A HOT day of HAM Radio!

Today, my Ham Radio Club, TRO, did the communications for the Tour de Cure in Tulsa, OK. It was HOT!!

Tulsa Repeater Organization at Tour de Cure

Bill's radio was set wrong, so we had to share radios, but I did get to some "communicating." The biggest problem I had was remembering my Call Sign! I know I stumbled a lot, but it was good practice.
 

Glad to get home and back to writing. My husband likes to do these kind of events, but I don't like the heat, and I don't like just sitting around doing nothing, waiting for something to happen. I get bored easily! 

The next thing I'm going to do is go to a Field Day. Maybe I'll like DXing! 

Editing

The hardest part of writing for me is editing. I just finished the first draft of an article for Oklahoma Living Magazine. The article is required to be 1,700-2,000 words in length. My word count is almost 2,500! I've got some serious cutting to do!

I interviewed six people and gathered lots of interesting quotes and valuable information. The challenge now is to decide which quotes and information are most important. It makes me sad not to be able to use everything I learned from these helpful and informative people.

I go through this every time I write an article, but it has to be done. Editors aren't happy when you hand in a piece that's too long. So, tomorrow is chopping day! Sigh!

Of course, there is another solution. I could take what's left and craft a second article for another magazine!

My Other Life - HAM Radio Operator

Today, my husband, Bill, and I worked with our local Amateur Radio Club, Tulsa Repeater Organization, to do communications for the Maple Ridge Run. This was my first time to actually do any communications. I learned a little about keeping a log and I walked the run 3.3 miles with the Tactical name: Walker! (Couldn't make it 3rd round!) Here are some photos of the team:

TRO Communications Team

Me - Learning how to do the Log

Wiped out after 3.3 miles!

Self Publishing Article in the NYT

I just read this article in the New York Times about Self-Publishing, written by Neal Pollack. Yesterday, I read that Amazon is selling more e-books than print books. Self-publishing has been working for me on a small scale, but I keep trying to get "published" the traditional way, while other seem to keep moving toward self-publishing. Hmmmm - am I going in the wrong direction? Any thoughts?

News on the Homefront

We made another trip out to Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Md. this month. The news wasn't good. My husband, Bill, is now legally blind, and there isn't much that can be done about it, if any. After five years of trying to find answers, we've decided it's time to trust God for healing in His time and move on to the adjustment phase.

There are so many things you don't think about until someone close to you loses their vision. For instance, do you know how difficult it is for someone to do the laundry, cook in the oven, or run the dishwasher with the new touch screen pads? They can't feel the buttons. Or how about putting toothpaste on your toothbrush? Or reading a menu and paying the bill at a restaurant when you can't tell what denomination the money is?

It's been quite an adjustment for my husband, Bill, as he loses more and more of his independence, and for me, as I have to take on more and more of the responsibilities. But, with God's help, we are making it and it's getting better every day. We are adjusting and life is good!

Thanks to everyone who has been praying with us as we go through this process. We really appreciate you!

My Other Life - Ham Radio

One of my newest hobbies is Ham Radio (KF5JFM). I got into it because of my husband's interest and the fact that he is no longer able to drive because of his vision loss. I used to take him to the meetings and wait around until he was done. Then, one day, I decided to join them! So, I got my Technician's license in 2010; and in April, I got my General's license.

In January, I became the Public Relations Chair for the Tulsa Repeater Organization. A large part of my responsibility is the TRO Signal Newsletter. I enjoy using my writing skills for this super group of Ham operators.

Our big project right now is setting up our Ham Shack. I'll post some pictures as it develops!

73 KF5JFM

Heros and Heroines

Vicky McDonough is being featured on Vicky Stockton's blog and answered the question, "How do you create the characters in your books?" It's very interesting reading! 

She mentions a book called, The Complete Writers Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden. If you're looking for a good book on character development, this looks like a great choice.