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.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cold and wet in SE Indiana, but at least the roads were clear.  Good workout at YMCA (one 14 touch, several nines).  Tonight is indoor soccer scrimmage with high school kids.  To all the newcomers here, there is a subgroup of Corvair fans on the pot, and from time to time the subject does come up.  Long day at work yesterday (some people are never happy with what you do).  Wife rested yesterday and both of us got some sleep last night.  Started writing again.  Hope to have a few articles to send to CTT sometime.  May work on some soccer stories as well.  Anyone from Snohio going to the TCA meet in Cincy this Sunday?  If so, perhaps we can meet up.  Maybe the "saucy wench" will come along as well. I had the regular fare on the dining car for breakfast before sending it on to "Points East".  TBIL and some one else will have to drive after the soccer scrimmage.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Anonymous]

Mornin' fellas.

Congrats to Rich on being handed earning the Assistant Chief... watch out Buckeye you're title is waning!

Been having problems with the desktop at home. I built it 4 years ago and never had any problems with it other than having to replace the video card. Well I tried to upgrade XP to Vista and it couldn't read the setup.exe on the DVD. So I bought a new 500Gb SATA 7200rpm harddrive, went home, moved all critical files off the old main drive onto a secondary drive, removed the old EIDE drives, installed the new SATA drive, removed the 1.44" floppy drive, the floppy drive cable and the old EIDE ribbon cable. You would NOT believe the amount of gained air flow through the case! Anyhow, I started the Vista install and could not locate the Product Key! So called Microsoft and stumbled through their **** poor phone system... only to speak to a technician who told me I had to call the Events Registration Line because I received this version of Vista from a launch event... ok... get transferred... speak to a guy who told me I needed to call the 'Invalid Product Key Line', but he couldn't transfer me. So I call this other line... and it is the same system as the first call after 5 tries I can't get anyone on the phone... well after 30 minutes I FINALLY got to speak with a guy who understood what I needed, gave me a new product key, and I was on my way. Well got it to install without issues... then the video card reports an error to the OS and will only recognize as a standard VGA card now... so new video card is on order... then go to download McAfee from Comcast and keep getting errors. So I chat with support... and realize I was using my gmail email account and not my comcast.net account ... downloaded the install, installed McAfee and went to bed... now I am not done yet... need to install a new HD in Susan's laptop and then install Windows7... not looking forward to that at all!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cold 28 degrees. Going up to 36 today, with cloudy skies.

Today is a busy day. I have an errand to run this morning and then a few things to do around the house. Later, I will spend some time in the train room.  Not much else new. Feeling pretty good.

Dining car is here for the usual breakfast.

Y'all have a great Wednesday.

Chuck

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

   32 and ok here today.  last 2 days o semester.  or 91 more days till summer vaction.

ANJDEVIL, BIG CONGA on the ASSISTANT CHIEF THING.  Maybe you could be the CHIEFs assistant?

SF,

laz57

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Good Morning all

It has been quiet but busy around here.  Finally all the Christmas decor is down, now just to put it away.  Weather is wet and foggy.  Not to get bad till later in the week when some black ice may show up.

Jim F - Great news, I will continue to keep your bride in my prayers.

May God bless

Jim

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all from rainy Phoenix/Mesa AZ. They get about 8 in of rain a year here and they are getting 4 in of it this week. So much for a sunny diversion from weather at home - which BTW is nice, sunny, and 70 degrees while I am out this week.

Take care all!

[RockIsland52]

Hi Ya'll Again,

I have to take a pill at 1:00 AM so I have to stay up for a while.  No, not that pill!   These are white. Serious vertigo has set in from my cold and sinus infection.  Ears remain blocked.  While most things seem to be moving in the right medical direction with the antibiotics, this vertigo is a new twist and is creating the issues you would expect.  It's similar to the feeling you get after sucking down a dozen Old Mils.

Chief...... and congratulations on your unanimous appointment to the Human Services Board.  Good stuff.  I am sorry to report I have Comcast and don't get the RFD channel, so I couldn't see if there would be a Trains and Locos repeat.  You forgot to give us the combo to the gun safe.  And if I were you my train shelf would be screwed into the studs so when my grandchildren decided to scale the wall.......

Lee......I may be wrong about this, but when we visited Disney's Animal Kingdom I thought there were 9 miles of trails if you hit every one.

8N......my Uncle had a Corvair Monza Spyder, in a gold if my memory serves me correctly.  With a simple rear suspension fix by GM, Ralph Nader would not have been able to send it to an early demise.

NAVYJACK/MikeC......don't mourn the loss of Meadowdale.  There are enough tracks around in Illinois, and the open space will be preserved in perpetuity for many to enjoy.  It is now open for hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking and other outdoor recreation.  Two entrances with parking give easy access to the 330 acre site.

Mel......I for one am looking forward to pictures of your NYC freight pictures on Sunday Photo Fun.

Buckeye....I was relieved to hear you managed your escape from the South and avoided Pat's torture techniques.  He had made careful preparations for the ultimate in torture. It is copied after waterboarding but uses cow urine instead. 

Rich..... and my congratulations on a solid interview.  Prayers that the powers that be make you an offer you can't refuse.  No matter which way you decide to go, you will make it work.  BTW, I used to live in Avenel which I think is technically Edison NJ.  Had a great view of the grand dome in the Rahway State Prison when Rubin Hurricane Carter was incarcerated there and caught The Boss in Asbury Park before anyone knew who Bruce sprindsteen was.

Fife.....never fear, Rich is a Nawthener, and Chief would never make a Nawthener his "Chief Assistant."

Dennis......arguably, Massachusetts is the most Blue of all the Blue States.  Sorry DougM, but I think it's true.  80+% of our elected officials to state or national office are Democrats.  Today's voter turnout hit 72% for Ted Kennedy's open US Senatorial seat despite the snow.  Usually a high voter turnout favors the machine-backed candidate.  But in this case it seems the machine was not listening to the footsteps of the people.  Even Ted Kennedy's home district went to the relatively unknown Republican upstart, Scott Brown, who overcame a double digit defecit in the polls in the final four weeks of the campaign to post a margin of victory 52-47. 

In this instance the machine lost its grip.  The message of Brown could not be blunted by a nasty negative ad campaign or a visit by the President himself at Martha Coakley's rally Sunday night.  The machine got handed its lunch and was sent a clear message: the natives are restless, regardless of party affiliation.  My wife and I voted late and the polls were still jammed.  With Scott Brown now casting the deciding vote on the National Health Care Bill, expect the President to now delay the vote and start working on compromises. 

If we get nothing else out of this election, I hope it is this.  One can listen to the news, the pundits, and the polls about what they say the average person wants or thinks.  But the average person votes her/his wants and thoughts.  This election opened some eyes in Massachusetts tonight.  I hope elsewhere as well.

Signing Off,

Jack

[underworld]

cheapclassics

Smooth ride on the Tardis last night.  Can always tell when one of the experienced crew is at the helm.  Lord help us all if the Chief ever tried to drive.  First thing he would do is try and put a Corvair engine in it.  TBIL anytime tonight.  I hope everyone has a good day. 

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

Mike C 

Corvair??? Isn't that one of those VW knock offs???  Didn't know Chief was an air cooled guy.

 

Well.....slightly above freezing today. Maybe a little warmer tomorrow. Hope so because I'll be outside all day again tomorrow! Helping get everything ready for the big fund raiser Thursday. I will be doing video and still photos for it....that and I have to make sure the media folk stay orderly!!!!!

 

     underworld 

 

 

[MichRR714]

Nice chats tonight with Brutus, SJ, Wes and Doug while he was on his way home on the train.  Always a pleasure. 

I read to today that the Supreme Court refuses to take up the Michigan case to protect the Great Lakes from the Asian Carp.  Sure hope somebody acts before we get another nasty invader into the lakes.

[Brutus]

Thanks for the prayers guys.  Tougher day for the wife today, but things are going in the right direction.

Dennis - for squibs in some movies they actually filled gelatin capsules with fake blood and shot them at the victim with a slingshot or airgun - sort of like an early, primitive paintball gun.  Gelatin capsules filled with liquid gelatin will make a splat on glass that looks like a bullet hit.  Another early trick was to precut the hole in the clothing and place the material back, then place a blood pack under the clothing and fish a wire through it, or very thin fishing line.  One good yank creates the illusion of a hit/splat.  I used to read Cinefex magazine and some others and had a lot of books on ths subject of spfx back in the day (70's and early 80's).

TARDIS is ready, so let's go!

[8ntruck]

Almost sunny again today and in the mid 40's.  Just started to rain about an hour ago.  That is one thing about winters here in Mo. - they are like 3 months of Michigan Novembers

Started adding a LED headlight to my #600 NW-2 tonight.  A #8 drill bit is just right for a slip fit on a 5mm LED.  Didn't get it wired up 'cause I could not find the diodes I thought I had.  Radio Shack at lunchtime tomorrow.

I discovered an extension cable for a RC servo while I was looking for the diodes.  Minature three conductor male plug on one end and a female socket on the other. Cut in half, it will make a neat plug to disconect the LEDs when removing the body shell.  Going to try to get fancy and make directional lighting too.

Prayers for those in need.

All for now.

 

[dwiemer]

Good Evening Y'all!  Jack, I had read that good news (to me anyway) when I logged on tonight.  Lots of folks are saying it is a real blow to the progressives, but the administration has vowed to dig in and fight harder rather than see the writing on the walls of what the people want.  But then again, it never was about what the people want anyway.

Was a relatively uneventful day today.  One case early on and then had some running around to do with the family.  I did get to the gym for my assessment, then to the barber for my and my son's haircuts.  Just had a good day with the family.  Daughter went to ballet practice, while my son and I practiced violins at home.  No trains, but it was fun anyway.

I do have some research that I have been doing.  Working with some special effects for the movie.  One thing we need to get down is making Squibs....now all you navy folks don't get excited.  Squibs are the small explosive they use in movies to show bullet impact.  As opposed to Squid and you know what that is.  I am getting excited about all this fun stuff we will be working with...but there is a element of danger for which we have to minimize.

God Bless,
Dennis

[ChiefEagles]

Evening all.  Great County Commissioners meeting.  Appointed to Human Services Board [no free meals on this one].  It was the first time in many years that the County Commissioners voted [unamously] to appoint someone that had not gone through the Human Services Board's "private" interview [County Atty says illegal] process and be recommended by that Board.   Town Board was long but good.  Bet the lady who writes the letters to the editor complaining all the time will go mad as she lost out on what she thought she was going to push Board to do.  BTW: she does not live in town.  Got early meeting with County Commissioners and School Board about high school sites.  Then late afternoon meeting for Regional Transportation Board.  Now for popcorn and Coke Zero.

Glad Buckeye is back up North.  We had all we could stand with him.  BTW: Jon did not catch the post on the official John Deere drink is sweet ice tea [saw it on RFD-TV John Deere show].

Jack, thank God, you and MA have saved the nation a lot of $$$$$$ and now makes Congress interesting.

Later   

[RockIsland52]

Good Evnin', Ya'll, From Still Snowing Taxachusetts,

The ultra-dominant Democratic machine in MA seems to have failed to put one of their own into Ted Kennedy's vacant US Senate seat.  Republican Scott Brown is ahead 52%-47% with 94% of the precincts reporting.  Despite the snow, high voter turnout has been the case.  Martha Coakley is conceding right now.

This guy was behind in the polls by double digit margin just 4 weeks ago.  Political analysts speculate that MA residents are critical of Washington spending, the health care bill, and the Administration itself.  About 85% of elected officials on the state and federal level in MA are Democrats.  Even the President's visit to MA just days ago to appear at a rally supporting Coakley bore no fruit.

Jack

[dougdagrump]

Afternoon All !

The "cow" resumed her duties this afternoon, lots of water runnin down the streets & up over the curbs. Glad we live about the middle of the hill and not at the bottom. Tornado watch has expired, that is a true rarity out here. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, as they say, since the other storms on their way are said to be even stronger.

Giving serious consideration to selling off some of my woodworking stuff in order to clean out the garage for a layout. Between the arthritis and other issues I really haven't done much of anything since the grandson's cradle. Kinda difficult to handle power tools when the hands don't quite function like they are supposed to.

Later all.

  for all in need.

[sir james I]

Howdy

Did not do much after shopping this morning. So me and the banilla will wait for Brutus after I ride home via chat with Doug tonite....S.J.

[submmbob]

 After playing with the Ohmite Ohmranger resistor box we have at the 'scope, I've watching some on the bay. These have numerous settings that you can switch to test various resistors settings (see 8ntruck's thread on LED headlights). One guy has five up for auction in one lot. If anyone else here is interested in one of these I'll make a push to get them.

Bob

[rtraincollector]

fifedog

anjdevil - Assistant Chief   I should have suspected all along...

       Oh well, good luck with the job.

Anjdevil congrats on assistant chief status.

[fifedog]

anjdevil - Assistant Chief   I should have suspected all along...

       Oh well, good luck with the job.

[anjdevil2]

NavyJack

- for Mrs Brutus, Ray's friend - and anyone else I missed

Hello from Sunny New Jersey!!

40-'s low 50's.  Aced the interview, just waiting for the phone call.  Could be a great opportunity.

Had a great time at the 175th Anniversary Dinner, my first Fire Chief will take care of my uniform, so I can have the appropriate

gold stripes, button and insignia that reflects my Assistant Chief status.  I was over joyed.  And they returned my check for attending

the dinner again, a bonus.  I'm planning to return in October for the 175th Anniversey parade and new rescue truck event.

Went to the Greenburg show in Somerset on Sunday, and Mom spent the afternoon with me.  Bought a MPC era

PRR passenger car ($15)to match my combo car.  3 more to go.  I wish they had shows this big in Florida....

Visited my Aunt and she gave me my Uncle's Lione Heavy Iron set.  Box was history, but set is complete and had a bonus MPC era C&O combo car!  Box for that was bad and I tossed it.  It will stay here until we figure out where we will live.

Last day is tomorrow, plan to visit a friend of mine and look for houses/apartments/rental homes.  Plan for the best, expect the worst.

Thanks to the mouth of the South, the weather has been wonderful (thanks, Chief!!! ).

I'll try to check back later or tomorrow...took 1/2 hour to clear up my business inbox.

Rich

 

[navyjack]

 HELLO PAT, MY WIFE AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE A GOOD BREAKFAST.  WHEN I WAS IN THE NAVY AT MY CHOW HALL THEY SERVED FOUR EGGS, FRIED POTATOES, TWO PORK CHOPS AND S---T ON A SHINGLE.  DONUTS AND COFFEE(BIG MUGS) WHEN I GOT MARRIED I CUT DOWN.  DR FINALLY CALLED AND TOOK ME OFF PT WHILE I HAVE BLOOD TESTS AND HAVE MY MEDICATIONS CHANGED SO MY BLOOD PRESSURE WILL BECOME STABILIZED.  I GOT A CALL FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THEY SAID"WE WOULD LIKE TO SEND A PHYSICAL THERAPIST OVER TOMMORROW"  IN MY USUAL SENSATIVE WAY I SAID"I TOLD EVERYONE EXCEPT GOD THAT I COULD NOT HAVE PT NOW"  SHE SAID"YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD GOD"

[navyjack]

hello jack when i was a shaver, i was taken to the meadowdale raceway with my uncle ron.  when i retired from the service, i went to visit my cousin, (still in meadowdale) and the raceway was in ruins.  sad.... later all

 

YOUR FRIEND NAVYJACK

[navyjack]

hello jack when i was a shaver, i was taken to the meadowdale raceway with my uncle ron.  when i retired from the service, i went to visit my cousin, (still in meadowdale) and the raceway was in ruins.  sad.... later all

 

YOUR FRIEND NAVYJACK

[SPMan]

Good morning all,  spoke to my neighbors daughter this morning and she said he was sleeping.  She said she would call me when he wakes up so I can go see him.  He was just riding around on one of those electric scooters last Friday and then he really took a turn for the worse yesterday.  They had to put him in a hospital bed and he has a  hospice nurse than comes every day,  At least he is home.  His family has been making heroic efforts to keep him there and out of nursing facilities.  Up until now he has done OK.

No rain last night but more on the way this morning.  Thundershowers predicted later today.  We are getting light rain and wind at the present time.  We are suppose to go out tonight for a get together with our social group but it doesn't look good weatherwise.

Back later,

Ray

 

[jonadel]

Buckeye Riveter

Dear Iowa Jonny,

Thankfully, I'm back in good old Ohio, where it is foggy, cold, windy, wet and freezing.  There are piles of snow, although the rain washed much of it to the rivers, which are now flowing full.  Of course, the sun is not shining brightly above the Buckeye landscape and the sky is one of our favorite colors, gray. 

It was a horrible ordeal.  I believe the back of my neck is sunburned.  I can’t believe people actually choose to live where it is that warm in the winter.  One positive item of note, no one offered me grits for breakfast.  I didn’t drink a drop of the sweet tea stuff either.   My lesson in alligator wrestling went smoothly until I had to get into the cage.  I almost bought a real flamingo for Fifedog, but I did not have an airlines approved flamingo carry on bag for its transport.  During my reconnaissance along the river,  I have came to the conclusion that the South has bigger boats than the North, however, their ports were often foreign.  Can you imagine taking your boat to the dock and saying, “Fill ‘er up”, and then handed a fuel bill of $10,000?  Baby Buckeye was shocked to see me shell out $70.00 to fill my fishing boat this last summer.

My photos will be posted shortly for review.

 

Buckeye--good to know you are safely home, there are better days ahead.  Like you, I cannot understand how folks can live in that heat, UFF DA!  With any luck at all we will have 1/4 to 1/2" of freezing rain on the ground tomorrow morning 

[RockIsland52]

Good Mornin' Again, Ya'll,

Brutus......daily prayers continue for your wife, family, and the attending medical team.  Pass on everyone's best regards to your visiting Dad, and assure him that the CTT Toy Train team is connected.    

Sorry for the interruption.  Mom's "pride-and-joy-can-do-no-wrong-favorite-and-only"  son showed up and needed to use my/our PC to look stuff up.  What happened to his?  Didn't want to ask for fear the conversation might drift into one of those leading  "Right now I can't afford fix/repair/replace........can you.......?" discussions if you know what I mean.  He did nail me for gas money on his way out as his tank was (allegedly) on E and he had (accidentally) forgotten his wallet.   

Thank the Lord for the invention that is the snowblower.  Getting one was primarily due to the wife's recognition that this manly power tool would save the slave's energies (mine) for activities she finds more suitable for her purposes.  I had been gutting it out, year after year, with nothing but a snow shovel, rationalizing that snow removal with just a shovel was a manly approach, that it also had an exercise benefit.  Yesterday's ultra-heavy snow would have killed me if I had to do it with just a shovel, especially the bottom of the drive where the plows had thrice deposited a formidable and impassable barrier to our ingress and egress.

DougM.......I am ashamed to admit that as much of a fan of hot cars and motorsport that I was as a pre-teen and teen when this track was in operation (1958-1969), I was totally unaware of the 3.27 mile Meadowdale International Racetrack, a road course in Carpentersville.  It was/is within 40 miles of my own house.......until you mentioned it.  I knew all about Blackhawk Farms (South Beloit IL) and Road America (Elkhart Lake WI), both shorter road courses and both further from me.  Meadowdale went belly up in 1969 and was donated to the Forest Preserve Distict for permanent preservation from building or development. 

RT......re the MIA window salesperson, that is a cutthroat business up my way where the consumer has nothing but the best, most technologically advanced windows to choose from and a ton of companies fighting over the "meal."  The fierce competition keeps a lid on prices.  Here a sales guy would have been early for the appointment and brought coffee and donuts for fear some of his competitors might slide in ahead of him.  Are you considering low e glass?

DougDG, Ray, and Don.......looks like you guys dodged a bullet with the CA rains.  Ray commented that it looks like those in the higher elevations must have gotten hammered.  In my neck of the woods we have gotten 3 storms that were classified as 100 year storms.......in just 18 years.  I think 11 inches in 24 hours was our single day 24 hour max, and we got that twice.  Two of the storms were also coupled with Spring thaw and runoff of melting snow on top of an already over saturated ground.  The flooding of some of my neighbors was sad to witness.  Sump pumps could not keep up, and a couple of ill-timed power outages completed the disaster.  I sit on somewhat higher ground so was unaffected during all three storms.  Almost forgot......son had left the outdoor storm doors to the basement wide open during one of the storms and I did take on some water.  Nothing bad.

Ray......you have my humble prayers for the peace and comfort of your neighbor.  Hope you can visit him one last time.

Chief......thank you for your most complimenatry post, referencing "more Yankee BS."  Yes, it is true.  We do have some of the Best Stories, Best (forum) Sidekicks, and Best Spiritual (advisors). 

Chuck.....stairs are something many of us take for granted as an exercise opportunity.  Low impact and mild cardio with a significant reward awaiting down (trains) and up (beer in fridge, cookies in the cupboard).  Pain=the exercise is working.  Stay safe and moderate with that. 

OleTimer......nothing can be finer than to score that Westside Lumber Shay after years of lusting, looking, waiting, and finally scoring.  Patience and persistence rewarded.  Sounds like it may become one of your mose cherished pieces.

JimT......re the delay in taking down your Christmas layout.  I shoot for St. Patrick's day in my house.  This year the granddaughter wanted to leave her Christmas present from Grammy and Grampy here.  It is a large 3-story doll house.  She wanted to leave it here so she would have it to play with on her weekly Saturday night visits.  The accesories' cost exceeded that of the actual doll house.  And Grammy found out what "light assembly required" means.  Took her three hours, 34 page construction manual!   At first I thought "Oh no, there goes the living room.  A large doll house taking up permanent residence."  Then......"This is a great opportunity to plunk the doll house down on the 4' x 8' plywood board (we wrap in a white sheet) and use as a base for the Christmas tree and the Christmas trains."  Las Vegas is currently got me at 3-2 to be able to talk my way until Memorial Day with the Christmas trains this year. 

MikeC......hope your wife is feeling better and that the hacking and coughing doesn't spin into something worse.  I am still on antibiotics for another 5 days to knock down a sinusitis that followed a simple cold.  I still can't hear well (blocked passages) and am suffering from a serious case of vertigo.

Later, Gang

Jack

[Buckeye Riveter]

Dear Iowa Jonny,

Thankfully, I'm back in good old Ohio, where it is foggy, cold, windy, wet and freezing.  There are piles of snow, although the rain washed much of it to the rivers, which are now flowing full.  Of course, the sun is not shining brightly above the Buckeye landscape and the sky is one of our favorite colors, gray. 

It was a horrible ordeal.  I believe the back of my neck is sunburned.  I can’t believe people actually choose to live where it is that warm in the winter.  One positive item of note, no one offered me grits for breakfast.  I didn’t drink a drop of the sweet tea stuff either.   My lesson in alligator wrestling went smoothly until I had to get into the cage.  I almost bought a real flamingo for Fifedog, but I did not have an airlines approved flamingo carry on bag for its transport.  During my reconnaissance along the river,  I have came to the conclusion that the South has bigger boats than the North, however, their ports were often foreign.  Can you imagine taking your boat to the dock and saying, “Fill ‘er up”, and then handed a fuel bill of $10,000?  Baby Buckeye was shocked to see me shell out $70.00 to fill my fishing boat this last summer.

My photos will be posted shortly for review.

[RRCharlie]

Home from morning Statistics Class. Another tonight at 5:30. Got the Conventional Classics New York Central Freight Set yesterday. Opened box and took pictures of everything but the caboose. A beautiful set. The "other" forum has 8 pages of +itching, +issing, and moaning about boxes being opened and plastic wrap cut. Opened mine and there was no plastic bag around the set box at all!! Don't think I have any reason to be upset. The set box was in fine shape. The top foam spacers kept the set box from moving up and down in the shipping box. Everything seemed to be OK. Now I need to find a place to unpack it all again and see how it runs! I have forgotten my ID and password for the other forum but I don't like the attitude of some over there. May try to post some pictures of the set this weekend. Nice WARM weather and sunshine since Sunday afternoon here in South Georgia (Jacksonville, FL).

Brutus, special prayers for Char (and you),

[LawsonFarmsRR]

 Navyjack - sorry you had a bad day. The grits will perk you up. You may be a Chicago Yankee, but anyone who enjoys a breakfast of eggs, grits, sliced tomatoes, and whole hog sausage has got to have southern leanings.

Ray - once you try the instant grits, you will be hooked.

Ole Timer - congratulations on your "new baby"!

Don - Aren't the weather people brilliant? "Significant cloud clearing in the late afternoon revealing clear skies." and "Lack of sunshine in late evening hours resulted in darkness." Must have gone to collage 6-7 years to be so smart.

I have a big dose of Spring Fever today. Sunny, high of 50, birds singing, cats breeding. Need to feed the cows and then pick up tree branches, anything to stay outside.

Pat

[submmbob]

 Well we have a few inches of snow on the mountain so far, but the drifts are already piling up. The auxiliary windbird was showing gusts over 40mph last night. John bailed so as not to get held up (and stuck 5 times, w/ all 4 tires chained up like last time) on Wed. morning. I'm holding down the fort to make sure everything keeps ticking. We may be seeing the break the cow is taking soon (Doug that cracked me up, I use that expression all the time). Plenty more to come.

Don - just got an ominous report from a friend on the current storm. This could be a several week event. High winds and much more precip due to the position of the jet stream. Good thing you guys have battened down the hatches and are manning the pumps. 

Ole Timer - nice score on the shay! Geared engines are groovy. Now you need a Heisler and a Climax

8N - an Olds 455 in a corvair!? Seen a 350 before, but holy moly. The 455 was the engine of choice to push around my old Cortez motorhome! Would need super glue to keep the front tires on the ground. I cut my teeth on VW's an still have an affinity for air cooled engines. Worked on the VW's with my dad and he was also a Corvair fan. When I got my first forearm burn off the cooling fins of the heads last year, I was a happy guy. Quirky and strange engines? Yes, but so am I. 

Ray - sorry to hear about your neighbor. That's how dad went and it still gets to me. At least he is at home. You and he are in my prayers.

NavyJack - sorry you are having a less than wonderful day. Hope you can at least run the trains.

Doug - I think I am going to have to back out on the trip to Chicago, but thanks for taking the time to do the research.  State's talking about pay cuts for all employees to solve the budget issue (we still don't have a budget for the fiscal year that ends in June) so I need to conserve. There are some decent deals on hotels downtown, but between the fare, hotel, and food it's gonna cost me the better part of a paycheck.

Chief - I imagine you may realize that having an air-cooled engine in the Tardis would be of benefit when making all those loops north of the MD in the winter...

Bob