VanillaSkyGirl

Omg! This thread is cracking me up!

Thank you, Mike! Don't worry, we'll have a hotel room for the night, in case we ALL get snockered. It's a long weekend, so it's all good!

Hey everyone~ It's super last minute, but... It's Memorial Day weekend, people. One of our Skydive Elsinore DZ hotties Alaura (aka Orchid) is turning 21... Let's make it a worthwhile reason to celebrate big. Alaura wants to party down with her Elsinore family, so there will be a little birthday party/Memorial Day weekend party at SD Elsinore this Saturday night, after sunset load. Alaura herself is making her famous egg rolls & fried rice and buying a keg of beer for the occasion. We are trying to get a DJ, as well. (Perhaps Moo!) I'll bring birthday cake...hopefully, someone will make jello shots. (Anyone, anyone?) So, dress up in your red, white and blue outfits and join in on the party, everyone! See you there!

Sweetie, i hope that you screwed work and went to see your Mamu. My own grandmother was sick all last year, which was the main reason that I stopped jumping. I hope that yours is doing better, very soon. Hugs, love, peace to you, Shannon.

I don't know about that theory. I've had insomnia for most of my life.

That is so COOL! Let me know how it goes, Andrea. I'd love to do that someday soon, myself. I'm happy for you!

Why not? Is he going with his Brit friends? The British (and others) can get quite rowdy, Andrea. I've been to World Cup games, when they were held here, and it's amazing how involved some fans are.

Cool! I became advanced scuba certified ten years ago. One of my favorite memories is swimming with the sea lions off of Anacapa Island for my graduation scuba certification dive.

What's funny is that the DZ has one (sort-of), already.

When is that scheduled for? June 17th is the Poker Run. It's going to be so much fun! Perhaps, I can have my DZ b-day party the following weekend. I am still deciding, and I'll talk more with Mel about it to see what is best. I'll report on this thread again, after asking her advice.

Cute ideas...hahaha. Gia~ It's cool, girlie. I think that I may save the themed party for another date. Perhaps for the night of the Poker Run, we can just have a party-party. Word is that we want to keep the night low-maintenance due to the drinking (Tequila) that goes on at the Poker Run. It sounds like there will be a party already in motion by the time that the after jumping Poker game ends...

Sorry, but I guess that my mind is on South America at the moment, since I had to cancel a humanitarian trip for next month to there. Honestly though, I was thinking internationally, not with your post, but with Inzite's because he said that he has a friend from Turkey who doesn't swim. Many people in Europe don't swim, as well as those in various other countries, including third world countries. It was just my personal perspective that we are lucky to have these "problems" here. I'm thinking of how various friends grew up in their countries, rather than just how I or my neighbors grew up, which was more privileged. If we ventured into a different languaged forum on here, there may or may not be different responses to this thread and poll. Then again, anyone skydiving in another country would most likely also be swimming, imo. Also, I read what you wrote to me, Carrie, and I think that you are wrong. I don't make false assumptions about you. I don't know you, nor do I think anything in any way about you, past what you say in your posts. No harm done here. Peace to you, girl.

That's so awesome! Congrats!

Did you steal Frenchy's breast?

QuoteOf course! I don't disagree with that. I think that it just bothered me to have Jerry worried that his child is too old at under 2, when I know that he is a good father and 2 is perfectly acceptable anywhere around the world. It just seems that we are so focused here with problems that truly don't exist. By that, I mean that Jerry's child is learning at a good age.

I agree with the both of us, too. I just hate when others put words in my mouth/posts, that I didn't say. Everything is a case-by-case situation here. I am talking about the world inh general because this whole thread was aimed at not only us in the US, but in reference to people who don't know how to swim, in general. Learning to swim at a young age is not as common in Europe, South America, etc. We sometimes get upset about things that we should really be thankful to have the opportunity to do.

Carrie, I'm confused here. Was this in response to me or my post? What is this in reference to, exactly? I am posted to answer to what you posted to me and to others. I hate when people put words in my mouth. I never said that I discounted your opinion, but I have MY own opinion, which is also just as valid.

It does make a HUGE difference, Carrie, to know whether or not you understand the ways that people live in third world countries. If you've traveled beyond the touristy areas in countries outside the US, then perhaps you understand my point about swimming lessons being a HUGE privilege.

From your statements, it sounds like perhaps you have not traveled much outside of the United States, Carrie. It's true that, while shocking to Americans, much of the world does not know how to swim. Swimming in a pool is a luxury, that much of the world does not have. My family has recently had a pool built and donated to a small village in South America. I was there in December for the Inaguration/Opening of our pool for the village kids, and I plan to return next summer to teach them to swim. Believe it or not, the kids themselves WANT to learn how to swim because it's considered a luxury and privilege. It makes sense to teach them when they are there of their own free will. Of course, I think that it's best to take them with their parents as babies. That is my plan for integrating my own children into the water, someday...as infants with myself. Still, I don't think that people should freak out so much about their children taking a longer time than others to feel comfortable learning different things. I say this because I used to teach at a private children's school, where we didn't pressure/harass the kids about things. We encouraged them towards all things positive and to be open to learning as much as possible. We praised them to push themselves beyond the normal limits that people find acceptable for children's capacities. My kids were quite advanced...I had second graders doing square roots. I love that we used the positive reinforcement, as opposed to forcing them to do these things. These kids are amazing and will go far in life because they have set high standards for themselves! Lawrocket~ Believe me, Jerry, i know that you're a good dad, and that you'll encourage your child in a positive way. Don't feel the need to beat yourself up for not having him in the water prior to now.

Whoa...that's totally different than my story. I didn't know that you had a pool! Yes, you should have given him swimming lessons earlier!

He is only almost two...I think that he is plenty young for swimming lessons. Maybe you can slowly help to acclimate him to being in the water, somehow. Don't force it, if he's not ready, yet. You'll know when he is ready for this. For now, let him be a young child and enjoy his childhood...with or without swimming. I used to live in New York (in the city) as a young child. As soon as we moved to SoCal and had our own pool in our backyard (the summer when I turned 6), my brothers and I all took swimming/diving lessons. I remember seeing kids from 1-5 years old being so scared of being in the water. My brothers (ages 7 and 2) and I (age 6) all took to it very quickly, especially myself and my older brother. My younger brother at 2 yrs. had to be eased into it. We all LOVED being in the water, though. From then on, I spent all summer every summer, mostly in the pool with my brothers. I still love swimming, especially in the ocean.

That's so funny, JT! I didn't even mean it that way! No, I meant that it's possible that Gia is talking about a "nipple" other than the nipples on her chest.

I'm not sure if you are talking about real ones, but nipples rock!

Hello there~ I'm so sorry that you are going through this. I will pray for you and for your son. Try to find emotional/mental support from your loved ones. Also, know that there are probably many more people on here who also care about you. Good luck with all!

Great story, JT! Thanks for sharing that.