Coffee Pot #5 MAY 2013 TEN 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 Yanks.

[KRM]

ChiefEagles

Good night.  Some people.        

Sleep tight.

Chief, I hope you had a good night. Just think how boring life would be if everyone agreed on everything. 

Brutus, Prayers for Char's speedy recovery. 

RJ, I will wait till you install the door. 

Ryan, hang in there pal. 

Sunny and another day in the 80s on the North Bluff. 

Well I need to have some Cheerios and head to work so you all have a good day. Especially you Chief. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Unalihelitseti. Good morning. It's 58° with 89% humidity. Patchy fog. Some clouds with a high of 85°.


I can't read too well this morning. Having some difficulty focusing. Think I'll take it easy today and do a lot of nothing. I got the two GP40's I was working on speed matched.



By the way, the strange word at the beginning of this post isn't anything ominous. It's simply 'Greetings' in Cherokee. You can use a suitable translator to check it if you like.

[lion88roar]

KRM

Hmmm... Wal-Mart hasn't done anything to cause businesses around here to close down. Actually, the businesses in the strip mall in Mt Airy are thriving because people come to Wal-Mart then go to the other businesses as well.

 

 Brent, That may be the problem in Ottawa. Wall-Wart is now 2 miles away from the strip mall that has emptied out. The strip mall was by the old Wall-Mart before they built the Super Wall-Mart. 

Kev - This got me to thinking last night... many people gripe and moan about how they are always looking for the best deal... but is that REALLY the case? We have 3 grocery stores in town, 2 ACE hardware stores, an 84 lumber, Wal-Mart and a few 'specialty' shops. From what I can gather, people are MORE interested in 'shoping for convenience' meaning if they have to get in their car and drive even 1/10 of a mile to get to another store - they will NOT do it. They will spend a little more for convenience of stopping once or twice.

In Westminster or Frederick (both 20 minute drives) there are numerous other stores - heck in Frederick there are 2 Lowes, 2 Home Depots, 2 Wal-Marts (they want to build a third), a Target, a Kohls, and a MALL!!!!! All within 5 miles of each other. People simply do not want to drive from one end of town to the other so micro-shopping areas are popping up all over the place.

I would bet one of three things happened with the vacant shopping center:
1. The management company refused to update the facade and store internals
2. The management company refused to permit Wal-Mart to expand
3. The store owners banned together and kept Wal-Mart from expanding (shot themselves in their collective foot)

From watching the happenings in Westminster and Frederick it appears once the management team and other store owners realize they NEED the big box stores to attract more customers, and learn to play nice with the big-guys EVERYBODY WINS. Now we just need the local government to realize that you need to upgrade the roads, sewers, water lines, etc BEFORE the development goes in we would have a perfect storm...

 

[cnw1995]

Aloha from a sunny and beautiful day in Chicago. Prettied up the layout some more last night - after the kittens got down in the basement to do some exploring.  Bob, I know what you mean about those key fob / panic button / whatchamathingies - I set off an alarm in my wife's car inadvertently from it and spent quite a few frantic minutes trying to figure out how to turn it off. There was some sort of complicated press-once, pause, press-again sequence... see, I've forgotten it. 

There's all sorts of interesting research about stores and shopping. Did you know folks will not make a left turn into a store across traffic if a similar store is a right turn away? That's one reason you see four of the same kind of stores or gas stations at each corner of a big intersection.  Did you know the average supermarket is 'supported' by a little more than 100 families who do their regular shopping there?  They make more money from the reams of people who drop in for a few 'staple' items... 

[sir james I]

We have a sunny 65 this morning.

A successful trip to the grocery store is complete and now a nice spring day begins..S.J.

[Hudson#685]

Good morning, 62, it stop raining for a short while, the sun is partially out and getting ready for some more today.

I figured the reason it is raining here is that the wife suggested that I build a new garage. So, I am leaning toward an Amish Pole Barn. Now for planning and layout. Tonight is the last night of school until September.

AF53, Ray, let's do it! We need to record Linda's reaction!

SJ: 33mpg! GREAT!

Brutus, Jim: Well wishes for Char.

RJ, Charlie Brown: From past experience, watch where you plant that Magnolia tree! They love the WATER & SEWER LINES!!!!! It did a number on my Mom's sewer line.

Brent: You described the same effect that Walmart and other Big Box stores had around here.

Have a Great Day!

John

[ChiefEagles]

Cloudy and sprinkles off and on.  Chores and then meeting in Raleigh.  About 7 PM, gone to lake house to work on dock until Sat.  MIL's Mother's Day Sat. afternoon.

Enjoy.   

[Zero Export]

so far today is looking up.

Had to goto the DMV (well., they serve as a "courier" for them)  to get the truck registration renewed, usually its an "ordeal" in there, even for simple stuff.   I was in and out in less than 10 minutes.

Then had to goto sprint, to get a battery for the cell phone (we'll not get into what happened)

And of coarse Sprints local store is number two on the list of places that is a fiasco to deal with

IN AND OUT!!! 

I had looked the batteries up online and they were 49.00 at amazon. The Sprint store gave me one for free.   

So now that all this relativily decent stuff has happen, i will be bracing my self for what ever is comming

Ryan

Ohh, and contrary to the weather man, its stopped raining and the sun is out

[RedfireS197]

All,

         Thanks.

Ryan,

           I hear you about Sheetz.  Burgers just shouldn't be gray and mushy.

Brent,

            A similar thing happened to a small town nearby.  That area was dead until Walmart and Lowes showed up.  All kinds of other businesses showed up and are thriving.  They're even building a Taco Bell now, and it will be nice to have one closer to home without any long lights or tollbooths to slow me down on the way back home...

Only three more shifts until working retail becomes a thing I don't miss.

[Zero Export]

And then it happened:

I went and repo'd MY sofa tonight.   it was cloudy, but looked ok

and as soon as I get over the mountian with a sofa loaded on the truck, the skies just OPENED up!!!

it rained like I've never seen before.

so now I have a dripping wet sofa and a deflated air mattress...... 

Ryan

[jeffrey-wimberly]

About the busiest I got today was fitting Athearn diesel horns like those below to four GP40's and an H24-66. I think that will be the extent of my model railroad work today.

[ChiefEagles]

Ryan, I get their 3 hot dogs for $2.  But when you add chilli and cole slaw, $4+ but they end up being $3.36 with tax using my Sheetz card. ???

Gone for a few days.  Someone protect the Rebel flag.  

 

 

[KRM]

V8Vega

 Democrats here hate Walmart because they don't allow unions. One and I think two over time towns in the greater Los Angeles area had full of weeds and litter strewn lots where Walmart wanted to build and they still have full of weeds and litter lots as the Democrats shut them down. No jobs either. Wonderful. Currently I read in the paper occasionally there is a long empty store in Chinatown area of LA. and Walmart got all the permits to move in. The day after Walmart was all legal to move in the Democrats changed the rules and are still fighting over it.

 WOW Dennis, I am always shocked at how much right hand political opinion you can post. As far as that goes on all of the  forums . Good job!   Anyone else would be banned because they say you can't do that, according to the rules.   Who you paying off?? . If the Lefts are in control where you live just face it and move on, or move out. You must be out numbered. Their opinions count too in this place where I live. Like I said before, Life would be boring if we all agreed. There is a lot of room for improvement on both sides of the political fence. 

JMHO  

 I am taking some time off guys tonight. And run some trains. You know how to get a hold of me. 

[Zero Export]

Chief, I went and had there chicken strips for dinner tonight (kitchen install is a ways off in the new apt)

In the Great Metropolis of Mount Holly Springs, we have sheetz, subway, and a pizza place

didnt feel like heading to the city

Jim, I dont why Taco Bell gets such a BAD rap, I personally like there food. 

Chief, I dont have the sheetz card, at the time, I didnt agree with the fine print.  I'm told its been removed., but when it first was offered, the fine print read some thing like this:

" we can at any time without your consent, submit your purchase and transaction history to ANY Government agency, including LAw Enforcement "  

  Now I dont have anything to hide, but just didnt think this was right

got the sofa some what dried out, its that Micro Fibre that was popular 10 years ago.  problem, is though, I never followed through with any of the treatments to keep it water resistant. 

The warehouse cat seems to be enjoying it.  

I'm gonna have to get cable here. can only play online so much.   at least I watch back episodes of shows online. 

ryan

[charliebrown]

Hudson#685

RJ, Charlie Brown: From past experience, watch where you plant that Magnolia tree! They love the WATER & SEWER LINES!!!!! It did a number on my Mom's sewer line.

Thanks for the advice. I believe the place I have the wife talked into is safe from water and sewer lines. I have heard the southern magnolias are more likely to do root damage.

Accomplished nothing tonight. I picked up the magnolia tree for the wife (it became a mothers day gift). Brother in law came by and picked up the dog kennel & dog house we gave them. I have a list a mile long to do on Thursday. Planing to take half a day off work just to catch up. It would be super great if I could use that time for the train but I don't see that happening. We have a few things planned for this weekend and the weekend of the 17th I will be selling poppy's for the legion but still hoping to have frame finished.

[blownout cylinder]

OK...what is this Sheetz business? Is it some form of fast food outlet...something like our local Fritzie's Superfries place?

I'm not so sure bout Taco Bell...I like the tacos...but the taco's don't like me!!!

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

Good evening. 

Got the rudder of my 109 painted yellow, so I'll paint the details and do some touch-ups next. Can't wait to do the decals. 

Night everyone. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.

[rtraincollector]

blownout cylinder

OK...what is this Sheetz business? Is it some form of fast food outlet...something like our local Fritzie's Superfries place?

I'm not so sure bout Taco Bell...I like the tacos...but the taco's don't like me!!!

It's a gas station with like fast food in it I change the name a little and its what I think of it

Not much going on here.

S.C. is a right to work state so they can't make you join a union

Well not much going on here so its time to call it a night have a good one

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

Rainy in SE Indiana, but was clear enough long enough to get my soccer scrimmage with "my" soccer kids.  Just another long day at work.   Did watch Arrow tonight.  I hope everyone has a good day.  Got my LCT catalog today thru Lionel Railroader Club.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[sir james I]

The temp is 68

I'm late tonight, watched a movie on cable. The man says rain for part of Friday so I guess James will be cutting grass tomorrow. It's gotta at least look decent for the train club guys. A banilla float with ginger ale was our snack tonight...S.J.

[cnw1995]

A pleasant evening to you all. The college boy cut the grass. First time since summer of 2011. Never cut it at all last summer. Prepping the college boy for all the paperwork he needs to fill out for his summer job. I take him out there Friday. Actually looking forward to the 12 hour round trip - not to mention hanging out in Sandusky, Ohio for a few hours. I'll listen to a lot of baseball on the radio or old-time radio shows, and eyeball all the NS/ CSX lines I-80 will cross.

I'll just sit outside now looking for the TARDIS. Beacon is on. 

[Zero Export]

Blown out, your not missing anything not knowing what sheetz is

RT, YES thats what you get 10 minutes after eating there food.    I feel bad for these people that go there and head right back out onto the interstate.   10 to 15 years ago there food was GREAT

rain and storms off and on today

looks like i need to be going to wally world after work today.  need mini blinds and some food. 

Ryan

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

Good morning.

Feeling really sore this morning. Slight headache and upset stomach. Should clear up as day goes by.

[cnw1995]

Aloha. Looks a little cooler today. Ran trains last eve., amidst hockey games and fixing broken blinds. Is today someone's special day? Happy birthday Chuck!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a gloomy and damp 58 degrees. Going up to 72 today with rain coming.

Today is an easy day. I have a few chores to do and then I can relax and enjoy some reading. A nice lunch and a nap, this afternoon.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Thursday.

Chuck

[KRM]

rtraincollector

blownout cylinder

 

 

S.C. is a right to work state so they can't make you join a union

 

Right to work FOR LESS state. 

 

  Chuck

Ran trains last night, first time in a long time. Felt good. Looking forward to the arrival of the rebuilt Dockside. 

 Guy coming over to pick up a chainsaw and gen set I repaired today. Not much else.

[blownout cylinder]

Zero Export

Blown out, your not missing anything not knowing what sheetz is

RT, YES thats what you get 10 minutes after eating there food.    I feel bad for these people that go there and head right back out onto the interstate.   10 to 15 years ago there food was GREAT

rain and storms off and on today

looks like i need to be going to wally world after work today.  need mini blinds and some food. 

Ryan

Yeah, that was right!! LOL!!...I guess our Fritzie's is a much better place then..they serve up some awfully nice burgers and such....

---------------------------------------------------------------

Good Morning

Sunny and 76F this afternoon...this morning it is kinda coolish and a bit muggy/damp...

Today is get things mailed off and get some LHS shopping done..sigh...as well as getting some more basic buys as SWMBO has just pointed out..sigh..which means driving a few more miles out of the way, again...sigh....

Anyhoooo...have a good day!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 67° with 100% humidity. Cloudy with a high of 80°.


The grass is high and it looks like rain for the next couple of days. So it looks like mowing the grass is on the schedule today. Gotta get it done or it'll only be harder to do later. Oh well, could be worse.

[sir james I]

The temp is a sunny 69

Rain expected overnight so it's gonna be grass cutting today. I still have some cleaning to do in the train room but I might just finish it off on rainy Friday. For our OGR peekers, we had scrambled eggs, some bacon and 1 toast..S.J.