PLFKING

Hey Ann -- Wow.....the questions you see asked on these forums ! Years ago (in my early -to-mid 20s) I used to ride a lot, and this one particular lady would bring along her Pomeranian occasionally. She had taken a leash-harness (the kind that fasten around both the front and back legs, and had a strap running under its body lenghtwise under the belly and another over the backbone) and sewn metal rings to it at the neck and tail. She also wore a vest that she had sewn 2 little clip-hooks to, so when they got on the bike, she just clipped him on (sort of like a tandem student), and the dog could sit on the gas-tank when they rode, and she had hands-free operation of the bike. She had also taken the plastic bubble off a child's toy bubble-gum dispenser, bored some air holes in it, and used that to keep the wind out of the dog's eyes. It had four little strips of bungee cord sewn into the collar that passed through holes in the bubble, then were sewn back to the collar -- this allowed the dog some freedom in moving its head, but the bungee cord would pull the bubble back to its original position. Before she sewed the bungee cord on, she said the wind would pin the bubble to one side or the other, and the dog wasn't strong enough to hold it straight-on into the wind, but the elasticity in the bungee cords would hold it steady. When we'd stop for lunch or whatever, she'd take him out of the harness. When it was time to ride again, the dog would actually try to climb into the harness/helmet combination by himself -- it was hilarious to watch him pushing it around trying to climb in ! She said when she first made it, the dog was resistant to the idea of putting his head in the bubble, but she smeared a little bacon grease on the inside a few times, and she never had problems after that. She also thought the dog associated the helmet with riding, and he loved to ride. Every time I saw him, he looked like a little alien visitor or something.... In your case, 2 attachment clips would be too much to deal with in an emergency.....I would think you could sew one clip onto your chest strap, and have a belly-band with Velcro installed on your rig.......you could then clip his collar onto your chest-strap and Velcro his tail-end to your belly-band. And you could rig up a short static-line running from your chest-strap to a pouch on the back of his harness, said pouch to be holding a very large pilot chute, (or maybe a tandem drogue chute), so that in an emergency, you could just unclip, peel him away, and throw him clear. And I honestly never thought I would have an opportunity in life to relate that story, but it just goes to show that no knowledge is TOO trivial ! Hope it helps.... The PLF Commandant

Hey Head Guy -- Be sure to say Hi to MikeD when you get over there........and tell him to post once in a while......I miss his diatribes ! The PLF Yard Dart

Numbers mean nothing......you'll always be our #1 'Sis !! The PLF King (but getting better.....landed, then dropped to one knee 3 times in a row today !)

I found it ! Pretty cool......hope I didn't piss everyone off with all the "door opening and closing".....first chat room experience ! (thought fff was going to take a swing at me !) The PLF "computer virgin"

Hey Folks ! Finally got a home computer this week, and I thought I'd stop by Happy Hour and have a virtual beer with all you cool people, but I can't figure out how to get there ! I even have a designated driver tonight..... I looked in Announcements, Suggestions and Feedback, Error and Bug Reports, FAQs, and even consulted my Magic 8 Ball -- NOTHING ! Sure could use some help......right now it's my virtual bedtime, but if anyone can explain, I'll stop by next week.........and please make explanation as literally simple as possible --- when it comes to computers, you're talking to a three-year-old.... The "Puzzled" PLF Guy

Hey Mike -- I'm in the same boat as April and Jess......40 jumps now, and only 8 stand-ups. My progression in every other aspect of jumping (i.e. exits, manuevers, on-heading deployments, canopy control, landing patterns, hitting the target, etc...) has been great -- even surpassing my own expectations -- but that last 20-30 feet of elevation is mentally kicking my ass. If I flare when I think I need to, I'm dropping like a brick the last 8-10 feet ; if I make myself wait another second, I'm doing the "butt-bounce"....ouch ! When I try to slow down my flare, that opens another can of worms, and none of them are pretty.... I was also told by several people that a smaller canopy with more responsiveness would help, but it seems like it's getting worse.......I'm carrying a lot more speed at landing, and it seems to me that the timing of my flare is even MORE crucial now, and I'm failing miserably at it. I did my training on a Manta 288, and my rig is a PD-230 ( I weigh 235 with my gear). The thought of down-sizing and being even faster at landing is scary enough to keep me up at night. I wish there was some magical way for my jumps to just end when I'm 20 feet up.....like flying into a safety net or something. It's gotten to the point that I've been seriously considering tying a 10-foot length of rope to my ankle, and flaring when it starts dragging the ground, but I feel that would add another set of potential problems to an already dangerous sport.....the act of plf-ing doesn't bother me at all, and (unfortunately) I've become very proficient at it, but every plf has the potential for injury -- no matter how good I am at it, eventually the law of averages is going to bite my ass. And, to me, watching someone come in, flare, and gracefully stand it up is the most awe-inspiring and beautiful sight in the sport (maybe because I CAN'T do it !). This problem isn't going to make me stop jumping, but it does worry the hell out of me. I know I've joked about the idea for a long time, but I'm seriously thinking about seeking out the fat kids, and strapping on the rollerblades........ The PLF (I'd like to retire this moniker) King

Actually, Pyke, I'm thinking HE was in the wrong hole......... The PLF Proctologist ps Chuck, I hope you heal up soon.........you've got to be careful with your ass.......it doesn't take much to break them, 'cause they're already cracked.....

You da MAN ! (....er, boy ?...er, teenager ?) Way to go, Omri......now you're all set for that trip to the States ! The PLF Captain

Hey Sis, Pammi -- Why do you two have old hands ? And why would you advertise it like that ? Is it some kind of skydiving / dishwashing thing ? I'm planning on Raeford (N.C.) for the Fourth. C'mon down.....should only be a mere 30-hour drive for you three..... The PLF Conquistador

Way to go, Kel ! See, good things happen to good people who persevere........... That PLF Guy

In one year, 356 people drowned in their bathtubs. Unfortunately, this is not as "glamorous" as "falling out of a plane to your death", so the newspapers don't bother to print it. Yes, skydiving is dangerous......it's not WHAT you're doing, it's WHERE you're doing it. After my first static line jump, I bought Pointer's book, and read it cover-to-cover twice in the week before my second jump, and felt a lot safer for knowing the REAL risks, and not just the convictions of the non-jumpers I know, who all thought (and still do) that I'm nuts. Read all the info you can find, evaluate the personal risk, THEN make your decisions.... Me ? I'm gonna keep jumpin'....... The "Psychotic" PLF King btw, Cyber, I really liked the pic........reminds of of myself on "the morning after"........

Hey Frank........I DO live in the greatest country on the planet, but we'll just do our normal "Fourth of July" fireworks, thanks.........happy "Canada Day" to you, however........... The "Patriotic" PLF King

Something I've always wanted to ask ya'll..... I have seen this word in print about 3 million times, but I've never actually heard a skydiver use it in conversation, or refer to someone as such.........how many of you actually hear people using the word "whuffo" at your DZ ? Do you think this is a regional thing ? Just curious..... The PLF CFO

Hey, Jess and Sis ! (a couple of Texas cuties if I ever saw one....) I should know better by now than to argue with you two.......I'll just go back to fantasizing about ya'll instead ! The PLF Cowboy (quietly sitting, and stirring the fire with his........)

Well, at least we know that Texas women don't suffer from low self-esteem......... The PLF Cow-Poke(r)

jt, what can I say......this is classic ! If it wasn't such a long sentence, I'd tattoo it where it really belongs -- on my dingus !.....(gets out ruler and measures).."Oh, wait...it WILL fit !" Okay, now.......no need to bring OUR defenseless cows into this, just because you Brits can't seem to manage your own bovine's sanitary habits......... Careful now !.....(I personally believe that both Sis and Jess are AT LEAST as smart as your average Alabaman......) The PLF Czar

Yeah, what Geek said ! You know, there WAS a reason the colonists didn't want to be associated with the Brits, and it didn't have anything to do with "taxation without representation"......they simply had no interest in diddling sheep ! The PLF Prime Minister

Just think of the REAL victim here......the little girl. She'll probably be on "Oprah" 16 years from now, explaining WHY she is suing the Sesame Street Show, and how her life was traumatized by this incident in her childhood...... The cookie-loving PLF King ps....where the hell was Big Bird during all this ? Cowering in the bushes ?

Wingnut -- I refer back to my comment about you "being the last person you would pick up by the side of a lonely country road "....... "nuff said !

Hey PTiger -- Sorry.....my bad. I just assumed the "Palmetto" and "Tiger" were synonamous with "South Carolina" and "Clemson"......of course, we all know what happens when a person "assumes" anything.... Well, this sheds a completely different light on the subject. If you attend Princeton, then I have to believe this project will achieve fruition, DESPITE the Wingnut's attempts to help.... The "egg-on-face" PLF King

Mikey ! You've definitely been missed.......thanks for the Monday morning laughs ! The PLF King

Hey, Wingnut ! Hey, PTiger ! You guys are making this too easy......I can't resist !! This is the only possible scenario I see happening -- Mix : 1) one Clemson attendee.... 2) 240 volts of electricity... 3) advice from the Nutman.... (I can't continue....the mental picture is just too horrific........)

Yeah, yeah......when you're 3 sheets into the wind, you love everybody ; how do you feel about us when you're sober ? And check out Dave's pic -- doesn't the 'ol Wingnut look like the LAST person you would pick up late at night on the side of the road ? That PLF Fool

Why does this topic seem so familiar to me ? Oh, that's right.......because I only have 7 stand-up landings in 40 total jumps........ Jeji, you have my sympathies.........if you figure it out, be sure to e-mail me ! They don't call me the PLF King because I have blue blood.

Michele -- I've been reading these forums since last August, and I think that has to be one of the best stories I've read. You are awesome... I've got 40 jumps, and I love the hell out of everything about this sport, but I do admit that just the thought of cutting away is still enough to cause massive angst. I do all the drills all the time, but I get nervous when I think about actually having to perform them, even wonder sometimes if I'll remember everything -- not a good mindset to have. You are my hero as well..........and Sangiro, I would second the motion of putting this story up front. The PLF King