Was able to make two international contacts this evening and they couldn’t have been more different.

First was a gentleman in Brasil who runs a veritable QSO factory. When he taps you on the head it’s call sign, name, and signal report. If he’s feeling particularly generous he’ll give you his nickname. Dude makes at least 60 contacts an hour.

Then I’m tooling around the 40 meter band and hear one of the most enthusiastic voices nattering on to some gentleman in mixed Italian and English about a QRP <—> QRP QSO they made a while back. From the sounds of it, they managed to talk at 100 milliwatts between Italy and Wisconsin…and let’s just all agree to agree that this is an impressive feat without my need to natter on as to why this is so.

So they wrap it up and it takes me about two more QSOs he’s making with folks on the East Coast before I figure out his call sign. I got through on my very first attempt and we chatted for several minutes. I only wish I knew Italian other than how to order a loaf of penis (thanks, Elizabeth, for that instructional story). Not to worry, I didn’t try that one out on him. Still it was the funnest DX QSO I’ve made in the short time I’ve been on the air.

So tomorrow it’s off to the USPS to send a couple of cards out via airmail. Super excited to get my reply card from Stagno Lombardo. The card from Eusebio should prove nearly as exciting.