Friday, October 12, 2007
 
Dear Philip et al,

I was changing the turbine on an Abrams Tank last night after riding about 260 miles through the woods on my mountain bike. The coolant malfunctioned and sprayed molten metal all over my legs. Putting the pain aside, as any real man would do (not a wimp), I jumped back on my bike after fixing the tank and road back to Concord. The surgeons at Emerson reattached my left leg but the surgery on my right has been postponed until tomorrow morning at 5:30. As such, I won't be able to join you. Have fun and hope to see you next week.

Dan Bowen