If I were in to going into detail about what happens at work, I could have told you of some interesting drama going on there. I don't, because what happens there (mostly) stays there. I'll make some generic mentions of it on occasion, but I'm not going into detail. All I'm going to say is that I was more than positively impressed with the way in which the necessary management intervention took place. I came away feeling really good about the guy who hired me. I wish I knew a little more of his background but he has excellent leadership skills and those showed. He's not one to talk about himself a whole lot, but some evidence slipped out that he reads the Bible.
There is another positive development to report. A new guy started yesterday, and he lives in Tucson. He's also a longtime licensed amateur radio operator. We're going to see if we can work out a carpooling arrangement starting next month. He's committed to a vanpool for the next four weeks and so I'll be staying in Sorry Vista on average of two nights per week.
I tend to avoid vanpools as that I've seen how these guys drive on the interstate. Their favorite tactic is to hog the left lane, and hang in the blind spot of whoever's in the right lane. Not only do they refuse to pass the person in the right lane, they insist on being where the driver in the right lane can't see them. If the driver increases speed by 3 mph, the vanpool driver will match that. If the driver slows down by 3 mph, so will the vanpool driver. It isn't just the vanpool drivers who do this......there is no shortage of cretins on any interstate who derive perverse pleasure in doing this. Some states ticket left lane hogs but if Arizona is one of them I haven't heard anything about it.
On the ham radio front, conditions have been in the outhouse these past few weekends. Well, I'll clarify that. On some of the bands, the conditions stink. I went on 40 meters this past weekend and was able to work France and Slovenia. I wouldn't have thought it possible on 40 meters during the summer but I got France and Spain in late April, which tells me that 40 can be a good band outside of winter during a solar minimum. There is recent evidence that Cycle 24 is ending and Cycle 25 is getting under way. If that's the case, then we've hit bottom, and it will get better from here.
Yes, hams like sunspots, but when there aren't any the DX can be found elsewhere if you're patient and you know where to go. I've got all six continents on 40, as well as on 20, the King of the DX bands (40 is called the Queen).
At home, it's going mostly well. Seems as if as of late there is at least one member of the household who is under the weather. I had my turn last Saturday. As I write this I am tired and somewhat exhausted, as that I had some more of that sinus blockage that I'm going to die with but not from.
That will be for now. Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat......or a bunny rabbit for that matter if you have one.
