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.

[dbaker48]

Good Morning - Weather is calm here, best for all those that need relief !!!

Regarding the Chiefs heritage, and his English roots, as many of you have heard him, his accent is just so convincing, of his British background.

Sure glad its Friday, and the weekend has finally arrived.  And, Happy Father's Day to all. 

[dwiemer]

Good morning everyone.  Has been a very strange and difficult few days.  Not getting into things, but have had to deal with some folks.  Anyway, still on call and holding down the fort.  Wife is taking the kids to her dad's this weekend for Father's day (they will be back Sat. night).  I hope to catch up on some movies that I have put off while the kids were around...no, not that kind!  ONes such as "Shooter" and some other action films that are a bit too much for little ones.

Got a package from my favorite train store.  Got 10 bags of coal and a "Lackawanna" lighted bill board.  Also got a DVD on identifying Postwar Trainmasters and F units and telling if they are authentic.  Have the VHS, but that is getting a bit worn.

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend.  Jon, prayers for the scouts and their families. 

God Bless,

dennis

[jefelectric]

RI52-You said it all so well,I would always help the kids in time of need, but using grandma as their fulltime babysitter has been a thorn in my side for a very long time. It has also lead to many discussions with my wife to no avail.   S.J.

That makes three of us that think alike.  I have done quite a bit of baby sitting since I retired, but the one thing I have told all of the kids, is that I will babysit for what I consider good reasons.  But I will not babysit while they work, if they are going to work then they can use some of that income for child care.  Since grandma is still working that makes things a little simpler. 

[sir james I]

A late GOOD MORNING

Home from the eye Doc.'s,no lens changes but age is showing,mild cateracts,bright lite, that sort of thing. Plus need plastic surgery to lift eyebrows as they are sagging down to my eye, funny but I never noticed that before. I'm not wrinkled anywhere that I know of, course I can't see my but* so I'm not sure about that part

First thing this morning,storm coming right at us,disappeared before it got here, but many got it again. More and worse forecast for this PM.

The guys in Pa. would remember this as I recall the underground  coal mines use to burn for years as there was no way to put the fires out. Some towns were in danger as the fires were burning in the ground under them.

To those that won't be around here for the weekend,,Happy Fathers Day......S.J.

[dbaker48]

With all the flooding going on in Cedar Rapids, and all of Iowa, then the storms in Michigan, as the water flows towards the Gulf.  I would thing someone would be reporting on the potential flooding in the lower Mississippi River, and of course the delta.  Sure hope they are preparred.

[fifedog]

laz - did you ask the doc for 3-rail stitches...?

dwiemer - only we could get coal for Christmas...and think it's a good thing...

Chief - 500 graduates...

[SPMan]

Good morning everyone, We had our sometimes regular Thursday night get together at my layout last night and all but one of our small number showed up.  Feature of the night was running one member's new Pennysylvania 0-4-0 from MTH with Proto 2.  Had a blast putting this little beauty through her paces switching cars.  My friend got a real bargain on this engine.  I think he only paid $250 and it was new in the box.  I would like to get a steam switcher myself.  L.A. Lakers down the tube---again last night.  Looks like the Celtics are too much for them.  Have a good week end all, Ray

[RockIsland52]

Good afternoon, ya'll (correct Roseyville lingo).  Hope everyone is able to keep their head above water (rains and flooding), a roof over their head (tornadoes), the a/c cranking (power outages and equipment failures), and avoid fire.  Is it me or has the weather been more extreme than normal this year?  Up my way we went from cold to HOT here, missed Spring.  This Summer has started out with lower than normal precipitation, and that usually spells drought and outdoor watering bans to conserve.

I can see from a nearly total lack of comments on the Pot that the rest of you, except for Ray, have checked out on the NBA basketball finals between the Lakers and the Celtics.  Those of us who watched last night's game witnessed arguably the greatest single game comeback in the history of the NBA playoffs.  The Celtics started the game 3 for 16, were down by as many as 24, and then started a furious comeback with 6 minutes to go in the third.  Ray, it ain't over for the Lakers till the fat lady sings.  Sunday's next game on Father's Day will be a war. 

Sir James....both of my in-laws had cataract removal/lens replacement surgery.  Outpatient.  Antibiotic eyedrops for a few days.  Stunning results. Their only regret in retrospect was putting it off.  Paid by Medicare.  Their uncorrected (no glasses, etc.) eyesight now 20/20 because the replacement lens corrects for the lens and cataract they remove from your eye AND nearsightednes, farsightedness, etc.  Glasses needed for reading only.  Cut down on the night glare for driving as well, though with age everyone becomes more sensitive to oncoming headlights because the pupils don't respond as quickly, just as other parts of the body respond more slowly to certain stimuli     

Laz.....I've been following your mole escapade and all the stitches you're sporting.  Re the scar, you can always tell everyone wifey got tired of your empties lying around on the ground by the BBQ apparatus and threw one of the beer bottles at you.  Time for you to consider a tatoo to cover up the scar.  I vote you have Chief's avatar photo superimposed over the scar (caption: "I AIN'T NO YANK.") or, in the same vein, a delicate butterfly.   Hope all was totally successful with the surgery and you give yourself a chance to mend nicely.  Lucky the mole was on your back and not somewhere else.

Brent and Rich....I'm with you on the local car mechanic.  I am not a handy guy.  That being said, I prefer to throw most of my business to the locals rather than the monster chains because of the knowlegeable service and the convenience.  I've been going to the same car guy for 14 years and have never had a bringback.  Fixed first time, every time.  And none of the tactics the dealers are good at: replace parts until the problem goes away.  I had my Dodge Intrepid back to Chrysler every May for 5 consecutive years (under warranty) for a/c failure, and they could never locate an R34 leak despite dye and pressure testing.  Off warranty, it may be cheaper to pay more on the first pass and get the job done right than to wear a rut in the road bringing the car back to the dealer.  Brent, I'd be interested in what your car guy finds with the a/c issue.

Doug....you may be on the road already, but  to your six year old son, CNW1995 Jr. 

Rich.....after reading your post, I felt kind of bad about my post yesterday about kids taking the grandparents for granted with protracted scheduled "expected" babysitting duties.  About 19 years ago a career move took my wife and I with the kiddies on this odyssey away from our families in Chicago and to the Boston area.  My parents (RIP) and my wife's parents were and are unable to jump on a plane any time they feel like it and make the 900 mile trek to visit the grandkids, and now the great grandchild.  Health and financial factors.

So every year for the past 19 years my wife and I made at least one trip back to Chicago a year, usually for Christmas.  It was tough being away from our own home every year for the holidays.  My wife and I supplemented these trips to Chicago by sending them plane tickets to visit us.

Seems like it's feast or famine, so I apologize for offending anyone.  My world is not necessarily THE world.  Given the choice, I'd rather have the luxury of complaining about being overused as a babysitter and seeing the kids and grandkids than wishing we could live closer.  It's just that sometimes I feel that my kids have a sense of entitlement and expectation that can run amuck.  And Sir James and John, I find that debating the issue with the wifey for her total enabling of the situation, while dead-on accurate, is about as productive as reclinerizing with a bag of popcorn on the highway at midnight.    

Congrats Rich and to your infinitely better half on the job offer.  Sounds like she got severely knocked down but got right back up off the mat.  Ya gotta love that.  I pat myself on the back every day about how smart I was when I chose my wife.  I think I got the better end of the deal.

Dennis....glad to hear the knuckleheads at work continue to plague you because the distraction is good for you.  Use an instrument called a Louisville Slugger.  It isn't as precise as a scalpel, but it gets the job done.  And wear latex gloves.  They leave no fingerprints.

Jack

[Anonymous]

Jack,
There are no leaks in the system (he tested that a month ago before it got HOT HOT HOT), now he is saying 'It is either the evaporation value, condensor, or compressor.' Yeah? No $H!T! Those are the three major components, in order of cost, in the entire A/C system (other than the fan and I know it isn't that because when I turn it on I get a continual blast of HOT HOT HOT air)! He tells me these things because he THINKS I don't know anything about cars. When I told him I had the 'evaporation value, condensor, or compressor' figured out by reading online he said, 'OH, I didn't know you knew that.' He's a hoot! You should hear some of the stuff he tells Susie-Q she needs. Told her once she needed Xenon Fluid for her headlight... that started a whole mess of 'smack talk' between her and him. She called him once frantic that her 'check engine' light had come on... he told her to pull over, open the gas cap, close the gas cap and see if the light goes out... she insisted on driving 1 hour out of her way for him to check the car... he did... opened the gas cap, closed the gas cap, turned on the car, sent her on her way... month later the light comes back on so I have to take her car to him to have it checked... I instead stop at Advance, buy a new gas cap for $12.00... call her and tell her the gas cap cost $45 because Toyota HAD to put a special spring in it... boy did she get fired up! LOL! When she got home she saw the receipt!

[phillyreading]

Good afternoon,

Rained this morning and looks like it may rain again, should get up to 90.

The people out in the mid-west really got hammered by the weather in the past week or so. Really sad about the four Boy Scouts camping.

Brent, some advice about repairing a Toyota's air conditioning system "Don't do it!!" You may spend up to $2000.00 to fix the AC in a Toyota because when one part goes out it takes out another part, compressor usually goes first then the evaporater or the unit under the dashboard. I know as we just had our '98 Camry's AC repaired by a very reputable non Toyota shop, also had another older Camry that the AC quit in it and it was very costly to repair.  Sounds like you got real a sheister mechanic if he told you the headlight needed Xenon fluid, next he will tell you that you need muffler bearings or the Johnson rod is damaged.

Been doing some stuff around the house today and running some errands, have the day off. Might work on the two Micronta regulated power supplies tomorrow, try to get one workable unit out of the two.

Lee F.

 

[Anonymous]

Lee,
Susan just had the A/C in her Solara fixed last year... no problems since.

The A/C this year is in my BMW and I have to have it fixed because I'm not getting rid of this car for at least 3 years. So it is just fix it to keep it running, and I wouldn't do this if I lived in Pittsburgh, but since I live in MD where the temps have been in the 90's for going on two weeks... I have to have it done... I'm starting to look like Chief!

[phillyreading]

Brent,

The Solara sounds like it is a newer Toyota, less than nine years old, so I am wondering why the AC went out already?

BMW's and other German cars are expensive to get parts for. Be careful about working on German cars as the battery is not where you think it should be, VW for example has put the battery; in the trunk, under the backseat, current models have the battery under the hood.

I was thinking about trading in the Camry we have now but it is running good and we have a trailer hitch installed & pull a small trailer to the small engine shop or scrap metal place.

To live in Florida your car must have AC.

Lee F.

[Anonymous]

Lee,
The Solara is a '99. It has seen a rough life since 2005 (collision with a deer, dog, rearended by a Merc, and then Susie-Q decided it needed a new passenger mirror so she side swiped a delivery truck)... I don't think the repair shop installed the new Compressor correctly after the deer incident (happened in November so no need for A/C till May the following year).

As for the Bimmer... that is why I take it to my friend who is a mechanic, I do the oil changes and brake replacements, and anything else I can handle... all else it goes to the mechanic. The battery in Susie-Q's and my Bimmers are right where they are supposed to be, so no worries there. The Bimmers have been very reliable for us, except last fall when no one could locate the vibration in the front end (turned out to be the passenger front axle) but my friend got that taken care of. I can't complain about the cost, it is by far the best performing vehicle I have ever owned and it has retained a good portion of its cost in value.

[anjdevil2]

To live in Florida your car must have AC.

Lee F.

YOU AIN'T KIDDING, BROTHER!!!!!!

I always said, if it wasn't for air conditioning, Florida would be less populated....except for Orlando....

Jack, I make it a point to get back HOME any time I can get away...I'm scheming now for 4th of July.  If I take off the 3rd....I even go back in January for my Fire Dept Installation Dinner, just to hang with the guys and my family.  My daughter is close to my side of the family, more so now, since my in-laws have past on.  She has my intelligence(?) and my sister's sarcasm.  A real Italian.... female.  And, yes, I keep her away from knives.

Toyota a/c systems are pretty easy to repair.  BMW's however...as bad as the Benz's, didn't like them much, but paid pretty well.  Saw alot more a/c problems here, than in NJ, for sure.

[RockIsland52]

Brent.....I feel your (financial) pain with the auto a/c issue.  BMW, hmmmmmm.  Maybe I have found someone that will write a larger check than I did to get the car's a/c fixed.

I drive a 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora (you guys remember Oldsmobile, right?) with the 4.0 liter V8 mini-Northstar engine and 95,000 miles.  11 model years old, but I love my car.  Long since paid off.  Low insurance cost.  FWD with the engine crammed in transversely, battery under rear passenger seat, no more room under the hood.

16 months ago my idler pulley and belt tensioner seized, and my mechanic had to lift the motor on an engine hoist to get at it (GM engineering mark of excellence).  There was a lot of slap in the compressor bearings though the a/c was still working.  Nonetheless, the mechanic called me down to his shop to show me the compressor and to advise me to consider a new one since the labor was already a sunk cost replacing the idler pulley/tensioner.  I not only chose to have him swap out the compressor but had him swap out the alternator as well.  OUCH$$$$!!!!

Didn't tell wifey about the "entire" repair because she was (and still is) after me to buy a new car.  She thinks that all cars should be disposed of as soon as they require repairs.  So you guys who quietly acquire trains you like when the wifey may take issue, I totally respect your stealth. 

When I buy my next car, I think I'll roust Lee, Steve, and Rich for advice.  Who would know better about certain vehicle deficiencies in the a/c arena than folks that would otherwise expire daily in the Fla sun if they make a poor choice?  I'll have to throw Roy in there as his Texas temperatures seem to rate near the top.  Maybe Dennis too, as he may have experience treating heat stroke victims.  I find generally that some cars have blower fans unequal equal to the task

During my recent trip to Disney and Orlando, I was surprised that more cars on the road didn't have side and rear window tinting to blunt the sun and help keep the car interiors cooler.  I was also surprised when the Hertz representative proudly noted that the Honda Accord and the Subaru Legacy I was renting both had excellent air conditioners, as if we didn't have a/c in cars up here in Massachussetts. 

Yes we have a/c in cars up Nawth, but you would be amazed how many people in Taxachussetts drive around up here, in 95 degree heat and humidity that would drown a fish, with their tops or windows down.  On sweltering days I'd put the number near 40%, based on the numbers my son and I casually counted on an afternoon drive into Boston earlier this week. The on-the-asphalt roads temperatures regularly hit 104.  Then add in the stop and go traffic where you cannot even get a breeze going.

This proves conclusively that something isn't altogether right in the head with many people up my way.  Perhaps for some their a/c is busted.  And for others their cars tend to overheat.  This is not something I just noticed with the rise in fuel prices but observed as soon as I moved out here from Chicago 19 years ago.  Try to buy a new or used car without factory installed a/c......you have to special order it.

My take as that these nuts must be visitors from the South who haven't figured out that hot is hot, right Chief?  Sorry, couldn't resist after your Yankee potholes observation when Fife was working on his front end suspension vibration.

Later,

Jack

   

[wrmcclellan]

No way am I kin to Yankees.  OH, the Eagles came from England and settled in Maryland [Southern part I'm sure].  Two brothers split and one came south to NC.  Other one we never heard of again. 

Ya know - there was probably a very good reason for that.....

Well pretty warm here to day - but tolerable. High - mid 90's through the weekend.

Regarding the AC discussion above - TX would have not grown without AC either. My parents first house in Houston was not air conditioned (but the second one was!) and none of the schools I attended were air conditioned (they air conditioned my HS the year after I graduated). Mom was born and raised in TX - Dad like to say he moved here before it was popular...

Prayers for those in IOWA - news saying the highest floodwaters ever recorded since records started being kept in the 1850's.

Too bad about Tim Russart (NBC News) passing on unexpectedly - only 58.

Echoing Don B - Happy Fathers Day weekend to us dads - I get to spend Fathers Day driving my son to Austin for a soccer camp - boy is he thrilled about the 3.5 hours of quality time with Dad!

 

[Brutus]

Sir James - you need a face lift?!  Good luck with the eyes, man.  My wife already has beginning cataracts in one eye that they are watching.  Maybe you need one of those train-cams, then you could check all your wrinkles?  Of course, people might wonder what you are doing on your layout like that

88 - that's too funny about the gas cap.  My friend Fran at work told me this morning she had to switch cars with her son as her check engine light came on.  I asked her when she last had it serviced.  Well, son just serviced it himself last month.  So I told her to check and see if he reset the chip as a lot of companies now use the check engine light to get you to get oil changes on time etc.  Or, I said, she might want to check her gas cap!  Well, after they took it to Autozone and scanned it, the code said there was air getting in around the fuel cap!  She thinks I'm a genius, but it's just dumb experience!

No trains today and I'm working 6 OT tomorrow.  Then we'll go out for dinner for Father's Day.

Anybody up for a TARDIS ride?  Maybe raid Sir James' house, I heard he has some new vittles! 

[sir james I]

EVENUNG ALL

Brutus the sagging skin above my eyes was a suprise to me. I have never noticed it. Honest and for truly. as for the cataracts, have had them a long time but not bad enough to affect my vision at all. My doctor is a cataract specialist and if she says we don't need to do anything yet, I'm taking her word for it.  And yes we do have a fresh supply of snacks for sunday but you guys are family too, so come on in. I haven't read back to todays afternoon post yet so if I missed anything I can add an edit....S.J.

[ChiefEagles]

Evening all.  As fast as I shoot groundhogs, another one moves in.   I'll get this one too. 

Watching TV.  Movies on TCM are western type so I enjoy.

Busy day tomorrow.  Hope to go to Miss Edna's, Pam's boss's son has B'day party in our park across the street, friend of Pam's daughter has graduation party and then FIL's Father's Day cookout.   Good night all.

[dwiemer]

Brent, Rich, Lee, I know about expensive repairs.  We have one car that goes to the mercedes dealership and every time, the bill is over $1000.  They have been nice and given us some things under warranty, even after that was up.  I also have a 94 Ford Bronco that has had two batteries and a alternator that I replaced.  That is it! (except tires and oil changes).

Rich, we are heading to Manasquann the end of July.  If you find yourself still up there, give me a shout. 

Chief, hope you do make it to Miss Edna's.  I wish I had a good ol' train store to spend some time in and enjoy.....but we are about 3.5 hours from the nearest one.

Jack, we tend to stay pretty warm here too.  I manage with the heat much better than my wife, but when you keep a heat index into the low 100s for most of the summer, AC does come in handy.  As for heat stroke, we don't see too much of that as most are used to it.  During the Olympics, was plenty of it for folks not use to high heat were dropping like flies.  The ones I really feel for are the roofers!  down here, you couldn't pay me enough.

I got my Father's Day a little early.  Presents arrived from the Train-Station, and then, kids gave me clothes, and bride gave me a gift certificate for a "Father's Day at the Spa", complete with massage, accupressure, hot stone treatment, etc.  Mind you, I have never had all this, so it may actually be some kind of torture, but I'll give it a go.  With my luck, the massage therapist will probably be some 300+ pound bavarian ladies wrestling champion with PMS, but hey, how bad can it be?

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend.  Please keep Jon and the folks in Iowa in your prayers as they are supposed to get a solid rain again through the weekend.  Also, keep the military in Iraq in your prayers as it is 120+ during the day there.

God Bless,

dennis

[kpolak]

Morning!

Dennis:  My Bride did that to me to get me out of the house for a suprise party once...careful!  Mind you, I'm not into this stuff, but the facial was the best thing ever.

3-yo has been working my last nerve with her y-chromosome.  'Y' everything.  No good answer to satify.

Bride finally home after week in Austrailia.  3-yo keeps asking about the Wiggles, as she thought Bride was there seeing them. 

Finally got Atlas GP15 apart, extended the coupler wires to free up the front trucks for the O-31 curves.  The handrails at the cab have to be removed to lift the shell off.  Atlas was very quick to help me out.  Now the red wire broke off the front power truck.  Need to take apart again.  I'm not sure this Geep is too happy with the O-31 S-curve.

Kurt

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Humid & 75 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Wifey let me know that we need to go grocery shopping, clothes shopping for her, take middle princess to the mall, buy oldest princess the bikini we promised, littlest princess would like to go horseback riding, need to stop by and visit my Dad, then drop her off at her sister's place to have dinner with her father (no kids allowed this time), and ,oh, by-the-way, what would "you like to do on your day"

[mitchelr]

Morning Folks,

Busy week at new school. Lots of deliveries. Final Use and Occupancy Certificate received Wednesday afternoon.  Hooray!  Moved in permanently Thursday and Friday, except I have to clean out my desk at the temporary office.  Will complete that clean out early Monday AM.  Demonstrations of security, mechanical, electrical systems, etc. start next week.  They continue for about a month.  A few hours training here and there. 

Not much on the train front, been reading latest CTT and Lion Roar (LCCA) magazines.  Did spend a few quality hours at local train shops last Saturday.  Looked for a piece of rolling stock I saw at 88's house.

Going to DC to visit son today. Taking a tour of the Capital.  Should be fun.

Take care.

Mitch 

[fifedog]

mitchie - congrats on the Certificate.  Did we finally get the water pressure down?  And how will the prinipal's office be decorated?

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING

Brite sun this morning, going into the 80s, rain overnite but no storm. I would like to cut the grass today but it is very wet so I will wait till afternoon and maybe take a shot at it. It's still too early for any new train news so I shall depart with a "enjoy your day".....S.J.

[sarpilot]

Morning all. Its train show day and Fathers Day weekend. What could be better. As some of you know I posted a rather hostile blog about the problems and pitfalls of using Gargraves track. I would like to appologize to all the Gargraves users out there if they took offense. I have been able to work though most of the problems that I had and am up and running. Secondly I would like to state for the record that Gargraves customer service is outstanding. My hobby shop owner put me in contact with one of their reps and he was extremely helpfull, offering to not only to replace a suspect part but also sent me some extras so I would have spares in the event that the problems reoccurs. Nice people. Gargraves still not the best choice for the guy who wants to get up and running right now. But great for the guy with patience who wants a very realistic track and great customer service. All you Fathers out there have a great weekend.

STEVE

[dwiemer]

Good Morning, Y'all!

Just started to watch "Spy Train" on DVR.  Family is gone for the day, I'm on call and stuck home.  Hoping to watch "Shooter" a little later and then some layout work.  I was given a mission to replace the seats on a few of the commodes today.  Picked some up at Home Depot yesterday.

Mitch, congratulations on the completion of the school.  Good luck with the final preps. 

Chief, this morning, on Fox, they had a segment on a program for caregivers for seniors.  It was called "Senior Helpers"  I believe the website is:  http://www.seniorhelpers.com/

Oh Father's Day.  Funny thing, when it's Mother's Day, preachers tend to speak of how wonderful Mothers are, but when it comes to Fathers Day, they admonish us to do a better job.  Step up to the plate and be a good example for which our kids to learn from.  I guess it is a sign of the times. 

Jon, sorry to see that you are expecting more rain and they say a breach occured causing even more problems.  Have been praying for your safety.

God Bless,

Dennis

 

[CSXect]

In the newspaper this morning they were talking about UP and BNSF not being able to ship things east do to all the flooding same goes for a lot of trucker as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Afternoon Fellas.

Got in from work this morning around 11am... Put in 13 hours of OT between last night and this morning.

Repair nightmares continue...

Went to start the John Deere when I got home... nothing... check sparks plugs - clean - checked gap - perfect... reinstalled... nothing... checked battery cables OK... checked fuel filter - OK... tried again... nothing. Now off to take JD to the repair shop... I think I live in these places!

Fife - you need a vacation after all that running around!

Chief - good luck with the groundhogs!

[RockIsland52]

Good Morning, Y'all!

.........Oh Father's Day.  Funny thing, when it's Mother's Day, preachers tend to speak of how wonderful Mothers are, but when it comes to Fathers Day, they admonish us to do a better job.  Step up to the plate and be a good example for which our kids to learn from.  I guess it is a sign of the times.......... 

God Bless,

Dennis

 

Same with the Father's Day cards.  Ours cards are USUALLY filled with teasing about our (few!?) shortcomings while Mothers' Day cards sound like a Congressional Medal of Honor presentation.......MAY BE AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN ALL THAT.  My house would not be a home without the wifey.

For Fathers Day my daughter hired a landscaper to come over and put a dent in the jungle.   YAHOO!!!!  Now that sure beats the H out of the usual Fathers' Day fare.

Prayers for those in Iowa and all along the Mississippi where the flooding only seems to worsen each day.  What a tragedy with the Boy Scouts and now the catastrophe in Cedar Rapids.

Brent......after reading your post, I believe your mechanic has a death wish, trash taliking with SuzieQ.  There are no referees around to break up the fracas and assess technical fouls.  Or remove the tire iron from her hand. 

Dennis......off to Manasquann NJ?  We spent 10 days in Stone Harbor with friends way back when.  But I could not take time off of work, so I would drive the 105 miles each way to work in Linden and back so I could participate in the evening festivities.  What a haul.  Ah, to be young and stupid again.  Sorry if this makes you homesick, Rich.  Re the massage, watch out for those hands on your shoulders. 

Kurt.....re your 3 year old.  "Y" means agreement on the outside and trickery on the inside.  You are in trouble.    Better you than me.

Mitch.....things are going too smoothly this past week on your school building project.  Get ready for the coming week.  Things are bound to heat up again.

A SAD DAY.  The passing of Tim Russert, NBC News Washington Bureau Chief at age 58, has filled the news.  Many of you may have watched his program, Meet the Press, which he took from third world status to the top of the charts.

I was fortunate to know Tim.  We spent 4 years together at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, graduating in 1972.  He was everything the talking heads say he was, a leader who was involved from the outset.....in student government and in a service fraternity, the University Club.  JCU is a Catholic university run by the Jesuits who, at the time, permitted fraternities, but only if their core mission was service to others.

Tim came from very humble beginnings, and his father instilled in him a passion for involvement with people and issues that made him the success he was.   He will be sorely missed.  Say a prayer for Tim, his family, and all he stood for.

Jack