TriGirl

And, we have a winner!!! Have fun, Wendy! I remember one Thanksgiving spent SCUBA diving in the Red Sea.

Email it to Parachutist so we can all see it in publication!

It's on pretty much every memorial on the peninsula, too! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I drove up to Istanbul on Saturday to be the guest speaker at that Marine Security Detachment's ball. Yeah, they were a little desperate It was that was a FIRST -- I'm usually a narrator or singer, so I actually had to come up with my own words for something interesting to say! In return I got a nice plaque that I will be honored to display in my office.

From April 24 and 25 on Gallipoli. The second photo is the Australian defense attache here. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Two stories: Story #1 (my own). I was in college, working weekend nights in a blues bar. One of my friends called me at work to say that several guys were going skydiving the next day, they had an extra spot, and did I want to take it? Once I figured out I could afford it, I said, "of course!" The next evening I called Mom to tell her what I did that weekend. As I expected, she laughed a bit, was glad I had fun, and was also glad I chose to tell her after the fact, so she wouldn't spend the day worrying!

Which I did not say. I said "official" events (incidentally, the US Code I reference does define official events to include the opening of sporting events -- but not "all situations"). I will also agree that the Hendrix version is a classic. Suitable to be replayed via recording for the enjoyment of the listener again and again. That also goes along with Davjohns' reference to the radio edits his station likes to broadcast. That is not an official event at which the singer is presenting the anthem -- although I'm sure many, if not all of those recorded renditions are suitable for official events. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Perhaps this will make my point better: THe "significant deviation" is the "embellishment" to which I was referring. Also the "warbling voice with trills and octave jumps" in Kallend's OP. Source (See also 36 US Code 301) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I don't believe that's the point she was attempting to make. I believe she was attempting to say the notes should be precisely as written on on paper without any emotion via dynamics, slurs, shifts in timing, etc. As if that's either humanly possible or desirable. If the song is sung emotionally at all, it's a performance regardless of the presence of an external audience. No, I mean that in an official event, it is about the anthem, not about the singer. When singers try to "make it their own," (read: embellish), they're making it about them, not about honoring the nation. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

QuoteThen why sing it at all? Quote Protocol acutally dictates that for an official event, it is to be sung. (not performed) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I-8 will also take you past Jaques Andre Istel's (D-2) place in Felicity.

What, another one? Already?? Happy Birthday!

Woo Hoo! Happy Birthday.

Yeah, 'cause the only thing keeping girls from having sex is the fear of HPV! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I'll see you at Nationals. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Doesn't V supervise your computer time? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

The earlier posted photos were just done at home, using the Photo Booth program on my computer. The mug is a USPA mug -- just grabbed what I had at home for those pics. See -- this is what I get for trying to post as soon as possible, so you guys weren't still sitting around today giving me crap for making you wait even longer! To all of you: thanks for all the nice posts to those crappy pics, however! (even you, Abedy!) Besides, posting those gave me more time to recover from said celebration. Carsten -- Is this more of what you were thinking? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Okay, NOW I'm ready for Oktoberfest!!! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Hanging upside down from a trapeze... Or inversion boots. That does actually work. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Just how long does she think we can sit here patiently waiting!?!!!?? Yeah, that's really patient! Got the ticket today. Tomorrow is the PARTY. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

So, go back to the DZ and talk to someone about it. Tell the DZO you want to sit with an instructor (or the DZO) to go over 1) whether they really are upset with you, 2) if so, why, 3) if not, explain why you took their comments the way you did. Also, explain that perhaps you made the mistake of not offering to help look for the main (or however that played out), and will be willing to help out if they need it the next time some gear needs retrieving. Finally, ask about some extra instruction for whatever they feel is lacking in your skills (spotting, emergency procedures -- whatever it is). Maybe by admitting to the things you could have done differently during the whole situation (not the saving-your-own-life part, but any other parts), they'll be more likely to accept that everyone is very fortunate it all turned out to be nothing worse than a learning opportunity. ETA: BTW, sometimes folks on the DZ get really worried when a young jumper gets into trouble, and it manifests though irritation. On my home DZ, I told the S&TA that he yelled at me once when he thought I was going to land on a car. He said, "I did not! I never yell." We figured out that yes, he did, and it was only because he was worried I could have been hurt.

We've all figured out that Turtle has been going through some tough times lately. Let's all hope that at least he has a great birthday! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

And that's really saying something! A deaf prostitute in Cambodia got ROBBED? Hopefully you've given us all enough clues that when we see you at the bonfire, we can just say, "Hey, Vader -- remember that time with the deaf prostitute in Cambodia? Bob hasn't heard that story. How did it go down again?" See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Back at 'ya! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Europe, Empuria in Spain or one of the French DZs, In the same area, if you have a B license, Turkey is a nice place! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!