Michele

Lake Elsinore Skydiving and Mr. Robert Tonnesen Sr. asked me to help organize what Mr. Tonnesen calls a Celebration of Life for Rob. The date set is Saturday, October 11, 2003, Lake Elsinore Skydiving. We are in the process of ironing out details (more will be posted shortly), but the main one is that Mr. Tonnesen has agreed to make his first tandem and release part of Rob's ashes. How courageous and amazing is that?? Mr. Tonnesen wanted me to make sure that everyone was invited, and are encouraged to be there if possible. Please spread the word throughout the dz's this weekend. Help me get the word out around the country, and around the world. Should anyone have any questions, feel free to pm me or email me here at dz.com. As I said, the details are being addressed this weekend, so there will be more information coming as soon as things are concretized. Hope to see all of you there! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I have never blamed it on the camera anyway... I am not skinny. Matter of fact, compared to that photo, I am obese (and not the Wmd999 obese either). But you know what? I spent years hating myself and my body because of what the media told me I should look like. I spent so many hours crying about how I would never be "beautiful" - leggy, model looking. When colored contacts came out, I got the blue ones for my brown eyes...that didn't work...so I got green ones. Those worked better, until I damaged my eyes wearing them non-stop for weeks on end. I grew up surrounded by an industry that had very strict standards as to what was "right" and "wrong" in terms of physical appearance. As a result, because of my body style and genetic heritage, I was never going to be one of the "pretty" people...and hated myself for the way I looked. Know what? I still have body image problems. I often think I am fat and ugly. And compared to what the media displays, I actually, really am. But I am more than my body...I am me. Do I get called a hottie? Nottie. Do I get asked out like all the other ladies at the DZ? Not at all (shit, I haven't had a date in many months...). Is it fun? No, can't say so. But my value - and women's value - is not in their tits, or how small their waist is, or how skinny they are. The value of a woman is NOT in her body, and cannot be quantified by the size of her ass. The value of people, men and women, is in their heart and soul. And last time I looked, I found few hearts and souls reside in asses. Thanks for bringing this up, Sky. And good to hear most of you think that the bottom shown in that particular ad is not "too large"... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

'Mama, wrong Keith...RippedCord is Keith, as well. I could only wish that Keith[/]Keith had come up...he's so adorable. But, you know what? So is RippedCordKeith....... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Oh my, Rosa, worry not about dinner. Cora's moving here, so there will be oodles of opportunities later. Massive love and prayers coming from Burbank - double strength! Let me or Cora know if you need anything! Hugs and ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Uh, you didn't ask. Bafooey on you, JP! (besides, there's Mapquest, right???) Sunnyone, I don't think Cora will be getting that drunk here. But you never know... LeRoy, we will give each other a hug from you... And RippedCord showed up at dinner...that was fun!!! Keith, thanks for coming out to keep us ladies company. Made our evening, it did. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

heheheheeee....try me. On our way to dinner - sorry you can't find your way out of a paper bag, JP, you're gonna miss a fun time!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

She's here... Viking, you so could not handle a threesome with Rosa and Cora...but keep imagining it. JP - wear something, man. You're scaring me (or is that scarring??)... Remster, I am, as usual, floored with your incessant wit. Whatever. Rippedcord, just remember who's taking your airginity this weekend...... Sunnyone, Cora says she has nothing to give me. Story of my life...nothing...sigh... And as to the rest of you. I have been hugged (not HUNG!!![Ahem, Steve, as if you were - we'll see at the Chick's Rock Boogie...]) about 80 billion times, her baggage was late, she has a story about the TSA, and we have to go househunting now. Dinner at Kung Pao Bistro (Ventura Blvd in Encino) tonight at 6ish, so if you're in the area, stop by! Me, Cora, Rosa....anyone else???

Nope, the paving is done by the flakes. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Cora will be landing in about 90 minutes, and I will be going shortly to get her! She's gonna be here for a few days, and we will be out at Elsinore on Saturday...so come play if you have a chance! That is, if we can survive this nasty heat... And yes, I stocked up on fruit and nuts...it is CA, after all!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, well, turn about being fair play and all that...asshat... Oh, whatever. Perspective gets skewed as you get older, I hear... Didja get your new glasses yet? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Happy Birthday, Deucey! You rawk, hope you have many, many more.... Nah, not trying to. But I'm willing to wait until I get there; I've got some time...unlike you, who will crest the hill in a matter of days... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Oh yeah, she was a strange lady... The point was, though, that the single time I felt the need to take any action other than speaking up for myself or leaving a situation was with another woman. Truly an abuse of power in that case...which is how I view sexual harassment. If the harasser is in a position to hire/fire, and makes the workplace uncomfortable, then yes, perhaps that does go to SH. But my cubby neighbor relating a ribald joke is NOT, nor is someone looking down my low cut top. Like the remote control and knowing when to change the channel, I know what I pulled over my head that morning... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Chris, in one of your AFF jumps, didn't you whack your head hard on landing? If you have this, that may be what's caused it. The good news is bed rest is the most common way to let these heal. Hey, sending more vibes to you. This sucks donkey *&^%, I tell ya. More and more vibes for you. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Vibes, prayers and hugs, Chris.... And more. And even more. AND HUGE, HUMONGOUS GIGANTIC MONDO VIBES FROM ME!!!! (there, that was because you're having trouble hearing! )... You'd best get better soon, darlin. Or I'll have to make you chicken soup with lots of garlic. Hey, it's the only thing I know what to do.... HUGS and VIBES again! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I wonder what the traffic violations were? Unregistered vehicle? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Good lord, Bill, you forgot to add: "The weather sucks and we have earthquakes constantly!" Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Actually, that is the ONLY time I have ever felt sexually harassed, and I haven't worked in the most "nicey nice" places, either. About 14 years ago, I had a female boss who told me who and who I could NOT date, on my own time, in my own life away from the office. Turns out, she was interested in the guy who worked with us that was interested in me... So she told me I couldn't date him. Call him, see him, whatever. One instance he brought me some KFC for lunch, and she grabbed it away from me and threw it out. She'd call my home after hours, and "check" up on me. She would call him, and then me, and if we were both gone, she'd sit in front of my place waiting for me to come home. Yes, friends and neighbors, she was a nutjob. And ugly, too, come to think of it. I reported it to the District manager, who told me to fend for myself...and then I started getting these warnings, and whatnot. Of course I kept records, and various other things, about what I was doing and how I was performing, and had her place my notes in my personnel file. Of course that made her lose it, so she fired me. After another unsuccessful call to the DM, I contacted the EEOC/Fair Employment and Housing, and lodged a complaint. At first they wouldn't take it because they didn't see the "sexual" part of it, but eventually they did. They took it, investigated it, and I got back pay, a small $$ settlement, and they fired my boss...and closed our office. Seems performance dropped drastically once I was let go. Geez, I wonder why??? Anyway, if I wear something low cut, look all you want. I know what I'm showing. If I cared about it, I would wear something else. Likewise about sexual jokes...if I don't want to hear them, I don't stand there and listen. If the joke is clean and then the pucnhline is bawdy and not appropriate to my tender sensibilities, I just remember to not hang with those folks again...it takes a great deal to offend me. Why, one year at Hallowe'en, I went as an anatomically correct female flasher. I won the costume contest at work that year. We women need to remember that it's not harassment if someone thinks we're special, or have on a nice dress. Sexual harassment is when someone says you will sleep with me or lose your job (or, as described above, DON'T sleep with someone or you'll lose your job)...it's about abuse of power, abuse of authority...not if someone looks at me a little too long. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I've done that. Here's what was in my head. Oh fuck, I'm gonna jump (1) I need to give them enough room (2) I don't want to clock them on the way down (3) Geesh, damnit, ok, start the climb out (4) which way do my hands go (5) here I am, looking over the plane top (6) breathe, reset, (7) ready, set, GO... So what's so wrong with making sure the separation is there? NOTHING. As to why we give a count on solos, it's because that is a) what we're taught, b) it helps us set ourselves for a good floating exit and c) it's what we will do, and have done, on most of our other jumps... From jump 1 in AFF, we are taught to count. Rock out, in, go...and then when we are learning floating exits w/ the instructor, we count ready set go with the leg swing. Yelling at a newbie does exactly nothing to help them, and in fact could interrupt their attention when they need to be totally focused on what is going on. If there is a consistent problem, then sure, bring it up with the experienced jumper on the ground. NEVER in the plane... Stephen King has a phrase in several of his books..."You have forgotten the face of your father"...I think a variant is applicable to those who yell at newbies and students and inexperienced folk...."You have forgotten what it's like to be a newbie". And I agree w/ Sparky - anyone who takes pleasure at yelling at a newbie is a jerk. And that is my opinion. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hope I'm not too late in adding my ~~~~~VIBES~~~~~ to the list....and adding some serious hugs to the batch as well! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You're awake!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And MORE HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And a moonpie, just in case! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Happy birthday, Amber! Ciels- michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You're right...it's our decision as students. I was shaking in the door more times than I can count...I was so scared on my first try at level III AFF that I didn't get on the plane (there was a tiny poofy cloud about 15 miles away. I was scared of it). Shoot, I was talking to my former JM, who is now my rigger, who told me "we never knew if you'd come back for the next jump. Most people we know - yes or no. You? You always surprised us when you showed up." Skydiving is NOT for everyone. But it is up to the individual to make that decision in most cases. I know that had my JMs made the decision for me, I never would've made it out for the first jump, let alone do 70 more. Jumping has been an amazing and awesome adventure for me. Maybe her amazing and awesome adventure is something else... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

That is most excellent news!!!!!!!! Hug her gently, and tell her I send more hugs and vibes, and will someday see her in person and deliver them! Thanks for keeping us updated, Cajones. And don't forget to take care of yourself, too. Ciels and hugs and vibes and prayers- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Nope. Not even dating anyone. Sigh.... Something else...and yes, I am quite serious... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

If there are any ordained clergy who jump - in Southern CA or near enough to contribute some time, would you please give me a PM? Or if anyone knows one, would they please point them my direction? I'd really, really appreciate it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~