Kay, Congratulations! I've got you beat by a few years, but I still remember passing the General. I could finally use the VFO and not have to crank down the grid drive so I could run the full 250W that the Johnson Valiant could provide. And I definitely wouldn't say "the thrill is gone." Now if we only had more sunspots! Happy, happy day! -- 73, Greg, KØGW Director, Dakota Division ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kay Craigie" <n3kn@verizon.net> To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 7:37:22 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: [arrl-odv:18567] 27 and counting Twenty-seven years ago today, I made my first ham radio contact while driving home from the FCC office in Langhorne, PA, where I'd passed the General exams. Time flies when you're having fun! 73 - Kay N3KN