lewmonst

hey GraficO, is any of my footage on there from my scary reserve ride before I hit the ground on the WFFC tape? My footage of it melted in the fire. I know ed sent grant some of it. peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

Happy birthday MARY!!!! much love from Cajones and Lew peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

Yesterday was my 6 month mark. I have been back jumping for almost 2 months now. I am running again, not as fast or as far as before, but i am definately seeing improvement. I used to run 3 or 4 miles at 7.2 mph... now I'm doing 1-2 miles at 6.5mph mostly. it hurts. but it's not a bad hurt. The doctors finally admitted I was right and my top screw is not flush with the bone so I can see and feel it under my skin... even though Ed says he can't see any difference. I've definately lost a lot of muscle tone all over, and I'm working on rebuilding that.... The scar on my hip is still quite promenant. It's been a long 6 months, but at least I am recovering! I had it on video, but that tape was destroyed in the fire... I know several more people have unfortunately joined the femur club recently. Just wanted to say there is a light at the end of the tunnel! peace lew EDIT TO ADD: I guess I'll be organizing an all femur club skydive in Rantoul this year. Let me know if you want to be on it so I can start making a list.

i made it http://www.exitshot.com

pm sent http://www.exitshot.com

yeah, you're lucky you have a sugarmama with a pharmacist... you'll at least survive. Ed seems to think i'm his sugarmama despite knowing i'm just a teacher making barely enough to pay the rent. even with him full-time at elsinore, it's not enough... especially with everything we've been through in the last 6 months. it's not enough. what has Jason told you? peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

greg... welcome to our world. like i said, you'll fit in just fine.... peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

agreed!!!! Special thanks to Kevin for keeping me in the air! And again, to everyone... Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ok i'll stop now. peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

Little Joe! You're luck sounds like mine! hope it all works out... somehow... peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

that's just awful. knowing what we are all going through trying to replace gear and recover financially... I'm so sorry to hear this! ...same questions everyone has asked us... Do you know the cause of the fire? What's the insurance situation? How many instructors lost gear? I wish there was something I could do to help. Unfortunately Cajones and I will not be able to recover financially from our loss anytime in the foreseeable future. I hope you have good insurance and can get the kind of support we have received in Elsinore. This community rocks! Sending you best wishes, sorry it's not cash! peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

look at lew getting all fired up. well damnit, i'm coming out tomorrow, i'll be on my way, just to pack that rig ok, no i'm not. i believe it's tight. and i believe that it's really tight and a bitch to close, but you know the real reason is that 136 is a truck, and you just want to go faster. later who's the one here who got grounded by his parents because he put a reserve in his rig that was too small??? hmmmm???? i'd love for you to come out here and visit, and be my packer just double check my brake stows for me ok? jk, i won't ever do that again. peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

lew just wants a 120 that's all it is the 136 goes in her rig fine, she's just complainin because it's a truck. later ...right... whatever. When we got it closed, I asked a rigger/instructor to take a look at it so i could get a second opinion and he said he wouldn't jump it... kelly you come pack it and see for yourself. peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

Thanks GraficO, I'm trying to avoid Sabre's though. Ed wants to jump the 136, and he's also got a rig to put together with the 190, so he will be using those. Whatever he doesn't use we'll get back to you. I'm covered, I've got a demo on the way, thanks to everyone who offered. thanks! peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

thanks guys! I've got a demo on the way! peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

I was all excited to get in the air today for the Instructor Burnout Benefit, so I went to finish putting all my gear together. I packed up Graffico's Samurai 135 into my Odyssey TJN and well, it's just not pretty It took a lot to get it in the container, and it just doesn't fit. We sat on it and were able to close it, but it's too tight, and the pull force to open it is very high and the bag gets caught up on the reserve as it's coming out... I don't feel comfortable jumping it. So does anyone have a 120 main to lend me? I hate to be picky when asking for a loaner, but I'm jumping 2 cameras, so if anyone has anything that opens nice and soft I would really appreciate it (crossfire, specter, etc.) I will make you a necklace or buy you beer or whatever I can to say thanks. I just want to get back to work doing tandem videos. Graffico, thank you for the loan, I'll send it back your way this week unless Ed want's to use it... Thanks in advance! peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

I was all excited to get in the air today for the Instructor Burnout Benefit, so I went to finish putting all my gear together. I packed up Graffico's Samurai 135 into my Odyssey TJN and well, it's just not pretty It took a lot to get it in the container, and it just doesn't fit. We sat on it and were able to close it, but it's too tight, and the pull force to open it is very high and the bag gets caught up on the reserve as it's coming out... I don't feel comfortable jumping it. So does anyone have a 120 main to lend me? I hate to be picky when asking for a loaner, but I'm jumping 2 cameras, so if anyone has anything that opens nice and soft I would really appreciate it (crossfire, specter, etc.) I will make you a necklace or buy you beer or whatever I can to say thanks. I just want to get back to work doing tandem videos. Graffico, thank you for the loan, I'll send it back your way this week unless Ed want's to use it... Thanks in advance! peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

I got a notice from UPS that they attempted to deliver a package... this is all the information i could get from it... I'm not sure that's right, it's hard to read the handwriting... Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what it is and how I will receive it as it's requesting signature on delivery... thanks lew http://www.exitshot.com

That's cause you were in your "hot" WFFC security outfit, and thought that some hot baby like Lew would fall all over you haaahaahahahahahahaahahaaa... thanks for the laugh kids. I remember that now, at registration... too funny. peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

I'm curious, who you are thinking of that prompted that statement? And you probably didn't buy Nike's because Michael Jordan wore them either, but, a whole lot of other people did... So what's wrong with sponsorship in our sport? Gear manufacturers are businesses like all other businesses. They want their product endorsed by and seen on the best of the athletes. The positive image it reflects on their company generates more sales. It's advertising. It works. Agreed... The goal of sponsoring, as someone else has said, is not as a reward, but as a business tactic to promote sales. You aren't just sponsored because your good at something. Gear manufacturer's sponsor athletes, like Chuck, who they think will represent their companies image in a positive way, be visible in the field, knowledgeable and respected. On the same token, good athletes can lose sponsorship if the companies think that athletes public image may be bad (Kobe)... Instructors definately have an impact on what new jumpers buy and are often partially sponsored for that reason. I can think of one company that only sponsors instructors. You are an instructor, why not apply for some sponsorship from the gear manufacturer's you believe in? It is not all about just being good. It is about what you stand for. Sponsorship is also not a bottomless pitcher... Several partially sponsored instructors who lost everything in the fire are not getting free replacements or even anything close to the discount of the original sponsorship. One is completely changing his gear because he simply cannot afford to replace what was lost and must opt for a cheaper harness/container and a cheaper main canopy from completely different manufacturers. Unfortunately. Not everyone gets freebies. Is it a perfect system? of course not... Do we all wish we had sponsors? of course. Am I sponsored? Not yet... peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

hey! party foul! and jake, yeah, i probably would... jk http://www.exitshot.com

of course he remembers you! i think it's cool you got your tandem rating, girl!! that rocks! You beat me to it. I meant to learn from Treeboy but i never seemed to find the time and last year was so crazy then i broke myself.... ahhhh. oh well. you rock! peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

hey!! are you cheating on me???!?!?! 831 lew http://www.exitshot.com

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! you said first. man, it really must be your first boogie, otherwise you'd know better. btw, Ed likes NewCastle beer, you know, when you bring the case peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

He's really old. So wish him a happy one and all that! And wish him a better year with luck and make fun of him for how old he is... here's a hint, it's a perfect square. (yes i teach math) oh yeah, and tell him all how much you love him cause I can't tell him enough how much I love him. He is just an amazing person with an amazing heart and soul. I want to share him with everyone (to a certain extent ) because I want everyone to be touched by his kindness and calmness. I love watching him teach skydiving (even though I make fun of his stupid jokes) because everyone who is a student of Ed's has a great experience and learns so much. Sometimes if I don't stop him he'll debreif for hours ... And I love him because he treats me like an angel. always. I am a better person because of him. 831 lew attached are some of my favorite photos of Ed... showing his spirit, attitude, work, goofiness, happiness, and all that shines through him. thanks for listening http://www.exitshot.com

Pass on love from Cajones and Lew. I was going to PM her, but she had it turned off, understandibly as she'd probably get a zillion and feel obligated to reply to them all which would be impossible... hugs michele, no reply necessary, call us when you're up for dinner! peace lew http://www.exitshot.com