Last month something was wrong and I got examined for it. I won't at this point in time say what it was. I was referred to a specialist, and one week later that specialist examined me and didn't waste any time scheduling me for surgery. It was an out-patient kind of thing, but that kind of thing that would have me out of commission for a few weeks.
So on Wednesday, the 30th of August I reported to St. Joseph's Hospital here in Tucson. The buildup to this wasn't pleasant. The previous afternoon the damn phone wouldn't stop ringing. People kept wanting to call me up and waste time going over things that a previous caller did. I was about to tear into the last caller. "Can we do this tomorrow? If I had known that I was going to have to waste six hours on the phone to get ready for this, I'd have taken the day off!". It was one of those days where I hated having a phone.
Anyway, the procedure went smoothly, though I was in for a rough 48 hours afterwards. I was on pain pills and pretty much wiped out. The followup exam the next day explained more about recovery, and the next followup was scheduled in a week. Within that one week I wasn't needing the pain pills any more, and I was cleared to drive - - locally. I still had to stay at the same elevation for two to three more weeks.
My energy didn't return until last Saturday. I told Sheila and a few others that I had no idea that resting up from surgery would be so tiring. I don't remember very much from that first week as that I slept a lot and was sore where they did the surgery. I'm still somewhat tender there and I have not undertaken very much in the way of physical activity. My plans are to return to work on the 28th.
In the meantime, ham radio is helping to pass the time during those days where conditions are good (we're not getting very many of those days). I've done some reading on what I want to do with my station. I had a quick contact with a station in Cuba last Saturday, and I've also QSO'd (as we call it) Mexico twice already. I'm also building up my code speed.
Time off from work is nice, but not when you have to do it like this. It does appear that the surgery will be 100% successful when I am finally done healing.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Monday, August 28, 2017
Hurricane Harvey and Joel Osteen
The big news this past weekend was the arrival of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the aftermath of flooding. It's reminiscent of Katrina in 2005, and as I'm typing this I'm now thinking of Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and a story I should tell sometime. Reactions on the net are similar as to what they were twelve years ago, only the players have changed.
As is to be expected, there is a lot of criticism towards President Trump. I've seen online comments blaming him for this by pulling out of the Paris accords for climate change, and even more comments about his visiting Texas. Presidents don't cause hurricanes, but you wouldn't know otherwise if you believed the comments I'm reading.
Another genre of comments is blaming God for this. These run along the lines of "God is punishing Texas for [fill in the blank]". That blank is sometimes filled with the word racism, and sometimes it's filled with Texas supporting Trump in the election. I think that's patently absurd, as that God doesn't sit around from day to day trying to come up with disasters to send to people. I believe that God *allows* them to happen for his own reasons; read the Book of Job sometime........Job never got his answer as to *why* he was afflicted. Of course those making these comments don't really believe in God and most of them don't want other people believing in God, but it's an opportunity to trash religion and there's no way they're going to let go of that.
And with that, we come to another observation, that of the reverend Joel Osteen not opening his megachurch as shelter for those who are displaced by the flooding. What I'm about to say here may not be what you would like to read, but hear me out, as that I have my own reasons for this viewpoint, and I'll make them clear before I sign.
I think Joel Osteen has every right to keep his church shuttered.
I'll say that again.
Joel Osteen has every right to keep his church shuttered.
One reason I say this, cmes from that libertarian streak within me that feels that a government should not and should never have a right to dictate what a person or organization does with their own property. We have a Constitutional amendment to that effect, which says that the government cannot require a homeowner to house troops, and I don't consider it an unreasonable extrapolation to state that this would also apply to housing victims of disaster.
But I have another reason for saying this, which I want to emphasize. First, a digression.
Joel Osteen is one of those televangelists who fall into that mold of "Prosperity Gospel". His contemporaries include, but are not limited to, Mike Murdock, Paula White, Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar. If you remember Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, they were in that club too. The members of that club are an elite amongst themselves. They preach a message that God wants you to be rich, and to become rich, you have to plant a "seed", which is a financial contribution (preferably monthly), which after being planted, you will find your way to riches, wealth, happiness, Corvettes, coins, whatever. Hell, you might even have an air-conditioned doghouse for your best friend!
Now I personally believe that God is concerned with wealth, but not a material wealth. I think he wants His people to be spiritually wealthy. That's a difficult term for me to define, but let's say that it means that you're well-grounded in your faith, and that you will hold firm when your time of trial comes (and you're going to get more than one trial!). If God wanted people to have a lot of money, then the Prosperity churches would be plastered all over the globe and we'd have 85% of the global population being filthy rich believers.
That isn't the case, of course. What the Prosperity Gospel can only guarantee is that those who are in that elite club of televangelist will be filthy rich.......I'm not sure I can call them believers, but I can call them believers in their own efforts of fundraising. These guys and gals are very slick, they might be able to sell sand to the Arabs on some days, and they already have a ready-made answer for you if you don't get rich by planting a seed......"well your faith isn't strong enough. Send me more money!"
To get this back to Joel Osteen and his not opening the doors, think about what you just read, and think about this: isn't keeping his church doors closed an indication of what type of person he really is?
Before that is misconstrued, one other thought. Some churches are small and can't put up people from their own congregation in cases of disaster. The larger churches could, but this might get into the realm of what a church should really do......should they preach the Word of God, or should they become a welfare provider? That's not a question that I can answer, but I have observed church bodies involved with soup kitchens and helping those in need, and I know from my time on a church council that we've donated budget surpluses on occasion to the Gospel Rescue Mission.
As for Joel Osteen, I've been somewhat critical of him here. No matter what he does, someone (me, maybe) will damn him. If he makes a donation behind the scenes, good for him; neither you or I should know about it. If he makes a donation and holds a press conference to boast about it, then people (me, maybe) will accuse him of promoting himself instead of the Word of God. (Honestly, if he does hold a press conference to that effect, I ought to let that go without comment; I'm really no better than he is).
Personally, I think it would be a nice gesture on his part to provide temporary shelter and meals for those dealing with this tragedy.
However, I don't think it would be right on my part, or on anyone else's part, to shame him into doing this.
As I said earlier, take note of this, and ask yourself if this really reveals the inner workings of a Prosperity Gospel preacher.
As is to be expected, there is a lot of criticism towards President Trump. I've seen online comments blaming him for this by pulling out of the Paris accords for climate change, and even more comments about his visiting Texas. Presidents don't cause hurricanes, but you wouldn't know otherwise if you believed the comments I'm reading.
Another genre of comments is blaming God for this. These run along the lines of "God is punishing Texas for [fill in the blank]". That blank is sometimes filled with the word racism, and sometimes it's filled with Texas supporting Trump in the election. I think that's patently absurd, as that God doesn't sit around from day to day trying to come up with disasters to send to people. I believe that God *allows* them to happen for his own reasons; read the Book of Job sometime........Job never got his answer as to *why* he was afflicted. Of course those making these comments don't really believe in God and most of them don't want other people believing in God, but it's an opportunity to trash religion and there's no way they're going to let go of that.
And with that, we come to another observation, that of the reverend Joel Osteen not opening his megachurch as shelter for those who are displaced by the flooding. What I'm about to say here may not be what you would like to read, but hear me out, as that I have my own reasons for this viewpoint, and I'll make them clear before I sign.
I think Joel Osteen has every right to keep his church shuttered.
I'll say that again.
Joel Osteen has every right to keep his church shuttered.
One reason I say this, cmes from that libertarian streak within me that feels that a government should not and should never have a right to dictate what a person or organization does with their own property. We have a Constitutional amendment to that effect, which says that the government cannot require a homeowner to house troops, and I don't consider it an unreasonable extrapolation to state that this would also apply to housing victims of disaster.
But I have another reason for saying this, which I want to emphasize. First, a digression.
Joel Osteen is one of those televangelists who fall into that mold of "Prosperity Gospel". His contemporaries include, but are not limited to, Mike Murdock, Paula White, Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar. If you remember Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, they were in that club too. The members of that club are an elite amongst themselves. They preach a message that God wants you to be rich, and to become rich, you have to plant a "seed", which is a financial contribution (preferably monthly), which after being planted, you will find your way to riches, wealth, happiness, Corvettes, coins, whatever. Hell, you might even have an air-conditioned doghouse for your best friend!
Now I personally believe that God is concerned with wealth, but not a material wealth. I think he wants His people to be spiritually wealthy. That's a difficult term for me to define, but let's say that it means that you're well-grounded in your faith, and that you will hold firm when your time of trial comes (and you're going to get more than one trial!). If God wanted people to have a lot of money, then the Prosperity churches would be plastered all over the globe and we'd have 85% of the global population being filthy rich believers.
That isn't the case, of course. What the Prosperity Gospel can only guarantee is that those who are in that elite club of televangelist will be filthy rich.......I'm not sure I can call them believers, but I can call them believers in their own efforts of fundraising. These guys and gals are very slick, they might be able to sell sand to the Arabs on some days, and they already have a ready-made answer for you if you don't get rich by planting a seed......"well your faith isn't strong enough. Send me more money!"
To get this back to Joel Osteen and his not opening the doors, think about what you just read, and think about this: isn't keeping his church doors closed an indication of what type of person he really is?
Before that is misconstrued, one other thought. Some churches are small and can't put up people from their own congregation in cases of disaster. The larger churches could, but this might get into the realm of what a church should really do......should they preach the Word of God, or should they become a welfare provider? That's not a question that I can answer, but I have observed church bodies involved with soup kitchens and helping those in need, and I know from my time on a church council that we've donated budget surpluses on occasion to the Gospel Rescue Mission.
As for Joel Osteen, I've been somewhat critical of him here. No matter what he does, someone (me, maybe) will damn him. If he makes a donation behind the scenes, good for him; neither you or I should know about it. If he makes a donation and holds a press conference to boast about it, then people (me, maybe) will accuse him of promoting himself instead of the Word of God. (Honestly, if he does hold a press conference to that effect, I ought to let that go without comment; I'm really no better than he is).
Personally, I think it would be a nice gesture on his part to provide temporary shelter and meals for those dealing with this tragedy.
However, I don't think it would be right on my part, or on anyone else's part, to shame him into doing this.
As I said earlier, take note of this, and ask yourself if this really reveals the inner workings of a Prosperity Gospel preacher.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Jerry Lewis, Statues, Et. Al.
Jerry Lewis passed away in Las Vegas yesterday. Although I would not consider myself a fan of his, that guy made me laugh a lot when I was a kid. It was a real treat to be up late one Friday night during the summer, and learn that a Jerry Lewis movie was on that night.
DC Comics also had a Jerry Lewis series, and those were my favorites. His dealings with life, his rebellious nephew Renfrew, getting a job at the circus where he was mistaken for a liontamer named Terry Lewis......I am not a comic book collector, but I would love to get my hands on the entire series.
We have lost a legend.
Tearing down Confederate statues seems to be the big rage these days. This isn't a burning issue as far as most of the public goes. Tearing them down will in no way erase the results of slavery or the Civil War itself, yet the malcontents want this done.
I personally have no issue with the statues myself. I view it as part of our nation's history. The way I see it, if we have statues in the North to honor those generals who fought for the Union, why can't we have statues in the South that honor those who fought for the Confederacy?
The reality is that both sides of this war had brave men and great generals. I personally think it's regrettable that a bloody war such as this came about to settle the issues of slavery, secession, nullification, and state's rights.
In the Manassas Battlefield, there is a statue of General Stonewall Jackson, placed where he earned his nickname......"there's Jackson, standing like a stone wall!" I attended Stonewall Jackson Senior High School when I lived there. I cringe at the thought that a bunch of malcontents who have never been to Manassas would demand that the high school be named for someone else.
Reality is, is that when the war was over, Abraham Lincoln wanted reconciliation with the South, and not retribution. When Lee surrendered, General Grant ordered his band to play "Dixie" for the defeated Confederates.
Tearing down statues, in my opinion, runs counter to what Abraham Lincoln would have wanted.
DC Comics also had a Jerry Lewis series, and those were my favorites. His dealings with life, his rebellious nephew Renfrew, getting a job at the circus where he was mistaken for a liontamer named Terry Lewis......I am not a comic book collector, but I would love to get my hands on the entire series.
We have lost a legend.
* * * * * * *
Tearing down Confederate statues seems to be the big rage these days. This isn't a burning issue as far as most of the public goes. Tearing them down will in no way erase the results of slavery or the Civil War itself, yet the malcontents want this done.
I personally have no issue with the statues myself. I view it as part of our nation's history. The way I see it, if we have statues in the North to honor those generals who fought for the Union, why can't we have statues in the South that honor those who fought for the Confederacy?
The reality is that both sides of this war had brave men and great generals. I personally think it's regrettable that a bloody war such as this came about to settle the issues of slavery, secession, nullification, and state's rights.
In the Manassas Battlefield, there is a statue of General Stonewall Jackson, placed where he earned his nickname......"there's Jackson, standing like a stone wall!" I attended Stonewall Jackson Senior High School when I lived there. I cringe at the thought that a bunch of malcontents who have never been to Manassas would demand that the high school be named for someone else.
Reality is, is that when the war was over, Abraham Lincoln wanted reconciliation with the South, and not retribution. When Lee surrendered, General Grant ordered his band to play "Dixie" for the defeated Confederates.
Tearing down statues, in my opinion, runs counter to what Abraham Lincoln would have wanted.
* * * * * * *
As I have stated earlier, I have been active again in amateur radio, and I really love it when I get to sit down in front of the rig and try to make contact with somebody. I put up another antenna, this one for the 20 meter band. I was able to make contact with two stations each in Indiana, Illinois, and Hawaii. Yesterday I talked to a station in northern California and another one in Pennsylvania.
Conditions weren't really the greatest. In fact, I can't remember when they have been worse. Today they are better, but I am away from home this evening to enjoy them, so all I can do is look at the propagation reports and hope that whoever is out there is having a lot of fun.
* * * * * * *
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat!
Monday, July 24, 2017
It's All Good?
Often in the face of adverse circumstances it is psychologically healthy to tell yourself "it's all good". However, I am not under adverse circumstances as I write this, but I think society is and in that regard it's quite the stretch to say "it's all good".
I am referring to the parole of one Orenthal James Simpson, better known as O.J. Simpson, the Butcher of Brentwood who will soon be ending his stay at the Lovelock Correctional Facility in Nevada. Now I can make an argument supporting the State of Nevada in this decision if I frame that argument in terms of they don't want him in their state any more. I wouldn't in my right mind make this kind of argument as that he's been more of a liability to society than an asset. What O.J. Simpson proved to the world is that you can get away with murder if you have the money for a legal dream team. I honestly thought he was going to skate again when he burst into that hotel room in Las Vegas but I was proven wrong when I posted that in a predecessor blog (and I don't mind being wrong in that instance.)
But still, why turn him loose? So what if he's been a model prisoner. Is Charles Manson a model prisoner? I don't hear very much about him but California at least keeps that guy away from the rest of us, because they feel he's a threat. So the question really here is, is O.J. Simpson a threat to society?
There was some interesting speculation on Tucson talk radio last week, that from the morning hosts of KNST Garret Lewis and his team. They feel he will be back in the custody of the Department of Corrections before too long, but there was disagreement on how he was going to get there. One said it would be a DUI. Another said it would be from some sort of physical altercation. I can't remember what the third theory was.
Regardless of whether or not O.J. goes back to the slammer, to this day I still will not rent from Hertz due to their previous association with him.
Yes, I know he was running through airline terminals for Hertz long before he whacked his wife and Ron Goldman. Yes, I know Hertz dropped him quickly after he was up on charges. Yes, I know it's been almost a quarter of a century since he called Hertz the "Superstar of Rent a Car". Even though I am not a full blood Kraut, I can be just as stubborn as a fullblood when I want to be, and on this one I want to be.
I will back off on this provided Hertz does one thing:
They advertise a rental called the "O.J. Special", where you can rent a white Ford Bronco for a weekend, and have a fake beard and hidden compartment for a passport and revolver. If Hertz can own up to that mistake like that, then at that point I'll have respect for them and not rent from anyone else.
I am referring to the parole of one Orenthal James Simpson, better known as O.J. Simpson, the Butcher of Brentwood who will soon be ending his stay at the Lovelock Correctional Facility in Nevada. Now I can make an argument supporting the State of Nevada in this decision if I frame that argument in terms of they don't want him in their state any more. I wouldn't in my right mind make this kind of argument as that he's been more of a liability to society than an asset. What O.J. Simpson proved to the world is that you can get away with murder if you have the money for a legal dream team. I honestly thought he was going to skate again when he burst into that hotel room in Las Vegas but I was proven wrong when I posted that in a predecessor blog (and I don't mind being wrong in that instance.)
But still, why turn him loose? So what if he's been a model prisoner. Is Charles Manson a model prisoner? I don't hear very much about him but California at least keeps that guy away from the rest of us, because they feel he's a threat. So the question really here is, is O.J. Simpson a threat to society?
There was some interesting speculation on Tucson talk radio last week, that from the morning hosts of KNST Garret Lewis and his team. They feel he will be back in the custody of the Department of Corrections before too long, but there was disagreement on how he was going to get there. One said it would be a DUI. Another said it would be from some sort of physical altercation. I can't remember what the third theory was.
Regardless of whether or not O.J. goes back to the slammer, to this day I still will not rent from Hertz due to their previous association with him.
Yes, I know he was running through airline terminals for Hertz long before he whacked his wife and Ron Goldman. Yes, I know Hertz dropped him quickly after he was up on charges. Yes, I know it's been almost a quarter of a century since he called Hertz the "Superstar of Rent a Car". Even though I am not a full blood Kraut, I can be just as stubborn as a fullblood when I want to be, and on this one I want to be.
I will back off on this provided Hertz does one thing:
They advertise a rental called the "O.J. Special", where you can rent a white Ford Bronco for a weekend, and have a fake beard and hidden compartment for a passport and revolver. If Hertz can own up to that mistake like that, then at that point I'll have respect for them and not rent from anyone else.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Some Odds and Ends for 6/27/17
Greetings!
This will be a short post. I feel the need to catch up on the odds and ends.
First, the new job is really kicking into gear. I'm having a great deal of fun in it. Unfortunately, I don't discuss my job very often here, and whenever that happens, it's in passing like it is now. I put in long hours at times, and take flex days off on others. It's something that I enjoy doing, and it's a great job for me.
Second, I've started another blog page for my ham radio activities (it is now occurring to me that I am so burned, that I can't remember if I mentioned this! It was a long day today!) That is intended for a ham radio audience, and I've been writing a great deal more over there than I am on here.
I am now back on the air, now adding the six meter band to my operating repertoire. I've never operated on this band before. It's called the "Magic Band" and I found out why last Sunday. The frequency band is at the lower end of the VHF spectrum. It's notionally line of sight, but some weird things can happen with propagation, especially during the summer. The E layer of the ionosphere will form plasma clouds that reflect this signals back to earth, thus giving you "skip".
Last Sunday afternoon we had a band opening, and I was able to talk to stations in Texas and Kansas....two each. I also chatted with a local in Tucson. Using the QRZ.com website, I was able to determine that the record distance for me (on this band) is 979.5 miles......from Tucson all the way to northeast Kansas. Needless to say I was pleased as punch that that simple dipole antenna I built gave me these results. Theoretically, I knew that it could happen, and would happen if conditions were right, and it was great to be operating again! It really was!
Third, I'm hoping to have some fun on the barbecue this weekend. I've had to focus on yardwork and that never ending task of keeping other things in order. I plan on doing some more hamming this extended weekend, but I also hope to get away on a day trip with Sheila.
That's pretty much it.
This will be a short post. I feel the need to catch up on the odds and ends.
First, the new job is really kicking into gear. I'm having a great deal of fun in it. Unfortunately, I don't discuss my job very often here, and whenever that happens, it's in passing like it is now. I put in long hours at times, and take flex days off on others. It's something that I enjoy doing, and it's a great job for me.
Second, I've started another blog page for my ham radio activities (it is now occurring to me that I am so burned, that I can't remember if I mentioned this! It was a long day today!) That is intended for a ham radio audience, and I've been writing a great deal more over there than I am on here.
I am now back on the air, now adding the six meter band to my operating repertoire. I've never operated on this band before. It's called the "Magic Band" and I found out why last Sunday. The frequency band is at the lower end of the VHF spectrum. It's notionally line of sight, but some weird things can happen with propagation, especially during the summer. The E layer of the ionosphere will form plasma clouds that reflect this signals back to earth, thus giving you "skip".
Last Sunday afternoon we had a band opening, and I was able to talk to stations in Texas and Kansas....two each. I also chatted with a local in Tucson. Using the QRZ.com website, I was able to determine that the record distance for me (on this band) is 979.5 miles......from Tucson all the way to northeast Kansas. Needless to say I was pleased as punch that that simple dipole antenna I built gave me these results. Theoretically, I knew that it could happen, and would happen if conditions were right, and it was great to be operating again! It really was!
Third, I'm hoping to have some fun on the barbecue this weekend. I've had to focus on yardwork and that never ending task of keeping other things in order. I plan on doing some more hamming this extended weekend, but I also hope to get away on a day trip with Sheila.
That's pretty much it.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Another Congressman Shot
I was aware of this morning's event before starting the drive to work, but not of the details, most of which emerged while driving into work. For those of us in Tucson, it brought back memories of the evil deed that Jarred Loughner committed. Comparisons are inevitable.
Like with that shooter, this morning's shooter was the only person responsible for his actions. It wasn't guns, and it wasn't a political figure. It wasn't talk radio, and it wasn't the NRA. James Hodgkinson is the one responsible here.
What is different is that as of yet, there is no evidence that he was under psychiatric care. What is also different was that he wanted to make sure he was going to kill only Republicans, while Jarred Loughner was out to kill a Congresswoman without regard to her political leanings.
Unfortunately since then, we have recently had some vicious attacks on Trump that exceed those that were made on Obama. Kathy Griffin holding a simulated severed head of President Trump. A play in New York depicting an assassination of President Trump that was attended by Alec Baldwin and cheered by the audience. Madonna wanting to blow up the White House.
This isn't to say that this wouldn't have happened had there not been that play, had there not been that severed head, had there not been Madonna wanting to blow up the White House. I think the gunman would have gone forward without these.
What I am saying here, is that the vitriol has gone too far, and yes, I am going to include myself as guilty in past vitriol.
I think the nation can best go forward if we learn to live with differences of opinion, and pray for those who are involved, and for their families.
Like with that shooter, this morning's shooter was the only person responsible for his actions. It wasn't guns, and it wasn't a political figure. It wasn't talk radio, and it wasn't the NRA. James Hodgkinson is the one responsible here.
What is different is that as of yet, there is no evidence that he was under psychiatric care. What is also different was that he wanted to make sure he was going to kill only Republicans, while Jarred Loughner was out to kill a Congresswoman without regard to her political leanings.
Unfortunately since then, we have recently had some vicious attacks on Trump that exceed those that were made on Obama. Kathy Griffin holding a simulated severed head of President Trump. A play in New York depicting an assassination of President Trump that was attended by Alec Baldwin and cheered by the audience. Madonna wanting to blow up the White House.
This isn't to say that this wouldn't have happened had there not been that play, had there not been that severed head, had there not been Madonna wanting to blow up the White House. I think the gunman would have gone forward without these.
What I am saying here, is that the vitriol has gone too far, and yes, I am going to include myself as guilty in past vitriol.
I think the nation can best go forward if we learn to live with differences of opinion, and pray for those who are involved, and for their families.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
The Monsoon Season is Under Way!
This afternoon in Sierra Vista, we had ourselves a good thunderstorm starting around 2:00 PM, which in my mind heralds the arrival of the 2017 Monsoon Season. Now the National Weather Service has a different definition. The old definition was three straight days where the dew point exceeded 54 degrees. Then they changed it to "June 15th". My definition is that it starts on the day of the first afternoon thunderstorm of the summer, even if summer is not officially here yet.
This one wasn't bad. Two sessions of bullet rain, lightning, and thunder. To the north Benson looked like they were getting it when I left work this afternoon. I had already booked lodging here in Sorry Vista anyway as that I have decided upon what I call "Commute Rest Night" two or three times a week. I started this last week and found that this allowed me to rest up and flex hours so that I could have an early out Friday, though I also knew before doing the Commute Rest Nights that I had better pack a travel suitcase with spare changes of clothes in case I couldn't get home because of a monsoon event.
I hate being away from Sheila like this, but it is cost-effective for me to stay down here two or three nights a week. I think factoring in gas, it's only $10 more expensive. I'm hesitant to try the vanpool thing as that I get up damned early as it is these days, and I don't want to get up even earlier so that I can arrive at work at the same time I normally otherwise and then get home later than I would normally otherwise.
The drive really isn't all that bad. It's all freeway save for the ten miles of Houghton Road that separates my residence from I-10. Houghton moves along rather well for what is now a main artery instead of a two lane road, and with widening of remaining stretches it will be even better.
Meantime, living part time in a motel room isn't too bad if you have the means to pass the time. Reading Scripture is a help, as is having my 2 meter ham radio with me. I can get into one of the linked EARRS repeaters from down here, and chat with some friends that I've made over the air.
The job itself is going better than I thought it would. I was concerned about getting into a "routine" so to speak, but as it is I have a challenging assignment with the type of work I've always wanted to do (save for satellite engineering). The experience gained will be very valuable, and I can see it and my ham radio experience leveraging each other.
What a setup! I enjoy ham radio as a hobby, and I get paid for doing what's not ham radio but is almost the same thing! Not to mention that I am learning a great deal more about digital communications than I did when I worked on satellites.
This one wasn't bad. Two sessions of bullet rain, lightning, and thunder. To the north Benson looked like they were getting it when I left work this afternoon. I had already booked lodging here in Sorry Vista anyway as that I have decided upon what I call "Commute Rest Night" two or three times a week. I started this last week and found that this allowed me to rest up and flex hours so that I could have an early out Friday, though I also knew before doing the Commute Rest Nights that I had better pack a travel suitcase with spare changes of clothes in case I couldn't get home because of a monsoon event.
I hate being away from Sheila like this, but it is cost-effective for me to stay down here two or three nights a week. I think factoring in gas, it's only $10 more expensive. I'm hesitant to try the vanpool thing as that I get up damned early as it is these days, and I don't want to get up even earlier so that I can arrive at work at the same time I normally otherwise and then get home later than I would normally otherwise.
The drive really isn't all that bad. It's all freeway save for the ten miles of Houghton Road that separates my residence from I-10. Houghton moves along rather well for what is now a main artery instead of a two lane road, and with widening of remaining stretches it will be even better.
Meantime, living part time in a motel room isn't too bad if you have the means to pass the time. Reading Scripture is a help, as is having my 2 meter ham radio with me. I can get into one of the linked EARRS repeaters from down here, and chat with some friends that I've made over the air.
The job itself is going better than I thought it would. I was concerned about getting into a "routine" so to speak, but as it is I have a challenging assignment with the type of work I've always wanted to do (save for satellite engineering). The experience gained will be very valuable, and I can see it and my ham radio experience leveraging each other.
What a setup! I enjoy ham radio as a hobby, and I get paid for doing what's not ham radio but is almost the same thing! Not to mention that I am learning a great deal more about digital communications than I did when I worked on satellites.
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