Saturday, December 26, 2009

It's catch up time....

Well, I started working on getting caught up on things. Processed the envelope of cards I got from the bureau this week. There were no new ones, but I was able to get a few more cards for the countries that I needed additional bands for. I also started getting the information that I need to get some cards made up for QSL requests that I have received since the VA QSO Party. With Allyson's cancer, I got behind and never got the opportunity to get caught up. Now, with this week off, I hope to get caught up. I also have about 2 pounds of cards still waiting for me at the bureau, but they need me to send them some more envelopes. I hope to do that on Monday so that I can get the cards here and see what else I need. I am trying to use LOTW as much as I can, but I do like having the paper cards also.

I also want to do a little radio also this week. I will look on the cluster to see if there are any good DXpeditions going on in some countries that I need. So, who knows, my totals may benefit from this time off.

I have 8 weeks of class coming up starting on January 18th. Then, I will just be waiting for graduation in May. So, my plans are to do some contesting and DXing on the weekends until I switch over to the dayshift in July. Of course, in Jully, there is the IARU HF World Championship that I did not get into this year.

I am really missing Larry, W3MGL. It is not the same talking to him on the phone every night and not seeing him once a week like I had when he was here. But, we are planning a road trip to visit him hopefully in the spring. Hr is trying to get back on the air, so hopefully we can get some contacts in our logs over the next few months.

Well, hopefully I will be able to do some more ham stuff over the next few months.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Wow.....

I just realized that it has been over a year since I have posted anything on here…..
 
Let’s see what has happened during the past year:
 
My wife developed cancer and had it removed
I have inched my way to the last class for my degree with graduation in May 2010
Transferred from midnight shift to day shift
Work never decreases, only increases
My daughter broke her leg
I made my first trip to Dayton
I was inaugurated as president of the Virginia chapter of NENA
PVRC won the gavel for Sweepstakes
My elmer W3MGL moved to PA and left me to fend for myself
And I still got into a few contests!!!
 
As I am on my winter break from classes, I am hoping to get caught up on some QSL work along with ham reading, getting caught up on this blog and getting some time in the shack to play radio.
 
In January, I am going back to midnight shift for 6 months with my weekends almost all free (only have to take off Sundays to play in contests that way).  I am hoping to get back into some more contests during this time as long as my class will allow.  Of course, the class ends just prior to WPX!!!
 
More later!
 
73,
 
Hershel
W4TMN