Dagny

Don't contain yourself! Celebrate... Very cool, chick! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

OMG, maybe I'm delirious right now, but I thought that was freakin' hilarious! I laughed through the whole thing... Okay, time for me to step away from the micro notes, I think. Oh, yes, I already did. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

You can keep the brains, but sushi...what I wouldn't give for some tonight! A little eel, some shrimp, tuna, and salmon. Yep, that'll do. With a side of sake, please! Oh, but wait. I'm still poor. Sigh. Easy mac it is then. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

So, I talked to my sister for a while today. That girl is younger than me, but she keeps me grounded. Anyway, I hear her monitoring the girls playtime with the occasional comment and I realized that it's freakin' hilarious, the things she has to say to them. The girls are 3 and 16 months and terminally energetic. What I overheard today.... "Cedar, stop putting that bucket on your sister's head!" followed immediately by "Gwyneth, stop putting that bucket on your head!" "Gwyneth, no eating crayons. Gwyneth, quit feeding crayons to the dog!" Damn, she rules with an iron fist. LOL What are some of the funny or inane things you've had to say to your kids? Or overheard being said? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

These are allowed? Damn. Someone needs to tell the airport security in New Orleans. Last time I went through there, my tweezers were confiscated from me. Good thing, probably, it really does hurt to pull hair out with them. I could have tortured uni-brow people on the airline for hours! I went through airport security in Reno once, forgetting that I left some of my camping gear in my camelback. They spotted the leatherman tool, bad Missy, but neglected to open the waterproof container containing my matches. I didn't say anything seeing as how I didn't intend to light up the plane and I really didn't want to lose the matches, too. Thank god it wasn't tweezers. You think 9/11 could never happen again? I believe that people are punchy these days and would rush anyone they deemed a threat particularly after the passengers in the PA plane fought back. But, I think it might be a bit premature to assume a counter-attack by passengers would necessarily be effective against another hijacking attempt. Just a thought. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

[cough] tanqueray is better [/cough] Bring it on, Tuna! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Duuude. I've been averaging 3 hours of sleep a night for...well, a while now. Mostly by choice. It gets better when you make friends with the people in your hallucinations. Trust me. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Au contraire, my friend..there is something about biking... Happiness is biking...and showing off the war wounds that make me feel like I've accomplished something on it. Why do you have to fall to be a better mtn biker? LOL, who cares, just bring on a beautiful day and good trail! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

The things that make me smile: Blue skies with big white puffy clouds and moderate temps. Finally sucking up my fear and taking on an obstacle on my mountain bike succesfully. Skydiving. Always. When someone tips me better than 20% at work. Finding my nighttime friend online for some good conversation and, especially, when we laugh about the exact same things at the exact same time. Oh, and his laugh. Unexpected things...forgotten money found in a pocket, special personal messages, surprise gifts - especially the ones of no real monetary value. When my neices hug me. Dogs. They're just awesome. Oh, and green lights...driving without having to stop. So many things that make me smile in a day, it's hard to list them all. But these are the first few that come to my mind. And I'm so very thankful for them.

HA! What you fail to understand, my road challenged friend, is that the hours I spend pushing miles on my road bike make me a much stronger mountain biker. That means I'm fully capable of out-riding you off road. HA HA! You can look for me out there, I'll be the one busting up some ground in front of you. Don't worry, I'll clear you a nice path so you don't fatigue too fast! Power to the roadies! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Why should I break my pace or my finely formed line when I'm drafting so well? You should feel honored to be able to stand so close to the beauty that is my group ride. Stand in awe of my brightly colored spandex and clipless pedals. Step aside and contemplate your worthlessness as my group bikes past. We are hurried, but most Important People are, don't you know? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Currently feeding my skydiving habit with tips from waitressing and the loans which help me survive med school. It's funny, the things that are suddenly not imperative to own or purchase when on limited funds. Like food....who needs it? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Oh, one really big Heineken today. And who needs beer when Crown n' Coke tastes so yummy? Bring on the sweet oblivion that is my intoxication. Oh, happy day. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Oh, Cory!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Good job! I am so happy that you took the long trek to zhills. I'm especially glad that I stayed long enough to meet you and watch you as you began your aff progression. Welcome to the obsession that is skydiving...and enjoy it! Stay safe out there. And get back down here as much as possible... Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I'm so glad you like the photos, I was pleasantly surprised by some of them. Of course, zephyrhills has the widest expanse of sky I've ever seen and the sunsets were stunning. I remember just standing there in awe watching the canopies come down from the sky. The colors were amazing, it looked like the sky was on fire. I am constantly impressed by the beauty that is nature. And, Kevin, I LOVED the book. I will be reading it again. It was exactly what I wanted and needed for the vacation. And, being broke, I was very lucky when a good friend shipped it to me for xmas. Wind drift indicators, are they? Lawn darts are FFers? I have so very very much to learn in this sport! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Corky! Thanks for that video...very cool! And LOVE Serenity, great choice! Looks like FUN. Sean, are you learning to FF, already? Am I the only newbie who hasn't done this, yet? I want to FF, too, but everyone tells me to get good belly skills first, so I'm doing RW for now. Not that I mind, RW rocks! But, it seems like so many new skydivers transition to FF very quickly. I feel like I should be starting now if I want to keep up! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Trust no one. Sexual offenders are the most despicable, cowardly people. The emotions that surface just in reading this post remind me of my hatred to anyone who would abuse a child, abuse their authority as an adult, and destroy the mind of a child. If it were my child, it would take a great deal of restraint not to kill the offender. I'm not sure I have the restraint, to be completely honest. Maybe what I'm feeling is just an impotent kind of frustration, dreams of revenge, rather than an actual course of action. Knowing myself, I would probably rely on the police to handle the situation. But, I would NOT be satisfied with the possibility of a sexual offender being mistreated in prison. I'd rather see him dead. I couldn't say for sure how I would respond to the molestation of my own child. First and foremost, however, I would NEVER allow my child to stay somewhere unless I felt comfortable with the location/people. And, yet...relatives are frequently the abusers, now, aren't they? That makes it so much worse, too. Sexual abuse is the most underreported crime I've ever encountered. I know more women that have dealt with years of abuse and never said a word. It just sits in the back of your head, festering, eating at you, breaking you down. Always in the back of your mind, no matter how far you push it away, no matter how deep you hide it. It's like a scar on your psyche. Sure, you can grow up to be a perfectly functioning adult with a perfectly normal sense of self-worth and healthy mental outlook. But, it pisses me off that ANYONE would violate another person in such a way and cause them to struggle through recovery. I have a friend who still suffers from nightmares from abuse she suffered. She's in her 30's now, too. Another thing that pisses me off....these pitiful excuses for humans are so infrequently identified and prosecuted that they are able to live normal lives completely unaffected by their actions. If they are family, they might even be a part of the abused person's life serving as a constant reminder of what occurred. Perhaps the abused will recover mentally, perhaps they will always blame themselves. I've seen so many people who continue to suffer from sexual abuse as a child well into adulthood that it makes me want to cry. I don't have children. Maybe one day I will. And god help anyone who takes such liberties with my babies. And god help me, too, because I don't know exactly what I would do. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Kramer is one tall sky-hottie! I had to stand on something just to hug him! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

A few more pics...this time of 800ft static line jumps on rounds. I called the guys freaks, but I liked the phrase "lawn darts" better. Much more accurate, I think! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

It's true. I have photographic evidence of the meeting of the two Kramers. I'll leave it to you to determine the imposter! And to everyone from Zhills this New Years...wow! I believe this was the best start to a year I have ever had. Such a beautiful area, such a fun atmosphere, such good company, and an amazing jump on the sunset load on the first day of this new year. What more could one girl ask for?

oh, please tell me this isn't true. Baby, you should have held out. To kat....blue skies, girl. Live large wherver you are now. You will be missed. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I was visiting New Orleans for the holiday and spent a considerable amount of time driving around and visiting all the places I loved and hated in the city. From the projects to the French Quarter to my favorite house ever, which is sadly still occupied. I took pictures of everything. BUT, I wanted to take a picture of the entrance to the Navy base where I spent so many years...shopping, living, running. That base was a big part of my life for a long time. I was too scared to do it. I was afraid that if I took a picture, I would get in trouble with the MPs and if I took the pic and drove off, it would look even worse. It shouldn't be this way, I don't think. The FBI seems like a kid that has finally passed into adulthood learning all the lessons of life that come with it. Not everyone is a good guy. Not everyone can be trusted. Sometimes people do Really Bad Things that hurt you. And with this sudden awareness comes the reflex reaction...everyone is suspect and everyone has the potential to do a Really Bad Thing and hurt me, therefore everyone must suffer, be punished, for me to protect myself. This is like racial profiling, but on a larger, scarier scale. How long before the States completes a transition into martial law in the interest of "safety" and "protection"? Scary stuff, indeed. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Nice! Can't think of a better way to get through boring, tedious work! I like to draw, too, when I get bored...here's one of mine. What it should be...then what I have finished so far. Except it's not a cool skydiving pic...maybe that will be my next project! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I had my first bad skydiving dream. Usually it's all good, but last night...grrrr, not so nice. Dreamt I was skydiving, can't remember what was going on, but lost altitude awareness, was looking to the side, then remembered I have to pull. Looked down just in time to say Oh Shit which I distinctly remember and...well, fade to black. Either the heineken was trying to punish me while I slept or I'm getting a little nervous about making a jump this week. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Looks like a bad place to land... I got the when are you planning on getting married question, too. Oh! And my next favorite question...when are you going to have kids? While I'm still recovering from the shock of that one, they proceed to explain their reasoning to me. You know you're getting older. It gets harder to have kids. Are you going to choose your career over family? If you wait too long, you won't be able to have any kids. I try the whole....thanks for your interest in my reproductive status, but I'm okay with being single. That just brings them back to the whole....are you dating, when are you getting married bit. It's a vicious cycle, I tell you! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali