Hey, Happy Monday.....No big deal about the snow, maybe got 2-3" if that. Sloppy mess yesterday.Saturday got Mom and Dad's wreaths up on the windows and put the electric candles out, no tree just yet per Mom's orders.Trimmed the bottom of my tree and got the lights up. Ran to Home Depot and got a great pruner for $10. Saw the Princess'consort there and one of my class mates from elementary school, wished her a Happy Chanukah and gave her a hug.Ran to xGFs to help her sort out some stuff and had dinner. Her daughter is too cute, we did some stuff and watched her brushher teeth and wash up (you know how kids are...).Went to sleep then was awoken at 0430 as the little Princess was up and I moved to the basement. Long story on that for another day...Sunday had the FD wake me up via the phone alert system as they needed help - no one to sell trees as the Santa Breakfast was going on - of course everyone was doing thatand not selling trees. Spent 2 hours there and sold 4.Got the laundry done, Polar Express is up and running under the tree with 3 Lemax buildings underneath. Of course on the last load, the wash broke and I'll look at that tonight. Also got more lights on the house, so I think that's done, just more electric candelabras in the windows and that's it.Princess was off to a friend's house and had a wee bit too much wine and she had the car - at 930 PM!! had to run to get the BF 15 miles out, grab him and take him to get her and the car, so I wasn't home until 1130 and by the time I got my bed back together it was after midnight. Good thing is, she called and didn't want drive inebriated. Happy about that, so not upset.So, tonight after dinner, it'll be mortgage paper work and washer repairs - might throw a little tree decorating in for good measure.
I'll give y'all the short version of my resume, just faster and easier to read.
I started college as a communications media major and dropeed out after 1.5 years, began volunteer firefighting at 19, at the time I was the yongest to get in the fire dept. and the 1st under the 18 and under act.
I've done truck driving and other jobs, settled in at Bell Atlantic pre Verizon as 3rd shift computer operator when I had a chance to get my AAS through Chrysler for Automotive Technology. Worked 2 jobs and the apprenticeship for 4 years, stayed in the automotive field from apprentice to Master Auto Tech, service advisor and assistant service manager.
I actually ran the Group 43 Reconditioning Center in Jax, FL before moving back to NJ. Now I'm a Parts Technical Specialist working with Nissan USA, pay suck but it's a job.
My firefighting resume has gone from firefighter to LT., training officer, engineer and finally Assistant Chief of the Dept. I've been chair of several committees, Vice President of the dept. and now a Senior Trustee.
I am an rated Professional in Engine Co. Operations and specialize in inital attack and inside tatical operations. I'd love to teach this one day, and I am working on it. At 62, I still respond and go in the fire buildings when the opportunity arises. I also do vehicle rescue and ladder ops. Actually had a vehicle rescue Saturday during the snow. Minor injury and entrapment, fortunately.
On the Mercer County level, I was the Sgt. at Arms of the Fireman's Association and starting 1/1/18, I'll be 2nd Vice President. I should be President of the county association in 6 years.
Back to the craziness.....oy.....lol
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
Afternoon all from a beautiful 43°F Southern Ohio,
As usual a busy weekend. Worked Friday overtime and put up some more decorations. Saturday went to the youngest’s swim meet and she competed in 4 events. She is a great swimmer, very fast and strong. Oldest had a dance program Saturday night after Vigil Mass, then Sunday was two more Masses, a dinner with other host families with exchange students. I did get the Polar Express around the tree and the kids have been playing with it. Even though it is not made by American Flyer I do like the train.
Sunday we got a dusting of snow, our first at the new house. It was really pretty. My bride is enjoying her new van, and so do all the kid’s and their friends who she transports around.
I’m glad the fires have not directly impacted you guys.
Roy – I agree about the painting.
Rob – The things we’ll do for trains! The All Aboard panels were a great idea too late for Gilbert and AF. They we only made in 1965 and 1966. It is about as close to instant gratification as a train layout can get. The 17” x 17” panels were molded with roads, tunnels, hills, ponds, fields and holes for streetlights, fences, and trees. There were left and right hand switches, straight and curved sections, a crossover and a straight panel that housed a train whistle under a house. The curves are really tight and could be configured to as small as a 34 x 51 layout, the 600. The track uses the AF pikemaster track. Current for the switches and whistle is transmitted panel to panel via a spring clip inserted into an eyelet rivet that also helps keep the panels together, connected to a wire under the panel to a rivet on the other end of the panel. The operating buttons for the switches and whistle is pre-wired to the panel. There is a very rare version that is called the Winter Wonderland that has simulated snow on the ground, buildings and trees.
Kev – that bill must have been quite a shock.
RT – The kids are really liking the 10 tree in the living room and all the decorations in the new house!
I have got to get the mantle made before Christmas!
Got to check on the guys,
May God bless
Jim
Warming. Wifey and I went to a Sunday School class breakfast. Now leaves to get up.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Mornin' All !
Roy, this one is for you, everytime I watch this it sure brings back some fond memories. https://player.vimeo.com/video/22132017?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Off to see the vampires.
Later !
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Cold 22 degrees. The weather change was too sudden never had a chance to adjust. We had a good club meet. The host has room for guest so we got to visit with some ole train friends. No head count but at least 25 attended. I feel lucky to live in an area with so many toy train guys.
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
Morning all!
A crisp 42 this am and headed to 78 today, then a high of 56 tomorrow. Yo-yo weather now predicted for this week...70-50-70-50....
Back to work on repainting son's former bedroom today. I hate painting walls/baseboards/trim...
Banks - nice spotting the steamer!
Regards, Roy
Good evening all,
Christmas cards are addressed and wrapping is almost done. Watched two matches of "footie" today. Everton tied Liverpool 1-1 and Man City beat Man U at Old Trafford (Man U's stadium) 2-1. Interesting matches. Just need to order some stuff for wife. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Howdy All, couch potatoe here.
Ray, Prayers for the family.
Don, The Lilac fire got it's name from where it started, Lilac Road & I-15. Now as to what actually caused it is another question. The wind has been ferocious here today. Don't mind the 81* temp but it would be so much more enjoyable if the winds weren't so bad .
Later all.
Sunny and quiet here, will get to 40.
Got under the train table and hooked the merry-go-round back up now that I had moved it. Watching Gunsmoke.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Hello there,
for Ray's sister
spotted this in Duncansville this morning after mass.
Everett RR getting steam up to run the Santa train today.
Went to a nice little train show near Johnstown this morning. A lot of HO (which I don't mind) and several dealers I never saw before.
Fife This show is probably a little over an hour for you.
Best move on. A few outside decorations before dark.
Prayers for those in need.
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Morning fellow 'potters!
The holiday season marches on!!!!
Stparted out in the mid-30's but already up to 56 with the high to be 67 today. 74 tomorrow. Nice!
Chief - Dennis has been posting and he is good. No impact from the fires so far. Sorry about the Yorkie incident.
Dougnotta - stay well
Ray - prayers for your family
Morning all. 39 and sunny. Ended up with a pretty snow but didn't stick. The snows I like.
Wifey has sick Yorkie. Getting better after meds from Vet. [too long of a story].
Prayers for Ray's sister in NC.
Gald you all in CA are OK from fires. Figured Don was to cityized to get it. Anyone heard from Dennis?? Worried about him.
Dougsnotagrump, stay well and away from hospital. Prayers.
Don, Chris is like his Mom. Smart. Not Dad.
Hope all have a great week ahead.
Morning All!
A light "dusting" of snow here. I'm sure it will be gone by noon.
Well, I survived the shopping expedition yesterday. As a reward for my "good behavior", the Mrs. bought me a UP boxcar from Menard's. I, in turn, rewarded myself with a case of beer and a bag of Funyuns!!
Ray- Wow, tough go with your siblings. Prayers.
Kev - I'm glad you were able to connect with your son. I know that's been an on going issue for awhile.
Well, off to hockey and church. My Packers play the Browns today. I'm very nervous about that game......
Have a good one.
Rob
Good evening all, finally finished cleaning up the pool after all the wind we had for three or four days. My son came over and did it for me which was a big help. I went to a Christmas musical show at our local college today. Really a professional performance by those college kids. Had a kidney stone episode a few days ago but was able to pass it without going to the ER. My sister in N.C. with stage 4 cancer is getting near the end. She has been fighting it for 6 years now but they told her recently that there is nothing else they can do unless she goes to Chapel Hill where they might try some experimental medicine but don't know what she will do yet. She says she is moving in with her daughter after Christmas because she needs more care now. We are thankful for the 6 years she had. I went to see her when she first got diagnosed and she has been an inspiration to all of us. My brother just came down with cancer too and begins his fight. I'm going for a root canal Tuesday and try to save an anchor tooth for my partial. The tree guy finished up removing the stump debris today after cutting down a large Yuca tree a few days ago. Now I have about a six foot diameter bare spot in the middle of my lawn. Have to figure out what to put there. Maybe a rock garden? Just a thought. My SIL in Virginia said it was snowing there today in Suffolk. Thanks to my son, I have a Christmas Tree this year and I put a train around it. Looks good! Good night all,
Ray
SPMan
been lurking the last couple of days.
Glad to learn everyone is safe from the fires. Wife's cousin near Ventura was really close but didn't have to evacuate.
I was surprised. The local TV did a pretty fair job of Dec 7th. Saw or heard nothing on national news.
All the machinists talk reminds me. ...my 1st choice for VoTech was machine shop. That was full so I ended up in Industrial Electricity.
I got my limited lathe skills turning commutators and bushings for electric motors. My pap was a PRR electrician for near 40 years. He did small motor repair in the basement. Between him and VoTech I learned a lot. During the years work was slow repairing motors helped pay the bills. Now a new centrifical switch costs as much as a new motor.
Spent this week on paper work and Christmas prep.
Off to bed.
Prayers for those in need
Snowing off and on today, no accumulation. Went to holiday events downtown. Attendance at Mass was sparse tonight. Watched the last part of some "footie" today. Got a major problem resolved on home computer. Got some errands done, but not as much as I would have liked. Kevin, quite the impressive resume. I hope everyone has a good day.
Good Evening,
Had a real laid back day. Watched a Hallmark movie, and been reading Port Town. It is a historical accounting of the evolution and development of Long Beach, and the harbor area. Extremely interesting with a ton of facts and details of interest.
The procedure I had yesterday went fine, will get lab results the first part of Jan.. Shouldn't have any surprises according to the Dr..
Doug ddg, Glad that fire wasn't any closer to you. Can't figure out how they named it "Lilac" though. I heard one report that they will name the fire after the first fire Captain on the scene. (Thomas fire). Maybe it is the first captain's perrogative?
Got to give Chris credit, he has these company Christmas parties all figured out. He ends up going to two a year at least. One for the company he just left, and another for the company he just signed up with. And they are rather lavish parties too.
Roy, We don't have ANY Cracker Barrels in CA.. They are suppose to be building one in Victorville, opening in Jan.. If Kay gets her wish we will be there on openining day.
Kev, Glad you had a good lunch, that is ONE expensive Dr visit!!
Based on the weather reports, their may not be very many white Christmas's this year.
Don
Good evening,
Doug, my career path was more a problem of survivel than choice.
Well had a good time at lunch with the other half of the family and their kids, it has been 2.5 years since we saw the son and the rest of them. It seems our two kids take turns being pissed off at me. Then we drove to Yorkville checked in on Sandra's mom, now 90. All I can say is my BIL has his hands full with her and I don't want to live that long if that is how it has to be. God bless, it is so sad to see her fading away, both body and mind.
Got home to $1,768 bill for wife's last doctor check-up and to find out our UHC does not cover Physical exams anymore and they don't even apply their discount to the bill. Good God!! I know who to thank!
Ho ho ho.
Good day all !
Been a bit of an exciting(?) week if one wants to call it that. Spent most of Wednesday in the ER, all's as well as can be expected. No change on cancer, +/-.
Seems like we were close but just far enuff south and slightly east of the Lilac fire in S.D. County, about four miles north on I-15. CalFire did a whale of a job on this one, between federal, state, local, Navy and Marine air support the firefighters on the ground did one hell of a job. Some of the helos were even making water drops all night long.
DougM, You don't need to worry much about the brush fires, just watch out for Mrs. O'Leary's cow with her candle.
Scheduled to go out for dinner with friends tonight, hopefully my cancer meds will behave themselves and not create any problems.
Later all !
Aloha. It's a bit warmer - 20s - with a dusting of snow on the ground - nothing big. It's funny how I get used to different temps - and 22 feels warm after a week of single digits. And it's funnier that our friends in GA and TX have more snow than we do! That sure is an interesting career path, Kev. Roy, looking at the CNC machines in operation on YouTube is a great idea.
Mmmmm, Cracker Barrel! I love poking around their little store.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Chilly [34] and rainy good morning. Buddy in AZ says 39 there. No snow here in Rville. Some west and north. Mountains says 15 inches. Watching DVR'd TV. Hope all have a good one.
Morning folks!
Started out freezing this morning but headed to 59 today. Warm up for Sun/Mon now predicted for 70. Another front Mon/Tues takes us back to Dec norms...60/40.
RT - tree cat!
SJ - looking forward to a meet video!
Rob - Cracker Barrel Mall
Kev - a day without a snow plow is a good day?
First snow on the gound this morning, just a dusting but enough to screw up driving. 27 now with a high of 32 for today.
Monthly club meet tonight. Train Wreck Bob(Shaw)likes hosting the December meet. He has a very well done layout.
The big snow storm for here was a bust, nothing but a few flakes. I am fine with that.
Cloudy, gray, 30 and heading to 32.
Going to pizza lunch with the son and his family then heading to check in on Sandra's mother and brother. That should fill up the day.
Rob this may sound wierd to most but we do not care that they climb, it's in there nature to do that. Thats why we buy the nice looking but cheap plastic bulbs at Wal-Mart to decorate with as we know they will be hitting the floor. There so shiny and pretty to them.
Morning all.
I think I will put a loop around the tree even with my tree acrobats. I donot think they themselves will hurt anytrain I put there as long as I remove any tiny pieces ( ie logs, barrels etc. ) They would become timy pretty's to them.
Hope all have a good weekend
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Morning All!,
Up and at it early today. I'm taking the Mrs. to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then out for, yet again, more Christmas shopping. I don't want even see her MasterCard statement.....
RT - That's funny and I know exactly your predicament. That's another reason I've leery on doing a Christmas layout this year.
Roy- The weather has some how got reversed! It always makes for funny news to us in the snow belt seeing how it's basically declared a State of Emergency for an inch of snow in the south. That's a regular daily commute for us!
Jim- Looking forward to seeing the layout. I only recently learned about the All Aboard AF modules and I'm quite intrigued by them. I don't collect Flyer, but if I ever find a few for a decent price, I might pick them up.
Great bios guys! We have some skilled talent here.
Continued prayers for the California gang.
We have 10' ceilings in this house, the tree is 9'. the tree was up about 3 hours and found this is in the tree
They are about the 6' - 7' area of the tree
Well the tree is up. And I'm now rethinking about putting a loop of track and a set of trains on it for looks anyway. Will not run the trains as I really don't have anywhere to plug a transformer in near it. Its artificial but I still need to spread the branches out and all. it's a 9' tree as we have 10' ceiling here and wife wanted the biggest we could get back about 2 Christmases ago.
Think I'll put my prewar 262 set. ( not an actual set but one I made up)
My sister sent me pics of the snow in Houston. It snows there about every 10 years. Interestingly that has not changed In the last 60 years. I do not remember the year but Galveston Bay has frozen over in the last 100 yrs and has developed ice on the bay twice in my lifetime. News said Corpus Christie got 6 Inches, but no pics.
Kev and Phish - interesting resumes! Thanks for posting! As DougM said, have varied and interesting backgrounds!
DougM - your son should explore the CNC field. It is incredibly interesting and requires all kinds of knowledge - math, materials, tooling, machine capabilities (stress), cooling (due to extreme speeds of moving a cutting bit/head through metal), machine setup, work holding/clamping... There is a high demand for those skills. Lots of good YouTube videos showing the machines in action. Then watch the videos of folks doing manual machining. What can take a manual machinist days to finish can be done on a multi-axis CNC in minutes - and the tolerances are repeatable with minimal to no errors!
Good afternoon from sunny 32°F Southern Ohio,
I had to work an additional 8 hour shift to support a maintenance activity that needed to be done outside of regular work hours making for 57 hours this week. Being in management it is all straight time. I’d rather be at home working on the numerous items on the honey do list and at least today is an 8 hour shift and not the normal 12 hour shift.
With the exception of a few years working at a lumber yard out of high school, I’ve been working in the uranium enrichment industry since 1977 as an operator, training instructor, supervisor and facility manager roles.
After the holidays I am going to put the All Aboard Flyer layout up in the designated train room. By concept it is modular, 17” x 17” plastic panels that join together to make your layout. It will be totally different from a built from scratch layout with limitations as you would expect, but I will be able to run trains again!
Need to go check on the work.
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