Photography Video Montage

A Heat Wave to Remember

The heat was magnificent in its ability to melt us all. With a high reaching 103’ on Saturday (at least by my altimeters function), how we all lasted day after day is a real wonder. It did slow me down though I wasn’t readily willing to repack as quickly or even don my flight suits (hey I got a new free fly suit too!) since you turn into a human sprinkler if you did. We still managed to enjoy each others company with eager smiles.

A Coordinated Effort

The event coordinators really did amazing keeping everything running so smoothly. We even had an expected visit by the FAA (man those suits walk real upright), but the show went on with only mild delays.

One day we had two Casa’s, one Twin Otter, and a helicopter all in motion. James La Barrie really handled it tactically and no issues means he did a stupendous job.

Funny enough the only thing really squawked on was how Outback really screwed us on our meal plan serving us up some real airplane fare for the price of steaks. If that was the only beef (/sarcasm) then I’d say it was a success.

Do You Know Howie?

A profound shout goes out to our friend Howie. A man who would have rather been left be had his own fan club after him; you can many times hear, ‘Do you know Howie?’ shouted onboard a plane.

During our sunset tracking dive we put ourselves over some tricky terrain and the flank Howie was on was in the deep of it and not going to make it home. After a rough landing Howie sustained a few broken bones (tib/fib/fingers), and a fractured hip. Can you believe he called 911 for himself? What a guy!

The dropzone being what it is with the local family we were quite a buzz over our friend. From the latest intel we understand that he is doing the best he can and we send our well wishes and speedy recovery.

Rodriguez Family Reunion

Thus completes my, Pelargo Rodriguez, first year as a family member. We celebrated in style and brought on board a slew of new family after many jumps with initiates. As always Shaggy manned a deadly liquid cooled tequila machine which caused personal malfunctions everywhere, haha.

Welcome new brothers (and bumpy brothers), may your lives be long, your sombreros be shade casting, and your tequila glass cold.

Good Festival

If I heard right we’ll see these guys again next year under hopefully cooler early June circumstances. We met a lot of new people and got to hang with a lot of those we just don’t see enough of these days.

Always looking for new recruits to come jump with us so if you need the right motivation let me know!

Related Reading:

• March 1, 2008 -- From Sun up to Sun Down, in the Rock Hill Area
• January 21, 2007 -- Great Sky
• March 26, 2008 -- Participating Locally is Fun
• June 15, 2007 -- Puzzling Patience and Persistence
• April 4, 2007 -- The Time, How it Flies
• March 18, 2007 -- GPS Skydiving, a true geek.

Summer fever is striking at people around me. Even myself trying to stay sane, accomplish a mountain of tasks, and still find time to play as well tough.

Charlotte Art

Recently published Justin Abraham’s post and video interview. It was way past its due and getting it out felt so very good. I hope you all can enjoy it as well.

Flying the Friendly Skies

Skyfest is coming, Skyfest is coming. One reason I’m trying to work so hard is to get ahead of a break I’d like to take. Some people wouldn’t consider taking a break streaking across the skies at 130-180mph a break but it is a wonderful thing for my psychology.

If you are looking for some fun June 4th-9th come visit. Skydive Carolina is going to be flying 200-400 people over the duration of the Skyfest / Rodrigez Boogie. Even as a non-flyer it will be a spectacular event to come and see.

Lost Loves

Recently we lost one of our beloved establishments. Cupps Cafe was a shining oasis fending back mediocrity and conformity in food service. Its life was cut short and many people still do not understand the reality of what went wrong. Only that something did.

When something is hemorrhaging that you love, please try and and communicate the issues at hand. If you are good and have a following amazing things can happen if you want to fight.

Facebook Playoffs

Jeff and I have been working with a lot of small businesses these days and helping them to find a path in the maelstrom that is the internet. We’re going to be working on a educational package that everyone can benefit from. To start the party we’re using Facebook to teach small businesses the value of, and how to utilize it as a platform. If you are small business, or a person who works with small businesses perhaps our group can help you too.

Pathfinding is a Sport

While I might be in a long duration run I can say I’m having a blast.

Every day I am faced with new challenges, helping myself, or others, and on topics that I enjoy covering. There are a lot of amazing people around me and I am enjoying spinning the creation wheel to make new things where there wasn’t before.

If you want to see some crazy fun new video stuff I’ve been playing with run over to IMI Photography and check out the Mud Volleyball video. It was a great event, and the production is pretty cool too.

As usual, and I don’t know if it’s good or not, most of those around me are whirling dervishes as well. If you are reading this check in with me, write a comment or throw me some Facebook Wall message letting me know you are doing ok.

Related Reading:

• August 6, 2007 -- Where-oh-Where is Andy..
• June 2, 2007 -- Leaving the Fluorescent Halls
• April 4, 2007 -- The Time, How it Flies
• September 13, 2006 -- Quickies, here I am.
• June 5, 2006 -- The Juggle
• April 8, 2006 -- SCAA Quickie

Something pleasant this way comes.

Spring and open markets.

The Matthew’s Market opened a few weeks ago, the Tailgate Market has begun to ramp up, and Yorkmont Farmers Market has many new faces, are you one of them?

The markets are truly brimming with activity, the weather has been fantastic, and the offerings are truly amazing. From meats, eggs, breads, pastries, chocolates, soaps, fixtures, and more. It is really amazing what is being produced in our region and the potential of what more could be.

If you have been waiting for a time to get to the markets, stop. They are closer and have more varieties than in many years. In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, County Health, has setup a number of roadside produce stands to help get many neighborhoods closer to the source of their food.

The point is get out once a week, early to mid-day depending on market choice and meet your farmer, buy some great food, or enjoy the crafts of a producer and support local.

Find Local Food and Farms

For more information on regional farming check out the Carolina Farm Stewardship and Slow Food Charlotte. Beyond the plate get involved and support where you can.

Related Reading:

• March 1, 2008 -- From Sun up to Sun Down, in the Rock Hill Area
• October 4, 2007 -- Down the Rabbit Hole, Alice in Charlotte
• May 27, 2005 -- Hello.. Goodbye.. Buongiorno
• April 2, 2005 -- Oi Maggianos

Second interview is up at Charlotte Art. I spent some time with an illustrator who is crazy in the good way, Alex Lee.

Rewards of Life are Simple Things

Spending time with people and learning about them is really rewarding. A living story. One I want to help see a happy continuation of. The early reviews are positive and the community is really digging the effort so I’ll continue.

Gaining Efficiency

Now I only need to get my time per article lessened. I’m really done with general editing and writing fairly quickly. What is a huge time sink is the final touch, pulling it all together with technology.

Programs crash, or my computer is too slow (are they ever fast enough), or the editor in my head wants one more part snipped, clipped, rewoven, or did I mention the interoperability issues? Man they are the biggest pain. Little snafus in one app that don’t jive well with the next program.

Metropolitan Mixer

The metro mixer at Prevue was a blast. Regional vocalist Jocelyn Ellis, DJ Southpaw, artist Justin Abraham (he’s coming next to Charlotte Art), and the God City Artists did live and presented works.

Support people around you that try and rock, that’s the message of the day. I’m having a lot of fun doing what I can, what are you doing?

If you are a social cat join me over at Facebook.

Related Reading:

• June 10, 2008 -- 2008 Skyfest and Rodriguez Boogie, Fantastic Fun
• January 29, 2008 -- Sipping Coffee Thoughtfully
• January 25, 2008 -- Julias Coffee
• October 4, 2007 -- Down the Rabbit Hole, Alice in Charlotte
• August 30, 2007 -- Alice Waters & the Edible Schoolyard
• March 9, 2007 -- Slow Food Charlotte Terra Madre Recap

While recently on Grand Cayman I was astounded to find that there was a Cingular tower on the island. I thought to myself this is wonderful that ATT / Cingular has made headway from the US Virgin Islands and I can use them here, right on! During my stay my iPhone was mostly on other peoples wireless network, but what little I did use to check my email, maybe a google map, and a few quick calls stateside ran me a bill along $480USD.

14 kilobytes of data. Roughly 4 emails worth of simple data ran about $35 USD a K. Highway robbery. The telco calls were cheaper by far. I could not believe my eyes.

I decided to dispute the charges because AT&T had not broadcasted on the network that there would be a rate hike, and that since service from the states to the island was so ubiquitous/seamless I felt that there was deception at play. If I got caught in this web, you know others will.

The rep and I had a long and pretty good call. We even figured out that the alpha tag of ‘Cingular’ was technically no longer in service and At&t should have been the only tags for me to see. This means that someone on or off the island is playing a real game of deception. The ticket was elevated and I waited a few days.

Today I got a call back from the rep saying that ATT passed down that the responsibility of the customer to know the difference in these matters is what is important and that I was basically being locked out of any disputes.

So attention consumers, the wireless networks don’t care if you are conned while away from home. It’s your responsibility to know that there is a con and to not fall in to it. If you do find yourself conned they will not care, and you will be stuck with a disproportional bill that can not be disputed or reduced. With today’s locked in contracts you’re pretty much as screwed as you can be. Be very wary.

I also learned a little anecdotal story that there are international carrier barges that float around the gulf hoping to grab land cell users in their roaming web. I find it astonishing that they are not going after these and other guileless plans to take your and my money.

I feel like this is a pretty cut and dry case of international fraud and while I can’t seem to be able to do anything about it maybe you can protect yourself from such damages.

Related Reading:

• Nothing Relates Go Figure

Related Reading:

• December 31, 2006 -- A Sucker for the Super
• March 15, 2006 -- Roaster Humor
• March 14, 2006 -- Chocolate Love has left the building…
• January 5, 2006 -- Worktime Observation
• March 23, 2005 -- I’ve got a great lady

We woke early and bolted across the South Carolina border ready to see some good friends we don’t see enough of currently at Cupps Cafe. You can’t beat their cinnamon rolls and scones for a perfect way to start the day.

Hanging out till lunch time we grabbed a couple of “Mother Cluckers” and bolted to the dropzone down the street at Skydive Carolina to get some well needed therapy.

I’ve been grounded because of travel time, reserve repacks, and good ol’Winter Mother Nature. The skies just haven’t been friendly (and during February their not supposed to be) until today. With the temps in the 60s and a wind holding at about 15mph I got aloft and cruised around the skies in torpedo like fashion.

Gene repacked my reserve a few weeks ago and I had him flake my main. He used it to show students what a long term pack job does as mine came out in a pretty good square. It would have deployed, just sniveled a lot. No worries!

Today’s ride was great. Soft opening into a light right turn. I hung around the tandems then found a holding pattern until 1k where upon I entered the landing pattern.

Having a steady wind brought me nearly straight down and a perfect soft landing awaited me. What a purification process for the mind. Like a friend said, ‘You look blissed’, and I felt it.

We ended the day by coming back into Cupps for a dinner round where we drank a fantastic crisp sweet Riesling, ‘Clean Slate’, while working on the text for an upcoming Charlotte Art. Migrating over time into nachos and some delicious white-bean pork soup. Man this place rocks.

Time to head home.

Related Reading:

• June 10, 2008 -- 2008 Skyfest and Rodriguez Boogie, Fantastic Fun
• May 10, 2008 -- Supporting Local Food is Getting Easier
• October 4, 2007 -- Down the Rabbit Hole, Alice in Charlotte
• June 15, 2007 -- Puzzling Patience and Persistence
• April 4, 2007 -- The Time, How it Flies
• February 26, 2007 -- Skydive 13 & 14

My mind always has great musings when we find ourselves on forgotten byways and towns. The interior deterioration of lonely America. Rural, frozen in time, reflecting the gray of the sky with their own sadness of times gone by.

I find this urge to know their stories. To stand in the middle of a rural town and flip the backwards switch and see everything slip and slide through it’s being. Seeing how it unfolded; the great growth spurt that made everything blossom and then like Summer to Fall see it’s moment disappear.

I also drift this way when we pass deep rural cemeteries. My imagination sees dozens of families, lineage, history that took a person from point A to point B. The came they laughed they cried, a family, a greatness, or a life simply poetic. Then left. I’ve read about the idea of the ‘dash’ on a persons tombstone but I was struck looking at all the assorted markers and thinking more how I was passing the periods of the sentence. The last great line of a novel. I hope it was a good story.

It is not my intention to sound morose or even real somber these thoughts are celebrations of history of time, of our existence, our humanity, and I’m happy to be in the moment.

I only wish that the bad times didn’t have to be so bad. So many of these places have visible deep poverty, and their Main Streets are lined with the empty, the religious, the pawn, and the paycheck for cash establishments. That’s not a healthy economy. What went bad here and what good thoughts can help breathe life into it? Or like all things the areas time has really had it’s run..what does that mean though?

All the reflection and thought does bring about the desire to see a revitalization of our infrastructure. Tour the back roads of your own areas to wonder, reflect, and ponder our own past and our future.

Related Reading:

• Nothing Relates Go Figure

Jeff recently got me the revised Tom Rath book, Strengths Finder 2.0. Somewhere around 4 years ago I completed my first Strengths test and have since gone on to enjoy many works of optimal thinkers.

Past Strengths

Originally in 2004 I tested for the main strengths of:

• Strategic
• Restorative
• Communication
• Ideation
• Individualization

Current Strengths

Retesting in the 2008 Strengths Finder 2.0:

• Strategic
• Individualization
• Learner
• Achiever
• Futuristic

Understanding the Meanings of You

According to Rath version 2.0 includes 5,000 new combinations within the tests responses and that while some may change the likelihood is what does shift was in your top 10 all along. I also believe that we are in constant growth and as we experience new things and different ways of processing we will grow and shift these islands of meta-self around fairly regularly.

In my case I still align with my primary value of Strategic. Others are drifting place or alignment but and I can see myself within the details. Of course some will say anyone can relate to their fortune. Maybe true. Take it all as a grain of sand and build upon it what you will. I am goal oriented and having ideas of where I currently am helps me hone those further and possibly bring others to bear through natural synergies.

I recommend looking in to Strengths Finder and the Authentic Happiness questionnaires at the University of Pennsylvania. If information is vital in the world isn’t it worth your time to understand your self a bit more?

Strengths Finder 2.0 gives a real nice summation to how each strength is put in play. Here’s my primary strength, Strategic.

Strategic

By nature, you usually feel satisfied with life when your innovative thinking style is appreciated. You automatically pinpoint trends, notice problems, or identify opportunities many people overlook. Armed with this knowledge, you usually devise alternative courses of action. By evaluating the circumstances, available resources, and/or the potential consequences of each plan, you can select the best option. Because of your strengths, you periodically identify problems others fail to notice.

You might create solutions and find the right answers. Perhaps you yearn to improve certain things about yourself, other people, or situations. Maybe you are drawn to specific kinds of classes, books, or activities. Why? Maybe they promise to give you the skills or knowledge you seek. Instinctively, you feel wonderful when people value your innovative and original ideas. You are likely to help them envision what can be accomplished in the coming months, years, or decades.

Chances are good that you may pay attention to some of the things going on around you. Perhaps you listen, quiz people, read, or take notes. As you accumulate information, you might disregard what is unrelated, and pay heed to what seems important. Sometimes the more you reflect on what you know, certain problems reveal themselves, and eventually some solutions start taking shape in your mind. Then you try to select the best plan from your list of options.

Driven by your talents, you probably feel very good about yourself and life in general when you know the exact words to express an idea or a feeling. Language has fascinated you since childhood. Your ever-expanding vocabulary often earns you compliments.

Where to Go From Here

A grain of sand and a few seashells adorning the new wing of my mental sand castle. It will continue to evolve and shape, even at times may need rebuilding. This updated information provides me with some new perspectives and thoughts to digest. If you find some of your own along the way feel free to add them here so I might know you even better.

-a

Related Reading:

• February 13, 2008 -- Your Mind and Your Life, Fighting Irrationality
• June 15, 2007 -- Puzzling Patience and Persistence
• January 2, 2007 -- 2006 Year in Review
• October 23, 2006 -- Altitude Awareness
• June 30, 2006 -- Flickr Explore
• March 13, 2006 -- ClaimID

When you are a child, or young adult, being locked in a dark place is probably the closet to panic you get. The overwhelming fear of the unknown, a confined space, darkness, can usually evoke a pretty good shriek from many people whereupon you are released by teasing siblings or friends from your torment.

In scuba diving many people cannot do it. Whether it’s the water, a bunch of gear on you, breathing apparatus, or something more simple many people I speak with do not have what it takes to submerge themselves.

Being a Floridian I’ve always loved the water. My mother affectionately called me part fish for my comfort and never ending joy I found in pools or the sea. I started diving in 1992 at Seacamp. While I have more skydives than water dives I have always considered diving like riding a bicycle. Once I learned it’s all fairly rote in my memory. Gear assembly and testing, signs, the only thing I have to reference is my dive tables.

Heading to Cayman this year I found myself with a sinus headcold. For the first two days on island I thought my eyes would never stop tearing due to the unwanted pressure in my head. We scrubbed a few dive days to allow this to work itself out. During which time my wife and I took to snorkeling and free diving. Free diving allowed me to test what parts of my head were clogged and not by having to equalize multiple times and varying depths.

On the third day my head felt clear with minimal if any pressure build ups. We decided to make a comfortable dive at Eden Rock. Robin and I were buddies following my father and step-mother down to Devil’s Grotto (a series of little tunnels and such). Like normal I felt comfortable, breathing was zen like, everything felt good. Robin and I stayed down about 55 minutes in total.

We then went to lunch at the Sunset House, calculating our surface interval we prepared for another dive. I wanted to see the Mermaid again and my new dive buddy Beth and I were going to visit the wall at about 60ft. We swam out to our marker with family, submerged, and slowly found our way to the Mermaid standing tall in waters clear to about 50-60ft. Taking pictures of my dad being a hooligan we turned and began to make our way to a sunken deployment craft.

We descended further and I began to swallow what I was thinking was salt water. I began to think there was a light leak in my mask and somehow during breathing I was inhaling water. Diversionary thoughts began to enter my head as this sensation increased over the next few minutes. My mind was starting to echo really stupid thoughts of, ‘Sure would suck to have to emergency ascend’, or ‘How do I breathe again?’. Slowly but surely my mind began to get on a tear as this fluid—drinking—sensation built. My heart began a sympathetic response and began to race.

With Beth in the lead and my father next to me I motioned that I needed to stop. I was starting to hyperventilate at about 45ft and my logical mind could not for the life of it get my emotional self under control. I knew I could breath, I knew the life line of tubes connecting me to my can of air was worthy so I sank to my knees, motioned unease and held my mask and my mouthpiece. I know stupid things happen in the moment so I just sat there with my eyes closed, letting the sine wave of panic pass through me. I motioned that my heart was racing but how it was perceived I can only guess. I was blowing so many bubbles I went from 2400psi to 1700psi in moments.

We split the group up, Beth to go with my step mother Page and I would return to shallower waters to exit with my father. We turned and parted ways. A few minutes later my heart stabilized, the fluid in my throat stopped running, and my logical self retook control of my senses. I communicated with my father and we tooled around for a few minutes more then exited for what would be a short 27m dive.

When I took my mask off I found out I had a nose bleed, my medical father thinks I had sinus rupture and I was swallowing the drainage / blood from the blow out. What an amazing and frightening experience.

When you find yourself in an alien environment, or maybe just out of your situational comfort zone, and your body begins to abreact at something it can’t internalize properly it feeds your emotional mind a lot of dark fodder. The more I try to be my rational, logical, normal self, the more tenuous the feeling of actual control is when a situation is spinning out of your control.

The best thing one can do is stop and hold on. We are a thermodynamic device so inputs will be cyclical and responsive to what is happening. If you can ride out the wave you will probably see yourself safely through to the end but going all out emotional, or reptillian mind, will only cause you harm. Can you imagine if I had bolted to the surface? I would have put myself from a bad situation to worse in heartbeats.

The next best thing you need to do is extract yourself from the situation. Once I regained some function of mind the safest thing for all of us was to abort the dive. With clear instructions and good buddies I was able to make my way back to safer waters and further regain my faculties and composure. Am I disappointed I didn’t get to see the wall this time? Sure. Am I forever happy to have my health and know I can dive another day? Undoubtedly.

The older I get the more I understand that sometimes we have very little control of ourselves. When the amplitude of panic rises you have to be ready to react in safe manners. Whether it’s deploying a canopy, diving the seas, or driving the highway, you have to be ready for any situation and be ready to try and handle it, or escape from it, like a pro.

Here’s to a safe return and a new story to tell.

-a

Related Reading:

• February 21, 2008 -- Andy’s Strengths v2.0
• June 15, 2007 -- Puzzling Patience and Persistence
• February 15, 2007 -- Quote: Chuck Swindol
• January 2, 2007 -- 2006 Year in Review
• October 23, 2006 -- Altitude Awareness
• June 30, 2006 -- Flickr Explore