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Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

This is the online journal of Charles Dowdell.

Vestry Graduate

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- January 18, 2026

I am no longer part of the Vestry at Christ Church Norcross. I served my full term as the Buidings and Grounds liaison. It was three years. There was a lot of items to deal with over the years. But the effort wasn't the work. It was the responsibility and knowing that I wasn't doing enough. I think most people get that feeling with obligations. Maybe not. I am sure the time and responsibility will be quickly reallocated. When I signed on I figured I would learn something. Now I am thinking about what I learned along with the hows and whys.

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LavaCon 2025

- October 07, 2025

I spoke at the LavaCon this week. My presentation was very well received. There were well over 100 folks who chose to attend my presentation. Afterwards we had a supplier meeting in Cartersville and a hike up Pine Mountain. https://www.lavacon.org/ It was good to enjoy some brief moments with a llama as part of the conference. And it was good to meet up with lots of folks I have got to know over the years.

- January 10, 2007

I am getting mentally prepared for re-integration when I return. I still have quite a bit to do before I head back, but it it won't be long now. The ships are in! I got aboard the Polar Sea last night and I was one of the fortunate few who was able to purchase a hat and a patch from the ship's store. If you look close at the picture you will see two UHF antennas I installed on the ships railing near the bridge a few days ago. The peir the ship is moored to is a huge block of ice covered with fine volcanic sand (fines). It is the ice pier of McMurdo. Town was really hopping last night with over 100 coast guard folks ashore to spoil and pillage. I got approval for a couple of missions to recce some potential new radio sites to make our networks simpler. Simple is better. Complex is problematic. The skill is understanding why things are complicated without having to start over. There may be a reason for the complexity. There may not be a reason. When you learn why it was complic...

- September 07, 2018

Exciting times! Busy. I sold a "barn find" tube audio pre-amp for almost $1200 yesterday, something that I rescued from the scrap heap. Coaching and self-development is (and will) pay off. Honesty, integrity and a never relenting quest for " #bettereveryday " is where I live. It does not matter where you start.

Trying to Reacclimatize in Upstate NY Winter right after return from Antarctica

- February 05, 2007

Today here in NY it was -12 F with a pretty good wind. It didn't feel very cold to me. The cold air as it comes into the lungs is quite familiar. The air is much more damp here and the snow is not as crisp as it would be at the same temperature in Antarctica. Even at -12 it feels damp. I do have to get some better winter clothes though. I respect the cold more than I used to. I see folks around here not preparing for the cold at all before they go out into it. I understand that the car will be warm in a few minutes and all that and it it is only a short walk between buildings. I guess the question is why suffer? Not dressing and getting cold even for brief periods is self imposed. If you get cold and you don't want to be cold something is wrong. I wish I could summarize the last 4 months on the ice but that just won't be happening. I guess it was too big of a deal, too much to summarize. I will be trying. I am off concentrating on some financial plans, aviation plans, a...

- December 30, 2008