Michele

I can only answer for myself, but I have no hesitation about making someone happy. I do have hesitation about making someone sad. And I care a great deal about inducing pain on a child for financial gain. That bothers me, and it has nothing to do with republican or democrat. I'm not sure how much more clear I can be. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Bill, I gotta say, you might've missed it this time..."fuck you, Jew" is far more than the tool comment... Unless you've banned spanky1 and are simply warning Hawkins, and just didn't tell us, which is possible. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hedonistic my happy ass. And I'd make sure that whomever handed the flag to your lady loved you as much as the rest of us...not by some dude who hated you. I'd bonk him and hand it to her myself if I thought that were the case. Look. We all grieve and feel the effects of death in this sport very differently. Some people have anger and rage, some have pure tears, some have disbelief. Some ignore it, pass over it. The one thing I know is that grief is not predictable, and follows no time table. And when it shows up, however that is, it needs to be experienced and passed through to be understood. It's real; it needs it's time and space, and for each of us that time and space is different and will manifest differently. It's all right. However it shows up, it's all right. Shannon's passing affected hundreds of us. You're normal for having grief, and you're normal in your response to it. And know what else? You'd be missed so very much...and not just by the skydiving community. You'd be missed. You're worth far more than anyone here could ever tell you; look into your girls' eyes and find your value there. Look at your wife's smile and know your value there. Dance through the sky and know your value there. And rest easy that we all adore, love, and admire you. So there. Go have a beer...and grieve. My love to you, JP. All my love. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hawkins, I doubt he has a tool, you know? Perhaps that's what his issue is... Wow. Such hatred. Ori, there's this cool feature on your "edit profile" page; it will block any further pm vomitus from this guy. Just put his name on the list, and voila, he can't spew his hatred and insecurity your direction. Easy enough. Ignore drips like this. They're nothing more than the dreks of society, uneducated and paltry excuses for humanity. While he has the freedom of speech, hate speech is not appropriate and should not be tolerated. I suspect this thread is dead at this point - locked, deleted, or at the very least cleaned up. But there will be some who remember "fuck you, Jew..."... Hope you're well, Ori. It's tough going over there for everyone, so keep your head down and your wits about you... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Isn't that link a kick inna pants? I was watching Belinda Carlysle...I wanted to be her. Man, what great memories and drifting down side ways and by-ways of life. Glad you all are enjoying that place! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

It's going to be cooler tomorrow, apparently. Something like - oh, 100 or so. Sigh...well, it's better than 105. At least, Monday we should get to the high 90's. COOLING TREND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

That would so suck. Problem is, I don't have air conditioning, so I rely on fans strategically placed to get the air moving through the house. Doesn't work well when the air is 105, though...just hot air blowing around. All 6 cats are laying bellies to the sky, sprawled out on their backs, in front of the fans. One, Simon, pants like a dog at times...and he is panting now. I've put ice into their water dishes, but it doesn't help... Can't help but laugh when the cats go belly up, though. Too funny. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

It's 5:40 pm...and it's still 105 degrees where I am in the San Fernando Valley. So it might be hot in TX, but it's really hot out here in SoCa. Not to mention the fires burning all over the place (hi, Skydaug...keep them planes in the air, all right?!!) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Um, the name of the webbie is "king of beaver..." I never looked, because the link was sent to me. No, I didn't assume it was a wildlife webbie, but I also never looked...'cause I didn't want to know. Oh dear. There goes my reputation. Sorry about that... (but the music link is cool...) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, Jp, you matter. You matter to many people, not the least of which those you're named Deuce for (the twins)...or your wife...or your friends. You matter. And you're loved. Now go have a beer and contemplate your navel; you've got a midlife thing going on right now...it'll pass. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I have always had difficulty with the PLF the way it's taught. Not that it's wrong - nope, not at all - but because over my life I've ingrained a different way to displace and absorb the energy from an impact. I am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, have dabbled in Karate and Judo, was a competitive figure skater and springboard diver. Most of my training has to do with forward motion - i.e. not falling backwards, rather taking the energy and using it forward (which is the way my body was going mostly). I remember when, during AFF, I was taught how to PLF. I couldn't master it, although the feet/legs were together. So I showed my instructor "my" way, which was a motion roll from Tae Kwon Do. He approved it, and I used it often and regularly. When I switched DZs, and did my first PLF there, I was called over by the school and asked "what the fuck was that?? Don't you know how to PLF?" So I showed them...and they were all right with it. The times I've been seriously injured on landing were the times when I couldn't/didn't PLF - once breaking my tailbone (very, very late flare...like, non-existent), and one day while using rental gear that had bad brakes (again, no flare, even though hands were down all the way...). I suppose what I'm getting at is find a way to fall which is both acceptable (i.e. doesn't break body parts) but also is "natural" for you. If you can't get help from the guys at the DZ (which is the best place to get it...), try a local martial arts training center. 1/2 hour spent with one of the masters/senior students will get you the basics of a roll, but it's up to you to practice and perfect it. I scare people regularly with my PLFs, because they look so weird. But they work very well for me (I can't land very well). Above all, learn how to PLF effectively, instinctively, and without second guessing. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Tell your mom she rocks - and that she's in my prayers. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Stumbled on this link, and have been sitting here, wandering down memory lane, drifting through my misspent youth...listening to all the tunes I listened to 20-25 years ago... Click here but only if you have time to drift. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

O.K., some places for grants: CureAutismNow has a grant for therapy/treatment work. Dunno how much, but some is better than none. Doug Flutie's Organization A quick read through makes it seem you're geographically undesireable, however, there are "Educational" grants are available. It might be worth a try via that avenue (written so that it can be justified; i.e. the boys can't go to school unless they have the dog, et cetera...). The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation seems to offer lower amounts, but also seem interested in helping people and their families affected by ASD. A listing of those who've sent grants to someone/corporation Looks like a great place to comb through and see if there aren't grantors there that you can use. Hope this helps. I'll keep digging around, and seeing what I can come up with. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Soulshine, the dogs cost $13,500 each, so that would be a total of $27,000. Jaye, if I had any spare change, I'd send it to them right off. And if I get some spare change, I will (I haven't jumped since October of last year because of costs...sigh...). I also think that you might be able to get some grants for this, and perhaps your local psychology department at the University can help with that. They might even fund a bit of a study, if you're willing to do that, and take a big bite out of the cost needed. That way, all benefit, inasmuch as more understanding of autism and their relationship to animals could be studied, and perhaps some bigger benefit can be found. Hey, it couldn't hurt to try. Also, if you need some help writing up grant requests, I'll be happy to help however I can. No promises, as I've never done that, but hey, again, it can't hurt to try. Best of luck to you! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I had Passover Seder with him; he didn't look well then, but was still as funny and wry as ever. He will be missed. God Speed, my friend. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Jaye, I noticed on your list you didn't include: National Service Dog located in Canada. It does have a two year wait, however. Autism Service Dogs Of America says that it can take 3 months to place a dog once the application is approved (not sure how long that takes, though.). They are located in Oregon. I'll keep researching, and see what else I can come up with...but I think the Autism Service Dogs might be a good one to check out. Good luck! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Neko is a gorgeous girl - siamese, with those eyes and that coloring. Young, too... Make sure she's fixed, and that she has all her shots because as an outdoor kitty, she needs the help. And give her a scritch under the chin and a "well done, lady mouser!" from me. Congratulations on your new family member! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Not sure of the latest - maybe Ori can clear it up for me; but I've been hearing that Israel is dropping leaflets in Beirut advising civilians to leave the area, and that Iran has gotten involved somehow (I think by harboring the kidnapped soldiers; again, not sure). I am wondering if the Lebanese gave up the one guy in the New York bombing bust *(two weeks ago? 10 days ago? Something like that) knowing what was coming down the pike, and realizing they might need to curry favor with the US (to encourage Israel to use "restraint", as Condi said a bit ago...). And apparently, Iran has offered to harbor the kidnapped soldiers...and now there's some talk about Syria being involved some how. If indeed Iran, Syria and Lebanon have gotten involved, this is going to go very big very quickly...my prayers and thoughts are with all the citizens in the entire region for they are those who will suffer the most. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Cold, thank you very much. Considering we leapt into summer with record breaking heat, yeah, cold is good. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Fun, isn't it? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

The suffering of a child. That's my beef. Not suffering of a child in the normal course of his daily world - we all know kids will cry and have difficulties. But the deliberate inducing of the tears to provide someone with fodder for their political/religious intent bothers me a great deal... That's the point, I think, of this discussion. How far is too far, ethically, to go when taking a shot? How far is too far when creating "art"? Memorializing a person's grief is not a bad thing. Deliberately setting up the circumstances so that a person has grief is a bad thing. The manipulation is what I'm talking about...to further one's personal ends and to gain value (i.e. sales) on a child's pain (deliberately induced) is what I'm talking about. And I think that she went too far. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I think you might've missed the point by a hair. Sorry 'bout that. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Heal fast, Anne, and Marc, I understand about the standing by and being more scared than the patient...it's really hard to watch someone you love get surgery, even minor stuff. Best to you both, as always. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

In a heartbeat, Michael. You know that without doubt. Quade, I understand your points. I don't agree with them, but I understand them. I don't agree with the premise of this particular artist's work - to abuse (and yes, I see it as abuse) a child to acheive a certain look for a shot which makes the artist some money - with the titles of "Grand Old Party" and "Spin." To me, that objective takes it right out of the game...she's abusing children to get her own political commentary over. And that, to me, is the epitome of a selfish, abusive person. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~