VanillaSkyGirl

I think that you find that embarrassing because you are still very young. While I've never had a date use a coupon to pay, I would not care how my date pays. With my ex, I would encourage saving whenever we could. As a single person, I have often talked my dates out of going to an expensive "it" restaurant and recommended a little hole-in-the-wall for some Thai food or Pho. I would prefer a man cooking for me at his place (which is always an awesome surprise), rather than going to a to-be-seen restaurant. That doesn't mean that I will always turn down going to an incredible restaurant. It's nice to get dolled up in a dress and heels every so often. Sure, some of those restaurants are fun to explore every so often, but what is most important is a having a good person's company and enjoying great food together. That does not always have to cost a fortune. Besides, it's more fun to laugh together over funny events, than to be embarrassed by something as insignificant as a coupon. To be humiliated by something so small is pointless. There are more important things in life to worry about. Be well, Caitlin.

Your first thread was awesome, Dom! There was lots of flirting (of course) and Betsy, Skymama, Keith & the Bytch all made appearances in the thread. Those were special times.

Haha! It would be great to hear from him, again.

Exceptional people will come and go in our lives and at our dropzones, even DZ staples. It's the way of life. May they all follow their heart and have continued success. That said, there are various experienced and talented instructors at Skydive Elsinore, who are very capable. Some have been teaching at SD Elsinore for longer than half of the wonderful instructors, whom you mentioned. In my opinion, SD Elsinore/up jumpers and the DZ school all continue to do a great job not only with new students, but also in catering the DZ to newbie jumpers. Oh, and yes, I heard... I heard that Hammo's fire breath cooks Brianne & Niklas' students, but the chickens that Melanie uses to beat peeps with are not really rubber chickens. They are the pre-cooked students trying to escape, before DSE uses his chewing gum to keep them under control. Yup, that's what I heard! Pass me the ketchup...

This thread is so kind. I am more of a facebook person, rather than a DZ.commer, but thankfully, a friend told me to look here. Thank you for thinking of me and for finding a way to make my day even brighter. Have a fantastic summer, everyone!

Wow, I wish that this had been posted earlier, so that many others might have been able to donate. I cannot donate $100 at the moment, but this is truly a cause that is close to my heart. You never posted your team mate's name, and I don't remember it at the moment. I have met him at a P3 bigway camp, and I think that what he is doing is awesome. I hope that it went well, and that a lot of donations were raised for Parkinson's Research. Let us know, if he plans to do this again next year, and thanks for sharing this.

We already knew that Rem!

Happy birthday to Steve!!! Have a great weekend with him, Gia.

Has it already been 4 years? I have been thinking of Shannon all weekend and many times prior, as well. Here's to you, GirlFallDown! You are loved.

Has made me laugh many times over the years with his posts on DZ.com, and he is a really nice guy in person, too!

0:15:1 I had a blast in Eloy! I was asked in March by a 4-way coach to join a team that he has been Player Coaching for one of their training sessions this weekend. We did 15 minutes of 4-way tunnel in the mornings and 15 4-way jumps on Sat/Sunday. It was awesome fun. I also had a first this weekend, when my visor was kicked off my face in freefall during 4-way. Right after landing, we were on another 20 minute call, yet we had time for snacks, replaced the visor (thanks, Mark K...for the visor, not for kicking my face) and dirtdove an entire new skydive. Good times!

Hey there, Skwrl~ Thank you. I am also 38. I have had amazing dates with the most wonderful men, so I agree with you, that dating is awesome. I don't understand why some people dread it. Nor do I understand why some worry so much about finding the right person or doing this or that in their lives before "X" years. It will all happen, when it's meant to happen. Life is an incredible adventure, so we should live it up! As evidenced by these responses, many women (myself included) find men who are only willing to date a dress size a turn-off. I am a size 0 and have been my whole life, but I would not want to date someone, who only wants to date me, because of how I look. The men doing that need to give all women more credit. The bottom line is that everyone wants to be respected and loved for who they are on the inside. No matter what a person looks like, looks fade, but what is in our hearts and minds remain. That is what you get to wake up with 30 years from now.

Pops is right! I hope that I'm secretly called that "RW chick", although there are too many amazing RW flyers in Perris and Eloy for me to be noticed. My freeflyer friends don't make fun of me, either. They all think it's pretty cool, when they see us show up at the DZ for 100-ways. (At least, that is what they say to me, haha!) I let them know that I love watching their bigway FF videos, too.

Everyone feels like this once in a while, but don't despair. Take Airtwardo's advice to heart...he is a wise man. If you are excited about your future, exciting things will happen for you. You can cause wonderful things and people to gravitate towards you just by thinking positively. Whatever you do, don't live a life with regret. Be happy that you had a past with someone who was good for you and made you happy. However, if it didn't work out, move onward and upward. If your ex is meant to be yours again, it will just naturally happen. For now, concentrate on doing things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Be good to those, who are good to you, and forget about what once was. If you don't have anything that makes you happy or makes you feel content, find a way to turn it around. Only you can make positive things happen in your life. Only you can make yourself truly happy. Good luck.

Hello there! I am about 5 ft. 96 or 97 lbs. I'm just about the same size as you. I have never had an issue with spinning. Size does not affect stability. That said, if you are as small as I am and are using student gear that is too large on you, which is most likely the case, any slight misalignment in body position will most likely become magnified with ill-fitting gear. Therefore, it is crucial that us tiny skydivers have the gear cinched up evenly on both legs and arch without favoring one side. If you do a turn, be sure to go back to a neutral body position, afterwards. After any movement, go back to neutral. Also, try to always be relaxed, when you are arching. If you are too stiff, you might "potato chip". Take a deep breathe and smile, just before you go out the door, it works and will help to relax you. Remember to relax, but also be strong. Don't let the wind own you. Like others have mentioned, if you have a wind tunnel nearby, use it. I didn't get into the tunnel until I had just over 100 jumps, but I recommend it for you, if you are having stability issues. If I were you, I would go with my AFF instructor and have him coach me in there. Good luck with everything and let us know how it goes, Cindy!

I met Mike Igo and Leanne at my 1st Chick's Rock boogie. I had under 100 jumps at that boogie, and Mike did my Pink Mafia initiation jump (haha) along with Leanne and Laurel. They made sure that I had a blast, and I ran laughing into Mike's arms after the jump. The one time that I visited the Gold Coast DZ was a few months after that for the Pink Mafia Mardi Gras boogie. Mike remembered me and gave me a tour of the DZ making me feel at home. He also made sure that I and everyone else had someone to jump with and was happy. What a wonderful and thoughtful person, that he was. Mike will surely be missed by so many. My condolences to Leanne and to all of Mike's loved ones.

I don't like to drink alone, but I wish you lived closer, so we could be drinking together. I need it. Cheers, Lisa!

In a box in my garage, I came across the DZ.com Holiday Boogie DVD from Dec. 2003-Jan. 2004, JP. I was a newbie, so there's almost no footage of me, but I just now sat down and watched the whole thing because you put it together. At the very end after the credits and Betsy's graceful freestyle, there is a close-up, slow motion image of you flying RW, JP. The wind was hitting your jumpsuit and you had a camera helmet on your head and an enormous, beautiful smile on your face. It sent chills throughout my body and made me happy and sad all at once. You have ALWAYS mattered, JP. I love you, my sky big brother.

Jaye, I cannot even begin to imagine what you are going through right now. Hopefully, the universe will somehow give that sick bastard that hurt your daughter, exactly what he deserves. More than anything, I hope that you, your daughter and your family is able to stay strong and find comfort in knowing that so many are in support of you. I'm so sad that this has happened to your family. I'm thinking of all of you, especially you and your daughter and sending much love and strength your way.

I am so sorry to hear that. It sounds like you've really tried hard to make it work, but don't beat yourself up over this. Be thankful that you had the experience. Life always seems to have wonderful things in store for us, if we just keep our eyes and hearts open. You will find happiness, again. Sending hugs and best wishes to you. Feel better soon, Johnboy.

I wonder if the socks will match the undies.

Well, I was agreeing with Tim, but if you agree with what I wrote, then yes. I'm not sure why you're shocked. You constantly surprise me with how little you still know of me or my points of view, Clint. We're probably more alike than you might think.

Hmmm, aren't you also vertically challenged, Rat boy? I certainly have no problem with MY size. Besides, Remi and I are playing FB games, and it's really funny to see a FB roundhouse kick by a FB stick figure.

Haha, Bolas! Remi just poked me. Wtf.