KevinP

Hehe I'll be there, but, um, I'll be finishing up my AFF.

It takes me sometimes upwards of six months to drink a six-PACK. Not a big drinker. When I do, it's Guinness or Young's (double chocolate stout). Not everyone likes such beers. I am also fond of Sam Adams Cherry Wheat and Black Lager. When I went to the DZ for my AFF1, I took in a 12-pk of Heineken because that's what someone suggested. I'm willing to play along with this beer thing, but I'm not buying $4/bottle beer for my instructors, cameraman and riggers when I graduate. What's the option?? Sincerely, Kevin

I'm not sure about "attracted to." I shave my head and I have a reasonably good self-image so..... Sincerely, Kevin

I was stationed at Fort Hood for six years and could never figure out the weather. It was tough for those paid to do it, as well.

GOOD STUFF! I botched Level 1 (go to youtube and search for "ugliest skydive ever), but I'm going back next weekend and I hope to get through Level 3. Clear skies!! And arch. LOL Oh and welcome back from Iraq. Sincerely, Kevin

Eh. $15 isn't too bad for hearing protection. I do some shooting, too, so they could serve a couple of functions. I may check them out. I have so much Surefire stuff from three trips to Iraq, they should just GIVE them to me. LOL If I get some, I'll report my opinion here. Thanks! Sincerely, Kevin

I was going to jump, but a nasty low pressure system came though. This is the 2nd time I will see SNOW in southern Arizona. I just don't get it. Next weekend, though, is going to be BEAUTIFUL!! I'm going to try to get in three on Sunday. I hope next weekend works out for you, too! Sincerely, Kevin

I like it. I have some "combat" ear plugs like these http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Health/Safety/Products/Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LES9MG812H2_nid=Q9HRRXWL57gsQQFFG1G8R7glMB6JDZSHS7bl. They have the cord, so I could tie it off to the inside of the helmet as well. Don't know about that silver one I wore on the last jump. I am looking to get a Benny. Maybe I'll have it before the next jump. Thanks for the tip! Sincerely, Kevin

Done. Sincerely, Kevin

My "home town" in North Carolina, my most recent residence AND my current school location: Indian Ocean. My projected residence in Hawaii: Kkhoutsiri, Ghanzi Sincerely, Kevin

My AFF instructors said that they prefer I not wear them, saying that they want to make sure I can hear the radio. I'll pacify them for seven jumps, but after that, I'm wearing hearing protection. I have terrible tinnitus in my left ear from being young and stupid and that same ear has significant hearing loss at certain frequencies. You only get one set of eyes and ears. Better to take care of them. Sincerely, Kevin

SD SM is where I did my tandem. Big dude name Ray (if memory serves) was the TI. GREAT people!! I would like to refer you to a video of what NOT to do.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwK8zwf3Leg There are some very valid comments with the video and there is a thread here that expresses some interesting views as well. Whatever you do, ARCH!! LOL Sincerely, Kevin

Guilty. I was invited to go to Tombstone, AZ to do some stuff. My reply? "I can't, dude. The cash I have on hand is for my level 1 and level 2 jumps." Guilty. Guilty. See Tombstone comment above. That's when it started.

While I can't speak intelligently about the jump-worthiness of UA products, I can say that I have used various UA pieces throughout my Army career and I am very pleased. The Heat Gear keeps me cool in the summer and the Cold Gear keeps me functional in the winter (I really don't like cold weather, so comfort during long-term exposure of below-50*F temps isn't an option). I'd strongly recommend UA for anything. Sincerely, Kevin

One of my soldiers once told me he liked his women like he liked his coffee. I said "What? Strong and dark?" He said, "No! Ground up and kept in the freezer." Just thought I would throw that out there. Sincerely, Kevin

Agreed, but MotoGP sounds as good, IMO. Sincerely, Kevin

HUGE +1. I was talking to my wife tonight on the phone and had a visual of me, with instructor firmly docked, spinning belly up, with my hands flat and on either side of my face (see the video in the screw the pooch thread, if you haven't already and you'll see what I mean). I mentally made the comparison to some crazed mime. This made me burst into laughter. Without missing a beat, my wife said, "You're still laughing about that jump, aren't you?" Through tears of laughter, I admitted that I was. She said, "You definitely have a screw loose. Normal people don't go through that and then still be laughing about it three days later." She's right! I'm not normal and I definitely have a screw loose. BUT IT WAS SO COOL!!!!! Sincerely, Kevin

Sorry, I forgot to finish. I edited my post though. :) Sincerely, Kevin

That's cool! The US Army is changing the physical fitness program and the new one includes an exercise called the prone row. You start on your belly, arms and legs extended kinda like Superman, with your feet off the ground. On count one, you bring your elbows down to each side as you would doing a pull-up while at the same time arching your back trying to lift as much of your torso off the ground as possible. I thought that was a stupid exercise until I did that tunnel time. Now I find myself putting extra effort into it. EDIT: Crap, I didn't finish. Count 2, you extend back out, count three, same as count 1, count 4 is the same as count 2. It's a four-count exercise. If you plug "Prone Row" into google, you can find a video demo of it. Sorry. :) Sincerely, Kevin

Haha. I wish I could. She thought I was going to be offended. After 23 years of marriage, I'm not sure how she'd think that. It's rare that she hits me like that, but when she does, it is well timed and straight-on. Sincerely, Kevin

I'm not trying to be a postwhore, but I can't get this stuff out of my head, even though I'm just now recovering from the spin-induced headache that started after the dizziness went away yesterday (see the screw the pooch thread). I am standing in my bathroom doorway, simulating the right- and left-side checks, count, exit (WITH ARCH) and dive flow. Wow. This stuff gets into your SOUL, huh? Sincerely, Kevin

Thanks Bro. My wife just got my USPA membership packet in the mail and was talking about the sticker. She said it was too bad that they didn't have one of a jumper breakdancing on the way down. ROLF Sincerely, Kevin

Okay, as best as I can remember: 1:40 - MS Instructor releases and I roll over. 1:44 - I check the altimeter. I was just under 6,500. At that point, I distinctly remember thinking that we were still a few seconds above pull altitude of 5,500. I also remembered that, with no instructor, I was supposed to pull regardless of altitude, but the First Jump Course instructor also said that, if we are above 5,500 and without an instructor, there was nothing wrong with waiting until that altitude to pull. I felt if I were to ride out until 5,500, maybe my attitude in the air would settle down and I would have a cleaner opening. As this thought is completing, I feel contact from an instructor. 1:45 - I feel contact from an instructor and make the determination that they are both on me to get me situated and stable. 1:50 - I see that I'm approaching 5,500, but now, I'm being rocked by the two docking, so I just submitted to it. 1:58 - I am watching the alti for 5,500 and was about to wave off when I felt the container open. 2:00 - I glance at MS in an attempt to acknowledge that he had deployed my canopy. So, all that being said, he probably deployed it right at, or maybe slightly below the prescribed 5,500. Contrary to what seems reasonable, I was lucid, alert and very much in tuned to what was going on. Again, I accept total responsibility for the train wreck that was happening between 13K and ~6K. I was prepared to initiate the deployment sequence, BUT I appreciate the instructors doing what they thought was best. There was no way they could assess my frame of mind. Many would probably be freaking out and may not pull on time, if at all. While I won't say that I credit them with anything as dramatic as saving my life, I will say that, in my inexperienced mind, they did their job. I have read quite a bit to the contrary here, but that is for you AFF I folks to debate. I'm going back, hopefully with the same trio (instructors and camera) so that WE can execute that jump the way it was rehearsed on the ground. Sincerely, Kevin

Yeah. When I felt him release, I did what I thought was accentuate my arch, which in reality was actually finally arch. Flipped me right over. Haha And the line twists only took two good kicks to get out. While about 23 years ago, I have kicked out of lots of riser/line twists. I woke up this morning with a huge grin on my face. I'm ready to do it again, even after reading "getting closer to killing the guy." Thank God my wife doesn't read this forum. Sincerely, Kevin

Jay said the PC got caught up in the burble for a bit. But it was pretty shy. :) Sincerely, Kevin