karenmeal

Somehow I scanned the pictures into a PDF file, didn't even know that I could do that! Don't know how to change, them, and its time to go be productive, so I will try to attach them as is. The first one I am wearing my cat make-up, which I insisted on wearing way too often. The other one is me as a tiny baby, I've always smiled lots. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Since my weekend is the weekdays.. I'll count my wednesday thursday friday combo. 1:16:0 16 beautiful jumps, 14 of them two-ways with one awesome freeflier. It's been like my own personal boogie! Yeehaw! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

That always sucks, I can't sleep when its too hot... I took some night time drugs. Should be done going on about my day soon. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I've always wanted to try to imitate this video that I saw of Olav Zipster (spelling?) and Stephania (?)dancing gracefully while head-down. Finally got the chance to do it today with a very very awesome visiting professional skydiver. And I get to do it again tommorow! Who could sleep?! Yeah, seriously, it feels like my first jump all over again. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Wish it was 10:30 here, It'd only be an hour and a half away from another jump, but as it is now it'll be atleast 9 and a half hours till I can be in the air again.. hmm.. too late to add. Skydiving hasn't felt like some sort of crack addiction in a long time, but it sure does tonight! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I had some of the coolest skydives of my life today and it feels like the night after my first jump.. I can't sleep, just thinking of getting in the air again tomorrow. Been laying in bed for hours brainstorming about new, interesting dive flows to try tomorrow.. Ahhh.. It's so nice to get a big ol' unexpected super-charge of energy and new-found motivation in skydiving. I was starting to get a little burnt out, but today (or yesterday I should say) brought it allllll back. Fabulous, I just can't stop grinning.. But I need to sleep so that I can repeat this tommorow! Anyone else up to entertain me? -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Hey Krissanneee, should've come to the DZ this afternoon! You could have laughed at me trying to practice hooking up tandem passengers and carting them around. Oh well, I'm sure you'll have plenty more opporunities to laugh at me. You should come out tommorow as well. Too lazy to crrect my spelling/grammar. Night Night -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

What is so urgent? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Jaye, I know you can dangle on the 182 like a pro, just have to tell the pilot to give you a bit of a cut. Yay for 182's! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

182's! Hooray for the 182 DZ's out there! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Congratulations JP! Hoooray!! This means that you can use your new rating to get lots of chicks! Now you need to come up here and teach me how to fly on my belly again! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Such a bad attitude towards packers. Get over it! Some of us are very professional and will throw in all kinds of extra services like teaching someone how to hook up their main, adjusting the length of brake lines, finger trapping excess brake line if it comes out, doing a full inspection of their canopy. When I pack someones rig I do a fairly thorough inspection of the entire setup, not all packers are evil slackers and not all malfunctions are caused by packers. I just hate to see you slamming a group of people. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I've got a handful of barefoot jumps... only do it when the conditions and the landing area is just right. But man it feels good! Sit-flying barefoot feels like a foot massage! I love it! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

You need to take responsibility for yourself in this sport, you can't blame your lack of knowledge all on other people. It sounds like you're making excuses for not being more proactive in the learning process. Its not up to everyone else to explicitly tell you about each and everyone safety issue, you will sometimes need to go seek out information and do some reading and studying on the sport on your own, and without prompting from others. Dave made a good point, go devour the SIM, then read all the information from the manufacturers whose gear you jump, then go read each article in parachutist & skydiving mag, then look to other countries like Australia for their published information on all things skydiving, then go read some of the rigging material, poynters manuals... My first jump course was actually way more casual than yours. I could go into greater detail, but I don't want to get anyone in trouble. Even though I probably didn't have the best start to the sport, I took it upon myself to make sure that when I came back to the DZ to do my first jump, I asked questions about everything I was unsure of. I also realized very quickly (from a simple web search) that there was a wealth of resources out there on skydiving, and starting with the SIM I read every bit of information I could get my hands on. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the more you know about skydiving, the safer you will be. You definitely need iniative in this sport to continue learning after your student program is over, people who don't go out there and try to increase their knowledge are just asking for it. hmmm... -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I like to enjoy an ice cold beer in a nice hot steamy shower after a long day of packing. Ahhhhhhhhh. We have a double headed shower. Its fantastic. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Who says all of the jumps have to be full altitude? I pay 8 dollars for a hop and pop... so 8 x 500 = 4,000. Thats not bad at all! -Karen p.s. Not too many DZ's give free jumps to their employees. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I was doing some research, and if you have good genes maybe you can sell some of your eggs! They will pay you like 5,000 per time! If I had a better family medical history I would probably try that... -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Jumping without gloves or snot all over my face.. Packing in my bikini... Going swimming at lakes.. Getting a tan.. Lazy summer days.. Pretty flowers.. Beer... -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

and the third part of that joke as a friend told me: and a BASE jumper goes "sh-whack" "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I like freefly speeds in the 140's.. for me, the slower the better, otherwise my arms get tired from going so fast and docks are a lot harder. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Like they say, its all fun and games until someone loses an eye... then its fucking hilarious. I always make the pilot do zero g's, I love that! The first time I had someone do zero g's in a jump plane I was in a 182 taking a nap right next to the pilot and woke up when my head touched the ceiling and I realized I was floating. That was fucking funny. I always make sure to get a good pin check though after a zero-g maneuver. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Yup, Seattle is great! My boyfriend and I moved to the area with the thought that I would go to school somewhere.. not really great planning. Then I realized the only school I could go to without relocating both of us was the UW.. PHEW! What a load off! -karen Hooray! Lots of celebrating this weekend! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Pre-major right now... finishing up some classes. Eventually I plan to go into speech and hearing sciences and become a speech language pathologist. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Yeah! I got in to the UW Seattle.. This was the only place I applied to, I figured either I get in, or I rack up some more Community College credits. Been Stressed since November about this, now I can be stressed until September when classes start! Thank-you very much Jaye and Krisanne for proof reading my personal statement! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Jeff and I will be there for shure! I CAN'T WAIT!!! WOOHOOOO!!!! Amazon ChaosKitty D22369 Frenchy (maybe) Gia (maybe) Girlfalldown (maybe) IanHarrop JasonRose Karenmeal (w/ Jeff) Livendive Mcneill79 (maybe) NWFlyer SeaKev Shell TallGuy vdschoor "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham