Michele

I agree wholeheartedly, SmoothAl. But can we include those people who were attacked in the pentagon, too? (I know you didn't mean to un-include them, which is why I am...with a sad

Shark, My deepest sympathies. I am sorry you are going through this. Kelly, please, keep the faith, and hang on. This is a rough time, and you will make it through. Thank you for being there for everyone who needed it today, and all the todays to come. Marc, Please, please know that you are in our hearts, and that you will be joined in spirit on your trip north tomorrow. It will be not be easy. And you will not be alone. Ciels and prayers- Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hon, Happy hour here is on Wednesday....our time. Thursday morning, your time (I think...) Stay safe, Omri Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

I just drove to the hospital, and walked in. You can donate at most local hospitals. Also, check your White Pages for the local Red Cross blood center, and just walk in. I believe they will be open late today, tomorrow, and likely Thursday. Please go donate. It will save a life. No doubt. "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Thank you, Viking. I will be there in your heart, holding your other hand. You will indeed save a life. Please, everyone, go donate. "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Snowflake..... I can't begin to understand how you must feel, but please, you are a valuable member of this community. Please, reconsider. I don't give a flying fuck what color your skin is - and neither do most people on these boards. We will be losing a member of these boards because of some absolutely uncalled for comment. Pleasse don't let him win, and please don't make the rest of us lose. If you don't know, there is a little click button on the bottom of each post. The farthest right button is "notify moderator". I found the post you are referring to obnoxious, and reported it to the moderator. Please take the same action, and then stay around.... "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

I'm scared. Perhaps that's pretty selfish, and perhaps that's american arrogance. But I am truly frightened. Which is what the terrorists wanted. And I am scared that this isn't over. Military, political and financial targets were hit, thousands killed (first reports at least 10,500 dead. THat's going to change.) DZBone is still here in CA, and he's o.k. His wife, and their families are o.k. as well. Will the rest of the east coasters who post, regularly or not, please let us know you are o.k.? And will our military folks do the same (when possible), like Wingnut, and so forth? This is horrifying. They have called into NY Port several aircraft carriers, ostensibly to protect the carriers and bring them in from the Atlantic. I can't get my mind and heart around this. On right now from Khabul, Afghanistan:"Taliban criticizes attack, says Bin Ladin is not responsible. Afghantistan is a poor country, and could not be involved in such a complex attack. Bin Ladin believed to be in Afghanistan, but not involved". Can anyone confirm the rumor that there are several additional planes still unaccounted for, and that a fifth plane landed in Cincinnati and/or Chicago? "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Please go donate blood. It is not fun, it hurts, it makes some people nauseous. So what? You're still able to donate. Call: 888-Blood-888 800-GIVE LIFE Look it up in your local yellow pages (Red Cross). Or, if you can, log onto www.redcross.org (I think) Call your local hospital, and ask for their direction as to where to give blood. I just came home from doing it, and there are hundreds of places you can do it. Please please please do it, even if it makes you ill. God bless the people involved, killed, injured, and witnesses. And god bless all of us. With prayer- Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Brandon (and Lew) Could you take it private? This is a post about Carl's cut away, not about you, your opinions, or LewMonst. and her opinions. If you are having a problem, let it out in pm (uh, remember? It works pretty effectively!!!). It's not that I don't want to read about your opinions, it is more that I want to know about DZ and how he's doing, and to muck up this particular post with the beginning of a flame war really seems inappropriate. Thanks, I really appreciate it. Ciels- Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Nsky (I shortened it....) If you want to read first jump stories, try clicking out to the "list" page (the page which lists all the posts - it's where you clicked into this message). On the top, there is a bar which is titled "search". Run a search for "some first jump stories", and you should get a good bit of reading for your evening's pleasure. Let us know how your first jump goes - it will be the most amazing thing you will ever experience.....but don't eat the grass......dirt is better; it's softer for the most part, and dirt gets brushed off, whereas grass stains stay......hey, whatever, just land safely! (And Phree? Thanks

Hey, Phatcat Not like I understand this or anything......hahahahahahaha On the day of my mal, the first time I tried to get into the air, we got put on wind hold as we were approaching jumprun. I was thrilled, angry, relieved, and pissed off at the wind. Thrilled because I didn't have to make the decision. Angry because I had to make the decision to get in the plane again. Relieved because I didn't have to make the decision just yet. And pissed off at the wind because I had to go through all this again. And then the mal. Yeah, that was a fun day! But you know, everything worked out. I made it out, I made it down, and I made it back into the air. I so understand, Josh. And I know you will be able to get out the door next weekend. You are a skydiver. This is what skydivers do: they get out the goddamned door. Go to it, Josh, and get out the door. Ciels- Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Dear Sky I sit here, my mind wanders, adrift in the clear blue memories of you. I crave the feeling I get when I am with you, in you, held by you. The freedom, the joy, the intensity, the miracle that I know waits for me outside the airplane door. It is not mine to possess, but to experience, to most fleetingly know, and I cannot know you again 'til sometime later. But I know you wait. Patiently, you will wait, until I am able to get to you again. I walk, eyes turned to the deep blue depths, on this earth I love but want to be free of - even for a short moment. I want those moments, stolen like some secret lover, thieved and cherished, hidden away in my heart. I remember our shared seconds, to recall them as I fall to sleep, recall them as I am surrounded by four walls, a roof and a incessently ringing telephone, recall them as I am tied, bound and struggling, to my desk piled with files. I stick my hand out of my sunroof, just to touch the hem of your garments....to touch you, to be part of you, to know you are waiting, waiting, waiting. As I, too, wait. Waiting to shed the confines of the ground, the demands on my time and my heart. Waiting to rid myself of clumsiness, of weight and decorum. To fling away from me, for a time at least, the pressures and chores of daily life. So I wait. Ach, the air I breathe here on the ground is not the same. It is sour, tired, breathed by many, touched by thousands. It is foul, bracken, stale like the water in a drying creek bed, tarnished like a rose gone to hips, still on it's stem. The air I breathe when I jump is bright, sharp, tasting sweet and pure. The occasional scent wafting upward is easily named - it is, indeed, the sky! The air I jump into is soft, sensual, gentle, holding and touching me, cradling me in it's depth, touching me with the newfound grace that is the sky. When I am flying, it is as if there had been a blindfold removed, and I am allowed to see how life really is - electric, exciting, more defined. And there is nothing I can do but wait. Wait. To fly freely, chasing the sun, following my shadow, dancing through the daylight haze, this is my torment and my dream. To cruise, gently, easily, through the sky, meeting birds, seeing them as no-one else sees them - these images float past my eyes, in the depth of the sky, in the depth of my mind. To touch a cloud, then, two miles in the sky, this is not for common man, and yet I do this.....and am I not common? Am I not the same as others? And how different I am, because I touch the sky. I know you wait. I will be there as fast as I can, because I know you wait. "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Excellent, Arthur! I am pleased (and more than a little jealous - I didn't get to jump!) for you - both for the jumps and for the sales. Things have a tendency to handle themselves, as you are beginning to see. It is important that you have time to yourself, especially right now. It is also important to balance rw with "rw" . Glad it balanced. Give your mom a hug, and tell Grandpa I said hi....... ciels- Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Cloud9 Good for you. Nothing like celebrating your life in the manner which brings such utter joy, is there? That's what's so spectacular about this sport for me - it's like everytime I get into the sky, it's my birthday, and I'm not even getting a year older! lol.....

Morning, Cloud9 Happy Birthday, a day late.....If I were there, I'd have baked you a cake to celebrate. And here's wishing many, many more, all celebrated in the sky, in flight, with a smile!!!!!

Arthur, I think you're handling the difficulties life has put your way admirably well. I also understand a bit better because you and I have had long conversations. It is hard for someone else to understand without knowing you the way I do. I think that once Cloud9 reads your last two posts, he will understand a bit better. And I also think he gave great advice: do it with a smile (you will, I know you well enough to know that you will). Know that someday, you will have different choices, and that right now, you have a job as a son and a grandson that most people have not experienced. You will make it through, and you will be able to get the time to yourself that you want. Until then, make the best of it, smile (you do have a great smile), hug your mom and hug your grandpa. Know that the pain will change, lessen and fade, and you will have new challenges to meet. And if you practice meeting them with a smile, it does go easier (remember freefall and smiling in the air?). Ciel bleu-and hang in, sweetie. You'll make it through. Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Brandon Been there, done that......will do almost anytihng to not do that again..... but for some weird reason, I thought you were a teacher or studying to be a teacher.....my bad, I guess. ciels- Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

I was watching t.v. late last night, and I discovered the little known fact that there are over 11,000 sexual injuries reported per year. (what can I say, it was like 1:30 a.m. I don't even remember the show I watched that on.....). "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Speedy... [DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a lawyer. Every state has it's own laws. This is not meant as legal advice] You might want to check into the renter's rights in your area. Most local gubmint agencies have some rules/regs with which you may be able to prevent these surprise inspections. My experience in evicting a tenant for my mother was interesting. Even though there was a legally binding contract, with a "no pets without written approval" clause, the tenants had a pit bull. She was a sweet dog; however, there was no written approval (which I would hve given, but the point is....) After consultation w/ my lawyer, he told me I could not base the eviction on this violation, because they had had the dog there for a while, and it had been assumed that this granted permission, or was "tacit approval" as provided for in the lease. Because they could say that I knew it was there (I didn't, but they could say it), but never made any statement against the dog, it could be construed that I gave my permission because I did not tell them to get rid of the dog. Another thing which may be important (perhaps more so than the pet approval thing) is that here in CA there must be a 24 hour notice given as to any inspection of a tenant's home/apartment. Only in a bona fide (and documented) emergency (pipes bursting, fire, police warrant, etc.) may a landlord enter the premises without the 24 hour notification. This is based in the tenant's right of privacy. This is a very important renter's right, or else the landlord can come traipsing through when you are not there, look through your things, and generally create tons of problems for you if they happen to not like you. I would also check to see if the landlord may be, or has already, sold the property. The new owners may be the ones insisting upon certain things. Also find out if they can give you anything shorter than a 30 day period in which to move, and under what circumstances (i.e. non payment, mutual termination, etc....there should be something in your lease as to these parameters). I suppose what I am getting at is something may not be as it seems here, and that you should have an avenue to protect yourself (the renter's rights group) to which you can go to see if there is anything you can do. I know that in some states there is even a law requiring the landlord to pay your moving expenses if it is simply a case of breaking the lease so they can get higher rent for the apartment in rent controlled areas.....as in some parts of CA (told you this is a renter friendly state! lol).... Hope this helps. If not, I have no other ideas. Sorry. ciels- Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

You are so right, Lara.... No clothes needed. As a matter of fact, probably shouldn't wear any!!!!!!!!!! Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

[whispering]....I'm shy......[/whispering] "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

I am NOT fantasizing....NOT, NOT, NOT.........(Scrubbing an intense mental pix from my head)....NOT, NOT, NOT.......(it's not working....it's still there....) NOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOT........(I wonder if I should write a story about this....Nah, would make me late for work.....) AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! sigh. I almost don't remember what it's like. "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Dove. Glad to see your mobility is increasing! roflmao..... Well, yes, those too, but I have to tell you, there's something about a hot, sweaty man, arms and legs entwined, skin, touching, hands tangled in hair, that those devices just cannot replicate..... damn...... sigh. "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~

Hey, Rob Yes, Leticia is still coaching at SD.U., along with Ulie. Dennis is still around, just not as the head instructor (I'm not sure if he is instructing, though). I don't know who Ziggy is, but the girls (Blue, Catherine, Keeley and whatsername again) as well as Frank are still there. They are really excellent. Yeah, a great group of folks at Perris.

Well, I can't beat anyone in the "I haven't jumped catagory".... I can sure as hell beat you nonvirgins in the "I haven't been jumped" catagory. Let's just say, far too long (more than months)......I swear I'm gonna explode!!! (whimper) Michele "What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky". ~e e cummings~