Snowbird

Sleeping with the Enemy. Phones police while holding her psycho husband at gunpoint. 'Please come quickly. I've just killed an intruder.' His face as she hangs up. Bang! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

I dunno. The opening scene of 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' is kick ass. It glued me in my seat at the theatre, and I rewound it a half dozen times when we rented it. But from a Significant Film angle, the opening of the very first Star Wars wins hands down. That ship descending across the screen, so big and more realistic than anything that had been on the screen before... wow. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

You go girl! Oh yeah! Congratulations Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Never miss a chance to let your dad or mom know how much you love them. That was a very cool thing to do, Amber. Love you daddy, and miss you. Happy daddy's day. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Conrats Anne! Whoohoo! *** You suck

Go Chris Go!!!!! Oh by the way, THIS SKYDIVING S**T IS FUN! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

I planned my first jump for my 30th birthday, but not ON my birthday. My mom didn't want to know when I was going, but did give me money for it. I called her the night after my jump, and I could almost hear her heart stop for a moment. I don't think it helped that my dad had passed away only a few months earlier. But I started sending her my writing about my skydives and somewhere around #30 she began to ask me about it. Then she shocked the h*** out of me and said that yeah, she might try a tandem one day. My in-laws are the funny ones. FIL wants to do a jump SO bad, but has a really mucked up neck and can't. MIL hates it, and really hates that I got her son doing it. But since they live beside the airport they can't help but watch - drives her nuts with worry and him nuts with envy. And BTW, getting grounded for doing hook turns is WAY funny! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

beware - add generous grains of salt since I'm still a 100jump wonder Being lighter than about half the other jumpers at my home dz, I'm a notorious floater. I'd pretty much resolved myself to getting a weight vest, but I'm finding that as I get more experience - and made a real jumpsuit - my range has increased drastically. So don't worry too much, time and experience and working with your coaches have a way of fixing that problem. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

That's one of my favourite Hubble shots. It's also been called "The Eye of God" Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

I know I've got a few lines/words of this wrong, but when my mindspace starts going where yours is, I recite this to myself. It's a quote from the motivational speaker Les Brown. "If you want a thing bad enough to go out and fight for it Work day and night for it Give up your time, your sleep and your peace for it If all that you dream and scheme is about it And life seems useless and worthless without it If neither cold poverty Hardship or Gall, Sickness or Pain or Body or Brain Can keep you away from the thing that you want If dogged and grim you beseige and beset it With the help of God you'll get it." If you really want it, you will find a way. It may not happen the way you think it should, but stay open to possibilities and somehow it will happen. Most of all, though, you've got to be willing to work and sacrifice for it. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Oh yeah! Enjoy that 'A', there's so much to do now that you can jump with most everyone else. And if you think one person is cool, wait until it's 3 or 4 or more. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Congratulations! That rocks. Get ready to owe a LOT of beer... Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

You're already a cutiepie, so you don't need to go to the gym. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Hey Chris that's great news! Bout time! Advice? Don't go to the gym and muck up your shoulder again! Keep us posted... Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

I've made 3 RW suits now. The first time, I looked at a bunch of different suits, pulled a pattern and made it out of scrap cloth. I made adjustment to that, cut it apart and used that as my final pattern. Worked great. The only big mistake was the cloth I used for the grippers. It was way too weak and ripped right away. I've replaced it with tougher denim. The whole thing cost me $30. Next challenge, freefly pants... Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

#35 I demo'd the used gear that I bought on jump #37. I didn't intend on buying so soon, but the deal was great and rental equipment was pricey. The container will take a main one size smaller, but I don't intend on downsizing any time soon. I definately couldn't have made as many jumps as I did last year if I'd been forking out for rental gear, so it's been worth every penny. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

This is my home dz, the place where I fell in love with the sky. It's small, yes, but a great place. Most of the usual crowd are novices and intermediates, but we have awesome instructors and coaches. Loads don't start early, but once the day gets swinging the pilot barely gets time to stretch his legs. RW is the preferred style. For now, unfortunately, there isn't much freeflying. But the view! It's impossible to beat the view from altitude. Snowcapped mountains, lakes, rolling hills... the sunset load will take your breath away. The people here are awesome, so plan on hanging around all day. The day does not end with the last load; the parties are tame by some standards, but we always have a good time.

:5:3 Oh yeah, that's the kind of weekend I like! Much fun in Kamloops. Completely enjoyed the Kapowsin Super Otter. Met Scott - sdctlc - hi Scott! See ya around. 2 solo sitflys and YES! I finally held it. What a feeling. 2 fun RW 2-ways. And then the HELICOPTER! Oh yeah, that was entirely sweet. 3 cases owed. First proper sit-fly, first helicopter, and first real way-out-there-wish-I'd-brought-a-pullup-cord out landing. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

1. About to turn 30, my dad had died recently, I was in a rut, hated my job, disappointed with my life. Needed to do something life affirming, prove to myself that I still had a pulse. And I'd always had these seductive dreams about flying. 2. My skybirthday was September 14, 2001. 3. I love the freedom; physical, mental, and spiritual. Nothing else in my life comes close to comparing to that moment when I let go of the plane. Nothing. I really do live for that first step. Also, after 30 years I finally found the social group that fits perfectly. These people are family. 3b. I hate how blank my life feels when something (weather, money, other commitments) prevents me from jumping. I also hate feeling guilty for the amount of time I spend at the dz instead of with my friends and family. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Quiznos is pretty good. The nearest one is just a few minutes away, and I just happen to have won a $25 gift certificate for them... lunch anyone? But my fast food of choice is actually a tie between Subway and A&W, depending on if I'm being healthy that day. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

The main reason I use a travel agent is cancellation insurance. If you buy airline tickets on-line or on the phone, you may not be able to get cancellation insurance. Not a big deal if you are leaving tomorrow, but it's very nice to have when you are planning a trip a few months away. Yes, an agent costs a bit more, but worth it if something prevents you from going on the trip and you want your $$ back. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Maybe it's just me, but this came to my attention on the weekend and I imagine that other junior skydivers have had/will have this happen. I was sitting down with one of my instructors, talking about what else I need to do to get my 'B' license. We went through my logbook looking at what I've already done, comparing it with the licensing requirements. Now, I had done a few coach jumps at another dz with another instructor, with the understanding that they would count towards the 3 required jumps for my group RW endorsement. (before anyone goes huh? I'm talking CSPA) I showed them to my regular instructor to see what else I needed to do. Sadly, those jumps don't count for squat. Because the exact requirements aren't in the PIM's, I expected that the Coach2 I paid would know what I needed to do. Evidently not. And because I didn't know otherwise, I logged the jumps incorrectly, without clearly stating which requirements I'd completed. The Coach2 didn't add or write anything, not even that I was cleared to the next level. She also didn't sign me off as a Coach2, just with her license#. Even at the time, I thought that was odd but let it go because hey, she has thousands of jumps and must know what she's doing, right? NOT. So, although they were great jumps and I learned a LOT because she is an awesome skydiver, I didn't get what I expected. I'm just glad I asked the right questions now, not later when it could have been time critical. Lessons learned? Never assume your coach knows all the paperwork and is doing it right. Be VERY COMPLETE with details on those critical coach jumps. Also, be very clear before the jump as to what you expect from the coach. And if something strikes you as odd, don't let them blow you off because they're busy. The jump isn't over until they debrief you and see that everything is properly signed. And now, aww shucks I have to go do more jumps to get that group endorsement... Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

4:2:0 Made it to work with 4 minutes to spare this morning, after squeezing in an early jump. 1 on Saturday. Sit exit that I finally managed to hold! Opened high, so I could play with the Sabre 170 I had for the weekend. Whheeeee! What fun. Another jump Sunday morning, a Coach2 jump for my 'B' license. It went wonderfully. I love that Sabre. I don't want to give it back but I hate packing it! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

(begin sympathetic crying/laughter) I so know what you're saying. First time packing zp tonight, and I finally got my hubby to help hold the B***h together until it was in the bag. I am so appreciating my F-111, she's so easy to pack! (end sympathetic crying/laughter) Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

I'll be there Friday evening, but can't get in on any kind of canuck jump. Unless a 2-way would set a record I'll help with the cheering though! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein