Dagny

Daizey, I'm so sorry you had to experience this tonight. I really am. This post was very sobering and no pun is intended here. What a terrible and senseless loss of life. Can I just say that I'm proud of you for trying to do the right thing tonight for everyone. You can't make people make the right decisions, but you can choose not to be a part of the wrong ones. {{{VIBES}}}} to you for having to experience something so traumatic. And lesson noted, thanks. Missy Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Ummm, yep....I'm positive about that! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Hot skychicks is a great photo!! Too bad the hotties were so COLD that night...thank you, zhills, for one hell of a nice bonfire!! The two fingers behind eeneR's head....hahaha....I cropped out the evil one behind that! [cough] aviatrr! [/cough] And just over Stacy's shoulder is HeatherB...you can almost see her, too! Good times...good memories...good friends...gotta love being a skydiver! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I don't know how to FF, yet, but I'll at least take the ride to altitude with you, chick! And a tracking dive sounds like fun...been wanting to try that out for a while now. Just with a small group to start with, ya know? So, how is Pahokee? I've been hearing good things...(hope the rental gear is decent!) Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Thanks Angela! It was a really good time.... I am definitely looking forward to being there when you make your 100th! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Oops, one more....why so shy, eeneR!!!? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

The first one shows our motley crew before we funneled a 5way...those smiles never left our faces! And the rest are from Zephyrhills...it was cold, but one hell of a good time! Oh, and one pic of my helmet....love that thing! Oooh....and zephyrhills nights weren't nice for EVERYONE....LOVE you THE111!!!! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Now these pics are for my skyfamily...those that I spent time with over Thanksgiving! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Over Thanksgiving dinner on the deck in Sebastian, Skybytch asked everyone to name one thing we were thankful for this year. I answered honestly when I said that I was thankful for my new skyfamily. South Florida was beginning to feel a little lonely, but the dz was a short drive away and my spirits were lifted as I joined my friends in Sebastian and, later, in Zephyrhills. I just got my pictures back from that weekend, so this post is a tribute to the good times that were had both in the sky and on the ground... The first few pics are for my friend, eeneR....Happy Birthday, girl! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Surely, the PC over the nose didn't lead to his death. I would need some more detail about what exactly "ragging" out the canopy entailed before I would feel comfortable commenting on it. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Well, I am certainly no expert here, but which malfunctions are you referring to here? The most common problem that I am aware of which can occur when letting the toggles back up to full flight too quickly is line twists. Now, if elfanie was jumping a stilleto, or other high performance canopy, I would think a spinning mal due to line twists might result in a chop...however I'm not aware of other mals which might occur from releasing an intentional stall. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Oops, I didn't mean to make the post sound whiny or anything about my progress versus my friends... Rather, I just wanted to know if other people agree that it's okay to start using double fronts at 25 jumps given strong previous canopy performance. I definitely enjoy watching him progress and I wouldn't want to stifle that, but I do want to know that he's being safe about it. As far as the advice he's received, well, advice varies, doesn't it? Some instructors are conservative, others not so much... If everyone seems to agree that his progression is moving adequately, then I won't mention another word about this. Now, as far as my own progression, I'd like to try using the risers on final. I haven't spoken to my instructors about using double fronts recently (meaning: since I've started landing on my feet). And, when I spoke to them about it in the past, I think they believed I was planning on doing hook turns using my risers and therefore discouraged me from touching them. So, if it's okay for my friend...then I'm thinking, surely it's okay for me too. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I spoke with a friend of mine recently about skydiving. He has approximately 25 jumps and is currently working to complete the requirements for his A license. He moved through AFF without any difficulty and his landings have been on target since early on. To date, he has not done a crosswind or downwind landing and really isn't familiar with flat turns or other canopy inputs I consider important, but downsized his canopy not too long ago. I forget what his wl is, but I know it's 1.2:1 or less. He gets advice from a very experienced skydiver who I trust...and yet, I have to wonder about the advice my friend recently received. Maybe I'm just more conservative, but after my friend complained about feeling bored under canopy, it was recommended that he try using double front risers on his approach. Is this okay? When is it time to start playing with the risers on final? I have almost twice the number of jumps as my friend, although my landing progress has been slower. He downsized faster than me and now this riser thing....I asked about using risers and was told not to touch them, yet. Is he moving too fast, am I moving too slow, can I try out my risers, too? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Congrats Angela! If you do your 100th the weekend after New Years, I'll have to make the trip to Pahokee to celebrate with you!

I'd like to add my thoughts about the canopy control course with Scott Miller. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure about spending the money on it. I was interested, but money is tight and I remained undecided until I found myself packing my car and driving to Sebastian again. I don't know why I was ever uncertain about it, it was absolutely, without a doubt, very well spent money! I only did four out of the five jumps in the course, because a gear check on five minute call revealed some wear on one of the risers at the three rings. Got that replaced, but missed out on a jump. However, still practiced all the skills on the remaining jumps. Practiced flaring at altitude, flat turns (which I have been doing for a while now, thanks to a post by billvon...even think the flat turn has kept me from hurting my worthless self a few times, too), discussed flight plans in depth, stalled the canopy on rear risers and toggles, and came back from a long spot using 3/4 brakes. I just have to say that this class was incredible! Scott answered all the questions I had and even discussed the possibility of downsizing again with me. I have decided not to downsize and just to stay on the 190 for a while. I could easily move to a 170, but I'm beginning to feel very confident on the 190 and think it would be a good canopy to learn to swoop on. Scott showed me video of him in Deland swooping a Nav 220...if he can work that canopy like that, I'm sure a sabre2 190 would be more than willing to play along with me, too. I really enjoyed stalling out the canopy....so much in fact, that I took wraps on the toggles and stalled it three times while holding it as long as my arms would allow. It was quite an experience, I don't really know how to describe it. But, I know that my canopy wants to fly....it wants air, it wants to do what it's supposed to do...and it will. Also, I know I can pull the toggles to my full extension without causing a stall when I'm landing. Also, what a great experience riding the canopy back to the dz from a long spot. I jumped out over the river which was so strange to see. Flew back in deep brakes using grips on my harness to keep my arms from fatiguing. Flew alongside another skydiver taking the class while we chatted a bit. That was so awesome! It was the sunset load....beautiful view...and I made it back to the DZ! From the fear of hanging over trees and water to the comfort of being in my holding area at 2k and able to play on the front risers before landing. Nice. Scott also took video of everyone's landings. If I didn't have a copy of the video he took, I wouldn't believe that I actually landed so well. I mean, here's me...who jumped a NAV 280 because I was biffing in every landing, who didn't stand a landing until jump 18 and then not again, who struggled to land without ever finishing the flare, who just knew I was going to embarass myself during this course. And I stood every landing...not only stood them, but made it look easy! I flared a few feet too high on the first landing, but stood it without a problem. Every other landing was just ideal....really soft, tip-toe kind of landings. I don't know if it's me, experience, or this sabre2, but I'm beginning to feel really good about myself. And I wanted to cry just a few weeks ago because of my landing problems. The best landing was the last of the day....sunset, the winds had dropped. My approach put me near the peas....the lack of winds made the canopy feel faster which was fun, I flared at the right time just to skim the surface of the grass for a little while before stepping onto the ground. It was incredible! I realized that I like fast....I also like when the canopy planes out over the ground and I'm cruising just above it. I see swooping in my future, I really do. All in all, the course was a huge benefit to me as a newer skydiver, newer canopy pilot. I strongly recommend it! The effect it has had on both my confidence and actual canopy skills has been profound. I will be looking to Scott for advanced courses as I continue jumping. Thanks to Scott for a great course and thanks to Lisa for arranging the course in Sebastian! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Stacy, you look so pretty! Hope you had fun, too... My numbers: 0:4:0 Took Scott Miller's canopy control course and absolutely loved it. Did four 5000 ft hop n' pops with front flip exits on them all so I could play for just a few seconds before getting under canopy. Had some really good landings, stood them all.....how the hell did I manage that? Don't know, don't care, had a great time with some great company and an amazing, patient instructor. No beer owed....but I did indulge in the purchase of an AFF grad....I love the beer rules! (especially when it's not me that owes!) Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

eeneR, Honey, I am so glad that you came to visit us in sunny Florida, again! You are an amazing woman and I am very happy to have met you! Need I say how much I treasure you as a friend? You are so dynamic! I wish you nothing but the best as you pursue your new career. Know that you are welcome here in Florida....you have many friends here, especially me, and while I selfishly hope to see you again here in Florida, I want the best for you in your future no matter where that may be. Thanks, as always, for sharing everything with me...the air mattress, the tent, your knowledge, your time, your friendship. You rock!

Oh, god...so true. How many times did my partners and I sit there staring down some section of the body looking for some nerve which we just KNEW we must have cut, then the prof comes over and does that very thing just to find it under a little fascia. One time, we were dissecting and the prof was helping us using just his hands and the blunt end of the scissors. The lights went out for about 30 seconds, come back on, and he's still working. Never stopped and still found all the structures we needed! Dropdeded - Gray's is a classic, but stay away from it unless you get one for free. It's useless for your needs. Netters is very popular, you can't go wrong with it. Grants is another very good anatomy book, but wasn't my favorite in comparison to Rohen and Netter. Netter is illustrated, rather than actual pictures, but it is invaluable. (And, of course, I just loved Rohen because it was so cool and the pictures are amazing) Netter was the most often used book in my school. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Can I just say I'm confused? And from the look of your poll, you don't seem to be interested in the female perspective. Too bad, you're missing out! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Umm....yep, it's gotta just be you. Now Diet Cherry Coke is like the nectar of the gods....that's a good soda! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

If you are looking for just a textbook of anatomy, I'd have to also recommend Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy. It's a great book with structures clearly marked and labeled in color. But, I'd also like to suggest Rohen's Color Atlas of Anatomy. Frankly, I thought this book absolutely rocked. These are pictures of actual anatomical structures dissected on a real cadaver. It wasn't as helpful for gross anatomy as I hoped, though, as Rohen and his team are clearly gods wielding scalpels and their skills are unmatched by the first year medical student. Meaning: their pictures looked so much better than my cadaver EVER looked! Both Rohen and Netter offer excellent anatomy books which are going to provide you with far more detail than you will need for EMS, but they are great for reference. You can't go wrong with either. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Bill, Thanks for this invaluable information. I was recently moved to a 190....the canopy I was hoping to be on and it's great. I love it. And, yet...I'm itching for just one more downsize. Soon. I'll be taking Scott Miller's canopy control course this weekend. That combined with the skills you've outlined should help me get to where I want to be safely. It's hard telling the eager skydiver in me to slow down....that urge to downsize is strong. But, I want to do it right. I just discovered the sky, but it's not going anywhere. No rush. And I know to listen when people talk....like you, so thanks! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Why I like Skymama: She is absolutely stunning with an infectious, warm personality both online and in person. She is humorous and modest and someone I would feel comfortable approaching with any questions or problems. She is also a female skydiver and a Mom and those two facts make me admire her even more! Not to mention, the recipe for the pumpkin bread that she posted before Thanksgiving was phenomenal! I've never made pumpkin bread before, but judging by how fast everyone in Sebastian ate it, I have to say it went well! So, thanks to her for a recipe I'll use again! In short, Skymama rocks and I'm glad to know her!

I had a friend ask if it was fishing lure. I couldn't say anything in return because I was laughing so hard! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Here's three more important questions: Do you drive your own car? Can you cook as well as clean? And, how fast do you pack a rig? Still......boyfriend for hire....probably too expensive for me! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali