Tuesday, July 16, 2013

A movie, a beer, and a skydive

Judy with her Ayinger Doppelbock beer
Judy and I just returned to our respectives homes from a trip to our independent theater, the Pickford, after seeing a delightful coming-of-age movie called The Kings of Summer. It had interesting and quite good performances from three young teenagers, and a premise of them running away from home and building themselves a home in the wilderness to make their own way without parents.  Funny and touching, I enjoyed it but would only give it three out of five stars. The link to Rotten Tomatoes (above) will tell you more about the movie.

Afterwards, we headed over to the Temple Bar to enjoy a Doppelbock together. I had never tasted this Ayinger Doppelbock before, and I found it to be very enjoyable. Although it's after 5:00pm, I'm not hungry for dinner yet, and I found the reason why, when I looked up some information about this particular beer.
Double Bocks or Doppelbocks are huge beers with enough malt packed in them to consider them a meal in itself, generally having a very full-bodied flavor and darker than other bocks with a higher level of alcohol also. They range in color from dark amber to nearly black. Dark versions may have slight chocolate or roasted characters.
I will enjoy a nice meal, but I'll wait until I get a bit more hungry. Tomorrow is the day I will be heading back to Skydive Snohomish to make a weekday skydive with my friend Jonelle. (I made three skydives there last Sunday.) Jonelle is in my hiking group, and she is going to make a tandem jump with her instructor, while I join her in freefall. I've jumped out with tandems before, but it's been awhile. What I remember the most is the difficulty trying to stay relative to the tandem pair, since they will have a drogue chute that shows down their rate of fall quite significantly. It might not be possible for me to stay up with them, but I will jump out at the same time and, in any event, I will be there on the ground when Jonelle lands. (Tandems pull at a higher altitude than experienced jumpers do, giving me a chance to land first.)
Jonelle last Thursday on the Keep Cool Trail
I wonder if she is anxious thinking about it tonight. I know I was a nervous wreck before my first jump and I didn't sleep well at all. But we are not the same people, and I didn't have a friend who did this activity on a regular basis, either. My readers know that you will be treated to pictures and a description of our adventure together. I'm looking forward to it quite  lot. I've had plenty of friends who said they would do this with me, but nobody, until now, has ever taken me up on it!
:-)

23 comments:

  1. oh, good luck to your daring friend! i'm afraid i'd never join you in that adventure! :)

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  2. ah i hope all goes well for her...and look you've inspired another person to jump out of a decently running airplane...ha...hmm might have to see if that movie is coming around...even with only 3...the premise is familiar...hmm, interesting on that beer as well, some meal eh? smiles.

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  3. I look forward to the blog and the photos of your jump with your friend.
    Have fun, Jan...and be safe. Always.
    Love,
    Jackie

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  4. That sounds like a great beer. What a day movie , a beer and a jump!

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  5. Yes, good luck to your friend. She is quite brave and daring.

    Yum on the beer. I don't even like beer in most cases. I like the dark beers, so this sounds quite good to me. I may have to try it.

    Thanks for the tip on the movie.

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  6. Oh my, you mean we're going to have more like you to fret over? She's either crazy or very brave. Only time will tell. Happy jumping. Has she thought about taking up painting? It's much safer.

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  7. Can't wait to see the photos!Sadge, in full panorama!!

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  8. A movie and a beer beats dinner and a movie anytime.

    Good luck to your friend. It will probably make her more comfortable knowing you will be there too.
    Have fun tomorrow.

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  9. I've never heard of Doppelbock beer, but it sounds quite intriguing.

    I love living vicariously through your posts, DJan. I know I'd never be able to sky dive because I'm chicken. However, I can feel your excitement and enjoyment. I imagine this is something Art would love to do though.

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  10. You live a perfectly balanced life.

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  11. Best of luck to your friend. I'm sure she'll love it much like you do. Looking forward to seeing those pics.

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  12. Sky diving has been a secret desire of mine since I was a teen in h.s. My older son did it for the first time on his 23rd bday. Loved it. He's gone again once or twice. I'm so full of metal parts now, Im afraid I'd dislocate & be back on the ops table. My hat is off to you!

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  13. I so agree with another comment here...you DO have a perfect, balanced life!! And never boring. You're just an inspiration to us all who have become blogging buddies with you DJan.

    As for the beer...looks too dark for me. Gimme a Coors Light. After all it's Colorado beer. LOL

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  14. I put skydiving in the same category as bungee jumping -- too risky for me! David, on the other hand, is game for both. I won't let him. Good luck, DJan. Every time you sky dive, I'll be holding my breath. Lol.

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  15. How exciting but not sure I could do it. Hope the weather holds out for you.

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  16. I tried a tripel bock from Germany this week. It was served in a wine glass. Small because it is so strong. But I loved it. Slurp.

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  17. How thrilling. For both of you - and I love that she is prepared to give it a try.

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  18. Didn't know that about the tandem jumps being from a higher altitude. Once thing, it will give the newbie a really nice long ride down. Hope she has a marvelous jump.

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  19. Sounds like an okay movie and a good time. I hope it's a perfect day and your jump with Jonelle goes beautifully. :)

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  20. Sounds like a blast !
    Enjoy yourselves tomorrow, looking forward to your pictures ...
    ~Jo

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  21. The picture of the fruits below looked like a living quilt.
    How exciting to have a jump with your friend. I remember watching my husband jump in the Napa Valley – I liked to watch but was never ready to accompany him on a jump…

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  22. I don't see many movies, but with the near repressing heat & humidity we've been having here, I told the younger kids we could go see a movie in some air conditioning for a while sometime this week. A rare event for us.
    Good for your friend Jonelle! We have a few family members who've jumped - my brother did a year or so ago over the Duluth / Superior area. I sure enjoy learning a bit more about sky diving each time I read your posts. I love to fly, but so far haven't had the urge to jump from a plane. If and when I do, you'll have helped to prepare me!
    I never acquired a taste for beer, but recently tried an Apple Ale.. which was really quite good!

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  23. I hope the jump went well. I have never been sold on the taste of beer..I am a sucker for those little bottles of champagne though. I have some in the fridge from last summer..can't you tell I drink alot! :)

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