01/28/2006 | AC4FS This was my first Straight Key Night. I had been preparing for it for several months, brushing up on my Morse code sending and copying abilities. I had also been pushing this in our local club, in hopes I'd get a few other members to participate (I actually got two other members to participate).

As luck (or bad luck, as it were) would have it, I came down with the mother of all colds the Tuesday before New Year's eve. By New Year's eve, I was running a fever, coughing my head off, and had a nasty headache (probably from all the coughing!). I could not participate New Year's eve. I was finally able to get on the air around 1:15 PM local time on New Year's day. I worked only two contacts, and when I was done with them, I was shaking like a leaf.

I still enjoyed SKN, and plan on being there for SKN 2007. This year I used my Wm. Nye Master key. Next year I plan on using my newly aquired Kent straight key. I only hope I am 100% well, so I can enjoy it a bit more!

73, Howard -- AC4FS