Happy New Year!

Despite the lousy economy I hope all my ham radio friends had a good 2011.

2011 started great as I went to the Morristown Hamfest on New Year's Day (a soggy, rainy New Year's) and purchased a Wouxun KG-UV2D and enjoyed it so much I got a 2nd one for Lauren at the Knoxville Hamfest the following June.

I had a scare in April as a tornado touched down about 1000 feet from my house. Lightning is also to blame for the loss of a couple of computers, wifi routers, and some appliances in the kitchen. Then I found out my grounding was bad! More on that in a couple of days...

My activity on the radio was significantly reduced, in part to the electrical stuff that occurred over the last few months. We moved our bedroom downstairs where the "radio room" was, so some of my operating hours were cut back. 10 meters has been active as the sunspots have picked up, and 10 is one of my favorite bands and when I miss a big band opening it's not something I relish.  Hopefully I'll be able to get on the air more as things get straightened out with the home stuff. We still need to put a new roof on the house and focus on the kids' schoolwork. 

Speaking of the kids, Lauren's not been on the radio except to occasionally check in to a net or two when she's awake. It's hard to coax her on. I tried to do that on our way home just yesterday, and she refused, because she was nervous. Understandable, but there's only one way to overcome it...

School comes first, so hopefully she can prioritize them and be able to do both.

As for Amber, she's still interested in getting her license, so we'll be working with her over the next few months.

As for my resolutions, well, I already said I wasn't going to make any more. I kept that one good and proper. If I resolve to do anything, it's to encourage Lauren to get on the air, so hopefully I can keep that one.

Here's to 2012! Let's hope it is a great one!

2010 Resolutions: The final tally!

So how did I do on my previous year's resolutions?

Here's the scorecard:

• I resolve to get Lauren an HT - Check - I bought a Yaesu FT-50R from a friend of mine for her about 3 months ago. That is one complicating radio! I may have to give her my Wouxun in order for her to use it without her head exploding.
• I resolve that Amber will at least study to get her license, with Jes, Lauren and I helping. Hopefully it's before the Question Pool change on July 1. - Fail - As much as we tried to get Amber involved, time was not on our side, and the Question pool change back in July made the book I got for Lauren officially null and void. But we're not pressuring her to get her license.
  
• I resolve to re-install a mobile in the minivan. - Moot - Our minivan's transmission died late in the summer and forced us to get a new vehicle, and Jes got an 09 Pontiac Vibe. I'll work on getting a mobile installed but it's a smaller vehicle and we'd need a small radio.
  
• I resolve to talk with Lauren on the radio at least once/week on the way home from work. - Fail - Quite simply, a lot of things just didn't go her way or mine. I shoulder the blame for this, but sometimes getting her to talk on the radio is a chore in itself.
• I resolve that I'll get Lauren and Jes on 10 meters (if the band will ever open up!). - Fail - 10 meters is just now starting to warm up, and so hopefully this will come to fruition in 2011.
• I resolve to get a dipole antenna and string it up and get back on 40/80 meters. - Check - It needs a little work, but I am back on the low bands.
  
• I resolve to contact at least 20 countries on HF. - Fail - Not much time spent on the low bands, but I did notch a couple of countries.

So the record is 2-4-1 for 2010. What are my resolutions for 2011? Not to make any more! Just go out and have fun, and whatever happens, happens.

And about losing 30 pounds...don't ask...

Happy New Year, everyone!

New Year's resolutions

As New Year's approaches, I've often shied away from any New Year's resolutions since 7th grade. In fact, the last resolution I made was in 7th grade to not make any more of these things. And up to this point, it's been a resolution well-kept.

However, with Lauren now licensed (and newly granted vanity assigned) and my other daughter Amber more interested since her big sister got her ticket, I've decided to make a few resolutions, and then check them to see if I kept them at the end of 2010 (by the way, is it pronounced "Twenty-Ten" or "Two-Thousand Ten"?).

1. I resolve to get Lauren an HT*.
2. I resolve that Amber will at least study to get her license, with Jes, Lauren and I helping. Hopefully it's before the Question Pool change on July 1.
3. I resolve to re-install a mobile in the minivan.
4. I resolve to talk with Lauren on the radio at least once/week on the way home from work*.
5. I resolve that I'll get Lauren and Jes on 10 meters (if the band will ever open up!)*.
6. I resolve to get a dipole antenna and string it up and get back on 40/80 meters.
7. I resolve to contact at least 20 countries on HF.

Now, let's see if these are attainable this year...

Oh, and I'll lose 30 pounds....

* It seems Lauren decided to see if she could fly and jumped out a window at a friends house on New Year's Eve. She's fine, but grounded for a month. So some of these will not take effect until February...