skybytch

Horizontal AND vertical separation is even better.

You "can" BASE with whatever gear you'd like. Would it be smart to jump your Sabre2 off an object? Probably not. You can easily find out how long it will take for it to open slider down though. Pack it that way and go do a hop and pop.

I don't see that. Your taste in seasonings is very likely different than mine. If I make dinner for you and you feel that a dish needs more salt, well, that's why there's a salt shaker on the table. I think it'd be rude of ME to expect you to eat something that you think tastes bland when you can make it taste better with a little more salt. And hey, I might even learn something about cooking for you because you did so. Isn't that a more honest way of relating to someone?

Seriously? Perhaps she prefers more pepper in her food than you do in yours. That makes her rude? If that's the case, may I suggest that you never have children?

What does pay rate have to do with the student's impression of whether someone is trustable or not? And personally, I'd rather my students trust and rely on themselves to save their own lives instead of putting all their trust in me. This ain't no amusement park ride and they signed the waiver too...

Depends on what kind of flying you want to do. Belly flying only? Any container from 1993 should be fine (assuming that your rigger gives it an okay). Freeflying? Not so much. Containers starting becoming "freefly safe" around 1995-96 (Reflex and Talon 2 were two of the first).

To figure out if it's going to fit or not, you really need to know more than height and weight - you also need to know inseam measurements. A handy formula for you. Take your height in inches, subtract your inseam measurement (crotch to floor) in inches, then subtract 20. What you end up with is a number that should be very close to the MLW measurement that will fit you best. Example - I'm 5'8" with a 33" inseam. 68" - 33" - 20 = 15. So a 15" MLW should fit me (and does). If the seller doesn't know the MLW, find out their inseam measurement and do the above math. Weight is helpful for determining if the legstraps will be too long or short. Legstrap length is a fairly easy and not too expensive thing to change, though. Weight is also helpful for determining if the laterals are going to be too long or short. A harness that fits someone who weighs significantly more than you will probably have laterals that will be too long. Laterals aren't as easy to change as legstraps are. Regardless, be sure that whoever you buy from agrees to take the gear back and refund your money (not including shipping) if it doesn't fit.

Mike's obituary If you knew him, stop by the above and sign the guestbook for his family. They might appreciate hearing from those who shared his passion for the sky.

Heh. It did! It was the centerpiece, around which all else rotated and depended. And now it's a stump. Which brings me to a question for anyone who might know... If they "had to" take it out cuz it's threatening the sewer pipes or breaking the sidewalk, shouldn't they remove the stump too?

Oh man. My best to them, I know how hard it is to lose your stuff. Glad they weren't hurt.

Harsh. Mike hung out in Paso for awhile back in the nineties. I remember one skydive, a four way with him, me, Steph and Harry. We turned like 17 points from 10500, and broke off on time too. Best four way skydive I'd ever done. RIP Mike. I hope you're in a happier place now.

Vicodin makes my nose itch. Doesn't work all that well for me anymore either. I still feel pain, it's just not as intense. Most of the time. Sometimes I'm still in pain two hours after taking one. After taking so much of it while my back was really screwed up, Vicodin has no recreational value for me. Oh, and those who like to drink with it? Not the best idea if you hope to have a functioning liver in the future. Or so I've been told.

Not apartments.

Every time I hear someone talking in that distinctive TN accent, I think about and miss Chris. So glad I got the chance to be a friend of his.

Another nice thing about not quitting skydiving 15 years ago ( - ducking for cover) is that over the years I've managed to collect a gearbag full of stuff that works perfectly for me. I have no need for anything else, or even anything new. A new rig is almost a year's tuition on the way to a bachelors degree. Or a cheap car. Or a motorcycle. Or a real nice vacation - that we could take our rigs on.

John makes an excellent point. I've already had to have the tuck tab on my main flap replaced because the stiffener inside had broken from being closed incorrectly. Anybody that I know and trust is welcome to give me a pin check with or without asking me. Anyone that I don't know and trust, I'd MUCH prefer that they not mess with my rig, period. I check the rig before I put it on and I get a gear check from someone I trust before I get on the plane. Shortly before jump run, after checking my straps and handles, I check both the main and reserve flaps with my hand. If something feels amiss in any of those areas, I can then ask someone to eyeball the pin or pc or whatever it is that doesn't feel right, just to be sure. I also wouldn't force a pin check on any experienced jumper who didn't know and trust me (I would probably force one on a novice that knows I'm an instructor though). Ask me and I'd be happy to. If I see an issue on your gear from the other side of the plane, I'll say something. Other than that, you're a big grown up skydiver. If you think you need a pincheck, I'm going to assume that you know how to ask for one.

I can think of at least 15 things other than skydiving equipment to spend that kind of money on.

Nah. Considering how empty this place is, it'll be way more painful for them if we just move out.

That's okay. I don't mind sharing. That's another great thing about the word "fuck" - it's better shared.

Nothing yet. But I'm considering flying an r/c aircraft into the park managers office this afternoon...

When I drove out to the dz this morning, there was a beautiful, healthy tree in front of my house. It provided wonderful shade to the front of the house in the mornings and to the car parked underneath it all day long. It also provided a lot of privacy. When I got back home from the dz four hours later, it was gone. I knew they were doing "tree work" around here today. I was even nice enough to ask the tree cutter guys if I needed to move anything else so they'd have room to work. Neither management nor the tree cutter guys said a damn thing about taking out our tree. And once again I was too trusting and didn't sit here while they worked so I could have maybe done something about it. Not only that, the tree cutter guys also destroyed part of my tomato garden. WTF? You should all feel VERY sorry for the manager here. She's going to get an earful from me. As soon as I can speak without having to scream "FUCKING ASSHOLES!!!!!" after every sentence (I'm doing better now, it was "FUCKING ASSHOLES!!!!" after every other word). Sigh.

Fuck. It's fun to say and it's useful as every part of a sentence.

Good points, at least one of which I had never thought about. Thanks for posting this.

I remember that I'm still waiting for my giraffe steaks.

Yeah, like clouds, rain and hurricanes... On topic - just tell them you're busy that night. No need to explain.