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

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

p.s.....Almost forgot: Indians 14 , White Sox 1 

Go Padres !

Go Padres !

Go Padres !

Go Padres !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Indians 6,   White Sox 0

 

[Brutus]

Gonna go see Leo at home this weekend, maybe take him a gift card for Blockbuster or something.  I heard he is doing great considering.  Dennis, how many valves does the heart have?  Somebody said they did 7 on Leo...?  He's a great guy - retired Air Force.  One of the smartest guys I ever met.  Hope they get everything under control.  He lives about 3 miles from my house.

Got the front and sides done mowing tonight - need to do the back.  On a whim, I bid on a 0-4-0 Porter (On30 from Bachmann) on ebay and nearly won it for $20.  Might bid on another one - could repaint it pink for my daughter.  I've got some HO track in the basement and a couple cheap transformers....  Hmmm, maybe something to make her for Christmas from me.

Need to pick up some Simple Green tomorrow.  Was going to buy some tonight, but had to stop and get meds for my wife at the drug store.

Pray that Chuck has a great trip, for Lucas to continue improving, and for another son and a mother-in-law (sorry, I lose track of names - getting oldtimers premature).

[MartyE]

Finally after 15 hours we are "On the Air"  Only 2 hours of air and 4 hours or so of cleanup and then it's all over for this week.  I'm beat.

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

Another late one. I am in the process of trading the first car we bought for my daughter. CarMax has a 5 day no questions return policy and it turns out the car we bought last weekend has a bad odor that occurs when it sits for a while with the sun on it. So we took it back and I think I found a suitable relacement tonight. Then had to help my son with mountains of homework (molehills he makes mountains out of) and did not get done until 11pm. Ugh.

Weather here the last couple of weeks has been wonderful. I am glad we have left the 100 degree stuff behind for a while. Last year at this time and all the way through October was stiffling. We are somewhat normal for a while with 80's/low 90's and 60's at night. We have a had a few rain showers but nothing that gets anywhere near solving the drought. We are at a point where we need several years of above normal precipitation to recover.

Looks like all are doing well here on the pot. I enjoy all the posts and commentary.

Don - I agree your son and you came out a lot better than us on the car thing. My daughter is doing much better driving the Taurus instead of the SUV or my pickup.

Good to see the Chief made it home ok and that Marty will soon be on his way.

Jim A - Happy anniversary (belated).

Dr. John - those Marx locos are pretty cool.

Doug - send us some Chicago rain. We need it.

It was good to see Daan posting on his new layout!

Well time to turn in for the evening. Have a great day tomorrow all!

[mitchelr]

Mitch,
I was totally joking about being born handsome. If anyone was wacked with an ugly stick, it was me! I'd scare a buzzard off a meat wagon!

Oh I know the feeling...when I was a kid they'd hang my picture in the outhouse to keep the rats out

Long day at work yesterday.  Had a late gathering and meal for parents and kids who are going to be in an after school program.  It's a good program and the kids really benefit. 

Some kids really have a rough existence.  One kid who's having some behavior problems lives with his grandma, they have no phone, so I had someone go by to get her to sign a paper to give us permission to work with him.  It was 3:30 in the afternoon and Grandma was so drunk she could barely talk,  You just know no one gives two hoots about this kid and whether he eats dinner or or does his homework.  It make me furious...  We try to show him love and concern and help him as best we can but it is tough...

Mitch

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,

   45 and cool here to get to 74.

MITCH, I here you on the kid situation.  Lots of our kids here are in the same boat, sad but true.  Hang in there bud.

All have agood one.

laz57

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cool but sunny 48 degrees. Going up to 76 today. Sunny. 

Today, we have grocery shopping, later.  I'm in no rush. Had a good ride yesterday. I drove all the 300 miles. Felt pretty good. But, I was tired last night and slept good. That's the longest I have driven in a year.

I don't like the disadvantage of not being able to review the posts as I am posting. I would like to comment on a few and don't remember exactly, who posted them. I like the old software better, at least for that reason.

I think I will run trains later this afternoon, need the thrill.

Off to the Dining Car for breakfast. Talk later.

Y'all have a great day.

Chuck

[dbaker48]

Mitch, as you know that situation unfortunately isn't unique, it happens all too often.  I became aware of a similiar issue.  The demographics where we live is largely Asian, and I always knew a lot of these kids are really under a lot of pressure to succeed, get out of school and straight to the tutor daily.  Well there is the other side too, I just found out.  Many of the kids in my sons H.S. are not living with their parents.  In a lot of situations the parents have leased a house and returned to Korea or Taiwain and leave two or three kids (15 -17) living in the house alone while the parents return to their home country.  School administrators eventually find out as a result of getting permission slips or other indirect contact requirements and discover the situation.  Two kids on the football team are in this situation, and are literly starved for affection and involvement from other families.  We have a couple of kids that have frequent sleep-overs, and are extremely lonely.  If the kids are found out and child services get involved end up in institutuionalized situations.  The contact with the parents is non-exisitant, until the summer time.  Really tough situation isn't the kids fault, and when you get to know them, for the most part they are usually extremely polite and have had good backgrounds as infants, and then abandonded.  All with the thought that they will get a better education here.  Don't understand how parents can do something like this.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is sunny with temps heading to the 70s in SE Indiana today.  It was another beautiful night for soccer as the girls won 4-1.  I have been reading the November issue of CTT and enjoying some of the layout articles in it.  I liked the review of the MTH 384E set as well.  I have scanned the previous posts, but I have not had time to really review them to make adequate comments.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a now-sunny and cool Chicago where I dodged rain showers on the walk to work. May it head your way, Roy.  Hope the weather holds for me to work more on the house tomorrow. Yes, the White Sox are out - just a year after winning it all, and boy, have they been hammered these last few games. Oh well, time to turn toward the Bears.

That's sure sorry about those kids who are left alone.. I'm impressed with the number of high schoolers who like to hang around our home - they tell my daughter, it's because no-one is at their houses - and I'm sure they get fed by my bride.

[ChiefEagles]

Good Evening.......

We arrived home about an hour ago. Had a great time. Took pictures. My lovely sisters said " I look great ". Had lunch and talked for a few hours. That was my kind of day.

I hope everyone here had a nice day.

Chuck

Chuck's sisters are blind.  We all know Chuck has never looked GREAT.

Good morning.  Good job Mitch.  Hope the kid gets some help from you.  Marty, have a good trip home and rest.  Got to get moving.  Back upstairs.  Over slept.  Well, not really.  Up at 5 with boys, 5:30 with old one again, and then 6:30 with old one again.  Now he will sleep rest of the day.  Suppose to go to Kerr Lake tomorrow fishing.  Lets see, today is the New England Yank's Anniversary.  Poor Mary.   Sure glad those kids have a good mother.   Later.

[jefelectric]

Good morning,

Checking in from daughters computer.  Just got back from an hour with the granddaughters at the small park down the street.  That is about as long as they can content themselves.

Forgot to mention that I ran some trains Monday evening.  Had a visit from some of the wife's relatives.  One of her cousins, Patty, is a train fan.  She has HER own HO layout. She really like the TMCC & DCS systems.  Had four trains running, two on the same mainline which she had never seen done before.

Glad to hear Chuck had a good trip.

Mitch, You have a tough job, I guess it is hard to go home at the end of the day and forget this stuff.

Till later.

 

[ChiefEagles]

Jim A called earlier.  Was getting ready to take Mary [the wife] out for a real big time.  Lemo, flowers, meal and romantic evening.  Now picture this:  Jim's Big Time Out for Wedding Anniversary.

Lemo: the early model Impala

Flowers: fresh picked dandelions

Meal: McDonalds All American Meal

Romantic Evening: he runs trains and she watches Desperate House Wives.

[jonadel]

Occasionlly I would get calls on Saturday nights from parents with a question or comment about their kids, alcohol seemed to be the limiting factor in the coversation on their end. The strangest ones involved alcohol and a full moon, I kid you not. Ask any classroom teacher about full moon behavior or any high school teacher about life long learners during home coming week. Wow, I really miss those conversations and the "environment" of home coming. NOT.

Jon

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Evening.......

We arrived home about an hour ago. Had a great time. Took pictures. My lovely sisters said " I look great ". Had lunch and talked for a few hours. That was my kind of day.

I hope everyone here had a nice day.

Chuck

Chuck's sisters are blind.  We all know Chuck has never looked GREAT.

Good morning.  Good job Mitch.  Hope the kid gets some help from you.  Marty, have a good trip home and rest.  Got to get moving.  Back upstairs.  Over slept.  Well, not really.  Up at 5 with boys, 5:30 with old one again, and then 6:30 with old one again.  Now he will sleep rest of the day.  Suppose to go to Kerr Lake tomorrow fishing.  Lets see, today is the New England Yank's Anniversary.  Poor Mary.   Sure glad those kids have a good mother.   Later.

Well, I can see Chief is all rested up from his travels and is back to his OLD self......A pain in the a- - .

[Buckeye Riveter]

Occasionlly I would get calls on Saturday nights from parents with a question or comment about their kids, alcohol seemed to be the limiting factor in the coversation on their end. The strangest ones involved alcohol and a full moon, I kid you not. Ask any classroom teacher about full moon behavior or any high school teacher about life long learners during home coming week. Wow, I really miss those conversations and the "environment" of home coming. NOT. Jon

Jon, my wife the kindergarten teacher will tell you the same type of story concerning the full moon!  She swears that a full moon makes the kids go nuts as well as the parents. 

Forgot to mention that I ran some trains Monday evening.  Had a visit from some of the wife's relatives.  One of her cousins, Patty, is a train fan.  She has HER own HO layout. She really like the TMCC & DCS systems.  Had four trains running, two on the same mainline which she had never seen done before.

John, isn't it neat to see people's expressions when two or more trains are running on the same track, especially the ones that have run trains before with the conventional systems.  Also, when you change direction of the siding with the remote, that is also interesting to see the reactions. 

Dr. John, those Marx engines are really cool. 

Chief, I finally agree with you on something.   BTW, good advice about the Bass Pro and Cabelas Shirts.  Also, I would like to suggest that you don't wear a Michigan shirt when you fly out of Columbus, Ohio. 

Planning Commission Meeting tonight. 

Looking forward to the train show at BEREA, Ohio. 

See ya down the tracks,

[ChiefEagles]

Afternoon.  Been patching plaster in ceiling all afternoon.  Was more to do than I had first figured.  Then light sanded it.  Now got about half of the ceiling painted.  May not stop and do walls too.  Once I get on a roll, I go.  Wanted to go eat seafood tonight but might be painting.  Break over.

[dwiemer]

Howdy y'all,  Hope everyone is doing well.  It was in the low 60's this morning when I left for work and I am still here.  I understand it has been a great day outdoors, but I am on call and we have a emergency case coming our way.  I just thought I would take  a few moments before it gets crazy to check into the pot.  I hope that the weekend is case free so that I can get some benchwork done.  Hey Chief!, wanna build my benchwork for a little extra cash?, Oh, that is right, I would probably be better off waiting till my 4 year old son finishes with college and an engineering degree and have him build it......Just kidding.  I do hope to get the trains running by November.

Have a good night,

dennis

[jonadel]

Last home night game for the Cubs at Wriggley--Thank God, hope it cut's down on my heart burn.

GO tWins! Until we moved down here we were BIG tWINS fans. Will hopefully get to see them beat the A's next week in person if #2 son saves a ticket for dear 'ol Dad.

Jon

[Brutus]

Got home and some kid was down in my woods.  I told him to not play in the poison ivy.  He lied and told me he was looking for his dog.  I watched him for a while before he saw me and he wasn't looking or calling for any dog.  PITA.

Belated congrats, Jim!  I meant to say it before, but got lost in the haze.  Picked up some Simple Green and gonna print out that thread tonight.  Was going to finish mowing, but my wife took off as soon as I got home.  Still haven't received my CTT in the mail and still no Lionel Docksider, Caboose or Gondola....    I hate pre-orders.

[dbaker48]

Ughhhhhh.......Some days it doesn't pay to get up!  Had our room contractor guy coming out this am, to take care of some minor issues.  Turkey shows up an 1 hour late, and says he doesn't have much time as he has another appointment in an hour ???????  Didn't impress me much !!!  Being late didn't really bother me, but tellling me he had to get down the road, certainly let me know the level of intent.
Anyway he replaced a screen door that was damaged, and corrected some areas that need caulking.  Then of course my sweet wife had this list of stuff that needed touch-up paint, (I know just trying to protect MY train room) what a list!  The guy didn't even have any touch-up paint with him!  So I told him to go take care of your 11:00 and come back here when your ready to do this.
So then the city inspector comes over for the "final" buy off.  I had to take all the windows out of the room, and leave screens only.  Because it would fall in to a different catagory if windows were there.  (Glass door was OK though?)  So got the windows out, and he wouldn't buy it off because there is 4' of conduit on the outside wall, coming from a junction box that MUST be painted the same color of the house!   AND since the room is within 5' of the pool, there MUST be a grounding wire between the room and the pool equipment.  This doesn't make sense to me, both circuits are grounded at the same point in the electrical panel.  (Jefelectric opinon?)  The entire area of course is covered with concrete decking.  No problem he says run it over the roof line down a post and you would only have 3 to 6 feet to dig up!

Doesn't make sense! 
All the wires are fortunately in a common J-Box, at the where the corner of the new room butts up to the house.  Might be able to snake an ADDITIONAL ground wire, but don't know why can't just pig tail the existing one with the ground from the room and be done.  Beauracrats!!!    John have I gone wrong here by not offereing an "inspection fee"?? sure seems like it! 

RANT OVER  (Didn't think this would appear at the top of the page, will have to correct that)

[Blueberryhill RR]

Ughhhhhh.......Some days it doesn't pay to get up!  Had our room contractor guy coming out this am, to take care of some minor issues.  Turkey shows up an 1 hour late, and says he doesn't have much time as he has another appointment in an hour ???????  Didn't impress me much !!!  Being late didn't really bother me, but tellling me he had to get down the road, certainly let me know the level of intent.
Anyway he replaced a screen door that was damaged, and corrected some areas that need caulking.  Then of course my sweet wife had this list of stuff that needed touch-up paint, (I know just trying to protect MY train room) what a list!  The guy didn't even have any touch-up paint with him!  So I told him to go take care of your 11:00 and come back here when your ready to do this.
So then the city inspector comes over for the "final" buy off.  I had to take all the windows out of the room, and leave screens only.  Because it would fall in to a different catagory if windows were there.  (Glass door was OK though?)  So got the windows out, and he wouldn't buy it off because there is 4' of conduit on the outside wall, coming from a junction box that MUST be painted the same color of the house!   AND since the room is within 5' of the pool, there MUST be a grounding wire between the room and the pool equipment.  This doesn't make sense to me, both circuits are grounded at the same point in the electrical panel.  (Jefelectric opinon?)  The entire area of course is covered with concrete decking.  No problem he says run it over the roof line down a post and you would only have 3 to 6 feet to dig up!

Doesn't make sense! 
All the wires are fortunately in a common J-Box, at the where the corner of the new room butts up to the house.  Might be able to snake an ADDITIONAL ground wire, but don't know why can't just pig tail the existing one with the ground from the room and be done.  Beauracrats!!!    John have I gone wrong here by not offereing an "inspection fee"?? sure seems like it! 

RANT OVER  (Didn't think this would appear at the top of the page, will have to correct that)

WOW.....well, Don,  The bright side is ....You have a train room.

Chuck

 

[csxt30]

Don: remember, these guys know what they're doing !! Believe me, thay are well trained, highly educated, & skilled in these matters. They only have your best interests at heart. They know all these little extra things will make your trains run more effeiciently. We have to have trust in them. Some areas of the country don't go the extra mile. In your case, they are going the extra 10 miles !!

I just hope you get a good laugh out of what I wrote !! Well, sounds like you're a little closer now & I hope you get her all done soon & hit your target running date !!

Thanks, John      

[ChiefEagles]

Raise a flag [Stars and Bars].   The train room is PAINTED!!! Well, the ceiling and walls [trimed too]. The door frames, window frames and baseboards are to trim in semi-gloss.  Would ahve kept working but I have to geet up early to go fishing at Kerr Lake.  fishing partner and fellow Town Councilman is begging to go.  I have to go "pattern" the fish for him.  Can't believe it.  Patched and sanded plaster, painted and trimed ceiling and painted and trimed walls since 1 PM.  Now to shower.  After triming woodwork, cut tunnel holes in walls and then start benchwork.    Ceiling is white.  Walls are Carolina Blue [and I'm not a UNC-CH fan].  Once the benchwork is done and back drop [or painting scenery], will spounge on white clouds.   Gooood night.

This screwy software starts out on three.  If you change it and go back, it is larger. ???? This is edited and on two and comes out on 3 size.  Look at the spacing????

[Jumijo]

Good morning, everyone.

I had a nice day yesterday with my wife. We went to lunch and dinner! The old Chevy made it everywhere we wanted to go. I also took her shopping for some new clothes (her idea). A very nice time was had by all, and the Happy Meals were delicious. 

Back to work today. Taking Wednesday off sure cuts the work week down into manageable bites!

Nice to hear that the Chief got some progress made on his train room. Even small progress is progress, Chief. You'll be running trains up there in no time. Just don't answer the phone (unless it's "restricted" ) Have a good day fishing. Are you going to use a shotgun or dynomite? That's the only 2 ways Southerner's know how to fish, right?

Jim

 

[Jumijo]

Almost forgot . . . Chief,

I've had very good luck painting clouds with an ordinary house painting brush. Don't use a lot of paint and just mash the brush into the sky color. It will fade convincingly the further outward you go from the center of the cloud.

Jim

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,

  Milder today at 56 to get to 73 this afternoon with rain arriving then turning cooler for the weekend.  Maybe no GOLF this after have to wait and see.

Got 2 beer cars from the Minersville Lions Club yesterday.  They were in CTT a few months ago.  They are beers from the coal region, KAIRES and COLUMBIA BEERS.  Made by WEAVER they are real nice with good detail, I paid $75 both the both of em.

Oh yea, HAPPY FRIDAY EVE.

All have a good one.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Off to Kerr to fish.  Only a New England Yank would have his head in the clouds.   Glad you had a great day.  Better, Mary had a great day.  No sleep.  Old aches and pains kept me from sleeping until 2 AM.  Boys got me up at 4:30 but slept good after that.  Now on the road.  God bless.

[Jumijo]

Here's another one from The Squeaky Files:

A guy I work with told me he was having a yard sale last week. I asked him if he had any trains. He said no. I asked him if he had a soldering iron. He said he did. I asked him how much he wanted for it. He brought it in today - FREE!

I can't wait to start abusing trains with this!

Jim

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cloudy and cooler today in SE Indiana with temps maybe reaching the low 60s.  The high school teams have soccer games tonight so I know where I will be.  My wife cooked supper for my dad last night and we listened to a CD of music by a jazz singer from the 30s.  This is the same performer I was helping a friend do a re-enactment of a recording session from that time period on Sunday.  I went to the Y as well.  Not much else going on.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana