Welcome to the August Diner, this time in sunny Mexico

[SeeYou190]

howmus

Sounds like a good reason to live in a small town so I don't have to put up with all the traffic, noise, and other stuff!  Besides, I wouldn't ever want to shop in most of those places anyway.

I only listed the places everyone would know, we also have about 25 local restaurants and dozens of small businesses right close by.

I could not move away from this convenience, but I do enjoy vacations away from it.

The trade-off is real. There is noise and traffic that I need to tolerate. Also, I sometimes get "Grumpy Old Man Syndrome". I have lived in Southwest Florida since 1982. In that time Cape Coral has doubled in size, doubled again, and then doubled one more time. I do have my moments where I rant about how Pine Island Road used to be a two lane road with no traffic, not the six lane parking lot it is now.

I remember when Del Prado Boulevard ended at Diplomat Parkway. Now it goes all the way to the Interstate.

Now that I am at home all of the time, the lawn mowers really get to me. It seems someone is always mowing their lawn, seven days a week.

We should decide on one day that everybody mows!

-Kevin

[howmus]

SeeYou190

but within 10 minutes of my front door I have: 2 Super Walmarts 1 Super Target 2 Home Depots 1 Lowes 1 Northern Tool 2 Walmart Neighborhood Markets 3 Publix Grocery Stores 3 McDonalds 2 Burger Kings 2 Taco Bells 2 Perkins 2 Wendys Plus: Culvers, Arbys, Five Guys, Starbucks, Outback Steakhouse, Dennys, Pollo Tropical, Carraba's, Olive Garden, Chik-Fil-A, Steak-N-Shake, and two movie theaters.

Sounds like a good reason to live in a small town so I don't have to put up with all the traffic, noise, and other stuff!  Besides, I wouldn't ever want to shop in most of those places anyway.....

73

[howmus]

BroadwayLion

the only thing around here is cow droppings.

Well....  Deep subject!  Back when I was growing up on the farm, we used to play football out in the main cow pasture.  The way we played was that you had to run the ball from one end of the pasture to the other end without getting knocked down or steppin' in something!

12

73

[BroadwayLion]

York1

You're a computer expert, so this probably doesn't mean much for you, but for me it was the best thing to happen. My complete computer knowledge is I know where the "on" button is.

 

Well, I set up the prior with a new computer....

But he never found the on button.

When I delivered it, I left it on, and it stayed on until the power went out this morning, and after that he could not start it. Tried to tell me it wasnt working.

The power button is on top of the case, the sem color as the case, perfectly flat, and precission set.  Unless you read the destructions you would never know where it was.

[BroadwayLion]

We have a drug store, a notions shop, a G store and a C-store. The bar was closed. Condemned for leaks and the landlord refused to make repairs.

Other than that Dickinson (Menards, Walmart and a Mac's Hardware) which is 25 miles west of us, or Bismarck (75 miles east of us), the only thing around here is cow droppings.

 

The LION has already eaten the cows.

 

ROAR

[SeeYou190]

York1

Menards often has rebate sales, and sometimes the rebate makes the product "free".  The problem is the rebate is not cash, but a store check that can be used only at Menards.

Hmmm... My wife and I are waiting on over $300.00 in rebates from Menard's after out shopping sprees there in June and July.

I hope it is not a store credit check... or I will be making another trip to the Midwest!

SpaceMouse

We don't have any of those stores here. We have a Home Depot in Cottonwood--30 minutes away.

York1

I know what you mean.  We an hour away from any kind of store, other than Walmart and a grocery store, so I don't get to shop at Home Depot or Menards very often.

A can't leave the city, I really cannot. I don't know how you guys do it.

I think I have said this before, but within 10 minutes of my front door I have:

2 Super Walmarts

1 Super Target

2 Home Depots

1 Lowes

1 Northern Tool

2 Walmart Neighborhood Markets

3 Publix Grocery Stores

3 McDonalds

2 Burger Kings

2 Taco Bells

2 Perkins

2 Wendys

Plus: Culvers, Arbys, Five Guys, Starbucks, Outback Steakhouse, Dennys, Pollo Tropical, Carraba's, Olive Garden, Chik-Fil-A, Steak-N-Shake, and two movie theaters.

My wife thinks it is funny when Home Depot does not have something, and I'm like... "Oh, I guess I need to drive FOUR MINUTES to the Lowes to see if they have it... if not, I will need to drive FOUR MORE MINUTES to get to another Home Depot."

It is fun to say things like "Let's not go to that Perkins, lets go to the good one."

-Kevin

[cudaken]

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, give me and the gang a please and Dirk a dog treat.

 Grand Parnets. Only thing I remeber about her was her hugging me, and laying in state in the family room. Guess she passed when I was around 3 years old. My grand father, I have good and awful memeroys about him. Helping in the garden and watching B&O train yard our the good. Cannot not post the bad, but it as bad!

 Never meet my real father parents. I called them around 25 years ago. Told them who I was and my grand father said " What the He*l do you want!" Told him not a darn thing and hung up!

 Amzaing I did not wind up in a bell tower with a M-16 with my up bringing.

 Got the front yard cut and did some weed wacking. Back yard is still under control. Friday I need to but down a large limb that hangs over where the Road Runner will sit. It is a bout 12" around.

 Later, Ken and Dirk say's we ride in Beep Beep Car daddy? Woof, Woof.

[York1]

SpaceMouse

We have a Hobby Lobby in Prescott, but it is an hour and ten minutes away. Long drive for stuff I can most likely find on Amazon. There are train stores in Phoenix and Tucson, but that a drive into cities. I live onliine mostly. 

 

I know what you mean.  We are an hour away from any kind of store, other than Walmart and a grocery store, so I don't get to shop at Home Depot or Menards very often.  This morning I had a dentist appt in the city, so it was a good excuse to go shopping.

That's my third post in a few minutes.  I'm trying to take over the official "post hog" title.

[SpaceMouse]

SeeYou190

 

 

York1

I just got back from my favorite store -- Menards! 

 

 

That is my favorite store too! I need them to build one in a more reasonable geography.

Maybe it is the forbidden fruit thing. I used to love Trader Joes's, then they built one nearby, and I never go there. Same with Total Wine and Ollie's Discounts.

-Kevin

 

We don't have any of those stores here. We have a Home Depot in Cottonwood--30 minutes away. I miss independent lumber yards. 

We have a Hobby Lobby in Prescott, but it is an hour and ten minutes away. Long drive for stuff I can most likely find on Amazon. There are train stores in Phoenix and Tucson, but that a drive into cities. I live onliine mostly. 

 

[York1]

Post Hog time!

Another Menards story.

My father grew up in the depression, and he could not pass by a bargain.

Menards often has rebate sales, and sometimes the rebate makes the product "free".  The problem is the rebate is not cash, but a store check that can be used only at Menards.

My father couldn't pass it up.  It didn't matter if he needed an item or not.  If the rebate made it free, he bought it.

When he died, I had to clean out his house.  I found dozens of Menards rebate checks.  I got to visit the store quite a few times using that store money.

[York1]

SeeYou190

That is my favorite store too! I need them to build one in a more reasonable geography. Maybe it is the forbidden fruit thing. I used to love Trader Joes's, then they built one nearby, and I never go there. Same with Total Wine and Ollie's Discounts.

 

Last year I went with my son-in-law to a Menards.  He always used Home Depot, and he thought Menards was the same.

He was amazed at what Menards had besides lumber and paint.

In many cases, the prices are better, too.

I'm sure contractors and experts avoid it, but for amateurs like me, Menards is like toy store.

[SeeYou190]

York1

I just got back from my favorite store -- Menards! 

That is my favorite store too! I need them to build one in a more reasonable geography.

Maybe it is the forbidden fruit thing. I used to love Trader Joes's, then they built one nearby, and I never go there. Same with Total Wine and Ollie's Discounts.

-Kevin

[Lastspikemike]

Figuring out which beer is most popular is not about sales of just one brand name.  It's much more complicated to figure out than that.  Over 50% of beer sales in Canada are not Bud (Bud represents only 16% of total sales in fact) and craft beers are so numerous but in such tiny production numbers that they aren't necessarily even counted. 

Beer opinions are dangerous territory, even for the diner....

I like the aphorism:

You can tell a really great beer with just one sip,

But its best to be really sure. 

[howmus]

MisterBeasley

Personally, I am happier sitting in a local brewpub at the bar, with the fermenters right in front of me.

While I don't drink in the pubs usually, Here in the Finger Lakes region of NYS we have several fabulous craft beer brewers locally.  Their product is like Night and Day to the big beer crap out there.  I no longer would buy any of the big name stuff.  Locally brewed is far superiour, at least around here.  Then there are the Finger Lakes Wines which are some of the best in the world!  That reminds me, I need to make a run down to Fox Run soon to replentish my supply!  Maybe stop and pick up some Mead as well.

Hope you all are having a great day.  We are waiting on some dangerous thunderstorms to pass through with hig winds and lots of booming things going on!

In fact it is right now getting quite dark outside.  Best shut down the computer soon and ride it out.  Later!

73

[MisterBeasley]

Surprisingly, Budweiser is NOT the biggest American-owned beer.  Bud, Miller, Coors and others are all owned by foreign conglomerates like InBev.

The largest American-owned beer is actually Sam Adams.

Personally, I am happier sitting in a local brewpub at the bar, with the fermenters right in front of me.  When a brewery gets big and moves to factory scale, the brewers lose touch with the customers.

[York1]

I just got back from my favorite store -- Menards!  Got some materials for a building project in my basement bathroom.  I have put it off for years, so I decided I'd better do this or forget about it.

Another hot day, but a break in the weather is predicted for the weekend.

My paternal grandmother died at age 105.  She was born in 1891 and lived to see cars, airplanes, rockets, radios, TV, computers, etc., during her lifetime.  The last several years, she would love to have us visit, but she would remind me that after we left, she would probably forget we had been there.  She loved quilting while she listened to her Lawrence Welk albums.

 

Lastspikemike

However, the flavour of rice as the sugar source in brewing beer is quite distinctive and generally regarded as unpleasant in Canada. 

In spite of that, the best selling beer in Canada is Budweiser.

https://www.internationalbeerfest.com/the-most-popular-beer-in-canada-the-united-states-united-kingdom-czech-republic-and-australia/

Another surprise (to me) is that the Czech Republic is the top beer drinking country, per capita, in the world.

 

Now that I've posted this, I'm sure someone will post other websites showing I'm completely wrong.  That's OK.  I'm used to it.  I've been married 42 years.

[Lastspikemike]

Generally speaking rice is not malted. The distinctive flavour of Ale or beer made from barley results from the way the starches in barley change when you malt the barley. Beer requires sugar to feed the yeast but is not defined by use of malted barley to generate the sugar. However, the flavour of rice as the sugar source in brewing beer is quite distinctive and generally regarded as unpleasant in Canada. 

Beer tastes are very personal and heated debates among beer aficionados are frequent. Although I rarely turn down the offer of a free beer, regardless of brewing style, I'm pretty sure the highest priced beer will be made from barley malt and no other sugar source. 

[SeeYou190]

gmpullman

It looks like Laura is headed right to where young Mr. Steven (NWP SWP) lives. I wonder how he's doing?

Steven lives in Slaughter, Louisiana, which is Northeast of Baton Rouge, 100 feet above sea level, and well inland. That area is pretty far away from the point of impact. He should be OK. I lived there in 1981-1982 (the worst year of my life).

I cannot find any reports of significant damage in Baton Rouge, and Slaughter is further away from the storm than that. Hopefully he will check in.

-Kevin

[hon30critter]

up831

What if we postpone New England for the October diner?  That's when the foliage is in peak season.

I'm fine with that!

up831

For September, New Mexico might be nice.

Any other opinions?

Dave

[hon30critter]

My paternal grandfather died when I was seven. I liked him a lot and I really missed him when he was gone.

I never met my maternal grandfather but he was still alive long after I was born. What happened was that he picked up syphillis during WWI and by the late 1940s it had taken its toll. He was committed to a veterans' hospital before I was born. Nobody ever spoke about him and I was too young to have any questions. He just wasn't there. I'm not even sure when he died.

Both my grandmothers lived long into old age so I knew them well. My paternal grandmother managed her own farm into her late 80s and had all her marbles when she passed on. My maternal grandmother unfortunately suffered from dementia in her last years. She was still living on her own but managing her became a full time very demanding job for my mom.

Dave

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening,

Well I'm not much of a beer drinker but I do like Alexander Keiths IPA. 

As far as grandfathers go, my paternal grandfather died the about 6 months before I was born but I did have my maternal grandfather for 5 years. I remember him fairly well as he was a very jovial fellow and to me he was very big. He tied my shoes too tight. He was the real CN Charlie as he was with CN police and his name was Charlie. 

I took the car in for a tie rod end replacement. The steering is tighter now so I guess it did need it. It cost $500 with a 4 wheel alignment. I can't really complain too much as the car is 10 years old and I've spent very little on it other than routine maintenance. It is the best car I've ever owned. 

Got the brass J4e Pacific. It has a really nice paint job that looks far newer than its age. The model was built in a run made in 1975. I was going to try it out on the test track but found that the pin on the tender is too close to the front axle to allow the drawbar to fit over it. I'll have to remove the tender truck to get it on. Might just wait until I take it to my brass technician as it will need a can motor installed plus a decoder. 

Glad to hear Lion is ok. 

Garry I sent you a PM. 

Good night all.

CN Charlie

[gmpullman]

up831

I had never heard that Bud was a rice beer.  

From 
Wikipedia:

Introduced in 1876 by Carl Conrad & Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, Budweiser has become one of the largest-selling beers in the United States. The lager is available in over 80 countries, though not under the Budweiser name where Anheuser-Busch does not own the trademark. Budweiser is a filtered beer, available on draft and in bottles and cans, made (unlike the Czech lager) with up to 30% rice in addition to the hops and barley malt used by all lagers.

It looks like Laura is headed right to where young Mr. Steven (NWP SWP) lives. I wonder how he's doing? Hope he gets through this OK.

Cheers, Ed

[BigDaddy]

One grandfather died when I was 4 the other when I was 9.  I only have one mental image of the former.  The later was born in Croatia and would let me ride on the back of the tractor.

Whenever he asked me something, he ended with no?  It's a nice day, no? You are having a good time, no?  Did that mean he thought I wasn't having a good time?  I couldn't figure it out, no one else talked that way in my small world. 

He used to go in the woods and find genseng, which he would sell, make his own wines, knew how to graft various species of apples on to one tree.  And of course mine coal in western PA.  Black lung did him in and I remember he had an atomizer that he used to help him breathe.

It's sad that after the 3rd generation, unless you are someone famous, that people write books about, your existance is all but erased.  My grandchildren are afraid of my mother, because she looks older than anyone they have ever seen.  She is 91 and she looks it.

[SeeYou190]

up831

I had never heard that Bud was a rice beer.  I thought they used barley and hops.

As far as I know, except for Sam Adams Boston Lager & Miller High Life, all the top American beers are brewed with water, hops, barley, rice, and yeast. Sam Adams Boston Lager has no rice (and too much hops).

I am sure there must be others.

From what I understand, most any grain can be brewed into beer, barley just got the good reputation.

There are some excellent wheat beers out there. Corn is used by a few microbreweries in Florida, and I am sure elsewhere.

moelarrycurly4

Just keep my and family in thoughts and prayers

You will be in my thoughts. Good luck.

-Kevin

[hon30critter]

Here is a little Canadian humour:

Montreal police protesting stalled contract negotiations:

Canadian Christmas tree:

Canadian Parcel Delivery:

Lining up at Tim Hortons just like everybody else:

Neighbourhood patrol:

Cheers!!

Dave

[moelarrycurly4]

Guys,

 

I may be absent a few days form here as there are issues I need to tend to. Just keep my and family in thoughts and prayers, I will be peeking in but maybe not posting. 

[gmpullman]

Both my grandfathers died before I was born as well. On my mother's side her dad, Charles, was a stone mason and brick layer, shown here (top row, far right) on a 1930s Cleveland, Ohio, construction site.

Charles Laws_fix-1 by Edmund, on Flickr

My mother always said I got my skills to build things from him. When he was furloughed he would build houses and sell them for extra income. My mother said they were always moving for that reason.

My dad's father, Frances, was station agent, first for the Boston & Maine then the Boston & Albany in Barre Plains, Massachusetts on the Ware River Branch:

Francis X. T., Agent by Edmund, on Flickr

I have that station sign (and his pocket watch) in my collection of memorabilia.

Both grandmothers lived until 1963 (mother's side) and 1984 (dad's).

I hope everyone is well and in safe harbor from the approching hurricane!

Cheers, Ed

[SpaceMouse]

MisterBeasley

MisterBeasley wrote the following post 3 hours ago: I, too, never met my grandfathers, as they were gone before I was born

I was similar. I had a grandmother and grandfather (opposite sides) that died before I was born. I saw my other grandmother once when I was 3. She was sent by my great grandfather to live with us, because she was alcoholic and he didn't want to deal with it any more. She stayed about a week then dided shortly after.

My other grandfather was a missionary in Mexico. I saw him twice, once when he was fund raising, I was 3 at the time. When I was 15, my father and I went to see him. He lived in a small town of Guadalupe which was about 150 miles up the coast mountains from Acapulco. He died a couple years after that. I heard he spoke and read 7 languages and wrote over a hundred books (missionary books) in Spanish and English. 

[moelarrycurly4]

Jim you are thinking of Nickle Creek 

[up831]

Hi Everyone,

Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.

I thought Nickleback was a country trio featuring Chris Thiele, who is a superlative mandolinist.  Had no idea they had gone rock, or is this a different band?  I think I even have a CD of them. 

I had never heard that Bud was a rice beer.  I thought they used barley and hops.  I was a Bud drinker for several years until I discovered Olympia Beer.  Yes, I know it was low rent, but I really liked it.  Funny, we had Coors available since before I was born, but I never liked it.  It had a bouquet reminiscent of stale barf.

After Oly kind of became extinct, I started getting into craft beers preferring medium to full bodied amber ales, malty not hoppy.  Deschutes Mirror Pond and Bass Ale were good choices.  Then in the mid 2000s, I discovered I could no longer drink any beer.  It will put me to sleep, involuntarily.  Too bad!  Hasn't diminished my ability to enjoy wine, though. I think the beer thing has to do with wheat, but it could be something else.  Anyway, about 6 or 7 years ago, I went gluten free and that has helped in a lot of areas.  I do miss pizza though.

What if we postpone New England for the October diner?  That's when the foliage is in peak season.  For September, New Mexico might be nice.  It has the UP/SP, BNSF, Raton Pass, Gallup, which is a big BNSF facility, Hatch - the chili capital, White Sands, Roswell, Taos, and Santa Fe for starters.  Santa Fe is the home of absolutely ridiculous real estate prices, worse than SoCal.