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Is Normal the kid brother of Norman? Blue skies, Jim

I fractured L4 and it was 4 months with lots of PT before I was released to jump again. Of course I'm porbably a lot older than you so it takes me a lot longer.... Blue skies, Jim

Most of the RW groups at Spaceland take into consideration their climb out time for both the spot and separation. For example, the pilot is always notified of the first groups size so he can signal them to open the door earlier if they are a large group. The group then begins their climb out early and by the time everyone is in place, they should be at the proper exit point on the jumprun. The second group if also a large group, immediately begins their climb out upon exit of the first group. By the time the second group is set and counting, at least 10 seconds have passed since the first group exit. As the groups get smaller, delays in climb out become longer. I said most RW groups at the beginning. We do have one or two people who insist on being right over the hanger before they climb out oblivious to the fact that they hose almost everyone else on the plane. Blue skies, Jim

Happy birthday J! Hope you got something you really, really wanted. Blue skies, Jim

Or call Alti and ask them where they will be with their pressure test next. Then go to that boogie, get it tested, make a few jumps, and make lots of new friends! Blue skies, Jim

And you want that guy to become a farmer mcnasty? Blue skies, Jim

Turned one in to the American Embassy once for almost $250,000. They didn't even blink. Blue skies, Jim

You're not looking at this from her point of view! She will wear that cast like a badge of honor around school. Will get a lot of extra attention. Now if you would have pushed her off the monkey bar.... Blue skies, Jim

Since I "had" to work, I got a hardship driving permit at 14 and remember taking that first drink around 15 or 16. Usually we wouldn't drink and drive though. Most of us would meet at a friends house whose parents were out of town for the weekend, where we would drink and spend the night. Always wondered what the friends parents thought about all the weak booze they had since we watered it down so they wouldn't know we had sampled all the open bottles! Blue skies, Jim

The witness retaliation case ran for over 3 weeks. I don't remember how long the attempted murder case was. Had to report everyday even if nothing was going on, but got a "free" lunch at a decent restaurant. I think we got paid $12 per day and the parking at the courthouse was like $15 per day! Blue skies, Jim

Yep. Had to go twice over about a 20 year period. First time was selected for the trial of a guy who had threatened a US witness if she testified in another case. Second time was the attempted murder of a female US agent by a woman who stabbed her about 10-11 times. Wonder when and what the next one will be? Blue skies, Jim

Of course this is more than offset by the "And what school do you go to?" or "What grade are you in?" questions that are in there somewhere. Blue skies, Jim

...and still no South or Southwest? We're never gona' get that jump! Blue skies, Jim

Current client wants me at work on Fridays! (Note I said at work. Doesn't mean they have given me anything to do for the last 8 weeks! Conversation on Wednesday usually goes: Me: Sure nothing to do. I think I will take off Friday to jump. Client: No something may come up. Hang around here and play on dz.com for a few hours. Well I ad libbed the last sentence, but the rest is true!!! Blue skies, Jim

Once again, in some states even if the parents gave permission and/or don't want to sue the attorney can petition the courts to file on behalf of the minor and claim the parents are at least partially negligent and sue them too! Just because if might be your kid may not get you off the hook! And if you think a lawyer would not take the suit just because you asked him not to, you don't know lawyers! Blue skies, Jim

diet coke Blue skies, Jim

But some of us know who the other really is! Blue skies, Jim

Not that simple Bill. Hell I wouldn't even let Trent jump if he wasn't 18. Any damn lawyer in Texas could file a petition with the court on behalf of the minor and take everything the parents, the dz, and all related parties have claiming everyone was negligent in allowing the minor to participate is a sport that is inherently dangerous. Got the local soccer and little leagues quaking in their boots! Of course the attorney is doing it simply to protect the minor (or the minor's estate) and would never take a fee % for such good work. Blue skies, Jim

Actual conversation many years ago with a guy my age (we were in our early 20's at the time.) Me: You're gona' vote a straight party ticket? Him: Yes, why? Me: What if there is a better candidate for some of the races in the other party? Him: Doesn't matter. If they're XXX Party they get my vote. Me: Why? Do you know all the candidates? Him: Nope. Don't pay any attention to the individuals. What is important is the Party. My mom and dad voted XXX Party and I'm gona' vote XXX Party. Me: What if some of them are known crooks or frauds, or have spent tax dollars on bogus projects and expenses? Him: Doesn't matter. The Party will sort it out later. This was during the McGovern v Nixon campaign. Blue skies, Jim

Woops! Thought you meant the thing you clean out drains with. Blue skies, Jim

No where near the same thing: You say yes AND give the cop money. You are busted! You are a licensed driver and know the rules. Speed limits go up and down in many places sometimes dramatically. Point of infraction is the placement location of the sign and beyond the sign. Once you see the sign, immediately start slowing down. If you can't see the sign you shouldn't be driving or if the sign is hidden behind something, you can fight it. Still you violating the law. You mean like soliciting for the murder of a spouse or business partner? Still you talking to somebody about you doing something illegal. What's the difference between these 3 examples and our sexual predator? 1) He was told the person he was talking to was a minor and he still continued talking and arranged a meeting knowing he was not also a minor. 2) The target minor he was after is not capable of protecting herself from sexual predators; hence the law. 3) The crime he was going to commit was injury to another person not to himself. I suggest you PM skycop (Post #48) and hear what some of these guys are capable of. Most of the discussions here talk about an adult 22-21 and a 17, 16, 15 year old which in some countries may not be illegal. How about a 40 year old after your 12 year old daughter? Or your 10 year old niece? Both of them could have been on-line chatting with their "friends". Blue skies, Jim

The cells can be replaced by PD. Is it expensive? It's not cheap, but probably cheaper than another canopy!

Yes it was George. Blue skies, Jim

Sunday evening and it was getting pretty late. Jumping had slowed down, but a 4-way team was still practicing. The team had to finish before 6PM because one jumper had to fly his plane back home before dark. The Otter was 4 jumpers short of the minimum load and everyone had been sitting around for awhile. There's a few of us around who will buy multiple slots once in awhile just to get a plane up and I decided this was one of those times. I used one ticket even though I had "finished" jumping for the day and gave the other 3 slots away. One to my packer, and one each to two friends who I thought had just finished their 4-way team jumps. Plane flew and everyone had fun and a good safe jump. When I got to the packing room, I overheard the team leader chewing out the two guys who had taken the free slots because they had not finished jumping and now both their rigs were unpacked and the team was on the next load. Even though everyone was thanking me for buying the slots, I felt bad because of my disruption of the one teams schedule. Later as the jumper/pilot was getting ready to fly home he came up to me and forced $20 into my hand to help share the cost of the slots I bought. Then a little after that one of the jumper/pilots teammates came up and gave me another $20 as his share of the slots. Finally at dinner Sunday night, two good friends (husband was shooting camera for the jumper/pilots team) paid for both my wife and my dinner without me knowing it as his way of saying thanks. It may have been some of that karma we discussed on here last week. In any event I think I may have come out way ahead on this deal and 3 guys got free jumps to boot! Edit: Forgot to add, my packer wanted to call it even too! I made 4 jumps and he said the free jump offset the 4 pack jobs. I told him I couldn't do that since that was how he made his living. Besides what kinda' free jump do you get when you end up paying for it in kind? Really amazing how many people stepped up after I had taken the first step. You guys are the greatest! Blue skies, Jim

Congrats ladies!