AmateurRadio.com

My Mom’s funeral was today.

The week was busy with running here, running there – taking care of this and taking care of that.  Now all the busy-ness has come to an abrupt end and I am feeling numb.

Normally, I’d be keeping my eyeballs peeled for news out of Dayton.  Still doing that somewhat, as K4SWL has been posting some neat photos (check ’em out) on his blog – The QRP’er.  But it sure hasn’t enticed me like it has in past years.

I was hoping against hope, to come home and find “that e-mail” from Elecraft in my In Box as there was indication earlier in the week on the KX3 reflector that a bunch of kits would be shipped today.  Nothing there.

The good news is that Marianne may be off from work tomorrow, which is an extremely rare thing as she always works on Saturdays.  If that’s the case (and I am praying that it is) then I will immerse myself in spending quality family time with her and the kids.  We were kicking the idea around of going down to Camden, NJ to visit the State Aquarium that is located there, as well as the Battleship New Jersey which is berthed there.

If we go to the USS New Jersey and I can get some photos of the radio room, which is now filled with Amateur Radio gear, I will post them here.

Be well, my friends!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!

Thanks to all of you out there, who have so kindly shared your thoughts, prayers, kind comments here and elsewhere as well as e-mails that I have received during this difficult time.  I am so blessed to have so many friends because of Amateur Radio, and this blog.  Even if we’ve never formally met, I consider you all to be truly great friends.  Please know you have my utmost appreciation and gratitude and that I will, in turn, be remembering you all in my prayers.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!

But in the same vein as the last post, sort of, as we’ve recently passed another anniversary (April 14th) ………

I am currently finishing reading Bill O’Reilly’s “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever”.

It is an extremely fast reading book.  I started it Monday, while visiting my Mom, who has been in the hospital this week (hence the pandemonium).  I should be finishing it very soon.  I wouldn’t consider it to be the definitive book on the subject, but it is definitely interesting. I would heartily recommend it.

Having it on the Kindle makes it that much easier to carry along.

I know this topic isn’t radio related in any way; but the authors do mention that Mr. Lincoln was addicted to the Internet of his day – the telegraph.  He spent much time bothering the Signal Corp for as much “from the front’ war news as he was able to get.  I’m willing to bet that were he alive today, President Lincoln would have been an Internet and cable news junkie – and who knows, maybe a Ham, too?

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!

When we lost Sadie, many of you out there suggested adopting another cat.  We hesitated with that decision as there will never be another Sadie, but we did see the value of saving another kitty from a bad fate.

That Saturday, Joey and I stopped by the local PetCo to pick up some dog biscuits for Jesse.  That was where we met Spongy.

Spongy was born last June and got separated from her Mom as a consequence of Hurricane Irene.  Spongy was found as a kitten, wandering around Long Beach Island, NJ by a man selling ice cream – Sponge Bob ice cream bars, hence her name.

The man who told us about Spongy was affiliated with Cattitude, NJ, a pet adoption organization that rescues cats and dogs. He said that Spongy was in a foster home longer than most kittens, as people seemed to be hesitant about giving a black cat a home. I guess there are a lot of superstitious folks out there.  Well, that sealed the deal for me!  Spongy, who is now seven months old, officially became a member of the W2LJ household this past Thursday.  After a day of being scared and hiding behind furniture or down in the basement, Spongy found her courage and now walks around the house like she owns it.  She’s not even scared of Jesse anymore. She is a sweetheart and is quite the purr machine who loves to be petted and scratched behind her ears. And does she love chasing the red dot from a laser pointer!

Thanks to all of you out there who sent notes and comments during a bad time – they are appreciated more than you will ever know.  Our home feels just a little bit more “whole” now, and although it will never be the same without Sadie, I think she would have approved of us saving one of her feline sisters from being homeless or worse.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!