mfrese

Beach jumps are great fun! All mine have been Atlantic First Pacific - BEER! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Morning hop and pop Ending with a righteous swoop Makes a great morning And then at sunset We may be swooping the BEACH! Let's pray for NO FOG! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Every Cypres activation I've seen has been the result of a low pull...seen one on video. My take is if mine ever fires and I'm conscious, I'm gonna think real hard about quitting the sport. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

If he says it all sounds the same, don't you wanna try to find something different? Not a huge metal fan, but I don't think any of the mainstream metal bands like Metallica, Megadeath, or Slayer sound much like Rage at all. If you want something a little more in the funk/hard rock thing, really shake him up and try something like Extreme (Pornograffiti has some great funk/metal stuff on it). Going WAY back, see if you can dig up some Pat Travers...Makin' Magic has some pretty funky songs, ditto Puttin' it Straight, and this shit is from the Seventies. Good luck...I'm probably older than your dad, and I still love this stuff! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Haven't been back there in a while, but I remember visiting Deland and touring both the Racer and Mirage lofts, and being very impressed with the way both assembly lines worked. I'm guessing they may limit the number of full-time employees to keep costs down, and hire additional riggers when they have a lot of orders...maybe Bill H. or one of the other riggers can comment. As for my own two rigs...ordered a RI Talon when I started, took 8 weeks, but it was delivered right on time. Second rig, I walked into PD Source, said "Hey, those Mirage containers look nice", worked with them to figure out the container for the main and reserve I wanted, picked a color I liked, pulled it off the wall and tried it on, and got out my credit card.

Homer teaching Bart his three rules to live by: "I didn't do it". "Cover for me". "It was like that when I got here"! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

One of the first things you notice about meeting some of the big names in skydiving is how cool they are...we see them in the mags, in the videos, and they seem like rock stars to us, but they are generally the nicest, most down-to-earth folks you'll ever meet. Gives you hope that the people with the "skygod" attitudes will come around eventually... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Read through all the pro-Florida posts, but didn't see anything about two big reasons why I want to move there: reaonable housing prices and no state income tax. Hell, I'm willing to learn to love NASCAR for those two things... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

I understand exactly what you're saying. I have a cousin who supposedly smoked through the air hole left after her laryngectomy (sp?)...I appreciate the fact that some people (based on their own very lucky experience) think that quitting is a piece of cake, but for most people, it really is a hellish experience. My mom was finally forced to quit by the simple fact that her oxygen line was a major fire hazard...that's the ONLY reason she quit, not because she wanted to. She says she'd still like to smoke, and misses it every day. Watching her get the way she is now made it a lot easier for me to quit, though... As for quitting while you're young...absolutely. I seem to recall something from my smoking cessation class that the less time you smoke, the easier it is, as you have less "learned" codependent addictive behavior, but don't quote me. Basically, the longer you smoke, the harder it is to quit. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Sorry, with nothing of real value to add to the debate, and with apologies to those who have very real health issues with smoking...for those of you who've read Tom Robbins, this thread is starting to remind me of this exchange from "Still Life with Woodpecker": Leigh-Cheri (smugly): "Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray"! The Woodpecker: "I've heard that. I've also heard that kissing a person who's self-righteous and intolerant is like licking a mongoose's ass". Sorry, back to your regular programming... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

This is exactly the reason I don't try to pressure my friends to quit, or give them shit about it. It's also why I chuckled at zyne's post about "as soon as I find out there's a zyne jr. coming, I'll quit"...if it were only that easy... I'm coming up on 4 years smoke-free, but the urge STILL sneaks up and bites me in the ass occasionally. After the first few cigarettes, it's an addiction, no matter how much people try to claim otherwise. When you realize that the relapse rate of heroin addicts is way less than that of smokers, you get some idea how bad it really is. I have many smoking friends, and I try never to make them feel bad about it, because I've been there. If they ask me for advice on quitting, I'll give it to them...otherwise, I'll shut the fuck up. Unless they start complaining about hypoxia on the 18K loads, then I'll just go "Nyah, nyah, my lungs are better than yooouuurs"... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Sweet pics, Deuce...including the hottest celebratory fly-by I ever remember seeing at Byron! All hail King Airs! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Scary new "skull" mask Is better than frozen face The tandems went "Whoa"! Remember Andy No red wine and cigarettes Keep the blood warm, bro! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

I've got the new Mirage risers on my canopy, and I'm really impressed with the design of the brake line stows, particularly considering the rash of problems with brake line entanglements lately. If you're not familiar with these, they basically sew a 5" piece of tape to the front side of the rear riser opposite the toggle, sewn on the ends and in the middle. Once the brakes are set, you simply "S" stow the excess brake line through the two sections of tape. Any opinions from riggers about these risers? They seem pretty bullet-proof to me: line stowed safely, easily unstowed, no major wear points. Just curious what I might be missing, pro or con. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Eeeewwwwww! I actually stuck a hot poker up my nose and burned those particular brain cells out to erase the memory, and now you brought it back! Thanks Andrea! Damn greenies... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

I didn't say I'd be eating anything...but watching Texans (or anyone, for that matter) barbecue without beer is just too distressing to watch. Forecast says clear and mild for the weekend, hope you guys have a good one...I guess I'm back on the "don't call" list from working at Hollister too often . Tell Ann howdy, and the rest of the crew...maybe we'll see you guys in a week or so. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Hey Pop, check with Kath...I think they are planning to do night jumps at around 9:00 Saturday, so the festivities may not start until later...OR, you may be barbecueing with no beer or tequila in ya, and I'm not sure how well that would work... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Yep...bail money, hope HH hasn't had to use it yet! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Now that the glider building has burned down, maybe we can just move the AA meeting over to the DZ office. Jesus, that looks painful... As for visual evidence, ask Rob to show you his bachelor party tape someday...I seem to remember a very similar scene, right down to the upraised middle finger... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

As others here have stated, it usually works well to ask questions quietly and politely. Had a friend sit on the plane in front of me once, and I was confronted with a Reflex with about an inch of reserve pilot chute material sticking out from under the pop top. I said something like "Hey, I've never seen that on a Reflex before"...he asked me what, I told him, asked if that's the way it usually looked, and things went very peacably from there to him climbing off the plane and going to talk to his rigger. Low key questions usually result in low-key responses. Something for the non-CRW crowd to remember when they see bizarre shit hanging out of a rig. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Apparently, it makes your fingers clumsy, too. And Pop...you will never again be allowed close to the fire during barbecues at H-town. Much less allowed to touch the food Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Man, I've only got about 450 tandems, can't imagine the stories I'll have after 2500...but in the meantime, here are my top 5 favorite tandem student quotes: 1) ooooooooOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (by my student during a sub-terminal cutaway) 2) "STOP THAT, RIGHT NOW"! (As I'm turning to line up for final...) 3) "You're gonna do WHAT"? (When I mention that we'll be disconnecting the laterals after opening) 4) "This chest strap feels a little loose". (by the 5'1" 90 lb. girl after I put her in the harness I just took off the 6'1" 200 lb. guy I just landed with) 5) "Are we gonna die"? (asked with a totally straight face by a very scared young woman on her 18th birthday. I replied "Well, I'm not, but you do whatever you feel is appropriate, OK"?) Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

If you ever get to deal with Egon Sussman at Relative Workshop, ask him about the time he got puked and peed on on the same day...probably one of his favorite memories Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Kris: Knowing nothing about you or your skills, I'll pass on the following suggestions: 1) As mentioned by many others, even if you aren't ready to take a canopy control class, talk to an instructor there about the flat turning technique and any other canopy control issues you are working on. Make them watch your pattern, your approach, and your flare so they can provide some feedback. 2) You say "the 210"...is it the same 210? Particularly on rental gear, different mains of the same type and size may have significantly different flight characteristics due to line trim issues, longer steering lines, etc. Try to stick with the same rig wherever possible. Learning this lesson cost my wife a broken back a few years ago... Good luck, and don't worry...it takes a while to get your landings dialed in, don't let it get you down! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

I've had two pukers (missed me completely), two likely airgasms (one just this weekend, who couldn't stop giggling after she landed), and very few really stupid ones. Two stories, though: John and his boyfriend Carlos came out to do tandems. I'm taking Carlos, who in addition to being slim, rather effeminate, and nervous, also speaks little English. All through training, gear-up, and the plane ride, Carlos is getting more and more nervous. We exit, Carlos screaming like the proverbial little girl. Freefall isn't too bad, but then we open the main...Carlos reaches back and firmly grasps the back of my legs just under my ass cheeks, and won't let go. I'm assuming he has spent a fair amount of time in this position before , but I'm frankly not diggin' it, and ask him to let go. All I get back is a whimpering "I'm scared, nuh-uh" every time I ask...by then, I'm laughing like hell anyway. I manage to get his legs up before we land (and get his hands off my ass at the same time), and I came in for a perfect standup and disconnected him REALLY fast... Next is Jennifer...her friend and boyfriend come up to me asking if I'll talk to her because she's really nervous. I introduce myself, and she promptly breaks down into sobs. I spend about 20 minutes getting her calmed down, she's starting to feel better, when the boyfriend comes up and starts telling her she's OK, it's gonna be great, come on baby, you're gonna have fun, etc. He continues this for the NEXT 20 minutes, completely missing the fact that she is now shooting him the "you'll never touch my body again, jackass" look every 5 seconds. We get on the plane, she's starting to get nervous again, jackass boyfriend is reminding her she's his best friend, it's gonna be great, just relax and enjoy it baby, etc. Just about to exit, and by now I'm sick of hearing jackass boyfriend, so I said "You know what...fuck him. I'M your best friend for about the next 10 minutes." She smiles, looks at me, and goes "You're right...FUCK HIM!" We went straight to the door and exited, she did great, jackass boyfriend kinda forgot about the whole thing by the time we landed...thank God. She was one of my favorites! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash