NWFlyer

Be friendly, be honest about your skill level, be open to trying new things, and I think you'll be very welcome. The key is to understand that not every jump is going to be appropriate for your skill level (so if you ask to get on a 10-way with 30 jumps, don't be surprised if I say "No" but offer to do a 2-or 3-way with you later, or to connect you with a smaller group). If I'm doing team training, don't be surprised if I barely have a moment during the jump day to even say hi because I'm on 20 minute calls with my team and debriefing/dirt diving in between jumps. So be aware of those dynamics as well. Folks who are training tend to be very focused during the training day and because of that are not (on that day) open to jumping with others, but may very well be willing to jump with you on another day. The key is to get to know people in the down times (weather holds, etc.) and during the off-hours, so then you already have a rapport during the jump day. Also, ZHills has great load organizers who will put together fun jumps for people of all skill levels. I was told before my first visit to ZHills that I would probably have to beat off the load organizers with a stick ... and it's true. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yes, but if you've hung around that DZ that becomes your local/home DZ during your student days, people have a chance to get to know you during the time between loads, the time watching winds and other weather, the time after hours when you're hanging out at the bar, etc. etc. etc. You get to know folks that will then be looking forward to jumping with you when you get your A license (or even after you finish AFF and are cleared for solo & coach jumps). It's the time when you're not in the air that helps you to start to build those bonds. Just being there over and over again makes you a familiar face at the DZ. Just being there means you can strike up the random conversations that build friendships. If you're not there for the student time, then yeah, you're just another random noob that showed up with 26 jumps. But if you are, then you're the guy they remember from hanging out telling "no shit there I was stories." For me, it's the students that I see at the dropzone regularly and get to know that I'm most likely to invite to do a fun jump once they get their license. Why? Because I got to know them during their student days, so they're a familiar face to me. It's not that I'm deliberately being rude to someone who comes in from another DZ - far from it - but I just don't know them yet. I got my A license up in Washington State... in the fall and winter. By the time I was licensed, I'd spent so many weather days on the DZ couch watching Fandango that I had plenty of folks willing to jump with me because they knew me by that point. None of this is to take anything away from Skydive the Farm - I like the DZ and have a lot of friends there and have no doubt you'd have a positive student experience there. Just trying to help you understand why becoming a familiar face at your local DZ can be a real advantage. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

The rafting company will be providing drybags for most of our gear but those will only be accessible in camp each night; I want something that I can have available outside my gear. And the point & shoot camera I do have is kind of a piece of crap, so I wouldn't mind having something better. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I've got mad skillz, man. You're just trying to hold me back. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I just booked a Grand Canyon rafting trip for this summer. Planning to bring my GoPro, of course, for video and action shots on the river, but I'd also like to get a waterproof compact digital camera so that I can take non-wide-angle shots, and be able to do better framed shots while I'm hiking, in camp, etc. Would prefer to stay under $200 so that I won't be too pissed off if I lose the thing. Anyone have any cameras they'd highly recommend? Tried CNet reviews but searching for waterproof only came up with one camera that wasn't reviewed. I don't necessarily need something that I can take scuba diving with me, but it should be able to handle splashes and maybe even being dropped in the water without getting fried. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Now I want to go edit that CYPRES entry ... just for shits and giggles. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

What was wrong with the old Cyprus? Was it that pesky dispute between the Turks and Greeks? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Why's that? I've only had one rigger use a seal similar to the type pictured in the OP - he assured me that it was legal (though I didn't validate myself, I didn't have any reason to doubt him either). Not my regular rigger, though, so he's only repacked me once - but during that six-month cycle I never had anyone question it when getting a gear check at a new DZ. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I dunno. I've seen Remi and Karen together... I think they're doing something right (and have been for quite a while). (And now I've done my annual "Be nice to Remi day" so I can go back to abusing him). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Your hockey gear? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

The answer is "It depends." When you're still a student, or freshly A-licensed, a few months can be more difficult. It's one of the reasons that currency recommendations from USPA will vary by your experience level. http://www.uspa.org/SIM/Read/Section5/tabid/168/Default.aspx#970 As a newer jumper, more than a few weeks would start the nerves back up again. Once I had a couple hundred jumps, 2-3 months off wasn't a huge deal nerves/skill-wise. I just came back after 5 1/2 months off because of an injury/weather (though I did have some wind tunnel time in there) and though I wondered how I'd feel back in the air, it was really no big thing at all. But that's partly because I have almost 800 jumps and did a ton of jumping last year, so I was very current. So if your busy time is early next year (as I would guess based on the CPAs I know), hopefully by then you'll at least have your A license, maybe even a higher license, and can take a bit of time off without too much of a hiccup. Being near the tunnel is nice, too, because it's a lot easier to squeeze tunnel time into a tight schedule (as they operate more hours and aren't weather-dependent), so you can do that to keep yourself from getting too rusty. Very reasonable price including rental. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Last time I saw Chuck I got four beers in and called it before "trying to keep up" seemed like a good idea. But at least I had a good excuse for missing dinner with my team "Yeah, I was all set to come back into town to meet you guys but I started drinking beer with Chuck Blue." Knowing nods all around. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Chuck Blue didn't eff your life. Chuck Blue ruint your life. Get it right, noob. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I know couples where each has kept their name. I know couples who have both hyphenated both names. I know couples where the wife has hyphenated her name and his name. I know couples where the wife has taken the husband's name. I know couples who have made up an entirely new name and both changed their name to that. I don't actually know any men who have taken their wife's name (at least not that I know of, but there are people who I've met well after the marriage and I may not know their name story). Whatever they choose ... is between the two of them, and none of those choices make me think more or less of either member of the couple. Period. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Really? You think that the hassle factor of changing your name back is going to keep someone in a marriage? I have no problem with women who choose to take their partner's name. I understand that there are many reasons why it's important to a couple, and don't judge anyone one way or the other for their choice. Taking it or not taking it isn't a massive deal to me - if I were getting married and my husband-to-be made a compelling case as to why it was important to him, then I might choose to change my name. But the idea that I don't have a choice in the matter doesn't sit well with me. There are important reasons for me to want to keep my name, and those aren't trumped by a man's desire to "protect" me. Then again, I wouldn't be looking for protection in a marriage; I'd be looking for a partnership. I suppose in that sense maybe I'm not traditional at all. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

This trick worked wonders for me when I was a newbie. Allowed me to fly more relaxed so I didn't fall like a safe. That, and smile. I had major serious-face - no one thought I was having any fun. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

If a guy said I didn't have a choice, that would be a deal-breaker for me. Buh-bye. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Most places that I've known have had sort of a minimal dress code: casual clothes are fine, within reason; but shorts, t-shirts or rubber flip-flops will get you sent home with orders to change and get back there pronto. It never ceases to amaze me how many adults show up in court dressed like slobs unless they're told in advance to do otherwise. Yeah, it's possible there was something on there that I skimmed over because I was most likely dressing as if I was going to the office (business casual) in case I was dismissed mid-day and able to make it to work. Not that I'd dress overly casually anyway. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I've always found it interesting that the people most likely to feel like they're "too important" to take time off for jury duty are also the folks who are most likely to get paid time off for jury duty from their employer (not that Carrie was saying this, but it sounds like her boss was). I'm not wild about it, but I do think it's important to do. I appreciated what the judge said the last time I had to go in - something along the lines of "As citizens, we only ask you to do four things. Vote, obey the law, pay your taxes, and serve on juries." It brought home that really ... it's not that big a burden. I've never heard of a dress code for jury duty, though ... that's actually kind of an odd thing. I've only had to go in twice when I lived in Seattle (one county, one city or maybe they were both county, can't remember). I recall a pretty broad mix of folks being there. I don't recall anyone dressed particularly inappropriately, though some were more casually dressed than others. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

No, but I can think of several posters who whine post about the same damn thing in multiple threads who should make like BillyVance and consolidate all their shit into a single thread. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Get in touch with Skydance in Davis - I know they've taken up folks with many different kinds of physical limitations. I think it'd be an excellent place to start (and not just because it's my home DZ). www.skydanceskydiving.com "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

OK, then: Inviting her identical twin sister and her GF. So I have good friends who are identical twins and they made me realize just how creepy the "invite your sister" request is ... you're essentially encouraging incest. Ew. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

When I was in business school we were doing a late-night team meeting for a case competition to some execs for a big consulting company. I started printing on one of the team room printers ... and happened to flip the paper over. Someone had printed some nekkid pics (didn't appear to be anyone we knew - just random shots from the internet) on one side of the paper and put it back in the printer tray so that whoever printed would print on the other side. Fortunately I noticed that something didn't look right on the printout. We never did come to agreement on whether actually turning those in would have helped or hurt our chances at winning the comp. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

So a guy wants me to stare vacantly at the camera and fake my orgasms? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Being able to listen and pay attention. (Of course, that means that his partner also has to be confident enough to say "that works for me" and "that doesn't".) Come to think of it, I'm guessing that's probably what makes a woman good in bed, too. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke