Michele

O.K., so it's Perris....rather than Paris. Geesh, and I was hoping someone would fly me to Paris....base from the Eiffel! Yeah - me, a Spectre, and 38 jumps! Whoooooooohoooooooooooooo! LOL! 'Kay, so what time, which day, where are we meeting, etc. And wear the dz.com t-shirt! And please, please please don't make me do another 5way headdown!

Done, BB. Man, this has been a tough year for that kind of horrendous occurance. Ciels and Pinks- Michele

Prayer was sent when I heard about the bodies...their souls are free. My thoughts and prayers stay with their families, as they are with the young girl back east who was kidnapped after her parents were murdered on Thursday. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

What makes me unique? I'm me.

Hmmmmmm.... Methinks if she reads and writes well enough to watch tv, drive a car, go grocery shopping, clothes shopping, and whatnot, then she can read and write well enough to handle skydiving as a tandem...with no additional assistence via an interpreter from the dz itself. If I am not greatly mistaken, she also receives $$ from her state for a permanent disability...which, again if I am not mistaken (and I could be) is to assist in providing for "uncommon" needs, like an interpreter. And lastly, if 16 of them were willing to pay an extra $25, then the cost of the interpreter ($400) would have been covered, and at very little cost per person. But perhaps that's a tad too personally responsible and reasonable? Furthermore, I see many people who are not fluent in english do a tandem...from many diverse national and ethnic backgrounds. They are not requiring a translator, and all seem to make it through the tandem training without a problem. Lastly, she went tandem (as best I can figure) three times. She "survived" it three times, and obviously had a good time or she wouldn't have come back. How inferior was her training? Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, Zennie... I think it's possible. What I think happens is that the debt remains, there is no ability to make new charges, thus running the bills sky high and leaving you (because your name is on it) responsible for it. You just pay off the outstanding balance, with no opportunity to create a new one. And also make sure you have an agreement in writing with Liz about who is responsible about which bill...and that your lawyer is aware of it. Call the cc co's, and ask them. Just let them know the situation, and find out their avenues for dealing with it. And start establishing cc's in your own name, too. Here's hoping you heal rapidly, and find yourself whole, happy and free of residual crap. We are here if you need us, and lots of us have gone through it. You're not alone, Ted. Ciels and pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Oh, my. Icarus insists on marketing things which are simply too small for me.... Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Just curious - skydiving tends to get bad media. What is "good media"? How do you define it? How would you like to see skydiving portrayed? Not trying to poke at anyone, honestly. Just simply curious as to what people think is "good media"... Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

OMG....that was hysterical...poor poodle... Ciels and Pinks- Michele

You know who has a kewlio version of that? Phil Collins... Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hmmmmmm..... What I want in a man, in no particular order 1. Someone who doesn't expect me to be perfect. I'll return the favor. 2. Patience. With himself, with me, and with life. 3. My best friend, someone who I can be all of my sides with, and not have to hide something from. 4. Someone who'll cook if I'm tired after work - or at least order the pizza. 5. A jumper'd be best, but at least someone who doesn't cringe when I say "I gotta go visit the sky today!" and doesn't think I'm emasculating him. 6. Someone I don't have to support (and someone who doesn't have to support me, either). 7. Someone who can be gentle, rough, teasing, demanding and giving in bed (or on the sofa, or the kitchen, or shower....and no micro-millisecond man, thank you very much!). 8. Aged 30-50, who can kill spiders.... 9. Someone who does not think that my cats are "emergency food supplies" or a "chicken substitute". 10. Someone who treats me like a woman without being a chauvinist. (And yes, I will always have male friends...and not be sleeping with them.) Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

"Be quicker to compliment than you are to criticize" and "Pay it forward" Ciels and pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Me too. From AFF level 2....who knew the next jump would be worse? http://dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=21268;search_string=search_string;#21268//dropzone.co And still learning to use the link things.... Ciels and Pinks ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Karen Commute time may change if you take the 4/10, because you'd be altering your travel time, and *may* miss traffic on either side of the rush...just something to keep in mind. I think having a 4 day week would be a good thing. And if it's only for 6 months, then, even if it sux, you know it's ending on XX day, and you change it then (right?) Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Wow...excellent call and response! Kudos to the freeflyer! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Viking, you really need to find a way to market those. You could/should be able to get them sold...let me check w/ Pop...maybe he knows a print agent or something (is that how it works, even? I haven't a clue). But you really should be getting that stuff out there. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Jack G. and I decided that we should put up a post as a joint effort, addressing the situation at hand... Jack says: ==================== Michele and I have had a chance to chat on the phone. I think both of us feel that there has been a lot of miscommunication and that we need (and want) to clear that up, not just between us, but here, as well. I think we both feel like we did not fully understand the situation and each other's feelings in this. Michele is hearing things from ESPN, and I am hearing things; and we are hearing different things. Doesn't matter what they were, just that they were different (in some cases, very different). I think both of us also regret airing this in public. While it may have given us a chance to examine some issues and to learn more about each other, it probably wasn't the most productive way we could have done it. The bottom line is, Michele had a great story to tell and she did a fine job doing it. She and the 2 instructors did a great job of presenting skydiving and the story and, if it isn't ruined in post production, it should be a good one. I was pleased to have been able to assist Michele in making this happen. We both feel that ESPN got a great story, and a hell of a deal on producing it. We are both anxiously awaiting the broadcast date and hope that all of you will join us in watching it and tipping a few cold ones. I personally think we should to that in the Perris bar, but I think I may be a little prejudiced about that. Wherever you are, please enjoy it with us. - Jack Gramley General Manager Perris Valley Skydiving ==================== I say: ==================== Hi, everyone. Well, great conversation with Jack - seems that there was some significant miscommunication going on. Add stress to that, and you get flaring tempers and harsh words. I tend to write from my feelings, and I am a very direct kind of person. Should anyone have even thought that I didn't appreciate what Jack and PV did for me, I do apologize (although until our phone call, I didn't *know* all of what PV did). I got defensive, Jack got defensive, the rest of you got defensive, and voila....grab the nomex panties. Which is why I picked up the phone and called Jack. He was his typical genial and outgoing self, and we worked it through. While this "production" stuff is something Jack is used to, I am in no way a professional "actor", or "interviewee" or whatever. Everyone else involved knew what they were doing and what to expect, but I had no clue. I was overwhelmed from the start, terrified, under significant pressure, and, in some cases, getting flamed pretty hard. All I wanted to do was tell my story, and make it a beneficial thing for the sport, and avoid making it into another horror story. Let us simply say that this has been a great learning experience, and, unlike many learning experiences in jumping, one that we can all easily walk away from...and still be friends. I look forward to coming out to Perris and having beer with everyone, watching the tape and laughing at me! ==================

Yup...which, as I have said, I told them to do way before I gave them the vids...and which they are doing, I might add.... Ciels and pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Right, if there were video at no extra charge, but was included in the price paid for the jumps. Because it's not necessary (like 2 jm's on level 1, etc), and is an extra charge, which I paid for, and he/they would not have had the job had I not paid for it, then I suspect that I was the "employer" at that point. No matter, Bonny, unless you're a lawyer and want to prosecute me for copyright infringement...as always, you have one opinion, and are welcome to it, and I have another. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Congratulations! Wishes for many happy years to them!!!! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Pammi! That has just got to be the most annoying thing! Several things to try - they helped when I had chicken pox (at 28!). All "home remedies"...good for itching ailments, including p.ivy, p.oak, and so forth. 1. Oatmeal baths. They're nasty, but they do help the sting and itch. Aveeno I think is the brand out here, but there is soap and lotion etc. to use. 2. Vinegar on a cotton ball - will neutralize the itchies. 3. Calamine lotion (again, neutralizes the itchies). 4. An aloe vera lotion. 5. O.K., this works, too. Dunno why, either. Regular tea bags, soaked, and then placed on the rashes. 6. Air - don't wear pantyhose, or pretty much anything else (hmmm... on the affected area. As to "does it spread", I haven't got the foggiest notion. Hope this helps! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Jack. There sure has been a lot of speculation floating on this thread about copyright laws, who owns what, etc. I sent you this in a pm, but I also thought I'd post it up here, just so we could move from the realm of opinion, and into the realm of "law"...here is what I found: US Code, Title 17, Chapter 2, Section (a) and (b) (a) Initial Ownership. - Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work. The authors of a joint work are coowners of copyright in the work. (b) Works Made for Hire. - In the case of a work made for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared is considered the author for purposes of this title, and, unless the parties have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by them, owns all of the rights comprised in the copyright. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/201.html (emphasis added is mine). (head's up, opinion coming now)...'twould seem that in this specific case, I am the person "for whom the work was prepared", and, as there was a cost involved, also could be considered "the employer", as there would have been no "job" had I not paid for them to come along on the ride - and not just a jump ticket, either (which, again, imho, is NOT remuneration for the video work - just the ability to get into the air). Now, if video came with every jump, I would suspect that the video would be owned by the school, who is the employer of the videographer. Just some thoughts. I didn't read the entire Chapter 17 (would've put me right to sleep, I think), but this is the pertinent section, as far as I could find. Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Good JOB!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY for you, A12! Now the fun begins....and the learning! Ceils and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I also had no intention of using it ever for public viewing... Yup, I think he did, as well...but again, that is something I had (and continue to) talked to the production folks about - and did it from the first moment they asked me about video. I am not looking to screw anyone about anything...matter of fact, they had names of some of the camera guys *before* Jack even knew about the vids.... Right on, Jack! They said they'd send me a copy of it when it's done, and I'll buy the first 2 pitchers! Party in the Bombshelter - time to laugh at me! (Something I do with frequency, let me add...I am the goofyest thing I know!).... Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

That's what I had thought. As it was not done with "public" airing in mind, the original intent was simply for training (as a visual learner, I learn best by seeing things...which is why I spent the $75 each time for a vid). Had it originally been done with the intent to sell it, or publicize it, then the intent is something else altogether. Let's look at it from a different perspective. All those photos which are on this site - posted by the "hey, that's me and so-and-so doing a something-or-other", if what Jack says is true (and I am not a lawyer, and have no clue what the law says...and he could be totally right), then each and every one of those are violating the copyright laws - unless it was the videographer him/herself posting that pix. Is that true? And since no releases were signed, is it a violation of everyone to have their faces shown on such a public forum, too? All sorts of things start to come into play...and since I don't have the vid's to watch, I can't be sure, but is there a copyright stamp anywhere on them, indicating that it belongs to the photographer and not to the employer (in this case, me?) I know that Paul Quade puts the little "c" in a circle on his stuff...but is it on the vid's I have? I dunno; it's something I'll check out when I get them back. Further, I find it pretty concerning that people are assuming that I didn't talk to the production company about making sure credit gets to the photographer(s) (which was done, as well as ways to get in touch with them, if they choose to use any of it at all - and done prior to the conversation in the "crew" room). If the contention is "I filmed it, therefore it is mine", Joe owns the footage from ESPN. If the response to that question is, "well, he was hired for the footage, paid for his time, and the footage is ESPN's", then the same can be said about the wonderful guys who jumped with me: I hired them to perform a service, I would suspect that their W2's or 1099's show income from vid services - which, if I am not greatly mistaken, makes them professionals, and, as the employer, whatever vid came from it belongs to me. (Caveat: I am NOT a lawyer!!! I said that already, but it bears repeating, I think. This is just my OPINION, of which I am full of). Keely, I appreciate your comments, and if I neglected to say THANKS to PVSD, then I am indeed remiss - and hereby rectify it: THANKS PERRIS VALLEY SKYDIVING! But it might also be mentioned here that I didn't say "THANKS" to anyone.....which may point out a character flaw I have... OTOH, I was and am still disappointed for several reasons. And as was pointed out by another poster, I felt really stuck in the middle. The way I write is from my recollections, and if something bad has happened, I include that, too...because everything is not always nice, and not always perfect and skipping down the garden path. I am a direct person, and do not lie. What people read in my posts are specifically my own opinion, and can draw the conclusions they like - be they good, bad or indifferent. Look, some people may/may not like that I did this. Some people may feel that I have done damage to the sport. Some people may indeed feel that they have been taken advantage of. Some people may regret helping me, some people may regret volunteering their time and efforts. As stated in the original post, I am ambivalent about the whole thing. There were good parts, there were bad parts, and there were fun parts, too. Just like in any skydive, there are things that were wonderful, and things which I will not do again; things I learned, and things that occurred which were not planned. We have all walked away from it, so at this point, lessons learned, and it's time to move on. How about we all wait until the editing is done, and the final copy is done and aired, before we start saying PV got screwed? I don't think that's the case. But we'll see, you know? As always, this is simply my opinion. It may not agree with yours. That's kewlio by me. Hope all who're jumping have great jumps, and all those that are not have great times this weekend, too! Ciels and Pinks- Michele