TZUTC: -0600   
   MSGID: 93.fidonet-ham@1:2320/33 2674b44d   
   REPLY: 1:229/426.31 35e5c300   
   PID: Synchronet 3.19c-Win32 master/2d3b97333 Feb 15 2022 MSC 1929   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.14-Win32 master/2d3b97333 Feb 15 2022 MSC 1929   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   Brian,   
      
    BK> Just curious, how many of you have purchased your Hamvention   
    BK> tickets/credentials for this MAy hamfest extravaganza?   
      
     I've never been to either Hamvention or Hamcation. I had hoped to   
   take Amtrak to the Duke City Hamfest in Albuquerque right after my   
   Mom died 2 1/2 years ago (just to get away from things for a bit),   
   but I never got the chance. I attended the Huntsville, Alabama Hamfest    
   5 years ago, but the bus ride between Little Rock and Huntsville    
   (through Memphis, with a change in Nashville) nearly killed me.   
        
     The seats were so cramped (far less than on a plane, let alone on   
   Amtrak, which I prefer)...that my legs locked up, and were like   
   water when I went to stand up. Then, to make matters worse, my pants   
   fell off my hips when I went to stand up. Had I not had Depends on   
   (getting old is not for sissies, but it doesn't last long), it would   
   would've been "full moon rising" (hi hi).   
      
     I have family in Nashville (they're in poor health now), but they   
   provided transportation on the way back (I had a long layover) to   
   a local White Castle for gut grenades (hi hi) and french fries...   
   and a visit to their home.   
      
     There are only 3 hamfests in Arkansas now...Hoxie (west of Walnut   
   Ridge) in mid-February...Mena (always the weekend after Labor Day, and   
   it's the oldest hamfest west of the Mississippi River), and Morrilton   
   (a small hamfest on Petit Jean Mountain the Saturday of Columbus Day   
   Weekend). Due to Covid-19, both Russellville and Fort Smith (for now)   
   are not doing hamfests.   
      
     And, because of all the petty bickering with the central Arkansas    
   area clubs (never mind no one wants to do the work involved), Little    
   Rock last had a hamfest in 2016...and I doubt one will ever be here    
   again. In the past, I had done talk-in, but in its final years, I   
   headed up the VE Testing, and did a forum. A PDF file on the content   
   is available off of the hyperlink on my QRZ bio.   
      
     With health and finances, my hamfest days are over. I thought about   
   going to Hoxie earlier this month, but I had to get the fluids checked   
   and changed on my car.   
      
   Daryl, WX4QZ   
      
   ... I got gas for 99 cents today...but it was from Taco Bell.   
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