6 posts tagged “ham radio”

Craig participated in Field Day this year.  He was at the campsite most of yesterday, came back to get me for the potluck dinner and the evening hours, and he's gone back this afternoon to hang a bit longer with his club and help with tear down.  I was skeptical, not being a talker and thus having weird feelings about amateur radio, but the people in the Fulton County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC) are all so awesome, I had a great time!

I sat with Craig for a few minutes now and then while he tried to collect contacts, but the chaos of all those voices on the radio was really frazzling my nerves.  It was exciting, but also extremely overwhelming.  I hate to even have the tv on quietly when Craig fires up a youtube video, the radio noise was ... just wow.

I had a great time talking with the club members and their family though.  FCARC Field Day is a family camping event, and it felt every bit so.  So many good people in that club!  I'm glad Craig got into radio and we got to meet this group.

Later in the evening, I had an especially interesting conversation with a brilliant engineer who used to serve in the military as a "key-turner" in the nuclear missile silos, and an equally brilliant farmer who's worked as a commercial pilot, is a registered nurse (so is his wife) and now runs a business dealing in herbs and natural medicine.  We talked about everything from cyberpunk novels to telescopes and satellites to life beyond our planet, reincarnation, alternate history and the strange and fascinating phenomenon of optical tunnels, with brief mentions of quantum mechanics, string theory and the great timeline of the universe.  It was seriously one of the most enjoyable conversations I've had in a long time!

We're definitely participating in Field Day next year, and we're definitely bringing our tent and camping out with these people, even though it's only fifteen minutes from home.  They have late night dessert, *AFTER* dinner dessert!  And late, late-night/early-morning dessert too!  My kind of people!.

Friday was a loooong day.  Craig took the day off so we could get a jump-start on our weekend project: replacing the kitchen floor.

We started into the floor a little before lunch time, and so far so good!  We're still in the tear-out phase, but our plans to take out the cupboards and put new floor underneath them changed when Craig took a look and saw a mess of plumbing there.  Huh?  Plumbing *over the floor*?  *L*  Ok.  Whatever.  The kitchen pipes never freeze.  :)  But even better, that means the cupboards/sink/countertop stay where they are and we put flooring in only up to that point.  I'm not sure if this is considered "ok" or "half-assing it" (I'm pretty sure it's half-assing it), but it does mean *A WHOLE LOT LESS* work for us.

When it was going on 5pm, we called it quits and went into town to buy our new floor.  Normally I'm *EXTREMELY* picky about house projects and would never have thought about starting tear-out until I'd found *the perfect* new floor, but the kitchen floor was so hideous and we've spent so long debating what we wanted to replace it with over the years (while we procrastinated the actual work) that I was content to just plan on buying the best option we could quickly find.  We totally lucked out on that!

We borrowed the pick-up truck from work, and headed out to Anderson's to stock up on supplies for the project.  The first thing we did was look to see what flooring options they had in stock.  Craig's been thinking laminate and I've been thinking darkly colored, so it was a no-brainer when we almost immediately spotted a dark walnut laminate for less than $2 a square foot!  It's *GORGEOUS* flooring, and I think it's going to look so perfect in this old house.  Oooo!!!  I can't wait until it's installed!

But anyhow, enough about flooring, (for now).  We hauled our goods back home, unloaded, and drove back into town to drop the truck back off at the office.  I think it's so cool that our employers opted to trade in the fleet car for a company truck and allow employees to sign it out for brief hauling needs!  Seriously.  This is an IT company, so it's not like a pick-up would be a standard fleet vehicle for them, but damn that comes in handy!!!

After dropping off the truck, it was time to feed.  I was having mad cravings for our favorite Chinese restaurant, so even though we were a little dusty, we went out to eat.  We totally lucked out there because they had a buffet set up.  :D  Mmmmm.  It was delicious.

We got back home around 8pm, cleaned ourselves up a little, and headed out to see a friend's band play.  They play every other Friday at the Old Pines Golf Course Clubhouse, way out on CoRd 13 between M and N.  We got there and the clubhouse is like a double-wide all-season porch.  :)  The band was already playing loudly, and it looked like everyone in the 10 mile radius (of wide-open farmland - heh) had crammed into this tiny building.  We found a couple of chairs in a corner, Craig bought a Corona and a can of Mountain Dew for $2.50, and we listened and tapped our toes until the band took a break and we could go talk to the base player (someone Craig knows from his ham radio club).

We went out on the patio to talk to A., and we spent the rest of the evening out there, under the stars.  It was a glorious night, clear and cool.  We talked to a couple other hams who'd come out to hear A's classic rock/country band.  We tapped our toes and sang along and even danced a little when the band played "Neon Moon", a song we used to like to dance to when we were dating.  There was a crack made about the "Tomb of the Unknown Camper" regarding some flags that had been set up in some shrubs to decorate for the holiday weekend, and we joked about taking a golf cart out joy-riding.  It was a good time and I definitely want to go back out there again.

This was our second opportunity to hear live music this week.  Monday night we'd also gone out, just down a few blocks to a local church where people gather to play bluegrass and gospel every Monday.  We got there late, and there were only ten or so musicians still playing, but there were chairs set up for at least thirty, and we were told that around 7pm, when they start, it's usually standing room only.  The musicians were skilled and the music was fantastic.  I guess it's just people who like getting together and jamming, and they do it every Monday.  I definitely want to go back there on occasion too.

I love live music of all sorts, and I think it's absolutely fantastic that I have both of these options to get out and hear some tunes and even dance a bit, both close to home (out here in the sticks!) and both free to the public.  It's pretty damn sweet!  :)  Last night I'd told Craig, "If we're going to come out here now and then, I suppose we should get to know some of these people," and he replied, "Let's not get all crazy now!"  *L* 

Friday was all about Burning Man 2010.  I surfed into a program on the festival, and though I'd casually considered attending many times before, I am now compelled to the point of obsession.  Craig and I spent a lot of Friday night (and the rest of the weekend) discussing the logistics.  We talked about everything from tents and travel time, desert-appropriate diet, solar ovens and grey water evaporation pools, to even the likelihood that I'll shave most of my head before going to camp a week in the desert (for ease of cleaning as well as heat reasons).  There's lots I'm nervous about, say whether or not I'll be able to adapt to the heat, a week of sharing porta-potties with ten thousand plus people (ew!), how I'll cope with the crowd in general, and how my asthma will be in the harsh conditions, ...just to name *a few* concerns, but the more I question whether or not this is a good idea, the more compelled I feel to test myself.  Craig and I have also been talking about how we have a little over a year to harden up our soft bodies for this, because there's no way I'd haul my current well-padded self and my fat ass around the desert for week!  So the trip serves as motivation to get in shape too.  It just seems a perfect thing to do for one's fortieth birthday, rebuild yourself and make a pilgrimage to the desert with a whole bunch of crazy artists from all over the world.  I'm stupidly obsessed with the idea.

We were supposed to go catch a band that was playing at a local club in Delta Friday night (Craig knows one of the ham radio guys who's in the band), but we started catching up on some of the episodes of Lost we had queued up on our DVR and time got away from us.  The band plays every two weeks I guess, so we're going to plan to try again in a couple of weeks.

Craig's new ham radio hobby has proven to be really enjoyable.  I've met some really awesome people in the area because of it.  I love knowing more of the people around here and feeling a tighter sense of community!  ...Also, we've read that ham radio is the best way to stay in touch at Burning Man, since cell phone coverage is non-existent and walkie-talkies are useless with thousands of people there all trying to use the same frequencies.  So Craig is kind of excited to become a Burning Ham (yes, that's what they call themselves), and it looks like I have further motivation to get licensed myself.  heh.

Friday night we decided we'd catch a matinee of "Star Trek" on Saturday, so I put word out with my Facebook status in case anyone wanted to join us.  So Saturday started with breakfast out, and then meeting up with a few good friends for geeky fun at the theater.  I ***LOVED*** Star Trek!  Absolutely loved it.  It was all the action and suspense I'd hoped, with far more delightful tributes to the history of Star Trek than I would've figured they'd be able to include.  It's my new favorite movie!

After the movie, we all went out for a late lunch, and sat and talked and talked and talked!  It was a great way to spend the day.  We got home a little before dinner and spent the evening talking Star Trek and Burning Man.  :)

Sunday Craig did a lot of yardwork and played in the garage.  I did a little yardwork and basically just chilled.

So that was my weekend.  I have a busy week ahead of me, but my sites are already set on next weekend.  I hope it gets here fast!

I would KILL for a froo-froo coffee drink right now.  I have the ability to make one, but it would require quite a bit of effort.  I also have the ability to put my butt in my car and go get one.  Once I decide which method of acquisition requires the least effort, I will get my coffee drink on!  ...Ironically, the decision making part of the process is usually the most involved for me.  Such is the life of an introvert.

My reading habit has taken a nose dive.  I remember cutting back my reading time in November because I was already feeling the holiday time crunch, but rather than cut back, I just kind of quit.  Now I'm looking at stacks of books that have sat so long they needed to be put on my dusting scedule, and I'm determined to get through a bunch of them as fast as possible. 

I've always loved having a library ...until now.  Now I have dailylit.com and my Kindle, both of which offer great reads with no shelf space or dusting requirements.  I'm still on this minimalization kick, and my books have finally started to irritate me.  I don't want to part with all of them, but definitely most of them.  I've loved a lot of really good reads, but there are very few I would read again, especially when there's always something new out there to read.  If I kept only the books that I know I'll read again, signed copies (treasures) and instructional books, they would *easily* all fit on our gorgeous built-in shelves, with room to spare.  That's the goal.

So I'm starting what I've been calling "The Big Read".  I am NOT a fast reader, but I'm going to push it as much as I can and rip through some books as quickly as possible, hopefully with the end result of passing them on and getting them out of my house.

That's what my mind is obsessing over these days, getting stuff out of the house.  The more I get rid of, the more urgently I feel the need to get rid of more.

Anyhow, last night I was sitting in bed reading, and after reading the same small paragraph five times, I totally realized what happened to my reading habit!  Craig's ham radio happened.  He participates in a net (ham radio chat room) week nights at 10:30, my reading time.  And my reading habit came to a screeching halt when he started doing that.  Unfortunately(?), I've grown quite fond of a bunch of the people he talks to, so I can't help but at least half listen to the conversation.  I need to either pull myself away from that distraction, or I need to find new reading time, and neither choice will be easy.

Speaking of choices, ...I'm back to that coffee conundrum.  I think I'm going to make my own.  I wish I could just snap my fingers or wiggle my nose and BAM!  COFFEE DRINK!  Manifestation.  That would be the ultimate super-power!  *sigh*

EDIT:  The chocolate syrup I whipped up is excellent, but I used a little too much.  Also, I didn't grind the beans quite enough.  But I do have a delicious mocha without having to leave the house or fork over $5.

Monday night we had dinner with a few people from Craig's amateur radio club, very good people.  I was at ease with them instantly and really enjoyed getting to know them.  ...I enjoyed it enough that I'm considering getting myself a basic, technician class license and joining the club too, just so I can keep meeting with them without feeling like the odd man out.  So that's something to add to my already spilling-over plate in the near future.  *rolls eyes*  Can you say "masochist"?

Tuesday I had my mom over for lunch and a movie.  I had "The Secret Life of Bees" out from Netflix and wanted to watch it with someone who was truly interested.  (Craig said he'd watch it with me, but it was totally for me and not because he wanted to see the movie - still, points for him for offering!)  That was one of my favorite books within recent years, and I was excited to see how the movie was done.  I enjoyed it quite a lot.  They stayed pretty true to the story, but they left out some of my favorite elements and scenes, the ones that took it from just a feel-good, self-discovery type story into something touched by magic.  Very enjoyable all the same but, as usual, the book was better.

Wednesday was art class.  We did water color under pen & ink.  Well, they did.  I spent the whole class just putting down the watercolor.  I still have to put some ink over it.  I always forget how much I love watercolor until I've got a paint-laden brush in my my hand.  I think I have to dedicate some space in my room upstairs specifically to watercolor, so I never have to do more than get a fresh jar of water before sitting down to paint.

We got some sad news though: our teacher's position is being eliminated.  Not only is she a great teacher, but she's my kind of people.  I'm hoping she and her fiance' have a little room in their social circle for us.  We're the same age, we share a lot of the same hobbies, from knitting to scroll-saw and lathe work to hot glass even, they don't want to be parents either, they like to travel, her fiance' is a technology geek, ...  I just love talking to her, and I'm hoping we can keep in touch.

Thursday was our monthly "writer's group" meeting, where we get together and talk about anything but writing.  heh.  Always *LOTS* of laughter there.  Good times!

So now it's Friday and this introvert is worn out from the week full of people and socializing.  I'm not as cranky and exhausted as I expected to be though, which I attribute partially to spring-time energy but mostly to the excitement of reconnecting with a bunch of old friends on Facebook.  It was the weirdest thing, but when we were rearranging furniture recently, I had to move all my memorabilia and old photos, and after quickly flipping through some photos, I got to thinking about some of my old classmates and high school friends and wondering what they were up to.  Well  almost everyone I'd thought about has popped up on Facebook this week, even my BFF from grade school who moved far away and I never expected to hear from again!  I've missed all of my old friends, but life has a way of taking you in different directions and you sometimes just lose touch.  Things get busy, you meet new people, next thing you know it's been years and you don't know how to get a hold of anyone or (in my case anyhow) just feel awkward about it.  I've been working on my social skills this year, reminding myself to check in with people and trying to reserve more energy for get-togethers, and now I'm so happy to have some old friends back in my life, I'll definitely be working to stay in touch with them all!

And speaking of Facebook, I find the uproar over the new layout kind of amusing.  Yeah, I think they made some bone-headed decisions, but things change, and not always for the better - that's just life.  *shrug*  And, it's a free service anyhow!  ...I don't know... I 've gotten used to it already and don't even remember how it worked/looked before.

So, tonight is the two-hour final episode of BSG.  Bittersweet.  *sigh*  Like many others, I've long been worried that it'll end with some damn cliff-hanger that won't be resolved until the movie.  I probably ought to remove all throwable objects heavier than a pillow from arm's reach, just in case.  But yeah, that's what we'll be doing tonight.  Craig says after it's over, we're pulling out the DVDs and starting over from the beginning.  It's all happened before, and it'll all happen again.  ;)

Craig and I rolled out of bed this morning, straight into the shower, and then out the door.  He took me first to breakfast, and then to my very first hamfest (amateur radio enthusiast swap meet).  That was ... weird.  It looked to a non-radio person like myself as if a bunch of people had ripped the electronic components out of everything they could, thrown it all in Tupperware containers and laid it all out over a huge hall full of tables to try to sell.  Craig seemed to enjoy looking through it all, and I had a belly full of pancake, so I was content just to walk around holding his hand.

We did run into a couple of the guys from his local radio club, and I got to meet their wives.  They're all very nice people.  There's a club meeting tomorrow night and I had no plans to go until the ham-wives (oh gods, I'm a ham-wife!) told me everyone always goes out to dinner before the meeting and I should come along.  So I'm looking forward to that tomorrow!

After the hamfest, we went book shopping (picked up a book on pen and ink with watercolor) and then for coffee to kill a little time, and then out to my cousin's farewell gathering.

I had a great time hanging out with my family.  I talked semlore recipes and travel with my Swedish uncle; tv, travel, music and Facebook with my cousins; and crafts with my aunties.  Craig and my uncle talked amateur radio the whole time, so that was cool, that they each had someone to geek with.  :)

I'm very grateful for Facebook today, first because even though my cousin is moving many states away, I'll still be able to keep in touch easily.  I also came home tonight to find two new friend requests, one from an old grade school and then college classmate, and another from an old high school friend.  I do really love how small the internet makes the world!

Also in people+internet news, someone joined my "Lampwork Addicted" Twine today!  :D  It's not exactly popular, with only us two members, but I'm tickled they even found it since I haven't made an effort to promote it yet.

I'm looking forward to this week.  We've got the ham club dinner and meeting tomorrow night, my mom is coming over for lunch and a movie on Tuesday, Wednesday art class resumes, Friday is the 2-hour finale for BSG, and Sunday is a baby shower for a couple of dear friends.  ...Which reminds me, I really should get back to my knitting!