skyflower_bloom

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Everything posted by skyflower_bloom

  1. Oh, yeah. It's almost impossible to do it with a cat in the room. Most dangerous is if your toes are just sticking out from the end of the bed - combine that with a little rhythmic movement and - yoooww! Haha yep.. especially if the cat is a kitten.. a crazy half feral one at that.. no good, no good at all. And definitely not very original, but if you tense your legs and point your toes for too long/too intensely, you shall learn that your calves will KILL the next day or two.. one time I actually couldn't walk right, not like a limp, just like slow-mo, painful, couldn't walk naturally because my muscles were so tight.. stretching is your friend haha.. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  2. Oh, yeah. It's almost impossible to do it with a cat in the room. Most dangerous is if your toes are just sticking out from the end of the bed - combine that with a little rhythmic movement and - yoooww! Haha yep.. especially if the cat is a kitten.. a crazy half feral one at that.. no good, no good at all. And definitely not very original, but if you tense your legs and point your toes for too long/too intensely, you shall learn that your calves will KILL the next day or two.. one time I actually couldn't walk right, not like a limp, just like slow-mo, painful, couldn't walk naturally because my muscles were so tight.. stretching is your friend haha.. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  3. Hi there, Congrats on your tandem!! I think it helps a lot of parents to know that you have done your research and are taking safety precautions, educating yourself, and that AFF is a thorough and well designed progression. Sounds like you have done this to some extent, and maybe this helped your dad but not your mom? As a daughter and a mother I can say (hopefully without too much gender bias- just in my experience) that maybe moms can sometimes be a little more emotional and a little less rational about things pertaining to their child's safety at gut reaction level than dads, in my experience at least- "mama bear" etc. though of course your dad cares for your safety too. And they act as a unit and he is not likely going to, say, overrule your mom and give you permission to take the car- I know most folks wouldn't as they have to act as a parenting "unit" even if he is more supportive and she needs more time to accept this. Maybe your mom will be more willing to listen after you have safely made a few jumps, show her that you are willing to do this with or without her support but tell her you would really like to have her support? Or if you tell her, when you are both calm and she is not heated, that you really want to have an open, calm, and unbiased discussion and make it less personal- perhaps talk about it in more general terms to get her head out of you-as her son- doing it, see what her concerns are in general about skydiving and be able to address them (safety issues, etc.) Or maybe write a letter if it just turns into an argument if discussed verbally? But just maybe once she wraps her head around the AFF program and the sport in general as not being some crazy suicide club, then she can contemplate YOU as her child doing it. But, OTOH maybe she needs to see you and other students doing it safely to really wrap her head around it- maybe she feels that she has to try to stop you but will want to be supportive and hear about the program once she realizes you are committed to doing this regardless and are an adult making your own decisions..? You know her best, what do you think she would need to feel safer, since obviously what you have tried isn't working? TIME may just be the key factor, I think that was a lot of it with my mom, and realizing I was doing it and was not planning to stop doing it, it wasn't "up for discussion." (but not in a mean way, just acknowledging as in other areas of my life that I am an adult and I did not ask their permission, why would I, ya know?) But then, she never tried stopping me really, though she has thrown obstacles out there at times for me to step over/around if ya know what I mean.. like the car thing for you.. For me I did explain all the safety procedures (start w/ tandem, then 2 AFFIs holding grips, then one AFFI, then a coach, etc.) use of radio, use of RSLs, reserves, AADs, but over time so as not to overwhelm them.. I think it helped them, along with seeing my enjoyment, and for my dad when he met the folks at the dz and watched others jumping too, he was reassured a lot that it was not some crazy cult. Speaking of that, yes, he came out and watched me jump, he watches my videos, and now thinks it is a cool sport, though I am sure he still worries at times. My mom is still not thrilled, but doesn't badger me too much, and I try not to bring it up with her though I wish I could share this part of my life with her, it just seems like this is the best I am going to get, not really liking it but somewhat accepting or tolerating it. And yes, you would have to take the train I guess- at least at first- but I think that is quite possible, that they are saying that to try to stop you and make it seem insurmountable/impossible, that over time they may give in on that, but idk. I have a car but I will say I drive nearly two hours, each way, to the dz- so even on the train, it is do-able if you want it bad enough! I would hope once she/they realize you want and love this, and have done your research, they will both support you with love! Good luck with your folks and your AFF progression and keep us posted! "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  4. Obligatory disclaimer- I am reiterating my own similar personal experience and what I was told by my own instructors- always consult your OWN program instructors and your own instincts. I am a student also not an AFFI. Anyways lol-- I had to re-do levels 2 and 3, legitimately, not meeting the basic TLOs, but I also experienced what you may be describing, where I personally felt that on a few later levels, that I should re-do them, when my instructors said it was a decent/passing jump. So I can relate. I wound up trusting my instructors- who told me that I was fine, that the point of AFF is to get the basics and safety down, and to polish up and learn more later over the progression after AFF. But it is important to discuss it and figure it out. I was told, when I shared these concerns on the one or two later passing AFF jumps where I felt I should have done better, and this makes sense to me, that it will NOT likely feel completely comfortable or intuitive in the first 5-10-15-20 jumps or likely even more- and that is ok, you are not supposed to "graduate" AFF part of the student program as a fully competent skydiver feeling completely comfortable; you are just supposed to have a base to build on, so to speak, and have basic safety understanding and some experience. Hearing that from my instructors helped me understand that it was ok to move onto the first hop n pop and coach jumps, and to not over-analyze or delay my progression due to my own perfectionism. Maybe even look at your booklet or program and see what the TLOs are for AFF and each AFF jump- have you met these? That, along with talking to your instructors, may give you some baseline and peace of mind that you have met them. An example for me- On the jump that was barrel roll/front flip/back flip, maybe level 6(?) in my program, I did all the flips but they weren't perfect, and I also paused 2-3 sec before diving out after my AFFI instead of leaving on count. Now *I* would have failed *me* lol- I did not do the exit right on count, and I did not do the flips perfectly, and I may have also landed off the mowed lz that jump, don't recall without logbook handy.. But- I looked at the TLOs, had a talk w/ my instructor, and realized that I DID meet the TLOs which helped me understand a bit more, what AFF's purpose is and limitations of it as well- it cannot make you perfect lol. And you have to learn to trust that they are the instructors for a reason, they have rationale behind those decisions (assuming they are telling you you have passed your AFF levels), you can always ask them but that should also be part of a thorough debrief. But, this is their expertise, so personally I felt that I needed to trust their assessment, as long as they heard and respected my questions or concerns and still felt that I passed the level and explained it to me. In my (limited) experience/opinion, and common sense, an AFFI would not WANT a jumper to move on if they were not ready, they would want to keep everyone safe, and I realized I needed to trust their assessment and realized that I would not (could not!) have everything perfected in my AFF jump progression. If you are really uncomfortable it is not at all unheard of to say you want to repeat a level, or I think a poster on here talked at one point about needing to do a tandem after one or two AFFs to re-establish her confidence in herself, her equipment, and her instructors, and that is ok too; whatever you need to do. But if it is more along the line of you just don't feel totally comfortable or competent and are wondering, am I really ready to "graduate" and move onto more tasks and less supervision- I think many people probably feel that, and that is ok as long as you address it and come up with a plan you can feel comfortable with- with the caveat that too comfortable is complacent, and I don't think many student skydivers are completely comfortable, nor should we be lol. But your question is posted like you have passed each individual level and are now wondering, not re: one particular level, so I think that shows you are possibly just concerned in general with less supervision, more tasks, etc. and possibly over-analyzing your performance or worrying about minor things that will get "polished" further along the way. Now I guess it might also matter if your program is USPA-ISP, if it has solo, solo/coach, or just coach, how comfortable you are with the post-AFF instruction and pre-A license program. I could see more qualms going from an instructor fully dedicated to your jump, to solos only, but if you are moving onto coach next, that seems reasonable- and if not, you could very easily request a coach for the next few jumps, and focus those on your few areas of concern, as a somewhat "intermediate" approach- i.e. not repeating AFF levels if not needed, but not moving into solos right away? (I think if you needed to repeat a level they would have told you right away, your post while giving little info implies you have done all the AFF levels?) I knew I had coach jumps following AFF so that helped, though it is still a bit intimidating to give up that extensive assistance and supervision, it is part of becoming more independent and a better jumper and moving towards your goals in skydiving- assuming your goal as a student is gaining competence, safety, and licensing, as most of ours is
  5. CONGRATS MELISSA!! Woohoo!! I remember one of your first posts about affordability, and tandems, and it is so cool to see that you have made it through licensing now!! Yay!! I am on 18, 19, and 20 on Friday, so I'm getting there, but dang girl, you jumped right in and made it happen, I am impressed (motivation to get my slow ass to the dropzone ) *beer* Enjoy the jumpage, stay safe, have fun, and blue skies!~ peace, R "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  6. Haha thanks BillyVance. I'm getting the hang of it now. So-- What he said!! Lol. (I was so baffled when you posted that in my b-day thread at first..) Have a great birthday "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  7. Happy birthday? And something about fuck him?? Lol, I still don't know the birthday song (well, I know the kindergarten version but somehow that doesn't seem appropriate here) Enjoy your day!! "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  8. Being a newbie, if she has befriended this experienced jumper at the DZ, and become used to jumping with him or he has helped her progress in some way, it makes perfect sense that she would want him to be around on a trip to a new DZ. Especailly if she has the money to pay for his travel and jumps, to her the only obstacle is him making the time to go along. If you really think about it, the fact that another friend is going to be present, and that they are not planning an overnight both point toward an innocent invitation on the lady's part. HOWEVER, if it suddenly becomes 'late' and the girls don't feel like flying home that night, it might be the furthest thing from innocent when the three of them get the hotel, but that's just wishful thinking on my part. +1 (haha even the last part.. jk) As a newb skydiver and with another female around too, I would certainly consider traveling to jump with someone more experienced and/or just for fun, and if $ is the obstacle and I had it (which I most likely don't at the moment LOL) then yeah, it'd make sense to me!! blue ones, R ---------- edit: Read the update- yep, the insistence and badgering is weird, she might just not have very good boundaries or really want to spend time with him for some other reason that I am unaware of, but it seems there indeed may be something fishy about, so I may have to change me vote on that... hmm. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  9. Hey there, Just FYI that I am still in and interested; sorry for the delayed follow-up, but the paypal money should be in your account ($20 for the 5 tix) as of around 9:30 pm your time today (Thursday- I am later time zone than you) and I sent you a PM and also an email w/ the info requested, just wanted to post here to ensure you see it as I know today is the last day to order the tickets. Thanks again, awesome job to you and V for organizing this, and wish I could be there in person! Enjoy the event everyone, and keep on fighting the good fight and stay healthy Valinda!
  10. when life gives you lemons.. you paint that s#!% gold! lol (cd/album title, not my idea, but i like it) that is really poor though.. wow. really unnecessary to threaten them with a fine too "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  11. Ok, so in all seriousness, I hear about this nekkid jumping business, but two questions- 1) Is it not extremely uncomfortable, in a physical sense? i mean even if you are fine w/ the *concept* in theory, does it hurt? that's pretty fast ya know lol. and 2) Even if you are up for it with the people at your DZ wtf do you do if you land out? (i like the mass story haha) i.e. Would you not get a ticket at least here in the US (or a shotgun to the head, if male perhaps- I don't think I have to worry about that one, but the nearest out already has a reputation for the owner calling the cops for a trespassing ticket, I would hate to wind up ruining my clean record over something like that, w/ multiple tickets (and fines I am too poor to pay)!? I guess I've just gotta work that accuracy before I become an official member
  12. Wow, do I have so much to learn from you guys! Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing So... Fuck you? Lol. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  13. First - Happy Birthday!!! We had a guy whose birthday was yesterday and he did a true birthday jump (in his birthday suit). Thanks
  14. Oh and tell me, HOW does a thread get turned into a sex thread in under ten posts!? When it's a birthday thread!? You all never cease to amaze me... "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  15. Awww thanks guys (and thanks for the advice R )! I feel a li'l stupid that it took PMs for me to notice this thread, a bit slow lately (so that means if I owe you an epic PM, it'll get there eventually lol) I was gonna celebrate at the DZ on my actual b-day but had to push it back a day. Still- back in the air is always a good thing (never leaving the air is a better thing ) Exits scare the fuck outta me though, if they would just let me do diveouts I'd be good but nooooo gotta do one more good poised exit first- BAH. lol. Anyways, jumpage is generally a good thing, birthday jumpage is even better.. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  16. I think it should be illegal everywhere, but mostly because it looks stupid!! Seriously, thought, I'm not convinced it genuinely blocks someone's view.. I think lots of bikers get killed because car-drivers don't bother to actually turn their head and LOOK before changing lanes/turning.. A bike 20 yards (metres) in front of you can be obscured (Blocked) by a drivers thumb being held up. Shit hanging from mirrors can DEFINATELY block a bike from view. Don't fool yourself into thinking different, especially if you want to continue riding. like i said in my post, it is illegal in my state to the best of my knowledge, and i don't do it-- but what about a GPS mounted? Would that not obscure vision as much as, or more than? That said, i cannot get anywhere without it.. right now my mount broke and i have to fix it so i have been setting on the passenger seat or my lap, but then i have to use my hands and eyes to manually hold it up while driving and feel this is more dangerous.. so what is the solution here? slightly off topic, but while we are discussing not adding risk for no good reason-- how does this come into play, since it is a similar concept. oh and i find it hilariously ironic the people who hang something there for "good luck." like increasing their risk profile in driving and their likelihood of getting ticketed is a form of good luck, right on "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  17. Haha no I don't think I was at that point.. but it does not lessen my dedication!!
  18. the lady has talented hands! "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  19. Really hard up for that herpes medicine arent ya? Oh, take my word for it, Bry gets them *good* drugs.. remember that one cuppa coffee?? Do ya do ya? Uhhh yeah neither do I.. hehe.. I'll take that as a good sign, whatever the hell ya put in there did its job "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  20. Massage is great- as stated, you want a deep tissue/sports massage, and (like sex ) don't hesitate to direct the masseuse and let them know what feels good and what helps, before and during the massage- after all, you are paying for the service (sex analogy ends there hopefully ) Many insurances companies have some sort of preventatives incentive plan where you can pick something(s) like massage, acupuncture, yoga, group exercise classes, etc. (unfortunately not skydiving lol, at least not my policy) and be reimbursed for the cost. It's generally around $50-150 per person, not huge but definitely worth using (and it doesn't usually "roll over" by year, so you'll want to take advantage if you can for 2010 if you have them!) Another option (you ask what would be best for ONE session- if $ is the issue) could be to seek out a massage training school- they have much cheaper rates since the students must get their set #/hours for their cert. But, as for a one-time thing esp, I would agree to stick with massage (to answer the 'why' portion of your question- my rationale is that massage targets your muscles directly and immediately, and also that chiro and acu are really meant to be drawn out over multiple sessions, but just a single massage can be extremely useful), and then utilize hot soaks in a tub, before/after your massage and ongoing/in general to soothe and relax the muscles more. Stretching can def help too, though a PT could give you the best idea of what stretches are ideal.. I.e. roll neck gently from side to side and around, both ways, then bend forward until you get a stretch (should NOT feel any pain in the stretch though, from what past yoga teachers and physical therapists have stressed to me), etc. For the back, what is best for me is simply relax/loosen up and then reach to the ground in front of my toes (you don't have to tough the ground, just feet shoulder width and let your lower body bear the front of the weight so your back and neck are relieved of it) and then I let my torso hang there, it feels so good and releases so much tension.. and then you can kind of sway back and forth, and your back is not holding anything up, the muscles can just relax or take a position that is different from what they are used to (and what can get strained) So yeah disclaimer being, I am not a professional, this post is solely personal experience with back/neck pain and massage/chiro/acu. If you have further Qs about any of the three or other options, please feel free to post or PM, I have had all three done. Hope that helps. I hope you feel better soon!! I know how much it can suck to have chronic neck/back stuff. Hang in there, and enjoy that massage! blue skies, robyn ---------------------------------------- side note-- if you do not have insurance, sorry, ignore those references, but the basic reply is still relevant and remains the same
  21. the weird thing is i actually salivated when i read that.. now i am mind-fucking myself trying to figure out if i am just more aware of it since i know what it refers to but there has been no real biological change.. or if reading about the experiment enough actually influences people in that way despite NOT having been conditioned like that (and not anticipating anything).. so weird. life is weird. yeah i think it is about time i get to bed before my brain overdoes it for the day.. am i the only one (who felt like they responded in a "Pavlovian" fashion to that post alone?) "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  22. Haha I am with Bry on that one.. good call "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  23. That is short! check out a few of her other posts! THANK YOU Don (and blacklabjumper) lol. i do actually make an effort (sometimes ) and as a single mama, you get used to doing all sortsa stuff with one hand, or even none. you can use all sorts of appendages to accomplish your goals (yes, that sounded wrong) i just mentioned it to apologize for lack of caps etc. 'cause i feel stupid when i don't use caps.. but then again i'm not using them now and have two whole hands at my disposal, so who knows.. getting into bad habits! and normiss, you know you still lurve me... i am getting better! (i started a blog... teehee... maybe that explains it) "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  24. i used to hang beads jewelry etc. as a dumb teenager lol. now at least in my state, it is illegal (yes for good reason as mentioned, though i think people do much worse things to make driving less safe..) and last thing i want, even though i obviously don't drive w/ anything illegal or what have you, is for cops to have one extra ticket to give me- NOT worth it! or a pretext for a traffic stop (though i guess i can honestly say as a blonde Caucasian female i can't say i really worry about racial profiling... i realize that it is a reality though..) also those generic air fresheners from the rear-view the tree shape ones-- i always associate with people smoking pot in their car, yeah it's dumb but it's a stereotype i cannot seem to shake (and in a college course i took, intro to criminal justice, apparently the cops think that is one sign of marijuana lol.. you have been duly forewarned) "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
  25. sorry 1 hand typing.. if you are not cool w it, its inappropriate. period. tell him politely/assertively (or sneak away at the end passive aggressively, teehee) it's tougher w/ male docs.. has he made you uncomfortable in other ways or made comments? is he single/married? i always hug/ged my midwife (female obv.) and my current male pain mgmt and various other GP stuff-doc who has really gone out of his way for me (i drive3+ hours to see him, if that says anything, he's worth it and one of my favorite people in the world) and during an appt we'll often talk for up to an hour.. he is married and i've never gotten inappropriate vibes from him. neither of these situations feels odd to me. that said, dep. on the gender, nature and length of the visits, rapport between you, and reciprocity and how you feel about it-- it could definitely be creepy too. you have to figure out how you feel. one thing- is he older? some older men (not to generalize)- doctors to skydiving instructors and all in between lol, just that generation maybe, or some men in it? would treat man with professionalism but women (in same context) with a more condescending attitude- i.e. calling "hunny" "sweetie" when barely know you or it is clearly unprofessional, unwanted physical touch (hugs etc.) so could this be it?? harmless intent-- but still BS to be called out! i can see a dr. hugging a pt. for many non-creepy reasons, provide comfort, rapport, support, etc. especially if you feel you have a friendship above the doc-patient relationship or going thru rough times. that said in a normal context- i.e. occasional visit, med check, whatever.. if no special bond or connection btwn you, and if nothing too traumatic is being discussed- possibly a creepiness factor there. i didn't officially vote cause i think it varies, don't know the circumstances, but i sure don't think this should be/is standard practice for all docs! bottom line you pay for his services, and if you are uncomfortable i think it may be worth bringing up calmly/assertively.. good luck! blues, robyn "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi