Deuce

Scott is dogging me because now that they don't let me choke people out on occasion, I have to do things like program automated phone trunks. Have lots of tools in the tool box. You NEVER know when you might need them. "Para informacion in Espanol, marque numero cuatro, ahora". It was much more fun shouting "Necesito a ver sus manos AHORA!" But like I said, you gotta make a living.

Yeah, I get lost on this one. I could see an event charge. Like being hired by a soccer league to cover youth teams, and then the parents buy the pics off the site. When my pictures start selling like hotcakes, I'll raise my rates. For now I'm happy with this: http://www.byronboogie.com/photo.php When I'm famous, I'll be brutal

Yes. Really great story Mandy! Mine's much more like LawRockets, though. Did ROTC in College, Air Force. My Advisor, Major Marion McCurdy (from Texas, any of you zoomies know him?) told me one day in his very twangy accent "Kelly. I do believe your nature would be better served in the Marine Corps" I spent a summer in Virginia, and the nice folks there told me a reserve officer with a degree in PoliSci would be lucky to get four years out of them. Well, with the egotism of youth I declined that offer, framed my Honorable Discharge, and became a Deputy Sheriff. I had also just gotten married and didn't relish the idea of being on a ship for six month or longer at a time. Going without sex for that long still seems like a death sentence Anyhow, did the Deputy thing for 3 years, then became a municipal cop for 10, earned my Master's in Public Administration, pissed off a lot of people in the process (it's a skill) and when I got hurt I was medically retired in the shortest amount of time ever recorded in the State of California. Chief: "He's got a permanent and stable rated disability? YEAH! Retire that pain in my ass!" Now I am like a farmer who gets paid to not grow crops. I get paid to not be a cop. Totally unprepared for that one. And NOBODY hires broken cops. I applied for jobs for two months and ended up doing administrative temporary work (marginally more than a secretary ) and ended up working for one of my graduate professors who was now in County Government. It's no coincidence that I was retired on April 1. Well, with my Prof's help, three years later I'm a senior analyst in the County and I'm making more between my retirement and my salary than a Commander in my old PD. Who's laughing now, Chief? I will always miss police work. But, while money can't buy happiness, it can buy airplane tickets to Happiness. I dunno, you gotta make a living, and I pretty much live for my kids. I'm glad we don't have to think twice about sending them to different camps and stuff. Get that degree. In something. Mine's in PoliSci, Mandy's is in Peace and Conflict, they both tell an employer that you can get assignments done on time, and having a bunch of units is different than having a degree in that the person with the degree filed all the papers and took the classes they hated in order to accomplish their goal. Seeing the finish line is not the same as finishing. Suck it up and finish. In my life I have never been right when I predicted where I would be in five years.

GirlFallDown and BoyFallDown are just too cute. There's some pics of Hookitt and Ronin-whatever-Jason-calls-himself, and Skybaby too. A great pic that captures our own GravityGirl. We were all very glad to have Sandi back behind manifest on Sunday. Clicky. http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cefb434e80a9

That is such an easy decision as to not even be funny. Eloy. Be there.

Now you know everything. Congrats! JP

:12:1 Had the stomach flu Saturday and Sunday so that cut into category one. 4 fun jumps, a 4 way, a 5 way, a photo shoot of Boy and Girlfalldown (pics up tonight), a zoo, and 8 tandem videos, fun to be riding the plane with Jim again. Got probably my best tandem video so far. The tandem masters are getting VERY comfortable with me so we're doing docks and spins with the passengers (Err, students) very fun. Even though I had horrible cramps both days and it was over 100 f. The first was my first non-wife freefall kiss. Thanks, Shannon, that was a great 300th skydive!

Thanks, all. I agree that a perfect shot that does not require photoshopping or cropping is worth more. I guess I just kinda lock up on the fact that sometimes those only get sold as 4X6's. The increased percentage take as the shots get bigger explanation perfectly satisfies my auditor mind, though.

Consider me Kicked, thanks for help and the compliment, coming from you I apreciate it. Next week Im going to buy it. Now do I go with the Sigma lens, or kick out the extra change and get the canon 15? Oh yeah sorry for the delay on the Video I talked to you about, my partner kind of fell out. But its 75% complete There is still a few things I want to work out, I would rather take forever and make a great product. But you will get the first one well before release, just so I can get your professional opinion. CANON!

I appreciate you bringing this up. Folks on my DZ are just starting to come around to buying the digital pics from me, and it's been a struggle having everybody say "Hey, can you e-mail me a copy of that one?" and have to reply "Here's my damn shutterfly address, you can't get the thing printed any cheaper than that, so please just order them off my site!" Here's what Shutterfly charges regular members to develop their digital prints:' 5x7:$0.99 4 Wallets:$1.79 8x10:$3.99 11x14: $7.99 16x20: $17.99 20x30: $22.99 I know my naivete about being a commercial photographer can be annoying, but I really do appreciate the feedback. We incur the same costs to produce a wallet photo as we to to produce a 20 X 30. I don't understand the rationale behind charging more for bigger pictures. At a visceral level I understand that something that is made into a 20 X 30 probably has more intrinsic value, but my equipment and jump costs don't change. Thanks. JP

37-first jump 40-in 17 days (meet you there SM1) My wife has all her parts and all her teeth. My daughters have the level one AFF jump memorized and they are only 6. I have 550 jumps and I am not sucking either

Happy Birthday Roy. How old is NastyClown?

I ordered the Tony Suit without the forearm grippers, Mega booties, and full swoop cords, in polycotton, the second-slowest fabric. (The denim stuff really seemed like overkill) Hopefully it will work for stuff around 95-110. My Pitt Special is better for 115+. I'm wondering if my Camera Suit flying is spoiling me. Not having that camera wing to cheat my way back up just sucks sometimes.

As in Portuguese snack food or diaper loads? "That guy flies his birdmand suit so wickedly it makes me go pupu"

Blue Skies Rob. Bon Voyage. Mujie, we're thinking about you, and you are in my familys prayers. JP

I have a red wagon with off-road tires I bring all the makings of Long Island Ice Teas in: Gin, Rum , Vodka, Triple Sec, Roses Lime, and Sweet and Sour mix. Don't fall off. We won't know you're gone. Party like you're Luis the Rock Star.

Come on Danny, be the lizard.

But sleep. Sleep. Yummmmmmm.

My life is now complete. I have a stalker providing me with animations.

I took that picture with a 14mm Sigma from 20 miles away. It's really huge. The Sheriff is what? The Sheriff is NEAR!

I'm done with, you, this week, and this thread. Time for some lizard shrinking.

Lookout. It is reaally f*cking huge this afternoon. Beautiful blue skies, cities to trample.

NOt relevant. This thing is sitting on my filing cabinet just staring at me. It's telepathically willing me to jump. Only thing around here that's jumpable is the flood canal, and it's stinky. It knows I'm doing video all weekend. It has it's camera setup on. Camera, not Gamera. OK?

Well, except that "off" mode thingie in the middle in the back. Pictures of your setup, please!

Oh, god. Could you imagine that one on the ride to altitude?