crap

crap
:(

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

This is cool, I think, I'm not quite sure what I would do with it yet.. At $200 the price seems a little high, but I imagine that would go down if it was mass produced.
http://www.projectblackdog.com/site/product.html

I just don't see what this things niche is.. Instant Xwindows system, anywhere, anytime *(Machine already has to be running Linux or XP)...

Why not just a USB hard drive with enough files to get you set up and connected to whatever host you were going to work on anyways?

Jump Log #2

My second jump was a complete success.
I exited the airplane well, and went right into an arch. My brain wasn't overwhelmed and I calmly waited to level off, checked my altimeter (13K), did 3 practice pulls (Still not touching the ripcord enough!). Then got into the fun lesson, turns and forward motion.
Looked left, picked a spot about 90 degrees, lowered my left arm, and rotated myself and two instructors, same thing to the right. Then I pulled my arms in and stuck my legs out.. putting myself and my two instructors into a great dive, 3 seconds later I pulled out, checked my altimeter, smiled at my instructors, did an extra turn for fun... Locked on at 6k, pulled at 5.5, AND AND held onto my rip cord this time.. YAY!

Jen and several friends did tandem jumps and got totally hooked, I know Jen is going to go for her license as well..

out of the sky

I jumped out of an airplane at 13000 feet yesterday.
I liked it so much I'm going back again today.
I've always wanted to get my certification.. Now I will be 2 jumps closer (23 to go)

http://www.skydivekapowsin.com/


The most interesting sensation was right after I left the aircraft and leveled out. I was supposed to check my altimeter and call out the altitude to my two instructors. (basically this lets them know that you have your head on your shoulders and are able to function.) I look over at my left wrist (where it is located).. stare.. stare some more.. I absolutely _can_not_ read the altimeter.. I see numbers, I can read them, but I can not find the stupid needle.. After about (who knows how long) I give up, guess we are at about 12000 feet and call it out..The dive proceeds. Total sensory overload, my brain just wouldn't pick out the little needle, with everything else going on.

Later on in the free fall, (6000 feet) I am supposed to look over and stare at the altimeter until it reaches 5500, and then pull my rip cord. Luckily, this time I can read the altimeter and all goes well.

So half the dive is really fast paced, there's a lot you have to do, and remember, and you are falling, checking your altimeter, and thinking about your body position, and doing things your instructor tells you to do (with hand signals you just learned), and wind wind wind, pull the cord. WOOSH! Check your canopy! Then it is so quiet, and peaceful and relaxing. Enjoy the view, make some turns. Come in for a nice...soft...landing.

Climbing Journal: First Outdoor Climb

Today I made my first official outdoor climb.
Since January I have been seriously pursuing rock climbing as a hobby, and while climbing at Stone Gardens I've managed to progress up to V5 and 5.11's (Top Roping).
The weather has been beautiful lately and the gym has been less and less crowded-(lonely even) as people get outdoors. Thursday night was the tipping point, the place was practically empty and just no fun to be at. Friday I decided that come this Sunday I was going to climb outdoors no matter what ... I of course needed a partner but I wasn't going to let that stop me. The initial plan was to just show up at Exit 32 and pick up someone's 3rd, but on Sat. I decided to check the gym for posts.
Ian was the first person I called and he turned out to be a super nice guy. Once we were at the crag, he didn't have any problem giving me a couple quick lessons on lead climbing.
The exit 38 crags weren't that crowded (everyone was probably at seafair), and from 10:30 to 4:30 we each climbed about 7 routes, mostly 5.9. leads. I lead a short 5.10 which was a bit intimidating as it required some serious finesse. I got a little impatient, took an exciting 10 foot fall, and smacked the wall with a satisfying 'WHUMP'. I got some nice scrapes that I'm very proud of, but my body absorbed most of the impact and I'm otherwise quite ok.

Quite a different experience, definitely what I was looking for. I got home around 5:30, ate a little and promptly took a "quick" 6 hour nap. Funny, at the gym I can pump out my forearms in 30 minutes but that didn't happen all day, and in this case I'm just all around really tired.

It is good.
-JD

http://www.deceptioncrags.com/Deception/WeDidRock/index.htm
http://www.deceptioncrags.com/Deception/DeceptionWall/index.htm
http://www.deceptioncrags.com/Deception/Nevermind/index.htm

Ants

My house has a few sugar ants this year, and I've been keeping my kitchen pretty clean in hopes that they will go away. This morning I opened the dish washer to find that they had found their way in and were feasting on the food left on the dirty dishes.

I got some sort of perverse pleasure by closing the washer and hitting the start button. I listened as the washer got ready and then... WOOSH!!!