Another nice sunny day today, about 80 degrees.
Tying up the last bit of household business and packing tonight for my trip across the pond tomorrow.
Not much else going on.
Good evening all,
Quiet day at work. Neighbor moved all the tree limbs to the street. Good to know there are good people in world. Did preliminary work on some projects. Indications are they will go well. Being brief for many reasons. Thinking many things over. Will ref 2 soccer games tomorrow.
Mike C. from Indiana
Prayers for healing and rehab and for our loved ones and friends. What a mess lately, hope things turn around for everyone! Working tomorrow 5 hours mandatory and now they say they will extend it through October? Wonder if we will even have a budget though, no word on that lately. Went out for some BBQ for dinner and then watched Olympus Down, which is pretty good.
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Good Morning from Blueberryhill..............
It is a sunny 62 degrees. Going up to 82 today with sunshine.
Today is an easy day. Wife is going to the Akron Zoo with granddaughter and will be gone most of the day. I have a few chores and a small project to work on. Then, I can relax and do some reading. Lunch and a nice nap, later.
Dining car has rolled in with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Saturday.
Chuck
Morning all. Hope all are well. Seems rain followed me home. Maybe big rains here today. Off to the store [Hunters Haven] for a while. Then drive north to Petersburg VA for a bar-be-que. Back tonight as Wifey has to teach Sunday School. May drive down east tomorrow for family reunion.
Mike C., prayers for all of your decisions and projects.
Good to hear Don and Jeffrey are doing better.
Later
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Mornin' Y'all.
DJ, on the job.
Chuck, While the cats away the mice better not play, they always seem to notice the burger wrappers or pizza boxes no matter how much we crush or wad them up to throw away.
Quite busy at the museum yesterday, lots of visitors. Must be the "Last Huurah" before the bulk of the schools start back. Got home about 5:30, sat on the couch and promptly fell asleep for about two hours. Still tired.
Out in the yard early early this morning to make sure everything is watered, looks like temps have started to go back up after all this great weather we had. Oh well can't win'em all.
Gotta get moving, the munchkin will be here in a little while. He's spending the the nite and I have some things to get done before he gets here.
Later all.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Morning all,
Took early walk today to beat the heat.
Got woke up this morning by my sister in Florida. She has no concept of time zones. Is anxious about getting some dental work done but her daughter tells me that she has other issues to deal with first. Sister neglects to tell me the whole story. Hard when we are so far away from each other to know what's going on. She has been in a nursing home for some time now. Had a couple of bad falls recently and broke her wrist on the last one. Need to talk to her daughter.
Took a dunk in the pool late yesterday. I wouldn't call it swimming. I just get in there to cool off.
Prayers for Don and Jeffrey.
later,
Ray
SPMan
Good afternoon everyone. Chief, always great to see you and Miss Pam. Kim thinks she is great, we all enjoyed the conversations and friendship. Thanks! If the rain followed you, it is still coming through here. So, much more to follow.
Ray, yes, there is an Albany, Georgia! Our local passenger station has been made into a museum and cultural center. At one time, ACL, Southern, and Central of Georgia all connected there. Robert West has a painting of it.
Glad Don is doing well. Tough injury to have. Hope you are not driving your home nurse (Miss Kay) nuts!
Jon, our oldest is taking band in middle school. Took him today to the trials to see what instrument he will play. He scored high in trumpet, and higher in trombone and French horn. He chose trumpet. They encouraged him to be open about the horn as scholarships are plenty for horn players. The school system band director is a friend from Sunday School and would be happy to help him be dual instrument capable. We purchased the trumpet, but understand the horn would be a bit more.
hope everyone has a blessed day!
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Hi Dennis --
That's good news about your son!! Starting on the trpt., in my opinion, is a great way to be introduced to the brass family. Once he learns the basics of forming the correct embouchure he could easily transfer to the Horn whereas starting on the Horn and transferring to the trpt. is more difficult. Both instruments are similar but the Horn is less forgiving, however, if he has a good ear Horn would not be difficult. As I remember your children did Suzuki strings, awesome!!! I would bet that your son has a good ear pitch wise, he will do well. Be very happy that you didn't have to buy a double F-Horn, I would think that your school would have those available to rent on a yearly basis when the time comes, big $$$$ to own but worth it. Trumpet is also easier to march with and if he ever gets interested in jazz he will be set.
I think back to when our two sons started band, they had the biggest smiles ever. They have both carried that enthusiasm into their adult lives, our oldest son is a band director in a high quality HS and youngest son gigs in different ensembles in MPLS, they still have that passion.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Dennis, re Albany, the ACL had a train at one time called the Southland that ran between Chicago and Florida and was handled by several railroads enroute with ACL being the final one I believe and I think the ACL took over in Albany or at least went through it. I always think of the ACL as being mainly just New York to Florida but they did have other lines in the South. Good to hear that your son has taken up the trumpet. I am always pleased to see a young person interested in something besides guitars these days. Trumpet was my favorite instrument and I love brass music of all kinds. I played trumpet a little in high school but not in the marching band. I learned how to play with a bugle at home to start with so that helped me learn how to use the mouthpiece. I had a lot of desire but not too much natural ability and learning to read music seemed difficult to me. I never had any private lessons and I always wondered if that would have helped. I know it wouldn't have hurt. At any rate I did get a lifelong appreciation for brass music and that was a good thing. I wish your son the very best and hope he enjoys it as much as I did.
My BIL sent an E mail today saying my sister in Virginia has had another set back. They have put her on an oxygen mask now instead of just a canula. Her lung function is below normal and she has some inflamation and some fluid in the lungs. She is being given heavy doses of anti biotics. We are all praying but I am worried about her. She is fighting an uphill battle.
Wound up reffing 3 games today. Only the last one was any good as first 2 were blowouts. Last one made up for it as it was a barn burner ending in a 1-1 tie. Absolutely great game. Both teams played cleanly and hard. No physical contact fouls were called, and both coaches were vocal AND positive thru out the game. It was a game to make one glad to be alive to see it. Took wife for some "retail" therapy after that. Long day. Tired.
Good evening folks. Took the older kids to see Percy Jackson at the movie tonight. Was fun to share the time and get to talk above the level of the three year olds for awhile.
Jon, yes, he has great pitch and ear for music. We came home and watched a little Dizzy Gillespie on youtube. Had to throw a little Buddy Rich in just to cap off percussion with strings and brass. He picked out a King 600, but I am sure he will move up when he gets the hang of things.
Ray, sorry to hear of your sister's troubles. Know you are concerned, and distance certainly doesn't help. Prayers.
God bless
Rainy day here. Was saved from a long ride by MIL. She did not want to get out in the bad weather since she was doing so great since the hospital. Forecaster said he has egg on his face. No flood as forecasted [which is good]. Some light steady rains and now gone for a while.
Seems we have another Southern REB raid into LA. Look at the surprise attack below.
Roy and Don in Don's train room.
Big smile from Don and the beautiful lady in the background is Kay.
What a wonderful way to end the day.
Sleep tight.
Konbanwa,
We’ve been enjoying a wonderfully relaxing Sunday. We did the usual Sunday school and church this morning, followed by a take-out lunch from McDonald’s. I’ve spent most of the afternoon reading which was nice. The kids were/are playing outside and enjoying these hot summer days. The wife is having dinner with a friend tonight so the kids and I will have some leftovers for dinner. This past week was somewhat hectic with work, having people over for dinner, and two days of 102 degree fever for me. All is well now and hopefully this week will be much smoother.
Don – It’s good to see you’re healing well and enjoying good company.
DJ Spanky – I’m glad the job situation worked out well for you. I’ve enjoyed seeing your stone arch painting progress.
Dennis – Congratulations to your son for choosing such a fine musical instrument. I played the trumpet from second to sixth grade, and was even allowed to play in the high school band during that time. Unfortunately, I stopped playing to purse football and other sports, but I plan to take it back up eventually. Our two older kids enjoy learning/playing the piano and I’m thankful for it.
I’ll be praying for all of us in need.
Sayonara,
Joe
Good Morning from Blueberryhill........
It is a cloudy 67 degrees. Looks like rain any minute. High 82.
Today is an easy day. A few chores and then I will relax. Maybe spend some time in the train room. I would like to do some reading. Lunch and a nice nap later. Indians are still in second place.
Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Sunday.
Glad to see Roy doing a little raid there. Continue to pray for Don's complete healing.
Thanks for the kind comments regarding my Son's musical venture. He still wants to do violin, but he really wants to play trumpet. I too took it in school. My instructor was a very accomplished musician who had survived the concentration camps.
Joe, great to see the kids learning music. Lots of conjecture, but studies do show students who take music perform better on their academics.
well, have to get ready for church. I made an experimental desert for Sunday School. Bottom layer chocolate chip cookie dough, middle Reese Cups, top layer brownies, all cooked together. We shall see how it goes!
May each of you and your families be blessed this week.
Good Morning...
Boy, was I busy the last couple of days...SWMBO decided that 'we' needed to go up into the attic to see what was up there...did I say ...'we'? Nah...it was more like ...little ol' me that went up to the attic...oh joy ...it was chock-a-block with more junk than ...."Carter had Liver Pills" So...to start...several old chests, a rocking chair, a couple of old paintings and several other items of woe had to come down to the main part of the house...to rest...where else...in my just cleaned up and ready to reno studio space!!! So, guess whose workspace gets to be done...first? SWMBO's.....growl!!!!
I'm going to crawl back to the basement and mope....
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/
Morning all because I work at the V.A. here in Columbia, SC I had to goto Charleston to get some of my evaluation of my Service connected disabilities so heres my yesterday lol
Well Yesterday was a looonnnggg day lol. Drove about 150 miles to get a evaluation that could of been done here except I work here so had to goto another facility. So did that ate at a Dennys that they converted to look like the old diners ( the silver ones ) Food was good. Drove the 150 miles back and then just did this and that talked to Charlie,Brutus,SJ, and Hudson John on the tardis until I started falling asleep at the wheel so turn the controls over to who knows and bailed out and went to bed 11 hrs later finally up lol. ( haven't been sleeping well again still tired but need to be up or won't sleep tonight. ) Well been diging out and finding trains I forgot about again and listing trains on ebay so my train table is a mess need to straighten up down there so I can run trains and continue working on the layout. I keep getting side tracked. Hope all have had a good weekend I have so far enjoyed the trip to Charleston and back. Talk to you al later time for breakfast.
Hope to post some train pics later seeing we didn't have any last week from what I saw.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Good Morning! 75 degrees and Rain on the way!
It has been a busy week. I spent a few days with Mom. After her chemo the other day she was really weak. She bounced back the next morning and she is doing great now. Fishing has slowed down in the Bay.
Don: Glad that you are on the mend!
Jeffrey: Take care and I hope it works out for you.
Have a Great Day!
John
Mornin' boys. Damp and 70 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Laundry day. Perhaps grocery shopping. Maybe a little layout work. Spent yesterday at Enola, PA and Rockville Bridge. Did see one Heritage unit (Nickel Plate), but it was tucked away in the yard.
Good Sunday afternoon all!
Some rain later today so I'm heading over to daughter #2's house for some quick landscaping duties. Then over to my son's house for some furniture moving. That's about all for today.
Don - Hope your long road to recovery goes fast and easy.
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
Joe --
When your current deployment ends and you get back state side take a look at New Horizons Bands. It's a national concert bands opportunity for people like yourself. It's all adults and all volunteer and the performance level is aimed aimed at easier levels. Most groups maybe perform 4-6 times a year (depends on location) and it looks like fun. Lots of retired folks plus lots of folks that are younger that simply want to play again. They've been after me for a long time but it's what I did my whole life, I simply want to be an audience person. I do play every two years at a state conference and it's mostly grade 5 literature (1 being the easiest) and I do practice diligently for 1 month before the first rehearsal, I do enjoy it and it makes me practice. It's something besides the Wedding March (still get calls for that) and Taps at Veterans funerals.
Good morning all,
Roy, good on you for paying a visit to Don. Looks like y'all were having a good time.
RT, didn't know you worked for the V.A. I have a son who works there too in the West L.A. Campus. He has a killer drive everyday from where we live. Hoping the light rail or subway will reach there before he retires.
Jon, good for you that you still play occasionally. Wish I could but time and health are against me. Still love to listen to brass music though. Traditional jazz, circus music, Ragtime, marches, military, classical, even turn of the century music in the park kind of stuff. If it's brass, I usually notice.
Chief, you would be proud of me today. Had grits and eggs for breakfast. It was good.
Church today at ll:30am. Have been going to Saturday night mass for the last couple of weeks but don't get to see my son and his family at that one so we have to reconnect today. Widower friend used to go to 11:30 when his wife was living but he has gone to the 7:30 early mass since she passed away.
Hope Don and Jeffrey continue to do well. Have not seen a report on Jeffrey lately. Might have to check the diner for news.
Seasonal hot weather still with us so adjust activity accordingly. I need to take a trip to one of the beach cities one of these days since school has started again. It's just hard to make a round trip in the same day and spend much time there between rush hours.
Speaking of music, my theme song when I was working was "On the Road Again" but nowadays I like Frank Sinatra's version of "Come Fly With Me". Conjures up images of going places and flying the way it used to be. On some airlines now, I guess the theme would be "Cattle Call".
Dennis, Dizzy Gillespie was a good example of things not to do when playing a trumpet and yet was still very successful. My music teacher would cringe at the way he puffed up his cheeks when he played and what about that crazy horn he had with the bell sticking up out of the middle of it. Saw a clip one time of him and Louis Armstrong playing together. IMHO, Louis Armstrong was the greatest jazz musician over all. He set a lot of paths that others followed. Lot about him on the Ken Burns jazz series.
Ray I did 17 years in the navy got out worked here there for about 15 years then went for work for the V.A. here about 5 years ago. My 17 years will count towards my retirement here with the V.A.
Been straighting up the train room some well re-aranging the trains to how I want them lol. Wife was pleased and surprised when I pulled out the williams girls set she didn't know I had it but liked it. Started SPF
Ray & Dennis --
I think of all the great musicians I was privileged to hear live from the early 60's to the mid 70's and I feel blessed. Duke, Count, Kenton, Harry James, Satchmo, Mendez, Dizzy, Chase, Goodman, Crupa, Buddy Rich, Wynton Marcellus and Johny Cash! Lots of others that I just can't remember but the one I never got to hear was Miles Davis, I've seen lots of tapes of him but when I walk away I think, huh?
One of my favorite moments was when our boys were young, I walked through the living room and Dizzy was on TV with Mr. Rogers playing his heart out, LOVED IT!!!! Where in the world can you see a Trolley and Dizzy in 30 minutes, hosted by a true gentleman--Fred Rogers.
Afternoon all. Back from down east where farms are. Had family reunion in Eagles Baptist Church at Eagles Cross Roads. Established in 1831. Now Ray, we had Parkers bar-be-que and fried chicken with boiled potatoes, slaw and corn sticks. All the sweat tea you could drink.
Now to MIL's as the soldier has a birthday party there. [you'd think he was the only person ever to go in the Army ]
Afternoon all!
Back in sunny DFW where temps are reasonable (91).
Was just able to fit a visit to Don at the end of an intense business trip to the Anaheim area. Thought I would be visiting him in the hospital but he has been patched up, sent home, and things are looking very good for recovery. My visit prompted his first journey with the crutches to the train room and as you can see he was happy to get around a bit!
This was supposed to be a secret raid but when I asked the Chief for remote clandestine support he does what? He calls Don! So Don had time to get the cover over the pool preventing the Great West Coast Grits Bombing Run! So I can only assume the rental car company is wondering what to do with a trunk full of Grits.
I have another trip this week so apologies to all our other SoCal friends that I was not able to linger in the area for another day or so.
Son is cooking us steaks on the grill tonight!
Regards, Roy
Busy weekend, got replacement engine ready, need to clean it and reassemble with new bearings and swap some parts out. Maybe by next weekend...and I have work on Saturday.
Was standing color guard for the 9/11 run through town. Very emotional, to say the least.
Was supposed to go on the fallen firefighter run today, but I pulled an all nighter... 2 smoke conditions and a standby at Station 17 in Hamilton Twp. put the kabosh on that. Didn't get home until 0530....
Finished laundry and general clean up. May head out to wally world later for some stuff.
Glad Don is home. for those in need.
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
Jon, how lucky for you to see all those big name players in person. I saw Harry James play in Vegas and I got to see Louis Armstrong twice. Once on the East Coast and once in California but never got to see any of the big band personalities in person except H.J. Must have been great for you to hear Benny Goodman live. Besides all his lively stuff, I love one of his slow tunes like "Memories of You". We saw a BG impersonator at a traditional jazz festival in San Diego in 2009 who was the next best thing to the real one. When I think of BG, I think of his version of "Sing Sing Sing". That piece was written by Louis Prima. Never knew that until a few years ago. BTW, I saw his band in Las Vegas with Keely Smith in 1958. He was a good trumpet player too. Of course Sam Butura and the Witnesses were a great back up band.
Chief, is Parkers better than Smithfield? I heard it was pretty good.
I have been in Bret's favorite town, State College, PA. Had a great meeting and then stayed with friends at a small lake in Northern PA.
On the road again this week.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
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