COFFEE POT #1, January 2010 for all to take a drink and chat. Welcome all posters. 4 yrs old and still going. Sweet ice tea too.

[Brutus]

Ray - sorry for your friend and his family and for you of course. 

Good news so far continues .  Char was having a reaction to the chemo including higher blood pressure.  She has never had hypertension.  She had a terrible headache yesterday and through this morning, but they got the BP under control and the headache abated.  Her sister was able to donate a little over a liter with 4 "taps" this morning and Char received this heroic gift through her port starting a little after 2PM this afternoon.  This evening, she was able to eat some food and keep it down since the headache and nausea was gone.  Her actual chemo is done, except some suppression drugs.  She is expected to be neutropenic in a few days and then slowly the new immune system and bone marrow will take over.  Much of her cell production had moved to her spleen and the new system will start there and continue to spread and take over.  Gradually, the "scar" tissue in her bones should be replaced by healthy marrow.

I can't thank you all enough for the prayers and good wishes we have received.  We found out that some of our kids' schoolmates even added us on the prayer lists at their church, Charlie has a monastery praying for her, and many of my friends have lit candles and have prayer chains going for us too.  It all helps guys, thanks so much.  Took me a while to get on here tonight, because I knew I would get all choked up.  You guys never let me down in all these years.  Hope I'm there for you as well.

[8ntruck]

Cloudy and high 30's today.  A little rain and lots of fog too.

Brutus - hope things went well with your wife today.

Ray - condolances on the loss of your friend.

Doug - got your PM.  That is what I am planning on doing for my two Williams locomotives.  Also, I remember reading about the Porshe engine into a VW swap long ago.  If I remember correctly, with the correct bits and pieces, it was almost a bolt in.  Talk about building a sleeper!

With some thinking today, I got an idea, confirmed by Bob's advice (thanks again, Bob), the headlights on my #600 switcher are now directional.  I had to move the common connection for the LED's from the locomotive frame to the other side  (upstream) of the field coil. 

Eurika!  It just clicked with me as to why this works.  Wired this way, one LED will see the voltage dfferential across the armature - enough to light the LED, while the other will be wired across the contacts in the e-unit drum, which is essentially a zero voltage dfferential - not enough to light the LED.  When the common to the LED's was connected to the locomotive frame, one LED saw the voltage differential across the both armature and the field windings, and the other saw the voltage differential across only the field windings - both voltage dfferentials were enough to light the LED's.

All for now.

[ChiefEagles]

Think I moved to CA.  Been raining hard for 2 hours.  Reclinerized for a few.

Ray, sorry for the loss of your neighbor.

Need to hit the bed for the early rise.  ThinkI will DVD the Mentalist.

Had bowl of butter pecan ice cream instead of popcorn [popcorn better for you].

Good night. 

[Banks]

Hello All,

Stopped in for a quick sip and to check on Mrs. Brutus, continued prayers for her and the family.

Ray, condolences on the loss of your nieghbor.

Busy week so far. 

Son is now cutting fire wood to supplement  his unemployment income.

Surprised and pleased by the election results in Jack's neighborhood.

I'll try to get caught up over the weekend.

Prayers for all who my need them

 

[sir james I]

Good Evening

Well guys another lazy day. A few laps of the new engines and that was it. We shall fire up the thingy, grab some banilla and shoot straigth up. Fasten your seat belts...S.J.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Ray.....I am very sorry about you losing a friend.  Friends can not be replaced, you just add more.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Ray,   sorry to hear about you losing your friend. It was good that you got the chance to tell him, how you felt about him.

Chuck

[dwiemer]

Ray, sorry for the loss of your friend.  Glad you were able to tell him.

God Bless,
Dennis

[Ole Timer]

 Freezing rain - sleet - then 2 inches or more of snow on top of it tonight and into tomorrow morning here ... ... pity the folks who'll have to be on the roads . Organized my detail parts for some car work . Getting ready to eat and then munchies for the tardis/chat ... fire up the machine SJ or Brutus ... I've got my flight suit on ...

Navyjack ... won't your wife stick the track together for you ?

[ChiefEagles]

Evening all.  Another long day and driving down east to add to it.  Got the County tax stuff doen right on the farmland.  Folks there were great to work with.  Main one that helped was a preacher's wife.  Very calm and nice. 

SJ, I know what you mean.  Even some advise "out dated" info. 

Brutus, remembering your wife.

CA folks, C-130 circling with life jackets being dropped.  Good luck to all of you.

Now for some rest.  [popcorn later]

BTW: got a 8 AM Mayors'/School Board members' breakfast across the county [1 hour drive]. 

Later.     

[rtraincollector]

Ray sorry to hear prayers to your freinds family and for you also.

Prayers also for brutus's wife and all shes goingthrew and for the kids as it must be rough on them too. of corse for brutus we can't leave him out can we

Rainy day here and a little cool high was in the fortys today. but supose to be 70 come sunday and guess who's off yeah baby me !!!

Not much else happening did win a mth flat car with 2 VW Vans on it red & White ( white on top half )

 

Well take it easy and prayers to anybody I missed that needs them

[fifedog]

Evenin' boys.  Watched a little weather channel this morning.  Actually feel a little sorry for the left-coasties.

SPMan - You're a good person, and I'd be your neighbor anytime.

88 - thought I schooled you better.  Print out the email, then line tweety's cage with it...

[cnw1995]

Aloha all. Grey here in Crystal Lake, no sign of rain - maybe it'll go south of Chicago. Bride and teen going to church camp for the next three days so it'll be the youngest and me - running trains. Maybe we'll take in a movie suitable for 7 yr olds if I can find such a one. Glad you're still with us, Brent - and Jack. And everyone. Praying right now for Mrs. Brutus.

[SPMan]

dwiemer

Ray, regarding your friend, tough situation

Dennis, I just found out this morning a little while ago that my next door neighbor passed  away peacefully yesterday afternoon about three thirty PM with his family at his bedside.  Although I did not get a chance for a final goodbye, I did tell him what I thought of him about month ago about how I was going to miss him and what a great neighbor he has been.  So he died knowing how I felf anyway.  God rest his soul.

Ray

 

[Anonymous]

Ole Timer,

                I hear you on the Instant Breakfast.  A box of ten packets just isn't enough.  There is a web address on the box, and you can order in much larger quantities there.

Brutus,

             Continued prayers.

After I posted last night, I decided to watch some footage of Silent Hill 2.  Needless to say, I had some trouble sleeping.  I might play it this weekend depending on what my workload is.  I need to continue with the 326 resto as well, but buying the foosball table crushed my funds. 

 

[anjdevil2]

Good RAINY Afternoon from....FLORIDA! 

Well, my visitors VISA ran out and I had to come back.  Made some head way into new abodes if I relocate to NJ. Just planning ahead is all.  No new information yet.  Sent a quick Thank You e-mail to my interviewers, who were really cool people.  Maybe work there one day, but I’ll find out soon enough. 

 

for Mr. & Mrs. Brutus and Ray’s Mrs.

 

I was the Assistant Chief when I left the department 17 years ago.  I was to be the next Chief.  Fate and my wife made sure that didn’t happen.  I’m still sitting on 19 years and 9 months.  One of the guys that got in after me, just got his 35 year ring.  I was happy for him and sad for myself.  I’ll be 70 by the time I get my 35 year ring.  But we’ll see.  The dinner was fabulous and not to be missed.  I’m glad I didn’t.  Like I said, my first chief will handle my uniform needs and I’ll be ready for the 175^th Anniversary parade in October.  I just can’t wait.  My uniform and gold Assistant Chief’s badge was stolen from Delta Airlines 5 years ago...we won’t go further.

A tip o’ the cap to our own Roy McC for the honorable mention in that “other” magazine.  Congas, Roy!!!

As for the differences in opinion....hey, opinions are like a##ho#es, everyone’s got one.  As long as we can agree to disagree...we’re all friends here.  Jack – your commentary is not insignificant.  Trust me on that one.

 

The rain is very heavy now and my outside activities are about done right now...hey I ain’t getting soaked on THIS salary...’posed to be up in the 70’s (like the 50’s yesterday in Jersey.)

 

Brent – I totally agree with your assessment.

 

Later, guys!!

 

[dwiemer]

Afternoon Y'all!  Ray, regarding your friend, tough situation.  My advise for what it is worth....write a note.  Let him know that you care about him and would like to visit when he is up to it.  You don't need to say anything when there, just be there for him.  Let him know that you can be counted on should a need arise.  It is in the tough times we find out who our real friends are.

Well, I did go and work out today.  Felt sore when doing so and at one point, didn't think I'd be able to keep my shoulder exercises going as one arm got sharp pains....I am just out of shape.  Glad I did, but I was sure to take some ibuprofen when I came home.

I have a honey do to tackle, so I had better get going on it.  Toilet has a leak by the ballcock intake.  I had replaced the gasket, but I think the flange on the feeder is not seated right.  Of course when they build these houses, they don't allow for any room on either side of the commode to work on it.  In the master bath, it is a separate enclosed room.  Tight quarters to say the least.

Hope the folks out in CA dry out.  We had several inches of rain so far today, but I know conditions are more severe out that way.  One thing about having troubles, if you open your eyes and see what others are going through, yours don't seem so bad.

God Bless,
Dennis

[SPMan]

Good morning all,

Brutus, more prayers for Mrs. Brutus  and you.

Navy Jack, Thank you for the explanation of your situation regarding running a loop on the floor.  I understand now but hope that eventually you can get some assistance with a small set up that you could run from your bedside.  At least you can share your thoughts with the rest of us here on the ole coffee pot.  Thank you for the well wishes for my wife.  She is doing fine.

Morning started off with heavy overcast and rain held off just long enough to mail some stuff at the post office.  It has started raining again now and looks like it will all day with heavy rains predicted for later in the day.  Made a survey of my property this morning while it was still dry and everything looks good so far.  The sandbags I put in front of the garage door paid off yesterday when we were getting wind blown rain in that direction.  We are suppose to have a nice weekend.  I'll vote for that!

Got another E mail this AM about a friend of mine in TCA who had trains stolen.  They were at a different location than his regular address.  The worst part of the story is that the thieves came back a second time and stole some more.  These guys either have brass b--- or are the dumbest people on the planet.  If that happened to some of our well armed friends, those guys would be nursing big pieces of daylight in their exterior on their second visit.

  My friend has reported this to our local TCA Western Divison and hopefully they will pass it on to National.  Among other things taken were about 100 6464 Lionel boxcars in original boxes, some prewar metal trains including an M 10000, a Rio Grande Aluminum passenger set and also some Ham radio equipment.

Still have not found the right time to visit my terminally ill neighbor.  I am ready any time but am waiting for an invitation by his family who know I would like to see him if possible.  Bad weather and some things I may not know about has delayed my visit.

Don, man the pumps again today buddy.  I like your pictures of the flood control channel.  We used to go beside a lot of those on the railroad along the L.A. River.  That thing would really roll in a rain storm.  Must have been pretty scary before they lined it with cement.  Before I arrived in California in 1958, I saw that river on a map and had visions of something like the L.A. River yacht club.  Boy was I in for a surprise.  It just looked like a big ditch but we really need them when it rains.

Have a good day,

Ray

 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Good Afternoon all

A quick check in during lunch.  Real busy as fire protection services distributed the annual inspection report on one of the facilities I manage (and the building covers almost 4 acres) and I have to create a punch list of items to address and develop and manage the correction plan.

Even with that I am thinking and praying for Jim F's bride and her caregivers!

Got to go

May God bless

Jim

[dougdagrump]

Mornin' Boyz & Girlz !

Guess what , it's raining. Again ! Still believe that up the road in Ray's neck of the woods they are having much bigger problems than we are. So far we are only having flooding issues, power outages and trees coming down. Unfortunately one of the trees that did come down, 100' eucalyptus, came down across a big 5th wheeler killing the lady in it. Tomorrow they are calling for 20' breakers with some sets getting to 25'. Sure wouldn't want to be in the beach area during hi-tide.

Back in a bit 

[sir james I]

Actually my rant was not pointing at anyone. It's just something that has been bugging me lately. In many case there is more than one way to do something.

[Ole Timer]

 SJ  when my cholesteol kept blowing through the roof I switched to egg beaters they're called and never looked back . Man I was eating about 2 dozen or more regular eggs a week ... can't have them sunny side up like I love .... but did'nt have to give them up completely . I fry my potatoes in peanut oil too . as well I use it in my fry daddy ... brought those numbers down to a decent level . Wife bought me a big pack of instant breakfast french vanilla to help also ... only problem I want to drink them all the time ... LOL ... they're good . It was'nt the opinion part I was referring to ... it was that same ole song ... I'll tell ya on the chat tonight .

[underworld]

Brutus

I will be thinking about you and your wife today!!! 

 

Well.....no idea what temp it is this morning.....either the thermometer broke ......

or it's frozen!!!!!!! 

 

underworld

 

[sir james I]

Good Morning

20 this morning but still overcast, going to 32. unreal for January. Cal. rain expected here sunday with 43 degrees.

Opinions: We are all entitled. I won't  knock yours and you respect mine. Thats the way it should be. discussions are good for all but an out and out "you are wrong"is not the right way. To be honest I am getting tired of trying to help someone only to have someone else say oh no not like that. I have played with electric trains since I was five guess I should know a few things by now. Eggs and potatoes for breakfast  I better cut back but it's so good. Computers, I know nothing, just ask Brutus or Charlie they know how little I know.

Prayers for Char, today and through her recovery.

S.J.

[Ole Timer]

 Another great chat session last night .... found out SJ lives only a couple miles from my favorite niece ! Trainz shipped my Shay .... due tomorrow .... no cars going off yet on the bay for it . Man other stuff is going sky high on there ....   the economy's not hurting train buyers . Really feel for all in California .... that rainfall is unbelievable ... stay dry guys ! Glad I live on top of the hill here ... I watch the small rivers blow by my house when we get a cloud-burst . 

Brent .... maybe some took my comment on Win 7 bugs too seriously .... only one I found was a minor bug in internet explorer . Otherwise it's great. Since I never got my t-shirt from big bill gates ... thought I'd stick my finger in his eye .... . Don't let anyone run you off ! Don't know what happened and with my big mouth .... better that I don't .... .... or I'd probably get one of those emails too !

 SJ ... I think we made the correct call on what we were talking about last night ....   more of it today ....   

[Blueberryhill RR]

dougdagrump

 I seem to recall an article aways back, many decades back, about a VW with an engine out of a Porsche that was described as a Corvette Killer at the strip. 

 

Doug.... I think that Paul Newman used to do that. He raced VWs with Porsche engines

Chuck

[dwiemer]

Good Morning all.  First things first...Big prayer lifted for Brutus' wife and family.  May God direct those in who's care you are in and may He bring her safely through this procedure and process.  Today is a big day for all of you and you are in our thoughts and prayers buddy.

As for Jack, "And I am just one person whose observations are insignificant because my world is this:  the miniscule and irrelevant experience of one.  I belong to some auto forums, and if you read some of the stuff posters post in there, then look at a vehicle I am about to buy, you would say "Jack, why on earth are you buying that piece of junk?" 

Your observations are not insignificant, one thing that is sorely missed when you are absent here is your perspective and observations that are listed and directed to both the individual and the group as a whole.  That being said, I look forward to your posts.  Please keep it up.

Well, one big case and a few smaller ones.  Should be relatively short day allowing me to head to the hospitals gym facility and work out. Then, I have to head home and see what kind of damage the storm left when it came through last night.  About 0400, a bolt of lightning hit in our back yard.  I actually saw the strike and was impressed.  Given the number of trees back there, I am sure one got struck...so have to see if any are down.

Hope that everyone has a blessed day.
Dennis

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It is cloudy and slightly warmer in SE Indiana (above freezing).  Played indoor soccer last night.  Some good moments.  Slept well.  Work continues to be "interesting".  Wife is feeling some better.  Many prayers going out to Brutus, Char, and family.  Will drive the Tardis tonight and do victory rolls over St. Louis.  Sage advice from many members of the 'pot.  For the Californians, all I can say is, "Wow!"  Stay safe.  Regular fare on the dining car.  I hope everyone (including me) has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[jonadel]

 Jack--good verbage in your analogy, thank you, it's all about personal choices.

 

Jim & Char---certainly thinking about you today, best wishes.

 

Terrible/horrible weather here, flooding has now started with heavy rains expected today, still have 20+ inches of snow in our yard.

 

 

[Anonymous]

Mornin' Fellas.

I've decided to NOT be run off by some frivilous email from a 'user moderator' never understood that concept as 'user moderators' don't abide by the same code of ethics as 'paid moderators'.

Brutus - Prayers out for a successful transplant and speedy and full recovery!

Jack - enough said about that subject

DDG - I never understood the 'directional lighting by motor brushes' thing either. Aren't both motors powered when power is applied to the track?

Chuck - I've been informed that 'just because something tastes good doesn't mean it is good for you' not that just ain't right! Follow the Dr's orders and get yourself better!

Not looking forward to this evening through tomorrow morning's weather. Looks like we're due for Winter Weather Advisory #5 of the season... seriously... global warming!?!?!?!