Adventures in Amateur Radio - On The Air!

Hello and welcome to the premier edition of Adventures in Amateur Radio! I'm not really sure yet what will be included so if you have any suggestions, by all means, share! I'll start with my entry into the hobby. It was the spring after 9/11 and I was looking for some way to get involved and make a difference. A little research led me to the Texas State Guard, a state only version of the National Guard. Anyway, when I joined that organization I met a great guy and mentor named Patrick. He was a ham and encouraged me to get my ticket.
So I got a copy of the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual and read it. I did a search on-line to find a local ham radio testing session and went. I passed the Technicians test the first time! My ticket was on it's way. Patrick and I were on an overnight trip to Austin for training when he showed me how to look up my application status on-line. That's when I found it, my license had been issued! I was now the proud holder of amateur call KE5AMA! I had already made arrangements with Patrick to buy a used HT from him, a Kenwood TH-75. It took me several days to tinker and fiddle with it to work up enough courage to click the transmit button for the first time... and when I did... nothing. I was crushed. I was so excited to throw my call out there, why wasn't everyone else equally excited to answer me? Well, it didn't take long to make that first contact. It was short but memorable to say the least.
Well, much has happened since then but I'll save that for other posts, after all I have to leave something to write about! I'd love to hear how you got started in ham radio. Leave a comment below and let the rest of us hear what motivated and/or inspired you to get your ticket.