skybytch

Ummmm... undeclared. See, that's part of the whole having to decide what I want to be when I grow up thing. Currently leaning towards a triple major - Anthropology, History and Sociology. Or not.

Yes I am! It's not time to downsize yet and my current main only has 300 or so jumps on it so a new main would be a waste. Now if we're talking a pile of jump tickets and a trip to an AFF cert course, then maybe I'm not kidding.

I like this comment. Survival skills should be the most important thing for all of us, but especially for those of us who can't, for whatever reasons, stay uber-current. As you get more jumps in your logbook you'll likely find yourself needing to look at it less often (excepting that first jump after a couple weeks of not jumping). Until then do what you feel comfortable with and don't worry about what others think or say about it.

You won't neccessarily have to get a different container to downsize your main. You can safely go down one size in just about every container on the market; you can go down two sizes in most of them. To answer your question, no, colors wouldn't put me off buying a used rig if it had everything I wanted and was priced well. Unless it was solid pink. If it was solid pink it'd have to be a really, really good deal.

My brain cell hurts. Today I started my new career. With the forced but not unwelcome end of my previous career involving the redistribution and creation of skydiving related items, I needed to figure out something else to do. I can't be a forty year old virgin; besides the obvious physical limitations, the career prospects specifically aimed at virgins of any age are few. Since I've been avoiding making the decision of what I want to be when I grow up for over 20 years now, instead of getting another (stupid) job I decided to be a forty year old college freshman. I'm starting out slowly with 9 units - College Comp, Intro Philosophy and History of Western Civilization; I'll ramp that up to 18 units come fall semester. Financial aid is a wonderful thing. Since my previous career isn't known for paying high salaries and my tax documents support this fact, I qualified for them to pay all of my tuition and fees. I was also informed that within the next month or so I'll be receiving an "award letter" that will tell me how much money they're going to give me for school, and that I can expect that much money to come in the mail sometime after I get said letter. Yes, I said that they're going to give me money! Holy pennies from heaven, Batman! Why didn't I know about this a long time ago? Free money! I smell a new main canopy in the near future.... (I'm kidding. Really I am) Classes started today. I'm easily the oldest person in my Comp class; even the instructor is younger than me. Not sure about the instructors in the other two classes; all of my fellow students appear to be about my son's age (early 20's). This is weird thing #1 about being a 40 year old college freshman. The styles of each of my instructors are totally different. The history teacher is "old school" - more than 3 unexcused absences and he starts taking points off the grade and we got a detailed syllabus that includes the dates for each test. The philosophy teacher says we can show up if and when we want to, no big deal to him, he's not even going to take roll... but he also won't be announcing test dates until a week or so before each test. The English teacher I'm not sure about yet; he does take roll, we know what we're doing this week and he's hoping to have a syllabus for us on Wednesday. Not having every teacher insisting on us being there on time, every time is weird thing #2 about being a 40 year old college freshman. It was only the first day of school and I've already got homework. I have to read a chapter for History and write a 2-3 page essay for Comp. By Wednesday morning. Whoa. Homework. That'd be weird thing #3 about being a 40 year old college freshman. Even though my brain cell hurts a bit I think this college thing is gonna be fun. At least until they make me decide what I want to do when I grow up...

Never stayed in the hotel but I've heard it's pretty nice. The Sand Bar is an awesome place to drink!

You weren't dating her. When you're "broken up" you have no say in who can or can't go down on her - she does. Doesn't matter if it's been one night or two years since you "broke up".

I must be bad. I've not only ridden a motorcycle without a helmet, I've jumped without a helmet. And I'd do it again!

245:0:0 $245 in tuition and fees paid for me by the school's financial aid office. Free money is a good thing. No jumps. Saving my one remaining ticket for next Saturday when I'll be celebrating my 16th birthday.

I've never punched a perfectly good wall, but I did kick a perfectly good car fender once. Left a nice dent in the fender. My foot was fine. Fuckin' car started after that, too. Inanimate objects do understand the meaning of properly applied force.

No. Dominic is not allowed to come to the American Boogie. There are far too many good looking women and too much good alcohol at that boogie. We wouldn't want to be responsible for ending his record for staying sober and celibate.

The sport's changed a lot, hasn't it?

Don't jump when the winds are gusty. Don't jump when it's turbulent. You can tell if it's turbulent or not by watching other canopies land. If they appear to be "accordioning" under 1000 feet it's not a bad idea to stay on the ground. Choose a landing area that doesn't require you to fly over or be downwind of obstacles that can create turbulent air. Note that trees and buildings are not the only culprits. Turbulent air can also exist where the ground changes from dirt to grass (that one about got me one day at Perris), over tarmac, and over water. It can also be "bumpy" on hot days in the desert. Don't fly in another canopy's burble. If you have to fly a canopy conservatively to feel safe and/or confident with it, it's too small for your current ability level.

Lemme put it this way. In early December, 1999, I purchased a 1968 Camaro; 250 straight 6 and a Powerglide (fewer produced than the RS/SS combo that year), front bench seat (fewer produced than... well, than most of the cooler options). My intent was to slowly restore it. In early February, 2000, I did a skydive. Today I still skydive, but... I don't own a Camaro anymore.

Try one a couple different helmets before you buy. Head shapes vary, as do helmet shapes.

Billvon... because he's really really really smart and even though he's a geek he's got a hot wife who's as smart as he is. And he has power. Somedays I miss having power.

It was called the "Life Line." Good idea until the kill line shrunk. Then the pin didn't want to come out of the right hole anymore.

I already gave him the best idea. Rainbows. I swear, rainbows used to be the biggest selling color pattern out there. Dunno what happened to change that...

BASE jump, but not Angel Falls. El Cap.

You can sit in front of the computer, right? Get on one of the big multiplayer online games (Everquest, Ultima, The Sims Online, etc.). They're like crack, but since you've got plenty of time to waste that's okay.

A few months ago. Kid at the dz had it but had upgraded to a new sport bike. Sold it to me for $100.

1984 Yamaha 650. It's big, it's ugly, it's heavy, it runs and rides great. It got new tires since the pic was taken.

Rainbows.

Will you be jumping with your camera every time you jump once you are ready? If there will ever be times when you won't have the camera on but still want a helmet on your head, you may want two helmets. I'd suggest gettiing a Protec or equivalent inexpensive helmet for now and worry about the camera helmet when it's time.

Ah, but freedom of speech is not guaranteed here. That's made clear in the rules. The owner of house where a party is being held has every right to remove someone who disrupts the party...