tigra

My first RW suit was a Tony suit. I beat the hell out of it, but i still have it. I got a second Tony suit because my b/f had got a certificate for one at an auction, and all I had to pay for was the options. They are both good suits, but when I lost some weight and needed a new suit, I went with Zute Sute. By far, my Zute Sute is the best made, best fitting, best flying jumpsuit I have. (and its cool looking too!) Her prices are comparable to Tony and Bev, and she has a huge selection of fabrics to choose from. She makes a lot of suits for bigways and record jumps as well. In the end it comes down to personal preference, I guess. maura

I just started a new job and have yet to bring it up. Some previous employers/managers have given me a hard time in the past, some of it good natured and some not so good natured. Anyway, with this new job, I figure I should settle in a bit before I bring in my skydiving pictures for my desk! Let them get to know me a little before they instantly label me as some sort of daredevil freak!

Great news, Chuck! Mr Kitty sounds like a pretty special animal! maura

I agree with Jess. She's still purring, she still has the energy and spunk to fight off her medicine and she's still demanding attention. Sounds to me like she's not ready to let go yet. Addressing that nasty infection may improve the quality of the time she has left, whether its days or months or longer, who knows?? On some level, even though she fights you, she knows you wouldn't be doing it all unless you loved her. You are lucky to have such a great vet. They are hard to come by. I drive pretty far for mine even though there is an animal hospital 2 minutes away. Hang in there and keep us posted! maura

Good vibes coming your way from Chicago, Chuck. I wish Mr. Kitty all the best! Hang in there. maura

Michele, You'll probably have better luck if you actually get her on the floor and use your knees, instead of crouching over her on a table. If nothing else, it gives you more of your body to work with. I don't suppose the pharmacist can make that medicine tuna flavored for her, huh? maura

I use the "straddle" method when I give my cat his heart medicine, and I don't need to wrap him up or anything. I do have to go through the motions of "catching" him, and sometimes he makes that process a little difficult. Then I just sort of force him into a sitting position and straddle him from behind, tilt his head back and pry his mouth open with one hand and put the pill in his mouth (all the way back) with the other, then I hold his mouth shut for a few seconds and massage his throat til he swallows. My knees are clamped pretty tight around his shoulders, my butt is on top of his, so he really can't go anywhere, or scratch me, and most important, I am not hurting him at all. Anyway, this works for me now, but keep in mind that Milo has been on medicine for almost 3 years. I used to give it to him in his food, and that worked for a while, but he got too smart for it. He'd actually trick me into believing he took the pill, then I'd find it later, uneaten. With BK, I think you should first try and see if you can get her to take it with her food. The poor thing has been through enough and she's old and cranky! Plus, the daily fight to give her her meds will cause extra stress and use up her energy. (by the way, I hope your nose has stopped bleeding!!) Good luck with it! maura

Michele, Is there any way you can get her to take the medicine with some food? Maybe mix it with fancy feast, or even gravy from a jar?? Mix the medicine with a small bit of food, then follow up with more as a treat/reward? I have to think its a good sign that she's still feisty enough to fight you off like that though! keep us posted! maura (finally after almost 3 years of giving my cat medicine twice a day, we are ALMOST down to a routine!)

Some of the guys at the dz (the ones who have been around a long time....) joke that the temperature on the ground has to be higher than their age! That actually has a certain logic! maura

Lisa, Unfortunately, I have to agree with Deuce on this. Yes, your son's rights are being stomped on, what the manager is doing is inappropriate and illegal. But so far his behaviour has been tolerated and the burden of proof is on your son. How far is he willing to go to fight it? So far, the employer is siding with the manager, and he'd have to work hard to prove anything. Your son's safety, health and happiness are worth more than ANY job. He needs to move on and put this past him. (advice I should be following myself, btw) Wish him luck with whatever he decides to do! maura

That's really not all that funny. Its probably already happened on some level.

I guess I'm a "Gear Fag" too. My colors are red, black and white and ALL my gear is in that color scheme- 2 rigs, main and reserve canopies, a few jumpsuits, gear bag, helmet bag, log book cover and packing mat. I even bought red and white gym shoes to jump in! Should we start assigning "Gear Fag" numbers?? maura

I think the case would be required for his first reserve ride that he packed himself! Should the rigging instructor be SOLICITING a case of beer for a signature? I guess that's another issue.

I don't know, I've swallowed and inhaled salt water while snorkelling before and never got sick. And I think being cut by the coral is a little different than accidently inhaling sea water over the coral. If you are back in the US and your throat is still sore, use your best judgement as far as to go to the doc or not. Are your glands swollen? Are you running a fever or do you feel bad besides the sore throat? And for how long? Honestly, a sore throat can be caused by any number of things. And since you are a teacher, you are surrounded by germs every day! Strep can be serious and will require anti biotics to get over, but if its some kind of virus, it just needs to run its course and anti-biotics won't help. Anyway, hope you feel better soon, and if you don't, see a doctor! Warm salt water gargles are gross, but they do help! maura

Awesome Michele! I knew things would turn around for you!!

I've got the patchwork pattern on my Wings, too. (Red, Black and White) But it isn't all patchwork, the body of it is solid black and the mid flap has red stripes with white piping. Its a sweet looking rig! maura (sorry, no pic to post.....)

My rigger works out of his home. He's got kids and pets. So, the only time I go ahead and pull all the handles is when I know he's going to work on the rig right away. More often than not, I leave it with one of his kids on a Sunday night and pick it up the following Friday or Saturday morning. And, yes, I know, I could shove it all in a gear bag, but I don't like leaving my reserve unpacked like that. That's just me, I guess......

Again, I'll cast my vote for Michele. See her "2002" post. She has shared so much of herself with us all year. The good, the not so good, the funny stuff, the sad stuff, the triumphs and the humiliations. Its not all about the jokes or the boobies or even the skydiving. maura

Tonto, I have had pets my entire life. All have been beloved family members. The decision to euthanize a pet comes from the heart. Its selfish to keep a pet alive because YOU can't let go. You need to look at the quality of the animal's life and put its needs above your own. If the animal is beyond a vets help and their suffering is greater than their enjoyment of life, then its time to let them go, and let them go as humanely as possible. Animals, like most humans, want to live and die with peace and dignity. And, when it IS time, to be able to die at home surrounded by people who love you is a great gift, whether you are a dog or a man. I'm sorry you don't see it that way. You post WAS rude, thoughtless and insensitive. maura

Michele. If for no other reason, because she took the "great thong challenge" of 2002.

Sorry for your family's loss, Frank. I've been there and I know how hard it is, but I think you handled it as well as you could! Everyone had a chance to say good by and you let him go with dignity. And Michele, quit making me cry!!! maura

I love my Parachuting Santa!

got mine in Chicago, maybe 10 days ago or so??

I have one of them! My sister gave it to me. Mine sings Jingle Bells! I think my sister found it at an Ace Hardware near Dallas!

I spent my 23rd summer backpacking through Europe. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, but it did take a while to get back on my feet after I got home. I had a very supportive mother who did not mind me living at home with her while I was looking for work, temping and trying to figure out what to do with the "rest of my life....." If I could figure out a way to do it now without facing bankruptcy or financial ruin, I would definately spend a summer in my trailer at the dz! But things like that get a lot harder as you get older! Now I look at tthings like mortgage payments and health insurance, and I realize I am sort of a slave to a steady paycheck and benefits! I say do it now, while you are young and you don't have kids! Especially if you don't think you'll have any problem finding a decent job when the summer is over! maura