peregrinerose

My husband and I were married 2 years that he was a jumper and I had never even been to the DZ and did not want to hear about his jumping other than when he would call to let me know he was on the ground in one piece. We have both been jumping for 2 years. Most of the time we love sharing the DZ and working together as packers. But there are days we wish we didn't share the DZ (and take advantage of legally throwing each other out of the plane

You will get a million answers here, for both sides, but reality is, it's your relationship, do what's best for you. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

No one 'needs' an AAD to jump... if that were the case, no skydiving would have taken place prior to the invention of AADs. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I don't rely on a seatbelt either, but I also don't drive without putting it on. Just because I won't jump without an AAD doesn't mean I rely on it. Everyone weighs their risk/benefits differently. To me, an AAD minisculely decreases my risk as a jumper (from a shit happens, get knocked out stance), so makes sense to have it/use it. What other people do is their choice. I don't think someone who makes an educated decision to not use an AAD is stupid, they just weigh the risks and benefits differently than I do. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

If you are adopting 'special needs' children, most states waive or pay the fees. You get tax breaks. You get paid a stipend to adopt them. Many agencies provide funding for these types of adoptions as well. If you truly want to adopt a child with special needs, do some serious looking into it. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

But those are ways of handling it. Not productive, not the best, but still means to handle a crappy situation. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I don't understand how God has anything to do with it. No matter what life throws at a person, there are 2 choices... handle it or commit suicide. A majority of people choose to live. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Having an undying love of family/children does not make someone reproduce... as you stated, adoption also fulfills that need. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I hate those stupid ribbon things on cars. Take the breast cancer ones... if all the money spent on the ribbons was instead donated to cancer research directly, imagine how much money would be raised! I wonder exactly what the point is of the 'support our troops' stickers. It won't change anyone's mind about anything. If someone wants to support troops... visit a VA hospital as a volunteer or find another way to do it rather than just talk about it with a sticker. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

First, being on various prescription painkillers isn't a good way to jump. A fast opening can give you a whiplash type effect, hurting your neck more. The sky will always be there, so think carefully about taking chances. Ask a doc. Make sure you aren't taking Rx'd painkillers the day of the skydive as they can make you a little sluggish and less able to do what you need to. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Good! And Happy Birthday!! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Alternator was my first throught too... easy to change that out yourself. And not all that expensive a part either. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Go to a different mechanic. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Ditto... and if it was absolutely something I screwed up, like not cocking a pilot chute or packing a walkthrough, I'd pay for the reserve repack too. But only if it was something obviously my mistake. I care a lot about keeping everyone's asses' safe up there. It's lousy for my packing career if I don't provide consistently good openings, so do my best on every one of them. I beat myself up if I hear of less than ideal openings, I can't imagine how I'd feel if someone had to chop one of my pack jobs. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Ditto, Buddhism Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

A lot of times they don't even need to be prescription... over the counter readers often work well. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

My husband and I are packers and as such often come home with leftover rubber bands in our pockets. Our greyhound considers this the finest cuisine known to dog-kind. My cattle dog loves to eat rabbit food and my rottie enjoys munching on rabbit poop. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I just checked the Navy Optometry web site. Are you sure that it is LASIK they allow and not PRK? Their refractive centers do offer most of the types of refractive surgery, and it looked like PRK was the one allowed for flight. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Make sure your prescription has been the same for at least 2 years before having surgery.... if it changes again after surgery, you're right back where you started, and there is a limited amount of tissue that can be safely removed from the cornea. Rxs can shift significantly through early 20s. An older version of refractive surgery, RK, did have some issues with pressure changes (in mountain climbers), but I haven't seen any evidence of issues with LASIK. One other thing to consider is orthokeratology. A contact lens specialist fits you with an RGP contact lens that you wear only while you sleep. This lens molds your cornea to correct for your prescription. You take it out in the morning, and see 20/20. You said your rx was -2.00ish, which is perfect for ortho-K. This way, if you prescription changes, the contact lens shape gets changed. Another option is either one day or extended wear contacts. One day lenses you wear once and throw out. Extended wear can be worn up to 30 days at a time (though I always suggest taking them out at least once a week to give the eyes a break). There are some good ones out now. Get an exam with a good eye doc and talk about all the options. Everyone is different, so what is best for you might not be the best option for someone else. It's nice that there are so many good refractive care options right now. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I don't know how old you are, but keep in mind that when you are about 45 and older, you will love being a low myope like that... reading without any glasses or contacts. If you have any refractive surgery, you will need readers to read. Just something to keep in mind. Call your regular eye doc and ask who they recommend for surgery. I see the best and worst of the local surgeons. Some I would trust with my own eyes, some I would not. Some of the other posters talked about rubbing eyes 3 weeks after LASIK. Not really the best idea in the world. For full corneal strength post LASIK, it is possible for years to be required just because of the layer of cornea that is sliced and the lack of vascularization involved. PRK is more painful initially, but because it is more superficial on the cornea, takes much less time for full strength. No matter what you decide, consider your options, interview a few docs before going with who you feel most comfortable with, don't get hung up on one procedure over another before talking to a doc who evaluated your eyes, and seriously consider long term ramifications (still neading readers past 40). Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

LASEK is a variant of PRK. It does involve removal and replacement of the corneal epithelium, like LASIK, just a bit different. See http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/lasek.htm There are so many different procedures now. People hear about LASIK and get set on having it, when there may be better options for their eyes. That's why the surgeons I refer to are not laser mills, but do a variety of refractive procedures, not just the fad of the day. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Clink the link already given. Seriously consider which of the laser procedures you are planning on having done. For skydiving, if it was me, I'd probably opt for PRK rather than LASIK, that way there is no flap involved and the possibility of dislodging a flap is eliminated. PM me with any questions that you may have. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Damn that's a good quote, and so true of everyone, I think. I have no clue how other people perceive me or if those perceptions match my own or not. I'd be curious to know, though. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Joe, thanks for giving all of us a chance to pass along our well wishes, and Kim, have a great birthday. You have a lot of people pulling for you here Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Why would the time required to learn how to pack be worth less than the time required for an AFF jump? Why should one be free and the other not? Just curious. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda