[HCARC] And You Thought You Were Having A Bad Day!

[W4wj at aol.com]

Thank you XA!!   
 
And Thanks to all who offered up QSL's and stories,for
your enjoyment:   K5EWS K5KS N4YPT N9NM & W3XO...
 
Also, TNX to AC4CA for his "How to get that QSL" presentation.
 
73,
Don
W4WJ
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 1/6/2012 4:55:17 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
k5xa at godfather-ridge.com writes:

Hello  All-

The meeting last night was great. Don, your QSL presentation was  terrific.

Marilyn's comments during the meeting about waiting inside  and just
listening for a "thud" whenever Harvey was up on the tower  reminded me 
about
this supposedly true story, although I have some  doubt.

This one needs an intro, so you won't be lost at the beginning.  This man 
was
in an accident (work accident, not car accident), so he filled  out an
insurance claim. The insurance company contacted him and asked for  more
information. This was his response:

"I am writing in response  to your request for additional information for
block number 3 of the  accident reporting form. I put 'poor planning' as the
cause of my accident.  You said in your letter that I should explain more
fully and I trust the  following detail will be sufficient.

I am an amateur radio operator and  on the day of the accident, I was 
working
alone on the top section of my  new 80-foot tower. When I had completed my
work, I discovered that I had,  over the course of several trips up the
tower, brought up about 300 pounds  of tools and spare hardware. Rather than
carry the now un-needed tools and  material down by hand, I decided to lower
the items down in a small barrel  by using a pulley, which was fortunately
attached to the gin pole at the  top of the tower.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top  of the tower and 
loaded
the tools and material into the barrel. Then I went  back to the ground and
untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow  descent of the 300
pounds of tools. You will note in block number 11 of the  accident reporting
form that I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise of  being jerked off
the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and  forgot to let go of
the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather  rapid rate of speed up
the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40  foot level, I met the
barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull  and broken collarbone.

Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid  ascent, not stopping until the
fingers of my right hand were two knuckles  deep into the pulley. 

Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my  presence of mind and was able
to hold onto the rope in spite of my pain. At  approximately the same time,
however, the barrel of tools hit the ground  and the bottom fell out of the
barrel. Devoid of the weight of the tools,  the barrel now weighed
approximately 20 pounds. I refer you again to my  weight in block number 11.

As you might imagine, I began a rapid  descent down the side of the tower. 
In
the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I  met the barrel coming up.  This
accounts for the two fractured ankles  and the lacerations of my legs and
lower body.  The encounter with the  barrel slowed me enough to lessen my
injuries when I fell onto the pile of  tools and, fortunately, only three
vertebrae were cracked.

I am  sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain,
unable  to stand and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again 
lost
my  presence of mind. I let go of the  rope..."


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