My birthday is October 14, 1950 and I work as a Signal Technician for the CN (former Grand Trunk) Railroad  -  at least until the fall of 2012 when I  will be elgible for retirement's first opportunity and I intend to get out then.  They tried to fire me; removing me from service on August 25, 2008 and in the spring of 2011, my appeal was finally settled in my favor having me return to work again on May 16 of 2011 with only a year and a half to go.    My residence is located out in the country between the towns of Marshall and Homer, Michigan and we have about 80 acres of mostly woods.   I work almost all CW on the HF bands; usually 160 through 10 meters and am most active during the winter months.

My other interests have included flying and skydiving.   I sold a 1939 Piper J-4A Cub Coupe in the spring of 2011 which I had been flying for 33 years; more than half my life and believe me, it was very hard to part with this old friend, but after getting in a little trouble with the FAA boys after someone turned me in for performing my own maintenance on the bird for years, I was obligated to let it go.   Now I've downsized and still fly a little Rans Coyote One; ultrtalight which replaces the Cub in a hangar I have out back with a small 1500 foot runway cut out of the woods on three sides (see photos of the planes).    While I still have two complete parachute rigs, have logged over 2,350 skydives and hold USPA skydiving license D-19564, the skydiving is winding down now.   I have nearly 3,000 total hours of flight time and I've had a restricted commercial pilot's license in the past allowing me to fly for the other jumpers, but have let this default to a Sport Pilot license as I am no longer flying any jump planes.   Also, I fly a powered parachute (powered paraglider) which is one of those with no under carriage where you foot launch with the power unit strapped on to your back - this is the stuff dreams are made of!

The wife and I are trying to learn some instruments; she the mandolin and I the five string banjo and if you thought CW was hard to learn try the banjo!      Hope to find you CW guys on the bands. My favorite keys are any of the nine bugs that I have or the home brew side swiper for QRS.    I don't do contests, but enjoy the Straight Key Night activity during which time, my bugs get a rest.

73's - - - Tom