jessefs

That's a good point, I wasn't really factoring in the cost of solo jumps after AFF in the price comparison of the two, i wasn't even figuring in failed jumps....if they were to happen. It seems as though the more unbiased people I talk to, the more AFP is getting recommended. Cheers Jesse

Thank you guys for your information and input. I think I am going to stick with the AFP program and do a 3 jump package every 2 weeks at least. I kinda have this feeling that I will be comfortable any route that I choose but AFP seems the most appealing for me. A license here I come! Cheers Jesse

You're right, I do feel as though for my AFP to be most effective, I'm gonna have to keep the jumps as closely spaced together as possible. I definentaly do not doubt the quality of the program and it's effect on my abilities, (which, I'm sure is important.)

LMFAO!!! that was damn funny. I've got to send this to my girlfriend, she's gonna love it

Ya, I like the addiction feeling...as long as it doesn't start to make everything else completely boring. Hell, it's better than being addicted to gambling and crack......though, probably costs about the same

Somehow I don't think that 13k would be considered HALO if at SDC the are continually dropping tandems from 13-14k. I do understand that HALO's are from a higher altitude where the o2 is needed as mentioned above, I was just stating that they were required in my AFP program. BTW...what is a normal s/l altitude to be dropping from? Is it the 3 - 3.5k??

So are they telling you in AFF "Now, when you continue to do your solo dives after this course is completed, you should be working on this, this this, etc..." or did you just kinda ask around and gather the information on your own on what you should be doing??

Sorry....price is $2050 if bought all at once. I didn't think the price difference was as large as stated above.

I know that this has come up under an unrelated post title recently but I was just wondering if anyone actually saw any "drawbacks" to the AFP programs that are starting to go around. It seems to me that a longer, more structured training program that lasts until you get your license would probably be more thourough and motivational. For myself and for others who are beginning, skydiving is a little intimidating at first and to be on my own before I am even certified is not the most comforting thought. My AFP course consists of 2 Tandems, 16 reg. alt. jumps w/ instructor, 2 LALO's from 3,500 and 2 HALO's from full alt. w/ instructor. Just wanted to get a clear idea on people's opinions on the subject. Thanks, Jesse

AFP in Skydive Chicago consists of 22 jumps total so you are ready to get your license once the program is completed. 2 Tandems, 16 normal altitude jumps with instructor, 2 LALO jumps from 3,500, and 2 HALO jumps from full altitude with instructor. If I remember correctly, you get video with every jump which seems extremely beneficial as a training aid. Though paying a little more ($1800 if bought all at once, $2370 in 3 jump package purchases, and $2676 if bought in individual jumps), I am glad that I am going through the AFP program and believe that I will have full confidence in my abilities once let loose. Jesse

We know you didn't REALLY go take a shower but you probably needed to afterward to clean up that mess you made!!

One night, as a couple laid down for bed, the husband gently tapped his wife on the shoulder and started rubbing her arm. The wife turned over and said, "I'm sorry, honey, I've got a Gynecologist appointment tomorrow." The husband, rejected, turned over and tried to sleep. Later, he rolled back over and tapped his wife again. This time he whispered in her ear, "Do you have a dentist appointment tomorrow, too?"

I have done my first 2 tandems at SDC and the program there is 2 tandems then AFP. It seems as if most DZ's have either S/L or AFF offered. Are many places offering the AFP route?

Is it ever appropriate to pull at 5,000 or even 4,000? Say you do want that extra 10 seconds, longer canopy flight, or whatever reason it may be. Is it acceptable if informing everyone on the ground and exiting last, or under what conditions? Just wondering

Where's lunch

Happy Birthday! glad you had an awesome one. Mine is on Sept. 10th and I think I'm going to be at SDC during the nationals for it. I can't wait. Anyone else have any good birthday stories? Jesse

It was a dark and stormy night.....wait, wrong story It was my girlfriends 22nd birthday and I had a little surprise for her. I picked her up without telling her a thing. 1 minute away from the DZ, I told her that she better call any loved ones now because we were going to be jumping out of a plane in about an hour. She started freaking out and said that her arms went numb. For a minute I didn't think that she was going to go through with it which I was a little worried about since we had no prior discussion about it. (I knew that I always wanted to do it but I wasn't so sure about her) She ended up going through with it and we each did 2 tandems that weekend while camping at the dropzone. We are both now going through AFP. She says that it was the best birthday ever, I'd have to agree with her. Cheers Jesse

Males and Females are just different, period! We are supposed to be different so that during interaction, things like getting your feelings hurt, falling in love, getting pissed/happy/depressed, etc....happen on purpose. What fun would life be and what experience would you get if you just had one emotion turned on all the time. You can analize one or the other to death if you want to but we are just plain different. This in no way excuses any intentionally inconsiderate or irrational behavior, but if you put yourself in the other shoes or even take this message board for example, words are misunderstood and twisted and sometimes don't come out exactly right. (Pardon my rambling but I just woke up and the 'ol ticker ain't quite up to speed yet) So, sometimes you can't take things quite so personally but Gretchen.....if this is issue is getting to you, you just gotta say fuck it.....i'm jumpin out of a plane this weekend Cheers Jesse

Crotchless Panties Edna went into her local Arkansas branch of Victoria's Secret to buy some fancy new panties. The sales lady talked her into buying some real nice bright red crotchless panties. Edna put them on and waited for her husband, Ralph, to get home from work. When Ralph arrived, Edna was all laid out upon the bed and pointed down to the new crotchless panties she had on. With a wide smile across her face, Edna asked, "Want some of this?" Ralph took just one look and said, "Lord no, it done ate a hole in yourpanties..."

"Corporate Lessons" Lesson Number One: A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit noticed the crow, and asked, "Can I sit like you and do nothing all day long?" The crow answered, "Sure, why not." So the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow and rested. All of a sudden a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit, and ate it. Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up. Lesson Number Two: A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," the turkey said and sighed. "But I haven't got the energy." "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally, after a week, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. Soon, though, the turkey was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree. Moral of the story: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there. Lesson Number Three: When the body was first created, all the parts wanted to be boss. The brain said, "I should be boss because I control all of the body's responses and functions." The feet said, "We should be boss since we carry the brain about and get him where he wants to go." The hands said, "We should be the boss because we do all the work and earn all the money." Finally, the asshole spoke up. All the parts laughed at the idea of the asshole being the boss. So, the asshole went on strike, blocked itself up, and refused to work. Within a short time, the eyes became crossed, the hands clenched, the feet twitched, the heart and lungs began to panic, and the brain fevered. Eventually, they all decided that the asshole should be the boss, so the motion was passed. All the other parts did all the work while the boss just sat and passed out the shit! Moral of the story: You don't need brains to be a boss -- any asshole will do. jesse

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What is politics?" Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I'm the breadwinner of the family, so let's call me capitalism. Your Mom, she's the administrator of the money, so we'll call her the Government. We're here to take care of your needs, so we'll call you the people. The nanny, we'll consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we'll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense," So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what dad had said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to his parents' room and finds his mother sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, "Dad, I think I Understand the concept of politics now." The father says, "Good son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about." The little boy replies, "Well, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, the Government is sound asleep, the People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit." Cheers Jesse

I believe that you can now use the A+/Network+ tests to go towards your MCSA. Not only are these tests a little easier than the Microsoft tests (not as many f-d up trick questions) but they are multi-platform recognized. I don't know what your experience\history is but be prepared to study your ass off. A good indicator is if you can consistently pass the Transcender for the scheduled test, you should be ok as I have found they come close to mirroring or exceeding the difficulty of the actual test. Let us know how it goes and if you need any additional help Cheers, Jesse

Viking, I know what you mean....I have the same thing with music production. I know that if I had the tools ($1000 computer, $1000 in software, $5000 in hardware) I could get some of these kickass songs I've dreamed up out of my friggin head! Why are the most expensive hobbies so damn attractive?? (like skydiving!) Damn money all to hell (except for the 10 grand i need for my license, rig, jumps, beer, etc...) Jesse

Just wondering what songs were peoples fav's to have dubbed over video. My first jump video included "Elevation" by U2 and "never gonna come back down" by BT which I thought worked out AWESOME