August 31, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

HRH and I only completed four virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hjbol2JAiHhse_nFgwbQUU4kITuUKbAQ/view?usp=sharing”

I tried to complete a flight from KBLH to KGXF. KGXF’s runway had an interruption on its threshold that immediately disabled the aircraft. Later, I tried to take-off from KGXF and could not even move the aircraft from the apron immediately after start-up even though I moved the throttle to its maximum position.

I began wearing a mouth guard to endure the wear and tear from grinding my teeth at night.

This week I coded the blackjack game I am working on to automagically hit the hand dealt to player 1 {left most from the dealer’s perspective} according to a published table: “https://www.askgamblers.com/gambling-news/blog/blackjack-basic-strategy-chart”

During the week, I went to Costco with HRH and purchased some catfish. I cooked half of a filet on the electric stove top and under cooked the fish. The next day, I cooked the other half on the gas grill and the fish turned out great. I think that fish has a poor reputation given that its consumption is considered acceptable on Friday’s during lent, and the general view that considers overcooked fish to be acceptable. Under cooked fish is more acceptable to me than over cooked fish.

I shared an IPA with family friend, Bill Thewes. That same day, Samantha Wu and Debbie Cheung came so Samantha could say goodbye before she left for college the next day. That was a full day for me. There was a lot of conversation to take in.

The Hokies will play in a football game Sunday night… I should be enthused to watch the Hokies, but I lack understanding of the “transfer portal” as it relates to “student athletes.”

My behavior in church rendered bacon and pancakes.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

Thank you for staying with us.

 August 24, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I continue to attempt virtual flights. This week, there were more bad landings than good landings: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_O8YZ4pTfixGctCaLLBQ5k2eZcXL0-6A/view?usp=sharing” Despite my misfortunes, I have fun spinning the cranks and moving FlightGear’s throttle. I still have not mastered flights at elevations above 5000 feet. Plus, I am used to completing a short flight (<25 nautical miles) every 4 days to give my legs a rest. In the southwest, at altitude, all of the airports seem to be more than 50 nautical miles apart.

I improved the code on my blackjack game: I simplified recognition of blackjacks after cards are dealt. Also, I now populate a hint message based on a table. The next goal is to enable the computer to act, based on the suggestion. I will have to eventually memorize the table myself and be able to play the game without the hint.

This week, I learned how to make an exact clone of the Raspberry Pi 5’s SD card. I hope, one day, to loan the Pi 5 to users that want to fly their bike but are intimidated by the costs and/or Raspberry Pi 5 familiarity. I know it is quite common to position the bike trainer near a large screen. I really want feedback on my software that transforms a bike into a throttle control. I knew how much fun I would have; the costs never intimidated me. Additional clones of my Pi 5’s SD card will cost me less than $15 on Amazon; a cloned SD card enables another user to overcome the mental challenges of implementing the software I modified.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

Hello TEAMTODD,

Thank you for staying with us.

 August 17, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I only completed two flights with good landings: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FBkCTnGwXwVRa6FerswRKgiWcOwcUdbN/view?usp=sharing” The higher elevations from the environment I am flying in, create a challenge for me. Also, I temporarily messed up my knee while completing altar guild duties at St. Mary’s. I must have twisted my leg or knee while putting hymnals back in place and picking up “left behind debris”. I am filled with excuses…

I look forward to entering an area of lower elevation “flying” in the near future. Perhaps I suffer from virtual hypoxia; leading to my failure to follow my planned flight route. Imagine how much less exciting to review data of my trainer cycling speed: available on request.

My favorite sister came home for Uncle Joe’s funeral in Dallastown, PA. I thought the Funeral Mass was well executed – especially, the chosen scripture readings and the eulogy.

The reception that followed flooded my injured brain with noises and faces. I went outside towards the end of the day seeking peace; others joined me and all spoke one at a time. Perhaps I was not alone in my dislike of loud dins. My injury included the loss of the ability to isolate sounds.

Today, Sunday Mass behavior yielded waffles and sausage for Libby and me – we were both well behaved.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

Hello TEAMTODD!

It has been a week of sorrow for the large Savel family but we all came together with so many others who knew my brother, Joe, to celebrate Joe’s life on Saturday. What a wonderful celebration! The Mass was very meaningful, Fr’s homily very specific since he knew Joe, and what a wonderful eulogy, written by his 7 children!!!! Honor guard at graveside, gun salute and taps. BEAUTIFUL!

Reception followed but of course there were lostsa people and chats going on. Todd enjoyed the lovely lunch and awhile later went outside for some peace and quiet by himself but others quickly joined him. 

It was a BEAUTIFUL and PERFECT day in every way. Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.

 Dear TeamToddTBI,

Naturally I completed several flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/18RTCHDtZj3ZYQat7SKJUWJ87h7wq0ht-/view?usp=sharing”  Not shown is a flight completed with JMU engineering student, Daniel, from KGAI to KBWI.  We spun the rear wheel with a Wahoo speed sensor to control the FlightGear’s throttle position.  The upside-down mountain bike is not as authentic as a bike on a trainer; but it was close enough that it does not require too much to imagine the design intent :”https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vXFl7FObUCIww-NrQvYwTSCySwC2MD_K/view?usp=sharing”.  My favorite sister expended many favors owed to her to get all the equipment into her home.

 

This week my Uncle Joe fell with a bleed in his brain.  His family was with him when life support was removed.  His funeral is this Saturday.  My family and all the other many Savels, will celebrate his life on Saturday.

Libby allowed me to prepare seafood every evening for dinner.  Remembrance of my days in Elyria was revived.  We had Scottish salmon, halibut cheeks (not butt checks!), cod “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_8nNJXUELO02OUr4zh2iUuH5RcpoZzJp/view?usp=sharing”, and rock fish “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ol-zu8o5NKUfX-xQ08zF7eSeFRMhUFle/view?usp=sharing”.  She allowed me to keep the skin on the Rockfish.  I suspect some think the fish skin is inedible.  If you have ever seen a grizzly bear eat salmon, you know the skin is consumed first; the remainder of the fish may or may not be discarded.  I wish I had let the larger rock fish filet to cook an extra 15 seconds.

 

Libby has learned the location of multiple breweries that we enjoyed.  I had IPAs every day.  Libby tried other brews with mixed results.

 

During church, our behavior on Sunday yielded pancakes == we were both good.  The Mass celebrant was a CNU alum that knew Libby and remembered when I had my accident.  

 

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

Hello, TEAMTODD! Thanks for staying with us.

Todd has enjoyed the last few days with Libby.

I went with Todd, Friday,  to Union Station where he boarded a bus to JMU.  Easy Peasy.  Todd will come home the same way.  I will meet him at Union Station and we will take Metro to Glenmont.  

I must share with you, My Brother, Joe, age 79 died today after a serious fall on Friday.  Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.  

 MONDAY:  Todd is back with us.  He had a great time in Libbyland but seems to be glad to be home and back with his routines.

Pray for us as we gather together to celebrate the life of my brother, Joe.  A beautiful family of 7 kids, spouses and 10 grandkids were with him as he left us. The funeral will be this Saturday.

 August 3, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I completed virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MGGBpgLiDkPHxVbaeYdoAQ6h-hxE4iQH/view?usp=sharing” I tried, this week, to have seven good flights but only had five. Not shown, was a good flight from KGAI to KBW (Gaithersburg,Md to BWI) That flight enabled me to demonstrate my bike’s ability to fly for Rockville High classmate, Chandrasekhar Ramakrishnan.

Sekhar is a good friend from my HS years who lives in Switzerland. He was “in town” visiting family and came by to see me, my “plane” and we enjoyed lunch together after.

On Friday, I will use my discounted metro rail pass to navigate to Union Station to board a bus bound for Harrisonburg, VA to visit my favorite sister. My visit to Rockingham will engender a one day delay to the update to this site.

My credit card was compromised as I sought to understand BLE speed sensors better.

I ordered an additional Wahoo Speed Sensor to enable me to share the hardware required to fly their bike with someone else. Not provided is the athletic drive and determination, the bike, bike trainer, large screen, etc. [Do you know anyone that does not ride their stationary bike facing a large TV screen??]

I passed webinar, Current Trends in Energy Generation, to earn one more credit towards PE license renewal.

During church on Sunday yielded waffles; I was good == Bene feci in latin.

I reverted back to a 2025 July 3 version of my blackjack game. I am still enjoying the seemingly endless effort.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

Hello, TEAMTODD! Thanks for staying with us.

Tomorrow, Todd and I drive to Fredrick to see Curt, the Ability Prosthesis guy about Todd’s new shoes. We picked up the modified shoes from the cobbler a few days ago. Curt will check out how they are working for Todd. Fredeick is a long way to drive BUT the Rockville Ability office closed last year. Curt is willing to go out of his way to see Todd in Frederick. Curt works out of the Hagerstown office. Ray Chen, shoe salesman, Allan, the Cobbler and Curt the Prosthesis guy have been working together for 5 years to keep “Todd on his feet”. Interesting… They have never met in person BUT work together to make it happen for Todd. I have said this before but it is something I want to say AGAIN and AGAIN… Todd’s caregivers have ALL BEEN HANDPICKED to work with Todd. Todd is in the best of hands.

Todd will be off on an adventure on Friday. SOLO! Todd is going to visit his favorite sister in Libbyland. Todd will take Metro to Union Station on Friday and catch a bus to the JMU campus. Libby will meet the bus and the 2 of them will have a GREAT time (eating fish and seafood) and doing whatever. Todd will return on Monday.

I don’t know who is looking forward to it most… Libby or Todd. I am sure you will be waiting to hear how the adventure goes.

Please keep in mind, your prayers, for Mike G. one of Todd’s committed supporters. Mike has been a part of Todd’s life and ours for over 40 years. Mike is taking on some health challenges and just as we are a TEAM, we ALL TEAMTODD support Mike.

Thanks for being there for US and for Mike.