VideoFly

I broke my tailbone 25 years ago rock climbing. There was a couple of years of pain, but none now. 15 years ago, I ruptured L4,5 and S1 and had them removed. I’ve had severe leg and back pain since. Last year, I ruptured 2 more lower back discs in a car accident, but have chosen to not have another surgery yet. Anyway, the best relief I ever get for my back is when I belly fly. The hard arch gives me relief that lasts for about a week. Since my last accident, I have upsized my canopy and moved to conservative landings. For me, skydiving has been good for my lower back. The cameras on my head and my bulged neck discs are another story though. Check with a doctor if you are not sure (they probably won’t be sure either) and STAY AWAY FROM PAINKILLERS AND MUSCLE RELAXERS WHEN JUMPING!

Symbiosis is a great suit. White is cool too. Check this suit out and buy some spray Shout if white is a problem.

You're over 40. Get used to the aches!

I broke mine. After about 6 months of pain and a couple of years of easy rebruising, it got better, although it's a little crooked now. At least now you will have some motivation to stand your landings up or at least do a better PLF. Give it some time.

I remember looking down from rock walls in the Shawangunks in 1978 above huge, thick, red clouds of them. I would hate to have tried to fly through them.

The national math teacher shortage has gotten worse for decades. Today, math teachers are hard to find. Additionally, many teachers leave the field after several years due to high stress levels, which are only compounded by the need to perform to incredibly high standards. As a principal, I have difficulty replacing more than half of my math teachers every year. Therefore, I rarely have an opportunity to work with teachers long enough for them to become proficient. I recommend that you involve the principal, however, you will probably not be telling him/her much that is not already known. This year, my son has had difficulty with Algebra II after many years as a great math student. After listening to him and speaking with his teacher, it has become quite obvious that he is not the problem. The problem goes well beyond the scope of what many of us remember as students. I wish I could be more optimistic, but as a former public school teacher, a university professor in a teacher’s college, and a school principal, it is clear that unfortunately, the problem is expected to get worse in years to come.

My Philips just died after 700 videos. I bought a cheap Magnavox and it didn’t work. I bought a high end Sony and it didn’t work. I then bought another Philips for about $170 and it works well. It’s a little slow on finalizing, but still works well on busy days.

As far as her telling you that she is straight, don’t believe anything except for blood, urine, and hair follicle tests. Drug users lie with and without reason or many times even without being aware that they are lying. Concerning your rehabilitation, you only need to not abuse one time…that being the next time. As long as you don’t take that one step, you have a chance. Stay in touch with a group. You will probably need help, but you can do it. After a while…a long while, making good choices gets easier. Eventually, you will be proud of those choices. And although others might laugh and try to influence you to make poor choices, there are many of us out here who are very proud of all people in recovery.

If you really love her you will practice TOUGH LOVE. It is incredibly hard to do. It means allowing her to either get help and stay straight or crash and burn on her own. The problem is that the more you try to help, even for her son’s sake, you will inevitably become an enabler. She needs professional help and so does her son. I’ve been through a similar situation and was left with my three children almost ten years ago. I tried and tried to help her and in turn, enabled her to become worse. She tore my family up and we still suffer the scars. However, we are a tight and wonderful family now. I found great help with support groups for the families of drug addicts. It is enlightening to hear of other people's situations and how they dealt with them. For the most part, tough love and separation seems to be a common solution. Also, as far as the child is concerned, it is not wrong to report the situation to social services. In this case, she is an adult making her own poor choices. On the other hand, her son is an innocent victim in harm's way. Take care of yourself and talk to others. You have done nothing wrong and there is nothing to be ashamed of. There are lots of us out here who have suffered as you have. Concerning skydiving, it has been my therapy. Blue skies.

Great advice. It works for me. Also, try wearing identifiable colors that the TI can easily find.

Jimmytavino has great advice. Read and remember it. The only things I would like to add are: Dirt dive with the group, preferably in gear, so you know the jump and they know your colors and position throughout the exit and entire dive (you don’t want to be docked on by a swooper). Talk about the breakoff altitude and where you will be at the time. If they decide to go low for "one more point" their video is over! Stick to your planned deployment altitude. Be prepared for premature deployments, rotten trackers, deployments below you, and stupid stuff. Know when to say NO. Stay out of clouds, away from jumpers who may tend to be reckless, and be careful with groups who may be exceeding their capabilities.

I've had my switch on the top, forward, right side of my helmet, but I prefer the top, forward, left side. Although it hasn't happened in years, I remember forgetting to turn the camera on until I was hanging outside the plane looking at a blue light. My dominant holding hand is my right, on the bar above the door. It was inconvenient reaching across the front of my helmet with my left hand to find and turn the switch on. On the left side, the left hand is already there. Of course, it is easier to turn the camera on before exiting the plane.

I had two lower back discs removed several years before I started jumping. After about 900 jumps, I ruptured two lower back discs in a car accident, but have chosen to not have the blown discs removed. Additionally, hundreds of video jumps have helped to bulge a neck disc. Fortunately, concerning my lower back, I find that belly flying with a good arch provides me with the best relief of pain for days after jumping. Furthermore, I jump a slow-opening canopy and pack for smooth slow openings. Most importantly, at 50 years old, I bravely upsized my canopy, lost some belly fat, and moved toward more conservative landings. Moreover, I have learned to live with chronic back and leg pain and have found the psychological benefits of skydiving to be the best therapy for me. Of course, everyone is different, so do what is best for you.