JohnMitchell

Some of 'em smell that way, I'm sure.

Hi Everyone, Once again Vskydiver and I are holding the annual Leap for Lupus Skydiving Charity Fund Raiser August 15th, 16th, and 17th at Kapowsin Air Sports in Shelton, WA. We're planning a women's state record head down attempt, a state record head down attempt, wing suiting with the Red Bull Air Force, charity tandems, our ever popular 4 way belly scrambles competition, and maybe even a big POPS jump. It should be the best one yet. Saturday night will be dinner, a DJ for dancing, lots of beer, and, of course, the charity fundraising raffle. As many of you may be know, Lupus is an auto-immune disease that strikes mostly women, usually in their teens and twenties. Debilitating, sometimes deadly, it's difficult to diagnose and even harder to treat. Vskydiver, my wife, and mother of 4 children, almost lost her life to this disease a decade ago. Even today she still battles the ill effects of the disease and the harsh drugs they used to treat it. That's why she created the Leap for Lupus Foundation to raise money for lupus research. Once again we've been blessed with amazingly generous manufacturers and suppliers who have donated some fantastic prizes. You need not be present to win. I'll get that prized shipped to you. But if you can make it to our event, we have even more "local" prizes; barbecues, jumpsuits, reserve repacks, tunnel time, restaurant dinners, and more. We're proud to say that the LFL is all volunteer and self funded. 100% of your donation goes directly to the Univ. of Washington, where they are doing ground breaking lupus research. We're excited to say they even have a promising new drug now in it's initial human trials. Without further ado, here's the list as of today, with more items on the way. I'll update it as more prizes arrive. Leap for Lupus Prize List 2014 National Prizes, Need not be Local or Present to Win Velocity Sports Equipment – 50% off Infinity container Aerodyne - $400 off any Aerodyne Main Canopy Aerodyne - $200 off an Aerodyne Smart Reserve Canopy United Parachute Technology – 30% off Vector 3 Container, 15% off options Mirage – 30% off base price Mirage Container Luke Aikins and Larsen & Brusgaard– Altitrack Advanced Digital Altimeter Luke Aikins and Larsen & Brusgaard- Optima Advanced Audible Altimeter Larsen & Brusgaard – Optima Advanced Audible Altimeter Larsen & Brusgaard – Solo II Advanced Audible Altimeter Body Sport U.S.A. – 50% off Freefly pants Body Sport U.S.A. – 50% off Competition Suit iFlySeattle – 15 minutes of Tunnel Time, 3 chances to win RigSleeve –Deluxe Travel Rig Sleeve, 2 chances to win. Sunpath – Custom Mini-rig Back Pack, 2 chances to win. Paragear – Gift pack with $25 Paragear Coupon, 2 chances to win. Blue Skies Magazine – One year subscription Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. PM me for payment instructions. We're set up for the web or can take checks by mail (one of my favorites since it saves the internet fees

He was one of the great ones, from the Old School of Leading Men. Gonna miss him.

I broke my collarbone late Nov. 2013. I was skydiving by January 20th, 2014. I sat up a lot on opening to baby it, but I don't think it was necessary. If you can do push ups and pull ups, I think you're good to go. That was my standard too. BTW, I believe I'm a 1%-er, but that may just be my inflated ego telling me that.

Hell, they always drop off if anything goes wrong anyway. I try to train really well. I like boring AFF jumps.

Yeah, I'm glad there weren't any tandem factories when I was a young man. I probably would have never gotten a career. It really IS big business these days, and sometimes we expect to churn students out like widgets on an assembly line. Maybe this is a good reminder that some students and DZO's need to hear "no, you need more training" occasionally.

Glad she's getting the windy tube before AFF. Wish you guys were coming to WA, USA. It would be a privilege to help train her.

But didn't your BF get jealous?

Yep, Happy Birthday to you. I hope you're Lucky all day long.

Tastes like chicken.

It's taken me almost 40 years to get 6100 jumps, a snail's pace by some modern standards. But I think that's why I haven't burned out yet. Maybe just slow down and take some time off. Make some fun jumps. Help a friend work on their A license. Or maybe just walk away. There's a whole world out there away from jumping. You're still welcome to hang out here.

Dayum! Sounds like you got your money's worth! Yep, takes a lot of scrubbing to get rid of all that glitter.

I'm afraid to ask where you put it. And does he still make a chewing motion in that area?

Yep, if you're gonna with the Lottery ya gotta buy the ticket. Anything great in life comes with risk. Work place romances?? Maybe the problems mostly stem from imbalance of power or one person not being honest. I never got burned in my single days.

You could wait around for the roofers and carpet crew and lend a hand.

From the beautiful smile on her face I think you know already. . . From one guy who said he'd never get married, let me say "Congratulations." And just 'cause you get married doesn't mean either of you have to start acting grown up and all. Keep it as fun as you want it to be.

Knowing the person and that they are pretty new, I think it was more of the pressure of a commercial DZ to "get 'em up in the air" and maybe the instructor learned a lesson. Maybe it's a subject that needs a little more emphasis.

Yeah, find some privacy, for cryin' out loud. Nothing worse that cop-induced interruptus.

I've seen similar stuff in broad daylight, last time outside the hardware store. Not sure if they were coworkers or just horn dogs.

The other day I got a friend request here on DZ.com from someone I don't know. I clicked to find an entirely blank profile. You know, I'm as friendly as the next guy, but I gotta have a clue as to who you are.

Lunch hour quickie, half the clothes still on?

Damn, all those years of swimming and skiing in those murky Texas lakes. Never knew it could be so dangerous. Poor kid. . .

This . . . way back when I was single.