Pammi

Oh hey Jess! Get your a$$ up here too! It'll be a regular DZ.com boogie! LOL!

So who are ya anonymous (and where are ya?) I was thinking the same thing SB, about talking in front of whuffos, while we were at the gym earlier today. I was talking with Merrick about how we could probably do a four way with my coach, him, Sis and myself if I could talk my coach into it. :) People kept glancing our way like "geez, you're talking about that here?!" LOL! 123, we actually live just a little north of Cushing in Ponca City (an hour or so) but Merrick has family in Cushing we stay with (and who watches our kids while we play). Stillwater's about 1/2 hour from there and we go there a lot to party Saturdays. Pammi

ROFL! Ah well, it's going to be Merrick she's gonna be playing with, so I guess I'm outta luck this time. Kinda hoped for a three-way when we finally met her, but looks like I'm just not up to it yet *sigh* LOL Pammi

I'm so excited...Sis is coming up our way this weekend! I finally get to meet one of the DZ.com'ers...I'm glad she'll be my first! LOL! It'll give Merrick someone to play with while I do some more jumps with a coach

Pete- So you didn't cutaway, you just deployed the reserve? I had the exact same thing happen to me but luckily the bridle ended up unraveling finally, spinning me like a yo-yo. I still got the coolest scar from it, but oh what a ride! Pammi

Sorry I can't help ya out Mike...you'd think the other really witty people on this forum would be able to! I do, however, love the Freakfall! That is sssooo me! Maybe I'll change my nick....:) Pammi

Thanks for making this thread Skreamer. I'm first to admit I'm nervous about when it'll eventually come time to do a cutaway (I, of course, assume it will come one day!). It's good to hear the stories and hear how it was handled. I just hope when/if I cutaway, it's something more simple then Cloud's! Pammi

What happened to some of the original lurkers of these threads? I haven't seen anything from JK or Laura for quite some time for instance. Anyone keep in contact with them at all? I'm curious to know if JK was able to get her license and I miss Laura's awesome stories! Pammi

ROFL @ Skreamer! If that girl can do THAT, I'd even be impressed! LOL!

LOL! Sweetie, the PC muscles have nothing to do with your thigh muscles *grin* She'd have to be holding on with a different part of her anatomy to be working those! LOL! Pammi

Damn firewalls. *sigh* Will have to try looking at it at home :/ Realplayer never works for me at work!

ROFL! Freaks! I shoulda had more coffee before opening this thread!

Hmmm...I like to believe I'm somewhat more complicated then three descriptions, but I think that's just a woman thing

That's hilarious Karen! I actually got a vid finally of my face in the plane just before we exit. It's rather embarrassing *g*. I haven't shown my family because I can already hear it..."And you do this for a good time?! Doesn't look like it!" LOL! There's a guy that jumps with us that does some Yoga stuff I suppose it is, where he'll put his index and middle finger out together, facing up, and have another person put their same fingers on his facing down. Then does this slow breathing/count thing as he moves them all up and down slowly. I don't know what in the world it is he's doing, but it's weird...it really helped me relax! Gotta learn that yoga thing! :) Pammi

Just have fun Diver! It'll be a blast :) I did a lot of lamaze type breathing, but that won't help ya much will it? LOL! I went 5 months also, on top of it being right after a low pull! Everyone was pounding me with 'this is a test that you don't do that again' sort of things...talk about pressure! The hop n' pop really helped though...I got to experience the door demon's presence again! I even beat it! (he made me open the door...lol...apparently a priviledge, but one I'd previously avoided *grin*) Honestly tho...it'll be great! You'll be scared shitless possibly, but that just makes it more interesting :) It's like riding a bike...it comes back! After I landed I just had this huge smile and said how I couldn't believe I'd forgotten how much fun it was!! Be careful and have fun!! Pam

Ah shut up you jumping freak Merrick . You suck! I'm going to steal your spots on the plane THIS weekend! LOL!

ROFL! Now all you guys are gonna be making trips to Russia! :)

ROFLMAO! Wwwwoohhhoooo!! Congrats Froggie!!! I'm so happy for you! You have the perfect attitude...laugh about it the, ahem, non-graceful landings :) It won't be the last I'm betting...but it's all a good time as long as you're in one piece! Keep it up girl!! Pammi (Oh, and just how low was that pull? *grin* Be careful! Would hate to have to come all the way up there to kick your butt if you set the AAD off!)

You're exactly right Mike. It is what it is...a back-up device not to be relied upon. The scary thing about skydiving to me is that some people have to find out in the worst way possible that they are not the kind to be able to handle a bad situation adeptly. (trying to think of the kindest way of expressing this) Something bad has to happen before you'll know if you can keep your head for some people...or they may think they will, but then don't! I guess it's a sport where you really need to know yourself and your capabilities well? Pam

I just read about the poor girl who died in Indiana. Am I incorrect that this is the second time that an FXC AAD didn't fire as it should've???

Does any of you jump up in Derby at the new DZ there? I wanted to ask a few things if so... Pammi

I feel for you guys. I'm in the same boat...spent the whole weekend at the DZ, but winds were incredible Saturday and rained all day Sunday. *sigh* Only skydiving related thing I did this weekend is re-pack my rig...again. You know..the one I haven't even jumped yet. *pout* Pammi

Ah, sounds like a good time Cyber! I'm jealous! I got a little drunk Saturday also, but mostly because I was so bummed about not getting to jump because the weather sucked! Was still fun hanging out with them :)

I apologize for getting all 'riled up' earlier...my point I was trying to make was that I wasn't actually talking about my own gear checks, but referring to what I've seen going on at our DZ. I personally can not refer to my own experiences being that I'm still wearing those massive student rigs and get TWO gear checks since I'm still classified as a student (talk about skydiving pergatory! neither a student, or not!). Please don't discount the opinions of those without a large number of jumps tho...sometimes that's out of our control. I've spent countless weekends in the last year at the DZ waiting for a load, so if it were up to me, my number would be much higher, instead, my observance time is the only large number I got for ya. Again, I'm going to stick my nose in I guess and say that another big factor that should be taken into account is how the people off student status tend to get rushed a bit more to get on a load. They take someone else's spot or get asked to join others unexpectedly, then rush to pack and get to the plane. This is a touchy subject for me because I saw it happen last weekend with Merrick. He took my spot on a load because the winds came up suddenly and the last time I jumped a Manta in high winds, I went backwards. So, he hurried to catch the load and ended up forgetting to get a check. That's why the talk with my coach. I was very upset when he told me (after he was down) because the idea of something happening because he was rushed and forgot was scary (which was his fault too because ultimately we're responsible for ourselves). The coach assured me that he DID do a brief check while in the plane, as he tries to always do with anyone who'll allow it. While just checking the pins is no substitute for an all over gear check, it's better then nothing I suppose. Anyway...sorry for the long post, and to some, it probably isn't such a big deal, but when it's someone you love so deeply you're talking about, slacking off on safety is NOT an option. And even though not all of you are lucky enough to jump with your significant others, we all tend to care about those we DO jump with, so we owe it to each other to at least offer to check someone if you know they didn't get a chance on the ground. Pammi

ROFL! I knew you wouldn't be able to stay quiet much longer Sis!