Michele

The first time I ever was in the van, they opened it when I wasn't looking...and it was like the back of the plane fell off or something. yes, Jess, it is scary. You are not alone in your drama! LOL!!! I just hope I can someday figure out the T/O door and not have door drama, or Fritz whacking my bottom, with it... LOL, I've had severe financial poisoning. What's worse, being in So CA and not being able to afford to jump, or being in IL and not having the weather to jump...but being able to afford it...? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Edited for clarity...I am at work...) Bill, it was a serious allegation, inflammatory on its face and deliberately so; and I about fell out of my seat (speaking of seats), when I read that last night. I was angry - and honestly still am upset, but not nearly as much so...but I still think that you should check and cross reference things like that before you post...attention to detail, I guess, is what I am saying. LOL, I could just see you snapping your fingers... I support actions that will reduce bloodshed from anyone, any time, for any reason. I also think that isn't the point. Your constant reference to how much money we spent 30 years ago, 20 years ago, 10 years ago, arming Tom Dick and Harry, but you also don't seem to speak to the attempt at re-purchasing the Stinger Missles, the connections between '93 and 01 (and there are several...) and so forth - is very one sided (and those are only two examples). That is what I am referring to. Instead of addressing questions which are directly asked of you, you bring in something which whacks the US around. No kidding, we've done some bad things. Made some bad choices. Elected some real jokers. But we are not bad. I started researching something about a week ago...and this was simply and solely because of your rhetoric. I appreciate that you've stirred at least me into checking things out one step farther than I had previously. You will not like the fact that it has solidified something in a different way then you intend, but still, thanks for pissing me off and getting me to think about things. As for calling you anti american, I am really tired of reading, over and over, the same examples, rhetoric, and, in my opinion, inflammatory things. It is utterly american to voice your views (mine included, right?). It is polite and respectful to not call names at those who's views differ from yours. As I have been remiss in being polite and respectful (albeit justifiably so due to your inaccurate post), I hereby tender sincere apologies for saying something which, should I have taken the time to phrase more properly, would have read quite differently. (And, PhillyKev, at no time did I say BillV was unamerican...the quote I was refering to is the following from your post above..."...anyone who disagrees with the current administrations policies is unamerican. Would you please define "american" for me?"). Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yesterday I flew Blue skies, smiles, laughter and joy Stay with me today Danced through the spring day With a friend I tasted life Memories live on Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Oh, Chris...I am so sorry to hear of your aunt's passing. Remember, though, she's never farther away than your heart, and lives in your smiles. If you need anything, all you need to do is ask. Many hugs, Chris. And many prayers for you and yours. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOL.... Um, not exactly. It was my first intentional sit. I did one accidently once when I was chipping so badly that I chipped right up into a sit...LOL! Fine. Beer it is. Taking orders now... Totally. I think that's why I was jumping around, grinning...and Glen was soooooo fun to play with. Totally supportive and postivite feedback-ish. Wayyyyyyyy fun. No, I'm not on the dark side...but it's fun to be trying it all out. I have a weird bruise on my thigh from that adventuresome legstrap, though...Sigh...someday, when I manage to get my own gear, that won't be happening as much... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Wow, Richard...I do appreciate all that insight. Quite clarifying and educational. Thanks! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Today is a fun day. Today, I am all about fun, fun, and more fun. My goal is to see how many times I can laugh and smile and screw around...no stress, no angst, no pressure. I have a playdate with the sky... Off to Elsinore I go...driving through the hills of Los Angeles, I notice how green and lush the ground is becoming, dotted with sporadic bursts of the yellows, purples, and silvers of first blooming flowers. It has been rainy recently, and the result of the dreary cold rain is this glorious panoply of colors and green, so much green...trailing away into the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Stuck in traffic, I open the sunroof...and while it's very cold, I look straight up into the blue, that peculiar light blue color which heralds a late winter day. It's waiting for me, that sky, and I will come there, and play, dance, and smile. I make it out to Elsinore, and Glen meets me there. I am ordering a jumpsuit, and wanted the support, so he has gone out of his way to hold my hand on this purchase. And while I know he's bored, he is helpful and considerate, and makes me laugh. While Kama is measuring me, he kindly turns his back as the tape measure is placed in some decidedly "delicate areas"...he looks at the sky, and I know he wants to go there. But he and I are going to Perris to jump. We're trading favors - he's here for me in Elsinore, and I promised him a year ago I'd fly with him, and today I will - at Perris... 11 am, the sky is now screaming at us to come play - play now, but I need to make a few business calls...and borrow Glen's cel phone to do so. And 30 minutes later and two calls later, we are on the road, driving down a twisty road, through a part of my state which I've never seen before, and again I am struck by the simplicity of renewal, of eager flowers and green grass, bravely challenging the winter, pushing back the chill of January and heralding the softness of April. Arriving at Perris, I get gear rented and out to the packing area. I say hi to some folk, and manifest Glen and myself on a load. I will, as promised, try a sit jump today. I have no idea if it'll work, if I'm ready for this, but who cares...I have 7500 feet to recover if I screw that up. At least, that's what I tell myself. Time to go, get geared up, start breathing really badly, and Glen looks at me. "Trying out your La Maz breathing, chickie?" he grins. 'I'll be fine. I'll be fine. I'll be fine" I chant, trying to convince myself and him that I will be. I know that whatever happens in the air, I will be fine...I know where my belly is...it's just the part before that I have trouble with. Mockup, sort out the exit - knees together and rock out gently...and now into the plane, and it's really crowded. Full load. I've got Vinnie to my left and Glen to my right, Fritz across the way. These are all good people...and I shut my eyes and try to breathe normally. Thoughts swirl through my head..."A sit fly? You stupid stupid girl. You can't fly...let alone sit in the air. You are gonna lose it" and so I tell myself to shut up already, and try to shut down my head. I picture myself whacking Airweenie over the head, putting her away...like the weasel game at Chuck E Cheese...thwackbonk every time a stray fear comes rumbling through...whacksmash...and now it's jump run. Lots of people go, and now, as I approach the door, the light goes out. O.K., go around. I hold the bar and sort of lean, trying to see where we are, and can feel the plane turn. My bottom is stuck out behind me, and Fritz whacks it...I turn to look, and he mouths "door", and I can't figure out what he means. I check the light, thinking maybe I missed something, but no, it's still out. The only thing which crosses my mind is Jessica and her skyvan door drama, and then Glen is reaching for the door, and shutting it. "D'oh!" is what passes through my empty head, and I sheepishly grin at Fritz. "Sorry" mouthes me...and now it's green light, and I climb out, and Glen is there, our knees are locked and we're staring at each other and he has the count and out in out and we let go...dropping out of the plane, no effort, just dropping... And I promptly grab glen's shoulders, and he's got his arms out behind him, and we start to spin. He makes a big gesture with his arms, and I realize I'm supposed to not have grabbed him - my arms need to be out and back...so I throw them there, but that only makes the spin worse and I can feel the centrifugal force pulling at us and I tighten my legs on him, hard, muscles bunched and taut...and so are his...and it's not working, we just stop wobbling and spin faster. And I'm laughing, and he's grinning, and he waves Bye and lets go and I flop around, not even as good as flail but simply flop and roll to my belly and stabilize on my column of air, no chipping, no sliding, straight down...and Glen whizzes past me in a sit, and I decide well, I'll try this again...and push my legs forward and immediately backloop...and I'm laughing and this shit is fun and now it's 6 and I shouldn't try this again and then it's delopyment time and I reach, pull and voila there it is, my spectre and out of the corner of my eye I see Glen deploying as he snivels past me a ways off and I crane my head over and watch him, and then I am under a full canopy and I look for him and there he is and his canopy is all good and I look out to the east... And there, in the distance, is the snowcapped mountains, green and lush fields below and around me, and the foothills are ripe with spring. The coolness of the air I dance through touches me, the silver half-moon in the sky winks at me. And there is the balance of the seasons and symbol of balance of the day and night spread for me, just for me, this moment, this breath, simply for me, and I let out a whooooop! And glide through this treasure, this beauty.... And forget to plan out my landing...as I get onto final and go to full flight, I see my landing spot. Water, mud, mud, or water...damnit. Sigh...no hope, it's gonna be yucky. How yucky remains to be seen...and now it's time to flare, and I flare, and manage to bleed off most of the speed and as I touch down I think "oh this is alright" and then I am skidding through the mud and am facedown in it. I scramble to my feet, and clamber out of the mud, laughing hysterically. It's been so long since I've played in the mud that I had forgotten you sink into it...and it's grabbing my shoes, and threatening me with filth, and I get back to something which is supportive and get my canopy out of the mud and into my hands and I trudge back through the mud, sinking and slipping and sliding and cackling with laughter - I've got my arms raised over my head so I don't get the canopy in the mud, but my shoes are being sucked off my feet... out, back, and packed...shoes into water, washed off, feet cold and wet. Time to go again...and this time, Airweenie doesn't show up as badly. Glen is patting my knee, reassuring me, and I am feeling better about all of this but me feet are really really cold...green light, and this time, I have the count...and out in out and my arms are shoved back hard and we almost get there, and I am able to feel one spin start and counter it somehow, but then lose it again, and we are starting to spin, so Glen waves bye again and I am onto my belly at 9. But this is supposed to be a sit-jump, so I figure why not, and thrust my feet in front and backloop...back to belly. Again, feet front and this time get my arms back, and it's like I am in a poolchair - very laid back, and starting to tilt sideways. So I tilt all the way over, back to my belly. O.K., slowly, how do I do this...and try again...and bring my legs around like I was doing the splits although not quite, and as my legs come forward I get my arms moving back - and then sort of rock my hips back behind my legs and I am sitting....not gracefully, not well, and not long...but I am sitting...I start to laugh as I tumble out and onto my belly, and it's close to pulltime, so I try to slow down a little bit...wave off, reach and deploy, and again have the pleasure of seeing Glen about 100 feet away deploying. I watch him as long as I can, and then pop the brakes and start flying back to the DZ...it's kind of long, I've taken a long time in the door, but no problems making it back...just no playing. And as I cruise north through the shimmering day, my canopy keeps trying to turn right. I become aware of this gradually...I've been thinking I'm cross wind or something, but no, I realize my left leg is really high - the leg strap has crept down from my crotch and is about in the middle of my left thigh. My body weight is shifting the canopy. I try to push down my left leg, but that doesn't help very much. And as I consider whether I should drop the toggles and try to adjust the strap, I realize that I would have to lean forward, which means loosening the chest strap and actually leaning forward at 2,000 feet and immediately rule that out and just bring the left toggle slightly lower to counter the tilt... And this time, as I land, cockeyed in the harness, I've at least managed to make it to the student circle...which looks dry. I set up well, and now, flare, smooooooothly and gently, and despite being weird in in the harness I am able to touch down but I can't stand it up and so fall to my knees...and the student circle is dry, all right, but hard as a rock...they haven't plowed it for a while...but it's all good... On my feet, back out to the grass strip, and I meet up with Glen...and I am amped, shaking, exhilarated, thrilled..."I did it" I exclaim, and he laughs..."Didja see it? Did I really do it? Did ya? Did I" I pester him with questions as he grins and nods..."Yes, Michele, you did...for a moment. But that's all it is at first - a moment...Damn, you were going really fast...I was trying to catch you! And how the hell were you trying to get there the last time? That looked painful"...and with his confirmation, I start jumping around, grinning. I did it...not pretty, not well, not long...but it was no accident, and I DID IT!!!! What a fantastic time. What a fantastic day. I haven't felt so stupidly happy in a long time. No pressure, no worries about passing/failing, no worries about coaching and debriefing. No worries, just me in the sky playing with a friend, watching the seasons change in a way few ever see. I am a blessed lady. Indeed I am. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

That's kinda what I observed, but wanted someone who had more than an observation to confirm. Familial ties seem to be greatly stressed, moreso than even in Hollywood.... Thanks, NacMac! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOL, um, Cheney? BTW, when was his tenure there? Just curious... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You'd best be very clear when you're telling people to research me and the word "revenge", BillV. Very clear and very concise. And very, very certain of your claim. "have said just that - look up Michele's post on the subject."... My assistant broker has the opinion of me that I am a liberal democrat. He is about as accurate in that assessment as you are in this assessment of me, and your thought that my opinion is "ridiculous". Leave your opinion of my opinion out of it. I look to the aspects we can discuss...facts, possibilities, and specific topics. I don't range to Pat Robertson (which you agree is a side issue), etc. I could take that as a personal attack, Bill...considering how vehemently anti-american you appear to be and your continual position that everyone is wrong but you and those which dovetail to your particular brand of liberalism...but I shan't. However, if you should ever find where I did say "I want revenge on Iraq for 9/11", then I shall proffer my sincere apologies. Better yet, please post a link to that, so that everyone can see it. And I will write a beautiful note to you, post it on this thread, and wallow in your most generous forgiveness. With the exception of this particular post...I will bet you 5 jumps at Elsinore ($100) that you cannot find it. It doesn't exist. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, all... so it was ordered today...Bev suit, Hot Bod polycotton with extra flaps near the arms...also booties with zips, and some other things I seem to have forgotten in my post jump bliss.... I'll be posting about my day, and the absolute wierd mesurements (here. hold the tape...where? Uh, well, o.k....) and my jumps tomorrow. I am absolutely beat right now. Suffice it to say mud, sitting, and a friend were involved....

Just really curious about middle east culture...does anyone know if the family unit, including aunts/uncles/grandparents etc. is "stronger" than over here? I was just thinking about something, adn was curious about hearing an answer from people who might know - Richard? BillV? Anyone? Espeically if you're middle eastern...I'd love to know first hand. Thanks! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Heya, Boudy... You really think he was that powerful and connected to the top? Honestly? Or do you think he was some little 2-bit player, who got caught and lots of hoorah was done about it? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Godspeed and blue skies... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Sorry, Bill, but it's not gonna happen this morning. I overslept, and have to get out the door to go play in the sky today! Maybe when I come home... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, guys...I do appreciate it. MM, I've seen the link, and considered it, but it isn't going to work for me. Sorry. I have a very "feminine" figure...and Faber, I am not divulging my weight on these forums...and yes, the Spectre is about safety too...LOL! As for the kind of jumps I'm gonna do, I am NOT sure yet. But I'm finding that jeans and turtlenecks aren't reall working well, and the rental j/s's aren't fitting well and are in a small way hindering my learning curve. So it's time to handle this... I'll let you all know what I decide, although it's looking like Bev might be it. I'll talk to a gearstore person before I decide, and also make sure they measure me for it. Thanks, all, I really needed the help, and you guys came through. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

O.K. But it's a little late tonight...maybe in the morning before I go jumping... Actually, I don't. While I am well aware of what he said about the 9/11 things, I was simply trying to determine what type of source you rely on for your information. That's all. In other words, if I then quoted an article from the WP, you would not challenge the source. Perhaps the content, but not the source, right? Just trying to determine the parameters you're using and will accept. Kato Calin has an Institute? LOL...don't even know if those two would be things I would bother reading... Have a good one, Bill... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

My AFF class was me and Ed. Ed did his second jump, and hasn't jumped since. His reason was financial, rather than desire. I wonder how many people have this as the major factor rather than no desire? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

What a funny as heck thread! From the first post, which made me laugh, to the last posts, with the exception of a few too serious minded posts, I was laughing out loud. Thanks for the entertainment. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Uh, you dug up a post from 13 months ago, just to say something mean? Well, huh, I dunno... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I'm not going to discuss Pat Robertson...that is a side issue. And I understand why you used that as an example. That is a very tenuous connection, my friend, and I think what is missing is intention from Pat Robertson to support AQ...and your continual use of it tells me you are willing to believe tenuous connections. OBL supplied lots of spiritual leadership, charismatic mesmeration and financing. He is not the only bad guy...and as to the planning, would you accept a connection between Iraq and someone else high up in AQ? I'm suprised with this, Bill...how about interviews with eyewitnesses (I think they're the same who've been working with the UN...) who've defected making clear that there is something like this? Neither one would be a source reference for me, Bill, and I think you know that. Since you seem to not recognize that, let me make it plain...Rush Limbaugh is not someone I care for, and I am not sure who Ann Coulter is except someone who wrote a pretty inflammatory book, the kind which I don't read. By the way, what source do you have for the Pat Robertson financial support of Taylor knowing Taylor supported AQ? As I don't (nor do most of us) have access to UN intel, nor US intell, please give me more information as to what source you would accept. I appreciate it, Bill... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Any experience with men taking things apart? Plenty. Them being able to get it back together? in working order? Not too much... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Cordura I knew about...I was kinda hoing the whole suit would be reinforced...the way I land, you know? LOL... Inseam grips and fat grips...o.k., I'll look at that. Pocket...o.k., I'll look at that, too. Thanks, Lisa. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Lisa, which options do I want? The only one I know of is booties...what else is there? (Gawd, I'm sooooo dumb about this stuff. I've never even really looked at someone else's suits...)... Thanks, Raefordite! Appreciate the opinions... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOL!!!! Uh, well, that's not something which will do anything for me. I need far more than "slimming". "Disappearing" would be good...slimming would do nothing... Thanks...actually, a good suggestion about options/colors. Will keep it in mind! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~