Michele

Rock on, Snowbird! Congratulations! Ain't the sky grand???!!! 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 Lummy, that's about what it would take - a millionaire who supports my skydiving, so I can do coached jumps all the time, take Jim Slayton's class every day, and rack up about 500 hours in freefall. Then, see, I'll don a wingsuit. Until then, I remain, proudly, Airweenie....! Ceils and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Yes. Yes they are. I promise. Truly. For real. Honestly. (Why are you snickering?)

See, that's just not true. I saw it right away....even with a bad eye... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

My sincere condolences to Brad Foster's family. Blue skies and perfect jumps, Brad - Godspeed... Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Thanks, Jack! Good explanation; even I understood it! And you know what, I also appreciate you taking the time to post such a lengthy and complete discussion of the situation - I know how busy you can get, and your willingness to share this info, "from the horse's mouth", as it were, is just another reason Perris is where I choose to jump. (Well, that and the fact I am too scared to actually jump anywhere else...and you all put up with me...and there are cute guys there...). 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, guys. You all know me, I am about as mechanically inclined as a slug, and I am about as likely to ever try a wingsuit as I am to marry a millionaire... That being said, would someone take the time to explain to me what happened, in say, whuffo terms? I really want to understand, but I am utterly lost. I appreciate it! Ceils and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

I swear, here I am, happily clicking away and still stuck at work, and read the first post... So I click into it. OF COURSE I click into it, in a roomfull of people....my boss included.... I'm expecting some sort of Chomie photoshopped pix of a hairy gorilla, or something, and I see BOOBIES!...as does my colleague, who, being male, now harbors suspicions about me...thankfully I clicked right on out of there, as fast as this mouse could go.....and my boss didn't see it... Moral: while at work, open no attachments..... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

You guys are cool... but Wingi, you're nutz... Believe me, no-one would pay $$ to see me typing away, and, while I have been known to walk around my house nekkid, I don't know that doing such would be any kind of draw...although, come to think of it, I do have a peeper who regularly leaves his handprints on the window, so I may have to rethink this.....(lol...) I found audiogalaxy (thanks, Lisa), and selected 27 songs to download.....this morning, at like 9...when I last checked (about 3) it was still downloading.... (Hey, Lummy, I'm still at work, but if I run into something, I'll let you know....) Thanks, everyone! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

So I can't figure out why I can't get the stupid plug in........... Gack!!!!!!!!!!!!! So lift a pint for me, I guess I'm just locked out.... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Nope, not their fault. Mine. Because I am totally lost when it comes to this stuff. I mean, really - using too many numbers in my password? How stupid is that? (Of course, it has worked for years, but how often did I actually use that particular password for that particular thing???? Once before....years ago) I can get pissed off when a customer service person is not servicing customers - been known to take them apart, as a matter of fact - but this was so not the case. Totally my problems, and totally my not understanding that it isn't majik, and yelling at the computer just won't help... I sent an e-mail to his boss, and let them know I appreciated him and his assistence...I figured it was the least I could do, and might get him the "props" he deserved for talking me through the launch into the mothership...which would not have occurred without help. Because, you see, the machine was right - I am an idiot when it comes to this stuff. Now, anyone have any ideas as to how to get the rest of this stuff working? LOL.....I was gonna pop on this morning, and burn an Eagles and Fleetwood Mac cd, so I could go take a very long drive, but no joy. I'm not even sure where to access the music... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

So, last Friday is my birthday, right? My family, being an excellent kind of one, bought me a totally new computer system. A compaq Presario, all the bells and whistles (cd, dvd, camera, etc...), and an Epson printer. It comes with WIndows XP, and a bunch of other software. I was excited. Well, o.k., so it wasn't a rig or anything, but I haven't ever gotten a top of the line anything ever...at least first hand. I have been using (successfully, btw) my brother's computer which I have had for at least 10 years, and he had for two years before me. Anyway.... Last night, my brother comes over to help me set this up. Which is really good, because I am, as you all know, fairly computer illiterate. but "they" have color coded the back parts to the parts you're supposed to plug into them, so that's all right, he can read the manuals while I get busy: purple to purple, green to green, peach to - where's this supposed to go? And so on.... We break down the old one, and hit the "on" button. It starts lighting up, whirring and buzzing, and I think - cool, it's only 11 p.m., and I can get back to the 'net in a few minutes.... HAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHahahaaaaaaaaa.... Three phone calls and 2 hours later, we are still looking at that stupid screen which repeatedly tells me that my user name, password, and domain are incorrect; I have been kicked off the system numerous times because I have "exceeded my logon attempt allotment" or some such bullshyte. The machine is doing everything but crying; it's whining, withholding access, and generally talking back; I swear, it was saying "I'm sorry, but you are an idiot. We will not allow your idiocy to sully our virgin innards with your clumsy fingered manipulations. Go away, little girl, you bother me". I am very close to doing my imitation of "SMACKDOWN, WWF style" on this thing, and just rehooking my old machine. But of course, when I try that, my dinosaur decides it doesn't like being moved in the least, and refuses to work. F&*K me now... I call the isp 24 hour line for the 4th time, and tell him "I am stupid. It is 1:30 a.m., and I am still trying to get this damned thing working. The mothership is rejecting me." He laughs, and then asks for a case ID number, which I, of course, have not received...so we start (for the 4th time) at the beginning. He starts laughing - telling me that he can see that I have been working to set this up for a while. I ask how he can tell, and he says he can see it on the screen...and can see where my problem is. He then annouces that I am using the wrong password. Well, see, that is patently ridiculous - it is the same password I have been using for years.....but no, it's wrong today. For this moment, at this time, it has decided that it will not use the password I have written down and have been using.... Eric the Tech: No, Michele, you keep adding several numbers to the end of it, so it is not logging you in. Me: No, Eric, I am not. I swear, I am not. Eric: Yes, you are. (laughing now) Me: O.k., who changed the password then? (damn cats, thinks I) Eric: Michele, (admist great bursts of giggles) no-one has changed your password. Me: Yes, someone must've because this is the password I have written down, and it is IT, I tell you. The mothership is laughing at me." We finally get the right password (because, you see, he can't just give it to me; I have to guess it! I'm so not having fun yet)... But, as you can see, I have managed to access the 'net. It was the password. I was wrong - but I still swear the password edited itself..... Now, of course, I have to figure out how to get all the bookmarks and other stuff (including the browser) to come back to my screen...but I have found you all, and here I am, bruised, battered, scarred, but still alive...and now quite frustrated because I want my old puter back...it was easy! Damn mothership...it was just playing with me, I know it. Technology. It's not fun. I am so lost! Ciels and Pinks- M If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

My sincere condolences. And a special heartfelt thanks to all the instructors, who take added risks to give us the beauty and freedom of the skies. 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, Matt! Great to see you here! Congratulations on making it into the air - told you it was amazing! I have absolutely no tips other than to say talk to your instructors, contantly ask them questions, and listen to what they say! Pleased to see you in the sky, Matt! Ceils and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Hey, HH! You da man! Thanks for all you do, and for all the resources under one click! If I had any extra $$, I'd send you some. And when I do, I will! (Still owe you a beer and a jump, should we ever actually meet...

Well, no one ever said I was good at understanding double entendre...LOL...no wonder I never think anyone is interested in me...ROFL.... (note to self....must get out more often, must, must, MUST!!!

That is simply toooooooooooo funny!!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting that! Ceils and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Thanks, Indyz. It is an interesting plot line. Gets a tad complicated, but since when is real life NOT complicated? And I agree with you about Ben Affleck...I think they should have stayed with Ford...he's a great actor, and great eye candy for us women...and I don't like Ben - too "hollywood cute"... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Got the hiccups, ZZ? ROFL.... Deigodiver, you can read this two ways - EVCZZ really really means what he says about practicing the emergency procedures, and staying current, or something else...not sure what... 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, Bill. It starts the book Executive Orders (and it may have ended one, too, but I don't recall that). I just finished that book not two weeks ago, re-reading it with an eye that was decidedly different. The plot deals with an Ebola attack, as well as the plane... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

OMG, I didn't even think about that! I'm gonna go try to change the title. So sorry! Ceils and pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

(I changed the title - I am sorry - I didn't realize people would think of the reflex as the container....) This is a test. This is only a test. Test your clicker finger, and your mouse.... http://www.happyhub.com/network/reflex/ Ciels and pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Hang in, and next week, you'll be fine. Sometimes, for me, the hardest part is getting mentally ready. You had a bunch of things tossed at you when you weren't expecting them - the re-training, the getting ready to jump, and so forth. Woulda thrown me, too...Don't worry about it- you will be posting this time next week with a wonderful story about levels 2, 3, and 4! 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, Reprobate! I'm not your age, but here's my thought: GO FOR IT!!!!! Look, as long as you are in decent health and relative fitness, I see no issues with doing it. And if you have the support of your romantic interest, so much the better. Many people will never, ever taste the joys of flying through the skies, learning the real meaning of the word freedom...you have that chance, TAKE IT AND JUMP! There are some "older" folk on this site ("older" is such a perjorative term I don't like it at all) - why not post this over on the Let's Talk, too? Some people there may be able to tell you more about jumping from their perspective. Congratulations, and rawk on! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Not me, or at least, not yet. I like my "Volvo" canopy (rented Spectre 230) - as it was termed by someone else here. I think it was because I had seen so many injuries, and sat in the hospital with Sinister when he broke his leg badly. It may be also that I am Airweenie, and happy to be known as such. I do know that most, if not all, of the jumpers who went through AFF when I did have been injured, or have left the sport for whatever reason. When I went back last month, after being off for a while, I asked around for these folks - and all but one had been injured. Dunno if it was a too small canopy, or conditions, or whatever, but that's a lot of people hurt. What I can say is that peer pressure is huge in this sport - newbies look to someone who flies a tiny canopy, see them get the accolades, and want to do it too......we want a smaller, faster canopy, want to hook it to impress the spectators (and it is impressive), and want the feeling of not being "new" but "experienced" in the sport. We hang out with experienced jumpers, and "want to be like Mike" - but we're not yet ready for that. I don't mind being new...I do mind someone telling me that I need a smaller canopy, though. I figure there will be plenty of time for me to downsize - later, when I actually udnerstand the dynamics of how this shit works...and am completely in charge of my brain while in the air. You know the old saying - "it's better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, then in the air wishing you were on the ground"? I also say "it's better to be under a huge canopy wishing it were small, than under a small canopy wishing it were huge". Just my .02, from a newbie perspective. Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~