Michele

I have a letter with family and with my lawyer that remains unopened (except for my lawyer...). It states unequivocably that there are to be no lawsuits if I go in skydiving. I told my family, but thought that it should be in writing, as well, notarized and witnessed. Although someone can sue anyway, it's gonna be hard for them to actually win anything. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Happy birthday! And here's to many more to come! CnP- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Deuce No, I don't have a copy of it. If there is a way to get one, I'd appreciate it.... BillV, I do love jumping. You're right - but the look on my face afterwards comes nothing near how it makes me feel. Quade: As I would prefer to jump all weekend for several weekends in a row. However, the funds and the time are just not available right now. I work at least 6 days a week, on straight commission. The cost, if I jump 3x per day, 2x a weekend, is $249. If I did that two weekends in a row, that's $498. If I did that 3 weekends in a row, that's $737 (not including gas, food, and lodging). Add to that +/- $250 for the canopy class. And then add to that the lost work (as if it matters right now - nothing's happening no matter how hard I work), 6 days of prime work. That is, literally, more than half of my monthly budget. As far as I recall, Lisa's jumped with me 3 times, and we've worked hard on the RW stuff I need to know, and it has made significant differences. You've worked with me one morning on canopy stuff and jumped with me once (I landed both jumps that day on my toes, perfectly, in case you don't recall), and made significant differences. John Brasher (hugs to you, John), sat with me, viking and Lummy for a morning, and did a great impromptu seminar on the ground about canopies. If you're counting the hateful, nasty PM's from parties unnamed about how horrible a jumper I am (but who don't offer any help, even when they're at the dz when I am...), then yes, perhaps there is a consensus. However, as you, John and Lisa are the only ones who've actually jumped with me, and have seen good and bad landings, who're the consensus? You make it sound as if there are 20 people sitting around, scoring me or something. If there is, please let me know. I'd like to bribe them or something.... Look. I am trying to put together a rig, so that I can jump more. Did anyone jump on Viking when he came from a 288 Manta to a 210 in one step? Did anyone tell him to take the canopy class? I am not talking about making a 78 foot jump in canopy size. I am talking about making a 20 foot jump - one single size, which I have jumped previously and landed successfully. As for the canopy control class, I have been told 2 very different things: one, "yes, of course we'll teach you with rental gear", and "no, you must have your own canopy, because we teach you to fly *your* canopy, and it won't be as effective if you switch right after". I can't buy two canopies. I don't know which is right. I'll bet that I can convince them that rental is fine, I need the class to downsize successfully, and I want very much to take the class. Irrespective of that, however, I just can't do it financially right now (gear rental + canopy control class is $314.00...and with nothing in escrow, who knows when my next check is coming? And my original question wasn't about my downsizing, it was an observation about changes in setting up the landing pattern. Thanks to HooknSwoop, I understand something I didn't know before. And because he guuded my hand to the light switch, I can sort of understand what you guys are talking about. But the bottom line remains. I have been informed, as Clay used to say, that "I am a danger to myself", I should not ever get in a plane again til I take the canopy class, and so forth. As if commentary like that helps with confidence. Which, I've been told, has everything to do with landing well. Therefore, I am faced with a dilemma. No matter what I do, stay in the rental canopy or use my own, I still have to land. The only way to not have that occur is to NOT jump in the first place. So, the question is "to jump, or not to jump....." I am very frustrated right now. Very. And for those to whom all aspects of jumping comes easily, treasure that. It is not coming easily for me. Ciels and Pinks- M ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Lisa, Still trying to figure out the work schedule. If I can, I will be there for several days, to gopher and help out as needed. I'll just get a t-shirt with the caption "Gopher" on it.....which days should I shoot for that need the most help? Lemme know. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I'm far too stupid to understand most of these answers. But thanks for trying. At this point, I suspect that my confidence has been eroded enough for me to reconsider skydiving altogether. I wish I had the wherewithal to actually jump more, to take the canopy class more than once, to buy several canopies, and to not have to rent equipment. That's not the way it is. And the way things are going, it's not the way things are gonna be for a long time. Therefore, my option is to keep my feet firmly planted on terra firma. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Good vibes to you, Anne, and I'll send a prayer on your behalf. Get well soon - we miss you here. And Marc misses you there. *****************HEALTH TO YOU****************** Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I don't remember. They tell me it was fun, but I just don't remember. Something about setting someone's pants on fire. No, really, I can't remember . Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

*****[holding my head and muttering "funfunfunfunfunfunfun"]***** Cornholio understood my rambling question, which, upon rereading, is very poorly phrased. Lemme see if I can explain my q this way: (Two notes: the canopy I have been jumping for the last 15 jumps has been the same one, and it has about 350 total jumps on it, with a new brake line set last time. Second, I am simply changing sizes, rather than styles or material. I am sticking with the Spectre, just one single size smaller than what I've been jumping.) In high winds, I know that I will basically have a harder time once I start my final leg getting much forward ground coverage. I basically come pretty quickly down. In no winds, I know that my final leg needs to be started out farther, because I have nothing slowing my forward motion, and so will go long if I start it where I usually do. So I know that each time I jump, I must understand wind strength, as well as direction. Now, if I am in a smaller canopy, I am decending faster than if I was in a larger one. If I am decending faster, doesn't it stand to reason that I will not be able to use past ground markers as accurately as before, because what worked at the point where I used to turn for my final leg will no longer work as accurately as now, because the descent ratio is higher (i.e. faster drop rate)? In other words, if I used to turn at point A, shouldn't I turn a little closer than point A to make it to where I usually land, to compensate for the slightly faster drop rate? Or am I just being really, really dumb? (and no, Quade, I know it won't magically make me a better lander. That will come with experience and the canopy control class. LOL!!!) Thanks, guys, for all the responses. I just wish I understood them. *****[holding head, muttering funfunfunfunfunfunfunfun]***** Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

O.K., so I read as much as possible, and absorb advice as best I can. I understand the importance of low flat turns, etc. that Bill V makes sure is available to us all. I was thinking about the recent downsizing experiences with Viking and, I believe, an injury because of a downsizing experience with Dropdeded (I think it was he...if not, I apologize). Both were unable to make it to the landing area they had planned on - Viking crashed but walked away, and Dropdeded was not able to walk away... I am sure there are a ton of factors, but there is a commonality therein: both didn't estimate accurately something which may have been a "first link". We hear all sorts of good advice - it'll turn faster, practice high, flare up top, etc. whenever someone is going to be under a new/smaller canopy. And I agree - land out rather than turn low. But the question I have is: why does no one speak of the faster decent rate and subsequent need to alter previously successful landing patterns? I mean, obviously, you have less fabric over your head. You will be dropping a bit faster (or a lot faster, depending on the canopy change). But how much of a factor is this when planning your landing and approach? And do people take this into consideration? I am asking because I am gonna try my "new-to-me" canopy next time I jump (whenever that is). It's only one size smaller than I have now, and I have landed the one I jumped last year nicely, but I am still apprehensive and just trying to think it all through. Any thoughts? Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, yes, as a matter of fact I do......it went something like this. Well, there's the airport, I have to turn this thing around (tinks the toggle) ok a little more (tink) a little more (tink) hmmmm, I'm not supposed to cross the runway at less than 500 feet, so now where do I go there are buildings and the school and the pool below me but hey, the plane's already landed and the other one is somewhere else I am just gonna go there anyway "HI DAD!!!!" o.k., Ed, I hear you don't you see my legs waving at you "HI DAAAAAAAAAAAAD" damn he's deaf o,k, o,k, Ed, yeah I'm listening turn right, ok (tink) turn more (tink) turn more (tink) whaddya mean more o.k (tink) ok now there's the flag thing ok now what flare I remember that oh he said not yet ok let them up ok now flare damn this is hard I should start working out again shit there's the ground aaaagggghhhh thunk (PLF sideways) ouch good job both legs are intact but my face is dirty now but that was scary and fun..... My first comment after? "Don't do this with a cardiac condition..." Ceils and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Arlo! My heart was ripped out and stomped on when Laura died, Arlo. I do understand the compelling aspects, the issues that all women (and men) face regarding this. Of course it wasn't. No one is saying is isn't a worthwhile cause, or a stupid thing, or something of that ilk. What was said was simply that if you get it into the right forum, it will be clicked...but there have been many other people who've posted "incorrectly" and had their posts moved. Don't be, Arlo. It is appropriate for this forum, but not for photography, or whereever. Making sure you get an audience is important, but "playing within the rules" is also the best way to be heard on a site such as this. If I posted about Laura's death on photography, they'd all go "hmmmm....", and I likely wouldn't get much in the way of support. If I posted here, however, I would expect to be better received, and more support come my way. It's understandable, again, Arlo, especially since you have been touched by breast cancer. It is important, and I thank you again for getting this clicky thing going. No one said anything about you owing an apology, and frankly, I don't think you actually owe one to anyone. We all get upset. We all cuss and get a little heated. Lord knows I lose it on occasion too. It's part of the human condition - part of being alive. I adore your aliveness, and think you have a lot to contribute (if I didn't, I would not have managed to post what you deleted in the first place! ). I think, though, that the issue was not a relegation or negation of breast cancer and the ability to contribute, but rather the placement of the clicky on many forums (and I do understand your interest and reasons why...). Hang tough, Arlo. You're valued, and your contributions are not going unnoticed. Rawk on, my friend, rawk on! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Arlo. Chill, sweetie. No need to get so upset about it that you take the post away from this forum, too. For all those who're interested in clicking a little pink dot and changing a woman's life, here's what was posted earlier.... Ciels and Pinks- Michele *************** http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites Please go to this website and click on the pink button (yeah, there IS such a thing ;) in the center. Your click, along with others that day, will fund a free mammogram for an underprivileged woman each day. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! IT CAN SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE--your mother, daughter, sister, wife... and please pass this along to everyone you know to do the same. thanks so much...we CAN make a difference! Oh yeah, hope everyone had a great weekend of skydiving (that was the obligatory skydiving mention ;). blue ones, arlo :) -------------------------------- ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Kewlio, Dave. Somehow, I just knew you would! Hi, Arlo.... I appreciate what you did. Laura (who I called "otherMother"), had she detected her breast cancer early enough, might still be alive today, instead of dying a very tough death last summer. And don't stop trying to make a difference, because if you stop, maybe everyone else will. Sometimes, it only takes one single voice to change things, to bring awareness to others which they didn't have before. And most of the time, you will never know who's heard you, and who's listened. They don't always come back and tell you "hey, thanks, you changed a life today". Know that what you do does make a difference, though. I know I never would have found the site without you posting it here. I went there, and clicked. The thread has gotten a number of hits, and I suspect that a number of those went on and clicked, just like me. We'll never know, though, and it really doesn't matter - you made a difference because you clicked, and brought us the opportunity for us to contribute. What Dave was saying, though, in his round about way, is that there is a place for this, which is here, like you did. Because you thought it was a great idea, you got a little enthusiastic about bringing it to us. Thank you for doing that, Arlo. This forum is, if I may speak for the moderators, the correct place, whereas the others may not have been the best choice. Keep lifting your voice, and knowing that, even when you think you're shouting into the wilderness, someone hears you, and you could change a life. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Aggie...yeah, I can understand why you'd be ticked...notice I didn't "link" on those? LOL... And BTW, Arlo is, um, a girl.... Still and all, it's on the correct forum here, I guess...have you clicked the pink button yet? Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Um, because you and BB aren't there to hold my hand? Because I'm scared of the bright yellow stripe, and think it will distract me? Because I haven't had an opportunity to get down there and jump? Because I can't afford the canopy class yet? Any or all of the above, Lummy, and yes, Rhino, you too! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites For those too lazy to c/p.... And do it. It may in fact save a life. And wouldn't that be great? Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

16:0:0 16: number of hours worked between yesterday and today... 0: maybe in a few weeks... 0: maybe next time I'll try my gently used canopy for the first time...beer! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, Luna? RAWK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YA DID GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (o.k., I'll stop yelling now, but I just wanted to make sure you got the message that you did it right, Heather!) Been there, done that. Again, you will be second guessing yourself, questioning it all. But the truth of the matter is that you took the right action, protected yourself, assessed the situation, and made it through it in one piece, and didn't get anything broken. And if you never figure it out totally, then no matter; like RichM said, "shit happens", and sometimes we never know why. When you cut away, if there were unrecoverable line twists, or a line over, or whatever, most of the time it will clear itself by the time it lands. Ultimately, it doesn't matter - what matters is you had a violent malfunction, and you took the proper action. At AFF3, you don't exactly know what you're looking at, and so it is very hard to describe it to your JMs. I mean, you've only had 2 good canopies prior, so unless it's really obvious, like a hole or something like that, you don't know for sure. Oh, and Luna? YOU RAWK! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hmmmmmmm... let's see, Rhino... ************ This month's "Skydiving" has a few letters from people whinning(whining) about Skydiving lowercase "s" - as in football, soccer, pinball... calling people 'idiots' for their phuckups. fuck ups. As a topic sentence, this one is fine. However, the structure of the paragraph should NOT be a single sentence, but rather a continuance of the thought, carried through in at least two additional sentences, rather than fragmentary ideas. I think we ought to say stuff like: " 'he defintly (definitely) fit the Darwin award when he stepped out in front of a moving helicopter'". The use of punctuation (periods, quotation marks, etc.) is very important when writing effectively. "'he was on drugs - what did you expect?'" Please endeavor to use quotation marks appropriately when quoting someone, be it thought or expressed words. I know they can be confusing, but it's not really that difficult if you'd just apply yourself. 'he was trying to impress his gf (girlfriend) with an extra super low swoop.' Try to not use abbreviations when trying to put forth an idea. I do realize that girlfriend has 10 letters, but it's worth the extra eight touches to effectively communicate your thought. "gf" could be misinterpreted as "gif", for example, and why would someone want to impress his "gif" for any conceivable reason? Again, please try to use appropriate quotation marks. Idiots that plow into the ground & and kill or hurt thierself (themselves) ought to get out - one way or another. Well, here we have the first word indicating pluralization (more than one idiot would be idiots, you see), whereas the word "thierself" not only is spelled incorrectly, but it changes the pluralization to a combination of one ("self") and many ("their"), which cannot be accurate unless one suffers from some sort of MPD. Additionally, the use of an ampersand instead of the word "and" demonstrates laziness and lack of clear communication skills. And lastly, the phrase "ought to get out" is fragmentary - get out of what, exactly? The door? The car? The rat race? This use of a fragmentary comment leaves the reader wondering what you specifically mean, and tends to destroy any effectiveness of your writing. *********** No, Rhino, I don't think that "Hooked on Phonics" would work as well with this person. It would seem to me that going back to grammar school may be the answer. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Shhhhhhhh, Lummy, shhhhhhhhhhh. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Congrats to you, Viking! Took you long enough! Hugs! I am tickled for you! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Can you think of another comparison to use? The one you cite is a fairly poor example of "cultural" differences, considering that female genital mutilation is practiced regularly in the Far and Mid East, as well as Africa. It is not a religiously exclusive "tradition" either, but rather practiced in countries which are considered Christian, Islam, Animist, as well as those which are multireligious in base. It is a cultural issue, rather than a religious one, that was implemented many hundreds of years ago. This is also not to say that male circumcision is unheard of; it's just a far more common practice worldwide, and is, in fact, "socially/culturally acceptable" to the majority of the public, including those in subSaharan Africa, Mid and Far East cultures. I have provided a link to the Muslim Woman's League for an interesting read on their position on female circumcision. http://www.mwlusa.org/pub_fgm.html (Gawd, I must be bored tonight. I'm clinically discussing FGM with Bill Von!) Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I generally work on the weekend. Sometimes I can steal away for a day of playing at Perris, but that has to be planned very carefully. Sigh. And despite 10 hours today, not one good result, so no paycheck for a while...which means, unfortunately, no jumps for a while, either. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I have a Curious George Tshirt with that caption on it. CG most certainly does rawk. Nothing to be sorry about! I also have a CG watch (truth be told, I also have most of the original books from my childhood somewhere in the garage.) Um, where can I get that patch? Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Recently, it's been a Beethoven Fugue in D minor, lots of dark and gloomy codas and repeats. Occasionally it's "What a wonderful world" but mostly it's silence..... Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~