arlo

there's a guest room w/bath here in deland (about 3 miles from the dz) that can sleep a couple people...and there's an air mattress, couch and floor space, too. whatever it takes. i've contacted laurel since she seems to have her finger on the pulse of gold coast, so she knows about it. also, i was thinking if people are without rides to our area, we could sorta do a car chain thingy where i could drive up to tallahassee to pick up someone or whatever it takes. people need help right now and alot of us just need a direction to be pointed towards to offer it. good on ya shimmel for starting the thread. you're alright no matter what eric says about ya. arlo

http://www.secondharvest.org/ donations here go directly for food.

that's outstanding to see that your first priority would be to kill people over material crap rather than save the ones that are still stuck on top of buildings and in trees and just lost everything they own. glad to see your priorities are in order. thanks for the constructive input. you obviously don't have a good grasp of the enormity of what's going on, but then again, with that comment, i wouldn't suspect you would read that far into it anyway. WTF.

www.cnn.com on the right, clink on the link: • Watch: 'You can't hold me... take care of the kids' i am speechless and my heart is broken. i guess the reported wasn't expecting THIS answer...

i also found this website: http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/ there are many charitible organizations listed (including the salvation army -thanks for that flyingJ! - and local to the disaster ones as well). i hope this helps those that want to help... a

yeah, i looked for a paypal button but no-go. i'll give them feedback on that. but i also found this blurb on CNN: The American Red Cross' relief operation would be the largest in its history, the organization's president, Marty Evans, said on CNN's "Paula Zahn Now" -- larger than for all four of last year's Florida hurricanes combined. More than 75,000 people were being housed in nearly 240 shelters across the region, and "we expect that to grow" as people who can't return home seek somewhere to stay, Evans said. Baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice are being rushed into hard-hit areas by the federal government, along with doctors, nurses and first-aid supplies, The Associated Press reported. Experts to help with search-and-rescue efforts have been dispatched by the Pentagon, the AP said. Wal-Mart said it has donated $1 million to the Salvation Army for disaster relief and that more than 80 stores in the Gulf Coast states would help distribute relief goods. The home improvement chain Lowe's said it would match customer donations up to $1 million. so hey, anyone going to lowes, maybe kick in a few bucks so it's worth twice what you donate. living in florida and seeing the devastation last year just makes me appreciate how much crap these folks are getting ready to endure.

if you really want to do something to help, the red cross can use money immediately to help these people that just lost everything. if you call them, you can specifiy where you want the money to go (i.e., hurricane katrina relief). i didn't see it specifically at the website (it has disaster relief fund) but i know you can specify on the phone. you con donate as little as $5 but these guys are gonna need our help and fast. some agencies strongly suggested no food or blankets or anything like that just yet because there's no where to store these items due to the flooding. the red cross also knows best what needs to be taken care of first. so the info is: website: http://www.redcross.org/ phone: 1-800-HELP NOW (and specify 2005 hurricane relief) or contact your local bloodbank to donate because they always ask for blood during disasters. $5 is a beer or two or a big mac value meal to us. to them it can mean the difference of drinking water that isn't contaminated or having bandages on wounds. please help. also, please feel free to post any agencies that do the same type work. i just know the red cross is ALWAYS there and they don't wait on anything. fix it now, worry about paperwork later. this is as it should be. also, if anyone hears of special needs or requests that the community can take care of (clothing, non-perishable foods, whatever, anything) please post that as well but be sure to verify it. it's time to give back now....thanks! arlo

yep, got the call earlier letting me know why i didn't get my chocolate (from rantoul via kim). . i just love macca.

hey...pass those bon bons and the cream-filled, chocolate covered doughnut, biotch. kramer, your meds are wearing off, eh? but hey, i got one for ya: why are women better skydivers than kramer? because we can do it without getting injured every 6 months. now get back on the vicodin and go watch some oprah.... blues, arlo (p.s. for the love of christ man, what ARE you thinking? )

pic #2. 3rd goose over. that one's coming for you. look at 'em. you can see it in his little eyes.

everyone's gonna have their favorite dz. zhills happens to be mine. i love deland too (i live here) but look at it like this: you have part of 1 day to jump at a dz close to daytona. go to titusville. it's closer. less than 1 hr from daytona. if you aren't leaving til monday, then jump 1/2 day at titusville and maybe scoot down to sebastian (which is only another 50 minutes south of titusville). the aerial view is spectacular. you live in atlanta. that's only a 6-7 hr drive straight down 75 to zhills. you're not having to sew a suitcase or build the car to get there, so use it as an excuse to visit another dz on another weekend. all the dzs in florida rock. all have great people. but just don't make it seem like you can't do it all - because you can. life's too short. check out how cool titusville is on this upcoming trip and then schedule your next trip down to jump at zhills and maybe lake wales. :) i'd HIGHLY recommend thanksiving weekend for an introduction to zhills, though. it's amazing. enjoy your travels wherever they may take you.

congrats to both of you!! and YEAHHHHHHHHH!! zhills gets you guys! woohoooo! i wish you both happiness. :) love, arlo

are you my daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddy? hey, as long as bill didn't try to dress you up as that sheep, you should be alright.... ;) honestly, those guys rock. they are full of shit, but are really two of the best and good-hearted people that you'll meet. god bless 'em.

i was thinking the same thing, marc! johnny gates (muffbrother65..yes, #65) and bill (happythoughts) are my heroes. BGILL, you couldn't have had better wingmen on your MB initiation dive. congratulations... ASSHOLE. arlo MB#1965

Lara Eisenberg..........VA Robin Saunders........Ontario Canada Leigh Ainsworth........Queenstown, New Zealand Audrey Thies............MO Lorie Koop................IL Carol Redding.......... AK Carol Clay................VA Joanne Eichorn.........FL Libbi Mathews..........Austin TX Kellie Middleton.......AZ Dan Biktachev..........Moscow Mariann Kramer.......Skydive Dallas, TX Pat Menke..............WA Marie Winther..........La Mesa, CA Arlo.........................FL Kate Cooper.............perris, CA Robyn Best...............davis, CA Sandy Thiede............west troy, WI (skyknights) btw, you don't have to be a participant to sell them (obviously, we've got Dan hooking us up in Moscow...thanks dan!!). Support team members can or hell, even if you want to do a little friendly DZ competition. it's all good. ALSO... don't forget about the kick-ass Brit Chicks Raffle: http://www.britchicks.org/tickets.asp or contact cpoxon and he can point you in the right direction, too.

hey guys (frenchy, thanks for bringing this up)- here's a list of the folks (so far) who are selling raffle tickets. you may already know them from your home dz. but if you don't, please feel free to PM me if you want to buy tickets from the participant closest to you:

hey everybody. please shoot me a PM when you get the raffle tickets you purchased in the mail.

thanks dave. we got a pic of it yesterday with her sis jaime and her best friend (and nasa employee) danielle standing next to it. i just can't get over what a cool memorial that is to krys.

this might be a repost but i'm too lazy to look for it. there is a cool ass photo in Skydive the Mag (BPA publication) by Andy Ford of some dude named Kev deploying off the back of Craig Bailey (corrected!)flying his wingsuit. i'm sure this is old news for you brits, but i just got this mag a few days ago. very nice!! (btw, thanks leslie! ) arlo

NASA wanted to memorialize krys by placing her name just below the NASA emblem on the nose cone of the Atlas V Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. her parents were able to see it and stand next to the nose cone to have their photos taken. very, very cool. Atlas V is set to launch tomorrow.

what makes you think that those of us that have had lasik didn't do the research? you're really coming across like we don't know what we've done to ourselves, when quite frankly, i did my research. if you go back and read what you've written, it's pretty condescending and i would really hope that you don't talk to your patients as children ...unless they are. it's not very appreciated. i'm really surprised, too. you've also made it clear that you think we're giving medical advice. if someone asks me if i think they should look into lasik, most likely i'll say yes. if you think that's giving medical advice, i'll tell you that's my opinion and i think you are wrong. otherwise, alot of us would need malpractice insurance. if YOU say i think you should have lasik, then you're giving medical advice. if i tell someone they should have their leg amputated because they broke a nail, and they do it, do you think i am responsible? be realistic here. i guess one of MY pet peeves is condescention from the medical field. fortunately, i have very few dealings with that type of attitude because i DO my research and know what questions to ask. blues, arlo (general comment not directed towards anyone) An optometrist (OD) examines eyes for both vision and health problems, prescribes glasses, and fits contact lenses. Optometrists prescribe many ophthalmic medications and may participate in your pre- and postoperative care if you have eye surgery. An optometrist must complete four years of post-graduate optometry school. An ophthalmologist (MD) is a medical doctor who specializes in the eye. They perform eye exams, treat disease, prescribe medication, and perform surgery. They may also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses. An optician is not a doctor, but in some states they must complete training and be licensed. And in some states they can become certified, after special training, to fit contact lenses. Most opticians sell and fit eyeglasses, sunglasses, and specialty eyewear that are made to an optometrist's or ophthalmologist's prescription.

DUDE! are you using my evil twin's pic for a spank bank deposit?! equal time! equal time, i tell ya! there's a hot photo of jaimie, kelley, becca, mary and gang in a hot tub that would looooooooooove your attention. billy, no WAY should he scan it and post it...BTFC (buy the f-ing calendar)!!

happy birthday to you... happy BIRTHday TO yewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. happy BIRTH day dear MIIII-IIIIIIIIIIKEEEEEEEEEEE HAPPY birth-dayyyyyyyyyyyyyy tooooooooooo youuuuuuuu. i wish you the best that this world can offer.

yep, wesley chapel is due west of zhills...by about 15 minutes. you scored! SR 54 east to coats road ( traffic light and winn-dixie) turn right onto coats. continue to stop sign, turn left onto chancey rd. pass 301, 33, RR tracks, ~ 3 miles past the RR tracks, look for the skydive city sign on the left. have fun and make sure to tip Paul (bartender) well!