dbattman

Boxing had to be the most physicaly demanding form of exercise I've ever been involved with. If you're thinking about giving it a try, start running now- you'll need it to even get going as a recreational boxer. Otherwise you'll be sucking wind after only one or two minutes. Get with a trainer for a few sessions and design a beginner training program rather than try it alone. Personally, I can't recommend it enough. The physical benefits are absolutely amazing. The fat gets stripped off your body while conditioning, speed, strength and agility go right through the roof. Once you've gotten in shape it'll become one of the most fun exercises you've ever been involved with. Don't write off the fighting part, either. That's the icing on the cake. Just make sure you're in shape before you step in the sparing ring. Having two out-of-shape unskilled people in the ring isn't a sparing session- it's a brawl.

What's the bunk house going to be like? Lots of beds and air-conditioning?

They have internet right at the bar! All you post-whores need not fall behind while you're here! For those of you staying in the IHOP, it is barracks-style accomodations. Buy earplugs at Square-One- the main room has 13 beds and I imagine at least half of the occupants will be either snoring or making other sounds. But it does have a full kitchen which is a nice touch.

Ooh! Ooh! Put me in the Base! Pulllleeeze! I GUARANTEE to make it smoke! There will be a vacuum trail above it sucking up everything in it's path!

Perris is cool. That's about all I have to say about that. Elsinore is pretty cool as well. The local shops don't all have bars on the windows either.

Someone must've gotten a new girlfriend. 'nother on bites the dust

There I was in the car driving to go jump over the weekend. Was I headed to Chester where the tequila body shots and CASA big ways were waiting? No. I was headed to a small town in NC called Lenoir to a boarding school that was having a fund-raiser. There the Raeford Express would be waiting at the nearby airport to wisk me to altitude so I could float down into an unknown landing area across from an unknown place and an unknown number of spectators. Four hours later I was sitting on the steps of the school, the only skydiver on the place. Oh boy, how far is it to Chester. I could be there in about two hours. Here comes some clouds and lightning. Hmm, not good. Stay or go? Stay or go? So, to all you guys that didn't make the trip let me just say this: (sticks thumbs in ears and wiggles fingers) Nya Nya Nya- YOU GUYS MISSED OUT BIG TIME! In my short two years of jumping and 15 or so dropzones I have never, ever, ever, seen a group of people bend over backwards for skydivers like the people at Patterson. Did we put up 40 otter loads over the weekend with big-ways and tracking dives? No, not this year. Let me say that again- not THIS YEAR. When the kinks are worked out next year, this place will be rockin! I slept in an actual bed in an actual room and showered in an actual tiled shower. I ate food that was prepared by some awesome cooks. Oh, excuse me- did I say cooks? I need to be spanked for insulting the culinary talent that manifested itself at the school. I meant to say 'CHEFS' as in New York City snippy maitre-de restaurant chefs. I ate scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and grits THAT WERE EDIBLE WITHOUT ADDING ANYTHING!! BBQ ribs and fixins with desserts that would make an Atkins dieter weep. Oh my goodness, what a boost to my wingloading! I hung out with the Knights in the evenings and watched videos. What an awesome group! The spectators were thrilled to see us there and a few kids ran up and wanted there picture taken with us. Even better was watching the local radio DJ puking in the bushes from the sensory overload. We rode horses on the local trails and the scenery there is absolutely breathtaking. Next time, you guys have to check this place out. You can go to a dropzone and do the ordinary every day of the year, but you can only do the Patterson for one weekend.

It's about 3.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on how you drive. Head up 85, turn south on the other interstate, and, ummmm, use mapquest.

Cool! Mine is in the works- closing on May 15.

Here's where I have to disagree. The jumper is the person ultimately responsible for themselves, not the DZ. Does the DZ have to let them jump? Of course not, but I would not consider them responsible at all if someone screws themselves into the ground.

That brings up an interesting question. You see this guy at the DZ with his new hanky (which he got from somewhere else) headed out for the plane. Everyone that has talked to him about it has been ignored and he's determined to jump it. Question: Do you pull his handle while he's on the ground?

Any special license requirements?

Wow- new gear! That'll be 24 12-ounce green bottles, please.

BEER! (And not that Bud Lite crap)

Sleeping after your firtst jump won't be a problem at all. It's waking up all night in a cold sweat trying to find the pud that's the problem.

Mapquest link for the internet challenged

I prefer to rephrase the whole concept when people ask me about the risks. Something like this: This is extremely dangerous, particularly because of the speed at which things can and will go wrong during the skydive and the forces involved. But, with the proper equipment, training, and attitude (and I comment on how attitude is very important) the risks can be reduced to a more acceptable level. The majority of injuries and fatalities in this sport are a result of the error, carelessness, or cocky attitude of the skydive and not the equipment that is involved.

It doesn't. Some companies will compensate employees on salary for extra time, others just grind you up into powder. There's no legal requirement for a company to pay overtime to a salaried employee. In either case, keep track of all your hours. Vacation and time-off are between you and your manager and it's a good bargaining tool.

Any more details for the upjumpers? i.e. license, plane, ticket price, local accomodations (camping, hotels, available hotties, etc.)

I'll throw a few things out there: 1- not enough slack between your risers and the first stow. If it's too short the risers get pulled along the bottom of the reserve container, possibly bumping it on deployment and causing a spin. 2- too much twist in the brake lines. Start at the canopy and work it out. 3- I've noticed a difference between 'throwing' my pilot chute and 'pulling' my pilot chute. Try a few deployments on the ground and see if your 'throwing' technique causes a spin on the pilot chute.

That I don't understand. Must have been for some kinda 'courtroom drama' deal. Plane crashes. Oops- it happens sometimes. We told you it could happen and you still agreed to get on the plane and jump. Here's your signature. Tough luck, cya.

Apparently the 'release of liability' we need to sign didn't apply here. Was there a reason for this or did the defendants finally wear down and give up?

We had a skydiver strip-searched a few weeks ago. However, remember that: 1- Operation Iraqi Freedom was getting started 2- 'Code Orange' terror alert 3- Flying out of Washington/Dulles 4- Rig as carry-on 5- Middle-eastern descent They still let him fly, but he had to check his rig. Just keep it in a bag and don't say anything at the checkpoint unless they ask. Post back if you have any problems so the rest of us know.

TurboTax totally rocks. It will step you through everything and fill out all the forms. State tax software is free with purchase of federal software. Online federal filing is free. You'll end up paying about $40 to fill out and electronically file all of your tax forms. Uncle Sam was kind enough to help himself to over $17,500 of my hard earned money this year. $9070 of that chunk disappeared down the Social Security/Medicare black hole and ended up as a Federal Government IOU in a filing cabinet somewhere. Gee, that makes all the business travel trips and nights staring at a hotel wall totally worth it. I just get a warm fuzzy at tax time. Instead of thinking "I have to pay $500 this year" or "I don't have to pay taxes, I'm getting money back" look at the bottom line. The time has come for a scrap and overhaul of the whole damn thing.

Here's another guy working on a similar project. www.rocketguy.com There used to be another guy a few years ago trying to run around the world. Don't know what ever happened to him.