Ducky

Well said my friend, and now my $.02.... I will reach behind me and grab the necessary parts, ugly n broken, painted with shame and shaded with pain and with careful hands; polish them to a new luster, shaping and forming with a warming heart and careful eye. So that I may gaze upon the history I have built with renewed hunger for the future, full of knowledge and open to learn. Not cutting corners, but being brave enough to look around them letting old wounds heal, and planting pastures of new friendships. Pulling close those who should be, being patient with those who are not. Recalling the wondrous eyes I saw life with at age 6 and praying I may do so at 106. The sculpture that stands before me now can guide me, but shall not bind me. I and ONLY I can warm this heart and soothe this soul. The key is exactly that, TO WHOM I give the key; those fortunate enough to be let in to gaze upon the art that is me and my history. Christopher A. Goff 2001 (me) kwak Stupidity is a crime.

lol, wingnut wearing makeup, I gotta see those pics! kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Yep it's true I don't dig guys, but chics who dig chics are cool in my book. kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Ok I confess, I have done both combos mentioned here and quite a few others. I have dated some freak, open minded women. I also have attended some wild parties, recovering from one last night at this very moment. Pretty much any combo and situation you can come up with that doesn't involve homsexual acts oin my part has been tried. Why am I tellin you people this?? kwak Stupidity is a crime.

I'm sure it will pass with time... I'm just happy to see i am not a rare case with my worries. No sh*t it was mullins King Air I rode for my first 5 jumps!!!! My brother took an observer ride on my level 3. He looked like he might has well have jumped when I saw him on the ground. Mullin's decent is pretty freaking wild from what I have seen/heard. kwak Stupidity is a crime.

I appreciate the responses and soe good advice. Like I said the ensuing jump is not what bothers me it's just thefreaking plane. On one of my Cessna rideslike, jump 18 we only made it to 3200 and my JM said I could ride the plane down if I felt like not going out at that altitude. I said what are you F*&kin nuts??? Before he could respond I was out the door. I think perhaps a flying lesson as Clay and other's suggested would be good. I had thought of that and also possibly of riding the observer seat on the otter a few times. If nothing else I could actually get the confidence that the pilot CAN land the plane if needed. I must say being able to actually see out helps. My first ride by the door in the Casa was cool. I can say i didn't take my seat belt off til about 10k though. I was on the end of the bench and I kept invisioning gettin bumped off and rolling out the open tailgate. It was an amazing view from there though. kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Ok here's my dilema; With 25 jumps to my credit I have step by step made a transition from being a lil nervous even fearful before jumps to just plain anxious even excited, except for one thing. I seem to have developed a slight fear of planes on the climb to altitude. Its odd to me cuz that was the one thing I was sure I would not have a problem with when i started skydiving. I have flown all over the world. My first plane ride was in a small cessna at age 6. I have also ridden in helis and loved it. I have no fear at all of thrill rides, rollercoasters etc. I have tried to pinpoint the root of my fear. The best I can figure is a combination of factors: In my FJC nothing was even mentioned about the plain other than the exit. I was a little surprised at how packed in we were on the King Air on my first jump. The pilot sending all of us weight-less when leveling off didn't help with my nerves, but I don't recall actually being scared of the ride, I was too focused on my 1st jump. The next time I recall any real issues was about a month ago when I was trying to get my A-license squared away. I spent the weekend at the DZ and did 5 jumps on Saturday. On all of the exits I had practiced my Hopnpop (exit stable, prac. pull 3 times) which I planned on doing for #20. Sunday morning first load (my 16th jump) we board the Otter and I'm chatting w/ my coach when at about 6,500 the plane banks Hard left and dives. My coach rushed to put on his helmet and I did the same. We had no idea of what was happening the pilot yells back and said experienced jumpers can exit, I check my alti it's 4,000. My coach said "let's get out, you need a HnP your ready for it we gotta go" I am blue in the face cuz I still have not breathed since we dove. I head for the door look back terrified to a reassuring audience and out. All goes well with the hnp, but all I can do is watch the plane to see where it crashes. It lands, as do I and all is well. I walk inside still trying to make myself breath right and my coach gives my a high five. I see this as odd behavior considering what just happened. I later learned that the pilot ran through some clouds at 6,500 and started getting ice so he dove to get out of it and aborted the climb to Alti. We were never in real danger and his offer for jumpers to exit was only cuz we were in good position for HnPs and he didn't wanna spoil the whole load. I felt better about it all, but was still nerve-wrecked. They fired up the cessna saying we had a ceiling of 5,000 and I was encouraged to keep jumping so I did. The first ride to altitude in the cessna nearly forced me to be sick. It was not rough or anything I just was terrified any time we even began to bank or hit a "bump". I had been spoiled on jumping a King Air and Otter til then. The following 3 loads were as bad or worse and I was thankful when they finally shut it down due to weather. After writing this small novel I know WHERE my fear comes from. Its very ironic that my fear for jumping has gone. I am greatful to get to the door and get the hell out of that plane. I just am not sure how to handle this fear. I don't think it is something that will prevent me from jumping, but I would sure love to be able to focus on other things on the climb to altitude. I am curious if anyone else has had this issue and if so how they dealt with it? I am open to any and all advice. I also appreciate the few brave souls who may have actually read this far into my ramblings. So If ya see a guy sweating, and turning blue in the face on your next load say hello I'd love to meet ya :-) kwak Stupidity is a crime.

My AFF didn't cover anything regarding spotting.... So on my first solo when i ended up being first out someone yellled door, i looked out (apparently at nothing) and said seeya, exit! I couldn't figure out why I was so far out when i opened at 4,000. I flew straight into the wind the whole way back never turned even on approach. I made it into the landing area by about 15ft. Later someone approched me and explained the whole green light red light concept to me. I had never noticed the damn lights cuz students were always the last off and all i knew about was separation. Within minutes I approached a few AFF-Is and told them the story they both were sympathetic and admitted that they forget those minor details sometimes. It was a good learning experience though, and without a walk! I spotted the next 5 loads and was even asked by my coach to tell the pilot in which ways to adjust jump run on a few. kwak Stupidity is a crime.

No wonder you wnated to go out last on that dive!! kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Thanx Dave... I feel so much less confused now that I'm "in da loop" Hey Wingnut you online now brotha?? kwak Stupidity is a crime.

There is an EXCELEENT explanation of fall rate here >>> http://www.makeithappen.com/spsj/fallrate.htm kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Hmm ok so while were learning here asnwer this for me... how do you get those damn lines over n under a quote your replying to??? kwak Stupidity is a crime.

One of the Otters at the Mardi Gras boogie had a stereo in it. The pilot was jamming Sonique followed by Ac/Dc. So music in the planes is definately a good idea on the condition that someone more qualified picks the tunes. There are way too many tandems and students at my DZ for it to be feasable, oh well :( kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Fallin fast??? um not me... I have been accused of changing my mind and trying to reboard the Otter at altitude! When i broke off from the Magic Carpet Ride at Mardi Gras i tried to fall my slowest and just watched everyone fall away from me. Almost everyone actually disappeared into little specs below me. I looked back and below me in my track and could see everyone's canopy opening a good 5 seconds before i pulled. kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Kewl deal, and best of luck to the boy! kwak Stupidity is a crime.

a lilttle CReW over Moss Point Stupidity is a crime.

Pics looking good guys.. Here is another Casa that was out for the weekend... Stupidity is a crime.

I think he post here on occasion, was kewl for sure. We had a blast, wish I could have hung out longer with these peeps kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Here ya go... The DZ.com gang from Sunday at the Mardi Gras Boogie on the tailgate of the CASA. This is after our insane 7-way "Magic Carpet Ride" woohoo Ducky Stupidity is a crime.

Kickass pic Kreg! Check out this one, its a taste of what outs are like in Moss Point, haha!!! I had an awesome time with you guys and would definately like to jump with you folks again! and yes Clay, I'll vouch for the man, she had and awesome rack! More pics coming soon!!! Stupidity is a crime.

Ok I'll be the first to through up a red flag here! What are you nutz?!?!?!? Here is what you have to look forward to... MY FJC instructor was 65 the day he taught our class. He started jumping at age 60, has made over 3,000 jumps in those 5 years and attained nearly every instructional rating and award possible in the sport. He flies some ridiculously small canopy that looks no bigger than a freakin piece of toilet paper over his head. Not to mention he was a great teacher for the course, made all of us learn the info. Are you getting this ???? Do you REALLY want this to happen to you?? I mean seriously we're talking one plunge from a perfectly good airplane and its over. You walk away from the greatest legal way a man could spend his afternoon and your hooked. I among thousands of others am now afflicted with this same addiction. I have sought help, but the treatment centers are all at the DZ and the damn 12 step program involves naked chics, sleeping bags n bonfires at the DZ on a Saturday night. I plead with you to reconsider!!!! I could go on for days about the reason not to do it, but I know you will anyway, they never listen :( Oh well, kwak Stupidity is a crime.

Umm, ugggh, so if that's insanity I guess were all screwed! I think If my family or friends hear one more word about skydiving they'll puke. I feel like that chic from American Pie "This one time, at band camp...." They just look at me with this blank stare. i am currently plotting how to convert one of them, I need somebody on my side damnit! Kwak Stupidity is a crime.

1,000,000 post? looks like this>>> Clay (Ass of Clay) soon to be stone Stupidity is a crime.

I'm like a kid on Christmas eve! I'll be there Saturday morning!! I'm almost positive I will have the hats for sale so save a few bucks! If all goes as planned they will be kickass. Kwak Stupidity is a crime.

I guess not some things never change! kwak Stupidity is a crime.