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Hope you had a good trip. Missed seeing you in Houston. Back on the path Now 183. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I just couldn't resist --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

This isn't peculiar to skydiving - but it may be more noticeable because of the circumstance. Physiologically you just got a shot of adrenaline - a very powerful hormone. It is a response to stress, like fear or fright. Both stimuli will probably be reduced over time reducing your adrenaline rush. Epinephrine - another name for adrenaline speeds up the heart, constricts the blood vessels, dialates bronchia, relaxes the bladder and bowels, and prepares you for fight or flight. It makes your body ready for dangerous action, but it doesn't result in making the mind more analytical or thoughtful. In short - you're doing what comes naturally. As you mentally check off the 101 things you're trying to process in freefall your stress levels will go down, the adrenaline pump will slow down, and your body's more relaxed state will promote a physiological condition that is more supportive of rational thought. It's the same for a soldier the first time they come under fire or a quaterback the very first time they take a snap it a full contact practice. Enjoy the experience, it's a great opportunity to get in touch with your inner ANIMAL --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

My daughter just called - some shallow ender just left turned in front of her and ran her through a sign, over the curb and into a field. What is she upset about? Her Jetta might be totalled! She's just really upset about her car being broke. Thank God she's ok and her friend is Ok and I wasn't up there and armed or I'd be in jail right now. I guess if you call her she'd recommend a Jetta. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Cool pic. The only time I've been able to get that close was on a rebreather. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

If they were English Setters - How would you know? --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

In reply to the original post - give yourself a bit of insight - read "The Naked Ape" - You'll be surprised at what it's all about. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Being tall has limited the rigs I can rent at my home DZ and delivery times for custom gear what they are I've been jumping a Navigator 280 at .75. This has been a good thing since I've been able to practice canopy landing skills with a margin of forgiveness. This week I got the opportunity to jump a Sabre 2 230 at .9 (after a checkout on a PD 260). So that's what flare is. Unfortunately it was a distant DZ and now I'm back home. Fingers crossed that the new rig will be done this week. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

It all started in . . . (Sorry folks - they didn't have color cameras back then) --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I think someone up here at Space Center mentioned seeing a bird yesterday too. Perhaps they had a kegger and weren't really into traffic avoidance. Hit a Robin at 50 on my motorcycle - killed him - had a bulls eye bruise on my chest - luckily no broken ribs. One of our Florida Road Chickens would be bad news at terminal. Glad it was a miss. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Getting out was my problem when I was young (before God took the sun critical). Problem was I had no control - someone told me when to go and the reserve cord pulled the pin. When I got back into the sport it transferred to AFF this spring - just had to get out the door. BUT The freefall was like communing with the universe - rushed at first, that's expected and why there is a progression program. After a while the door wasn't an obstacle or a barrier, it was a nuisence. Finally, it became a portal, a friend that was waiting to open on 60 seconds of pure freedom. NOW I enjoy taking a look at it as I leave. Watching it open for the next lucky soul that will pass through on their way. If you keep going you'll find that feeling. P.S. Wear your woolies. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Plan for the future . . . 1. Buy a good used refridgerator. 2. Hide it somewhere 3. Select one bottle from each beer dues cache 4. Stick "tax" bottle in hidden fridge 5. When pilot quits - drink beer in hidden fridge while telephoning prospects. 6. Repeat as necessary --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I meant to ask how your legs felt after sitting in the harness that long. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I always new I might . . . In 1994 My youngest daughter and I drove down to a little hamlet in Central Florida and collected a lanky blue eyed, floppy eared Weimaraner Puppy that we named "Twin Pines Duke of Chelsea" call name DUKE! We suffered though puppyhood, adolescence, and obedience campaigns that resulted in a CD title at age 1. He then learned how to teach me his language. He realized at 18 months that I was Scent blind and slightly deaf and he compensated. I taught him my skills in search and rescue and he augmented them with his superior senses, speed, and instincts. He found ways to overcome obstacles and barriers that were intentionally placed in his way by people who could never hope to understand his priorities - Search - Play - Eat in that order. We became a single living thing in the field. I felt him more than saw him. He told me when he sensed a clue, I kept him from killing himself to find the objective. We made a difference in a few peoples lives, gave some closure, some hope, and some life itself. The reward we took away was a bond between eachother. After each job, we'd just check eachother's wellbeing and quietly faded away from the noise and commotion. When his body could no longer justify risking a person's life on it's strength and speed, his uncommon focus on finding and my desire to continue to be his partner, led to many trips into the bird fields of north central Kansas. As good as he was finding people he was better doing what he was bred to do. Without the stress and anxiety that always took its toll on him in SAR, he flourished and gathered a following of fellow hunters who respected his ability to return with the game regardless of the depth of the grass or the length of the fall. Two years ago, on father's day, while I was 2000 miles away the magnificent animal collapsed. His great heart refused to stop beating, but his liver, consumed by cancer, would not longer support him. While my wife and I spoke, between the tears and choked breaths, the vet explained that heroic action on their part might keep him alive for a few weeks. As I thought of that noble warrior, I could feel his presence. I felt the touch of his tongue trying to comfort me as it had so many times before when our efforts had not been up to the task and we could not bring the lost soul home. There was only one choice, the one I had promised myself I would be strong enough to make if ever he needed my help. My wife told me it was quiet and peaceful. His last gift was to his own kind - providing the veterinary researcher a chance to learn and perhaps in some small way find an answer. As I stood on the Canadian prairie staring at the horizon through my tears a rainbow appeared in the distance. It was worst and best moment of my time with him. He left behind a void in the universe, a fullness of spirit in the lives of all he came into contact with. And, he left in dignity, which was at the end, the only gift I could have given him that he could truly understand and appreciate. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

So I made a post about altitude awareness on another Forum and it hit me. My passtimes involve a lot of "Blue" and the worse case scenarios result in a life expectancy of about 90 seconds or less. No wonder I'm obsessed with gauges. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Very believable. I recently made a jump with a videographer/photographer. I think his middle name is Safetyfirst, but heard the same thing "I thought you were going to pull at (insert altitude here). Of course judging by my profile, you can infer that it was a relatively safe margin, and I do understand the comment - his risk was an out landing not a low pull. Still his focus cost him the usual 10 step to the packing mat landing and got me a really good landing shot (since he was way out there anyway). I've stayed alive for a good long while even though I've lived most of it in high risk circumstances, enough to have given my wife's hair a permanent frost and highlight at a very early age. I can count on one hand the number of times I've come full awake in the middle of the night thinking "OH SHIT" that was dumb! The good news is every one of those times still gives me cold sweats. Thanks for sharing. Hope the chills last for you too. Added: Lowest Altitude check this year --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

If you don't mind sharing - how'd it happen? --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Too late They got here . . . hooked up with the wife . . . took the beer to the beach . . . picked up the Majik . . . headed off to the Stockholm Boogie. Thank god my Mirage will be here soon. Bikini teams are pretty thick at Florida Drop Zones but a custom G4 - that's a thing of beauty . --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Thanks a bunch Ward . The wife read this and figured that was why I got the G4. Please send them to the alternative address I'll PM you tonight. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

----------------------------- Amen --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

What kills me is the cost of fuel now exceeds what I used to rent 172's for (in $/hr). When I was commuting with my own plane the first 3 months were a real kick - then it got like driving a car. All that said - If I could get away with it I'd buy one in a heartbeat. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I'll loan you mine for the weekend - The pink thing is a pig not a PMTS --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

The major difference between the 1-7 and Pro 1-1.5 is integration with other Adobe products such as After Effects and Audition and Encore. There are a few other features that are essentially ergonomic enhancements and consistency changes to the user interface. Another point that I think might be pertinent is Adobe's decision to stop supporting Apple platforms with Premiere. Look for tighter integration with Macromedia as well. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I wish I could get my curves that smooth - they usually look like a seismograph after a 8.5 quake. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

O.K. - So I'm not really a bowler and I don't golf, but I do have a high talent department of professionals that have so much stress and adrenaline in their everyday jobs that finding a team building outing that gets their mind off business is a challenge. Naturally I'd like to just fill our jump plane with them, but there's this (as one puts it) Life Saving Feature requirement that makes this a little impractical. So, what to do? Take 'em to an off site location where they can dress Saturday morning casual. Map a plan for the next quarter. Eat a light lunch. Head to the tunnel! They'll be talking about it for the next six months in between telling everyone what a cool department they work for and how there isn't anything they can't do if they set their mind to it. Add to that a slightly mischievious tunnel rat that wanted to give them all a chuckle and kept me on my back for several minutes (Thanks Ari - at least I didn't freak - even got off the mat for a while). From the 20 something "Kids" to the 40+ gray beards a great time was had by all. Of course there will undoubtably be a few sore muscles in the morning . I now enjoy the enviable status of "real person" instead of the dreaded "boss" label. And all for introducing a great group of people to Hurricane Category IV force winds! --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.