sunnydee123

Thanks to everyone and please accept my apologies for not responding to every email I'm getting - life is rather hectic right now. I have to start work again (so I can start paying for repairs WHEN AND IF the insurance company OR ANYONE ELSE ever comes to see the trouble) so I've spent the last 2 days trying to salvage what was left inside my house. As it is now, everything that I COULD save from my 2300 square foot home now rests comfortably in my garage, which still has room for my car. Despite all my efforts, I continue to find that not much can be saved from 13+ hours of water damage. I guess once the anger and saddness finally pass, I might actually start to look forward to having an almost completely new house, someday.....! Thanks again gang - the thoughts and well wishes mean more than you could ever know. Big hugs to you all....everyone! P.S. Anyone know any general contractors in PSL who want a BIG job? xoxoxo, D Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Hi Guys.....I have found a friend (a very dear one to me at this point) who has power after Hurricane Frances, which was and will continue to be a life changing event for me personally. I left Thursday morning for Tallahassee and what should have taken 6 hours took me 13.5 with everyone evacuating. I sat in the comfort of a fellow skydivers home in AC watching the storm track knowing it was heading right for my home town. Sunday Greg and I decided to brave the drive home, trying to outrun the winds just to get back home. Drove in some of the worst wind you could imagine, with several other brave souls, on I95 which looked like a one lane back road with all the trees down. We pulled off my exit to be greeted by ARMED National Guard looking for ID, which we had to show 2 more times before pulling in my driveway. No power in the area so it was really dark and quite eerie with the stiff breeze still blowing. "Oh Look, the front porch is still there, things are going to be ok". Flashlights in hand we walk the perimeter and notice a small part of the roof gone in the back. "Oh well, so one bedroom will be wet". Then I see my neighbor with a 25 year old pinetree leaning on his house so we stop to check on them and make our apologies. We walk into my house, sure things are ok except for the one room and I fall to my knees at the sight. The wind took a 10' by 3' section of my roof completely off and then proceeded to peel the entire length of the back of my house in one simple swoop. Needless to say for 13 hours (minimum) the weather had full access to my home and now - by the morning light I could see that every bit of inside roof on the back side of my house had been saturated with water and was now laying on the floor. As I walked through my home and saw so many things damaged I was in shock and just cried. 3 complete rooms and 2 partial rooms had no roof left - meaning all the contents of the room were pretty nasty as well but that wasn't the worst of it - my carpet had absorbed water for nearly 13 hours so every single inch of my house was under about 6 inches of water and it sounded like you were walking on wet sponges. I was devastated!!! As the days progressed we started cleaning up, first tarping my roof to protect the inside from the daily rain showers, then shoveling wet sheetrock and insulation...then spending an entire day sucking water out of my house with an industrial vaccuum and THEN pulling out every inch of carpet to try and save the inside walls......As the days continued I have realized not much will be saved, other than the outside walls and what is left of my roof. Mold and mildew have consumped every corner of my house and every bit of furniture I THOUGHT I could salvage. Yes I am thankful we did not stay, yes I am thankful for my health but this without a doubt is the absolute hardest thing I have ever had to go through in my life - even considering losing my mother. Absolutely everything I have worked for and built over the course of my life is gone - literally everything. I boxed up two boxes of photo albums and pictures before we left and that was it, never in my wildest dreams thinking I would come home to this. It is emotionally draining but I also have been contacted by some very special people in my life and they help me realize that this is just a phase I have to go through - it will get better and I will go one....it just isn't easy to see and sometimes realize as you go through each day. Thank you to everyone who has kept me in their thoughts before, during and after. This is not going to be an easy road ahead but I am sure I will get through it and look back on this one day and shake my head at what Hurricane Frances meant to me. The skydiving community once again, has given me something to grab on to in a dark time in my life. I know the light is there, I just can't quite see it just yet. I will be back at work Monday, waiting until the renovation process can begin and also to have a check so it CAN begin. I won't be checking this much until evenings but I will check in, incase anyone wants to drop me a "hello". Did I mention we won't have power in our area until POSSIBLY 9/19...and finding ICE almost feels like hitting the lottery (even 4 out of 6 numbers). THis is the craziest time of my life but what a chapter to add to the book some day!

So what does everyone have planned for Labor Day weekend? Might be a nice long weekend to all meet up and skydive/party an extra day ......Talk to me people - I'd like to get a first gathering under our belt soon before the cold Florida winter moves in Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Hey gang.....if you are planning to stay at the Days Inn which NORMALLY has the great skydiver rate - make sure you ask about it cuz SUPPOSEDLY there is some race going on that weekend and there SKYDIVER RATE is now $70 instead of $45....but the Best Western next store is still right around $47. Just sharing the info....I got my room See everyone soon! Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Yeah Yeah Yeah...the girls there for AirZone were all gorgeous! ....and walking around in cute little bikini's lots of the time I'm still curious to see how the remaining group placed in the comp so when that is available it would be super duper! Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Any clue where to find the results from the swoop comp that was at the end of Rantoul? Just for shits and giggles Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

It really sucks that Greg won't be able to make it this round - he's been practicing lots but he doesn't get home until Friday night at midnight and his entire rig is in pieces due to his spectacular water landings at Rantoul (which required drying and washing). Do good gang, be safe and we'll for sure see you in Lake Wales! Big hugs ~ D P.S. Anyone know where to find results from the WFFC swoopy thing? Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Seeing as how Lake Wales was going to be our first "club gathering" spot, we thought perhaps it would be best to post-pone this weekend until Lake Wales is back up to speed. Of course we want to support the DZ any way possible so as soon as they are ready for us, we'll be there.....if not sooner. For now, thanks for the support of the FFC idea. Keep it and Lake Wales in your thoughts! Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

I jumped it a few times as well in Rantoul - once to full altitude with a full load and it was a bit cramped but no more so than in a full Otter or Caravan. YUP - was definitely nice being able to see things the entire way up! One load was just a hop and pop and that was nice too. I think it will be a nice little jump ship for sure! Think I might have to visit Davis and the great gang I met from there some time soon. Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

I saw it as well and not sure I'd consider it "balls of steel"..........pretty frigin stupid IMHO, especially at such a high profile event. What if it had not gone "according to plan"...thank goodness it ended ok but I just think it was DUMB! Who knows............skydivers are definitely a different breed Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Well I'm glad to see people are taking a liking to the idea...now we just have to wait and see what this week brings for Lake Wales after Hurricane Charley stopped for an uninvited visit. I got in from Rantoul last night after sitting in the airport all day and even at night - was amazed at the MESS Orlando was. It's storming where I am now or I'd be in the car going to help Lake Wales. Everyone keep your eyes and ears posted so we can help Lake Wales and get this little idea rolling. Hope to see and or talk to everyone soon. Hugs...Be safe ~ D Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

WOW.....I'm not really sure. Tampa and Orlando are PROBABLY both about 1.5 hours away. There is an airport in Sanford but I don't think it is big. Already know Delta flies into Melbourne but that is WAY out of the way for many. You'll have to do some sort of search but doesn't this sound like a great idea. Just want to get a committed group of folks willing to travel and make jumps so we can all benefit See ya soon - off to Rantoul in less than 12 hours Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

You and Jason SHOULD move to FL - weather is much nicer year round then where you are and we have SO MANY choices on where to play in the sky. This really is a GREAT idea and I just planted the seed - but am not the brain child. Just have to get the idea and "club" up and running. See you soon~ Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

I've seen pictures of this place and it looks AWESOME! Where is the nearest major airport to fly into? Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Hey gang....a bunch of us were talking one day, as we were sitting around waiting to get enough people to fly a load, about a traveling group of freefliers within FL. How AWESOME would it be to meet a bunch of friends, at a preselected dropzone, on a preselected weekend and know that loads would fly and/or you'd just have other fliers to jump with? We are very lucky living in FL with it's vast array of great dropzones. But without the people to fly with and/or to get the loads up - we're almost lost. So if we get this little "club" up and running (which by the way is not really a "club" persay, because you won't really join and there is no limitations as to who can come play

I think I just heard her say there is LOTS OF FLOOR SPACE but lots of stuff has been moved already - atleast it is dry, prolly air-conditioned and bug free unlike camping I feel like I haven't been "home" in forever Hope everyone remembers who I am Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Email doesn't work my friend....I wanna see pics and stuff Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Hey everyone, it is our very own little Pink Mafia mama, Melstarrs birthday today. I'm sure many of you know what an absolute doll she is and how much energy she has in her words, so lets give her back some of the love she's given us. Happy Birthday my little Melly-kaleekee-macha...love you bunches! Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Loved the DZ, Wasn't thrilled about the drive from South FL and HATED those damn pesky nats (are they still around that time of year?). We'll see what happens between now and then... Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Don't forget the awesome little tribute video someone put together for Nate, set to that AWESOME NEW SONG by Los Lonely Boys "Heaven". Perfect upbeat little tune to get us smiling again as we watched Nate in action. Anyone know who did that - I'd love to get a copy. Then I was fortunate enough to see someone's outside video of the ash dive which was beautiful. It was very emotional and an amazing way to say "see you again soon" to Nate. ~gulp...chill bumps again ~ Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

So what is the dilio with this little shin-dig? Are we getting cheap block jumps? Do we have a guest list? Anyone around know anything at all Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Nope - no pictures (except the ones in my head) but next time I am there and it is filled with water - I'll get some. It's gonna be niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice! It is across the taxiway and runway from the student landing area, sitting along side a big old swamp . It is a little walk bback to the hanger but nothing major. It's nice that it is out of the way of non-swooping canopy traffic too. Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Hey you.....let's PM Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Yeah...I heard it the day I got the news about Nate and at first I was emotional and then I smiled. Country ain't so bad sometimes! Dreams become reality, one choice at a time...

Oh man....on the way home from Zhills, Greg and I stopped to check out the soon to be pond at Lake Wales (swoop comp #5 I think). Holy cow ~ that is going to be a lot of water. Should make for some fun video. Anyone know how our hurt feet are doing?