HeatherB

You are missing out big-time. Try Moe's and then compare! There's one in Austin but I have no idea how far you are from Austin. I have learned that Texas is freakin' huge. Damn...now I want a burrito.

Have you been to Moe's?

I'm reviving this ancient thread to say the following: Freebirds sucks! Moe's is WAY better than Freebirds. Thankfully, we found a Moe's in Plano (DFW area) so we can satisfy our burrito cravings every one in a while.

So, possible lessons include? - Don't pull low - Pillow reserve handles are harder to grab - Wear your harness tight (I know he said he did, but it can only help..and I've seen so many people wear their stuff really loose).

I said "experienced RW jumpers" for a reason. I can completely understand someone with 50 or 100 jumps not wanting to break-off at 4 grand. New jumpers aren't expected to have nice tracks and I can understand wanting the extra altitude. Yes, the SIM says 1500 for groups of 5 or fewer, or 2000 for 6+, I've just never seen that done when all the jumpers on the load are experienced. Thankfully, it's not a BSR so we aren't gonna go to USPA jail. I've never seen a group of 6 EXPERIENCED jumpers say "we have to break at 5 grand, b/c we're pulling at 3 grand." Of course, this is all just in my experience...your mileage may vary! --Heather

A break-off at 4 grand is perfectly reasonable for small groups of experienced RW jumpers. 1000 feet gives you plenty of time to track away and get clear airspace. If you need more than 1000 feet to get away from a small (say 10 or under) group of people, you need to work on your tracking skills. (I mean "you" in the general sense.) Don't get me wrong, I'm one of the first to say "4.5 would be nice" if it's a large group. Especially if I don't know a bunch of the people.

Have you done any "low" hop and pops? Meaning 4 grand or below? If you like to pull high and the people you are jumping with are okay with it, that's cool. It begs a question about airplane emergencies though. Would you be okay with bailing out of a plane at say 2.5 or 3 grand during a possible emergency? You may need to someday. Could be tomorrow, could happen 10 years from now, you just don't know. --Heather

Am I the only crazy person here who does the following if using a packer: I stow my brakes (right after landing, as I always do) I unstow my slider I cock my pilot chute I do a line check. I even check out my safety line and bridle to make sure they aren't all twisted up. (that's really just to be nice and save the packer a little time) After it is packed, I check the pins, PC, and all that jazz. Call me paranoid. If I didn't do the above, I'd be wondering in the plane about what kind of opening I was about to have. Of course, I used to be packer-dependent. I hated packing. But I was very good last year about packing my own and I switched from being worried about my pack jobs to being worried about paid pack jobs. I can understand that team members who are doing back-to-backs do not have the time to take care of those things, but don't casual jumpers do at least some of the above?

Your post actually made me miss snow.

I don't get it either. I've never had a brake fire. I'm wondering if it happens more on certain containers vs others. Hmmm.

Tampa--LAX--Taipei--Singapore--Sydney That online calculator says that's 19,940 miles. Could that be right?? I suppose LAX to Taipei is the longest leg. We stopped in Singapore for two days then headed to Australia though. I'd skip Singapore next time around!

I've never lost a contact while jumping. I have toric lenses though, and they are a tighter fit than any "off the shelf" throwaway lenses would be. I can't imagine wearing glasses while jumping. The lack of peripheral vision would bug the hell out of me!

Don is OLD, give him a break. He's been jumping since before airplanes were invented. Or something like that.

Have fun, kiddos! Kramer: Try not to pass out in the parking lot with your lights on. Did TK get you guys another plane?

Soon enough this story won't even be a tiny blip on the media radar. It'll be replaced by some other "leaked" crash-and-burn story. Do I agree with what this woman has done? Nope, but I'm not going to get my panties in a wad over it.

Get a job at a company that offers tuition assistance, and then go to school during the evenings or weekends. It has worked for me so far.

"Higher three rig attachment?" lol

Take some white-out or a marker with you next time! I changed a sign at a Subway restaurant one time. They had this little plaque that said "Sorry for the inconvience, but we cannot accept check's or bills over $20." I took a marker to that fucker.

Good call! I didn't even get that far with the Paratec ad. I had to stop before my brain exploded! Maybe we can give them a "get out of jail free" card since it's (not its) a German company. There's a building in town with a huge sign that says "Womans Club." I'm going to climb up there with a paint brush one day.

The Paratec ad has issues too. Its vs. It's. Also, the Icarus Safire2 ad: "The greatest all-round canopy." Is it the greatest all-around canopy or a really great ROUND canopy? (I know both are acceptable, but the words "ROUND CANOPY" jumped out at me). Sunrise Rigging has had some huge, glaring errors in their ads during the past year or so. Their December ad is fine though. Gak! Another it's/its issue. The ad for the PAC on pg 84. I'm going to stop looking at this magazine. There are tons of errors every month, even within the stories.

Yes, I'm well aware of the differences.

According to OED, both pronunciations are acceptable. Since I started taking piano lessons when I was seven years old I've always said "fort-ay." Damn Italians. Have you ever read the book Eats, Shoots & Leaves? It's hilarious. Here's an online game based upon the book: http://eatsshootsandleaves.com/ESLquiz.html I got them all correct but I was a dorky English major and I'm still a grammar nut. edited b/c someone beat me to it ;)

Ron is already in TX. I'm still in town for a bit. I have a house to pack up and a few jump tickets to use!

I like the Jettas....and the new 06 Jettas are big! Okay on gas mileage...31 highway if I recall correctly. I'm in the market for a new car and I'm in love with the Passat. Not sure if I want to spend the dough for one or just get a cheapy new car. We'll see. I'm not going to go Ford or Mercury again though. I still need to check out Toyota, Hyundai and some others.

I have no idea: http://meltingclocktimes.com/turkeyparachuting.htm (Rec'd via email..sharing so others can be baffled as well!) Oh, there are nude photos on some of the other pages of this site...so if you're at work, tread carefully.