EricaH

Thank you There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Ah, but I won't be a WFFC - plus not too many people actually get that close to my face, it's just not allowed. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Brown eyes just look funny w/ colored contacts - i've tried, i want green eyes too! so, yes, I'm sad - but i need validation... are these f*ck me eyes? There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I don't know you, but I do have a feeling your in your early 20's. I'm 30 now & there are a lot of things I wanted to do in my early 20's that I thought would take way too long to complete. Now, after a few blinks of my eye 8 years have passed, I would have been well on my way to a great career had I not been terrified of waiting a whole extra 4 - 6 years after undergrad. Time goes by very fast, especially if you enjoy what your doing & there's probably lots of it in your future. Do what you'll want to be doing for the 40ish years after school, don't let a measly 6ish years scare you away. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I just wanted to reitterate this sentiment, please, please don't rush it. After all you have potentially 1000's of jumps to get through, why rush. However, one thing, do not try head down until you are able to pick out the direction of jump run while sitting. Then always make sure you're turned 90 degrees off of jump run. As everyone will admit, when learning head down everyone is ZOOMY. It is so easy to zoom right the group ahead of you or under the group before you; either could be deadly. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

ooo - I like that one! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

gosh, thanks so much There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

That is exactly how I feel. I alreay have a fairly high wind speed tolerance - I honestly don't think it'd go any higher even if i could push through it. Plus add all the extra issues you mentioned - THAT is exactly why I don't understand the "need" to go above a 1.5 wl. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

We cage our dog during the day. Before going in the cage he has to run around it at least one full time. he too makes a human sound when he yawns. when the alarm clock goes off he trotts over and noses it. when you come home from anywhere he wants to smell your breath & will remind you till you do. he eats underwear & bras. if he's dissatisfied with whatever he has infront of him to snack on (bit of food, insect, piece of paper, ice...) he paws at it till it crumbles then snorts out & blows the pieces all over the place. when he's begging for food at the table & puts his front paws on your arm, when you push him away with said arm he swats back at you. Other's at the dz will agree, instead of bitting & other doggie play fighting stuff he boxes! That's hilarious. when my b/f & i are busy he has to watch!1 There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Another reason to pack first regardless of logging preferences is that there's likely a full load coming in right behind you & they really need all the packing space available. Get your rig outta the way. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Yea! I love validation from way more experienced people. I know it's time to consider changing - but really, what's the rush. It's really hard being new & having people you respect tell you all kinds of things. It's really really hard going against what seems to be the general populace & "making decisions in a bubble". especially since from inside that bubble you have to consider so many factors. Any downsize would put me in the 135 range w/ a wl of 1.55. Let me ask this, is there ANY reason other than swooping and being able to jump in higher wind days (and I guess ego too) to go above a 1.5 wl? edited - question not directed to anyone specifically, just generally wondering why? There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I've actually had a very experienced skydiver tell me it would be safer for me to downsize & another one tell me that a stilletto would be just as safe as my specter. I've been on my 1.38 wl canopy for almost 400 jumps now; I like this wingloading & I love my canopy. I've had to actually convince a few people that since I don't want to swoop - it'd be stupid of me to downsize. And since I like my gorgeous almost always on heading openings and flight charatoristics it would be silly to change canopies ... the pressure is very real. edited to add - I'm not a high performance skydiver There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I'm so happy to join you on your beautiful soap box. It is decorated nicely. It's almost like as the world becomes more mechanized, drink machines, ATM, pay @ the pump, stamp machine people pull more & more inside themselves. And thanks to the news there are more preceived enemies out there. Given the 2 it makes so many people afraid of anyone & everything. It's really so unhealthy in so many ways. I don't like to run with anyone. but I do tend to either talk to myself (quietly) or hum a song just to make sure I'm keeping my pack right. Plus it's a great time to work through any issues - dreams just don't help. I want to go running with my dog so much! But he's all over the place!! I'm sure I'd hurt myself & probably him if I were to ever really get into the zone with him. He's just fast enough to be able to run around me & tie me up w/ his leash. Plus being a basenji - he'll never be allowed off the leash - especially in a wildlife preserve. Icon, given your story, say you'd had headphones on & the person that jumped in your path was one that was a preceived enemy - your start could have had a much less pleasent outcome. those 1# tennis balls could do some damage I'm sure. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I agree with you 100%. The most aggrivating commerical for me recently was a mom wondering through her home as her kids played games w/ their dad or were doing homework. Then you saw that it was an add for an MP3 player. She was losing out on the life going on around her. Plus, for exercising, there's debate about how effective it is if you're mind is focused elsewhere. If your at the gym on some machiene, watching TV or focusing on music may decrease the effect the exercise is having on your body. And if you're focusing on something other than your form, you're losing efficiency & increasing your chance for injury. And then there's the psycological and even psyciological needs a body has for quiet, or nature type noises. I recently read this http://health.msn.com/menshealth/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100125842 article about how there are 3 places in the US completley void of manmade noise. About how what are considered "normal" volumns today are enough to damage your hearing. Furthermore, when you're outside running, biking or whatever it is a safty matter - you need to hear what's going on around you. So, that's my soap box for the day. And I'm not getting off it! As a side note, in my running training we were taught to breathe no more than everyother foot strike. I breathe in left foot right foot breathe out left foot right foot breathe in left foot right foot... you get the point. Any more & you could hyperventilate, any less & you'll run out of oxygen in your extremety muscles. Plus for distance training you should not run so fast that you can't carry on a light conversation. For speed training if you can utter a single word you're not going as fast as you could. Another general rule is to not increase your distance by more than 10% every week. That takes a long time to build up distance, but by using that you will much more easily avoid injury (hairline fractures, shin splings, srress fractures & the like); plus it'll allow your heart to build up strenght to pump hard for long periods of time. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

It doesn't keep me awake, but without my morning dose I get a HEADACHE! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

My b/f regularly lost his in free fall (head down typically). He now uses gatorz that fit his face really tight & he hasn't had lost one in 2 years. But then the sunnies are so tight they fog up in normal wear - guess that's better than losing a contact though. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

2 times; just out of college in Illinois I hadn't bothered to change my license or Driver's license from the Florida info yet. I said I was visiting a friend up here & wasn't familiar with the fact that a big 4 lane hwy had such low speed limits. He said be careful. 2nd time I'd had my purse stolen the night before @ a club. in the AM i was racing to the hardware store to get a copy before my roomie went to work. Since my wallet was MIA all I had was the receipt Florida use to give you when you got your license & my police report. I guess he figured I'd had a bad enough day. A 3rd time I had a ticket for like 5 over then a month later had a pending DUI w/ a speeding ticket (95 in a 30). Pulled over on my way home and found that apparently in IL if you get more than 3 tickets in a year you lose your license - perhaps it was my crying when the officer told me that news; he took pity & let me go. Also found out that in IL even though the legal limit is .08, if you blow over .05 they can decide to prosecute you. I blew .055 & they didn't like my perfectly clean record. I got out of it. All that was in the first 6 months after college. I've since learned that driving as defensively as I do is dangerous enough. Now I stick much closer to the rules. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I love combos. Once after a vacation in Austin my friend & I were driving back to Chicago. We past through the town of Texarcana. Anyway, needing a snack we found a grocery store & stopped in hoping to find combos. FOUR (yes, 4) of the people working there had NEVER heard of them!! We described them & they were like "wow, why that sounds like a great snack!!" Just had to share. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

My family came from Germany in 1742. As mennonites (kinda like Amish, but with cars & electricity) they were pacifists and had no slaves. Their homestead in Virgina had been built by one of my ancestors. In Sherman's march to the sea everything they had was burned down. The yanks told them if they put the fire out, there'd be repricutions. Some of the men put the fire out & 4 of them were shot and the farm set back to fire. It had been a huge thriving farm with livestock & all. Everything was ruined & almost all of the livestock died. A new house was built & is still in my family today. I don't even know how many people are in my extended family. My grandmother is one of 16, grandfather one of 12...I have 64 1st cousins; we rent hotels for smaller reunions. Most of the hostility died with my Grandfather. The younger generation already had a fine farm built up again ready for them to run & had no 1st hand knowledge of "the ruin brought upon the family". there are many sides to the civil war & many people ruined - as it is in most cases of war. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I used it downtown chicago, once to find a place with current residence & another to look with an individual for a new place. both times I had numerous opportunities - both times I decided living alone was better. it can be great, someone from out of town new that doesn't have a network in the area yet - but you could end up with some crazy mf that no one else, not even his momma likes. edited to add: ask what kid of food they like to cook - it could end up really stinkey! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I do the upside-down garbage bag thing too & I moved 7 times between 1998 & 2005. For longer items I have the hook end of the hanger through the hole in the bottom of the bag, then I take another garbage bag & at the loose end of the clothes fit it up over the open top-now bottom & tape it up so it makes a nice clean closed giant garmet bag. For shorter items you can tie the end of the bag together. In evitably something will fall off the hanger, closing up the loose top-now-bottom will at least keep the item contained. I also ducktape the hanger hooks together so they stay in place, rubber bands just break. Then I just throw them on top of everything already in the truck so nothing's smooshing them down. Good luck. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

My b/f had his first @ number 1121, i'm at 620 and haven't had one. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I whip an egg in for the last few minutes on the stove. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I had an ex do that for me long ago. It was very sweet. He also had a bottle of my fav wine on ice & some chocolate & a stuffed teddy bear on the rose petal speckeled bed. he had dinner from our fav chinese delivery dropped off an hour after we arrived (pre-ordered) & served it on fine china in candle light. Since I'm pretty cheap - like cheap wine, small stuffed animals & chinese delivery - the most expensive part was the room. The bother of setting it up is what mattered most. Since Savannah is romantic in itself, I'm sure you don't have to go that far though. Just something in the room to set the mood might be nice, be it beer, champagne, wine, spritzer, soda... just something other than the tap water & a sweet snack for a middle of the night pick-me-up. I haven't been there in years - but it's a wonderful town w/ plenty to do & find just wondering around. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Don't bother with him... he likes being a lost cause. Besides, his nickname at the dz "cheezballs" perhaps has new meaning. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)