Good morning from snowville.
The snow stopped at about 45cm and now we have a freezing rain warning for the next 36 hours. With last summer's drought and heat stress, the trees are not doing well with just the snow, can't wait to see what the weight of freezing rain will bring.
Had to go pick up the future DIL at 2300hrs last night, another two-hour round trip. She is supposed to have today off but when you are the store manager there is no such thing. I parked the Toyota inside so if the truck is a block of ice I can just hop in that.
I don't usually eat unless I am hungry but I woke up starving after my shoveling yesterday so a big feed of bacon and eggs is first on the agenda.
John, like you I have glasses all over the house, mine are from Costco. It is funny how so many pairs end up on my desk here. I have to do a re-distribution run sometimes.
Well best get at it.
Along the lines of Lions' cool photo.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
Bear and TF, I don't wear glasses, but I use reading glasses for anything closer than three feet. I got so tired of losing glasses that I bought a bunch of them from the grocery store. They had a rack of the glasses, three for two dollars. I have the glasses stashed all over the house and in the car. I'm slowly going through them all -- I've sat on a pair, dropped a pair in the toilet, lost a pair in the yard, etc. Now, the last time I looked at the store, they no longer sell them. Walmart has them for $5.00 each, which is way too high for me. Maybe I can make the ones I have left last until I'm done.
Have a good one, diners.
Thailand:
At the market beside the railway, Bangkok by antony5112, on Flickr
York1 John
Good morning
PUR-FECT!
And Thanks for the Cold One Bear!
It's quite incredible how I've looked around the house more than a time or two, for my glasses, while they're clipped on my shirt, or on top of my head...
I've evan asked my Judy, Where's my glasses? ..... and she said, they're on the top of your head, where you last put them, so you don't lose em ya idiot!
TF
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Strong words by Bear, on Flickr
Queensland Sugar Cane Trains by Corey Gibson, on Flickr
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Same here.
My Grandmother Edith would go through all the names, before she started to say what she was saying
PS That was a bit of a tear jerker.
Can't check that ear very well Brent, that one Rings kind of Loud, but I'll check the other one tomorrow
Track fiddler Did expect a little more Sparkle today, as a wish for the other two pencils to hit the floor Tf
Did expect a little more Sparkle today, as a wish for the other two pencils to hit the floor
Tf
Check your other ear.
My Grandmother used to rattle off the name of every grandchild before getting the right one. I find myself doing that with all our dogs now.
Good afternoon from a snowy Pacific Rim.
We are at 40 cm and it is still coming down. I have shoveled the 126' long driveway four times and will go do it again shortly. Every year I keep saying I will buy a snow blower for the John Deere, but never do. Oh well the Garmin says I have burned 5100 calories so far. Shoveling snow goes a long way in the blubber control department, however, at 10% body fat I don't have any to control and have already had two huge meals.
I drove my future DIL to her store. She is 23 and manages a pretty large grocery store for a large chain we all know. That was a two-hour round trip which normally would have taken 40 minutes. I have to go back and get her @2300hrs. No scotch for me tonight, well maybe when I get home.
David, glad to hear the surgery went well and you are back home safe.
John, about your power fluctuations, have you ever checked the house power to make sure all is steady on that front?
Mike, the Estate you are referring to is still in the hands of the CRA (Canadian Revenue Agency) I am 100% behind them being so thorough as it was a mess and very suspicious from a legal standpoint. I am keeping the beneficiary completely in the loop and have had no issues with them four years in.
I had good friends come over last night and they have a real nightmare on their hands with three generations with no wills, millions of dollars in property all over the Province and most everyone is deceased. They wanted to know how it would likely play out as the Government is already seizing some of it for unpaid taxes. I think at this stage of their lives they will likely walk away. They are in line for almost all of it, however, the cost and time frame to clean things up is a non-starter for two mid-sixties near-retirement individuals. My wife ran the list of properties through Provincial assessment while we chatted and they totaled North of twenty million.
Think I'll pound down a Mocca and head back out as another 10cm has fallen while I have been sitting here.
It is so quiet outside you can hear the snowflakes hitting the ground.
Evening
Ya that was it John, and the highlight of my day.
Lost my .08 mm pencil among the three others doing trim today. 3, ...How can one do that?
Did you ever run around your construction sight for 5-10 minutes wondering where your other pencil was?
Swear to the good Lord above, I've been losing it since I've turned 60 guys
Did find that pencil though, after it fell out from behind my ear and hit the floor
NorthBrit Saw an idiot had parked their car denying wheelchair access!! Then afterwards a woman walking her two children home on the road, then crossed the road directly in front of me without looking. David
Saw an idiot had parked their car denying wheelchair access!! Then afterwards a woman walking her two children home on the road, then crossed the road directly in front of me without looking.
David
Middle grandson was in hospital this morning and home by 11.30am after surgery.Collected grandchildren from school and took them home. Saw an idiot had parked their car denying wheelchair access!! Then afterwards a woman walking her two children home on the road, then crossed the road directly in front of me without looking. Had I knocked them down I would have been guilty.
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning.
TF, that's pretty neat to see that kind of sun dogs.
David, it's good to hear your grandson's surgery went well.
Jim, I know what you mean about the temps. This morning we were 10°F, and it felt so much warmer. Unfortunately, we get more snow tomorrow, and by tomorrow night, we'll be back down in the minus 20s. Some day, we may make it above freezing.
On the layout front, I made a discovery that I'm sure most of you already know.
I use several different power sources for the layout. I have an NCE DCC control for the trains. For some of the arduino things I've done, I use a 12 volt converter, and for some other lighting and things, I use several other sources.
The other day, while powering up the new streetcar, I was having issues, so I decided to use my voltmeter to see if I could track down the problem.
I found that one power source said output 12 volts, but when I tested it, it was closer to 9 volts. So I decided to test them all. Every power source that was on cheap wall warts had voltage output all over the map.
I guess I need to replace those all with some better, regulated power sources. After working on a layout for five years, it's probably something I should have looked at long before now. Learning!
Have a great day, everyone.
Vietnam:
Locomotive, gare d'Hô Chi Minh City, Vietnam . by vomincho, on Flickr
Seen one of those Snow Dogs on the way home yesterday John. It was one of those fancy rainbow ones. Sorry, didn't have my camera ready.
A camera never did give any justice to a natural phenomena like that anyway, as seeing it through your own eyes
But the Canadian musical group does a number like that.
Geddy Lee was always a bit nuts in the way he played his bass in-between his keyboards. Perhaps he must have thought it was just a regular guitar.
Hi Everyone,
We're still in the freezer here, right next to the frozen meatballs. The Apple weather app says it's supposed to get up into the 20's by next Thursday, so another week of this. Personally, I think of anything below 20 degrees F as all the same,...its cold! But, 20F down to -10F is a 30 degree temperature difference. If we were to transfer that to the other end, that's the difference between 70F to 100F. Of the two, I'll take the heat any day. Of course, one must factor in humidity to have a complete picture.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good Morning Diners. Janie, coffee and a cinnamon roll please.
Interesting evening yesterday. I was in the middle of running some errands after work when my wife texted me that she had just gotten home and the heat wasn't working in the house. Great. I told her where the space heaters were and that I would be home soon. 10 degrees outside and no heat, with two sick family members. Sure enough, our boiler was flashing a code that it couldn't ignite or sense a flame. Called an HVAC company when I got home and was told they are too busy to help new customers. Yikes! Called a second and they sent someone right over thank goodness. Turns out talking to the guy that they had the same no new customer policy unless they weren't busy (they were swamped too) but apparently fate smiled upon us last night. He determines it was the igniter, but says they don't normally work on my brand of boiler so doesn't think they will have one for it. He heads to their shop and returns about 5 minutes later with the igniter. Thank heavens. I was happy to pay him and gave him a tip for both helping us out and being prompt about it. Besides, he was at our house after their closing time and still had one more call to go to. I know he gets paid for it, but he stayed late to help us when they could have said no. I'll certainly be calling them today and setting them up to come out for an annual service from here on out, if for no other reason that to keep us from being a "new" customer should we have a problem again.
Brent, good luck with your weather adventures. They house I grew up in was on a not very populated road, so we were always one of the last ones plowed out. As a kid I didn't mind it, but my mom sure wasn't happy about it! Speaking of pushing papers, are you all done with that estate you had to handle?
Cheers guys!
Mike
Good morning!NKP #761 at "NR" Interlocker (Osborn IN)
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Chloe.
No snow, but a hard frost.
Middle grandson is undergoing surgery on his mouth.
Other than that, a quiet day.
edit: Just heard, grandson is out of surgery. All is well.
Track fiddlerEvening
Yep!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good morning all from the wintery West Coast.
The weatherman on the tube says we will get hammered through Thursday with snow, freezing rain, then back to snow. Yesterday, I filled the empty gas cans and made sure the generator started, as well as the chainsaws. Freezing rain always means trees down on the road and, we are low-priority for getting help in that department. The wife loaded up at Costco as my son and his GF are coming to stay as their work commitments are closer to where we are. Besides they have two useless vehicles as far as snow goes so I will likely have to drive his GF to work.
Tow ropes are in the truck for trees and neighbours who get stuck.LOL.
John, thanks for reminding me of the Amp meter in the NCE controller. I didn't look at it when I ran trains the other day but will next time. I had nine locos going on Sunday with no issues whatsoever. 2 RDCs, 2 Hudsons, 2 D-10s, 3 F-Units. Four trains in all and once I had the speeds set they ran with little fear of an unfortunate interaction. LOL.
TF, no worries my friend just let me know when I stray off course. Like I said, I chat on here as if you were sitting in my living room and that probably comes across differently on the forum as it would talking in person. No more bragging about driving a 24-year-old truck. LOL.
I must admit I am jealous of Ed's John Deere tractor especially all the attachments he has for it. It's 10 times the size of mine. I am not sure the dog could reach the pedals though.
I am a very matter-of-fact type of person and do not sugarcoat anything. People phone my sister and my wife asking them if they think it would be alright to ask me for advice on things I know a little bit about. They always say sure, but don't expect warm and fuzzy.
I have to push a little bit of paper at the desk here and then it is out with the dog for a scoot as it has warmed up to -5c. I am quite restless to get a few km under my belt.
Mr B got the beer and cat food out for Whiskey and Snowflake?
The cats will be singing tonight!
York1 Our state patrol and local police had an interesting night. Last evening after dark, three semis collided on the interstate about three miles south of our house. One of the trucks was loaded with cattle, which got loose. The patrol closed about 15 miles of interstate until they could round up the animals.
Our state patrol and local police had an interesting night. Last evening after dark, three semis collided on the interstate about three miles south of our house. One of the trucks was loaded with cattle, which got loose. The patrol closed about 15 miles of interstate until they could round up the animals.
"My kingdom for a horse!"
Our snow turned out to be just a dusting, and even that was all gone by morning. I did get out for beer, and cat food for Whiskey and Snowflake.
I do remember the time we got caught up in that "bomb cyclone" thing, another invented term to keep people watching the weather until the power went out. Fortunately, we were in Maine at a resort. They know how to deal with snow there. The parking lot was plowed and we drove out to a fine little breakfast place in town.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good morning, diners.
The surgery yesterday was a little unsettling for us. The surgeon wouldn't say much other than he wanted an appointment with us in two weeks. My wife feels great -- just not anxious to wait two weeks to hear what she assumes will be bad news.
I was happy to get my walk this morning at the college field house. The elevated track is nice to walk on, and the college track team practicing below gives me something to watch while I walk. I'm very thankful the university lets me in to use the facility.
The good news today -- this afternoon we get out of minus F temperatures. We are getting a high of 6°! First time in five days to be above zero.
Meanwhile, all the people traveling through tried to get around the mess by using county roads. Unfortunately, the county roads were all still drifted shut from the 18 inches of snow and high winds. The police spent the night rescuing people from their stuck cars and hauling the people to motels. This morning, the towing companies will be making a lot of money.
I hope everyone has a great day.
Vietnam by Hugh Dickson, on Flickr
John: We got over 8" of snow, it quit, then added another inch or two later. Then, as expected, the temperature dropped like a rock and we're now in sub-zerofor the last couple of days, and it's supposed to stay like that into next week.
Yesterday, I cleaned off the other car and tried to get it started to no avail. This was in midday when it was "warmest" and had best chance of starting. Well, had to go get a new battery because my wife needed the car today to babysit our granddaughters. Paid a towing service to install it and we got it done before dark. If I had tried to install it, I would have been 3 weeks from Tuesday trying to gat the right wrench (es) and any other tools needed. I stood there and held the flashlight. It was cold!
Thats my little escapade. Cold as it was, my wife now has a brand new battery and she should be safe for awhile.
Good morning again
That's how long it takes to post from a phone anymore. No longer than get done hitting the submit button, and here's Buster Keaton over coffee this morning
Good thing Lions like him too
Thanks Mike, haven't got to any of the preferred projects this Winter yet. I'd certainly like to do so, as soon as possible.
It's COLD just like everyone else here, but we've only had two or three dustings of snow. Stillwater doesn't have any, so Afton Alps Ski Resort made some snow for them. How neighborly is that? Now they can still have their annual Snow Sculpture event.
One of these years I'd like to enter, and do a neat Steamer, maybe a 4-4-0 might be fun.
Have a great Taco Tuesday gentleman
Track fiddlerPrayers, thoughts, and best wishes come from our home here. Hopefully help with a tougher road ahead. I'm thinking of you in the weeks ahead Ed.
Thanks, TF! I went to my second radiation therapy 'simulation' yesterday. At least they didn't have to give me three more tatoos, they can use the three they already gave me back in November. I have THIRTY SEVEN daily radiation doses coming up!
Wilson would have loved to meet you and invite you to his caboose for a round of cold ones!
Wilson on patrol by Edmund, on Flickr
Buster Keaton, before CGI — how did he accomplish this without getting killed?
Cheers, Ed