herrinchoker Ulrich, Just spoke with Ulrich on the phone. He is scheduled for heart surgery this next Monday, I'm sure he will appreciate any prayers/kind thoughts, sent his way. Other than removing the dust, he has done nothing with his layout....perhaps rightfully so... still planning on leaving Hamburg after his surgery. Reasonably certain he will have a post at some point to all here. herrinchoker
Ulrich,
Just spoke with Ulrich on the phone. He is scheduled for heart surgery this next Monday, I'm sure he will appreciate any prayers/kind thoughts, sent his way. Other than removing the dust, he has done nothing with his layout....perhaps rightfully so... still planning on leaving Hamburg after his surgery.
Reasonably certain he will have a post at some point to all here.
herrinchoker
Herrinchoker... Thanks for the update on Ulrich ..... Praying for him... Definately miss his conversations here.
..
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Hi Diners,
Hi Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Spent the last two days attending a trade show downtown. This show is on several floors of the Merchandise Mart. You generally walk 5 miles a day plus or minus, and there are multiple thousands of attendees. Great time, but I'm beat. I've noticed I have to periodically need to find a chair for a minute at the show now where I never used to. Getting older.
Garry: good you're back from your surgery.
Ulrich: prayers are with you on your bypass procedure.
Ken: way to go on quitting. Keep up the good work.
Watching game seven. It would be nice for St Louis to win, but when it comes to hockey, I'm still a Bruins fan, even over the Blackhawks. MOH is a Blackhawks fan. She's from here. I,...am not.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a please and leave a stein outside for Ulrich!
Jan thanks for the up date on Ulrich! I hope for the best for him getting his health back.
Far as hiding the 410 as back fire with the Cuda, that would not work. Now open the header plugs on my 68 426 Road Runner I could attack it with a 40mm Howitzer and no one would hear the 410!
Charlie If I catch the Raccoon I am going to name him Duncan. My wife did get a number for a guy that does catch and realase for free and it is supposed to be leagal? Will call him Thursday and see what he does.
Work Front I sure miss quite days! Did get a lot of things done that needed to be done in the AM. Luckly it was quite then. Had a woman come in looking for a $200.00 King Mattress? Told her anything in the prices range is junk! She said that is fine, I am throwing him out of the house! I said " in that case let me show you this one for $320.00!
Last customer was a good one. While I had to stay late I made a extra $109.00 so it was worth it!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Greedy by Bear, on Flickr Cheers, the Bear.
Greedy by Bear, on Flickr
Bear ... Thanks for the humor.
Thanks to all who posted best wishes and prayers regarding my recent surgery And also our daughter’s illness.
Updates ... I was at doctor’s office today. I had a catheter removed. Also, doctors examined my hand which is swollen to twice normal size resulting from IV’s during surgery. Checking for blood clots. I have not received results of the biopsy of the bladder tumor.
Our daughter’s illness improved. She was released from the hospital today. It will be easier for her to rest at home instead of in the hospital.
Thanks again.
Well, well, here I am guys!
At work at the 'tel. it doesn't suck rail spikes like cudaken's job, its rather a quiet night here tonight. only 30 rooms checked in.
Next month we are taking vacation to The Arcade and Attica {or Attica and Arcade} RR where they run a steam loco pulling tourist trains. Theres a story behind it.Seems some kid saw the static steamer display and questioned why it wasn't running? and so he started to raise money to get her operating again. Years later, shes a running! I do believe it is the only steam loco running in ny, The rest of the tourist trains in NY are pulled by diesels, usually vintage diesels. Weve never b een there so we will go check it out. I'm lucky My Other half is also into steam locos/trains, too!
Prayers for Ulrich, ive sent him a few emails, but never heard back, so I sent one wishing him well on his surgery. Unless he doesn't use that email any more, I don't know why he hasn't answered. I figured with the hunt for new apt. and all, he was just to busy to answer. I lost his phone number when we moved in '15 to our new house. I wish him well, maybe this will solve some of his heart issues.
Prayers also for Garry, hope the tumor is benign. Bladder issues aren't fun!
My own heart has spent more time in Atrial fibrilation than out of a-fib. I have a med for it, was taking twice a day, but once it seemed to work after they tried cardioconversion shock treatments, so we cut it back to just Mon, wed, fri. I had to go back to every day as I am sure its stress related. WE have had a lot of stress, MY OH's hours got cut back, so my working that is supposed to be extra money to save and pya off debt is really only making up for what OH has lost. so theres financial stress, we both had stress at work, and there was stress from getting My FIL into a nursing home,hes 91 with dementia and sundowners. Unless he dies quickly, my OH won't get aNY inheritance, somehting we weren't counting on, but sure would have boosted our financial retirement picture. Since he didn't give us Power of attorney 15 years ago when he gave us final copies of paPERWORK "TO BE OPENED ONLY IN CASE OF...", we now have to file for guardianship with financial and personal guardianship, but we are getting the runaround to get the forms and where to file. so theres THAT stress too.
the stress is really doing a number on us. we need a good vacation, a nice long massage, and an alchololic drink!!
well, best go start breakfast pre-setup. breakfast fixings will start in an hour!
special thoughts and prayers for those who need them~
-GeePee35, also known as galaxy
Hi, I am back!
Not in a good shape, but more on that later.
We had to move back to Germany, because our Danish hide-out had been rented out to summer vacationers. We had kept our apartment in Germany for that case and found it in a good shape, thanks to a friend taking care while we were gone. We had hoped that the heat was off in the meantime - not it is not, but that´s all I am going to say about that. Unfortunately, our stay "on the lam" revealed a rather serious heart issue that needs to be addressed. I am scheduled for a triple by-pass operation on coming Monday, which leaves me kind of scared. I jus hope they don´t cut me up like a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. While in the hospital, I hope I´ll find the time to figure out our next move. We definitively want to move permanently to Denmark, for the peace and quiet we found there. I was able to put my mind to rest for the first time in many years. Petra and I took long walks on the beach, just listening to the eternal sound of the waves. I already miss that! Denmark is not much of a rental market outside of Copenhagen. Danish folks rather buy their homes than rent them. Some of the houses are dead cheap - a 1800 vintage half-timbered house with a thatched roof can be head for just around $30k, which is less than the credit I had on my CC years ago. Just a picture of what I am talking about :
A house like this requires some work, but more on the cosmetic side, i.e. a paint job and maybe new floors. But even that amount is not in reach, as our getaway kitty took quite a blow. However, once I am out of the hospital again, I will start to sell my trains and put whatever I get out of them into the piggy bank. I still look for that brilliant idea how to raise the cash, which hasn´t come to my mind yet.
We have shelved any idea to move outside of Europe. Within the EU, all the member states honor the medical coverage I have and which has become a life saving necessity for me. Furthermore, I don´t want to leave Petra behind, with no family and friends available, should I have to meet my maker ahead of the schedule. Denmark is just a couple of hours north of us and my son could be with us in less than 6 hours by train.
I have been trying to catch up here in the Diner, but gave up on it. I did gather that Ken stopped smoking - congratulations on that step, Ken! I did that 4 years ago the cold turkey way and it was less of a hardship than I had anticipated. The only regret I have is, that I should have done that much earlier! Keep it up!
Garry, thoughts and prayers that the tumor is benign!
Howard, glad to see your are still in the dating game!
All the new faces in here - a big .
I´ll report back whenever I am able to!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Tinplate ToddlerI´ll report back whenever I am able to!
Glad to hear from you again, Ulrich! You'll have plenty of support from your friends in the Diner in regards to your upcoming surgery. I'm sure you will recover just fine.
Ken has been very consistent with leaving the stein outside for you so you may have a rather large quantity of suds to consume In good health!
Thanks again for the update —
Galaxy, great to have you check-in again, too
Cheers, Ed
Tinplate Toddler I am scheduled for a triple by-pass operation on coming Monday, which leaves me kind of scared. I jus hope they don´t cut me up like a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving.
SO good to see yopu back again, and hope your surgery goes well. Denmark sounds like a cool place. I have been thinking about the Isle of Man. That is one cool flag that they have, and for the moment it is still EU, but will follow the Britts as they jump ship.
Here in the US that operation would have been done the day they diagnosed it. But It would have cost you more. Medicare covers most of that very nicely once you are over 65 or whatever.
As a monk we always had Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage, and that was costing us $600 per month per person. Since we never paid social security (Never had personal income) we were not elligible for Medicare. About 15 years ago we 'bought into' the system, paying 5b years back premiums and waiting another 5 years for it to beome effective, but it was worth it.
The CHEAPEST system is to pay out of pocket as needed: that way you only have to buy a hospital and not an insurance company as well.
Not many people can afford that all at once, but is surely the cheapest.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Welcome back, Ulrich! Sit down and have a nice traditional German dinner, on me.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
That looks like a nice German dinner. What I want is the Saurbratten.
The people here at the Abbey seem call themselves "Germans from Russia" So while they do not know what Saurbratten is, they know all about Borscht. Go Figgure.
Good morning, everyone. I can't believe the weather we are having in the middle of the country. This morning, 60° with clear blue sky, low humidity, and just a light breeze. I will remember this in the next months when the temps go over 100 and the humidity will float a boat.
Tinplate ToddlerAll the new faces in here - a big .
Ulrich, I am one of the new faces, but I have read a lot about you on this forum. Everyone missed you, which is a great testament to who you are and how well you are liked. I am praying that your surgery goes well and you have an easy recovery.
I am still working on getting JMRI working. I got to the point yesterday where it tried finding a locomotive, but kept saying no loco detected.
This has now become a personal issue between me and the computer. There's still no clear picture of who's going to win.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Steven Otte Welcome back, Ulrich! Sit down and have a nice traditional German dinner, on me.
Steven - that´s exactly what we had today, Bratwurst, fried potatoes and "Rotkohl". This is usually a nice meal for a cold wintervday, but as the global warming has left us with quite low temperatures in trhe past few days, it was a good and heart warming meal.
The clock is ticking away and I am really getting nervous about that surgery. I know it´ll be a routine job, but does the surgeon know that, too? I am still optimistic that everything will turn out fine - I may even order something to keep me busy during my stay in the hospital! I am think of - no, nothing train related, I seem to be away from that for the time being - some kind of a kit, which is easy to assemble without the need for tools or glue. Something like Lego. There are may LLLA´s around, that´s Legal Lego Look Alikes, not those copy-cat illegal Chinese stuff. There is a Polish manufacturer offering kits for WW I or WW II warships. I might go for a model of the HMS "Warspite" a WW I battleship of the "Dreadnought" class. They also have the Bismarck, but she wouldn´t fit into the display case.
That´s the "Lego" Warspite:
Now I have to request permission from my CFO!
Brother Elias - Sauerbraten is also one of my favourite dishes, but it´s just too much of an effort to prepare that oly for the two of us. Basically, it´s a beef roast that has been seasoned in a vinegar marinade with juniper berries and some other spices Petra would know. Originally, it was horse meat and the marinade was supposed to make it tender as well as subdueing the "horsy" taste of it. It´s beef only these days.
Still working on Daytona Beach...
.
Yesterday my wife and I went for a long walk on the beach. We did it before the kiddies came back from Passion Camp, so it was very peaceful.
The sunrise this morning was gorgeous again. Quite an amazing sight.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Ulrich, keep a positive attitude and I'm sure you will do well.
Garry most bladder tumors are slow growing. The can recur so surveilance is necessary. I hope the pathology is good.
Don't feel like doing much on the MR. Went to the eye doctor today and my eyes are so dilated, I can barely see what I type.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
SeeYou190
What iis that thing blocking the view?
Down in front!
Steven Otte
That doesn't look heart healthy to me.
maxmanThat doesn't look heart healthy to me.
That may be so, but if I am going to die, I don´t want to die hungry!
Hey all!
Welcome back Ulrich, prayers that sugery goes well.
Garry , prayers for benign tumor and for speedy recovery of your daughter.
Not much else to report here, more "book tour" next week with Mrs MLC's book. Heading to Jackson MS and New Orleans ( A stop a Cafe du Monde will be required)
I may start on a module just to have to RR to do.
Later all!
My wife and I have started the home buying process, which is exciting because we've dreamed of a little slice of the world that belongs to us for so long. Plus I'll have a train room that's big enough for a layout instead of a workbench and module storage like I have now.
Downside is that I won't be able to build a layout because I spent all of our money buying the train room.
maxmanWhat iis that thing blocking the view? Down in front!
That is one genuine oversized "Florida Kevin" you are looking at there.
Living an S scale life in an HO scale world.
Well summer is really busy! I was out all afternoon yesterday at a big party/gathering thing and when I wasn't there I was triming trees in the yard! This morning was spent entirely at my cousin's house.
Also there has been a regretable lack of trains in my life the past few days. I'm staying 2 blocks from tracks that are visible from the end of the driveway but the friendly, neghborhood CSX has yet to be cited!
Tinplate Toddler All the new faces in here - a big .
I'm another one!
Wow, alot of old faces coming back in as well.
I did even know Ulrich was a person (sorry!), it's nice to be able to attach a user to Ken's Stein colection!! Speaking of which, I think there may be over 50 of them!
Have a good afternoon everyone!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
GeePee35 Next month we are taking vacation to The Arcade and Attica {or Attica and Arcade} RR where they run a steam loco pulling tourist trains. Theres a story behind it.Seems some kid saw the static steamer display and questioned why it wasn't running? and so he started to raise money to get her operating again. Years later, shes a running! I do believe it is the only steam loco running in ny, The rest of the tourist trains in NY are pulled by diesels, usually vintage diesels. Weve never b een there so we will go check it out. I'm lucky My Other half is also into steam locos/trains, too!
Hey, Gee Pee, sorry to burst your bubble, but there are no steam excursions this year. The ARA's main steamer, 2-8-0 #18, is down for maintenance/upgrades. Ten Wheeler #14 hasn't run in years, as she needs a soup-to-nuts overhaul, and the ARA isn't exactly rolling in extra dough (sadly).
You're right about the story of the one steamer though. Unfortunately, it's a fireless steam switcher, and I've never heard of it being used to run the excursions. Not sure it can last over the distance. Only a 30-mile round trip, but that combined with the weight of the train may be too much for it. Might be worth a call to check though.
However, all is not lost. They are still running the excursions using their GE 44, 65 and 80 tonners, so there's that, if you're into vintage diesels.
Ulrich - good to see you back. Hope things improve soon for you.
Layout wise - I think I'm getting stuck in a design loop. I keep finding new ideas and new things I want to try out. I suppose it's ok for now since the funding for the supplies keeps going into my truck and the house, but it's still frustrating. I've decided to set myself a hard deadline of November 1 to settle on a design and start prepping the train room for "the big one".
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!
Hey GP Galaxy.....
[edit] Adam beat me to the punch......
Good to hear from you! Hope you know that the Arcade and Attica has taken their Steam locos out of service for this year. Both of them need some repairs and inspections before they can get back up and running so they will be using one of their 44 tonners instead. Too bad as I have riden behind their steamers a few times and just loved it! They should have #18 back in service next season I guess.
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
well looks like Mrs MLC has been invited to come give a seminar on her book at Eastman School of Music in Rochester. I beleive that is Ray's Alma matter. This will take place sometime in October, the seminar has been confirmed but a hard date is not set yet. They will fly her up and put her up in hotel etc. She is majorly excited to be invited to Eastman. I prob won't get to go due to my work and the fact that they will prob only pay for her trip. But hey it is her spotlight not mine.
A different kind of bird showed up on the beach this afternoon.
Tinplate ToddlerThat may be so, but if I am going to die, I don´t want to die hungry!
Bwahaha!
Richard
Kevin,
That is, I believe, a Snowey Egret. They expanded their range almost 30 years ago into our area. A very handsome bird. The big give-away is the chartruse feet.
herrinchokerThat is, I believe, a Snowey Egret. They expanded their range almost 30 years ago into our area. A very handsome bird.
I will second that. We have even seen them in Nebraska in marshy areas.
herrinchokerThe big give-away is the chartruse feet.
You are right about those feet!
I did not get a picture of them, but they sure do stand out! Like a wrecker driver safety vest.
The sunset over the city was very nice today.