Lone Prairie Radio

Field Day just happened over the weekend. Lots of people on the air. Lots of bands that ops complain are never open seem to open up when there are hams out there using them. Just magic I guess. But at any rate, it reminds me of my early days in ham radio...and before. As a shortwave listener, or SWL, I used to spend many an hour listening to not just busy ham bands but crowded shortwave frequencies, as well. And always displaying proudly right in my bedroom my certificate from "Popular Electronics" with my SWL call sign of WPE8HVR. I'd spend so much time digging through the static to get that new station. Putting together a reception report and mailing it off to some exotic foreign address.. Then many months later, a package would arrive in the mail with the colorful QSL card and a wealth of information, or maybe propaganda, from the station and its government. At times, ongoing packages from Radio Peking or Radio Moscow seemed to attract more attention at the local post ...

I'm starting this blog with thoughts of a dear friend, Debbie. Debbie is currently engaged in a very tough battle and my thoughts have been with her constantly This photo reminds me of her because it was taken very near the transmitter site of WBRA-TV in Roanoke, Virginia. The station we both worked together. And like Debbie, it reminds me of the unique beauty and special character that is prevalent there. Debbie was likely my closest friend at the station when I was the General Manager there from 2000-2006. We worked together on a myriad of projects and spent untold hours talking about public TV, fundraising, kids and pretty much everything under the sun. Basically, when it got lonely dealing with the necessary management issues, I could find a bit of relaxation by talking about the day's events with Debbie. We talked about our trips to the wilderness of southwest Virginia making fundraising calls together. We experienced the unique Virginia delicacy of grape pie...or "p...