dthames

Please excuse my ignorance and help me visualize “Arch first, then cut away”, in this situation. Say I am under an inflated canopy with the breaks set and have determined because it can’t be steered that EP is required. I have my hands on the handles and I am ready. I can’t get fully into belly flying position, so this “arch” is what,……the best I can do with my arms to my sides? Head back, chest and hips forward, bend my knees 45, and then “punch down, punch down”, followed by getting my arms into the normal hover position? Is that what I should be seeing here? Thanks Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Some people think they can just make stuff up as they please. This sort of thing is what me might be seeing here. When my boys were in jr high they told them they could not wear a “trench coat”. When it rained I sent Don to school with my old US Army All Weather Coat. I showed him the label that said such. I told him if challenged show them the label and tell them it was an all-weather coat. And if they still had an issue with it to tell them to call me. Then they told the kids they could not carry a backpack, but the girls could carry a purse, including a shoulder bag. We sent him to school with a shoulder bag and told him if a girl can have one, so can he. I am not the type to try a law suit, but I get so tired of such crap. My kids are well out of school but in the same school now, they are telling the kids they can’t wear certain things that are black. I think the kids that want to dress up all black look stupid. But you can’t just make rule up because you don’t like something and you think you have “the power”. stepping off the soapbox now :) Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I don't know if I would agree (100% of the time) that you can study too much ahead of time. I think it depends on what you study and how each person processes information. I am a bit of a skeptic on a lot of things. As you study, separate facts from points of view or opinions. Facts are facts. Other things always need to be taken with a grain of salt. Tuck them away and see if they prove true, someday. The FAA rules in the SIM are facts and if you are expected to know and understand them, then there is not any harm in learning those facts. I mean things like how far from clouds when you jump or required student equipment. A current example for me…… I have watched parachutes packed by many different people. I have watched videos of packing. Have I had a packing class yet? NO. Do I know how to pack a parachute? NO. But, if someone says "A and B lines", I do know what they are talking about. As I try to learn more about packing, I am not trying to learn how to pack. I am just trying to get in the position to learn. I think the same can be done while you are waiting. Get the right books. Listen to the right people. Don’t try to learn how to skydive. But you can learn about skydiving, if you know what I mean. But when you step into the first jump class, you must put it all aside and learn what is taught then and there. To me, that is the bottom line. I was waiting like you before I started and I know the feeling. This forum has been helpful. I have already identified about 4 high count jumpers that when they post, I pay close attention to what they say.....and take it with a grain of salt ;) Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

>Also, see if you can find a copy of "The Parachute and it's Pilot" by Brian Germain. All these ideas and more are covered brilliantly in that book. < Thanks for the input. Yes, I have that book and have started over for the second reading of it. I flew model airplanes enough to understand the basics of what we are trying to do. But many aspects of canopy flying much different and every canopy landing is a "dead stick" landing. So, there is much to learn. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I go deer hunting one a year with my brother and I will kill one given the chance. I can also shoot them legally that are around my house, but I just leave them alone. I like to watch them. I am not in need of the meat or I would also shoot those near my house. I wouldn't kill the one bird if there were not plenty more around. If there are plenty in the area, go for it. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Having talked with Brian a few times about this, I think the 2 main points that his analysis highlighted were: - Any turn you do after opening dramatically increases the risks for either collisions, or hard landings (at a minimum you need controlled 90's for your patterns, even if those already increases your base risks, but anything above that raises it more) I am new. Yes, I read the report. Learn from the start, “don’t turn a lot outside a normal pattern”. Okay, got that. Now looking at the A and B license requirements for landing accuracy, I am wondering do the two goals conflict? I really don’t know a great deal about how to hit landing target. So maybe it would will be clear after I know more. Thanks for any insight. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I am very new as well. I did this on my last jump, a static line exit from a Cessna 182. I was told, stay low. I leaned over the wing strut with my hands on the strut and my chest down on my hands. That way the top of my head and my shoulder tops were into the wind. When it came to reaching out and hanging from the strut, I don't recall doing anything special other than just working my hands out as far as I could reach and then transfering my weight carefully to my hands. If you don't have the strength in your hands to hold against the wind, that might be a problem hard to deal with. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I am a newcomer to skydiving. I have been working with and using video for more than 30 years and see it as a great learning tool. Also, for journal type work. I also am looking forward to the day when I might jump with a camera, not camera flying. Reading about camera concerns in the SIM, I recall a comment like,....."no matter what size the camera is". I can see the case of camera flying where what is recorded influences the attention of the jumper as a big issue. But in the case were a recording device no larger than a pack of chewing gum is just along for the ride and is safely out of the way of being entangled, I do see that is a completely different matter. I don't see it is a matter to be taken lightly, but different. I am not posting here to challange conventional wisdom. I would like to understand more of what the issues are in regards to jumping with a small camera (not camera flying). One thing I really wish I could do is to voice record under canopy so I can make notes on my training. Thanks, Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Marinus, I am 54 and just did my first 2 AFF jumps. Don't put off skydiving for 30 years like I did. Visit the DZ and learn how things operate. You will get a lot of encouragement from others if you let them know you plan to join them in the sky. Watch videos like these (below) and learn more about what you will be doing. Read the Skydiver Information Manual while you wait for winter to pass. When the time comes, you take your position for exit, and it just happens. It will be drilled into you, very well. http://www.skydivegreensburg.com/trainingvideos.html Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I am prone to motion sickness and was dropped by the DZ where I started my AFF training. I passed two for two on the jumps but because I got sick, they see that as additional risk. A coworker that I know has been jumping for more than 20 years and he also had motion sickness problems when he started. But he got over it. I have not given up. Dan T. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Mills, I am fifty four years old, new to skydiving, and it is something I have wanted to do all my adult life. I have been sensitive to motion sickness all of my life. Under canopy looking down at the ground and maneuvering compounds the motion sickness problem. I made a joke to my wife after the second jump by telling her, when I get finished I might be the first instrument rated skydiver. While I said that sort of as a joke, I have been thinking about technical solutions that might help me. I have tinkered with micro computer controls in the past. Just for fun I have been thinking about electronic solutions that might help me avoid so much time looking down at the ground. The last time I was working with electronic controls was 2005. Even back then you could get a GPS receiver unit you could integrate into a design project. The GPS receiver would deliver data in text format that an embedded controller chip could use to make decisions. As I write this, I am brainstorming the idea. So don’t think this is a well-planned solution. It is just a concept. And before I get any further I would say, such a device might already exist that could help you. If not, finding a college student in electronics that needs a Master’s or a PHD project might get you free engineering development. I imagine an interment package that would have the following abilities. 1. A custom micro controller computer system. Something smaller than a pint milk carton should be possible. 2. Ultrasonic or inferred ranging to give you precise distance to ground as you get ready to flare. I know of people that have robbed autofocus units out cameras to build their own short distance range finders. A tone that ramped up a recognizable cue to flare might work. 3. A GPS and compass unit that would be tied into the primary computer, so that the computer could know where it was and what direction it was moving. Imagine you are under canopy, and you have a way to signal the computer. I see people taking photographs in freefall by blowing on a tube that is in their mouth. One puff on the tube and the shutter is triggered. The computer would need several flight modes to get you where you need to be. First you need to maneuver to the holding area so you are in range to enter your landing pattern. Pretend this computer has menu that you can rotate through by blowing on the tube. You puff, puff, puff until you hear it tell you, FLY TO HOLDING AREA. In the FLY TO HOLDING AREA mode it would tell you the distance to the holding area, the heading to the holding area, and your heading. You might not really want to know your heading at long as you could tell if you were headed correctly or not. If you were headed correctly you would get a pleasant tone in the background as the computer counted down the range to the holding area. I you needed to steer left, the computer could cue you with tones or with words……..10 left, 10 left, 5 left, 5 left, then beeeeeep, meaning you are on course again. Now you want switch computer mode and have it keep you in the holding area. During this time we could also determine wind. By flying a square box with the GPS data you can find the direction of least ground travel. Now you know and the computer knows your heading for being into the wind. Also, you could have a changing tone or a voice telling you how far you were from the center of the holding area and what your heading is. At a predetermined altitude the computer would switch to a mode to guide you into your landing pattern. Somewhere about now we need to make sure the computer has the correct heading for INTO THE WIND. Even with good instruments you will most likely need a spotter to help you. Since we have arrived at the holding area, we can skip that option in the menu and so reduce the number of puffs in the tube to cycle through the options. Because we are near our landing pattern entry point, we can’t do too many things other than to land. Pretend you want to enter the landing pattern at 900 feet. At 1200 feet the computer says, INTO THE WIND HEADING IS 180. I am assuming your hands are busy with the toggles, so we can’t be pushing any buttons. The computer offers to ADJUST HEADING UP…pause for 2 seconds…..ADJUST HEADING DOWN….pause for 2 second….ADJUST HEADING UP….pause for 2 seconds. During this time your spotter tells you, Your landing heading needs to be 135. You wait until you hear ADJUST HEADING DOWN, and give a puff, HEADING 165, puff again, HEADING 150, puff again, HEADING 135. With no more puffs coming for a couple of seconds the computer assumes you are happy with the heading and starts directing you to the entry point. Of course you would have to be very well practiced on such a system before using it. Some would say it would be too complicated to use. But I continue with my concept……… Even if you are not dead over your landing pattern entry point, at 900 feet you start your downwind leg. The computer reports (over and over) DOWNWIND, Altitude, STEER 10 RIGHT, DOWNWIND, Altitude, STEER AHEAD, ……time passes…….APPROACHING BASE…..TURN RIGHT TO BASE, STEER 40 RIGHT, STEER 20 RIGHT, STEER AHEAD, BASE, Altitude, STEER AHEAD, APPROACHING FINAL, TURN RIGHT TO FINAL, STEER 50 RIGHT, STEER 20 RIGHT, STEER AHEAD, 200 FEET, STEER AHEAD, 100 FEET, STEER LEFT 10, 50 FEET, goes to tones as you approach flare point. At this point you could get a tone for decent rate or one for distance to ground. But it would be easy to get input overload if you tried to do both. I you assume you got a proper cue to flare at the right height, you are into your flare and the rate you are flaring might need adjustment based on your decent rate. But one might work just as well at the other. On my second jump I could not see the details of the ground very well and I almost was tricked into flaring way too high. When I got to the point I was sure I was not being tricked I was almost too low and I flared like crazy, swung forward, and was gently set on my butt. If the urgency of the situation had not been clear to me, I would have hit pretty hard. However it is done, you need to be adaptive during the flare. I don’t know much about managing as a blind person but I have seen examples of sonar type “glasses” that a person can wear. From what I understand they might give you pretty good feedback on your impending contact with mother earth. But a similar feature could be designed into the instrument package as well. While all of this sounds pretty complicated, this is the type of project college students do all of the time. It would be interesting to contact MIT and CalTech to see if they thought this would make a good research project for a student. You might get a system developed for free, and you the test dummy. (joke) One more thought. In my AFF training we used a classroom altimeter that looked real but was in fact a timer with a “second hand” that clocked at the rate of freefall. Imagine you and a student are developing this system. The computer software could be written to have a ground training mode and a normal flight mode. In normal flight, the altitude changes as you descend. In ground training mode, altitude changes could be simulated by the passage of time. So, you get the thing turned on, you get in a large field and start running the program. You are directed to the holding area, onto landing pattern, ete. You could “land” into a wall or some other obstruction that would represent Earth. Anyway just a crazy idea you can ponder. Dan T. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I am not seeking any vindication about being right and someone else being wrong. Mostly I am just sharing my entry to the skydiving community as things unfold. I told the fellow that he was mistaken in his assessment of me. He said something like “Well, if I am wrong, the error is on the side of caution”. I can respect that (sort of) and at that point I just shut my mouth and left the property. I think people often jump to conclusions when the facts are not clear to them. Did he see me pacing the floor in the unheated packing area when I had no coat on. “Looks like nerves to me”. This is a true story. When I was about 5th grade one of my friends visited with another friend of ours, and went to church with him. As the service was nearly over the preacher was asking for any come forward if they needed to make a commitment to Jesus. Butch was seen digging his fingernails into the back of the pew in front of him and clearly he had issues that he needed to deal with. A gentlemen stepped over and asked Butch if he help him or council him in any way. Butch did not respond and the fellow continued to pressure Butch as to what it was he was trying to deal with. Finally Butch opened up to him and say, “I have to go pee, like right NOW”. At another DZ I did a static line jump yesterday and canopy work from almost 5000’ to the ground did not make me sick, so the patch appears to work wonders. I did that jump from a Cessna 182, hanging on the outmost part of the wing strut like a monkey. In all my u-Tube watching I don’t recall seeing an exit like that. It was a great challenge to get all the way out there as instructed. They told me many post AFF students have issues with a hop and pop, because getting out at a lower altitude unnerves them. I did fully disclose to that DZ the situation and the static line jump allowed me to see if the medicine worked. I have not noticed any issue with the clearing of my ears and the motion sickness. I did not clear them on the way down yesterday. On the ground the instructor was talking to me before I was fully on my feet (PLF) and it sounded like a faraway voice. I looked up and saw his lips moving and very little sound, much like some of those battle scenes on “Saving Private Ryan”. I quickly cleared my ears and I could hear him okay. But even with my ears in reduced pressure, I didn’t have any sensations because of it. On all my (3) jumps I was under a 260 size main. The one I flew yesterday appeared to take more effort to flare. I felt like I was on a weight machine or something. Thankfully I had practiced it high up several times to get the feel of it. It was too windy today for students. Hopefully I can get back to my AFF next Saturday, weather permitting. Sorry, no videos of my jumps. I wonder what the Navy would be like if everyone that got seasick was sent home? Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I got a prescription for the motion sickness. It is worn behind the ear and it’s good for 3 days. The doctor made it clear that I need to do a test wearing it in advance of jumping. I put the patch on Thursday about noon. I have a desk job and on any normal day I want some coffee about mid-afternoon. After 3 hours I had no problems, so…… I took a vacation day and drove the 4+ hours to my first choice DZ, where I had did my first two AFF jumps. No problems with the medicine. I woke at 3:00 AM without an alarm and headed out at 4:00 for the 4 hour drive. All was well at the DZ, but it was a bit chilly. I was on the board and expected to be on the first AFF jump. After a few minutes the chief instructor came over and said,” Let’s talk”. I filled him in on all of the details, being fully forthcoming about anything that might matter. This included my life long history of getting motion sick. He told me, ”You need to get a different sport…..you are putting yourself and the instructors at risk. He and the other psychologists/instructors at the DZ had determined I had issues with jumping. I was a bit surprised that on my first jump there was no excitement, no nervousness. I am not a nervous basket case. Honestly I have been more excited to watch a first release night movie, than when I took my first jump. The idea that someone observed me (in some odd light) and determined I was not able to function had embedded into the lead instructor’s understanding of who I am. He had never met me, and never had a single conversation with me. Judged and convicted behind closed doors. We agreed that I would jump today and then if I got sick, I would be out. A few minutes later he found me again and said I could not jump at all. I guess the most aggravation in this was that if there were any real concern the instructors that jumped with me should have said, “No more”, or “Student is a risk, so we can’t do this anymore”. There was no such comment or concern on Monday, and today I am black balled. I took a vacation day, drove all the way there, and then they decide I am “out”. I don’t give up easily. Plan B is in process and looking good. And I know now, the medicine does work for me. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I have a doctor appointment for tomorrow. Looking for those patches to wear behind the ears. I have tips from "old timers" about motion sickness. I plan to drill, drill, drill all week on my exit and diveflow for AFF 3rd jump. Maybe even if I am sick I can pass the level and learn. I am going to go again Saturday, Lord willing. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I got up this morning about 5:00 to pack my (was staying with my son near Dallas) stuff, head for Skydive Dallas. After my planned jumps I would drive the 4 hours back home. I had AFF 2 and 3 scheduled for today. After I woke up I could tell I was still suffering from the effects of yesterday. I learned years ago how sensitive I am to adverse motion changes. If I ride one of those extreme rides at an amusement park, one time and I am done. Do it again and my head is messed up and I am sick. So from the start today I knew I was in trouble, the way my head felt. Two times before I got the gear on I had the desire to call it off as I felt like I was going to throw up. I really have no concern about exiting or freefall, but still I figured nerves might be a factor. So, I pressed on. Going over in my head yesterday’s jump, I was pretty sure I had closed my eyes right after “arch” on exit and then opened them after things settled. Today, I made sure I kept them open. That might have been a mistake. Yesterday I recall seeing nothing but air, the altimeter, my hands, and hand signals. Yesterday I got sick after landing as I had been looking down. Today I did see the transition into belly down. I think this started my down the path to being sick sooner in the jump. The dive flow was awful. I struggled to remember what to do next. My form went from good on the first jump to fairly poor today. I did correct as signaled and I did complete the objectives including extending and holding my legs twice. But looking back, I did not learn what I wanted to. When I went to pull, I got hold of the grip and just froze for a second. Again, I was seriously struggling. The canopy felt good, I did a quick visual check, and then started throwing up. I got my steering check done, headed for the holding area, did some practice flares, threw up some more, did a 360 turn, threw up in the middle of it but kept going. I did the other 360, yes, and threw up again. You can image where this is all going, I mean the fluid I am expelling. I had a good protein based breakfast, took motion sickness medicine 3 hours before the jump, and I was well hydrated. I staggered around in a circle entered my pattern and could not do what I wanted to work the pattern as I had desired. I made a okay landing and then threw up some more. I really want to skydive. Or should I say, I did want to. Right now, just thinking about another jump is unpleasant. This was my biggest fear to being with. I knew I could exit and do required task without issue (once learned). This problem has been there all my life. I did have the good sense, or maybe bad sense, to purchase my first 3 AFFs jumps in advance (discounted). So I will wait a day or two and see I can muster the desire to do the third one. All the way home I thought I could upgrade the third jump to a tandem ride and give it to my son for a present. This is really an obstacle that I don’t have much control over. I am re-scheduled for my 3rd again this coming Saturday. So, 4 hours to Dallas, hope the winds/weather are okay, and see if I can do this or not. If I could avoid throwing up while in the air, maybe I could deal with it. I told my wife that maybe I can get a fancy GPS and be the first instrument rated skydiver in the area. I am joking but looking at the ground just messes me up. I will call my doctor and see if he has soon good drugs for this type of problem. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I took my First Jump Class yesterday but could not jump because of higher winds in the afternoon. I was not on the first load this morning and then the winds were up again. But about 3:00 PM they dropped and the game was on. I will give a detailed review of my dive for the other noobs. AFF first jump review: We jumped from a Caravan at 13,500 feet. It was hard for me to get low enough to clear the top of the doorway and stay on my feet, as I was crouched almost all the say down. The exit position was for me to be facing the front and when I got my head all the way out I felt overwhelmed by the noise and wind. I continued with my exit sequence of “Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, head out, knees out, back straight, check in, check out, take a breath, look up at the sky, signal UP with my outside shoulder, DOWN with my outside shoulder, and then step off with my left food and be in the arch position. I get motion sick and also have a pretty sensitive sense of balance. Changing speed and rotating in at least two, axes messed me up a bit. As things settled down I started my circle of awareness and got the Legs Out, sign, followed by OK. On the right I got Arch, and then OK. 3 practice touches went well. Back to C.O.A. and got two OKs. As I settled into a “short circle” of awareness at about 8,000 or so, I did a mental check on things I might be missing. My hands were pretty fixed and rigid. I just let them go to a floppy state and continued keeping a close eye on the altitude. At 6,000 (as instructed) I started getting ready, then waved off and pulled at 5,500 my target altitude. During freefall I didn’t ever feel excited but had been intently focused on the objectives of the jump. I never did look at the horizon nor the ground. I need to work on the horizon next time for sure. Once under canopy I felt a relief of sorts. The noise and stress to perform had been trying. I noticed I took a couple of large breaths. Most likely I had stopped breathing in freefall. I was not holding my breath, but I think I allowed the pressures to balance inside and outside my body and nothing related to breathing was happening. I was upwind of the holding area but I played around too much and didn’t get to my landing pattern entry point at the desired altitude and the wind had dropped enough that I was getting very downwind help. As I was trying to get my adjusted plan laid out the landing instructor came on the radio and directed me to a good touchdown still upwind of the ideal target but facing into the wind. My flare played out and dropped me around 2 feet or less and while I was not ideally in the PLF position, as I hit and stumbled forward, I went ahead and rolled instead of trying to eat my knee. By the time I stood up, I felt the motion sickness hit pretty hard. I was hot, which does not help. I removed my helmet and goggles, then carefully gathered up the parachute and headed inside. I was able to get out of the rig, and the jumpsuit before slipping outside and around the corner to inspect the gravel. After a minute two I decided the gravel were okay as is and headed back in. For the next hour or so, the idea of another jump (ever) was not a pleasant thought. As I got better and since I had already paid for the first 3 jumps, I started thinking about tomorrow’s planned jump(s). I stopped on the way to where we are staying and purchased some motion sickness medicine. Maybe that will do the trick and help me tomorrow. Any tips about dealing with motion sickness and skydiving, I am all ears. I don’t want that problem to stop me. I can’t imaging every wanting make many more jumps if that happens every time. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I keep my weight under 170 (but normally over 165). So for WL 1.0 I am shooting for a 190 main. From all of the advice on this thread I think I would like to work toward a 190 on school gear and be shoping for a rig to switch to as soon as I can safely fly/land it. I do want my own rig to have an AAD, for sure. Thanks, Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Thanks. That all sounds like good advice. But I am still on the question of "As a student when would your own rig become an option". I guess it would largely come down to what your instructors felt you are safe with and if the rig meets the requirements of the SIM. I will get my money ready and see how it all plays out. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I really wanted my own rig early on, but the more I was involved the more options I felt I had. I decided to buy things that I could make more informed decisions on, Alti,goggles, helmet, etc. I decided I'm not gonna go rig shopping until I get to closer to 100 jumps and have better first hand information from my own experience jumping different canopies containers etc. I may decide that as well. I was just thinking about it and wondered if there were specific restrictions that came into play. I would rather put my rental money into paying for something that is mine. That is just me, but I know I don't know enough to make a good call now. Thanks for the replies. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I am new but plan to buy a used rig as soon as it is appropriate to use my own. A 190 would give me 1.0 wing loading and I would expect I could be happy with that for a good long while. Would a student out of AFF + a few jumps be allowed to use his/her own rig? I looked at SIM 2.1 section K and it is not clear to me what the rule would be. Any help? Thanks, Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I have two more weeks to wait and I just can't sit by doing nothing. I think when I get started I will be busy training and social time will suffer. So I drove the 4 hours to Skydive Dallas yesterday just to visit and see a DZ in operation. I made some new friends and I at least know where the restroom and manifest is. I also observed some AFF students in training. A good day and worth the trip. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Hello Everyone, I have debated whether to post or not before I jump my first time. I decided that someone might say something helpful, so I am posting with zero jumps. I am 54 years old and recall having a desire to skydive since I saw the movie Gypsy Moths when I was in my early 20s. Over the years things have reminded me that “someday” I should do it. I have never been to a DZ. The only direct exposure to skydiving I have had was to ride up with the Golden Knights and sitting at the exit door during an air show in 1995. Recently video clips of wingsuit flying (back to the Gypsy Moths) have pushed me over the edge. I am scheduled to start AFF at Skydive Dallas 29 Oct. I live in Arkansas, so Dallas is a bit far, but my son lives there and we can visit with them on the trips. I am planning two days in Oct and 4 days around Thanksgiving. I hope to finish AFF during those 6 days, if I can. I have been studying the USPA SIM and watching a lot of good and bad AFF video clips. Now I have to wait 2+ weeks to start. Soon I will be a bona fide Noob. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”