karenmeal

One thing that kind of annoys me is that I always end up being the one to help people attach their mains. Its shocking that people with 1,000 jumps don't know their main is supposed to be hooked up! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Awww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dang you! I read the title of your post, and immediately sat up in my seat, and got ready to run to the phone and call and tell the good news to my boyfriend! ARGGGHHH!!! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Hello Rob! And how did you vote? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

About 1500 feet before exiting I do a handle check, pin check (Main only), chest strap check, visual inspection of my 3-rings and check to make sure my leg straps are even on every jump. I must do this complete check atleast once after I have put on my helmet and goggles before I can exit the plane feeling comfortable. If the check isn't enough to make me feel grounded then I take some deep relaxing breaths too. You can see me on videos touching my handles and yanking on my chest strap one last time before exit quite often.. It really bugs me when I don't have the proper time to do my little ritual and take some deep breaths and relax before jumprun. I hate it when the clouds are lower than expected or something and the pilot doesn't give us proper warning that jumprun is coming up. Anyways, those are only a few of my compulsions.. Don't worry.. there are plenty other obsessive compulsive skydivers out there! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I'll be at Snohomish both days. Hopefully I will be freeflying a bit.. unless I get stuck being busy packing. Would be happy to hop and pop with you too if it comes down to that! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Look, I don't have toes either! Just big blobs of foot tissue! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

ok.. I'm posting a picture of what I may or may not look like when nekkid... Is it ok? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

This is about how you percieve yourself! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Just curious how people perceive themselves... "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Belly wart! How much easier does it get! Man, you guys sure had it easy! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Silly old-timer. I'm not such a newbie at packing myself, I've probably packed about 10,000 to 15,000 parachutes.. I laugh at your challenge.. but while you guys are having fun at your little round boogie, I'll be doing some real work packing slippery zp tandems and and having fun with the new canopies that are constantly being passed my way. I invite you to come pack 20 tandem rigs in a day and tell me how easy they are to close. -Karen I hope you can sense my taunting/sarcastic tone. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Are you being sarcastic? Rounds are freaking easy to pack! And you're making holding tension sound as if its really a big deal or something. I can't actually believe that you think that packing a slippery new square is easier than a round. Sorry but your sarcastic comments needed to be followed by something! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Is it important to use the virgin or extra-virgin? just curious... -karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Hey, just want all those who live in the Seattle area to know.. there is an Easter egg hunt at 9:30 Easter morning at Skydive Snohomish! There are good chances to win some free jumps (full altitude and hop and pops), jump discounts, free pack jobs and lots of candy! Even if the weather sucks, we will still have the easter egg hunt. In fact, if the weather sucks, your odds of winning some free skydives are probably better! See you all this weekend! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

ummm.... NO! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

That picture of JP reminds me of the good ol' days back in Davis peeking in on the boys in the shower! Ahh memories. -karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Davis usually has a cool easter egg hunt on easter Sunday, with free jump tickets hidden in some eggs! I would call and see if they are doing it again this year. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I was taught that with a pilot chute in tow you go straight to the reserve. Found myself with a pc in tow once, checked the air over my back, went straight to the reserve (deployed main PC at 4500 feet).. then my main fully opened as soon as I hit the reserve handle. My reserve stayed in the free bag and was dangling around my feet with a perfectly opened main over my head. Tried to contain the reserve and put it in between my legs so it wouldn't inflate. That made the reserve inflate, and get tangled around my legs and left arm. With my reserve flying weird I was scared it would choke off my main at some point and I knew that I couldn't land without severe injuries being stretched out horizontal between two canopies. So I ended up cutting away the main as I was very high and felt that my best chance to survive was to get my legs and stuff out of my reserve lines. Ended up getting untangled from my reserve at 1,000 feet. Then followed my free bag down as I was too spaced to think about my main. If it happened again... I would make sure to clear the air over my back, reach back quickly for the bridle. (I've practiced on the ground) quick tug, then straight to the reserve. You can analyze all the things that I did wrong when I had the PC in tow.. but it was years ago and I've learned so much since then. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Hey JP remember that fancy bottle of petron or whatever you had? Now that I think about it... that was the last time I went nuts on tequila! Jaye: maybe you should come drinking tonight to relax and you can just pass out on your books and let the information osmosify while you sleep. That is my preferred study method. "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

You can buy me a drink either tonight at the K&K or any other time.. In fact, you are always welcome to buy me a drink. Just not tequila "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

YAY!!! finals are done. Thats it, I'm just excited. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

My boyfriend and I had to endure about 3 and a half months of long-distance dating. We had broken up when I made plans to go to Australia for 6 months.. then got back together about 2 days before I left... We talked almost every day on the phone while I was there and I ended up coming back early because I missed him. It was hard, but the fact that I trusted him so much made it a lot easier. We've been dating three years now! -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

The tandem rig looks like a sport rig on you from that angle! How big was the guy strapped onto you? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

I don't think that I procrastinate too much...I just plan on finishing all my work at the last second. So I do all my work according to the plan. Does that make sense? Or have I just fallen for my own excuses? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

What did your instructor(s) recommend to you, and what wingloading are you wanting to jump? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham