Finally went skydiving again this weekend, and it was frickin’ amazing Did another tandem yesterday, and since my instructor was Bobby (Mike’s friend from college), I got to do 180s and forward motion in freefall, pull the ripcord, and steer the canopy a little before landing! I also wasn’t as nervous, which made the whole experience that much better. Both Mike and Bobby said I basically did an AFF 2 jump, which means when I actually start AFF (in the spring?), the first level or so hopefully won’t be that bad. Meh, I wish the skydiving club at JMU hadn’t fizzled out so quickly … if so many other colleges have one, why can’t we?

Mike’s weekend ended up great as well — he’d arrived without his reserve repacked and didn’t know you had to preregister for the seafood dinner, but somehow everything worked out: a 2nd pilot randomly showed up so Keith, the regular one, had time for repacking (all the other certified people were busy), and that afternoon he was in earshot of someone saying they needed 2 more people for dinner, so he quickly went over and signed us up. I admit I initially wasn’t too excited about fresh crabs and fried catfish being on the menu, but after smelling the crabs cooking and tasting the catfish, I knew I’d be okay. Maybe my seafood phobia is slowly going away? Things were pretty much awesome from that point on … the weather cooperated by not raining (though we could’ve used the temperature a few degrees lower), Mike jumped twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday (including the load I was on), and got 6 free jump tickets for the group of tandems his friend brought, plus me.

Now I’m on the skydiving “high” and can’t wait to go again, though it probably won’t be this year since it does cost a lot at first, plus starting AFF at the “end” of the season at a place that’s 7 hours away (if I go through Richmond first) isn’t the best plan. But oh well … it’ll happen eventually

In the latest Hanson podcast, Ike went skydiving (tandem) and got a video and wore the little hat and it reminded me so much of when I went. Yay. And if Zac ever goes all 3 will have done “the craziest thing ever,” and that would just be cool. Wish I could go again.

And to completely change the subject, my new favorite music video is “Sorry” by Nick Black. It’s not for the squeamish, but if you like dark, emotional, vampiric stuff (with some Suicide Girls) you should be fine.

Sophomore year is finally over. Art history was okay, though I’ll probably get a lower grade than the midterm since my mind went blank on two identification problems. I’m not even 100% sure about the other three, but oh well … what’s done is done, and I did what I could. The essays went fine, I just hate writing for so long, especially when it takes up three blue books. I wish we could bring our own computers, type our exams, and then wirelessly print them in the professor’s office. That would be a lifesaver, but alas.

Ran into John as I was walking back, which was nice since I haven’t seen him all year. Said he went skydiving last semester in a different country (forget which one), and that he absolutely loved it. I gotta go again before I leave JMU, and this time I’ll have someone to go with — yay.

I can’t believe it’s summer. School has dragged on for so long … and getting up this morning was so hard, but at least I got through evil art history. Glad that subject is done with. Now I’m just sitting in TDU wondering if I should get a chai latte or just wait until the lunch places open in a half hour. And I saw like ten baby ducks on my way over here … aww.

Picked up my art portfolio yesterday, and discovered I have a B as my final grade. I’m kinda surprised, but then again I missed more than my two allowed classes — I was hoping he wouldn’t care, but oh well. My dad was happy, and that’s pretty much all that matters. Speaking of grades, JMU earned another plus in my book for only sending grades electronically next semester. No more paper notifications sent home unless I sign a form (not happening) and no more trees killed for sending two sets of grades to one place. Cool.

The bookstore wouldn’t take my huge, 50-pound biology book back that probably would’ve earned me $20 – 30 in cash. Meh … I knew I should’ve taken it in yesterday. I’m also debating turning in my Quark book … no one uses Quark 4 anymore, so why hang on to the book?