August Coffee Pot - grits & donuts for all

[Sturgeon-Phish]

 

Good Afternoon from a sunny hot 96° F w/ 48% humidity Southern Ohio,

 

Due to the hot environment where I work the guys can only work for 30 minutes then go to a cool area for 90 minutes.  This work/rest routine does create some coordinating issues but it is really for the better.  Years ago when I was an operator there were times you would pull off your respirator and pour the sweat out.  It was routine to loose several pounds a day from water loss.  Not so in today’s highly regulated work space.

 

The garage contractors ran into a huge yellow jacket nest while doing ground prep, but the area where the garage is going is looking good.

 

Banks – I was toying with the idea of a gambrel (barn style) roof with a rear entry.  The idea was nixed because my bride wanting to match the existing garage as much as possible and after getting the go ahead to build the garage I didn’t put up too much of an argument.

 

Kev – I bought the snap ring pliers when I did a repair / upgrade to the 4 wheel drive transfer case on my truck after messing with a snap ring for longer than I care to admit.

 

Roy – When we moved it was with the understanding of adding a garage.  I spend quite a bit of time in the garage working on cars or woodworking projects and became totally spoiled by having the garages, not only for the space to work out of the weather but to keep tools safe and where they belong!

 

Brent – We’ve got quite a few critters at the new place.  Two major (beat bare to the ground) deer trail crisscrossing the ridges, raccoons (had to get a different container for the dog food), a crazy fun to watch squirrel family, black and green snakes just so far.  I was surprised  when you consider our wooded 6 acres are in the middle of the city.

 

Got to go

 

May God bless

 

Jim

 

 

 

 

 

[lion88roar]

Mornin' Fellas

Hazy Hot and Humid here in MD... fog was so thick this morning I could have taken the kids to their dropoffs in a boat! I can deal with heat, but humidity is another story. Feel like i need to take another shower!

Glad everyone seems to be on the mend!

Fife - glad Fifemax listened... that result could have been rather messy. A couple years ago my neighbor fell asleep in his gazebo, well the next morning he woke to find a good sized bear in the gazebo drinking the hummingbird juice! He got pictures of it after it vacated and headed down to the circle! Worst for me, so far, was the 10pt buck who used our driveway as a path through the neighborhood (he stopped to see what I was doing under the car), the 6ft black snake in the basement, and the snapping turtle who thought our driveway was his sunbed!

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

Busy day at work.  Muggy for the walk today.  Thought about mowing tonight, but decided to wait for cooler weather.  Junior high team lost 4-2 but at least they have scored in both games.  Wondering if high school teams ever will.....  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

Hot and humid - 90's but no 100's!

Kev - what I like about HF and the cheap tools is I have no hesitation modifying them, cutting them up. I do it all the time.

Banks - glad the arm is doing better!

Rob - good to hear from ya!

[Banks]

Hello there,

PT is getting easier. Learning to sleep better too.

Mom is about the same.  Several people have told me she qualifies for nursing care but non have completed the paperwork.

Work is getting less crazy. Did get in a couple of small projects to bid. They will be hard to get since everyone is hungry. Not sure whats up with the owner. His son was in yesterday asking questions

Fife......our August 22 trip to Cumberland got postponed til the first week of October.

Phish. ...good deal on the garage. Built into the hill it would be easy to add a second floor entrance. ......Lot's of extra storage.

I've got several tools from Harbor Frieght. They are pretty good for the price 

Gonna head to bed soon.

Prayers for those in need

[KRM]

The Rusty Ranger is on the road again..

 It was one heck of a fight but at this point it looks like I did it. Just checked to see if it leaked trans fluid on the shed floor and it is dry. So, I got it.

I picked up four items from Harbor freight to get it done. A bent end internal snap ring pliers, A long handle bent end needle nosed pliers, a four pack of assorted pry bars, and an inspection mirror. Total cost at Harbor Freight was $22.00

I ground notches into the snap ring on the flats where you pull it in so it would hold better in the pliers

Then I managed to get the ring into the grove far enough with the pry bar and the bent end needle nosed pliers to where it would not fall out. The problem then was to seat the ring into the grove. So, I invented a fix using the 18” pry bar. I drilled a hole half way through the tip of the pry bar and installed a ½” long piece of 1/8” drill rod into it so it would fit into the trams between the case and the cover and I could push against the exhaust pipe with the bar and push the ring into place. I was doing all of this where I could not reach or see. I thought it sounded as if it had seated but to be sure I needed to see. That is where I used the inspection mirror to look into the ring before I started the truck. It was in place but not seated as well as I would like so I used a 90-degree screwdriver to push between the ring and servo cover till the ring was seated.

robmcc, One thing for sure I am getting too old to be rolling around under cars and trucks at my age. Was not that good 35 years ago but now WOW!

Jim, Thanks for the offer!!

Now to see what today brings???

Here are the tools,

Here is the fix,

Here is the truck,

[robmcc]

Morning all! I'm on vacation this week and still up at the crack of dawn!! Ugh...

I got a call from the MasterCard fraud department yesterday to confirm my latest train purchase was legit. It's nice to know they are looking out for you even though it was a little embarassing when the unmentioned store called a few minutes later to say the card was "declined". 

Roy - It does suck wrenching in awkward positions! Every time I work on my Camaro, I curse myself for not putting in a hoist. Now if I had Kev or Jim's garage......

Dennis - You could certainly see what they offer you for your trains. I'm not sure what you would grade them at, but I've seen lots of C5-6 stuff on their website. Like RT said, you know it will probably be a low offer though. You could also check what Traincity has to offer.

Kev - Hope the A/C repair bill isn't too bad. Mine crapped out last year and I planned for the worse. Fortunately, the deacon at my church is also a HVAC service tech and it turned out to be a rusted off connector to my compressor. Happy Belated Birthday too.

Have a great day all and prayers to those in need.

 

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

"My" soccer girls lost by a field goal and a touchdown tonight.  Could be a very long season, but the junior high did win Monday night 7-0 so there is hope.  Work was busy and the weather is warmer.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

Very warm and humid here. 91 today. 86 tomorrow but still very humid.

Boat Propeller shaft packing spud nut is leaking pretty bad. I tried to tighten it but getting too old to lie upside down trying o reach it with one arm extended. So hauled the boat out and hauled it 50 miles to the shop where the young guys can fix it, plus they will replace the packing. I was only going to tighten it To see if it would make the rest of the season.

RT - i thought the market space you and Donna rented a while back did not work well (didn't work badly either) for selling trains?

Dennis - glad you have a break in the heat!

Chief - hope the chemo is going ok?

Ray - glad you are doing better with the swelling!

Phish - man if I could build a small shop..envious!

Mike C - sure that wasn't an American football game?

Kev - i just replaced the fan motor and fan on my a/c condenser. Not cheap. Good deal they got the air handler fan running until the new motor comes in!

[rtraincollector]

Dennis probably wouldn't give you much more than $1 a car and not much for the engines too. 

Morning all. Not a lot going on here. Trying to think if it would be better to try and sell my stuff in a store setting ( ie after monthly rent would I be better off than selling thru a auction house. )

[KRM]

It is morning,

New day new problem, go figure.

 Ranger transmission problem is on the back burner till I get a bent nose long handle snap-ring pliers so I can try to replace the servo snap ring that rusted and broke. Then the servo cap poped out and the truck would not shift into third or reverse. Also chucked oil all over the place.  . Just as well, Last night the AC kicked in and it sounded like a rocket ship was taking off in the basement. Went down and checked and it seems to be cooling but sounds like water running/spraying in it and at first I thought it was the fan motor squealing but when I ran a heat cycle it is fine so it has to be something with the AC system. Oh joy.

So the Plumber just came out and said we got to get a new blower fan. Always something!! He told me the blower has three speeds and on AC it is on high and that is the speed where it makes the noise. So he wired it to middle speed that it runs on in heat mode till he can get a new one for it. So at least we will still be cool. Wonder what that will cost?

 Danny the some day maybe SIL came over yesterday and helped trim up and down the lane, took 4 hours but done for the year now.

 Katie, Dan and the kids came out on Sunday for my 65th birthday that was Saturday and they cooked on the grill and all I had to do was eat and drink beer.

Best be going.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Evening guys

I am excited about the garage.  Our old house had a 24x28 and a 20 x 30 addition for the dually.  I got spoiled in a hurry.

No layout in the garage as I get one of the bedrooms in the basement for a layout.  The room is about 12 x 12 so it will not be large, but it will be a layout.  Once I get the Honey dos under control I start prepping the room.  I'm thinking about using the All Aboard panels for now.

Good night and may God bless

Jim

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

Busy day back at work.  Good day for a walk.  "My" soccer boys got pounded tonight 14-0 (yes, that is a soccer score).  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[SPMan]

Lazy day here.  Didn't get up until 10:30.  Breakfast at noon.  Had some Jimmy Dean turkey sausage and eggs.  Seems to agree with me better than regular pork sausage. Taste is pretty good too.

Chief, hope you are doing OK.

Phish, any plans for trains in that new garage?

I have been giving more thought to selling my train collection.  Just can't bring myself to do it yet.

I'm still fighting dermatitis but meds keep it under control.  It sure gets old though.

Continue with dieuretics today and three times a week for my swollen feet.  They seem a little better today. Just a little puffy on top but ankles are better.

Ray

[anjdevil2]

Mostly Cloudy here on the banks of the Historic Delaware and Raritan Canal...

Fife, glad you and FifeMax are good....

It PAINS me to tell you that the unofficial official 9/11 run is heading to Cumberland on Friday.  No, I can't go, too late to get out of work.  I SO wanted to go, too.  It's not escorted or anything, very loose run.  I'm going to meet them in Baltimore Saturday morning, and it will end in Hightstown, NJ where I live so it will be a good ride.  I'm just so bummed....BUT I see why you moved there, so beautiful......

Phish - nice on the garage.  I'm looking at a 12X24 drop in or build on site for the car, the tools and the bike.  My rent went up to $60 (!!) per month from the previous $50....

Prayers to my POT buddies and especially youse giz on the left coast....

BACK to work....

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

Rain on and off today. Huuuuumiiiiiid 

Fife - what no bear burgers? Fifebear?

Phish - great news on the new garage!

[Sturgeon-Phish]

 

Good Morning from beautiful 72°F w/68% Humidity Southern Ohio,

 

Well the fair is over and the critters are home.  My bride and the kids are pretty well wiped out.  I’m continuing to work on the honey do list and things are starting to settle in.

 

The weather was great this past weekend.  Got lots of grass cut and slowly getting some areas cut that had been let go for a while.  Hopefully the good weather will hold out.  The contractor called yesterday and they are going to start my new garage mid-week.  Really looking forward to having the space for my tools and the truck.  The location is where we had the broiler chickens and rabbits so the kids and I moved them to another location.  Two sides of the new 24 x 28 garage will be set back into the hillside and the open side will be next to the existing 24 x 24 garage. 

 

Fife – Nice sized bear.  Good thing Fifemax listened

 

Banks – Prayers for your mom and her caregivers.

 

Chief – Hope you’re feeling better.  How is your addition going?

 

Kev – we get resourceful with kids!

 

Lunch break over

 

May God bless

 

Jim

 

[rtraincollector]

Fife watch out. I don't want to read " Retired Maryland Police officer dragged off by West Virginian Black bear."

Not much going on today, doing a Wally World run later but thats about it.

Our two Sycamore trees are down and the yard looks so much bigger now. 

Hope all have a good day

[fifedog]

***This just in***

Fifedom just got visited by a 250 lb black bear!!!  I let FifeMax outside (rear of house), and noticed that the hummingbird feeder was laying on the ground open, and the metal pole had been bent all the way to the ground.  Dog didn't alert, so I started checking for other signs (trashcans, flowerbeds).  Then all of the sudden, bear went trotting from the dry wash about 100 yards away, heading away north.  FifeMax started to go after him, but when I called him back, he listened, for a change.

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

A nice day today with enough clouds to keep the temps tolerable.

Mike C - 4 hrs - sounds about normal to me!

Banks, Chief, et al - like Fife said -

 

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

Nice day weather wise.  Took four hours to change an outdoor light fixture.  Ugh.  Trimmed the maple tree bush (that took five minutes) and fixed a latch on a cabinet in the shed.  Back to work tomorrow.  Double ugh!  Hopefully less than 4 more years.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Banks]

Hello there,
Another interesting week. Was expecting  Hospice to show up Tuesday  to evaluate mom. Home Nursing showed instead. After some "discussion" Hospice came Wednesday and promptly turned her down. More "discussion" and Home Nursing was back Friday. They are a PITA but at least if there is an issue a nurse will come check her over without an ER visit.

Shoulder continues to improve. PT isn't fun but necessary.( Still think the lady gets her fun watching me grimace.)


Hay Ride at the Parish festival was a wash out.  We got over 2.5" of rain Friday evening during the festival hours. When I left before dark I saw a couple of cars stuck in the grass parking area. At least one up to the axel.  I didn't run the hay ride today due to the mud. The grass parking was blocked off and created a mess on the surrounding streets. Yesterday was a lazy day other than taking the straw I had on the wagon last night to the school grounds. They scattered it over the mud to try to keep  things nicer.

Today was mass followed by a trip to Wallyworld. Mrs is at a bridal shower for one of her nieces. I spent most of the day napping and watching YouTube videos.

Not sure what's up with mom. Couldn't get her to get out of bed yesterday or so far today


Roy.....good video. You might like this one.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ8l9MPAoyk<br>

John....... did they change the date on the lifetime pass??? I thought it was August and I won't be 62 til September.

Best move on

Prayers for those in need

[KRM]

Looks like a nice day outside and the high will be 80. Then starting tomorrow August comes back and temps go up. AC will have to go on!

 

 Katie and kids are heading out this afternoon for a birthday thing a day late. So I got to run and get some stuff now.

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Beautiful one along the Patterson Creek cut-off.

Chief, et al - Simply put, .

 

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

Reffed one game today and watched an English Premiere League match on TV.  "My" soccer girls were on the road today and lost 2-0.  It is going to be a long season.  Weather was nice again.  Ran the Santa Fe passenger set tonight.  After burning off the track grime, it ran pretty well.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

[dougdagrump]

wrmcclellan

Ray - glad your tests came out ok and the pills do their job for your feet - keep em elevated!

And avoid excessive salt.

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Slept well with working a/c last night! Return to normal temps this week - hi 90's!

SJ - we got lots of summer left to share with you down here!

DougnottaG - good deal about your museum day going well! 

Ray - glad your tests came out ok and the pills do their job for your feet - keep em elevated!

Chief - take care with the chemo!

[ChiefEagles]

Afternoon all.  Rain showers off and on.  No mowing today.

Got big fan blowing under new part of house.  Contractor trying to dry out.  Well, humid air is going through big hole in old part of basement.  Making inside of house humid.  A/C turned down to help.  May shut fan down.  He needs to fix crawl space hole.  

Been watching John Wayne westerns on TMC.

Taking it easy.  Probably train box this afternoon.  Did some tinkering on an engine yesterday afternoon.  Hand still bandaged so handicapped some.

Increase one tablet on chemo tonight.  Seems all is OK.

Glad to see all the CA gang is posting OK.

Have a good one.

[dougdagrump]

Good Morning All !

First day back at the museum yesterday went well with the exception of the DCS gremlins making their presence known during the last hour of the day. The BetterHalf was my chauffeur coming and going which was good, by end of day I was POOPED. Crashed about 7pm last nite and didn't wake up til almost 7 this morning.

Kev, Congrats on the addition to the clan. Prayers that mom and yougun are out and about quickly.

Rest of this month will be busy with the doc's and their associates.

Healing prayers for all our friends here on the pot.

Later all, time to rustle up some grub so I can take the morning drugs.  

[sir james I]

WAKE UP

All those grits musta sent everybody to the restroom.