NWFlyer

:2:0 Only two jumps before the creeping "coughing up a lung" sickness that's been threatening all week decided to really kick my ass, but it was a fun day hanging out at the DZ anyway. The new (permanent) landing area at Skydive Sacramento is open and it is an unusually warm, gorgeous weekend here in Northern California. Skies were so clear we could see all the way to the Sierras, and the full moon made for some great views of everyone landing from sunset load. After I stopped jumping, I went into town to get get a sandwich at Safeway and while waiting in line it was my honor to meet a really cool guy who saw my skydiving t-shirt and in a very low key way told me that he is retired from the 101st Airborne, but he made 30ish jumps back in the day (including some into Vietnam). I encouraged him and his wife to come out to the dropzone at least to watch, if not to jump again. Thanks to Phil (Feeblemind) for inviting me on your 1000th! Congrats! "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

That's just because you can't hear 'em. "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

Thanks for letting me be part of the carnage fun. It was AFF-style from the beginning (exit being saved by an AFFI) to the end! Mmmm.... pie. "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

You wouldn't hear the jokes if you were in the kitchen rattling those pots and pans like you ought to be. I don't need to rattle pots and pans to get you beer and a sammich. "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

Hang around more. We get thrown under the bus plenty. "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 hope you've never seen that ... and that you never do. I'm straight, so I can't say how it feels to be gay in this sport, but I definitely see what you see with respect to jokes and bonfire antics. I suspect that this isn't atypical behavior for any (presumably straight) male-dominated arena, and the "anything goes/non PC" atmosphere of most dropzones allows it to take place. As a woman, I put up with (and dish out) a lot more politically incorrect b.s. at the dropzone than would be appropriate in most other settings of my life. I find a sense of humor and an ability to "give as good as you get" can go a long way in this sport. I have gay friends both in and outside of skydiving, as someone's sexuality has never been an issue for me - if I enjoy spending time with them, whether they are gay or straight doesn't matter (unless I want to date them, in which case it becomes a bit more relevant. ) I suspect ultimately you'll find skydiving not that different from everywhere else in the world - there will be people who will hate you for who you are, and there will be people who don't care, and there will be people who embrace you. "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

Yay! It'll be back for a 3rd season! http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998240.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562 "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

We played that so much in my family growing up that I can't really play the original Genus edition anymore since I know all the questions and answers! Fortunately there are plenty of other card sets to be had! (I recall thinking I would kick ass at the 80s edition and being quickly humbled). "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

Scrabble. My dad and I have a longstanding tournament whenever we get together, and my b.f. and I played some airport games over the holidays. The travel folio edition is really well-designed (though I prefer my full-size board when I'm playing at home since the tiles are a lot easier to deal with). http://www.hasbro.com/games/adult-games/scrabble/home.cfm?page=Products/Detail&product_id=9496 "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 marked "Otter" but then I remembered I haven't jumped yet in 2009 - my final jump at the ZHills boogie was in 2008. But it will be from an Otter tomorrow, so my answer is still valid. "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

Fortunately I live well away from downtown *and* have garage parking. "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 guy (wisely) lawyered up pretty quickly - his lawyer probably told him to STFU and not say a word to BART. Just because he's not undergoing an internal inquiry it doesn't mean that he won't have to answer in a court of law at some point. I do agree that it raises red flags about him as a potentially guilty party, but from a strict legal standpoint it was probably the wisest course of action. Downtown Oakland is ... interesting ... today ... I was working from home but walked into downtown to donate blood at a blood drive. The drive happened to be at the same building that BART HQ is ... and for the first time ever I was asked for building ID to enter (I was a little confused till I remembered that's where the BART board would be meeting). Security had a couple side entrances to the building blocked off and had guards posted outside the doors that remained open to check ID. I was able to get through by saying I was going to the blood drive, and could have also produced appropriate ID (since my employer also has offices in that building). Around 11 my employer sent out an email urging downtown Oakland employees to basically "lay low" and avoid going to meetings in that building if they could. At 1, they sent another message releasing downtown employees for the day - encouraging people to leave no later than 2. They said they didn't anticipate violence from the protestors or an immediate threat, but wanted us all out of the area early rather than being around when it got dark (this time of year, of course, it's already dark when many people are finishing their workdays). So ... tensions are definitely up after last night's protests turned violent. "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

Try a stool softener (docusate sodium is available OTC), too. Narcotics make things ... hard. As for addiction, I'd say wean yourself as soon as you can - start taking fewer pills or go longer between pills - as soon as you can manage your pain with advil or aleve, start doing that. You might be able to use the non-narcotic stuff during the day and take the heavier stuff to help you sleep. "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

Thank you! This is almost as common as the pube preference one. "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

Damn. I just got invited to come up ... but nothing about the skydive not going on if I'm not there. You must be special or something. Oh, wait, you are. Me ... enjoying a predicted beautiful NorCal winter weekend by jumping out of airplanes with friends. Can't complain! "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

It's never too soon. "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

OMG you sound like my mother. Widescreen preserves the aspect ratio of the original film. Formatted distorts it. I don't like to see things distorted, though I suppose it's less important for some films that aren't that visually interesting. But for those that are ... widescreen all the way. "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'm trying to figure out how exactly his pants came off. But damn that's funny. "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

Stevia's been around for a long time (mostly in health food stores, I think I bought some at Trader Joe's). I always thought it had a bit of a strange taste. I'll stick with Splenda. "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

At the moment, the Senate is using its own rules to refuse to seat him, though the reason they can enforce that rule is that the Illinois Secretary of State has sided with Senate Democrats: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/05/burris/index.html?eref=rss_topstories "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 indeed it was correctly routed and the only thing that kept it in there was the band, you may have a problem with the friction adapter. If you haven't had a rigger look at it - do. "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 comeback strategy will depend partly on whether you got a license or not, though with four years out and only 55 jumps to your name before you left, sitting through a FJC (or a modified version thereof) to refresh your memory on everything probably wouldn't hurt even if you did get a license. Best bet would be to call your local DZ and have a chat about its recurrency approach. As for the effects of having only one eye, you might do a search in the Skydivers With Disabilities forum to see if it's been covered, and if not, start a new post in there. I know there's at least a few folks who post here that jump with only one eye. Here's one post to start: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=967617 "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 believe Skydive Arizona has balloon jumps regularly available in the "high season" (somewhere around the October-April time frame). Don't quote me on those dates - best bet is to contact the DZ directly to confirm. "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

Enjoying being back at home after a week+ in Florida. It's going to be a quiet night on the couch with the cats. "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

He's been blogging, tweeting, and commenting on my blog within the last few days. Something about being jealous that I was in ZHills and he wasn't. "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