I started the coffee brewing before entering the shack this morning. Opening the laptop and firing up the transceiver, along with flipping on the ceiling fan, were among the first activities of this Friday for me. I checked LoTW to see if there were any updates. I always check it first thing. I guess it’s like keeping an eye on the mailbox waiting for new QSL cards to arrive. There were a few confirmations, one from the TY5AD operation in Benin that I worked a few days ago. Not a new country, but a new band slot on 20 meters. Opening MacLoggerDX to download those confirmations I was alerted that a new version of the software was available for download and now v6.57 of MLDX is installed.

Called CQ a few times on 20 mostly to check propagation. No replies. Not great. SSN:137 SFI:156 A:15 K:2. With the coffee done brewing I settled in with a cup and began listening to the Treasure Coasters SSB net on 7153. Next was tuning around 20 meters where I stopped to listen to W6ABM/VY2 operating phone from Prince Edward Island. He was generating enough buzz that he was directing traffic by call regions. When I tuned across he was calling “fives” so it was a long wait for “nines” by which time he had faded into the noise.

Scanning headlines I saw the Alabama QSO Party takes place this weekend. When the year began I told myself (because no one else listens) that I was going to work more QSO Parties this year. That hasn’t happened and I think I figured out why. Being retired, I hit the shack daily from Monday thru Friday then usually take a break from radio over the weekend. And of course weekends are when all the contests, sprints, and QP’s take place. I can’t believe it took me so long to figure that out…

This evening we will likely walk over to Morrow Meadow for the Farmer’s Market. Pending the weather. And sweat. Hot, sticky, and pop-up thunderstorms are in the forecast for nearly the next week. I’m at a loss as to why so many people look forward to summer time. It’s a puzzler.