2008 [PART 2] and the Coffee Pot is still on and now 4 years old. Here we gather as friends with trains. Sweet ice tea too.

[kpolak]

Morning all!

Snow started.  We'll see how that turns out.  Finally got snowblower running yesterday am.  Wouldn't start for the first snow.  Usually takes awhile to start first time of year.  I need to run it more in the off season.

Spent some quality time on the Church board last night...made some adjustments, and re-arranged a few things.  Nice quiet night.  Big show tonight...I hope.  Not sure with the impending storm.

Dennis:  Good for you!

Brutus:  I'm not sure what you need help with, but I should be here until about 3:30pm EDST.

Fife:  You watch way too much TV. 

Kurt

[tschmidt]

Just got done closing the schools here this morning. This was a tough decision since it's not snowing yet but the forecast is for heavy snow starting in a few hours which could be followed by freezing rain and sleet. Had to watch weather radar out of Cleveland and Buffalo and make an educated decision after talking to some colleagues. All the phone calls to the radio and TV stations are done so I can relax for a few minutes. Have a good day everyone.

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Rain and 39 in Nawthern-Dixie...but not complaining.  Could be living in I-O-Way!  Got to get my haircut this morning (some silver is showing ), then sit around waiting for the DISH doodle to come and replace the DVR (Wifey has been missing her soaps).

tschmidt - I thought you Erie folk don't bat an eye until after a foot of snow...

Regards to everyone feeling some sort of pain, especially Blueberry & Mrs...

[dwiemer]

jonadel

Dennis-- If I may interject my opinion and only my opinion about transformers: I've had two MTH Z4000 transformers for 10 or 11 years---never have missed a beat. Superior + performance and never a hesitation. Hope this doesn't open up Pandora's box.

Jon, I value your opinion.  In all seriousness, I  have heard a lot of issues with MTH products of different sorts (as some other MFGs), but have never heard of a problem with the Z4000.  I may go that route for my own layout, but this is for my FIL who doesn't even have any track at this point.  I suspect that this will be a temporary (read that: around the Christmas Tree) layout.  If he does grow in his interest of the hobby, I will share your thoughts and perhaps suggest he join us here....I better watch comments on SWMBO!

Also Jon, regarding poor Rich's experience with the HD, reminds me of a friend who's Jag spends more time in the shop than on the road.  At least with the HD, lots of others on the road of like mind to give a hand.

Well, today is rather light regarding the schedule.  Plan is to get out early, head to Home Depot to get Christmas wreath and perhaps a small Rosemary tree for the house.  Also have to get to WalMart to purchase my hunting license for this year....I know, only a month left for the season, but I really do need to have it for Saturday.

Was 57 early this morning and heading to the 80s again.  Hard to believe folks are digging out of the Northern Blast.  Snow is great to play in for a little while, but horrible to get around in when you need to work and live.

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

Dennis

 

[dwiemer]

tschmidt

Just got done closing the schools here this morning. This was a tough decision since it's not snowing yet but the forecast is for heavy snow starting in a few hours which could be followed by freezing rain and sleet. Had to watch weather radar out of Cleveland and Buffalo and make an educated decision after talking to some colleagues. All the phone calls to the radio and TV stations are done so I can relax for a few minutes. Have a good day everyone.

I'm sure it was a difficult decision.  I remember when I was living about 2hrs north of here and they were calling for possible 1/2" of snow, they closed all the schools at 10am, all the nurses were scrambling to find a way to get the kids home.  Better to not make them go at all.  (the snow at that time never came).  Another good thing that folks will be happy about is the proximity to Christmas, it will give the kids a little time to help around the house and get ready.

dennis

 

[tschmidt]

fifedog, You're right, we don't usually close for this type of storm but the weather forecasters are predicting tough times later today. It is snowing now and anticipated to come down at 1 to 2 inches an hour later this morning. The other problem could be the wind later and some reduced visibility. I will probably head out shortly to take my wife to an appointment and run a few errands. I am sure that sooner or later it will be time to get the shovel out again.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Cloudy, foggy, misty and warm.  This #^&**( software.  Had whole page typed and it suddenly disappeared.  

Dennis, the Z4000 is the best you can buy [and you know my feelings about MTH].  The modern ZW is a zoo and has issues all the time.  Should see Terry working on replacing boards in one of those jokers.  No issues with Z4000s.

Kurt, next time you store your snowblower, run some gasoline through it treated with Staybil fuel stabilizer.  Then fill the tank with the same.  If a little hesitant to start, give it a shot of starting fluid [eyther].

Got a lot of hot wings to bake.  Chat later.

PS: Shake and Bake, if you didn't store and bang those trains around like a 6 year old, they would not give so many issues.  

[anjdevil2]

Morning!

Jon- no offense taken.  I agree, they have had it more than I have.  First time I've seen it in 2 months...!!!  Now it will sit in the garage for 2 weeks while I'm in NJ.  It'll more than likely be gone by February (Bike Week).  I got a call from the HD dealer for a 883, but I think I'll wait now.  Hopefully I'll be able to ride when I get back.  January is usually very cold here, but, then again, I'm used to colder weather.  You haven't lived until you've ridden in 0 degree weather with snow & ice!!

Last day at work today, have to get the bills approveds and done, get the train board out of here and clean the office up.  There will be NO ONE to do my job whilest I'm gone, so I expect the worst when I get back.

Up to 80 today, not sure about tomorrow and don't care about Sunday.  Snow & rain in NJ on Sunday up to 39.  Sounds like Christmas weather!!

Don - I don't know what to tell you, I think this is a portent of things to come.  Maybe it's time for another revolution - a Tax revolt just like our fore fathers.  You would think that by cutting the corporate taxes and easing back on sales tax, the resulting revenues from a growing economy would make up for any short fall.  But then, what do I know?

Have a good day guys, will be back later.

[cnw1995]

 Morning all. Snow finally arrived. Schools canceled. I think everyone made up their mind yesterday as it is the last day before break. Lots out there and still falling. Have to get out to clear a path for Rudy the wonder dachshund because he's so low to the ground. I'm sure I'll be back here later.

[kpolak]

Checking in.

5-inches and still comming....with some rain mixed in on and off.  Driveways clear.

Rich:  I was thinkin'...whilst I was snowblowin'...Maybe this is a giid time to send ol' Willie G, a Christmas card explaining your situation, and that the dealer knows there's a problem, doesn't know how to fix it, and you now have the bike back, and are seriously contemplating another brand.  Maybe the factory can be of assistance.  Just a thought.

Kurt

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

For once the weather report was correct and we got rain this morning in SE Indiana as they predicted.  Roads were safe to drive on, which is good for Lucas and wife as she is going to Bloomington to pick him up today.  Before I forget, I wish to extend my condolences to Chuck and Mrs. Blueberry on the loss of her mom (I am really terrible about reading posts and then not commenting on those that I want to).  Took it easy last night.  I did help the wife wrap presents by doing the dishes for her.  Partied some in Second Life.  Finally won an action in eBay (some MTH Tinplate telegraph poles).  Surprised me.  Watched some of Faith Hill's Christmas show on PBS, and caught the tail end of the Colts game.  Stayed up way too late, but I rested on the way into work.  I had the usual fare on the dining car this morning.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

[jonadel]

 Awoke to about 11" of beautiful snow, it's gorgeous.  We know we will have a White Christmas in Iowa and Santa will be able deliver his stash---unlike in North Caroliner--more lumps of coal for those bad boys

I haven't heard from the kids in Chicago, they had hoped to start home at noon today--kinda hope they do as Grandpa needs to get home and help Grandma get ready for the invasion.  If I can get out of here tomorrow morning I'll be fine, big winds are forecasted for tomorrow afternoon with white outs and blizzard like conditions, lovely.  Most of the time we have more brown Christmases than white, it's Al Gores fault!!!!!!!!!  In fact there have been winters where I have only plowed one or two times, I hope it's not like last year, the winter that never ended.  Oh well, why worry about things I have no control over.

Didn't make it to Caboose Stop Hobbies yesterday, lots of interuptions and naps and I'm not sure about today, I need to get my old snow blower fired up and clear son's driveway if the princess will cooperate.

Doug--I did see that beautiful John Deere box car on your layout, thanks!  Your layout is looking good and looks like it has a lot of play value.  I've tried to do that with ours with lots of interactive gadgets like the saw mill, log dumping station, water tower, playground, etc.  I think accessories are the icing on the cake.

[cnw1995]

Mike, congrats on those telegraph poles - they'll look great!

Kurt, that's a good idea for Rich. I think it merits a visit to the facility just north of me in Wisconsin. They give tours!

I'm not feeling so well today all of a sudden. It may have something to do with my inadvertently deleting Firefox on the Mac when tryinng to update it. Tough to connect to the Internet without any browser. I'm such an idiot. Now, to cover my tracks and blame the hardware whilst trying to fix it without ruining my day... or maybe I'll take out my frustrations by moving some snow. My neighbor lady is out there already...

Jon, the roads are terrible right now out here on the way to Cedar Falls. I'd recommend your kids wait to try to get out. Thanks for the compliment - I value it as highly as I think of your layout.

[laz 57]

HI GYZ,

  35 and everything is falling from the sky.  We had school but now are going home early at 1230.  I'm going to BARRYs and see if my Coal Tipple is there and to visit if roads aren't to bad?

  DENNIS good luck.  REMEMBER take a breath hold it and a nice smooth squeeze of the trigger.

Stay FROSTY,

laz57

[sir james I]

Good Morning All

I hate snow. Boy did we get it,still coming down, snow piled on my P/U cover as high as the cab roof. No I'm not going to try and spell tonneau. I did get the front done but am taking a break before I make a path to the back patio. I want more than one way out of here. Just one more thing, not new but 22 degrees, snow and thunder. Stay safe....S.J

P.S. I'm not a fan of      but I would prefer their Z4000 also.

[jonadel]

Rich--

When you get back from Joisey try and find a less traveled road and take the HD  out for a hard run, run her up to 90 in 3rd and then back off, listen for any popping.  Then maybe just run at 75 for a few miles and you will know whether they fixed it, the last thing you want is to be broken down during Bike Week.  Hopefully we will be in the area again and we can ride together.  I would love to take advantage of those test rides while the boss goes and finds a botique somewhere :)  Have a great time with your family & friends, sounds like you've got a good plan.

I just spent 45 minutes moving 11" of snow, Thank You God for snowblowers 

[anjdevil2]

Yeah, Jon, that'd be great.  I'd look forward to that. I'm sure I can call out sick, especially since I was here a the last two being sick....

This time of year Oct-March is truely prime riding weather.  i may not be able to get back for my Fire Dept. dinner on th 17th of January, but I may venture out just to clear my head. SOOOO many agrivating things these last 2 days, it's been awful.

Dad has a snowblower, so I can do that if needed.  Looking forward to a White Christmas for once.  The young one is as well.  Hopefully, I'll get to NYC and do the Lionel Tour.  I'll get pictures!

See inna bit.

Oh, yeah, I am thinking about sending Willie G a Christmas card.... 

[GregM]

First, our condolences to Chuck and his wife. 

Second, thanks for the good thoughts regarding the job hunt.  I am doing my best to keep a positive outlook, maybe something will happen in 2009. 

Third, only one week until we get to see our grandson again.  If I am ever again asked what was the best job I have had, I will say without hesitation "BEING A GRANDFATHER!"

Fourth, have pictures of the Christmas tree and trains ready for SPF.

Lastly, no snow here, just rain.  Earlier, there was ice hanging from the deck railing but it has melted.  There is still some ice on the deck itself.

[krapug1]

 

Well here we are on the East End of Long Island...........

So much for the forecast of snow in-island, and sleet with rain on the east end (due to our area being surronded by salt water).

We already have 1 inch on the ground, and it is sticking to the roads.

However, it is sure pretty to look at, and we are all home safe and sound.

I do have some Christmas Shopping to do on Saturday, but we will walk down the block to the Jitney, and go into NYC.

Not having to drive, priceless.

Ken

 

 

 

 

 j 

 

[GregM]

WOW! Just had something that looked like sunlight for a few seconds.  Must have been an optical illusion.

Dang! there it was again.

[dwiemer]

Had a decent day.  Got done at work and did a few chores at the homestead.  Have to bake that cheesecake tonight.  Heard they closed the Cooper Tire plant down here.  Sure will be  a number of folks out of work.  We do have a large agricultural presence here and some 'salt of the earth' types in the area, so I am sure they will be taken care of. 

Rich, got off the phone a bit ago, they are putting chains on the trucks and engines.  One of the old Lts who retired a long time ago died yesterday.  He had a stroke 3 years ago and was in failing health.  His BIL is my best friend.  Some of the stories of when he was on the job are increadible.  I have photos of him fighting the Comfort Coal fire....working the knob off a Ahrens Fox piston engine. (Boy could those things pump!)

I hope everyone gets home safe today.  Understand a lot of folks have some bad weather.

God Bless,
Dennis

[cnw1995]

Dennis, sorry to hear about that LT and his BiL who's your buddy. Hope you enjoy your hunt. I'd like to go sometime. Haven't been since Scouts. Guess what happened after I just finished the driveway - the plow came by and I had to do the bottom all over again. LOL. Then the daughter phoned she got stuck, so my son and I went to dig/push her out on her way to work. Can you believe the zipper broke on another coat I got just last Fri for the youngest - came apart in my hand - so back to the store I went - found something comparable - sigh.  Good night to be indoors...

[anjdevil2]

I know how that is Dennis.  During a daytime fire down the street from his house, one of our fire police was directing traffic and collapsed from a massive heart attack.  The stories he could tell....my,my.  One of the wisest men I ever knew.  Even to this day, I think of JJ and how he was.  A real gas to play poker with (at the fire house, of course).  Loved him like my own grandfather.  Miss him and a few other of the older guys.  A different generation for sure (in a good way).

I'll say a prayer for him, for sure.

On the lighter side, on of the firefighters I trained and brought up to be a LT before I left will become Chief next year.  A prouder moment I couldn't have.  I knew he'd be great one day, and I very happy for him.  I may not make his installation because of the time I'm spending with the family in NJ, but I'll find him and probably cry like a little girl.  It's like bringing up yu own kid and seeing him become a ----Doctor or something.

 Still at work, I need to get out of here and get to shopping, but I have to clear up a bunch of stuff before filight time Sunday AM.

See ya in a bit boys!

[sir james I]

Good Evening All

Tired tonite, about ten inchs of snow by the time it left this afternoon. Did the front twice and once to the back of the house. No nap, no trains. Me thinks an early bedtime is in the works for tonite. Yet I am glad it was not freezing rain. Brutus, you have a key but no whistles if I am sleeping. You know where to find the banilla...S.J.

[Buckeye Riveter]

TGIF

All the snow is north of us.  We haven't seen a thing, but just 40 miles north, schools were called off due to ICE.  

Monday night is the 17th Annual Neighborhood Christmas Party.   I'm getting all the trains working and ready to go.   I don't worry about the trains, I worry more about the RealTrash Switches. (When I was building in HO, I used to make my own switches and they worked!!)   Every year I put new batteries in the CAB-1 just for this party. 

For Tom to call off school, I would guess it was about forty feet deep.  During one Thanksgiving that we spent at Lake Chautauqua, NY, near Tom's school district, it snowed 18" in less than 12 hours, but down on the shores of Lake Erie, there was less than one inch on the ground. 

 

[MichRR714]

I measured 11" here at my house.  I had a 36" drift at my garage door.  That took priority to clear, as I need to get into my garage to get to my train room.  Funeral for my friend was this morning in the snow.  I was impressed by how well the hearse handled the snow, I was also glad I had 4 wheel drive.

On the bright side, grandma came home from the hospital.  She is very lucky.

I'm going to be spending alot of time in the train room this winter.  I need the train time/therapy. 

I've decided to make an addition to the layout in honor of my friend Jan who enjoyed camping.

My layout will feature "Jan's Wooded Acres" Campground!!

All those shoveling snow..Please be careful.

 Chuck- I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[kpolak]

Evening all!

Charlie:  Great news about Grandma comming home!

GregM:  Prayers you get what you want for Christmas.

Only about 6" of the white stuff here.  I need to do a second blowing, as we had another 1+" after I finished.

Well, first of 2-shows under our belt.  Really turned out nice, no suprises tonight.  All kids, except Grandma & Grandpa, from the Children's ministries at Church.  I usually do sound for grades 1-5 Sunday mornings, called The Keystone Express.  Greeter has a Conductor's cap on.

Brutus:  I'm in!  Beacon (flasher on top of bridge) is on!

Kurt

[cnw1995]

Beacon is on, Brutus. Back from a nice, last-minute dinner out with friends - they had that Stella beer on sale. Teens out renting movies. Gotta prep for small group tomorrow morn.

[laz 57]

HI GYZ,

  Well went to southern Pa. today when school was called off at 1230.  No problems south of here but just 10 north of here they got wholoped with snow.  Anyway went to BARRYs TRAIN SHOP and picked up my Lionel Coal Rotary Tipple, some 0-42 switches and a few bathtub gondolas for the tipple.  Came home and made dogs and burgers on the grill.  Good!  Then went down to train room and ran trains for 2 hrs.  NO PILE UPs.  Great nite, also tried Coal Tipple, was brand new never used but NO BOX.  Took all safety stuff off and hooked up transformer to it put car on and worked great.  Tried it a few times looks cool.  Now this week going to start bench work for my working stripping pits.  Hope all works out?

Stay Frosty,

laz57

 

[Brutus]

Doug, kids are hard on zippers but that is ridiculous!  I hope they exchanged it!  That snow plow gotcha - they've done that to me more than once!  I got a snowblower a couple years ago now and it's the best!  Also have a snow shovel that is electric and blows the snow pretty well - it's good for the tight areas where the big blower won't go!  Heard you guys were snowed in and enjoying boardgames and movies by the fireplace?  Or that was the plan?  Hope you had some good family fun time.  Beacon on the screen!

Dennis - prayers for your friend.

Charlie, sounds like you are doing better?

Kurt, I see that beacon!  Sir James left the key out you know where, so we should hit his house last tonight.

Heard from Sir James that MTH track is now hollow - tubular?!

Chewy got the top bread off a 6 inch sub earlier - you should have seen her sneak it down off the table and then zoom - she was off and under a chair!  I hope it doesn't bother her tummy!   My daughter tried to get it, but we told her to let it go - don't pull food out of a dog's mouth!

Tardis away!  Hey, I see Mike and George and Dennis and Rich and Don and Jim and Jim and Jim and Rich and Charlie and John and John and David and Tom and Frank and Frank and Chuck and .............. 

Hey - Welcome to the new guy, J!