Michele

Forgive me for poking my nose in here... From my (admittedly quite limited) understanding, ricin is made from castor beans, and is considered "basic" to make. In other words, it's fairly easy to make and distribute, as it is not volatile. Ricin is a nasty nasty poison, but still easy to manufacture. It is more like Al Queda cells to develop and implement the ricin plan independently of a "direct" communique from someone, and we know that the cells have been developed to be independent operations, and maintain the secrecy that way. The whole ricin episode in Britain smacks of AQ and/or independent cell work (such as the Bali incident, and so forth). Saddam H. is more likely to use different CB weapons... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Wow, Mujie! Good job on recognizing and immediately dealing with it as you saw fit...( This is one of those times where I am not sure to say congratulations or damn, I'm sorry...know what I mean?) Glad to hear you know what to do, and pleased that you did it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Taking notes here...Jelly beans, popcorn, photos, mags....Coffee cans (saved two of those today. The way I go through coffee, I should have about a bazillion of them shortly). I don't know any of these folk, so I can't send personal stuff. I can write long letters (like that's news or something), but it won't be about things they know. How about personal items, like shaving stuff, or lotion for chapped hands, or whatever? I need some ideas... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Lisa...thanks for the hint. I suspect you used unbuttered popcorn... Curious - what about things like jelly beans, hard candy, and that stuff? Just pack and send? Clay - O.K., what did I miss here? You re-enlist? Recalled? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Lisa... So, about those cookies. How do you send them so they don't spoil? How do you bake them up or wrap them? Are there better recipes for the cookies, or will any kind do? Just curious...and will make a point to do the same...but dunno how. Thanks! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I was going to come in, and write up all sorts of sympathetic stuff...aw, poor Mark. Drink water! You'll be alright soon.... And then I actually read your message, and all I can really bring myself to say is: EWWWWWWWWWWW. Gee, thanks for sharing.... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I'm here at the office and have just done about 1/2 the work to get the new escrow closed - the other agent is really on the ball. Physical inspection went well, so we're removing the contingency...looking good so far! The day is gorgeous, and I have another new client to take out looking, and actually have managed to keep tomorrow free. Not jumping, though - housecleaning and writing and so forth. It's gonna be a long and tough week coming up, but maybe I'll jump sometime in the next 14 days...but who knows... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I wonder if there would be a way to correlate, if the data were available, how long those jumpers were jumping. If they got the jumps over a short time period, it may demonstrate something; likewise, if they got the jumps over a long period of time, that may demonstrate something as well. Just curious as to the info. I may try to hunt it up later today or tomorrow, and see if there's a dataset that points in one direction or another... Hmmmmmmm..... As a low number/long time jumper, this is an interesting question to me. My .02 is that I am neither more dangerous nor more safe than my routine makes me. And I will say that I have found myself taking additional precautions that others don't - such as, if the person giving me a pin check goes "hm, well, it's prolly o.k.", I go hunt someone who knows my equipment and get a second opinion (Steve? Karen? LOL!), or making sure the conditions are what I want for the jump. I think there is something to be said for my still-very-present fears and apprehensions which is tied directly into the amount of jumps I can manage in a month (or two), and I do know that the first jump of the day is the most difficult for me...and that this will go away if I can ever get more time in the air... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

They have been inflitrating this country for years. I mean, they've become so damned bold, that they're on commercials. I swear, I need to turn myself in for harboring international terrorists - I've got some OrangeGlo under the sink! (OHMIGOD!!!! D'ya think they're glo'ing because they (gulp) have (gasp) nuclear weapons?) Save ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, sneaky...responding to Don's post....well, either sneaky or in really good taste. Welcome, Eagle Eddy. I still fly like an over-stuffed turkey, so look forward to hearing all the advice you're willing to share! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Vibes for you, Luna...you are amazing, and you will get exactly what is right for you! And may this job be it!!!!!!!!!!! Ciels and hugs- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yeah, what she said. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Heya, James. Thanks for the response. I was out of town for a day, so haven't had a chance to respond until now. My JM teased me a lot about the cypres when I had my cutaway. I totally forgot I had one. This is a good thing. I was so worried about the crappy canopy which was throwing me around the sky that I didn't look at my alti until I was under the reserve... But the question really is, I think what are you going to do if the following occurs: your alti breaks, and your batteries go dead on the audible? If you don't know how high you are, you are at risk of pulling either high or low...it has taken me about 50 jumps to learn approximately (and it's very approximate, btw) where I am in the sky - without using my alti. And yes, I've jumped with an alti that was broken. As far as the subconsious dependency, do you use a watch? When you get a new one, and the strap is a little larger, are you more aware of it than you are normally? I know I am...and I have some attention on it. I know it's there, whether I look at it or not. And yes, as much as this is a pretty dumb example, think about how "naked" you feel when you don't wear one. It's all subconscious. It's not like you can't find the time without your watch...but you feel like you're missing it, if you haven't got it on. O.K., it's a really dumb example. What I'm saying is that you might be aware that the audible is there - and right now, that's a distraction you may not want. And there's another one: he's right there, right next to you. You've just been released for the first time. You're flying around on your own. And your JM is about 20 feet away, trying everything he can do to reach you, but he cannot....you're falling too fast.... That happened to me. Had I gotten into trouble, he would not have been able to help me at all. And it wasn't his fault...and it wasn't my fault...it was just what happened. I'd like to mention that if, on an aff level, you are not pulling at pull alti, or in the process of it, you've failed the level and your life is in imminent danger. Why? Because you've lost awareness. Because you're not doing what you should be doing. Because you've NOT PULLED on time. Hard deck is not about pull time...it's about making sure the canopy over your head is the one you're landing... If that comment bothered you, I do apologize. There are opinions on both sides of the fence, and you need to get the directive from your JMs. But I've recently had several experiences with other jumpers that set me on edge about this kind of thing...and people will ask questions until they get the info they want to hear. In most things, poor information won't put you at life or death risk. In this sport, the wrong info will. When someone repeats the question, I get the feeling that they're looking for support, not information. There is a difficulty with folks not wanting to hear what's said in this sport (me included, btw), and that's all I was addressing. If that was in error, again I apologize. Good deal. Assess the additional risk of becoming either consciously dependent or subconsiously dependent, and then talk to your JMs. They're the ones to listen to, in this case. I don't know about racing much, so can't make a good comparision. But did you start racing in a car with all the bells and whistles? Or did you start at the beginning, and learn how to drive the car really well? I am only suggesting that an audible is a bell and whistle thing, and that you may want to wait until you know how to fly before adding to the mix in any way. I don't see it as an added precaution. I see it far more as an unnecessary gadget, fun to have but not necessary...and the several hundred $$ it costs to acquire one may be better spent on learning the fundamentals. Again, it's just my opinion...take it for what it's worth. And again, forgive me if I tweaked you - it wasn't intended that way. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

As far as I can tell, irrespective of your intent to use it, knowing it's there will create a sense of security which you need to develop by your own eyes, which are your FIRST and BEST alti gauge. If you, even subconsciously, rely on a mechanical gadget without having a good and solid basis without it, you are that much more likely to need it rather than develop the first set of skills you will always have with you: your eyes. It's also part of the jump to demonstrate your alti awareness. The JM's need to see you looking, and recognizing, where you are in the air...and this might be less apparent should you create a false reliance on a gadget. Just curious. What will you do if you take one with you, and you hear it go off - and it's set at like 3500? Will you voluntarily sit yourself down? Will you voluntarily take that level over? I think you are being hardheaded. You're not hearing what you want to hear; the responses have been great, and from some instructors. Why are you not taking thier experienced advice? Because it's not something you want to hear? LOL, I do understand that. But for right now, you really should learn how to fly, not play with gadgets. No, I don't have one. No, I don't plan on getting one for a while. And yes, I don't have a lot of jumps. And yes, it's only my opinion. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

And it means, as well, that you, the jumper, say "fuck you" when people question you about taking the canopy control class at 40 jumps...it means being able to stand up to the peer pressure and the idolization of the small canopy jumpers and saying, "someday...and that is NOT today...but someday", and waiting until you can handle it (screw instant gratification). And it also means being inquisitive, and listening to the advice you're given even if you don't want to hear it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Brings to mind the phrase..."commitment? Lemme tell you about commitment!" ROFL...yes, though, you are right. I don't tend to give up...and if a client has something impossible, it's only impossible at the moment. There will come a time where it is possible. We just have to be ready to jump when the door gets opened. She was - and that's what's kewlio...and because she was, I was, too. LOL, lemme earn the cash for it first, o.k.? Then we can spend my money happily (actually, I've already selected it and designed it!). Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, guys. It just feels so damned good to do right by someone that I honestly didn't think I could help...and even told her that. I'm still smiling! And I know she's on cloud 9. And it's such a great little place. All new appliances, clean, fresh carpet, paint, balconies with "views"... perfect for her, and the price was right (cheap, in fact). And as she's been pre-approved, and all that, it really shouldn't be a difficult escrow.

Whhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaahhhhhhhoooooooooooooooo! Yayayayayayayayay for you! Most excellent news! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yay, Ed...and even if you don't see any $$, you are saving others from the same thing because those little jackasses will be prosecuted. You may want to tell the estimate guy to "puff" the damage cost - the higher the $$ amount, the better the chance of it being a felony crime, and not being able to plead out of it. Good job, Ed. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOL, yes, well, the eyes will be connecting...it will be interesting, to say the least. Actually, if he's smart, he will ask if there are any skydivers there, etc...and use that to illustrate his point. We shall see what we shall see....and it will be a kick in the pants! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

(For those of you who made it possible for me to get back onto the relocation referral list, I owe you a jt or beer...take your pick...) Every once in a while, it's a great day. Got a client in from the relocation department about 2 weeks ago - under 200K, Burbank. This is, frankly, not possible. Just simply not doable. Nothing under 200 that has a roof and 4 walls, let alone indoor plumbing. Not in Burbank. I bring her in, interview her, tell her it's not going to happen, but I'll do my best anyway. We look at 2 places, one 450 sq in Burbank for 199k, and one 850 sq ft in the next city over for 169k. Neither will do. Bad areas, lots of drugs and gangs, etc. in the city over, and the 450 violates Burbank building codes - no-one will ever lend on it. Then, whack! onto the market comes a small (636 sq feet, barely legal) condo in Burbank, listed by an out-of-area agent who didn't know the area, and waaaaaaaaaay underpriced it at $155K. I call her at work, tell her take the time, we have to see this now, and so she does. We look, and she wants to make an offer. We hotfoot it back to the office, write an offer, and hope... I get the call from the other agent, we're in multiple offers, and are one of 7, 6 full price (including ours), and one over list. I pull my client away from dinner to tell her this, and inform her we have to work a little bit for this one. She agrees to go as high as $160K, and I write a letter. And man, tried to get all the heartstrings plucked without making it beg. Single woman, safety, conservative, cautious, perfect place, etc...compliment the listing agent on her reputation (I dunno who the hell she is - never heard of her), etc. Tell my client there's no hope, go to Vegas and have fun (she was going for two days). Ring goes the phone, and it's the other agent. We opened escrow at 4 this afternoon. When I called my client, my office mates could hear her shrieking. I was cracking up so hard. She immediately called the relo people, told them I was miraculous, and they've sent me another referral at 6 today. (He's gonna be fun - answered the phone with "whaaaaazzzzzzzzzuuuup?"). (and he's gonna be my rig deal - if I can get him into escrow, I should net enough to get a container...

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And better yet, use that one to compare with - what you did there that you didn't do here, or vice versa... Cidels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Whhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaahhahahahahahahahhaaaaaa.... Ewwwwwwwwwwwww. Man, now I have to go work to get that outta my mind... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

(as shivers run up my spine....) I don't sell. I matchmake. I am a house yenta. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Born in Long Beach, adopted into a family in Burbank at 3 months old...so Burbankian born and bred in my opinion. Live and work in Burbank now... Jump, when I can, at Perris and soon Elsinore... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~