VanillaSkyGirl

That's so awful, Tigra. My boyfriend has a very close friend who lives in Thailand. He called him and is waiting to hear back from him, but his friend has yet to call. I also had totally seperate family friends perish in Sri Lanka. It's just a horrible, horrible disaster. Something of this magnitude can touch any of us. I hope that your brother is ok, and that you hear from him soon. Cora ~ The whole "mass graves" situation is so sad, but what can they do?

Oh-uh. Jeffy, do you want to talk?

Wow, it sounds so lovely. Please be sure to show us a video of it. I'm sure that your mother/angel will be there watching and flying along.

YAY!!! Sunny sent me a PM. It TOTALLY brightened up my rainy, sick day.

Yes, I am certainly way more happy when I get a PM or post from Sunshine. She ROCKS!

Yesterday, I was PMed a link and realized that it was Skysprite's birthday. SEE THIS. Happy belated birthday, sweet Tiffany, and congratulations on your "A" license!

It sounds absolutely beautiful, Conway.

That's so awful, Jake. It sounds like someone was watching your home, which is very, very creepy. Please be extra careful when you return home. Hopefully, they'll be able to catch whomever did this. ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

That's definitely different than being in love Agreed. I definitely do not believe that someone can be "in love" with someone, who doesn't reciprocate. Until you know someone on a more intimate level, and experience a relationship with them in which they are interacting with you, you cannot claim to be "in love" based on reality. At best, you have a crush or infatuation and are creating happy endings in your own mind. Those strong "love-like" feelings towards someone seem overwhelming, but to feel them without knowing the truth about someone and without actually experiencing a relationship with them is not being entirely true to yourself. Yes, real love is based on feelings and emotions that are unexplainable, but it should also be based on reality.

Arthur isn't like that. He's a good kid.

True, true. I just met PMS#1

This has relevence to my life. A close friend of my family was there with his family. His hotel collapsed while he was taking a nap. So far, I have heard that they were able to find his body, and he is alive. Sadly, his wife and daughter were taking a walk on the beach, and it is thought that they were swept away into the ocean where it is believed that they have drowned. I need more specifics (the facts may be off), but from what I know so far, this is devastating news. I don't know what to call it, but I am one of those cursed people who seems to have "premonitions". I had told my boyfriend (who also felt it), brother and mother that some huge natural disaster was upcoming. I told them that there would be massive amounts of death. I could literally feel it for weeks leading up to this. It's been quite depressing. We all could be touched by any disaster in this world. Still, I do feel that the earth and mother nature is beautiful to behold, even with catastrophes like this that leave us all in awe of the earth and how powerless we can be at times. I wanted to share because we never know if or when we will be affected by news like this. Let those whom you love know that they are loved, always. I'm going back to bed...I am really, really sick today.

Oh gosh...that's quite a funny position for a man to be in.

LOL our Amazon picked me right up off the floor...she gives the best hugs! Yes, she does! Thanks for the pictures, lovely Pixie. Wishing you a wonderful and safe week with friends. Hug them well for all of us out here in DZ.com world!!!

Wow, why are they always so solemn?

Hey BUNNIES!! ~ has anyone decided on a hotel? if so, which one? are there any hotels to Stay-Away from? any advice is appreciated, 'k'. xoxo Hoping to hear some replies soon about the hotel situation.

I was given the following from my immediate family: *Pearl bracelet (with mini diamonds) ~ From Father/mother (price tag accidentally left on...WOW $$$$~~~) *Gift certificate to Bloomingdale's ~ From father/mother *Digital camera ~ From father/mother *Home furnishings ~ from Mother/father *More $$$ ~ from Mother/grandmother *Book of Poems of what it means to have a daughter ~ from father/mother *Banana Republic gift certificate + beautiful leather purse ~ 1 Brother & his girlfriend *Gorgeous wool chevron-patterned purse from Banana Republic ~ 2nd Brother & wife *Beautiful wool peacoat ~ From boyfriend (and more coming up, he says hmmm?) Gifts from family to my doggie: *Beautiful plush duck and two huge bones ~ Brother + girlfriend *Beautiful ceramic fire hydrant doggie "cookie jar" ~ Brother + wife (Great gift because a few weeks ago I had driven two hours just to get my doggie and my brother's GF's doggies white chocolate covered doggie bisquits, which I could now place in my doggie's "cookie jar"! ) *Huge box full of doggie gifts/toys & new doggie bed ~ from mother/father/grandmother My gifts to myself: *Trip to Sebastian in February *Feathered wings for February... *Pretty pink and blue wigs for fun! (Never played dress up with wigs before, but now....bwahahahaha...Las Vegas, maybe?) *VERY expensive designer shoes *Gorgeous voile napkins + lace napkin rings *Unusual teapot *3 track/jog pants + 2 tops to wear at the DZ before/during/after jumps Will be buying a main, soon ~ *Probably more stuff...I can't remember I gave many, many beautiful gifts to loved ones, but that is for another thread. Let's just say that I spent all the money that I would have spent jumping these last few months (and at a boogie) on everyone else. Seeing/hearing/reading about the smiles and happiness that it brought others made it all worthwhile.

Avion, please don't take this the wrong way, but Paige was just looking out for Maxx. It seems smart to let a more experienced skydiver and tunnel flyer, hopefully a coach, address the questions that come up. How would you feel if someone followed your advice, and it was the wrong advice for them? What if they were subsequently hurt? Personally, I lurk ALL the forums, but I usually only post in Bonfire or Women's Forum because I am a baby flyer and in no position to give advice to the more experienced flyers. I honestly feel that we (newer jumpers/flyers) should allow the instructors/coaches/highly experienced skydivers/flyers the opportunity to answer the technical questions that come up. You are welcome to join us in Bonfire for more light-hearted discussions/talk or to just chat with people in the skydiving community. Btw, it really is a small community...we all know each other or run into each other more than you may think.

It goes on all the time at Perris, and I've been on dives like that for the past two years at my old home DZ, SkyDance. Well, is this something that I should wait to try until I have a rig that fits better? (Mine is not OK for me to freefly in.) I am in no hurry at all. Also, do I need to be able to freefly first? If not, since I always fly RW loads at Perris, who does Atmonauti loads? Like I said, I am in no hurry to do it, just curious.

OK, I know that you already told the great news yesterday, even before you posted this, and I already was SCREAMING with happiness for you. Reading this again this morning, I am again overcome with happiness for you! CONGRATULATIONS VAL!!! YEEEAAAAAAAH!!!! WooooHoooo!!!! You have worked so hard and continue to work hard at achieving youre skydiving goals, and you are a wonderful, talented (so I hear ) flyer. Those reasons, along with your positive attitude since you are open to constantly learning, are probably why you were asked to be on the JFTC. Like I told you, you deserve it, Val.

You're so sweet, too, Cora!

Congratulations!!!

I'm so happy for you, Arthur!!! This is so awesome! My close friend just wrote/PMed me with AWESOME news of her own. This Christmas is sooo awesome because so many wonderful people's wishes are becoming a reality! Honestly, you'll be an asset anywhere, Arthur. Congratulations, my friend. Wonderful news about your grandmother, too!

***Heather & I even have the same munchkin inseam and weigh within a couple of lbs of each other at any given time. Only difference is that she's got way more in the boobie area and I've got more in the bootie. Also, if either one of us loses a shoe (it's been known to happen), we can wear each others too. Cute, no? *** Soooo CUTE!!! Lara, we should all three of us, along with a fellow wee one, do a lil' lady 4-way. Kelli (Skycat) suggested it last year in Eloy, and we (Bikerbabe, Katie, Kelli and myself) definitely were up to doing it. We never got around to it, though, because Katie never left her trailer the next morning after partying all night (on the 31st). Kelli then left before the next day. Maybe we can it this year? Any takers? Name your time and place, munchkins. QuoteFrom shortest to tallest less short: Tara Malone ~ 4'9" Daizey ~ 4'10.5" Vanillaskygirl ~ 5ft. LizzieB~ 5ft. Flyinhonu ~ 5' 3/4ths" Antifnsocial ~ 5'1" GiaKrembs ~ 5'1" Boinky ~ 5'2" BrieRebecca ~ 5'2" Brits17 - 5'2" LauraS - 5'2" HeatherB - 5'2" Kelel01 ~ 5'2" Mindway69 ~ 5'2" Mouth ~ 5'2" Paige - 5'2" Skycutie ~ 5'2" Ladyskydiver ~ 5'3" eeneR ~ 5'3" Conundrum ~ 5'3" vt1977 ~ 5'4" PilotDave ~ 5'4" girlfalldown - 5'4" Others whose height I don't know offhand, but who are also tiny: Bikerbabe Dippymoo (Hehe...I know you're out there, Marie!) BendyWendy Katiebear! (Doh, I cannot believe that I didn't put her on the list...she is little, right?) OK, the gloves have been an ongoing battle, but when I find "the one" (pair that best suits me), then I will report back to you all! Also, I'm having a Javelin custom-made for me, so that will help with fit issues. I tried one of their ones with a 13" harness and it fit pretty damned well. (Finally!) For now, I am still jumping Kelli's (Skycat) old Relfex which has a 14" harness, narrow shoulders and other modifications to fit a little person. It's too big for me to FF in due to huge laterals (for me with no hips) and huge, loose, legstraps, but it is fine for my RW. Thanks for all the posts, everyone.

Lol...no, I have done just one 15 minutes and one 10 minute sessions since May. I did all my tunnel time prior to hurting my ankle. Most tunnel camps are one hour spread over three days, and you can buy more coached time at night. Many awesome skydivers, who are serious about RW have TONS of more tunnel hours than I do. (Of course, that's not to say that you cannot be amazing without having any tunnel time at all.) You do realize that I live in SoCal, and the tunnel is only about 2 hours away from me. Both Elsinore and Perris (where the tunnel is located) are my home DZs. Anyway, like I stated earlier, I would LOVE to focus more time on actual skydiving jumps coupled with smaller amounts of tunnel training to work on specific skills. I want to improve my exits and enjoy my landings, again.