Wendi jumped Kara’s pack job! She called me afterward and told me, “Best opening I’ve had in a LONG time and it was on heading!”Way to go, Little Bear!
Last night was one of THOSE nights where you don’t say anything to piss me off or I am going to bite your head off.
It’s been a rough week as it is and I didn’t need any bullshit.
I IMed my friend and told her I was about ready to snap. She calmed me down after 500 questions and realized I was just being bitchy.
Finally, having enough I looked over and let it out, “WOULD YOU STOP GLARING AT ME!? GOD! You have been glaring at me all damn night!”
His mouth dropped open.”I have an EYE INFECTION! I am not glaring, I am looking at you! I JUST HAVE TO SQUINT!”
Yeah, I might have been a little bit bitchy the other night.
Still working on getting the video uploaded.
Just thought I would put this up there…my daughter kicking ass and making it look easy!
Kara and I headed to the dropzone today so she could learn how to pack a parachute. I wandered around and talked to some of my family as she ’sat in’ on 3 pack jobs from a couple of loads.
She has been hinting around that she wants to get back in the sky again and today was absolutely beautiful.
It hasn’t been a year since our world flipped over and things got really shitty before it got worse with the two of us. I would drive home from work in tears because I didn’t want to even have to talk to her because she was moody, mean, obnoxious and she clearly did not like me or the air I was taking up. It started with that and went to lies. From there, it just got worse. It took a huge wake up call for her to see what we have and how important that we are to each other. That moment, that very moment when I held my daughter in my arms and cried with her, I knew she was back. She has been the girl I have wanted to hang out with again. She is the honest girl that I know I can trust. She’s the woman that knows what ‘family’ means and values and honors it. I never want to see those days and months again…and days like today is what we need to stay on that path.
Ed usually only does learning tandem jumps, but today he agreed to jump with Kara. I nearly cried. It seemed like everything was coming together. She had finished watching her third pack when I said, “You want to jump with Ed today?” I love this the most about my daughter…without hesitation, “YES!” And then went searching for her Sharpie so she could redo her ‘fearless’ on her hand shot.
The load number was #13 (and we all know by now that is our favorite number since I was 13 and since she started softball) She likes to find that number in the things that we do…and so when I told her, “Load 13.” She got a big smile.
After the jump, Wendi let her pack her chute. Sitting there watching my daughter as she walked the lines, flank and try to shove the chute in the d-bag was one of the most proud moments. She had clearly listened when she was learning early, because when it came time to close the bag into the chute, she did it.
Today was even better than the first time she jumped. Today she felt like she was welcomed and a part of the ‘family’ we have out there.
On the way home we were talking and she said, “I think I love Amanda.” and talked about the stuff they talked about. She talked about how she thought Tia was so adorable. We talked about Ed and how freaking amazing he is…and she said, “I think…uh..I think Ed might be the boss of me.” I started laughing because that is what I say all the time!!
She has a plan; practice packing, work at the dropzone this summer packing tandem chutes and save up to go through AFF for her senior project.
My daughter told me today that she wants to be a sky diver…just like her mom. OMG. I don’t have enough fingers to count how many times I nearly cried today.
Thank you everyone, thank you GOD for giving me my daughter back!
My friend Wendi called me and told me that I HAD to get to the dropzone last Saturday so I of course, being the good friend that I am, I did.
This weekend I am taking Kara out to learn how to pack a parachute. She is going to go through AFF for her senior year project and after she passes and begins to go through the process of learning, packing your own chute is on the list. Being my daughter, she doesn’t want to wait that long.
My sky friends have moved into the sky family status and they have offered to show her how it’s done. She will then get to either do the observation ride with her packed chute or wait on the ground for when they land.
Finding things to do with Kara that doesn’t cost anything is always an adventure within itself. She enjoyed the pictures I captured at the DZ last weekend and wants to hang out and see if she can get some artistic shots to add to her portfolio. She has an amazing eye for action shots and since she’s just a little thing she can probably lay in the pea gravel and get landing shots and no one would even notice her.
I have a haunting feeling that after she’s out of AFF I will be having to purchase her a helmet with a camera mount!
When I am jumping the last thing I am thinking about is taking pictures.
I was actually asked once what I think about when I’m in freefall. 1. out 2. arch 3. altimeter 4. backflip 5. altimeter 6. spin 7. altimeter 8. track 9. altimeter 10. PULL!
The next time I went out I wanted to actually remember what I thought about during freefall other than the necessities to stay alive. “I have cotton mouth”.
Really…that was it. I had forgotten to grab my water before I got on the plane and THAT was the only thing I thought about during freefall.
Now when I get going again I am going to have to be thinking about being fruit looped , mugged or having my junk grabbed. God, I love my skyfamily! They all wonderfully, perfect, peverted and loving.
And when I say, ‘perverted’ I don’t mean the weird perverted-going on craigs list, signing up for swinger parties under false names while married to someone who has no idea’ brand of pervert…I mean, duh. Skydivers are perverted, but they don’t try to hide it. They flaunt it!
Kara and I should have fun this weekend since she already knows all the stories and stupid slang!
PACK, BITCHES!
Until then, here are some amazing pictures of my skyfriends doing what they do best, making everyone else look like pussies! :) hee hee!!
In skydiving we are sometimes graced with nicknames. I narrowly avoided ‘flares’. We have “red” “stretch” “chocolate” “mudmonkey” “juicbox” “flying lesbian” and a bunch others.
I get teased for the twisted leg strap incident.
While at the dropzone yesterday I had Ed have Lester put on a rig and see if he would twist the leg straps. Ed helped him put it on and from all the times he’s watched me tighten my leg straps he looked like a pro. I was standing there with the camera going, ‘damn…that’s hot.’. Then Ed took off the rig, placed it on the chair and said, “Okay, now put it on yourself.”
Yeah, he twisted the leg straps.
Cheering and snapping pictures I said, “Ha! He twisted the leg straps!”
That’s when Ed looked at me and said, “Yeah, I’m guessing he could figure it out in less than 20 minutes, that’s your time right?”
I told Lester, “You look pretty good in that rig…you wanna jump?”
He then replied. “Yes, if I am unconscious.”
Right now there is some sort of game plan with his friend from PA about coming in July to jump out of a plane. This, mind you doesn’t mean I am EVER getting a tattoo.
I started the 365 project on Flickr this year. I have tried to do in the past and just couldn’t get past day 3. This time I am on Day 11 and I’m still going strong. I have a lot of ideas I would like to do, but getting them to work isn’t always easy.
In addition to the 365 project, I took on another version of 365 where I take a picture a day. This was taken yesterday on our way back from Reno.
I uploaded it and fiddled around with it some and then reuploaded it. It feel sort of strange to be using my Random And Odd Flickr account and adding ‘NEW’ pictures from THIS place in my life. I had to do a search for a picture the other day and it matched a tag I had used years before and low and behold, my old life slapped me in the face.
There have been many times where I want to just delete the whole account, but the pictures I have there would need to be saved and I am nearing the 10,000 picture mark in my photostream. I can’t imagine the time it would take save all the pictures I wanted.
For Christmas I bought myself (for the 5th time) REO Speedwagon’s 2nd decade of rock and roll live CD. I don’t have a CD player to play it on in my car so when I took the car that had a CD player in it, I brought it with me. The first opening notes of Roll With The Changes brought me back to being 19 years old and bouncing along in my roommates truck listening to the song and singing it at the top of our lungs, then repeat doing it again.
I have had that song stuck in my head for nearly 24 hours and usually any song that gets stuck in my head (like Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance) for more than a few hours drives me nuts. It’s not so bad right now. I just keep hearing, “If you’re tired of the same old story…turn some pages.” Man, have I turned some pages…gone through chapters and finished many novels since those days.
I am ready to make the break that I am on the brink of. It seems like I have been doing that my whole life.
…and I have all the pictures to prove it!
I was lucky enough to be allowed in the emails that started this birthday wish for you, Susie.
As they came pouring in I thought, “How the hell am I going to be able to even come close or find something that hasn’t been said already?
Well the answer is, I can’t. You have such amazing people in your life that love you so much that they used up all the words to express how much you mean to them.
All I can say is; you are the rock and glue that holds our blog family together. I love you and all the strength you have brought to us when we were down and the praises you bestowed upon us during the high times.
Love,
Your Princess.
Now I give to you; To and About Susie
How could anyone NOT love Susie? Without her, I wouldn’t have the term “Booty Flies” in my vocabulary; I wouldn’t have sisters in my life; my husband wouldn’t have had his Lyme Disease diagnosed as quickly as he did; and, my Christmas tree wouldn’t have crabs.
Susie, may this 40-tenth birthday of yours usher in an era of good health, and may the year ahead shower you with laughter, love and peace in the same measure as you give the same things to the world at large. I love you, my sister. Happy Birthday!
Love, Shari
Oh, Susie – well, you came and you gave without taking While I acted so gay Oh, Susie – made me drinks that were stirred and not shaken Where is Gumby today?
For the bootyflies, and the Gumby porn, and the monkey socks, and the Angel Tamponia, and for putting up with all of my bullshit during my Big Fat Mid-Life Crisis, and for being my innernets adopted sister, I salute you, send you all my love, and wish you the happiest of birthdays! Now, go eat some cake before I start blubbering.
Love,
Bucky
There are well over 50 reasons why I love Susie, but the main reason is that she has booty flies. Every time I think of her booty flies, I am overcome with laughter; just the mere hint of the story sets me to giggling. Another reason I adore her is because she’s a fiercely loving, strong, soft-hearted, kind, involved, and in-love parent to her daughter, LG. I so admire her adoration of, concern for, and involvement in her child’s life. Susie also loves Our Lord, and she seems to integrate that fact into every aspect of her life so seamlessly and effortlessly. I pray that Susie’s 50th birthday, and all the many, many birthdays and years ahead, are filled with as much love and support as we blogfriends know she so richly deserves. I love you, Susie Fairchild!!!
Love, Raz
In the years I have known Susie I have seen her in top form, and have seen her when she was sick and weighted with despair. Through that time, her courage, her unflagging good humour, her optimism, and her calling to reach out and help people has been an inspiration to us all.
I gravitate towards people who make me laugh, and of course she does that. But in so many other ways, my friendship with Susie nourishes my soul. I feel like a better person just because Susie is in my life.
Plus, you know, she has great hooters.
-Nils
Don’t wanna be
Tardy to the Par-tay
On Susie’s Birth-day
Everybody do a little Birthday Dance.
This is also where you’re glad this isn’t video.
Have a wonderful day - no a wonderful YEAR!
You don’t look a bit older than the day I met you.
Happy Birthday! From Allisone
A Haiku for Susie:
Susie, I celebrate you
Thankfully grateful
For your effervescent charm
From Sue (of the Charlotte and Sue variety)
Susie is the first person I adopted as my blog sister. I love her sense of humor, from the booty flies to the best Thanksgiving turkey post ever. She’s been through so many different ups and downs since I first knew her but she still has that sense of humor. I’m so blessed to have been able to meet her in real life, too. There’s no way I can do her justice here, so I’ll just say “Susie, I love you and Happy Birthday.”
Squirl
Something Susie said on my blog:
March 22, 2005
“I knew I would like writing, so that’s why I started. What I had no idea about was how wonderful it would be to meet the bloggers, the commenter’s, to chat and tease and play with them, and care about them. It is an alternate universe here. I have tried to tell non-bloggers about it, and they don’t quite get it. I think it’s like Mark Twain said, about faith: for those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t, none is possible.”
I am very happy to have “met” you, Susie. You add to my life.
Love, Joseph (Greenthumb)
Susie just makes the world a better place. That is really all I need to say because someone here will most definitely say what i WANT to say more eloquently and wittier than I ever could. Susie has always been there for me, I mean, REALLY been there for me. I could not be happier that our worlds collided in the blogosphere and she has deemed me worthy to hang with her in any capacity. I love you Susie, you are an amazing person…I am honored to be your friend. Happy Birthday!!!
Love, Jana
Online there’s a woman named Susie
Whose sense of humor is quite a doozy
She jokes and she rants
‘Til I pee in my pants
Happy Birthday, you crazy old floozy!
Love,
Charlotte
“If Jesus was a team captain in a gym class and he was picking teams, he would pick Susie first. Not because of her religious beliefs but because she is honest, caring, funny, loyal to her friends (and team mates) and she is just a blast to be around. If the Devil were a team captain in a gym class, he would pick Susie first for the same reasons. And she is not afraid to say Motherfucker.”
Love, Bill
Please feel free to wish our amazing friend, Susie a VERY happy 20+30 birthday!
(even if you did on her Facebook page, it won’t hurt to do it again!)
