skybytch

I'm in recovery from a week of the flu. Managed less than 10 miles for all of last week. But I'm feeling much better now, I got in almost 8 miles yesterday. And I heard something from a coach that I a) have never heard said by a coach about me and b) never DREAMED I'd hear said by a coach about me. The coach for my walking class commented that I'm "in pretty good shape." And... size 6 pants fit again. Right after I bought a couple new pair of size 8's, of course.

I've spent a bit of time standing still in the swoop lane with a camera while people that I trust swoop by feet away from me. I fully understand the risks of being out there, which is why I 'm only in the middle of the swoop lane when people I trust are landing. Other times, I stand at the edge of the swoop lane. A few weeks ago I was standing at the edge of the swoop lane on the peapit side. Someone that I don't know was doing a 270 with a larger nine cell. Had he come down the middle of the swoop lane like I'd expected him to, I'd have likely gotten a few nice pictures. Instead, he came right at me. When I realized he was going to be too close to get good pics, I brought the camera down. He was still coming at me. I bailed to the left (into the mud, thankyouverymuch) to avoid being taken out. I didn't say anything to the jumper, but I did make a point of walking away from the landing area with the camera down when he was landing after that. The point of this tale? If you aren't well known as an excellent and experienced canopy pilot, don't swoop a person that you don't know. And if you have never swooped a particular person before, don't do it without talking to them first. The lighting was excellent that day. I'd have sent him some sweet pictures if he'd chosen to swoop the middle of the lane instead of choosing to swoop me.

Intermission? LMAO. That week is what the towels you don't care about are for, Dave.

Do the same thing you did all day when you worked at Square One. Oh wait, you already are.

7:0:0 I've been sick for seven days. I'd forgotten how much fun really high fevers can be, especially when combined with completely stuffed sinuses. For about 24 hours there, I just wanted to die.

At the moment, rum and beer. I gave up alcohol for Lent (done in memory of JP, I don't practice any religion). For some reason I'm really looking forward to Easter this year.

That's a big downsize at four jumps. You would be increasing the level of risk you are taking by flying that canopy right now. The increase in risk is small if conditions are good; it's when things go wrong that the increase in risk gets bigger. You could probably land it just fine, but imho at your experience level you're better off flying something that you can land just fine with a poorly timed flare or downwind by mistake or even in a slight turn. I think you're smart to question this. I'd ask the instructor why he thinks you should be on that size canopy this early, and then make your decision. Because it is ultimately your decision how much risk you are willing to take.

I'm glad you finally get to put your Bug back together. Have fun with it.

Integrity. Unfortunately, not everybody displays it or for that matter even understands the definition. Good job, Amber. As you already know, if I had a business I'd hire you in a heartbeat, and this is just another indication of why. Don't let those who accept less from themselves affect how you act and think.

I'm running Mozilla with AdBlock and haven't seen a popup warning on here. I'd assume that's because AdBlock blocks the non-dz.com originated ads, which are probably where the popups are coming from.

Yeah. And speaking as a former gear dealer, that's why I jump an Infinity.

I disagree. What having a limit in the topical forums could do is stifle many of the multiple page arguments between two or three people saying the same thing they said in their last post over and over and over, becoming more angry with each post. It could also make people think before they post one liners in the topical forums. Both of these possible results could reduce the noise levels in the topical forums without the need for additional moderators. When finding the information that I'm looking for requires scrolling through pages of crap, I'm gonna go elsewhere to find information. It seems that in most cases once a thread reaches over 50 posts it's become so full of noise as to be essentially useless. Imagine how useful a thread like that might be without twenty or thirty posts from a few people "arguing" with each other. I'm just as guilty of being one of those two or three people going on and on and on as anybody else. If there were a daily limit on my posts, I know I'd think twice before getting involved in another of those "debates."

Same reason Mustangs and Camaros were available with 6 cylinders back in the late 60's. They called 'em "secretary" models - all the exterior sexy of a muscle car without the higher insurance rates of the ones with the bigger engines. My "secretary" model '68 Camaro with the 250 straight six and the front bench seat was rarer than a '68 Camaro RS/SS 396. Gawd I wish I still had that car...

Depends on who you listen to. Without USPA, we'd have the FAA regulating skydiving in the US. Wouldn't that be great? Ever consider that they may have sent it out when they said they did but it got lost in the mail? Oh wait... that never happens...

If the tour comes close to you, go! The films usually show some really cool stuff, well worth the price of admission. We saw the previous flick about Karina Hollekim last year and I wasn't all that impressed...

Wannabe? And/or one of the reasons this place has become what it is?

That's a sweet ride, all right. No way could I have a car that nice. Besides the obvious (I'd lose my license within a year, that car is not meant to go the speed limit) I know some asswipe would run a grocery cart into it before too long. And then I'd have to kill them.

Some of the articles here might be helpful.

Anything. I'm not a fan of Hallmark holidays.

I've heard that the Washington section is gorgeous, but the Oregon section is flatter. For a first long distance hike, flatter is better.

This summer, Mary (flyangel2) and I will be hiking for a month on the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon. We could use some logistical assistance to make our hike happen. If you live in/near Portland, we need a place to park a car for a month. Rides to Amtrak stations and from Cascade Locks would make you totally our hero. If you live in/near Ashland or Klamath Falls, you could be our hero by giving us a ride from the Amtrak station to a trailhead. Any help would be much appreciated!!

It's almost worse crack on Facebook than it is on the Scrabulous website. I'd challenge you but I don't know your last name.

You'll love a DSLR. Here's a couple from this weekend - Nick geeking the camera and another of Nick geeking the camera.

He's not insane. Overconfidence can and does kill. Question for you. If all you've done to speed up the canopy you are/were flying is 90 degree front riser turns to base (I hope you aren't turning 90 degrees to final at 500 feet...), why waste the money on a smaller canopy? There is still SO much you could have learned on what you had - and you would have had the advantage of a few more square feet over your head so when you do make a mistake (and you will), you'd have been more likely to walk away from it.

I like the idea too, but especially with that addition. But I'd give the community forums a higher daily limit, since that's where the noise is supposed to go. Putting a lower limit on the topical forums might help reduce the current noise levels, which might make them useful again...