Michele

Seems you've shed it totally.....and thanks for the story! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

I had my credit card number lifted sometime between Christmas and 12/26 last year - not the card, the number. This is a credit card I use very rarely. I keep it around for emergencies, because it is a well known issuer, and a high credit limit. I had a zero balance on it. Right after Chrismas, I used it in three places for the first time since July 7, 2001...total purchases and credit requests for $297.43. January 6th, I call the credit card company to confirm the exact amount owed, so I could get a check into the mail for the entire balance. "Your balance is XXXX.XX", which is over the $7,500 limit. What the fuck? Didn't hear that right. Hang up, thinking I had entered a number wrong. Nope, that was correct. Nearly pass out. I pick myself up off the floor, and immediately call customer service, while checking for the card...there it is, in my wallet. I talk to the customer service person, who assures me that the card will be cancelled, that I need to make a police report, and be willing to sign an affidavit. No big deal, in a heartbeat. I call the cops, and they send someone out to take a report... Cut to today, May 15th, 2002.... five and one half months later (109 days but who's counting), I am still without a credit card, and the fraud department has NO active record as to my claim. The records show that no resolution has been made, but the investigation was closed in February! Um, how the fuck can there be no resolution, and yet the investigation was closed....????????????? And why was I not notified that the investigation was closed? But see, customer service has the records. Fraud hasn't been handling this. Customer "no"-service hasn't been handling this. Fraud is a "fraud". My claim has just been sitting around, screwing me up, with no-one paying any attention to this at all... Their records show I have called 17 times (not including today), and the thought expressed from the guy in customer service was "huh. Wonder why that happened"....no shit, Sherlock...I wonder too. Big time. His question? "Michele, we have not received a payment since April. When will you be making one?" I peel myself off the ceiling; wtf is his issue? Hello? Is this thing ON????? I don't owe the damn money, I will not be making a payment, you can kiss my ass! This leads to the discovery that the records show that the charges were reversed on May 6 (the 16th call); however, my account was NOT credited with any accrued interest; late charges and over limit fees are still in force (the amount he was now referring to). My credit records are reflecting an overlimit, and late pays as well, so that is now screwed up, too. Also on May 6th, the credit card was finally cancelled (although I asked for that when I made the intital report in January!), yet no new card was issued despite the request shown in their records that I made... Needless to say, I am NOT a happy camper. In fact, I am very very angry. Quite steamed. Fucking furious, you know? Umpteen apologies later, 109 days later, I am still fighting to get this looked at. Despite the fact that I developed a suspect for them (Daniel Mills, I will come calling!), name and address and telephone number. Despite signing 4 affidavits. Despite 17 calls (hours of my time!!!!!!!!), it took me threatening to call my lawyer (who doesn't exist) and the FTC and Securities and Exchange Commission with a formal complaint to get them to agree to credit my account with the accrued interest, late fees, etc. Took an hour today to get them to issue me a new card (not like I'm going to use it...) AUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! I am beyond frustrated, and can think of nothing else I can do. I am not as unique as I like to think I am - I mean, if it's happened to me, it could happen to anyone. What burns the bippy in this situation is that they finally credited my account with the charges, but NOT THE INTEREST! Nor the late fees. Nor the over-limit fees. Who else has this happened to that didn't realize they still paid out hundreds of dollars in those charges which should have automatically been credited? And the jackass asks me when I will be making that particular payment! Now, who do I call to complain, loudly and vociferiously, as only I can do...any hints? Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Hi, Steve1 Isn't there a spot just below the knee where there are no grippers, and you could take a "flap", fold it over, and run a quick seam to absorb the excess material? Also, possibly right at the ankle would be another spot to make a flap seam. Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

I am at the point where I think it's time to start getting my equipment together. I was thinking today about a jumpsuit...but I don't know anything but student stuff, and what I "borrow" from Square One. I am not freeflying (well, at lesat not intentionally! I occasionally get loopy in the air....

Chase the dream, Lisa. Chase it, catch it, and then pound the hell out of it... You rawk. I know it, we know it, and now everyone else will know it, too. Lemme know how it goes, o.k.? Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Hey, Snow... Yeah, me too. See a quarter on the ground, I gotta pick it up...even if I'm in a really short skirt... But I'm also a sucker for two whole legs, and breathing without assistence, too... Look, the smaller canopy will be there later. Why not just jump the 150 for a few hundred jumps; and then downsize? They won't be taking the smaller canopy away; this will not be your only chance to buy one (and I'll bet it'll be new and shiny then, too!). Patience, it would seem, can be a great factor in remaining in this sport. Just my .02, though. Take it for what it's worth... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

If I knew it was a mal, I would have chopped it....my question was simply about how to recognize one if I ever have it again...the point of the thread was, and remains, I didn't know the difference at that point. Thanks to some of the answers here, I now believe I would know the difference. Enuff said from me. I'm outa here....(and I don't think I'll be asking any more questions here, either). Nice night to all- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

I shall be known hence forward as "Shebelle...." Full Name: Shebelle Airweenie Ciels and Pinkcs- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Hi, Phree... My response was because I am having trouble controlling the words which come from my fingers in response to Alan...oh, I understand his position quite well...no fuzzy points therein. What I am having trouble with is something entirely different. I appreciate your willingness to explain things to me. I suspect that this is a personal issue between me and Alan's writing style. If Alan has any questions, or you do, you both are welcome to pm me. Ciels and Pinks-Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Alan. Well. So, I read that when it was posted, wrote a response, took a second look at both the response and your post, and deleted my response. Then I read your post again. And a fourth time. Was still not getting what you're saying in a way that would allow me respond politely, and nicely. Left the board, and came back. Read the entire thread, and still, Alan, your response manages to hit a nerve with me. So I shall simply thank you for your time in writing it out. I shall also assume that you did not read my apology to you contained in this thread. And that is *all* I am going to say. Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Yup...surgery confirmed this afternoon for June 18, 9:30 a.m.....blech...So it will be my last opportunity to jump for about 6 weeks, or longer. Yes, I am certainly looking forward to that, you betcha.... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Thanks, guys. And Alan, I apologize if I took the phrase "pet peeve" wrong, as in "I am sick of answering this question, why won't people stop asking it, and to hell with them, they're wrong...". I may have come across harsh, and didn't mean to. I have a lot to learn, but sometimes a tone will raise my hackles, and I will defend, or state my thoughts more stridently then intended. Or, to could be that I am having a really bad day, and simply have my head up my ass.... Nac... , would wingloading have anything to do with a snivelly opening? On the 230, I am under 1:1... Thanks, Nac...it spooked me, and only happened the one time...and I still wonder about it. See, there was a person on these boards who did question my cutting away, albeit as in "if she had more experience, she may have been able to correct the problem". I have huge doubts as to my abilities in the air, and don't take this stuff lightly. So while your experience is that people don't get chastized for cutting away, even from a perfectly good canopy, I have a different one, and so does another person who posts here on DZ. Phree... O.K., perhaps I don't understand the paralax lag or whatever....explain please? In AFF, we were taught to count to 6, then look...and if nothing's there, chop immediately. Counting to 6 is something that I regularly do, although I have, with the exception of this jump, never made it to 6...in student gear it was 1 Ouch, and in the Spectre it is 1, 2, 3, 4...hi, Mr. Canopy...this time, it was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, huh, 7, well, look up, it's there, now the center cells.....openopenopenopen.....wow, that took a while..good to go.... This was the only jump I have ever made wherein I was totally aware of being in a feet-down/head up position, not sitting in the harness, just a body position switch from belly to standing...I knew something was there, but it wasn't fully open... I can't swear to anything, as the jump was not video'd, but I do know it took longer than it had previously, and than it did subsequently. Ceils and Pinks- Michdle If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

***I recall an opening I had with the Spectre 230 which, by my estimate (checking alti, allowing for 200 feet to reach and throw) took over 1200 feet to open, and a few feet to check spin, shape, float, and then check alti...I started my opening procedure at 4200, and was under a full canopy at 2800...*** I'm really new in the sport, and this jump was somewhere around #15...too lazy to look it up in the log book. I had been staring at the altimeter since 5K - flying alone, and the first time I had pulled that low (yeah, there is a reason I'm known as Airweenie...). Alan, I have a small problem with your figures.... See alti reading 4200' was staring at it - not a "catch" at 4200... Brain processes image and decision is made, about 1/2 sec = ~90' good enuff for me Alti lag time error/paralax = ~100' if it was off then, it was off at the bottom, too Actual wave off and pull, about 2 sec = ~350' when I say "I started my opening procedure at 4200", I was reaching and pulling and throwing, not waving off...so I figure my estimate of 200 was generous (but that's debatable) Check canopy, get "squared away" and check alti, 5 sec = ~60' I was not checking control, I was Spin, shape, float checking, meaning I had my head back, and was eyeballing it. I don't think it took 5 seconds. Read alti after all of above -2800' coolio 4200 - 2800 = 1400' Total distance covered from reading to reading. right 1400 - 90 = 1310 good enuff for me... 1310 - 100 = 1210 add back because if it was lagging then, it was lagging at the bottom, too 1210 - 350 = 860 add back 1/3 of that (+/- 117) because I didn't wave (see previous note)(and don't bother yelling at me about that - it has since been corrected) 860 - 60 = 800' Distance remaining for actual opening and snivel add about 1/2 of that again, because 5 sec to look up at my canopy is a little long as I was not doing anything but checking the shape/spin/float of the canopy So my math goes a little like this: 4200 - 2800 = 1400' Total distance covered from reading to reading. 1400 - 90 = 1310 1310 - 350+117 = 1077 1077 - 60+30 = 1047 Distance remaining for actual opening and snivel Now, for some reason, you seem to think that I was complaining about the length of time. While it scared me, I had previously been warned that Spectres take a while to open. What I was concerned about was simply "did I miss a streamer that I should ahve cut from", rather than "man, that shitty Spectre took too long to open, and I am bitching about that". I like the Spectre, and will likely be purchasing one. And as I had previously been jumping that particular canopy 4 times, and have since jumped that particular canopy another dozen times, and have NOT had a repeat of that, it was definately something which was unusual, and, to my newbie mind, something to bring up. What I was concerned about was my inexperience, and newbie inability to recognize a mal when I have one. I am sorry that I touched on a pet peeve of yours - however, it is a sincere question, and a concern of mine. Your response ticked me off, because you obviously doubt my ascertation that it was an overly long opening. I talked to several people immediately after this occurance, and even had someone watch me pack it to make sure I was doing o.k., and not inadvertantly doing something wrong. As it had not occured before or since, I can only assume that a) I made an error packing it, b) I was utterly wrong in reading my alti, and c) have managed to correct the error without knowing it. Now, how do I recognize a streamer v. a long opening? Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Um, pardon my stupid question, but what is an SSL? I've seen it mentioned, but haven't a clue as to what it really means... Swooping Spotting League? Simply Super Launch? Silly Single Location? Specatular Spotting Limited? Spotting Sour Loquats? Spitting Stupid Limericks? Anyone? Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

work:work:work......... But maybe next Sunday..... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

I just wanna learn how to fly instead of fall... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Welcome home! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Thank you, Prost...that makes tons of sense...(I have so very much to learn!!!) Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Yeah, the hard deck is the key for me - 2500 still....and had I blown through that, I like to think I would have chopped it (although my last jump I went right through it fighting line twists)... And yes, it felt like forever; I was shouting at it"openopenopen", when it finally did. It was a tease, though.... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Phree brought this up in the Cobalt thread (actually, someone said something, and Phree answered). I recall an opening I had with the Spectre 230 which, by my esitmate (checking alti, allowing for 200 feet to reach and throw) took over 1200 feet to open, and a few feet to check spin, shape, float, and then check alti...I started my opening procedure at 4200, and was under a full canopy at 2800... From what I understand, it was not a streamer, because the center cells opened fine, but the outside ones didn't - it was doing the "I'll open when I want to" dance, but not changing heading, and not "snaking" (I think I know what that means). I call it the budding stage - it's there, and beginning to open, not just totally open yet...I was not too worried that it wouldn't open; I remember looking up at it, and it looked fine, just not fully opening. See, now my question is: did I miss something? Was that, in fact, a streamer that I should have cut from, or was it just a really sllllllllllllllllllloooooooooowwwwwww opening? Anyone? Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

This is something I plan on doing ASAP - I adore Clint, and Jim is really way cool, too...Jess, let me know when you plan on it, and maybe we can go through it together.... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

That's it, exactly. There is - there can be - NOTHING - but the jump. There is no room for anything else - your mind is absorbed in the task, and the newness - the experience, the dance, the joy, the freedom, the exhilaration, the sweetness of being alive - all floods in, invades, challenges and supercedes the rest of the daily morass, the barrage of "regular" life - and for those moments, for that brief, sweet and oh-so-short time, you are exactly, perfectly you... Ain't it grand!

Just remember, this is Skybytch's child..... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

And a very happy sky birthday to you, WB...!!!!!!!!! [off-key singing] and many more![/off-key singing] Ciels and pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Good job, Skyrose! I packed for lots of volunteers before I had enough confidence to jump my own packjob...thanks, Ed, Darryl, and of course Mark....that was my best opening (simply because it opened), second only to that pretty blue reserve... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~