Dagny

Mine turned out to be Princess Leia. (sweet, a princess!) It read: A strong-willed herald of causes against injustice, you passionately strive to right the wrongs around you. So you all be good now, ya hear? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Thanks! Getting gear is my next big goal. Lucky for me, my ex-fiance dumped me over the phone a few years ago and abandoned the diamond ring. At first I was mad about the whole thing, but now all I see is potential! How does it go? One boyfriend: five years commitment One broken engagement: countless tears One diamond ring: 1500K New skydiving rig: PRICELESS The lottery would have been easier, I think...but a happy ending at last!

Thanks! It felt good to get "demonstrated a stand up landing" signed off on my card today. And I can't wait until I'm free to play with others, too! Bring on the hybrids! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Today, my good friend who started AFF with me jumped and did her level 7. I told her I'd watch her jump from the plane, so I left before her and flew on my back until she exited and got stable. She did an amazing job, passed level 7 with no trouble. It was a really great thing to share her excitement on the ground and tell her that she looked great coming out the door...and mean it!

I absolutely respect anyone who refuses to sell something to someone when they don't feel it's safe. That is the first thing I'd like to say. Now, let me say this...when you take someone who is athletic and talented and very self-assured and turn them into a skydiver sometimes this will happen. I'm so new that I look at all these jumpers with hundreds and thousands of jumps and am impressed by their skill and their confidence. And watching these people swoop in landings on canopies no bigger than my bed and glide across the ground skimming the grass and stand up landings like they were born doing it, I admire that. So would a lot of new skydivers. And, when we load on a plane and see rigs which are practically smaller than my purse (that is to say, quite small), I'm tempted to have a cute small rig, also. And given a skydiver with these athletic abilities and confidence who has been landing well since AFF began, you can see why someone would be eager to downsize and take on a 1.2 wingloading. I'm sure this has happened many times before. I understand the temptation, but I also understand the potential risks. It is somewhat harder to see the risks when your vision is clouded by aspirations of being a bad-ass skydiver like the people you admire. You can't really fault a new skydiver for wanting to emulate a sky-god. But, I do believe someone should step up and refuse a sale if they believe it's an incident waiting to happen. There is a running conflict between the advice of the conservative and the advice of the ...umm...less conservative. It can confuse a newbie...especially one who believes quick reflexes are the key to safe landings - even at a 1.2 wl. EDIT TO ADD: This post isn't directed toward Lisa (because I share some of the frustration she expressed here), I'm only trying to explain to anyone who might write off a newbie as irresponsible or unsafe the reasons a fledgling skydiver (actually, this one in particular) might feel comfortable with the perceived risks of a higher wl. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I wish I had a boss I could hate, too! I swear I don't know what it takes to get a job around here. Why can't south florida show a girl a little employment love? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

The better question might be...who wants to drag themselves out of bed to pick up all you sunrise beach jumpers? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I'd have to agree with you, but I think the reason that the medical profession leans towards pessimism is that there are many "wait and see" problems that exist which can have devestating consequences and uncertain progression. Combine that with a litigious society like that which exists in the US and suddenly it's a lie and/or bad care which resulted in someone's death rather than just the unfortunate natural progression of the disease or injury. From what I've seen doctors tend to use statistics from previous similar cases to determine someone's life expectancy or whatever. BUT, people are so amazingly different and the strength of the human spirit and will to live so variable that I don't think anyone can assume anything. I used to tell people, if I thought their loved one might survive, that it looked bleak but that there was always room for hope and prayer. I never used the term "actively dying", though. However, in medicine, I don't sugar coat anything - it can be deceptive and it's unfair to everyone involved. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Since I'm just a baby jumper, I'll volunteer to pick up all you lucky bastahds from the beach! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I used to have a boxer!! She was an awesome, incredible, good dog! She was a white boxer with a congenital kidney defect that took her way too soon, but she was unforgettable. One of my fave boxer things is the "curly-C", you know where they curl up their bodies next to you while you pet them. If I ever get another dog...it'll be a boxer. Congrats on your newest addition!

See....that's why I love ya! (even if you are driving a minivan now) I promise not to laugh...much! Seriously, congrats on the ride! Sooooo, how much does a bench in a van go for these days for poor, wayward, homeless, friendly, appreciative student skydivers? You know, just in case someone asks!? Missy Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Quote My friends thought it was cool at first, but now they just think i'm obsessed, out of town every weekend, spending all my $$ on jumping and jumping accessories. Quote Cool! My friends think I'm obsessed, too. They're always asking "you're going skydiving AGAIN?" Hell, yeah, I am. It's so cute watching them host their little intervention parties...we think you're spending too much money, we think you need friends closer to home, we think you have a death wish, blah, blah, blah. And all I can do is smile at them and count the days till I can get back to the DZ. My poor, uniformed, unenlightened friends - happy keeping both feet on the ground. It's sad, really. My motivation...the awesome people I'm meeting, the DZ vibe, and the call of the open sky just waiting to be explored! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Did someone say jello shots?!!! And fireworks?!!!! And Wendy's pool?!!! I'll contribute to that...count me in!

I've been caught in a situation where I was beat up for no particular reason, just being in the wrong place at the right time for a fight. You can do everything right, respect people, avoid eye contact and still be hassled. It sounds like you did a really good job getting yourself out of a really difficult situation. There aren't any rules and no formulas to help you walk away. But, you're safe and you walked away and that's all that matters in the end! I took a concealed handgun class when my ex-boyfriend bought me a sig 40cal. I don't carry it or even have it since I moved to Florida, but I have to wonder if I was really safer with it. I was never sure I could really shoot someone for one thing. Ahh...gun debates..to have or have not. Not sure there is a perfect solution for that. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I second that! Welcome to the forums!!

Here's a fun little interview technique I learned to screen patients for alcohol "problems", but I think it applies here to all you caffeine addicts: Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking? Do you ever drink as an eye-opener first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I recommend seeking therapy at the Starbucks closest to you. We're a drinking group with a skydiving problem! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

sex??? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

CONGRATS again on your new rig!!! I'm jealous!!! First I get to admire skybytch's awesome infinity and then you buy a javelin...oh, too have more money...what can I sell? Have fun filling it! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

[reply I have some comp vouchers for tunnel time at the store... So what's a voucher worth these days....case of beer, bottle of JD, jump ticket while I watch the store??? Damn it's good that you live in Florida now! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Since everyone seems to agree this a definite fact for a skydiver, why do we do it? I'm scared on the ride up and scared standing in the door, but when I'm in the sky I feel great! And after I land I'm pumped up and happy and ready to jump again. What I can't seem to figure out, though, is why I keep jumping if it scares me so bad. And, yet, I love it and keep planning trips to the dz. No one who jumps plans on dying or getting seriously injured that day, so are we coping by acknowledging the risk while assuming it won't be us who burns in? Maybe we're just confident in our ability to handle problems under a time (and altitude) constraint? Or hopeful? Since I'm a newbie, I've noticed this conflict in myself...on the ride up, "I must be crazy, what am I thinking?". At the door, "no way I'm doing this again and tempting fate". In the sky "WOOO-HOOOO, this rocks, it's beautiful, I love this!". Under canopy "oh, god, I have to land this thing". On the ground, "that was AWESOME, put me on the next load!!" My family is probably wishing I took up basket weaving, instead... Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Oooh! I have a guess....pic 2 is half dome in Yosemite and pic 9 is that panoramic view in Yosemite of half dome and clouds rest and stuff...??? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I think it is absolutely awesome that you and your daughter have such a close relationship! And to be skydiving...together!! I envy that and admire it. My mom...hmm. She's so against me skydiving that I can't tell her when I go or when I get back or how amazing the dive was or how my landing got better (or worse). She calls me to lecture me whenever she reads some traumatic article or sees disastrous skydiving videos (thanks a lot, reader's digest and realtv). I injured myself during a landing recently and I can't even tell her that. Or that it's getting better. She won't be able to stop me from skydiving and I think that's the only reason she hasn't specifically tried to stop me, but the lack of interest and support has created a distance between us that wasn't there before. So, all I'm trying to say is that I think it's great you respect and support your daughter's interests. And that you are open-minded enough to even participate with her is just too cool!

See, that's why I'm in med school...the human body rocks!!!! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

What an awesome website! I wish I knew how to do that. Your tandem looked awesome, glad you had a great time! Don't worry about being out there alone, you're going to find that there is always someone to talk to about anything and everything. And you won't be ignored on the plane ride up - people will be smiling and chatting and giving you thumbs up and trying to help you relax. That's the great thing about skydivers...they love what they do so much, they want you to have a great time, too! Enjoy AFF!!!