Breezejunky

Quote: I have observed people who use drugs as a bonding experience, and that's sad. I'm confident enough in myself to get close to people with communication...not drugs. Well goody for you! Some people can do BOTH So what exactly is your beef with this thread? That people who enjoy and have access to "the good drugs" get to know "world class" drug using skydivers faster or better than you or that there are people "you've observed" doing drugs and skydiving? Seems like two rather different subjects. One is a whine, the other a valid point for discussion.

Quote: When it comes to hard drugs, I'm a big ol' prude. Drugs were cool when I was in high school because people in high school tend to be insecure. Grow up, people. Drugs are not cool. It is not cool to fill whatever void you have in your life with something so empty. Whoa, do you need a ladder to get on to that horse? Not all people do drugs like your high school friends did "..because it's cool" Some people like drugs. They enjoy the actual experience the have on them and they like to hang out with other people who feel the same way. Who the hell are you to judge their character or moral fibre? I don't know why someone would take drugs and skydive and I don't condone it. But how about getting down from your tower on people's personal life style choices or make it a separate post.

Um......I thought it was funny.

And the rest of that sentence was "...I feel I must be missing something" So if you don't mind riggerrob, I'd like to read some responses from others so perhaps I can see if there is something I hadn't thought of before I continue. I may decide some of my thoughts on the subject aren't so great after all. Though now that I'm here...I am inclined to like the arrow. At the DZ's where I jump most, it would be very easy to implement. There is usually only one aircraft and it's not like someone would have to stand by the arrow all day, it would take one minute per load to have a quick look and change if necessary. Perhaps just using it when the winds are questionable. And even if it is the wrong way, at least everyone knows from 3000 feet which way they have to land or chose an alternate. Or maybe some DZ's have tried this and ít creates more problems than it solves. But I can't see how. (Again, this is why I'm asking) Also, to one of Bill's points, if someone is set up to initiate a 90 degree carve, starting at 1-200 ft while someone else sets up for a 270 from 600 feet...well, you can see my point about being set up too late to change anything. The 90 guy might have been the lowest, but the 270 guy might be first down. Or how about being set up at the far east end of a field to land west when someone lands east. What if there are no outs to the east, and you are too low to go west then 180 to the east. Not all of us jump surrounded by desert. I can appreciate the theory but what I'm saying is that, with the possible exception of Eloy, I'm not seeing it work. Also, to everyone who keeps saying "landing down wind is better than a canopy collision" (I've been getting PM's as well) Geez, thanks for the input...I hadn't thought of that...but that's not really my point is it. I'm not saying I don't want to land down wind or that everyone should just land whichever way they think the wind is from. What I'm saying is that I'm seeing more bad than good from this rule and I'm wondering what the solution might be. Why it works some places, or does it really work all that well, and why not in others. And are there better solutions?

I like the arrow idea a lot. Seems like a very simple solution to me, but I don't see it anywhere except for students. Why do you suppose that is?

I agree that in Eloy it does generally work. I think the real key is the heavy monitoring and perhaps a healthy dose of respect from visiting jumpers. Is that the key then do you think, a well monitored landing area? I have yet to see it work anywhere else. Is it even practical to try to set that rule for a boogie where people aren't used to it? Has anyone had success in implementing this rule at a small DZ that brings in a big plane for a boogie? Does anyone jump at a DZ where they have a different solution to this problem?

I’ve traveled to many drop zones, mostly in Canada and the US, and one rule that seems to be coming up more lately is “first person down sets the landing pattern”. I can understand the theory in zero or variable winds or in the case of DZ’s with an east/west or north/south only rule and the winds are directly crosswind, but mostly all I see resulting from this rule is chaos. A while ago, three times in one weekend the first person down landed inappropriately. The first time was in no winds and the first person didn’t hear what everyone else in the plane agreed upon for a landing direction. As nearly everyone was set up to land east, she was the only one to land west and there was no problem, but it did create a lot of uncertainty. The second time was in higher winds, the first person down failed to notice the winds had changed direction and there-by causing slight havoc in landing area, most people following him and landing rather uncomfortably. I chose to land in the alternate area but it was too late to set up a new approach for a swoop. The third time I don’t know what the deal was as every single person on the ground and in the air read the wind indicators one way and the first person down still believes we were all wrong. Due to people’s various proximities to the ground, half the aware people went one way and half the aware people went the opposite (leaving a few unaware people doing something else but that’s a different matter) My question is this: why is that rule becoming so popular? It makes very little sense to me and from a safety standpoint I can see it doing more harm than good. Why should the rest of the load be held hostage to the first person down when they make a mistake (either in judgment, awareness or whatever) More often than not, especially with high performance landings, people are set up and committed before the first person lands. It’s not always easy to tell from above which way people are setting up. Is it for a 90, a 180, a 270 or what? Suddenly you have people in fast canopies and /or inexperienced canopy pilots trying to change their landing direction at the last minute and I hardly see that as safe. I can see why something needs to be done, but I don’t think this is the answer. It doesn’t seem to be working. I have thoughts on what I think would work but as I don’t see many DZ’s operating that way, I feel I must be missing something. What are some of your thoughts or experiences?

My entire trip to Thailand for three weeks cost me less than the registration fee for the 300-way in Eloy. Mind you, I used my airmiles for the flight, but it sounds like many people did the same thing. Still, even without the airmiles, it was less expensive and had such an incredible "holiday" feel. A 400-way would be no problem (skydiving-wise). Add one more C-130 to the left trail (5 in total) The 357 was held for a long time and, but for one...shall we say "confused" person, would've been held even longer. Plenty of time to pop a person on the end of each wacker!

You haven't called or tried to get in touch with your dad since at least June?... None of your family did? And shouldn't he leave his stuff to whomever he pleases?

Yes, I get that feeling. I have that feeling now, If it was one of my very close friends, I would get a call. But I've met so many people skydiving that I bond with instantly and when we run into each other at some boogie a year or so down the road it's like we've been friends forever, but often I don't keep in touch with them in between. I know many jumpers at CK. One of the people I hold dearest is there but I know it's not her and I'm not going to call because I imagine she'll have enough to deal with as it is. In many ways it doesn't matter who because it's still one of our family and there are people who are going to be devastated by this, but it's human nature to hope you don't know the person and have to come to terms with the fact that someone who has enriched your life at some point will not be there to do it again.

Ain't that the truth! I don't know who said this but "youth is waisted on the young"

Having spent so much of my life over 200 lbs, you would think that I'd disagree with you but I don't. I was always careful to dress as flattering as possible, though at a certain point not very much in the way of casual clothes is flattering. Why do so many fat people put themselves at a further disadvantage? It's hard enough to get people to look past your size and see the person you are. I don't think they really do feel comfortable. Ever notice how often they are picking and pulling at their clothes? I think some people wear these things because they have no clue how bad they look. It might be denial that they've actually gotten that big or perhaps their friends/family, trying not to be mean (or maybe the opposite) tell them they look OK because they think they have to, for whatever reason (maybe they think that person would look crappy no matter what and they don't want to hurt them) Large women can look great and sexy, why would they want to wear something that looks so bad? Why don't they do themselves a favour? When you look good, you feel good. I have also lost a fair amount of weight but like someone else said, the damage is done. I started wearing shorts for the first time just a few years ago. My legs aren't attractive (AT ALL) but I'm cooler in shorts and my legs don't rub any more so why not? I am finally comfortable in my less-than-perfect-40-year-old body and I don't care that shorts don't look great. Having said that, it would be ridiculous and degrading to myself to wear tiny but-cheek, hipsters with a shorty shirt. I agree that the picture of that fat chick with the thong is not funny. It's pathetic. No it's not good for her that she wears a thong. She looks disgusting. Period. Someone may still love her, but you won't convince me that anyone would look at that and feel proud that she's their SO.

Ok, normally I don't do this kind of thing but I feel the need for some attention today. The great news is that as of today I can FINALLY join POPS!!!!! YIPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! So what am I doing to celebrate the big 4-0? Working. Probably overtime to make up for going to Rantoul (I know, kinda hard to feel sorry for me now isn't it?) Tonight I pack. I don't want to go out because I have to put in another long day tomorrow THEN drive 16 hours towing a trailer. My family wanted to throw a party for me but I had to explain to them that most of my friends are jumpers and they (like myself) are not going to take time away from the DZ for a birthday party. Wouldn't that feel special, none of MY friends shows up for my party. Plus I had this trip planned. So they have given up. And I'm actually glad. I was starting to feel guilty that I was making it so difficult for them to do something nice for me. Anyway, I'm totally stoked for my trip and I will more than make up for it there but I wanted just a little extra attention today.

I don't have a television so I'm not always up on the origin of some of the popular expressions. Not that they all come from TV, but I hear them often enough and from different people (including wuffo's) that they must come from some sort of mass media. So where did "asshat" start. I love that one! And what about "My bad" Oh, I had a bunch of them but can't think right now. Does anyone know? And are there any other ones you want to know about?

Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) I just gotta know what she said!!!!

"But you are free to your opinion, and I respect that!" Yeah, clearly. Could you twist it a little more?

Yes, I agree. I could hear the frustration in the original post, but he did not sound like he was bashing and he did not make it personal. Perhaps he could've been a little more gentle, but it's a casual forum so I don't think everyone should censor all emotion out of their posts. I also agree with what Betsy said about being responsible for your own fun, but it sure is nice when when you don't have to work at it, especially when you are not so boogie savvy. (Is that an oxy moron or what!) I've met Missy several times and I agree that she (and Rook) will take all feedback at strive to improve where practical. They are both great people (I've not met Rook but I've heard he's much the same as Missy whom I respect highly) and I'm sure this boogie presented a lot of challenges for them both. And really, if that is the biggest problem, it is one easily solved and it says a lot for how great everything else was/is!

"Sit back, relax and vent yer angst!" A quote from the description for The Bonfire. "...vent your angst!" I don't understand why you think he has a chip on his shoulder. He went to and advertised event and felt he did not get what he paid for. He spoke with not one but two of the top dogs at the DZ (I LOVE Skydive Chicago, by the way) and still felt he did not get anywhere. It appears neither of them were able to point out where exactly to go if there was someone to organize the type of jumps he was looking for. I'm sure some of you freeflyers may have thought there were plenty of flat flyers doing stuff, but that may have been with people on teams, or who came together or whatever. Some people have posted how awesome they thought the event was. I've heard great things about Summerfest in the past and almost went once but at that time I wasn't much into freeflying and I was lucky enough to get the message that it was pretty much a freeflying event. There's nothing at all wrong with that, but I too would've been disappointed back then if I had gone as I wasn't yet ready to get into freeflying. I had definite goals I wanted to achieve in formation flying first. Part of the fun of a boogie is meeting people you jump with (not everyone makes friends in the bar after) Why can't someone post what they thought was wrong? If I want to pay a $30 boogie fee for music, food or a T-shirt, I'd just go out to dinner at the mall and save myself the long drive. Geez weegegirl....Prozac? Come on. Was that enough paragraphs for everyone?

I think that if what he says is true then he has a very valid complaint. As soon as I saw it though, I knew a whole bunch of snarky people were going to make comments like yours. How about some intelligent feedback instead?

You would've heard this jackass. And I know plenty of people blab away. (It's hard not to brag a little to a close friend or two after a particularly cute one) but the gross lack of respect for the girl that is spewed when I hear some (too many) guys going on an on is frankly quite depressing. I can't imagine it ever being funny to stick your fingers under another guy's nose and saying "Hey? Hey? That's from 12 hours ago!" Unless of course you've just lost your virginity to a hooker. BTW, I was at a couple of DZ's this weekend and though this latest scene is what prompted me to post, it is not exclusive to any one guy/girl or any DZ. I've just noticed it a lot more lately as we are getting more and more young jumpers into the sport and I still haven't learned when to leave the campfire and call it a night. Or is it that I'm getting Older? ........Naaaaahhhhhhh! (Look out POPS, here I come!!!!!!!!!!)

Actually having sex? Or bragging to their buddies about having sex? Because it seems to me that if they kept their mouths shut, they would have a lot more sex. (And so would we!) Just a bit of a rant after hearing explicit details of someone' sexual escapades in a packed plane on it's way to altitude. You know, the straw that broke the camel's back and all that. (To clarify: the camel and straw had nothing to do with the sex...that I know of)

I hope this isn't considered an add as it's a give-a-way If anyone is driving through Toronto on your way to Rantoul you are more than welcome to stop by my work (Winston Churchill & 401) and pick up as many FREE Rip & Sip's as you can load. All I ask is that you share while you're there! We need room in our warehouse and we need to get rid of all the "damaged" goods. We have been in the R&D stage FOREVER and had to produce in order to work out the kinks resulting in less-than-perfect-looking-pouches hence we aren't selling them We have grape, orange and fruit punch flavoured drinks (like Koolaid) in the coolest package on the planet. If you want to know what I'm talking about go to www.siptop.com PM me to make arrangements.

I see Brian Germain is having a canopy course in Rantoul but I can't seem to find details on this or the WFFC sight. Has anyone taken a canopy course in Rantoul or Quincy? Is there a separate landing area? I would think if I'm trying to learn slightly higher performance landings, I wouldn't want a busy landing area.

Take a look on the dance floor. I mean really look at who is smiling and laughing and horsing around. The ones having all the fun are the average ones. The hotties are too busy posing or unable to move without parts falling out of their clothing. When you are average, you don't seem to spend as much time on your looks. You learn early to get past that and just have fun.

"one more question..... what would be the pros and cons of getting a lawyer and going that route? i could care less about recommendations and professionalism at this place, they've been fucking me for a year now, i'd love nothing more than to atleast offer my company a decent reach around." Do yourself a favour and don't do that! I can't believe you'd even consider it. It'll take forever and your lawyer will have you convinced that you were so wronged you are only going to get more angry than you are now. And perhaps you'll get nothing for all your efforts. Just get over it and move on. I can't even imagine putting myself through that. People have been treated WAY worse and put up with a lot more. One job I had cost me more to take it than I earned in the nine months before I left. If they've "fucking you for a year now" then you should've moved on long ago. Like someone else said DONT BE A VICTIM!