Toy train operating and collecting

Good evening Fellas...I'm back from the north. Spent the weekend getting the cabin ready for the 4th and vacation next week.  I caught a nice bass on Saturday after tuning up the fishing boat.  I spent Sunday tearing apart a beaver dam and constructing what the DNR calls a "beaver deceiver".  I'll let you know how it works out...if it doesn't Bill Ruger has a design that will

MichRR714:

Good evening Fellas...I'm back from the north. You are NORTH!!!!! Spent the weekend getting the cabin ready for the 4th and vacation next week.  I caught a nice bass on Saturday after tuning up the fishing boat.  I spent Sunday tearing apart a beaver dam and constructing what the DNR calls a "beaver deceiver".  I'll let you know how it works out...if it doesn't Bill Ruger has a design that will

I have a "beaver deceiver" and its called .17 cal HMR with polymer tip.   Why all the "hulla balu" over beavers?  They are considered nuisance animals here.  Some still trap them in winter but fur prices are nothing.  Shooting is recommended and Wildlife will dynamite their dams if causing damages.  Good luck.

Wow, been reclinerizing for some time.  Watched Two and A Half Men and laughed my sides off.  Then went to sleep.  Woke up when Lucy wanted to go out.  Then called the west coast for a chat.   Off to bed.  8N, sorry about the death.  Prayers.  Know that was a shock.  They are saying Billy Mayes had heart problems and did not know it.  Why everyone should get regular checkups and get heart checked.  I am an example.  By-passes and never had a pain or heart problem.  Found by doing tests.  Then Dennis does not have to get called in for an emergency. 

Later

ChiefEagles:

Why everyone should get regular checkups and get heart checked.  I am an example.  By-passes and never had a pain or heart problem.  Found by doing tests.  Then Dennis does not have to get called in for an emergency. 

Chief, you are so right.  My old doctor (retired now) found that I had an Abdominal Auorta Aneurism by sending me for test after hearing some bad noises with his stethoscope.  He literally saved my life.  I had the surgery and corrected the problem.  This is the same thing that they say killed John Ritter.  It's a silent killer.  You don't know you have it because there were no symptoms.

Don, glad to hear things are going well with you.  I tried wiring up some switch machines today but it was really too hot in the garage.  Got one working and tried to tie the other in with it so you could throw both switches at the same time.  Have'nt been able to make it work right yet but I'm still fiddling with it.  I'll take another crack at it when it cools off a little.  My switches are Ross and the machines are Z stuff.  Had one train accident today (not paying attention) when caboose derailed and passing engine on double track hit it and took a chunk out of the corner.  It was a wooden kit built N&W caboose.  I glued it back together

Later, Ray

Mornin' Fellas.

Yes I'm still alive, floundering at times, but still alive. As many of you are acutely aware I've been working on a major overhaul of 80% of our computer based systems and implementing 3 new systems that all have to be integrated. Well there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel as we're planning a limited rollout within the next two weeks. Words can not express my happiness, yet dismay. You see once you prove yourself capable of something as insane as this, they get the impress that THIS is how you want your job to be EVERY day! So now I've been informed we will be progressing on to further integrations and also redoing MUCH of what we just did!

Anyhoo, that major deck project... it has been approved by the county board of permitting, pending an electrical permit. So last night I had an electrician out so he could survey his portion of the project and get me a quote (hopefully tonight or tomorrow). So hopefully next weekend I'll have the new substructure in and the roof raised. Then I'll be installing the decking on the screened porch and the insulated sub floor for the sunroom. Then the carpenter comes back out to raise the walls and install the doors (I'm thinking I can take care of the new exterior door and the windows, will need him for replacing the existing double window in the kitchen with a larger french door, and removing three windows in the family room and installing a pocket door between the family room and the sunroom). It looks like I'll have it enclosed by labor day and then hopefully finished by Mid October.

Wes and Greg - Saw the pics of your decks. Very impressive work!

Brutus - Continues prayers for your wife
JohnF - Prayers for you and your family on the passing of your step sister
Patrick - Hope your ailments work themselves out

Take care and I hope to be back more often.

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 70s.  Air Conditioner appears to have gone out in truck.  Hopefully just needs some more coolant.Too many vehicle expenses already this year.   Lucas had a good checkup yesterday.  Hard to believe it has been three years.  For all the long timers here, thanks again for all your support.  For the newbies, that support in and of itself is a reason to stay here.  Prayers going out to all who need them, especially those who have suffered a recent loss.  Regarding heart attacks and other such maladies, I guess that would be rough on the family, but expiring on the soccer field would be the best way for me.  They could say, "He died with his cleats on."  An added bonus is that they would not have to change my clothes either unless they were retrieving some organs for transplant.

Despite all the morbid thoughts above, I still walked to the YMCA and did weights (paid the electric bill on the way there).  Who says men can't multi-task?  Did some Second Life as well and watched "History Detectives" on PBS.  I had a little extra on the dining car for breakfast this morning before sending it to "Points East".  I am going to put Tardis driver on my list of resume skills as I have been getting a lot of seat time.  I am happy to carry the load until the rest of the crew gets better.  Beacon will be lit.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

Hello

Wet morning here in London. Showers and those t'underin' boomers for us today, tomorrow and Thursday now---AAAAAAAAARRRRAAAAAGGHH!!!----can you tell I'm a happy camper?

Got some work related running around to do and then see about picking up some pink/blue stuff later.

We got some sad news last night from our local music scene. "Jackie" Washington, a man who had a HUGE reportoire of jazz, blues and gospel and who appeared at the Home County Folk Festival for the past 34 years passed away last week at the age of 89. He performed all over NA and around the world and his family home in Hamilton ON entertained such as Count Basie and duke Ellington over the years. He was one of those who inspired many with his upbeat, positive personality----he will be sorely missed up here---

Morning all.  Hot but low humidity. 

Canada, send us some rain.  Been getting plenty until last week and this week.  Watered corn as it is shooting and tasseling.  Needs about an inch to make it fill out good.  Late batch is coming on too.

Glad Lucas had great checkup.

Brent, good luck with your "work".

Cows in "Virginy" are wondering who that guy is riding around the pasture with his leg hanging out of the pickup window.   Keeping it elevated as Dr. said do.

Well, waiting for JD dealer to call and say come pickup mower.  Then take trailer and old one to Frankie.  Pickup new one on return trip.  Then Pam and I will go to Sam's Club for 4th supplies as a large number of folks coming to lake house for 4th.

Have a good one.

HI GYZ,

  62 and beauty of  o day here did a 3.25 mile run and 6 mile bike ride.  Got to mow grass now.

Yesterday,big day working on the Lokie, was the fireman.  The regular fireman was the engineer so I had to do all the fireman activities.  I cleaned out the firebox shook the grates, started a new fire.  Grease oiled, filled her up with water, shoveled about a half ton o coal.  Great day.  Didn't get to drive it but it was still fun.  Go back next Tuesday.

JOHN F. sorry for your loss.

Stay frosty,

laz57

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a sunny 68 degrees. Only going up to 72 today with showers, maybe, this afternoon.

Today, I am taking it easy. I have a few usual chores to do and then I will relax. Maybe run trains later. Love my trains.

Dining car was here and we had the usual for breakfast. Then, it departed for all points west.

Y'all have  a great Tuesday,

Chuck

Good Morning

Overcast with sprinkles, some rain forcast but spotty. Hi 60s today.

Diner rolled in with eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast. Looks like I can skip lunch today. Granny is going to babysit awhile so unemployed son in law can take a state test for retraining. Its a shame really as he is a darn good machinest.  Finally had a chat with Brutus last nite, he had family over the weekend. Thats it for now....S.J.

Aloha all. Grey and cool  here. RT, congrats on 25! It seems like the moving goes on forever here at work, since it's being done a few rooms at a time. Laz, sounds like a nice time . Wish I was still here.

Good late morning everyone.  You are right Chief!  need to get things checked out.  We have an emergency right now on a retired colleague.  I am on call, but it came down early in the day.  New guy should be the one doing it, but the other guy is going to do the case.  As it is, we would go in for an emergency case even if the new guy was on call and doing it....patient comes before pride.

Ray, I have done a number of abdominal aortic aneurysms.  When they rupture, the mortality is very high.  Good thing you were found early.  With regards to John Ritter, he had a ascending aortic aneurysm, which starts at the outflow of the heart and goes up the aorta towards the carotid arteries, etc.  His issue was that he was being treated for a heart attack instead of the real problem.  This happens these days as most institutions have gone to "treatment plans" and when someone comes in with certain symptoms, they are treated and evaluated for those symptoms till they rule that plan out.  In the end, it takes about 9 hours to exhaust the "plan" for a heart attack.  Bob, our friend out at the telescope can tell you about that.  We see it and it takes a sharp emergency room Dr. to catch a Ascending Aortic Aneurysm early so we can do something about it.

OK, enough shop talk.  Landscapers are taking care of the yard, which is really appreciated this time of the year.  Glad someone else can deal with the high temps better than I.  I am trying to schedule a week off to work on the layout.  Have to make sure that I have the fishing trip covered for when they give me that date.  Also, want to visit grandmother in TN who is 97.  Not sure how long she will be around and want her to meet our daughter.  Speaking of our daughter, yesterday, we celebrated 4 years with her and called it our "Family Day".  A little miniature golf and some dinner together.  We are blessed to have her.

Brent, good luck with the "Other Project"  hope all is going well for that and that we hear some great news before long.  I know it has been a long road.
Mike, glad for Lucas.  Remember well your struggles with that and his ups and downs.  Really makes one appreciate how blessed you are to have them.

Gotta run, hope it is a good day for all of you.
God Bless,
Dennis

 Good Morning:

Chief - Good one about the "Virginy" cows. BTW I can say from experience that a 30-06 works well on them beavers.

SJ - Didn't you forget the most important part of your breakfast? And I don't mean the coffee.

Dennis - If you don't want to answer this I will understand.

On the leg blood clot, I went to the Dr. office first. He suspected a blood clot, especially with my past history, but checked my blood oxygen level by having me walk briskly up and down the hall with a thing on my finger attached to a meter and took a reading every minute for 3 minutes. The leg hurt like heck. The hospital scan showed a piece of the clot had broke loose and migrated to my upper thigh. Caused by the brisk walk?

The hospital checked the blood oxygen level with the finger thing with a built in meter and without walking. I wander if I shouldn't have gone directly to the ER.

Today's Smart Farmer Saying: Good judgment comes from experience, and a Lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Pat

Pat, what he was concerned with would be a pulmonary embolism (clot goes to the lungs).  What they had on your finger was an oxygen saturation monitor.  They wanted to make sure that that was not the case.  Either way, they need to make an admitting diagnosis in order to order the CT scan.  These days, any tests need to be justified by a diagnosis in order for insurance companies, or the gov't to pay.  Regarding going directly to the ER, probably would not make much of a difference, unless you had presented with shortness of breath or desaturated when doing your exam.  If you had significant clotting, they would have had to do an embolectomy.  The signs of that would have been a cold leg.  If you had thrown clot to your lungs, they would normally treat that with a filter that they put in the vena cava.  It sounds like you got good early treatment that is the important thing.  I'd stick with that Dr.

Well, winding up to be a good day.  Have a few housekeeping things before I leave for the hacienda.  Have to verify some work done on some of the equipment and also have to send out the call schedule for the month ahead.

God Bless,

Dennis

PS: Pat, no problem, I don't mind helping when it is within my scope of practice/knowledge base.

dwiemer:

Pat, what he was concerned with would be a pulmonary embolism (clot goes to the lungs).  What they had on your finger was an oxygen saturation monitor.  They wanted to make sure that that was not the case.  Either way, they need to make an admitting diagnosis in order to order the CT scan.  These days, any tests need to be justified by a diagnosis in order for insurance companies, or the gov't to pay.  Regarding going directly to the ER, probably would not make much of a difference, unless you had presented with shortness of breath or desaturated when doing your exam.  If you had significant clotting, they would have had to do an embolectomy.  The signs of that would have been a cold leg.  If you had thrown clot to your lungs, they would normally treat that with a filter that they put in the vena cava.  It sounds like you got good early treatment that is the important thing.  I'd stick with that Dr.

Well, winding up to be a good day.  Have a few housekeeping things before I leave for the hacienda.  Have to verify some work done on some of the equipment and also have to send out the call schedule for the month ahead.

God Bless,

Dennis

PS: Pat, no problem, I don't mind helping when it is within my scope of practice/knowledge base.

Dennis, I truly want to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, and in such detail. It put my mind at ease. This thread is a real wealth of information, on any subject, and shows the willingness of the members to help.

Pat