Updated Friday, May 02, 2003
April 28, 2003
Note from Darrell:
Justin and Jody are the proud parents of a baby girl. Alyssa Hayley
Herrick was born on April 22 , 2003 at 7:55 p.m. She is a healthy 7 lbs
8 oz’s. Mother, dad and baby are doing just great!
They got me on that one!!!!! The joke is on me.
Donald set me straight:
| See other tales:AnimalsAttack On AmericaAviation-SpaceCelebritiesEducationFood-DrinkGovernmentHouseholdHumorous StoriesInsects-ReptilesInspirationalInternet-ComputersMedicalMilitaryMiscellaneousMissing PersonsPleas for HelpPolitics-PoliticiansPrayer RequestsPromisesReligious-SpiritualVirusesWarningsWar in Iraq | The School Project That Ended Up X-Rated-Fiction!Summary of the eRumor It is said that some elementary students were doing a potted plant project. They painted and fired pots that looked like clowns and planted cactus in them. The result, however, was that the cactus ended up looking like male genitalia belonging to the clown.The Truth The story is fabricated and circulated with a picture of the X-rated clown pot. The truth is that the pots and penis-looking cactus are made that way as a product for stores that sell adult products. |
They say this one is true though Al:
Subject: Go Figure
This is a copy of an actual letter sent to Ryan DeVries, from the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan. Wait
till you read this guy’s response – but read the entire letter before
you get to the response.
Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339
SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
Site Location: Montcalm County
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality
that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced
parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner
and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:
Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet
stream of Spring Pond.
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A
review of the Department’s files shows that no permits have been issued.
Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in
violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource
and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994,
being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws
annotated.
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially
failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at
downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently
hazardous and cannot be permitted.
The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities
at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by
removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel.
All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2002.
Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so
that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure
to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the
site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement
action.
We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.
Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RESPONSE:
Dear Mr. Price,
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
Montcalm County
Reference your certified letter dated 12/17/2000 has been referred to me
to respond to. First of all, Mr. Ryan De Vries is not the legal
landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan.
I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State
unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood “debris”
dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.
While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I
think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of
natural building materials “debris.” I would like to challenge your
department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any
place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could
ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam
ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their
dam work ethic.
As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must
first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam
activity. My first dam question to you is:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers? or,
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said
dam request?
If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through
the Freedom of Information Act I request completed copies of all those
other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we
will see if there really is a dam violation of P! art 301, Inland Lakes
and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act,
Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.3010,1 to
324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several
concerns. My first concern is aren’t the beavers entitled to legal
representation?
The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay
for said representation – so the State will have to provide them with a
lawyer.
The Department’s dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed
during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a
natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In
other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than
harrass them and call their dam names. If you want the stream “restored”
to a dam free-flow condition – please contact the beavers – but if you
are going to arrest them they obviously did not pay any attention to
your dam letter (being unable to read English).
In my humble ! opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build
their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green
and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I do to live
and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the
natural resources
(Beavers) and the environment (Beavers’ Dams).
So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be
referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until
1/31/2002 The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then, and
there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them
then.
In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real
environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears.
Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you
should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone.
If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The
bears are not careful where they dump!)
Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to
contact you on your answering machine, I am sending this response to
your office via another government organization – the USPS. Maybe,
someday, it will get there.
Sincerely,
Stephen L. Tvedten
The University of Texas at: Austin
Office Community Relations/Accounting unit
P.O. Box 7367
Austin, TX 78713
O thus be it ever, when free men shall stand; Between their loved homes
and the war’s desolation; Blessed with victory and peace, may the
heaven’s rescued land; Praise the power that hath made, and preserved us
a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just; And this be
our motto,
“In God is our Trust”; And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall
wave, O’er the land of the free & the home of the brave. (last verse of
the National
Anthem)
I like this one too:
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/judge.htm
April 27, 2003
I guess I have been too busy enjoying life to be reporting on it!!
As you know, Amy and Sarah have been visiting here during the last week. Sunday was spent at church with dad and Betty. Monday we went sailing with Jim (pictures of both below) Tuesday was doing Easter eggs:
And the Zoo:
Wednesday I had to give a presentation to the Public Works Academy, then we went out in my dingy (Amy has the pictures). Thursday was sailing with Carl:
And on Friday Amy, Sarah, Jean and her husband all showed up at Fiddlers!!!! I was playing and did not get pictures but here are two from after they left:
Our group (above) and our mascot (below)
Today was YES (Youth Engineering Society) where the kids (including me!) created airplanes that could carry four large paperclips:
.jpg)
Create a package to protect an egg, then drop it three stories:
.jpg)
and create solar cars:
.jpg)
April 21, 2003
Sarah and Amy’s arrival at the Tampa Airport!
Amy with Sarah (in the new dress Amy made), going to Easter service!
Sarah and Betty on their porch Easter Sunday.
Sarah with Great Grampie.
Out for a sail Monday.
Sarah and Amy out sailing!!
April 17, 2003
I went out in my dingy again today, had a good time, I have fixed all the air leaks but there is a tiny water leak I cannot seem to find. Not really a problem, I just get a little water below the floorboards, that is all.
A friend sent this to me:
Don’t you just love it when teachers’ good intentions go amuck!!!
An elementary school class started a class project to make a planter to take home to their parents.
They wanted to have a plant in it that was easy to take care of, so they decided to use cactus plants.
The students were given greenware pottery planters in the shape of a clown
which they painted with glaze. The clown planters were professionally fired
at a class outing so they could see the process. It was great fun. They
planted cactus seeds in the finished planters and they grew nicely but,
unfortunately the children were not allowed to take them home……the
cactus plants were removed and small ivy replaced them and the children
were then allowed to take them home.
The teacher said “cactus seemed like a good idea at the time!! “
CLICK HERE TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE ORIGINAL IDEA
April 15, 2003
I went riding all day yesterday with Tim, he goes to Vero Beach twice a day. His day starts at 5 AM and he goes until midnight. He gets two loads delivered here where most others get only one. It is a hard life and one not as profitable as he had indicated (I calculate he makes about $8 an hour – before taxes and insurance).
Today I worked on painting trim, played chess with Jim and made my “employment” calls. Nothing yet!
April 13, 2003
I worked on PTEC Mon. and Tues.; I have been working hard on the dingy, and made Sarah a new toy:
I made an enclosure for Smokey’s cat litter box so that he won’t get so much all over the place:
I also made three shelves to put all my Bay Area Fiddlers stuff on:
On Thursday I went to FES and we had a talk on the water system for the Tampa Bay area, than on Saturday we went to see some of their work, the reverse osmosis plant (they are making fresh water for 290,000 people out of the salt water in the bay) and a water treatment plant.
The reverse osmosis cylinders:
Water being produced:
The honeycomb in the clarifiers:
On Friday I went to Fiddlers. Tim and I got to talking. He drives truck (long haul semi’s) and is going to take me for a ride next Monday! He makes a lot of money and there is a lot of demand, maybe??????
April 7, 2003
Back to normal for me, went to PTEC this morning, then decided to take the dingy out for a spin!!
I had purchased a little 1 gallon gas can, but forgot to fill it up. I had the dingy all assembled (a half hour job) and was ready to shove off when I decided to make myself a paddle. I had a piece of 2X2 and more of that plywood, so I sliced of a hunk of plywood and put three screws into it, crude but quick. I had asked Jim how much fuel did it burn and if I had enough to go to the island a half mile away, he said no problem. WELL, I was glad I had the paddle!!! I got half way there and the engine quit. I thought it must be cold or something. I kept having to re start it. Finally I got there. Then I found that I was OUT OF GAS. I had drained it totally dry! Well, the wind was in my favor, after a nice walk around the island I cast off and started “sailing” home. I would have landed well east of home so I paddled all the way and landed right where I wanted to be!!! I was sunburned but safe. I drank a full gallon of milk when I got home!! Next time I will not go without plenty of fuel!! The boat worked fine, a small amount of water leaked in, but I think I know where that is and can try to seal it before next time.
It was so great to get out on the water!!
Amy is making an Easter dress for Sarah!! Sarah has a new bathing suit and I hope to take them on the same trip I went on today!! She and Sarah will be here in less than two weeks!!
April 6, 2003 (addendum)
Dad is now home!
Before (last meal)
and after pictures:
Dad is happy to be back home, he seems to be fine.
One of dad’s roses:
April 6, 2003
Dad was moved at 5:30 this morning to room 2111, a normal hospital room, so I guess they feel that he is getting better!
April 5, 2003 (addendum)
Just spent the afternoon with dad; Darrell and Marilyn came up and Susan called while we were there. Pastor Walter came over this morning and Pastor Hatch came this afternoon as well. Amy called while we were gone.
I was wrong about dad’s condition, the doctor came in while we were there. He said that dad’s heart was still fibrillating, that there are three kinds of fibrillation and dad has the most dangerous. Dad said that he did not feel anything. The doctor said that most people do not, they just wake up paralyzed. That was startling!!!! Dad’s heart is still not working right but they presume that, since they caught it in time, the blood thinning drugs will solve it. Dad is in Progressive Care (between normal and Intensive Care) but if his heart is resolved by tomorrow (as they think it will be) the plan is to move him into regular care tomorrow and home on Monday. The good news was that the doctor believes that dad should have no problem traveling on the 14th. In a month or so dad may be a candidate for electric shock therapy to see of that can solve the problem. If not, dad may have to take the blood thinning medicine the rest of his life. All in all dad is in great spirits and is playful as ever.
The male nurse brought dad some new medicine while dad was in the head. Dad returned and Betty gave him the medicine. The nurse came back and asked dad if had taken the medicine and asked if he knew what the medicine was for. Dad said no, Betty had just given it to him; the nurse quipped “well… it was Viagra”. We all had a great laugh over that one. All in all everything on the surface is OK. And dad may be home on Monday.
Dad told stories about the war, and about gardening. He was digging in the garden a short while ago and found a large batch of turtle eggs. He also had am armadillo digging up a plant he had planted – twice! He had Betty put some logs around it to stop the armadillo, he was more worried about that new tree than himself! He would appreciate some e-mail! He also reminded us to turn ahead the clocks tonight!
April 5, 2003
I am staying up with Betty, Dad is in the hospital (813-788-0411 room 2266) with a heart monitor. He seems fine but they want to keep him over the weekend to get a good record of his heart condition. He says he always has had an irregular heart beat and it is nothing new, but they say they want to check him out. He said he wants to get out in time for his upcoming trip to New Orleans on the 15th to 19th!
Amy is coming in on the 19th and Stephen is coming the first of July for a visit.
I got a call from another engineering firm yesterday, they wanted to see my resume and if they like it will also (hopefully) call me back for an interview next week.
April 3, 2003
Got a call today from Greeley & Hansen, Engineers, they want to talk to me next week.
Inflatable is ready to go into the water, will try it tomorrow or Sunday. Tomorrow I promised myself I would paint the back porch – the humidity is 50%, temperature in the 70’s and no rain until Monday at the least, great time to paint. Saturday Carl and I are going sailing, so it will have to be Sunday unless I get the painting done early.
Smokey helping me on the computer!
April 2, 2003
Nothing yet to report on the job hunting front. A lot of incursions, but no offers yet.
My friend Jim sold me his old inflatable Avon dingy last Saturday. Then he took me to lunch. At lunch he had a chicken dish. He apparently swallowed a bone that made a long cut down his esophagus. He will return home from the hospital today hopefully. I have been having fun fixing up the old boat (repairing the three leaks – so far – fixing the rusted screws and broken fittings) and hopefully can try it out this weekend to see if it works!
I also made another train (note dad’s sander – upper right, that machine does a lot of work for me!! Thanks dad!):
Dan wrote:
Things are good. We have a 11 year old girl named Kora Tinker living with
us. What a joy. She has parents who are pretty screwed up and we are
providing a temp. home until DHS steps in and finds a foster home for her.
Candy had her as a student two years ago and has loved her since. Trevor’s
home for the week from College, pretty bummed because the weather
stinks. We had a couple of inches of snow yesterday and temps only are
getting into low thirties. He wants to get out on his bike. It’s been a
long winter. Courtney just got back from a visit to LA California,
visiting a friend there. She is trying to finish up with College but has
senior-itis really bad. I am getting a start at opening up Pirate’s Cove,
shooting for April vacation week 20-27 but with this weather, I don’t
know. Also trying to get some flying in too. Just passed my medical,
(required every two years). Guess nothing else is new. Good luck job hunting.
Love Dan
| 2004 | Donald | |
| 2005 | David and Jean’s Housewarming party, Pocomoonshine Lake, Princeton, Maine | |
| 2006 | Darrell & Marilyn | |
| 2007 | Dan | |
| 2008 | Sue and Al | |
| 2009 | John | |
| 2010 | Donald |