NWFlyer

I have been to a few dropzones that will insist upon a signed logbook as the only acceptable "evidence" that you are current. You may want to take the time to create one before you leave. It doesn't have to start from jump 1 - it could start from jump 400 (assuming the 418 in your profile is accurate). Log jumps 400 through 418, have 'em signed (preferably by a couple different people, but really, as long as they're signed no one's going to care that much) and there you have it ... "proof" of currency. I've also been to a lot of DZs that don't ask for a logbook - all they care about is that my membership & license are current and that my reserve is in date. And then there's Lodi, where I just hand 'em $15 and get on the plane. "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 don't think they're going to recognize me at the gym when I finally make it back there. I went snowboarding on the 4th and tweaked my back and went to the gym sometime a day or two after that and it hurt like hell. Between traveling and more traveling since then I haven't been back. But I'll be making some trips to the gym this week for sure.

True. I admit I'm one of those. I'm trying to pay more attention too. I'm reading a fun book right now called Plenty, about a couple in Vancouver, BC who try for a year to eat locally (which they define as food grown/produced within a 100-mile radius of their home). Since it's much the same region as my own, it's been quite an eye-opener about how much is no longer produced at all in this area. "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 last link is wrong ... I was totally expecting some Johnny ... NOT what I got. Here's one version of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lhAFWQ5YFc "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're pretty out of touch with the current state of the United States food production system if you think there's much of a chance that the average vegetable you buy in your grocery store was grown a few miles from you. Ironically, the direct cost of the salad to you is actually much lower because it is probably produced a great distance from you as part of the massive agro-industrial complex that produces vast quantities of cheap produce and transports it great distances rather than producing food locally to feed local populations. The indirect cost ... well, that's a whole other discussion. "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 sound exactly like me. I don't know precisely how long it took me to "get it" and I'm still not the world's speediest packer. But keep at it, and keep practicing at the DZ - that's how I finally figured it out - by continuing to pack, at the DZ, with others who knew what they were doing watching me and giving me tips. Sometimes that was good, sometimes that was bad, because everyone has their own style of packing. That can lead to tips that can make it easier for you, but that can also mean it can be more confusing because everyone throws in their little twist on the process when all you want to do is understand the basics. "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

Do you have a cat? I think her roommate does. "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 think I can get a Clif Bar or something with my $3.00. "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

:6:0 Managed to get six jumps out of my trip to ZHills. Jet lagged Wednesday, then I paced myself Thursday expecting a busy weekend... then the rain rolled in Friday... and the winds on Saturday afternoon ... and the clouds for Sunday morning. But between all of that I still had a great time jumping and hanging out with the always amazing folks at Z-Hills (TK, you have a long way to go to fuck it up but at your request I'll let you know if you do ), watching wingsuit landings, being a atmovidiot, getting tons of sun, and recharging my batteries for the rest of the northwest winter. Winding down the final hours of the trip in a hotel in Tampa (call me high maintenance but I needed a bed and some air-conditioning after all that camping...). Home to Seattle this afternoon. "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

Hate to be pedantic but isn't that drinkmonauti? No, I believe for it to be true drinkmonauti, not only the drinkers but also the drinks need to be at a proper angle. Notice that the drinker in the back (we'll call him DouLiamond to protect his identity) does not have his drink at the proper angle to create lift. But don't ask me, I'm just the atmovidiot. "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

My kitten is roughly 7 or 7 1/2 months old and he's already 12 lbs, and not in the slightest bit fat - he's just a long, lean kitty already. He's just gonna be a beast. I'm not worried about him. He's healthy and he's happy. The funny thing my other kitten is on the other end of the spectrum - she's the same age and just barely 4 lbs. but despite some early digestive/growth problems also appears to be healthy and happy. "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 photo, you mean? "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, Jeff, to be fair you should point out that's a block ticket price. What's the price for someone walking in off the street and buying a single jump ticket? (Still well under the competition, I know...) "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

Emotional Rescue - The Rolling Stones Got to Give it Up - Marvin Gaye Serpentine Fire - Earth Wind and Fire Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind and Fire September - Earth Wind and Fire You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate Get Down On It - Kool and the Gang YMCA - Village People I'm Every Woman - Chaka Khan Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart "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

From the photo caption: That is a sweet shot (and Skydive2 beat me to the caption note!). "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

Um, in my state uninsured motorists pays for medical bills when someone doesn't have health insurance - collission pays for things like this. Comprehensive pays for "acts of God". (Accidents in general make rates go up.)

I have over 300 and I'm still jumping a 210. I guess I'll quit right now because of what you just said. No, actually I won't. I'm leaving for Z-Hills tonight and I'm going to enjoy jumping this weekend. From what Skymama said, you won't be. And in response to the original poster - I've loaned out my rig before - usually for a jump or two here or there, because it's my one and only rig and I'm busy jumping it myself. But you may find people who have spares that are willing to loan them out for a longer term. Beer or a bottle of choice is a good way to repay them, and getting the rig back to them in the condition it came to you is of course the right thing to do (brush off the dirt if you have some bad landings, if it needs a repack during the time you borrow it, get the repack done.) A cool thing to do if it's due for a repack shortly after you borrow it would be to find out who the owner's rigger is and make arrangements with the rigger to cover the cost of that repack. "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

everytime I pack Yeah, I look at mine - but not as closely as I should have. I don't just check for color, though - I always make sure the PC is cocked and catches air, but I haven't been checking the kill line length each time I pack. "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

Bumping this thread because I did a search and Hook's post is a nice summary of the types of things we should all be looking for in maintaining our gear. I also thought about bumping up "Stupid Things I Have Done" since my kill line probably should have been replaced ... oh ... 50-75 jumps ago. Anyway, after a weekend of really noticing pilot chute hesitation, coupled with a very timely safety day reminder from the folks at Elsinore, I took a close look and realized my PC was a malfunction waiting to happen. I grounded it and it will not be jumped again till the kill line is replaced. When's the last time you checked yours? "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

:6:0 Great time at 'snore's 10-way speed meet on Saturday. Much fun was had in the hot tub at the Casino Saturday night. Great to catch up with all the Elsinore and Perris folks this weekend.

I just bought a new one this weekend at Square 1. "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 might want to also ask about prescription nasal sprays depending on what types of allergies you have. I just started using Flonase and it helps me quite a bit, but I guess it really depends on symptoms (mine was lots of redness and inflammation in my nose and post-nasal drip). Claritin, Zyrtec, Sudafed did nothing for me. The Flonase keeps the symptoms manageable. "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

Well, the situations I mentioned that cause me to stand down generally have to do with ground winds that directly affect my ability to have a safe landing, and it's definitely possible to have days where the uppers are howling and the ground winds are at comfortable speeds. But this is a nice reminder that when we think about "safe winds" we also need to take into account how the uppers affect our safety - if we aren't spotting well and getting good exit separation for the day's conditions, howling uppers can create just as much risk as howling ground winds. I've jumped in higher winds - like others here, I'm more likely to push up my wind limits in DZs with fewer obstacles that create turbulence and at DZs with lots of wide open spaces. I'd rather not be experiencing my first 25-mph gust getting pushed into a building. "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

Eh, what does your doctor know? I'm glad you got a good observer ride in, and I'm glad you're being patient. We'll all be there (as will the sky) waiting for you when you get back, Phil.

When I watch the old timers sit down, I stay down. When I watch the plane do a go-around trying to land, I remember that I can't do a go-around, I stay down. When I watch other people land and I'm really glad I'm not out there, I stay down. "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