Coffee Pot #4 April 2012 8 years [April 1 is Anniv.] 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]

Brutus,

 Hope you and yours are alright with all the bad weather around you.

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

A nice warn one today. Started out planting some more sod in a bare area and then moved to the fence project. Got all the construction completed and bought a gallon of cedar stain to try out tomorrow. SWMBO is very pleased. All I need to do now id contruct a garden shed and the back yard will be done! In between I need to complete the front yard (digging out the last tree ring where there is no tree anymore and planting sod there. At the end of this we end up with a yard that is mostly turf except for two small flower beds to each side of the front walk and one tree ring. All the flower beds and hedges are gone. It is a lot faster to mow each week than to maintain all the bushes and beds. The new mower my son "obtained" for me last year for fathers day is powered and it really moves out and shortens the task significantly.

Jeffrey - looking forward to pics of the "tractor pull" if you get the chance!

Hope Doug M is OK.

Don B - see you had an earthquake this morning. Hope all is well and the Knott's RR stayed on the track!

High 80's today with a nice breeze. How can it be 40's north of here and 80 here?

Have a great evening all!

[Brutus]

Hiya guys!

Everything is fine at my house.  I called and my folks a little north of us are fine as well.  The bad storms hit farther north and into the city, then crossed into IL.  I talked with some friends who were not so lucky and will be calling insurance in the morning.

I thought it was going to rain today, so I got out about 11 and mowed the yard, then had my son help me fill in a hole along the neighbor's fence and do a couple other jobs.  After a shower, we went up to Walmart for some goodies, then 5 Guys burgers.  Tonight we watched AIRPLANE as a family and now we're watching The Man from UNCLE dvds I got for my birthday last November!  There sure were a lot of them!

TARDIS is ready and we have rootbeer, banilla, Blue Moon, and Sam Adams, as well as some Ole Mills and Yuengling (sp?).  Let's go!

 

[traindood]

Evenin' fellas and gals:         Kinda cool in these here parts.   Good time for me to do some inside work.  Got derailed a bit with the kid's projects.  Will continue when everyone goes back to work on monday.   GO RANGERS!     GO DEVILS!  Crush those Broadway bullies.  I can say without a doubt after watching all levels of hockey for more than sixty years, the Flyers are the  !@ &%$*#!  rottenest cheapshot team i ever saw.      later.      

[AF53]

Hi everyone!

Not much going on just moving tons of furniture and a bedroom set over at my mother-in-laws as she is making a move to the lower level of her Bi-level house. Work has been real busy also.

Rich - Happy belated birthday hope your day was a blast! It was great to see the Devils win, it's only too bad they couldn't have won it on home ice. Growing up in north Jersey I always rooted for the Rangers. That was in the early seventies and mid before the Devils came over from Colorado. So I was glad when the Rangers won also.

HudsonJohn - Things are progressing on the move, soon soon soon.

JoeD - I just read about Michael Pineda's surgery, out for the year! I don't know but maybe damaged goods? I had hopes he would have been our #2 starter.

Have a restful Sunday all!

Ray

[anjdevil2]

Hey guys, It's Sunday...

Just got back from fire call, someone started the fireplace up and forgot the flue....go figure...

Put in 44 hours this week....gotta pad that paycheck....lots of clean rental cars on the road now...

Opened the box from ChooChoo, stuff looks good, may repaint the engines.

Going to head to bed....just tired. If I'm still up at 0100, may put on WXPN...( www.xpn.org )... this kind of music relaxes me.

for Doug M and all that in need.

I'll try to check back later in the afternoon!

Again, thanks for the Birthday Wishes!!!!  I got what I wanted and that was coolest!

 

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a cold and sunny 38 degrees.. Going up to 72 today with sunshine.

Today is an easy day. I have a few chores to do and then I will spend some time in the train room. I have some dusting to do and I will run the trains for a few hours. Good relaxing.

Indians ballgame today. They are in 1st place.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Sunday.

Chuck

[blownout cylinder]

 

Good Morning!!

We be getting sun and a high of 60F today..currently we are sitting at 27F...

I was a busy little fellow yesterday..seemed that we had a few emergency calls that needed attending to..so I am somewaht behind on the reading here...

 

[sir james I]

39 with bright sun, 60 later. I got the towels in the washer, the dishes are being cleaned in the dishwasher, I got everything under control. Well until granny gets home. :)..Then who knows. No big plans for the day but I'm sure I can find something to do...S.J.

[Demay]

Konbanwa,

We had a splendid Sunday: a great church service; a wonderful lunch; and amazing weather.  After church and lunch I was able to get the old HO loco running; although, it does need some work.  After tinkering with that loco I was able to enjoy some quiet time on the back porch.  I enjoyed a Guinness while reading the WSJ (digital edition on iPad).  I had some relaxing music playing on the Bose system and I was then joined by the youngest after his nap.  He played in the yard while I read.  The older two were playing in the neighborhood with the other kids.  I grilled some chicken and asparagus for dinner and the wife made twice-cooked cheesy potatoes (a creation of her own).  I finished of the evening with a root beer float that was made with my wife’s homemade banilla ice cream.  I am caught up on schoolwork and will be off to bed shortly.

Jeffrey – I disassembled the loco and cleaned/lubed the plastic gears.  Once I ensured the gears moved freely while the motor turned I made sure everything was aligned and then reassembled it.  After a bit of help (me coaxing it along for a lap) on the track it started running nicely on its own.  I did notice the track (I only have a circle of all curves) was not complete flat in some places which did cause the loco to slow down.  The loco does run better if I apply a little weight to it with my finger so I need to know how to make it a bit heavier.  The loco ran fine until I tried to add cars.  Even the plastic tender caused it to slow.  All the cars wheels freely turn and are fine so I presume this loco could benefit from a traction tire or two.  Are those pretty much the same for all HO locos?  I appreciate the help.

AF Ray – I think you’re right about Pineda.  I’m hoping Pettite can come back strong next month.

Sayonara,

Joe

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 69° and cloudy. The high will be 85° and it will be partly cloudy.

Nothing special today. I can get around albeit slowly. My father is working today so I have to go down in a bit to get my mother her morning meal. I'm looking forward to that like a root canal. No plans for the layout today. I did get a chance to run some trains last night. Gave me a chance to push a Bachmann cleaner car ahead of the train to wipe the rails where dust from the Shell Service Center settled on the track in an area I can't easily reach. My niece and her husband have opened the pool behind my parents place and are saying it'll be ready for use by Tuesday. Bully for them. I haven't used the pool since about the time hurricane Rita roared through and see no reason to do so now.

[laz 57]

HI GUYZ,

  36 here and sunny.  Gonna take MINNIE for another 3 mile run this morning.  Had a nice spaghetti supper after Mass last nite about 100 or so people good eats.  Had to bring the OL Mils though.  Came home with BRO and friends and their wives, GUYZ ran trains women were in the hen house.  All ran good for about 1.5 hrs NO PILE UPs.  Had a coupler open up was the worst that happened.

ROY, next time at YORK, ya gotta try the new diner MITCH and SJ turned us on to.  Pretty good.  Did you here anything from JOHN, about JEANs operation?

ANJDEVIL, GO DEVILS beat them Flyers!!!

DOOD, I HATE them Flyers as much as you do.

HUDSON JOHN, can't get here quick enough.  Hope your dayz goes as fast.

Stay frosty,

laz57

[KRM]

Good morning,

48 degrees right now and going to 60 today. They are calling for rain with temps rising all week with rain in everyday till Friday. We will see.

Not much planned for today did paint on the loading platform and crossing shanty yesterday and I hope to finish the painting today. Ran trains for about an hour yesterday with no Pile Ups.

Brutus, Good to hear you missed the brunt of that storm.

Prayers for DougM and all others in need.

Have a good one.

[cnw1995]

Aloha. Thanks for the prayers. Everything went super-smoothly (thanks for sharing that Brutus!) and I've laid around yesterday and will do so  again today. Nice long scar but I'd rather have that than the big C. Friend bought over latest Trains magazine and Ive watched all the Ivor the Engine videos and all the old British steam and other DVDs Brutus sent me a while ago., found lots of old Godzilla re-make movies too.  It's almost worth it to have the time to watch them all. Hope to be up and ready to go back to work Monday but Doc says may need the extra day or two (I apparently walk too much)

Dennis, our friends who have adopted several Chinese children with special-needs do have some issues from their children having been institutionalized all their lives, but they are managing. 

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Been lazy this AM.  Watched coycote hunting DVR'd.  Partly cloudy and warm.  Headed to lake house later for one night.  Got walk in the park with elementary for May Day Tuesday and Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Thursday AM [National Day of Prayer inspite of Obama].  Will pick up building materials form Lowe's this week for starting "re-do" of Box and layout building.

Speedy recovery for Doug M.

Later.  

[wrmcclellan]

Good moring all!

Plan to take it easy today and grill out for dinner. Been hitting it hard the last week with the fence. Totaled up the receipts and was blown away that materials cost $670 not counting the parts for the sprinkler feed line relocation ($32).

Doug M - glad the surgery went well. As the Chief said - speedy recovery!

for Jean F.

LAZ - which diner - Round the Clock? One we really liked was located in the old McDonalds on Carlisle Ave (on the way in to the farigrounds) and called the Lotus closed up last fall.

Have a great day all!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Demay

Jeffrey – I disassembled the loco and cleaned/lubed the plastic gears.  Once I ensured the gears moved freely while the motor turned I made sure everything was aligned and then reassembled it.  After a bit of help (me coaxing it along for a lap) on the track it started running nicely on its own.  I did notice the track (I only have a circle of all curves) was not complete flat in some places which did cause the loco to slow down.  The loco does run better if I apply a little weight to it with my finger so I need to know how to make it a bit heavier.  The loco ran fine until I tried to add cars.  Even the plastic tender caused it to slow.  All the cars wheels freely turn and are fine so I presume this loco could benefit from a traction tire or two.  Are those pretty much the same for all HO locos?  I appreciate the help.

I'm glad you got it running. Light weight was always an issue with those locos. I had the same problem with a Bachmann loco. I loaded the cab and any available space in the boiler with lead and that helped. As for traction tires I always found that to be mix and affair. There's a product called Bullfrog Snot that can be used to create an instant traction tire. Problem with that is the wheel the traction tire is on is no longer good for pickup. On way to help this is to put metal wheels with metal axles on the tender and wire them to the locos motor. Front truck picks up from right rail and rear truck picks up from left rail. I use a variation of this to extend the pickup capability of two or three locos at a time by running wires from the pickups in a to the pickup in the next loco and so on. I have three F units connected in this manner so all three locos are getting pickup from 24 wheels instead of just 8 wheels. No stalling on turnouts.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well, my attempt to help my mother today came to a sudden, painful and abrupt end. She had just finished her breakfast so I got up to collect her tray. I hadn't taken two steps when my left knee gave out and gravity took over. My leg folded up and I slammed down hard on my left knee just before doing a face plant into the floor! So now I had a knee that felt like it was on fire and a busted nose spewing blood. I remember being more concerned about not making a mess of the rug and I rolled to the left where the floor is bare concrete. At least that's easier to clean. I did manage to get back up but I couldn't hold my weight on my left leg without the knee being real wobbly and standing on my right leg is pretty hard as there's not a foot to stand on. My right foot is rolled ninety degrees so the part that contacts the ground is the end of the shin bone. I have to wear a special boot just to walk on that and supporting my weight on it is out of the question. Try standing a two foot 2x4 on end and standing on it. You'll get my point. So I managed to get home OK but now there's not much I can do.

[SPMan]

ChiefEagles

Mine came up green too Chief.  Thanks for the info.

Ray

Chilly evening here.  Had Mexican.  Garden Show was slow but being the first for Roseyville, a success.  Brought out new folks interested in starting a garden club.  Never made Mrs. Edna's.  Lady [unique one] has bought one of the older homes in Roseyville [built early 1800's] and wants to turn it into a museum.  Wanted me to go there with her and see her "vision".  Hour and a half later, I get to leave.  Hunters Haven "business" meeting was at 3.  Moving to a larger building with better exposure to Main Street this summer.

Now, plop plop fizz fizz.  Rest.

Report from Doug M????

You all have probably heard about this virus thingy.  My Time Warner Security buddy sent me this in an email.  Figured you all might want this:

The virus they’re referring to is a “DNS Changer” – when you type in a website, the name of that website talks to a DNS server and says “What IP address is hosting this website?” the DNS server gives the proper IP, and then your computer goes to that IP address to download/fetch whatever is there.

However, on computers that are infected - DNS Changer will “intercept” DNS requests, and direct customers to wrong places, could be phishing sites (trying to steal your info), wrong websites, or just go no place (the “404: page cannot be found” error).

The good news is that the FBI has put a website with information on how to check for the issue, and if you have it, how to repair it.

Here’s the boiled down version (feel free to pass this next part along to anyone you’d like!)

Go to http://www.dns-ok.us/

If it comes back Green, then you are not infected, and you’ll be find in July!

If it says you are infected – go here and follow the directions:

http://www.dcwg.org/detect/

Once the problem is cleaned off the computer – they’ll have no issues in July.

Later 

[SPMan]

Jeffrey, so sorry to hear about your fall.  Hope you didn't break your nose. Got mine broke once and had problems with a diviated septum years later.  Finally got it fixed.  I know you are careful, so I'm not going to tell you to be careful but you have had more than your share of bad luck.  Maybe there is some kind of brace you could wear to keep your knee from caving in.  You know best.

I'm still walking on egg shells with my stomach trouble.  I'm OK as long as I stay away from acid producing things.  I think my ulcer has recactivated after being dormant for a lot of years.  Have appointment now with gastrointerologist but might move it up if he will take me.  He might want to do another endoscopy or something.  I'm taking 40mg of prilosec now daily but there is some damage in there that needs repair it feels like.  Those things take time.  Also suspect is some of my meds.  That needs another professional look too.  Dr. doubled up on my triglyceride meds (gemfibrozil) over a month ago.  I had trouble once before with that drug and he cut me back to one a day.  Don't remember what kind of trouble I had before but maybe it was simular.  He should have a record of it.

Going to healing mass today.  I need it.

Ray

[dwiemer]

Good afternoon everyone.  Had a great service this morning, I was on camera so my back is in pain.  Have a group meeting on adoptions.  We are starting a resource for families who are interested in adoption as well to have information and assistance for those going through with adoptions.  Lastly, the hope is to have councelling available for families who have to deal with special circumstances associated with adopted children.

Chief, you may want to check with Lowe's to see if they offer you to get a contractor's account.  This would give you contractor pricing and assistance.  I know the home depot did it, but I don't shop there anymore. 

Joe, I have gleened a lot of good information from WSJ....thanks.  I think one of the most interesting, yet upsetting items was this past week in which they were talking about the administration getting information on private doners to their "enemies" and going after them.  Abuse of power.  Not getting into politics, but it is wrong no matter who does it.

Time to get a quick nap in before heading back to church.

God BLess,
Dennis

[jeffrey-wimberly]

SPMan

Jeffrey, so sorry to hear about your fall.  Hope you didn't break your nose. Got mine broke once and had problems with a diviated septum years later.  Finally got it fixed.

Didn't break my nose this time though it wouldn't be anything new if I had. It's only been broke eight or nine times. The right nostril has been almost completely blocked for years. Never had anything done about it because it's never bothered me.

[blownout cylinder]

jeffrey-wimberly

Well, my attempt to help my mother today came to a sudden, painful and abrupt end. She had just finished her breakfast so I got up to collect her tray. I hadn't taken two steps when my left knee gave out and gravity took over. My leg folded up and I slammed down hard on my left knee just before doing a face plant into the floor! So now I had a knee that felt like it was on fire and a busted nose spewing blood. I remember being more concerned about not making a mess of the rug and I rolled to the left where the floor is bare concrete. At least that's easier to clean. I did manage to get back up but I couldn't hold my weight on my left leg without the knee being real wobbly and standing on my right leg is pretty hard as there's not a foot to stand on. My right foot is rolled ninety degrees so the part that contacts the ground is the end of the shin bone. I have to wear a special boot just to walk on that and supporting my weight on it is out of the question. Try standing a two foot 2x4 on end and standing on it. You'll get my point. So I managed to get home OK but now there's not much I can do.

    

Man, that is going to hurt!! 

I've had my knee dislocate a few times and when that happens it is always a surprise when one hits ground!! 

Don't do too much tomorrow ....

[KRM]

It is raining, not hard but still rain.       

[rtraincollector]

evening all got home no cable which = TV, phone , & INTERNET. time warner crapped out again.

Not much else going on.

Doug glad all came out well on your surgery

Talk to you all later

[KRM]

NTSB is at the house,

Seems the engineer who did the rearrangement of the tracks from 027 switches to 042 messed up.

The yard look out house was moved to the middle of the outer loop and the new 042 spur. It seems all was well till The dispatcher ordered the dash 8 40C to enter the new last switch yard spur. When the train entered the spur the engine took out the tower, the Dash 8, the tower worker and the trees around the site.

I can’t wait to see what the legal actions will want.

DougM , so glad to hear things went well.

Good night

 

 

[sir james I]

57 staying in the 40s tonight, warmer weather coming. I missed my nap, sleepy tonight. Tigers lost again. Spent some time watching TV and some with my sil. No Banilla tonight..S.J.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night and limp back to the bedroom. No work on the layout today. I did run one train led by the Frankenstein F unit trio. As far as I know my father will be home tomorrow so he can take my mother to the places she needs to go to get new picture ID's made and get her missing credit cards and medical cards replaced. I know he's gonna have fun doing that. We know her purse wallet is in the house somewhere and it'll probably surface after everything in it is expired. See y'all tomorrow.

[wrmcclellan]

Jeffrey - Sorry about your fall. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

Ray - hope your stomach gets better soon.

Communicated with John F and Jean is doing fine.

DJ - good to have you back. Sounds like a fun day.

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  31 and frosty here.  To get to 64.  Gotta cut grass and weed wack tonite after school.

ROY, yepper Round the Clock diner.  2 eegs, sausage, homefries, toast and coffee for $5.83.  Not bad and lots o spuds. Glad to hereJEANs doing fine.

Stay frosty,

laz57