Michele

Hey, Spec. Since you thought you might be wanting to retire early, and then whhooommp comes the offer, it would seem that you might get what you want. I am not sure I believe in coincidences, know what I mean? Do what makes you happy. If working makes you happy, stay working. But find out what you'll be doing if you stay there. Get all the details, get all your information. Then base your decision on that. If retiring makes you happy, then figure out what you really want to do in your "retirement", or choose a second career. Just do what *you* want to do. I can't help but be jealous of your situation, though. I wish I had that choice. Ciel bleu- Michele

Morning, Ben. Thanks for your comments. Interesting how AA took a comment which was directed at Zclubber as referring to him/her. Could it possibly be a -joke- as to, gee, something Zclubb and I discussed on Sunday? When we were jumping together? And learning to pack? And having dinner? Could it be that I was referring to something or someone *other* than AA? Could it *possibly* have nothing to do with AA? Hey, but as the old saying goes, if the shoe fits, wear it.....if he chooses to take my remark, made in jest to a friend, as something denegrating his character, than that's his choice. Don't put that on my doorstep. As to something getting personal, I sent AA a pm several weeks ago. I kept it private, and I will not state my opinion of him in public. I will continue to keep my opinion of him private, even if he continues to take it public as he has. Ben, I appreciate your comments, and your opinion. Have a great day. Ciel bleu- Michele

Hi, Jodi. Unfortunately, despite every effort of my high school french teacher (many years ago), despite being an exchange student to Belgium, despite all of my studying, I cannot speak french at all. And convincing one's parents, especially a father, may be rather tough. My father thinks I should learn to play bridge, stay at home and watch the Lakers and the Detroit Lions at his house when they play. I am so glad you have made it to this site, and are in jumping. You will have the most wonderful experiences. Try bringing your father out for a tandem. He might enjpoy that. ciel bleu- Michele

Hi, Jodi! And it sounds like your two jumps went really well!!! Congratualtions! Let's see if I am right... WHUFFO: what some skydivers call some non-skydivers. Stems from the phrase "what for you jump out of perfectly good airplanes..." what for=whuffo. It is generally used as a derogative, meaning someone who "just doesn't get it". However, it can be used to describe someone who has never jumped, as in I have cool whuffo friends, in which case it is obviously all good. However, if I am incorrect, I am certain that there will be better explanations of the phrase forthcoming...keep in mind that I only have 10 more jumps than you. Ciel bleu- Michele

Yeah, Zclubber, you're such a snob. Phhssstttt....nose in the air, no one capable of being near you, no-one liking you, alienated at the dz. You're turning into a skygod, and you will become a 20 jump wonder if you don't watch out. I mean, really. Which, as I hear, are even worse then untrustworthy, lying pieces of crap. hahahahahahahahaha I crack me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, Andrea! Glad to hear you had a great week - darn it, I can't wait til I can have a week jumping, too.......I'm jealous! ciel bleu- Michele

Justin Thank you, Justin, thank you thank you thank you. Thank you for listening to your instructors. Thank you for knowing your emergency procedures. Thank you for pulling, thank you for jumping, thank you for writing. I had to wipe tears away from my eyes - I am so proud of you. Good for you! ciel bleu- Michele

Gman - yeah, that's him! Cast and all. And the lady behind him is Linda, who works in the Perris school. What he won't say is he is pretty zonked right there - you can tell by the zany smile, and the spacy eyes...(lol - now, don't get offended, Sin). ciels- Michele

Thanks so much for the extra effort!!!!!!!!!!! Those are really cool pix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ciels- Michele

Hey, Snowflake...I hear I missed you when you were at Perris...my loss, too. But please forgive me...SCR? Silly Crew Relative? Stupid Crow Response? Sunset Crash Report? Salmonella Cramps Retaliation? Slide (on the) Crack (in your) Rear? And in regards to the Canopy Control Vid, I am planning on borrowing it, and I fully expect to take the Canopy Control School with Jim Slayton and crew as soon as I have the extra cash. The adventure continues..... Ciel bleu- Michele

Viewus interruptus!!!!!!! I so want to see what all of you look like!!!!!!!! michele

Hi, Lisa. Cool, tandems! I know it will come back. I jus hope its' fangs have been dulled somewhat before it bites me in the ass again. Last thursday was a really difficult one, the worst I have ever had (yeah, all 12 jumps). Worse even than when I jumped after my mal. At least then, someone was in the air with me. And you didn't spoil my mood. I've been smiling all day. Like this :

Aw, shit, Pammi. Sorry to hear that.

Hey, Larissa. Dogs I can't help you with. Dreams I can't help you with. Public transportation I can't help you with (there isn't any to speak of). But private transportation I *can* help you with. Let me know when and where, and I will be happy to pick you up and bring you out to Elsinore. pm me and we'll work it out. ciels- Michele

My pleasure, Dave. I always have some with me, so the next time you turn an ankle flying a 107 handkerchief, just come get some. Oh wait, that's right, you twisted your ankle walking over that horrible, bumpy nasty, mean ground.....did you ever find a hot tub to soak in? And Pyke, I so totally understand!!!!!! Isn't it neat when there's that really awesome jump, and you get that huge lightbulb and fall inlove with the sky all over again? Ciel bleu- Michele

So here I am, sitting on the bleachers, waiting to have the panic hit like it did on Thursday. Waiting for the shakes, the sweaty palms, just waiting. The heat is brutal, the sun beating down on us, I am sweating. But not because of fear. Get ready to jump. I'm waiting. Waiting for the load of bricks to land on my chest, to stop me from breathing. Waiting for the creepies to crawl down my spine. Waiting for the mental images to pop in front of my eyes, of the canopy collapsing, the plane crashing, falling, out of control...waiting. And waiting. In the loading area, talking to people. Waiting. Chatting with them like always, but waiting for the belly to drop. The eyes to cross. The hair to feel too tight. Hummm. And still waiting. Hearing the engines turn over on the plane, feeling the prop blast, climbing the stairs, waiting. Because of course fear will come. It never hasn't. We taxi, and I start to wonder where the fear went? How did I get free of it this time? Where did it go? I am still certain it will come. So I wait. I feel apprehensive, nervous, and I know it will eventually bloom into fear, panic. So I wait. My alti works fine (thanks Sinister69-really appreciate it)...but I am still waiting. At 12,500, still waiting. There goes the rest of the load, out into the sky, there and gone in a blink - and I am still waiting. Slide down the bench, making sure the light is still green, counting the other jumpers out 1,2,3,4,5,...still waiting. Spotting. Hands on the bar, head outside the plane, body following, and I wait. I must make sure I let go with both hands this time. Dropping off into the sky, it occurs to me that I have waited in vain. It didn't come. I am flying around the sky - no-one here, no one in my face giving me signals, and I breathe. Freely and deeply, I breathe. I smell the difference in the air up here, sharper, cleaner, sweeter and bitter at the same time. I turn into the sun, and track. I feel the speed whipping my jumpsuit, distorting my face, twisting the grin on my face. I practice knee controlled turns, speeding around and then bang! stopping. I start to chip, so I relax into my arch, and I look around. I see specks, could they be the tandems? I try to get my arms in front of me, like for rw, and that is the funniest thing I have seen in a while....and I start laughing there, at 7500 feet...I giggle, and I am having so much fun. I reach back, and I pull the chute. I see purple and green, there, square. Reaching out, I test the risers for the first time. I pull on the back risers, although my toggles are just fine. I want to see what it's like....but it's really hard. I pull the toggle, spinning more than once. This actually could be fun - I feel my feet swing out from under me, I am really moving, but this time I can control it, so I stop, and then turn the other way. How fun is that! I line up for an accuracy landing, near the flag in the center of the student circle. I will make it, I am sure of it, but this is the first time under this canopy so I screw up the timing of the flare, that ground is coming up fast, so I stare at it and forget to run under the canopy; instead I just fall to my knees, and then onto my hands. Up and around to the back of the canopy, and I bundle it together, and climb into the truck. Something changed, but I don't know what. I feel the difference, but I don't know what has happened. So I don't think about it hard, because I don't want to find the fear if it has gone for good. It can stay gone. I now understand the concept of "WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ciel bleu- Michele

Steve, Well said. Hear! hear! (And this from a 12 jump wonder....ing if she'll ever get this "gay belly flying" thing right.....) ciel bleu- Michele

Clay, if you had ever seen Clubber land, you wouldn't suggest he swoop anything but a cloud...and that at least 4,500 from agl. (DOH!). Michele

Clay? Remember posting this? ..... How many people do you think read that? How about keeping consistent? This is a public forum, right? And there are whuffos and wannabe's reading this. Isn't that a lot like your comment "non-jumping spectators"? So, if you really must continue with this, how about taking it - uh - "behind the hangar". ciel bleu- Michele

Hey, welcome to the sky, and welcome to the boards. As a very new jumper, I still have no idea what the heck I'm doing, although these boards have taught me immense amounts of technical as well as real-life stuff. And all the rest of what PLF and Freaksis said (especially about the book - invaluable). Best rule of thumb? Stay smart, and ask all the questions. Ask them here, and ask them of your jumpmasters; and if you get different answers from people, trust your jm's. They are in the air (and the plane) with you, they are there for you, that's what you're paying them for, so use them as the best resource. DOn't be concerned that you have asinine questions. Those sometimes are the most important ones. Finding your limits is really fun, but finding them out once you're past them is not fun. It can be painful. And it is scary. I think some of the soreness happens because of adrenaline dump. I am a black belt, but I get more tired and sore from one jump than from a 4 round tournement. There's something about the adrenaline dump that happens in the sky that is unique (this is just my very unscientific opinion - what do I know?) and can cause muscle fatigue and mental fatigue without you ever really knowing it. Take a break between jumps, and really pay close attention to your body. You may be able to take it. I can't, at least not yet (as these guys can tell you, though, for me it is far more a mental thing than a physical thing). Those steering things are called toggles. They are important. They are our friends

In a public forum? Nah, but if you ever catch me drunk enough, well, I'll likely tell you a story or two....... Ciels- Michele

I tried to teach my big brother to fly by pushing him off the roof. He didn't flap hard enough, and broke an arm. We were like 7 and 9. Oh, wait, the stupidest thing *I* have done? Well, hunh....like I'd tell you.....lol (actually, there are so many of them to chose from...) ciel bleu- Michele

Let's see. Two male virgins. Waiting for the right girl. O.K., cool by me. Then there's me. 3 years since I got any (no, I am not robbing the cradle with either of these two, although Arthur is adorable). And now I jump out of planes, and I am starting to understand the hormonal aspect of this sport. There's so much testosterone, so many men falling out of the sky (it's raining men, hallelujia), there's so much aliveness at the dz....no one is walking around bored, disinterested, yawning... And the eye candy....yummy....men with sweat beading up and rolling down their bellies, shirts off, "rippling man muscles" (great phrase, Westcoastchica), watching their undoubtable skills when seeing them squash the air out of their chute, bottoms in the air, lowering themselves down onto the puffy zp material...... Ahem.... And then there's me........sigh.... ciel bleus Michele

11. Hopefully 12 and 13 this sunday. ciels- M

Oh, good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wondering if you were going to go. And I am so pleased you did. YAYAYAYAY for you. ciel bleu- Michele