DickMcMahon

I know! I did that last Summer. Going to Australia I lost an entire day ... (I was DEAD May 23rd), and coming back to L.A. I arrived 7 hours before I left. Mathmatically, I'm 17 hours older than I should be because of the trip.

The terrible 2001 attacks on the United States occurred on September 11th, of course. But do Australians say they occurred on Sept 12th since it was the next day there when it all happened?

Heehee, that was me! What a surprise that my mind would be in the gutter like that, huh? I still vote for Big Dick. OK, Andrea. I'll give it a try whenever the system allows changes in user names. But it may not stay that way for long if the DZ gives me too much grief. It's a little bit egotistical, even if it is true ... I mean, even THOUGH it's true.

A bear walks into a bar in Billings, Montana and sits down. He bangs on the bar with his paw and demands a beer. The bartender approaches and says, "We don't serve beer to bears in bars in Billings." The bear, becoming angry, demands again that he be served a beer. The bartender tells him again, more forcefully, "We don't serve beer to belligerent bears in bars in Billings." The bear, very angry now, says, "If you don't serve me a beer, I'm going to eat that lady sitting at the end of the bar." The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve beer to belligerent, bully bears in bars in Billings." The bear goes to the end of the bar, and, as promised, eats the woman. He comes back to his seat and again demands a beer. The bartender states, "Sorry, we don't serve beer to belligerent, bully bears in bars in Billings who are on drugs." The bear says, "I'm NOT on drugs." The bartender says, "You are now. That was a barbitchyouate

I registered using my real name ... not knowing some- thing "cool" could have been been used. If the system ever allows changing user names, I'll fix it. But, could use some suggestions ... yea, someone already suggested "Big ______".

Hey Johnny: Here's another slogan maybe you can use ... "It is better to be rich and healthy, than to be poor and sick"

Chris: Are you saying that when they examined your head they couldn't find anything inside?

Charles Schultz (the Peanuts guy) said that those of us in this part of the world never need to worry about the world ending today ... because it's already tomorrow in Australia.

You're right! I knew something was wrong with my calculations.

Don't know if this has been posted already ... but, did you realize today is oh-2 oh-3 oh-4? We won't be able to say that again for a thousand years. Although, we can say oh-3 oh-4 oh-5 next year.

Haven't had time to read all 156 replies in this thread ... Does anyone know what that disturbance was on the field just before the second half started?

Chris: I can't believe what I've just read in your message!!! All the good vibes in this thread lets you know a lot of skydivers from all over the world will be with you in spirit that day. I'm certainly NOT one of God's favorites, but I'll be sending up some prayers urging Him to heal you up right away!

Rosa: You might try this link for help http://law.freeadvice.com/

96.6 miles I've forgotten ... is the naked jump done at 100 miles, or 100 jumps?

Thanks Lee for starting this thread. There's some great stuff here that I've saved to re-read when those fear thoughts start to come. Unlike you, my problem is BEFORE going to the DZ, not afterward. I drive 100 miles alone to get there, and that's when the fear demons do their best work. Driving back home after jumping ... I'm cool, and feeling great!

I think that West Tennessee place also provides high-altitude TANDEM jumps for civilians. Not sure what the requirements are, or how much.

Rabbi Irwin Kula has an interesting way of remembering Sept 11th. Here's what he says ... These are final conversations that were recorded on cell phones, recorded on voice mail. They seem to me to be incredible texts, because they were at the moment of confronting life or death. They're so pure about the expression of love between husband and wife, between mother and child. ... When I read them, I just felt they were texts as sacred as the text that we end up having recorded, that we transmit from generation to generation. I read these every single morning now, or most mornings, because they remind me that whatever my tradition is about; it's about this. It's about being able to express love. It's about being able to understand, taking care of our children. It's about being in real, genuine friendships. They just seem so real to me. ... [Singing]: "Honey. Something terrible is happening. I don't think I'm going to make it. I love you. Take care of the children." "Hey, Jules. It's Brian. I'm on the plane and it's hijacked and it doesn't look good. I just wanted to let you know that I love you, and I hope to see you again. If I don't, please have fun in life, and live life the best you can. Know that I love you, and no matter what, I'll see you again." "Mommy. The building is on fire. There's smoke coming through the walls. I can't breathe. I love you, Mommy. Good-bye." "I love you a thousand times over and over. I love and need whatever decisions you make in your lives. I need you to be happy, and I will respect any decisions you make."

Sorry to hear about your friend, Chris. You're absolutely right about making the most of every moment and letting those you love (or even like) know how you feel about 'em. It always surprises me to meet so many 1st time tandem jumpers and find out they're doing it because they've had cancer, or some other life-threatening illness. Jumping out of an airplane is something they want to experience while there's time. And, I guess that's what we're talking about here ... life is "time". Blue Skies to your friend Jeremy.

Just heard the DVD will be released in April or May of 2004. You may be able to order it from HERE

I thought my injuries were bad until I read some of the replies in this thread! Almost lost my left ear once when I pulled in a spin ... the risers or something caught my ear. But the worst was jump-13 when I didn't maintain an arch and the lines wrapped around my right leg on deployment tearing my hamstring apart. If you're interested, the gory details are on the website below. Going back to it a year later on jump-14 was scarrier than Hell! But on landing, the feeling of conquering that fear was fantastic! I'm up to 71 now, and still crashing on landing. So hang in there Chris. Incidentally, how did you injure your head?

Does anyone know if the Mars Spirit Rover has audio equipment aboard? It would be interesting to hear the Martian wind, or what their storms sound like. AND ... is the sky colored "red" there? Do Martian skydivers say ... "RED SKIES" to their DZ buddies?

My altimeter was torn from my wrist one time after throwing out the pilot chute. I was in a spin, and the lines caught hold of it somehow. I just guessed what the altitudes were for the final landing approach. The worst part of it all was paying for another one!

Michele: For what it's worth, I think it was Yogi Berra who said, "If you don't know where you're going, you're liable to end up there".

Hope to do the big 100. I'm now at 71 so it should be fairly easy to get there so long as the money holds out, and I finally get the landings right. I'm sure as hell not going to do the naked jump if I'm still PLF-ing all the time.

Thanks Quade and Push. I found it.