LyraM45

I kinda understand what you're saying. I think there are a lot of seasoned regulars that come to this boogie and a tight knit wingsuit crowd, freefly crowd, etc, etc, after coming here with eachother year after year, but I didn't find anybody off standish. Then again I was the lone freeflyer with my head buried in the wingsuit corner with nobody else to jump with except a few of my Houston peeps that showed up. (Thanks to my fiance I'm a wingsuit groupie by association even though I freefly, and often find myself twidling my thumbs because I don't get my butt up out of the wingsuit den and find other freeflyers.... or I just drag him on a freefly jump to make me his own personal photo whore.) Anytime you see my obnoxious baby blue and charcoal at any boogie (you can't miss it and as far as I know I've never seen anybody with colors quite like mine!) you are more than welcome to come grab me for beer, chit chat, jump, or whatever. Just mingle around down there and you'll find lots of people even if you're traveling without others from your DZ. If you want organizing get your name in at the asscrack of dawn-- thats all I have to say about that. But otherwise, just pop your head around and say hi! Wish I was going this year. I'd already be looking forward to a jump with ya! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I disagree with this advice. Why pay for gear that YOU will never own? Thats all renting really is. Even if you buy big starting out (say a 210 or similar) you can still sell it for almost what you paid for it providing you take care of it. Owning gear is like having a bargianing chip when it comes time to downsize and get smaller gear. Basically you can put a HUGE chunk of $$ towards your new gear by selling your old if not pay for it completely. I reccomend looking to buy gear AS SOON AS you get your license. Theres always people out there buying and selling begginner size gear. I have to politely disagree. In my experience I think it's better to rent and downsize for a few jumps. If money was no object 50-100 jumps would be nice, but I know that is a huge chunk of change to just "throw away on gear rental." I really admire crosskeys for having that rent to own program. I don't know if they still have it but they had it when I was a student there some years ago. It gives you a chance to go through the motions and downsize properly. I wish more dropzones and gear shops could do this. Check at Deland... maybe they have something similar. There are more reasons to not buy gear off of student status than just the downsizing factor. You honestly don't know gear that well right now. Take some time and rent/jump a few containers and a few mains and find out what you like. Ask other fellow jumpers around the bondfire what they like and why. Take some time to get to know the selection before making the selection. It's a huge purchase so you might as well invest some time and research and find what is perfect for you, right? If hell bent on getting gear just off of AFF then I would say go with a bigger container that is able to take a canopy size or two lower than what you first put in it. There's no worries keeping a big reserve. IMO a reserve is never too big, but if you want to grab something that first fits a 190 and then can later put a 170 in it, that might be a better option. Just my two cents.

I miss getting chinese for xmas. When I was growing up my mom always did a very nice dinner for thanksgiving, but on xmas we opened presents and got chinese and just had a lazy day. It was fine with me as Chinese food was my favorite food growing up. (It's still high on the list, but now that I eat sushi that has taken the top spot!

Oh no!!! Scratch me from the list. I just got my firm job offer and move date and I am moving from Houston to San Fran the week before the boogie and then scheduled for training through the next four weeks after I get there. I am so sad!!!!!!!!!! You guys all enjoy, though! Drink lots of medalla for me!!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Yea, check the website. The hotels they list are all pretty good. We stayed at the Punta Maracaya last year for a few of the nights and that seemed to be where the party was every night. The bar area was nice. I don't know about camping there. I don't think that is available at the airport, but you can check local places. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I went through something similar in the post office recently. Some loud offensive looking older man obviously from TX (boots, tight pants, belt buckle, and TX flag button down shirt and all....well, this did happen in TX ), turns around, very annoyed like he had been waiting 30 minutes but in fact had only been waiting five minutes, to the whole line of people and loudly exclaims, "And this is the people you want running your health care??" Ummmm... no sir. First, the post office is an independent civilian employed "quasi-governmental" agency. And second.... ummmm..... I don't think the mail man will have anything to do with my health care. I just laughed to myself and kept quiet because I know you can't argue with stupid. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

In his defence, there is a difference between a 135 loaded 1:1 and a 175 loaded 1:1. This does *not* mean a 175@1.3 is a good idea at under a 100 jumps .. Small girls have different problems than big boys do. Both can make problems for themselves though. VERY true.... very very true, but at the time I made that transition at the particular dropzone that was my home at the time made the 1:1 loading on a 135 lesser of an evil than getting pushed back in high winds (which were often on this coastal DZ) on a 170, or even a 150. It was a tough call that was talked about with many of instructors and thought about for a very long time. I will be on this canopy for a VERY long time. (edited to add: all of this is also the reason why I choose a very square canopy.) Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I really miss living in FL and getting to this boogie. Seriously one of the best DZ parties I've been to and it lasts all frickin' week long!! Matt and I had vacation to go out there this year, but my whole unexpected transition further across the country to California is now in the way. (oh, and all the work I'm having done on my frickin' teeth, so good thing it didn't work out anyway!) You guys will all have a blast though. Best of love to everybody back at the hills over the holiday boogie!!!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

8 is pretty old in boxer life. He had a good one too. Spoiled rotten. Lucky bastard. He was the epitome of health all his life. But it is common for boxers to succumb to cancer. Until last week, he was my healthyhappyhealthyhappyhealthyhappy boy. It was a hard decision to make, but it was the RIGHT one. Now to find a new big brother for Bug. She's missing him. But she has us so she's lucky too. Wow!! I didn't know boxers lived such short lives. Such a shame! They are REALLY good pups! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'd like to say Sieg Heil to Cary's face. OK, Billy.... I don't want to leave you out, so I'll swing off your nuts some more just for good measure! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'm so sorry to hear. Putting down a pet, especially that young, is so hard to do. I don't know if it's a boxer thing but my friends 4 year old boxer got cancer that went to her lymph nodes. It's sad, but it's the right thing to do versus have them be in agony. Doesn't make it any easier though. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I've been a dentist-phobe all my life. Well, I'm scared of doctors in general, but after finding this dentist I am seeing now I am TONS better. He's great and very soothing. He numbed my entire mouth, all 4 quadrants, the other day to do the scaling/deep clean and I didn't feel ANY of the needles-- not a one! I am not seeing him for the root canal, so I haven't talked to the specialist yet in person to get the low down and get all these questions answered. I'm mostly just curious of other peoples experiences with root canal/crown because it seems like it varies from what I've read online. I'm already having somebody drive me to/from the endodontist for the root canal because I'm taking valume before hand. MakeItHappen: DAMN!!! Hot damn!! OK... anything I have to be nervous or complain about is minute compared to what you have been through. It's just unknown territory to me, but once I go through it I'm sure I'll look back on it and think it wasn't that bad. And you're right-- the dentist doesn't suck compared to not having teeth. That's why I am glad I'm with a good dentist right now and on a 3 month recall schedule to take extra good care of the teeth I have. I'm so sorry you've had to experience all the stuff with your mouth. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

No... I definitely wasn't that bad with the "brushing with a doughnut and smoking a pack of camels." I did my fare share of partying in college and like I said I didn't have insurance growing up and unless you were about to die, you didn't see a doctor in my family. Now that am out of school and have a grown up job with insurance I am tending to my teeth. So, I'm taking the right steps but unfortunately I have to repair the years of damage first before I get on a normal recall schedule. Definitely more I can do with a brush and floss. I'm the dental police now! I'm trying to convince everybody to buy the Sonicare Flexcare I just got, and I have a new regiment of flossing every night followed by swish of peroxide. Hopefully I can fight the good fight at home so I am not stuck doing all the painful stuff like I am now! Definitely take care of your chompers people! Not worth the negatives effects on your overall general health (not just your mouth... whole body effects!) when you can do so much to prevent it! Edited to add: I DEFINITELY wouldn't eat an onion sandwhich before the dentist..... or smoke camels, or drink sugary stuff (I don't like soda and I eat organic!) I can't leave the house without brushing my teeth, and I even carry those colgate whisps mini tooth brushes with me as well as listerine strips because I would never want to bring the stink on to anybody-- especially the dentist!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

AgentLead Harmless IMGR2 LuckyMcSwervy LyraM45 The111 Merino007 ************ By default if I am there, The111 will be there. But I will add this-- we are not 100% certain yet as I am about to transfer out to Cali for a new job and he'll follow me in a few months, so we'll have to see when our move is. Hopefully it doesn't interfere with PR!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Hopefully they give me stuff. I've heard horror stories about doc's saying go just go home and take advil. I've never taken a pain pill in my life (mostly because I have trouble swallowing pills period... yes, I admit that I'm a puss about that!) but if I need them I definitely want them. The pain with this abscess has been the worst pain in my life. No amount of advil helps it, and now my jaw is puffy and sore to the touch and I also have an ear ache. I never thought I would say something like this but I almost can't wait to have a root canal!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

So, to avoid making this a long story I'll try to sum it up: Didn't really have insurance growing up and through college, and I'm now dealing with fixing years and years of neglect on my teeth. I had the scaling/root planning done on all 4 quadrants the other day, and now I am heading in on the 23rd for a root canal on a dead/abscessed lower molar that got wrecked from the impacted wisdom tooth pushing forward against it. Once the abscessed is clear and the root canal/crown done, I get to have all 4 wisdoms out-- yyyaaaayyyy!!!! Anybody ever have any trouble with a root canal on an abscessed tooth? I know it won't hurt too much during, but is it really painful afterwards? Temporary crowns-- I will be stuck with temps on both sides of my mouth, making eating a little difficult, so I am expecting to be on soft foods. Can you chew lightly on them or do they fall apart right away? On top of it being xmas I'll also be on vacation in San Fran while I have the temp. So... spill all of your root canal and crown experiences. I am afraid of the dentist, but I have some valume to take before hand and I"ll be OK. But I am still afraid of the pain afterwards as I hear it can be REALLY painful if the tooth was already abscessed and hurt really bad before the root canal. Hopefull you guys will tell me it will be all roses Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Wow, even if tongue-in-cheek... wow. That's pretty pathetic, a couple million dollars vs. a few million lives and countless generations. Nice. You stay classy. Using an obvious exaggeration to show exactly how much I would rather not do something-- I think it gets the point across. Doesn't mean I think those two things are anywhere on the same level in terms of how wrong they are. Nice try though. And I'll try to keep up on the classy thing. I might even drink wine from a box tonight! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

If you want to upsize and stay with your current container, try either a PD Pulse or Aerodyne canopy made out of zpX. Both canopies use a fabric that packs smaller in a given size. Regarding canopy sizing, I have never heard someone say that when the fit hits the shan, they wish they had a smaller canopy. A little extra fabric over your head is a good thing. Yes... what monkey said about the new ZpX materials. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me if you are switching sizes you're only going up. You should seriously be upsizing right now regardless. And I really don't mean this in a bitchy way, but if I were working manifest at your dropzone I would not let you jump that gear with your experience. It's is seriously the begining of a wet spot story that could end in your untimely death. Being out a little extra coin is not worth your life-- trust me!!! Sell the container you have, rent for a few jumps here or there to get you through in between, and then get gear that is right for your experience. I'm loaded about 1:1 right now and I couldn't imagine loading something any higher let alone loading a stilletto higher!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I don't know if anybody is bashing the jumpers or the customers of the DZ. And some have even gone as far to say that the employees are just making a buck and may not care what Skyride is or how it's associated with the owner of said DZ. The only thing I've seen close to bashing is of the people who are well aware of what Skyride is, Carey's ethics and principals, lies, diceits, and yet still continue to not only work for him but outwardly support/defend his nasty business practices. I think you're argument about "bashing jumpers" is just a straw man to steer this conversation away from the real argument. Please argue the facts at hand here, and not some situation you're making up about bashing jumpers. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

The issue at hand is the litter and vandalism with the stickers. Their reputation didn't help either. Guilt wasn't at issue either. It was a civil case. They're still liable for the damages. its so ridiculous how self righteous you always have to be about asc and anything related. theres not a person in this world who hasnt every done anything wrong. who do you think you are running around this forum creating this huge cult of asc haters. cuz thats what you guys are doing. yea, skyride may tell people some shady stuff here and there through miscommunications, but its not like were out there jumping illegally or not following safety concerns. you guys act like everyone associated with an skyride owned dz is just a bunch of criminals and lowlifes. for that matter, almost all the fun jumpers in waverly right now are active duty or retired military. things arent what they seem on this forum. open your eyes and stop swinging off billy vance's nuts Personally I'd rather swing off of hitlers nuts instead of associating with anything Skyride or ASC. That's just me though. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Is this for real or are you just taking the piss? Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

BINGO!!!! 'nuff said! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Well, that's good to hear. Maybe it means that Austin is finally influencing the rest of the state. Thank God.... that place is the states only saving grace, IMO. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I was there for a lengthy stay over the boogie last year and it was almost too much for me. I eat pretty balanced/homecooked/organic meals and showing up there eating all the pork fat and grease for 10 days was just too much for me! Make sure you bring some pepto!! Going back again this year, but just for the week this time. Can't wait for beach sunset jumps!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Yea... I got bit in the ass once by that in Sebastian. Landed on the dirty side of the airport in the only front yard that was decent enough and the guy must have had cable installed or something because all of the sudden there were other lines that weren't there when I had been to that spot before. Didn't see them till last second. Flat turned and took a tree instead of the lines on a new canopy. Definitely a lesson learned! Powerlines and those wire fences will get you if you're not heads up. edited to add-- I wasn't exactly in the tree, rather like what you mentioned above where the edge of the limbs just snagged me enough to drop my canopy out of flight. Still ended up with a hand fracture and hasty scar and still no bueno. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)