Jewels

AWESOME! Are we on your world tour? TPM Sister #102

that sounds cool.. mines broken though I couldn't get the ctrl key and mouse combo to work, but ctrl and + or - did. Try that alternative. TPM Sister #102

AWWWW, I wish *I* was an "Atlanta folk" again. Neighbors would be awesome. TPM Sister #102

Again with the smell problem. . . . TPM Sister #102

Crest Vivid White toothpaste and regular checkups are your friends! Yeah, I don't need to walk around looking like I brush with shoe polish. TPM Sister #102

(Watching for new thread about the "Carmex is even better" addiction. I like Blistex, personally, but the Carmex thing is big.) TPM Sister #102

So would you just train MY lawn guy, already? He's no longer a student but I think he's trainable. I don't know about the smell and such but as long as it stays outside I'm not gonna complain. TPM Sister #102

Pocket, no. But it pretty much goes everywhere with me, just like some people haul along a water bottle. Desk top, car, wherever. Coffee substitute, for sure. It's just that water is so . . . non-sugary and caffeine free! TPM Sister #102

Coca-Cola for me. No Coke = BAD DAY! TPM Sister #102

You were just asking for it, flaunting all your expertise with that fancy schmancy trailer of yours. TPM Sister #102

ROFL! I just like edging. The guy who does the lawn right now doesn't edge. He CALLS it edging, but I say that it requires the use of an EDGER to actually be edging. It's like looking at a nice, clean haircut on a guy's neck when it's done right. He also does these little swirly things in the yard and there are no nice, pristine lawn mower lines. STRAIGHT, man, cut it STRAIGHT! (Okay, I feel better.) Apparently, I have lawn issues! TPM Sister #102

Do you edge, too? Not that it matters, since I live in Colorado, but I can dream. . . . TPM Sister #102

I, for one, have no idea what the answer is to your question. However, having had a couple of family members struggle with alcohol, I have to say that it doesn't seem like it would be worth it to experiment to find out whether they are one of the ones who could handle casual drinking. What if they're not? That's potentially a lot of lost ground. I think the price is too great and (brace yourselves--I know this is tantamount to blasphemy) alcohol just isn't worth taking the chance. Edited to add: I'm NOT blasting anyone who has addressed their drinking and has concluded that they're comfortable and in control with casual drinking. I'm just saying that for those people who have identified WHATEVER substance as a real issue, I've seen enough to conclude that there is too much on the line to toy with going back to it again just to see if they can handle it. TPM Sister #102

Some of us will NOT be jumping all winter in conditions like that . . . . Squarecanopy just hasn't been the same since he got frostbite on the brain from jumping in those crazy temps! TPM Sister #102

I'm such a sucker for sweet stories like those! Dogs are great.

Maybe you could get Jumper03 to talk to it and shame it into leaving. He seems to be on a roll lately. . . . TPM Sister #102

Well, I still have the provost on my side - she saw me get felt up by a senator for the good of the school. Wait . . . how is this better??? (Unless you were HAPPY about the thing with the senator, I suppose. . . .) TPM Sister #102

Ouch. No need for a personal introduction any longer. . . . TPM Sister #102

LOL--I started a reply once and deleted it because I feel inadequate to the task. I have VERY few jumps and a hefty case of door fear, but I have to say it's worth it (or I'd only have 1 jump instead of 3). If there was a magic chant to give you to help with the fear, I would. Heck, I'd repeat it to myself over and over and over and over! What DOES help is knowing what's going to happen on the dive and using my mental energy to think about that rather than the fear. I know you're doing a tandem but it might help to talk with your TI beforehand to get some real information about the jump. Find out a bit about the gear and what's going to happen on your dive, and concentrate on those things. I find that the more I actively participate in the jump, the less time and energy I have for fear to get in the way. I was lucky. The first jump I did was a tandem and the instructor knew I was interested in AFF so I got more information than the other tandem passengers that day. I know I learned a lot more, and I'll bet that I enjoyed my jump more than they enjoyed theirs, too! I've also found that the fear subsides once I get out the door and get into a nice, comfy free fall. To do that, just do what you're told--which, in all likelihood, will include the word "ARCH!"

There's always the wind tunnel, too. If you're close enough to Perris, your 13-year-old can start learning to fly there. It's not the same thing, but it's a beginning!

Interesting. I don't disagree with your "show up with beer" approach. You'll be well-liked! What surprises me is that you associate tipping with a bribe to pass you on to the next level. If I thought it was that easy with my instructor (pay-to-pass), I'd be looking for a new instructor. I'm learning to jump, to be safe for myself and with respect to others around me. Tipping someone to short-circuit that process makes no sense and is disturbing on a lot of levels, not the least of which is the future jumper who wants to get a free pass at who-knows-what-cost and the instructor who might be willing to give it. (Oh, and for the record, I can't think of any instructors I know at our dz who would even think about it.) TPM Sister #102

You're so bad! (I thought that was Teletubbies and not whales, anyway.) Edited to add: I really intend no offense to anyone. Please don't take it.

Wow--what stereotyping! Not ALL Jewish whales wear them, you know. TPM Sister #102

I think part of the conflict arises because they always want the more valuable beach front property. Then, when they move in, neighbors complain about the erosion they cause when they are beached. Creating special compounds for them is out because then they are not being treated equally. It's a problem. BTW, shouldn't you have posted this in SC? TPM Sister #102

Really? It just made me laugh. I thought the overall tone of the segment was very positive. Skydiving isn't for everyone. I didn't feel like her reaction undid the positive message of the rest of the segment. If that clip caught anyone's interest, I doubt that Meredith's "No!" would undo that. TPM Sister #102