elfanie

*nods* My doctor told me a week and a half ago that the BREAK is no longer an issue...that it's the sprain that occured when I broke it that's going to take so long to heal. he said that the break was basically a non-issue as to activity level. (maybe that's because of all of the hardware and such that's holding it together). I even asked him, "If I twisted my ankle..would it sprain it? rebreak it? break it somewhere else?" he said it would sprain it. that if I broke my ankle...it would be more likely to break someplace else (that it's actually sturdier now that it has the metal in it).... Yeah...I do see your point. And I was prepared to not jump for 3 months...so waiting a few more weeks wouldn't be that big of a deal (except the Rocky Point boogie). Although if I'm going to reinjure it..now would be the time since I live in the Arizona desert....it's not as fun to jump here in the summer anyways. I'm JUST KIDDING!! I hope to never have another broken bone as long as I live!! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Excellent idea! In fact, I've put a call in to my doctor's office...they are supposed to be open another 20 minutes, but had to leave a message so I hope he gets the message before monday. One reason that I'm kinda HOPING to jump this weekend is because we're going to the rocky point boogie this next weekend..and if I don't jump this weekend, then I won't be able to jump in Rocky Point. It's either jump this weekend or I have to wait at least 2 weeks (and miss a chance to jump over the ocean)... Oh well...whatever is meant to be, will be.

That was what I said... but because the doctor originally said "in a cast for 3 months...you won't be able to jump for 3-6 months.." everyone around me is...well...not freaking out, but CONCERNED that I'd be doing it too soon - and are really being on the edge of discouraging. Even though the doctor told me that it was going to be much much sooner...it's just that it's SO much sooner that nobody else seems to beleive me when I say that I can do this, that, and everything else. I've actually considered not jumping for a few more weeks so that people around me aren't biting their nails about me jumping again "so soon"... (I'm actually curious to see if the DZO is going to ground me, so this might be a moot question...since he came down on me pretty hard for walking without my cast....) but that was MY point..if I've fulfilled the doctor's criteria...is there a reason NOT to jump? -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Here's the deal.. (background: broken ankle, plate + 6 screws 6.5 weeks ago) Last doctor's appointment was a week and a half ago (tuesday). At that appointment he went on and on about how wonderful my ankle is healing. I had been walking without any cast or anything at all for about a week and a half at that point (walking without a cast 3.5 weeks after surgery, appointment was 4.5 weeks after surgery) The doctor said specifically, "I wouldn't be surprised if you were jumping again within the next month..." When asked what I should be able to do (trampoline? jogging?) before jumping, he said, "When you can stand only on the right foot, and jump up and down with that one leg without pain...you are fine for jumping." I can do that. I can run up to 6 MPH on my treadmill (I'm only 5'2", to put it into perspective)...just came in from being outside on the trampoline without problems....and can jump on just the right leg without pain (although I can't "spring" as high as I can with the left, becuase I don't have the "squat" motion as deep in the broken ankle...I can't "dip down" as far with that ankle). So...I can jog..I can trampoline...I can jump up and down...in fact, I've stood up on the couch and jumped down (but that's only downward motion, no forward motion). My ankle doesn't have 100% movement...but there is a possibility it never will. (my "twist your ankle in" like you're going to sprain it is not nearly as flexable as it was...but the point-n-flex is just about 100%). It's only been 6.5 weeks since I had surgery on it. So...with all of that information...I wanna hear from YOU guys! Should I jump this weekend?

whoops...heh. well, I tried to make the clicky...just forgot the back tag. thanks.. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I know this isn't a repeat...because this was created by a friend of mine. Last week....remember when Simon told that little red headed John Stevens that he reminded him of Stan Laurel? Here is John and Simon...like you've never seen them. I thought it was cute... [url"http://wonderbred.net/johnsimon/"]John and Simon[/url] -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Ah...but the DZ that I jump at is not busy...and therefore pulling at 6K usually isn't a problem there... took me a long time to wean myself down to 4.5K. heh. And I've NEVER pulled lower than 4K. so the "count to 45 seconds" thing was specifically for the DZ that I jump at..knowing that higher isn't going to be a problem there... That's one of the reasons I do not set my audible for breakoff altitude...which is what most people told me that I should set it at. I set my audible for a point in my skydive in which I should already be under canopy....and a point in which, if I'm NOT under canopy, I pull NOW...and know that if my canopy is having a problem that I have only a moment to consider whether to chop it or not. (I usually set my audible to 2500-3K) Because I do not want to be thinking about my audible...and I don't. When it goes off...it's more of an "Oh yeah....forgot about that" type of a thing rather than thinking, "when is my audible going to go off..?" Oh no...I don't mean in an AFF course.. I consider jumpers students until they are licensed....I meant it should be addressed during the course of them becoming licensed... I'm all for continuing education.

AHHH!! but the adults to SEND the kids to solicite you are NOT exempt in my book! My oldest son's school is HORRIBLE about this! They send things home, THEN ask you if you want it! If you don't....then you have to return it. example? my son made this drawing...they turned this drawing into a refrigerator magnet and sent it home. Want it? please send $5.95 with your child. don't want it? Then send the magnet back with your broken hearted kid and let them know that you don't like their artwork. Picture day? Take their picture....send the picture home..THEN you take the ones that you like and return the rest with a check for what you kept. AARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! Flippin' annoying!! *deep breath* ok..I feel better now.

How does it fail? What I mean is...is it measuring noticably off on the way up to altitude? Am I in freefall and, as the example I gave, I'm at 8K...then 10 seconds later I'm still at 8K? Is it reading right but as I do my first check after leaving the aircraft it's off or showing something wildly wrong? If I left the airplane and noticed it right out the door...I'd do nothing but count approximately 45 seconds while watching visual cues and then wave off and pull. If it was reading what felt as accurate down to 8K...then stayed at 8K when I looked another 10 seconds later...I'd probably pull relatively soon while watching the visual cues. If it was reading 8K but my audible in my helmet went off...screw it, I'm pulling. I'd rather err on too high than too low. Now...right or wrong, those are my answers...and before anyone tells me I'm a blithering idiot (if that's what they think) about any of my answers..please don't. Just take this as an educating opportunity rather than one to smack someone down unnecessarily hard. He might have jumped without one...but still relied on it the way that he did. The problem wasn't that he wouldn't jump without one (I wouldn't, either)...the problem was that he relied on it whereas I do not even think about it after it's turned on. Truthfully....do not even give it a thought...it's like it isn't there. It's not what they (the person with the helmet and the person with the cypress) have DONE that's the problem... the problem is what they have THOUGHT! People think stupid crap sometimes... don't want to cutaway because of what others will think, because of the money for the repack, because it's borrowed gear, because of any number of stupid reasons. The cypres guy's problem wasn't jumping with or without a cypres...but the fact that he depended on something else to save him rather than doing it himself. The guy with the helmet...because he hadn't mentally evaluated what he should do in that situation before he got into it...is it better to fly blind but with helmet? or better to fly without a helmet but see... I agree with you here. I do. I wonder, though...how much of that is because of gear dependence...and how much of it is from habit. We practice EP's for habit and muscle memory. I think many of them are so used to doing certain things before leaving the plane and therefore would try to do those things...(which is why the 2-try rule for malfunctions is a good idea! It's easy to think you have more time than you do!) you very well may be right...that it's gear dependence... I'm just tossing the question out there.. Or someone who just didn't think about that situation before getting into it and made a poor decision.... For someone like me...that would be especially difficult since I wear contacts. I wouldn't be able to see. But yes...I've gone over that scenario in my head and know that I could land if I lost my goggles...(I would just lose my contacts as well). I can see...it would just be...probably a PLF. and I would like to see things like this addressed specifically with students.... I'd like to have them told specifically if there's a problem and they are told to get out, not just to get out...but what NOT to do, as in not to do a poised exit, not to fiddle with helmets and goggles, etc. *nods* I see your point... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Ok...I sat here staring at my computer, trying to figure out how to respond to this in a way that adaquately expresses my thoughts/feelings. You're right in that if I thought that going without my helmet was going to teach me something necessary that I probably would do it..yes. I just don't see it that way. Lets look at altimeters....I think it's a good idea to be mentally prepared for what to do if you look at your altimeter and it's at 8K...and you look at your altimeter and it's at 8K 10 seconds later....what would you do? you shoudl already have an answer to that. However, I don't think it's necessary to have jumped without an altimeter in order to answer that question. You should have the answer to "what would you do if your goggles/helmet fogged up and you couldn't see..." I just don't think you have to jump without your goggles/helmet in order to find that answer out...or to proceed with that answer should your goggles/helmet fog. I can see having an answer to, "What would you do if your brake line broke at 100 feet and your left holding a toggle dangling in your hand?" And I can see practicing the answer (rear riser flare) up in altitude over and over again...but I don't think that I can see doing an intentional rear riser landing without 'reason'. I can see your point..I just think I disagree with taking risk for learning that I don't see as necessary as you do. You seem to think that it's necessary to do the deed almost as much for confidence as for the actual practice of performance...and I don't need that. I will practice as much as possible...but also be as safe as I can be. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Except that when I'm participating in this sport..I have nothing to prove. I think that Bill means...it is an important thing to prove to YOURSELF. It is like when you learn to scuba dive, and they take off your mask. It is to make sure that if your mask somehow comes off during the dive, you will react well and stay calm. You are preparing/training yourself to react well under unforeseen problems. Ah yes! Now preparing for emergencies (like your mask coming off) I can see! but you don't "practice" your mask coming off and staying calm while you're 75' under water...you do it in a swimming pool. You don't intentionally increase your risk...you practice in a manner that is safer... if he suggested that people mentally prepare for having to take their helmet off by visualization or by putting on gear and doing a mock of landing without the helmet...that I could see. What I can't see is increasing your risk just to practice something... I practice my EPs on the ground and the plane...I don't intentionally create a malfunction just to see if I will respond correctly. (that's an exagerrated example, I know...but still) I respect Bill very very much...and I think (hope?) bill knows that. But that doesn't mean he's infallable...or that I can't disagree.

Except that when I'm participating in this sport..I have nothing to prove. I will jump every single jump as safely and cautiously as I can... If my jump requires me to take my helmet off...I would (if taking off my helmet became safer for me than leaving it on). However, I would NEVER jump without my helmet just to prove something. I would never intentionally remove a safety measure just to prove to myself that for THAT JUMP I could survive not having that safety precaution. One of my JMs that I respect made a comment to me when I broke my leg that I agree with.. I was staring my #100 in the face...jumped on Saturday, but grounded myself on Sunday because of winds. So I figured I'd go to a new DZ and jump the 4-5 jumps I would have jumped on Sunday - and that would put me back on schedule for jumping my #100 on the sunset load that next Saturday! His comment to me? That you jump each jump thinking about THAT JUMP...not 5, 10, or 50 jumps in the future. True true. So I would never intentionally make any jump more dangerous for me just for the sake of saying I did it. I make every single jump as safe as it can possibly be.... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

awww...now, I liked that song!

My pet peeves... 1. stupid people - you know, the kind you look at and think, "you're kidding, right? you really can't be THAT stupid!" 2. when people don't use proper English. "I done went to the store yesterday.' 3. when people say, "probly" instead of "probably". When people say, "I could care less what you think!" when what they really mean is that they couldn't care less. 4. mean people (see "stupid people"...as they often fall into the same catagory) 5. Doctors who think that they sit at the right hand of God and how dare you question them! (this is specifically related to my line of work...where I see time and time again these arrogant doctors who try desperately to strip women of informed decisions and don't respect their right to make informed decisions) 6. finding something that aught not to be in my food...in my food, and thus ruining my appetite for the rest of the meal. (finding a hair in it...an egg shell in the egg...a bone in the hamburger...etc) 7. people who swear loudly in public 8. Lies. Period. Lies I absolutely can not tolerate and can't stand!! 9. Skygods...who act like unless you have X number of years and X number of jumps in the sport, you can't know ANYTHING. Same complex as the Doctor complex (see above). Just because I'm not an anesthesiologist doesn't mean that I don't know the pros and cons of an epidural - I can read!! Same thing in skydiving...just because I haven't experienced every malfunction there is, or haven't seen X number of people pound in doesn't mean that I don't know ANYTHING...and doesn't mean that I can't form opinions. 10. That I have to grow old...and that I have to eventually die. Man, that pisses me off. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I'd sell out...sure. I love skydiving... but there are more important things in my life than skydiving...like my husband, children, and other family. there are lots of things I could do in this life that would be fun....and I spent 33 years of my life without skydiving. Would I miss it? of course... but while skydiving is a BLAST to me...it's not the most important thing in the world to me. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

There's a picture up in our training room of our DZO taking Ann Curry (news girl from The Today Show) on a tandem.. pic clicky I also know that Bob Sinclair took Johnny Carson on a tandem... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Heh...yeah, I have a decent arch on me. They did that picture while looking at some pics of me and my husband in freefall... hubby N me the arch is a little harder than I do, obviously...but I just think it looks more like she's mantis. as for being original...every single jump I make I say to others before leaving the plane, "Fly safe...soft landings..." and this, to me, sort of symbolized both....as well as symbolized God protecting the skydivers... [edited to add: the arch in the revised picture looked a little stronger than the first picture...because I'm bending way over so my husband can take the picture. part of that is the way the skin is stretched. it's not *quite* that hard of an arch normally....it looks more like the first picture normally.] -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Heh...not as brave as you think... I've lost 200 pounds. I have a lot of extra skin that will be removed in the future... this tattoo is in a place where I can live with it for a while, but it will be removed. Then I can replace it if I like living with it. coming along GREAT!!! It's only been 5.5 weeks and I'm having NO problem with it...am almost to the point where I can run on it (what's stopping me is the "push off" of that ankle....the extension and then strength to push off the way you do... so I'm ALMOST there!! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

So 2 weeks exactly after getting my very first tattoo...I got my revision done. I wasn't happy with the way the hand was originally, so we added on to it and I'm 10000 times happier with it.

Hey Tami! I think she's planning on going out there either this coming Saturday...or next Saturday. I'll ask her today when I talk to her. She's already paid for the full AFF series and so she's serious about getting her license this time. I think she's just heard my husband and me talk too much about it...heh. Anyways, I KNOW, social butterfly that my sister is, that she'd LOVE to have a friendly face just waiting to greet her with a smile!!

That helps a LOT...thank you!! It's nice to hear from someone who has actually jumped out there... 20 cessna loads? Wow! I know that the 182 only seats 4....but that's a lot of loads to do in one day! I know a lot of jumpers will think I'm crazy...but I LOVED the porter!! I loved jumping out of it. Of course the Otter is better (faster, seats are more comfy, nice door)...but I loved the step of the Porter and used it for some of my AFF jumps and loved it.

are the requirements in the UK different than here in the states? When I went through AFF, there were only 7 jump levels (7 jumps) I was required to pass..... then I had to get coached jumps several times to get things on my card signed off.... what are the requirements in the UK..and are they different than here in the US? -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I know they probably didn't really do it...but it's a cool picture anyways.. on the back sleeve of the Frontier's album by Journey...it shows all of the band members in a 5-way... here...found one on ebay you can see.. clicky for ebay -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I posted this in Places>....but was hoping to get more of a response here... "So my sister signed up for an AFF course (she already has 4-5 jumps under her belt - did her AFF2 4 months ago so has to repeat the course) at a DZ in Pennsylvania.. It's called Pennridge Skydive Center in Perkasie...has anyone here heard of this place? I spoke to someone who said he was an instructor out there...John Butler? Says the run a Porter, Twin Otter, or 182 depending on how busy they are...says that they are a USPA dropzone, but they don't show up on the USPA website. He says that they are new... Anyone know anything about this place at all?? Thanks in advance... " -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

So my sister signed up for an AFF course (she already has 4-5 jumps under her belt - did her AFF2 4 months ago so has to repeat the course) at a DZ in Pennsylvania.. It's called Pennridge Skydive Center in Perkasie...has anyone here heard of this place? I spoke to someone who said he was an instructor out there...John Butler? Says the run a Porter, Twin Otter, or 182 depending on how busy they are...says that they are a USPA dropzone, but they don't show up on the USPA website. He says that they are new... Anyone know anything about this place at all?? Thanks in advance... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings