Rdy2skydive

hmmmm. never had that problem. Then again, I don't think I need special shoes to "run to Dunkin Donuts."

I have a new boss that just moved to the US from Japan. Somehow a conversation came up, and my Sr Vice President was trying to explain to him what a nerd is. He explained it as "someone who is smart, likes different or unusual things, and isn't always concerned about what others think." He then pointed at me and said, "Lisa is a perfect example of a nerd." I laughed and told him I am more of a dork but thanked him for the complement. I didn't think so in High School, but it's okay to be a nerd now.

Am i the only person that's never seen any of the Rocky movies?Quote NO!

What ntrprnr said. Ferraras is not that great. Don't waste your time. The Magnolia bakery is awesome and certainly worth the trip. For pizza, I recommend Lombardi's in Little Italy. It's one of the older/oldest pizza places in NYC. There's tons of things to do, but I love downtown best. The shopping in Soho is great. Check out Canal Street too. The lower east side has a lot of interesting history (if you like that sort of stuff) and don't forget to see a show. Even if it's an off-Broadway production. Hope you have a great time.

I don't order much online but when I do, Gravity Gear or Square One are my top choices. Another option is to get him a gift certificate to his home dropzone or have money put on his account.

Um. Would that be from the time you fought the apple tree and lost?

I wear between 6 and 10lbs of weights and I've always worn my weight belt on the outside of my jumpsuit. My home DZ has a lake at the end of the runway plus I've always found it more comfortable to wear on the outside - until this past weekend. Saturday I had a cutaway and had a little trouble peeling the pillow because the belt was in my way. I do wear thin gloves but I actually had to hold the belt against me to give myself enough room to grab the pillow. I always check both handles to make sure they are on the outside of the belt, and not caught on the inside. This experience has made me re-think wearing my belt on the outside of my suit. I was able to handle the situation, but I'm concerned it may be more of a hazard if it was a more dangerous/high speed mal. Just some food for thought.....

Sorry to hear that. The same thing happened to me at my last company. My boss offered me a different job in the same department. It was supposed to be a promotion with a title change and a raise. She promised it would happen by a certain date, it would be retro blah blah blah. Her final words: "Trust me!" There were always excuses why it didn't happen: budget cuts, lay-offs, etc. After almost a year I found another job: more money, better benefits, etc. She was shocked when I told her I was leaving. That was over a year-and-a-half ago. She still feels like I betrayed her for finding another job and not trusting her to keep her word. I hate to say it, but be prepared for your boss to not keep his word. You are right to feel taken advantage of. Consider exploring other options - it may be the only way you see that money. Good luck!

FWIW - I started wearing my own custom RW suit - with booties - on AFF Level 5 and I was fine. In fact, I had a better fall rate, and felt more stable in the air. I'm not an instructor or a even a coach but IMO, a new jumpsuit is expensive, you should get what you want.

I work with a woman who is a bit of a nervous type who had barely heard of skydiving before she met me. One day she noticed the 4-way pictures on my desk and asked if it was hard to hold onto each other all the time. I told her that we let go to change positions,and we don't always all "hold on" during the exits. I further explained sometimes we just break apart and spend the rest of the skydive trying to get back together. She started to cry and told me that I should stop doing that because it's "way too dangerous" when you're not holding onto each other. She also threatened to call my mother and tell her to make me stop jumping.

OMG! I remember those commercials but I think they were for Cadbury Eggs. My sister and I are in our 30's and every easter we still crack ourselves up mimicking that commercial. No you're not crazy.

FWIW - I have personally witnessed two Cypres saves as a result of losing altitude awareness. One was a very experienced jumper and one had less than 100 jumps. In addition to that, every year on the anniversary of his death, I watch friends grieve for the loss of a very experienced skydiver and friend who would most likely be alive today if he had a Cypres. Once you get your own gear the choice is yours, but for me, it's worth the $$$. Good luck with your FJC.

I put 150+ jumps on a Spectre before jumping my Sabre 2. I've found my Sabre 2 to be very sensitive to body positioning on opening - the Spectre is far more forgiving. I've had some great openings on my S2 but I've been slammed really hard a few times too. However, it's a lot of fun to fly.

When you drive with the windows open in the dead of winter because you know how much they enjoy the "breeze."

You should also check out Skys The Limit. They used to be in Andover, NJ but moved to East Stroudsburg, PA last year - WWW.Skysthelimit.net (I'm having issues making a clicky - sorry). I live in North Jersey and it's about an hour and 15 min drive. Great facilities including a huge hangar, great instructors and an all around great vibe. And I'm not just saying that because it's my home DZ

(X) Smoked a cigarette (X) Drank so much you threw up ( ) Crashed a friend's car ( ) Stolen a car (X) Been in love (X) Been dumped ( ) Shoplifted (X ) Been laid off/fired (X) Quit your job (X) Been in a fist fight (X) Had another person's blood on you (X ) Snuck out of your parent's house (X ) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back ( ) Been arrested (X ) Gone on a blind date (X) Lied to a friend (X) Skipped school ( ) Seen someone die (X) Been to Canada ( ) Been to Mexico (X) Been on a plane (X) Been lost (X) Been on the opposite side of the country (X ) Gone to Washington, DC (X) Swam in the ocean (X) Felt like dying (X) Cried yourself to sleep (X) Played cops and robbers ( ) Recently colored with crayons (X) Sang karaoke (X) Paid for a meal with only coins (X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't (X) Made prank phone calls... (X ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose (X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue (X) Danced in the rain (X) Written a letter to Santa Claus (X) Been kissed under the mistletoe (X) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about (X) Blown bubbles (X) Made a bonfire on the beach (X) Crashed a party (X) Gone roller-skating (X) Ice-skating (X ) Stole traffic signs (X) Been in a car accident (X) Watched porn ( ) Cheated on someone (X) Been skinny dipping

Woo-Hoo! That's great news!

I am not an instructor but I had the same problem as an AFF student. I didn't pass Level 3 until my 7th try and that was after a trip to the wind tunnel. I really understand your frustration. A friend of mine was having the same difficulty during her AFF, but couldn't go to the tunnel. Instead, her instructor had her roll up the legs of her pants and jumpsuit to her knees so her calfs were exposed to the wind. Something about feeling the wind on her legs helped her to adjust them so they were symmetrical. It helped her find stability and she was able progress again. I can't really explain how it worked but I've seen this instructor use this method a few times and it's worked every time. Might be worth a try? Good luck.

Sorry to hear this. Prayers and vibes on the way. Hope everything turns out okay.

Chocolate covered Gummi bears.

Hi BP, Sorry to hear you're having such a tough time - I can relate to what you're going through. It seems that you have some thyroid issues. While I don't know your current situation, I can tell you that I'm hypothyroid due to thyroid cancer and total thryoid removal 14 years ago when I was 24. I was on a high dose of Levoxyl for years but suffered terribly from depression. While I wasn't suicidal, I felt very lost and no hope. My primary doctor tried to help but never linked this to my condition - especially since my thryoid levels were always "fine." It wasn't until four years ago when my surgeon suggested my doctor and I do some research on combining T3 (cytomel) with my Levoxyl. I did a lot of research and fortunately my doc was open to it. The addition of cytomel has changed my life. My depression lifted completely within a few months and I actually started to enjoy living. I hope you don't mind if I make a few suggestions based on my experience: 1. Find a doctor who will be your partner in your treatment. Even if you have to go out of network, it really is worth it. 2. Have your doctor test your T3 as well as T4. It's just another box on the sheet to check off. It's no big deal. 3. Have your doctor give you a copy of your bloodwork results. This is key. It's not enough for your doctor to say everything is 'okay.' Find out what the numbers are and learn as much as you can so you can understand what they mean. 4. Research your illness. A great website was mentioned by RL. Learn as much as possible and talk to your doctor. Bring info with you. Some doctors are put off by this - find one who is willing to work with you. The more knowledge you have, the more input you can have in your treatment. 5. Certain factors like the weather changes or stress really can affect your thyroid levels. Even the smallest fluctuations can have profound effects. It's important to be checked at least 1 or 2x a year and have meds adjusted if necessary. 6. There's a great book by Mary Shomon on hypothyroidism. Great advice on docs, diet, and taking meds to get the most out of them. 7. Also be aware that the addition of certain antidepressants such as Paxil, with a thyroid condition, can exacerbate other symptoms. Another thing to research too. I wish you good health soon. Lisa

Try those heat packs that have some type of disks in them that start to heat up when you open the package. They make them specifically for different parts of the body - neck, back, shoulder. The heat is great and lasts about 12 hours. I also can't say enough about the foam contour pillows. A $30.00 investment that works miracles for me. Feel better.

I did the Tunnel Camp at Perris last April and it was an incredible experience. I am definitely not the same skydiver I was nine months ago. The coaches are among the top RW people around, yet they are very down to earth, extremely professional and know how to teach. Not only will your flying improve tremendously, but you will learn a lot about working as a team. You will be amazed at how much you grow as a skydiver in only five days. However, they are five physically and mentally challenging (and exhausting) days. Get as much sleep as possible, drink lots of water, and bring some snacks with you because there's not a lot of time (if any) for a lunch break. It will be cold in the tunnel early in the morning, and very warm on the dropzone during the afternoon. Finally, get ready for the time of your life. I'm still in touch with my teammates from the camp and we're planning a reunion as soon as our busy schedules coordinate. The time and money were a great investment in my skydiving and I can't wait to do the tunnel camp again. Feel free to PM me with any more questions. Blues Skies! Lisa

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day!

I absolutely love my Mamba but I don't know how well it work for someone who wears glasses. I hated my Oxygen - too many problems keeping it secure and keeping the visor closed. I've heard good things about the Freezr helmet. It's supposed to be good for people who wear glasses. Might be worth looking into.