Donna

I just have a Protec and it's bulky and I'm looking at getting something new and would like to hear anyone's opinions on other helmets. I don't want to get a fullface helmet at this time. Maybe later on if I get more into RW I will but at this point I just want an openfaced one. Thanks for any help! Skies, D

I wouldn't recommend buying from Para-gear. I bought my rig from them and while they did have pretty good prices and it came when they said, they were NO help with a problem I ran into with my rig fitting me correctly. I even talked to the owner and he was USELESS. I ended up dealing directly with the manufacturer of the container who tried his best to help. Also, thing is... the problem might have been avoided altogether if they had given any advice or suggestions to a newbie ordering her first rig. My husband then ordered his rig from Skykat and they were very helpful, the price was good and everything went smoothly. They did help him out and even had him recheck some measurements for his harness when the numbers didn't look right. CYPRES prices went down while waiting for his rig to be made and they lowered the price from their original quote. I highly recommend them. I recently ordered a gear bag and packing mat for my husband for Father's Day from Sunshine Factory, but through our DZ, and they came in less than a week. Did you by any chance get custom colors or embroidery on yours, Skyslut? Good luck, Decorous! Skies, D

Hey Rhonda66 - (6 is my favorite number!) Jumptown rocks. Did you see they are having an Otter the week of the 4th (Tues-Fri)? I was planning on making my comeback jump on the 7th but may have to try out the Otter. Hope the weather tomorrow is better than today. If so, see ya at jumptown! Skies, D

You should have newbie right away. You probably signed up the week Sangiro was having problems with the site. You might have to sign up again with a new name to get it to work. There are a bunch of people with just () now. Crossing fingers for good weather tomorrow! Skies, D

Try asking Nancy LaRiviere from Jumpshack. She is very knowledgable in canopy control and accuracy and was very helpful to me when I had questions about containers. It may take her a bit to answer as she has been busy running seminars on accuracy (one of which I really wanted to attend next weekend but can't do to a wedding and a knee injury ). Her e-mail is Nancy@JumpShack.com Skies, D

Hi Thumper! Welcome and good luck! Let us know how it goes. I'm feeling real lucky that I have 2 DZs about a half hour away. 14 hours! Wow!! Skies, D

Sometimes I hate living in the sticks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Skies, D

This one? http://www.skydivekeywest.com/ It looks like they mostly do tandems but maybe that's because of all the water. Does anyone know if you have to have a certain license to jump there? Do they do any student jumping? Skies, D

Well my town is small but there are large towns real close. We have a great school system and the area is very safe. The scenery is real pretty. The job market is good. The housing prices depend on which town you actually live in and we don't think they are too bad but people from other parts of the country may not agree. Summer and fall are beautiful but winters do suck unless you ski. But we have 2 DZs about a half hour away and 3 more less than 2 hours away and then The Ranch about 3 and half hours away. Skies, D

Carl... right now they are saying possible thunderstorms for Saturday but they upgraded Sunday to partly sunny! Rhonda... I find myself responding much quicker to the boards than regular e-mail.

Hey Rhonda - We will be at Jumptown both days as long as the weather is nice. I won't be jumping yet as I have to wait for my knee brace. I have a feeling I may hate it and not even use it if it's too bulky but I promised the doctor I'd try it. I may just use a regular neoprene sleeve one like I've been wearing when I do anything physical. I'm in a much better frame of mind about jumping today and am again anxious to get up there! We have 'relative' work the following weekend so I expect to be in the air again on July 7th. I'd like to do a couple jumps under the manta on that Saturday and then if they go well, try my rig out on that Sunday. Probably see you this Sunday! Skies, D

You only practice on your bed????!?! I practiced them everywhere... livingroom floor, against the wall, leaning against the kitchen counter, out on the picnic table.... hmmmm kind of reminds me of something else! Have a blast! Skies and fluffies, D

Congratulations, Andrea! Sounds like you are having a blast! There has been a lot of talk on 'wreck' recently about spins. Keep in mind that you can track out of them if you can't stop it. Everyone always seems to agree that some kind of audible altimeter is a good idea for freeflying. Keep on having fun! Sounds like you're doing great! Skies and fluffies, D

When my oldest son was born I decided I was going to do everything possible to raise him without violence and weapons in his life. I carefully selected what he watched on TV and didn't buy and toy guns or weapons. One day when he was around 2 and a half or 3, we went to a birthday party at my sister's house and they had all the latest toy weapons and who was the only kid running around like crazy, playing with them?? You got it. My kid. As Dr. Brazelton (a noted pediatrician) replied after being asked his opinion on kids and toy guns, "They come with a built in one." and showed his thumb and pointer finger. So after that I did let him have toy weapons and watch other stuff on TV (though I still prefer sex scenes over violence any day). We don't have any real guns in our house. In fact, I've never even touched one myself. I find no need to have a gun. We don't even lock our doors. I think parents are fooling themselves if they think their weapons are locked up out of their kid's reach. I've had plenty of talks with my kids about the dangers of guns but I'm still not convinced they wouldn't touch one if they found one. I read about a study where shortly after giving kids a seminar on gun safety they sent kids in to clean a room and planted a gun and almost every single kid touched the gun when they thought no adults were around. On the other hand I think whether to own a gun or not is a personal choice and wouldn't dream of telling someone they shouldn't have one. I just might not let my kid sleep over *if* I knew. I'm not sure what the answer is. I agree that a big part of it is parents teaching their kids to be responsible for their own actions, but parents can only do so much and then the rest is up to the kids. All I do know is that 'arresting' an 8 year old boy for a paper gun is just plain ridiculous. Skies and fluffies, D

Michele.... awesome job!! You better be damn proud of yourself, girl, because you deserve it. Just think... only 3 jumps and you have a "No shit... there I was" story!! I'm very impressed. I agree with Pammi... I just want to hug you, too. I'm so glad you did so well and are ok. I think you should definitely be passed to level IV! You showed you could do what needed to be done and save your life. Way to go! Congratulations! Skies and fluffies, D

That's great, viking!! I am so excited for you. And remember... I want to hear all about it afterwards!! Skies and fluffies, D

I am so glad to hear that so many of you are scared, too. (Not that I'm glad you *are* scared! Just happy that I'm not alone.)

When I got my own rig I found the same problem. I asked the container manufacturer about it and they said in a typical malfunction you will be most likely 'sitting up' in your container (like you are under canopy). He said to kneel on the ground with my rig on and have someone strong pull me up by my riser straps and see if I can reach the handles and when I did that I had no trouble getting both hands on each handle. I also never had trouble doing it in the hanging practice harness. Working out is a good idea anyway though. It will help with flaring evenly and front and rear riser turns, too. Skies and fluffies, D

Check here. Skies and fluffies, D

Great story, PT!! Did you write up any of your other jumps? I tried looking for some but just found the Charles Lindberg quote which I hadn't heard before and really liked. Well off to take a bath! Skies and fluffies, D

Congratulations Doasfu... and to Laura, too!! Yahoooooooo! I'm so happy for you!! Glad you both had a good time! Skies and fluffies, D

Unfortunately this incident didn't have a good outcome. The skydiver's name was Chuck Parsons and he was a very well-liked, witty, brilliant happy guy who loved skydiving. From reports I've read on our local skydive banter it appears he was trying a new canopy and hooked it in. He had injuries from head to toe and was braindead and taken off life support after donating organs. I didn't know him personally but some of my friends did. He was my skydiving brother any which way and my heart breaks for him and his family. Please be careful out there, people. Tears..... Skies and fluffies, D

Someone smartassed enough to go grab the user name anonymous! Skies and fluffies, D

Iflyme - Lisa is talking about the picture on the link in Palmetto's first post. Just click on dz.com t-shirts. (I didn't realize it was a link at first either.) Skies and fluffies, D

Try sending an e-mail to Marcie She is in charge of licenses and is very helpful. She has always answered promptly and will tell you your number right away if it has been processed. Being overseas I'm betting the mail is just taking a long time. Good luck! Skies and fluffies, D