Mitch - prayers for your friends! Prayers all around, we sure need them.
Baker - hang in there, man. A younger friend in London just found out his application for training over here in the USA was cancelled as the program was defunded. A week later, his girlfriend found out that her loan for a small business was approved, but the program was defunded so no money. No jobs and no local prospects, but they keep trying.
Nice chats with SJ, Charlie, John and Spanky tonight. Hope everyone keeps getting healthier.
Government shutdown will mean that after 15 months my wife was able to go back to work for a limited number of hours a week and now I will be working for no pay until whenever. We went through this in 95/96, but we were younger and didn't have kids, etc. It's a good thing I had no travel plans or hotels booked next week, since it would all be off the table - essential employees (hope I'm essential or I'll never get paid) can't take leave. This is a shame and shows that partisan fighting is more important to some than a difference of opinion over only a tiny fraction of the overall budget. Guess some people have their rulers out
TARDIS is ready and we have some in-flight movies tonight including The Headless Ghost and Potergeist, so let's hit the road!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
RockIsland52 AF.......my grandparents (Mom's folks) lived about 60 miles due North of Northwoods in a tiny town of 359 in Rhinelander, WI. Nothing to do and all day to do it in the relative middle of nowhere. I have fond memories of sitting with my grandfather on warm summer evenings, listening to the Milwaukee Braves on an AM-only tube filled radio. We could learn a lot from our grandparents about a simpler life that was not overloaded with stress and complication. One of my sisters still has that radio, and it soldiers on!!!! Jack
AF.......my grandparents (Mom's folks) lived about 60 miles due North of Northwoods in a tiny town of 359 in Rhinelander, WI. Nothing to do and all day to do it in the relative middle of nowhere. I have fond memories of sitting with my grandfather on warm summer evenings, listening to the Milwaukee Braves on an AM-only tube filled radio. We could learn a lot from our grandparents about a simpler life that was not overloaded with stress and complication. One of my sisters still has that radio, and it soldiers on!!!!
Jack
Jack,
Since you have spent some of those warm summer evenings here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, how many times did you see or hear the Hodag in its native territory of Rhinelander?
Thanks for the suggestions a few pages back on how to handle the anxiety of our furry family members. That is very good information.
I'm very glad that you had no more serious damage done to you or your car. Good Morning America had a segment about the number of deaths and injuries caused by items blown out of vehicles.
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
Mostly sunny and about 70 today.
Got the 'A' units of my 4 motor 200 series Alco A-B-A on the track for a test run. Had the armature wires swapped on one of the motors, so the two 'A' units were running in opposite directions on the first test. A couple of minutes with the soldering iron fixed that. Next step is to chop on the bodywork to make room for the interconnect cable.
About all for now.
Good morning all,
IIABSDISEI with temps in the 60s. Busy day at work yesterday. Better night yesterday. Got to play soccer with the high school kids. Had a conversation with the "new" high school coach. Long story behind that. noticed one of the new kids was extremely, extremely good. One bright bit of sports news. Pacers made playoffs first time in 5 years although they get to lose to Boston in the first round. Lots of running tonight. I had the regular fare on the dining car for breakfast before sending it on to "Points East". TBIL anytime and I can drive. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on trainng,
Mike C. from Indiana
Morning to all,
Another busy day in the neighborhood. Got home at 8:30 PM. Asleep in the chair by 9:45, went to bed at 10:30.
Keep the prayers coming for Baby Sierra, she was 14 inches and 2 lbs 5 oz. According to grandparents, she is already off the respirator, breathing on her own. Many long weeks and months in the NICU ahead. Very tough on grandparents being on the East Coast and their daughter, SIL and grandbaby in TX. They want to visit but don't even know if the NICU will allow grandparents yet.
Crazy day ahead again today. Can't wait till next week and a few days off walking the halls at York and swapping lies and laughs with my buddies.
Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839
Good Morning,
Mitch, Good News on Baby Siera. Prayers for her.
Ray, Let me know when the bread is ready. Your package is here.
Prayer Request: Jack, one of our painters, daughter Sarah, is in a hospital in Cincinati witing to have a feeding tube installed. She is the young girl that I mentioned a few weeks back. She is 12 and may not have long to live. She was born with a birth defect where her skin did not fully develop and the same with internal organs including her esophogus, which developes "blisters" and closes up. She is wrapped in gauze daily and is in constant pain. A special team had to be ensembled to perform this operation and the only hospital in the country is this one in Cincinnati. He is flying out to join them tonight and the operation is scheduled for tomorrow. Thanks
Time to get the Safety Huddle together.
John
Hi GUYZ,
40 here to get to 60.
ROY, totally awesome video of the CHIEF and BUCKEYE, where do you find these things? WIFE scored on the camera, got one used, she can't wait to show you next friday at dennys.
CHIEF, 5 miles all at once? Oh no I better get running a lot harder seems like the CHIEF is gonna open up a BIG CAN of WOOP***?
TRAINDOOD, 40 ozs. WOW that's hard core. I'm used to just 32ozers at the most.
DENNIS, sorry for the loss in your family.
Stay frosty,
laz57
JOE,
You'll have to get in touch with the WIFE on the early sale. She just might have something planned for me? Gee I hope not.
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a cloudy 48 degrees. Going up to 60 today with a chance of rain.
Today is an easy day. I have one errand to run and a few chores to do. Then, I can relax. Maybe a nap later.
Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Thursday.
Chuck
Morning all. Up and moving. Real warm. Inside the house looks like someone's cocaine lab exploded. Somehow, [heat nor air running] the dust from the tile removal has covered everything with a heavy white dust. Worse than when we were sawing plaster [that comes today] in my office. How it has gotten all over the whole house??????? Outside, everything is yellow. Nose running like mad.
I see "Flyer" has a photo of Buckeye. Actually he is not as mean as he looks. Give him a donut and he calms right down.
Prayers for the young ones and the adults too.
Dentist this AM, a lunch meeting and then yard work [grass mowing and shrubs trimmed; have new Stihl 2 cycle hedge trimmer with 24" bar].
Have a good one.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Northwoods Flyer RockIsland52: AF.......my grandparents (Mom's folks) lived about 60 miles due North of Northwoods in a tiny town of 359 in Rhinelander, WI. Nothing to do and all day to do it in the relative middle of nowhere. I have fond memories of sitting with my grandfather on warm summer evenings, listening to the Milwaukee Braves on an AM-only tube filled radio. We could learn a lot from our grandparents about a simpler life that was not overloaded with stress and complication. One of my sisters still has that radio, and it soldiers on!!!! Jack Jack, Since you have spent some of those warm summer evenings here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, how many times did you see or hear the Hodag in its native territory of Rhinelander? Thanks for the suggestions a few pages back on how to handle the anxiety of our furry family members. That is very good information. I'm very glad that you had no more serious damage done to you or your car. Good Morning America had a segment about the number of deaths and injuries caused by items blown out of vehicles. Northwoods Flyer
RockIsland52: AF.......my grandparents (Mom's folks) lived about 60 miles due North of Northwoods in a tiny town of 359 in Rhinelander, WI. Nothing to do and all day to do it in the relative middle of nowhere. I have fond memories of sitting with my grandfather on warm summer evenings, listening to the Milwaukee Braves on an AM-only tube filled radio. We could learn a lot from our grandparents about a simpler life that was not overloaded with stress and complication. One of my sisters still has that radio, and it soldiers on!!!! Jack
Northwoods......I never had heard of the Hodag and the history behind it.....like a PT Barnum story, until the folks from the Smithsonian came to Rhinelander to check out the story of the prehistoric Hodag. Rhinelander off of Rte 51 is Northwest of Rib Lake (Route 13 and 107?) by about 60 miles. Wausau, also off Route 51, is about 50 miles Southeast of Rib Lake.
I suppose the comment I made about my grandparents up in that small town were a fond reflection on them and at the same time on far simpler, uncluttered times over a half century ago. Folks up there and back then made far less $, had less, but in my mind were happier and more grounded.
Is less more? I think so, in many ways. I try to make that connection with my own kids, then versus now. All of the gadgets, accumulated junk. and instant communication we have in some ways have improved the quality of life. But at the end of the day the things that sustain us and bring us the most happiness can't be charged with a piece of plastic or captured on an LCD.
Why else can we watch a toy train go around in circles for hours and find relaxation and peace of mind? You once wrote that you collect prewar AF with the intent of capturing something beyond the item.....a place in time, and all of the history and stories that might have accompanied that piece and its every ding and scratch. Hence, you said don't restore/repaint your pieces, searching for some sort of cosmetic perfection. C8? Who cares? You as me, the value is in the history and the fun.
Those Summer days back in the 1950s with my grandparents were this: nothing to do and all day to do it. There was time for a child to imagine, to think, to reflect, to absorb, to learn, to feel, to invent, and to grow. The pleasures of uninterrupted time those warm nights, listening to the Milwaukee Braves on the radio with my grandfather and grandmother. You guessed it. He would be smoking his pipe while my grandmother knitted. A popsicle and I was good to go.
Perhaps that is why I have less interest in the more advanced toy trains available today and find my peace and satisfaction and enjoyment in the uncluttered simplicity what I have. For me, less is more, and my small collection grounds me..... in that place in time you have mentioned in your posts.
I can clearly remember one Christmas when I was about 6 years old. We loaded up the car: two adults, 3 kids, and the dog, My Dad drove the 350 miles North to the grandparents' place, then the additional 15 miles to my Aunt and Uncle's large log cabin he built in the middle of the woods on Spirit Lake, the last few miles negotiating a narrow gravel road. We got snowed in and spent Christmas there. The loft style cabin had no heat, save for a large fieldstone firplace on one end of the main floor and a cast iron stove in the kitchen area on the other end. The cabin had no electricity, no bath/shower/indoor plumbing, save for the water we got from a manual pump in the kitchen by the sink. No TV, not even a radio except for the AM in the now buried car !
I got one of my Lionel engines from Santa that Christmas over a half century ago, and the engine still soldiers on along with the memories of that Christmas, a simple uncluttered Christmas. I can't remember much else from when I was 6.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Good morning
37 and cloudy
A lot of chat this morning. A short shopping trip and then the day is mine...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
It will be another great day weather-wise here. However, it has been very dry and the area has seen its share of grassfires. We could use some rain and no wind. The wife is at the two older kids' school today for Moments with Mom so I am watching the baby and will be going to work a little later than usual. I had Raisin Bran for breakfast.
Mitch - That's great news about baby Sierra.
Laz - I hope she doesn't have any early plans for you.
Good day,
Joe
It is still nice in SE Indiana, but rain is rolling in later. All sorts of sporting news, some of which may have been noted already. I recently received the last issue of National Speed Sport News. It had been in business over 75 years and covered all aspects of racing from the smallest bullring to the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" and everything in between including F-1, drags and NASCAR. It had been part of my life ever since I can remember and it is sad to see it go. On the plus side, AJ's team got a huge boost for Indy by hiring Bruno Junqueira drive the 84 car. "Junky" is one of the few drivers who can jump into a car and quickly get it up to speed in a hurry. Between him and Vitor, the Foyt team may be a factor this year. 50 years ago this year AJ got his first 500 win on the 50th anniversary of the first race. Wouldn't it be great if 50 years later if he got another one on the 100th anniversary?
More on the new soccer coach. He has been president of the local soccer club and he is a teacher at the local high school. One of his step-daughters plays on the team, and Lucas dated the oldest step-daughter for a while. The same step daughter is now engaged to Lucas' best friend, which makes for some interesting conversations at times. Hopefully things will improve.
Keep on training,
Think good thoughts, do good deeds!
mitchelr Morning to all, .......Keep the prayers coming for Baby Sierra, she was 14 inches and 2 lbs 5 oz. According to grandparents, she is already off the respirator, breathing on her own. Many long weeks and months in the NICU ahead. Very tough on grandparents being on the East Coast and their daughter, SIL and grandbaby in TX. They want to visit but don't even know if the NICU will allow grandparents yet.
.......Keep the prayers coming for Baby Sierra, she was 14 inches and 2 lbs 5 oz. According to grandparents, she is already off the respirator, breathing on her own. Many long weeks and months in the NICU ahead. Very tough on grandparents being on the East Coast and their daughter, SIL and grandbaby in TX. They want to visit but don't even know if the NICU will allow grandparents yet.
Mitch.......regarding continued prayers for baby Sierra, she and her parents have them. A phone call to the NICU unit would answer the question of whether or not and when the grandparents can visit. When our premature grandson was born at Tufts/New England Medical Center in Boston, my wife were given the same NICU visiting privileges as our daughter and son-in-law. The Medical Center's theory: the road ahead will be long and difficult, and the family needs to be there to weather the peaks and valleys......together.
Lunch Time,
Dieletric test aerial lifts all morning. It felt good to finally take the rubber gloves, boots and hard hat off.
RI Jack, Looking back as a kid 50+ years ago, it did seem that everyone was happier and life was simplier. But we were kids and we did not everything that was going on. I m sure that there was issues that were kept from us.
Traindood, Your grandson will only have 1 First Communion. There will be many more meets. I know what you meant and you will be there for him.
Have a great day,
Jack, re collie dogs. My neighbor is no dummy and I'm sure he has a PC. He and his wife are involved with many activities. He told me once that he knew someone who wanted at least one of the dogs. I don't want to say anymore about it lest he would think I was trying to expedite getting rid of his pets. However, if I hear anything about a problem relocating the dogs I will suggest one of the places you mentioned.
Ray
SPMan
Mitch,
for Sierra.
Dennis,
Sorry to hear of the passing of your grandmother.
Really nice here today so I took the PGT out hunting Boysenberry. No luck but it ran the best it has ever run for me. 189,809 when I left and 189,829 when I got back. Unbelievable difference between it and the sunfire. Everything just feels better and solid and not like cheap plastic junk. It is nice to drive a car that's got some zip and doesn't struggle to get up to speed or feel like it is going to rollover while turning.
Did more on the 624. All painting is almost done, and the motor and eunit are ready to go. I was able to rebuild the eunit with all original parts, so that was good. It only took one try to get it back together, which is really unusual.
RaySP......we got two of our Dobermans from Doberman Rescue Unlimited in New Hampshire. They take in dogs from mostly generic shelters all over the Northeast U.S. of A. These no-kill, breed specific rescues are great. What I like about them is that their experience and knowlege of a particular breed puts them in the best position to find the right adopter and the last home they will need, placement with a person who is a good match for the challenges and issues a particular breed can present.
I agree with you, maybe better to leave it alone. He is smart enough to know his way around the internet and find a good home for them. He just might be too mad, too sad, too hurt, betrayed by a neighbor, or not humble enough to ask for help. I have some neighbors........never mind, don't get me started.
My Dad used to say: "Son, you can't pick your family or your neighbors. Resign yourself to the fact that you are stuck with them."
http://www.collie.org/
Afternoon all!
for those that need them.
Nice day here. Low 80's and sunny.
Had lunch with some of our gang that is going to York next week. Stopped after lunch at the Chevy place and bought some new clips that attach the tailgate release rods to the handle on my '01 pickup ($16 for two little clips - but the old ones were 10 years old and one broke so $16 is cheap I guess if I want to easily drop the tailgate). While I was there they had the '11 Camaro SS convertable on the floor so had to take a look. White with the orange hood stripes like the original - and 6.2 L powerplant - SWEET! The missus and I will have to go back and take a test drive I think!
Looking forward to York!
Regards, Roy
HMMM Sounds like another white with orange stripes on it getting ready to be sold. ( How old is your youngest child )
Well not much happening here today. Got home about 4 been relaxing since. Had burgers and baked beans . Supose to be off this weekend. If I don't get asked to do OT I will probably finally get on the ladders and try finishing the cieling/shelf layout to the point of having the green indoor/outdoor carpet on it so I can start seeing where I need to cut track to make my layout work the way I want it to. Should have room behind the rails for some crossing signals and hope in the corners for my watchman in the shack which I have 2 of.
Hope all having a good week. Hey tomorrow is T.G.I.F.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Good Evening
46 right now.
I did some shopping this morning, stopped for E85 @ $3.09 a gallon. Regular gas was $3.73 to $3.85. Strange that E85 keeps going up like gasoline. Yea I know the high price of corn. Always an excuse. Banilla is waiting and the beacon is humming..S.J.
Chief and Pat went to York train show together. after the show they decided to take a train ride but got on the wrong train and ended up in NYC. so the figured what the heck we'll have dinner and get a train back. But as they talked those drinks called Manhattans ( which they thought was a clever name for lemonade seeing they were in NYC) kept adding up and befor they knew what hit them they could hardly stumble out the door to get across the street to the station well Pat went down a subway entrance and chief made it across the street turned to look for pat and low and behold he comes up out of the entrance and chief said where were you? Pat goes I don't know but you should see the train set that guy has down in the cellar.
traindood Morning fellas and gals : Can't make York due to grandson making Confirmation. Ceremony is on Friday and dinner is on Sunday. Can't wiggle out of this one. Would have loved to meet some of you, hopefully in the fall. Will be miserable the whole weekend.
Now why don't they know that York is more important.
Well,went to Lowes. Picked out floor tile, shower tile. tub, toilet, exhaust fan and etc, bathroom light fixture and paint colors. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Tired. Will try to make it through the Mentalist.
Later
Jack - good one, thanks for sharing that post
Prayers for Sierra and for us all and our families and friends.
TARDIS rides will continue even if there is a government shut down. We are too cool.
RT -
Partly sunny and about 70 today.
The remodel at the office is about done. I'm going to end up getting an honest to gosh real office with real walls and a door! Wonder if anybody would say anything if I were to put up a loop of track on a shelf layout? Probably. Something like that is unusual, non-standard, and would not be preceived as projecting a 'professional image' - bla, bla, bla.
I have to make this fast. Mother-in-law (87 y/o) fell and gouged both ankles, became severely infected despite Dr. visit and 10 days of oral antibiotics, ulcerated and infection got worse, emergency room, hospitalized, had to have surgery to remove dead skin and clean out the wounds. IV antibiotics, day 5.....hopefully holding her own. Say a prayer, boys. At 87.....
RI Jack, Prayers for your Mother in law.
RT, Loved the story.
Gotta Run, Busy Morning,
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month