Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Elliot´s Trackside Diner April 2011

46498 views
789 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Saturday, April 30, 2011 9:33 PM

Place is closed!  No longer serving!  Please go to the New and improved diner in the new thread.....

Locked!  Lets leave it that way........ Smile, Wink & Grin

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Saturday, April 30, 2011 9:10 PM

Alles das ist für dieses!

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, April 30, 2011 6:49 PM

JimRC: It's grounded using really thick copper braided wire connected, ultimately, the water main outside of our house...

mmmmm...

I started this roughly an hour ago and got distracted with a bunch of gotta dos....

AAAHH well...better be finishing this off then...we are having the old cloudbanks rolling right back over us for another day or two or three of rain....yaySigh

....and I also ran some trains today!!Smile, Wink & Grin

Chloe, I'll have a rib dinner with all the trimmings and a large tub of RBF please...I'll be at the corner booth for a bit

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 30, 2011 5:46 PM

Past midnight over here in my neck of the woods - time to move the Diner to the May 2011 location.

Everybody get ready for the move!

Going to be a little longer trip this time - to a place you probably have not been before. Take a seat, relax a little and enjoy the journey!

Here is the trail leading to the new location.

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Red Lodge, MT
  • 893 posts
Posted by sfcouple on Saturday, April 30, 2011 5:45 PM

Jim,

Thanks, and I must say that is one great looking building.  Reminds me of my Army days living in a Quonset Hut !

My layout is still in the construction phase, with the benchwork just recently completed,  and is a modified plan from the following site:

 http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~rfrey/Logging%20Railroad.htm

It can best be described as a freelance/freestyle railroad with a rural/logging theme:

 

Wayne 

Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: K.I.S.S- Keep it simple stupid
  • 676 posts
Posted by teen steam fan on Saturday, April 30, 2011 5:22 PM

Afternoon. 

Todd- Did you play everybody's favorite game? Spot the Loony Sorry, couldn't resist that one. 

See we have some new guys. Welcome one and allWelcome

Good news. Got my Jeep painted. Black with house of Kolor silver flake. Hopefully I can get some pictures tomorrow. 

If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran

When in doubt. grab a hammer. 

If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer

If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer

If it's broken, get a hammer

If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Saturday, April 30, 2011 4:58 PM

Afternoon folks!

Chloe, how about the soup and sandwich special and a cup of decaf.  Thank you ma'am.

Well, (not a deep one), the lawn has had its first trimming of the season.  Except for an area in back that is still under water......  In fact today was mow your lawn for the first time here in the neighborhood.  Lawn mowers running all over the place.  I have garden lettuce and radishes up and growing, and last night I enjoyed my first batch of fresh picked asparagus out of the garden.  Yum!

I am right now finishing making a huge pot of Turkey Soup for tomorrow night out at my sons.  I was given several Turkey carcasses frozen  to make soup.  They left a good amount of meat on the bones, so this is going to be a fine soup for a soup and sandwich dinner.  They already have the fixings for subs (Hogies, grinders, whatever they are called where you live).

On the train front, I pulled out a Bachmann 4-8-2 in NYO&W colors and put her at the head of the finicky passenger train.  Added another car so it is now 2 high speed milk cars, a baggage car, and 3 coaches.  They now come up over the grade and around the curves with absolutely no problem.  No derailments, no hesitation, no stopping on the curve in the tunnels........  Of course for some reason the 4-8-2 is derailing (lead truck) in the tunnel (reverse loop) at the end of Hopewell junction every trip around the layout.  Later tonight i will climb under there and see where and why THAT is happening!Grumpy

Chris, congrats on getting one of your buildings in MR!  Cool!Thumbs Up

Jim, Sun in cape G?  Is THAT allowed?  I like the Quonset Hut structure.  Nice!

Catch everyone later!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 3,073 posts
Posted by JimRCGMO on Saturday, April 30, 2011 3:46 PM

Good Morning, Janie, Flo - Ladies, I'll have a BLT, order of cheesey fries and a RBF, please (in a frosted Rio Grande mug, please). Thanks!

jeffrey-wimberly

Jim: Send some of that rain this way. Louisiana is getting dryer by the day and it's starting to look like a desert here.

Jeff, no need to fret about getting enough water to you - Garry and I will be glad to send it down the Mississippi (and Ohio) to y'all! Well, that is, except that the Corps of Engineers is going to dynamite about 2000 feet of levee on the Missouri side (Mississippi County, further downriver from Cape G.). (so as to flood Missouri, but not flood Cairo, IL - guess Illinois' governor has more pull with the Corps than the average governor). Maybe those 100 Missouri farm families were really dry, too? But that water should get to you in a few days - except for whatever floods those 100,000+ acres take out. Whistling (Ah, the government - always thinking up new ways to 'help' us...)

Hey, and what’s a California brace (or maybe it’s on that page you linked to (d’uh! Maybe I should go check there....)Bang Head

Garry, good to hear your mother's place has its own generator (and is safe so far, right?). Had been Angel'ing for them (plus Rob, Sawyer, Bama, and our other Diners in the Southeastern US) My eyes aren't as good as they used to be, so I had trouble seeing those HO scale skeeters - but who makes that caboose? I've been looking for a 'drovers' caboose (preferably like a Western RR might have), but only one I've seen is by Amer. Model Builders, which is pretty pricey (current price, anyway).

Ray, that sounds worse than an episode that my Dad had (many) years ago. If anyone recalls Allegheny Airlines, my Dad's name for them was "Agony Airlines" (at least, that was the name he used around us kids for it...). St. Louis airport got nailed bad by one of the five tornados that swung through St. Louis area on Good Friday (mercifully, no deaths reported out of the ones up that way). This has been one heckuva spring for weather!

Lee, I could’ve told you that about the soda bottles, paper sacks, etc. Wink For your layout ‘recycling’, you can put one of those wooden milk boxes outside the back/side door of each of your houses, and get one of those Woodland Scenics "Mickey’s Milk Service" milk trucks to do the ‘recycling’. Smile, Wink & Grin You might ask DerJohn for some help - his eyes seem to be very good, even with him w**king in iNvisbile scale. Smile, Wink & Grin Hey, how thin is pin-striping you were talking about? I’m thinking I might do that for a simpler type of paint job on my diesels (where I wanted a thin light blue line and a rust colored line a little below it). Tell me more about the pin-striping material and what it’s like, please. We do have an auto trim/design place in town...

Todd, I think if we had a boat in any area where the storms went through, if if didn’t get blown away, it’d just ride with the water level... Hey, Brenda sounds really ‘helpful’ for you - lets you save your energy for the tough stuff, right? (like those extended ‘trips to town’ - y’know, those ones that start at 9 a.m. on a Saturday and end with a late supper when you get back home? The ones she told you about a coupla weeks ago(or so she says...)) Thanks for the chuckle about your town requiring the food permits (for hot dogs, of all things!)Laugh

Ulrich, from discussions at the local MRR club, I think ballasting is one of the most tedious/boring/mind-numbing things a person can do with his/her layout. Heck, I bet most people would put it as worse than counting the rivets to see if they’re the right number... Whistling (Nope, not trying to start a flame war with any RC’s peeking in the window, nosiree..) It’s good that you’re making progress on the layout. Once I get to that point with my own layout, I’ll be asking all the other Diners about the do’s/don’ts of ballasting (mostly what NOT to do) Just took a gander at your ballasting photos and (to my inexperienced eyes) that looks good. Yeah (I’ll let those with more experience and knowledge make any suggestions or directions) HEY! You are moving along, with that bridge module! Bow (Yeah, if you have an outside deck/balcony - like out the back - that'd be better for any more foam-cutting, sounds like)

Mike Kieran, Welcome to the Diner, and tell us a little about your layout (or plans for same) - era, modeling a prototype (or as I and others do, making it up sorta as we go), scale, etc. We’re a nosy friendly bunch here. Wink And have a beverage of your choice on me - just ask one of our twins (Zoe and Chloe) or our other servers, Flo, Janie, and whats-her-name (the pinch-hitter on short notice (Ow! Flo, I never did hear her name...). Oh, watch out about posting the first post for a page, as you get the virtual tab for the Diners (on that page). We cover a lot of topics in here, so it’s pretty hard to be ‘off-topic’ in the Diner.

Johnboy, so what’d you find out on the test results? (Inquiring minds...) Wow

Barry, that’s surprising that your house didn’t have more damage than the burn mark. How do you have your house grounded? NSJoe, sounds like things will be shaping up for you to get back to your layout again. Thumbs Up Of course, the summer job - as you said - will help with the MRR My 2 CentsMy 2 Cents. Big Smile Do you need to get a checkup with your doctor? Don't wait too long on that!

Chris, your area poly-ticks (kinda like those smaller ones; they both tend to suck on you, don’t they?) sound like most of ‘em I’ve seen. Good for some sound bites and photo-ops (i.e. wanting to take credit if something good is happening), but blaming the other party (any other party...) for everything that’s going wrong in your area. Sounds like you have a fairly good grasp on things, from your summary - how many words do you HAVE to give THAT editor? And (no-brainer here) don’t overstep into editorial waters - THAT’s what she (and he) get paid the big bucks for (as well as taking the heat for same)! Smile, Wink & Grin Oh, you mentioned both parties have turned to ‘finger-pointing’... and which one would that be, laddie? Whistling

TrainObsessed, do you have one of those (so-called) wind-generators up there? So THAT’s why we keep getting Barry’s and Johnboy’s cold weather coming down this way in the winter! Surprise That series of photos looked downright nasty, by the way - I hope you got off the computer soon after you posted(!)

CN Charlie, sounds like whoever picked out the giraffe for Robbie did a great job of it!

Curt - you’ll notice that Chris (with his experience in EMT and Fire/Rescue w**k) is really good at sniffing out other First Responders. Hats off to you also, for the w**k you do. Thumbs Up

Oh, and Chris... Sssssssss! Booooo!! Grrrooooan! (Garry would be proud of ya, Chris!)

Galaxy, will keep your house decision on the Angel list. Sounds like you have been thinking things through well. Thumbs Up Sure is harder to find an affordable house nowadays, but I'd guess that you have learned a lot from those home shows, and it sounds like you have a good agent helping you (plus, he or she is still finding possibles to look over and decide).

Vincent, sorry to hear about the poor (and illegal, IMO) behaviors at w**k (and glad you will be getting away from those jerks). I'd agree with about all that was said (especially, Johnboy's suggestion to document every instance and keep copies for yourself just-in-case). Guess the perpetrator can't think of something better to do (like the w**k she's supposed to be doing?).

One nice thing about being without my digital (TV) coverter box has been, that I totally missed the wedding - not that I don't wish them well (good to see them actually get married), but that I missed all the over-coverage that probably was done by all the netw**ks (until everyone is bored stiff with hearing about it...). Now, can we get on to stuff that everyone else in the world has to deal with (like stupid banks, gas prices, etc.)? Smile, Wink & Grin (Naw, that'd be too easy for the media to do...). Hey! Where'd this SoapBox come from? Okay, back you go to your corner.

Ken, best wishes (and an 'open door' policy Saturday) and I'm pulling for you making the month's goal for the boss! Do you have an 'OPEN' sign by the front door, or something that indicates you're open? Guess you could make a "Door having problems - we're here" sign to put up there so the customers will at a minimum, knock.

And Wayne in MT, Welcome to the Diner as well! I would guess that, with your later winter season, you get more "It's too cold to go outside, so to the train room I go!" days. Right? Smile, Wink & Grin What's your layout, plans, etc. like? Do you model a Western RR line? Fill us in, please, and have a beverage of your choice on me. (See my comments above - to Mike K. - about our servers and the Diner) I figure some of the other Diners will also fill you in. Oh, and Vinnie (cousin to our twin servers, Zoe and Chloe) keeps things in line around here (including if you hit the TOP (top of page) and get a virtual tab to cover, but take too long paying it off...). Ya don't wanta tick off Vinnie, is about all we need to tell you about THAT! Smile, Wink & Grin

And Hey, Chris! C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! !  Bow Bow Bow on being 'published' (well, indirectly, yes - since you "custom-built' that elevator that was used on Tony's layout)!

Speaking of structures (but not published..so far), here's something I've been focusing some effort on lately. It still needs the sign up front (I'm going to make a different 'board' for the sign than the too-thick one (IMHO) THAT came with the kit), and I want to weather it some. I still plan to shoot it with some Dullcote before I do weathering and other stuff on the record shop.

and the backside:

I painted the 'concrete block' foundation with Polly-S 'Concrete', and for the back siding I used 'Depot Buff'.

I'll sit a spell and get to my lunch Dinner for now. We had some sunshine earlier today here in Cape G.-land, but it's supposed to Storm again tonight - Oh, goody! (But as Wayne said, at least we can see the lawns here - luckily, I don't have to mow mine Smile)

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Marion, Iowa
  • 1,263 posts
Posted by AmanaMedic on Saturday, April 30, 2011 12:26 PM

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Morning (almost afternoon).

GALAXY: Be careful with the "things we'll fix ourselves later" list... After six years in the "forever home," there are still a multitude of things I haven't been able to get to: either I had the time but no money, or had the money but no time. What seems like a simple "I'll take care of THAT" when house hunting can easily become a "why did I ever buy this place?" years later. Also, with the house inspection...by all means get THAT. We hired a highly recommended guy, I watched over his shoulder as he looked at every inch of this place. He was good enough to explain what he was looking at, what he was looking for, WHY he was looking at it or looking for it; etc., etc., etc. The detailed report he provided spelled-out not just what was "wrong" but also why, what needed to be done to fix it; and on a more comforting note, he included what was "right" with the house...and why. I planned to use the document as a sort-of list of things to do...never quite got there. Do take your time in house hunting. We were in a position where we had to expedite the hunt and the move THAT followed. You're in a position where, while it may not be ideal, the four walls surrounding you are YOURS. THAT buys you some valuable time.

ULRICH: BowThumbs UpThumbs UpBow WOW.

 

I'm gonna do a little bragging.... in the new MR publication "How To Model Railroads of the 1950s," a grain elevator I built in the late 1990s is in one of the photos. My friend Tony Bowen has his Rock Island layout featured. I sent him a box of N-sane scale stuff I had no use for about seven years ago or so. It looks like he found a use for at least one thing (the Farmers Cooperative elevator on page 74). I about fell over in the aisle at Wally-Mart's when I skimmed through the magazine and saw THAT! From what I can tell, it looks like he plopped it down as-is. Since I'm modeling 1987-1993...I wasn't gonna buy the magazine, until I saw THAT picture! The Wife is clucking happily about it, seems she just can't wait to tell her fellow hens...I mean, friends and co-workers, about it on Monday.

I guess you could say, it's a case of "how to make it into the pages of MR without even trying!"

Tony is helluva good guy, and I'm very happy for him THAT his layout made it into the special publication. Apparently Cody Grivno  attended a NMRA meet in Cedar Rapids last summer, where Tony is/was one of the Division muckety-mucks. They got to talking, Tony took Cody "up nawth" to Coggon, showed him the layout, Cody took some pics...the rest is history.

Well (with skeletal bones floating), time to get some w**k done for THAT Editor. Yup. I've got two track meets to write-up, two soccer matches from yesterday to process photos from and do a very small write-up on; and maybe, just maybe finish THAT tax article. I showed a draft of what I got to THAT yesterday, expecting her to shred it.

She loved it! Made one suggestion: move one sentence to the end of the article, and craft "one or two" sentences on "what happens next." Other than THAT...she liked it! She really really liked it!

Score one for the good guy???

Have a good, SAFE day everybody...

Chris

 

***EDIT*** Now how did I end up with TOP???? JEFF!!!!!

Oh well, Rerun and I have the late lunch, afternoon snack, and probably dinner tabs....

 

 

The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, April 30, 2011 11:53 AM

No mowing today. The shower that the weather guesser said would come this afternoon came this morning and it's been drizzling almost constantly since then. Oh well. It's a good day to get the laundry done.

Got something in the mail today that gave me a chuckle. Well a laugh really. It's a card from 'National Vehicle Protection Services' telling me that my vehicles factory warranty will expire soon. Guess nobody told them that my vehicle is thirty years old and the factory warranty probably expired in 1983.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 30, 2011 10:02 AM

Good Afternoon,

well, folks, you won´t believe this. I have been really busy working on that bridge module today. I cut a block from that Styrofoam blob my son had brought me last week, outlined the contour of the landscape and started to cut it to fit, using the hot wire cutter. It worked quite OK for me, but the fumes are really bad. I had opened all windows and was wearing the mask, but it gave me a bad headache after a few moments. I should be doing things like this outside!

This is what it looks like now:

... and with a little paint added:

Taking shape, ain´t it?

We still enjoy sunny and fairly warm weather over here, although it is too dry. April just saw 10% of the amount of rain we usually get and no rain in sight within the next days. It is a little windy, though.

I hope everyone is safe at your end of the Big Pond! Guess I will be moving the Diner to some secure grounds coming night.

Zoe, it´s tea time, how about a cucumber sandwich, scones and a little tea, please?

TTFN

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Red Lodge, MT
  • 893 posts
Posted by sfcouple on Saturday, April 30, 2011 8:29 AM

Good Morning Jeff,

Your temperature report got me thinking about how different things can be a few States North of you:

Right now it is 26 Degrees, we had about 2" of snow last night and I can't even see the lawn, our expected high is going to be around 36 degrees.  However, we're at 5500 feet and tend to get more wind, snow, and lower temperatures.  

Hope you can stay away from some of that severe weather I'm reading about,

Wayne

Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Saturday, April 30, 2011 8:23 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a couple of those sour cream glazed donuts and a pot of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug to wash them down.

"It's time to play..... Spot the Loony!"  Hi Todd!  We got a couple more weeks before that nonsense starts here.  What i love is when they all converge on one sale and park on both sides of the street on a street that is barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass.  You might be able to ride a bike or motorcycle between the parked cars...  They can't figure out why people get a huffy and such.

I am waiting to hear from my son to see if I am making Turkey Soup for Sundays gathering or not.  If I am I will be tied up most of the day with THAT.  I should be able to finish the lawn today without a problem.  Sunny and 48°F currently with a high of 60 late this afternoon.  Type of day I like!

Have a good one!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, April 30, 2011 8:07 AM

Good morning. It's 63° and cloudy. The high will be 80° with a 50% chance of 'spotty' thunderstorms this afternoon tapering off to 20% this evening.

Looks like I'll be mowing grass today. It's up high enough now and if we get rain it'll get out of hand. Nothing else on the schedule for now.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Winter Garden, FL
  • 1,546 posts
Posted by Curt Webb on Saturday, April 30, 2011 8:06 AM

Morning All,

Flo I would love a coffee please and maybe one of those glazed doughnuts please.

Not much happening here. I am going to try to draw out the layout schematic today but no idea what MOH has planned for me. Later I will be going to the train club. It doesn't look like we will be able to use our timeshare time before our cruise so hopefully we will use it Oct-Nov. It will still be plenty warm then. No rain scheduled for the next 5-6 days, just hot with humidity.

I have Yahoo mail and they sent me message that in the very new future that they were going to be switching to a new version and did I want to upgrade now? So I did. Mistake, the old version ran much smoother. Oh well.

Everybody have a good day.     

Curt Webb

The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad

http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, April 30, 2011 8:02 AM

(slam!) (pant pant puff puff) Good Morning!! Sheeesh! The loonies are out today. The all town garage sale starts at 8 and the roads out front are already packed with people driving around not paying attention to driving but what’s in peoples drives and garages with a cell phone pressed to their ear. Scouts I guess.

Can’t stay because I have to get to the community center to get ready to cook the hotdogs and wait for the Health Inspector and whatever else I get roped into. It's never a good thing to be around when you aren't involved because given half a second, they will involve you. I also have to get a chair up there. That oughtta be fun. They’ll think I bought it and it’s going home with me, but, if they were to find out it's gonna be sold, they’d be stringing along behind me like ants to find out where it’s going.

Best get going before Brenda gets……Whistling….worried.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Euclid, Ohio
  • 2,822 posts
Posted by LSWrr on Saturday, April 30, 2011 7:38 AM

Good morning,  Once again global warming is on hold as the temp will not get past 60F today.  Sunny today followed by 6 days of rain so I'll be out cutting grass and picking up the yard.

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Saturday, April 30, 2011 7:36 AM

Well, WEll, WELl, WELL, WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL last night I posted a post here and it said it took it {after about 1 minute} but I do not see the psoting this AM.

Forum is STILL obviously painfully slow. and it LIED to me.

I don't remember what all I said.

The house we looked at tursday did not accept our offer. SHe wants at least the price she paid 5.5 years ago when teh market was at a  peak, and the $10 k she claims she put into it. It was listed as "updated kit and Ba" but I don't consider a new sink in bath and new cheap tub surround and just new countertops in kitchen "updating". New cabinets in Kitchen and we are taking. Her biggest inprovement was probably teh shoddy job new vinyl siding. what a cob job. and three of the windows in the "finished lower level" were actually Styrofoam bead board cut to fit the hole!! The fireplace chiney emerging form the basement fireplace on the outside was covered with non-pressure treated plywood hat was rotting and comming loose and witht eh driveing 8.6" of driving StormUmbrella we've had I wouldn;t be surprised if it was leaking in the basement. Naturally she didn't take our offer and her loss, was a very strong offer for a mediocre 2 br 1 ba house bordering an intersate hiway that would definietly need some work!

We have watched every show "Holmes on homes" and "holmes inspection" and "income property on HGTV to know what to look for and what is wrong code wise and what is "NOT right". Our RE agent says if she ever puts her house on teh market, she wants us to give it a once over as we see and know things she doesn't, and many lazy inspectors just check "unkown" or "may be present" for defaults, and miss others completely. We plan on having 2 independent inspections of the house we buy and we will go over it with the inspector with a fine tooth comb. OT be sure!!!

 If you are unfamiliar withthe shows, Mike Holmes goes in after  contractor has usually screwed up the job, ripped off cash from the homeowners, and major problems show up. They he usually has to tear out everything and and rebuild to at leatr code requirements and most often two stages above min. code. He also fixes un permitted jobs by getting the permit and finsihing it ot pass inspections. Many shister contractors say "oh you don't need a permit for that. That way, with no permit thay can a shoddy job cuase no inspector is going to inspect their shoddy work and make them re-do it. YOU YOURSELF should check with your town hall to see if a permit is needed fora particular job and then if a contractor says "No" when you do, don't even think of hiring him!!!

We have a few more in the works, but unless they come down some. we may nto get them either. We don;t want a dump, of course,and it doesn't have t o be perfect, we can deal with putting SOME money in but don;t wnat a money pit either for our price range.

Well, Thats about it I guess. Tomorrow I go with our agent to see three houses either renovated or in process that have sat on the market for at least 7 months with no deal. Again, they will probably want what they paid, plus the inprovements AND a profit in the deal. SO they may not come down to our level...if only we had $10k more, but we don't. Gotta work with what we can, unless some good friends step in and help make up the difference! {Taking all cash donations now} 

{just kidding so I dont get into trouble}

 

Well have  a GREAT day y'all!

TTYALLL8R

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, April 30, 2011 6:10 AM

Good Morning

We got that weird yellowish orb out this morning, and frost. We gone down to 27F last night...and so we are starting at a rather low temperature today..we'll be at 55F later on today.

I'm staying home today as I got the dizzinesses from my heart arrhythmia going on now..every so often me heart wants to do funny things...

Hopefully I'll try to get some things done on the layout...

Flo, I'll have a decaf coffee and some toast/jam please..I'll be at the RC for now..

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: IN/USA
  • 2,495 posts
04/30/2011
Posted by wetidlerjr on Saturday, April 30, 2011 4:35 AM

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 29, 2011 11:48 PM

Good Morning,

some of you folks certainly either stay up late or wake up early Laugh

YGW- yes, the ballasting therapy helped! I have to admit that ballasting is not my favorite task. It is a tedious job, which, when done poorly, can have a dramatic effect on the looks of your layout. N scale ballast is a PITA to w*rk with, as even a little breather makes it end up where it is not supposed to go. I am glad I don´t have "miles" of track to ballast!

I will be doing some w*rk on my "layout", after w*rking down the weekends HD list.

Flo, just a coffee to get me started, please.

Have a good one!

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Northern Va
  • 1,924 posts
Posted by yougottawanta on Friday, April 29, 2011 11:25 PM

Hey all Interesting week. Hiring people to try to keep up with w**k loads, close to 60 hours in by the end of the week. Salary , no OT.Sigh Recieved another job offer today 30% more than I am currently making.Kicking it around. Way more stress , double the commute. Hmmm? Weather is to be sunny this weekend , birthday party for youngest daughter Saturday. There will be a few little ones around , thinking of combining some birthday party with letting the little ones run some Thomas engines??? Should be a great week end.

Johnboy - any news from the docs ?

Jeff - how you feeling ? I hope not in any pain , water those weeds ! LOL , Funny picture!

Ulrich. As always great job. Did the ballasting therapy help ?

Folks gotta go sorry exhausted , need to get some Sleep

Touch base with you all after the party ? Any news from our friends in the paths of the storms ?

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Friday, April 29, 2011 10:28 PM

 Evening Folks

 Flo, yep a Beer would be great.

 Work Front Shaun, the person that covers my store on my days off had a Great Day at $5200.00. Store is at $45,000.00 and 2 days to go. Barry (the owner) E Mailed me the he is amazed how the store is doing now and if I hit $50,000.00 by Saturday I get a $1,000.00 bounces and I all ready had another $500.00 just before I got the E Mail at Noon so only $4500.00 to go! Dinner

 When I am not helping a customer I read a lot. I sit behind a 4 foot counter when I am reading leaned back in my offices chair. I cannot see the front door, and a person looking in will not be able to see me.

 At 1:00 PM I had a customer pick up. After that nothing, not a soul came in. Grumpy Around 7:00 PM, I took out the trash and had the rear door open, you can see the rear door when looking in from the front. When I was walking back to the rear door one of my customers that was there to pick up walked around the building to my rear door?

 Told me the front door was locked? Yep, it was, the lock is messed up! Bang Head I have to use a key to unlock the door and have to do it from the outside, no Keyhole on the in side. There is a Emergency handle on the inside that says PUSH. I have found now, if you push this handle, the deadbolt comes out and locks the door. Guess the last people that had left had pushed it and locked the door! Bang Head

Who knows how many if any people tried to get in today to throwing money at me? Whistling I will never know. With me sitting behind the counter, I could not see them, and they could not see me! Grumpy

 My Fridays are normally around $1200.00 To $1800.00 and Saturdays $3200.00 to $4000.00. So $5000.00 was with in reach. Need $4600.00 Saturday and the door will be propped OPEN. Wish me luck, I will needed it!

 Ulrich I still amazed at how great the little steamer looks. Ballast looks fine as well. Looking forward to seeing more pictures as things come along.

 Packer Pocket recorder! Notes are fine, but unless coworkers will stand up for you it boils down to He said She said. Having it on tape (or what ever theses days) is pretty much bullet proof.

 Gary I am saving everything!

 YGW Did you find my reply about DC to DCC wiring?

 Todd, CNC Charlie and Howmus. Have you checked your Conversions lately?

 See you all Saturday and wish me luck.

                   Ken 

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: K.I.S.S- Keep it simple stupid
  • 676 posts
Posted by teen steam fan on Friday, April 29, 2011 9:46 PM

Evening guys. No, nothing for me. What? Fresh blueberry pie? Well, maybe just a slice. Whatever goes good with it's perfect to drink. Thanks

Just finished getting my jeep masked. Tomorrow I plan on getting the grill masked off and letting my dad work his magic painting. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Right now I'm praying it's not a train. 

Packers-If the higher ups won't do anything about the harassment, tell them where they can put that job. (Sorry, forum mods wouldn't be too thrilled if I typed it out.) I understand that it's a competitive market out there but pride is not something you should be willing to skip on. 

If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran

When in doubt. grab a hammer. 

If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer

If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer

If it's broken, get a hammer

If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Friday, April 29, 2011 9:42 PM

Evenin' Folks!

Flo, just a decaf for me tonight. I'll go sit in the back booth for a while and unwind.

Had interviews with 6 young people for the MLK Scholarships.  I always like doing the interviews because we get to see some wonderful, hard working kids who have some great dreams for their lives and know how to get their.  This year several told us that they intend to come back to Geneva to make a difference.  One is a young lady who wnats to become a pediatrician.  She was born and raised in NYC and moved here to live with her grandmother a few years ago.  Says she loves school here and has noticed a big difference in the way she is respected, challenged, and treated by the teachers.  Another said her favorite teacher was the principle because every time she got down on herself he made sure she knew he thought she can and would achieve.  You know there is still a lot right with the world, we just have to help it happen. Oh, we will be giving a scholarship to each of the 6 seniors!  Very impressive group!

Packer, do save the Facebook messages!

After I got home a grabbed a bite to eat, I headed down to the train room to continue the saga of the poor running passenger train.  After changing out the wheelsets, I now have zero derailments, so I have that problem corrected....  Now the problem is the little 4-6-0 can't pull the train aropund curves or up the 2% grades on the SLOW.  With the old derailing wheels, it could pull all 6 cars up the grades with no problem whatsoever until they fell off the rails........  Now it can handle the 3 coaches, that is all.  I added more weight to the diminutive loco, but it hasn't helped.  It can almost manage the 3 coaches and one milk car...  The next larger loco on the roster which would pull it with no problem is a 2-8-0, but not really a passenger loco.  I have a 4-8-2 that is in NYOW paint I know could do the job, I was really hoping to use the 2-6-0.  Everything appears to be free running with the Kadees, but obviously they are binding somewhere.  I can't find it.Grumpy

Hope you all have a good night!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Friday, April 29, 2011 7:56 PM

Evening guys

I just got back from another store (same company as where I work, but a different one). Apparently the manager of the other store was needing people badly. And my Manager knew I've been wanting a transfer. So I went over and talked to the other manager. As of tuesday I no longer work with the people I've been having issues with (they only work weekdays). So now if I do become the "rat" they can't do nothing to me.

Mike, I haven't told my boss yet. mainly because that girl kept close to the boss the whole time. I tried to get to the boss, but the other girl would do something to distract her every time. She doesn't work tomorrow or sunday, So I'll tell then. Although I'm curious as to what you mean by "two counts"? Do the autism and race count as seperate entities?

Jeff, It's going to get reported. just not when I work with them to avoid becoming the "rat" (not that it'd change anything). Nice sign btw

Barry, Yeah. I wonder how they are getting away with it all if one of the managers was a lawyer, and there are a bunch of cops that come their.

Johnboy, most of it was facebook messages. I responed twice, with out going hostile or dropping to her level. I haven't deleted any of them and I'm thinking those are my best bet.

Curt, Yeah. IDK what happened, but it was all fine a couple of weeks ago.

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Winter Garden, FL
  • 1,546 posts
Posted by Curt Webb on Friday, April 29, 2011 6:56 PM

Evening All,

Flo I would love a piece of key lime pie and a unsweetened ice tea please.

Very hot here today, but I don't know what the temp was. I'm glad the wedding is over, as I am tired hearing about it.

 I installed my fascia today (from 1/8'' sheet of oak plywood) and painted it as close as I could find to Tuscan Red. I also made, attached and painted the shelf  that the Zephyr and DC power for the Tortoises will sit. I then made and attached my control panel but did not paint it gold. Probably tomorrow or Sunday I will take it down and draw the layout schematic so I can drill the holes for the DPDT switches before painting and laying down pin stripping (afraid of tearing up the pin stripping by drilling holes into it). I also need to at least buy one DPDT switch from Radio Shack to see what size holes I need. So it was a good afternoon.

Ulrich-   Those photos are great. You did a great job.

Packer-  I agree with Jeff. Your co-workers behavior is unacceptible.   

Hope everyone has a good night.

Curt Webb

The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad

http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, April 29, 2011 6:47 PM

Hopefully we'll get some significant rainfall soon. The plants here are getting desperate.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Saskatchewan
  • 2,201 posts
Posted by last mountain & eastern hogger on Friday, April 29, 2011 6:35 PM

Whistling

Packer, one thing you must remember is do not retaliate.  Then the secnd thing is to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING>  get yourself a little note book for nothing else but this.

Everytime there is a slur or any type of demeaning saying or talk, physical shoving etc. to you or about you. PUT IT DOWN IN WRITING.   as follows, each one on a page of it's own.

Date.

Time.

Place.

By whom.

Who else was present.

What was said.    (Actual, do not embelish that because it made you mad or sad or whatever)

Then sign it

Make yourself a copy

and hand in the original to you immeadiate Supervisor (Boss)

then keep your copy in a very safe place as it might be needed for evidence at a later date.

Following these things will keep you reminded of all the times and facts and gives the responsibility to take action to those in authority over you at your job.  If there are no changes made, at that point you can take this further to which ever area fits best in your State.  Police, human Rights Abundsman which is usually a Government position.   Your call, after some homework and asking the right questions of those people.

Good Luck, my heart goes out to you.

Johnboy out.............................................and upset at people like that.

 

 

 

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

We have met the enemy,  and he is us............ (Pogo)

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!