skyyhi

I am with Nightngale. . .I will use the radio until I get at least 3 good flares at the right height. . .my jms don't talk to me much on it because they say I am great at setting up for landing. . .they really only coach me through the flare. . . Hopefully soon I can manage a landing without it. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Never having sinus surgery, I was not aware of the bleeding issues. . .ick. . . Okay, take the 1/2 vicodin. . .still pretty much turns me to jello but some people get good relief from it. . . Good luck to you! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Damn, sounds like fun. . .but I better finish AFF, work on getting my A license and change coasts first. . . Shucks, ya all have fun, K! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Here is something my doc recommends for me when I have significant pain but need to be functional. . .(p.s. I get no pain relief from vicodin, it just makes me feel like I drank 12 martini's in an hour). . .Motrin (advil or other type) 2 to 3 (400 to 600 mgs) combined with 2 extra strength tylenol. Tylenol is great on pain but surgical pain usually involves swelling and tylenol alone does nothing for the swelling. . .advil will take care of the swelling and you will get relief. . . Leave the vicodin at home. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Hey Mark, I am coming out to play this weekend too. . .will do level 5 & 6 this weekend. . .not sure if Saturday or Sunday but will know by Friday. . . Hook me up dude. . .p.s., Brian was a fun JM by the way. . .made me laugh during freefall. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Elsinore gives a jump ticket for a Tandem or AFF1 referral. That's how my roomie got a free jump out of me. . . We even have a group of people that are meeting in April to do tandems. . .we decided we would split the jump tickets for that one since we both did the recruiting. . . Hopefully some of them will stick around and enjoy the sport. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Gotta agree with the others. . .any exit out of the plane is good. . .I do like a floating exit (okay, so I am a newbie folks). . .something about starting outside of the plane that is fun. . . Congrats on your jumps and welcome to the boards. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Derek, I agree with you. . .I am a newbie jumper and have made only 5 jumps. . .my JMs ALWAYS walk me out on the landing area to watch the first load come down. We talk about the wind conditions and what to do should the winds shift. I feel EXTREMELY confident when i go up in the plane with my JMs. I sat out for a whole day waiting for the wind gusts to die down on an otherwise gorgeous day. Even when the gusts had died to 15 mph, they would not take me up. It was very comforting to know they had my best interests - as well as their own - in mind. I never want to feel like I cannot handle the jump conditions. I take my lead from those at my drop zone that are much more experienced than I am. Elsinore is known for its wind gusts. . .I am thankful everyone there takes it seriously and keeps us students safe. . .(now if I could just figure out how to land on my feet. . .everything would be perfect). ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

My roommate is the greatest alarm clock. . .although he is usually waking me up saying. . ."hey, lets go get some coffee". My response is always the same. . .dang, we are not skydiving today, can't I sleep in? ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Let me try to "splain". . .IMHO, it would cost Bush the political backing of China, and the dollars poured into our country because of that political backing. . .never mind that China is a dictatorship and is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what America stands for. The idea that the American People might not agree with Bush has not even entered his mind. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

This had me laughing SO HARD. . .I have done AFF through level 4 and will do level 5 and 6 this weekend. Heading control and stability have been no problem for me so far. . .Landings, flaring, pulling (I HATE to stop the freefall - the canopy ride down is almost a disappointment after a nice freefall). . .these are my trouble spots. . .I love your tale. . .I guess repeating level 3 AFF was not so bad after all. . . Blue skies to you and congratulations on getting through AFF. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I used to work for World Vision. . .I feel this organization is very up and up. . .Sponsoring is one of the best ways these organizations raise money to help these communities. . .the best thing about sponsoring is that almost every penny you spend goes directly to that child's needs or to help in that community, which will directly impact that child - like building schools, purchasing textbooks, pens, pencils, etc. . . It is a great way to help! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I learned how to ski on a day trip to Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear. Cost me a couple hundred for the day (gear rental, lift ticket, gas, lessons, hot toddies in the chalet after the day was done). I don't know anything about Ski Resorts near where you are though so cannot help with the other questions. . . The learn-to-ski package at most resorts is what you will need to do the first time out. It is great fun, by the way. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Got a long way to go still. Just started jumping. Only have 5 jumps in three weeks. . .may finish AFF next weekend or the next. . .depending on weather. . . Would like to get 100 jumps at least, maybe more. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I of course vote for Edwards because it is here in Cali. . .and I am partial to Cali. IMHO. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I have been to both DZ's and would choose Elsinore over San Diego by far. . . I am doing my AFF at Skydive Elsinore right now and just love the people there and the professionalism and friendliness of the instructors. I personally have nothing against Skydive San Diego, I was just more comfortable at the dropzone at Elsinore and with the instructors I met. IMHO ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Thanks! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Just my 2 cents worth. I used to weigh 288 lbs. In April I had an RNY Gastric Bypass. I have lost 127 lbs. so far and have about 17 more lbs to lose to get to my personal goal. I don't recommend "diets" to anyone wanting to lose weight because I "dieted" myself up to 288 lbs in about 8 years. Before that I was thin and exercising regularly. The gastric bypass restricts the amount of food I take in but it does not limit the types of food. I must do that myself. At first I was eating very much like Atkins (without the high fat content though). But what I discovered is that I need a little bit of carbs to keep things moving along (if you know what I mean). I believe a healthy, balanced diet is much better than trying to restrict one food group for the sake of quick weight loss. And exercise is extremely important for building muscle tone and getting fit. Balance. . .that is what it is all about. IMHO ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

1) I always wanted to skydive but spent a good deal of my life TOO HEAVY to jump. After losing 127 lbs and meeting a new friend who was into the sport, I decided to go for broke and take the AFF course. 2) I divorced before jumping so no spouse to "hold me down". ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I'll give my newbie 2 cents. . . ASK YOUR INSTRUCTORS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE! I know there is great advice on this site, but there are so few people I know here and I know the JM's at my DZ. IMHO. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I skipped the whole tandem thing and went right for the AFF Level 1. It was an awesome experience and great fun. I felt absolutely wonderful and my JM's were great. You obviously like jumping. . .give it a try! Once you do you will be addicted for life. . . Welcome ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Jahk. . . It is the most fun and freaked out excitement you will ever have. I am loving it. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

If you don't know you better take lessons now. . .and if you can't tell the dif between a fake and a real O from a woman, you better take some INTENSE lessons. I don't fake. . .if I am not into it, I will let the guy know - or I will give him some gentle guidance to make it work for me. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Oh geez, I understood EVERY one of those. . .I only lived in Seattle for 3 years but got "local" real quick. . . Too Funny! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

That's too funny. . .my FJC instructor used this term when talking to me about the arch. . .I laughed but got the message. . .too funny! ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy