The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[cnw1995]

Sunny and mid-60s here by the lake. Had a couple of recent interesting adventures - I saw this artist's work last week - http://www.aronpacker.com/hafken/hafken.html - his show is called HO - he's heavily influenced by of all things Faller catalogs and takes pictures of real settings to look like model railroad pictures. It was funky. There was also a series of architecture tours of all sorts of interesting Chicago spaces - I went to one that looked at CTA rail stations while riding the El led by the CTA's construction manager - I thought it was going to be just newer stuff but was pleasantly surprised to find the details of old stations still out there like Quincy and Adams stations, and another on one of those tourist trolley buses that looked at 'great railroad structures that influenced early skyscrapers - it was pretty basic but we got to crawl around Dearborn station - two days until vacation... Kooljock, don't move - keep the condo just for your trains - expand out of the basement! ;)

[wrmcclellan]

Good morning all!

Thursday is last day of school for my kids. They are ready to get out! Then off to band camp, Scout camp, soccer camp, etc., and some summer lazyness.

Cooled off here if you can call the high of 91 yesterday cool! (after 100 you can). Supposed to be 95 today.

Dr. John and Chief - get well soon!

Doug, sounds like a neat tour. Not much architectural history down here - it all burned up in the heat!

Have a great day all.
Roy

[ChiefEagles]

Afternoon all. Been running errands even though I'm sick. Had to take wife's oldest and smallest baby to the groomers and then get things done. Did run trains. Got to take the NS SD70 PS1 apart. Good sounds, smokes up a storm but wants to run like something is binding. Nothing in gears and I lubed them good. Another project as I'm going to convert it anyway. Dr. John, go to Dr and get meds. You don't want pneumonia. More to do. God bless all.

[ChiefEagles]

Since Buckeye is from Ohio, I gave him some pointers on how to act while he was gone. Folks in OHIO are not use to following these rules.

In General..

1. Never take a beer to an interview.
2. Always identify people in your yard before shooting them.
3. It's considered tacky to take a cooler to church.
4. If you have to vacuum the bed, it's time to change the sheets.
5. Even if you're certain that you're included in the will, it's rude to
drive a U-haul to the funeral.


Dining Out

1. When decanting the wine from the box, make sure you tilt the paper
cup and pour slowly so as not to 'bruise' the fruit of the wine.
2. If drinking directly from the bottle, always hold it with your hands.


Entertaining in Your Home

1. A centerpiece for the table should never be anything prepared by a
taxidermist.
2. Do not allow the dog to eat at the table, no matter how good his
manners are.


Personal Hygiene

1. While ears need to be cleaned regularly, this job should be done in
private using one's own truck keys.
2. Even if you live alone, deodorant is not a waste of money.

3. Use of proper toiletries can only delay bathing for a few days.
4. Dirt and grease under the fingernails is a social no-no, as they tend
to distract from a woman's jewelry, and alter the taste of finger foods.


Dating (Outside the Family)

1. Always offer to bait your date's hook, especially on the first date.
2. Be assertive, Let her know you're interested: "I've been wanting to
go out with you ever since I read that stuff on the bathroom walls two years
ago."
3. Establish with her parents what time she is expected back. Some will
say 10:00 PM. Others might say "Monday," If the latter is the answer, it is
the man's
responsibility to get her to school on time.


Theater Etiquette

1. Crying babies should be taken to the lobby and picked up immediately
after the movie has ended.
2. Refrain from talking to the characte rs on the screen. Tests have
proven that they can't hear you.


Weddings

1. Livestock, usually is a poor choice for a wedding gift.
2. Kissing the bride for more than 5 seconds might get you shot.
3. For the groom, at least, rent a tux. A leisure suit with a
cummerbund and a clean bowling shirt can create a tacky appearance.
4. Though uncomfortable, say 'yes' to socks and shoes for this special
occasion.


Driving Etiquette

1. Dim your headlights for approaching vehicles, even if the gun is
loaded and the deer is in sight.
2. When approaching a four way stop, the vehicle with the largest tires
does not always have the right of way.
3. Never tow another car using panty hose and duct tape.
4. When sending your wife down the road with a gas can, it is impolite
to ask her to bring back beer too.
5. Do not lay rubber while traveling in a funeral possession.

[tschmidt]

Chief,

That was great!!! It does take some of the fun out of life by having to follow the rules.

My philosophy on life goes a little like this...
LIFE IS NOT A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE WITH THE INTENTION OF ARRIVING SAFELY IN A PRETTY AND WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN BROADSIDE, THOROUGHLY USED UP, TOTALLY WORN OUT, AND LOUDLY PROCLAIMING
----WOW----WHAT A RIDE!!!!!!!!

Have a great day and enjoy the ride!
Tom

[spankybird]

FeatherChiefie - LOL what can anyone say.

[ChiefEagles]

Tom, I thought it was Eaglefeathers?????? [;)][:D]

[spankybird]

whats the differance [?]

[Roger Bielen]

Chief,
Make sure that Yankee doesn't send a turkey feather. I'm going to have to copy that list for a later day.

[Roger Bielen]

Aw, why wait. I just sent out Chief's rules to my daughter, sister, and a friend. I did give credit where due.

Chief, a second thought on that turkey feather, if it's on a label on a bottle that's ok.

[Roger Bielen]

Aw, why wait. I just sent out Chief's rules to my daughter, sister, and a friend. I did give credit where due.

Chief, a second thought on that turkey feather, if it's on a label on a bottle that's ok.

[Dr. John]

Read some good news in the paper today. Prattville, Alabama is getting its own Bass Pro Shop! They are also building one in Leeds (outside of Birmingham) and Spanish Fort (across the bay from Mobile.) Now when my wife wants to go to the Super Target, I can hang out in the BPS!

Think I'll head on to bed. Feeling better but a good night's sleep would sure help. Good night, all!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang. Dr. John, I'll request to do your Grand Opening. That would be fun. Had some good rain and the garden is growing [grass too]. Hope we get sunshine now. Got things to do before shoving off to Yankeeland tomorrow AM [early]. Hope all have a great day and all your trains smoke well. God bless all.

[jonadel]

Chief--

Is this your weekend in Dubuque? If it is, where are you staying and where are you doing the demo? We typically make one or two trips a year to Dubuque to ride bikes along the Mississippi and just hang out with the locals. Without question, the Dubuque American Legion has one of the best Memorial Day parades anywhere. If you rent a car you have to go to Eagle State Park, seriously, it's within the city limits and offers a spectacular high view of the river, lock & dam and looks into Wisconsin. Not sure what our plans are for the weekend, I'd really like to go buy a motorcycle..............

Jon

[ChiefEagles]

Jon, you've got mail. Maybe we will see each other.

[Dr. John]

Chief, It would be great if you could do the grand opening of our Bass Pro Shop. I'm not sure when it will take place. They have land near I-65 but construction has not started yet. Still some road work to do. I imagine it will be sometime next year.

Feeling much better today. I think the diet Dr. Pepper cured my cold!

[cnw1995]

Morning all, there was a nice story in yesterday's Chicago Tribune - Metra named a new MP36PH engine (#401) after a 7 year-old train lover named Ollie Tibbles who die of a brain tumor - a very cute kid - wanted to grow up to be a locomotive. Metra engines are usually named after on-line towns. They surprised his mom with it at a fund-raiser and then ran the engine express out to his home town. This child got a cab ride before he died as part of Make-a-Wish foundation. Have a good day. Pleasant here - watched the Hiawatha come in this morning from riverside.

What do you think of CTT selling bundled articles as downloadable PDFs? - I noted this in their latest email newsletter - a nifty idea.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,
SAme old same old here 55 and rain.
Hope weekend is better to do some fishin.
Run those trains GIZ, Im runnin tonight cause I got ta monitor detention fro 230 til 5. Yucko?
laz57

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all,

A bit more pleasent here today. Cool breeze this morning that will not last long. Mid-90's today.

Doug - nice story.

Chief and Dr. John - glad you guys are getting better.

Laz - ugh - detention duty...

Have a great day all!
Roy

[Dr. John]

Doug, I agree that the pdf articles are a good idea. It's a great way for a beginner to get some key information (or for those that don't subscribe to CTT). I had some trouble downloading the free sample, though. The first time caused Internet Explorer to lock up. Second try worked O.K.

Laz - So you get to be warden this afternoon? Better take a copy of CTT to read!

[Dr. John]

Roy, thanks! Better put on a sweater if it drops into the 90s!

[FJ and G]

Doug,

Interesting time you had and LOVED the pictures or artwork or whatever it is on that site. Very very very lovely!

--------------------------

I wanted to share with forumites my new way of preparing cuisine. It's not a diet or anything, but I did lose about 15 pounds in the first 3 weeks and have been on it for a month and feel really good.

I go in the store now and everything I buy is fresh. In other words, nothing out of a can, bottle or box (except a few things like milk).

Keep in mind that I'm not reducing the amount of food I eat, just the makeup of it.

A typical day would be eggs and shrimp for breakfast, along with some fruit.

Lunch might be steak and potatoes. Nothing on them; just steak and potatoes, with a side fresh vegetable.

Dinner might be chicken or turkey with whole wheat bread or a sweet potatoe.

This new food plan entails firing up the grill a LOT, as well as lifting weights to utilize all of the protein.

It's pretty wild and crazy, and I highly recommend it!

[cnw1995]

Sounds like a healthy way to go, David - can't beat fresh - but doesn't that mean you're shopping all the time - but small amounts - just like in Europe. I thought you'd appreciate the art....

[Roger Bielen]

A beautiful day today in Dixie, 70 at noon, bluebird sky with a few clouds, low humidity, and a slight breeze. Shut off the AC and opened the windows when I came home from w**k.

[Dr. John]

Yeah, Roger, a nice day here too. Low humidity and a very pleasant breeze. Hope it lasts a few days! It's great weather for yard work.

[FJ and G]

Doug,

My grill is pretty large so I'm able to do a lot of meat (& veggies) and then tupperware them for a couple days. The beagle hangs around the grill a lot when I'm there, policing the area to ensure no meat falls off and goes to waste.

BTW, forgot to mention I do consume a couple of items from cans/bottles, namely wine, beer (in moderation) and coffee (canned ground coffee).

--------------

BTW, they are "BRACing some military folks here in DC area to a base somewhere in Alabama. My own job is going to get BRAC'd to Fort Meade, Maryland, which would mean about a 3 hour commute each way via VRE and MARC train, some driving and walking. NOT good. May be a couple years or sooner.

So much for BRAC. Anyone else ever lose a job to a move? Guess I could move to Maryland.

[wrmcclellan]

Huge T-Storms coming our way very fast - hope we get some decent rain out of them.

[Roger Bielen]

Dave, Fort Meade is almost near to my old stompin' ground out in Pasadena, daughter lives in Elkton, worked one summer at the Fort as a clerk in maint.. Instead of commuting, if the job looks long term, might be a good relocation area. Here in the Athens area looks like we'll loose the Naval Supplu School to Conneticut.

[FJ and G]

Roger,

I like my job so much (with trains and all on my desk) that I might really consider moving up there. I've got a while to mull it over.

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys,

I'm still around and kicking.....

I even have a picture for yous and for Cheif.. [;)]



--Chris