peregrinerose

Did you even try to do a search for breed specific rescues? I just did a quick one for Bengal cats, and there are a bunch of rescues all over the country for them. Sometimes even the rescues come with papers.... people of all kinds abuse animals, even those loaded enough to spend $1000 on a cat Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

To me, there are so freaking many unwanted pet animals in the world, to breed, buy from a breeder, or buy from a pet store doesn't make a lot of sense. There are rescue groups for every concievable breed of dog, cat, rabbit, bird, rodent, and even large animals out there, so it's not hard to find a rescue in whatever breed strikes one's fancy. I have a houseful... ball python, greyhound, rottie mix, cattle dog, 3 cats, and a rabbit. They are all rescues, so I definitely practice what I preach. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Woohoo, I'm the first that gets to say it... How about an unwanted humane league or rescue cat? I don't know those breeds, but my cat is a huge Russian Blue (from humane league) and has the best personality of any cat I've ever met. Sweet natured, purrs constantly, lap cat. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

What if that one person isn't on the load? You need to be sure that YOU are comfortable with the spot and YOU know how to spot. It takes less than one second just before climbout to look down and verify with your own eyes. Blindly relying on someone else won't teach you anything. It cracks me up when I jump at a cessna DZ and jumpers show up from bigger area DZs and literally wait for a green light (that doesn't exist in the cessna) and have absolutely no idea how to spot an aircraft. One was afraid to stick his head out the door and look. It was funny and sad all at the same time. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I have worked with a lot of people with many solos and few coach jumps. Every one of them has had backsliding issues and often assymetry issues, problems with their exits... they just keep making the same mistakes over and over with no idea how to fix them, so they keep doing it repeatedly. Then as an instructor, I don't just have to teach, I have to break ingrained habits, which is MUCH harder to do. So at this level I do see lots of solos as a bad thing. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

First, I'd suggest doing coaching jumps.... think about your solos... what do you gain from them? You are aware that you are turning, but you don't have the feedback to know how to fix it. Solos don't teach you much at all... you'll gain more to have another person jump with you (until license that has to be a coach, but once you have that license, do a lot of 2 ways with more experienced jumpers). You'll progress MUCH faster as a jumper to get that feedback. You'll gain 100x more from a coaching jump than a solo, so it's worth 2x the price

How are you counting your 7 seconds? Is it 7 seconds from the moment that the group before you leaves the plane to the moment you leave the plane or something else? 7 seconds in some conditions may be fine, in others it may be too long, in others it may be not nearly long enough. Sit down with an instructor and ask exactly how separation time is determined and how you should know what appropriate separation time should be. Yes, you should be looking out the door every time you jump. Generally, I'm looking over the backs of the people who are exiting just before me, as they are leaving, my head is following them out the door as I am mentally counting 1mississippi... etc, so I can watch them leave, watch for traffic, check the spot, look for clouds, make my climbout, and exit with the appropriate separation time. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Dave was discharged, he's staying with Trudy and up for phone calls and visitors, but call before showing up at Trudy's. I don't want to post her number publically, but if anyone wants it, PM me. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

You were likeable until you had to rub it in that you've jumped more recently than me Chad just talked to Marc, we'll be out next weekend, hope the weather's better! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I haven't heard a date yet. If it was me, I'd send it to the house, he seems to be doing well. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Woohoo!!! Although the weather looks like CRAP today though, so we may not bother driving out (it's almost a 2 hour drive for us). Bleh. Believe me, I want to jump just as badly as you do right now. Other than a recurrency tandem with my husband I haven't jumped since Feb. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Hmm, you must have just missed my husband then.. he was there til about 3 when he left to pick me up at work. Depending on the weather, we might be out there tomorrow. If your jump happens... good luck! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Woohooo!! Be there with beer! I'll be at the DZ around 430 pm, worst case scenario we can at least put faces to the names and have a drink to your eventual jump Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Ok the latest on Dave, he's out of ICU, in a regular room, but he's also very limited on visitation and phone calls, so he isn't making that public right now. He's in great spirits and doing well. I'll post contact information when I have it, for now mailing address is still the same as in my first post. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Dave's still in ICU, waiting on a regular bed. He was up and walking around 3 times yesterday, shooting for 6 times today. As soon as I have updated room information/phone numbers I'll post it, but sounds like he's doing well. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Thanks I don't want to see anybody screwed out of anything. But some of the posters on here are making it sound like I'm out to screw newbie skydivers... this issue has absolutely NOTHING to do with skydiving, it's basic internet common sense and safety. Whether you're buying a rig or a car online, the same rules apply... turn on brain, don't use WU, be damn sure you are dealing with someone reputable and the item you are trying to purchase really exists. Nothing was really stolen from the scamees... they voluntarily sent their money via WU to a person they don't know to get items they don't really know exist for certain. No one raided their bank accounts, they sent the money over knowing the risks and then whine and cry in shock when they don't receive the goods. If anyone ever asked me for help with buying gear (and it happens since I'm a rigger) I bust my ass helping them out.. checking references, lining up more famous riggers than me to be intermediary, communicating with all parties. I put a couple hours of work into these transactions between researching the person I don't know and inspecting the gear when it comes in and I don't charge for it.... but it's worth it to ensure both party's safety. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

This is true... although it may cost a few bucks more, you'd also save on shipping costs, so total will probably even out. It will depend on geography as to how practical this is though, in FL, it would be easy to buy local, in nowheresville Idaho, there probably isn't a lot of gear for sale. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Dave's in ICU Room 6608 now and doing well. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It's not about fucking anyone. If someone is dumb enough to spend several thousand dollars buying something in another country without researching exactly who they are buying from, they can't be too surprised when they find out it's a scam. It's basic common sense, not a PhD dissertation This is true of any higher dollar purchase, whether skydiving or not. I don't have a lot of sympathy for people who blindly wire money overseas. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I don't see why the classifieds need to be idiot proofed. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that sending large amounts of money through WU to an unknown individual with no guarantee of jumpable gear in return is a stupid maneuver. Anyone that doesn't ask a few questions, get references, and make wise decisions really doesn't get a lot of sympathy from me. I've bought and sold a good bit of gear on here, always asked for references, used Paypal, and had a rigger to use as intermediary that both parties were comfortable with. It's really common sense. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

PM Riggergreg on here. He knows everything. Maybe not quite, but close Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Dave was taken in for surgery sometime around noon, it was over around 3:30, all 5 bypasses done successfully (hopefully not with gravel toll roads), and will be moved to ICU. Everything went smoothly with the surgery. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Dave goes in for surgery at 10:00am today. He'll be in intensive care for a week after that, so the room and phone numbers are not right any more. Mailing address is still fine, however. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

That's great... but fast forward 100 jumps, and that same student hasn't packed for themselves, just paid a packer, hasn't done 3 ring maintanance, just hands it over to a rigger every 120 days, and what they knew as a student has fallen out of their heads from disuse. The problem isn't as much student training as it is continuing training after the student program and actively maintaining a knowledge base. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Relax