Javelina, the IRS, and More

This past Sunday afternoon I was in my garage, programming a new ham radio that I purchased (I'll get to that shortly).  I was testing out repeater frequencies and subaudible tones when I heard some animal footsteps nearby.  I'm thinking OK, the neighbor's dog got loose again.  I've met the dog, she's a real sweetie but shy, and can wander whenever she feels the urge.

Well it wasn't.....(dang it, what is her name?  Lola?  Lulu?  I think Lola).  I looked up in time to see two javelina, one of them halfway inside the garage and the other just about ready to enter too.  We ended up spooking each other, though one of them stopped to turn his head to get one more look at me.

It was captured on video.  Sheila installed a security camera last November.  We've captured videos of these interesting denizens of the Sonoran Desert, and this one is the best.  Enjoy!

VIDEO

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The Internal Revenue Service is after me.  Well, someone out there wants me to think that.  I've once again gotten the robo-call from the robotic female, informing me that four serious charges are against me, and that "local cops" will take me into custody if I fail to return the phone call within 24 hours.

I've gotten two, maybe three of these calls before. 

So far failure to return their phone calls has not resulted in me being granted long-term accommodations at Leavenworth.

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As you've just read, I'm still busy in ham radio.  Last week I purchased a mobile 2 meter rig, though I'm using it as a base station.  Ham Radio Outlet had a special on this make and model, and 30% off of a newly introduced radio will capture my attention.  No, I'm not in the market for another rice box for HF (high frequency) work, but I have been wanting a 2 meter base station for some time as that my handheld on some nights won't hit the local repeaters well.

I'm pleased as punch with the purchase, even though 2 meter operation can make you feel like a CB operator at times.   Yes, some of us hams look down on CBers, and I've been one of those hams more times than I can remember.  That said, when the CB craze of the mid 70s got going, some of the more technically inclined CBers went on to get ham radio licenses and swelled our ranks.....which is a good thing. 

Anyway, there were some GREAT conditions on the 20 meter band a few weekends ago.  In one session, I worked 19 different countries, or more accurately, DX entities which are counted as "countries" for awards purposes.  Hawaii counts as a "country" due to its distance from the mainland, as does Alaska.  I  worked Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, but I also got Asiatic Russia, Japan, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname, and some others.  This past weekend I was again able to work Russia, Japan, and Ecuador. 

One local ham told me there was a sporadic E opening on 10 meters to South America, which I think helped out on 20.  The openings to the Far East though was good old fashioned daylight propagation.  I think maybe the equinoctial period we're in right now had something to do with it too.

That said, that's a wrap, and time now for a cold one.