KC2TGE
Glad to be here, been a busy few weeks. I started in this great hobby in the early 1970’s when I inherited my Uncle John’s ham shack. All Heathkit stuff, in excellent condition. Everyone needs to build their own meters.
I went to the local courses with my dad who had dabbled during and after WWII. We both started at a course that went from Novice to General. Code started at 13 WPM, and knowledge courses got you ready for General. The idea was if you could do Novice, you could get the book smarts and get Tech. And that is why they taught at 13 WPM and the General content. Probably the biggest thing we did then was set up a 30 foot tower on the side of the garage.
In the 80’s I went into the US Navy and spent a lot of time at Great Lakes in Basic Electricity and Electronics School and ET “A” school. Once again I learned the invaluable skill of building your own meters.
About 5 years ago I tried to get my oldest involved, and it didn’t go far. 3 years ago, as always happens, I ran into another co-worker who was into Ham Radio. And of course after hearing my framgented history told me to get back into things. This time they showed me all the updates in software and before I knew it, she was doing 13 WPM. Unfortunately school and other things pushed it off.
Well 2 weeks ago, we bit the bullet, went down to Bear, DE and I knocked out Tech and General, and have in front of me my FCC license with that fresh printed smell on it 
She has to retest. I will be of course making sure that she does. Apparently waking her 3 hours after she came home from the Junior Promo / Ring Dance to drive to the exam wasn’t good for her. Who would have known? Slacker
Anyway, I am here alone, and will have her here with me shortly, but until then, I am glad to be here.
Here is a bit funny -
I travel with work, so am looking for clubs in the Minneapolis - St. Paul area. I met some nice people when I went to two of their recent Monday night General courses to get a refresher in person. But I am only there on Monday - Wednesday nights, flying home Thursday evenings. And my once again thanks to a few great individuals especially W0NLY and N0BM
I am also looking for clubs in Southern New Jersey. I know 2 people at BNJARS NJ2BB KB2BRR and WA2TVS. I drill fortunate to drill on BB-62 with the USNSCC Division. My biggest time conflict is that I am home Thursdays around dark or Friday, and fly out Monday AM for work.
Work can be a terrible task master.
Long ramble, glad to be here, hope to learn a lot more. I started studying for my Extra and was amazed all the stuff I learned in BE&E that is on the exam. And that there is a brain leak somewhere, because surface wave calculations and smith charts all looked like old friends, but I could not remember those formulas.
I also need to did around here, because I am starting once again from scratch on gear. I could not dig up Uncle John’s call sign anywhere, but I do know what was on his cards, and will be once again carrying on his memory with “Everything on the Slow Bell Ranch”
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