Coffee Pot #3 March 2012 5+ years and going strong and its for all to chat. Plenty of coffee and sweet ice tea for all. Come and join us and chat. GRITS for the Yankees.

[KRM]

Good afternoon Guys, first day back and still the same mess as I left. No Laptop, no boss, nothing to do but try to set myself up,

 Will check in tonight.

 Kev

[jeffrey-wimberly]

laz 57

JEFF,

  Nice layout as JOE D said It looked like a good PILE UP coulda happened.  Keep up da good work!

laz57

Thanks Laz. I still have lots to do on it but it's getting there slowly but surely.

 

 

Jack: I hope your wife and Maximus do well. There's a lot of time and patience that goes into dog training.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening.

Thanks for the well wishes and prayers guys. I went up to the hospital yesterday and spent the night with him and his brother there. He slipped in and out of consciousness a few times as his heart would do its thing...they operated on him and he is doing a bit better although his heart rhythm is still out of sorts. Triple Bypass surgery is not fun....

I'm going to be doing the hospital in and out routine for the next little while with him I guess..his wife is here as well....

[AF53]

Hello everyone! Warm day here at the Jersey shore into the 70"s with a heat wave coming by Thur at 80! Way too warm for mid March.

Buckeye  Riveter - What's in the water out there? 4 Teams in the sweet 16? Talk about dominance.

JoeD - That's about what I thought it would be. Have you entered into any bracket contest? Too bad you can't see more games there are alot of close ones. Can't you get them on you computer?

DougM - As far as being thankful for global warming, be careful for what you wish for. If this is any sign for the spring and summer we could be in real trouble!

Laz - Running trains is alway good medicine. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Jack - You sound like a proud father! Very nice indeed. It shows the extent of dedication you and your wife have with Maximus, congratulations!

HudsonJohn - I'll see you Tue or Wed night and help clean up a bit.

Later

Ray

[sir james I]

68 now, 70s today

Not much rest today, phone ringing all day. Granny's birthday. Over now shes on her way to bed. I finally finished OGR, ready for the next mag to come. Banilla with hot fudge came through the front door with the grandsons..I'm ready for the chat. RI-Jack, congrats to your bride and Maximus....S.J.

[ChiefEagles]

Home finally.  What a day.  Tired.

Got Gingerale up my nose today.  Sports announcer said UNC has one of it best players out.  Then he said Carolina can beat Ohio without its best players. 

Later.  

[SPMan]

Good evening all,

Too busy to post this morning.  Had a lenten mission going on at the chuch this morning..  Service lasted for over two hours.  Was beginning to think I should have brought a lunch.  Made some phone calls when I got home and talked sis in North Carolina.  She's doing very well thankfully.

Jeffrey, thanks for the layout video.  Things operated very well. Nice to see more of the layout than just your work area.

Ran my trains a little bit this afternoon just to polish the rails and listened to a CD on my boom box.  I farmed out my MTH E6 proto 2 engine with a failed lighting system to a friend who's trying to diagnose the problem.  He can't get it to power up on his layout but he does not have DCS.  From what I have heard from people in the know about DCS, the engine should fire up in conventional as long as a DCS signal is not present.  So the bottom line is that he can't even get the engine started to test any lighting circuit or new bulb.  He is trying to by pass the lighting board and just run an 18 volt bulb off of track power.  It will start on my layout but only in DCS.  Back to the drawing board.

Ray

[Buckeye Riveter]

AF53

Buckeye  Riveter - What's in the water out there? 4 Teams in the sweet 16? Talk about dominance.

Ray

And if you count Indiana and Kentucky who are only an hour away from Cincinnati. 

For those who don't understand Ray's astute observation, OSU, OU, Cincinnati and Xavier are all from Ohio and in the Sweet 16.  There are no teams from the left coast, with Baylor in Waco, TX the farthest west.  Buckeyland's Nationwide Arena, as seen on TV, was jumping this last weekend.  We just loved seeing all that money imported from other states. 

Needless to say did anyone notice that Butler was not in the tourney?  Funny how hard it is to return year after year after year.

Tonight as Don suffered on the left coast, I sat on my neighbors deck with a cold one to celebrate the last days of winter.  

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. Had the GP9 Frankenlocos running tonight and made a slow run-by video. It's grainy but my camera only does 320 AVI video. Here's the video link: Frankenloco run-by. See y'all tomorrow.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a cloudy 60 degrees. Going up to 84 today with some sunshine.

Today is an easy day. I have a few chores to do and some paperwork. Then, I am free to enjoy the day. Nap later.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Tuesday.

Chuck

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  61 here on the first day o spring to get to 71.  Back at school only 50 to go!!

BLOWNOUT, for your friend.  Hope all works out.

ROY, hope your ok with all that rain down there.  You didn't float away?

Stay frosty,

laz57

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Still nice in the Mid-Atlantic region.

anjdevil - No fear of hot temps...pool, yatchet, pool, yatchet...

88 - Painting that unit into B&O is one thing.  Painting over PRR and trying to get it to match other stable-mates...  Too much risk vs reward.  I'd try and put it on the trade table first.

[KRM]

 

Good morning guys, Another summer day in March, first day of spring and our daughter’s birthday.

2^nd day of work and am working from home today.  It will take HR a week to get everything turned on so I am doing what I can from my PC going over the project plan and waiting for a HR call to set up the laptop. Got to go get the rental car later today. Sounds like first trip to Fargo ND will be the week of April 2nd.

RIJack you were right about things not being much different. It is almost as if things stopped in time while I was gone. Because of the economy they have been in a trough mode and no one has advanced or changed jobs. It was good to see the new hire orientation room full yesterday and the lady said it has been that way for weeks.

AF53 Ray, Good news is my badge says temp employee. Plan calls for it to be over by August.

Jeffery good to see some video of your layout. Nice.

Buckeye , your fount seems to be catching on.

Laz, got my Santa Fe Burro crane yesterday, neat little unit, wifey loves it.

Chief,

Gingerale up my nose today???? Ha ha .

SJ and the Tardis crew, Will try to beam up tonight.

Roy, sounds like your getting some of that rain you needed.

Blownout, prayers for your friend.

Got to go,

Later,

Kev.

 

 

    

[dwiemer]

Good morning from Colorado.  Was in the fifties when I got off the plane.  I am actually staying in Golden.  We will be heading to the plant in an hour to design the machine.  We had some snow at the higher elevations, and I think the temps have dropped some.  It is supposed to be near 90 back home.

It was neat coming here from the airport.  Went over several rail yards and a Union Pacific engine servicing facility.  While I am not doing the driving, not knowing the area has not allowed me to get the camera up in a timely manner.  Still, was great to see them.

Well, have to get ready and grab breakfast before heading out.  Pray that each of you has a blessed day.

Dennis

[Anonymous]

fifedog

88 - Painting that unit into B&O is one thing.  Painting over PRR and trying to get it to match other stable-mates...  Too much risk vs reward.  I'd try and put it on the trade table first.

Dang I really want to keep this because I really like the breakdown features. Maybe a Williams B-Unit shell would fit?

---
Not much going on now. Need to reorder the thresholds for the FR project and speak very clearly to the idiots people at Lowes and explain to them the issues with the other two I bought.

[Anonymous]

lionroar88

fifedog:

88 - Painting that unit into B&O is one thing.  Painting over PRR and trying to get it to match other stable-mates...  Too much risk vs reward.  I'd try and put it on the trade table first.

 

Dang I really want to keep this because I really like the breakdown features. Maybe a Williams B-Unit shell would fit?

---
Not much going on now. Need to reorder the thresholds for the FR project and speak very clearly to the idiots people at Lowes and explain to them the issues with the other two I bought.

Brent,

            Although talking to a store manager seems like good idea, don't waste your time.  They are even worse than the drones working under them.  Seems they all skipped Retail 101 and the prereq Common Sense 101.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Showers all around. Actually a Tstorm came through Raleigh but not here.  Same as yesterday.  Weatherpreson said possible late afternoon Tstorms.   Had a big one around 11 AM county wide.

Getting ready to go to young guy's funeral.

If dry after funeral, mow grass.

KRM

Good morning guys, Another summer day in March, first day of spring and our daughter’s birthday.

Even though you have a "questionable" Granddad.

2^nd day of work and am pretending to be working from home today.  It will take HR a week to get everything turned on so I am doing what I can from my PC going over the project plan and waiting for a HR call to set up the laptop. Got to go get the rental car later today. Sounds like first trip to Fargo ND will be the week of April 2nd.  Really like this as adding more to the Chief's SS.

RIJack you were right about things not being much different. It is almost as if things stopped in time while I was gone. Because of the economy they have been in a trough mode and no one has advanced or changed jobs. It was good to see the new hire orientation room full yesterday and the lady said it has been that way for weeks.

AF53 Ray, Good news is my badge says temp employee. Plan calls for it to be over by August.

Jeffery good to see some video of your layout. Nice.

Buckeye , your fount seems to be catching on.

Laz, got my Santa Fe Burro crane yesterday, neat little unit, wifey loves it.

Chief,

Gingerale up my nose today???? Ha ha .

Yes, those Yankee Ohioians are tough guys to beat.  Announcer should not have said that. 

 

SJ and the Tardis crew, Will try to beam up tonight.

Roy, sounds like your getting some of that rain you needed.

Blownout, prayers for your friend.

Got to go,

Later,

Kev.

Later

[cnw1995]

Aloha. Sunny and on its way to mid-80s again today. Ray, I hear you re later-season warming but I'm really enjoying the perfect weather. Kudos to Mrs. Jack and Maximus, and Happy Birthday to SJ's bride!  Prayers for Blownout's buddy and Lucas' grades. Hope to hear from my son's first choice of college today. Having fun watching the Ivor the Engine videos for 'inspiration' on reworking some of the layout to look like the upper corner of Wales.  

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Thanks for the comments on the layout video.

Good morning. It's 72° and cloudy. A wind advisory is in effect. The high should be 78°. There's a 90% chance of rain with locally heavy rainfall possible. Wind is SSE 20 - 25 mph gusting to 30.

Well here it is the first day of spring and I'm wondering what the heck happened to winter. It never got cold here. The mosquitoes are going to be the size of trucks this summer.

Gave the Atlas H24-66 Trainmaster a run this morning. The decoder in it was a junk box find and lasted longer than I thought it would. Third trip around the layout the decoder fried. Oh well. What could I expect for free? Gasoline? It gave me time to evaluate the loco though. It runs smooth and quiet, goes over the turnouts with hardly a sound and can pull a big load. The kicker? This loco was free! The front and rear handrails were gone so I installed a set of metal handrails from an old Athearn GP7. What the heck. They get the job done. When I get another decoder it's going into the Trainmaster.

I have the GP9 Frankenlocos running right now. Amazing how quiet they are considering they were cobbled together from bits and pieces. The Atlas FP7's make more noise than these geeps do.

Well, that's it for now.

[Demay]

Konbanwa,

 

The weather today was beautiful.  The high was around 60 and it was very sunny – it was a shame to be stuck inside all day.  I signed up the older boy and me for a snowboarding trip this Saturday.  The outdoor recreation office on base offers these types of tours at a great price.  They provide transportation to and from, equipment, and lessons for a great price.  We have to buy our lift tickets but they are not too expensive.  He has never skied or snowboarded and I haven’t skied since high school.  I’m thinking it will be very fun and I plan to only go on the bunny slopes.

 

SJ – We watched a couple episodes from the most recent seasons over the weekend: Greece and Turkey.  I’ll check the PBS website in a few months to see if there are any more updates.  I hope Granny had a great birthday. 

 

Jack – Congratulations to your wife – for the show not for marrying you.  You married up just like the rest of us.

 

Kev – Don’t overdo it on the first day and expect the proper tools.  Just use some rocks and an abacus.

 

AF Ray – I have entered plenty of bracket pools in my day.  I have never won any but always had fun.  Recently I would fill out brackets on Yahoo or CBS Sports.  All the games are televised here on base just as they are in the States.  Obviously the time difference makes it a challenge, but with the cable service on base and AFN we had about two or three live games on at a time.

 

Sayonara,

 

Joe

[sir james I]

72 now going to 80

A busy morning, bank and grocery shopping. I had to take granny who bought a lot more than I would have. Of course. My train friend just left, dropped off 2 Marx sets I bought sight unseen,the good Metal ones are what I look for. For $20.00 each I got my moneys worth..I'm just going to enjoy the sun..S.J.

[ChiefEagles]

Just had a big shower [Raleigh a big Tstorm] that we were not suppoe to have until late this afternoon.  If I was the weatherperson, I'd go and hide.  Well, Chief Meteorologist is from PA.  Taht explains it.

Just returned from the funeral.  Sad.  Parents had one of the Pastors explain that the guy was born with a learning disability.  Part of it was able to cope with changes.  [Like not entering other peoples' property or running from PD on his motorcycle]  He used music [which he was good at] to help himself cope.  They should have told folks that instead of always saying he never did anything wrong.  I would have "worked" with him sooner.  Sad.

Later.

[Anonymous]

ChiefEagles

Just had a big shower [Raleigh a big Tstorm] that we were not suppoe to have until late this afternoon.  If I was the weatherperson, I'd go and hide.  Well, Chief Meteorologist is from PA.  Taht explains it.

Just returned from the funeral.  Sad.  Parents had one of the Pastors explain that the guy was born with a learning disability.  Part of it was able to cope with changes.  [Like not entering other peoples' property or running from PD on his motorcycle]  He used music [which he was good at] to help himself cope.  They should have told folks that instead of always saying he never did anything wrong.  I would have "worked" with him sooner.  Sad.

Later.

Chief - that is really sad! Instead of telling people what the root cause is for our kids problems we tend to try to 'protect' our kids by 'hiding' the issues. This does noone, especially the kid, any good.

[RockIsland52]

Good Mornin' and A Happy Spring to Y'all,

80s on tap later in the week, with more March temperature records.

Brent....... belatedly to a guy who is 280 (in dog years).   SJ.......  to your bride, gets me to wondering how we geezers got these women to marry us in the first place.   We should have been salesmen.

Roy.......one day your son mows the lawn without being asked and the next he's out there helping you with yard cleanup.  I suspect he'll be hitting you up for some new wheels in short order.

KEV........your rental car is an Escalade, right?   Re the grocery stores always changing the layout so we can't find anything, I found the Hershey's chocolate syrup yesterday in the breakfast cereal isle, between the oatmeals and the cold cereals.  Who puts chocolate syrup on the breakfast cereal?   What did the tooth fairy leave you besides a $2,000 tab? 

Jeff........thanks for the videos.   Sweet!!!  I'll bet with your talent you can paint the front of that A/C unit to look like a mountain!!!  

Banks.......you have a Doberman too? 

DougDG........hope the pre-surgical eye consult went smoothly and you have the green light. .

Dennis........so sorry to hear about your friend's wife.   for a most successful procedure and outcome.  And BIG CONGAS are in order, one step closer to adoption.  Send the wifey over to terrorize chat with the Chinese government and get your family, everyone, home at last.  

Blownout......what a shocker with your friend!!!  If you hadn't been there he might not be with us.   I am certain your ongoing presence will be of great comfort to a very scared wife.

Chief........from the pictures of you in the FAT CAT suit, it appears you lost some weight.    The death of that boy on the motorcycle was tragic for the poor family, now devastated.

DougM........a party for your MIL?  What a great husband/SIL you are.  Even supplying livery service to/fro O'Hare!!!  your boy gets the from his first choice college.  And your second and third jobs will be enough to fund it.   Re the grubs......listen to KEV, drop another coat late June, the one with the extended effectiveness (GrubX).

JimmyT.......how is the PGT auto graveyard business you started coming along?

RaySP and the CA. boys......are you guys moving into Winter while the rest of us are moving into Spring?

V8.........it sound like we have an epidemic breaking out here of tooth repair and removal amongst us POTHEADS.  No fun, and expensive!!!   Re your Border Collie, they can be very weather tolerant.

SJ........you are a born leader, prompting the rest of us "Nawtheners" to get grilling!!!   Hope your wife enjoyed that gift certificate you gave her for the LTS!!! 

MikeC........re that "dead zone" you have where newly planted trees don't survive.....too wet, or bad soil? Soil test might be worth it.

Rich.......  for your daughter's full recovery from that injury, so close to her eye, close call, too close!  You have my for your Dad's treatment.  We only get one Dad, and he has my prayers.

LAZ........you are a slacker, taking a day off of work like that.   My daughter did not give me the day off when my 8 year old granddaughter was sent home sick from school yesterday, not feeling well, cold symptoms.  Tutoring session (3 hours) with Grampy jack was not skipped.  Now I am fairly certain a cold is in my immediate future.  . 

Fife.......... sounds like you are out in front with the yatchet hull (sanding and painting) this year.  And I hope your return to work has been uneventful and tolerable.

AF Ray........  on your promotion prospects, as long as you want it.  No comment necessary from me of the politics involved.

I miss JimSturgeonPhish like the rest of you.

Later, gang!!!!!

Jack

[ChiefEagles]

Brent, you hit the nail right on the head.

BTW: need some "little Lady" photos.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

A freight passing through dropped off this mysterious rail car. Nobody seems to know what it's for.

[KRM]

ChiefEagles

Brent, you hit the nail right on the head.

Chief and 88 I agree. To many times parents tend to be in denial and what does it get us? NOTHING Good.

Chief I have one of those sons who has to do whatever his controller, Queen, Wife tells him to do. For her it is all about her side of family, nothing or anyone else. He is also of the thought that I am some sort of fool. I felt that way about my dad for a time but came to realize it was me who was so maybe I still am.

Anyway my son blew off Sandra’s birthday (the woman who raised him from age 3) and everyone else for that matter this month, Sister, grandmother and nephew without so much as a call. He called me Saturday to say they would not make it out for the party on Sunday only to tell me what he really needed was a loan for 2K because they are behind on the bills. I took a deep breath....... and told him he is a 33 year old man, and that in life you get what you give and he has given nothing.  

I told him if he wanted to sell my boat he could have whatever he got above $2500. Told him to sell something if he had to. Well I have not heard from him since and bet it will be a long time before I do.

Enough on that. 

Got the rental and have to go to Morton tomorrow to fight with IT and HR.

And Jack no Escalade, just an Impala with 39K on it., Done with work for today. Time for a nap.

Later,

Kev.

 

[RockIsland52]

jeffrey-wimberly

A freight passing through dropped off this mysterious rail car. Nobody seems to know what it's for.

Jeffrey.........it is for weathering!!!!!!

Jack

[rtraincollector]

My version of the to do list didn't end up today like the one I sent of chief's been digging and planting flowers all day. finally got done about an hour ago.

Some day off. Oh well now I'm relaxing. Tested the new engine out last night and after opening her up and wiggling a few wires she's now running like a champ. The more I look at her the more I realize I'm going to end up removing every thing from the frame and repainting the frame black and then put all back on her and just put the new shell on her from the other engine. one will have the NYC lightening stripe the other won't no biggie. Then will have to repaint the GP-9 shell I guess a dark blue so it can take the centennial cab and look proper.

wife says it's a loud engine I need to turn it down some the nieghbors will think a real train is coming down the street. LOL

Talk to you all later

[KRM]

Hey RT,

 post a picture of the new engine will ya?

Kev