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

[mitchelr]

LAZ - I just got the joke about the bear[bow][bow]. Canada ... dry...duh.

I needed that.

Mitch[(-D]

[Brutus]

Good Evening! Had to work in the office today. Kids are off school now for the Summer. They are old enough that they don't need a sitter, but I like to work at home just in case. We mostly leave each other alone during the work day, but I do eat lunch with them and when I take my 2 breaks during the day (which I usually spend online during the school year), I generally go check on them and take Chewy outside for a few minutes of walking around. My wife switches to 10 hour days 4 days a week, so she is off with the kids the day I am in the office each week. It mostly works out for the best.

Great pic Doug - I wish I had your hair -- oh, wait! I do! It's growing out of my ears now!

David - good pics again.

Hope Chief feels better and pray he has a good trip.

Chuck - those nice days are really a present -- enjoy them man!

For all you teachers, I hope you get to take a break. I have several relatives and local friends who are teachers and they don't seem to get a break either.

Looks like my son will need some kind of braces next month, so might not be getting a train set after all :(

[jefelectric]

Bob,

I'm glad you explained Laz's joke, I never did get it. It's been a long day! [:D]

[dougdagrump]

Hey guys, the only thing I say is just be very thankful that you don't teach in the former "Great State of California". PC and the ACLU have had a VERY BIG HAND in screwing up our state. [V]

[mickey4479]

I can't sleep! Usually, this time of year I concentrate on water sports, sailing and fishing. I have been going to a state park about 3 hours away to fish for trout because this is a good time during the week as opposed to weekends when it gets crowded. I bought a newer Jib for my sail boat on ebay and am planning on getting out in June. I was planning to go to a lake near Branson, MO this weekend but yesterday, Monday, about 6 AM I woke up with a belly ache. Went to mass as usual at 9 AM, ate a little, did some chores and lost more appetite as the day went on. The long and short of it is this:
Monday, 3 PM regular Doctor
4 PM ER for abdominal CAT scan
5:30 PM test verifies hot appendix
6:30 PM in OR
7:30 PM wake up in recovery rm
Tuesday, 1:30 PM discharged after successful operation
Amasing 24 hours! BUT I HAD TO CANCEL MY FISHING TRIP!

Well, I have more time for trains for a week or so now, and there is plenty of summer to come. Its really been warm here. Hope you kick that congestion Chief. Hello to all.

[mitchelr]

Good mornin'...

Long night tonight, dinner and celebration for our afterschool program. Hope the natives in 3rd and 5th grade are less restless today.

Have a great day.


Mitch[swg]

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,
49 and beautiful today, to get to 74.

MITCH,
Sounds like you need to go to CANADA with BUCKEYE to try and drink CANADA dry?
Hang in there its almost over?

Got to mow tonight.
Have a good one.
laz57

[Jumijo]

Got another phone call from the same number as the night before. 616 area code. No one answers when I pick up. I checked, and 616 is the area code for W. Michigan. No doubt, Jerry Calabrese is trying to contact me. Probably wants me to right the ship for him.

It might hit 70 degrees here today. Hoopty doo!

Jim

[FJ and G]

Good things to know about WD-40 (don't know how true this all is as it is an email from a friend who sometimes emails me dubious stuff). BTW, my email is back up after 2 weeks of being out of commission; just to let you know not ignoring anyone! :-)

(skimmed this and don't notice any nasty stuff unfit to print; hopefully it's not hidden here)
------------------------------

You may have seen this before, but for those who haven't I thought that you might like to know more about this well-known WD-40 product.

When you read the "shower door" part, try it. It's the first thing that has cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle!

Then try it on your stovetop... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "Water Displacement" compound. They were successful with the Fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts.

The workers were so pleased with the product they began smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home.

The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest is history. It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. One of them is the "brew master." There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year. It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.

Here are a few of the 1000s of uses:

~Protects silver from tarnishing
~Cleans and lubricates guitar strings
~Gets oil spots off concrete driveways
~Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery
~Keeps flies off cows
~Restores and cleans chalkboards
~Removes lipstick stains
~Loosens stubborn zippers
~Untangles jewelry chains
~Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
~Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill
~Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing
~Removes tomato stains from clothing
~Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
~Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors
~Keeps scissors working smoothly
~Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
~Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide
~Lubricates gear shift and mower - deck lever for ease of handling on
riding mowers
~Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises
~Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open
~Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close
~Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards and vinyl bumpers
~Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles
~Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
~Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling
~Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly
~Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools
~Removes splattered grease on stove
~Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging
~Lubricates prosthetic limbs
~Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)
~Removes all traces of duct tape
~I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain. ~Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers
~The favorite use in the state of New York
~ WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
~WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. It's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
~Keeps away chiggers on the kids
~Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately, and stops the itch.
~WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
~Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
~If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start. (If I knew what a distributor cap was, it might help)
~WD-40, long known for its ability to remove leftover tape smudges (sticky label tape), is also a lovely perfume and air freshener! Sprayed liberally on every hinge in the house, it leaves that distinctive clean fresh scent
for up to two days!
~Seriously though, it removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!
~Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
~Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

[FJ and G]

actually, easier to proof this when it's up on the page; just noticed this element:

"~If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start. (If I knew what a distributor cap was, it might help)"

Used to do this with my 67 Malibu back in early 70s but someone told me recently it could create a fire. Never happened to me tho and don't do that now anyway. Mainly, my car used to peter out after going thru a carwash. Cars these days seem more reliable.

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Morning from Blueberryhill [/code]It is 48 degrees now and sunny. Going up to
77 degrees and staying SUNNY. That is good.
Well, Jim Fortner, glad to hear you are healing up. No bleeding is a good sign.
Mitch.......Hang in there.
Doug...Nice mugg shot.
Well, I'm gonna do a few things outside today. As long as this weather stays nice, I will
take advantage of it. We may get some rain later in the week.
I hope Buckeye and Chief are enjoying their fishing trips. Lots of stories coming.
I will go for now. Check back later.
Y'all have a great day.
Chuck

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is sunny and mild with temps heading to the 70s today in SE Indiana. I had my son help me clean gutters last night. I think maybe he appreciates what the old man does around the house more. First soccer game of the season is tonight. Some new players and a new team should make for an interesting situation. I feel that I am the best prepared I have ever been for a season so I will see how it goes. I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[spankybird]

Good Morning All from NE Ohio

where the temp is 54 and going up to 72 with Blue Clear Skies

OTTS Meeting this Friday at The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum. 7:00pm Anyone wishing to join us can e-mail me for directions or visit www.wrmrrm.shutterfly.com

We have started the benchwork for the large layout at the museum this week. We will also be making plans on finishing the landscaping on the tin plate layout.



Some of the OTTS boys are planning a trip to AC & J RR, Jefferson, Ohio for the short line train trip and then head over to the NKP museum in Conneaut, Ohio. This will either be June 3 or 10.

Dave – what a list on WD-40. I would be afraid to try some of those, like ‘Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery’


Pick of the Day


All be safe
Tom

[Jumijo]

David,

I know plenty of people, myself included, who have used it on distributor caps without any thing catching on fire.

I spray the inside of my snowblower's chute with it so the snow won't stick to it and clog. It works!

I'm going to try using it on my hands as an arthritis cure. What the heck, it's worth a shot.

Jim

[Locomotive681]

Good morning to all Nice photos Tom I always look fowerd to sunday photo fun.[bow]
Well Im sick today well atleast TRAINS ALL DAY[:D][^].
MIKE

[Brutus]

QUOTE: Monday, 3 PM regular Doctor
4 PM ER for abdominal CAT scan
5:30 PM test verifies hot appendix
6:30 PM in OR
7:30 PM wake up in recovery rm
Tuesday, 1:30 PM discharged after successful operation
Amasing 24 hours! BUT I HAD TO CANCEL MY FISHING TRIP!

Mickey4479 -- sounds kinda FAMILIAR!! God bless - I hope your recovery goes a lot faster than mine! Apparently I'm OBESE (just thought I was a little overweight) and as a result one of my incisions is just now finally closed up and healing over about a month after I had my appendix removed. Thank goodness they left my prologue alone! LOL - English Major joke. Sure hope everything is going well and seriously take it easy and let yourself heal as long as possible before going back to work - I wish I had taken another week off now, but hindsight is 20/20 and we always think we're stronger than we really are. I seem to recall you are up in the KC area. We'll be in Harrisonville this weekend. Any train stores I should visit while we're there?

Warming up here in Lower Arnold MO, but maybe a storm this afternoon. Kids are off school so started working earlier today and hope to be done at a reasonable hour. They're already out there trying to negotiate some television schedule. If the weather is good, they have a picnic with some friends this afternoon at the school.

[cnw1995]

Jim, don't answer that call. You can google the number to find out more if you wish. I'll bet it's either a telemarketer or a scam. Here in Illinois - a greyish, warmish day by the way - the latest scam for inmates is to call a random number and - let's see if I remember how it works - somehow accepting the call reverses subsequent charges for all sorts of call-outs. Lots of billing fun with SBC or AT&T or whatever they're calling themselves these days.

Mickey, wow ,that was fast. Hope your recovery is speedy.

I had a good day yesterday - got a $75 gift card for lasting 15 years here - I missed my special luncheon but will spend this on trains -- and received notice I'll be getting an award this fall for being my wonderful self ("It's a major award!") - the nice thing is it comes with money that should just about pay for the radon mitigation...got back my radon post-test last night and it's super-low - must be working.

Thinking about Memorial Day coming up and want to thank those of you who served in the armed forces.The rest of us owe you a lot. [bow]

[1688torpedo]

Hello All! Dave- I never knew that WD-40 can keep Flies off of Cows.At least it will prevent the Cow from rusting while standing out in the pasture.[;)][:P] I wonder if it will remove Burned Grits from a Pan? or better yet ad flavor to Grits?[;)][:o)] Laz- if the 800lb Bear drinks Canada Dry- Will prices go up for it at the local store?[;)][:P] Bob(mitch)-Hang in there. So your 1688 is still in the shop? Let them know about lazs' 800lb Bear. That will hurry things up for you.[;)] To all who are under the weather hope you get better soon. Take Care.

[jefelectric]

Good Morning,

mickey4479, Well at least you didn't have time to do much worrying. Hope your recovery is speedy, enjoy your trains along the way.

Tom, What size it the large layout planed to be?

Beautiful day here. Hope to get some garden work done.

Just ordered an EOB board from TAS for my K-line Mikado. It runs fine but tends to take of very fast. Hope this reigns it in a little.

I received a catalog yesterday from Precision Craft Models (don't know why as it is HO gauge). What caught my eye was the Big Boy listed at $2995.00!!! And I thought HO was much cheaper then O gauge. A lot of the engines listed are comparable to what we pay in O gauge. Even passenger cars for $70 to $90. Only thing inexpensive compared to O gauge is the freight cars.

All have a good day.

[jonadel]

A beautiful day here and just maybe a touch of summer on the way, finally. I moved 1 ton of crushed red brick yesterday for a walkway and then two yards of mulch to freshen up two perennial beds, UFF DA! I retired early and slept well.

Doug--is there any hope for the Cubbies?

Trains are calling, also need to fire up the dehumidifer down there.

Jon[8D]

[cnw1995]

Bwahahahahahahahaha! The Cubs are really hopeless this year. As a White Sox fan, I am pleased as I have been conditioned to expect the same to happen any day now to my team. How 'bout them Tigers though? Will they ever lose? Did I tell you I finally saw the White Sox wrapped MTH CTA subway cars - beautifully detailed...

[wrmcclellan]

My daughter is limping through her last two finals today and tomorrow. We may luck out and she may have to retake just one class. Tomorrow is the last day of school here.

My son moves to 7th grade (middle school) next year and so they are holding a graduation event and then a picnic for the 6th graders. When I was in 6th grade - you got a card in the mail a few weeks after school stating if you were advancing to the 7th grade or not. The last day of school was spent packing textbooks and waiting to get out of there asap. No graduation ceremony, no party. We were happy.

Supposed to get to 95 today. Not too bad on the heat so far, but we are running above normal and no rain in sight as usual.

John - I got one of those catalogs also. Leafed through it and then into the recycle bin. It will probably be worth a $1000 in 15 years.

Doug - interesting reaction you had there to the Cubs plight. Congrats on your award and it is even better because there is CASH involved!

Have a great day all!
Roy

[wrmcclellan]

Catching up,

Mickey - one of my neighbor's sons had his appendix out and he was walking around the next day and only missed one day of school. When my father had his out back in the 30's they cut right through the muscles - he said it took him 6 months to learn to walk again. When I had mine out in the 60's - I was down for about a week - could walk slowly with some pain - by then they learned to cut lengthwise through each muscle so you were not incapacitated. Amazing is right.

Dave - your list for WD-40 is why it is commonly nicknamed "We're Doin' it - 40".

[jonadel]

Is this how gentlemen behave in the South? Pretty funny stuff.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=VzmwJPqTplI&search=hit%20by%20pitch

[mickey4479]

Thanks for all the thoughts. The post op instructions said walking was good. So last night I walked slowly for about 45 minutes. Today, I walked slowly for about an hour. I feel pretty good, but still tender. I think I feel a nap coming soon. [:)]

[dwiemer]

Dave, seen that list before. In my younger and less informed days, I actually used to spray it into my old 2020 engine as I did not have a source for smoke tablets. It worked pretty well, but now I understand that may not have been such a good idea.
Mickey, hope you are 100% soon. Thing about appendix surgery, depends a lot on what the circumstances are around your getting it taken care of. If found early and just inflamed, the surgery is quicker and recovery much easier. If you wait till it ruptures, you are in for a lot of hurt for a prolonged recovery.

Chief, Kim informed me that the AmEx bill arrived with my train delivery. Seems I spent over $500.00 this month just from one dealer. I told her it was a good thing I am on restriction or I may have spent more[B)]. Anyway, getting ready to make a big track purchase once I get the final plan worked out for the layout. Lots of Fastrack.
Till then,
Dennis

[Anonymous]

Good evening, everyone!

Mickey, Hope you get well soon!

Doug, Congrats on the award!

It was pouring rain here most of the day. We got more than four inches of rain total.

I'll be away from the forums for a while now. Tomorrow morning my parents and I are heading off on our vacation to Alberta and British Columbia. We'll be gone a total of ten days. Train-related attractions on the itinerary include Heritage Park in Calgary (a heritage town that runs steam excursions and has various equipment on display), the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook (a simply outstanding collection of beautifully restored hevyweight coaches), Fort Steele (simmilar to Heritage Park, also with steam) and the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad (the largest Marklin layout in North America). Along the way, I'll be sure to be checking antique stores for trains. Who knows what that may yield. I will, however, be coming home with at least one train set. We'll be spending tomorrow night in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, where a collector friend of mine lives. In exchange for a spare EEL (a Canadian company that produced an O gauge electric train set in the 50's) engine I have, he's going to trade me some kind of a European tinplate set he found. Anyway, I'm quite looking forward to this holiday to say the least! I'll be sure to tell you all about it when I get back.

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by laz 57


MITCH,
Sounds like you need to go to CANADA with BUCKEYE to try and drink CANADA dry?

LAZ - I tried that in college. It wasn't a pretty sight. Finally learned that no matter how much I tried I couldn't drink all the beer.... After that I came to the realization that I really didn't like the rotten feeling after too much partying[:o)][:o)] Now a days if I drink a twelve pack in a year that 's a lot. I would however like to be in Canada with Buckeye catching some of those monsters up in the lakes way up North.

Mitch[swg]

[MartyE]

Well were in Dallas this week for the Conf finals. It is hot down in the AA Arena garage where the TV trucks are. Been surfing for a nice RK steamer or diesel for when I get home. I'll get to come home Sat morning until we see if there will be a game 5. Hope all is well. Until then I leave you with the mess that is bringing you all the great video coming from here...

And you thought your train wiring was a mess. Thank goodness I keep good paper work!

[ChiefEagles]

Thought I would die yesterday. Had to drive [alone] towing Ranger and tried to stay awake. Got there and fished until dark. Took meds and went to bed. Got up at 8:30 AM and went back out until 3 PM. Felt better today but now catching up with me [cough cough, yuck bad stuff [xx(]]. Fish, did someone mention fish?
Just one of the ones that I caught today. [forgot camera in boat today and so only kept one in livewell to show I caught one, then released alive].


Good night to all [Yanks included [;)]]