Pammi

LOL! Not so perfect :) I went from the 230 Skymaster to my Tri, so the DZO hooked up a radio to me so he could help me with the flare on my Tri. He has me put my feet together at the time that I thought I should flare so he could see then would respond "yes..flare!" or "wait...flare". The first one was a tinsy bit high and the second I tried the '3-oh shits' concept and was a tinsy bit low. Anyway...I got a little mud on the butt of my new jumpsuit, but not too bad The second time I figured it better my a** then my legs since I was a little late. LOL! It was awesome tho! My Tri just spins me around so fast in a turn...it's cool! My accuracy ain't bad either :) Pammi

Thanks guys! Lummy, the flips were fun! I was a little worried about it, honestly, but it was kinda funny...I never did get the back flip pulled off. I kept throwing my head back like he showed me but didn't get my knees up enough..I'm sure it was hilarious to watch. But the front flip was perfect! Straight over and into a perfect arch! It actually helped my spin cuz I was thinking about something else and not worrying about it we think :) It was awesome. And tracking was too, although my 'heading' kept slowly moving to the side...I didn't go too straight Jumpergirl, we'll be coming to Dallas soon I hope! As soon as we get licensed that's one of the first places we want to check out, and it's not too far! It'll be cool..we'll all pick a weekend and jump our a**es off! Skreamer - Don't let Sis and Merrick fool ya...they just told me to say my canopy did that to my neck..lol. *wink* Pammi

Hi Craig :) I hate to tell you this, but I have a D3 and I had to fight it in the bag also. HOWEVER, I don't think it's really any more of a struggle then people normally have, just the fact that I haven't packed that much. But ya know, it gets in there pretty snug, so I can imagine what a b**** it is getting it into YOUR bag! Mine only has about 70 jumps on her, so she is fairly new also. She likes to 'breathe', even in the bag! When I put it in the container, I practically dance on the thing to get it as flat as I can

Yeah, it was definately nerve-racking Grogs. It actually hit me just before I was getting ready to go up that I was jumping my own rig and pack! Then, of course, I got teased about "oh, you packed it too! *gasp*" I just kept going over and over in my mind what I've always heard...it's pretty hard to mess it up bad enough that it doesn't open at all, even if you stuff it. Thank goodness they are apparently right! I feel like a 'real skydiver' now :) LOL Pammi

Yeah, I had some concerns about still be a relatively 'low-timer' at Quincy, but I hear there are lots of places to land that people *aren't* swooping in at 110 mph :) I really hope to be there...we'll have to all talk about who's going to be there when it gets closer to hook up! Pammi

So...how many of you are actually going to try to go to Quincy this year?? I really really want to if I can get 25 more jumps to have my 50 (shouldn't be a problem) and can pull the cash together since we've spent so much already buying all of our gear. At least for a weekend would be cool. Anyone else? Pammi

Rofl! No, can't say that it was me dammit! I'm holding out for altitude when we do it I guess Tee! Pammi

I'm so incredibly lucky to have Merrick and not have to deal with the guilt over the time I spend at the DZ (since he's there too!) or how much money I'm spending. However, since I *do* have kids...I can say that I've still had a great deal of guilt. I almost quit in the beginning because I was so guilt-ridden over the thought of 'What if something happens to me? My kids may very well have to go live with their worthless father who doesn't even call them anymore because that's what the law says!" (not trying to start a feud here over divorced couples' children issues..it's all a very personal thing..this is just my situation). But, and I know we've all brought this up before, how many of us have had or almost had some very horrible car accidents. I've rolled my vehicle, I've almost been taken out by a semi at 85 mph on the interstate...there are so many things that can happen just in living! The thing that frustrates me is that people can sometimes give us so much flack for skydiving, but if it were, for instance, scuba diving, they think that kind of sport is 'normal', even tho I hear it is just as dangerous, if not more. I still get guilty over the amount of time I spend away from my kids while I jump, but now that I'm done with my student status (nearly) it will be better now and they understand that. I also make sure to make time for them during the week, and spend some weekends just with them and family often. For instance, we're all going to Blues Clues Live this weekend ... something they really wanted to do. They also have their 'hobbies'..singing lessons and Thai Kwan Do. I actually think they enjoy their time away from us sometimes! C'mon...I know I drive them crazy from time-to-time too! LOL! Skydiving also releases so much stress for me, I come home a calmer person! Good look Jeji, but don't think badly of yourself. Just because the sport we enjoy isn't common, doesn't make it bad. Cherish your individuality! Pammi

Congrats Albatross!! You'll just love it! I get laughed at by Merrick cuz I talk to my girl "a lot" while I'm packing and flying her! Skreamer is right...do tell!! Pammi

Woohoo! I had the BEST jumping weekend yet!! I got in five jumps total...4 on Sunday...and jumped my own rig and pack job for the first time! BEER! I actually got two rides on my canopy and can you believe it, my pack jobs opened!!! LOL! I'm so excited. I only have one or two more jumps then I'm off student status officially (did my flips this weekend, the 'superman' exit and tracking - flips kick a$$!). I probably coulda been finished up with all those jumps, but there was a low ceiling with the clouds that came in so my last two jumps were just hop-and-pops to play with my canopy. When they say "Do you wanna jump..I can only give you 4-5000 but you can jump your rig, do you want to?" who am I to say no?! LOL! I actually will be able to get my license soon they tell me since I have enough freefall time once I get a few of the requirements...so it'll be pretty quick off student status to being licensed (I hope!) Anyway, just had to share. I'm finally getting it after all the set-backs!! I'm so pumped!! Guess what else?! We met the Sis!! She's awesome, so much fun! Who needs entertainment when she's around! LOL! Thanks for coming to visit Sis! Blue skies and superman exits! Hehehe! Pammi (oh and I got this nice little 'hicky' on my neck from my rig...guess she got excited about finally getting out and bit me!)

Remember this from your student days? "Left, left, left...let it fly!" I can't tell someone which direction to turn without thinking that now! Pammi

Congrats Alex!! You're like a skygod or something now huh? LOL! You suck being so good at such a young age! Pammi

Ooohhh.... you're the WOMAN Tee! Great idea! LOL! Might have to hurry it up a bit before others come to pick us up tho... :) Pammi Oh, and Merrick...TIT for TAT I got some pics too the girls would love to see...guaranteed

ROFL! The panties idea is a thought! Skreamer - Hmm...don't think a pic will be going up anywhere, but thanks for the credit card! LOL! Pammi

Girls, I gotta tell ya...I have found the ultimate lingerie! It's way better then that nasty stuff the whuffo men want their women to wear that never quite looks like you want it to and leaves you being pinched in places that AREN'T erotic to you! Jumpsuits! I picked up mine last night and I gotta tell you...get nekkid underneath that thing, zip it down a little (okay, a lot *G*) and stride into the bedroom in that...guaranteed! Granted, it's a little more of a pain in the a$$ to get off, but well worth it :) Perhaps snaps in the pertinent areas can be arranged? Okay, okay, they are a bit expensive, but all purpose! Lingerie that you can actually use later! And hey, how much did we all pay for prom dresses, wedding dresses and the like. Now how often did you wear THOSE after you took them off that first time. There ya go! *laugh* Pammi

We haven't sold anything over the auctions, Cyber, but we bought a lot of our gear from them. Diver123 is who we got Merrick's rig from in fact! Pics was definately something we looked for, and I personally am impatient, so when people take days to answer me...I get frustrated. I need to know some info to know whether to bid. Also, you know about Paypal right? Very, very handy! Pammi

Woohoo!!! Congrats Greg!!! That's awesome!! I hope I do that well when the time comes (soon I hope!) Pammi

Hey Merrick hun...you can get yourself one of those Hyabusa's if you want...as long as you get a matching one for me :) You know how I am...not much for riding, but I'll drive! Froggie and Tee - more 'country-folk' on this thread eh? We did that kinda stuff too...whatever we could think of to hook behind the pickup and ride on! LOL! We were lucky enough to have a motorcycle track down the road from us, though, so when I wasn't riding horses, it was a motorcycle down there ;) Unfortunately, I wasn't any better at driving back then. *G* Pammi

Oh shit Froggie! You crack me up! I can't believe I missed your post earlier about all the things that can happen on rollercoasters, while scubadiving and such. That's my thinking also! Even merry-go-rounds make me naseous and roller coaster rides are just contraptions built for jerking you around at a speed that makes the entire thing last all of a few seconds (after standing in line for HOW LONG?? Oh wait...sounds like skydiving huh. LOL!) I might try bungee however...sounds like fun and I can't imagine my back being any more sore then it is after I've dirtdived over-and-over all day. OUCH! I've actually decided I want to try water skiing or something this summer because I'm extremely afraid of any water I can't see thru and/or touch. What kind of creatures are just waiting under there to eat me up? :) Doesn't help that Merrick told me that there's a catfish in one of the lakes around here the size of a small car. Probably just a bunch of crap, but hey, I ain't chancing it! So I figure if I can overcome my hyperventilation and go skiing, then I've really kicked fear's a**!

I heard someone say once that basically we're all committing suicide until we actually pull. Um, yeah, that's what I'm thinking as I go out the door! Sheesh. Pammi

Gee, um, thanks Tee. LOL! You're sounding like Zee now Froggie! Jess - Merrick and I will be there Saturday and Sunday (going down Friday night then getting to the DZ early before things get too busy Saturday. Staying the night in Cushing, then back out there Sunday too)

That's awesome! I've always wanted to see Vegas...what a way to do it! I, of course, want to try the wind tunnel and can you believe I've never bungee'd?? Keep us up-to-date...we're there! Pammi

Thanks for the updates guys. Monk - I'm so incredibly sorry. I'm glad you did what you needed to to take care of you, that's always first, and I admire you for still wanting back up after experiencing such a thing. Take care and I'm glad your back with us :) Pammi

WOOHOO! They've downgraded it even more (the weather)! It's not 'party cloudy' instead of scattered showers and only 20% chance of rain, instead of 40%! Even less wind! only 10 mph on Sunday! Keep it up guys, it's working! HEHEHE! Pammi

I've actually told our pilot basically the same thing Skreamer. A couple of jumps ago, we had a huge load on and he was telling everyone to lean forward so we could get off the ground well. (Sheesh!) I stared at his face the whole time, watching his intense concentration and finally he looked down and smiled at me when we were up in the air. After we got down I wanted to explain to him why I was staring and told him I thought he was an insane person for flying us all day, over and over. He does it so many times, and while we worry about what can go wrong in freefall or with our canopies, landings, etc...there are a ton more parts on an airplane just for starters! Then they give them those silly little rounds that probably haven't been checked in forever (I have no idea how often they check those) and no reserve if something does happen! He swears he'll use his underwear and float down if necessary tho :) So I feel better. LOL! Anyway, sorry, I just so wanted to give 'props' (that's what kids say now right? LOL!) to the pilots. Ya all kick ass! Pammi