Beachbum

I'm sort of with Lyra on this one. I jump at SDH a lot, and my experiences there are that most people are more than willing to help someone learning to pack as long as they are making a genuine effort, not just looking for someone to do it for them. I'm curious about those dirty looks, and under just what circumstances you got them. If you were packing in the tandem area or something like that, I can believe it might happen, but I'd really expect one of the packers to let you know if that was the case. I'm there at least one day most weekends, and would be more than happy to lend a hand such as I'm able. I think most everyone out there knows me by my DZ.com handle, if you ask. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

John, since this would just be for fun, I think we'd have to trust folks to be straight about it. If there was to be some sort of official something done, THEN maybe proof would be required? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

No doubt, but at least for starters, I'd like to have it small enough that I can play too ... LOL!! I am thinking about trying to round up locals who would be interested first and see what sort of count that amounts to. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I've been thinking about trying to put something together just for fun. I'm not ready for really big stuff yet, but for this, it would not need to start that large. How many of you Texas folks are actually Texans? I don't mean lived here for a while and adopted the state, but actually born here? I think an all Texan big way would be a fun thing to do!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

From what I understand, there has been at least one instance of it partially severing a closing loop which later gave way and deployed the reserve, fortunately on the ground. Had that happened at a worse time, it could have been very bad for others in the air with the person wearing it at the time, or even an entire plane load. I think maybe the ban is more related to the possible situations a malfunction of it could introduce to people besides just the owner of the rig it is installed in that prompted the ban? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

If their owner is letting me play with them, I'll call them whatever she wants me to call them ...

I've had that problem since the beginning, mostly with my right ear. Every now and then the other does it. I had to stop scuba years back because I could no longer equalize that ear most dives, but it never entered my mind when I was about to start jumping ... LOL! I get a fluid buildup in there after 1 - 3 jumps, and have to stop. It stinks, and makes you accumulate jumps very slowly, but I love it enough to keep at it anyway. Mine usually takes until thursday or so to get better after a saturday of jumping. To answer the questions I know someone will ask, yes, tried all the over-the-counter stuff, some prescription stuff, let them CT scan my sinuses, and even stick little tiny video cameras up my nose. I belive what I really need is the equivalent of a stent in my eustachion tube to hold it open better. I joyfully discovered that I can do CRW and it doesn't cause me a problem! I agree with the comments about trying to clear it asap. I have even made a point to remember to try to do it some while in freefall. It's hard for me to tell if it really helps though, since as I mentioned, the problem itself isn't consistent. Best of luck with it! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Depends on how you laid out the rules for her. When I was that age, if I was going to be even 5 minutes late, I'd BETTER find a phone and call home to warn them. If not, next time out the curfew would be an hour earlier (minimum penalty, depending on how late I was, reason for it, etc.), on up to grounding for a while. These days, with cell phones in nearly every pocket, there is no excuse for not calling. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

lovely use of the ads ... covering up the options on the lefthand side so I can't get TO the "logout" button! I wonder if it will still show me as logged on once I close the browser? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Ask the dzo of Skydive Houston (formerly at Waller, now at Eagle Lake) about this. I bet he has a slightly different take on it! And one of the forces behind the trouble is a pilot/skydiver who used to jump at the dz. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Yes, but why put up a sign or even have that policy to begin with. It makes no sense at all to keep peoples money for goods not received. I agree completely. I was just pointing that out relative to a post that defended the policy by stating that the sign is plainly visible at manifest. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

If it's chronic, you may want to look into an ear tube. Plus you'll have super hearing in that ear. If you mean like they put through the ear drum for kids with chronic ear infection problems, I am involved in too many water sport activities (at least from what I am told) for that to be a good option. I believe that what I really need is to get something like a stent put into my eustachion tube to keep it open wider. Thanks to the CRW camp I did recently, I now know that coming down more slowly doesn't cause the problem. Back to the topic at hand ... I'd like to address the "no refunds" sign part of this. I think that many people coming to a dz for a tandem are likely so caught up in watching, looking around, etc. at this totally new environment/experience that they may never see even a prominently displayed sign. Watch them at your dz sometime. Many remind me of tourists at any attraction ... :) ... all agog! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

LMAO!! ... ... not to mention, if used in that fashion, it could give a totally new definition to the term "anal retentive" ... sort of like "image burned into your brain"!! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

But if they are from very far away, it could very easily cost them more than the jump to GET back to use it, so they are effectively being told they can't ever use the jump fow which they've paid. That is especially true for someone visiting from outside the US, as I think someone mentioned. I can understand the policy relative to locals, but to me, residency should be considered in there. Wendy - I think it might have been exactly that ... thanks! I have been to at least 2 of those down there. About the money on account places ... I get a fluid buildup in one ear almost every time I jump, so am usually limited to 2 or 3 jumps any given dz trip, and sometimes only 1. So, when visiting a dz (my home dz doesn't operate this way) I don't want to put a lot of money down up front if I can't get it back. If they insist I pay up front, I make it a burden for them as well, and do it one jump at a time. Pay, jump, pay, jump. If everyone would do this at dz's operating that way, instead of it being easier for them, it would use up more of the manifestor's time and maybe cause the policy to be rethought. Sort of a civil disobedience thing ... LOL! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

... and Jon already owes big, since his first ever wingsuit jump was out there, and it was also the first wingsuit jump at the new location ... LOL!! I still think Todd moved the dz just to get beer out of everyone for their first jump at the new site! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Thanks Kathleen! I've been emailing back and forth with he and Scot both, and we'll eventually hit on a weekend that we can all make it up ... either to SSM or on up to see Wendy. Of course, we'll check in with you and Walt before finalizing anything. What does Temple have now in the way of aircraft ... strictly 182 right now? ORRRRR ... you two could come down the next time Dave has the beach thing going on ... he's working at making it full time over there, and it's SURE a nice view from altitude! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Jon and I did one CRW jump sunday at SDH (first CRW done by anyone at the new location, I believe) ... we needed you! I need to learn to sign. We resorted to writing back and forth, but that is so cumbersome to keep finding paper, a hard place to write, etc. Is there anything online that you can recommend to help me get started? As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I've run into that when visiting another dz ... wanted me to put money on account without refund possibility, so I just put down enough for the jumps I was SURE I would do, and if I'm there again, will do the same, even if it's one at a time ... LOL! The dz in the OP's post took me for one jump when I was a newbie and went to an event there, and had a ticket left over. The dz I learned at sold tickets which were good until used (I believe, as long as price didn't change, in which case you paid the difference), and it never occurred to me that a ticket at another dz could expire. Lo and behold ... next time I was at Spaceland was a long time, and they would not honor my ticket. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Here are some ... I can't remember where I got them to give credit. It was via a post on here somewhere though ... 3-way As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

There are a lot of decent areas to live. First we need to know where in town you will be working. Drive time is a definite consideration in choice of living location! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Love the concept! I hope it spreads ... :) As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Calling John ... !!! A long drive, but you have to admit, it's right up your alley! Well, except maybe running from the landing target to the firing line ... ;) .. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

I know at least one reason people put gear on the benches. They do it to try to get it off the floor so the whuffos can't walk on it! I've seen someone start to sit on a tandem rig that was on a bench. I had to say something and stop that one. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Good question. I was intending the vote to be based upon "what should be". But I can see already from the results that many people are voting based upon "what is". ROFL ... not exactly the thread you envisioned either, I bet! Now it's gone to religion, and I even saw a reference to abortion rights! As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Are we supposed to vote how we think logic would dictate, or how we think it actually IS in the world? I voted the latter. As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?