Jewels

I have to say that I'm glad to hear that we still have people doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do--even if it gets tiresome to see it through when the payoff sometimes sucks! It can be particularly hard to do when compromise seems to be rewarded instead. I guess I'm trying to say that I am so sorry that you're paying the price for it, but I'm glad you're still willing to pay. It doesn't change your work situation one iota, but you can just add my name to the list of people cheering you on. I admire that kinda moxy! TPM Sister #102

That last load got pelted pretty good with ice on the way down. NOT a pleasant ride back to the ground, it sounds like. OUCH! TPM Sister #102

SWEET video! More, please! TPM Sister #102

Congrats! I'm still working up the courage for that first jump, but I'm getting there. I'm glad to hear that you loved it! TPM Sister #102

Oh, yeah--one more thing. I bought a LOG BOOK today so I'm all set when I get my act together. It's either optimistic, foolish, or I should get honorary membership in the Boy Scouts for being obscenely prepared. Whatta geek. TPM Sister #102

HEY!!! Look who's online!!! Yeah, I cheated--but notice how I called you a "good friend?" (Does that get me any bonus points? Um, yeah, no. Besides, you're the one who got the full body massage today!) You'll be delighted to know that 20 minutes and a small fortune later, all I accomplished was learning to do a 1/2 barrel roll and to flop like a fish on the belly-to-back and back-to-belly transitions. Tuesday can't get here fast enough. (BRAD--FIX THIS MESS!) TPM Sister #102

Chris, I am SO EXCITED for you!!! Congratulations!!! That sounds great and I can't WAIT to see the upload. WAY TO GO!!!! I would go leaping across the DZ to give you a congratulatory hug, but I'm nowhere near you and you'd probably think I was a freak for being a total stranger, bounding across the field at you. So, I will just limit it to a huge congratulations. Lead the way! No, I didn't jump but I did go to the DZ and that was a very good thing to do. I spent a few hours out there and never got tired of watching load after load. They are still very small specks in the sky before deployment, but seeing lots of happy landings was helpful. A good friend went with me and I got to see two other friends jump, so all in all, it was good to get my head back on straight again. Jumping will now have to wait until the next paycheck as I had to drown my woes in 20 minutes of tunnel time to feed the beast since I didn't jump, but I at least am now back to the point where my fear is not overwhelming. Watching was good, good, good. I know I'm still going to have terror at the door, but at least now I don't feel like throwing up anymore. All in all, it's very anticlimatic but I still consider it a successful day. TPM Sister #102

Not committing to a jump tomorrow; just committing to go up to the DZ and check things out to get back on track. I want to be mentally engaged when I do this, and not just to be getting through it. TPM Sister #102

Um, yep, that would pretty much be it. So how long before that goes away? (Because I assume skydiving doesn't work that well when you're on enough Valium not to care anymore.) TPM Sister #102

You are too funny! Go off all you want--that's actually sort of how I feel, too!!! The best description I can come up with is that it's like my brain is being a traitor. I am compromising and going up to the DZ in the morning to meet a few people and watch a while. I am not going with the intention of talking myself into the jump tomorrow, but I AM going with the intention of re-setting my brain and getting back to the original game plan. I really want this, and frankly, it surprised me when the panic set in. I don't do a full blown panic about very much and I sure didn't expect it with something I was so excited to go do. So, my brain and my stomach are going to get just enough attention to quiet the rebellion and then I'm going to let my heart pull me out the door. I'm just glad that the panic happened on the ground and not in the air! TPM Sister #102

Normal? I was doing just fine and then, WHAM!, my head started actually contemplating the whole thing and my stomach said, "uh, no. . . ." The problem is, my heart is half-way out the door. TPM Sister #102

Given my lack of concentration on work this morning, maybe I SHOULD go for the boat! TPM Sister #102

Welll, we will see. It may not happen this weekend after all. It's a combination of things, not the least of which was a COMPLETELY unexpected and unwelcome wave of abject terror. How can I be so excited about this and then out of nowhere become so completely terrified? That's just wrong. Besides, I have enough tunnel time that I should be in love with the free fall. So, what's the problem with my brain, already???! TPM Sister #102

I'm having so much fun in the tunnel! It's not so much that I'm worried about learning this as it is that I'm impatient to learn this! I want to do it all--right now. (Some people are never satisfied! ) 97 pounds--must be nice! I'll BET you miss the guys. We're lucky to have them here. Next time I see him/them, I will say hello! TPM Sister #102

LOL--no boats!

I hear that completely. I'm supposed to do my first tandem on Saturday, after having spent a bit of time in the wind tunnel. I love the tunnel and can't wait to experience the same thing, but I am really struggling with the door fear. The good news is that I have several friends who will be at the DZ and they are in love with the sport, so I know I'll have good encouragement right there with me! TPM Sister #102

And then Brad H. wears a suit that says "Derek" and it all gets confused. Or more so. Maybe they should just throw out all the applications from people who have a name that's already taken! TPM Sister #102

I can see how two years would be long enough! Blissfulness can lose some of its bliss when there is no real variety. I don't know that I would want two full years on an island, no matter how good the first two months might be! Still, I might like to see how these two months would go. . . .

TOTALLY agree. That's why I never request a specific instructor, although there could be times when it could be helpful to work with a specific person on a specific skill. TPM Sister #102

I've been talking specifically about Brad C., but actually, Brad H. is great, too. Now I have to go to Vegas!! I've been lucky. There has only been one instructor that I just don't mesh with in the tunnel as well as others, and that's NOT even Derek.

Brad is GREAT. I like all of our instructors, but Brad has been especially good. We all respond to some people better than others (just as a matter of fact, not because anyone is a "bad" instructor), and he's one of the ones I get better results with. Gotta like that! TPM Sister #102

Haven't seen a tunnel rig yet, although you'd think I would have, given the number of "real" skydivers who are in the tunnel on a regular basis! I'll keep my eyes open for one. Not a jumper yet. Hopefully, that will all be different by Saturday! The tunnel is creating another convert. TPM Sister #102

Good thread! Glad you asked about that. Sounds like there was some good input and I'm keeping that in mind for Saturday! (BTW, are you secretly on commission with the DZ? You're getting a LOT of recruits!! Conquering the world, one sky diver at a time. . . .) Nice hair. TPM Sister #102

I've never thought about weights in the tunnel vs. weights in the air as an issue. I assumed it would be the same difference! Good to know that there are other considerations as well. I think that it would be exhausting to do a long session without weights if you were flying with bigger people. It can be hard work to counter all that wind, and two hours later would be tough! Say hi the next time you're in Colorado!! TPM Sister #102

No kidding?! That's great! I will definitely keep my eyes open for you to say hello. I'm always there for adult league on Tuesdays, so if you're around, come say hi! Tonight was a big night. FINALLY did a decent back fly and then Brad started teaching me to transition from belly to back and back to belly in my last two minute rotation, which was a TOTAL kick. Now I can't wait to get back in the tunnel to work on that some more. It's so amazingly fun and I never get tired of it. I didn't ask what % we were at tonight, but the wind speed was definitely up but for some reason I didn't have to fight it as much. I think the difference was that I had a good day at work and I came in more relaxed than usual. Just goes to show how influential your mind-set can be! Now, if only I can learn to control it. End result: I agreed to go do my first tandem on Saturday morning!! TPM Sister #102