T-7 months

At some point about a year or so ago, I started following Connie/NR4CB on Twitter. Not long after that, I discovered she was a math geek, and also a licensed ham radio operator. I also learned she was one of Heather‘s friends and also the godmother of her kids.

Hey, I like math, and I’ve been interested in learning more about ham radio. This made Connie instantly more interesting, so we started talking more on Twitter.

We made plans to meet up at the Atlanta Hamfest, because it wasn’t all that far away and it was a good opportunity to meet up in person before she got to the Charleston part of her road trip.

The meeting at the hamfest went well. We were very comfortable being around each other and just hanging out together. We soon became a thing, Connie finished her road trip, and moved to Charleston.

Being the introvert that I am, there aren’t very many people I want to be around for any length of time. With Connie, there’s never any time I don’t want to be around her. It’s a very different feeling, but one that I enjoy.

Over the past 5 months, we’ve become best friends, great partners and a really good team. There’s plenty of love, and just as important, we really like being around each other (no small thing for a pair of introverts).

Now, in 7 months, we’re going to get married.

Nothing big or flashy. Just a small event with the people we really want to be there. A small, low profile ceremony, and then spending the rest of our time together.

An OpenBeacon to play with

Thanks to Matthew/W2MDW, I now have an Etherkit OpenBeacon to play with.

Etherkit OpenBeacon

It’s a kit that I’ve been thinking of getting to play with in the near future. The one Matthew sent me was one of the early beta models and has had some modifications done to it, but it works. He didn’t have much time to mess with it anymore and thought I could put it to good use.

I’ll need to get an antenna for it and figure out how to program it, but it shouldn’t be hard to get on the air.

It looks like a pretty easy kit to build, so I’ll probably pick up one of my own to assemble and get up and running. Looking forward to getting this one going and seeing who picks up the signal.

I wonder how hard it would be to modify to broadcast on 6m.

Cruise ship “science” lesson

“Molecularly, diamonds are made to absorb colour and reflect light” – seminar presenter

Antenna bits

The coax and ZS6BKW antenna are both here!

It probably won’t be until after Christmas before I can get everything up and running though. Still need to finish getting the office and the computer back into shape, then make room to set up the radio (which mostly involves finding enough flat surface space for everything). Then I’ll invite some friends over for an “antenna raising” and see about getting the shack operational.

Charleston Eats: Mrs. Rose’s Fine Food & Cocktails

Ms. Rose’s Fried Chicken with Tabasco honey

Four pieces of fried chicken on a white plate from Ms. Rose's Fine Food & Cocktails

Boiled peanut polenta

A bowl of boiled peanut polenta

Vegetable pasta with chicken

A plate of vegetable pasta with chicken

Classic Reuben

A Reuben sandwitch with french fries