boxingrrl

Nice! You can't even see the icicles [;)

Aaahhh... patience, Grasshopper. It is a little funky, but I just got it to work. The screen will come up with an accept/continue and the temporary server problem message. I just clicked continue and waited a few seconds and it played anyway. (with the server error message still there.) Beats me..

IMHO-- There's some good stuff here. I'm just a baby tandem master, still on "probation". I guess I'm thinking that for me, being a woman, that some extra time spent on freefall body position will be time well-spent. I know that you have people who just forget everything once they're in the door (done enough videos of that...) but I'm not counting on being able to out-muscle all of my passengers. Having learned to skydive via the tandem-transition method, I have to say that there's something to making students feel safe-- enough information to reassure and build confidence, but not so much as to be overwhelming. Everyone seems to find their own style and develop their own script-- but I like the idea of keeping the customer confident and making them feel like they're getting their money's worth. Whether they'll learn to skydive or not, I think each student deserves the same attention and training... although I recognize that this is not always practical. I'll be checking back to see what else folks have to say... Any other female tandem masters? Do you do train any differently than the fellas at your DZ? Edited just to add-- any other suggestions for baby tandem masters? should I start a thread of pitfalls to avoid when new at tandems?

It's workin' now... Gotta' love those fellows who can support some weight

And is he "loving it" now? eeeewwwww....

My husband was trying to sell a motorcycle on-line, and got something suspiciously similar. I'm not sure if he still has it or not. People actually agree to this crap?

Growing like a tall tree, good as gold, here comes Sunny, blankety-blank years old.... Congrats, have a great BDay! Robin

Oh, girl! I hope you're feeling better soon! I waited until the last possible minute to get mine removed, as well. They were hurting so bad that I refused to leave the dentist's chair until he took at least one of them out. Atleast it's January... careful with those painkillers, killer...

Like Mac and Gus said! You'll never know if you don't try... I don't want to read too much into it, but it almost sounds like you expected to be the perfect skydiver right out the door. Relax. Everyone has been unstable, or had a case of the spins, or couldn't land themselves for dookie-- but, you just keep getting back in the plane and trying. Just because you're not perfect at it doesn't mean you can't love doing it-- and with practice and direction, you'll improve. Welcome back!

ummm... can't answer any of your concerns about the tunnel, and somebody already mentioned all the skydiving related things I could think of, so how about: starting a huge puzzle, calling friends, getting one of those "_______ for Dummies" books and figuring out something that interests you. Ask your doctor what exercises you can do, and do them, so you don't feel like you're just sitting around all the time. Just take care of yourself and remember that's it's only for a little while... good luck

I wanted to apologize for kinda hijacking this thread away from your issues as a teacher by my ranting about what's going on my school district and the lack of parental involvement. One thing that came to mind is that perhaps not enough people distinguish between teachers and school, or more specifically administrators. It's easier to lump them together as one and the same instead of realizing that they experience the education system from totally different perspectives. Likewise, teachers are not the legislators making up these unfunded mandates. Teachers are often as much at the mercy of the administration as the taxpayers. So, kudos to you and your professional brethen for putting up with all that crap.

I really just wanted to reply to what everyone has said about this. I can't agree more with the recommendations for remedial training, both for the dog and the owner. Everything that has been said about pack behavior should be taken to heart. The owner isn't doing the dog (or herself, ultimately) any favors by allowing him to behave this way. If she's unable to retrain herself and her thinking about her animals, perhaps someone in her household can make her see the light and either turn the dog over to an experienced trainer or have him put down. My eyes water just to write about this, but I had to have my very beautiful and loving dog put down a little over a year ago. He had a great personality, but poor breeding, and as he aged, and his hips deteriorated, he became unpredictable and snapped at a few people. I knew where this was headed and had to make the right choice for him, and for my friends and family, and anyone he may have come across. I know that it's horrible, but sometimes it's truly the most humane and responsible thing to do.

Some parents are in this situation, and I understand that, especially since I had a single working mom. Not all parents are working at game time-- they seem to find the time to make it to these events. Why can't they pile a few more in their Expeditions and minivans? And that's awesome. I usually ending up buying new shoes for the needy kids at Christmas as well. But, the families' personal budgets for clothing are a separate entitiy from mismanagement of school district funds. I understand the whole tax base issue and low income community ramifications--as stated above, re: OH's funding system. What bothers me as a taxpayer is that if I pony up more of my hard-earned dollars, I'd expect that the school district would squeeze the hell out of every penny-- not substitute my money for parental responsibility and involvement. Amen, sister I really don't know... but obviously, we're all thinking about it, so perhaps that can be of some comfort to our original poster.

I'm not quite sure how to take that. Are you being serious or sarcastic? I am for children having a quality education. I'm for teachers being paid very well for their services. I'm not for cutting programs that make for well-rounded, responsible young adults, but I'm not for mismanagement of the community's funds, or for the schools (and community $) being solely responsible for that outcome. Like I said, as individual taxpayers, we're in a quandry. I was only hoping to make it evident that, indeed, education is on the minds of voters, and that I feel for professionals who have to choose between doing what they love and are trained for, and being able to support their own family.

I think that the war is a more glamorous media flashpoint, but that the economy, education and healthcare on the minds of the common joe-- more than reporters care to acknowledge. The school district in my town is in serious trouble, and is desperately trying to pass a $8 mil levy. I understand that part of the reason for this need is the unfunded federal mandates. Part of it is our state funding system (OH's system has been declared unconstitutional for years, but has yet to be fixed.) As a person with a very small income, married to someone who works as a bus driver, we're in a quandry. My husband may lose our insurance benefits if this levy doesn't pass, but at the same time, we can barely afford our home as it is. Having worked human services for years, I'm totally against cutting teachers, or freezing their salaries. I'm against cutting educational programs, and I understand the benefits of music, art and even sports. But, we see tons of waste in the school district. I am for more parental involvement. While I think it's great that the schools can provide transportation of all of the sporting events, and my husband gets overtime to drive these kids everywhere, where are the parents? Why should I, having no children, pay extra taxes, for these kids to go to swim meets and football games? Why aren't the parents transporting their kids, and their kids' friends? When I was in school, that's how it was done. (I know that parents work-- I had a single mom. If bussing it cut, I know that somehow these people will make it happen.) What happened to parents volunteering in their kid's classrooms? Why do we suddenly need so many salaried aides? I guess all I'm trying to say is that people are concerned about education. People do have respect for teachers and all that they do. I believe you should be paid better than a "living wage". But, I also think that parents should be more accountable for making the schools a success. If there are behavior problems, the answer shouldn't be an aide in every class. What happened to good old fashioned discipline? If funding is short, parents should step up and fill the gaps, instead of just asking the community to throw more money at the problem. ***stepping off the soapbox now*** I'm sorry for your situation. Unfortunately, you'll have to decide what's best for you and your family.

reading that kind of thing makes me want to wash my eyeballs with soap. Ok, maybe not. I thought it was funnier when the kid tried to sell his soul on ebay.

What's that saying? something about "if you're gonna be stupid, you gotta be tough?" Glad you're alright!! I think it's only so funny because so many of us can imagine ourselves doing the same damn thing. Silly skydivers!!!

hey, me too and I'm lucky enough to have his signature in my logbook. I filmed a dive for his POPS scramble team last season. What a cool cat

aaaahhh. Now I get it. I think.

Thanks for doing what you do, and thanks for sharing your sunset with us. I've (hopefully) uploaded one of the most beautiful sunset pictures I've ever seen. Joe (Bobo) Hirn took it in Xenia, Ohio this past fall. Enjoy! BTW-- I had to diminish the quality a bit to make the file small enough...

I did my first few jumps as a tandem passenger. The tandem masters did an awesome job of landing us softly and gracefully. They, of course, have a lot of experience. My first few under student canopies weren't horrible, but didn't win me any grace points-- like most, I flared too high, and overcompensated and flared too low. Thankfully, the student canopies were detuned and pretty forgiving. It's hand eye coordination and visual-spatial perception-- but mostly it's practice. If you can land a plane, you can land a parachute-- when it comes down to it, you only have to worry about the toggles in each hand, not flaps, landing gears, etc. etc. Everyone wants to look cool when they land, but pay attention and practice your PLF. If your flare is off, it'll come in handy.

How do Birdman flights fit into this discussion? I've been miles from the airport and other canopy traffic and seen aircraft-- fortunately, nothing I could describe as a close call. Being a fairly new jumper (500+ jumps, and less than 20 Birdman), it was enough to make me feel uncomfortable and perhaps a bit vulnerable. Generally, I would like to believe that I would see an oncoming aircraft and be able to take evasive maneuvers, but what if (heaven forbid), I were being approached from peripheral angles, or being overtaken? Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are (above and beyond each jumper checking for traffic for him/herself.)

Oh please say someone caught that landing on video!!!

Good luck-- I'm going on an even longer drought of no jumping... Similar weather here in Ohio... Get one in for me!