This is a friend of mine, Randy's 2nd mountain launch, with Dan Zink on the keel. Him and his wife, Judy, have really been training hard to get to this point. I hope that we will be able to see Judy's 1st mountain launch picture on here soon ! Congrats ! Can't wait for you to meet your first thermal that takes you up and over the top of this mountain !! ! !

Click on "Pumpkin Pie"
Happy Thanksgiving!!

PUMPKIN PIE

Our Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the blessings that you give to us each day;For friends and family we hold dear, for all you send our way.We ask that you will guide us well, in everything we do,And pray we never will forget these blessings came from you.
Amen.



You know how hard it is to get a picture of a wild turkey?? especially, this time of year?
A morning shot of the river below. To put it mildly,, it was foggy down below.

For those that aren't in this area, and have heard about the dought in the southern states,,,,,it's for real. I think Georgia is approximately 31.5" below normal. I think this river is down over 20 feet, like most of the other lakes, and ponds.

If you know me personally at all, then you know that I love to laugh. And, I love to make other people smile.
Well, I've received an email with this link and story attached. I would suggest marking it, and adding it to your favorites. Especially, if you have tough days, and find it hard to smile from time to time.
If you have any sense of humor, and imagination, I promise you that you will find this story entertaining ! !


This accident happened in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and you must listen to it.It is a phone call from a man who witnesses a car accident involving four elderly women. It was so popular when they played it on CHUM FM that they had to put it on their website.
The guy's laugh is contagious. Just close your eyes and picture what he sees.
You'll have to copy and paste ..... absolutely hilarious !!!!!!
http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf

The link below is for anyone that getting close to 50 years old, or already there and gone. Way toooo funny ! Especially for baby-boomers----

http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/opinion/walthandelsman/blog/2007/11/animation_baby_boomers.html

What would you say to a flying buddy that sent you this picture? Thanks? or argggggggg?? He wrote me an email to go along with it. The picture is priceless, however, me not being with him? wasnt! But, I did say thanks for the thought, ha ha !

"I'm usually true to my free flight roots and refuse to run the motor above 500 agl. Monday was an exception. Lift kept topping out around 2000 agl and was weak. I got bored after an hour and decided to take the motor up high. I finally gave up at 10,400 agl or 11,500 msl. That is lake guntersville in the picture. It took over 30 minutes just to glide back down. The view up there was awsome!!! " From Dan, in Alabama.

Thanks Dan, Hope to share some air with you soon! without your motor !

Going along with Veteran Day,, and something that we should do alot more of.

"Let's Say Thanks to the Troops "

This is very Special, I hope you will participate.
This only takes a minute to send an online card. It is awesome to see some of the children's artwork for the cards. Pass it on.

http://www.letssaythanks.com/AllDesigns.html

I was able to enjoy this sunset from the airport terminal in Kansas City, MO. yesterday on my way back home. It is good to be home.

I heard this song while testing there in Kansas, and I thought I would post the video in case some haven't heard it. There is a lot of wisdom in this song. My Dad told me 30 years ago, and continues to do so, about how fast time flys. At the time I thought that I had all the time in the world, and that it seemed to go on forever. Well, this year we have lost some special people, and some others are having birthdays of 50 years. I, myself, turn 50 next year. Who in the heck would ever figure that I would have made it this far, or this long?? Not I ! Just another one of those mortality checks here, so as the song says-----Don't blink ! It could be over in a moment, and tell the ones that are important to you, that they are.

All of the pictures from the Halloween Party this year has been posted. The link to the site, which is Dan Barkers, is below. I don't have enough room on here to post them all. Thanks once again Dan for posting all the pictures for us! You can also see alot of other pictures on the Index page. Lot of years of past posted there for your enjoyment.

http://photos.visioncomm.net/?Lib=22

Some sunset pics from Nebraska, while on the road working.

It was a pretty sight to watch unfold. I'm working primarily in Missouri, and Kansas this week. However, I had to travel through Nebraska to get to a couple of the towers. Hopefully, I will be home for the weekend. My new harness should be almost ready,,,woohoo!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE ! ! ! All of her birthday pics are posted on Dan's site. Look in the right margin here for "Lots of Pictures", click on that, and you will be taken to the index of all the pics posted. Look for,,,, you guessed it,,,,,,Lee's birthday, ha ha!

Can you believe this lady is ---75 years young??? She is such a hoot to be around. What a great sense of humor. You never know what she is going to come up with .

This was a special evening, for a lot of different reasons. The friendships, the food, the bonfire, and the crisp evening air, are just some of the highlights of it !

There was soooo much great food brought by everyone. Some of it was real gourmet food ! I didn't know what some of it was, however,,,, it was very good.

This is part ( a large part ), of a group of people that post things to a special hang gliding forum that I am proud to be an active part of. If you are a hang glider pilot, new or old, I think that you will enjoy it. Come and check it out,,,,if it isn't for you........I'll be surprised. Hangglide.org

Most of us met tonight for the first time. Lobido brought all of us a present, from where he lives in the Virgin Islands, St. Croix. Some dark expensive Cruzan Rum. I will use it for people at my house warming party. If work ever slows down enough, and allows us to have one ! ! Boss, that is not a hint, suggestion, or even a complaint !

It's always great meeting good folks. Can't wait to see what comes of this evening! I know a lot of folks, that didn't get to come to Lee's birthday party, are going to be Very jealous ! Especially,,,,,,,SG!!!!!!

We recieved this in an e-mail from Doris about the fund raiser that we had. Thought I would post it so that in case you didn't get the email, then maybe you will see it here! Above is a picture of the Dade county mountain rescue squad on a practice day. This was taken some time ago. One of the people in this picture isnt as spry as he use to be, but he is getting better all the time! Kudos on your efforts, Rick Jr. !


The following article was submitted to our local Dade County newspapers by the DCMRS, I would like to thank, again, all who donated time and funds to make this fund raiser possible and to thank DCMRS for the publicity

"We would like to thank the Hang Gliding community and Doris Pollari for all of the fund raisers they have sponsored over the years. This summer was the 11th year that the Hang Gliding community has held a fund raising event for the Mountain Rescue Squad, and each year they have raised $1500 or more, with this past year raising $2000.

The funds have gone to purchase rescue equipment like rescue ropes, harnesses, carabineers, entire haul systems, haul baskets, back boards, and other assorted equipment. Without the Hang Gliding community's support the rescue squad would not have the amount or quality of gear that we now have, and we owe all the thanks to the people who made donations.

Our deepest appreciation and thanks to all of those who donated to the rescue squad and all of those who have been involved in the planning of the fund raising events over the last 11 years.

Sincerely,
The Dade County Mountain Rescue Squad"