Michele

That we shall do, my friend, that we shall do. Let us know what goes on...Migraines are not terribly fun, and it would be great if you knew the cause and were able to handle it, you know? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

She is, Sky my dearheart, she is. You feel her around you, you see her smile in the sunset clouds. You hear her laughter lifting on the wind, and you feel her energy around you. You feel her whisper-soft wings as you dance through the sky, and you touch her each time you step back onto the earth. Your immense love for her - and her immense love for you - lives, glorious, pure, deeptrue and blessed, and that will always be there. She has the strength of the universe now, Sky, and is giving you all you need to move through this. You already are doing your best, Sky. She knows it, and is proud. And we know it, and are proud in turn. Much love to you, my friend, much love to you. Hugs - and smiles - Michele

My dad had it, and for about 5 weeks he was really bad off. And then, he was fine for a little bit (IIRC, something like a month). Then it came back. He doesn't jump, but he can describe a spinning mal very well. I'd say, if you can't get to a flight Dr., and if your Dr. doesn't have a good idea, then you may just wait a bit to see if it comes back, like it did with my Pop. As far as I know, it only did that once to him, but it still concerned him. If you're not feeling 100%, don't jump. The sky will wait, Noelle...it's not going anywhere. Whatever you do decide to do, be safe and have fun! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

0:3:1 See my post Hugs for a complete breakdown...as for the beer, it's the first time getting separated from the group...I felt so lonely there! And I tried to get to the Bombshelter quickly enough to buy beer, but was late, so bought them dinner instead... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Aren't you just so darned proud? It's an amazing thing, this jumping. I mean, throw yourself out of a plane? YES!!!! What it can teach you about how to live life at 1--% commitment is incredible, and how it translates into your ground life is interesting. You rawk, Melodee. I'm thrilled for you. When are you going back up??? YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Heather, you rawk. You're a skydiver, you have faced some amazing challenges in your life, you have overcome them and moved forward. For whatever it's worth, I adore you, am proud of you, and think you're one hell of a great chick. Go get the job, or, if this one doesn't work, find one which will. Life's too short, and joy too rare, to spend time doing something you don't like, and dread. you will be wonderful - you already are wonderful - and I love ya, chickie-pie! ~~~~~Vibes~~~~~ You rawk! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, that's the best news. Really and truly happy for you. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hoping that I have remembered enough from the canopy class to land relatively safely, I pack up my car in the dark with my gear bag (woefully shy of actual gear), and the cardboard box that currently houses my beautiful and friendly canopy (my canopy deserves something much more appropriate than a cardboard box). I leave my house at 6:15, sleep deprived and nervous. Stopping for a Starbucks treat, I get onto the road, driving through the still, quiet morning. Dawn is coming, and I can feel the city around me start to wake up as I make my way down to Perris. Hitting a dense damp wall of fog as I near the DZ, I wonder - will it actually clear? I can't see more than 50 yards around me, and, as I park in the lot and greet Shivas Das, he excitedly announces the fog will lift by 9, and our first load will go shortly thereafter....but I think it will be more like 10:30 am. I am in no hurry though. I know the sky is there, blue above the fog, waiting. It'll be there later, and I will taste the sky again today. I toddle over to Square1, rent my gear, and get back out into the grey morning. I strike up a conversation with a trio that I discover have lurked here, and are from the Ranch - Mary, Howard and Joe. I see Albatross and get a hug from him, and then the trio and I go off and get some coffee, and chat nonstop about jumping. Sitting there, just hanging out, YahooLV comes in, wraps his arms around me, and hugs me tightly. What a great way to start the day! As the gloom begins to lighten, the NY trio and I go back over to manifest, where Jack orients them with the photos. They ask me about a vidiot who might be around for them to bring along on a jump. Quade's working, but Lori seems free, so I suggest her, and point her out to them. I catch up to Lori, and let her know about it too, hoping they can work something out. It's a DZ.com kinda day, it would seem. I know FallnAngel and Landmissle are due, as well, and it can only get better from here! The sun starts to peek out, a glowing transparent ball through the fog. I spot Glen ("Vectorboy"). He and I hug (another great hugger), and we chat. I promise him that I will jump with him today, and although it's been forever since I've had any extended freefall, we start talking about doing a sit. I know I will be all over the sky, so I decide that I want a few jumps in before that, just to refresh myself. The Bytch comes walking up, and we go get breakfast and, as we watch, the entire first load, and the next, slide in on their bottoms. The grass is still very damp from the fog, and I decide that I will not be aiming for the grass today - still not sure about my landing skills, and I'd really rather not add a slide distance attempt to my few adventures at this point. As we sit there, enjoying the sun, this beautiful lady walks up, kinda staring at me. As I sit there feeling odd, she approaches me and asks "Are you Michele from DZ.com?" I jump up and say "Karen!!!" and hug her. (I am getting my quota of hugs today, which is good. I squirrel them away for those days I don't get hugs at all, you see...). Lisa gets going, she's off to Vegas. Karen, and Steve (Landmissle) get squared away over at manifest, and we decide to make a jump. We manifest, and dirt dive a very simple, easy jump - designed especially for me. A linked exit, Karen as front float, me as rear with the count, and Steve latched onto my chest strap. We are to form up in a 3-way star, and then do release/regrips one way around, with me going last. O.K., I can do this. Even if I can't do this, I can try really hard. Well, at least I can fall stable. Oh, they are gonna hate jumping with me. We go over what to do if the exit funnels, and if there's something wrong with gear in the air. I am already sweating, and nervously tie and retie my shoes. There is no wind, but I can handle that - well, sorta - and it doesn't scare me as it has in the past. Gear up, get on the plane, rearrange the exit order, rearrange it again, and then...I feel the plane lift off. We are free. I notice my hands trembling when I check my alti against the others around me. Just a minor, almost imperceptible shake, but still. It's been so long! I go over and over the dive in my head, and shut my eyes and try to imagine it perfectly. It's amazing, being in the sky again. I look out the window, and watch the world retreat - all my problems and difficulties are there - away from me, down below, somewhere else. For now, for this brief time, I am free, away. Green light, jump run, to the door...Karen's out, I'm out, Steve's ready, all set, breathe, out-in-out....free cold wind thump whack I will not go over...my job is to be base, to be stable, so I thrust hips down, relax. Karen comes in quickly, and Steve gets here at about 8K, and keys Karen's release. She goes, backs up. Steve and I regrip. She comes in at the right spot, and now it's Steve's turn to leave and come back...and now, it's 5.8K, no more...5K, turn and track...but I don't track well, more like a dive than a track, and it's very quickly 4K, and I clear airspace really fast and wave off, reach and deploy... There it is, my beautiful canopy. I haven't seen it etched against the bright blue in sooooo long, and I admire it. As I stow the slider, I look past it, and there, ahead of me but really far away, an AFF is deploying...the canopy is blooming, and the jm's are leaving, and what a moment to observe. How excellent! I think, and then look around. There are canopies all over. Like 53 million of them, it seems, and I realize that I haven't been in the air with other canopies for a long time. This will be interesting. I check out my canopy, and get into the approach pattern. I have decided to land parallel to the grass, beside it. I am not ready to try to dodge people standing on the grass, as well as dealing with the slippery green. It's fast, really fast. No wind, nothing...so I of course flare too high and too fast, but smoothly and completely...I feel it lift when I am about 10 feet up and know I will have to ride this out. No releasing toggles, just stay...reach, slide, heels digging into the dirt, and blam onto my bottom. I look around, and there I am, great placement insofar as the actual spot, and think about what I did - too high, a little short, but it's all good nonetheless. I wiggle - it's been a great jump, and I landed safely, and had fun. I am grinning. We debrief, and take a short break. We three decide to do this again, and go manifest. I gear up, and get a gear check from Steve and Karen, and they both comment about my closing pin - it's at an odd angle to them, but they both think it will be fine. But I think about what that could mean (nothing out, mal, reserve ride, uh, no, not today, thank you very much!), and because I'm scared, I go try to find my packer or someone I know knows my stuff. I spot Clint, and ask him to check the pin. It's fine, so we're good to go. I see Emily in the loading area, so we chat for a few minutes. She's got a flashsmile - huge and bright and contagious. We get up fast because we are a light load, and so I can relax a little bit. Green light, door open, air washes in. Wave at Emily as they go out somehow linked together, and then the next group goes, and it's our turn. I am a little faster taking my position this time, and everyone's set, so out-in-out and present reach for Steve's hand on my chest strap but it turns and slides away but Karen has stayed here, and Steve's gone somewhere. Karen and I get grips, and steady ourselves, handling fallrates and balancing with each other. I see Steve coming. He makes it in, and we start the round of release/regrip. Karen goes. And then it's Steve's turn. They are so easy in the air, such small moves, so relaxed and quiet in their bodies. I am still not resting in my column of air today, haven't managed to find that sweet spot, but we are stable, at least. At 6K, I think, it's too close to break-off time for me to release/regrip. When Steve keys me to release, I do...but turn and track away. As I start to track, it occurs to me that break-off was at 5K, not 6, and I wasn't supposed to leave yet...but I can't turn around and come back, no time. Keep tracking. I clear airspace and deploy, far better than before. I look around, and see their canopies open and clear, and now the air is full of others again. This bright rainbow canopy comes zooming at me, and I freeze. Does he see me? Do I shout? Kick my legs? Oh shit, what? And then I realize it's a canopy I know, and he's under control. He knows what he's doing. I look at him, and he's looking right at me as he passes me at about 1800 feet up and about 50 feet in front of me. My heart thuds as I pass through his wake, but it's time to start the pattern, and set up. I do a much better one this time, again not grass but behind it, a little crosswind, and still a bit high, but control it better and then forget to take any steps so bang down onto my knees. As I gather my gear, I think about that landing; what was right and what could I do better, and I am pleased. While not on my feet, and while far from perfect, I am near where I want to be, and much more in control than before the class. YAY for me...kinda. Pat McGowan hollars over "I buzzed Michele!!" and I go over to him and start talking. He mentions that maybe I should have turned to the right, to create distance, avoid him, and I agree. I should have. I didn't because I knew it was him, and because we had eye contact, but I should have...'cause what if it wasn't him? I love learning. This is a lesson I will remember... And now, it's time for last load. We manifest on sunset load, and Glen will be joining us this time. It will be fun to see his face in the air, I think, but it won't be a sit attempt; it will be the same jump but with one more person. He will be rear float, and I am gonna squeeze in the middle. I can do this, thinks me, and this time, I will be first to let go and regrip...into the plane, sardine style. Breathe, relax, practice the jump in my head. It's a long ride to alti, and we get an extra thousand feet. A large group goes, and then it's our turn. Glen and Karen go, I check the spot and I go, Steve's ready, and count and go and Karen is off but Glen has a good grip on me and Steve, so we stay together. We sort out fall rate, and stabalize. Karen comes in, regrips. We are together, all four of us, at 10.5 or so. I look around and I am grinning. I can't tell if they are, because they have full faces on, but they're having fun, you can see the body language. How great to be in the air with three other people, holding hands, joined in a circle in the gloaming, sunrays reaching out, signalling the dwindling day. How special to see faces with me in the air, how inclusive and exclusive an experience this skydiving thing is. Steve keys me to leave and regrip, so I let go, lift my chest, and slide back. And back. And back. They are higher than me now, too. I finally stop about 150 feet away, and think "well, now what? How the fuck am I supposed to get back there?" I think about tracking, but decide not to, because tracking at a group just doesn't seem right - I'll clobber them if I can't stop in time. I see them trying to get on a level with me, and I try to bubble and get back up to them, but no joy. I can cup the earth all I want, but it's not working right now. I turn my back to them, thinking maybe they'll get the message and go on with the jump...but no, they remain in place, watching me. I turn back to them, and wave...I feel forlorn, an air orphan, out here. Like they got to go to the party and I wasn't invited. It's lonely up there when you've been separated from your group. Lonely and scary. I get my arms down and back, trying to move forward, trying, trying, trying, and not accomplishing a damned thing. I am not sure what to do...and then I remember...plan the dive, dive the plan. No-one said that if it screws up, go do your own thing...so at 5K, I turn and track, and pull at 4, just as planned. The canopy opens, and here I am, resting, above the desert, in the twilight. I circle slowly, and see the snowcapped mountains to the north, tinged coral and glowing. Eastward I see the arms of the night, reaching upwards to claim it's time. In the west, I look over the mountains, gauzed with a thin veil of mist, muted and indistinct, and hear the silence of the world. I see the night extending, stealing the warmth and light from the sky, and the melting sun balancing on the rim of the hills. It is peaceful here, in a way incomparable to the ground...no noise except my own breathing, a silent movie in full color, nature at a moment of surrendering day to the night. I am awed; I am witness to a daily cycle in a way few know. I land a little short, and a little farther out than I had planned, but it's o.k., because I have just been given a gift few know - a peace instilled in my heart, a quietness in my mind, and a joy in my soul which is not given to most humans. And I know this peace will be here for me when it gets too much in my world, too much to bear, to handle, to contemplate. A full canopy, a sunset, and peace can always be achieved no matter what else is occurring. I can just shut my eyes, and be there again. How grateful I am for that! And as I come back to the packing area, I realize just how much my canopy fear has been holding me back. I hadn't been able to progress in freefall at all - and actually regress in some areas, because I had been so concerned about the canopy part of the jump. Every time I left the plane, I dreaded opening and thought about that most of the freefall time. I wouldn't take any kind of chances in freefall, because it was enough of a challenge to get landed without hurting myself. And now, as I realize this, I feel that understanding lift me, lighten me, and free me from that fear. I grin. I wiggle. I have challenged that fear, and have made major inroads into it, and will continue to whittle it away until there is nothing left of it to impact me. It has been an amazing day, full of friends, hugs, flight, and peace. Ciels- Michele Photo: Steve(landmissle) me, Karen(fallnAngel) ~~Edit: O.K., we'll try it this way ~~ http://www.perriscam.com/Images4/dsg44969.JPG ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Lisa took off and was able to fly out, despite the most dismal, cold, wet, clammy fog I'd seen in a long time...it cleared in time. Hope you won a ton of $$, Lisa! Great having breakfast with you. Next time, we'll jump (oh, I have so very much to learn....!!!!) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, GQ...let us know, o.k? As did Holly, I've lit a hope candle, and sent a prayer on wings to his angels...and one for you, as well. We're here for you. Many hugs! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

No kidding? Well, he's batting 1000% today, then. There was a long story on the front page of the Daily News about how he plagerized fmr Pres. Clinton's inagural address...too funny...seems his speech writer changed a few words, and called it good! LOL! So, the sales tax increase; the state income tax increase; the plagerism; and last year's sneak attack on the investment property owners (homes or otherwise) regarding tax withholding here really makes me like this guy a whole lot! LOL....typical pol! Sigh. Cora - maybe you shouldn't move here after all! Ciels- Michele Edited to reflect incorrect info! Sorry! ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

If, in fact, she were an amoeba, then yes, perhaps you have a point. Lisa, however, is a world record holder. The only record I have any contention in is the "Chicken Shit" record...LOL!

www.odmp.org Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, Lisa? The last 4 times I was gonna come to Perris and jump with you, you begged off.... Should I take this personally? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

There's a few. O.K., it's not like I had hundreds to choose from. But three stand out most - the one with Hot Tamaly and Lisa on a 5 way, backwards out of the van, ending up in a huge funnel and then me getting stable headdown clutching Nick...that was cool... The jump with Don Ellisor in August. I had a great jump, but what happened in my head was neater; we debriefed and while I kept looking at what went wrong, Don kept redirecting me to what went right. And that technique has become incorporated into my walking life in general. And the Canopy Control Class jump #1, when I saw Clint Clawson come out on the hig alti HnP, swooping at me from above...and the plane with me in the sky...and really pushing myself and a brand new canopy for the very first time, and "getting" that the sack of potatoes which I had been was no more - that I was in control, and I could do this thing! I could fly! I soooooooo want to have more to choose from this year. More epiphanic jumps, more joy with friends jumps, more learning curve jumps - more JUMPS!!! in general. Whhhhhheeeeee, I get to start that tomorrow! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Disappointment sucks I learn friends have feet of clay. But soon I will jump. Dancing in the sky Friends with me, grins all around I will touch the blue. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Good deal! My three tell me to say "told ya! We are wise in the ways of our alien/feline brothers and sisters...for we are one." For me, all I can say is there's nothing better than a cat who cuddles. YAYAYAYAY Jess! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Kewlio! I'm there! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Uh, sure you are. Yep. Uh hunh! (Psssssst....notice how your eyes are kinda shifty in that pix? LOL! ) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Cora! Tomorrow will be fine. So far. This is subject to change without notice, however! As to the magnitude most people feel, some don't feel 4's under their feet, while some feel 3.5's if they're near the epicenter (by near I mean within 2 miles). It also depends on the depth of the quake - that which is shallower will be felt over a larger area, and vice versa. 4's usually feel like a train going by. 5's will get your attention. 6's are without doubt not missed by most, and on from there. 1's, 2's and low 3's are generally not felt, and if felt, not identified as a quake, but like a big truck passing on the street. I was sitting at my desk on a rollerchair when there was a 4.2 about 10 miles N/E from me...the chair lifted, and slid about an inch. That was it. I wasn't even sure it was a quake 'til I checked the site. I thought it might have been one of the kitties whacking against the chair. The cats ignored the whole thing. LOL! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Cora! So CA!!!! Of course! Gawain said: And I have to say, the eye candy is amazing! In regards to your eq question, there are significant shakers somewhere in the state on average about 1 every 10 years. By significant, I mean something which damages things. Most of our quakes are wee small ones, and rarely are felt. Here's the USGS's eq website for CA: http://www.scecdc.scec.org/recenteqs/ You can see that there are lots of wee tiny boxes, and those are generally not even felt. The larger boxes are just about 3-4, and may have been felt, but not usually (unless you were right near the epicenter). Yes, we are in an active fault area. Yes we have shakes. But having been through some major ones, both here and in No CA, I can say it's not too bad. Far better, imho, than a tornado, and far less frequent (the damaging ones, at least!). Of course, they scare the holy crud outta me, but running in circles, screaming "stop" usually helps! LOL!! Let me know if you need any more info - pm me and I'll call you back! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, as in the day after tomorrow. The next weekend, I have to work saturday, and then have a special event thingy to attend... Yes, you must jump both weekends, but if you can choose exactly one day, January 11 should be it! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

And my three are all concerned. But they want to remind you that sometimes, cats go roving, and will come home. Or find another home to live in (that was Charlotte's contribution - she just walked into my house about a year ago...and no one claimed her when I asked...). Many good vibes, and lots of love to you, Mujie! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

HH may not tell, but I took the whole day saturday off, so I will be there! But only on Saturday, though. I have to work Sunday. Karen/FallnAngel, you and me's supposed to go play in the sky! Still on for that? How about you, Lisa? Haven't seen you in ages! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Actually, it means that I can pay rent! LOL...really though, I will be jumping this saturday! Yeah, or maybe a small 2 bed 2 bath condo, something on the order of about 1100 square feet. LOL!!!!! Squeak! I've been busy and working hard at both writing as well as regular work. Sorry! Cora! Whoooot! Great adventure you had on your trip - me is jealous!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~