COFFEE POT #1 January 2011 for all to take a drink and chat. 5+ years and going. Plenty of coffee but also grits along with country ham, redeye gravy and sweet ice tea.

[Anonymous]

Laz  -Conga on Minnie! She's really cute.

Well The SuperBowl is set... The Pack vs The Steelers. Just some fun facts... this is The Steelers' 77th Season, IF they win The SuperBowl it would come during Big Ben's (wears #7) 7th season and would be Pittsburgh's 7th SuperBowl victory. Now I think I'll go drink a 7 & 7!

[Demay]

Good evening all,

Church in the morning and football in the afternoon - that's a pretty good day.  Both games were exciting, but the Steelers almost let it slip away.  They better play four quarters against the Packers or they'll be going home without the trophy. 

I added a bridge I built to the layout and ran the trains for about 20 minutes between the games.  That was the only train action for today.  It's time for bed now.

Laz - She is a nice looking puppy.  If our kids weren't allergic we would have one too.

88 - Thanks for the interesting factoids. 

Good night,

Joe

[RockIsland52]

laz 57

Hi GUYZ,

  Tanks for the CONGAS on MINNIE.  We went for a 1.5 mile walk this morning with NO PROBLEMS.  She went willingly and was off to the races.  All is well.  Even a massive dump was well received.  Way to go MINNIE!  Here are some pics of last nite and this morning.  I am a proud DADDY.  She will be spoiled too.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.......the dog is relaxing on the couch and Laz is on the floor getting into the crate.  Role reversal, or is Laz learning as fast as Minnie???? 

Jack

[dbaker48]

Evening All,

Everyone must be out celebrating!  Congrats to Steeler and Pack fans!  It should be a great game!  Ended up working this weekend, kinda a Oh Hum affair.  It was a bit interesting today though, we are having some Santa Ana wind conditions, and early morning the winds were gusty and significant.  A lot of the other vendors packed up and left, (most likely wanted to watch the games, and it was more of a guise to leave as a result of the wind.  Ended up being a pleasant day.  Temps in the low 70's, came home this evening watered the yard, had a glass of wine, and now just kicking back.

Going to be doing some detailed planning for the wiring on a layout.  Should be pretty much straight forward.  Think I'm going to plan it to accommodate TMCC as well as DCS and conventional.  Need to install some led's to signal train presence in "blind area".

Tomorrow get the window fixed in the Buick, and see what else goes bad.

Great dog Laz,

Continued prayers for Mike C, and Jim's families.!!

Later !

[ChiefEagles]

Good night.  TIRED.  Reclinerized while watching TV.  Not too cold here.  Windy.  They say mainly rain event coming and snow west of Triangle.  Sending it up north to yuz giz.

LAZ, Finn was here licking my screen at certain photos.

Guy coming tomorrow to do some work on the walkin closet andgun safe.  Distributed china to Cathy and Frankie [Mom had three sets and we already have three ourselves].  We took all the silver and chrystal [probably store as we have our own].  Some antique pieces we'll display.  Took gun safe to Frankie.  Then came home and cleaned out that half of the office.  Guns moved, ammo boxed up and moved and same with cleaning supplies.  Pam had enough books to start a library.  Everything in "disaray" until closet is finished. 

Off to bed.  Sleep tight.

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  Thanks for all the great comments on my new PUP.  She is a sweetie.  Took her out at 430 this morning at -6 she peed and ran right back in real fast, could hardly keep up.  She's in her crate today so hopefully she's ok .  I get home at 245 then for a walk. 

CHIEF, FINN would really love her I tell her about hin after school.

BEARS LOOSE wait ti next year.  Played like Chipmonks.

Stay frosty,

laz57

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cold 16 degrees. Going up to only 24 today with a little snow.

Today is a busy day. I have some chores to do and a project to work on. Wife will be grocery shopping. Maybe a short nap later. I spent 2 hours in the train room, yesterday. Trains ran good.

LAZ...  Minnie is a beautiful pup. Have fun.

Dining car is here with the usual breakfast.

Y'all have a great Monday.

Chuck

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Pass the cheese and Iron City please.  Must be a jubilant gang up in Waukesha this AM.  Let me know if I'm typing too loud.  I love D-fence, so it should be a dandy game in 2 weeks.  Pick the "under 30".  Actually, from a trains perspective, this is a cool match-up.  Kalmbach from the sunshine state of Wisconsin, and Pittsburgh is my favorite big city to railfan at.  It's all good.

laz - That is one lucky dog.

sir james - on more than one occasion, I'd come home from work and turn the tv on, and there's Animal Planet on the screen.  Lassie would just lift his head, as if to say, "Whaaaaat..."

dwiemer - I worked the country-side for a dozen years, and the local VFD (green engines) "adopted" me, and I "deputized" them.  Their firehouse was often my substation.  It was the best relationship.

[submmbob]

It's cold and clear here today. About 25 degrees outside right now. Got setup early and just waiting for the source to rise above the trees.

Will try and finish up a tube radio I want to use in the garage today and maybe tinker w/ that Simpson meter some more. The multi-switches are causing some issues. Unsoldering and resoldering them is a real act of patience.

The NW-2 arrived a few days ago so it will be there when I get back. Looking forward to that.

Hope everyone has a good day

Bob

 

[navyjack]

sbmmbob the pic of the n gauge loco next to the coke can was cool. af-53..do you have any af o gauge.  neat stuff..have an atlantic die cast set and a 2-4-2 tinplate set.  love the old o gauge flyer  hudson.  you are lucky to have the father in law that you do.  hope everyone is weathering the cold well. pat was glad to hear from you.  does anyone have a real neat c and o nw-2.  please tell me about it.  i used to borrow my cousins when i was a kid.  bears lost.  too bad. guess it is why i am not into sports anymore.  chicago has not had a good teamk in a long time.  navyjack 

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Cloudy and ready to rain.  Waiting for contractor [who also owns Hunters Haven, my gun store].  Hope all are doing OK.  Got to run to Lowes to get electrical supplies to do new wall and light in closet.  Will see if we get snohio or just rain. 

Fifey, hope it stays rain up your way or you will be busy.   

Pat, you may be in for it.  Hope not.

Dennis, bought Timney drop in trigger for 10/22.  Will not "drop in" as claimed.  Holes for pins do not align.  Lady Friday said she had calls about other ones too.  Waiting for today as engineer was at Shot Show. 

Have a great week all.  Keep up the good work and the SS coming in.

Later 

[LawsonFarmsRR]

ChiefEagles

Morning.  Cloudy and ready to rain.  Waiting for contractor [who also owns Hunters Haven, my gun store].  Hope all are doing OK.  Got to run to Lowes to get electrical supplies to do new wall and light in closet.  Will see if we get snohio or just rain. 

Fifey, hope it stays rain up your way or you will be busy.   

Pat, you may be in for it.  Hope not.

Dennis, bought Timney drop in trigger for 10/22.  Will not "drop in" as claimed.  Holes for pins do not align.  Lady Friday said she had calls about other ones too.  Waiting for today as engineer was at Shot Show. 

Have a great week all.  Keep up the good work and the SS coming in.

Later 

Chief, not to worry. The forcaster attachment on the Snohio cannon deflector says little or no precip will get to the ground. What does come will be deflected to OK.

Pat

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Busy weekend so no time to post. Still cleaning up, sorting out, throwing away, consolidating, after the move of the wife's office to the house.

Supposed to be a great week here this week - high 50's/low 60's, freezing at night, but unfortunately I have to head to Mesa, AZ for business (where it will be high 60's all week). Leaving this afternoon and back Friday night.

LAZ - congrats on the pup - she looks great! Glad to hear she is behaving well!

Mike C - Prayers for your dad

Have a great week all! May not have time to check in.

[cnw1995]

Aloha from a depressed Chicago where it is grey and snowy.  RT, glad you're OK after your fall. SmBob, I sure don't miss the tiny-ness of N scale. It was hard on my eyes though that engine looks wonderful.

[sir james I]

Good Morning

14 degrees now, it was 4 at 10 PM last night. We are past that 4 stuff at least for now. Granny and I went out this morning for haircuts so we both got clipped. No trains news to report so enjoy your day...S.J.

[Steve W.]

Howdy Boys, Havn't posted in about a year. Job in Decatur didn't work out so I'm back in dirty jerz. I miss all the train action in Decatur, they were everywhere.  Steve

[traindood]

Hello; morning fella's and gals;  -5 degrees @ 8 this mornin' . plenty of hot oatmeal to go around. burned through a bunch of wood over the weekend. daughter's heat crapped out last nite; good thing for the Jotul stove. have it fixed by lunchtime. hey Laz; what a cute pal you have; happiness really is a warm puppy; best of luck. 

[dwiemer]

Good afternoon everyone.  Got a quick moment before going to pick up the kids.  Early day, but we will certainly make up for it.  Chief, I have several rifles with with Timney triggers and also some with Jewel triggers.  I leave it to the rifle smith and he has not complained about it. 

Laz, watch it, the puppy will rule the house before long.  Ours is sleeping on the couch next to me. 

Well, gotta run, don't want the little princess wait....she gets moody (they start young these days).

God Bless,
Dennis

[Demay]

Good afternoon all,

I have time for a quick cup prior to ending my lunch break.  It is a little chilly outside, but I hope Pat is right about the deflection of snow to out here.  I had Raisin Bran for breakfast and a chicken salad sandwich for lunch.

Dennis - My 9y/o princess sometimes acts as if she's a diva; she hasn't figured out yet that her home life will not be any easier with that type of attitude.

S.J. - Should I ask about you having your haircut at the same place as your wife?  Is there lots of gossip and champagne coolers?

Good day,
Joe

[arkady]

At about 1:30 this afternoon, I was downstairs running the trains when a tremendous explosion rattled the house.  I went upstairs to see what was going on, and my wife was already looking out the front window at a column of smoke rising from beyond a hill several houses away.

I called 911, but they told me they had already been notified and that the fire trucks were on the way.  My wife and I put on our coats (it was about 15 degrees after a -5 night) and walked over the hill to see what was going on.

Turned out the house next to the highway (we can't see it from our place) was ablaze, with flames and smoke rising high in the air. I had to dodge a fire truck as they came roaring in, but the house was already pretty much gone.

We were told that although the roads are clear, a pickup truck had somehow left the highway at high speed and crashed into the house from behind.  It exploded, blasting the house with it.  Apparently the owner of the house was blown free, but he wasn't sure if his animals got out or not, having been left unconscious from the blast.  No one was exactly sure where he was, but I assume he had been taken to the hospital.

Even though we have never even met the owner, I felt terrible about the whole thing.  I can't imagine losing everything in an instant like that.  Truly, there but for the grace of God, go we.  Makes you very thankful for the everyday blessings we so often take for granted.

 

[dbaker48]

[quote user="arkady"]

 Truly, there but for the grace of God, go we.  Makes you very thankful for the everyday blessings we so often take for granted.

[/quote

Arklady,

Truer words were never spoken!  Life is such a thin thread, we don't appreciate it enough.  My son's girlfriend had two friends that were killed last week.  They were driving on the freeway, returning from a movie, and was hit in a "head-on" crash on the freeway.  Both were killed instantly.  It is always hard. 

Thanks, for your post made me stop, (again), and just be thankful for what I have.

]

[traindood]

Hello; tragedies will always occur at the most unexpected times. i try to adhere by this simple rule, but don't claim to have thought of it." pray that you will live a thousand years; and act as if you were to die tomorrow".      On a simpler note, looks like Packoors vs Steeloors ought to be a good one. ratings will soar.  two teams with classy ownership. what a treat!  buckle up and enjoy!! 

[sir james I]

Good Evening

20s today about a inch of new snow.

Hmm the haircut thing; they had a special, mens cut $7.99 and as a new customer I also got a free shampoo. Yes she did rinse the shampoo out. I feel like a princess...

Banilla is ready and beacon is humming...S.J.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Evening all

Laz - Great looking pup

Someone threw an ice ball and broke our front window.  Called police to file a report.  Several others had the same thing happen.  This will be expensive.

Good night and may God bless

Jim

[AF53]

Navyjack - Thanks for the kind words, my AF O gauge range from early 1920's Clockwork and mid 1920's Electrical Locomotives. Next up is to build a set from the 1930's. I just talked with John a few minutes ago, he just got home from work (he works too much) he said he will call you later. The cold temps don't bother me at all.Hope all is fine by you.

Laz - When I raised my now 7 year old Husky we trained her with the cage. It worked great. I've taken it out from time to time and she would go right in it and lay down, seems like it is her comfort zone.

Ray

[Demay]

Good evening all,

We had a water specialist come today to give an estimate on installing a water softener and purify system.  The water here is extremely hard and it has already ruined one coffee maker and one washing machine, not to mention its effects on our clothes and fixtures.  We will be able to rent a system for a small monthly fee; we rent this house and will probably move in about 18 months so buying the system didn't make sense to me.  Also since we will rent it, the company will service it for us.

It's been a quiet night for us, and now it's time for bed.

S.J. – $7.99 is a good price; I'm glad you were pampered so nicely.

arkady/dbaker/traindood – Very well said.  I hope we all remember to give thanks for every second we have with those we love, and not waste a moment to show our love to those around us.  Our relationships with family and people are what matter, not the stuff we own. 

Good night,

Joe

[ChiefEagles]

sir james I

Good Evening

20s today about a inch of new snow.

Hmm the haircut thing; they had a special, mens cut $7.99 and as a new customer I also got a free shampoo. Yes she did rinse the shampoo out. I feel like a princess...

Banilla is ready and beacon is humming...S.J.

With no more hair than you've got, not a bargin.  Be sure to wear your pink nighty.

Off to bed.  Office in a mess.  Covered desk and etc with plastic as had to cut out section of plaster ceiling.  Main light gone.  Relocatin and rewiring it tomorrow during the RAIN.  No snow for us.  Some west and north of us.

Finn was easy to train.  Gated off "mud room" and used newspapers.  Soon he could hold it all day if one of us was not home to let him out.  He never pooped in the house at all.

Sturg, homeowners ins. will help. 

Sleep tight.

[RockIsland52]

Greetings From Frigid Taxachussetts,

JimmyT.......prayers and best wishes for a great interview. 

Lots of house fires hereabouts it seems.  Folks get pretty desperate finding ways to heat their homes, and some of them are paying with their lives.  The firefighters are working in conditions beyond brutal with the cold and the buried firehydrants which many residents didn't take the time to clear from the snowplow activities.

DougM keeps sending us his arctic weather.    The single digit temperatures dipped below zero again about three hours ago, so that's two nights in a row we are in the red.

JimSP......it wasn't me with the iceball that took out your front window.  Sorry to hear it.

Regarding what the snowplows missed ( a lot) the last blizzard on January 12, today the city came down my street with a front end loader and pushed back one straight-in cut to the curb on either side of the road, I suppose to see what the snowplow crews missed.  About 4 feet on my side of the road and 3 on the other.  Then they left without actually doing the job!  Street is too narrow now, and the next snow event is set to arrive Wednesday into Thursday.  If they don't hop to it, the concrete-like mounds there now plus the new snow will make things impossible for two way traffic. 

If the Chief were my Mayor........ he could supervise the crews while playing with trains in the warmth of my living room.  The Christmas layout is still up and running.    Although he could rustle up some grits, the dog wouldn't eat them.

Later gang.

Jack

[Hudson#685]

Good Morning,

  I have been absent for a bit, sorry about that, too much going on. I hope that everyone enjoyed the Holidays.

Laz, Good luck with the pup. She looks like our year old male. He is spoiled.

Time to get ready for the Morning Safety Huddle. Between the cold, ice and snow it is keeping us busy. Another storm front moving in and they start with the panic emails. i spend more time answering stupid redundent emails about storm prep and then conference calls.

John

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  Warmer today at 24 to get above freezing today finally.  Thanks for the CONGAs on the new PUP.  She's starting to like the long walks.  Loves the neighborhood, very inquisative.

Stay frosty,

laz57