PrairieDoug

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Everything posted by PrairieDoug

  1. PrairieDoug
    I have a PhD in Economics (it seemed like a good idea at the time). I keep semi-exotic animals, including snakes, a psychotic iguana, a neurotic cockatiel. a tortoise. prairie dogs, a tarantula, more birds, frogs, and a bearded dragon. This hobby has ended more prospective relationships than my love of skydiving has!
  2. PrairieDoug
    Hmmm... I think it was when my daughters Sindri and Laura made their first skydives. Both did tandems, and then Laura continued through AFF. She's a natural flyer (unlike her dad!) and didn't have to repeat any levels.
  3. PrairieDoug
    Fantastic. It's definitely a better way of life, eh?
  4. PrairieDoug
    Been there, bro. Twice. Sorry for your injury. My doctor told me that the speed/extent of recovery depends a lot on how much damage was done to other tissues in the knee. I had one knee reconstructed following an ACL tear, and it's now better than ever... but it took a long time to fully heal (1 year). Tore ACL on other knee but instead of surgically repairing it, I'm focusing on strengthening the surrounding muscles. So far so good. I'm back in the air, but wear a brace while jumping. Best wishes for a quick recovery!
  5. PrairieDoug
    I'm SO disappointed... when you said "skydiving gear only" I thought you meant with no clothes. (One gear manufacturer or dealer has some ads with a hottie wearing nothing but a rig... wouldn't mind more of that.)
  6. PrairieDoug
    Michele -- I love your perspective and attention to detail. I felt the same anxiety about some of my early jumps that you described, as well as the same sense of accomplishment afterwards. Follow your bliss! Doug
  7. PrairieDoug
    QuoteAre Kathy and JR still at Chambersburg? I jumped with them at Quincy several years ago and they were just the loveliest people. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ JR is a great guy, but I've never heard anyone describe him as "lovely" before. Sounds rather metrosexual, and JR is pretty far on the manly end of the spectrum. C'burg is a nice DZ. I live about 1/2 way between C'burg and Skydive Orange in VA and alternate between them. (More Orange last season, but that may change this year.)
  8. PrairieDoug
    Dating myself a bit here, but I had a thing for Mary Tyler Moore (especially back in the Dick van Dyke Show days) and for "That Girl" ... what's her name??
  9. PrairieDoug
    1. Goodfellas 2. Braveheart 3. Fargo 4. Matrix 5. ??? Could probably include Field of Dreams also -- it's one of the few DVDs I own and I always watch it when I'm sick or snowed in.
  10. PrairieDoug
    My name is a reference to my given name (that would be Doug) and my 3 pet prairie dogs. The p-dogs are really cool! They were rescued at birth from a ranch where they were going to be exterminated as pests. I bottle fed them formula until they were old enough to eat solid food. They adore me but attack strangers, which would be funny except they can really bite!
  11. PrairieDoug
    It definitely makes sense to practice some new stuff on your own. But it can be hard to tell how you're really doing without somebody in the air with you to provide a point of reference. You can be all over the sky and think you're falling straight down. But hey... sometimes ignorance is bliss!
  12. PrairieDoug
    Steve, My condolences to all involved. I spend a lot of time with people who are trying to recover from alcohol and/or drug abuse issues. Still don't know why some make it and others don't. You could say it's a matter of willingness, but then where does the willingness come from? Ultimately it seems to be a grace thing. Your brother's situation motivates me to continue a while longer down the road I've chosen, towards a different destination. Peace.
  13. PrairieDoug
    This photo reminds me of "The Gypsy Moths" movie, although it took place much later. Part of the story line involves a special "cape" jump designed to thrill audiences at barnstorming shows. The "cape" was really a primitive wing suit. It was said to be especially dangerous because flyers would get so entranced by flying the cape that they would lose altitude awareness (no Dytters then).
  14. PrairieDoug
    Definitely NOT... but Austin is one of my favorite cities -- nice size, great live music scene, and lots of beautiful women (most of whom are way too young for me.)
  15. PrairieDoug
    My screen name is a reference to the 3 Prairie Dogs I keep as pets (Kuruk, Lakota, and Cheyanne). The avatar is the best p-dog pic I could find on the web. Doug
  16. PrairieDoug
    My two oldest daughters Sindri and Laura have both done tandems, and Laura has continued through AFF. Laura totally aced her AFF jumps (no repeats) at Skydive Orange in Virginia and is definitely a better flyer than her dad. Unfortunately, she's expressed a bizarre preference for focusing on freeflying over RW if she continues in the sport. People have asked me if I worry about their safety. My attitude about the risks for them is the same as for me -- all the positive aspects of the sport outweigh them. Frankly, I'm more concerned about all the DZ horndogs hitting on my little girls than about the risks of jumping. My dad -- the most significant family connection I've got besides my kids -- doesn't quite get it, but he's been supportive because skydiving has helped put me on a more positive path in life than I was following for a long time.
  17. PrairieDoug
    Hey Kansas bro, I know you mean well, but someone needs to set you straight about what women really appreciate. I happen to be single (again!), but my experience has been that women like practical gifts. Think vacuum cleaner, cookware, or even household appliances if its really serious. You want something that says you really value all that she is and does for you. Now I just need to figure out why my relationships never seem to last...
  18. PrairieDoug
    Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. I've never met you, but what I've read about you reminds me that "everyone will die, but not everyone truly lives." How cool is that?
  19. PrairieDoug
    These pics should be moved to the hottie thread, don't you think?
  20. PrairieDoug
    Given the "disturbing" warning and the reactions posted in replies, I think I'll just refrain from viewing this attachment (yeah, right).
  21. PrairieDoug
    Ya know, with this talk of balloon jumps, etc. I'm really starting to regret that I'm going to be in Cancun during this boogie -- never thought that would happen! Oh well, I'm sure there will be other chances... you folks have a BLAST!!
  22. PrairieDoug
    Not sure of the answer to your question, but we're around the same age and I also have 4 kids. I've jumped with skydivers of all ages from late teens to 60+ and it's never been an issue for me or them. I tip my hat to those dudes who keep jumping hard when their peers are just waiting for the social security check to show up each month. BTW, my oldest daughter has done a tandem and my 2nd daughter is through AFF level E2. Maybe that's something you have to look forward to.
  23. PrairieDoug
    "Dive In" is worth getting, although some of the footage is a bit dated. I believe NK's newer release "Willing to Fly" is now available on DVD and that's supposed to be just awesome.
  24. PrairieDoug
    Maryland plates SKY GUY Used to have Virginia plates ALTI2D
  25. PrairieDoug
    Another vote for Skymama. Never met her, but I love her style and smile.