Gato

2 Items that are Kewl this week: I played a 3-piece blues gig on wednesday night, and the band earned $378 in tips, on top of what we normally get ($100 per man plus tips), so we walked away with $226 each! The most kewl thing is that I'm going on my first tandem jump tomorrow. Gotta have that freefall, and get off the "dope rope" (No offense, SL peeps!) The extra duckets I made on wed. will almost pay for my second tandem, or I could get video, a T-shirt, etc. Hope your weekend and future hours improve, ACME. Bluesies, El Gato T.I.N.S.

Hey McDuck - I feel your pain, sir. I metabolize novocaine very quickly and had to have the mondo shots as well. It suuuuuuuuuucks! No question you need to ask for nitrous oxide, but I didn't know some dentists just flat-out don't offer it. I called 1800-Dentist and asked for a dentist that practices Sedation Dentistry. You could also ask to be referred to an Endodontist, specialists in root canals. As a matter of fact, I'm having a tooth extracted by an oral surgeon on monday, and you better believe I don't want to remember any of it. BTW, this is a former root canal that broke in half when I grabbed my ripcord in my teeth. SH*T. Blue skies, pearly whites, Gato T.I.N.S.

Here's a nice one I got from a singer I once worked with: "You are cordially invited to have sex with yourself." Isn't that classy? Or these (If you use these, you have to give me credit - they're mine!): "Let me ask you a question - shut the fuck up." "This is the last time I'm going to ask you nicely to shut the fuck up." T.I.N.S.

I'm pretty fast - this particuar trip took 3 1/2 hours including drive time. All 3 stores are very close to one another. I wasn't trying to save time, just money. This time. Oooh Skymama - did you say, "Shoes?" We could talk for days about shoes. If I could, I'd probably have 30 or 40 pairs: there aren't just a few different occaisions, so why should one only have a few different shoes? I found a pair of Nike running shoes for 40% off the next day. I suppose I should be clear; I'm a Hit-and-run shopper. I can't just browse forever. I find what I'm looking for, and then I'm gone. T.I.N.S.

I read through this whole thread - who attacked you, and how? "silly ching chong lady" - Are you serious with this? I'm not Asian but I'm pretty sure that's offensive. T.I.N.S.

Jorge realized all too late that he wasn't going to make the varsity matador squad. T.I.N.S.

'Tis I, Gato, the metrosexual shopper. I went looking for stuff to keep me warm while in the air, and the general consensus appears to be that Under Armor, while very expensive, is the preferred brand and performance level. I do have some UA Heat Gear shirts and socks and stuff, and it is great quality. But $60 or $80 for a shirt no one will see (unless you're built like me ) is just too much. Enter the lowly Target store. If you have one of these near you, in the men's section, almost all of their C9 (Champion) winter weight stuff is on clearance. Check out C9 stuff - it's all moisture-controlling, very warm, and looks good. It's different in every store, but check what I scored: 3 Fleece C9 Jackets for me (Different colors, Very warm) - $4.98 each 3 Fleece C9 Jackets for my wife (also Different colors) - $4.98 each 1 pair of C9 wind pants (Champion's version of Goretex) - $7.98 2 C9 long sleeve loose fit shirts (2nd or 3rd layer) - $4.28 each Medium weight C9 perf. under shirt, black (long sleeve) - $19.99 Went right next door to Dick's sporting goods (They sell UA), and I found a pair of Fitness Gear hyroDry medium-weight running tights for $14. Just for good measure, I went to Raven Military Surplus (Thanks, Terry!) and picked up a GI issue polypropylene top with a zip turtle neck for $20, and a pair of winter ops gloves for $25. All told, I spent $125.14 for all of this. If I had chosen to buy UA instead, I'd have one Cold Gear Metal top, and be about $25 shy of having enough for the pants. What I think is very cool is how many ways all this stuff can be combined for various temperatures and conditions. I'd have to spend at least triple that amount if I wanted all Under Armor stuff. Please know, I love UA, and if I find it on clearance, I might buy it. I just can't afford what they want to charge. I posted this because I'm a man and I'm proud of my ability to scope a great bargain, and shop with great proficiency. Is this not sexy? If anyone needs advice on lotions, creams, ointments, or great shampoo and conditioner, feel free to post here. Have a nice day and stay classy! T.I.N.S.

And what do you wanna bet they have a website like DZ.com where the newbs can exchange poor advice? Seriously, it sounds like another rationalization: "This is why you shouldn't do any thing even remotely risky - even if it doesn't kill you, it's still gonna kil you!" I am now rationalizing not becoming a pre-med student. T.I.N.S.

Hey, I'm a musician - I don't get up until 9:30am. I did see the women of the senate last night on PBS, but honestly, I'm not sure of the actual numbers. I find myself asking the most cynical questions when it comes to politics. It would seem new changes are always occurring, but the ways in which the system functions are desperately in need of an overhaul. Kind of like if you tried to run QuickBooks on an old Texas Instruments TI-99 computer - the government is operating on cassette tapes, but we need terrabyte drives and blue ray. Geek Speak. Chris T.I.N.S.

Is it more likely to be a white woman before a black man? Have we ever had an African American Speaker of the House? How many women in the senate - or the house? How many Afican Americans in the senate - or the house? How many Afican American women in the senate - or the house? We elected GWB - I think with that kind of standard, it's going to be a loooooong time before we see such monumental cahnges. Having said that, I do have some faith in my fellow citizens. T.I.N.S.

"Chris: At age 58 you will be attacked by a pack of escaped lap dogs in your neighborhood and never be seen again." No porn stars, no ruthless pack of gorgeous insatiable 20-year-old brunettes & redheads. Fucking lap dogs. To hell with that - I'm going to merge with The Force when I'm 149 years young, right after a weekend of wingsuiting out of my friend WatchYourStep's new Jetson car, and romping with Angelina Jolie's 3 hottie daughters, the triplets that just graduated from Harvard. (There; fixed it for myself.) T.I.N.S.

Hey Brian - Option 1 helps support the content of the book, and I think it gives a prospective reader a fair idea of what's coming. If you are using the same photo as the edition I have (you, over the ocean?), Option 1 supports that more appropriately than #2. Great book, by the way; glad to hear you've got yourself a good editor - your work deserves it! Chris T.I.N.S.

I'm jealous of the beard. All I have is a little-girly goatee. T.I.N.S.

This is listed on the A license proficiency card and it's on USPA's website: http://www.uspa.org/publications/forms.htm#licenses If you don't have it yet, get a copy of "The Skydiver's Handbook" by Dan Poynter & Mike Turoff. This book also contains the card, but the USPA site will contain more up to date license information. Take it easy, Gato T.I.N.S.

"How many licks to the center of a Tootsie Brain?" T.I.N.S.

"This son of a bitch swallowed my car keys! T.I.N.S.

DUDE! Put your pants back on! T.I.N.S.

"If you remove the snowman's outer layer, you'll see he's wearing Under Armour." T.I.N.S.

Nope - more recent than that. Little hint: Line was delivered to Vince Vaughn. T.I.N.S.

I can nail almost any Sean Connery line - that's from "The Untouchables." Try this: "I will smash your face into a car windshield, and take your mother, Dorothy Mantooth, out for a nice seafood dinner, AND NEVER CALL HER AGAIN!!" T.I.N.S.

Edited to add: Yes. Ohhh, God, yes. Immediately after I was told to do so. What would you do with a fresh Brazilian/Sphinx right in front of you? (If you don't know to what I refer, I cannot help you.) T.I.N.S.

Oh my God, I was just thinking of that flick! I'll let somebody else nail it, though. I don't want to be greedy. For Pete Seller's sake! T.I.N.S.

Ok, I don't know anything about rolling papers (or do I?) but I'm pretty sure inhaling burning cellulose vapor would ultimately be much more harmful than just using regular ZigZags or whatever. I do know for a fact that burning celluLOID will kill you in short order. Someone might want to experiment by rolling normal tobacco into one and seeing if it feels different than a regular cigarette. I won't be doing this. T.I.N.S.

That's not from "Victor Victoria" is it? Here's another one: "The villanies of nature do swarm upon him. Disdaining fortune with brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution." T.I.N.S.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles I don't think anyone will get this one: "Why is there a watermelon there?" "I'll tell you later." Hint: Jeff Goldblum has the first line. T.I.N.S.