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COFFEE POT #8 August 2010 for all to take a drink and chat. Welcome all posters. 5 yrs old and still going. Sweet ice tea too.

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, August 6, 2010 8:06 PM

Hi Guys

82 today, got the grass cut and trimmed. Very unusual for grass to be green this time of the year without watering at all. Well 90s next week could change things. Banilla is ready and the beacon is humming so whoever is driving tonight swing on by...S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by hscsltb on Friday, August 6, 2010 7:52 PM

jefelectric

 It sure is quiet on the pot when the Chief is at the lake. Smile  You guys with medical insurance problems can look forward to all being solved once the government takes over completely. Laugh  Laugh  Laugh

Hope you all have a great weekend.

 

Im working ot tonight to pay for Michelle Obamas trip to Spain.Sorry to those who were counting on for their SS.Laugh
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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, August 6, 2010 7:39 PM

jefelectric

 It sure is quiet on the pot when the Chief is at the lake. Smile  Hope you all have a great weekend.

 

Yeah and if running bear left for a week on big blue it would all but stop for the week WhistlingLaugh

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by SPMan on Friday, August 6, 2010 7:26 PM

dbaker48

Ray, I may have a fellow interested in attending the Train meets in Arcadia and Pasadena.  He is one of my customers and lives in Chino Hills, (Paul), just getting back into O Scale, and seems to really like DCS.  He has already picked up a TIU, AIU, transformer, and beginner sets. MTH sets.  (I really didn't coax him that much either.)  Anyway I did help him out at the last train show that was at Pomona a couple of months ago.  And told him about the forums, maybe he's lurking about.  Hopefully he will join in, we need another West Coaster.  I will need to sendhim the meet dates, times, and addresses.

Don, the next TCA meet in Arcadia at the Senior Center which is part of Arcadia's city park on Santa Anita Ave. will be on August 28th at 10:00 AM.  I don't think I will be there however because of another committment.  The other club (TTOS) which is a bigger meet and the one who sponsors Cal Stewart in Pasadena holds regular meets at the Masonic Hall on Duarte Road in Arcadia near Santa Anita Ave and Duarte Road.  There will not be a meeting there in August however.  They are having their annual picnic at the Los Angeles Live Steamers in Griffith Park sometime in August.  Their next regular meet will be in September but don't know date yet.

Ray

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Posted by SPMan on Friday, August 6, 2010 7:09 PM

Demay
SP Man/Ray - The technician at the hobby shop I visited today told me MTH products can be very difficult to repair locally

  Joe, I guess it depends on which hobby shop you talk to.  I go to one in Burbank California who has done many MTH repairs and upgrades locally.   The only thing I had to send back to MTH was a Z4000 transformer.  My local shop has folks who have taken the training at MTH and are qualified to be an authorized repair station for MTH. 

Ray

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Posted by jefelectric on Friday, August 6, 2010 5:45 PM

 It sure is quiet on the pot when the Chief is at the lake. Smile  You guys with medical insurance problems can look forward to all being solved once the government takes over completely. Laugh  Laugh  Laugh

Hope you all have a great weekend.

 

John Fullerton Home of the BUBB&A  http://www.jeanandjohn.net/trains.html
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Posted by hscsltb on Friday, August 6, 2010 5:18 PM

Brent I think you are right about it being a fee collection scheme.Hard to raise taxes so they hit you with the fees.Sounds like Rhode Island politics is spreading.Ugh!

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Friday, August 6, 2010 5:04 PM

Good Evening from the Jersey Shore, it hit 97 today.

The closing ceremony at the NJ State Police Youth Week, aka boot camp, was really great. My son had a great time and he is more determined to become a NJ State Trooper. Most of the kids there said that they have no desire to go into law enforcement and they came there for the experience. Beside the physical training, they were exposed to the many facets of the State Police. They started on the kids hard and loosed up by the second day and they had a blast, but discipline and PT stayed. A number of Cadets left the first day. Everyone got a knickname and my son's was Cowboy and it just so happened that he was the first. He had a Fire Department belt buckle and the instructor saw it and said that he looked like a cowboy with the "large" belt buckle. He also had his chops busted by, who he refered to as the coolest and  biggest cop he ever saw and he was not fat. He looked like Clint Walker. When they were doing a crime scene investigation the instructor named him Barney Fife. 

We will be leaving early for a flight to Colorado. We will be gone for the week and I will have limited computer access.

Rich, Take care of yourself and Be Careful. 

Thoughts and Prayers for all in need.

John 

 

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, August 6, 2010 2:31 PM

Spanky......in many instances, the demonstration of medical necessity, determined by the attending physician (your ortho doc), can get for you an extension of the benefit beyond the standard number of visits.  I'd check with your health insurance plan administrator (at work?) and run this by them for advice on how to proceed.  Your case was not bread and butter, in and out, problem fixed.

Jack.

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 6, 2010 2:24 PM

RockIsland52

Brent......your confidence and trust in our experience is touching. 

The same goes for me.  I have the same confidence and trust in you with those home improvement projects.  Who better to learn from?  Wink

I was going to ask you why you didn't first scribe the crown molding to the shape of the walls in your 4-season addition rather than caulking the gaps.  Then it occured to me that scribing would involve the use of a power tool, and you're too smart to fall for that trap.  BTW.....you didn't get up on a ladder to put the molding up, did you?    Big Smile

Jack



Big Smile

Yes I have been up and down the ladder quite often. I stopped using the fibreglass step ladder and only use the Werner adjustable multi-ladder since is has a VERY wide base on both sides. I chose not to scribe because we're talking a 16ft span and I am using MDF crown since it is 12ft up and can't be seen from the floor in any detail. MDF just doesn't take to scribing and coping like real wood.

Funny thing is I found that even though I was injured I could have done the work and have it turn out better than some people with two fully functional arms. I just hope who ever buys the house doesn't have an scrutinizing eye like I do, or we'll be paying someone to fix some bad drywall joints. Sad
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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, August 6, 2010 1:10 PM

Brent......your confidence and trust in our experience is touching. 

The same goes for me.  I have the same confidence and trust in you with those home improvement projects.  Who better to learn from?  Wink

I was going to ask you why you didn't first scribe the crown molding to the shape of the walls in your 4-season addition rather than caulking the gaps.  Then it occured to me that scribing would involve the use of a power tool, and you're too smart to fall for that trap.  BTW.....you didn't get up on a ladder to put the molding up, did you?    Big Smile

Jack

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by LawsonFarmsRR on Friday, August 6, 2010 12:44 PM

lionroar88

RockIsland52

NavyJack......check your PMs in about an hour.  I've got some ideas.  I think the guys on the POT are about to revoke Dennis' and my posting privileges and card carrying membership for boring them to death on the medical insurance stuff.

Jack.



NEVER! We learn from you guys because you are/were part of the problem so who better to learn from? Wink

 

I second that!Thumbs Up

Pat

 RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!

 

              

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 6, 2010 12:41 PM

RockIsland52

NavyJack......check your PMs in about an hour.  I've got some ideas.  I think the guys on the POT are about to revoke Dennis' and my posting privileges and card carrying membership for boring them to death on the medical insurance stuff.

Jack.



NEVER! We learn from you guys because you are/were part of the problem so who better to learn from? Wink
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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, August 6, 2010 11:18 AM

NavyJack......check your PMs in about an hour.  I've got some ideas.  I think the guys on the POT are about to revoke Dennis' and my posting privileges and card carrying membership for boring them to death on the medical insurance stuff.

Jack.

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by cheapclassics on Friday, August 6, 2010 10:22 AM

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 70s.  Nice.  On our way to Mid-Ohio.  Go AJ (Vitor Meira)!  Go SFR!  Go Swiss Miss!  I had bran muffins on the dining car.  TBIL in Ohio tonight.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

MIke C. from Indiana

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 6, 2010 9:34 AM

Mornin' Fellas.

Don, see Ray, he seems to be coming into 'free' tools. Maybe he can help you with that list! ;)

Ray - If you have to really stomp on the brake pedal your master cylinder could be dying. May want to have that checked, or the calipers.

Harold - I wouldn't have a problem with it, except we have to be finger printed by a third party that charges $125 per person, plus $65 processing for MD State Police, FBI, DHS, and DOS background checks. I understand that they want to make sure you haven't committed any crimes involving children, but seriously, my finger prints haven't changed since I was born, so why can't we go and pay a nominal fee to have the background checks rerun? IMHO it is just another money maker for the state.

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, August 6, 2010 9:32 AM

Good Morning

sun and 80 today.

Don B has quickly learn that retirement does not mean no work. Thats why some of us have a nap, have to rest between jobs. I had BLTs for breakfast, even used a sharp knife without causing bodily harm. Grass is next....S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, August 6, 2010 8:23 AM

 Aloha all. Nice day here. Big music festival begins a few blocks away: 95K expected. Ah, Brent, the I600A brings back memories.  Jim, that's a nice insight/reminder. Sure looks like Don is "enjoying" retirement.  May try to talk the bride into going to the McHenry County Fair tonight - I'll miss the goats/swine judging but there's a demolition derby tonight

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Friday, August 6, 2010 7:02 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a sunny 72 degrees. Going up to 88 today with sunshine.

The big storm on Wednesday afternoon knocked out the power for 24 hours. We had no damage here but a lot of trees and power lines were down in the area. It was nasty.

Today  is an easy day. I have some chores to do and then, I will go to workout at the FC. It is nice to have lights again.

Dining car is here and it's a Cheerios breakfast.

Buckeye.....  TGIF

Y'all have a great Friday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by Hudson#685 on Friday, August 6, 2010 6:53 AM

Good Morning from the Jersey Shore, 78 going to 90, a Beautiful Day.

In a little while we are going to pick up my son from the NJSP Youth Program, Boot Camp. It was quiet without him.

Brent, Good luck with the adoption. We started the process and then my wife became pregnent with our son. That is another story.

Navy Jack, Good luck with your battle with the Health Insurance. The people that we dal with now are in Lincolnshire, Nebraska and Newark, NJ. A lot nicer than the previous people. I borrowed the line "Illinois Nazi's" from the movie, "Blues Brothers".

Joe, I wish your son luck with his batting.

Fife, August 21 is marked on the calander. I will speak with the group that I go to the Thresher Reunion with.

Sturgeon-Phish, Jim, Pace yourself loading the dumpster with this heat.

Brutus, My thoughts and prayers go out to the accident victims. As I see it, None of those driver's were paying attention to the road conditions.

Don, The solution to the "work issue", is to get all of the retirees to unionize. I think that a 2 hour work day is in order.

Bob, I am glad that you are coming along.

Rich, Congrats on your first alarm. 20 years is a long time. I let the younger guys do all of it now. After 35 years, it is their turn.

Thoughts and Prayers to all in need.

John

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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Friday, August 6, 2010 6:12 AM

Morning all

Waiting for my bride to get home with the sitter so I can go to work.  She got held over.  Read an interesting book yesterday with an insite I'd like to share.

When our faith is being tested, it is not so that God will know the condition of our faith, He already knows.  When our faith is being tested it is so that we will become aware of our faith and just how dependent we are on God.

Jim - I may go for the 650's this time.  Ment to last time but forgot.  The 766 switch is the same as the 771 stockyard switch and the stockyard switch is a lot easier to find if you ever need to replace the gilford switch guts.

Don - Since you are retired try to explain that X number of years of projects do not have to be completed in one year.

Rich - Glad hings are working out.

Bob - Glad you are feeling better too

8ntruck - Been there, about 7 years ago my bride had the back surgury too.  It will take time and patience on both partys.  Once when I was sweeping the floor I was told I was not doing it right.  I asked if it was getting done, I just do it differentand different is not necessarly wrong.

May God bless

Jim

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Friday, August 6, 2010 1:14 AM
Good early morning guys, Just got back from a fire call, someone frying chicken at 0100....go figure Pumped up for the symposium.....can't wait! Life here is a challenge, given I'm in just one room for now, but the fire thing Has given me a lot of joy. If my daughter was here, i'd not complain again. Bob, good to see you doing better. Brent, good luck to you and the Q. Dennis & John-nope no boot or probie stuff, just a lot of recycling of the old guys jokes. I do have a brandy new helmet and look forward to breaking it in. And with any luck, I will finally get my 20 year star.... Ok off to bed, see ya all later!

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


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Posted by submmbob on Friday, August 6, 2010 12:53 AM

 Was going to post last night but got too tired w/ the medications I'm on and had to crash.

Doing OK. Every day gets a bit better. Took two hours today to get to a one hour meeting though. The one week I need the buses they go on strike. And I had to walk a mile and a half even taking the bus.

May start driving tomorrow. The ibuprofen seems to be taking care of the pain today fairly well. 

Been reading the insurance discussions w/ interest. I've been screwed over twice by medical insurance companies. I've always had insurance, once even dual coverage. One company made it so I can never get my own policy, i.e. I could never work for myself and get coverage. The other denied coverage for a major surgery (my elbow was completely fractured) simply because of a loophole. The business I was covered under had closed two weeks before. My mother forked out $5K to put me back together. And all this happened when I was less than 35 and still a *** healthy guy. When people say there's no problem w/ the health industry I can give 'em an earful. SoapBoxEnough said.

 Dennis - got a card in the mail from a mutual friend. Thank you.

Time to find a pillow.

Bob

 

Bob

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Posted by 8ntruck on Friday, August 6, 2010 12:14 AM

Sunny and in the 80's here today.

Shuffled more furniture around today to get my wife more comfortable.  Think we are getting the place tuned in for her recovery - backs take a long time to heal.

No train time.  Hope to get to the LHS tomorrow, as I have not been there for some time.

Interesting program at the Historic Half Mile tomorrow night.  It is the battle of the badges.  26 dirt track prepared police cars driven by officers of the area police departments.  Ought to be a pretty good show.

All for now.

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Posted by dbaker48 on Friday, August 6, 2010 12:03 AM

 Good Evening All !

So far I don't know if this Retirement Stuff, is all that great.  Almost the first "work week" in, and these is what I've noticed so far.....

- The "consulting aspect" stinks!  Seems like the same work, only for little or NO pay.  (Wife is now the BOSS).

- The "Honey Do List" is now a BOOK !  (Given all the "FREE Time" I have.)  Most recent addition to HDBk is repainting the TIKI in the backyard as soon as I finish the garage door opener repair, lawn chair refinishing, closet redo, designing and building shed in backyard.  Front yard work, painting wrought iron work, etc., etc..

I MUST be doing something wrong!!!

Ray, I may have a fellow interested in attending the Train meets in Arcadia and Pasadena.  He is one of my customers and lives in Chino Hills, (Paul), just getting back into O Scale, and seems to really like DCS.  He has already picked up a TIU, AIU, transformer, and beginner sets. MTH sets.  (I really didn't coax him that much either.)  Anyway I did help him out at the last train show that was at Pomona a couple of months ago.  And told him about the forums, maybe he's lurking about.  Hopefully he will join in, we need another West Coaster.  I will need to sendhim the meet dates, times, and addresses.

Been wanting to do a major maintenance on all the old conventional engines I have sitting in boxes, and making sure they all will still work well.  Some of them I'm sure have not been run in over 30 years.  So it will take some effort I'm sure.  Then see about selling them.  BTW got the Legacy version 1.3 installed and running, seems pretty good.  Only complaint that I have is the Legacy system still turns on the clock radio in the train room.  It turns on the alarm timer, so if I run Legacy the night before I usually wake up to voices in the morning when I come downstairs.  (Doesn't happen with DCS, just Legacy.)

Went to the Orange County Fair tonight, pretty much the same as last year.  Expensive, Expensive, Expensive.  BTW were you guys aware that food vendors at fair grounds typically have to pay a commission the fair for the food they sell?  In addition to the booth costs they pay, and the local license requirements.  One other thing that is worth mentioning, they are having Championship Surfing contest here this weekend, not so great conditions however.  Beaches are expected to have drizzle in the morning until well into the afternoon, and the waves are expected to reach between 1 and 3 feet.  Last year they were too big, this year too small.  And the prize money is up to $350k. 

Take care all !

Navyjack, being from Rockford, if your search area was extended to Beloit, or even Madison would you have better luck?

 

 

Don

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Posted by Brutus on Thursday, August 5, 2010 10:28 PM

Sad day locally as a big pileup with two school buses resulted in two deaths and lots of injuries.  Really tired today - storms early this AM woke me up and then when I did get up with the alarm it was as dark as night.  Chewy was not happy at all!  Luckily, we have the kids cleaning up after her now, so I didn't have to do it.  Gotta switch laundry and hit the hay early tonight, but didn't want to forget to post tonight and say hi to everyone.  Good news on Granny, SJ!  Wish I could make it, Fife!  Good luck 88!  Good thoughts and prayers for all.  Tardis is ready. 

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 5, 2010 9:59 PM

Jim,

        They were relisted.

Fife,

       Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it.

Black Diamond,

                          I've given up on Advance.  I got real tired of buying sensors that died shortly after installing them, and this alternator was the end for me.  I've got to move the a/c compressor out of the way just to get to it.

 I spent tonight playing with the AF 766 Guilford Station.  Since I got it in November, I thought that the rotary switch on the controller was broken.  Little did I know that you are supposed to turn the knob clockwise instead of counterclockwise.Sign - Oops

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Posted by hscsltb on Thursday, August 5, 2010 9:25 PM

SPMAN "If its free its for me" words to live by.

Harold Brown
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Posted by hscsltb on Thursday, August 5, 2010 9:23 PM

lionroar88

Dennis,
We are well aware that the fingerprints, and law enforcement certifications, have a 1 year effectiveness. That means we WILL have to get ALL of our certifications and fingerprints redone, possibly twice. That means another $500 - $1000. In the grand scheme of things, that is nothing when you compare that to the overall cost.

Yet for a TWIC card or a CDL the fingerprints are good for five years.Good luck with the journey and hopefully the paperwork wont be to bad.
Harold Brown
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Posted by Demay on Thursday, August 5, 2010 9:03 PM

Good evening all,

I had a nice trip to OK City today, mostly because I was able to stop by a hobby shop I had not been to before.  I'm not sure if anyone here has heard of it.  It is named Whistle Stop Train and I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of O gauge/scale items they carry.  The employees were very knowledgeable and friendly.  They knew I wasn't buying anything today, but still took the time to show me around the store and even the repair area they have.  Their prices are not the cheapest, but they are fair and considering I will not have to pay shipping, they are in my favor.  I am looking forward to going back and supporting them with my business. 

SP Man/Ray - The technician at the hobby shop I visited today told me MTH products can be very difficult to repair locally, and usually have to be sent to MTH to be fixed.  I have no MTH products so I cannot add anything to that, or say if his comment is accurate.  However, he carries MTH products and was not trying to sell me another product; the reason he told me this was because he knows I am in the Air Force and move frequently.  He advised me it may cost me a decent amount in shipping to have the items serviced by MTH if I should buy any in the future and they need repair.  He also showed me the inside of an MTH loco versus a Lionel loco, and from my simple perspective, the MTH loco appeared much more complicated.  I appreciated him taking the time to show me that.  I hope your problems is resolved soon.

Lionroar88 - My hats off to you on the adoption process.  I have friends who have recently adopted and I know it can be quite the process, not to mention expensive.  I don't know all the circumstances behind your adoption, but I believe you are doing an awesome thing and I wish you the best with it.

I hope everyone else is doing well.

Good night,

Joe

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