revjim.net

the importance of nylon

Aug 19th, 2009
by Jim Reverend.

I came to Starbucks on my lunch break in order to edit photos from my Monday night photo session. But it looks like my photos didn’t quite make it over during the backup/sync that ran last night. It’s trying to finish up now but, the starbucks network isn’t exactly speedy.

So, instead of editing photos you get a life update. I’m sure you’ll love it (or pass over it) but that means I’ll have to stay up later tonight to get it done. Ah well. That’s better than searching Hulu over and over again hoping for a new episode of “Warehouse 13″ or “Defying Gravity”. And I really should clean out my pantry someday, but, I’d more than likely put it off again.

This weekend is going to be crazy fun. As I mentioned in a Twitter update earlier (complete with calendar screenshot), I’ve got a lot going on. Saturday morning I’ll be driving to Forney to meet up with some other people, photograph the town and some crazy antiques store. Saturday evening is a Mojito party with lots of new faces. And I’ve since made plans to go hang out with some good friends Friday night (“Frolicking in the Village” is how I labelled it on my calendar).Then, the craziest thing of all, Sunday I’m jumping out of a plane.

Yes… that’s right. I’m going skydiving.

Well… by “going skydiving” I mean I’m driving to the place that does skydiving and giving them my money. I’m still not sure on the whole jumping out of the plane, plummeting to my death and, at the very last minute, relying on a man I don’t know to deploying a few pieces of nylon cloth and some rope in the hopes that it will save my life all in the name of a good time. I’m scared to death.

I’m glad my weekend is packed though. This is an “off” weekend — a weekend where I don’t have Celeste and only get to see her 2 days during the week. So anything I can do to distract me from missing her so much is a good thing.

Posted in: fatherhood, life, life-blog.
Tagged: · · · · · · ·

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-D-S-Davis/523910626 Josh-D. S. Davis

    FAR part 1.1 states “Aircraft means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air.”

    FAR 91 (General Operating and Flight Rules) applies to all manned aircraft except ultralights (Part 103). Parachutes are not ultralights, they are Part 105 aircraft and not excluded from Part 91.

    FAR 105.5 (Parachute Operations) states you cannot conduct a parachute activity if you appear to be under the influence.

    FAR 91.17 states: “(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft—
    =(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
    (2) While under the influence of alcohol;
    (3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
    …”

    It is arguable that as a parachutist, you are a crewmember. If you're going static line, you'd be flying solo. If you're going tandem, you could be considered a student pilot.

    “Under the influence” has been shown in court to include having a hangover, or having a foggy head. As such, trained pilots are recommended to make their personal limit 24 hours rather than 8 hours.

    As such, I highly recommend you not party hard at mojito land the night before jumping out of a plane.

    The reasoning is that when you go to altitude, you're already in a hypoxic situation due to lower partial pressure of oxygen. At 5000ft, there are measurable effects to vision. If you're not fully recovered from drinking, you can become effectively intoxicated, which would put you at risk to yourself and to your tandem jumper.

    The mnemonic for flight is IMSAFE.
    Illness
    Medication
    Sleep
    Alcohol
    Food
    Emotions

    If any of these are our of whack, you should not be operating an aircraft.

  • http://revjim.net/ Jim Reverend

    Ha! Josh… I think you know me better than that. I rarely get drunk
    or intoxicated in any way and, even when I do, it is only under the
    safest and most guarded of circumstances. I've had exactly 2 hangovers
    in my life. I've been drunk/intoxicated less than 20 times total.

    I may be lame, but I am definitely safe.

    I will not likely have more than 2 Mojitos.. if that. I will also
    likely be home by 2am.

    Thank you, though. Because it is an important lesson to learn and
    there are lots of people who are not nearly as cautious or concerned
    about safety as you or I are.

  • lys1123

    I am so jealous. I have wanted to go skydiving pretty much since I first learned about it as a small child.

  • http://revjim.net/ Jim Reverend

    For $200, you can also come skydiving this Sunday. At least I think we
    can still add people to the list. If you want to come, let me know and
    I'll make sure.

    D

  • lys1123

    Unfortunately I don't have an extra $200 right now. We are still paying for the vacation we took a few weeks ago, and with my car dying we suddenly have two car payments instead of one.

    What I am going to do, however, is start setting aside some money to go. This thread has made me realize I should make definite plans to do it someday instead of just wishing I could do it.

  • http://revjim.net/ Daniel

    For $200, you can also come skydiving this Sunday. At least I think we
    can still add people to the list. If you want to come, let me know and
    I'll make sure.

    D

  • lys1123

    Unfortunately I don't have an extra $200 right now. We are still paying for the vacation we took a few weeks ago, and with my car dying we suddenly have two car payments instead of one.

    What I am going to do, however, is start setting aside some money to go. This thread has made me realize I should make definite plans to do it someday instead of just wishing I could do it.