Back when 13 words per minute was required for the general ticket and 20 for the extra, a group of us in the Snohomish county area would meet on 2 meters in the evenings for code practice. Copy was always solid on the people within a 15 mile radius of my QTH and band conditions were always "perfect". By that time I was working on 20 wpm copy, but helping the other fellows kindled my own enthusiasm which helped me practice more too. I passed the 20 wpm exam and the advanced test and always meant to get back to studying for the extra. Maybe next year!