Beachbum

I had the same problem when I first started jumping. I used to scuba dive, but had to stop about 10 years ago because I began to have problems equalizing (particularly my right ear) ... and that happened after a couple of decades of diving. I got the fluid buildup, the whole works. Tried OTC meds, even a couple of prescription meds, to not avail. I found an ENT guy who worked with pilots in 'Nam to look at it. They did a CT of my sinuses, even put little bitty cameras up my nose to look around, and never found a cause. SO, like Glide mentioned he does ... I just get one or two jumps a day most of the time. I jump, wait a while to see how the ear seems to be doing, then jump again if I think it's ok (or near it!). I DO start trying to clear it as soon as I'm under canopy (or even in freefall if I think about it). Sometimes, I even get to the ground and can still hear ok ... :) ... then I'm pretty sure I'm good for the next one. Recently, I took part in formation load scrambles, and did 6 jumps in one day ... paid for it though ... LOL ... grounded for a couple of weeks. I hope your's is only a temporary problem. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Mine just went in for it's 8 year ... and it made it back promptly. Whole process under 3 weeks from removal to reinstallation in my rig. I agree ... either call, or use the online tracking feature they've set up to see where it stands. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

From where I've been watching, it's not just this administration exhibiting that attitude. It has been every administration in recent years, and it seems that not enough people just are waking up and caring sufficiently to force Washington to stop doing it. We're so far in debt now that there is no viable way to get out of it in the foreseeable future. It just amazes me that so many people just follow what the politicians say and don't seem to care about something unless the politicians say it is a problem. Folks, need to wake up, because this IS a problem!! Back to what I can remember as part of the initial post, I disagree that people aren't being directly effected. It is hitting their pocketbooks hard ... they just don't realize it yet because they haven't been told to notice because the politicians don't want to address the problem!!! Our federal government will have to pay for all of this sooner or later, and when they do it's going to be a BIG bill to pay off. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Well, I can't say I won it, but I didn't screw up ALL the jumps ... LOL! And yes ... first, and I put my name on the beer board before heading home that evening. My ear is still a little wacko from doing 6 in one day, but improving daily. If it's ok (and weather cooperates) I'll get out tomorrow and will bring the beer ... come on down!!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

... AND ... our team managed to win in spite of Nate and my best efforts to the contrary ... thanks to Henry, Wendy, Jim, and some of the other very experienced folks ... As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

1-206 2-1 3-lineover that I couldn't get to clear completely As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

If it's me that does it, I hope someone tells me if I screwed up, since there are still times that I do something that I might not be aware is incorrect for the given jump/exit position/whatever. Can't learn if nobody tells me! Usually, it all seems to get done in a joking fashion, and everyone has a laugh and goes on to the next jump (unless as stated above, a safety issue ... then a bit more serious conversation ensues!). As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Heard a rumor that the 2nd PAC is literally brand spanking new (unjumped). So, assuming that is correct, I have to pose a question. Does everyone on the first load owe beer, the pilot ... all ... ???? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

ditto ... and I learned something in the process of getting only 1 jump saturday. Do NOT wait to get something lined up to manifest. Get on the load and THEN figure it out!!! Had a blast though ... thanks for putting this on. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

First ... Dave ... well done and thanks!! In spite of what I am going to type just below, I still think the gentler approach will work more often than the slap in the face! Now, about Dave's last post above. Sad as it is that he won't listen, I had to laugh reading through that sequence. I think he, in his own way, illustrated both sides in this thread. The soft sell SURE didn't work on him, but yet he thought it was NOT a soft sell. He obviously isn't going to listen to anyone regardless of the approach taken in giving the advice, but definitely seems much less receptive of any given in what he perceives as other than a kid glove manner. I can only conclude that much of the earlier posts are right ... different people need different approaches to really get their attention, so all someone can do it provide their input in the way they see fit, and hope the advice is heeded. There are always going to be some who won't listen no matter how the advice is couched, but at least you cared enough to take the time to try. I hope nobody gives up on making that effort, for the sake of those who DO try to pay attention!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I'm another Gulf Coast-er (Texas) ... catch waves when I get the chance. Beach jumps at Aransas Pass this weekend, which is really cool for me since that is where I first started surfing back in the mid 60's (yeah ... I'm an old fart!). For anyone in the area who hasn't been down there, the further south you go in Texas, the better the wave quality for the most part (deeper water near shore). I live near Houston, so hit Surfside mostly, but Aransas is still "home" to me in that respect. Still ride short boards. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

You only need the auth code if you want the new hosting company to move the site for you. If you know how to use an FTP program (I have FileZilla) to move your files to the new server, MIH is right ... just move the files, then log into your registrar and change the nameserver dns ... done. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Mine could also be described as horse collar type. It lays very flat against me, and is not bulky at all ... should work nicely under my jumpsuit. The one you posted the link to is a belt, and unless thinking has changed since I did my WSI training way back when (70's) ... a vest is much better floatation than a belt, especially in the event someone is injured. A belt really puts the floatation in the wrong place on you, and makes it more difficult to float upright (or on your back and still keep your head up). Vests by design hold your head up ... worth using, to me. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Doesn't necessarily require a lot of experience - I think you're on the right track there as to alti's worn on the other hand. Adding an unnecessary bridle entanglement risk on your deployment hand is probably not viewed as a good thing to do. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I am thinking about heading to the beach jumps at Aransas in a couple of weeks, and if I go, I plan to take my old scuba bc with me to wear. I've never really thought about just what all circumstances I might WOULD wear it though ... good thing to consider! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Two questions ... 1) What do you expect lift prices to be for fun jumpers? 2) Is landing at the airport an option, or do you have to land in the sand? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

ROFL!!! I know you meant the timing of the jumps, not YOU being spaced out ... but just the thought made me laugh ...

LOL ... mal on a chicken jump ... so appropriate, somehow!! Glad it worked out so it was a beer occasion and nothing more. Reason I started this, someone who knows nothing about skydiving, for some reason gave me a mini-chicken last christmas (about 6 or 7 inches). Was thinking about taking it up for a bit of breeze in it's knees, then hanging it with the old one at the dz (the old one looks kinda brittle at this point!). Now we have something to shoot for ... surpass that 6 passes to claim the new world record chicken choke ... :) ... Question is, is that record of 6 passes with 6 people, or fewer, with that total of passes? We'll have to try to top it, but if it's individual people, that will have to be a formation load from 182's to do it!!! edited to add ... yes, I did see the link for the video, but I'm on dialup right now. Video would take FOREVER! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

and some people think I have an odd sense of humor because I joke about kittens making excellent shark bait ... LOL!!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Was when I finally got to meet you your "last experience" at Waller? If so, there were quite a few non-team rw fun jumpers there at the time, including me!!! To be fair, and I think y'all know I don't favor Spaceland over Waller ... when I've been down there, I have always found that there have been folks to jump with that were happy to include me even with my low #'s. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

No ... I think we are. I don't like censorship either, but because I run a fishing forum, I do understand the need for the greenies, and that those who volunteer to DO that need to have the leeway to do what they think is right. One point I tried to make (apparently not very clearly!) about it is exactly what I think you are indicating ... that it can result in loss of valuable input. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

at least it WAS the head you had to drink the beer thru ... ... LOL As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

ok ... that brings up a point I hadn't thought about ... I had the impression it was more widespread! I can't claim to know the details, obviously ... and perhaps it's just a Texas thing. At least 2 dz's around here have one that I know of. It works something along these lines: You get a rubber chicken and take it on a jump ... I don't know if it must be passed like a baton or if just taking it along suffices. You then hang it in a prominent spot somewhere on the dz, and it is supposed to bounce-proof the dz. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I agree with Labrys about the censorship. If someone wants to be "a complete dick" about it, that is their choice. They make that choice knowing that (if they've read on here much, at least) if they take it too far, the greenies may well do some editing or pruning which could result in their input disappearing. For those who utilize that method, what good does their advice do if the manner in which it was offered up causes it to be removed? As for you Format ... neither myself nor Labrys expressed anything about the situation in question in this thread, but even if we did, we are entitled to have an opinion regardless of jump #'s. If someone wishes to discount our ideas based solely on that, that's their problem. I prefer to think that most people have the sense to judge an idea on it's merit, not on who it came from and what their jump #'s are. Yes, more experience makes it more likely that anything offered is sound, but lack of #'s doesn't automatically mean that person is an idiot and incapable of a worthwhile idea. Personally, yes, I agree with the people in that thread who felt it extremely unwise to jump gear with a known, repeating problem like that. RiggerPaul ... I understand and to some extent agree with what you are pointing out also, but feel like there must be a middle ground somewhere in there that is a little shy of the baseball bat, but still strong enough to get that type of person's attention? Especially if going all out sometimes results in posts being removed/edited, such that the advice is no longer available to BE read and heeded or ignored. Oh, also ... I didn't say I think it rude, just indicated that I think it could (and I'm pretty sure it does in some cases) effect how the intended recipients view the advice offered. Perhaps if a person doesn't seem to "get it" about a given topic, a PM worded however strongly might seem necessary would then be in order? I don't know ... no perfect answer for sure, because if you do have to go to pm's ... others do not get the benefit of their content. ... who knows?? Dang!! See what happens when it's lousy weather on saturday ... too much time for the keyboard ... LOL!! Sure hope this cloudy mess moves on soon! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I think I saw most of it before it was pruned. Me, I think I'm somewhere beyond the "touchy feely" and closer to "skin like leather" ... LOL ... because I tend to be pretty direct too (when in person). But, I can certainly see where an approach a bit more civil than a "bat upside the head" technique could be a more effective way to offer constructive criticism to a lot of people. That would seem to me to be especially true when online and dealing with someone you likely have no idea about the personality of, and/or how they will react to someone being overly direct with them. I would think most people who take time to offer us the benefit of their experience would want their words to be heard, not ignored or discounted because of the way their advice was offered? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?