boogie woogie bugle boy

So proud of my bugle boy! Way to go, David!

they're such hams...

Every year, the American Radio Relay League sponsors Field Day, an event where ham radio enthusiasts all over the country try to "work" (contact) as many stations as possible on most of the amateur radio bands, operating in unusual situations, i.e. not at home on commercial power.  Individuals and clubs set up ham stations out in parks, in the wild, etc., where they test mobile antennas and mobile rigs.

Mobile ham radio "shack" set up by the Emerald Amateur Radio Society

Nelson and David participated for the first time this year.  First we went to the site set up by the Valley Radio Club of Eugene at The Science Factory.  When they found out David didn't have his license, they had him sit down immediately and try to make a contact.  After many attempts at being heard, he finally did get to talk with someone.  (Sorry, no pics.)

Then we went to a Springfield park, where the Emerald Amateur Radio Society had a site.  Nelson and David took turns trying to make contacts.  By the end of the day, each had made three total contacts with stations from places all over the country.

Nelson also tried listening to a radio satellite as it passed over, but to no avail.

It was fun to see how this worked, and especially great that my guys had some success!

happy anniversary!

This past December 27th I celebrated 27 years with the best husband.  His mom and dad are pretty special too.  We came home after eating out to find this on our answering machine:

Podcast Powered By Podbean

sharp!

David's band teacher had them wear tuxes for their fall concert.  Ni-i-i-ice!

Doesn't he look sharp?

time out!

At the beginning of November, I got to go with two of my favorite people, Lennae and Whitney, to Time Out for Women.  On the way we stopped in Aurora, a delightful little town, noted for its colorful history and its antique stores.  You can read about Aurora here and here.  Next summer I want to take my family, if we do any more summer wanderings.

And of course, Time Out for Women was fabulous.  We heard from Jenny Oaks Baker, Virginia Pearce, Sheri Dew, Hilary Weeks, Mary Ellen Edmunds, DeAnne Flynn, John Hilton, Wendy Ulrich, and Laurel Christensen.  Lots of uplift, lots of tears, lots of laughs.  I was especially moved by the violin music of Jenny Oaks Baker.  Sometimes I felt a deep emotional connection, even though the music wasn't something I thought was exceptionally "pretty."

Lennae has a "thing" for old posts and architectural work.

Whitney's "thing" is diamond glass.

My "thing" is being with my friends at an interesting place.

Even "Honest Abe" was there!

What a fun pair!  (BTW, that little house to their right is a chicken coop.)

The sign warns you that the bell might ring without warning, but we heard nothing.

Mother-Daughter Duo.