General Discussion (Model Railroader)

 Good morning.

It's 63 and cloudy. The high should be around 70 and there's a chance of rain.

If all goes to plan today will be the day I get the work on the doors of my old Walther's backwoods engine house done. For those who are familiar with this structure you know that it has two doors side by side in the front and they are extremely narrow, more narrow even than a single track tunnel portal on a straight stretch of track. My intention is to remove the section that divides them. This will enable me to run in two tracks from a turnout directly in front of the structure. To place the turnout anywhere else is completely out of the question.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/27/2009

Wind Chill:  63°F
Humidity:  100%
Dew Point:  63°F

So Far Today
High:  64°F
Low:  63°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  16mph S

  Today  High: 72    Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog early in the morning. A 20 percent chance of showers in the afternoon. Warmer. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

  Tonight  Low: 40    A chance of showers in the evening...then rain likely after midnight. Colder. Lows around 40. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Here comes the snow!!!!  So far there is about 2 inchs, and more to come.  4-6 to night (with ice) , and another 2-3 tomorrow. 

Not much going on with me today.  I might work on the layout some more.  I added some grass  and some trees.

I guess I will go watch some snow, and tv.  Not much to do when it snows, but stay inside.

Everybody stay warm.

 @RobbyP

We are supposed to get about 5" also here in South Central PA.  I imagine the kiddos will want another round of sledding :)

@Jeff:

Nice back yard! I must admit that I have a certain amount of envy for the seemingly grand weather those on the swingset are enjoying!

Mornin, a tall irish coffee please Zoe.

Woke up to 16 degrees and 2" of snow outside, with 2 to 3" [starting as some sleet first more forecast for this afternoon and tonight. Considering the all the ice the radar showed down JIM's n GARRY's way, we gotten off purrty good so far this time.

Sorry for not letting anybody know I was sick, but that was about the farthest thing from my or Mothers minds at the time. Since some of you ask, I'll try to tell it without getting long winded. My problems started on 1-9 with a backache when I got up, by afternoon I was down on the couch. Fri was still sore that morning but some better by evening. Sat, back was some better, but my RT leg, hip and groin hurt like H, by afternoon I couldn't hardly get to the bathroom even without help. Sun was worse and went to the docs on Mon. They sent me to the hospital, thinking appendicitis, a large kidney stone, prostrate problems or cancer. X-rays and CT scans showed nothing, blood test showed a little infection and low sodium. Tues after spending the night with IV's hooked up I was a lot better, they sent me home with a bunch of pills. Then by Sat I was down again, but didn't go see doc till Mon, he sent me back to the hospital. More x-rays, CT scans, blood test n IV's. Cancer was ruled out completely [thank GOD], and my prostrate was the same as ruled out, so more test. Wed, doc said he wanted an MRI to check out my back n hip [thinking nerve damage]. Well folks I'm very Closter phobic and me n Mother both told him so. He promised enough drugs I wouldn't care. Well he didn't give me enough, I lasted maybe 2 minutes in that thing and I was getting H out of there. The girl running it had to take my outside for awhile, I was shaking so bad. They like to never got me calmed down even with drugs. Thurs, doc wanted to know if I'd try the MRI again, I said not if I'm still awake. I survived it this time with lots of drugs, a wet washrag over my face and the girl from the night before holding my hand. Fri was good n bad news, good was, I could go home and that no major health problems was causing the pain. Bad, they think it's my arthritis, in my back n hip and I'm not eligible for surgery [which I already knew]. So now I have to see a pain specialist [who's on vacation till next week]. I go back to see my regular doc tomorrow and will learn more about it then. I'm getting along better now with the drugs [3 kinds of Steroids and pain meds] and I still get the shaking in my left hand some times, but I'm able to walk some, sit and fell like doing some chores without hurting to bad.

On the rest the family, Jbird was diagnosed with Juvenal athirst in the leg she broke when she was 1 yr old. KC is allergic to milk now. Jocko has streep throat and Jbirds got it too. now. My sister has skin cancer on the back off her LT ear, she started radiation treatment last week and little brother goes in thur for a new pacemaker/defabulter. I think most everyone else is doing ok so far. 

DICK,,, a very late Happy Burthenday to ya. I didn't think you were that old.

GARRY,,,, we sure enjoyed last summer too and would like to get back down your way again, but we'll just have to wait n see how things go for now, before making any plans.

TODD,,, me n JERRY's about 3 hour S/SE of you in Martinsville [close to 30 m from Terre Haute Ind]. We'd planned on being up by you last Sat, for a grandsons [he lives in Mattoon] wrestling match in Chatom and maybe a trip on into Castle hobby shop. But there wasn't anyway I could make that far and for that long.

Did work on the layout some yesterday and found out I'm short on cork for all the streets by about 2 sq ft, but I can still get a lot of them laid out. Also worked on the park some and almost ready for some ground cover there. I need to find some picnic tables now for along the creek. Won't get anything done today, I'll have the 2 girls here. The other kids have school till noon at least now, till the next snow moves in.

Well I best gets moving KC woke up and Jbirds here. Thoughts n prayers for all those in need and hope ya'll has a gooden  

 Good Morning!

  I'll have the Biscuits and Gravy and 2 pieces of Strawberry pie- to go Zoe.

                   Is anyone going on the Great Southwestern Layout tour in Southern California? JRP and I are going. 

                                                                 Luke

Morning all !

I'm enjoying the beautiful 70 degree day

Supposed to turn cold tomorrow with ice storms to the north of us

All headed to the midwest Sorry Guys !

I finished my 3 miners houses and put them on a dirt road near the mine

 @Terry:

I am jealous of the weather and of your talent!  Excellent job on those houses!

Robby, Robby, Robby,

You say snow that like it's a good thing.

We are expecting 4-8" here. I don't so much care about the snow as I do want it to warm up so the durn bathtub drain unfreezes.

Hawaii is looking mighty good, but prices are going up from here on out for awhile. Jan was relatively cheap, If we had the $$ we might have gone back. But now for Feb prices have doubled. It doesnt matter since we cant afford it, but sure would be nice.

have a great day and have a big piece of CAKE!

Ohhh, wait I'm gonna have some COOKIES!

I guess you can blame that on me being form NC.  I use to love when it snowed (or a dusting down there).  I love to see it fall, but after awhile it gets old.  I have lived in PA almost 3 years now, and I am still not use to the snow.  The weather guy said it has snowed (or a trace) 23 out of 27 days so far. 

I know ya'll NY people think 4 inchs is not much, but to me thats ALOT!!!  My wife still laughs at me.  Shes was born and raised here in Pa.  I would have to get her to drive me around in the snow down in NC when we lived there.

I hope we get what they are calling for, but I don't like to see family members having to be out in it.

Inch- Glad you only got the snow. I know what you mean on the back. That is almost the same reason I was "retired" Long explanation as to why (maybe someone out there is familiar with and "Excepted Technician" in the government). Mine was treated with phys. therapy to realign verts that were pinching and Old Arthur Itis picked a bad spot to live. Luckily I just have to watch what I do, mainly how I move. I got the excersises and all so I just do  few of those for a bit and drop some Tylenol til then and zippity doo I'm off again. Til I sit up wrong, bend wrong reach for my coffee wrong. Like the wife has told me I do a lot of things wrong!!

Think I'll paint the ground today. Didn't get the snow overnight we were supposed to get so may have to get out today.That wouldn't be to awful bad. This is Tues so FLHS is open. Maybe if I gotta go into town . Might supposed to get another 1" or so today but haey they said 2" last night by this morn.not complainig though.

Kinda worried about Jim and Garry. Haven't heard from them this morn. The weather channel is in Paducah and I think Cape G. Looks to be not good. John I think you were talking about potential power outs. But by the time it takes me to type. And then go remove all the extra letters and add the ones that didn't type. Re-arrange the letters and re-arrange the spacings. All the missing people may have checked in and are Okee dokee. Let's hope.

Todd

 Good Morning, Zoe, Diners! Looks like a smaller crowd in here this morning so far, but growing. Oh, Zoe, I'll have a glass of Ed's OJ, cup of coffee, and one of those breakfast omelettes (hold the peppers, though), and some toast with blackberry jam (the non-electronic kind ). Thanks!

Had some glitches with my connection (probably not the forum software, for a change).

No power outages here overnight, but they had some 30-60 miles or so to the south of Cape. South of us got more ice, too, so that's why their power is out. In Cape, we're at 26 F and a wind chill of 15 F (about where the temps were around the evening news last night). The area near my apartment building isn't as vulnerable for ice-based outages, because most of the buildings I see around us have underground lines into the buildings. Also, our power substation is just over on the other side of the hill, to the west of us, and it's rarely (if ever) lost power.

Now, as for our roads.... - another matter there! Finally got the word that our medical director (Dr.) told the CEO and nurses that we would be closed today. My immediate supervisor told me that, but said she hasn't heard from our clinical director so far. Were I a bettin' man, my money would be on: "We're closed, folks!" Our morning weather guy said we got 2 inches of sleet/slush last night, and that there's more to come through the day. Hopefully, Garry's or our Illinois Diners' areas not getting as much of the slippery stuff. Hey, I'll take snow over ice about any day... (sorry 'bout your pipes, though, Galaxy)

Terry - great job on those miners' shacks (and the road looks great - nice touch, with that slight curve).

Today may be a great day to get some MRR'ing work in, so I'm hoping for some progress on a building or two in the day's effort. I'll get outside and scrape some of the ice off later, maybe see what the roads are like. (I'm used to more northerly weather, having grown up in the St. Louis area)

I'll be drinking my juice and coffee, and warming up by the wood stove while I wait for my breakfast.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

galaxy:

Ohhh, wait I'm gonna have some COOKIES!

Did someone say COOKIES? 

Mornin' everyone!

I'm pulling a BC this morning and typing with a cat in one arm...... My little 18lb. Blackie has decided that it is time to be cuddled.  He will climb up on my shoulder (digging his back claws into my stomach) and nuzzle.  Then he will either lick or bite my nose, depending on how excited he is......  This one has a couple really cute habits.  One is sticking his tongue out, the other is when I pet him, he pets my shoulder.  Actually draws his paw across my shoulder imitating what I am doing to him.

Chloe I'll have that cookie that is on the plate all by itself and a mug of dark roast coffee in an FGLK mug.  Thank you!

Have some errands to run so I will catch up with all of you later. 

Morning folks!

Chloe, I'll have the Lumberjack Special today and some of Ed's Fresh Squeezed good to the last drop fresh from the SOTB orange groves OJ.Oh...and be sure to warm up that maple syrup too please....

We find out today the outcomes from all the tests and the course of action for my dad. Fingers crossed for it to be manageable and curable.

Saw a show about Pink Floyd on VH1 Classic last night, funny how one of their new producers asked..."So which one's Pink?" 

Eric, thoughts and prayers for both your mom and dad. 

Paul W. Beverung:

Afternoon Gang: Page 69 was spread out as wide as the Mississippi. I think that it was Ryan's post with all the pictures. If I eat all that food my waist will be that wide for sure.

Paul, you noticed the "bloat" too eh! It is the MR forum stripping out my code to set the image width="100" pixels and then renders the images the original size. I have fixed the issue by resizing the images to 100 pixel width before linking them into the diner menu table code. No bloated menu today.....

Jim, thanks for the heads up on the CBS News and the cat story, I have it recorded and will watch later. Animals are a great therapy. And good luck with the snow and weather!

CN Charlie, interesting about the stamp collection. I have a couple boxes full of FDC's and USPS sheets that I collected over the years and a few older US stamps. I wonder if it holds any value at all.

TMarsh:

Ryan- Do you think you could put that Crawfish Monique on the menu sometime? That sounds delicious!

Sure enough Todd! Will add the Crawfish Monique to one of the daily special menus this week! Oh, and I will link it to the recipe too!

gear-jammer:

Ryan is teasing us with his fancy cooking again.  The scallops sound so great.

Sue

Sue, and they were great! No teasing, just sharing...and to prove it...you can make em too! Here is the link to the recipe for Butter-Fried Sea Scallops from one of my favorite foodie blogger friends Jessie, The Hungry Mouse. BTW, she lives near Dick's stomping grounds in the Boston, MA area.

Jeff, the playground looks quiet and peaceful this morning! 

Mike, sorry to hear about all the health issues, hope you all get better real soon. Thoughts and prayers going your way! 

Terry, that mining camp is great!

I see some blustering winter weather is heading in again for some of us....so without further ado here is the daily special menu with some navy bean soup to warm the cockles inside for all of my diner bud's....

Today's Lunch and Dinner Specials at the Trackside Diner
Soup du Jour ~		c $3.95 b$4.95
	Old Fashioned Navy Bean Soup
From the Grill ~		$7.95
	Grilled Sirloin Steak
Diner Special ~		$5.95
	Shrimp Creole
Blue Plate Special ~		$5.95
	Spaghetti Bordelaise
Dessert ~		$3.95
	Warm Apple pie a la mode
Just let Floe, Jeanie or Chloe put it on your virtual tab! Or, if your lucky the TOP honorary poster will cover it for you!

Hi everyone,  Chloe just a coffee for right now.  Busy at work.  I'll stop back later.

Eric

  Oh--Chloe, can I get a cheeseburger and a large coke please--Thanks.

I'm having some fun with 'Spring'--he insists he must have my CN caboose so everytime I put it on the track I get this ---MIC--MIC--MICMIC clicking jaw business then a leap on to the track and stalking bit going---I always--so far--get to the cabeese before he does though-----heeheehee

JIM; glad to see you in here. I was starting to wonder---

I'm going  back to the trainroom--I hear a MICMIC coming from the little one---