peregrinerose

Gift certificates for a massage. But the Stuffed Lemur suggestion was a really good one too

If Harold can't make it, maybe Bondage Elmo could make an appearance? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

The deodorant question is soooo easy Jennifer, I can't believe you didn't think of it yourself... all you need is a cabana boy to do it for you

The best electric star ever was the one I saw that had bare balls involved Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Until there are no more kids in foster care, no more abandoned kids, no more kids waiting for people to adopt them, then yes, to some degree having kids is selfish. I've never wanted kids of my own for that reason... any kid I have is one less I can adopt out of the foster care system. Sure, I'd love to have a mini version of my husband and I, but genetics is over rated and not directly correlated with love. The person who aborted for eco reasons is a bit nuts though. Sounds like she's trying to justify her abortion, maybe feels guilty about it? And there's no reason that she couldn't know 'first hand what it is like to cradle her own baby, to have a pair of innocent eyes gazing up at her with unconditional love, to feel a little hand slipping into hers - and a voice calling her Mummy.' Adoption does provide all of those things. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Damn, I didn't know you were there or I'd have wandered up there! Chad saw the magic show, I went to bed early... Shit. The one night I go to bed early and I miss meeting you. I'll be at the Farm on March 2, does that help any? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

We ended up having a great time, 12 jumps in 2 days. Wheeeee!! And welcome to Duane, the newest Pelt Head!! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It's not your fault the instructors didn't stay with you. I have a jumpsuit that I bought specifically for floatier students. I can go under 100mph in freefall with it if I need to. The first thing you should probably buy yourself skydiving wise is a jumpsuit that's made for you. Student jump suits don't fit anyone all that well, and the right jumpsuit will make a world of difference with fall rate consistency. My husband is built the same way you are, had the same issues with fall rate and floating a bit, his custom jumpsuit made all the difference in making it easier for him to learn to fly his body better. Don't worry too much about this, just keep a good hard arch, listen to your instructors, and let them adapt to your fall rate for now.. it's their job. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'd love to learn to freefly, does that count? Even if we don't freefly much, we will get you inducted !! There are a crapload of pelt head freefliers, just none that I know of going this weekend. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Is there a jump number requirement? I thought it was just C license and 6 hours of freefall time. I'd be hesitant to see someone with 200 jumps be an AFF instructor, even if they did have shitloads of tunnel time. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to have a 'time in sport' requirement like tandems do. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

My father in law starts making Bloody Marys bright and early and all day long, they are GOOD!! And after everyone gets up from having eaten too much, the family tradition is to roll on the floor to compress everything in the full belly... silly... but tradition. And you just can't screw with a tradition like rolling.

Apparently you missed these threads.... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2906803;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2852550;#2852550 Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

From a practical standpoint, does it really matter if your freefall speed increases or decreases somewhat with a baglock? Either way, it's a matter of seconds before impact with the earth if no other action is taken. I would think that it's unlikely that a baglock would take you below cypres firing speeds. I can say that if I ever have a baglock, I'm not going to be wasting time figuring out if I'm going 110 or 150... I'm getting rid of the fucker!

Pops, don't point that out, this thread has been an extraordinarily entertaining way to kill time at work!!

As a professional outside of skydiving, I do not associate or work with companies that show dubious ethical practices, for I feel it reflects poorly on me as an eye care provider. I doubt that skydiving buisinesses are much different. If skyride behaved in an ethical manner, I doubt anyone would have a problem with it. Stealing photos, misrepresenting locations, misleading patrons are all unethical behaviors... something that I doubt many of us would be comfortable associating with. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I asked a couple of master riggers the same question... they both told me to redesign the container and that might help If you look at Mirage's owner's manual, and how to pack them, the last picture of their 'finished product' looks like a freaking accordian it's so wrinkled up on the side flaps. If there's a way to get rid of them, I'd love to know. I only pack for one person that has a mirage, and I can get it looking better than most other Mirages I've seen from a wrinkle standpoint, but there's still a little bit. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

PA.... we jump at Chambersburg and Maytown. We'll be in Myrtle Beach for dinner with Chad's parents Thanksgiving day, and will be at the DZ early Friday through Sunday afternoon. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Agreed. We teach as the FJC to throw the handles, because that way it's pretty well ensured that the cables are cleared and the last thing we want is a new jumper juggling cables and trying to fly a reserve plus being a bit flustered from the whole situation. Of course, when I had mine (jump number 538... which is why I leave my jump number at that on my profile

Justin, you've GOT to go!! I don't get to jump with you very often!!

Great! Make sure you say hi and introduce yourself. I have a furry hot pink helmet, you can't miss me in a crowd

I've always fed my snake in her cage... did the same with the Burmese in college. Their vision is crap, they go more by taste when it comes to mice, etc. As long as you don't handle rodents before going into the cage, it shouldn't be a problem. I made that mistake once... cleaned out rat cages and went directly to the snake to play with him. That was the only time the Burmese went to strike position with me. I changed shirts and washed up quick that day!

I disagree.... when getting in the plane, moving around, particularly in small planes like a cessna, things do move. I ALWAYS re-check my gear in the plane, including a pin check. I do the same three gear checks on myself as I do on students.... two on the ground, one in the plane. I do it every jump, and have since I was a student. Partly because I'm anal and can't help it, but partly because I want to teach students through example as much as words. I jump a Racer, it's not built the same as a student rig, I don't really want someone trying to pry off my pop-top. I probably would let a student that I had worked with before or who had done a gear check on me before (with another jumper watching) do a pin check on the plane, but I wouldn't ask someone with 10 jumps who had never seen a Racer to do so. If I've moved around the plane a bit or in a cessna, I will ask someone to do a gear check, but 90% of the time in the plane, I check it myself. I can feel the flaps, pin, closing loop, bridle easily on my container. When I've jumped borrowed gear, I've gotten a gear check from someone else... most other containers are harder to check tactilely than a Racer. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

So, who's going? On behalf of the Pelt Heads, a bunch of us will be there and will happily induct any new members... Skydivingchad, me, JENNR8R, and several others that don't post on DZ.com will all be available for PeltWays. Maybe we could even set a new Pelthead record?????? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Based on your profile, start here: http://www.corhs.org/ http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CO181.html http://www.iguanapalooza.com/corr/ http://www.coloradoreptilerescue.org That should get you started with regard to rescues. At least you know you'll have a healthy animal and usually quite a bit of history as well. Since it's your first snake, they are great with giving inforamation regarding proper care. Yes, if you can't do a rescue, definitely do captive bred, not wild caught. Ball pythons don't actually require UV light, I don't have a light in her cage, just a ceramic heat bulb and the two stick-on heaters. I have thermostats on each half of the cage, and a humidity reader in the middle. For bedding, I use coconut bedding, it comes in bricks, you hydrate it with water, squeeze it out well, let it air dry for a day or two so it isn't damp, and put it in the cage. Works well, cheap, safe, and great for the snake to bury in if so inclined. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Actually, having a snake would be a great way to weed out the girly women quickly