CanuckInUSA

I look forward to that opportunity. It just hasn't happened yet for several reasons. I know the exhaustion part though as I have ground crewed for a few friends doing these bandit middle of the night jumps. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Because skiing on powder (while not easy for those who have yet to put the time into the sport) is just as much fun. It's easier to get on the black diamonds through using a snowboard. But skiing (for those of us who have put the time into the sport) absolutely rocks!!! I'm sure snowboarders also have fun (otherwise there wouldn't be so many of them), but skiing is for me. I worked too hard to get to where I am today to start all over and try snowboarding (skiing virtually 7 days a weeks, 117 days in total back in the winter of '90 was my break through year). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I was supposed to marry someone at last year's Eloy Holiday Boogie, but didn't (it was one of those joke scam Green Card marriages). So will you be at this year's Holiday Boogie? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

The American/Iraqi history books are only in their first few chapters and this story is long from over. But from the way things have been going since major military hostilations have ceased and GWB pronounced victory, it's not going to be a pretty picture for either country. When will some Americans wake up and realized that many people throughout the world do not agree with the American government's foreign policies? This was not a war to rid the world of terrorism as GWB claims it to be. GWB has a different agenda and Iraqi and American lives will continue to be lost as a result of it. This is a sad time for humankind and GWB and his crownies were the ones who started it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

LOL ... to date only 5% of my jumps have been made at what some would call night. Shit one of them was done at dawn, one was done at dusk and only one of them was done in the middle of the night. All of my other 54 jumps are day time jumps. But don't forget where I've jumped. 43 jumps at the legal span in potatoville (all day time jumps except one of the pretty darn dark dusk jump and my one true night time jump), 13 jumps in Moab (all day time jumps) and my one local Antenna jump (made at dawn). So does that make me bad? Nope. Does that make me experienced? Nope. But they are what they are. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I placed a down payment for my 2nd BASE jumping rig (a Rock Dragon canopy and Warlock container from Vertigo ... or was that Apex) as well as talking to the Vertigo people about building me a dedicated Ground Launching harness. So once it arrives, I will have 2 skydiving rigs, 2 BASE jumping rigs and a Ground Launching harness (with the hope of buying a GLX Ground Launching canopy once they are made available to us Joe-Smoes in the public sector). Lot's of new toys are in the works. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Not just taking your jobs, but taking your well paying jobs. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Well it's official. Yesterday I successfully obtained another NAFTA TN-1 work visa to commence working as a software engineer for a new company come January 4th, 2005. But I must confess that the INS gave me my one and only "get out of jail for free" card as I was in violation of my old visa since I did not leave the USA after I was laid off of my old job back in November. I took the gamble that the INS and IRS weren't in tune with each other and I was wrong. The INS knew I was out of work when it came time to applying for the new visa yesterday. I think the only thing that saved me was that: 1) I was qualified for the job. 2) I was honest once they started asking me questions. 3) It is so close to the holiday season. So I'm going to have to work harder and post less once I start this new job. And while I would never marry anyone just for the sake of getting a Green Card, are there any single women out there who are interested in tolerating a relationship with a skydiver, BASE jumper and Ground Launcher who wants to move to the Denver area and marry me? I didn't think so. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I was just browsing through the list of attendees and all I can say is ... wow!!! There will be a ton of DZ.COM peeps to go along with all of the other peeps. Some of you I have already met and most of those on the list, I have no idea who you all are (I guess I'll be busy meeting new peeps). It should be a fun time. I just hope we don't have to deal with the ice boogie like we did last year. On the down side, my camera is in for repairs and I'll be shocked if it's ready in time. But on the up side, I'll have my fixed object jumping rig with me to do whatever devilry those who are into to that sort of thing want to partake in. I am thinking of passing through Moab to get a quick one (likely a solo) off of #########. But the WX in Moab might not be nice this coming weekend. Anyway, see you all in Eloy. It's not finalized yet, but I'm thinking of leaving Denver Thursday (meaning I'll be there sometime on Friday). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Rauk ... I was in a certain city north of the border this weekend and I checked out one massive A up close and numerous tasty downtown Bs. Of course I would want to speak to the locals first to get any insight to compare what I've seen and what they know before I went and blazed their possible sites (it's not their site though if they don't jump it right?). I've met one of these locals I speak of in potato land and have his number and I know one of the other locals does occasionally post here as I've exchanged PMs with him and downloaded a video of him (and the other local I speak of) doing a very tasty 900 foot E. And on top of that I got some info from a whuffo on the airplane back to Denver today concerning a 300 foot S south of the major city. Yes the whuffo doesn't jump, but he gave me enough info on this S to feel encouraged. Hmmm ... maybe my native land (where I still own a house, but don't live) isn't as bad a place for BASE as I thought. If one plays theirs cards right, one could do all 4 object types (plus throw in an O object) all within 24 hours and no more than 5 hours of driving from all object types. Hmmm ... maybe we should do a road trip in the not too distant future ... after consulting the locals of course. You don't have any outstanding warrants north of the border do you? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

The thing is Tom, the older Crew isn't all that open to jumping with newbies (I'm not sure how they feel about out of towners) whereas I've seen it with my own eyes, the new crew invites people to come visit them and jump their sites. Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate though. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm not complaining too much. I am within driving distance of Moab (I've jumped there 3 weekends since October) and Twin Falls (I've jumped there 7 weekends since Memorial Day). But yes it does suck to be me. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Every day is Bridge Day in Twin Falls Idaho. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

1) Do a lot more BASE jumps (and not die or mess myself up). 1.1) Do a 'B' so that I can get my BASE number. 1.2) Get my 2nd BASE rig functonal and online. 1.3) Start doing gainers, rollovers and tards at the bridge. 1.4) Freefall something in the 200 foot range. 1.5) Possibly do a terminal cliff BASE jump. 1.6) Possibly do a wingsuit BASE jump. 2) Do more Ground Launching (and not die or mess myself up). 2.1) Buy a specialized GLX Ground Launching canopy (not cheap). 2.2) Compete in the few blade running events that exist. 2.3) Ground Launch off of a certain cliff BASE exit point in Moab. 3) I likely won't be skydiving as much as I have in the past. But I would like to hit 1000 skydives in 2005 (I'm less than 200 jumps away from this goal). Maybe at next year's Eloy Holiday Boogie, maybe before then. It will all depend on my financial situation and how much BASE jumping and Ground Launching I do. 3.1) Do rear riser swoops (it'll happen soon if I Ground Launch a lot). 3.2) Not die or mess myself up swooping. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

0:1:0 I got a jump in off of an Antenna yesterday. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

That sucks. And here I thought I was getting a bad deal. Come to Colorado. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Good stuff Lisa. Life is a risk, but way to live life. Insurance companies are sharks. They don't give a shit about you or me. All they care about is how much $$$ they can get from us. Recently I lost my job and lost my healthcare coverage (and I am not eligible for unemployment). I have the option of continuing my Cobra healthcare coverage with my own out of pocket expenses (about $280/month) and I most likely will bite the bullet and pay this. But I am waiting until at least next week to send in my paper work as I'm off to Canada this coming weekend to apply for yet another work visa for a job offer which I have received and will start in January if all goes as planned (I'll have to work more and post less if I get the visa and the job). But I can totally understand why some people choose not to pay for their own healthcare coverage. Shit $280/month is a lot of $$$ and it's easy to say fuck it if you don't have very many assets that they can go after. But for those with assets (unfortunately I fall into this category), I think living without healthcare coverage is more risky than the BASE jumps I was doing last weekend out in Moab. Just don't fuck up right? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

You missed us in Moab last weekend. The gang from Denver and Twin Falls were tearing up Moab Utah for the weekend. It was a fantastic time with all of us jumping from a new (lowish) exit point. Good stuff I tell you, good stuff!!! Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Yup it's been done and apparently done poorly as it's been burnt to the ground. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

On jump #498, I had a premature brake fire which resulted in a nasty spinning unrecoverable linetwisted Crossfire2 139 canopy loaded at about 1.5:1 (it was likely a rushed pack job as I was trying to do my 500th on the sunset load at last years Eloy Holiday boogie which obviously never happened that day). Lessons learned? It can and will happen to me and make sure that my brakes are properly set before completing my pack job. Now for an unrelated comment ... Moab Rocks!!! Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Yesterday morning I abstained from a risker BASE jump to make a more familar BASE jump and one of the big motivating factors was because I am currently without health insurance. But afterwards I witnessed some friends make this riskier jump, and later in the afternoon I went up and made it. Jumping without health insurance is a risk that some may choose to take or some won't. The thought of fucking up and getting hurt isn't appealling. But it also helped to make myself more aware of what I was getting into and thankfully this riskier 300 foot cliff BASE jump went well and everyone walked away with new stories to tell. Life is a risk. Choose life!!! Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

0:4:0 No humps ... Four BASE jumps in magical Moab including hitting a new exit point for yours truly which was my lowest freefall to date of 300 feet. Good stuff I tell you. No beer owed, but some beer was consumed. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Unless I crash, my container is on my back (or in it's stuff sack) not being dragged around in the dirt. Plus what kind of BASE jumper (or any kind of jumper) would I be if I didn't periodically inspect and maintain my gear. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I am absolutely planning on making Ground Launching a regular activity along with my pursuits in BASE jumping and skydiving. There is a decent (but far from perfect) hill almost in my back yard which I've already scouted out and I plan on buying a specialized Ground Launching canopy once they become available to us Joe-Shmoes in the new year. I am in the process of healing from a pulled hamstring muscle (which was reinjured last week because I rushed back) and this is preventing me from being out there right now. But rest assured I will be out Ground Launching on this local hill very very soon. I should also note that I've been using my BASE jumping container as my Ground Launching container and using one of my skydiving canopies as my Ground Launching canopy. So there is a certain conflict of interest when I want to go Ground Launching but have a perfectly good BASE pack job. Things will be easier in the February/March time frame when I can have a dedicated Ground Launching harness and canopy and won't need to do all this re-rigging and unpacking perfectly good BASE pack jobs just to go Ground Launching. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Probably. How high are they? At the GLC, the training hill is 300 feet and we were only getting 10-15 second flights. But it was still a great hill to practice repetitions on until we were ready to move on to the bigger stuff. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over