RE:COFFEE POT #9 September 2011 for all to take a drink and chat. 6+ years and going. Plenty of better coffee and sweet ice tea to drink. Plenty of GRITS and Cheerios for the heart.

[cnw1995]

Aloha from a beautiful fall day. Back from an all-day college visit to Carthage in Wisconsin with the family. Up at dawn, 2 hour drive, 2 hour presentations and tour, 2 hours back, with stops and wanderings sprinkled liberally therein. Hope it all ends positively soon. Roy, congrats on your son's acceptance into OU. Glad your neck is feeling a bit better.  8n, my condolences on the loss of your buddy. Glad granny is home and doing well, SJ. Almost forgot congratulations on the kid's baptisms, Brutus! 

[ChiefEagles]

Afternoon.  Full of BAR-BE-QUE.   Truck from Midland PA was from when our REB Fire Dept went Nawth and captured it.  They are converting it to a pig bar-be-que truck.  Hauls its own water, room for all the cooking things and cookers go inside in the back.

If you get a request from: TINAUU would like to add you as a friend on Trains.com Forums.  It is a scam.

Later.

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

Better again to day and thanks for the kind thoughts - they continue to help! This really is a pain in the neck!

The good news - My son just got an acceptance letter  to Univ of Oklahoma so we know he is locked for college

The bad news is one of my cousins in Ohio lost her oldest daughter to cancer a few weeks ago. She had been battling it for a couple of years and even went into remission for a while but it came back with a vengence.

Watching NASCAR today and resting the neck.

Chuck - thanks for the positive update!

Have a great day all!

[SPMan]

Good morning all,  Cool cloudy weather continues.  That's good for us.

Chuck, way to go buddy!  You are doing good and we hope you will be home soon.

Chief, being a bar-b-que judge in North Carolina sounds like a good gig unless they throw in some of that stuff from other places.  Out here they call bar-b-que anything that they overcook and throw some bar-b-que sauce on.

Roy, glad you are feeling a little better.  Those steriods for 7 days should help reduce the inflamation a lot.  My doctor said that they thought it was a miracle drug at first until they found out about side affects.  That's why they don't like to use it for long term.  If they do, then they have to taper you off of it a little at a time.  Anyway prayers for healing.

Got an update this morning about my sister.  She had a good day yesterday and is responding to the pain management.  They prepared her with a port for getting chemotherapy.  Any plans to do any patch work on her back has been put on hold for a while.  Her daughter says the plans seem to change day by day.  They are talking now of letting her go home next week.  I suppose they have to figure out how to give her medicines at home before they do that however.  She is getting plenty of company and mail from relatives.  Her own children mainly but two other brothers are planning on seeing her soon.  Thank each and every one of you on the forum for your prayers.

We are going to a dinner tonight to help celebrate our pastor's 25th anniversary as a priest. 
We also have a new associate pastor who will be there. 

Have a good weekend,

Ray

[Demay]

Good afternoon,

I woke up this early and went for a 10-mile run with some classmates.  A couple of us are going to run a half-marathon on 1 Oct.  I am watching PSU play Temple right now and Temple is playing very well.  PSU has about 10 minutes to find a way to win.  A few of us are going out to have steak tonight.

Good day,

Joe

[RRCharlie]

First things first. I have been reading the Pot regularly and saying prayers for Chuck and Paula. God does indeed answer prayers. Welcome back, Blueberry!!!!!

New semester started three weeks ago with three classes. I pick up a fourth on Monday so the semester will be busy.

I got my Vision Line Hudson in mid-summer and was having some issues with it. I thought, for a while, that weak batteries in the Legacy remote were contributing. I disconnected the Legacy and things worked in conventional so I bit the bullet, got the RA number and sent the engine back to Lionel in Canfield, Ohio. It arrived Wednesday and was back at UPS on Friday!!! I'll get it sometime next week and will report on what Lionel found.

[sir james I]

Good Morning

54 overcast.

I was hoping to cut the grass today but this is the first few minutes I've had to myself since I got up. Granny Pat is moving around the house when needed using her walker. I just got everything settled down and now the nurse is coming. Oh well.

Have a good weekend...S.J.

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Cool and cloudy here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Dropped off pickem-up truck at garage.  Was making awful squeeling which turned out to be the balancer pulley.  Can't fix that one myself...$$$  What I will be fixing is the EGR valve and front rotors on the Chevy. 

V8Vega - I saw that incredible video.  Fabulous rescue, then they all walked away from the dude

8ntruck - Regards on the truck-mutt.  Jonadel sent me an uplifting post on the Rainbow Bridge after our Lassie-dog passed.

Chief - Not a good week to take yatchet out.  Seems that our waterways are boogered up big-time from all the flooding caused by TS LEE (go figure...)

RockIsland - American voters truly deserve the representation they receive...

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  Had a nice fire with the WIFE last nite, made potatoes with peppers and onions with turkey *** over fire.  Good eats and a nice two hrs. watching fire and talking about past weeks dramas.

CHUCK, watch out your shirts are gonna get tighter, with all those workouts.  Pace yourself BIG GUY.

8NTRUCK, sorry for your loss of your best friend.  When I lost my JANEDOG last year seemed like part of me was lost as well.  Got my MINNIE now, so its stings a little less.  I know deep in my heart we'll see our best friends again some day.

ROY, I'm tellin ya try hanging upside down it will alighn all them bones and make you feel good.

DENNIS, thanks for the pat on the back for being a shop teacher.  Seems like we are going to lose this field and other parts of the arts in our school system because of budget cuts.  Sad but true.  We are just teaching our youth to be tested and pass math and reading to get the state grade and the heck with everything else.  Sorry for rant but sometimes its needed.

Oh yea, ran trains last nite for an hour and you guessed it NO PILE UPs!!!!

Stay frosty,

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Chilly and wet.  Bar-be-que cook off today.  Off to judge it.  Got big fire truck from Midland PA here and cooking.  I will have my spies tell me which bar-be-que is their's.  No Yankee bar-be-que gets an award from me.

Chuck, quit chasing the nurses.

Bob, keep up the good work.

Have a good one.

[Blueberryhill RR]

GOOD MORNING FROM BLUEBERRYHILL....

It is cool today, What happened to summer?

Working out today, muscles starting to ache,. I have to get stronger before I come home, BREATHING GOOD.

gotta go....see you guys later

[dwiemer]

Good morning everyone.  Been real busy with work.  Woke early this morning and figured I would do my daily reading and prayers.  Looks like I will be adding more since looking here.  Ray, sorry for your sister's condition.  I pray for her peace and comfort and for the guidance of those caring for her.
Roy, I too have issues with my neck.  I don't have a pinched nerve...yet, but I still am in a bit of pain on a constant basis.  Some days are better than others.  Pray for your relief.
SJ, glad granny is home, praying for her continued progress.
8N, sorry.  Praying for peace and comfort to the family.

Bob,  I would love to have a mini lathe, but still have a number of tools in the box, but too many projects ahead of even them, never mind more.  I used to work for my dad doing some machining and learned a lot.  It would be great to pass along to my son, but just don't have the time right now.
Laz,, I learned so much between my shop teachers and working with my dad.  I am able to do most things around the house, or on our vehicles.  When I get the time, I enjoy working on them.  When I don't have the time, I have it done for me.  Still, good lessons to pass along to the next generation.  I want my son to take shop and learn.

Well, gotta run.  Hope everyone has a blessed day.
Dennis

[submmbob]

Lots more rain over the last few days, but I think it is finally starting to cool off. Was clearing off as I was driving up to work this afternoon. Very beautiful evening. Will be working on the roof soon. I'll try and post some pictures.

Chuck - just one more week!

SJ - glad to hear Mrs SJ is back home and recovering well

Ray - thoughts and prayers for your sister and family

Brutus - good news on Char!

Got a long distance view of a doublestack UP train crossing Willcox Playa (been there SP Ray?), but nothing closer up alas. Maybe I should stop and wait sometime on the way back.

Have the mini-lathe up for sale for a pretty good deal w/ all the tooling, but no serious bites yet. Just too many projects to keep up with.  Motorcycle parts arrived but haven't got around to putting them on. Hopefully next week. Then sort out the sheetmetal I need cleaned and powder-coated for the Corvair engine. Time to get some engines started. It's been too long.

Bob

 

[ChiefEagles]

Rainy and chilly.  Got bar-be-que cookoff in Roseyville.  Pork and chicken [no oposums or goats like in Ohio].  I am a judge.   Judging starts at 11 AM.  Some already cooking. 

8NT, that is sad.  A family member.

Roy, Granny and Ray's Sis, prayers.

Chuck, keep up the good work.

Off to bed.

[Brutus]

8NT - sorry for your loss

[Brutus]

Granny, Chuck and Roy

Thanks for the congrats, Jack - we are excited for the kids and also the clock.  I hope to pass the clock down to my daughter and a ring from my great grandfather down to my son one day.

Worked - frustrating day.  After work, I drove home about 1/2 hour, then out to O'Fallon for about 45 minutes, so lots of driving.  My buddy wanted to do a birthday dinner at a pizza place out there.  It's okay, but not worth that drive for me.  Oh well, had a couple cold and was a lot happier about things

Nice chat with SJ tonight.  Congrats to the boys, Mike!  TARDIS is ready, so let's hit it!

[8ntruck]

Gray, chilly, dreary day today.  Somehow a fitting day for our 11 year old border collie mutt mix's last trip to the vet.  He was a good one. 

RI52 - I was not surprised by the plant manager change.  It happened a little quicker than I expected.  The new plant manager seems to have a management style about 180 degrees different than the last one - traded General Patton for General Bradly.

Prayers for healling.

All for now.

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all. Thank you for all the kind thoughts. Must be helping as I feel a bit better today. Did followup with the doc today and got better explanations of what is going on and my "second opinion" doc agreed. Start a 7 day steroid treatment tomorrow to reduce the inflamation. Then we see what next steps are. They believe the nerves from the central spinal cord that exit the cervical vertebrae to tne back and arms are being irritated by the arthritic bone condition closing the opening,. He says the pinching is not due to compressed or hemorrhaged disks.

Chuck - that is great news! Hang in there

Have a great evening all!

[sir james I]

Good Evening

55 feels chilly.

The news for today is granny Pat is home. With her walker she got into the house on her own, has slept most of the afternoon. Tomorrow will tell the tale when the hospital drugs wear off. Banilla is ready...S.J.

[Banks]

Hello all,

Not much here since this AM.

I think the Chief had some thing besides Ginger Ale in his glass  

Busy weekend again. Still working on the mess in the basement. Contemplating  weather to put down new carpet or to paint the concrete with Garage Epoxy. Since the kids are gone there is little activity down there and the carpet is a pain to maintain any way with three muddy dogs when the weather is wet. Hope to squeeze in a trip to the local antique tractor show tomorrow and a big 5 0 birthday party for a niece on Sunday.Also have a bunch of tomatoes to make juice out of.

Have decided to replace the storm sewer inlet in Dad's front yard. It was getting pretty bad and the recent heavy rain really accelerated the problem. I'll have a couple of days in removing the old one , building a form and pouring the new one.

Picked up a 145 gate man for $5 last evening at a local train store. It's not pre-war but I'm going to add it to Dad's Christmas layout. The Crossing sign is repaired and the base could use a new coat of paint but it's pretty nice shape for $5.

An early trip to bed is in the works.

Prayers for those in need

[Buckeye Riveter]

Roy....The Cleveland Clinic is the answer. 

 

[SPMan]

wrmcclellan

Afternoon all!

Apologies for not keeping up but pain in arm and shoulder is compounded if I mess with the computer and I spend way too much time on it for work. One doc is saying pinched nerve and the other is saying degeneration in the neck (Fife - I anxiously await your "degenerate" comments). Regardless the pain is pretty intense sometimes, particularly at the end of the day after working on the PC. Left arm is in a sling and this helps a lot to take the pressure off. What they are not telling me is if this is going to heal up or not??

Ray - sorry about your sister

Prayers for all that need them

Will be posting irregularly until the arm gets better.

Roy, thanks for the prayers for my sis.  Sorry I didn't see your post right away about the pinched nerve,  I will say a prayer for you too.  I had some trouble with neck pain when I was still working on the railroad.  Saw a few doctors and wound up in front of a surgeon who wanted to operate right away.  I said thanks, but no thanks.  Lucky for me the pain went away after a while.  However a friend of mine did have the same thing and had the surgery.  He is doing well now but it took quite a while to get back to normal.  Here's hoping yours will get better on its own.

Ray

 

[SPMan]

Good morning all, slept for about 9 hours but did not go to bed until midnight last night.  My sister's daughter has rigged up some kind of private website that we can send and receive updates on about my sister's condition.  I sent her a message yesterday and told her about all my friends on the coffee pot forum that send their prayers along with mine.  She is responding well to the pain mangement and they are even saying that she might be able to go home this weekend.  One of the doctors said he might be able to "cement" some breaks in her back that will relieve a lot of the pain.  The doctor told her children not to give up on her yet.  He is pretty optomistic considering the whole thing.  I have turned it all over to the Lord and that's the best thing I can do at this point.

Chuck, glad to hear that you can go home pretty soon.  Just hang in there a little longer.  You must know that we are all pulling for you.

The weather here is nice and cool today.  What a relief!  Maybe Fall is not far away.  My own back troubles are doing OK and I will see the doc next Tuesday.  I finished the muscle relaxer pills yesterday so I am on my own right now.  Thank you all for the prayers.  It seems to be working.

Saw a show on TV recently about Walt Disney.   What a man he was and what a dream he had.  Too bad some of his succesors weren't like him.  The prices at Disneyland are so high now that the locals hardly go there anymore.  At least I don't.  The thing I like about Walt was his love of trains which I'm sure a lot of us share.  He started off with Lionels on a layout in his office.  Then he had a 7 and a holf inch gauge live steam engine built (Lilly Belle) and ran it around his back yard.  Finally he got the big trains at Disneyland.  I would recommend the book "The Walt Disney Railroad Story".  It's all in there.

Have a good day all,

Ray

 

[cnw1995]

I heard on the news this morning that some local Chicago establishment will be creating a 45' long bratwurst for Octoberfest.   Have you ever eaten at Al's, West of the loop.  Established 1938.  Best Italian beef I have ever had, worth a taste.

Yes, Jack, that's Berghoff's - it's their Oktoberfest - just a block away.   And Al's now has a location in the building next door. I'll go for you on Monday for lunch.

[cheapclassics]

Good afternoon all,

Rare afternoon update.  Breaking soccer news.  "My" soccer boys finally defeated local rival after 16 years of trying.  Currently ranked 8th in their class in the state.  This team they is a potential sectional opponent as well.  If they win Saturday, will set new soccer record for school number of wins in regular season.  I had to post this as I knew the Chief was waiting to hear the news.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[RockIsland52]

Good Mornin' Ya'll From Taxachusetts and Fall In New England,

Like many of you, the Canadian cold front moved in late yesterday afternoon, dropping the temperatures about 20 degrees in about two hours and a total of 30 degrees overnight from the day's high temperature of 78.  Forecast calls for low to mid 60s daytime and low to mid 40s through the weekend, but the rain here moved off the coast late last night.  I'm just hoping to avoid turning on the heat for a few more weeks.  My heating oil company has been calling for a refill of my tank and a refill of their wallet. 

I can tell that the local and State elections are fast approaching.  No, the telltale sign is NOT the tidal wave of junk campaign mailings, the door-to-door campaigning, the sea of political signs popping up on residential lawns, or even the bunches of campaign workers standing on the street corners.  The telltale sign is the sudden flurry of road repairs so our politicians can demonstrate what a great job they are (not) doing for their constituents.  The problem is, "they" tore apart 3 interchanges within 4 miles of me last year just prior to the elections and then promptly quit the construction work immediately after the elections, leaving the ramps, bridges, and interchanges partially or fully closed, leaving the lane closures, and creating a one year traffic and logistical nightmare for the citizens.  You can't blame the New England Winters for this shutdown last November because the snows didn't arrive until December 26 and there was no trace of snow by the end of March and then........and, you guessed it, still no activity until now.  Ever hear "You can't get there from here?"  While "they" pontificate about pollution due to traffic congestion, turn down the regulatory screws on the local power plants for burning coal, lecture on fuel economy/conservation, BS about jobs, and act like they feel the pain and financial plight of the un/under-employed, what do they do?  Create the perfect storm for the opposite for all of these things, and then leave us adrift...., or more appropriatly, rotting in traffic, adding 20 minutes to the simplest of commutes, or emptying our wallets at the gas station while sucking in all of that internal bombustion carbon monoxide. 

Chief.......thanks for the comic relief.  We needed it.

RaySP and Roy.......I feel your pain, worry, and frustration.  About 11 years ago I went through the same routine with medical professionals that were unable to properly diagnose and treat me and my malfunctioning back and get me back on my feet so to speak.  I couldn't stand, sit, lie down, or sleep.  They couldn't even mitigate the pain.   Medications. Scans.  Referrals.  Consultations.  More referrals.  Medication changes and additions.  "You have all of the classic symptoms of XXX but no apparent causal factors or contributory structural issues.  And we don't know why the drugs are providing no relief."  When I could stand no more and was about to go insane, I finally got angry and sought out the oldest, most experienced orthopedic surgeon I could find.  Problem fixed because he could think outside of boxes.  Prayer you boys find some solutions, and soon.  

SJ......using exceptional guile built from your years of experience, you should be able to alternate between your kids for meals until Granny can come off the IR.  Pots and pans saved from certain destruction. 

Brutus........congratulations on your kids upcoming Baptisms this Sunday!  Re your Grandmother's heirloom clock that probably dates back close to a century, my Dad built a clock for each of his kids about 4 decades ago, from a kit.  Mine sits prominently in my family room.  I have some needlepoints and pettipoints my folks did, framed and hanging as well.  Same with a needlepoint chair and footstool they did as a team.

8N........a new plant manager?  Did you see that one coming?  That could be good or bad. 

RT.........sorry to hear you caught another bug and are feeling under the weather.  Occupational hazzard or a deficiency? 

DougM.......I heard on the news this morning that some local Chicago establishment will be creating a 45' long bratwurst for Octoberfest.   Have you ever eaten at Al's, West of the loop.  Established 1938.  Best Italian beef I have ever had, worth a taste.  

 

Gotta run.  Later, gang.  The Collings Foundation with their B17 Flying Fortress, B24 Liberator, and P51 Mustang (among other vintage aircraft) are due to arrive shortly at my local airport just 5 miles from here.  I need to get the camera and video with tripod at the ready so I don't miss their low level passes over my house.  Then make sure my family is set to view them up close and personal tomorrow.    Beautiful Fall weather is on tap for the weekend, so this should be a good one.  

Jack   

[RockIsland52]

laz 57

Blueberryhill RR:

hiya guys,

all is going well. I will be coming home on the 23rd, can't do much , but enjoy Paula's cooking.

getting stronger every day

chuck

 

CHUCK,

  Hope the workouts are going good.  Don't get TOO BIG like HANS & FRANZ.  Check out what I mean down here.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHZhw94C5vQ

Keep up the good work BUDDY,

laz57 

Way to go, Chuck!!!!!!!!! 

Jack

[ChiefEagles]

Buckeye Riveter

Chief Eagles:

Evening from Roseyville.  Raining hard.  Day started at 8 AM with breakfast meeting at BoJangles, then one in Raleigh, then Dr's appointment, lots of xrays [still could not find a blue heart but only GRAY], Town Hall to approve items and ending with dinner at East Wake Republicans' Club.

Truths:

Chuck is doing great and will be coming home.

Jon E has a great layout because he has to stay in all winter due to lots of snow and cold in Ioway.  He does not get out as he does not have a dog sled like Sir J.

Fifey sails his yatchet while still tied to the dock.

John Bakeer hangs out at the local PUB as the ladies at his retirement place will not speak to him anymore.

Jack sends extra tax money to his state every year.

Pat's cows all smile as they have such a great REBEL master.

Buckeye's neighbor kids have come over and run his trains as he has never learned how.

John [Hudson] has real straight hair that stands up.  Stuck his finger in a transformer. 

Rich has a problem fighting fires.  Not enough hose.

Sir J does a hair count each morning.

LAZ has not killed a deer in ages.  His blunderbust will not fire.

Roy M has let Texas dry up because he does not want to take his wife and kids boating.

 RT does not work at the VA Hospital.  He has to go every day for their Mental Health Clinic.

Banks did not have a great corn crop this year.  He was working else where and could not be his usual human scarecrow.

Aren't you glad I'm back?  BTW: this is the only forum I can not post from my phone.  Got to be software here.

Sleep tight.

Another truth:  The sauce flows freely in Roseville, NC. 

Chief, my Blackberry, Mrs. Buckeye's IPHONE and IPAD all do not work with this forum.   (Doug Murphy - Please comment.)  Lionel has a site for the Blackberry where, while I'm on the road, I can find local train stores.    I can also watch the radar on the Blackberry to make sure SnowOhio is heading in the right direction after Chuck fires the snow cannon.  Unfortunately, Roseyville is not on the map so we aim the cannon at Flying Pigs Eye Corners, the largest metropolitan area near Roseyville.

TGIF

Tis true.  Sitting at Town Hall drinking Canada
Dry Diet Ginger Ale.   Waiting for a meeting to start.\

Turned Yankee cold.  Dropped 18 degrees over night.  2 1/2 inches of rain [Lord, send some to Roy M in Texas].  Pond runnith over.

RT, my SS came Wed. [actually Tuesday] on time.  Thanks to all of you workers.

Have a good one. 

[rtraincollector]

Well I see they revised the temps for today a low of 56 and a high of 66 presently 63 which is fine with me. I have the windows opened in the den about 5" to get a cross breeze and air the den out.

Not much going on today trying to take it easy caught a virus yesterday and its still working out of me.

Hope all having a good day, sorry chief can't do my share of your SS yesterday or today as been a little under the weather. But I'am making up for it on monday as I'm suppose to be off monday but working ot for you.

Talk to you all later

[cnw1995]

Aloha. 51 cold grey degrees. Hazy with Minnesotan wildfire smoke. Buckeye, you are right, this website does not like iOS. It better change soon.... Jack, do they still play baseball after Sept. 1st? Jon, great photo! Roy, that pinched nerve sounds very painful. Hope they have an answer besides rest - for you soon. Hey Yankee fans - have you seen http://NYYankeesmovie.com ?  LOL, Laz. Nice video. Walked a different way to work - by major construction of Madison St and saw tracks into Union Station 'daylighted' for the first time in 60 years. Fun to see the trains pass beneath the open street. Saw this Lionel setup on the way in today - engine, flat with tractor and transfer caboose (ex MP) [View:http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]