August 2 - john and joyce were sitting on the deck one evening when a dove flew away. They noticed that every time a dove flies, there is a sound made. It is almost a whistle note which changes quickly as the wings are moved. For the longest time john just thought that every dove made a vocal sound just as they flew off. Now john and joyce are thinking that the sound is made by their wings as they fly. The question, still to be resolved, is how this sound is generated. john is leanning towards the wings somehow acting like a windpipe. As the wing moves, it creates the sound by air flowing over the wing. john is sure a naturalist would be able to answer this question immediately.

August 16 - For about the last two weeks, two sets of Mallard ducks have been coming for an early morning breakfast and also for dinner. Each set contains 8 females. It is quite a sight to see sixteen ducks swimming around zenpond. About an hour later, one solitary female arrives, after the others have left. john saws she isn't on daylights savings time.

john had a CT Scan done a week ago last Friday and found out that he has a double hernia. john was surprised, as he didn't think moving 100 tons of rocks to make zenpond would bother him in any way. Actually, john began to feel pain about two years ago, right after moving furniture into an apartment at the beginning of the house remodel. Anyways, that john's story and he is sticking to it. He'll need surgery soon.

August 25 - john had his double hernia surgery on August 20th. He stayed overnight in the hospital for observation and managed to put on enough clothing to get home. Fortunately, he had taken a sweater which he pulled down over his pants. He couldn't get the zipper totally closed because of swelling and bandages. The third day was #%!*@&! He learned to sit up to sleep at night on the sofa as he couldn't get up from the bed. Each day he is improving and has little pain. The staples come out in about 10 days. Since he is sitting on the sofa, he can see "The Sisters" (the 16 Mallard females) who come for a sunrise breakfast and again for a sunset dinner. They are total beauty as they take flight in the golden sunset.

Also, on August 19th, a friend of john's: Big "G" came to visit john and joyce. Originally Gary was to stay for three days, but that was changed due to the surgery to just one day. john spent two years in Anchorage with Gary (1964 - 1965). john went through the Good Friday earthquake, but Gary was luckier: he arrived in Anchorage a week later. john had not seen Gary in 40 years! Gary turned out even a greater individual than when john knew him in Alaska! His website is: http://www.gdyounglove.net/my_world . john looked at Gary's website and noticed that one of Gary's achievements is well hidden or Gary didn't include it there. Gary was Executive Officer of the Air Force's "Thunderbirds" for several years. In this capacity, Gary got to ride in every F-4 Thunderbird in the fleet and got to experience every maneuver the Thunderbirds do!