Good morning diners! Flo, I'll have a glass of chocolate milk and a Bavarian long John please. Thanks all for the birthday wishes! This year was one of the nicest birthdays I've had in a while. I was up most of the night smoking a couple pork butts for tonight's pulled pork. They turned out great, but man am I sleepy. Fireworks were going off like mad in our neighborhood last night too. Lots of rain forecasted for tonight, so I'm guessing that's why there was such a show last night. My oldest goes in for surgery number three tomorrow. New doctor, new hospital, hopefully new (better) result. Later gents.
Mike
MisterBeasley We live in a summer resort community, and after a couple of years of lockdowns things are open again and the traffic is often a nightmare, particularly on weekends.
We are a Winter resort community, and I understand. We had a long time without season residents or tourists, and it was nice. This past Winter was quite a struggle with traffic, crowding, and attitudes we has not seen for a while.
Here we are five weeks into Hurricane Season 2022, and not one single named storm. Yesterday a couple of news outlets have changed their predictions for the year. The original prediction was "we are all going to die", but that has been revised to "most of us are probably going to die" which I guess is better.
The best feature I have added to my living room:
I installed a little niche into the wall right by my spot on the couch where I can set my beer!
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
I think this will be a huge improvement on our movie snuggle nights.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Yeah, pretty low key for us as retirees, too. We had some friends over for a cookout on Friday, and last night we listened to fireworks across the way without even seeing them. We live in a summer resort community, and after a couple of years of lockdowns things are open again and the traffic is often a nightmare, particularly on weekends.
Yes, we've become Early Bird Special people, although you won't even find those here in the summer. We go early to beat the crowds and take advantage of Happy Hours. But, these long weekends are still just for buying from the store and doing some home cooking.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good morning, diners. It's a hot and humid July 4th. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please, Flo.
Happy anniversary, Charlie. Without details, I understand, too.
When you're retired, holidays aren't quite what they were when working. However, the grass needs cutting, and it's not getting done today since it's a holiday.
Our neighbors just got back from attending a wedding in California, and they took the California Zephyr. They had a bedroom, so they really enjoyed the trip. The only negative was lots of stops and delays.
The Stockton, California, station is the old Santa Fe station. Today Amtrak uses it.
I hope everyone has a great day.
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."
SeeYou190I'll take Florida heat over that any time.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
At midnight here the sky just erupted with fireworks. I guess it was offically the fourth, and time to let it go.
I am caulking around all the baseboards and door frames in the living room right now. Lots of work, but not much visible progress.
The World Is A Beautiful Place
Time to get back to work...
Happy 4th of July to all my southern neighbours! I hope everyone has a good time!!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Evening,
We were supposed to have showers and cloud today but it was sunny and about 70F.
Was our 40th anniversary today but no celebration. I won't go into the details except to say I live in the basement and she lives upstairs.
Didn't do anything all day.
For those south of the border, have a nice fourth and be careful with all those fireworks.
CN Charlie
SeeYou190Mine too. The weather is predicting very heavy rains tomorrow evening, so I think a lot of people just decided to send them up tonight. -Kevin
All the shooting fireworks are stopping, and we're having nature's fireworks starting. The big storm is about a half hour away.
With the diner visiting California, the news obviously has to be the new high speed rail project. Even with all the cost overruns, mismanagement, and corruption, the sections built so far are impressive:
York1We are having great fireworks shows right now in our neighborhood.
Mine too.
The weather is predicting very heavy rains tomorrow evening, so I think a lot of people just decided to send them up tonight.
We are having great fireworks shows right now in our neighborhood. I'm not sure where they are buying these things, but these aren't the kind of fireworks you can buy down at the legal fireworks stands.
Lots of money is going up in smoke. It's a lot of fun to watch and listen to.
Daisy the Deaf Dachshund is sleeping through it all.
up831On the Fourth of July, my dad and I would go up to my grandparents farm. There I would meet up with my cousins and we would each have about 1000 firecrackers. We would spend the entire day blowing up things and shoot off the firecrackers. When evening came, the grownups would come out and my cousins and I would shoot off all the night works. All were entertained.
Hi up831,
My earliest memories of fireworks were at my grandparents' farm too. My dad and my brother were both members of the Canadian Armed Forces Ontario Regiment Reserves. Somehow, a few artillery simulators managed to find their way to the farm. They scared the pants off of me! I had never experienced anything so loud!! Made the 'Burning Schoolhouse' look pretty lame!
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, a glass of Pinot noir, please.
getting in the spirit of the fourth, my favorite holiday and some of my fondest memories growing up.
On the Fourth of July, my dad and I would go up to my grandparents farm. There I would meet up with my cousins and we would each have about 1000 firecrackers.
We would spend the entire day blowing up things and shoot off the firecrackers. When evening came, the grownups would come out and my cousins and I would shoot off all the night works. All were entertained.
Good times.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
dti406I think the wind and humidity in Ohio contributed to the feeling of coldness.
Cold is definitely not the same everywhere. Up in the mountains with snow I am not really uncomfortable, but in Indiana, same temperature, and snow, it just seems bone-numbing cold. A very different feeling.
The biggest weather lie I have ever heard is that "dry heat" nonsense people spill about Arizona and New Mexico. They say, sure it is hotter than in Florida, but it is a dry heat, so it is not as bad.
Big giant lie. I have been in Arizona and New Mexico when it was over 100 degrees worth of dry heat. The heat is punishing, you sunburn instantly, and your throat gets instantly parched.
I'll take Florida heat over that any time.
Attuvian1 SeeYou190 Maybe today's elderly are better at handling cold weather? -Kevin Not so, Kevin. Long before I was old I came out to Oregon from Michigan to attend grad school. Never minded Michigan winters, even below zero. Was out here for a year and a half before I went back for Christmas. Promptly froze to death! Amazed at how quickly I got declimatized. Has only gotten worse with age, though. As for dealing with extremes, folks chuckle when I remind them that if it gets cold, you can always put more on. But if it gets hot, you can only take so much off! It may get a laugh, but no sympathy. I can no longer deal with extremes of all sorts. John
SeeYou190 Maybe today's elderly are better at handling cold weather? -Kevin
Maybe today's elderly are better at handling cold weather?
What is a sort of funny parallel is we moved to Alaska for about 8 years where the average winter temperature was a high of 10 and a low of -5. One winter we went back to Ohio for Christmas with the families and I was colder in Ohio than I ever was in Alaska, even when it went to -40. I think the wind and humidity in Ohio contributed to the feeling of coldness.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
York1As kids my brothers and I would spend our hard-earned money on fireworks -- now I don't buy any. Our neighbors buy enough for everyone on our street.
When we lived in North Fort Myers, I used to shoot off lots of fireworks every New Year.
Now, where I live in Cape Coral, my neighbors are like yours. There is so much action here that I don't buy anything.
York1The diner has a great California Breakfast Egg Scramble Skillet breakfast for everyone this morning.
Thanks, that was perfect!
Good morning, diners. Just black coffee this morning -- it's donut day.
I went outside to walk the dog this morning and it was very foggy -- that's unusual for us.
In our town, fireworks are allowed for the week before July 4th. Last night, it sounded like a war zone. Evidently the supply chain problems didn't affect the import of fireworks from China.
My father loved loud fireworks. He would buy a bunch in July and then would shoot them on New Year's Eve. It was one of the few things he did that would bug my mother.
As kids my brothers and I would spend our hard-earned money on fireworks -- now I don't buy any. Our neighbors buy enough for everyone on our street.
I'll try to check in later today. We're off to church, then we have some other things going on, so there won't be any train time today.
California is such a beautiful state. Here is an Amtrak train heading through California's wine country:
Have a good Sunday everyone.
Edit -- Top of the Page! The diner has a great California Breakfast Egg Scramble Skillet breakfast for everyone this morning.
California —
WP_CZ by Edmund, on Flickr
CZ_domes by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
I guess we need a Publix store here along with Smithfield Bacon. I'm still paying over $8.00 a pound for bacon here. Of course, we live in a small town with a small grocery store. Everything costs more than bigger cities' grocery stores.
Star Trek is on, and then time for bed.
Just had a great surprise on the way home. I have been craving a good BLT, so I stopped at Publix for the ingrediants.
Smithfield Bacon was $5.00 per pound, buy-one-get-one-free! Yes! $2.50 per pound of bacon. This is great news.
I am eating a BLT, and I am so happy.
Near Pinole, California:
SP_Extra6051_4-27-85 by Edmund, on Flickr
Sunset Limited by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
York1Now, some of them want to leave.
We are losing our retirees at an alarming rate. It used to be "the thing" to retire to Florida. Now very few new retirees are moving here. No where near enough to replace the ones we lose due to normal attrition.
Some of the retirees that are here are leaving, and many of the seasonal retirees are selling their "Winter Homes" and just enduring the Winters back at home.
Good morning, diners. California dreaming.
When I was a kid, quite a few uncles, aunts, and cousins moved to California -- everything seemed better there.
Now, some of them want to leave.
The Capitol Corridor is a passenger line running between San Jose and Placer County. This is the Davis station, one of the stops on the line.
I'm staying in the layout room today. It's hot and humid outside.
Have a great day, everyone.
Time for bed. I have had a very good day, and I am looking forward to tomorrow.
SeeYou190 KANSAS! It's like Arkansas, but without the "AAHHHRRRRR", so pirates can't find it. -Kevin
It's like Arkansas, but without the "AAHHHRRRRR", so pirates can't find it.
Fun fact we heard from when our club in OK used to go to a meet in Arkansas City Kansas. It is illegal in Kansas to pronounce either the river or Arkansas City as "Arkansaw" conversely it is illegal in Arkansas to pronounce the state as "ArKansas" Anyhow on to CalIFornIA....wait that's not right either.
Jim
Hope all my fellow Canucks had a good Canada Day. It was nice here but only about 70F. Did a pork tenderloin on the grill. Was really good.
California sounds nice. I was there once, in 1995 for 4 days in November. We visted San Fransisco.
Nothing much new here.
Good evening, diners. It's another warm evening outside, so it's time for a big bowl of ice cream.
Kevin, that's a good point. Maybe we can convince some forum posters from California who don't normally eat at the diner to join us.
Fifty years ago some college friends and I took a winter break trip to California. Not sure if I really thought the sea would part:
One of the great stations, this is Union Station in Los Angeles. It served Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Santa Fe:
Have a good evening, everyone.