I would imagine that most of us have something on our Bucket List that might be considered a little extreme.  For me that would be TO GO SKYDIVING.  Yep… I’m talking about taking a flying leap out of a perfectly good airplane.  I would never go bungie jumping, but I would like to try skydiving.  Once.  I think.  I’m sure it would take courage beyond description… or a mental disorder beyond hope.  However, there would be one condition… I would like to do EVERYTHING else on my Bucket List first.  And I mean everything. 

I know we don’t have a huge class, but I would think (especially since we have some that have served in the military) that there are at least a couple of you out there who have experienced skydiving.  Please tell us about it.

Don, that great ,you just go ahead and jump.  Me I can 't  stand to be on a 5 ft. ladder.     

That reminds me Janie.  I need clean my gutters. 

One of the things I'd really like to do (before Sky Diving), is to take a Hot Air Balloon Ride.  I would do that tomorrow if I had the opportunity.  Liz and I did take a short Helicoptor Ride a few years ago in Gatlinburg, over the Smoky Mountains.  Now that was cool.  But there is something about a Hot Air Balloon Ride and the quietness of it all, just floating over the landscape, that I think that I would love.  Anyone out there ever tried it?

You're welcome Don.  Have a great week-end.

Love Janie

Don I've never jumped out of a plane but I did spend the night at a Holiday Inn Express - sorry, I couldn't pass that up.  I did ride the 250 ft parachute drop, twice at Ft. Benning many years ago.  It was foggy and overcast for the first drop and we couldn't see the ground when we got to the top.  After my heart got out of my throat, it was a nice ride down but spooky since we couldn't see anything.  The next ride was much better and the view was spectacular!  My son-in-law did one of those tandem jumps in Winder and loved it.  I used to enjoy going up on high stuff, just to enjoy the view, but now I don't want my butt above my brow!  I'll just take my chances INSIDE the plane thank you.

I also had an opportunity to ride a tethered hot air balloon.  Would love to take a REAL ride.  Diane can confirm that Colorado is the place for hot air ballooning.  Right after we moved to Colorado Springs, we heard this loud noise outside our house one Saturday morning.  We rushed out to the deck to watch a balloon drifting about 100 feet above our house.  The passengers wave and shouted "Good Morning" as they drifted north.  This became a fairly common occurance that we welcomed.  They have several ballooning events during the year and it is quite a site to see.  If you are not into riding, you must add a Moon Glow to your bucket list.  The balloonists gather at night and fire up their balloons while tethered to the ground.  The site is awesome!!!! 

Why anyone wants to jump from a perfectly good airplane puzzles me, but whatever turns your on, fellas. I'm with Janie. A hot air balloon? Yes! I'd love it, but have never seriously pursued it. I thought about giving Dick a hot air balloon ride once for his birthday, but it was too expensive. Since I have no income, I try not to be extravagant spending his money on his gifts. The closest I've come to soaring with the eagles was when we went parasailing in the Adirondack mountains over Saranac Lake. That was great, and just a beautiful place to visit.

I would like to salute President George H. W. Bush (Bush 41) on his 85^th birthday today!  I just saw a story on Fox News that he celebrated his special day by going Sky Diving… again.  Can you believe it?  And he looked great!  He has celebrated a number of his birthdays in recent years by jumping out of a plane.  If I ever have the courage to do one of those, it will have to be a tandem jump too.  Congratulations, Mr. President!  May God bless you with many more years and many more jumps!  Liz and I love President Bush.  We were blessed to see him in person when he visited the Christian School at our church during his campaign for re-election in 1992.  Unfortunately, he lost the election.  Some guy named Bill won that one.