LyraM45

actually.... I didn't have to mention it. My first interview for a job after graduation was doing contracted weather forecasting for NASA, and they really did their homework. They asked ME about my skydiving after they googled my name and came up with a page displaying collegiate national comp results and my universities skydiving club webpage. They didn't really look at it as "oh, no...she's a risk taker," but they actually got off on it and thought it was out going and out of the box. I'm sure some places might take the risk taker stand point you're talking about, but I think most will think it's a good thing. I wouldn't throw it in their face, but I try to be as open and honest in an interview as possible, so if they ask about anything (skydiving or anything else), just tell them about it. Good luck with the interview! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Well.... thats a little bit of a stretch here since you're comparing his story with the 135 to that of these assoles who are showing up to DZ's with the same numbers he at the time and trying to load someting at 1:3, 1:4, or 1:6 (on slightly eliptical canopies), compared to his 1:1 (on a very DOCILE Triathlon.... that triathlon 135 is a boat, trust me, I jump one at 1:1) All this ment is that his DZ may be uber conservative and probably has a good S&TA. When I was a student at Xkeys, they wouldn't hesitate to stop somebody in the same position, not because loading a 135 1:1 is that horrible, but just for the principle of the thing. Rules are rules. This is the most often heard and DUMBEST thing out of a low time jumpers mouth. When you come to safety VS. money, it's a no brainer, and anybody who want to use this excuse to downsize real fast and look cool, I'll be sad when I read about your thread in an incidents forum post. I really think it's an excuse because there are ways to go through a gear progression and stretch a buck while doing it. First off, rent some gear for a little while. Find out what you like and fly safe shit at the same time. If rental gear is too much for you, and you want to take yourself over to the gear shop with your 30-60 skydives and buy a new rig with a slightly eliptical canopy you're going to overload, then maybe you should take some time and jump less, save a little money, and rent gear for those few jumps you do a month until you can purchase something that you will be safe under and in a few hundred jumps or so, might be able to go down 15-20 square feet in it on your canopy. I did this.... it took me four years, but I got it done and I'm finally getting safe gear in a canopy size that is safe. PLUS, if it takes you four years that gives you enough time to sit and actually listen to long time jumpers, veterans, and get their advice on a lot of things about canopy progression and gear; all the while it'll also give you enough time to sit and probably watch one or two of your buddies take a helicopter ride that didn't listen to the experienced jumper about canopy/gear progression. Just think.... if you think your downsizing will save you money on gear, just think of how expensive a helicopter or ambulance ride is to the hospital. Is it worth it??? Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

DITTO.... Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

wow.... just wow. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I was a SkyVenture employee for the short time I lived in Orlando over the summer/fall, and I appreciate the opprotunity that was given to me to work there and have that wonderful experience to cherish for the rest of my life. What made it so wonderful? The staff is AMAZING. I made great friends there and I miss the crap out of those guys everyday since I moved out of state. The same goes for the coaches....all great people. The tunnel staff is top notch. I can vouch that those guys break their balls for that place, and they do it because they love flying and teaching people to fly. All of these local jumpers talking about not getting what they need from these guys-- I don't get it. I'm not going to say it has never happened, maybe on one or two very rare occasions when a jumper comes in with a lot of tunnel time and advanced skills (whic I'm sure has happened at every tunnel), but most jumpers come in to get coaching for something like headdown (as mentioned in a previous post), when they have absolutely NO BUSINESS being head down, let alone in a sit or off their belly because they are bouncing around like a pinball. But yet, the blame goes on the staff that they couldn't be coached head down in 10 mins of tunnel time when in reality it rests on the flyer. That tunnel is seriously a labor of love. The managers, counter girls, coaches, instructors-- they all work their balls off. There has been some unfortunate occurances with parts here or there breaking down. This tunnel is the oldest SkyVenture out there guys and unfortunately some pieces have run it's life and Marc is fixing them as well as he can in the best timely fashion he can manage due to the circumstances at the time. (some occurences are just plain bad luck-- IE: lightning strike that tweeked a motor.) The employees worked hard to get that air straightener in and Marc worked hard and took the time to make sure he had the best and safest replacement piece he could find. I saw all the research he did to make it possible-- he def. took the time to make sure he was getting a good/safe product and local flyers (and flyers all over) should be glad their flying in something that the time was taken to make sure it was the safest for them, the customer/flyer. The tunnel has it's problems; all businesses do, but they have had a lot to overcome in the past 8 months, and these guys have stepped up to the plate everytime to help get on a steady path again. They always mean the best, Marc included. He is a business man; thinks and acts like a businessman, yes, but he also has the heart of a flier, as he got into this business to fly and share that love with other people. The staff overthere has an open mind and a big heart, so if you have any concerns regarding the tunnel, give them a call or stop on by. For you guys at SVO-- love and miss you guys everyday!!!!!!

I got rid of my old container over the summer and finally got around to ordering the new one in Dec. Will be coming in sometime in March.... can't wait! Been waiting five years for this-- stupid college. Attached is what I ended up going with after a year of toiling with designs. I haven't read through all of the posts on this and I am sure other ppl have already touched on it, but I would seriously wait until you even think about getting gear; especially if you haven't even started AFF yet! You'll learn so much about gear after you start, your tastes will change, and you'll want to buy something for a canopy size you will jump for a long time. I had a friend purcahse brand spankin new gear before he even got off AFF, and a year later here he was with like four to five hundred jumps with his huge (but new and pretty) container jumping a 220. He was pretty sorry he didn't wait. Def. rent gear for a while, dude. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Actually, I ask myself what does HE see in ME all the time. If anything I feel like I went out of my league-- He's a good catch and I reminded myself that I am a lucky girl everyday for the past two years. To go a little off this posts reply and address a few points in other posts-- I think it is tough to get that sincere relationship on the dropzone. I do hate to agree that a lot of dropzone guys are dogs, but I'll also be the first to agree that there are a lot of dropzone girls who just feed off of that as well as make their way from guy to guy every other night. It's tough in general because you date a whuffo and they don't understand a big part of your life or you date a skydiver and either beat the odds and have a beautiful thing together or end up creating a big mess that leaves you feeling weird going to your home DZ because "the ex" is there.... or odds are the girl doesn't care, was probably a ho to begin with, and just chalks it up as another "peg" (as was mentioned earlier), and goes on to the next skygod. Take a look at that older couple on the dropzone... every dropzone has a few. Maybe they show up together on weekends, do some jumps seperately with friends, or together.... been married for years or their whole life and are very happy and appreciate the fact that they get to enjoy doing something like this together. So, maybe its worth the wait for the right dropzone girl........ but in the meantime just don't get caught up in passing around the football!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Yes.... think twice before you go down this road! I also wanted to "live the dream." If not fly, I wanted to work for aviation or weather related operations. Went to Florida Tech and got a degree in Aviation Meteorology. Took out so many loans that I just couldn't take out any more and ended up dropping the flight option to my degree and graduated aviation met without flight. I have quiet a few friends that took out ass loads of loans and did finish up the flight portion of their degree. They are now realizing that 18K a year flying for an express jet was not all that it was cracked up to be. And as for me, I'll tell you that it's really tough to work in the aviation industry after graduating with a student loan payment that will be around $600/month for the next 29 years, and not be rolling in the dough as say maybe an engineer or something would to be comfortable enough with a big payment like that. BUT, I do enjoy what I do for my work and it is my life passion; and if you're the same, then go on with your bad self, but I just want you to be prepared for the reality of living the dream. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'm glad you had a good time.... the staff there is top notch and some of the best in the world! :) Windows movie maker is a quikie way to do it. If you have trouble with that, just google "how to rip a DVD" and "how to convert "XXX" format to .mpeg, wmv, etc". Read up on it and maybe that could get you started. You'll see a bunch of programs that'll take care of it for ya. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

well.... I wish I could do that too. And on top of it all to boot, I just moved to Houston and not only do I have to have a membership to jump at the local DZ, but this local DZ (spaceland) is also accepting Skyride certificates. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Try Z-hills...... lots of people to jump with of all diffferent diciplines. The atmosphere at that place is awesome. It's also your best shot of having a group to jump with if you're a newer jumper. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'm glad to hear that there is an idea like this going around at your DZ. Enough DZ's don't do it and people just rely on getting in with the freefly skygod clique, which 9 times out of 10 could give a damn about a new freeflyer unless you're paying them their slot plus a hundred bucks. (or dating one of them, etc, etc...) Keep chuggin with the idea. Great to hear your DZO is on board and willing to help out by paying for experienced jumpers slots. If possible, try to get tunnel trips together too. I know Carolina is a little bit of a trip for Orlando, but those guys have helped me to fly my little butt off as a newer jumper and could definitely help other new guys out to be a safer freeflyer. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I just finished up with my B.S in Aviation Meteorology. I'll back up what some people have said that we end up doing more math and physics for a meteorology degree than some engineering degrees. I don't know if anybody will ever 100% understand the dynamics in our atmosphere and the little bits that influence our daily weather everyday. Computers and models get us pretty close, but each one handles different variables better or worse than another. As for your forecast changing every 12 hours, I can only tell you that its normal-- especially if your a week or so out from the forecast point; and as for the forecast exactly 12 hours out, it should be somewhat on point and if its ass backwards wrong, then the model and the forecaster ate it big time on that one. Where was this fly-in event located at? Some areas are harder to forecast than others... harder sometimes especially if you're around mountains. Let me know where this event was located and maybe I can come up with a little insight as to what happened. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I was forced to use a TI-89 at Rutgers for a Diff EQ class, but Florida Tech, where I did most of my undergrad, calculators were a no-no for everything but physics; so, I really never had to make the choice. But, I'm used to a TI-83plus if I had an option. Some advice: Don't get hooked on the calculator. When I took that Diff EQ class at Rutgers University I saw all the kids were so calculator dependent and had no clue how to even do simple trig. Even though it's harder to learn it without one, push yourself to not fall into that hole. Good luck!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

got a late entry here, but you can add my name: Ashley Helmetag B-26378 Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

god, I fuckin' love you!!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

You hit the nail right on the head, sista! It's all about "poor me, everybody feel sorry for me! Oh, no... I'm leaving. Try and stop me!" and then they just wait for that outpouring. Well, boo friggety hoo!! Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out! I agree... it's funniest from those who either A) have ZERO skydives but for some reason love the drama on dropzone.com. and B) have 1 or 2 tandems, maybe even an AFF if they're special, think they are a skydiver, and will participate in discussions where they are telling people with a valid USPA license about their sport; and recently, like to draw a lot of attention to themselves through dramatic posts. (not that I'm saying experienced jumpers don't do this, of course.) Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

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

yea.... Matt's just a coverup. SShhh!! Keep it on the D/L Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

ESPECIALLY at crosskeys! Wait'll somebody like Kruse see's this shit! Dude, take a breather. The reason I DON'T start a post that often is because I know whats coming from these guys after it goes up; especially the typical "my girlfriend vs. skydiving" thread. So, my advice is don't go asking for it, and that post was one that was asking for it. It's the way it is on this website, so either chill out and keep posting or don't start a thread at all so you eliminate the possibility of getting a rash of shit from people. (even if it all happens to be in good fun.) Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

jesus christ.... that has seriously just sickened me. I can't believe that stuff like that goes on. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Don't worry about it.... it took me five years and that's just from switching majors a few times. (to eventually end back up with my original major just about! ) You had a baby on top of everything? I think six years is just a fine finish for all of that! It was worth it, I guess. But, now that I have over 70K in student loans to pay back, I sometimes question if it was worth the 70K I now have over my head for a long time. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

.... yea, what she said. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

But now adays you don't have to do this.... adoption has become so popular. I'm all for pro-choice too, which is also an easy out earlier in the pregnancy. Hell, even a 16 year old can go get it done without anybody knowing. So, yes, maybe this woman was scared and maybe her world wasn't right. No, I don't know all of the in's and out's of her situation and I shouldn't judge what I am ignorant on, but there are just so many other options now adays that when something does happen like this, it's hard to not blame them because they had outs to choose from but they did this for some reason. Either way.... judging or no judging; murder is murder no matter what your situation is or how screwed up you are. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Bottle of Monkey Bay Savinaugh Blanc.... MMMmmm. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)