Michele

My eye must be screwy tonight....I couldn't see anything....

Hi, Gale As a not small and petite little floater, and as a woman, I completely sympathize with your dilemma. I am very flexible, and I am not California skinny... On my first release dive, Ed (my jm) lost me. The vid is hysterical. I'm looking around for him, and he is doing everything to catch up to me, and failing miserably. He is nearly head down at one point, totally tracking towards me, and then he gets his feet to his butt and arms way back and up. He never did catch me that jump. The vid guy was in a sit the entire time.... Ed's resolution was not necessarily a larger jumpsuit - although that is a good one (but beware your alti is not covered by the flapping fabric - mine was on one jump, so I dumped really high because I had no idea where I was). The responsibility of your JM is to keep up with you...Ed resolved it by wearing a tight jumpsuit (and catching heat on the dz for it too, LOL...), rolling the legs up to his knees, wearing a weight belt, and stretching hard, both on the ground and in the air. Right now, it's hard enough to fall stable - let your jm's handle keeping up with you. You just fly and handle the level requirements. There will be time during your progression which you will learn the hugging the earth fall rate match (again with Ed - and that was a fun, fun level; level 7), and then during solos and coached jumps you will work on it. Let your jm's handle it, Gale, that's what they do. Been there, done that....:) and when you get down this way, we'll jump - I fall about as fast as you. (BTW, here's a pix that shows my arch: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Dropzone_Members/Personal_Galleries/michele&image=eds_flood_pant.jpg&img=&tt= Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Actually, ]quote]its not whether you win or loose, its how drunk you get. Well, not to be particular, but it's not just "loose" v. "lose", it's "its" v. "it's".... you see, "its" possessive, meaning it owns something, whereas "it's" is a contraction of "it is", which is the correct usage in this instance. Hey, which # does that make 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~

Excellent story telling. Horrible story, but great and entertaining story telling. A note from a newbie (and an airweenie): I have 6 friends who went through AFF while I was making my slow progress - and 4 of the 6 have broken legs. One of the other ones has stopped jumping because of a bad accident which was walked away from, but frightened them into leaving the sport (I think family pressure had something to do with it), sold gear and everything. There is only one of them who has not gotten injured, and continued to jump. Those are really sucky odds.... Most of these folks had decided that this sport was "easy", and took risks without recognizing the risks. They downsized very quickly, under peer pressure, and under personal pressure ("the good jumpers use smaller canopies...I want to be a good jumper...I guess I'll use a smaller canopy..."), without lots of instruction for transition time, and left little time for adjustments under canopy for flying style. One went from a 260 to a 190, wing loading 1:3 or so, by jump 20. Me? I went from a 280, 260, 240 (school gear), 230, 210, back to a 230 (I was off for a while, and figured going back to the 230 was smarter than the 210)...where I will remain until I am "comfortable" under canopy again, and then back to the progression...to a 210, then a 190, and then, in about 100 jumps, a 170. And then, we'll see.....but I miss my friends. I wish they were in the sky with 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~

Most excellent movie. Rent it or catch it on cable. Most excellent! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Herv, Yes, there was indication that he supported Bin Ladin. You're not incorrect in your memories of the incident. Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Arthur, don't talk to him about it this time. If it becomes a serious issue, or something which is repetitive, or which causes him to do really stupid things (like steal a camera or something), then take an action. Just my .02., though. It's your job, your conscience, your decision. Sometimes being the grown-up sucks, and the easy decisions aren't around any more. Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Viking said: Hey, Arthur. I figured that would be a good way to judge any radical deployment wiggles, and so far, it hasn't shown any (and I have never had line twists like that). Although I am not sure about the more minor things, like a dropped shoulder or knee, though. Someone said that I should have been spinning like a helicopter to have that bad of line twists, but I dunno. And not knowing still bothers me. Billy said: nope, just skipping out on the Dr. and trying to play in the sky. You know, Billy, you hit on something important. And this may be what's still getting at me. I did everything I was taught -outward pressure on the risers, bicycle kicking, and nothing would budge the twists until the end. I only know one way to handle them, and I think what else is getting to me is that specifically - I didn't know another way to untwist once it wasn't working like I expected, and that I kept trying the same thing, even when I knew it wasn't working. I am glad to hear that others have cut away from line twists who weren't in a tiny main, and especially glad to hear that Anne also had the same experience...makes me feel less stupid and fit only for bowling. Hopefully, I will be going out again soon - depends on my schedule, though. Should be before I have to get the operation, at least. And yes, the sooner the better. I agree. Thanks for the support, you guys - I am still an "airweenie", and got myself really good and scared yesterday. I am still scared, you know? Sigh. So what else is new? Altitude awareness...man, that was something I never thought I'd have to deal with, because I am so altitude aware during freefall - fixated, even. I just got caught up fighting the problem that I didn't play it safe - and didn't even know it. Ciels and pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Getting back into the flow, after being on the ground with one exception for the last 7 months. I know I am not current, despite getting recurrent last month - I am not in practice...I feel rusty, creaky, and not exactly "ready" for this; nervous, and scared. I practice my touches, deal with the fear, manifest, and climb on board. Knees-in-the-breeze kind of jump, simple: out the door, stable, prct's, hold headings, 360's, nothing adventurous. Simple. Easy. It's time to Skydive!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a load of students, two groups, and three solos - me and two others. We figure out how we are exiting, and that means I sit across from the door. For some reason, when the door opens during the climb (which usually scares me), I peek out and admire the desert floor. Beautiful spring day, blue upon blue skies, and I am not at all freaked by the door being open in front of me. Hey, not bad, I think, and I start to relax. I remember this, and it is wonderful..... We get to altitude. Goggles on, helmet on, I am getting anxious - not scared, not fearful - but I want to get into the air; I want to fly through the sky, and play - I want to skydive.....and now, the first group - out. Group #2, out...first solo, bye bye....and now, me - - 45 degrees, o.k., one, two, three...out...reach, stretch, tumble, laugh, arch..... And here I am, in the morning of the day, DZ below me, big circle; the sky is gentle, easy, kind. I track a bit, but can't remember which way the dz rules say I am supposed to go, so I stop...I go 360 one way, 360 the other way, hold the heading, just playing in the sky, dancing in the sun, flying - soaring like a bird through the warm spring day over the desert floor - and remember why I love this. I look down, and the thought flashing through my mind: this shit'll kill me, I am going really fast...which startles me, because I have never had that during flight ever...so I turn that thought off really fast...but now, I am a bit scared. 5K, find the Sleeping Indian...4.5, and time to to pull, check airspace, all clear, reach with my left arm to the Sleeping Indian, right hand back, tug, ugh, nothing, hand off, replace hand, grasp firmly, and puuuuullll....and bang, pilot chute away, upright, and I get my head back to watch the canopy. I see it, it's blooming above me in a pretty green and purple...line twists...maybe 6, slider tangled, all the way to my risers, but not including them. I am not spinning, my body is still facing the Sleeping Indian mountain, so I haven't lost heading. Spin, shape, float, well the shape's a little weird, more like a hard arch rather than flat-ish, but that's because of the line twists, pulling the corners down, end cells not open yet...I know what to do. I've had line twists before, although not this bad. Yeah, no issue... I reach up, grab the risers, and press outwards. Press harder. Kick like a bicycle. Nothing. WTF? O.K., again. And again, nothing. Grab the risers, and pull...kicking all the while...nothing. Hey, what is with this - Nothing? Not even a little? Not a damned thing...and the thought crosses my mind: time to cut away? Nah, these are stupid line twists...I can handle these. I look really closely, looking for knots, looking for something which is preventing these things from untwisting....nothing I can see. Just twists, nasty, but twists. OK. If I had to land this canopy like this, I could. No steering, no flaring, but I could do this, if I had to. You cut from line twists in, say, a Stilleto 97, but not in a Spectre 230 loaded wayyyyyyyy under 1:1..... Back to the fight, squirming and twisting in the harness like a snake on a hot concrete street, pulling and pulling and pulling....and nothing. More. Cramp in my back. Brief rest. And then more. God damn it...I am very angry at the canopy and a little scared now. Still more...fuck off, canopy, I am gonna win this...there, a little give, a little movement...and there I go, untwisting, flopping like a rag dool, a little dizzy, but now the canopy opens fully, no more end cell closure, good shape, still floating. Handle the slider. Pop the toggles, surge forward. This feels right. Relief pours through my body, making me shake a little. Thank God...the ground looks close, though. Check my altimeter.... 1400. 1400. 1400. WTF? No way. But I have a job to do. Check canopy control, right left flare, look aghast at my altimeter. 1200 now. O.K., time to set up for landing. Big circle, find the spot, remember Captain Stratton's caution that it will be fast, there are no ground winds...so I get ready to PLF, because my legs are still shaking a bit, and here comes the ground, fast like he said......touch down, roll, and back to my feet. Off the field. Canopy to the packer, and asked her to check it out. She says it's all good, lines are even, everything is fine. Must've been my body position...but I was rock steady - that's why I use the Sleeping Indian; to check position and to gauge what's going on when I deploy. No matter. Shit happens. I need to work this through, so I go and talk to Ed. I tell him what happens, and he said "You walked away. Good job. But you made some serious mistakes". He points out that line twists are serious when they are like what I had. He points out that my decision that I could land that canopy in the condition it was in was flat wrong - I could have drifted onto the freeway, into the power lines, and whatever else the wind (what little was there) decided to put into my path...I fully understood that I had royally screwed that decision up. I hadn't thought about it, hadn't considered the potential problems of that decision. I made the wrong choice. Ed, knowing me well, asked me what altitude had I made the decision to not cut away...and I told him I didn't know - I hadn't looked at my alti until I had a good canopy...at 1400... "That was your biggest mistake" Ed, says..."what's your decision altitude?" "2500" says me. "So you blew through your decision altitude - by 1100 feet - fighting a problem that finally cleared, but that may not have cleared, right?" "Yup" (me knows I am getting chewed, and me knows I deserve it). And then he points out something I didn't realize: the shape of the 230, bent down at the ends as bad as it was, was similar to a flare/stall...and that I was likely dropping a lot faster than what I was used to - more like being under a much smaller canopy than the 230.... Ed, being Ed, hugged me and says - I'll bet you never do that again. At your level, if the thought crosses your mind that you need to cut, don't hesitate. Just do it. Don't fight it that long and that far. And never forget to use your alti. And he was totally, undeniably right. 1100 feet under my decision altitude, I look at my altimeter. Fuck me, that was close to fatally stupid. To be honest, at the rate I was going, and because I decided to fight the problem, and because I had made the decision (wrong) to land that canopy, I likely would not have cut away, and been in a really bad situation, has it not cleared...and now, I am scared, really scared. I walk away, wondering if I am just too stupid for this, and should I take up bowling... Winds get really freaky, and keep a tandem up for 30 minutes or so, making the passenger vomiting sick. They get caught on the top of a nasty dust devil and gain altitude... which is a really unnerving sight, to see a canopy rise rather then desend...and then, at about 250 feet, the canopy inverts and collapses....Kai, the tandem master, yanks the toggles down, and the canopy re-inflates...and they land well, and everyone came down without injury...but I thought I was watching two people die. The dust devils are flying, the wind is huge and nasty suddenly, and students are put on hold. I still follow the student rules: if they are on hold, so'm I....and then, by the time the hold is lifted, I have decided I am not jumping again today. If my head is so far up my ass that I didn't look at the altimeter during my canopy ride, I need to stay down and rethink this. I talk to Vinnie (another JM) about this, and he agrees - if I don't feel like jumping, don't jump. I can jump another day. I spend the rest of the evening with Team Symmetry (Lt. Diver, Albatross, and Capt Stratton and the others), just hanging out, watching their tapes, getting hugs and reassurance from good friends. And they are truly good friends. And so I will jump another day. I hurt today, my body is sore and achy, I can't lift my arms, my back cramped badly last night, but it could have been far far worse. I can jump another day. Yeah, the learning curve spike.... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Dunno about different states, but I do know SWA has a plane which is painted like Shamu....737, I believe...and it looks great taking off and landing (I live near the Burbank airport). Cool idea. Ciels and Pinks.... If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Morning... his e-mail from his site is: dropzone@mail.co.za Have a great day! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Wasn't one of the flamers, but sent him an e-mail congratulating him on handling it as efficiently as he did...I keep getting kicked off his site, so, well, that was the only route. 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 haven't had a chance to totally check it through, but you have done a great deal of research, and I very much appreciate itm Lummy....I'll let you know a bit later tonight. Thanks, and I owe you a beer....

AggieDave says Well, yeah, that's what I figured out, afterwards....they confused each other, and made each other mad, so there was this fight, you see, and I had to step in and separate them....But Sygate and ZonAlarm seem to get along really well - they know how to share their crayons, so they can play together..... No, this computer stuff is not intuitive to me. I am far from stupid, but I just don't get this. I am not scared of the thing (although it took several years for me to overcome my "fear" of computers), I just don't get it. Lummy says: My IT guy at the office is great, although he is treated poorly by some of the other offices he handles. He was showing me some stuff one day, and actually thanked me for being interested about it, because he had been cut down by another realtor who badmouthed him, not realizing he was still in the computer room...I know the realtor in question, and she truly is a bytch...but I got to learn something about the technology I can use, and I am interested, and I do need lots of patience... Thanks, guys. I appreciate being able to come here and not get teased about not knowing things like this, and instead get help and get answers. Cheers! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Excellent. I'll try to write out what I am looking for....expect it soon...Thank you!!!! 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 have made one - ONE - jump since October, 2001....and that was last month. I have had a problem with my eye, 2 surgeries, and facing a third....and after the next surgery, I will be out for at least 5 weeks....longer, if he can figure out how (he's been my eye dr. for nearly 15 years, and he hates that I jump. I keep inviting him, but he won't go, so I suspect he'll look for additional ways to keep me grounded...lol...). And we are not sure yet when the surgery will be, either, so I am taking advantage of NOW while NOW is here. You know? Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

because of the recent identity theft, I have been quite concerned about internet security (no, I don't do any on-line shopping, banking, etc...). I installed Norton, MacAfee, Sygate and ZonAlarms. I went over to Hackerwhacker, and ran the thingy there, which showed that I am pretty well secure from that end. But I am still getting lots of alarms, etc. A friend of mine did the same routine to her Mac. But she found some interesting software which organizes the alert logs, identifies the attempts as regular or problematic, and prepares automatic "abuse" e-mail. She loves it. I want that kind of software, too. But I am too much of a computer goof (opposite of geek) to even know how to phrase the search question for Google to return something I can understand. Can anyone help this goof???

hee hee hee hee, oh, happy me... I'm sneaking away and gonna go play on Sunday. Actually, I'm only sneaking away from the Doctor (what he doesn't know won't hurt him). My boss actually looked at me the other day, and told me he could see withdrawal on my face....so I cancelled the open house, and moved a client around, and can take the whole day, and jump!!!!!!!! (now, if only my eye and wallet would cooperate!) I get to go pitch out of a plane all day on Sunday, and then, the best of all, I have a colleague and friend who has decided he can't stand looking at my pictures anymore - he's gonna do a tandem on Sunday morning! Yippee, and yes, I have warned him that he will never be the same, and that he will lose his heart to the sky. I get to jump, jump, me, I get to jump, and fly, and drift through the sunkissed desert air, and see a friend fall in love.....oh, happy me..... Just had to share....

Hi, all. Mostly I try to stay out of these kinds of discussions. But some interesting points have been made, and I'd like to add my thoughts.... Brief Current History: 1917 - Balfour Declaration on November 2 states: “His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. Then, in 1922, the Council of the League of Nations issued a Mandate for Palestine. The Mandate was in favor of the establishment for the Jewish people a homeland in Palestine. It is thought that the mandate was established as a trade of sorts for the help the Jews as a whole gave the British in WW1.... Britain set things going by sending an envoy to the United Nations in motion, formally requesting on April 2, 1947, that the U.N. General Assembly set up the Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP). This committee recommended that the British mandate over Palestine be ended and that the territory be partitioned into two states. Jewish reaction was mixed - some wanted control of all of Palestine; others realized that partition meant hope for their dream of a homeland (they were divided even then, and willing to work towards the peace of the two nations). The Arabs were not at all happy with the UNSCOP plan. In October the Arab League Council (a coalition of Arab states, including Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, etc...) moved troops to the Palestine border. President Truman (and the US) supported the UN plan to establish a homeland of Israel. On November 29, 1947, the partition plan was passed by the U.N. General Assembly. Less than 6 months later, on May 14, 1948, the Provisional Government of Israel declared a new State of Israel. On that same date, President Truman (and the US), recognized the provisional Jewish government as the authority of the Jewish state. Actual recognition was given in January, 1949. On May 15, 1949, on the the first Israeli Independence Day, Arab armies invaded Israel and the first "Arab-Israeli" war began. 750-800,000 of the arab (whatever that really means, you know?) population of Palestine left their homes as the war exploded between the newly created Israel and it's neighboring countries. 4 camps were established in Syria then, and I forget how many established in Lebanon and Jordan. In 1967, the 6-Day War began between Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Israel. At this time more people fled (approximately 335K) from their camps in the West Bank and Gaza, as they were annexed by Israel as a result of the 6-day War. The land loss was unexpected and humiliating to the Syrian, Jordanain and Egyptian governments. The Yom Kippur War (which is also known as the Ramadan War in some circles) in 1973 was brought about by the above referenced governments trying to retake the West Bank, Gaza and the rest of Israel. They were routed dismally, and Sharon was a significant part of that war, as was Arafat (who had been elected Chariman of the PLO in 1968...) PLO's establishment in 1964 preceded the 6 day War, and they came fully onto the scene in 1968, and to total world attention in 1972 at the Munich Olympics (remember that? Not pretty). The PLO Charter, established and recognized in 1968 as the "Mission statement" (to use current colloquialisms) has not been rewritten nor revamped to reflect any change in position or doctrine. In 1974, when Arafat spoke in the UN, he made his famous quote: "I come bearing an Olive branch and a gun. Don't make me drop the Olive branch"....that quote, to me, is the total reflection of the Charter: "we'll make peace if it suits us; the Olive branch is expendable - our guns (warfare) is not". Arafat ain't no good guy.... (I just deleted the rest of the post I had written, because I got lost in the intertwining morass that this whole thing is.) I would suggest that people read the Charter of the PLO - you can find it at http://www.netaxs.com/~iris/plochart.htm It outlines the Palestinian position. The accords which have been reached do not meet the Charter's stated goals, and Arafat, as head of the PLO, refuses to accept anything other than the public ideology stated in the Charter. It speaks directly to the views that commando style raids are an acceptable solution. (More historical data is: it used to be that for each Palestinian who blew himself up, they would only take out 3 or 4 Israeli's. Recent history shows that this has flip-flopped: now, each suicide bomber takes out, on average, 9 people, and wounds in the neighborhood of 20....). That's all for now..... Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

How about INSTEAD OF: You're a fucking moron TRY SAYING Our communication skills need to be re-evaluated...

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

O.k., I'll bite (it's almost dinnertime). Run far, run fast, run screaming down the streets.....that's my vote. Don't bother getting anything from her - she will find a way to make it more.... Yeah, I know, harsh. Do you know family she's close with? Someone you can call and tell that she's in emotional trouble? She needs professional help, not validation from you that she's worth it. She needs counseling, not romance. I am all for romance. I think it's great (and I miss it so much). But this isn't romance, this is, as you so eloquently put it, emotional hostage taking. She needs help - but not from you. She needs attention - but not from you. Let her family know, and then stay out of it. And of course you still love her. but don't go down that street again, it is a dead-ender. (Sorry if I sound harsh, but I really think this is the only avenue to go down...). Ciels and Pinks- Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

HHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHH And yeah, I understand about being tuff and onions and all.....me too, sometimes. Sometimes, I get an onion out and start chopping, just because...

God Speed, blue skies, and prayers for you, David, and your family. Michele If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away... ~enya~

Hi, Billy I work with him (he and I are sharing a listing right now, as a matter of fact), and I think it would make for odd moments at work.... And there is no spark between us, either. Both good reasons, I figure. He's a sweetheart, 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~