Elliot's Trackside Diner NOVEMBER 2010

Hey!! I like the new digs!! And it's a dry warmth too!!

Been quite busy of late at w**k--and it looks like I'll be stuck in the office this week as well as my weekend on-call next weekend--we have refresher courses I have to teach now---

My railroad has been relaid again and now I'm doing the scenery around it ---again

We are supposed to go to 20F tonight for a low---so we be all cuddled up in here

Chloe, I'll have a coffee and a lemon maringue pie as well please---i'll be at the RC for a bit

Whew! Talk about dizzy. That was a quick move. Sitting in the diner staying away from a very disappointing World Series, thinking WOW would I like to have taken my driving test in a 70 'Cuda. Disagreeing with J.R. in that the Imperial isn't large, it's HUGE. But giving him that the station wagon was huge-ER.(by only 15/32 of an inch IIRC) Contemplating my navel, when POW! the door was locked and zippity bang here I am in Aaaaarizo-o-na.

It is a dry heat.

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening.... wow, NY to AZ in what seemed like the blink of an eye...

So TODD is "contemplating" his navel...  Hmmmm, picking out the lint? No, thanks anyway, I don't need to see THAT...

Bucket of coffee please 'n thank-you.

Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, Operation Boo Burgers 2010 went off without a hitch. A very tired Rerun is currently snoooooooooozing. He didn't get his nap this afternoon, so is making up for it now. He'll likely get up in time to go to bed. A few years ago we got him a kids play tent, in a camouflage pattern. He loved it! Now, the mesh "windows" are shredded and there is a large tear where his front paw went through last week. Darn squirrels, bunnies, etc. walking around outside his window... So, we searched for and got him a new tent this evening. It's a little smaller, garish colors, but it also has a tunnel he can use. He's made one trip through it, but doesn't seem overly eager for a repeat trip.

I honestly can't remember the driving test I did for my learner's permit. I DO remember the one I took to get a "Class D Chauffeur's " license, required for driving ambulances or any vehicle up to 16-passengers. The DOT gal looked like... well, I can't really describe her, other than I found I kept sneaking glances to see if "she" had an Adam's Apple or not... The term "Butch" doesn't even come close... Anyhoo, I kept getting warnings to keep BOTH hands on the wheel...and I kept drifting above the posted speed limits. I passed with one or two demerits, warnings, whatever, to spare. Funny thing was, when I WAS driving ambulances for a living, I only had a regular operator's license. My boss in Creston never asked. Oh well........ I've since gone back to the regular operator's license. Renewing THAT only requires squinting at the mis-aligned vision test, looking for the blinking lights in the peripheral vision test, and swearing to God and man THAT I'm not a mental case (yet). Oh, and cutting a check for the renewal fee (much less than for the fancy-schmancy Class D). The last time I took THAT test (May), an elderly gentleman of very advanced age came in behind me. While waiting for my new license to print, I had the scary fortune of watching him try to figure out the vision test, etc.

IF they gave him a license...I'm staying OUT of Tipton, Iowa. Picture Mr. Maggoo driving...

I remember some of my high school driver's ed classes, mostly Chris Burger hitting a pedestrian in downtown Cedar Rapids, in a crosswalk. A girl in another section destroyed the transmission in the Driver's Ed car. Apparently (per the survivors) she was on I-380 which traverses across most of Cedar Rapids. The instructor told her to pass the car ahead of them, so she quite naturally put the car into "Passing" gear.

Yup.

At 55 mph she moved the shifter from "D" back through "N" AND "R" right into "P"!!! It sounds like they came to a VERY fast stop. Our classes were early morning, before school, so she would've been up on "the super slab" in rush hour traffic.

I think I'll have a seat at the freshly polished RC (thanks GALAXY!)

Chris

Good evening folks!

Ooooooo, I like the new view outside....  Grand Canyon huh?  Always wanted to visit.

Flo, is the coffee ready?  OK just my decaf I guess and whatever Barry is having.

In the Finger Lakes region, the temp will get down to 31°F near morning tomorrow.  I guess we moved the diner just in time so we didn't have to break out the Winter coats.  Didn't have many Trick or Treaters tonight.  Probably only about 15 and THAT includes my two granddaughters.  Were they ever wound up!

Manet didn't know exactly what to make of them...

Grandpa got big hugs from both of them before they left.....

I got the s**w blower running, let it warm up a while, and then changed the oil in it.  I think the oil is 6 or 7 years old.....  Forgot just when I bought it, but the oil has never been changed.  It needed it.  I put in 10w-30, and gave the pull rope a yank, man, what a difference.  Have no idea what was in it, but it sure should start easier now.  I also took delivery of 4 face cords of firewood today.  THAT is half what I have ordered from the guy.  My son will be getting about 2 face cords from me for his small wood stove at his house.  Guess what I will be doing for the next few days......  Wood stove is lit here right now.... Warm in here.

Later!

73

Evening all.

Galaxy, thanks for taking care of the move. Finally, somewhere warm, but not humid.

I'm likely going to a friend's house tomorrow after school to do a project, so I don't know if I'll make it in. I'll catch up from the last few pages of the old Diner and this one next time I'm in.

Later!

Good Morning!

Yaawn - I am still sleepy!

Janie, where are we? Arizona? Nice place!Get me a big mug of coffee, dear, will you please`?

I fell asleep while I was watching the train night on TV. When I woke up, it was 3 am and I just crawled into my bed. Staying up that late is not good for old men like me, no sir!

Galaxy - good choice of yours, it is a nice place. Thank you for moving the Diner so smoothly to the new location. I do hope that some of the MIA´s will find back to this place.

CUL

Good morning!

I am up very early in this new time zone,,,,even for my own time zone!

Took two naps yesterday to catch up on sleep so now I'm awake very early.

35* here now, and posta b around 42*-45* today. TIme for a winter coat here...but not in AZ! SOmeone suggested it be moved to Az so when I moved it before the site got bogged down and really slow like it has been...I decided to second the motion and get some warmth.

beautious AZ!

well we have to get up soon any way. other half has an early Drs. APpt. so we'd be getting up in a half hour anyway. Other half likes to have 2 hours to "veg" and "waken" before getting ready to go somewhere and I have gotten used to the proceedure too. maybe that Why I am up so early.

Going tothe train show at Syracuse State Fairgrounds WHoo Hoo! WOn't be able to buy much of anything, but can look and drool.

Well i better go start some coffee ro something i want to go back to bed now!

later

 Good COLD morning.  Right now its 29 degrees and the high will be about 58.

 Well I'm off to school to take some pre-tests.   That's always fun!!!

So I will pop back in later this afternoon.

Good Morning Folks!

Just a cup of coffee please.

Hope everyone has a Great Day!

Steven

good morning, all. Darn, it's chilly here. 58* right now. Going up to mid 80's   Like the new area-NO HUMIDITY!!!   Seems all we do in mid Fla. is perspire.nine months of the year.

Took my drivers test in1951 for learners permit. Used my dads '48 Nash Ambssador. Three on the tree with O.D.  It would do over 60 in 2nd very quickly. 

Hope all doing well. Prayers and Blessings.to all.

Flip

Good Morning,


I hope everyone had treats and no tricks this weekend. 

I went to the Medina Fairgrounds train show Sunday for the first time.  I picked up 12 new metal signs for the train room, one PRR K11 Livestock car, one Lake Superior and Ishpeming 40 foot boxcar, and 6 shakers of ground cover.  I think this is one of those shows the serious HO or N scale hobbyist can miss without causing any great harm to their hobby unless they are overwhelmed by boredom and just want to get out of the house for a few hours.

Dorothy (my girlfriend) was admitted to the hospital last night for breathing difficulty.  Nothing serious but the doctors wanted to run a few tests just to be safe.  Hopefully she will be released today.

The new diner location is great, but where are the air conditioning controls?  I think we may need to attach a refer unit to the end of the car for us northerner’s to sit!

 Good Mourning Arizona

 Flo, just coffee again please.

 Not sure what is going on at my house but everything alive but me blew chunks last night. Sue blew, Tiff blew and Shaddy blew 4 times.

 Well if it is warm where we are in AZ then we are not near the Grand Canyon. I was there in February one time and there was a foot of snow.

 Driving test Not counting the Army I have taken 2 of them. When I first got my license when I was 16, it was in my 1968 Road Runner. Mon was still driving the car, did not talk the parents out of it till I was all most 18. Car was still stock and had the hubcaps on it.

Second test was in my 69 Charger. When I moved to IL I got stuck in Springfield MO for months looking for and training a Mgr for the shop. I still had a Indiana License and it expired while I was there, so I got a MO license. 

 Vincent I would still like to see what we could work out on the Pearl car. I am half blind anyway.I have 9 now and would like to get up to around 15. You could all so keep any metal wheels and Kadees if you have installed any.

 Train Front Starting to get the hang of the Atlas track planer. Working on a plan now that leaves the storage room where it is. First main is all 36 inch turns, 2nd main is all 34 inch. All so think about only 4 main lines, not the 6 I originally wanted.

 I have not been able to come up with away to make the files in to JPG's so I can post them here on the site.

 Plans for today

 Get the gas heater working out here in the Garage, it is getting cold out here.

 Clean out the garage so i can bring some of the patio plants out from the family room

 Install new lights for the garage and the plants

 Install the knobs on the folding doors

 Install the base board I got painted

 And, do a BBQ for the wife if her stomach is doing OK today.

 See you for lunch.

                          Ken

Good morning at a more reasonalble hour!

I went back to bed and slept more.

fec153

good morning, all. Darn, it's chilly here. 58* right now. Going up to mid 80's   Like the new area-NO HUMIDITY!!!   Seems all we do in mid Fla. is perspire.nine months of the year.

Flip

 

CHILLY? CHILLY? Try 31* here! THAT"S CHILLY! HIgh today in the 40'S! I'd love a 65* day about now! It's "unseasonably cold here". I do perspire 9 months out of the year here in NY too, but I'd like a little warmth! Of course wait til JAN_FEB_MARCH maybe you will get colder temps like last year too...not that I wish it on you!

WE went to Disney WOrld in Feb of '02 and waited til the temp got up to the 70's {It had been very chilly there in central FL.then too- in the 40s-50*'s}, as I told the other half {who had never beeen there} that there was NO WAY I was gonna walk down MAin St USA in the MAgic Kingdom or the WOrld SHowcase at EPCOT in a WINTER COAT! I used to go every feb during the late 80's early 90's to visit Disney and my Grandmother who lived an hour away, and the temps were always in the low 70's then, but before this "global warming" crap.

Robby P.

  Well I'm off to school to take some pre-tests.  

Well, GOOD LUCK, nay, the BEST OF GOOD LUCK to you Robby P.!!!

LSWrr

I hope everyone had treats and no tricks this weekend. 

Dorothy (my girlfriend) was admitted to the hospital last night for breathing difficulty.  Nothing serious but the doctors wanted to run a few tests just to be safe.  Hopefully she will be released today.

 

The new diner location is great, but where are the air conditioning controls?  I think we may need to attach a refer unit to the end of the car for us northerner’s to sit!

The diner was a Trick to move, But a Treat to be here in AZ!

No tricks at my house even though we didn't and don't ever treat. We don't "DO" halloween.

for your GF! SHes on the list.

The air conditioner has been set to keep the diner at a nice temp during the day and a little heat for those cooler desert nights auto-control temperature sensors have been upgraded to the diner for everyone's comfort year round any where just like  a personal private RR car!!!

Isn't the view out the diner window beauteous?

Soon off to other halfs Drs appt.

DOn't forget! TOMORROW get out and VOTE!

Have a great day everybody

Good morning. It's 66 and mostly cloudy. The high will be 82 and there's a 50% chance of thunderstorms today and a 60% chance of thunderstorms tonight. I hope it's more than just a thunder and light show.

Well it's the first day of a new month. My SS check hit the bank last night so I'll be out paying some bills and getting the first load of groceries. I'll also see if I can stop by Walgreen's today. They have 4 gb SD cards on sale for $13. You know, it's amazing what technology can do today. I've already checked my bank balance and paid 4 bills and I haven't lifted a phone or even left the house yet. If I still have the energy later, and nobody thinks up something for me to do, I intend to get started on rerouting the wiring on the layout. It's a big job but somebody has to do it.

Good Morning! Coffee please. Thanks. Running late gotta make it quick. Woke up this morn to my old friend Sinus Pressure.

Partly sunny, with a high near 58. East wind between 9 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Night times will be in the mid to lower thirties until Friday when we are suppose to get down to 26. Long johns may be coming out next week if not by the end of this week.
Well, like Jeff, the ole’ deposit courtesy 20 years with Uncle Sam should be in the bank. I call it my welfare check. That's mmmpretty much what it is if you think about it and the guidelines too follow. Anyway,  I need a florescent light for the garage. Three actually. I’m tired of the bulb type……bulbs. Both incan and cfl’s. I will get, and install three 4ft pairs as I have three light fixtures now. Not all at once mind you, I’m lazy. Just one in the middle. The other two on the sides will come later. I’ve only been doing this for about oh…..13-14 years. Not wanting to rush right into things you know. I prefer florescent tube lighting in garages and workshops over bulbs. Of course I tride the CFL’s, but they have the same effect as the incans to me. I will install a forth in the rear of the garage above the open garage door sometime in the future warmth. But not now. I would have to get in the attic and run a wire and box. Too cold. Ya, that's it. Too cold. 

Whoa! Way late now!

Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!

EDIT: Oh GEE WHIZ! Got TOP the first morn of the new locale. That means EVERYBODY will stop in and try the new quisine. OK Zoe, here's the card babe. Might as well put something on it for you too. Make it something lite. I notice you're getting a little paunchy.

POW!

Mornin'!

Late getting in here this morning as I have already done a days worth of answering emails and other stuff.  Flo, just a cup of dark roast and a couple of those glazed sour cream doughnuts you got over there.  BTW, why is Todd asleep in the middle of the floor?  Oh!  Out cold huh?  Who'd he get THAT from?  He did what?  Hope he comes to soon.  Somebody could trip over him and get hurt....

Just a quick stop here this morning as I have a load of stuff to get done and deadlines to meet...

later!

73

Good Afternoon all,

     I'd have sworn blind I posted right after Galaxy moved the diner but I guess not. Might have dozed off in the middle of posting and then just closed it all out when i woke up later.

   Just another day at the shop so far - trying to do eight things at once. Waiting for it all to hit the fan with E-mails as we will inform the Pittsburgh folks that we are withdrawing their event from our calendar after a 28 year run (irreconciable differences I guess is the best explanation). Lots to do yet so I'll catch up later. Will try to find my GC shots from a few years ago that show where we're tied up.   CUL, J.R.

 Flo, I will take a Diet Dew and a Cheese Cake!          

 No it not my Birthday, but it should be my 4000's post at this site!

 Well so far I have got he knobs on the folding doors and be Me, they did not go as planed. Got the molding installed and just filled the car with the first load of junk. 

 First free stupid stuff. Anyone want some Blue Box Rolling Stock Boxes?I am sure there will be a line around the block for them!   I all ready threw out 200 or so.

 Well got to run to the Library and get some money for the wife. Then install the new shop light and get the wall mounted gas furnaces going in the garage.

              Later , Ken

Heck YES!!!  

Flip

 Oh Oh!! Later than I thought. Back to w88k I go.    TTFN.

 Just a sweet tea for now.

 Well I took a few tests this morning and........................I failed everyone of them !!  I forgot how to do the math, and the college reading was a pain.  Now the computer part was on window office 2007, who knows that JUNK!!!!  Well class starts in January, and to relive my pain I went to the LHS and got some cars.

 Now my plan is to weather (fade), and pick Jessica up from work later.

Looks like Todd got pearl harbored by Vinnie. Bet that smarts!

HI guys afternoon,

Got a special package from UPS  from a friend here on the forum of PRR cars to go behind the GG1 I ordered for my other half for Xmas. The have rapido couplers on them so I am trying hard to find a con cor n scale microtrains truck replacement to convert at least one car to dual couplers. MAN is that hard to find the right number then find a dealer who has it!!! Will have to try and find an ATLAS conversion chart but right now my head hurts over it. Maybe I take a car with me to the train show in syracuse and find it there? Without my other half knowing? Ha HA.

Back from the Drs. and from shooping. Ohter half gonna make a good old world old fasioned Black FOrest Cake for a friend's B-day who requested it some time ago. The kind with vodka-soaked cherries and Kirschwassa alcohol in it. DOn't drive after this cake! Or light a match!

GMTRacing. check the PM conversation we've got going at teh moment!

well USPS arrived with another pkg...I believe its the pkg from Hawaii weve been wiating weeks for!

SO I go see what it is!

Robby P.failure simply means they know what you need work on to get to where you need to be!ANd remember it doesn't mean you are a failure!

TTYALL8R

Good Evening Folks!

A drab day today, which made me feel bad - somehow I am not happy in my skin these days.

Flo, is there still a bottle of Ray´s wine left - I´d like to have a glass.

Galaxy - Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte mit viel Kirschwasser - yummy. Petra´s favorite!

Not really a low calorie, low cholesterol diet, though!

Robby - I am sorry about your not passing the exams, but don´t let that get you! You are a man of many talents and I am sure you will find your way!

Well, out I go - not a happy camper today!

Good Afternoon, Arizona. Flo, I'll take a cheeseburger and fries.

It ain't one of my suggestions, but I am good with it. I get on the Mother Road in Oklahoma, and I take a slow cruise through history. I love it.

If you plan to motor West, Travel my way, Take the highway that's the best. Get your kicks, on Route 66.

I love this highway.

Now, I just need a 59 Cadillac ElDorado

TMarsh

POW!

And, he's down. TMarsh, didn't you ever learn not to say a woman is fat (especially when they got a cast-iron frying pan with them)?

You look mighty lovely today, Flo.

Afternoon good people!

Zoe, just a ..... Oh Man, did Petra bake that Swartziknmsjvbmz thiny cake over there.  Oh I just have to have a hunk of THAT!!!  Looks yummy!  Oh and a cup of decaf please.

I got the pickup loaded with wood, but my son didn't have time before he had to get to w*rk to help unload it at his house so I will tke THAT over in the morning.  i am going to give both mu son and his wife  face cord of wood for their birthdays...  Art's was last week and his wife's is this week.  I figure the Firewood can warm their hearts all winter long.....  (Badum, dum)

Got all the paperw*rk done for tonight's meeting and the agenda done for Deacons on Wednesday. So.... I am now caught up for the moment on things that are in the PANIC category.  I think I will start to stack some wood this afternoon to further clean up the driveway so the firewood supplier can have enough room to dump the rest of it later this week.

Robby, sorry about the tests, but as been said, it is not really a failure, but a starting point for you to learn.  I know you will breeze through the courses with no problem.

Psst....  Zoe, I brought in a bottle of Fox Run Winery Pinot Noir just for Ulrich....  Ok? 

need to tend the wood stove...

Later! 73

Todd: You have to be more careful what you say to the ladies. If they don't nail you Vinnie will. He's rather partial to Flo.

TMarsh

EDIT: Oh GEE WHIZ! Got TOP the first morn of the new locale. That means EVERYBODY will stop in and try the new quisine. OK Zoe, here's the card babe. Might as well put something on it for you too. Make it something lite. I notice you're getting a little paunchy.

POW!

Um, I believe the word you were looking for is "punch-y" 

We should probably cut him down fgrom the mail hook before the health inspector walks past.

Robby P.

 Just a sweet tea for now.

 Well I took a few tests this morning and........................I failed everyone of them !!  I forgot how to do the math, and the college reading was a pain.  Now the computer part was on window office 2007, who knows that JUNK!!!!  Well class starts in January, and to relive my pain I went to the LHS and got some cars.

 Now my plan is to weather (fade), and pick Jessica up from work later.

 

Ah yes, the joys of Office 07. What makes it real interesting is that Publisher was not skewered by the new toolbars like Word and Excel were. So you STILL have to remember where the buttons are in two different setups.  

 I did study for the math part, but still didn't do to good.   Like  I was saying before....I rather start all over than be thrown into a class and be lost. 

 Jessica and I will work on the chalk board tonight, and maybe I can get some shot sup tomorrow.

Ahhhh, the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I'll have a  UNION PACIFIC  mug full, please.

Nothing much to report on at present.

Hope Y'all are doing well.

Cheers! Rob