mdwhalen

Two summers ago a Level 2 AFF student showed up at our drop zone with his girl friend. A typical summer day in Florida with scattered showers but a good size hole opened up and we geared up and went skydiving. On our ride up apparently the winds did a 180 (thats my story and I'm sticking to it) and we ended up opening off the airport over a stand of 40 ft tall pines. The other instructor and I made it back to a clear cut area but the student ended up about 3/4 the way up one of the tallest pines in the bunch. I dropped my gear and ran to the tree to make sure he stayed put while we called for fire/rescue to assist. It started raining, of course, so I passed the time assuring him help was on the way and talking to him about his girl friend and things. He told me must not be his day, in fact. he had gotten a speeding ticket on the way to the dropzone. After about two hours (he was pretty deep in the woods) fire/rescue arrived and lowered him the ground, he thought his troubles were over. They weren't. We got back to the dropzone and were met with the bad news that someone had backed into his truck ripping off the fender. But at least his girlfriend was doing fine. In fact, she was doing so fine that she and one of the other male instructors decided to go have a drink. I guess for her it was a kind of liberation celebration, since she announced to everybody there after we boarded the plane that she had already decided to break up with the guy, he just didn't know it yet. In any event she was gone when my poor student got back. He never come back for his Level 3. Go figure. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Rdutch, I didn't like him much either until about a year ago when I saw a picture of him landing on an aircraft carrier, I guess it was in the Gulf war. I think I heard that he was disappointed he didn't get to see any combat while he was in the reserves working on that senator's election and so he decided to re-enlist, I guess, and go fight. I guess he felt guilty about sending all those 18 year olds over there and thought he should put himself in harm's way too. At least thats what I heard. I don't know, I could have heard it wrong, I guess. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

OK, fun Bobby enough of you giving out relationship advice. Ya know what I mean? By the way what's with the new icon what the hell does that mean? "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Bush seems to be special in this regard. Maybe it has something to do with post 9-11 America. http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101031201/ "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

I just read this whole thread. Seeing the dispassionate discourse these Bush threads consistently evoke it is difficult to see why some pundits consider Bush a lightning rod of public opinion - love him or hate him. (By the way Kerry/Edwards in '04! Looks like W, like his dad, will be a One Term Bush. Just goes to show ya as a country we're stupid but not that stupid. Whats the old saying fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me!) "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

There is a really interesting new book out by the lawyer/author Scott Turow examining the death penalty issue. He claims to have started out on the fence having both prosecuted and defended death penalty cases. I won't spoil the ending and tell you what side he ends up taking. "Ultimate Punishment: A Lawyer's Reflections on Dealing With the Death Penalty" "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Check out the Classifieds section here in dropzone.com. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

First, the answers to these questions, to the extent they can be answered with the information given, would vary from state to state. Primarily the answer would depend on the insurance policies involved with the claim. 1. Depends on the DZ's insurance policy. 2. Usually a receipt of purchase and photograph would be sufficient. 3. Get a special rider on your homeowner's policy. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Go to ebay and type in "airline seats" I just did it found two sources. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Interesting the high percentage who do both. I wouldn't have thought that would be the case. Private pilot currently inactive, started jumping and got my pilot's license because of all the driving I was doing to drop zones at the time. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

The Taco Bell commercial you'll never see on U.S. television. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

"I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Bobby, you left out the shoulder rubs that that guy in Palatka used to give you. And Bobby protested, "I am not ..." "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Bob did the best videos of anyone I have had the pleasure to jump with. They are still my favorite videos to watch to this day. I met him in Clewiston in the early 90s when he regularly videoed our RW group down there (Jack, Jeannie, Amy, Pat, Pam, JD, Cathy, Rob, etc.). I've even, on occasion, copied his way of taking his camera helmet off and videoing himself debriefing the jump while he was under canopy! We lost a classic when we lost him. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Tell me about cutting away on your Level 2. I assume you had 2 instructors with you with the reserve side still in place when you cut away. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

I'm not sure Does it look anything like the submerged Navy reef starter that I saw while diving off the coast of Florida? "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

I feel your pain. We had to put on long sleeve shirts with our shorts and tevas to jump this weekend at Skydive Palatka in Florida. Bummer. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Sorry about the ex-Marine characterization. I was not meaning to be disrespectful. As to exporting jobs, I take it you do disagree with Bush's illegal alien amnesty program. I not only disagree with it but think it shows his lack of concern for American workers and fawning to corporations and the Hispanic vote. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Would you ask a skydiver for advice on how to fly your plane? No. It isn't important what he says the facts are, its what the trouper says that matters to him. The only good advice you can give him is to get a lawyer, get a recommendation from some other lawyer in the area whom you trust, don't just select one from a billboard or TV commercial. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

I see from your profile (if it is current) that you are an ex-Marine but are currently looking for work. I am really sorry to hear that but it points up a big problem in Bush's economic program of big governement spending coupled with tax benefits to the ultra rich. While Bush reported in his State of the Union speech that the economy is "growing" that has not translated into jobs for American workers. In fact, the economy has lost about 2.3 million jobs since he took office, giving him the worst job creation record of any president since Herbert Hoover. Are you better off than you were in 2000? "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Yeah, Rupert Murdoch, that pinko. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

In 2000, I was riding the fence and ended up voting for Bush because of Gore's demeanor during the debates. Admittedly not the best of reasons. I wish I had looked closer now. Bush has not lived up to his promises in 2000 - most significantly, trying to build international concensus and being a more humble nation in international affairs. I'm also very concerned about the huge deficit he has created from the surplus he was left. I'm hoping I get to vote for a Kerry-Edwards ticket this time. I won't make the same mistake that I made in 2000. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Sorry, the picture is a little small but look closely, no closer, no I mean closer. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

I'm certainly real. For proof, here's a picture of Jackie Oh and me doing a naked two way exit out of a Cessna 182. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama

Ignore the nasty replies. Hope you come to sunny Florida and enjoy some great jumps with friendly skydivers from all over the world. "I have magic buttons ;)." skymama