2008 ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
11/18/2008 |
N8CPA
I was worried that I might miss CW SS this year. In late August, I broke my ankle--first time I ever broke a bone. And in my case, not only did the repair take surgery, it also required a lengthy
stay in a "care center," aka a rest home.
I don't understand why it's called that, since I got very little rest. There was a regimen of occupational and physical therapy to promote the knitting of the bone, not to mention the amount of milk
I added to my diet for the sake of my fractured fibula--yech!!!
Early in my admission to the center, I had told the administrators about my release goal, and why. And I asked if there was any possibilty that I could operate from the large courtyard, if my recovery proved thus slow to require such an operation. The answer was negative--concern over older pacemakers and life support gear, scattered throughout the facility.
But being crazy about CWSS, I was committed (Go ahead, groan!) to be out in time to participate. And then my wife brought my October QST, and I read what an Olympian event this Sweepsstakes was to be.
I don't know about others, but CW-SS is always an Olympian event to me. I plan my operating year around it. I count down days from one to the next. But this one was going to be the stupendously Olympian of Olympian events! And that further tempered my resolve to be home for it. I started pushing my own exercise envelopes farther, verging on excessively, to the concern of my therapists.
I usually spend fall testing my antennas and training my ear for SS by particpating in the CA and PA QSO Parties. But, this year, being preoccupied with physical training, I was only able to monitor CQP from the courtyard of the facility, sitting in my wheelchair, a short, telescopic antenna mounted to a side panel, TH-F6 in my hand. Listening to CQP that way, and unable to answer the calls I heard, proved too depressing for me to monitor the PAQP.
But I'm glad my regimen worked! I made it home in time to participate in the 75th SS. And though I only managed 244 Q's to log 76 Sections, I want to thank everyone for a great time.
Now I can't wait to see if that commemorative magnet sticks to my leg over the area where a metal plate holds my fibula together--not exactly a broom on the tower, but what a memento of a stupendously Olympian of Olympian League events!
Soapbox supplemental. April 17, 2009: With 203 days remaining until
CWSS'09, I received my 75th Anniversary 2008 Sweeptstakes magnet.
No. It does not stick to my leg. But it looks great on my filing cabinet. Thank you, League!
-- N8CPA
stay in a "care center," aka a rest home.
I don't understand why it's called that, since I got very little rest. There was a regimen of occupational and physical therapy to promote the knitting of the bone, not to mention the amount of milk
I added to my diet for the sake of my fractured fibula--yech!!!
Early in my admission to the center, I had told the administrators about my release goal, and why. And I asked if there was any possibilty that I could operate from the large courtyard, if my recovery proved thus slow to require such an operation. The answer was negative--concern over older pacemakers and life support gear, scattered throughout the facility.
But being crazy about CWSS, I was committed (Go ahead, groan!) to be out in time to participate. And then my wife brought my October QST, and I read what an Olympian event this Sweepsstakes was to be.
I don't know about others, but CW-SS is always an Olympian event to me. I plan my operating year around it. I count down days from one to the next. But this one was going to be the stupendously Olympian of Olympian events! And that further tempered my resolve to be home for it. I started pushing my own exercise envelopes farther, verging on excessively, to the concern of my therapists.
I usually spend fall testing my antennas and training my ear for SS by particpating in the CA and PA QSO Parties. But, this year, being preoccupied with physical training, I was only able to monitor CQP from the courtyard of the facility, sitting in my wheelchair, a short, telescopic antenna mounted to a side panel, TH-F6 in my hand. Listening to CQP that way, and unable to answer the calls I heard, proved too depressing for me to monitor the PAQP.
But I'm glad my regimen worked! I made it home in time to participate in the 75th SS. And though I only managed 244 Q's to log 76 Sections, I want to thank everyone for a great time.
Now I can't wait to see if that commemorative magnet sticks to my leg over the area where a metal plate holds my fibula together--not exactly a broom on the tower, but what a memento of a stupendously Olympian of Olympian League events!
Soapbox supplemental. April 17, 2009: With 203 days remaining until
CWSS'09, I received my 75th Anniversary 2008 Sweeptstakes magnet.
No. It does not stick to my leg. But it looks great on my filing cabinet. Thank you, League!
-- N8CPA
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