VanillaSkyGirl

Yes, yes, yes. Do it all, and don't worry about needing anyone else with whom to travel or to pursue new activities/adventures with. I highly recommend pursuing new passions by oneself. Personally, I have pursued many new activities alone...like take sailing lessons, scuba diving lessons, learn to rockclimb, learn to skydive, travel to new DZs, etc. By throwing myself into these situations and confronting my insecurities (fighting inner shyness), this has helped me to become a much more confident person with quite diverse friends. I have greatly benefited from my solitary experiences, and I never remain alone for long. Windcatcher, one more thing that you may want to do is to travel to new DZs by yourself. Sometimes I find it a little strange when jumpers will only travel to larger boogies as a "group" from a smaller DZ. Some (not all) groups of skydivers who do this, even skydive, hang out and party mostly just with others from their DZs, and they don't interact with the rest of the boogie-goers as much. It would seem a totally different experience to go somewhere new and to mix it up with everyone, instead of limiting oneself to jumping/partying mostly with just people from one's own DZ. Just a thought. Good luck with New Zealand and all your other endeavors. It sounds like you are about to embark on some awesome adventures!

Perhaps people want more easily accessible ways of being around their passion. Some people live far away from the DZs or tunnels. Perhaps, if more people do it, then there would be more DZs. Also, perhaps the gear or plane jump costs will go down. I think that more people would be jumping much more if they weren't paying so much per jump, for gear or for coaching. Another thing is that most people hate the misconceptions that some people have about skydiving. There are so many misconceptions about skydiving. People usually do not like to be misunderstood or stereotyped, so perhaps they would want skydiving to become better known in the hopes that it would become better understood. Personally, I would not want for skydiving to be mainstream. It's not for everyone, mentally, emotionally and even physically. This is a very dangerous sport. Safety should come first. Also, it doesn't bother me to be considered "different" in society. I like to break stereotypes.

Was it an ass kiss worthy dream?

NOICE!!! That is so cool! Thank you, Chris. You know what's funny? I actually did dream about Sunshine last night! It was nothing ass-kiss worthy, though, just her and myself talking.

Wow, both Karen's brother and your sister sound like amazing people. You two are also quite special people. Bless both you two and your siblings, as well.

Nah, this is YOUR playground, girlie.

Whew...it's getting HOT in here...

Yeah baby yeah. At least you're nice to me unlike a certain whuffo fucknugget cock muncher. He's a boner biting bastard Uncle Focker!

LOL That was funny. What IS the proper response to that, btw?

Wow! I've inspired some ass loving!

Can I use this thread to tell Chris how awesome that I think that he is? It's not "ass kissing" if it's true, right?

No wonder you love SPEAKER'S CORNER. No ass kissing in there...

Perhaps, people sometimes try to put others down because they may feel a certain way about themselves, or they may see a part of themselves that they find embarrassing or upsetting within someone else. If I were to live in an area where things were going downhill, then maybe that would make me think that I am not in as good a situation as I had previously thought. I am unsure as to how aware that you may be of this, but based on many of your posts, Funks, it honestly sounds like you do have something against "Spanish" people. Ironically, not one person in my family or in my group of latin/Spanish family friends, fit any of your "stereotypes". My immediate family all live in various gated community estates throughout Southern California. None of us live together. (Yes, I live alone!) We speak English, as well as, several others languages. We are professionals, who live financially privileged lifestyles. This doesn't mean that we are any "better" than the ladies that clean our homes, nor the security guards (mostly caucasian, btw) that we pay to guard our homes 24 hours a day. Furthermore, there is good and bad in every culture or race. Please do not lump every person from one race together, as if we do not all have differences in character, personality, lifestyle or morality. What if you were lumped in with someone who is your exact opposite in every way, except the race that you share? How would you feel about that? Anyway, it's a good thing that you are removing yourself from this unsavory situation, Funks. You may actually have done just as much damage to this neighborhood situation with your attitude, than this so-called "entire clan of Spanish speaking people". I hope that someday you can also see what it is that everyone is reacting to within your posts. You seem unaware that you are coming across with an obviously negative bias based on "race", "status"(strictly within your own mind) and superficial things, such as finances. Open your eyes. Edited for typo.

Oh Sunny girl, thank you so much for that. I really am so emotional right now, and your post is so sweet. Thank you, and I love you, too, sweetie.

No, I meant "Thank God" that is not a real woman! Oh my gosh...thanks for the laugh, Turtle. I really needed that!

Thank God.

Gosh, YES, please someone feed this person. I feel so sorry for that lady. I can hardly believe that is a real person. How awful for her to look like that. How is that even possible?

What a cool theme for the Airstream!!! Also, it's pretty cool that the host used to jump. Can you post some pictures after the show airs, Laurel? Btw, congratulations, again! It sounds like you had a great experience, and I can hardly wait to see this show.

That's awesome, Stacy!!! I have one of those necklaces, also. Yup, Katie's a beautiful person.

Was it there just for this weekend?

VanillaSkyGirl, do you have first hand knowledge? You seem very informed. Yes, I have been invited to parties there, and I have accepted and attended...just to check things out. I've never lived there, nor have I ever posed for the magazine, if that's what you were wondering. I've always been somewhat reserved/shy and wouldn't want to use my body, more than my brain to make money. When I visited, which was a few years ago, the Playboy mansion could have used many renovations. It also was a little too old-fashioned and tacky/cheesy in some aspects. The zoo was cool. The grotto area and pool looked like fun. The game room is cool for kids or for people who are into that kind of thing (oldie arcade & pinball machines). The "rubber" room looked a little gross and felt weird to walk in with heels on. The Tudor-style is nice, but there are nicer homes. Just my opinion, of course. That's all I'm going to say. Anyway, I'm sure that the "mansion" itself is not the reason why people are so curious about going there.

You look so cute and happy in ALL the pics, Kramer! The public is right, go with #3!

I couldn't agree more. Language and culture are two totally different things. This thread and this discussion is about much more than just the languages that people speak.