NWFlyer

I'm not active in the sport anymore, but had around 500 jumps and 5 years in the sport when I got my coach rating. I wound up not using it all that often for various reasons - competing priorities (team training, or wanting to do organized jumps), or often it was because there were others on the dropzone who relied on coaching / teaching $$ for all or a large portion of their income. I have a well-paid day job and could afford to pay for all of my own jumps. All that said I'm glad I got it as I think it made me a better mentor. Even if I didn't go up on coach jumps all that often, I was able to use those teaching skills in more informal ways working with younger jumpers on the ground. My personal advice would be keep jumping and building your own skills and experience as a jumper and (if you keep up at your expected pace) go for the rating in a couple of years. Yes, you are technically eligible to be a coach now, but I think you'll bring a lot more to the table with more time / experience around the DZ. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I was excited to see on Facebook that Josh's nephew (youngest of the family) joined his older sisters in making his first skydive after he hit 18 recently. The family has kept up the tradition of family skydives in Josh's memory every summer, adding the kids as they turn 18. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Since this year is the 50th anniversary of the legendary Lost Prairie boogie, I'm writing up an article for Blue Skies Magazine celebrating the boogie's long and storied history. I'm already hitting up boogie attendees for photos, but I figured there may be some folks who follow this forum who are no longer on the boogie circuit but who have some Prairie history. I would love to get any old photos of LP from your archives that you'd be willing to scan (or take a photo of) and share for the article. As much detail as you have would be really helpful (year, names of people in the photo, photographer if known, etc.). Send me a PM here and I can provide my email address for sending photos. Thanks! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

The deadline for pre-registration is this Friday, June 30. Registration cost goes up $50 if you wait to register on site. Preregister here: http://www.meadowpeakskydiving.com/boogie-registration/ "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I tore mine in 2010 and waited 5 months to go back. Probably could've gone back a month or so earlier, but I wanted to be confident. I should add that I didn't just wait, I did lots of physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding muscles. I did not jump with a brace (in fact, my doc only recommended the brace for the first few weeks after the injury). For me, I waited till I felt a "normal" amount of stability in the knee and till I was confident moving around in all kinds of situations. (Early on after the injury I was really tentative in crowds, for example, because of the possibility of having to make a sudden lateral move and having the knee give out on me). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

The legendary boogie is turning 50 and it's gonna be an epic year, with the DC-3 making its triumphant return to the Montana skies (among other planes). Great organizers, skills camps, traditions, etc. etc. etc. All the deets and discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1610943215870763/ "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Not necessarily. Southwest's new international arrivals building in Houston Hobby is fantastic. I've come through there twice since it opened in 2015 - once from Cancun, once from Costa Rica. Both times super efficient and easy with only moderate walking to get from there back to the domestic area (there was a brief delay the second time through because a baggage carousel got jammed, but that could happen anywhere). And I'm pretty sure the re-check through TSA once you're on U.S. soil is standard procedure no matter the point of entry. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

46 and on my third car, which is also a 2001 Passat. I've just passed 110K miles on it, and though it has lots of little dings and body stuff falling apart, it's hard to justify a new(er) car given how little I drive it (city living and live close to my office, so walking/taking public transit is more cost / time effective most of the time). I might still buy something different this year, but I won't buy new. 1986-1989 - teenage years, used family cars or didn't have a car 1989-1992 - a 1980 Toyota Tercel that I bought used. I learned all the lessons about proper preventative maintenance the hard way on this one! 1992-2000 - 1992 Saturn SL2 that I bought new 2000-present - 2001 Passat that I still own "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I've done fish in it before but generally don't bother. As others have mentioned, I love it for steaks and chops primarily. I haven't really gotten into the "72 hour pork belly" kind of stuff. But for a chop / steak, I'll throw it in the bath when I get home from work at 530 or 6 and it's ready to sear and get on the table between 7 or 730. And it's cooked perfectly every time. Yes, the purist in me loves traditional methods of cooking, but the busy foodie in me loves my gadgets - my sous vide, my slow cooker, my pressure cooker, etc. All help me to cook more regularly and frequently and eat good home cooked food. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

They'll still be just as married. Enjoy and congrats! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

That's a really good point. My paternal grandfather passed away when I was a toddler, so I never had opportunity to observe their sleeping arrangements, but my maternal grandparents slept in separate beds / bedrooms as long as I was aware. It was a three bedroom house and when my mom and her brother were growing up they each had their own bedroom, so I presume that my grandparents slept in the same bed back then, but I really don't know when they started sleeping separately. I never questioned the normalcy / rightness of that sleeping arrangement - it was just how they lived. And why would I question it, because they were a happy couple married 50+ years till my grandfather's death. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I'm a firm believer that you figure out what works for your relationship and fuck what everyone else says or what you're "supposed" to do. If it's working for you in a healthy and happy relationship, who cares what others think? Personally, if I'm sleep deprived it's a lot more challenging for me to be a good, supportive, loving partner, so I've got no problems doing what I need to do to get a good night's sleep (and giving him freedom to do the same). Under most circumstances sharing doesn't impact sleep, but if one or the other of us is sick or injured, move on out! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Well ... (Says the woman born & raised in Virginia) "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

She's doing well, based on Facebook posts.

I have a theory that when my two cats are gone, I'll be a full time foster mama for a while - the idea being that I'll have more flexibility, etc. I have a feeling that it won't take long for me to "foster fail" and have a new cat(s) again. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke