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I agree we should all hold ommage to Weird Al for being the ultimate spoofer! We're not worthy...we're not worthy! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

How 'bout this? Call me sick but there is something weird about her being attracted to a cartoon character. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYeFvbSs_J4 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

You can and I did. However, it is my opinion, now that I am done, that it I would have been more confident and quicker trained if I would have stuck with one location. Like you, work has me travel a good deal. With having breaks in the training I didn't feel like I was building on skills as quickly and had restart in certain areas. Some may say you can learn different techniques by having different instructors, but different techniques in the beginning may become dangerous because your mind may get two muffled in a dangerous situation in attending to basic skills. I think that is fine to learn later, but when you are learning the basics..not so much. It is my opinion AFF is to train you how to be automatic with your responses in order to fly safely and also to teach skills that you can build on in order to fly with others. I also think by being at one location the instructor learns how to teach you best in order for you to understand the concepts...each person learns a little differently. I think that benefits the instructor and the student. When I completed AFF I felt that I knew what to do in situations, but I didn't feel automatic to my responses. I was lacking confidence that I would know what to do in a particular situation. So I sucked it up, got the checkbook out again and scheduled me some additional training at one location with some tunnel and sky time. I felt more comfortable after 4 jumps and an hour of tunnel with one instructor than I had in the 25 before. I consider myself a "mutt" when someone asks me who my instructor was. Not a purebred, but I got a few bright spots from each of my instructors to make me the kitty I am. To the credit of my instructors each of them were very knowledgable and for emergency procedures they were all consistant on how to react. The main differences were in how to fly your body. I am grateful to each one for teaching me and will I react the way needed to save my own life ..only time will tell. This is my experience. To the question you asked...state hop or one location it is my opinion for financial and consistant training to take a week off work to concentrate on AFF. If you can't then fly when you can, but be prepared that it may cost you a little more and may be a little more confusing between instructors. Good Luck and see ya in the sky! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I travelled last week with my rig as a carry-on out of Nashville. I had the rig in a backpack by itself (counted it as my small personal item, since it fits under the seat). I had the TSA letter and X-ray card in my pocket just in case. I also carried on my other gear in my small luggage; such as altimeters, helmet etc. Didn't have any problems whatsoever. In Nashville as the rig was scanning the security ran it the second time and I simply asked "would you like the X-ray card?" He said what is it... scuba gear? I said "no, it is skydiving equipment for an event I'm going to." He glanced at the card in my hand for a split second, looked down at the screen and said "you're nuts, have a good time" On my return flight I did the same thing out of Phoenix and all that happened when the rig was going through the scanner was a supervisor came over to swab it, then sent me on my way. Much easier than I anticipated. This was my first time travelling with gear on an airplane and I think it went so smooth because all the great advice DZ.com users provided on these blogs...Thanks guys and gals! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Done...that was fun!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

cooter...love it! Don't hear it often but one of my all-time favorite names for it. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Just finished watching The View..I know what an exciting life outside of skydiving. But my goodness the Octomom's laugh is awful. She is soo starved for attention it is unbelievable. Sherry barely said something about how powerful her laugh is and the aftermath was probably the most painful 5 minutes on television. She kept cackling over and over that the hosts couldn't get any more questions really answered. Thank goodness for mute!!! But I feel for her children who can't turn it off! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

1. First and foremost I would buy out the front page of the paper stating that I would be hiring a financial adviser, give to charities and persons of my choosing; if a financial adviser, charity or person contacts me without me soliciting their services that they would be immediately rejected...dont want unknown relatives to come out the woodwork..LOL. After that was settled I would 2. Pay the immediate family's mortgages off and give them the same warning as number 1 regarding additional monies. 3. Open an indoor adventure park with a ski resort on one side and an indoor waterpark on the other...I've wanted to do this for years. Probably start with one side and as earn ROI I would open the other side. 4. Invest and live off 5% of the winnings. 5. Get the heck out of the country for awhile til the hype dies down over my winning the lottery. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Better late than never...yes, I agree expensive but well worth it. I have a business trip in Phoenix this week so I scheduled some tunnel time there as well. Trying to be ready for spring. Is it hear yet?? I thought we were in global warming.. I think more like Global cooling. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

1. Yes, new gear, just finished paying the credit card this month...woo hoo! 2. while doing business it would be in the hotel; It is a nicer hotel due to the business trip side of things, but you are right you can never be too safe 3. Travelling Wed - Sat. so free on Wednesday, but the other days depends on how the meetings go, but I think 1 day will be full with work but the others may only be partial days...it just depends. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Love watching the olympics..especially the opening ceremony. I like to think about what is going on in the athletes heads as they walk in...it warms my heart to think of all the emotions they are going through. But I'm with you I like the summer games more. However, winter olympics is fun to watch speed skating, bobsled, luge, slalom. Not much of a down hill skiier fan or ice skating fan..probably because they have sooo many rounds i get bored with them. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

GREAT POINTS!! Thanks for all the insight. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

That was one of my questions..i know when I go to a jump vacation my gear would be an easy thought process. but since this is a "business" trip and onlydoing a few jumps I was battling whether which to do ...rent or take. Good point about rental gear fears. Plus the more time I can have under my gear probably the safest THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Decisions decisions..rent gear or take new gear through Nashville airport to AZ?? Going out on business but have some open time between some tunnel training and work. Thinking I may be able to get 5 or so jumps everything. $80 / day to rent (thinking 2 jumping days)..but so far only 3 jumps on new gear...what do you all think? anyone travel through Nashville lately with their gear? I've read the posts with the airport recommendations such as having my AAD x-ray scan card and making sure the hook knife is checked baggage. Just wondering if anyone has went through Nashville as of late with their stuff and any other helpful suggestions? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I had a similar experience when I was on student status. The DZ I was jumping at had some winds knock the two planes into one another, which resulted into the DZ going down to only a Cessna, so tandems became priority and with all the weatherr holds for winds. I felt like I spent more time sitting on the DZ floor than anywhere else last year. From jump 4-jump 25 it took me almost a full year. So dont panic it is well worth it. Once I got my A ..from the time I got my A to jump 40 was only 3-4 weeks because I was able to go to a little bigger dropzone that wasnt having some of the weather and plane issues my DZ was having. Right now with all the snow around the country I think many of us are in the same boat..hell Dallas is getting snow today! It will break soon and once it does the skies will be filled with us looking down at the earth versus looking hopelessly to the sky. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Salt and Pepper Bailey and Kahlua THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Basically newer skydiver + different aircraft (plus the air differential by coming out of the tail) + different dropzone. I like to limit the amount of variables in one jump if I can. And besides..Too much beer for one exit THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Anytime. I wont be able to make it this trip, but hopefully soon. I want a more jumps under my belt before I jump out of a rear exiting plane. I may come out to observe if work doesnt interfere. Have fun! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

The C130 jumps are in connection with trying to fulfill Ft. Knox's C130 training requirements, while supporting the troops. The C130 is to have so much flight time with additional training in dropping airborne personnel. Additionally, the Ft. Knox parachuting group has put together a program that by allowing civilian skydivers to pay for membership to the group combined with outside donations it allows the group to give back to the troops by providing the opportunity for free tandem jumps as a thank you for their service. It is foreseen at this time fairly routinely possibly couple times or more a year, but no exact schedule has been determined. However, this is also a case of the right people at the right time, so if any one person changes in the chain of personnel arranging these jumps or if during a jump someone affiliated with the group performs an unsafe, "stupid" or "bad press" this could end quickly. Just an FYI, there were a few people that got up last week..only 7,500' due to the low ceiling, but I was told it was awesome exit feeling like no other. I know the above is a little vague, but hopefully it shed some light to what the intentions are. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Even if you received your license it is best to get to your local DZ and get with an instructor to get recertified/retrained like you are fresh off of Whuffo status. Can never be too safe and a lot changes in our sport. An instructor should be the best to teach you what you may have forgotten or haven't learned and will be more than happy to jump with you to get your "air" legs back. A couple coach jumps should get you back in the game. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I have to admit I am impressed that the NFC and AFC championship was much more competitive than I thought it would be ...much better than wild card weak (misspell on purpose) Yep..the worse thing about the football season coming to an end is now we have to deal with basketball and baseball...arghh! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Since you become a member of the Fort Knox parachute club you are authorized to jump from the C130. It is a combination of supporting the base's club and the C130 gets to use it as credit as a training mission. From the info I have been told the command at Fort Knox requested that since it is a military installation that jumpers present themselves in a professional format..ie "groomed". Another reason for the night before briefing is to allow time for a person or persons to correct any issues that may disqualify a person from jumping the next day and also in order to prepare the load list for the following days operations, etc. etc. There will be the normal 3 gear checks the next day as well. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

+ 1 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Another "pre-second" accomplished-flying in a tunnel. Everyone - you are all right!! The staff at SVCO are outstanding!! Brad was scheduled to work on the boogie thing, but I got hooked up with Kiwi and had a great time...even if the walls loved to kiss me...I have a lot of sore muscles to prove it too! Definately great place to go play! Wish I was able to stay in town longer in order to get more experience...soon though..soon. I knew the tunnel was an ass kicker, but I had no idea the tunnel was an ass kicker!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

sorry ..i kinda got off topic and went soap box..to the question should cameras be allowed?.. I think the equal treatment not special treatment really fits here...any other case on that spectrum is not publicized via the media in an effort to protect. I, as I know many of you, want to know, but special rights does not fit on this occasion. If there was a stance on media being allowed in all judicial proceedings..maybe, but since that is not how our judicial system is set up today..maybe this is not the right battle to fight in order to eventually win the war. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!