My ham radio story is a little more complicated. I was always a nerd, taking apart anything I could reach. I'm not sure how much I learned doing all that damage, but it formed the way I looked at the world: I want to understand the innards of things. I bumped into computers while in college and fell in love. My degree in computer science sent me to the Boston area, but there was no time for hobbies. I had never met a ham that talked to me about amateur radio until I hired Dave Bushong, KZ1O, in the 1990's. "You'd love it," he said. But I put him off.

It wasn't until the end of my software start-up days in 2000 did I even consider the idea. In 2002 I called Dave and asked, "What books do I need to do this?" He wanted to help; I wanted to read. After a summer of study I took all four tests in Gloucester, Massachusetts on a Sunday morning. The three written tests came first, then the Morse code test. All I could think was, "If I screw up the code test I walk out only a Technician!"

Needless to say, I didn't screw up the Morse code test, though it was closer than I would like to admit. Now I was an Amateur Extra on paper. That license was a license to learn, and I did my best to do just that.

I've tried to give something back to amateur radio since it has given me so much. I help do volunteer examinations, giving those same tests I agonized about in 2002, and have over 120 sessions to my credit. I've written some things that I hope people find helpful including a book on using the Buddipole antenna system called Buddipole in the Field. I give away the PDF, but the paperback copy has sold quite well.

The 100 Pound DXpedition was also a way for me to give back in addition to me having fun. I had a daily blog running through the first year or so. It has about 400 entries in it, and I've produced a PDF of the thing as an archive.

I've worked with my local clubs doing things that were not glamorous, but helped club members and the community in general. That work was first with the PART club of Westford, Massachusetts, and after my move to New Hampshire with the Nashua Area Radio Society. That club was awarded Club of the Year at the national Hamvention in 2019.

I'm not a very complicated person. I'm most happy when the people around me are happy, and I work to that goal every day.

Here's little Neutrino, the last of the subatomic particle cats, in her favorite spot. Her sister Muon and big friend Pion graced us for many years with their charm, wit, and affection. With Neutrino now gone our home is a very quiet place. They are missed.