Jon - Lake Okoboji, I remember it well. Used to go there with "the boys" when we were in our mid teens. Great fishing, telling lies, row boating! I haven't been there in over 40 years. Glad to hear it is still as it was then. Most places like that are now surrounded with housing developments, if they exist at all.
Pat
RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!
Jon, I am looking forward to your new states on the travel map! Look forward to your travelogue with your son this summer. Whew - from 60 to 86 and rising.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good afternoon Gentlemen and you too Chief
Brent & the Q, congratulations and thanks to both of you for opening your hearts to adoption. What a wonderful opportunity for you and the children, truly a great blessing. Our best to you.
Another big and busy week over and NOW it's relaxation time. The Boss and her three sisters left Friday night from MPLS for a 15 day tour of the Scandinavian countries, it's the trip of her oldest sisters life as they have a Norwegian background and it's always been her dream to go to Norway. This is a dream come true for her, not saying the other three weren't fired up---they've been planning this trip for over a year. Guess where her first night was? Yup, Iceland!!! Fortunately the volcano cooperated Right now they are in Sweden.
I decided to hop on the bike Sat. AM and ride to my favorite lake on this planet, Lake Okoboji. It's just a drop dead gorgeous lake and I snagged a lake front room for $60 a night since it's still pre season, it's also where I sailed for 11 years. Unlike our just previous travels there is no parking fee and free WIFI plus a free afternoon booze cruise for 1 hour, what a country Our family originated in this area so this morning I hit a couple of cemeteries and tomorrow on my way home I'll stop and visit my parents in their final resting place.
My youngest son and I leave next weekend for our annual bike trip--this year it's southern MO, AR and maybe Memphis to look for Elvis Just hope the weather is good and DRY! I strongly dislike riding in the rain but I will.
Hope everyone, even you Chief, has a wonderful week
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
SJ......thank you for the pics of you, Charlie (Charlie posted?), and Kurt. I noticed you guys stashed the frosties before the photos were taken, hiding the evidence. We know better. Hope my shorter ramblings are a bit more palatable too. Sorry.
Rich......hang in there, buddy. Continued prayers on the next round of tests.
To those who have adopted, thank you for sharing the landmines and the lessons learned. To those who have found their connection with Above, I commend you on finding a path. For those struggling with HIS/HER representatives here on earth....my Uncle was a member of the clergy and a pastor, so I know personally from whence you speak and have walked a mile in your shoes. For those struggling with faith, family, religion, and spirituality......each of us must ultimately choose our own path and lead by example, accepting that not all will follow. Our kid's included.
Prayers for those who need them.
Finally, I have taken out my Brent/88's "Amateur Handyman's Guide To Domestic Safety" and know exactly what NOT to do as I embark on foliage trimming with the power trimmers.
Jack.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
dwiemerPat, I don't worry too much about post counts. While many long term folks have high counts, it is also a fact that some folks talk a lot and say little. God Bless,Dennis
God Bless,Dennis
Dennis, you got that right! However, you are not one of the "talk a lot and say little" crowd.
Spanky - Wander what the members of the collage football boards do with the other 23 1/2 Hrs in the day?
Good afternoon everyone. Was a great morning service and followed by a nice lunch. Had the assistant director for the movie along with some friends of ours out. Friends ended up taking the bill....was very nice of them. Not much planned for the afternoon. Going to go over to some friends to let the kids swim. I don't need to be getting in the water as I will have to be on camera and will leave early. It is in the mid 90s, so I will be jealous of my wife and kids as they cool off.
Don, the poem "Success" by Emerson is one of my favorites. Used to carry a copy of it in my wallet. Glad to know someone out there thinks along the same lines I do....then again, should I be worried?
Pat, I don't worry too much about post counts. While many long term folks have high counts, it is also a fact that some folks talk a lot and say little.
TCA#09-63805
There are a few on this thread with large amounts of posts, but nothing compares with the Bradley Smoker Forum I just left ( except Chief and BK). All the posters I looked at averaged over 1,000 posts per year, and one fellow has 7,100 post in the last 9 months!
Just a piece of trivia.
Good morning all, got an E mail from my brother in Virginia this morning with some pictures of a nice mess of fish he caught. They had some stripers and flounder. The stripers were at least 15 lbs or better. Made me homesick for some fish fillets, water ground corn bread, cole slaw and sweet iced tea.
Train meet yesterday featured a display layout with some vintage Marx stuff, both original and reproduction. There were a lot of Marx buildings on display including airport hangers with old airplanes and a lot of military stuff. They even had a barracks building made of tin and lithographed. Very nice! The trains featured cars hauling artillery shells, tanks, planes etc. There were also some stand alone cut outs of WW I soldiers.
Took my usual walk this morning to break in a new pair of walking shoes. They have inserts that can be removed to accomodate orthotics which I wear. Haven't decided wheather to leave them in or take them out. Shoe salesman was no help. Everything today is self service. Nobody knows anything except for me Ha ha.
Have a good day,
Ray
SPMan
Good morning coffee pot! Made rolls, bacon and eggs for the family, but Char is still sleeping!!! Kids kept us up until about 1 AM last night. This is not going to work for the Summer - they will have to get over the idea that staying up all night is okay, because Daddy has to get up at 6 to work!
Need to wash the grills on the bbq today as I plan to make some burgers and dogs tonight. I will look at the store of Yuengs, but suspect I will have to settle for Sams Also need to put in a post/holder for the hose since it is not raining for once. Then, some work on the basement for the first time in about 8 months
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Morning all. Rainy. Got a good shower but missed the bad storm that went east of us. Good Lord is looking after my crops and etc. Off to Mom's down east and then back. My go to lake house tomorrow. Wifey is taking off this week if she wants too. Have to come back Wed night for early morning meeting on Thursday.
SJ, Don is Don. Poor guy can not be anyone else.
Rich, sorry I missed your hint. Hope all goes well for you. I have a bad habit of scanning posts if I am behind and in a hurry. Sorry. [Thanks Fifey for catching it].
Calm is better. Later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Good Morning
Fog but going to 80s all week.
I had a suprise call from cali. Don last nite, we haven't talk in quite awhile. Its good to know that Don is still Don lol. Also talk with the chat guys , it seems all is well. Everyone enjoy your last half of this weekend...S.J.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Aloha from a rapidly warming Crystal Lake. Looks like the youngest is healthy again and I'll can take him to church - though I was looking forward to lounging around all morning 'caring' for him, while everyone else went to services. . Funny, I was thinking I started Catholic and ended up 'non-denominational' Christian. Like others have said better than I, it's all in the Relationship! Love perusing your layout, Tim.
Belated congratulations to Brent and the Q. Have traveled a little of your 'road', and as many of you know, we've been fortunate to build our family through adoption three separate times. Go go Gamera, Brutus! I'm obsessing over the nook for the past few days. It's fun.Praying for Rich
Mornin' boys. Mornin' English. Damp and 66 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Had the neighbor's 3 grandkids over to watch the trains yesterday. Littlest one (3 year old beauty and a pip) lingered after her sibblings left the room, and quipped, "Now I can enjoy the trains all too myself." Spent last evening with close couple at an Irish Pub in Bel Air. Good food. Came home and watched CASTAWAY with littlest princess. She was amazed that the voice of WOODY was the actor. Only thing for sure today is dirty laundry.
Speaking of...'twernt to long ago some fellow came trippin' over his own tongue on the Coffee Pot. Even called a few of us out... Stepped outside, came back in with a different approach, and turned about to be a good fellow.
The internet is a ginormous place. We tend to put too much of ourselves out there for everyone. I often pitty the young generation that has all this exposure, but not the maturity to handle same. Just have to be mindfull of your thoughts, because once you hit that ol' ENTER key...
Timboy ---> .
On a very happy note; I cannot think of more fortunate children, being united with a more deserving couple. Best wishes to 88 & the Q!
sirjames - Certainly good to see our bud kpolak alive and well. Thanks for sharing.
anjdevil - You hinted at a personal problem. (someone notices...) Whatever it is, hang in there.
greetings guys from the land of lincoln, it is 64 ,degrees already and going up to 88 later. air conditioner is whirring, when i was a kid, every boy on my block had trains. some ho, some flyer, some marx and some lionel. i remember at the eight year old level squabling about which was better, but later as i got into collecting(accumulating) i found that most collectors have some flyer, marx, and lionel. i havent till recently heard anything mean spirited said about anyone who prefers one gauge over the other. in addition, i apoligize for bringing up the religion thing, it was just that i was venting i guess, and should use another forum. i was seeking information about how to get my grandson christened, rather than saying one religion is better than the other. i do not believe that, i just prefer catholic. i dont have any flyer trains now, but i used to have both o and s gauge. all i have now is the (dorky) 3 rail o gauge. if someone feels that makes them insecure, i don't care. if they are not paying for my living they have no right. i earned the right to have my own opinion also. navyjack
Morning all, Happy Pentacost!
Rain has held off for 24 hours now. May try and do some gardening after services.
May God bless
Jim
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a foggy 62 degrees. Going up to 84 today with some sunshine.
Today is an easy day. A few chores to do and then, I will relax and read my issue of CTT. Maybe run trains this afternoon. Grilled steak for supper. Life is good.
Dining car is here and the usual is for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Sunday.
Chuck
Collecting photons again. We were closed earlier for high winds.
Jim S - thoughts and prayers for your friends family
Lots of stuff flying around the pot lately. I've always thought life is like seeing a new movie, we all drive to it in different cars, and no one knows the actual details of the ending.
Looks like one of the guys in the corvair club that I have bought a few parts from will be going w/ me to pick up the engines and transmission. Another hand and a pickup moving engines is helpful and I don't have the room for it all. We will then drag it to the club meeting for the others to ogle at. Should be a fun evening.
Reading an interesting book on the Titan II missile systems. One of the other operators recently became a docent at the museum in Green Valley south of Tucson. Very interesting w/ lots of good detail. I, of course, like to salivate over the old electronic equipment. It's been a number of years since I've been to the museum. Will have to go back soon.
Hopefully some more airbrush work when I get off shift in a bit.
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
"You Know Who" still has me on a keystroke limit, so I have to exclude my editorial content......to the benefit of the rest of you.
Jack
I decided to read our new friends blog tonight. As a 3 railer it is less than a pleasant place to be. Not sure why someone would have such a blog online, then expect it not to raise eyebrows amongst a forum with so many 3 rail guys.
But don't take my word for it...since I like 3 rail I am apparently "stupid"
Here is a direct quote from the blog regarding persons at York dealing in other than AF...
"They appeared to me to be unattractive, misshapen, ill-mannered and about as bright as a box of rocks."
I said my peace...back to my stupid 3 rail trains
Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)
ChiefEaglesENOUGH!!!!!!!!
ENOUGH!!!!!!!!
You can't be serious! "The MOUTH from CA" hasn't had an opportunity to chime in yet!!
There sure is a lot to comment on!! Will take the serious first.
PAT, (indirectly Brent, Dennis, and Doug M) Thanks for asking that question, I too was curious as too why from a foreign land. I am familiar with 6 very close adoptions. They were all from here in the US, BUT all of them were 20 years plus, ago. After reading Brent's reply I completely understand, and certainly agree! Not only for the anguish of the parents, but what about the kids? If today, we as a country can go in and disrupt a child's life and introduce an different set of parents and change everything. What happens to the child? Those years are sooooo important for stability, nurturing, etc.. I guess its just ANOTHER situation of being politically correct no matter whom or how many it hurts. I applaud everyone of you guys (and wives) for what you have done. Regardless of the "nationality" we are ALL the children of God.
Along similar lines, my wife has always kidded me about that she was put here to keep me "humble". And she does a GOOD job! There isn't a day that she doesn't remind me of my errors. This is all due to the fact I have this overwhelming desire to be "Successful", kinda of inspired by my Father. (Totally different story.) Anyway, in our home office where the various Diplomas, Degrees, Certificates, Awards, and all the "other" junk is displayed. I have one poem hanging, and the most prominent, hopefully you don't mind me posting it here.
SUCCESS
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanks again Brent for the explanation!
Regarding the Religion topic, of course I too have an opinion. Pretty much agree with Dennis' statement above. I was born and raised in a Catholic family, in my teens became Lutheran, (due to parents divorce and remarry.) Then ended up marrying a verrrry convicted Catholic girl. Went through all the retraining, etc.. And represented somewhat of a problem to the Priest, because I wasn't convinced that ONLY Catholic's would be "saved". The Priest was very reasonable and reassured me that that was indeed not the case. So everything went fine, UNTIL my father passed. (Catholic from the day he was born.) Could NOT find ANY priest for 30 miles that was WILLING to participate at the funeral. Because the Pope was scheduled to be in LA that week. And the funeral would have to wait! (I'm not talking a day or two, it would be 10-14 days!) I was livid!! Even the parish we belonged to (with 6 Priests) would not help. Same Church we were married in. I have not stepped inside that church since. We attend a different one now. And based upon my experiences the differences between the Catholic and Lutheran are verrry subtle. (In many cases the Lutheran is even more strict.) Could not help but to comment on this topic.
NOW to TRAINS
I havn't read Timboys blog yet, but I will. Nevertheless, ALL of us have one thing in common, We Like Trains! (If not why are we even aware of this forum or website?) As Americans, we throw rocks and arrows at each other primarily based upon locations. But let someone from the outside, attack any one of us, and you have all of us to contend with. (At least that's the way it has been.) Pretty much the same with the trains. All of us at one time or another has heard someone say, "And he STILL plays with trains?" We're all there, just ask any of your wife's friends, OR their husbands! Now, the next level down is scale... We got the guys that are walking around with microscopes to watch their trains run, and repair anything. (Z, NN scales), then we got the "Rivit Counters" (T,HO,ON3 scale), the Operators and "knuckle draggers" (S and O scale), then the "gardeners" (G Scale), Oh, I left out the "live steam" guys, (no worry not enough of them to matter.) And, then we have the Prototypical stuff, they are just "nuts". My point being does it matter? NO! Anyone of those scales or segments within a scale is an "interest", and that is all that counts.
It is always interesting to go to an "All Scale Train Show" I enjoy them MORE than just a local TTOS or TCA meet, because there are a LOT more new ideas! And things that are transferrable! Not just price and quality variances on similar pieces.
Now we ALL know that the CHIEF is a "Die in the Heart" MTH fan. And Sir James next acquisition will be a DCS system, and Dennis is getting bored with AF. So things will continue to change.
As long as we are keeping Model Railroading alive, we all when.
BTW, IMO I think the Chief has a "Loose Wire" (Of course I'm referring to the engine.)
Think I better sign off. (Its great having the last word.)
LOL
Don
MichRR714 SJ and Kurt stopped over for a little train time today. We had fun and watched a few trains too!
SJ and Kurt stopped over for a little train time today. We had fun and watched a few trains too!
Looks like a great time was had by all - wish I could have been there too! Too much Milwaukee stuff though!
Guys - come on, admit it, these guys are having WAY too much fun! Glad to hear Kurt is doing well, too!
Forgot to welcome Hudson back from his long absence. WELCOME BACK!!!!!
Brutus, that ground is mainly a TMCC/Legacy problem. My ground to the track is actually run out of the house and tied to the driven ground by the house. About as good as you can get. I did that when I got ready to build the layout. Actually the layout is on it own breaker box too. Over kill. Also the track has lighted lockons. All my other MTH engines are starting up and running fine. Just this one is acting up. Will pull shell and see if something is ajar. Jarred back while at Miss Edna's and jarred apart on the way home.
Good evening all,
IIABSDISEI with temps in the 70s, and no luck at the track today. Both AJ and SFR teams missed the top 24, Team Red took 5 out of the 6 starting positions, and the only positive(?) aspect is that the Princess was the third fastest woman to qualify, being beaten by the "Swiss Miss" and the girl from Brazil. Could be a long day tomorrow and I see some bad endings possibly for both SFR and AJ. Oldest daughter down today with son-in-law and two of the grandkids. Took the kids outside for awhile and pushed them in swings and then ran the Santa Fe for the grandson. Later on went out to a nice graduation party for son of friends of ours.
As far as religious backgrounds, obviously I am Catholic from my "Mass" references, but I have spent some high school time with a Baptist youth group and studied Judaism off and on. Not as well versed in Islam as I would like to be, and know very little about any of the other major religions. To say with the absolute certainty that any fallible human knows the "correct" path to a good life and a happy afterlife is pushing the boundaries of almost all of the faiths. What I have learned over the years is that most religions have some fundamental aspects in common. I think if more time and energy was spent emphasizing the similarities instead of the differences among them all, everybody would be better off. I will now get off my soapbox.
I also would like to welcome Timboy and any others new to the pot. As with any other loosely knit grouping, we have our little idiosyncracies and nuances, but this is a good group of people.
I had bran muffins on the dining car for breakfast. TBIL any time. I hope everyone has a good day (especially AJ and SFR at the track on Sunday).
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Hey Chief - you tested power and neutral/common lines. What about the ground on your system?
Tired today - kids last day of school was yesterday and they were up until after midnight! I had to get up at 6 for overtime. After work, my son and I went to see Iron Man 2. I'd already seen it, but it was still a good movie with lots of action. They need to get on to another story though - go up against stuff other than other guys with power suits. Just my opinion. Don Cheadle is a great actor, but he did not seem happy in his role? Maybe he was just trying to seem like he was disapproving of Tony Stark's antics?
Just watched Gamera the Giant Monster! I remember seeing this one as a kid. Lots of nice oil tankers running on toy track were eaten by the monster, lol! Fun movie, mostly for nostalgia reasons I guess. Nobody else got into it. Oh well, it was my turn to pick a movie
Oh - got my CTT as well!
Prayers for us all and our friends and families - special prayers for JimSP's friends.
Tardis is ready, so let's go!
Rained "cats and dogs" and "frogs and fish" in Raleigh. We got .35 here in Rolesville. Fine with me as that melted the fertilizer I put out on the lawn and sidedressed to the garden plants. If it had hit here, my small plants would have been beat into the ground. Pond would have been muddied up too from the field that drains into it on one end.
Having fun with a MTH engine. Works at Miss Edna's but when I bring it home, will not. Yet all of my other MTH engines start up fine and are funning fine. Get the correct mileage as advertised when at Miss Edna's and indicates battery OK. Bring it home and it reads in the 100 thousands. One time it read infinity. Says battery low and crazy stuff. Bypassed track to a test track straight out of the TIU. Even tried different ports on TIU. I even took fine emery paper and sanded the wheels and cleaned the track. Does not "click" when power applied like my other MTH engines do. It is a fairly new NS Dash 9 with 6.25 hours and 15.7 miles [when reading at Miss Edna's and this is what was advertised]. Scratch your head on this one. STRANGE
Later.
PS:
Sturgeon-Phish Evening all I was Methodist and became Catholic. It is too bad when a person, a priest or pastor turns someone away from a faith that is bigger than any one mortal person. In the big flick, all Christian faith has the end goal of beng in heaven with the Lord. There are more than one way to get there, and when we do get to heaven we will see the differences in theology are small compaired to the common beliefs. May God bless Jim
Evening all
I was Methodist and became Catholic. It is too bad when a person, a priest or pastor turns someone away from a faith that is bigger than any one mortal person. In the big flick, all Christian faith has the end goal of beng in heaven with the Lord. There are more than one way to get there, and when we do get to heaven we will see the differences in theology are small compaired to the common beliefs.
See, that is what I told you yesterday. God does not care if you are a believer of anything but in his son Jesus. A great Texican [ I use that as John Wayne used it in several of his movies] preacher named Kenneth Copeland says, you will be surprised who you see in Heaven. Some of the meanest guys who were Japanese Army Officers accepted Jesus before being hung. You will see them there with the Saints.
Good evening. I have noticed several folks having had bad experiences with some 'leaders' of their past churches. Please remember that our faith is in the spiritual, not the flesh. People will let you down...regardless of the denomination. Don't let one fool change what you believe. If God is directing you toward a different denomination, then I would urge you to do so.
Well, projects were not very fruitful. Had one job that took a good chunk out of my day and pretty much left me without the energy to tackle the rest. I will try to get some done in between my regular schedule and the movie.
Did have some quality time with the kids. These years go by too fast and before we know it, the kids are grown. Last night was bad for me as I have tried to get home each night before the kids go to sleep so that I can tell them good night, but it didn't happen. With any luck, this next week, we will wrap our days earlier and get home in time. The footage so far has been great.
I had better get some sleep. Hope each of you have a great week ahead. God Bless,Dennis
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