SudsyFist

e.e. cummings rocks! and, as i recall, we have another e.e. fan in our midst... (you know who you are)

In Lake Elsinore?!?!?!? Dear gawd, man, say it ain't so! Gonna have to make it a point to stop there soon. Either that or actually jump there, hehehe. Steve (pasta fiend) "You can't do that to the guru."

holy criznap! that was freakin' hilarious!!!!!!!

Mostly stuck in the land of dollar signs and legal verbiage, it's rare that I have the opportunity of both time and frame-of-mind to poke my nose into some verse. But a few nights ago, I suddenly got the urge to read The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock, and I was gleefully reminded of all the reasons why it's my all-time fav poem (and why I'm often heard reciting it randomly throughout the day)... The muttering retreats Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells: ... There will be time, there will be time To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet; ... And indeed there will be time To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?" Time to turn back and descend the stair ... For I have known them all already, known them all: Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons; I know the voices dying with a dying fall Beneath the music from a farther room. So how should I presume? ... I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas. (!!!!!!!!) ... I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me. After all these years... wow... So, what's yours??? Steve

Mega-Congrats!!! Hope this means we'll be seeing him out more often!

aaaaaahhh, hayduke... master of brownie warfare! (been there, done that) dear lisa, you never cease to amaze me!!! steve

reason #11293...

Lisa, I'm totally jealous! I was *trying* to schedule work around an afternoon trip to the dz, but it didn't work out. [sad] Instead, though, we got a group together to watch the eclipse in Pacific Beach, right on the sand. The marine layer played nice (clear, with random little fluffy clouds), and it was FANTASTIC! I admit we did look a bit silly there on the beach gazing up into the sky through folded x-ray pics (some passersby actually joined in on the fun!), but when tiny clouds would obscure the sun just enough to sneak a glance with the naked eye, oooohs and aaaahs flooded the area from all around us! I wish I had brought a camera... not for pictures of the actual eclipse, but for that striking moment where a couple- hundred-or-so people marveled together at the sight of a thin crescent sun hung lazily above the Pacific... magnificent. Steve

Sad to hear this... but definitely good news that it wasn't worse. Thanks for the report, Mike. BTW, how's the sunburn doin'? Steve

dove, boobie-flashin' and nekkid-jumpin' notwithstanding, you soooo rock! marc, i know it's hard to keep stuff like that in mind when things seem like they're bottoming out. what usually works for me is just stepping outside for a few minutes and gazing skyward. sun or sky or clouds or stars or birds or aeroplanes or balloons or canopies or what have you... i suddenly get overwhelmed with that holy-shit-life-is-so-freakin'-cool feeling. even if only a momentary comfort, it seems to help me get through just about everything (a LOT) i've had to face thus far. give it a try!

yes, hope to see you too! and don't think i didn't catch what you were doing behind my head when jack came up with the camera!!! i'm SURE you'll be the recipient of happier news soon, so i'll be partying tonight for yer future success, snowbird! thanks, michele! see you this weekend, by chance? off to get into some trouble, steve

Turmoil. My mind wandered as we drove down Carlsbad Village Drive. With BuTeHo behind the wheel, I was free to mull over all that held me in the grip of concern -- India and Pakistan, a few friends there on the ground nearby, climbers in the Cascades, and napkin-flyers worldwide. Then there's Grandma's state of health, Mom's state of mind, Dad's state of life, and that freaking useless mixing console laughing at me from the rack in the corner, perfectly timing his cyanide-pill-demise with the arrival of my long-awaited, highly-anticipated, new sound interface... jihad. Drown it all away, Steve. Immerse yourself in the bubbling pools of self-indulgence. Let her raspy arms wrap about you in tight embrace, as you sink into the murky depths of vice and sin... Italian food. There in the car, my belly swollen with sweet homemade sausage, soft and succulent breads, rich garlic-laden sauces, and zesty cheeses, I wallowed in the despair and guilt that befalls any decent person who dares the delight of such spoils. Far worse, I found myself without that sought-after relief of worry for which I crossed that harrowing line to begin with. And thoughts about work were rapidly joining the fray... It was 1pm, and, like a mouse by an owl at dusk, I was quickly and unceremoniously yanked from my hazy delerium by the hearkening beep-squeal of my cell phone. "Good afternoon, this is Steve," I muttered, in my oh-so-professional voice (as opposed to the surfer-speak I usually sling about in this neck of the woods). "Well, Steve....." (looooooooooooong drawn out dramatic shit fuck pause) "you can go ahead and break out the champagne." Losing every frame of corporate reference, I let out a bellowing "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" To hell with it!!! WE JUST GOT THE DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ladies and gentlemen of dropzone.com, I sincerely thank you for your warm wishes and happy vibes. Snowbird, I hope your call last week went equally well! Still sending 'em your way! As for the handful of you who know me vis a vis, be prepared. I'm not sure how exactly we are going to celebrate tonight, but I'm getting the feeling that this strictly non-drinking celibate skydiver (yes, there IS such a thing!) is gonna be GETTING DRUNK AND LAID TONIGHT!!! Really, tho, there'll be no better way to celebrate than to JUMP AND PARTY OUR ARSES OFF this weekend! And Jodie's bringing his system out again tomorrow, so I'll be joining him with a crateful of wicked rekkids for our evening entertainment. Hope it's warmer than last Saturday so we can stay outside, although the Bombshelter made an excellent plan b! I'm brimming with excitement, and I can't contain myself. Had to share it with y'all first; I don't post much at all, but I still feel a sort of connection with everyone here from the experiences you share, as well as the commonality of jumpin' out dem der planes... Thanks again for the support, be safe this weekend and thereafter, and don't forget to SMILE

fbi sigint sources... ha ha.

OK, folks. I rarely ask much of anyone, but this is a time of (work-related) desperation

i must admit that hooj does take up a half-decent amount of space in my crates... yoshitoshi, pitch black, and baroque are also quite good, along a similar progressive groove as that of hooj. not to mention bedrock. doh, better stop before i get carried away... steve

strut on, m'lady... YOU EARNED IT! steve

the flyboyz are out of perris, where they offer freefly coaching to aspiring freaks. perris also hosts tons of load organizing for both belly and freefliers of all experience levels. fritz can often be heard over the p.a. calling folks up for tracking dives, big tube exits (yesterday was a 9-way, plus 2 video), etc. there's also a skydive u campus (ulli's an awesome coach and just got back from germany), various skills camps, and a bunch of friendly folks to jump and hang out with. plus... it's southern california. when you're not jumping, there are endless things to do and places to see. geez, i'm sounding like a brochure.

12. Korean - tangshinul sarang hae steve

working mostly from home has its advantages. lately, i've been able to exercise every morning, between emails and phone calls, for about 2 to 3 hours. once the travel schedule starts kicking in, tho, i see the flab coming back... steve

don't drown your food in mayo salt ketchup or goo! it's no fun to eat what you can't even see so don't drown your food! (how about the yuckmouth? or time for timer?) steve

Wow... AWESOME THREAD! Waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy touchy subject, yet no messy shite-slinging... Two things: 1. I'd hate to get in an argument with Sinkster. Unless it was categorically imperative to do so... 2. Quade, I think you just bumped rhino and clay down in a surprise upset for troll-of-the-year

I'm a HUGE fan of the Met!!! I visit the city every couple of months or so, but usually only for a day (work) -- not enough time to do much. August, I think, was the last time I could take a weekend to enjoy the city... camped all night on the street for tix to the Shakespeare in the Park production of The Seagull (Kevin Kline and Meryl Streep... OMG!), spent 6 hours in the Met (massive decorative painting exhibit w/Denis, Roussel, Bonnard, etc.), danced my ass off (Limelight ROCKS!)... Was supposed to make it to the Ranch that Sunday to spectate the swoop comp, but three straight days of serious sleep deprivation caught up with us.

Hey all, I've gotta be in NYC on Thursday (18 Apr) next week, and I'm considering just making a long weekend out of the trip. In which case, I've got record shopping (YES!!!), theatre, and museum visits on the agenda. Now, if I just so happen to get the URGE to JUMP (

Although Syd *was* a bit on the mad side, he was out quite early on... before UMMAGUMMA. He was only fully involved in making their first LP, The Piper At The Gates of Dawn. Dave Gilmour was brought on shortly after the album was released, immediately taking Syd's place at live gigs. Syd wrote and recorded some (about a third or so) material for the second album, A Saucerful of Secrets (1968?), and that was the last of Syd's creative involvement with the Floyd. You can blame that Several Species(...) track on Roger, Dave, Nick, and Rick.

http://goliath.frostburg.edu/~coutrasm/water.htm