wildfan75

Ted?????????? Is that you????? I don't recognize you without the Rosa on your back!

Oh, Mark...you're so nice!! Just 'cause I look like I'm sub-30 doesn't mean it's true! There ya go! Way to cover your ass with the 20-35 range! That plane was interesting, the wife leading things, the husband translating for the Russians, and trying to make sure you knew what was going on. Left trail rocked!!!

Dang! Billvon was within sight and I didn't get to meet him! Back in MN proudly showing off a picture from one of the two completed 52 ways! Let the count down to May's camps continue...

$10 to 4000' $11 if its between 4001' to 6000' Skydive Wissota, Chippewa Falls, WI

Wissota Who??? Soden relocated to TX about a 1 1/2 years ago. Mo's just went to TX for a year for her drug degree. Tallant jumped with Gang Green this year. And pick a 4th and I'll tell you were they're at. You should come up and meet our "new" team...Wissota Wild. Just as good as the Shockers but much less gay.

Skydive Wissota in Chippewa Falls, WI.

www.recipezaar.com

Two years ago today, I finally gave into Todd's spell and we shared our first kiss. One year ago today, Todd was feeding me breakfast in bed and handing me a bouquet of flowers, with the price tag still on them. Todd knew how I felt about flowers...waste of money! On Valentine's Day when ever the flower delivery people would show up at work, all the women in the office were eager to find out who they were for. Meanwhile, I was sitting there saying outloud, "Those better not be for me!! I'll hurt him if they are. He knows better than that!" He knew that if he spent a bunch of money on flowers, something that will eventually wilt and be thrown away, over buying me a few jumps he would be "in big trouble". Todd bought me flowers four times while we were together. Every time he was sure to leave the price tag on them to make sure that I knew he didn't spent anymore than $3-7 on them (less than a hnp). And he never paid over inflated prices during periods like Valentine's Day. They were always during random times where it was truely a surprise. But by doing this, he was able to surprise me on our last anniversary. Todd always claimed to have struggled to write in the cards he got me, but after going back and reading them the last month, he knew exactly what to say. Or if he didn't know exactly what to say, he somehow managed to say the perfect things, even if the "present" that came with it wasn't. On Valentine's Day 2007, he handed me a card and two half eaten bags of candy. He said he ate some to make sure it was okay. He also knew that I am not a big candy fan. So after having a piece of each of it, I handed the bags back to him. Todd forced the innocent, confused look he would often get and said, "Huh? Wha? You don't want it?" Watching him devour the candy was far more enjoyable than eating it myself. Happy Anniversary, Todd. I love you and I miss you! Todd's Ash Dive is schedule to take place during Skydive Wissota's Annual Pumpkin Toss Weekend: Oct 24-26th. Todd loved P-Toss weekend so it just seemed right to do it then. We're planning late morning/early afternoon on Saturday, the 25th for the jump, but will work it in anytime after if weather is an issue.

Jim--I thought it was clearly stated in the restraining order that you were not allowed to call me a bitch in a public forum again!

Oh shit....I totally missed an opportunity for a shamless plug about Wissota.... Bob and Mary...only availabel tat Skydive Wissota in Chippewa Falls, WI. Open all year round. If its your first time here don't forget to bring your beer bitches!!!!!!!!

Mary and Bob are the perfect place to start in the MN/WI area. I am headed to Perris on Wednesday for the P3 Big Way camp. I will share everything and anything with everyone and anything when I get back. I [heart] MB!!!!!!!!!

[Golf clap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] "00" offenses are maybe a cup cake, but deefiniety not a pie.

Skydive Wissota's annual Pumpkin Toss weekend will be held October 24-26, 2008. "Event Fee" will be determined when Saturday night's dinner is figured out but it should be around $10 and includes free beer throughout the weekend. Todd's Ash Dive will (weather permitting) take place on Saturday late morning/early afternoon. More details to follow.

:10:Too much All 10 were at Couch. Six competition 4 ways, two 9 ways, one 3 way and an 8 way for my 500th.

Yeah, as I learned oh so very well the last couple of weeks...things don't always go as planned.

I'm coming up short on finding a ride from SAN. It costs about the same to rent a car for the five days I'm there as it does to do a shuttle by myself. If I rent a car (which I'm 98% sure I'm going to do), you can hitch a ride to the store with me.

I jump at a 182 dz and will finish my second year of competing this weekend. My team went into our first meet last year having exactly two practice jumps out of an Otter. When we got to the meet, we worked with an experienced 4 way competitor who jumps at an Otter dz (Thanks Bill (Rehmwa)!!!), and he went through what each person needs to be doing. We launched a lot of meekers that meet, and didn't do too shabby. After each competition, get a copy of the video and sit down with the most experienced 4 way or competition skydiver you can get and have them debrief with you. You'll learn a crap load on a debrief and will give your team goals for the next meet. Don't forget to have fun!

Does your dz need a new wind sock? We use cells from an old canopy for our wind sock. Its easy to read and see from the air. And you never know if a CReW newbie might snatch it up if you listed it in the classifieds for cheap.

I didn't get in the air on Sunday (bad day) but I'll just keep everyone guessing as to what number I'll use and how many I've done. And then you'll never know Jim! Irregardless, I'll be doing my 500th at Couch (weather permitting of course), and it seems only appropriate as Todd celebrated his 5000th at Couch last year. He was on my 100th, 200th, and 400th (300th was a competition jump) and of course I'll be thinking of him the whole time. Hopefully it will be a good one.

Rumor has it someone might be doing their 500th jump there. Or I count my tandems and static line jumps and do it tomorrow. Who knows that tomorrow brings????????????

As my dog, Lucy, adjusts to living full time with her new brother, Jedei, There are several Todd-Jedei stories that have run through my mind. Keep in mind that I already admitted that Todd was far from normal. Jedei definitely has a mind of his own. 99% of the time Jedei will do what his is told, but that's only because it's what Jedei wants to do. The other 1%, there is nothing you can do to get him to cooperate. The fact that 99% of the time he "does what he's told", made him the perfect dog. Todd often left Jedei outside when he'd go run errands, to the gym or what not because Jedei would not come when he was called, but Jedei would always be there to greet Todd as he drove down the driveway. Back in June, Bob, Jamie, Todd and I were getting ready to go to Baldwin for the 2nd NPSL meet. Jedei wouldn't go inside, and it was getting late, so Todd decided to leave him outside. As we drove away, and Jedei watched from just enough distance, Todd rolled down his window, stuck his hand out, decided to declare his human dominance and yelled, "Yeah, look it you fucking dog!!! Its called a disposible thumb!!!" Jedei is definitely a beagle dog...a hunter. And sometimes he gets into things he shouldn't. This late winter/early spring, Jedei found something "good" and decided to roll in it. He stunk!!! I threathened Todd that if he didn't clean Jedei a little bit, that Jedei was going to have to sleep outside because he wasn't going to sleep in the hanger with us smelling like that. He finally mumbled "Ok", and called Jedei into the clubhouse bathroom and closed the door. Ten minutes later they both emerged. Todd went into the clubhouse shower, stripped down, took a shower with Jedei and washed him with whatever soap was available, which happen to be Ax Body Wash. Jedei has been forever known as "An Ax Man" just like the commercials. And Jedei has never smelled better, nor his coat softer, than that night. I owe beer for today. It was the first time that for a split second I forgot that Todd was gone. I had a thought that my first instict was to call Todd and tell him about it. I got 1/2 way through the thought and remembered. I hate normal life. I hate knowing that there are no more memories created. No more new stories.

Funny thing is that there were one or two similar entries in Todd's log book that appeared to not have been in his handwriting!!! Care to confess, Gag????

I was a s/l student, and learned how to do each of the four slots on exiting a 182. My advice...if you haven't already done so, get some "other aircraft" jumps in, whether it be an Otter, Skyvan, PAC750, ect. I didn't really understand "relative wind" and "prop wash" until I exited a different aircrat than the one(s) we have at "home". I learned a shit ton from doing some Otter exits (door on other side, no step/crotch/strut). That's just speaking from personal experience. Maybe that's not your "problem", but it might help you. I'm still a newbie so take it for what it's worth. Just be safe.

The Beast (Milwaukee's Best Ice). All it took was two....Two Beer Todd (maybe 3 or 4 on a good night). Today was unbelievable, and it went by so fast. Todd's ash dive date has yet to be decided. Planning for the future isn't my strong point right now. All I know is that it will be at Wissota, date to be determined.

I should add to my post that this first that I spoke about and not knowing how to handle it was not because I lost someone to a skydiving accident. It's because he was my best friend and my entire future. It's been five days, and I've made four jumps since then. He wouldn't have wanted it any other way (well, actually he would have been pissed that I've only done four with the weather we've had and the opportunities that I've had but all great relationships are due to the ability to compremise). If you're going to jump, jump. If you're going to jump, do it for yourself. How many people have you known that have died in a car crash, but yet you've gotten into a car a hundred/thousand times after?