Greetings And Happy Memorial Day 2013 From Crystal Clear Taxachusetts,
May I join the rest of you in taking a moment to honor all of the members of our armed forces, past and present, for providing each of us with the freedoms we enjoy. As my Dad (R.I.P), a WWII vet, would put it to the cynics out there: our country may not be perfect; but it beats the hell out of the country that comes in second place.
Later today the wifey and I will be calling her folks and, in particular, her Dad Fred, who survived his stint in the Pacific theater and, by the grace of God, came home alive and in one piece. God bless him and all who have served, And God protect those in uniform today.
May I also salute those here on the POT who have served and protected me and my family.
Sadly, my home town of Beverly, which has celebrated this DAY every year since the Civil War, cancelled the Memorial Day parade due to budget constraints. That has not stopped our local veterans. And the show will go on. The local politicians will take this one smack in the face......shame on them. Our oldest surviving Beverly veteran who is 93 years old was just on the local Boston metro news. He stared in the camera and, without criticizing the powers that be, said that his fellow veterans and patriots don't sweat the details. That brought tears to my eyes.
After a 10 day stint of overcast weather and rain here in New England, the clouds finally moved off shore yesterday afternoon and the sun came out!!! Although the temperatures in my neck of the woods won't quite hit 70 today, I'll take it. Needless to say, we have a gaggle coming over early this afternoon for a cookout.
Jeffrey.........thanks for you post earlier today. After reflecting on your sad experience with the dirtbag earlier this weekend, it was a breath of fresh air to see you wouldn't be held down by the callous greed and insensitivity of that low life. I am still simmering over that one as are the rest of the guys here.
Brent.....we are taking up a collection here on the POT to replace the purple crayon that Christina lost in the washer/dryer disaster. Crayola will be shipping you a gross of them.
CHUCK......sorry about what the Red Sox did to your Indians the past two games, coming from behind in the last inning or two to pull out the victories. As HudsonJohn and AF Ray noted, there is now a tie for first place in the AL East!!!!
I've got to run.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Memorial Day 2013
Thanks to each and every one who served.
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
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
The day did warm up a bit yesterday, but the wind kept cranking. Today bit is just beautiful. in the 70's and sunny with a lighter wind. Yard and firewood work today. The only good thing from sandy is that I have enough firewood for a few years. the only problem is the size of the oak. The diameter is very large and after being cut to length, it is very heavy. I had another load dropped off in front and I am cutting to length and moving it to the back. My tractor is getting a real workout. BBQ later today.
Redfire, Jim: Congrats on the job.
SPMan, Ray; Tony Roma Ribs and the fixings sound great. Enjoy!
Brent: Wait until the magic marker makes it's way into the washer!
Fife: Congrats on the Durango.
SJ: Tell Granny, Go Wings!!!
Enjoy the day! Remember what Memorial Day is About!
John
Happy Memorial Day. thanks to all of you vets out there and those who are now gone.
Brent, great layout work. Your a master builder like Fife. [Y]
House is quiet this morning. We had rain last night and the NASCAR race was exciting but went way into the night due to the red flags. I am always happy when Kevin wins. I shot a very large raccoon last night. So now I have to take care of the remains. No plans today. yesterday I wired up the light in the Lionel 315 Bridge. Other than that we just ran trains.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Morning, and happy Memorial Day.
Got PHEAA info this week, and I'm getting a little more from them than I did FAFSA. To be exact, almost $1700 MORE per semester! Real happy about that.
Also checked to see what I got on my Trig final, and got a 97 on that!
The 109 is also completely done (don't have photo bucket, so I can't share any photos of it), and starting work on the 38 again by spraying on a new coat of aluminum paint. Will start the Mustang when the 38 is getting decals.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
Happy Memorial Day All!
And a special thanks to all our Veterans out there!
Extra busy at work lately, seems like 12 hours at six days isn't enough and will probably go into the office for a few today.
Weather's been great and yesterday took advantage of it. Power washed the house cut the grass and replaced some boards on the deck. I was 2 boards shy of what I needed so I went back to HomeDepot at 8:00. Didn't realize they closed at 8, so I'll go back later.
RJ - Your layout looks fine, the only thing missing is some American Flyer!
RI Jack - As I look at the standings this morning we share first place. Not sure how your guys are doing it, but we are on our third back-up in some places and it seem like a deal with the devil has happened. Coming up big is Hafner and Overbay. It's like they have something to prove to the world that they have something left in the tank.
Jake - Congrats! Enjoy some time off, you deserve it!
Later
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
Good morning. It's 69° with 100% humidity. The high will be 88°.The F unit trio got it's first run under load since I cleaned the super glue out of the trucks. I was just lucky that it hardly adhered to anything. It was good to feel the layout extension vibrating as the trio came around the loop. I don't know exactly how much it weighs but it's a good bit. I had a problem with the rear truck of the lead unit derailing on turnouts. Turned out the worm housing clip wasn't completely secure. No plans for today. Just tackle whatever comes along.I got a short video of the trio in action this morning. Just click the photo below.
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
Happy Memorial Day. Thanks to all the soldiers who gave, and the ones who gave all.
jonadel - Thanks for the heads up on Sirius. We have the one year deal.
88 - That viaduct really is a nice fit in that space. Good job.
jefelectric - Did you know that NKP 765, as well as the PRR and CONRAIL units were pulling excursions in Harrisburg this weekend?
Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....
Happy Memorial Day to Everyone
It is a cloudy 50 degrees. Going up to 62 today with rain coming.
Today is an easy day. I plan on relaxing and do some reading. I have a lot of things to think about today. Lunch and a nice nap will be scheduled for this afternoon. Baseball game.
Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Memorial Day.
Chuck
Man - I'm beat. The family and I cleaned up the basement and organized tons of nails, screws, tools, bits, pieces, flotsam and jetsam. The only thing missing was a sink.... Oh wait, we had one of those too! Now I need to break up stuff so it can go out in the trash and finish sweeping up the floors. And something to put a bazillion nails and screws in.... Right now, they are in a box. Nice chat with SJ tonight, though he was tired too. TARDIS is ready and we have banilla and rootbeer
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Lion88roar: Nice work on the layout. It's looking good.
*
As I reported earlier the F unit Frankensteins are running again. Tomorrow I'll park the GP40's on a siding and put the trio to work on a 30+ unit freight. They should be able to handle that easily. Well for the most part I got a lot of nothing accomplished today. I deserved a break after yesterday. Tomorrow looks like it's going to be nice with just a tiny chance of getting wet.Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.Here's what the second unit of the trio looked like before it was painted black.When asked by the shop foreman what color should be used for the main color on the locos the L&A president told him "it can be any color you want it to be - as long as it's black".
Sirius/XM - Love it... however too pricey right for due to debt payoff... once that is done I will probably reactivate it TheQ's Murano. Makes a long trip much easier as you aren't constantly changing CDs or scanning for a good station. I activated it in the Murano for the trip to FL and back... well worth it. When I called to cancel the guy was going to give me 3 months for the price of one... BiL has it and he gets the yearly subscription for the price of 6 (calls to cancel each year and they give him the same deal).Jack - TheQ's next 5series is going to have heated AND cooled seats... can't wait to A/C my rearend! A few pics of areas around the layout that are nearing completion (well nearing the scenicing stage)This is the lower level mainlines going into a new tunnel portal the 'wings' are what are new (and the portal replaces a handmade concrete one - this looks better).Same shot with the 'removable' hill in place. I need to modify the hill so it extends toward the camera a bit (alignment with the tunnel). I also need to remove the panel from the right side and cut a new one (will also change the hill a bit) so it will be one piece instead of two.Test fitting the new bridge. Need to trim the plywood base back on either side, but in all it looks pretty good.A couple shots through the canyonThis is the 'inner curve' of the bridge. The beginnings of the mountain are at the base to the left. I have to build this up about 20 inches... going to take a lot of ceiling tiles, plaster cloth, and rock molds!The hobo camp under the Atlas dual track truss bridge. I think I may need a scale caboose shell. The hobo leaning against the side I really wanted leaning under the overhang by the door, and I want to 'open' the door as well... for $10 it will work for mockup duty.Truss bridge back in place temporarily (will remove it again to do the final scenicing under it.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
RockIsland52 KEV......I have been MIA the past couple of weeks. What happened to your granddaughter's arm? Hope it isn't anything serious.
KEV......I have been MIA the past couple of weeks. What happened to your granddaughter's arm? Hope it isn't anything serious.
Jack, Yeah bet you missed it. A big scare for her mom and grandma. She broke her arm a week ago Thursday. She is tough and will be okay. Dig back and you will see all of the posts.
What is up with this???
About an hour after Katie and Lexi left the son and crew showed up and a great time was had by all. The little guy Nate ran the loop I made for Lexi and Thomas, he did great and Madyson ran the main loops with, as they say. No Pile Ups,
Back to NASCAR, hope it is worth my time. Already tooooooo much commercialism. Fife, Sounds like a nice ride. We need to go back in time when racing was about racing.
Where is LAZ????
jonadel Fife -- nice new vehicle, good call on the engine and the mileage should be better with plenty of power. Be very careful with the Sirius radio, enjoy your free three months and if you like it and want to continue with it whatever you do, don't give them your CC #, write a check. I could forward pages and pages from friends who discontinued their Sirius radio contract and it was a huge nightmare, CC continued to be charged and bill collector agencies became involved when former owners refused payment even though it had been disconnected. We did enjoy our three month free contract but in all honesty I prefer the local stations and my iPhone Pandora and albums I have stored are free Even today (two years after our free contract was up) we still get phenomenal offers and if you are willing to badger them over the phone you can get an even better offer.
Fife -- nice new vehicle, good call on the engine and the mileage should be better with plenty of power.
Be very careful with the Sirius radio, enjoy your free three months and if you like it and want to continue with it whatever you do, don't give them your CC #, write a check. I could forward pages and pages from friends who discontinued their Sirius radio contract and it was a huge nightmare, CC continued to be charged and bill collector agencies became involved when former owners refused payment even though it had been disconnected. We did enjoy our three month free contract but in all honesty I prefer the local stations and my iPhone Pandora and albums I have stored are free Even today (two years after our free contract was up) we still get phenomenal offers and if you are willing to badger them over the phone you can get an even better offer.
Jon is right......Sirius/XM is notorious for this, they keep billing your CC after you have cancelled. But a quick, formal dispute with your CC bank as soon as the first non-authorized charge hits takes care of it because you are immediately credited and the bank hassles them.
On my Cadillac forum most are fairly successful negotiating or renegotiating $9-$10 per month (versus the current $16) by calling to cancel and then sticking to their guns on the lower price. But what you get for the monthly price is to me a decent value. Satellite also sounds stellar if you have a surround sound setting on your audio which my SRX does in the DVD and XM modes.
He is also right about the V6 power. 285hp gets it done. I went for the 4.6L V8 in the 2007 SRX (a 7 passenger crossover) because the horsepower (320) and the torque (315 lb. ft.) really make the vehicle scoot (0-60mph in 6.7 seconds, 140mph top end) with the 6 speed (auto, AWD), even when the SRX is loaded with passengers and luggage. I routinely get 22-23 mpg highway if I use cruise and keep the speed at 72mph or under. Not bad for a 4,400 pound vehicle with a 4,200 pound towing capacity. What the extra horsepower gets me also is that the vehicle holds top gear on the inclines and doesn't keep downshifting to hold the set speed.
Did you know that silver is the most popular vehicle color?
Like JimmyT mentioned, you can't beat that new car smell, especially with the leather. And heated seats are one of the best inventions ever when you live in colder climates, like to drive with the sunroof open in cooler ambient Spring and Fall temperatures, or have a cold baby along for the ride (AKA a wife).
Jack.
The temp is 66
A quiet day. Just checking in. No Banilla yet but soon.
fife congrats on the new wheels, I hope it gives you years of faithful service . . . .S.J.
Good evening all,
And it is a good evening. Rain held and we saw one of the greatest 500s in history. 68 lead changes. A new track record for the race. A popular and deserving winner. Easy drive into and out of the track. Despite a less than stellar day by those who I really wanted to win, Sato is still 2nd in points. Conor Daly brought the 2nd Foyt car home in one piece, and Simona soldiered home in the top 20. Sarah's team had a rough day, but was still running as well. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
RockIsland - Youngest told Fifey she wants a light blue mini-van to cart her 7 doggies around. Until then, she's enjoying her leather perch in the back, with the collapsible head-rest (to be used when something irritating is heard from the peanut gallery). She also thinks the rearview camera "is the coolest thing, ever!"
FIFE.....OPEC will be disappointed in you. I wonder what the difference is in EPA fuel mileage between the V6 and the V8. It was about 10% with my SRX. Re the Sirius satellite radio......I really enjoy it! Commercial free and a zillion station choices which never change no matter where you are. I have to admit that I have expanded my listening to include a bit of country western as well since we got satellite radio.
Hope your Princess' recovery continues. She deserves a new car too, don't you think?
CHUCK........your Indians are being very inhospitable guests at Fenway.
RockIsland - Yes, a chariot fit for my queen.
2013 Dodge Durango Crew Version
Bright Silver metallic w/chrome trim
Black leather/heated seating throughout;seats 7
3.6 V6/285hp (did not like the HEMI in this truck)
Sirius sat radio (Margaritaville tuned to #1 spot)
Red instrument cluster which really looks cool at night.
Subtle blue LED lighting on all buttons, including backlit door handles.
Keyless remote with too much STAR TREK capabilities to list.
88 - Wherever, we're goin', we're goin' in style!
Aloha. It's cold for Memorial Day weekend. My sincere thanks to those of you who served. Worked as video director for the weekend's church services - hardly any volunteers because of the holiday. I enjoyed the chance to be creative. Watched the Big Race for a while...Brent, the bridge looks great. Whenever I look inside our dryer and washer, there are all sorts of reminders of the things the kids would leave that are now part of the machinery - glue, gum, crayons, etc.Jeffrey, BoC, prayers for your friend and for Rich's sis. Fife, congrats on the new addition. I was successful in getting the 2003 Honda CRV from the little 'ol lady for a fair price - hope to pick it up next week.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
RockIsland52 I wonder what MikeC is doing right now. He probably took the wifey out shopping.
I wonder what MikeC is doing right now. He probably took the wifey out shopping.
Jack, I bet I know, and it ain't shopping.
The Indy 500,,,,, I would be willing to bet there was not 40 min of non- commercialized viewing and most of it was for ABC shows. As for the race, They need to take a hint from NASCAR and do green white checker finishes. Was good to see that they could pass and swap out places. To bad it had to end under caution because the last 10 laps were waking me up.
NASCAR later.
The one armed granddaughter and her mom just left. So I can watch NASCAR with nothing but commercial interruptions. Lexi is doing well with the cast but is still bruised all the way up the arm and she won't wear a sling.
At 4:30 AM this morning our stupid cell phones started some kind of alarm to tell us there were flood warnings in North Dakota. Anyone ever hear of such a thing?
Jeffery, sounds like you need to take you friend out to the wood shed.
Brent, PURPLE It seems to me that little girls like the color PURPLE. That is the color Lexi chose for her cast.
lion88roarAnd did I mention it was the most hideous of colors - PURPLE... I HATE PURPLE!!!!!!
And I'm with you. I think purple is the most hideous color out there.
Well I said the trio would be running again by noon. I missed that by thirty minutes. The second unit had a loud rumble to it that I had to sort out. It could barely be heard without the shell on but then the shell is an old Varney metal shell and by itself weighs eleven ounces. And it was greatly amplifying the noise. The source of the noise turned out to be a wire dragging on a drive shaft. The trio was back in operation at 12:30.
RockIsland52 Brent......wet my pants when I read your post. You are lucky that crayon did not lake it to the clothes dryer. Your escapades with the little ones bring back fond memories. Unfortunately, for every parental defensive tactic the children figure out a counter measure. :-) JACK.
Brent......wet my pants when I read your post. You are lucky that crayon did not lake it to the clothes dryer. Your escapades with the little ones bring back fond memories. Unfortunately, for every parental defensive tactic the children figure out a counter measure. :-) JACK.
Brent......wet my pants when I read your post. You are lucky that crayon did not make it to the clothes dryer. Your escapades with the little ones bring back fond memories. Unfortunately, for every parental defensive tactic the children figure out a counter measure. :-)
JACK.
SPManJeffrey, glad you got your stuff back. Great job on cleaning out the gunk from the trucks. I knew you could if anybody could. Be interesting to know why the dirt bag put super glue in the trucks in the first place. Maybe the guy is mentally challenged or something. Sounds like something is missing above his shoulders.
SPMan .......Need to smooth out a bump in my trackwork where it makes a transition from a Ross switch to tubular track. Any suggestions? Right now I am using transition Gargraves to Lionel pins. Problem is that tubular track sticks up higher than the Ross track at the joint....... Ray
.......Need to smooth out a bump in my trackwork where it makes a transition from a Ross switch to tubular track. Any suggestions? Right now I am using transition Gargraves to Lionel pins. Problem is that tubular track sticks up higher than the Ross track at the joint.......
Ray.......read instructions below.
Jeffrey, glad you got your stuff back. Great job on cleaning out the gunk from the trucks. I knew you could if anybody could. Be interesting to know why the dirt bag put super glue in the trucks in the first place. Maybe the guy is mentally challenged or something. Sounds like something is missing above his shoulders.
Blownout, prayers for your friend.
My two racefan son's are glued to the tube today watching the Indy 500.
Need to smooth out a bump in my trackwork where it makes a transition from a Ross switch to tubular track. Any suggestions? Right now I am using transition Gargraves to Lionel pins. Problem is that tubular track sticks up higher than the Ross track at the joint.
Got some Tony Roma Ribs on sale for this weekend. Just heat and eat. Also have corn on the cob, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad etc. Yum, yum! Weight Watchers here I come. Only thing missing is Eastern North Carolina Que but can't have everything.
Church at 11:30 this morning. Son went to early mass and brought home a bulletin introducing our new temporary pastor who is starting in July. Also news that church festival was a success. However I did not win the raffle----------again for the umpteenth time. Oh well, money is for a good cause.
Have a nice holiday weekend all,
God bless our departed loved ones and heroes,
SPMan
almost forgotJimmyT - congrats on the job! Brutus - prayers for Char's continued recovery.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month