VanillaSkyGirl

Dammit JT, I have to speak to you. Answer your phone, OK? Edited: Cool, sorry, that should have been a PM. Thanks, JT.

I have visited the south of France and Barcelona on the same trip, and I highly recommend both on the same trip. Of course, I went in the summer, when I could lie on the Mediterranean beaches...sigh. Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona...double sigh. Like I wrote in my PM, I will give you more info later when I am not so busy. It is soooo GREAT to be getting the info firsthand from European DZ.commers, though. They REALLY know what is up during these months. I can't wait to hear more. I especially want to hear of any "non-touristy" recommendations. Oh Val, I just MAY go with you. Even a year or two ago, I was sick of going to Europe, but it's been too many years. Right now, it's pretty hard to resist this trip...

(wiping away tears) That's beautiful. There is a Santa after all, and his name is Oprah. I think that I love Oprah, too, now. Do you think that she'll leave Stedman for me?

I clicked on the link again. Boy, you werent't kidding, Andrea, if the audience was given the items under Oprah's Favorite Things. I've only seen a few items so far, like the MAC carrying case, Frederic Fekkai goodies, etc., and I'm screaming RIGHT NOW!!!!

Wow! I wonder if some people sell their loot on ebay. LMAO!!!

Oh God, I love cake. ( DROOL) Goo RULES! ~~~ I am going to have to go to the store tonight to buy cae mix just to eat all the batter. I handle all my food vices after the sun goes down, you know. Sunnydee, I am naturally smaller than a size 6. To answer your question, yes, I would eat a gallon of this if someone bought it for me! YUUUUUUM!!!

That's it! I am the fashion police. I going to have to confiscate those garments NOW! Move along folks...nothing to see here.

Actually, no, I haven't even tried climbing again at all. I haven't climbed for years at all. LOL! I only TALK about wanting to climb again. It probably will not happen as I am so new to skydiving, and I am an all or nothing type. (Climb hard or not at all, you know?) Since I am a new skydiver, all my extra time and dedication goes to skydiving. LOL! Good luck with your climbing, though. The climbing gym can be so much fuuuuun!!! Agreed 100%. I also made that EXACT comment to my BF (skywhuffo and ex-climber) the other day. Edited: Damn typos.

Imposing your religious beliefs on others from a multi-cultural/religious melting pot within a patriotic song is imposing, restrictive and not inclusive of everyone. This infringes on some people's freedom of religion. That is quite different than having the celebration of holiday traditions "used" by "non-believers" to bring their families closer. What is the harm in that? Again, this is all gray area, not black or white.

Why is he going to mass then? Are his children being raised Christian? Either way, the door is always open to him. He may be unsure about his beliefs. If it helps him to decide or to learn something about himself by going to church, then great! What does this guy's religion have to do with you, Clint? Religious beliefs are highly personal. I'm a little pissed off that anyone would be critiquing someone else for how the conduct their spiritual life when we are clearly taught acceptance and tolerance of our neighbors in these religions and in the Bible. This is why I have a problem with organized religion, even though I was raised a Catholic. It's the people within these organizations and their rules that I do not agree with...not the religious teachings. Sigh...but I still love ya, Clint, even though I find this thread offensive.

It's fine for him to celebrate with his family, especially his kids. Why should they be deprived of having this nice holiday tradition of getting together as a family with the tree, presents and relatives over just because he doesn't believe in the religious part of it. "Christmas tradition" are not just for Christians, anymore. That is OK with me because it is still a time to spend quality time with the people that you love. Besides, what the hell do the tree and presents have to do with our belief in God or our religion, anyway? If you said that he was attending church for Christmas (Do all the good Christians do this still?), then that may seem strange.

Yup, and she probably weighs more than me, too.

However, when a woman has developed her upper body strength to be able to lead OVERHANGING routes 5.10+/5.11, she is using A LOT of upper body strength, no matter what. LOL! That is not necessarily true. You should be able to try out different movements that YOUR body can make and see whatever works best for YOU in different situations while climbing. (Like when you are in the tunnel.) Personally haven't climbed regularly with women either. I am only 5 ft. tall (like Lynn Hill!), so I have my own style and technique. Yes, it is. What is your friend's name? The climbing community is so small. Me...I decided to take up climbing on my own (like with the skydiving), so I met friends to climb outdoors with through my then climbing gym. The men that befriended me were some of the better local climbers (easily 5.12++ lead and up) I climb routes based on the body movement that feels right to me (instinct) once I am in my "rhythm". I could not give you beta on routes because I tend to be experiencing most climbs that I am on for the very first time. It feels more natural for me to constantly try a new route, figure it out in the moment and to move on. I probably would have had to consistently work on routes if I had kept climbing and began to climb 5.12 leads and beyond. I only tried 5.12s indoors a few times. Yes, it was really hard for me indoors...at my size as the holds, that were set by much taller route setters in the gym, were pretty spaced out. (My short armspan is only so long.) Technically, my "hardest" finished was an outdoors 5.11c lead (Labyrinth @Williamson's Rock), when I was (GASP!) somewhat new to lead climbing. I didn't redpoint the 5.11c lead, but I finished it after hanging in my harness at one or two spots. We should climb together sometime. It's been years for me. (I could possibly suck, but I will try to climb my personal best, anyway.) We may be compatible. Are you going to the DZ.com climbing trip that will be on one of the days during the Eloy boogie? Let me know.

LOL! No, reread my climbing posts! LOLOLOL! I just began SKYDIVING this year (licensed since May), but I haven't climbed at all in years! Besides, my left knee is really screwed up right now, so it's a good thing that I am not trying to climb on it. Kelli (Skycat) began to climb in August, I think, and she climbs regularly with Hooksnswoop. JTval is the other person who wants to learn to climb. I am supposed to take him climbing in Redrocks (which I have never been to) soon. You know, personally, I was not ever too current as a climber, but it didn't matter. (Imho, it really doesn't matter for your progression either way.) My very best weeks, I would go twice a week to the climbing gym or once indoors, once outdoors. Usually, it was once every two weeks. Outdoors ~ maybe once a month. I just had a freakishly fast progression, that's all.

Well, I used to lead climb overhanging routes regularly (usually 5.10+/5.11s) indoors/outdoors about 5 years ago. LOL! I learned to climb lead very quickly (after a couple of months of climbing). It was quite a surprise to myself, as well as to all the strong men who saw my quick progression. (Hey, I am light, strong and coordinated! What can I say?) I haven't climbed AT ALL for years, though. I may begin to climb again if I can find the time.

Thanks. Well, in the tunnel, there is usually only room for 2-4 participlnts (or 5 "Rosa's"... LOL!) doing RW moves, sooo... Also, yes, I felt like a "baby learning to walk" in the tunnel. It's true! It's true! LOL! Sex, climbing and skydiving...those three are the ultimate fantasy three activities that anyone could do.

I know, I know...it's not like me, but I need some alone time after the other Florida thing that I went through. Hmmm...you would never guess by looking at those pics that some crazy pervert had tried to choke me to death the night before (1st set of pics), or that I had several consecutive sleepless nights afterwards, huh? (If you know me very well, you can tell that I have sleepy eyes in the close-up pic.)

OK. LOL! Hey, I prefer to put together my own itinerary, so...anything is coolio... Btw, Kris looks like she wants in on the travel buddie thing. Come on in, Kris! Three of us...it's just like Charlie's Angels. Btw, just so you two know, I am the crickety old one of us three. Hmmm...can I be Jaqueline Smith?

I took no pics of my own, either, but their pics will be sooo awesome. Just you wait! Also, I may also go to a freefly tunnel camp and work on my vertical skills. I did a little 7.5 minute freefly session last time, and I was told that any form of flying will help my skydiving, in general. Also like you, my friend, my personal dedication is to be absolutely awesome at 4-way. Do you agree that 4-way or even a good 2 or 3-way is a little like sex? It is just so incredible when each teammate is in-sync with each other and anticipating how you will move. When you fall into the rhytmn and begin to really go through the dive moving as one, faster and faster, until "release" at breakoff...or until the "red-light" is on! LOL! I was even out of breath after those 2.5 minute tunnel session dives.

Hell yeah!!! WoooHooo Val and Rosa in Ireland!!!! Oh...bike tour...dammit! I never really learned how to properly ride a bike. I mean, I could sort-of do it...the ride, but it sort-of frightens me. I have never even tried a spinning class for fear of embarrassing myself. Was that just too retarded a secret to admit online?

Uh-oh...Perris' tunnel beckons ....

Man, DZ gossip travels FAST!!! LOL! I haven't gone to the DZ since before Florida. That's so sweet! Thank you, Mark. Jeremy (Airpseed camera guy/"Cosmo model"...LOL!) called me "little Eliana" (I am actually older than her!). I think that it was only because we are both latin, but I love it. LOL! I would be so honored if I could even be 1/2 the skydiver that she is someday!

Oh, you have sooo much experience as a skydiver that I am sure that you will be just fine in that tunnel. Whatever works in the tunnel is completely personal for each person. Also, some of us females in the camp requested less speed, at times. (It can be rough on us working over three days per camp.) Of, course, when flying with several others, it's every man for himself on wind speed. LOL! The bigger guys usually have the upper hand...after all, they can't be on the "net" the whole time...LOL! Btw, I have been told that wearing a weight belt in the tunnel is much more comfortable than on the plane.

Thank you, Arlo, sweetie! I will definitely be back. I sooo loved every darned minute of my tunnel time.

I never said that they did, but some "Spanish" is more "pure" than others.