Toy train operating and collecting

Jon......Looking at your map, you are due for an Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky loop ride.  I was going to suggest a NC ride, but wild dangerous animals are on the loose.

TGIT - Day off tomorrow.

Another wet day for us---

We had another 30% t'underin' boomer show up and boom, rain, hail and wind all over us-----my lake is now trying to create its own river system-----

I'm going back into the basement-----I've got some layout ideas going in my little brain----heeheehee

Aloha all. Busy day here - drove the middle boy up to the DMV to get his learner's permit - as I drove in the lot, I realized I forgot all his paperwork (birth cert, application, check) so had to do it all again. Now he has Drivers Ed starting Monday and 9 month of practice. Then spent the rest of the day sprucing up the outside for the daughter's graduation party on Sunday. I think I fit a years worth of landscaping into 5 hours. Sheesh, I'm tired. Now to do some real work before I collapse. You know it was one of those days when I end up fixing a shingle on the roof, cutting down gigantic branches before they hit the neighbor's house, and using the hedge trimmer on everything. Maybe I'll get to work on re-setting up the layout later.

Kurt, sent the wonderful NJ Zinc tanker on an extra headed to Michigan today.

ChiefEagles:

 

Hey Strogey, did I ask you earlier, are you near Spokane?  Was there and Post Falls, ID for Cabela's Grand Opening in Jan of 08.  SNOWED!!!! 

Chief...Spokane is north of us. That is up in northern Washington State. I live in Wilsonville Oregon which is about 20 south of Portland. Basically we are in North Western Oregon, just across the Columbia River from Washington. (Ummmmm..Columbia River Sturgeon! Yum Yum!. Better than Walleye and that is coming from a former North Eastern'r!)

Buckeye -- you are correct about heading eastward. We have a God son in Raleigh, close friends in Alexandria, VA plus a nephew in Orlando if I go that far south. The girls are looking at the "shoulder season" for their trip to Norway so that might mean late spring for me to get on the road. When I was kid our family would always go west for vacations and that's where we went with our kids. The only time I've been east of Chicago in a car was two years ago when Sharyl and I went to York for you know what! We have flown numerous times to DC, NC and Florida -- I have been to every state west of the MO river in a car, hmmmmmmm. This open house on Sunday is about to do me in. I spent 4.5 hours this morning doing yard work and finally got to the train room at 2:00 - 6:30. Changed out two MTH batteries to BCR and that has worked out well, I think I'll try and find a supplier that I can get a better price, a bit expensive in Des Moines. I must admit that our layout and home have never looked better, perhaps we should do this annually .............

Well, so far, so good on the call thing.  Was a nice day with work.  Not much going on as folks have the weekend on their minds.  Do have some cases lined up for Monday, but if nothing gets added for tomorrow, I'll have the day to work on trains, and then another party for the son tomorrow evening.

I have not been in the buying mode lately, but have been seeing some very tempting pieces come up lately.  I guess I had better stay focused on completing the layout.  Just about to turn the corner and get things like I want them on the tracks. 

Watched a program tonight on the scrapping of two KCS locomotives built in 1966.  Was neat as they went through all the internal workings of the engine, etc. 

Hoping to take in "Freedom Fest" which is a 4th of July celebration that our church puts on.  They average a crowd of about 10,000.  I have not signed up to work it as being on call I'd hate to not be reliable, but will do some work where needed.  It is a real neat event with plenty of fireworks, horse and cowboy exhibition, several choirs, the Marine Corps band and some demonstrations from other services.  It gives our church a chance to give to the community while honoring the folks who keep us safe.

God Bless,
Dennis

Jon.....I have been in every state east of the Mississippi.  The best bang for the buck, is Upstate New York around Lake Placid.  Mountains and natural mountain lakes, a great combination with thousands of miles of paved roads paid for with the high state taxes. Great old lodges and resorts.  Sorry to hear you have God son in Raleigh.  That trip could get a little dicey due to the proximity of Roseyville and the Roseyville Wallaby.

Good Evening

Well still 60s here, I think it reached 72 at some point today.

I redid a smoke unit on a 671 today, it had smoke but very little came out.  A local hobby shop had worked on it and used parts from two different units. So most of the air was lost around the piston instead of out the  chimney. Its a smokin now. Banilla is ready for the Tardis so I shall wait...S.J.

Evening all

Real nice today.  I did get soaked during a shower early this morning but it stayed cool which was great since I was in the garage putting the caper tiedowns and air bags on the truck.  I have one more side to install the air bag and I’ll be done.  The grandkids are with the other set of grandparents tonight and Friday so I will be less distracted.

Rich – I am going to try and mail out the CTT car Friday.  I’ll let you know.

Jon – If you are in Southern Ohio, swing by for supper and a stay over!

Buckeye – When we started planning our vacation this year we came down to upstate NY or Colorado.  Colorado won out.  We’ll be taking the new camper!

Have a nice night

May God bless

Jim

 

Buckeye Riveter:

That trip could get a little dicey due to the proximity of Roseyville and the Roseyville Wallaby.

Buckeye it's not nice to call your elders names...

 Well the truck is packed and the family will be heading north in the morning for the cabin.  I have to work tomorrow .. but I will join them tomorrow night.  Hope everyone has safe travels to wherever your spending the 4th..

Aloha all. Nice evening watching Twister on TBS with the fam. Got a quick drink-and-appetizer date with the bride too. Jon, you gotta go through our county on your way east. I've never been on the ground west of Rockford. Would love to drive that way some day.

Aloha Doug

Wife went in for dental work and took two dentists to remove her wisdom tooth.  Had cavities, so they wanted to just pull it.  The first guy broke it off, so they went with a 2nd guy who was a dental surgeon to remove the rest - cost an extra $250!  All is well, except for some swelling - she's on some pain meds and antibiotics for a few days.  We did get good news as the insurance approved her treatment plan so far and they sent out a test kit to one sister and pulled the other's records (she registered for bone marrow).

Nice talk with RT, SJ and Charlie tonight.  Waiting for some gargraves track I ordered to show up.  I should have bought two boxes as I heard the prices are going up.

No work tomorrow - going to see Transformers 2 with the kids and some friends in the morning.  Need to get a new small screwdriver set to work on Thomas locomotive, too.

Beacons on the screen and ready to go, banilla sounds good!  TTFN!

Morning all.  Jon, I'd say head down this way, but with the heat, even a motorcycle would need AC to make it reasonable this time of year.  However, if you look up the "Cherokee Trail" which goes up through Tennessee and the Carolinas, it is a nice ride on paved roads in the mountains.  You can head up towards Asheville, NC and stop at the Biltmore.

Well, I'm up early because the trash had to get out to the street before 0700.  Can't be sure when they will pick up as usually on holiday weeks, they skip Friday and pick up on Saturday, but since the actual holiday is on Saturday, who knows. 

Planning on getting a bit of layout work done, but first have to do my morning quiet time and reading. 
God Bless,

Dennis

Good Morning

Another 30% chance of a shower is dumping on our heads this morning. I looked at our local radar thingee and we's covered

We're getting things ready for the trip we make in the later part of July to Oxtongue Lake.

Audrey and I actually did a bike tour of the areas surrounding the Appalachian Trail several years back----that was fun!! Now, if I was to do that it would have to be with a motorcycle---or an RV

Have a good one---