JohnMitchell

You know those swingers. . .

How much was just the course cost itself? Do you think the training was worth it or was it "death by powerpoint"? I was an ASO and instructor back when, so I was able to teach Instructor courses.

Interesting. I've done 3 bungee jumps over water. It would be interesting to ride it to the bottom, then release into the water while your speed and altitude were minimal.

100% gorgeous there. I'd love to have any one of them check my seat belt. I know your complaint with airline attendants, but really, should that type (or any type) of job require you to be young and skinny forever? I'm glad there wasn't a weigh-in required at my last job. We would have lost half the crew, easily. Requiring us to be beautiful would have cut another 20% at least.

You sure as hell have! For me, coming straight down is time to call it a day. I don't know what that is in MPH, but I can usually stand outside and feel it.

Sounds like a lot of $$$. As an instructor, I used to run jumpmaster certification courses from time to time. The candidates purchased their materials, paid their USPA fees and paid the evaluators' jumps, but that was it. I don't recall charging a dime for my own time. Just seemed like the thing to do. But skydiving isn't about giving back to the sport anymore. It's become a very big business, with a lot of people making their living at it.

Well worth putting up.

Not really a bungee jump but a giant rope swing set up. Still, no harness?? Sure, it can be done, but why? One thing I've seen with Russian jumpers. They seem to be a pretty fatalistic bunch, not that big on safety.

Whew! That was close! I wonder how he feels about all this attention over line twists?

Yeah, you're right. We'll have Normiss call her.

Emails are so impersonal. I think a 2am drunk dial would be much better.

I think you just drug the wet blanket off the party.

Depending on the HOA, they can pay someone to pull the weeds and then charge the property owner. Take it from the skydiver with the worst lawn on the block. Hey, I told 'em I didn't do yard work on weekends.

My in laws are very devout, but they certainly will skip Sunday meetings, etc. for family events. They practice it, not flaunt it.

I would NOT put that down as an irrational fear. Very rational to me. We keep a jug of bleach right under the kitchen sink. Gets used every time I clean up, esp. before and after food prep. My mother-in-law is phobic about driving under a railway bridge with a train on it. I can't think of any phobias I have. All my fears seem very rational to me, of course.

Never even thought of that. I do so much with power tools I have realistic worries of chopping my fingers off. I know escalators are more dangerous than people think. Watch those shoes against the sides. Too many of the people at Walmart freak me out, but hell, I still shop there 2-3 times a week.

Damn, first it was your credit rating, now this. They'll do anything to find a reason to charge you more.

Don't forget an ironic hipster smiley. It would have those little glasses and a soul patch.

Hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. To think that our kids didn't have to whine to get to jump. . . Lucky!

Leap for Lupus Foundation does just that. Last year we raised and gave over $20K to the University of Washington for Lupus research. Of course, we're a small charity, all volunteer and funded out-of-pocket (mostly mine ). 100% of the money raised in our annual gear raffle, wonderfully supported by the gear manufacturers and dealers, goes directly to research. Even our t-shirts are purchased and silk screened by Valinda and me. Beer at the boogie? Sometimes donated, sometimes I just buy it myself. Our sole payout is when people make a Leap for Lupus tandem jump after collecting $500 or more in donations, similar to a walk-a-thon. Then, of course, we have to pay the DZ for that jump. But most DZO's are very good at giving us a great discount rate. I think they appreciate what we're doing. I always say "If you have too much spare time and money, start up a non-profit charity. That will take care of both."

I signed my dad's name on a release form to go skydiving.

Good point. Or wrapping the bucket in an old sleeping bag for insulation works too.

Next October I want an inflatable Frosty the Snowman with a witch's hat and a black cat, riding a broom. The way the stores are running the holidays together, that should be the perfect decoration.

Okay, here's my recipe for brined and smoked turkey. Enjoy. Turkey Brining Recipe Making the Brine ½ bunch of celery (butt end works great) 1 medium yellow onion, cut in half 3 medium carrots, unpeeled 2/3 cup salt ½ cup brown sugar 1 tbl. Black pepper corns 1 tbl. Whole allspice berries 1 tbl. Candied ginger Low boil for ½ hour in a large stock pot, 1- 1 ½ gallons of water. Let cool. Strain out all the spices and vegetables before using. Brining the turkey Brine the turkey in the solution for 12 hours, adding enough water and ice cubes to cover the turkey completely. A 5 gallon bucket with lid works very well for this. Place in a cool area, such as garage or outside. There should be ice cubes left at the end of the brining, ensuring the solution and turkey stayed safely cold. Cooking the turkey Preheat oven to 450. Rub vegetable oil on the breast and legs. Place in oven for 30 minutes to brown the skin. Then, cover the breast and legs with foil and put back into a 325 degree oven. Cook until the breast meat reaches 165-170. A 23# bird should take ~ 2.5 - 3 hours Smoking the turkey Use medium heat for a 250 degree smoker. One box of cherry or apple chips should give sufficient flavor. (Sometimes I go with a 2nd box of chips, just for fun. ) Cook until breast meat is 165-170 degrees. A 23# bird should take ~4 hours. Or you can smoke the turkey for 1-2 hours for flavor, then finish in a 325 degree oven.