The Amazing Virginian
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 9,848
My trip to Florida (where I lived for about 23 years) was like a trip down memory lane . . .
Took my daughter to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and it was so different than when we were last there about 14 years ago . . . but she loved it. And I happened upon a radio there that I last held in my hands nearly 38 years ago.
It was a MX300 series public safety walky talky, modified to meet space shuttle requirements and custom programmed to operate on amaterur radio two meter frequencies. My technician at Motorola where I worked at the time was in charge of putting that radio together, programming it, and shepherding it through NASA tests. It was so weird to see that same radio again, nearly 38 years later, in a display case at KSC together with a picture of Astronaut Owen Garriott and a little description about the event when NASA put a Ham radio into space and Owen Garriott talked to folks on Earth.
While in Orlando I took my daughter to Charley's Steak House. I went there with my parents (RIP) a bunch of times in the 1980s - it was one of my Dad's favorites. I haven't been there since 1988 or 1989. Didn't seem to me that much had changed in 32-33 years except the prices. It was terrific and in fact my daughter proclaimed it the best steak she had ever had. Made me a little sad because I pride myself on my ability to obtain really top notch USDA Prime steaks and cook them perfectly. But I had a couple of bites of her steak (I had a pork chop) and I could not argue with her. Not cheap, but what a meal!
Anyway, It was fun taking a walk down memory lane and showing my daughter some things associated with my life in Florida in the 1980s before I moved away for good.
Took my daughter to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and it was so different than when we were last there about 14 years ago . . . but she loved it. And I happened upon a radio there that I last held in my hands nearly 38 years ago.
It was a MX300 series public safety walky talky, modified to meet space shuttle requirements and custom programmed to operate on amaterur radio two meter frequencies. My technician at Motorola where I worked at the time was in charge of putting that radio together, programming it, and shepherding it through NASA tests. It was so weird to see that same radio again, nearly 38 years later, in a display case at KSC together with a picture of Astronaut Owen Garriott and a little description about the event when NASA put a Ham radio into space and Owen Garriott talked to folks on Earth.
While in Orlando I took my daughter to Charley's Steak House. I went there with my parents (RIP) a bunch of times in the 1980s - it was one of my Dad's favorites. I haven't been there since 1988 or 1989. Didn't seem to me that much had changed in 32-33 years except the prices. It was terrific and in fact my daughter proclaimed it the best steak she had ever had. Made me a little sad because I pride myself on my ability to obtain really top notch USDA Prime steaks and cook them perfectly. But I had a couple of bites of her steak (I had a pork chop) and I could not argue with her. Not cheap, but what a meal!
Anyway, It was fun taking a walk down memory lane and showing my daughter some things associated with my life in Florida in the 1980s before I moved away for good.
