micro

My (quite possibly very incorrect) understanding is that pre-destination a la Calvin means that God has determined in advance that certain people are going to Heaven and certain people are not. My understanding of pre-destination a la Catholicism is that God wills (i.e. wants all souls to go to Heaven but, due to the choices that people make, some ain't goin'. My understanding of fate is that it just doesn't matter what you choose to do, because you really don't have a choice at all. That, to me, is a bunch of hooey. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

I spent all this $$$$$$$ for new gear and you want me to leave it on the GROUND???? Hell no. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

Easy there killer. Easy. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

that's alot dammit! my tongue is swollen now and it's too late to go to the liquor store to quel the cravings. sounds divine! I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

I'm glad you feel so vindicated... it was an interesting thread over yonder... they pretty much ALL shot that pic down quick. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

To quote Danny Devito in War of the Roses, "[In divorce] There is no winning, only degrees of losing!" Sorry man. I really am. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

Oh. Right. Nipples! Lots of very hard nipples! High beams to the left! Pencil erasers to the right! Glass cutters right in front of me! They're everywhere! pencil erasers.... ..... glass cutters.... oh jeez you're KILLIN me here!!! found this one... Brail for "Suck me" I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

Bite me. On second thought, go to your room. You're grounded. Love, Mother don't ground her, go back to telling your daughter to bite you. that was... um... I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

I have to say that my experience getting into the sport has been nothing like what Dave posted. When Gino Leone first got me interested in skydiving back in the fall of 1994, all I could afford to do is to go down to Chris Martin's DZ in Tullahoma and hang out. I introduced myself to everyone and quickly became friends. I found myself many times just hanging out down there, helping out. I'd clean the hanger, help Chris clean the planes, basically whatever they needed to be done. I'd watch them pack the rigs, sit in on training sessions, listen in on old-timers telling stories. Work got busy for a while and I had to stay away for a few weeks. I called Chris later and asked if anyone was going to be jumping during the week and when he heard it was me, he grabbed the phone and said, "DOO-DAH!" (that's was my nickname as soon as they learned my real last name, Dudek) "Where you been man? You're like family! We miss you! Get down here!" I just about cried. Honestly. I had only been in Nashville about 6 months and hadn't made made many friends outside of work. My college love, now my wife of almost 11 years, and I were having a long-distance relationship, and Chris' words were like a balm on my soul. As time went on and winter weather dragged (drug?) on, jumping continued to be slow. I remember one time in late winter, I rode up in the co-pilot's seat of Chris' Twin-Bo on a light load with what Chris called "fairly inexperienced" jumpers. All were jumping Sabres and the winds were in the high teens. Chris helped me into the emergency bail-out rig. It was the first time in a rig and my heart was racing. Chris was very good with instructing me in what to do should the Twin-Bo go down, which ironically, it would do a few years later after losing an engine. Luckily, no one would perish in that crash. On the way to altitude, Chris and I chatted about the sport, telling me about his history of jumps, about what these jumpers were about to do, and I could feel my desire to jump growing by the minute. Well, we started on jump run and Chris informed me he was going to cut the engines and inform the jumpers to EXIT EXIT EXIT! I turned in the co-pilot's seat to watch them prepare for their jump. Then, ready, set, go! Fuck me, just that quick, they were GONE! I couldn't believe it! It all happened so fast! Chris banked the Twin-Bo hard to the left to watch the 5-way descend. We spiralled down and down and down. I had no idea a Twin-Bo could do that. We planed out and around the pattern to land. We touched down just in time to see three of the jumpers land on the dz. Two of them landed out due to the high winds. One hooked in to avoid power lines that were lining the road leading into the airport. He broke some bones but I don't recall which ones. I recall someone saying he landed the same time as his canopy and, at the time during my relativel whuffo status, I didn't quite get that. I saw the dz staff spring into action. Chris was pretty pissed, but his care for his hurt customer was still evident. What got me what that the dz staff expect me to be right there helping out. They didn't expect me to stand back and stay clear, they expected me to get my hands dirty so to speak and contribute. Again, the inclusiveness did profound things for me at the time. Sorry this has carried on so long. One last thing. Back when I started jumping, Orly King jumped there a fair bit. I was on the deck outside the dz trailer one day, watching the canopies float down. Well, out of freakin NO-WHERE comes Orly on this rinky-dink canopy right in front of me, hookin and swoopin. I so wasn't expecting it and I actually jumped and shreaked like such a whuffo (I had actually started AFF by this time). Having never SEEN a hook turn, I thought OMG, this dude is going to FUCKING DIE!!!! I was SO scared. As he came up to the trailer to pack that little beach towel, I told him how he had scared the shit out of me and to ask him if he meant to do that (such a whuffo!). His response? Total compassion. "I'm sorry man, I didn't mean to scare you! That was called a hook turn so I could swoop those cones over there." I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

Knock it off already. Sheesh. To some degree Narcimund has a legitimate gripe. I personally don't agree w/ his beliefs, but in his heart it's obvious that he believes that his love is true and valid. And there is something noble and and honorable about that. Perhaps it would be nice to see you actually trying to really see things from his perspective instead of just accusing him of being nothing but a whiner. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

TK, I would suggest reading a very well researched book that directly and eruditely contradicts your incorrect thesis by Professor John Lott... More Guns LESS Crime. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

Definitely TOOL... All the time. Anytime. Everytime. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

HEY! Get your own freaking line, funny boy! sorry remi. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

Christ died for all. Will all accept? No. Pre-destined, in the Christian sense (not necessarily the strict Calvinist sense) isn' the same as fate. Choice still exists. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

why is that a problem? I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

BEER!!!!! - Hey, I'm doing well. Funny to re-read Cheney's comments about Kerry's hunting trip in the light of these events. You ARE doing well, Professor! I take back just about every snide remark I ever said about you! I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

arthur, that pic could have easily been taken from an open air ultralight such as the leza air-cam. in fact, that airframe was designed for such things. it could loiter quietly at a very low speed and a very low altitude, like 20 feet and 35 kts. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

you'd be surprised what I can do w/ this little sausage! I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

Then put the cheeseburger away it's a hot dog silly. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

humina humina humina SURE! that will cure the tight pants problem, at least in a couple of minutes. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

well, lm, at least you're not alone, that should account for something. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

stopstopstop... my pants are gettin tight. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

bare open hand.... on my bare tushie. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

I know. I'm sorry. Now will you spank me? I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...

lol! yeah, i've been sort of going crazy. but the wife-unit has been SO gracious. She figures, if i'm gonna do this, i should do it right and have all the best gear. no reason to skimp and buy only the bare necessities, ya know? can't wait to meet you and everyone at dubba dubba dubbalin I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And...