steveorino

I'm 57 (220#) (2500 jumps in last 10 years) I have jumped a stiletto 150 for the past 6 years. I'm thinking of moving down to Kantana 135 or 150. I don't see any issues with your decision. steveOrino

Still windy, cloudy and rain!!! MAN, I think Sunday will be clear & cold ... hopefully not too much wind. Until then, I must carve! steveOrino

I'm told I don't smile enough. Seriously, it's been really fun watching Steve's carving skills get better and better. Steve, didn't you just win first place in a national carving contest? Sortof, I won "most creative' selected by master sculptor, Ray Villafane. steveOrino

Too cloudy & windy to jump ... must carve! This is from a pine knot from the Oregon coast. Yes, I named him after my friend, DSE. steveOrino

and yet you still seem to think our 99% are "poor" steveOrino

Never said that. But I have been poor. I HAD NOTHING! But rather than look for a hand out from big brother (literally or figuratively) I pawned most everything I had, worked 3 jobs, took out a student loan (which I still pay) and bettered myself. I did all this w/o blaming the 1%. Screw them! Money never made me happy. Giving it my best shot made me happy. And when I feel sorry for myself I pay my own way to build orphanages in Mexico and youth centers in the rain forrest of Cimmarones, Costa Rica. THAT was a wake up call. The local man I worked with lived in an 8' x 12' room with his wife & 3 kids. He had an open sewer running 10 feet in front of his house, but he was working alongside me to build places for those he deemed less fortunate than himself! But, hey, maybe that is just me. steveOrino

I'm not saying everything here is "peachy" but after working in the rain forest of Central America and some orphanages in Mexico, I kinda want to say to most of the "poor" in America, "Gimme a break!" steveOrino

Go to a third world country and you will see that 99% of our "poor" have it better than 99% of them. steveOrino

I like 3D pumpkins (like Ray Villafane does) What do you think? steveOrino

Is North Dakota one of Obama's "57 states?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws steveOrino

For the opportunity to share the sport I love with others. Statistically this will be most only jump, and I made it happen. Feels good to share! steveOrino

I love my handcam glove by Simon Wade, but there isn'y a good place to put the altimeter. Right now I simply wear it on my other hand. Any suggestions? steveOrino

As a TI. I had a horse shoe mal. The bag came out and I could not find the handles to release the bag. I never knew why (I suspect the one that should remain stationary was "tucked" in) At 3K I decided to fire the reserve knowing it would go into the bag .... it did. I had NOTHING out. And old saying by one of my instructors came to mind "Pull handles until your goggles fill with blood!" I kept fighting and finally got about 1/2 of the reserve to clear the bag at 1000 feet. I told the tandem student (a 75 year old man) to lift up his legs we were going to hit hard. I did a great PLF and kept the tandem student from even hitting the ground. We all walked away. What I learned. Check your handles more often. I use to check on ground in plane and in air. I know check ALL the time and especially the second after I throw the drogue. Unfortunately I had another horseshoe with a tandem and it was no biggie as I immediately cleared the bag. I also quit jumping DZ equipment that wasn't properly maintained steveOrino

$40 either side at Skydive Airtight steveOrino

If you mean my family ... I'd agree, but my point was the actions or inactions of others belief's systems don't influence my adult beliefs. So your adult beliefs weren't influenced by your adolescent beliefs which were influenced by your family? Sure they were but you are missing my point. The actions of christians or atheists today do not influence my belief today. steveOrino

If you mean my family ... I'd agree, but my point was the actions or inactions of others belief's systems don't influence my adult beliefs. steveOrino

It's guys like this that keep me atheist..... Interesting. I've never considered the thoughts or actions of others (atheists or christians) to influence my belief on a deity. steveOrino

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Reading compression problems, eh? ;) A little rant directed at manifest whuffo who said "I wish I could make $1200 for two days work!" she or anyone else could if they are willing to pay their dues in time, $, and ratings. I didn't get paid $1200 for 'showing up' for two days. I'm a Cessna 182 clydesdale! steveOrino

When I got my TM rating, The examiner was cheap. Just a couple hundred bucks but I had to pay for full loads every time I went up (4 x $25) That's 5 jumps for course then 10 jumps with real skydivers before I could take paying customers. AFF was similar. Typical price for AFF examiner, but I split two ways the jump plane cost for about 20 practice loads then the 3 loads of the course. It adds up. As far as gear, few things wear out and are as expensive as camera gear. steveOrino

I'm not bitching. I can make as much on a weekend SKYDIVING as I do in two weeks as therapist with a Master's degree. I love it! But for those who sit around or have other jobs such as packing, doing manifest, etc., who state they wish they could make what I do, I am simply stating they can. Al they have to do is pay the price. Few things earned in this world are free. steveOrino

The last several weeks I have made some ‘good money’ doing tandems & AFFs. I have heard more than once, “I wish I could make that kind of money for a weekend’s work!” Well, you can! Do what I did. Spend about $2000 to get your license and another $2000 to buy old used gear. Jump about 400 times (cost $10,000) At that point you MIGHT be good enough to start flying video as I did (okay, it was jump #385) Spend another $1000 on a camera helmet, $800 for still camera and $700 for video camera) $300 for wide angle lens and $250 on a camera suit.(total start up over $3000, not including tapes, cards, disk, labels, mailings, and editing machine) Do that and get paid! Of course you will replace your cameras 1-2 times a year at a cost of $1000 annually easily. You will need two rigs to really work it so spend another $2000 on a used back up rig. After you you sit all day while two TMs do 22 tandems in 11 loads without video, you don’t whine, you go get your TM rating. I did mine for the BARGAIN price of $1500. Want to shoot handcam? More $ for handcam glove ($100) $300 for video camera. Of course they take a beating so I needed 3 at that price. GoPro came out and they are awesome at a price of $300 a pop. I made my first handcam glove for $25. Only cost me a camera as a student ripped it off my hand climbing out of a Cessna. So I bought two cameras ($600) and a real glove ($125) Want to be the best? get your AFF rating. It cost me over $2000 for training jumps & examiner fees. Oh, speaking of fees? I pay that out the nose every year to USPA, not including my doc for a Class 3 Medical certificate. Speaking of medical ... have you seen my knees? Feel better now? I know I do! /rant! ;D steveOrino

Looks like a Jamaican flag! But it has to wear better than mine (my old HS colors of red/white/black) White is very hard to keep clean on a Cessna DZ where you are on your knees in the plane a lot. steveOrino

That student can't possibly do as good as job as I can! steveOrino

I ask you a question? why would a whiff such as yourself want to post on a skydiver's forum? Now I don't know why you believe me to be a whuffo. My D number is less than half of yours and my jump numbers are more than twice yours. Peace, Jim B I see no evidence your D # is less than D-13000 or that you have over 4400 jumps. Therefore I'm a non-believer. ;) steveOrino