peregrinerose

Do you do practice flares up high? Find the stall point of each canopy up high? If not, it's tough to know exactly how/when to flare, or if the brake settings are right for you. If I am jumping something with factory brake settings (and I have 21" risers), on Sabre2s and Spectres, I need to wrap the brake lines about 2 inches (which is why I usually shorten them about 2 inches...talk to your rigger ... don't try it yourself). With that little bit shorter brake, I can still use front riser input without deflecting the tail on both canopies, but not have to wrap my brakes to land. When I jumped a Pilot, I had no problem with the flare at factory settings, the flare seemed to happen at about 3/4 arms length for me. Keep in mind that these are on 135/150 Sabre2 and Spectre and a 132 Pilot, I don't know what size you're jumping. If you're having problems with landing, play with the flare/stalling at altitude and have someone shoot video of your landings, you'll learn a LOT. Take a canopy control course too... some of the best money you'll spend in skydiving is with Brian Germain and/or Scott Miller. I take a canopy course once a year, and plan to continue to do so... there's always something to improve upon. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

You are thinking solely in terms of money. What she 'gave up' isn't so easy to put money terms on... time with you, a stronger marital bond than is possible with you at sea, a partner in raising both kids while you are away from home. You're pissed, but life probably wasn't all roses for her either. I still think 50% is freaking entirely too much. 5-10% maybe, 50% is overboard. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Didn't she give up a lot too, when you were at sea, not home for her, you worked long hours. Did your time in the military negatively impact your marriage due to the lengthy time away? I'm not saying that she deserves 1/2 of your retirement, but she probably does deserve a part of it. From the military families I've seen, the non-military spouse gives up a great deal too. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It's cute, I love it! But here's my useful information for you... next time you wash your hair, be very very very careful how much shampoo you put in your hand. For the next week, you'll be quadruple dosing on what you really need Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Is there any kind of currency requirement like there is with AFF, tandem, coach, etc? I know a 'wingsuit instructor' who likes to brag about being one, but to my knowledge doesn't own one or ever jump one. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Your wingloading is higher than mine... on a 135 I'm about 1.2 (1.3 if I'm wearing weights). I just ordered a new Sabre2 135 after 2+ years of my 150 Spectre. I agree with you, there seemed to be a much bigger difference between the 150 and 135s than 170 to 150. I also tried many different canopy styles and tried to compare the same canopy in different sizes. I'm guessing just because the lines are that much shorter, so more responsive. I'm nervous about my new canopy, but do have about 20 jumps on a demo/borrowed Sabre2 135 including no wind landings with weights on and had no problems at all with landing. I have 600 jumps now, 400+ of them on my present canopy so definitely not a radical downsize. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree with what everyone else said, but want to add... learn how to PLF, do it instead of landing on your butt. Landing on your butt is a great way to get a spinal compression fracture... I've seen it happen. You'll walk away from a PLF, you may not walk away from a hard butt landing. Get video, take a canopy control course, and relax... learning anything new, including landing, takes time and work. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

You've been looking at the Velociy Sportswear t-shirts too, haven't you? I loved that one, I was cracking up with it. Had to explain it to Chad though. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It doesn't have to be this way. And as easy as it is to blame the other person, we need to take responsibility for our choices too.... you chose to stay with someone who lied/cheated for so long. I chose to stay with a guy that beat on me for 10 years. After the first or second lie, the first punch... it is our responsibility to make better choices and get out of the situation. We chose the people we are with. I chose much better the second time than the first.... you will too... you're older and wiser now Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

You are taking a man who acted the same way as an abusive parent... taking an anomaly and making it the norm in your head. There are men out there who have been badly hurt by women. Do you want to be written off by those men in the same way that you are writing off the potential of love? Should you never be given a chance because someone else made a mistake (or long series of mistakes)? Relationships take two people.... if yours is over, it's only because both of you picked the wrong person for a time. For now, get to know yourself better and enjoy the freedom, but there will come a day when you're ready in yourself. It would make me sad to see you push away a truly good man in the future because of something someone else did. My husband has told me more than once 'I am not other men' when I get in the same kind of funk you are in now. He's right. Hang in there. I've been there too... it does get easier. I was with a guy for 10 years as well when we divorced. I promise you it does get easier. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Just because you are jaded from past experience doesn't mean that you can write off all male/female love.... think of it this way, my mother beat/molested me... is that 'true love from a parent to a child'? Is it representative of what normal parental love? I sincerely doubt it. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

There are pros and cons to both ways. Personally, I did a tandem first. I wasn't all that impressed with the tandem, it was fun, I enjoyed it, but I wasn't all that inspired to put forth the money to continue skydiving based on the tandem. The only reason I bothered with AFF was because my husband was a jumper, and even then I did AFF almost 2 years after the tandem. I've done 5 tandems since then... all with people getting recurrent as tandem instructors or learning to be a tandem instructor. They scare the shit out of me now, relinquishing that kind of control to someone else.

This probably depends on where the lineover is. If at the edge of the canopy, it may clear. If closer to the center, it won't clear. My line over was just off of center, jump number 538. I didn't bother touching the brakes, just said 'goodbye main, hello beer' as I had my first chop and first save. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree. But I'm biased. I wrote the Pelthead Boogie article for Sept There's even a picture of the back of my head (furry pink helmet) Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Good luck with school! My grad school was for OD and MS degrees. It's more work, but more practical and long term rewarding than undergrad was, at least for me. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

My husband bought a Sabre2 used, it had 3 jumps on it. The original owner had problems with a Sabre2 after 100 jumps or so, sent it back to PD, PD said they didn't like what they found, and sent him a brand new Sabre2 150 as well. Worked well for the original owner (and my husband who got a hell of a deal on the used gear we bought). Isaiah is another one to add to the list of PD people that's a pleasure to work with. As a packer, he has kept me stocked with pull up cords for a couple of years now, and the first time even sent me a lot of goodies along with them. My mini loft at home is covered in PD decor as a result. Kim was a delight to work with both times I needed a demo to try. Two years ago, I bought a new Spectre 150 from them, and 2 weeks ago I ordered a new custom color Sabre2 135 and a new PD143R, looking forward to getting my new toys to play with

Doug, if you get Griff as your examiner, think 'inverted frogman'... that is exactly what you will see. It'll make you crack up. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Go wherever you want to go. If a rigger is pissed because you took your service elsewhere, they are insanely insecure. It's your gear, your money, you are the one in control. One of the people I pack for just had his repack done somewhere else for the same reasons you did. Not a problem. As long as his repack is in date and he's jumping safely, I'm happy Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Congrats Marios, and Doug, good luck!! I know you'll do great Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Damn, why would you spend $5500 on your first gear?? I only rented for a little while, started jumping my own gear around jump 20 or 25ish. Spent $1800 3 years ago on a Racer, Sabre1 170, PD143R, Cypres with 4+ years left on it. I'm still jumping the racer, PDR, and cypres. Just put in a new Spectre 150 about a year afer I jumped... so definitely getting my money's worth out of that gear. My husband spent $2000 on his first gear... a racer, falcon (which we traded out for my hand me down Sabre 1 170), pd143R, and cypres. We sold it after he had put 2 years of jumping on it for $1600. Again, got his money's worth. Get something used... in a few hundred jumps you'll be wanting something else anyhow

Mine is a rescue too.

Don't just flat out buy either... contact a rescue group and get one. I've never had a ferret, but have a ball python now, and took care of a Burmese python during college. They make great pets, low maintanance, fun to watch eat, nice personalities. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Maytown. It's a club, and Handsome Dave is there Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

People can be stupid, lie to themselves about what they do to other people, assume that the pain that they caused in the past is forgotten. I'm sorry that you had to go through such a shitty relationship and that this is bringing up a lot of nasty memories At least you post here a lot, so all of us would notice if you were gone for very long Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'm not a big believer in 'hints'. If she ignores it, he may think he found the wrong person, she didn't get the message, etc. and may try to contact her another way. If she flat out says 'leave me alone' the message is clear, and if he does try to contact her again, she has documentation that she told him to leave her alone and that he continued. I agree that if he contacts her again after being told to leave her alone, report him to myspace and the local authorities, possibly persue a restraining order. No one knows if he's a bad guy or not... it's been 20 years. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda