I know this should go to the off topic forum, but, I'm feeling really giddy about this and more people read this forum... If I don't post here it means something went wrong... So wish me luck if you are fond of this little gnome...

I am making my graduation jump this week. I will jump at 11,000 feet, free fall for roughly 40 seconds, and deploy at about 6,000 feet. This will be my first solo jump without an instructor, and I get to pull the chute. I'm a bit nervous hehe.

Oh and I haven't been online for like ages... I can't seem to get into the Everquest spirit (although my subcription is running), and found, arhm, different things to do.

Anyone wanna join me? Trust the Gnome! ITS FUN LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE! Feeling the wind rush past you, dropping to the ground at terminal velocity, with an absolutely beautiful view.... Not to mention you GET INTO THE MOST HOLY OF ZONES! The Great Outdoors.

Good luck!

And it will be fun :)

gl and i wouldnt join you if you paid me :) same here with the eq thing i mean just about 100+ days and not 60 yet... eh ill get it some day i guess


[184k signature? I am sorry]

Hey Miss Foxy, wanna come jump with me? If you can scuba or something, you can jump...

You tricked me.

I think the Grove needs a pet gnome, and a wizzy no less.

Good Luck. And you will have fun on the drop.

Just don't kiss the guy before you strap in. Maybe you can when about to leave the plane.

heh, the idea of some gnome being pushed involuntarily out of an aircraft made me laugh :D

Enjoy your jump, Im pretty sure leaving a perfectly good airplane midair is the biggest rush one will ever get, just dont forget to activate that thing :)

I love skydiving and I assume you do too =) Keep in mind that at a 6k deployment you can still enjoy a nice long float down! Many of my friends also like the sport and we've not killed any of us yet.

Arch dammit! Arch!

Paraphrased from Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge (since I can't find an exact quote):

"Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is not a natural act. But as long as you got to do it, you might as well do it right and enjoy the view."

:)

Good luck and have fun!

Yes I love it. For the certificate I'm supposed to deploy at 6,000 feet though :)

Just remember, the fall never kills anyone it’s the sudden stop at the end.

My Uncle tried to bribe me into doing a skydive once. I'm a whitewater rafter and he said I'll go WWR'ing with you if you go skydiving with me. For some reason I just didn't think that was an even trade ;)

Have fun and be safe! I think you're nuts but good luck anyway!

It is funny to see people doing so many things in civilian life we HAD to do in the Marines. I salute you.

Go for it...you only live (and die) once.

Don't be one of those 89 year old peeps that sits around wondering what it would have been like to do this or that. Do it and spend your end years remembering.

I am SO joining the USAF when I graduate.

USAF is a great way to go. Good luck.

It is funny to see people doing so many things in civilian life we HAD to do in the Marines

Hah! Noone in the Marine Corps has made me jump from a perfectly good airplane! (A helicoptor or two..but no airplanes)

You gotta volunteer for that @#%$.

Never got to use a shoot in the USMC.. always had to take the line down..

Only thing I never did was deploy a shoot, went through pre-para but never went to the course. Guess they were afraid I would get lost in mid-air.

Grats on the Certification and enjoy. Next step is Skydiving into the Ocean and parasailing those are a rush.

I ain't jumping out of an airplane unless someone casts SoE on me first. With SoE on, I love jumping off cliffs.

Hmmmmmmm skydiving into the ocean.... That would rock!

Anyone else here have a pilot's license though? I don't have night flight or ILS yet :/

Life is dangerous enough without jumping out of airplains hehe.
You know there's also this great game called russian roulette.

Got my pilots licence about 3 weeks ago

My father swears by skydiving. He had over 60 jumps before he was kicked out of the army for having a genetic disease. I need to do that, even though I am so afraid of heights. It could be fun, but would be nice to be able to talk to my father about something he loved so much.

*edited out following Kinare's explanation below*

/em apologizes profusely.

Gallatin I realize you were trying to be funny, but unfortunately it is not to me.

My father has <a href=http://www.mdausa.org/disease/fshd.html>Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy</a>, which he passed on to me. This year he was forced to retire from his job, had to buy an electric wheelchair because he can no longer walk any distance, and has had several trips to the hospital for life threatening conditions related to his disease (heart and lung problems).

I am going to visit him in November, and I fear it will be the last time I see him. It has been over 2 years since I saw him last (he lives in Alaska and I live in Virginia).

Facing this disease on a daily basis is difficult. Knowing I am walking today (and fairly healthy) is nice, but knowing I will inevitably be restricted to a wheel chair is so depressing sometimes (my husband knows also, what a wonderful man).

Sorry to be so depressing, but this is my life.

EDIT: /rude disabled EZcodes

Kinare I'm so sorry to hear that :( I can't imagine what it would be not being able to walk, run, jump, and get into trouble. I wish you happiness, maybe the disease will never affect you. :) If you want a hug, consider it given :)

Hug from a wizard? Usually I decline but I make exceptions =)

Yes I know you fear our damage shields. But in this case I don't have one. :)

Kinare, I apologize. I was trying to be funny, and it was in poor taste. My sympathies to you and your family. I'm editing out my smartass remark, and I appreciate you pointing out my faux pas with so much class.

It's ok Gallatin =) No worries..

And your Pulitzers for pr0n link doesn't work =(

Hm, the link works just fine for me. (Just checked.)
I read through all of it a couple days ago . . . I thought it was really nice. Articulate.

Anyway, Kin, I would add my sympathies to the list, as mediocre as they are. My mother has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, so I understand the pain of living with a chronically ill parent, even if I am only a borderline case. (I do not actually have lupus, but I do show several side effects of the illness.)
/hug Kin

tandem jumps are for wussies..static line all the way till they let you pull yourself :)