Off we go into the Wild Blue Yonder....If you'd LIve to be a grey haired wonder keep your nose out of the blue.

We left for interlaken switzerland Thursday. The bus ride was 8 hours which while long was alright It was no DC ride but sleep was hard to come by, We arrived at the Funny Farm hostel, (always knew i was destined for the funny farm. We were up at 7 30 on friday morning to go skydiving, I was 30 euro short but a friend helped out and i will pay them back soon. We got out to the field and they made us sign our life away. I already have sold my soul to the Nursing home so this was not a new thing we got our own skydiving instructions, and the comferting thought that if we fail we would be dead and would not have to worry about long hospital stays, just a dirt nap. Ashley and I went with strangers since there were two singles and when it came time for my turn i suited up in a blue jump suit and headed out to the bus to take us to the launch pad. We went by helicopter. I was on the video with this girl and she had some nice words for her family. my final words if i were to have died: SAM you are skydiving with me!!!!! Hahahahaha sam will be most unnerved, but i ended up jumping first. we got into the chopper and i had the Mash theme playing in my head the whole time, for those who do not know the lyrics:

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...
[REFRAIN]:
that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...
[REFRAIN]
The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.
[REFRAIN]
The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.
[REFRAIN]
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...
[REFRAIN]
A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'
[REFRAIN]
'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please

We had a red chopper which had aclosable door, my tandem jumper was Mike who is apparenllty a police man in his spare time. I was first out of the helicopter so we moved foward and opened the door, The most nerve wracking part was waiting for the jump into open space. Mike asks: Are you ready? I said not really but lets do it anyway and then we were in free fall. We went from 0-180mph in 45 seconds. Mike pulled the chute and the parachute opened up then we fell down to the ground spinning and enjoying the scenery. We landed on our butts and it was the most amazing experience of my life. That night we went to hooters, i had a chicken sandwich, it was pretty good, could have been spiceyer. Then thenext day we wanderd the city for a while and tried some beer pong, ( i was not very good) And sunday me and betsy went to mass in German then we left for a walk and saw a castle and a cemetary aroudn the lakes. We returned in time for some chocolate and then boarding the bus. We returned to florence at 2330 and then back to fiesole by 0100. Awsome.
-Eldon John Vaselaar

"Though all the world stand against you, let hope reign supreme!"