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I feel bad for the folks at Boston/Providence because I know that they are a good operation. http://www.pawtuckettimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11451436&BRD=1713&PAG=461&dept_id=24491&rfi=8 Skydiver hangs it up in Lincoln Tim Grace 05/06/2004 LINCOLN -- Frank D’Ordine expected to have his feet on the ground about 5 minutes after jumping from a Cessna 12,500 feet above North Central Airport Wednesday morning. But it would be more than an hour before the skydiving student would return to Mother Earth. D’Ordine, 61, of Kenyon Avenue, Pawtucket, landed in woods a few hundred yards north of the airport’s skydiving drop zone. Tangled parachute lines caused him to veer off course into the trees, where his parachute snagged in some branches, leaving D’Ordine dangling about 30 feet above the forest floor. D’Ordine injured nothing but his pride in the accident. Firefighters and police arrived at the scene, about 400 yards west of Albion Road at the edge of the airport’s property, at about 11 a.m. to find D’Ordine clinging to a thin tree trunk. Answering questions shouted up to him from the assembled reporters, rescue teams and airport officials, D’Ordine said, "It’s my fault. They’re good teachers. They taught me well. "I’m doing great. The parachute’s not too good." D’Ordine was taught skydiving at the Boston Providence Skydiving Center, which has an office at North Central. His instructor, who identified himself only as "Greg," said D’Ordine’s mishap occurred on his seventh or eighth solo jump. The instructor said windy conditions Wednesday were not a factor. Ted Drozdz, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation’s chief of aeronautics, concurred, saying snarled lines sent D’Ordine off course. "He looked for an alternate landing site ..and elected to put it in the trees," Drozdz said. Drozdz said RIAC will investigate the crash landing, but he doesn’t expect any startling revelations. "This one seems pretty simple," he said. Members of the town’s High Angle Rescue Team used a ladder and a few safety lines to help D’Ordine finish his descent safely. Fire-medic Dave Levesque of the town’s rescue service climbed the ladder and, at 12:15 p.m., managed to guide D’Ordine down. Doors at the Boston Providence Skydiving Center were locked. People inside the office turned a reporter away after the accident. Skydiving school owner Robert Spencer declined comment. The airport has seen its share of mishaps in recent years. In September 1997, five people, four skydivers and a pilot, were killed when their Cessna 182 Skylane’s engine quit on takeoff. A 31-year-old West Warwick man broke his leg during a hard landing after an October 2000 jump at North Central. And in 2002, a 35-year-old New Bedford woman, skydiving with her husband and a group of friends, drifted into a grounded plane’s spinning propeller, breaking her arm. ©The Pawtucket Times 2004 Arianna Frances

oh my gosh! Are you having a good week or what?? Babies...Birthdays... B licenses... whats next?? Great job girly!! Jen Arianna Frances

I travel to Canada at least half a dozen times a year. I think alot of depends on which 'entry/exit point' you use. I travel through Vermont and the border guards ask for my license and then ask me where I'm going and how long I'll be there. The entire stop is less than 1 minute - really. On the way back they ask for my license and ask me where I live. They have inspected my car with both flashlights and dogs, even the under carriage! But they've never asked for more than a license for identification. That has taken as much as 5 minutes before, but thats very rare. Best of luck, have fun!

doh.... Wish I knew you were up this way Bill - we could have gotten together for dinner or something. Providence has its moments of beauty - but the past week has not been a great display. I'm wanting warmer climate myself Enjoy the rest of your travels!

Wow! I am so envious of you. I'm dying to do this myself, but like you've expressed, want to 'tie up' personal stuff - which can take forever... I don't know if I'll ever do it The cost of living in new england is choking me! I need to get to Arizona.... ya, Arizona Jen Arianna Frances

Ditto.... Should we clean the cookies first? Jen edit: yep, works now

Ya, I read about this in a magazine at my gym yesterday... Seems interesting... don't know if I'd pay money to see if, but it seems interesting... Jennifer Arianna Frances

Hey! I'm with ya! I love TPIR!! I used to watch it religiously until I got a real job I'll go with you, and might even spring for dinner if I win something Jennifer Arianna Frances

A nice thank you note with a small gift - like a bottle of wine or a gift certificate for $10 to a local store. That is really nice of them

I'm getting the same thing. I've cleaned up everything I can.... but... still happening. Any ideas? Jennifer Arianna Frances

Well, its not the summer.... but Jumptown under canopy in October (mid to late) is ABSOLUTELY a sight to see! Newport, RI (right on the water) is georgeous too! But the crowds in the summer suck. Don't know what their regs are regarding experienced jumpers though... Best of luck! Jennifer Arianna Frances

I'll agree on the turbulance issue! I was on a flight from Seattle to Minneapolis 2 weeks ago. We got detoured to Fargo, ND because of a tornado in Minneapolis. We stayed in Fargo to 2 hours and then completed our flight to Minneapolis. They might has well stuck the plane in a snow globe and shook it up - that was what the plane ride was like. When we finally landed the entire plane errupted into applause - the pilot did a good job of communicating to us and getting the plane down. kudos to him and the rest of the Northwest staff that day. We got stuck in Minneapolis for a day and a half - and had to pay for our hotel - but we were safe, a much better option! Jen Arianna Frances

I think my reply would go hand in hand with an infamous quote that goes something like this: "When a hobby moves to a job, the fun is taken away from it" There's more to it than just leaving it all behind... Jen Arianna Frances

Oh ya! Well... perhaps she'll get to celebrate in some way tonight. Speaking of which Michele.... got pictures of Mayah to show us yet? LOL Jen Arianna Frances

Hey everyone - guess what? Its Michele's birthday, how about wishing her a happy day? A BIG BIG Happy Happy B-day to Michele!! Hope you're doing something fun today girly!

I'm quite sure anyone she comes in contact with has the same thoughts - she's da bomb As far as WFFC.... well, I'm traveling too much for skydiving this year as it is... and I'm not even a skydiver (yet), so y'all will have to have extra fun for me! Jennifer Arianna Frances

I can name so many of them, but here are a few.... 1. When they said patience is a virtue, they had her in mind. 2. "One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession. " Was written for her! But even with all our hard work, and what turned out to be a less than wonderful 'bump in the road' - she still managed to put a great big smile on my face today with a wonderful gift. I just have to make sure I work my butt off so I can use it Mary made my skydiving year today - she is the best friend to have!!!!

Ditto Congrats Michele - be sure to post pictures as you have them

I'm with ya - living in RI has been tough this year. I think we've cracked 60 once and its been doing nothing but raining (or wind gusting) for weeks I wanna move to Arizone - I hate new england!! Jennifer Arianna Frances

Flannel is good in the winter, but in the summer, nothing's better than cold sheets Jennifer Arianna Frances

Little things.... hmm.... they're all part of the bigger things for me. Things I'm thankful for are the things that I love the most: I love email in the middle of the day from that special someone I love purrs and headbutts from my cats I love alone time with me myself and I I love getting a 72 on a freakin' hard math test I love talking on the phone with a dear friend I love giving my grandmother a hug even though she doesn't know who I am anymore I love sharing a laugh with my mom, a drink with my dad and *insert bad habit* with my brother. I love crawling into bed when the sheets are cold I love walking up to the sun shining in my face I love a good cup of tea on a cold morning I love the dew on the grass early in the morning I love seeing everyone happy and smiling on a jump plane I love seeing open canopies in the air I love feeling useful I love being told I'm loved Jen Arianna Frances

What a totally fantastic movie! I loved the way it twisted around to show the complete story. Really fantastic. We'll be buying it when it comes out on DVD. Makes you think - which is rare for movies now-a-days. Even my husband loved it, and he only likes Adam Sanadler 'slapstic-sucky' stuff Jennifer Arianna Frances

This is a problem when you download anything - you need to understand that by downloading it you can get other programs with it. You need to identify the possible problems. I have 3 computers at home, one acts as a server, one as a data server and one as a terminal. The terminal (which is the computer I use the most) hasn't had a virus program on it for 4 years because I know what to look for (being beind a firewall helps too). Having messanger taken off your computer is hardly the worst thing that can happen. Change the settings on the program and it won't delete those things. Ad aware is a great program - I'd be frustrated beyond belief without it. Jennifer Arianna Frances

I'm with ya on that! The music always makes me cry. Jen Arianna Frances

Love it Love it Love it Love it Love it Love it Love it Love it!!! Did I mention I love it? Jen Arianna Frances