Raefordite

Way glad you posted again.

Don't know what type of canopy you have but I would suggest contacting the manufacturer and clean that up as soon as possible. (giggle, giggle) support@performancedesigns.com might help. I couldn't find anything in PD's education section for dumb dog acts - Good Luck

A-P-R-I-L!! Hey girl! Glad to hear from you. Cheese is watching Carolina Tar Heels play basketball this evening. The part I left out of the story was the small waiting room was very warm. I had already taken my jacket off. But I was still wearing my blue scrubs from the hospital with "North Carolina Department of Corrections" patches on both shoulders. Poor Lady X probably thought I was trying to take her somewhere she did not want to go.

Yep, I had Lasik 7 years ago. Outstanding! I couldn't see the big "E" on the eye chart for years, due to nearsighted and stigmatism. Still 20/20 in the left eye and 20/25 with a slight stigmatism in my right eye. I'd pay for it again. Make sure you are comfortable with your physician, ask around locally, and that you are a good medical candidate for the procedure. But what ever they say - you can ALWAYS reopen the flap. It never completely heals. Meaning - wear safety goggles when in doubt. Believe me, I know.

Say hello to the GK for us while at their winter camp. They are missing lots of cold days here in Raeford at thier base training DZ!

Well I had the most memorable visit to the IRS office today I hav ever had. A simple problem for my needs. The bank credited a payment for the wrong quarter. So I received a notice from the IRS that I was past due for the 3rd quarter 2003 and had an overpayment for the 4th quarter 2003 (which was the exact amount they said was overdue for 3rd quarter). All it took was getting the clerk to enter the amount to the correct quarter and all was cured. That was the boring part. The strange part was sitting for 20 minutes listening to this other woman. Lady X was white haired, small build, decently dressed but not expensive, well groomed, about 70 - 80 years of age with a cane. She was there because she could not understand why lawyers were sending her letters about her past due taxes and how did they know she owed over $8000 in taxes? This little sweetie went on to show the clerk a bag full of medications to prove she had been sick lately (larger than a grocery plastic bag), a bank statement showing that over a year ago, her $32,000 of savings had been completely withdrawn (which she explained was from a neighbor that helped her out from time to time over the last 4 years). Turns out Lady X has been on disability for some time now, has no children, spouse or family to assist her. Her neighbor had been picking up her medications, doing a few odd jobs for her, including doing her taxes for her for the last 4 years. Lady X had become very ill about 6 months ago and had a long recovery. Once recovered, she discovered her neighbor had unexpectedly moved away. Bank account empty. That's when she started picking up her own mail and reading all the past due notices for everything. Apparently she had given this neighbor access to her bank account. By the time Lady X was done with her story and the poor clerk explaining that this was a matter for the police (which Lady X had already done), there was little the clerk had to offer other than setting up a payment plan for her back taxes for the last 4 years. Once the clerk determined Lady X's expenses were greater than her disability check per month, she left Lady X at the window to get her manager. After all, how could she get any payment from a woman in the red every month? She excused herself to get the manager. That is when Lady X lost it. She thought the clerk was getting the manager to have her arrested since she could not pay. I'm not talking just tears, crying and a raised old lady's voice in a very small public office. I mean Lady X started to open those medication bottles and swallowing pills as fast as she could! At the same time talking about finding her pistol if she ever got home, etc, etc. There were about 10 of us in this little room. The guy sitting next to me and I had been discreetly talking about Lady X's dilemma as we heard it delivered. We both moved. Mind you, there is a floor to chest height wall and glass from there to the ceiling between the staff and us public tax payers. A combination lock door was the only way in the back and the clerk was not even there to see this going on. I got to the pills and this poor guy gingerly tried to hold the cane down before it became a threat to the general public (i.e. me!). The staff finally heard the now very noisy encounter in the small room. They reacted. The manager (I assume) was out the security door and assisting Lady X. With some conversation convinced her the IRS was not going to have her arrested and no due taxes were worth suicide. They calmed Lady X down enough to get her to walk to the back offices. Even with one security door and an inside office door, we could still hear her voice and tears. I tip my hat and commend the staff at that IRS office. Job stress? Yes, they had their share of it today. And they did a great job diffusing Lady X and taking care of her. The paramedics were pulling in as I was leaving to check her out. I'm sure the city social worker got an emergency call at about 2pm today to help Lady X out. So next time you walk into an IRS office because those S.O.B.'s messed something up again, take a deep breath and be happy you don't have their job. I'd rather clean toilets for a living.

Yep - I survive off of online florists. I like www.1800flowers.com I don't recommend www.cheapflowers.com I had trouble with them. I have never tried proflowers.com If sending candy, try www.herseygifts.com I have ordered from them several times. And my most favorite www.fannymay.com is in the hurt box, so don't look there for now. Sounds funny to send candy in memory of someone. But I got a huge positive response when I have on two occasions. I guess you need to know the family well enough to know how that might be received. Good luck

My significant other started skydiving years before I did. As a result, all his skydiving numbers are significantly lower than mine.....except for one. My POPS number is lower than his. HA! And I'm proud of it

Don't forget about Lake Whales DZ. Go to www.uspa.org and check the list of group members. You can also call each of the DZ's and see if they can help answer some of your specific questions. Good luck!

They shouldn't have to tell you. You should assume every person is positive for something. Any body fluids are not good without protection. So if you really want to be prepared, carry rubber gloves, an eye shield, mask and a CPR shield.

Just put Billy Bob on the front and you should be cool!

Well - Happy Birthday! Just think, only 365 days more days to save money for skydiving.

Good luck! Let us know how the interview goes

Enjoy it! Hope you get some decent weather

Hopefully the worst is behind you. Contact your home/renters insurance about coverage for your camera. I bet your vehicle insurance won't touch it. Good Luck!

I had heard about this photo but hadn't seen it before now! Thanks - it gives me a whole new understanding of projectile vomiting.

Wow - what a selection!

Details! Details! Are you going to do it again?

Outstanding! Congrats! Welcome to the sport

Yes it takes practice and you don't have much experience. So turn to those that do and a good video camera. Get someone on the ground to start videoing every landing you have. Also talk to your previous instructors, S&TA, DZO for coaching. However - pick one or two personal that you feel comfortable with. If you listen to 5 different instructors, you will get 5 different techniques. http://www.performancedesigns.com/education.asp Performance Designs one of the largest manufacturers of skydiving canopies has a wonderful site to many articles about canopy and canopy control. USPA at www.uspa.org Section 6 of the SIMS manual is another source.

I like your photo better!

Buy beer before you jump it. Then becareful

http://www.sharpei.co.za/ This is only one of many web sites

http://www.uspa.org/membership/index.htm#travel Follow the above link for more info

He must have been. He showed up really really late to the DZ today.