Dagny

Poor, poor Jimbo! Too much Milller Lite makes the body and mind weak. Imagine this...Jimbo...chatting with two very cool, hot skychicks at once and he wore out within just a few minutes and needed to sleep. If he had been drinking corona like me he might have the stamina to take on a martini!

Katie! The eternal optimist!

You're kidding, right? Go PACKERS! Be sure to post pics of you in your stockings! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I was rushing to find the remote control so I could change the channel until I realized it was for.... And then I realized...no worries, I've got two of my own. I can keep watching Law & Order! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Hmmm....Give up one of my martinis?? That's crazy talk! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I have found that just about anyone I ask questions of at the DZ is more than willing to answer my questions. Time permitting, of course. Good thing, because I can't even begin to fathom all I have to learn yet in this sport. It's good that people are willing to share the knowledge they have acquired throughout their experiences to us newbie jumpers. One thing I have learned is to listen, listen, listen. I've also learned that people aren't necessarily going to come to me and give me advice or suggestions. For example, landing is the one thing I cannot seem to get a handle on. One stand-up so far. Seriously, it leaves me frustrated. I mean, I'm a smart person, why can't I land on my feet? Why am I not aware of my own actions enough to recognize when I don't flare all the way? Okay, enough of that...it's just meant to be an example. The point is that I have had to be very active in seeking my own answers. So, my advice to other newbies would be to find someone you trust to mentor you and advise you in the beginning. If you aren't sure...ask. If you don't get an answer....keep asking. And be assertive in your own training. I don't know how it is everywhere, but if I wasn't assertive regarding my post-AFF, pre-A training/jump requirements I wouldn't be any closer to getting my license. And as far as the landings go...it's a work in progress with advice coming not from instructors, but from some really friendly people around the DZ who care enough to help. Being passive and quiet will not get your questions answered and will not help you progress in skydiving. And, if you are an experienced skydiver willing to share info...please initiate a conversation with a newbie. It helps us early jumpers feel comfortable coming to you for advice!

If I lick a guy can I start dating him? Maybe I'll try that tonight when I get my 2for1 martinis on... Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I feel like I have been living in darkness and given a new lease on life. Thank you, Jim! Finally I realize that all my Becks, Guinness, Heineken, Amberboch, and Stella drinking days are over!!!

How awesome, Denise! Looks like you had a great time! And you got some great pics from it, too. Very cool. That chopper jump pic looks incredible! I'm jealous! But, it was way more fun to jump that small caravan in Sebastian. Really. Way funner than jumping a helicopter or the skyvan. No. Seriously. Glad you had a great time! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Cool, thanks for sharing! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Please post your pics when you can! I wanted to watch the eclipse, but all I can get is rain in my eyes. Nasty weather here tonight! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Welcome to skydiving! Do you know what your fear is when you are on the plane? What are you afraid of? I can tell you that every AFF jump I did made me nervous and it was always in the back of my mind that I could stay on the plane if I wanted to. I never did. I was afraid of failing a level and of killing myself. The fear can be conquered, really. Just be sure you are jumping because you want to and not because you feel like you have to. It's hard to give a suggestion on how to relax because it differs for everyone. Some people might feel better laughing and talking on the way to altitude or enjoying the view. Throughout AFF, I would visualize the entire jump from exit to landing and do it again and again until it was time to go. It also helped me to take a few deep breaths (in through the nose, out through the mouth) before exiting. You can do this. If you want it, it is definitely possible. Don't let a bad jump rule your future in skydiving. It was a bad jump, it sucked, but it's over. Let it go so that you can put yourself fully into your next few jumps. You are in control, not your fear. Remember ---> SKYDIVING IS FUN! Who cares if you have to repeat a jump? It's all good and it only gets better.

Congratulations on getting to jump your new rig! No worries about buying beer and having no one to drink it...come to Sebastian, I'll stay at the DZ long enough to help you finish off a case, promise! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Okay, I just want to dispel any myths that our beloved Skybytch can't land on her feet. I have proof! It's true...it's a little distant and fuzzy (kind of like all photographic evidence of a bigfoot sighting), but you can clearly recognize that pepto-bismol pink jumpsuit. I even included a pic of her on her way back in with Kate Cooper...and she looks damn happy to me! Lisa, it was good to see you out there getting a chance to play in Deland. Hope there are many more days of that for you!

Sweet necklace! It definitely has personality. Gotta love wearing something unique! Here's mine...not so unique, but it's mine and I love it! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Now there is something unforgettable.... Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I want to believe in love at first sight, but I don't really. I believe someone can be strongly attracted to another person upon first meeting, but I think it takes longer than an instant to discover who someone really is inside. The problem with love at first sight is that it's too easy, too convenient, and too easily broken when life gets complicated. That being said, however, I'm always open to being proven wrong! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

The most I've jumped in one day is 4. Now that I've taken a packing class (and since I plan on packing my own), I'll be lucky if I can manage two a day! After jumping three times yesterday and taking the packing class, meaning I packed the rig five times, my body HURTS! But it's a good hurt... Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I like the way you think...can I live in your world? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Ok, so a reputation for you...I'm thinking bad boy meets skydiver meets sexy sophisticate. Might need to work on one of those areas, but it's a start! Can I help it if I've got high standards? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Aviatrr on a belly fly??? Count me in on that jump!

Bwahahaha! I wasn't, though. I swear I checked my handles at least thirty times and even recited in my head "peel n' pull, hook n' punch" because I just KNEW I was going to have a bag lock! I'm happy I didn't, though...and the opening was actually soft. Hey, how did you like that last jump? I spent almost the whole jump admiring the sunset and the light on the clouds then did a 180 to watch the moon over the ocean. Very cool. Anyway, next weekend is all about the beer...and we'll drag Lisa out even if we have to hold her Pantz hostage!!! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I knew it!!! Sorry I missed having a beer with you, I was finishing up the packing stuff and getting attacked by frighteningly large and aggresive mosquitoes. Scary stuff, but I'm almost done with my A so it was worth it. I owe beer for jumping my first pack job and if all goes as planned, I'll owe for getting my A next weekend. Hope you are around Sebastian then so you can indulge with me!!! Oh, and be good to your baby....and take pics with her so we can all share!! You looked great under canopy...congratulations!!!!

I live really close to the Fort Lauderdale airport and jump at Sebastian. If you let me know when you'd be flying into FLL, I could pick you up and make the drive to Sebastian. It's two hours north of here and I don't need much of an excuse to make the drive.

Sorry to hear about your car! At least you made it home. Home is a good place to be...much better than sitting on the side of the road in the rain wishing you were home. Hope someone can get their head out their arse and solve the problem. You know it exists...I know it exists...why is it so hard to convince the mechanics? Oh and I'd like to add a someday: someday....I won't be in debt anymore. (BWAHHAHAHA...right.) someday....I'll have my own skydiving gear. (let's see...if I keep making $150 a week, I should be able to afford a rig by...oh, forget it.) someday....I'll quit thinking about someday!