skyyhi

I am going to try to be at Elsinore on Saturday for AFF 5 & 6, because of Elsinore's rain forecast for Sunday. . .course I could always change my mind. . . Good luck on #2. . .see you in the skies soon. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Lany, I am sure you will love it. . .and to tell you the truth, I thought I would not remember anything. . .but the funny part is I remember every jump I have made. . .VIVIDLY. . .including the utter panic I had on Level one when we exited the plane. . .the panic only lasted for a second and a half (three panic kicks), but then I remembered what I was supposed to do - arched up - and had a blast with the rest of the jump. . .I have since discovered that I absolutely love the freefall part of the skydive and really hate when it comes to an end . . .but then I just get back in the plane and do it again. . .what fun! Better than a rollercoaster because you don't have to wait in line an hour and a half for the thrill. . .hehehe! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Aw shucks. . .just check the damn thing already. . .I'll slap you later. . .after we land. . .hehehe ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Thanks Chopchop. . .I would hate to think we snagged the thread and she wasn't getting anything out of it. . . Lany - I only have 5 jumps so far (had to repeat Level 3 - that damn pull cord issue - god I love freefall) - I am doing Level 5 and 6 this weekend. . .just relax and enjoy it. . .it is so much fun. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Oh yeah, I know what you are saying here. . . Oops, did we girls just hijack Lany's thread. . .well, she'll forgive us when she does her AFF 1. . .(sorry Lany), cause then she will know what we are talking about. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Larry, as one who HATES when the freefall part of the skydive comes to an end, I can vouch for hating the lock on at 6000. Geez, especially now that I don't pull until 4000. . .that is 2000 feet that I watch my alti. . .CAN SOMEONE SAY BORING. . .at least I only have 4 more AFF jumps and then I am solo. . . Maybe I can get a couple seconds more freefall time for fun stuff. . .lol! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I had a dream about exiting in a raft with IslandCool, VanillaSkyGirl and Shark. . .I was screaming during half of the dream. . .but I landed safely and told them that I would NEVER to that again. . .to which they promply added - hey, we just manifested you for the next load, you ARE going aren't you? (damn, don't you just HATE dares). . .even in my dream, I had to go again. . . LOL. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

ROFLMAO. . .I still hear myself saying those very words. I don't know what it is about that damn door. I feel great once I get out, but the approach to the door is DEATH DEFYING. . .lol. Although I will say I did like the floating exit better. . .maybe because it is like WTF. . .I am already out the door anyway, might as well jump. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

My take on the situation. . . 1. The flight was delayed due to bad weather. . .definitely not the airline's fault. 2. You didn't ask the airlines to pay for your hotel, you only asked if they could assist you in finding a hotel (i.e.; make a suggestion) 3. They did not provide any assistance at all. Although it may not have been the airlines responsibility to provide assistance, from a customer service standpoint, they created a huge black hole for people who were paying for service from them. No one is blaming the airlines for the weather, but customer service is PARAMOUNT to any business being successful. The retail store that runs out of stock on a particular item is not obligated to call other stores and find the merchandise for the customer, but it makes good business sense for them to provide this assistance. The gas station attendant is not required to provide directions to lost travelers, but maybe he will have repeat business if he is helpful to them - or tries to assist them as he can. This is not a case of wanting something for free, it is a case of good customer service and the people in the Dominican Republic who were working for American Airlines did not provide good customer service. I don't think a phone call is going to do anything about it but a letter to someone high up in the organization regarding the lack of customer service will be looked into. ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Yes we do. . .you go girl! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Aw Lany. . .its time to come out and play. . .relax, take a deep breath and don't be too harsh on the guys dragging your ass out of the plane on Level 1. . .once out the door it is loads of fun. . .its just that freaking door (note to self: gotta get over DOOR fear). . .lalala ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Clay, I had to laugh after reading your post. . .my roommate was letting me pack his rig the other night and I said "are you going to repack this after I am done?" (it was my first time packing). He said he would check my pack job around 3000 ft tomorrow and repack later if needed. . . It took a while for me to get what he was saying. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Relax, breath, and smile. . . The jump is pretty much the same as the first one with the exception of the 90 degree turns. . .those are pretty easy to do. . .enjoy it. . .and remember to pull. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Now, now. . .we girls could not really handle that. . .we HATE fighting over guys. . .ROFLMAO. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I am new. . .only 5 skydives so far. . .but never did a tandem. Started with AFF 1. My JM's that day and my FJC instructor the day before KNEW that I would come back and finish AFF. . .and then eventually get my license. They said it was something in the eyes. EVERYONE there has made me feel very special - as they do with anyone who shows up and wants to jump. I have heard many of them say to the tandem jumpers " you are a skydiver now ". I truly did not feel like a skydiver until AFF 3 (release dive). At that point, I knew I was hooked and that this is something I wanted to do. . .but NO ONE ever made me feel any less a skydiver for only having jumped once. . .and now, when I am not there on the weekends, they wonder where I have been. . . This family of people here RAWK! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Actually, that is just about right. . .you really wouldn't want it to be 1:1 now would you? Think of it this way. . .could the guys really take the 1 on 1 ego bruising. . .I think not. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Oh this is easy. . . Because girls usually don't spend their time driving down dirt roads, back alleys and deserted highways looking for things to do. . . Besides, if more girls tried it and became jumpers - it would upset the balance at the DZ. . .IMHO. . .lol ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Now now boys, no fighting. . .there is plenty to go around. . .lol Yep, I can bait a hook too. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Oh ABSOLUTELY. . . I just got so fed up with trying to teach my son to be a man and fend off the neighbor kids' pussy parents. . .it was horrible. . . Oh, and for what it's worth. . .my son now knows how to use powertools and he thinks his mom is the coolest because she jumps out of airplanes and rides dirt bikes. . .lol ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Oh yeah he was serious. . .when my son was playing little league, the minors did not keep score. . .too competitive. . . Rediculous. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Okay, the pussification of the American male took place some time ago. As the mother of an 11 year old boy, let me 'splain. Someone (an idiot in my book - because I was a KILLER dodgeball player) decided it was TOO DANGEROUS for our children to play AND it promoted violence. So I taught the neighbor kids how to play greek dodge in the streets. . .not as fun as with a BIG CLASS but the kids loved it. I got into hot water with the other moms so I quit trying to organize this kind of stuff with the neighbor kids. So a few years later my kid takes up basketball. . .his coach tells me he is a little soft isn't he. . .at this point I decided it was time for the young man to go live with his father for some MASCULINITY training because it was obvious he wasn't getting it from me. He is doing much better now and is starting to act like a young man. . .I couldn't take a wuss for a kid because I was a tomboy and always did what the guys did. Anyway, as much as I like a sensitive guy, they better be a bit tough and masculine to go with the sensitivity. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Here's a clicky for you to the AFF program done at Elsinore. . .I think it is pretty much the same everywhere. . .the animated skydive videos are a hoot to watch. . . http://www.skydiveelsinore.com/jumpstart/index.html ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

So Mark, does that mean you don't want to jump with me? ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

And be prepared if the wind changes directions. . .this happened to me on AFF 3. I stopped forward movement and was being blown slightly sideways until I realized what had happened and corrected for it. The flight plan is a great tool, but remember. . .in some places the wind will shift. . .even if only slightly. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

My friends all recommend the pro-track. . .never used any of them because I am a student and only have 5 jumps but I trust my buds. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy