Snowbird

I try not to think about it too much. Between my hubby and me, between 7 and 8 thousand (CAD). Much less than the previous two years, which included gear and student progressions. This year I fully intend on spending more! More jumps, more boogies, and with any luck a new canopy. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Ditto. Coulda metcha, I'm terrible with names. I was doing a lot of jumps with MajorDad last year, on my belly, and then the freefly camp at the end. This year I plan on mostly freefly, to get more manouverable in my sit/stand. And I want in on tracking dives, and would LOVE to be in on a hybrid jump. And no Skykittykat, you don't have to be Canadian, you just have to be cool like us! Yeah, a lot more Canadians to jump with, Zenister.

So! Less than a week to go until it begins. Anyone else planning on being in Eloy this year for the Invasion? I'll be there on the 13th. Two months ago I didn't think there was any chance I'd be able to go. Now it's just days away. I'm ready to start packing and get on a plane now! Actually, I was ready to go as soon as the snow came. Need... warmth... sun... Otter... Skyvan... many friends... Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Just finished reading it. Thanks for the recomendation! A very solid, quality book. I was cheering for Christopher on every page. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Is it worth the long download? Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Sweet thread! Let's see. Signed in sometime during the winter of 2001/2, with 5 jumps. I was anxious, obsessed, and eager to jump. I was also terrified that life would conspire against me financially and emotionally to keep me on the ground, and I spent all winter determined to do this amasing thing I loved so much. Started my student progression in May 2002. The original goals were to get my solo license and do maybe 30 jumps. HA! By July I was looking for gear. Got gear in August. Did 60 jumps by the time winter set in, and had my 'A' license. Went to Eloy in January. And haven't looked back. Nothing about me is the same. My life outlook, my daily routines, my comitment to the important things in my life, my self-confidence. Current goals? -Jump more often. I'd like to creep up on making 200 jumps a year. -Get a new canopy to replace my Falcon. Much as I love her, as much as she represents the freedom I've found in life, she is Old and needs to be Retired. -Get the experience I need to get my Coach 2 rating. -Work my sit and stand flying until I can really get around the sky the way I want to! -BIRDMAN! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

They do, but right now you won't find them much either. When the days get shorter, the plants don't get enough light to ripen properly. They stay green for much longer, and when they do ripen they have a very short, soft shelf life. All of the greenhouses in the Interior are done for the season, adding to the shortage. Growers decide on their season end date 2 months in advance, and once they top the plants it doesn't matter how good the market it, the plants stop growing and the crop is done. Also, older plants produce less, and by this time of year the tomato plants are OLD. That said, the growers are wishing they'd foreseen this market, or they'd have coaxed the plants along somehow. I can't believe the prices right now! They're the highest I've seen in the three years I've worked in the produce industry. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

What does an atheist dyslexic with insomnia do all night? Lay awake, wondering if there really is a Dog. sorry, just heard this one and had to share. Tell me another bad one! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

I took my now-hubby skating on an early date. I'd been skating for years, him not so much. It worked out perfectly. I skated backwards and held his hands to help him balance

Saphire2 149, black topskin, yellow and red bottom. And an appropriate collapsable pilot chute to go with it. Not asking much. Santa, you listening? I've been very good this year. And while I'm wishing for things, I'd like a pony. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Here's my scoop. My first Invasion, I showed up with 60 jumps. I knew a handful of people. Being a rather shy sort, definately not an 'A' type personality, I felt kinda out of sorts. Second day, one of the other Invaders said 'lets jump!' He was awesome. 600+ jumps, cool guy, and he spent the next 3 days jumping with me. I learned sooooo much. So many cool people, and the vibe is awesome! A thing to keep in mind is the scale. Eloy is big. So many people. Most people stay right on site for the whole thing. It's not the same as going to the dz for the day, not with so much going on. There is unending encouragement, training, and fun, and support. We eat, sleep, and jump, and meet people who become good friends even after the boogie is over. Hope you can make it!

25 minutes if I walk - 20 if the gate is open and I can cut across the airport. 10 minutes on my bike. 3 minutes in the car. From my backyard I can watch everything except people landing.

Hmmmmm. My first thought would be, the disks with all my writing on them. BUT then I remembered that I keep an updated copy at my inlaws, just in case. My second thought is my rig. BUT then I'm thinking, insurance would cover that. So... My next choice is my photo albums. Or my logbook. That would be the tough choice! Since I put photos in my logbook, would it count as a photo album? Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Do it do it do it! Seriously, more than once I've thought about doing exactly that. We did do a massive downsize 2 years ago, and that was exactly what we needed. But I'd love to spend a year traveling. And you're right, a person could travel BC for months on end

Chris, ya made me go all misty. Thanks. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Domestic - Cats. I can't help but love an animal that thinks it's a god(dess). Wild - wolves. Of all the animals I've seen in the wild, I've never yet seen a wolf. I want to! Such wonderful animals, with such complex social lives, and so much power. And I have to put in a vote for polar bears! I'd love to hug a polar bear, if it wasn't for their tendancy to kill and eat most anything. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

According to my mom, I was 2. We went to Disney World, and I guess I was a serious little flirt with the life guard at the pool. And I remember having a crush on my brother's best friend (he's 8 years older than me) when I was 5. Flirted with him for sure! I could flip my hair and bat my eyes and get anything I wanted.

Canonball off the step of the Cessna.

Saturday cometh To escape the grind of life Blue clear warm skies please! Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Okay, that's a dz I'd like! Deland too. Most of the jumpers here smoke. In fact, on the rare days when it's mostly us non-smokers, we do a little cheer. There's strict taboo on smoking near the packing mat and in the classroom, but anywhere else seems to be okay. Yuck! So many of our jumpers smoke that when we hit the local pub - where you can't smoke inside - we usually end up on the patio so they can have their cancer sticks. What blows my mind is how can they afford it? Skydiving costs enough as it is! I don't have sympathy for them when they want to jump but 'can't afford to jump today', and go buy smokes. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Irish Breakfast. Blackest tea I've ever had and has a kick. I think Stash makes it. If you don't like bitter tea, try English Breakfast, and put in 2 bags. Potent. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

MmmmMMMmm men in kilts. MmMMMMMMMmmMMm (insert drooling smiley face here) Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

Okay, that's more to work with. Sounds like Eden North was talking about taking your AFF during the Invasion at Eloy in January? If so, yup it's good. My hubby did exactly that. He'd done 4 IAD's here at home, we went to Eloy and he finished everything there, and more. It was a great way to do his student work and then move on, without waiting for spring. Great instructors, very reasonable prices for gear rental, and within days you are on your way! And an Otter beats a Cessna, any day.

What exactly do you want to know? Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein