General Discussion (Model Railroader)

 I've FINALLY gotten onto the forums after 4+ hours....

Had a tough time getting into the Diner this evening. Now than I've made it, how about a large Chocolate Brownie Delight with all the toppings. Thanks!

Will pass along the kind birthday wishes to Barbara. Although she doesn't drop in here, she's heard about most of you.

Tuckered out so calling it a night.  Rob

Hi, kids....I mentioned that I'd come back here with a report on how things went, ordering a bunch of bluebox Athearn items, and so forth, from the San Diego online outfit called Hobby Central: 

I'd asked for about 14 items, and was relieved to tear into the box (which showed up via UPS exactly six days after I made the order) like it was Christmas morning, and find the exact lineup of stuff I'd expected. 

Man, its fun to see IN YOUR HAND, something you've seen only in MRR or catalogs, since you were eleven years old.  I held up the State of Maine boxcar (the only RTR item I bought, as they no longer offer it as a kit) to my wife, expecting her to really admire it, given it has so much COLOUR to it, unlike the tuscan red of the rest of what came.  She rolled her eyes. 

I've salivated for that lousy boxcar, since I first saw it in the 1960 Athearn catalog, for $1.89  Its now $14 (seven times as much) almost 50 years later....which, really, in comparative terms, isn't that bad: I recall a 5 pack of Juicy Fruit gum, back then, running FIVE CENTS...and while I haven't bought ANY gum for several decades, I betcha it now has only THREE pieces and is a buck twenty-five. 

Meantime, instead of earning 50 cents an hour working in my stepfather's neon sign shop (being why I didn't spring for that $1.89 then) I just worked out that I now earn 178 times that wage, each hour, today.  (So, maybe its better I DID wait, eh?) 

AND ALSO MEANTIME: I'm still waiting for some word that the WALTHERS order I did at that same time, is going to actually HAPPEN. 

Good evening.  I had a great evening at the rockgym.  I will check in tomorrow.

Sue

blownout cylinder:

All kinds of stuff including my dad's collection of old geological books from the 1880's as well as a few-- trying to explain these--Alchemical things from as far back as the 1560's or thereabouts--most of these are leather bound tomes(large books) as well as folio types of things. Also have a couple of Aubrey Beardsley folios published  in 1898 or so(there is a few of these in here from different publishers)

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

Morning Zoe, I see it's still quiet in here, a bit early, the sun isn't up yet here by the sea.  Zoe, I'll have  decaf (coffee good, caffine bad) before I head to work, Thanks!

How come people have problem getting on this forum or is it just this thread?  Things were a bit slow but I figured it was the browser,  All my sites were slow.  Also, I've never had any 'time out' issues.  Could it be the ISP and that bandwidth rate capacity thing?

I was hoping to do some kind of train stuff this weekend but it looks like I have to head to the homestead again.  Things are not going to well with either parent.

Time to head out to work, Eric

 Good morning.

It's just below freezing here at 31 and it's cloudy. The high is expected to be in the high 50's and it will be partly cloudy. Friday is coming into view and will soon be in torpedo range!

 Well I went camera shopping yesterday. I looked at the ones at Walgreen's but none were set up for demonstration so I went over to Wal-Mart. Try as I might I couldn't find the Kodak Easy-Share 713. The Kodak Easy-Share 813 was on display however so I tried it. The results were less than spectacular. It worked OK from a distance but had a lot of trouble with close-up shots, even with no zoom. By close-up I mean within a foot. I tried several others, some just didn't seem to balance well in my hands (no feeling there) and weren't easily held onto. Then I came across a Nikon Cool-Pix L18. I seem to remember somebody telling me they had great success with one of these. I tried it and found it extremely easy to use, easy to hold onto and balance and was essentially point and shoot. I tried several shots with it and was quite pleased. One shot was of the store shelf and was within six inches at full zoom. It was crisp and clear. The focus was so sharp I thought I might get cut. I checked the price. Not bad, just under $100. I looked for one on the shelf and wouldn't you know it, out of stock. Well all is not lost. Upon returning home I did an internet search for it. I found a lot of places that advertised it but most had a message that I really dislike. Out of stock / discontinued. After searching more sites than I care to count I finally located one and for $20 less and with free shipping. I checked the availability to be sure. Yep, it was there. I immediately ordered it and it should be here within a couple of weeks. Does this mean I'll stop using the old Olympus? Not on your life! I'll keep using it until it either shrivels up and dies or I can no longer get cards for it. There are a couple of cards on the way but there's no guarantee they'll work. At present I have one operational SM card (64MB) and I get error messages on it periodically.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/29/2009

Wind Chill:  27°F
Humidity:  88%
Dew Point:  29°F

So Far Today
High:  32°F
Low:  31°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  8mph NE

Today  High: 58    Mostly cloudy early then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 32    Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Good Morning people--We are going to a high of -6C and a low of -13C tonight, all this with a bit of light snow in the forecast today. We will be on the plus side of things for the first time since---oh, the beginning of January?

Well, I'll have a coffee and a muffin to go please--today promises to be a busy one--clients to see and I have to attempt to get the books in where they belong at some point today.

As well, very odd goings on last night --I saw a bunch of postings from newcomers with a few readers--nill responders; blanks; some general statement type postings and saw that I had an interesting time getting on---let alone posting. I'd post but find OOOPPS messeges instead of what I posted! I'd recycle the thing---the post would be there but what was with all this OOOPPS stuff? And this was over three browsers and two ISPs----

blownout cylinder:

As well, very odd goings on last night --I saw a bunch of postings from newcomers with a few readers--nill responders; blanks; some general statement type postings and saw that I had an interesting time getting on---let alone posting. I'd post but find OOOPPS messeges instead of what I posted! I'd recycle the thing---the post would be there but what was with all this OOOPPS stuff? And this was over three browsers and two ISPs----

Mornin, an irish coffee please Zoe.

I see from some other post I wasn't the only one having trouble getting here last night.

Sunny this morning, with a chance for another ½ of snow this afternoon and evening, high 27.

Did get out with a yardstick yesterday n measured what snow we had already. Run from 91/2" to 111/2 in several spots, so I'm figuring bout 10 avg.

ROB,,,, tell Barb a happy birthday from us.

RYAN,,, our thoughts go out for your dad.

ERIC,,,,, Same for your and your folks.

Best gets round ta chores. Thoughts for all those in need n hope ya'll has a gooden

Good Morning All,

     I'll have a regular coffee and a blueberry muffin please.  About 22F outside but sunny. We got about 6" of snow yesterday before it started drizzling rain on top of it. This morning everything is icy but passable though two of my crew have called in as they can't navigate out of their driveways so north of here is worse.

Unc - I've never had an issue with Walthers though i do the oredering online and always check to see if the item is in stock and for that matter usually order what's on special. The warehouse is massive and well laid out as I saw on a tour there last year but with the shear number of items carried and all the vendors to deal with I'm suprised more stuff isn't out of stock. Out of curiosity, what would a State of Maine potatoe car be doing all the way out in Cali on the F&A when you have lifetime supplies in Idaho and I think Porterville? Special shipment of cranberries perhaps or did you just need to have that car? (Like the Sante Fe hoppers I have just because they look cool.)

Ryan - we'll keep your dad in our prayers along with Erics' parents and the rest of you in need.

Hope the rest of you weathered the last storm ok and are safe and sound. I need to get back into the shop so for now, CUL,  J.R.

Morning everyone! Malted Waffles with warm maple syrup please Chloe!  Hot coffee and some fresh squeezed OJ too please!

I want to thank you all who have put my dad in your prayers. I've really been trying to get through this ordeal too, you know they say the health of your parents and grandparents will most likely dictate how your health will turn out, so I am struggling with coping with all this now too. Keep the prayers coming! They are appreciated more than your will ever know!

Last night I could not get to any forum threads on any of the MR forums not just this thread, the entire forum site was down for some time.

mononguy63:

I've been meaning to drop by this place for some time, looks pretty inviting through the window. Plus, I just enjoy wasting bandwidth...

Jim

Welcome to the Diner Jim and Larson too!  But Jim, it's no waste of bandwidth at all....in fact I've met some really nice folks here and made some great friendships along the way. There is more to the Diner than meets the eye....might be a lot of chaff and chit chat to sort out, but there is a hidden silver lining here if you stick around long enough to get to know folks....

Tom, sorry to hear about the loss in the family. Thoughts and prayers.

Happy Belated Birthday to Barbara!  (Rob's wife)

TMarsh:

Ryan- this is delicious thanks for the recipe. Unfortunately all we get around here is those flat packaged frozen mudbugs from china that are about as big as the tip of your pinky finger. They are pre seasoned too. I’ll try those things but I would assume that shrimp would work well also. I know it wouldn’t taste the same but those crawdads have an extra taste to them that would effect the flavor of the dish. I’ll try it anyway. Then with the shrimpies later. I notice you choose Crystal and not Tabasco. Is there a reason. I personally prefer Crystal myself as I’m not that fond of Tabasco. I can’t really explain but it’s a taste thing. Your Dad is in my prayers.

Todd, just for you my man! Ask and....well... you know the rest... And yes, shrimp or any protein can be used in place of the crawfish tail meat. I prefer Crystal hot sauce because it has a milder heat factor and not as much vinegar taste, and it does not overpower the flavors of the main ingredient, but adds to the flavor profile. While Tabasco makes everything taste like, well Tabasco, and it masks the true flavor of the main ingredient. And thanks so much for the prayers also.

Jeff, we have a Kodak Easyshare 6330 that is about 8 years old and 3 megapixel, it still works great and even records movies too. They are a good point and shoot type camera.

And for today's menu treats here are the specials in the TS Virtual Diner....

Today's Lunch and Dinner Specials at the Trackside Diner
Soup du Jour ~		c $3.95 b$4.95
	Oyster Stew
From the Grill ~		$7.95
	Swiss Steak with Mushrooms
Diner Special ~		$5.95
	Chicken Pie Burlington
Blue Plate Special ~		$5.95
	Sauté Rainbow Trout Meuniere
Dessert ~		$3.95
	Lemon Meringue Pie
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!