Over the Thanksgiving weekend my cousin Ashley talked myself and my friend Janet into going skydiving. Ashley has jumped over 100 times at Lake Elsinore and really loves it so I thought I would give it a try.

Janet and I did a tandem dive where someone is strapped to your back. We took a Twin Otter aircraft up to 12,500 feet and then jumped! The pictures I have here are from my camera on the ground and also some captured from the video that was shot in the air.

Everyone at Skydive Elsinore was wonderful and if you would like to get more information you can call 1-877-THE-JUMP or check them out on the web at www.skydiveelsinore.com. If you do go please give my cousin's name Ashley Lombardo so she can get a free jump ticket! :-)

Special thanks to Christian who was my instructor and Jess who was my camera man. Thanks guys!

• Myself with cousin Ashley standing on a bench
• Janet with me in the area all the divers hang out in before they jump
• Ashley and Janet on one of the benches
• Some random guy floating down to the landing area
• Another couple of guys parachuting down
• Picture of the plane that took us up
• Janet all suited up in her gear
• Myself dressed and ready to go
• Ashley and myself just before our jump
• Me giving the thumbs up during the pre jump interview
• Christian shows me what to do when we jump out of the plane
• Ashley all smiles on the plane
• Christian and myself sitting in the plane
• Checking my altimeter which says 9,000 feet, almost there
• Some guy jumping out the door in front of us
• A view down from 12,500 feet from the plane
• View from Jess's camera looking straight down from the plane
• Me right at the door just before the jump
• Jumping out!
• This is just after we jumped out of the plane
• This is slightly after that, you can see the plane in the background getting smaller by the microsecond
• Me with a big smile during the free fall
• Christian covers his face during our free fall
• Christian putting moose ears on me as we fall
• Checking the altitude for 5,500 feet when it was time to pull the cord
• After pulling the cord our parachute is opening
• View of the lake from Jess's camera as he floats down in his parachute
• This is me landing, unfortunately Jess was on the other side of the landing area when we came in
• Ashley and myself when it was all over
• Ashley and I laughing as I was interviewed for the video after the jump
• Ashley and I hi-five after we were both safely on the ground
• Ashley parachuting down from jump #104