Dumpster

Shoes - less than 100 usually - I wear sneakers, hiking boots, and at work it's steel-toe boots paid for by the company. (But they go for well over 100 bones, I insist on the best.) Haircuts - Around 30-40 bucks. 3-4 haircuts a year, max. Sheets? As long as they're reasonably clean, I'm cool. Art Galleries? What are they? I guess I blew the curve? Easy Does It

How does sex get boring? When you run out of 90 weight gear oil and the ceiling fan breaks - ! Easy Does It

I just got notice we have an opening for a PC/LAN support specialist. We want to fill the posistion ASAP. In McHenry, Illinois, NW of Chicago. 45 minutes form Sky Knights, 1-1/2 from Chicagoland Skydiving and 2 hours from Skydive Chicago. PM me for more info! Easy Does It

I was at the oh-so-young-and-vulnerable age of 38. At least they were gentle ----

I can realate to "silence" driving us with tinnitus crazy - With nothing to mask the ringing, and it's all you hear. I've had it for awhile, but only recently it's become more pronounced, louder. I work in a high-noise environment and wear earplugs most of the time. I haven't been wearing earplugs when I jump but will probably start doing that, and also when I ride the bike. (I ride sans helmet.) Only problem with wearing earplugs on the bike is I can't hear the bike itself so well - Time for louder pipes? HA! I hope it will subside - Hearing problems don't run in our family. If it gets worse I don't know what I'll do. It makes the kids, the wife, everyone angry or annoyed that I either "ignore" them, or I have the TV a little on the loud side (to mask the ringing) etc. And in the meantime hope for some minor breakthrough in treatment. Easy Does It

A friend of mine busted an eardrum on a skydive recently - No jumping until it healed. (several weeks-). I wish I knew what the approx. frequency this ringing is - (edited for crappy spelling) Easy Does It

Yep - "Beg Pardon" is a big part of my vocabulary, too. I'll be wearing earplugs alot now, on the bike, in the airplane, and especially here at work - (kinda noisy here, around 85db average-). I'll be talking to the doc about it when I go in for my next physical. I'm hoping there's something that can be done to reduce it even a little. Easy Does It

Wonder who else here might have it and what they've been able to do about it, if anything. I haven't seen a doctor about mine yet, but it seems to be getting worse. My ears ring constantly, 24/7 it seems, even after being out of the noise for awhile. I've spent alot of time around jets, and working in a lot of noisy environments. I have some docmented high-end hearing loss, and frequently have to ask folks to either speak up or I have to get closer to them. I really don't know what "silence" is anymore. Easy Does It

A friend of mine blew an eardrum recently in freefall - Not pretty, quite painful and cleaning blood from his helmet must have been a hassle, too. And they take a long time to heal. MHO - have the doc check you out, and let him know what kind of activities you're planning. Better yet if the doc is familiar with flight medicine. Easy Does It

I actually wouldn't mind putting the tools away and doing something less physically demanding - I'm starting to feel it in the knees, shoulders, elbows, hands - You know the symptoms. I've got 18 more years till retirement and I don't want to be all worn out by then - Easy Does It

Funny - She asked me that question one night - - - - -

Congrats and cyber-pie for you! Easy Does It

OK - Just wondering what some mechanics' opinions are on a few shop practices - Got a few questions for you mechanic/welder/electrcian types - For Mechanics - When installing taper-lock bushings, do you leave the components dry, assemble them with a thin film of oil, or never-sieze the shit out of them before assembly? (I use a thin film of oil.) When tensioning belts, do you use a gauge every time, or rely on your experience to judge belt tension? (I set belt tension initially with a gauge, then by feel after that.) How tight do you set chain drives? ( I take the slack out of the chain, but no tighter.) Welding questions: What is your "general purpose" rod for stick welding? ( I use 7018 most of the time. When welding pipe, I do my root pass with 6013 then cover passes with 7018.) What is you favorite gas for MIG welding? (I prefer argon or an argon/CO2 mix, and use a tri-mix for stainless steel) What is you favorite gas for TIG welding? (This kid likes helium, but argon is OK too.) Electrical - Just one question What do you consider "high voltage" ? For my environment, anything over 120 volts (control voltage) I call "high". (I do alot of work with 480 volt 3-phase stuff.) But I know linemen who call 144,000 volts "high". Last question - Anyone looking for a well-rounded maintenance technician with several years of supervision experience?

I would imagine the reserve would be more likely to do more bodily damage than the main. (but that's just me-) When I was ridng with my rig on, I'd tuck the hackey into the BOC. Then after thinking things through, now I just stuff all my gear into a T-Bag and put it on the sissy bar. Nice and safe and I still enjoy the putt to the DZ. Easy Does It

Then tell me why you pull your cutaway handle? Easy Does It

I purchased a pair of 'script sunnies (Killer Loop) that fit great under my Z-1, and when I jump open-face I just wear a pair of regular goggles over them - No worries. When I do wear my regular glasses I'm stuck with the bulky Kroops, though. Hopefully I'll be back to contacts soon. Easy Does It

I used to ride with my rig on my back once in a while - then I started thinking things through - Imagine if something really freaky happens and your reserve opens up at 60-70 mph? Easy Does It

Boobies. What that picture really needs is boobies. Easy Does It

November 2004 - Broken tib/fib along with some dislocation action from a botched uphill landing on a low-wind day. Eight screws plus a titanium beef-up plate. Got back in the air with a hop-n-pop on Safety Day. About a month ago - Bruised ribs from a hard opening, got them x-rayed just to be on the safe side. The x-ray tech was pretty cool, when we were talking about how the injury happened, she said she'd always wanted to try it, and asked if I had a card. Easy Does It

Seriously - Work around and on the house, put in some OT at work, hang out with whuffo friends, (I actually DO have a few!) visit relatives (the OTHER RW-!) make flippy-floppy with the ladies, ride motorcycles, post whore, play with ham radios, go on road trips, burn steaks, etc etc etc - - Easy Does It

Yeah - You got that right. I have no idea why a rational person would be eager to see some one go in. It just doesn't seem right. It's not right to want to see some one die, just so you can say you watched it and wear that like some sort of badge. Watching a fatality is not some rite of passage in our community, and certainly nothing to celebrate. I am fortunate I've seen only a couple injuries and have broken a couple bones myself. I hope I never see any more injuries and that I never have to witness a fatality. When a fellow skydiver does pass on, regardless of the manner, it does bring us together, just as a death in any family can have a bonding effect. We are all very aware of our own mortality, maybe just slightly more that the average human. And bikers have been known to have some pretty big memorial runs, etc. for fallen brothers, no matter how they passed. It's a sign of respect for the deceased and thier survivors. Talk to some on who has been at a skydivers' funeral sometime (I haven't, and I hope I never am-) I don't think you'll find "nobility" in thier vocabulary as you speak to them. Very few, if any, I would think. I hope you're all on your own on this one. Sure as hell ain't on my checklist. 'nuff said. Easy Does It

Kill kittens. Easy Does It

Feel free to interview me! Bonus - I have a daughter who started jumping while in H.S. also - - Easy Does It

TI's where I jump pretty much all have the same rules - 500 jumps minimum, and they have to KNOW you before they will let you sting a tandem. Biggest fear as I understand is getting mesed up with the drouge, among other things. Easy Does It

No "instant consumer base". You can go to a skateboarding competition, or BMX, or snowboarding, or mountain biking, etc. and walk away with pretty much the same gear the pros use and take it home and play with it. No so for skydiving or BASE. There just isn't much $$ in it for Nike, or whomever, so they don't bother! Easy Does It