elfanie

One of my favorite exit shots of myself, beleive it or not, was on my very first jump - a tandem! there are a few reasons it's my favorite.. 1. the look on my face - fear, excitement, "oh my goooooooooooood", etc. 2. it's a well-framed shot 3. it was the beginning of a whole new section of my life 4. I don't have a whole lot of other exit pictures of me. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Buahahaha.... Bill is the type that if someone says to him, "If someone told you to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you??" the answer he would give is, "Yeah...but not without my rig.." -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Nope....because if you cut away without deploying your main, an RSL will do nothing for you (because the risers aren't going bye-bye with your main canopy...everything is still on your back) but I had the same sensation during my reserve ride...I had a hard pull, couldn't get the PC out of the pouch..so I looked red, grabbed red, looked silver, pulled red, pulled silver... on the ground I commented to one of my JM's, "I think the RSL kicked my reserve out before I even had a chance to really pull the D-ring!" he chuckled and said, "Um, no...your main and everything is still on your back with your risers still in the covers - your RSL did nothing, honey - that was you.." In order for your RSL to work...you need to have your risers leaving which pull the RSL cable and deploys your reserve. you said you didn't even release your PC...your RSL wouldn't have done anything for you in this circumstance....

No...you are correct...it is Coolidge.

dumbest? do we have to pick one? 1. jumping a new DZ for the very first time, being more aware of landing patterns and my audience than of actually flying my canopy - end result: flaring too late and breaking my ankle. 2. being under a canopy that, for a reason still unknown, had a left toggle that was significantly harder to flare than the right, which meant that getting an even flare was almost impossible. Yet I rode it down (first solo jump off student status, I think jump #12 or something like that), flared - and even though I used all my strength only the right side flared. Felt the canopy turn, and hit at about the same time as the canopy did. Ouch. Tumbled through the desert, got up, dusted myself off - and calmed the people that thought I just earned myself an ambulance ride. Hrm....I have FUNNY stories of things that have happened - but I guess I don't have as many "dumb" things as I thought. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

1. Rocky Point Boogie - april 28-May 3 WHOO HOOOOOOO!!! 2. Holiday Boogie at Eloy. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Ya know...I'm not entirely sure that my ankle has any more bruising than yours! That looks...aweful!! You sure you didn't break anything? (you can break the fibula and still walk on it..) I have to say that I've sprained my ankle before..and now I've broken it (badly!)...and other than this crappy long recovery, I think I'd rather take the FEELING of the break over the feeling of a sprain. Sprains just hurt so SO flippin' much!! And that sprain looks just unreal! I so feel for you..and I hope you have a speedy recovery and are back in the air before you know it!! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Hee hee.. my kids think skydiving is just the coolest thing...period. my son brags at school about his parents.. and the day after I broke my ankle my son came home from class (he's in 3rd grade) with a stack of construction paper - each kid in his class wrote me a get-well card and they are the funniest things. "I'm sorry you broke your ancel skydiving, but I hope you feel acomplished." tee hee....so adorable.. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

well...umm...yeah, it hasn't been without challenges, that's for sure. But I AM pleased at how well it's healing!! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I dunno... I have found it interesting that different doctors appear to have different recommendations. For example, when they had trouble fitting me for a camcast (I'm only 5'2" so the casts were all too long for me), he mentioned, "I could put you in a regular cast, but that would be cruel..." yet I know of other doctors who automatically put a regular plaster cast on after surgery...*shrug* I also think that because I crutched myself in before surgery into his office on my broken ankle - he made a comment that he thought that I'd heal fast because I, "appear to have a high tolerance of pain.." I don't know about that...this has definately NOT been "pain free"!! *lol* But he just told me to take it very very easy and if it hurts at ALL, not to do it... Maybe the fact that I have both a plate and screws (and 6 screws at that), maybe that makes a difference as in maybe it makes it sturdier?? I have no idea... I broke the fibula (really good - it alone got 5 of the 6 screws) as well as broke the end of the tibia - and shoved the tibia out of place...so yeah, I did a number on it. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I had a follow up with my orthopedic surgeon the day before yesterday...he took all 21 staples out of my ankle. WHOO HOO! I'm free of the staples! I can now move my ankle and he wants me to be flexing and pointing it as much as I can every day (already been doing that). He said that as of today (2 weeks after surgery) I can start putting pressure on it when I walk. I spend most of my days out of the cast - I only really put it on when I'm going out somewhere. When I'm home I just sit in my recliner with my food open and exposed to the air. Looks like it's healing really well, though! So today I did some practice walking with my crutches. it's slightly creepy to me to think that I have a plate and SIX screws in my ankle - and it's still beautifully bruised . Attached pictures are NOT for the squeemish. They are of my ankle after getting the splint cut off (5 days after surgery)...both sides of my ankle (since they had to go in both sides - I have a 5.5" long incision on the outside, and about a 2" incision on the inside) The last picture is of me with my three kids (in the doctor's office)... I'm healing well - working hard at doing so. It's only been 16 days since I broke it, so I think I'm doing remarkably well all things considered. OH! And I do have one more picture I want to show off!! I broke my ankle on Tuesday, but had some fantastic jumps on the previous Saturday...the attachment called "Rodeo" is a rodeo jump I did with my husband and some friends. I am in the red suit riding on my husband (green/blue suit) - and I'm shaking the pantleg of one of my VERY good friends who is an awesome flyer...VERY FUN! Anyways...that's my update!! Still gimped up...but healing well.

I've looked...and didn't see this posted anywhere. Some might find this offensive...I'm a strong Christian, but could see the humor in it. (albeit black, twisted humor) Jesus Dress Up Offensive? Possibly....but you've been warned!!! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

really? can they do that? my doctor kept me less than 24 hours..and I have a plate and SIX screws. I don't think that just an overnnight stay is unusual, is it? -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

awww...like it's not bad enough you're grounded and broke your ankle, they ruined your jumpsuit?? when they went to cut off the wrapping the EMTs put on my ankle to stabalize it for the ambulance ride, I commented, "please don't cut my jumpsuit...it's a $300 jumpsuit.." the doctor replied, "I have 7000 jumps - I know about jumpsuits. I'm not going to cut it." and they didn't. Why did they cut your jumpsuit?? that sucks. Glad to hear your surgery went well..had mine on Thursday and was at the DZ on saturday. didn't jump, obviously...but I was there. hope you heal fast... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Aww crap, Sunny.....I was hoping yours was a little more simple than mine. I have my preop Xrays I'll scan in relatively soon...and I'm getting copies of my post-hardware xrays, although I haven't seen them yet. yes..we'll definately have to do a gimp jump sometime. (as for the comment someone made about a tandem rig...hon, do you honestly think that I hadn't thought of that 2 days ago... ) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

So I had surgery on my broken ankle yesterday...came out of the OR with a plate and 6 screws inside of me. I guess if you're going to do something...do it right! So now I have 3-6 months to wait to jump again. being grounded SUCKS!!! but I'm home..and recovering. And I have to say that one of my absolute favorite people in the world stopped by my hospital room and visited with me last night...made me feel SO SO SO SO SO special! So on the off chance that he reads this...THANK YOU!!! Made me feel so good I almost want to cry just thinking about it. I will be heading out to the DZ tomorrow...although I won't be able to jump. At least I can share my pre-op pictures with other jumpers... *heavy sigh* how am I going to NOT jump for that long??? -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

And here she is....the lady of the hour. Here is the official update.. broke my ankle...BOTH the tibula and fibula...and I'm having surgery tomorrow to pin it. (hey Betsy...cracking jokes while laying out there on the grass, you never would have thought I did such a good job on it, eh? ) betsy is a doll...and I JOKED when I said she broke me. My own fault...completely. I had demo'd a sabre2 170 for the last 2 weeks and today I switched back to my sabre190...I was so much more interested in watching the coach and the landing pattern and my altitude (since I had different landmarks and had NEVER jumped anywhere but coolidge before) and watching canopy traffic...I just didn't play with my canopy in altitude like I normally would when changing canopies (stupid)... so I came in...flared too late...my right foot got caught on the thick grass and just got flipped under me and to the outside (so the toe is pointed to the outside instead of inside?)...I have grass stains on the inside of my tennis shoe - rather impressive if I may say so myself. so here I sit...broken ankle (broke it good, too...saw the Xray) and having surgery to pin it tomorrow....not sure how they are going to fix it, but I know i'm getting metal. It was fun while it lasted, Bets... And Ron is a blast to jump with....thank her for me... (only time I get teary is when I think about how long I'm going to be sitting out...*tears up again* I'm....so so so so so sad about that, I can't even express it.) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

that stuff is food of the gods. you can buy an entire case for like 5 bucks. thats like a month worth of food. you just add a can of peas or corn into the soup when you cook it, and a little hot sauce, and yum yum. add in some browned hamburger... Ooohhh...what's really good is top ramen noodles drained with either beef strips (more expensive) or cooked chicken strips fried with some veggies and teriyaki sauce.. YUM! Or Top Ramen + cheese + ANYTHING you have in the kitchen (including that old sponge that's falling apart) = yummy. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

A question on another thread about a person "opening higher" at 4500 feet made me wonder... what is your AVERAGE pull altitude? (I'd also love to know what DZ's have maximum pull altitudes and what they are?) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

relative work = flying on your belly and hooking up with other belly flyers. Freeflyer = flying off your belly in a sit or head down or feet-down position - turning on all axis... Hybrid jump: belly flyers and freeflyers jumping together. that jump Brian did with Trunk where Trunk was hanging off of Brians cheststrap while Brian was belly down? that's a hybrid.. (don't worry...we'll learn ya yet...) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

and here I was thinking, "Dang..if he can hit 179 belly-down... woudln't that be a kick-in-the-pants rodeo jump??" I'd ride him. I'd ride his back and he wouldn't be able to get rid of me, either... if my husband and I can hit 190 rodeo jumping....Alphamale and I could easily crack 200! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I thought it was the only Female on the load *GASP* You're not implying.. you're not saying.... WAIT A SECOND!!! I resemble that remark, thank you very much. I need to get some skychicks to jump down in coolidge with me this next weekend...so I'm not the ONLY woman on my #100! Oh...but on second hand...wait a second...only female, 10-15 other jumpers all jumping with me - all male...me wearing a red 100% lace bodysuit for a lingerie jump....tee hee... never mind. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

*cracks knuckles* Umm...everyone so far is wrong about the best peanut butter. Homemade honey roasted peanut butter....is hands-down the best. especially when it's JUST been made so it's still warm. There's NOTHING like it. (you can't go back to commercial peanut butter once you start making your own...just can't..) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Oh...I forgot to mention...when you watch his video, pay special attention to deployment. Huge burble between Alphamale (not a small man) and two good sized instructors.... deployment is.....interesting to say the last. PC springs up...bounces...bounces....bounces...deploys. Interesting on the video... pay special attention to the PC. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

This may appear to be too logical of a question...or like it's a facitious question...but I assure you that it's not and I'm genuinely curious as to the answer. If jump numbers and years in the sport is what is important...then how can anyone learn from listening to you? Now, before you try and make this out to be a personal thing that I'm attacking you or disrespecting you or something, let me ask it again and make sure you understand that I'm not talking about you, Ron...I'm talking about experienced skydivers... there's two parts to skydiving... 1. Didactic knowledge - knowing what the terms are, what the malfunctions are, what the fatality reports say, what proceedures should be for any given situation, etc etc etc. 2. practical skills - being ABLE to fly in freefall, being able to fly your body (not mentally knowing how to do it - but physically being able to fly your body), being able to fly and land your canopy, being able to swoop, etc. You (Ron) place such emphasis on years in the sport and experience ( jump numbers, how many body bags you've seen carried away, what you can do under canopy) - and yet you jump up and down and scream, "You (newbies) don't want to LISTEN to us (high jump numbers)!!!" Yet it seems like someone could shut up, follow you around for 4 months, absorb every word you say - they could tape record you and play it back while they sleep - they could read every book out there, look at every website - they could try to become a mini-ron by trying to absorb your very essense... yet they would "know nothing" because in that 4 months they only got 50 jumps. they can have no opinion or useful information to share with anyone else because they are still 'newbies'... Having that attitude, I can imagine, could make a lot of people roll their eyes at you and say, "Then what's the point?" What's the point in listening to anything you have to say if it doesn't make a difference? You have more respect for someone who hasn't read any books and keeps to himself and yet has 1000 jumps - than you do for someone who seeks didactic learning and is looking everywhere and talking to everyone and yet doesn't have the "time in the sport" yet... and I'm not sure why. Why you respect jump numbers more than anything else. Again...I am very approachable...If you are not a jerk when you ask, or if you don't act like you already know it all....Or if you don't attack me. You may be in real life (as I told you in PMs - someone told me that in RL you are much more...what's the word I'm looking for....you just come across differently in real life) however, that translates very very poorly on the computer. There are people that approach you with kid gloves and preempt their questions with, "You are a God and carry with you infinately more wisdom than I do..but....*ask a question*" and your response to them is oftentimes very abrupt and on the edge of degrading, usually bringing jump numbers or experience into it. I think the bottom line is...it's hard for people to respect you (as a person) when you don't show respect for them (as a person). Which, again, invalidates any reason any of us might have for listening to you. Nothing you say will have any value...because you simply can not know anything until you have X number of jumps. So why SHOULD they listen to you.....when they are incapable of learning sub-howevermany jumps? (they just can THINK they know something) bad advice is not limited to newbies.. or intermediates... or 10,000 jump skydivers... bad advice is like a cold - anyone can have it, it's not limited to one section of the population - and you don't always know right away that you got it, but eventually you probably will. You seem to mistake "questioning" with "arguing". If my JM says something to me, and I heard different advice somewhere else....are you suggesting that it's arrogant and wrong for me to bring up what I'd heard and open a dialogue about it? "this is what I heard..." or "this happened to me..." are you suggesting that those are things that shouldn't be said to an instructor? and that is a personal attack right back at him. You don't know him...you don't know what he is and is not good at...yet you're pissed at him for insulting you and are lashing back. Understandable? Sure. However..you're doing exactly what you accused him of doing. However, Ron....everyone isn't like you. Maybe that's the problem...maybe you're looking back to what YOU were like as a newbie...how arrogant YOU were...and assuming that all newbies must be exactly like you were. I can almost with a 100% certainty say that not all newbies are like you were. However...I can also say that I bet that very few newbies are as stupid as you treat them... Sometimes it's the person thumping their chest the hardest that makes you not want to listen. Billvon....he and I have disagreed about things - but I have learned SO SO SO MUCH from just reading what he writes. he writes with a subtlety that just draws my interest when I see his name on a post...and he has earned respect from me as much from his experience as he has from the way that he treats others. (sorry Bill....got off on the Billvon fanclub spiel... ) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings