fear rejection by family or the community."

lol hmm.. any reference to being from Victoria? and eating shit? lol truth be told, licking a cows behind, would be a helluva lot more exciting than the day ive just had. but anyhoo.. im off! yay! thanks for chats.. catch ya round.

sorry.. im at work.. 40 minutes to go before i can leave.. unmotivated and bored (did i mention i work in government?) JOKE: First-year students at Bathurst's Vet School were receiving their first anatomy class, with a real dead cow. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet. The professor started the class by telling them, "In vet medicine, it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor: The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the animal body. For an example" the Professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his finger in the butt of the dead cow, withdrew it and stuck it in his mouth. "Go ahead and do the same thing," he told his students. The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes. But eventually took turns sticking a finger in the anal opening of the dead cow and sucking on it. When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and told them, "The second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention." [edited for spelling]

i hear you.. i wasnt sure if id be in any condition for this weekend, banged myself up a little last weekend, bad exit and even worse landing. interesting for AFF 2 and 3. wil be good to see everyone tonite. and have a beer or 2. cheers!

your a skulker? yeah wow, thats bizarre. like being kidnapped by aliens (not speaking from personal experience).

aww.. so your grounded? isnt that why they invented beer? mm melbourne is like that most of the time thats why i drive 2 hours north to jump!

duh i can cope with the timezones in Oz.. its the other side of the planet/different day stuff that gets me lol can not EVER remember.. mm i didnt realise there were lots of other Ozzies on during the day..

Yep. My home DZ (Nagambie): "We are the only drop zone in Victoria certified to jump through cloud:We have met CASA's stringent requirements to allow us to conduct skydiving operations through cloud." My second tandem was through cloud.. but the cloud stopped at 4000ft. Im currently doing AFF and they are strict on letting us jump through low cloud, (high cloud is OK), because students usually get disoreintated in low cloud and might not make it back to the DZ. Lots of time spent looking at the sky, willing the low cloud to break up.. but good for teaching patience and perscuting experienced skydivers with pesky questions. (dont stomp me if it dont sound exactly right, im just spouting what ive been told by my Instructors! I jump when they say how high lol)

lol kewl.. a sydney-sider! Noice. Im a scummy Victorian *winks*. Yeah the weather here in Melb is shite ATM.. but north of the divide its a little better. Gonna be cold but clear tomorrow. timezones bite, i have alot of friends in the UK.. and im always waking them up

Im involved with Rotary youth programs (yeah 28 yo's are still considered youth!), the guys that went through our 2005 conference organised a group tandem at Nagambie (a bonding thing), i went along and did my first tandem (Feb 06). I love a challenge and doing things that are a little different (sailing, 4WDing, jetskiing, volunteer firefighting, search and rescue). Id never considered skydiving before (not sure why.. just hadnt come across the radar), but i loved it. I did another tandem to be sure, and after that booked in my AFF. Ive finished Stage 3 and am doing stage 4 and 5 (hopefully) this weekend. Its the rush, the nerves, the excitment and fear that has hooked me. For me it is also freedom from "reality", for the time im in the air, i forget about my other troubles.. which is huge for me, plus, the view is great, and flying is an awesome feeling! The people i have met in the sport are fabulous, i love the social scene at the DZ and have already made some amazing friends. Out of the 20 people that did tandems that day, i was the only one to come back and do a course, so im doing it by myself, but i hope to get a heap of mates up to do tandems once i finish my student training.