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LOL...that is really funny! Seems like I remember you going after someone during the raffle several years ago big guy...talk about negativity! LOL Blue skies, Jim

We had to close registration yesterday. Tim has received 100+ registrations for a 72-way. Lots of folks won't get on the FL jump. Ya'll better sign up for IL or TX now if you want a POPS record jump this year. Blue skies, Jim

Jason, I am from Victoria. Don't get down there much except to see family. My sister-in-law and her husband are jumpers who live in Cimmeron. More important is David Bowman who lives in Corpus Christi and drives to Spaceland at least once a month. You could probably hitch a ride with him since he usually is by himself when he jumps. Take the Houston Highway (59 North) to Wharton, Turn right on 1301 to 442 to 36 to 1462 to take the scenic back way to Spaceland. Hope to see you there once in a while! Blue skies, Jim

Well I guess that closes me and Trent down since all we have is yahoo.com! ;) Blue skies, Jim

Saturday was a beautiful day at Spaceland. Clear skies. very little wind, temp in mid 60's. Not a bad day for January! After the fourth jump, Tom Jenkins comes up to me and says "Are you going to be here around 3:30PM? We are putting together a 20-way." "Sure, count me in" I replied. All day jumpers and staff had been coming up to me and wishing me a happy birthday. Lots of kisses from the women and handshakes and hugs from everyone. Someone jokingly said "Keep count of those kisses!" People would ask me what number I was up to? Lots of jokes about being SOS eligible. Really a great day. Sometime after 3:30 PM Tom called for a dirt dive and we all gathered around him. Tom and Kim Blood were the first to into the base. "Jim," Tom said "do a backend with me and Kimmey." Damn, I thought. I never should have told him I hated back-ends when I first started jumping! "Make a large left hand donut off Jim and a big star behind me", Tom said. This is a weird formation I thought. Tom usually sticks with normal formations. "Ok everyone who is left do a single handed left cat starting here." WTF??? Then it dawned on me.....a 6 and an 0. 60 damn they're doing this for me! Got videographer and staff jumping too! Crap I hope I don't screw this one up! Geared up, climbing to altitude everyone sang happy birthday and made comments like "better not be the only one low!" "Think you can make it to the formation old-timer?" "Do you want us to wait for you?" "Are you going to be able to arch and stay with us?" "Have you joined SOS yet?" For the first time in several thousand jumps, I was really anxious about the jump. Jump went really well considering that we had some people who normally don't do FS. A little rough, but Tom had enough people and spacing in the formation that even with one jumper low and one jumper lost and not docking you could tell it was a 6 and 0. The photos came out great too. In the landing area, everyone was laughing and excited. "Jim, come to manifest when you get a chance" came out of the PA. I dropped my gear and walked over to manifest, never seeing the huge sign that said "Happy 60th Birthday" and stepped into manifest which was full of people....not uncommon on a Saturday afternoon. As I rounded the corner, I see balloons and a very, very large cake and lots of beer. Uhoh I thought here it comes again. More kisses, hugs and handshakes! More singing. "Whats the number up to?" "I don't know 45 or so." "Well here's the rest"....ended with 63 when someone said "Hey who got sixty" Marianne said she did. "Then you get the free jump!" someone else said....ok now it makes sense!!! Anyway thanks to everyone who put it together, everyone who jumped with me, and everyone who stayed to party. Special thanks to Fred Clark and Abbey for the cake, balloons, and cards, and Tom J for organizing the dive, and everyone else for keeping the secret. Aren't you all glad I have a one track mind at the dz? I should have picked up all the clues....duh!!!! It really was a surprise...the first BD surprise party I ever had...so I guess I now owe you all a beer! Blues everyone and now on to the next 3,000 jumps and the next 60 years! Jim

Boy time files....elgible since yesterday for SOS.... () Blue skies, Jim

I don't know about CA, FL, IL, IA, or AZ events, but the TX event invites will start going out mid-February. Please note that the website http://www.bigways.com is undergoing some changes to accomodate the World Team's requirements. The Participant log-on screen will not be working until later this evening (1/11/08). Try logging back onto the system later in the weekend. Sorry for the inconvenience. Jim

I've been to Nha Trang too! 1968 and 1969. It was a little different in those days, but still a beautiful city and great beach. I believe the French called it the Riviera of the Orient. Blue skies, Jim

I'll be there with a few people from Spaceland. Tom Jenkins from Spaceland SPX8 and was added as one of the coaches and Doug Forth will be there again with Kate, Dan, Tony & Larry. Blue skies, Jim

You may not be jumping enough. Were you jumping more frequently in the beginning? I get a little anxiety after a long lay off and I have a few more jumps than you. I have a friend with 350 who hasn't jumped in 2 or 3 years and he is terrified to come back. Blue skies, Jim

Hate to break it to you and myself NG, but I'll be eligible for SOS in January! Damn time flies... Blue skies, Jim

http://www.bigways.com Blue skies, Jim

I spent a year 10 klicks West of Nha Trang, but my HQ was in the city. 5th SF HQ was there too. It was a beautiful city and the South China sea was crystal clear with very white sand beaches. I believe the French called Nha Trang the Rivera of the East or something like that. Boogie cost appears to be pretty reasonable and seems to include everything except airfare to Vietnam. Blue skies, Jim

remember who you're dealing with! My car was unlocked when they knocked out the front passenger window and then pryed the unlocled glove box open denting the dash and bending the door. Not rocket scientists... Blue skies, Jim

It must be for the glamor because it isn't for the money. The $22k per year quoted in the article is less than some jump pilots make. Blue skies, Jim

When I first met Sky on the big way circuit he commenced to tell me how to do things. I kept thinking who is this old grouch! After a few years I realized that he was just being Sky and was actually a pretty good guy. We have done some fantastic big ways together and become good friends even though he sometimes calls me Mike??? I hope I am half the jumper he is when I get to be his age! He splits his time between Chicago in the summer and Z Hills in the winter. Blue skies, Jim

Currently the USPA membership fee is $60 for new members living outside the US. This includes the magazine. You may join on-line at https://www.uspa.org/uspassl/MembershipApp.htm. If you have an FAI recognized license in your home country, you may not need to get a USPA A license. Since you are from France you should be ok and will be able to jump the first day. You will need your FAI membership (or equivalent) card, an ID card/driver's license, your reserve data packing card, and rig with rigger's seal, and may need your logbook. You will need to sign the DZ liability waiver. For persons who do not have a FAI recognized license or are beginning their skydiving career with jump number 1, you would need to be a USPA member. The DZ where you take your first jump course will give you an A license card that lists all the requirements for the license. The instructor will sign off each requirement as you complete it. You wouldjump the first day, but not without the instructor. You will need to have a driver's license or a birth certificate if you are/look young and you will need to complete the DZ liability waiver when you sign up. Also there may be weight limitations if you are a large person. I suggest emailing the DZ where you are planning to jump to determine if this is a problem. Blue skies, Jim

Although it is conceivable that the main could be released during deployment prior to the main coming out the bag, it would be highly unusual. This would also indicate that the reserve was deployed at at nearly the same time, but since the Cypres fired I suspect the reserve was deployed subsequent to the main and the baglock. The Cypres data may help with this question. From the S&TA: Blue skies, Jim

Thanks for the info Bob. I have corrected the registration information to 2pt 40+ ways. Jim Blue skies, Jim

My first time to participate, What a rush the whole 4 days. Multiple 100+ completions and some with multiple points. I think (and don't hold me to this) that the first five 100-ways completed. Fast falling base kept things moving even outside. It was a very safe event with one cut-away by Sky and one slight jumper to jumper strike while standing on the ground. Heal quickly Lemonhead, we need you in the air! Thanks to everyone who made this a safe event. I've been to quite a few big way events and this was the most fun and most successful I've been to in a long time. Of course it helped that I had a great slot and some great divers to follow. Kudos to BJ, Kate, Larry, Louie, Roger, Solly and Mike for keeping us in-line and on-board. Deland did a great job with aircraft and support. Thanks Bob. Get well Kate! And to all the big-way jumpers it was great seeing you all again and meeting a few new big-way friends. See you at the next big-way! Blue skies, Jim

Yep that's the reason except I will add oily, greasy, or stained with gasoline in the back of a farmer's or roughneck's pick up! Edited to add: Or use as a raincoat on one of my 5 mile treks back to the dz in the rain. Blue skies, Jim

That's a relief! I was thinking of having to clean-up after him.... Blue skies, Jim

Happy birthday wherever you are. Keep your head down and your powder dry! Blue skies, Jim

California year round Florida year round (rain & summers are hot) Texas year round (rain & summers are hot) I would look at turbine dz's since they tend to be a little busier. Blue skies, Jim

4 quarters $5 bill pull-up cord rubber bands closing loop large plastic grocery bag cell phone hat Not necessarily only for me. I will land off if someone looks like they need help. Blue skies, Jim