Falling from the sky from 13000 at 120mph is a very unique experience.  A unique experience that is surprisingly accessible to the general public.  Although a little more spendy than a night at the movies, with some planning and some saving, just about anyone can taste this ultimate thrill.

Last week, my girlfriend and I went to Skydive Snohomish and tried it out for ourselves.  We decided to do a tandem jump so we could experience the free fall.  For that matter, we decided to spend the extra $20 to jump from 2000 feet higher so we could have an extra 30 seconds of free fall.  That means we would be falling for a full minute.  Definitely worth it.  

We arrived at 10:00am and the front desk staff was professional and courteous.  Not so nice that they are pandering, but nice enough so a small scheduling mix-up didn’t phase them, or us.  Once we had the scheduling figured out, it was time for the scariest part of the whole experience: the legal forms.

The legal forms are an unfortunate necessity in any business these days.  In the skydiving business, they have got to be the only way they stay in business.  I could tell that each line on the form was a result of some lawsuit.  The form starts out by saying: skydiving is not safe and we never said it was.  Later, there is a part that lists many of the ways one can be injured while skydiving, including being killed by “hitting the ground too hard”.  I was having serious second thoughts as I signed my life away.  

A few moments later we were seated with a group watching an instructional video.  The three rules?  Have fun, arch your back and lift your legs upon landing. That’s all there ...<< MORE >>

Kayaking the Puyallup River from Fred Meyer in Puyallup to Dock Street in Tacoma Washington.
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First official video blog.  Just trying to get a feel for how this vlogging will fit into the big picture.  My 35th birthday and sky-diving on said birthday are top of the list.  Stay btuned for more fun.

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Does it work?
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I’m going skydiving in a week.  Actually, 7 days but who’s counting. OK, I’m counting because I can't wait.  I try not to get too excited about these things because you never know.  If I get all pumped up and start telling people how great it's going to be, I could very well get to the point where I’m supposed to jump and just pee my pants.  That would be disappointing.

 

So, with reservation, I am quite excited.  I have to say, because everyone thinks it,that I hope I don’t die.  That said, I really am more excited than scared.  So this is the before.  I intend to check back in with my feelings when the time is a little closer.  Perhaps the morning before we go.  We’ll see how I feel then; and of course we’ll compare with what actually happens.

 

I wonder if I should wear some adult diapers, just in case…

 

Seriously. 

    

As I approach 35 years of age I can’t help but realize the discrepancy between how old we “are” verses how old we “feel”.  I feel about 20.  (I don’t want to talk about how old I look.)  This realization brought me to think about how some people refer to an old soul or a young soul.  I’ve decided that our souls age more slowly than our physical bodies.

 

If you consider how we figure dogs age seven years for each of our one, I think our souls age in the opposite manner.  That is the soul ages one year for each of our seven (give or take).  Could it be that our souls have infinitely longer life spans than our physical bodies and thus have to find many bodies throughout their existence?

 

To take it one step further, could it be that, much in the same way people are forced to have multiple dogs during their lifetime, our souls are forced to have multiple bodies.  And just like dogs, some bodies are wonderful joyous experiences while others are more challenging.  

 

Could it be even, as we choose which breed of dog is best for our current state of life, our souls choose which body, race, or perhaps even planet, is the best match for it?  And as some owners treat their puppy dogs with malice and disrespect, some spirits treat their bodies the same way.

 

Perhaps a young soul is harder on its body than an old soul?  Perhaps some just abandon their bodies halfway through because they have to take a job somewhere else and they can’t find an apartment that will let them have a body?

 

It’s just a thought.

    

So I’ve been noticing lately the difference in how people treat each other.  I’ve decided that perhaps there is something to be studied here.  From customer service to driving, from riding the bus to walking down the street, lets face it; we’re going to have to interact with each other.  I believe that each interaction is an opportunity to, at least, improve someone’s day at, on some level, improve the fabric of society.  I’m going to start this study with the simple act of saying please and thank you.

 

First, how hard is it to say these words.  “Please” – it’s one syllable, takes about half a second and doesn’t hurt at all.  You don’t even have to make your tongue do anything strange.  And how much does this simple word make a difference?  It’s incredible really.  Let’s try it shall we: “hand me my towel” vs. “hand me my towel, please.”  Very similar phrases, yet the first implies an order and the second implies gratitude and a realization that this person did not have to hand you the towel.  Granted, most times when you’re asking for a towel you would be on close terms with a person and may not need to say please but why not. 

 

Thank you is even better.  OK, it is two words and two syllables and takes maybe a full second to spit out, but man is it valuable.  It should be mandatory for people to say after anyone does anything for you.  From moving out of your way to picking you up at the airport.  It simply acknowledges that other person has acknowledged your existence and altered their existence in favor of yours.

 

Now some may say that if we say these things all the time that it will dilute the meaning.  I say that if you mean these words, that meaning will come across.  You don’t have to grab someone by the shoulders, look them in the eye, tell them thank you, and then hug them if they just passed you the ketchup, but a simple thanks is certainly in order.

 

 I work with a lady who never says please or thank you.  It kills me.  After two years of working with her I almost don’t want to lift a finger for her cause it seems like she demands everything and appreciates nothing.  In fact, some days it makes me want to undo some of the things I’ve done just for the opportunity to glean some gratitude from her.  It makes the work environment stressful and I believe is at the same time the cause and symptom of more serious problems.  Our work place would be a more unified and caring environment if she would simply say “thanks” once in a while.

 

This philosophy can extend to our neighbors, the coffee girl, other people in traffic, and makes a large difference for a small effort.  If we all treat each other as equals on this planet and with some respect, that respect will grow into caring and if we all cared about each other, there is nothing we wouldn’t do for each other and therefore we could accomplish anything.

    

Jeep Won't start? Many years of Jeep ownership created this list of tips.<< MORE >>

My Jeep Grand Cherokee just wouldn't start but with little knowledge and some good old fashioned stubbornness, I got it running. << MORE >>

Í´m currently waiting for a collectivo to take me from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas.  A collectivo is a car or van that waits until it is full before it takes off.  These are a very cheap way to get around but one has to be flexible.  So I´m sitting here sweating.  Its hot.  Wet hot like you want to jungle to be.  Like you want the jungle to be until your about to spend 2+ hours in a cramped van that is.  The good news is, now that they´ve paved the road, the trip only takes 2+ hours as opposed to the 8 it used to take.

Once we arrive in Yurimaguas I will have to arrange a cargo barge to transport me down the amazon to Iquitos.  I´ve purchased my hammock and mosquito net here in Tarapoto because they are cheaper here.  The trip should take anywhere from 3-5 days depending on the water levels and God only knows what else.  I imagine lazily floating down the Amazon while eating bananas and watching monkeys.  I have a feeling I may be sweating while hiding under my mosquito net for 4 days.  Either way it should be an interesting story...