SkydiveNFlorida

Hi, Alana! Hope your elbow heals quick! Welcome to the forum:) Angela.

Just to add my opinion in the matter, for a change of pace here. Not that i'm holier than thou, but, well. . . I for one do not support gay marriage. I think what people do in privacy is one thing, but personally, Mr & Mr so-n-so, or such and such, husband and husband, or wife and wife. That is not a marriage. Marriage is the joining of a man and a woman for the purpose of creating a family. I didn't even know that gay marriage was legal here. A co-worker of mine went to China or something for their ceremony.?. I am not trying to put anyone down, I personally just don't support the idea of gay marriage. jmo. Angela.

Aren't there surfing forums? You'd probably get better help there. Just a thought:) Angela.

Sorry, man! That really sux. :( Hope it all works out for the best, tho. . Maybe opportunity is about to come-a-knockin':) Good luck! angela.

I wish I could see videos:( I can't get this stupid comp to show them, tho... just plays the windows intro over, n over, n over. **ahhh!** I'm sure they are sweet, tho. ! Can't wait 'til I can even land properly and where I want to, nevermind all this awesome stuff you guys do! Angela.

Thanks, Chris!! I can't wait. It should be relatively easy... hop, then pop, haha! But, then... i'm no landing artist Awe, that's so sweet of you to say, Rosa!!! It is quite nerve-racking thinking about all the things to do to pass a level, I can certainly see how it could be overwhelming. Combine that with no food, and you're probably lucky to be conscious! On my first 2 days, I ate every other hour, lol!! The second weekend I just ate before and after, had to get a lot of jumps in... I was starving at the end. I thought it was hot here in FL, ... boy, 102, that's crazy! Good luck and keep us updated! I'm sure you'll do great! Angela.

Whoa, sux!! One time at work I forgot to run Claims Payable, haha!! I know that isn't the same as sending a grieving family congradulations balloons... but my bosses were pretty po'ed. Luckily, no one cared that I ran it yesterday when I was supposed to wait til Wednesday. I suppose that my efforts to make the week go by so that I can jump are actually becoming physical efforts... oops. Angela.

Bill, haha! Funny you should mention it.. that is pretty much the only way I get company on my trip is cuz of all the dz hotties. haha. Life seems so boring, the work week is such an annoying dive interrupter! Poohbeer, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses I suppose. I sure wish I was better under canopy. I haven't got problems steering, but I have a depth perception problem which prevents me from flaring at the correct time, lol!! I can tell you this much, I damn sure better get it right this weekend, cuz my poor butt isn't feeling better yet from last, and another landing on it would hurt like hell!! Angela.

Beautifully written, Michele! I had not read of the weekends happenings, but i'm off to find it. I'm so sorry for Mujie to have had to experience such pain. I'm glad you were there for her. Angela.

I feel ya!! It's like a countdown 'til Saturday!! haha. When I was planning this whole aff thing out, I was like, ... ok, I can do like 2 jumps, every other weekend, and i'll be done with aff in 4 months, maybe 3 if I fit another jump here or there. . . Well, went for my 1st aff jump on July 19th, did my second on the 20th. . . then, somehow ended up back there again this wknd and completed 3-7, and i'm pretty much already planning on going up for my level 8 hop n pop this Saturday. I need counseling!! haha congrads on yur progress! And, tho i'm only a week ahead of ya,... welcome to the sport! Angela.

I am Still trying to figure who he might be . Yep I have one of the people doing an internship with me, really interested in it. Will see how it develops. Good job Angie, you can brag all right, I'll pay your beers when we meet hehe. Good on ye 4 getting back out there!! I can't imagine leaving the sport now that i've started.. and i've barely started at all. Yeah, I hear ya about the excuses thing. The guy at wk today was like, oh, I forgot my parents will be here next wknd... I was like, aaah huhhh. lol!! He's all,,.. u think i'm making excuses, right? I really want to go! lol!! We'll see. Angela.

Thanks Canuck!! Yeah, I sure am happy, Denise! I'm the happiest i've ever been when broke! I'm probably going up this wknd... yeah, like 70, 80, umm, maybe 98% sure. haha. Angela.

Wow! You all are great! I never really expected so many replies:) I read them all, and some really great advice was given. Honestly, I do not think i'm going to go into Pharmacy. I just can't picture myself doing that. It doesn't interest me, so why bother. There are so many things I like, i'm going to try to figure a way into something else. Maybe even take some courses just to find out if I like things:) Divaskychick, You need to write an autobiography! Awesome life! I don't seem to meet a lot of people, but i'm starting to do more things, and so maybe that will change for me. You sure have had an amazing life! Sunman, that rocks. I could so see myself skydiving and scuba diving forever! That is too cool! My gf is going to go for her PADI soon, i'm thinking of joining her... thing is, there's this skydiving devil on my shoulder who wants all of my $$ and time. haha! Feuergrom, that's really cool. I'm just gonna keep my eyes open like you say. Matter of fact, I love spa days, my girlfriends and I do pedicures and such on each other, it's a lot of fun! I've been giving massages since I was like 7. Guess you never know where you'll end up. Hmm, so, where to go from here? Not into Pharmacy, I think i've answered that. I really like marine life, and i've always wanted to discover some cool thing in the ocean or in plants that helps cure some disease or something. That would rock! I also like surgery. I find myself watching the surgery channel (when I had cable) all the time! I could possibly become a physicians assistant, I think they get to work in surgery. I love speaking in public, that is something else to look into. Why can't I be Eric Borneman? ! This has been a very inspiring thread for me. Thanks to everyone for their help and contributions! Angela.

I got my girlfriend to do a tandem... she loved it, but she isn't wanting to do it again.:( I have a co-worker who did a static line a long while back (at about 3000ft), and he showed interest when I told him about my jumps, so I told him all about AFF and invited him up with me. He is gonna do AFF1, we set a date for Aug 23 (he has a boating thing this wknd, then his parents will be here the next, i'll be in RI the following, so the 23rd is the next time we'll both be avail). My enthusiasm got two people from the coral reef forums excited about it, too. One was a skydiver for quite sometime, but had given it up for a while, ... but he's now getting back into it full force like he's wanted to do for so long. The other just successfully completed his first AFF dive! He'd always wanted to dive, but my excitement made him even more excited! This is so cool!! Ok, i'm done braggin:D j/k haha. I'm truly happy that my enthusiasm has had such an impact on these peoples lives. That rocks! I bet this happens to you guys all of the time, you start talking about it to people, and all of a sudden you see 'em in the sky! So many people want to do it, but just never get around to it. For me, I always wanted to do it, but then found a reason to start cuz my bf at the time wanted to, and it was his b-day, .. so I was gonna take him. We broke up, and I said screw it, i'm gonna go. Everything happens for a reason, guess my meeting him was a skydiving stepping stone! :D Angela.

Awesome!! I am so glad to have inspired you! It is an awesome experience, huh? ! I just finished AFF7 this past weekend, let me tell you, there is no reason to wait, it just keeps gettin' better!! Get back there to do your Level 2 soon. I heard if you do them pretty close to one another it makes it easier on you. I can tell you that I find the first jump of the day to be the hardest. Actually failed level 3, it was my first of the day... but got right up there and repeated it, then did 4, then on Sunday 5, 6 & 7 were intimidating to the eye, but once up there, I just took things one step at a time and did a perfect dive... even stood up on that landing (I suck at landing, lol!). So glad you did it! Welcome to the forum, too. Happy reefing and happy diving!! :D Angela.

Awe, you guys are so cool! I feel so... special. hehe. Definitely can't wait 'til I can get up there and do some rw and crw with you all! Definitely workin' on it! Thanks!! And as far as canopy,.. u got that right! I am really trying to get better at canopy control, tho... maybe by the time I get my A, i'll have gotten a bit better *hopefully*. haha.... girl power!~! :D Angela.

Awesome!! That would rock! mmmm, beer I'm planning on going up on the 9th. I know Denise will be outta town, tho:( But, I can't get up the following weekend cuz i'll be in RI, and i'm a little broke this wknd and need to study.... but, I could possibly go up for the day this Saturday... ok, i'm thinkin' about it.. but I could only really afford that and another jump... and beer of course Yeah, maybe I could do that. There's always Sunday to study... heheh. Awe man, i'm addicted! I'm finding it hard to not go up... i've got the jump jones! I'll let you know for sure by Thursday. We'll see how much studying I can get in this week Angela

I feel the same way. I've been here for 4 years now. I used to love playing in VB and even started writing cobol a bit when I got in here, just for kicks. . had a blast! I started under a director that loved to teach things, and i'm always wanting to learn, so it worked great! Now, people here keep to themselves, the less you know, the better off they are... and to be honest, I don't really care anymore. I spend 8 hours here doing about 1 hr worth of work, I feel to unmotivated! Yeah, pharmacy is $$ and job security and all. But, i'm not sure I can really see myself as a pharmacist. I'm trying to picture it. I like chemistry and the sciences a lot. I'm not a big fan of calculus, tho. I used to work at a title ins company and helped examine titles, I actually enjoyed that more than this, and seemingly it would be boring to most people. I really like editing, but not my own writing. haha. I am trying to imagine Angela the chemist, or Angela the doctor... but i'm not sure I see it. I always wanted to study Marine Biology, but I think the $$ is pretty limited in that field, and I don't do well being broke! Ahhhh! The frustration! Angela.

And, how did you decide? Was it $$ based? Based on what you really wanted to do? I'm feeling so confused. I'm going into my 3rd year of 2 year college I work full time in Computer Operations. First I wanted to become a programmer, then I wanted to do pharmacy.. Now, I don't know where i'm going. I'm still studying pre-pharmacy, but i'm not sure it is what I want to do. The $$ will be good, but the work itself isn't really appealing to me. So, now i'm considering going into Chemistry, also like the thought of Psychiatry, but all these things take so long, and pharm school is only 4 yrs. How did you make your decision? Hellp! I don't want to be a computer operator anymore:( I'm SO bored!! Angela.

Why did I find it necessary to read this entire thread? That took SO long!! Funny, tho! :D Btw, Jello is definitely a good thing.. . cherries and whipped cream go well with them, too;) Damn, I suppose I could'a saved a lot of $$ shopping at Home Depot. Angela .

omg! The man is excited, why bring him down? ! It's an awesome feeling when you pass AFF, I haven't even done my 8th jump yet and i'm already happier than ever i've been! I don't think he'd being cocky, he is proud of himself for beating those levels down... and dammit, i'm proud of you too, beev!! I just finished levels 3-7 this weekend, and at the risk of sounding cocky, IT FELT GREAT!! Does this mean I think i'm the shit and can't die or screw up a jump? Of course not! We are all human, and in 8 jumps you can't possibly have gone through all situations that may occur. Congrads on passing!! Angela.

Congrads on ur 1st jump!! AFF is awesome, you're gonna love it! Angela.

Um, sweeet!! Welcome to the forum. I just started jumping a week ago and i'm hooked! Have fun on your trip Angela

Congrads on your A license! I have 1 aff level and some other stuff to go still before I get mine. As for your question, "why didn't I do this sooner?" ... I asked myself the same thing, and i'm only 22. haha! Everyone i've met has been awesome and chill, it really is a family! Have a blast! Angela.

Thanks, Denise! And, I would be delighted to be your jump partner! hehe. It was great meeting you, certainly hope to see you again very soon! Thanks to all for the kind words! I am really on cloud 9, this whole thing has been an amazing experience. Yeah, Bill, I know what you mean. Already it is getting better every time! I feel like I have more time in freefall, where at the beginning, it felt like 60 seconds had gone by in about 15 seconds! I might not make it out there next weekend, I have to study for finals and i'm a bit strapped for cash, but i'll definitely be out there on the 9th, so if anyone is out there, definitely come say hi! Angela.