karenmeal

Here is surprise lake. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I'm taken. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Not in Europe.. but I live about 45 minutes from the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area in Washington state. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Not yesterday.. but I have seen a bear on that hike before. Our dog chased the bear off down a hill! Now Jonah stays on a leash when we go through bear country and I carry bear mace. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Here is a picture of where I was all day yesterday. I'm going on another hike today to a gorgeous alpine lake! I'll post pictures of that later. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I sing to our dog Jonah. I make up just a bunch of random weirdness usually.. but sometimes I do a variation of My Sharona called My Jo-Jonah. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

When my dog lays on his back and wiggles around for attention and a belly rub. And.. Home-grown veggies make me smile every day!! Edited to add: Except that I was picking home-grown veggies just now and got some home-grown jalapeno in my eye. That hurts! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

As a packer.. If your canopy malfunctions and it can be determined that I messed up, atleast one free packjob. But... considering that a canopy will always be deployed into turbulent air.. a lot of crap can happen that isn't the packer's fault. I've had one experienced jumper have a mal on one of my packjobs. (Line twists on a high-performance, highly loaded canopy with a tendency to bow-tie.) After 15-20,000 pack jobs, I really doubt that I did something different on that particular one that caused a malfunction. I still got paid for that packjob, but it was that jumper's choice. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I bought my first rig before I was ready to jump it. I think I put around 70 jumps on other gear before I was deemed ready by my mentors. (I had awesome mentors!!) Just because you have the gear there doesn't mean that you can't jump other stuff for a while. Did you look at the spectre chart on wingloading? You are categorized between advanced and expert. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

You are correct in believing that you may be wrong. If you pick a canopy that is too small for you, you will be forced to focus on saving your ass on every jump rather that focusing on developing good form. If in the next 10-15 jumps you seem to experience an incidence of a strong crosswind that seems to push your canopy over right as you finish your flare, this would be a good indication that the parachute is TOO SMALL FOR YOU. The problem with jumping a canopy that is too small for you isn't that you can't land it when conditions are reasonably good.. but that when other things go wrong, having a larger canopy could have saved you. You have 30 jumps, I'm guessing that you're not yet super experienced in spotting. So it is probably more likely that you are going to land out than someone who is more experienced than you. Well, good luck with the small canopy then. Another thing about jumping a small canopy at 30 jumps. You mentioned you're focusing on solely canopy control right now. Well, how is your body position on opening? Now that you're jumping a smaller, more highly loaded canopy it's going to demand a better body position. Can you deliver in that area? You are currently more likely to get line twists on opening that someone who is more experienced. Say you burn through a good chunk of altitude kicking out of line twists and then find yourself in more crowded airspace being forced to deal with flying your little canopy among other people. That would be fun. Or how about packing? I've seen plenty of people with 30 jumps packing parachutes. I don't see many that can properly handle a canopy that only has 40 jumps on it. So you might be packing sloppier than a more experienced jumper which means you could be more likely to have a malfunction. Then you get to deal with landing your too-small reserve too, under pressure, possibly off the DZ. Fun! But maybe you're just hiring a packer.. in which case I have a whole other lecture about not understanding your gear. I hope that things turn out alright and that maybe you make a smart decision and upsize. Looks like you should have put a lot more jumps on a 170. Maybe you can bo back and do about 20 on the pilot. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I remember being a little kid and losing a tooth on a trip to California to visit family. I got a silver dollar for that tooth instead of 50 cents. My parents explained to me that things cost more in California and that was why in California, the tooth fairy paid a dollar for teeth. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Only 14 credits. After a hard summer schedule.. I'm treating myself.

I'm stoked for my tomatos to be ready too! It is my first year with a vegetable garden and it is so cool!! (And all of my friends think I'm a big dork.) I've got peppers, tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, zuchini, cucumbers.. and I guess that is it. My tomatoes should be ready soon and I can't wait!!! I'm going to make salsa, use them on sandwiches and do bruschetta type things with the tomatoes, herbs, some cheese and some homemade bread. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Scrotum. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

If you want something that is breathtakingly beautiful you need to hike surprise creek to surprise lake. It is also in Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. I went there with my packing buddies last year and I swear when we reached the top and saw the lake we all stopped and were just stupeified at how flipping gorgeous it is. I'm going there next week. Can't freaking wait!!! It is HEAVEN! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I dress how I like it, how I think makes me look good. (If I feel like looking good.) However, what I have a problem with is the keeping up with trends. If you're just keeping up with the trends that are out there, how is that really self-expression? Are you expressing that you just like to do as told, that you're not imaginative yourself.. what? I dress to express sometimes. Sometimes I wear hippy pants, my home-made tie-dye and hikings boots that expresses, "Hey, I'm a hippy and like to be in the woods." When I'm around my professors at school (who will ultimately decide whether I get into grad school here or not) I dress professionally so that I can express to them that I am serious about wanting to go to grad school. So I get dressing to express one's self. That is not what I am referring to. The stuff that I am referring to is wearing jeans that show your butt crack because it's in. What does that express about yourself? Or how about wearing high-heels that you can barely walk in? What does that express? I'm masochistic? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

.. a complete waste of time. Seriously, what is the point? That is all. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Didn't you get the memo that said that wearing ridiculously overpriced and poorly constructed t-shirts is no longer the "in" thing? As far as things that I won't wear in public... usually as long as it fits, is functional and doesn't have holes in embaressing places, I'll wear it. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

An instructional book about the care and maintenance of bonsai trees. It's my moment of zen. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Not a steak fan.. but bring on the lamb!!! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I just need the money to get a video setup. I would have gone to video sooner if I felt that it could have been more lucrative than packing. I am planning to start doing tandem video to keep me in the air through grad-school. My mom recently suggested to me that she buy me a camera helmet for christmas!!! What a good mom. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Every so often Jonah will do this. But the coolest thing that he does when shitting is that he backs his ass up underneath a bush or a tree, so we don't have to clean it up and will never step in it! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

It sounds more exotic. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I can waggle my eyebrows pretty good. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I think I recognize some of those guys.. Where'd you find that picture? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham