Konbanwa,
I had a quick two-mile run this morning as my legs still needed time to recover from Monday’s long run. It was a bit warmer today and the high was around 52. I enjoyed a straight razor shave today after the barber finished my haircut. I haven’t had that done in a while and it was great. Meetings prevented me from finishing as much work as I wanted today but that’s how it goes sometimes. The wife made sausage and peppers for dinner and it was delicious. I have some reading to finish tonight but not much else is going on.
Dougdagrump – You’re right, tatami mats are not comfortable. I haven’t acquired a taste for sake yet. I’ve tried a few times but just don’t seem to enjoy it.
Welcome back Redfire!
Bo – It’s easy to get lost in Japan. If we did not have a GPS we would not venture off base as much.
AF Ray – Congratulations on the tickets. I am very jealous.
I’ll be praying for Jeffrey and his family, SP Ray’s friend, and the rest of us in need.
Sayonara,
Joe
Hello all
Just a quick update before I head to find a pillow before the drive back to town.
I manage to resurrect the little Marx 709, 25 W transformer tonight. Prob won't exactly be my goto transformer as it only runs 5 - 11V. As simple as it gets. Two wires in a two out. No breaker, just a variable tapped trans.
Managed to check out the little K-line smoke unit from points east. As we suspected the voltage regulation circuit is toast. I ran it on 15V A/C power and 5 V D/C straight to the motor and boy she smoked up a storm in the control room.
Left to right is the Marx 709, K-Line smoke unit, D/C power supply, Variac, and isolation transformer. In the back can be seen another battery Thomas and the docksider chassis I am also tinkering with.
Mad Science!
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
Morning, WOW is it cold here 10 with wind chill @ 0
can't hardley feel my fingers.
the pipes didnt re freeze last night, so plugging the hole must have done the trick
we just for fun looked at houses for sale in our area on the net last night, and nothing suits the criterea we set before looking. basicly, we'd go from the woods / mountian to rolling meadows. and as far as the house we'd be right where we are now.
so no plans to move, it was fun to look though.
so this spring, I'll build her attached garage on. Anyone know what kinda fiasco it is to put a basement under a garage? (that would make a nice addition the current basement... haha)
Ryan
Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....
It is a cold 9 degrees. Going up to 24 today with some sunshine.
Today is a busy day. I have a bunch of chores to do and some paperwork. I'll be busy until lunch. Then, a nice nap. Not much else new here.
Dining car has arrived with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Wednesday.
Chuck
Good Mornin' Y'all From Arctic-Frigid Cape Ann Taxachusetts,
The overnight temperatures were down in the single digits (9), same forecast for tonight (3), and we won't be seeing 30 as a high until next Monday. So it appears that the weather the Midwest and PA. boys (except Jon) have been having finally reached me and the NJ/NY boys (AF Ray, HudsonJohn, and Rich).
JoeyD, AF Ray and HudsonJohn......the significance of this weather is simply this. It is a sign from the almighty powers above (on the very day you received your 2013 opening day baseball matchup, Red Sox versus the Yankers) that it will be a cold day in hell before the Yankers ever again top the Red Sox for the AL pennant.
JimmyT.....I think you were very smart ($-wise and fun-wise) to buy your MustangGT pre-owned and to make the mods that have (mostly ) made you happy.
I also think you were wise when you observed the questionable reliability of your much-beloved but aging daily driver, the ProbeGT. KEV is right, save your money, and squirrel away some acorns if you can for the inevitable repairs needed to keep the ProbeGT up to snuff and dependable.
To me, owning (and/or owing on) a brand new car is a terrible financial waste for little possible gain. Sure, the new car is near perfect from the factory. But not $10,000-$20,000 worth when you consider the near excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition of a late model, low mileage pre-owned one, preferably a certified pre-owned one.
For very short money you can bring that pre-owned up to near perfection (as you have done) while having the option of buying an OEM factory or aftermarket warranty extension (about $2.5 grand or less) to calm any concerns you may have about longer-term dependability and expense. You can afford far more car for far less money.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Morning all. Cold here but NOT as cold as in Yankeeland. Why so many of Yuz Giz are down here now. No shohio like in NY and Ohizo. Only now 10% of anything frozen Friday.
Jack, the Red Sucks can never beat out the Yankees.
Bob, got some smoke units if you need them.
Off to workout. Oh my aching body.
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
wrconstruction Yes I did, in frustration rip the dry wall out under the sink, the, cause its the only portable heater I have, stuck the salamander under there, I know that thing gets HOT, I actually dont like it, kinda worries me. well, I managed to melt the trap, the plastic tube to the reverse osmosis facet, and the discharge hose to the dishwasher... ONLY to find, NOT WHERE THE FREEZE is.... BUT I did find where my mice are coming in at.. just followed to poop trail on the sill plate in the basement, turns out they (the mice) chewed through 4 " of OAK right between the hot and cold pipes, it felt like a jet stream of artic air coming in there. The hot air duct was right there so i cut a small hole in it to heat the area, plugged the mouse hole with some copper blocker, and in less than 10 minutes we had water a runnin. So now I have water at the sink, but no way to drain it................. Just another day in my life..................... Ryan PS ... she brought up the evil "M" word (moving) the other day , and I'm telling ya, i'm not too far into this layout to take it back apart
BUT I did find where my mice are coming in at.. just followed to poop trail on the sill plate in the basement, turns out they (the mice) chewed through 4 " of OAK right between the hot and cold pipes, it felt like a jet stream of artic air coming in there. The hot air duct was right there so i cut a small hole in it to heat the area, plugged the mouse hole with some copper blocker, and in less than 10 minutes we had water a runnin.
So now I have water at the sink, but no way to drain it.................
Just another day in my life.....................
PS ... she brought up the evil "M" word (moving) the other day , and I'm telling ya, i'm not too far into this layout to take it back apart
Ryan........I did not get to my POT reading until just before bedtime late last night; but your post sent me to bed with a huge smile on my face and a feeling of higher self esteem.......there are actually folks out there who step into the same mud puddles as I do, therefore I am "normal."
If you had just taken my advice on "patience and beer," you might have resolved the water pipe ice blockage, maybe even without tearing out the dry wall or melting stuff. With some more "patience and beer" and some boiling water from the stove, perhaps the "water out" drain blockage as well. On the positive side, you have running water and you have also found what Jon suggested, a hole and security breach (mice) contributing to the issue.
Re the wifey (everyones') and the dreaded M word (moving), I am pretty sure none of us can help you with that. My wife started "looking" 20 years ago, about 5 years after we bought this place. Why the other half always eventually feels the grass is greener is beyond me.
No house/home is perfect. Granted, I don't place as much importance on closet space, a larger bathroom, another garage slot, or room to expand outward as my wife does. I keep trying to remind her about the 90+% wants and needs fulfilled (and then some) we have had and have. And the looming reality that at our age we need to have downsizing (overhead) on the brain, not upsizing. Even a Rolls Royce has it's deficiencies.
Your attached garage idea with either a second story or, as you suggested, an extension into your current basement has a wonderful ulterior motive merit.
Aloha. Grey and ten degrees. A bit cooler with the breeze factored in, but warmer than yesterday. The van started late last night after 17 hours in the open lot at the train station. Hallelujah! Sounds like everyone is busy, especially Ryan. Glad the pipes didn't re-freeze. Water issues are hard to deal with. You'd probably find it easier to tack on a shed for a layout than a basement below a garage. Here, building code issues say the garage has to be on a slab - something to have to do with the weight of vehicles, etc. I think it's like 20 days until pitchers and catchers report!Jack, did you hear about this warehouse fire in Bridgeport - biggest fire in 7 years in Chicago. We could probably find most of this equipment in O scale. TjzOQX
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
We have 8 degrees going to 19. Like Doug M it will be a tad warmer than yesterday. Got sleepy last night and left the Tardis early. I don't know how people can just look at this screen all day at work. 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, hash browns and 1 toast for breakfast. That will do it till supper time. I notice a few familiar faces missing, too bad they caved in to a little ruckus....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
A cold 17 degrees and light snow. A very pretty winter scene.
Cat is in the igloo. I don't know why Chief is so fixated on Yankee cold. Bet he could not take it. Nothing wrong with some cold weather. It kills all of those Reb germs.
Bob, yep those original K-Line voltage regulation circuits must be junk. I will check out the quartz wool when you send it back. I am surprised you said it is sticking to the element. Maybe I should have not wrapped the element in it. Maybe just laid the element on it. MY wool source told me it would not burn like fiberglass does.
Ryan, Glad you got the pipes under control. Sandra and I looked for 7 years for a new place and the house on the property was always the drawback. So we just bought dirt and built what WE wanted. I don't think they will let you put a basement under a garage but you can put a garage under a house addition. Train room.
AFRay, here is a link for the smoke stacks for the Marx cars.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARX-REPRO-SMOKE-STACKS-CROOKS-CARS-CABOOSES-513-/310550623038?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item484e42733e
I guess I will do some more painting today. Not much else going on.
Have a good day
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
A thought as I looked out the back window this morning. Why is it paper and plastic bags can blow into a fenced yard but never seem to blow out ?
BACK FROM THE WORKOUT!!!!!!!! Doug M, saw it on CBS News this AM. Was one block of ice. Also interviewed folks in your big city. They were crying they were cold. No wonder. Wind chillys below.
Now for a shower and some Town time and go to Hunters Haven and pickup my new Kerr .40 cal conceal carry.
Later.
Good morning all,
It is slightly warmer but cloudy in SE Indiana with temps in the teens. Had to drive to work today. Finally got the word we have been waiting for on that which I cannot talk about. Will be busy the rest of the week and will be on the road Friday. We finished up the jigsaw puzzle last night. All this talk of new cars reminds of a famous line from the book and movie by Stephen King, "Christine". You can talk dollars and sense until the cows come home, but this line puts it all in perspective. Unfortunately, I cannot quote it completely here. It starts out, "There is nothing better than the smell of a new car....." The last new car I got was a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, but my favorite vehicles were bought used, a 1973 Opel Manta, and a 1999 Dodge Dakota. The truck I still have. TBIL after Arrow tonight. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
good almost noon guys. I allready have a large layout space, and a layout started. but I am starting to realize a few things i should have taken into consideration, like I have recently realized i like large sweeping curves, best I got now is O54. I have a ton of scale equiptment that requires O72 and up.
then theres my passion for HO scale as well (I also have a huge collection of that)
The current under construction layout is all screwed together, so its all salvageable, no or very little losses. I may continue on with it just as a "training" excercise. The newly remolded basement would make a great electronics lab (yes, I like electronics and designing circuitry as well)
to get back on the house issue, A friend of mine has a 2400 SF ranch house, TALK ABOUT A BASEMENT!!!
and it just sits there empty he does nothing with it there nothing even down there, what a waste of space!
so my future thoughts on trains is this: I would like a LARGE OPEN (key words) space for my O gauge trains. (I know we all do) And I would prefer it attached to the house some how.
I just don't know how big SHE thinks BIG is? (we have money left over from when we refinanced our our debt and mortgage into one payment) so its not like were gonna have a loan for this
Just have to convice her we need a garage thats bigger than the house
if this goes through, there will be no longer any discussion on moving.
and by the way, when we moved there 9 years or so ago, she had all these boxes with "X's" on them, when I asked where she wanted them, I was told "just put them in the attic, so when we move they will allready be packed" WHAT we hadn't even spent a nigh in the house we just bought....... LOL
Off to lunch, later
DougM.........I was glad to read that your van started after sitting out in open at the commuter rail parking lot for 17 hours in those temperatures. Your battery and state of tune must be pretty good. Did you know that a brand new, fully-charged automotive battery sitting in those conditions has only about 35% of its rated CCA (cold cranking amps) remaining to start the car?
About 10 years ago I started replacing my car batteries in the late Fall if they already had 4 Winters behind them, regardless of how they were working at the time. The additional time (a year or two) I might get on the old one would not be worth the risk or expense should I or my wife get stuck out in the middle of nowhere at the most inopportune time with a vehicle not starting.
I can just picture my wife’s reaction if I called her to come rescue me at that late hour when the temps were in single digits AND she was toasty warm, already ready for bed, watching some stupid women’s movie on the Hallmark channel. “Jack, I love you....but not that much. Besides, the cars are YOUR responsibility. Tough love is in order. What would you learn from this if I came and bailed you out? The commercial is over and my show is back on." CLICK.
Rich......sorry, buddy, but I think DougM has your commute woes beaten hands down. Time. Distance. Unforegiving train schedules. The train HVAC units that fail in the high 90s or when it is zero outside. Frozen or busted train switches en route. His walk in the elements from the Chicago downtown train station across town to work and at the end of the work day back again. Sick, smelly, and loud/obnoxious fellow commuters on the train. Things could be worse for you.
Got the new pool filter elements installed yesterday with the help of my son. Need to vacumn the pool today and it should be good to go after that. What a relief! If it wasn't so expensive, I would probably have the pool filled in. Don't use it that much anymore.
Also receive my parts from MTH to fix front truck on my N&W Premier J class engine. Will do that today.
Ryan, glad you got the pipes unfrozen. Our little cold spell is over but forcast is for possible rain for the next four days starting tomorrow.
Ray
SPMan
I sit here feeling really bad for the California boys--- DonnyB, DougDG, SP Ray, and V8 Dennis---who have posted recently about their Winter woes. Forced to wear long-sleeved shirts. A stockpile of unused SPF 30 sunscreen. The chicks all covered up. Having to grill in mid 50 degree temperatures. Poor Ray having to work on his swimming pool filter followed by all of that vacuuming!!! Poor V8, whose Honda del Sol doesn't have air conditioning. And to add insult to injury, now there is rain in their forecast.
I don't know how much longer you guys can hold out. Think of all of the money you guys are spending on electricity just to make ice cubes. .
ChiefEagles BACK FROM THE WORKOUT!!!!!!!! Doug M, saw it on CBS News this AM. Was one block of ice. Also interviewed folks in your big city. They were crying they were cold. No wonder. Wind chillys below. Chief, We call that fire in Chicago urban renewal. Had to be a tough one to fight. Boy those guys earned their pay last night. I called Mrs.Edna and she has some of the K-Line track. I told her I won't be able to get anything this month so she suggested I just put it on your running charge account on account you got plenty of credit with her.
Chief, We call that fire in Chicago urban renewal. Had to be a tough one to fight. Boy those guys earned their pay last night.
I called Mrs.Edna and she has some of the K-Line track. I told her I won't be able to get anything this month so she suggested I just put it on your running charge account on account you got plenty of credit with her.
Seems Woody Woodpecker decided to stop by today. Ha Ha Ha HAAA-Ha
SubmmBob..........sorry to hear about your co-worker who, against company regulations, common courtesy, or concern for the health of others, has chosen to eschew going outside to smoke, choosing rather to selfishly get in his fix in the shared bathroom. Or about non-confrontational management that won't do anything about it. And his brass for even denying he is smoking in there.
I have a non-confrontational solution.
When you see him going to the WC for his fix, slip some syrup of ipecac into his coffee. Guaranteed within 10 minutes of drinking his coffee when he returns, he will be extremely nauseous, soon to be followed by vomiting. Just make sure there are plastic liner bags in all of the trash cans and that you keep your distance from him to mitigate collateral damage. He won't feel much like smoking by then but will be beating a hasty retreat back to the WC.
During his second trip to the WC, be a good guy and refresh his coffee for him, adding some MiraLax. That is one of the super, fast- acting (within 5 minutes) laxatives they give you pre-colonoscopy. That will have him beating a hasty retreat back to the WC.
Since he likes the WC so much, help him out. Bring him his cigarettes. It is the only humane and decent thing to do for a man in his condition(s). And he is certain this time around to have forgotten to bring his cigarettes with him.
Finally, he has defined the rules of engagement with his denial. So should he become suspicious of you, just do what he does. In the most serious face you can muster, deny any culpability, acting hurt that he should even consider such a horrible thing about you. I think they call it plausible deniability in the juris prudence system.
PS to Lehigh Valley: I think this is the type of critical thinking and problem solving they were trying to teach me in college.
Rock, good solution to the smoking in the ole WC i am a smoker, but I also understand and respect that it offend alot of people. I don't even smoke in my house, well, I'll confess, when its this dang cold, I'll pop one off in the basement with the door to the wood stove open (smoke goes right up the chiminey)
Kev, those are beautiful birds. I could sit and watch birds all day. reminds me I got bird feeder duty tonight..
the business across from my scrap yard HAD one of those bird feeders you stick on the window, but he took it down, and gave me an earfull because my furocious killing machine of a junk yard cat ate all the birds that came to feed there. Funny thing though, when I bought this yard, there was a huge neighborhood RAT problem, So I brought in the cats and he (the guy across the street) has yet to thank me for cleaning up the RAT issues.
looking like a cold slow afternoon here. people just don't come out in this cold.
Happy Hump Day from across the river from WIlliam Penn....
Jack....I'm glad I finished my soda during lunch. Loved the retribution....critical thniking at its best!
Sub-Bob - I say, that's good if not great advice!!! I haven't seen a Variac is a LOOOONNNG time...
Yeah, Doug may have me beat, I have no a/c, but the t-tops should suffice. It's just that hour dealing with mental midgets during rush hour....
Doug...thanks for those pictures....I see some of the "real" firefighters with ICE on their turnouts...been there done that. I've been known to put out fires just enough to keep warm........survival of the smartest, as it were.
Ryan....may I suggest a 2 car, 2 story garage delivered and assembled on your site. It's not taxable as it's not permanent. One of my friends bought one and it was HUGE!!!!! MORE than enough room for 2 cars (one of which was his '69 Dart GTS 440...) tools and such and massive storage upstairs. I always thought that was one thing I was going to do when purchasing an abode. After all, my road runner derserves such a palace!! My tools as well....
Off to finish lunch, I'll try to catch up later on.
Cheers!!
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
Good afternoon all. Jazz Band practice this moring, hence why I wan't on.
Anyway, man was it COLD this morning. 5 degrees WITHOUT windchill. With it, it was about -13 degrees. I wasn't outside, so I was alright. I think that the high today was only supposed to be about 22 degrees. Better than 5, but still somewhat chilly.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
Rich, I thought of you and Dennis - that call took fully a third of every on-duty Chicago firefighter - and last night was the coldest night in 2 years. Jack has made me think I spend now about $60 a week on train tix and parking - not counting gas to get to the station and back. Metra raised ticket prices 30% last year and 20% this month. Yowsa. Ah well, at least I get to ride a train 46.4 miles twice a day.
cnw1995 Jack has made me think I spend now about $60 a week on train tix and parking - not counting gas to get to the station and back. Metra raised ticket prices 30% last year and 20% this month. Yowsa. Ah well, at least I get to ride a train 46.4 miles twice a day.
Jack has made me think I spend now about $60 a week on train tix and parking - not counting gas to get to the station and back. Metra raised ticket prices 30% last year and 20% this month. Yowsa. Ah well, at least I get to ride a train 46.4 miles twice a day.
Doug, Just think of it like this.
Think of all of the money your saving riding the train and not having to be feeding the most expensive parking meters in the country.
Waiting for paint to dry.
Been a crazy day but all is good now. Think I'm going to go precut some wood and do more tomorrow. so Friday I can start assembling the first of 4 frames. I'm think like every 4' for legs would be good going left to right and I guess every 2' going front to back as will be making frames 2' wide.
Will talk to you all later.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
cheapclassics Good morning all, It is slightly warmer but cloudy in SE Indiana with temps in the teens. Had to drive to work today. Finally got the word we have been waiting for on that which I cannot talk about. Will be busy the rest of the week and will be on the road Friday. We finished up the jigsaw puzzle last night. All this talk of new cars reminds of a famous line from the book and movie by Stephen King, "Christine". You can talk dollars and sense until the cows come home, but this line puts it all in perspective. Unfortunately, I cannot quote it completely here. It starts out, "There is nothing better than the smell of a new car....." The last new car I got was a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, but my favorite vehicles were bought used, a 1973 Opel Manta, and a 1999 Dodge Dakota. The truck I still have. TBIL after Arrow tonight. I hope everyone has a good day. Keep on training, Mike C. from Indiana
Mike,
Except maybe for... Love that movie!
Jack,
One 5.0 that I was considering was in Red Candy Metallic, but the fact that it's an automatic (along with it's $38,510 price tag) turned me away. I played with the calculator, and jumping into a different car wouldn't be a good move right now. Hopefully that'll change tomorrow morning though (crosses fingers).
Jim
Didn't have time this morning for my usual morning post. I've been with my father today helping with the arrangements for my mothers memorial service. That's coming up on February 1st. It seems everybody has something that has to be signed and then wants to be paid for it. In some cases it was the same piece of paper that had to be signed by several people in different places with each person being in a different part of town. Hoops, hoops, hoops. Boy, if my mother was here she'd tell them what they could do with their hoops and how they could get them there.Last night I pulled the motor out of the P2K SW9/1200. It's just like the one I used in the F unit slug. Maybe I'll use it in another one. Maybe I'll put it in something else.No plans for today.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Good Evening
Kind of cold out here...got all the way to 8F ...and stayed there...Tomorrow it will get to a whole 10F around here...
Got some little things that need to be done as well so there went the day...yay.
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Got up to 12 degrees in Wysox. Brrrrrrrrrrrr....................
blownout cylinderKind of cold out here...got all the way to 8F ...and stayed there...Tomorrow it will get to a whole 10F around here...
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