craichead

Always know where your towel is! "A towel is about the most massively useful thing any interstellar hitchhiker can carry. For one thing it has great practical value - you can wrap it around you for warmth on the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; sunbathe on it on the marble beaches of Santraginus V; huddle beneath it for protection from the Arcturan Megagnats as you sleep beneath the stars of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand combat; wrap it round your head to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (which is such a mindboggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems clean enough... However, only the Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy explains that the towel has a far more important psychological value, in that anyone who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against mind-boggling odds, win through, and still know where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with. Hence a phrase which has passed into hitch-hiking slang, as in: "Hey, you sass, that hoopy Ford Prefect? There's a frood who really knows where his towel is." -- Douglas Adams, "The HitchHiker's Guide To The Galaxy" More on the usefulness of towels... http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/guide/towel.shtml -P

Hey now, you're a rock star Get the show on, get paid... Sorry...couldn't resist. ;) Haven't I been telling you this all along?! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

I'm also a "Skydiver," but this is the second time I've taken the Emode Ultimate Personality Test. The first time I took it was probably a couple years ago before I started skydiving, and I was: "Chosen One" That means you're warm, giving, knowing, and patient. Chances are you're not afraid to actively pursue your goals and dreams. As if all that weren't enough, you pretty much set the standard for emotional health by being filled with positive feelings and energy. How do we know all this? How do we know that you'd be a great person in an emergency? Or that you always return phone calls? How could we have divined that you're no fair-weather friend? __________ So I guess that after I've actively pursued my goals and dreams as a Chosen One, I become a Skydiver? And I wonder if there are rankings to these...kind of like a caste system, with Skydiver being top notch, of course. -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Oh, oh! There can't be more than one polka porter jump plane flying around the country -- that must've been Andre's porter from Chicagoland Skydiving! If any of you see Andre around, please tell him "Hi!" from Andy and Piriya (pronounced PEER-ee-yah) and that we're being "quiet" for now. I wonder how long he'll be there...? Thanks! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

0:0:0 BF is in Toronto, I haven't been jumping since my injury (plus it's too cold for my blood)...maybe I should buy a case of beer anyway -- either that will 1) attract people my way so I won't be alone for Christmas or 2) if I'm indeed alone on Christmas Day, I can drink my sorrows away! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Which reminds me, who took the pictures at the hot tub party? All I could see without my glasses on were several flash bulbs going off... Hey hon, what did you expect? I need some way to keep myself amused while you're away. At least it's virtual whoring! -P

Woooohoooo! Awesome -- I'll start praying to the Vegas Casino Gods right now! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Hmm...pics of what, specifically? The first attachment is a pic of me at the "Canada" section of Epcot. The second a recent photo of me and AndyMan at my Christmas party. I suppose certain appendages need to be seen in detail to confirm gender... Boobies later -- first show me a good post whore time! - P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

and Man? Little bro? Hmm, it seems that I've suddenly had a sex change operation. And, if that's the case...does that make AndyMan gay? D'oh! I'm a chick, folks! If you all throw a good pity party for me, maybe I'll show you my boobies for Christmas. (Oh my.) -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Rock on...I really do need to be more of a post whore and get off this silly newbie status! No time like now to start driving the numbers up. -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Well, it's the Saturday before Christmas, I'm at work and I'm going to be alone for Xmas and New Year's. Thought about going to Toronto with AndyMan, then thought about going to California with a college buddy and the last thing I considered was going home to Tennessee. All the options were just too much trouble for so few days off. Ah well. So who's going to throw me a pity party? -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

What a great reason to post-whore...I'm in. ;) -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Okay...got the scans of Little Annie Fanny featuring Macho Mitch. Who wants 'em? Send me an email or PM. -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Hmm, how I met the infamous AndyMan... Well, I had seen him around the DZ (Chicagoland Skydiving) a couple times, but never actually talked to him. The weekend I did my first solo jump, my friend Heather and I pitched our tent next to his. The next morning, I recall walking by his tent several times, and he was snoring VERY loudly. I was highly amused by this and wondered who was in the tent. When he finally emerged, I happened to be standing there. (The beginnings of my stalking him, I imagine.) He looked around, saw me and said, "You KNOW you were really asleep when you don't notice ten planes parking behind your tent!" I sort of laughed, agreed and walked off (I was preoccupied with preparing for my Level 2). I didn't talk to him again... ...until the next weekend, when I dislocated my shoulder. My friend drove me to the hospital, I got fixed, checked out, and we drove back to the DZ so that she could get on the sunset load. While she was in the air, I just started chatting with Andy and some other people. For some reason, I distinctly recall helping him put an Icarus Canopies sticker on his helmet. A big group of us then went out to dinner, and Andy drove me back home since he lives in the city, too. I gave him my business card, and he emailed me the next day. He said, "I'm Andy, the guy who drove you back from Hinckley last night. This is my email and this is my cell phone. We should definitely talk before next weekend." Initially, I thought he was the biggest geek (he still is), but I ended up going out with him for drinks anyway -- thought it was a totally innocent, platonic friends kind of thing (even though I totally wanted him after he drove me home from the DZ...intelligent conversations are always a turn-on ). We went to a wine bar, got kinda drunk and then he invited me back to his place to "watch skydiving movies." HAHA! We actually did watch skydiving videos that he shot, but that deteriorated rather quickly... And the rest, they say, is history. -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Having grown up in Knoxville, home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers, I can verify that every statement in that post about southern football is true. So glad I'm not there anymore... Although, I'm kind of proud to say that in high school I was friends with Chad Pennington, current starting quarterback for the New York Jets! A possible reason to attend my 10 year reunion, I suppose. -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Heh heh...actually, I haven't tried it (shhhh!), but I figured that I could gain some brownie points with my boy by mentioning it. -P

I'll agree with that! Most American beer is swill. You'd be happy to know that my BF used to work for Molson! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

I'm sorry....

I did 3 tandems when I was 24, and then I celebrated my 25th birthday by starting AFF! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Here's the web site for Skydive Smoky Mountains: http://www.skydivesmokymountains.com I haven't been there myself, but you can read the reviews that other dz.com users have written here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/dropzone/review.cgi?ID=203 Enjoy the scenery if you go! I miss Tennessee specifically for the topography...oh, and maybe my family, too. -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Not that I've jumped out of that many different planes being a beginner, but I really dig the Super Porter at my DZ. It's a fairly comfortable (when there are only 6 or 7 jumpers on board) and quick ride to altitude, and the wing strut is a comforting thing to hang on to for a student like me! Plus the polka paint job is disgustingly cute...see it here. Next faves are Super Otter and CASA, the only other planes I've jumped from. My instructors tell me I'm really spoiled -- I believe them! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Hi there and welcome! I thought about going to the tunnel in Tennessee over Christmas break (my hometown is Knoxville, which is about 2 hrs away from Pigeon Forge), but I've heard it's not too great. I've got 9 jumps as well, and I'll be doing tunnel training in February at SkyVenture...can't wait! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Hmm...mine would probably have to be Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Still one of my favorites today! Who here has seen the commentary track version with all of the kids grown up? Hilarious! The featurette on the DVD is also quite good -- the kid who played Augustus Gloop hasn't changed in appearance much! - P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

3:0:1 3 Christmas parties attended this weekend. One on Friday: the formal dropzone party at a nice hotel complete with mischievous drunk skydivers stealing Christmas trees, cavorting on the roof, and pissing on cop cars. Two on Saturday: the first at AndyMan's condo with tours of the really nice flats, most of them for sale. The second, an informal skydiver party at a friend's house in the burbs...see below for case-of-beer-owed activity. 1 case of beer owed for getting naked in front of other skydivers in public for the first time (and oddly enough, not feeling ashamed in the slightest). For at least half an hour I was naked in a hot tub, in crisp 28 degree night air, with four naked guys (it should be noted that two of them were Canadian). They demanded more boobies, but I was quite happy with the ratio. Then the boring people with bathing suits climbed in. They eventually shed their suits, thank goodness. -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Not Airspeed Camp as such, but the next best thing that I can afford... My dropzone plans a trip to SkyVenture every year -- 20-30 people, all different levels. I'm hoping that the rest of my AFF program will be easier after tunnel training! -P __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)