September 19, 2003
From Roger Bansemer:
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
September 18, 2003
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I had to go to Rainbow Springs again yesterday, tough job but someone has to do it!
September 15, 2003
Note from Dan:
Dear John,
You’re not the only one to have a crash lately. Glad you’re okay and only
damage is your car. I had an accident one week ago on Friday (Sept. 5). I
was on my way to work (Bangor) in my little 1997 Mazda 626. As I was
driving in a pretty busy business area on Rt. 1A in Ellsworth, when a 21
year old local girl, driving behind me (apparently busy dialing her cell
phone), ran into my car’s rear end. I was going about 30 MPH along with
traffic. The collision did about $1000.00 to my car and at least $2000.00
to her 2003 Pontiac. I also sustained a whiplash type injury and had
x-rays at EMMC later.
Last week I had 40 hours of training which included about 8 hours of self
defense training. A lot of wrestling, learning how to get hit and block
punches, kicks etc. I made it through and only once had to forgo training
that involved over-extending the neck. I even volunteered to be the guinea
pig for the instructor’s demonstration. I figured (injured of not) that I
needed to prove I’m not too old to keep up with the mostly younger
counter-parts. The rest of the classes were shooting, driving and
simulated shooting scenarios using simunition (paint type pellets that fire
from your gun). We had great weather and it was a very successful in
building confidence and positive self evaluation.
Yesterday (Sunday 9-14) I took Candy and her mother down to Portland to see
Trevor at College. Portland is usually a 3 hr. drive so I talked them into
the 1 hr. flight instead. We left Bar Harbor with clear skies and expected
some broken clouds at 4000 ft. However, the clouds lowered unexpectedly to
about 1600 ft. and so I got an instrument clearance to get us into
Portland. The air traffic controllers put me at an altitude that kept me
in the clouds for 45 minutes and ending in an instrument approach at
Portland. The trip lasted about 1 hr and 20 minutes. Although they had not
expected to be in the clouds, Candy and her Mom were okay with the flight
down. They said later that they got as little nervous that we could not
see other planes or any mountains. The flight home was pretty clear and a
little faster, about an hour, (going east with the winds). Trevor is doing
fine and enjoys his classes.
Courtney starts a new job today at a local insurance company. She starts
as a receptionist but will receive training as an insurance claim
agent. She’s looking for an apartment in the area. This job gives her
benefits and a start in the real world.
Sorry to be so long winded,
Take care
Dan
September 14, 2003I am back home from visiting dad and mom. Church was fine this morning, then we went out for a bite for lunch. Dad is to get his brace off next Thursday! On my way back to their home I was two blocks from the house when a big truck ahead of me stopped in the middle of the lane at an intersection. There was a road off to the left and I thought he was waiting to turn left, there was a car coming. I stopped behind him and waited. All of a sudden his backup lights came on. It took a second but I realized he was going to back up! I quickly shoved the gear lever but it went too far, into park! I blew my horn but, too late, he crunched my hood. I was still in park, he pulled ahead and got out, apologizing. As I was in park, there was no impact to me, I had may as well have been sitting home, he just backed up and crunch! It did not take much, that thin hood and his monster truck. He called the cops, they came and gave him a ticket for improper backing. He called his insurance company and told them the same story, he was at fault, he could not see behind his truck but backed anyway. Later I also called his insurance company, they said they will have it fixed and give me a rental car until it is done. His tailgate is 5 feet above the ground! My car is only 4 feet tall, he certainly could not see me, but I had his confession on tape (my camera takes movies so I made a movie of him talking just after the accident). If he had done anything other than say he was at fault later, I had evidence, but he was up front, I give him credit for that. The FHP (police) said that if the insurance company would fix my car, and, if I did not feel badly about it, the driver of the truck could contest the citation and go to court. If I did not show up at the trial, they could not charge him and there would be no record of the citation kept, as there was no witness present in court (the FHP did not see it). Interesting, is it moral to let him go free? Let him plead not guilty, even though it is a lie?
My Volvo 
His big truck! That chrome bumper came up onto my hood when he backed up! No damage to him! No skin off my nose either, just my poor car!!
September 9, 2003
Note and pictures from Don:
Hi John,
Everything is going fine, but I haven’t been able to fly for a few weeks
as I have been waiting on a glider part.
Stephen has returned to Washington, although he would have much
preferred to stay in CA.
Stephen and I went to see Stephanie in Hollywood for a weekend. I
worked on her car some, but it was pretty much a lost cause. So Sunday we
went to a Honda dealership and I helped guide her through the car-buying
process and she bought a new Honda Civic LX. She is very pleased with her
car and I hope she will enjoy it for a very long time.
This weekend Jeanne and I went to Jeanne’s sister’s ranch. Sally and
Matt host an annual charity event there, a wine and food tasting. Fall
seems to be beginning to arrive and it was a cool weekend, so between the
weather, music, food, family and friends it was just a super weekend.
I’ll throw in a few snapshots…
1) Sally and Matt at the wine tasting.
2) A shot I took on the ranch. This is only slightly representative
since it a 76,000 acre ranch and includes a couple of mountain ranges, a
section of the San Andreas fault, etc.
3) Another shot taken on the ranch. Can you see the vultures soaring
above? I count 5 in this shot.
4) A shot of a vulture in the tree above spreading his wings to warm
them in the morning sun.
I’ve repaired my glider now, so I plan in flying in the Sierras with
club friends next weekend.
It looks like I should be in Florida from October 26 to November 7. I
have a conference in Orlando for the first week but I should be free to
visit/explore for the next week.
Hope to see you soon.
Don
September 5, 2003 (addendum)
I had a good meeting at YES, then came home an fixed up 9 lights on the handrail by the marina. The lights look wonderful!
The Weather Data at the bottom of this page is all new! I also added some names and addresses to the Family Data page. Drop me a line if I should add more.
Our big storm Henri was a bust, we got some drizzle but now the sun is out and it is wonderful!!
Check out the new weather buttons down at the bottom of this page! I will add more and fix it, but have a meeting I want to go to on YES now.
September 4, 2003
Note and pictures from Amy!
Hey Dad, just thought I’d send some random pictures : ) The one of Sarah and the monkey is at the zoo last weekend, the monkey is right up next to the glass by Sarah, and I took the picture through another glass on the other side of the monkey. The monkey was just hanging out watching everyone gawk at him. It was pretty funny.
Love you, Amy
Sarah and Dad
Sarah and butterfly
Sarah and monkey
John and Darrell’s weather:
Amy’s weather:
Dad’s weather:
Susan’s weather: