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I can see it now- me staring at you through bloodshot eyes, voice slightly sluring,(like I did those long years ago that seem like yesterday) saying "I thought you guys in North Carolina didn't know how to party. Boy was I Wrong!!!" I might hold you to it .

I went to the little PX here- picked up a bag of MM's and all I got was a bag of W's....I can hear the collective groan from around the world right now. Any how I hope every one has had a wonderful and safe weekend where ever you are. Blue Sky to you all

Bill, I'm gonna try that there recipe in about a year.

HUA Tankbuster- took the words right out of my mouth

Hi, since I am deployed right now I thought I would toss in my 2 cents worth. Personal hygine stuff like body wash, razors etc.. (stuff like that is pretty expensive at the PX) Socks, DVDs, jerkey, hot sauce,salsa. No matter what you send the person the fact that you thought about them will mean a lot. Booze would probably get the servicemember in trouble if they are in a combat area. They have "General Order #1" which prohibits drinking. (It SUCKS). Make sure you wrap the stuff realy well. One box I got from home arrived with tire marks down the middle it. If the person smokes then a box of good cigars. If they dip (yuuck!!) then Copenhagen etc. Its not what you send per se, its the fact that you reached out and sent it. Take care

Lets see.. since I'm on deployment and f..king "General Order No 1" is in effect I would sadly have to say coffee.

For me every malfunction that i've had was from sloppy packing. Especialy with that para-comander. It did not come with a sleeve instead it had a real funky deployment bag. When I went to Perris to go through the then new AFF program I sold the thing to Don Rumble who had a friend who was looking for one.

My first cutaway- I was jumping a jumbo para-comander and I had a classic line over with a LOT of garbage on the right side. I had opened high (still on student status and was doing a 5 second delay) I was with a bunch of up-jumpers and they put me out on the way up (around 5000) I poped my capewells and chopped that mess. I tried to pull the reserve but the stevens cord beat me to it. Since I had a chest mount reserve I had the view of watching the complete deployment. The canopy came out I poped the 4 line release turned and held into the wind and landed with out further incident. This happened in 1982 at the Helemano drop zone in Hawaii. I was jumping with the Tropic Lightening Sport Parachute Club, and our dropzone was inland a LOT bigger than Dillingham. Having gone through the first jump course in a military club the cut away procedures were drilled into our heads. The process was pretty much automatic for me. I was lucky- I had altitude, I had a slow malfunction. Yes I bought a case of beer (first reserve ride) and a quart of 151 rum for the rigger. (it is supposed to be a fifth but I couldn't find a fifth at the Class 6 store) The rigger did not complain. I was calm during the whole process. But you NEVER forget it.

In my younger days I used to follow the GUE rule (Go Ugly Early) but after looking at that the only thing I can say is -Not on my drunkest night!!!!

Hi, I've been jumping off and on since 1980. Currently deployed in Kosovo (courtesey Army National Guard) and will be here until Dec 09 (not a typo) Most of my jumps have been in Hawaii,Perris,and Cal City. When the AFF program first came out I decided to go to Perris and that was the best choice I ever made. I was the 11th student in the New Demensions Flite School that Jerry Swovelin operated at the time. My short term goals are: make it back safe and buy the beer to who ever asks for it, get new gear- get current and (if the gods of winds ,and sky are favorable to me) have the oportunity to become an "Anvil Brother" On most the rw loads I've been on I've usualy been the base. I would like to say hello to any one who remembers me. Take Care, Be Safe and Blue Skys to all of you, Jim Dunn