Good Morning,
Had a good weekend overall, didn't do much. Did make a quick trip to Santa Barbara to pick up some wine, watched the Coke 600, and that was about it.
Kay's dad is being released from the Rehab hospital on the 6th, so now the fun starts. Need to find some 24/7 home care for atleast the first week, who knows from there. He cannot get in and out of bed by himself, and her mom is not able to help him. Her mom will fight this everystep of the way, she doesn't want to give up her privacy. And she is in early stages of dimensia. Man, I don't want to grow too much older. Not much need in going in more detail, I know many of you have had or have similiar or even worse situations your dealing with.
I appreciate all the suggestions regarding our "animal sanctiouary", but don't think that would work out to well. Since our last encounter the BIG Iguana has not been back, or he has learned my schedule and avoids me. The small has been perched at the top of a neighboring tree for over a week now. Seems like it never leaves that location, that is really strange. No other unusual creatures roaming around.
Realized I had a problem on the layout I wasn't aware of. I had been running a lot of Lionel engines, then ran some MTH. The MTH were acting quirky, so I checked signal strength and found half of the main line was only reading 2 or 3. It had been 8's and 9's previously. So started troubleshooting. Mapped where I had isolation pins installed and found 1 block that was missing 1 pin. Then further realized that there was NOT a power drop connected to that block. DUH! When checking the wiring found the feed wire coming from a distribution point, but none connected to any track. Apparently when I was revising switch locations, I was too focused on the mechanical fit, and didn't reconnect the drop. Found the wires half way through the layout smashed under the switch. I pulled the wires back from the surface of the layout, removed a center rail connection pin, connected the drop wires to the track via some jumpers. AND WALLA GOT 8's AND 9's SIGNAL STRENGTH AGAIN! Can't believe how dumb that was. I was thinking did I use too small a wire gauge, did I create a high resistive short with all the xing signals and lights I connected to the track. Or who knows what else. Can't believe it was such a simple mistake (actually 2), omitting the insulation pin and loosing the power drop.
Doug DG, You mentioned the C-119, I had the opportunity of working on one in Nam. Our shop took care of Auto Pilot systems and the J-4 compass system. Worked the compass system on one of those also on the C-130, and C-123. Majority of time on Auto Pilot for the F-100, F-4, and A-6. Lots of stories on that activity. Went to school on the B-58 they were more like fighters than bombers.
Chief, how can you say that about working, the most strenous activity you have is selecting which free dinner/lunch you are attending. How do you retire from that?
Gnome, I think we as a society accumulate way too much stuff! We are no exception, ever notice how many storage locations pop up? They are all over. Here very few people have enough room to park a car in the garage.
Kev, I was glad to see Busch win the race he definetely owned it. I dont like the "stages", it wasn't a 600, but 4 100 lap races. Remember when the races designation was miles, not km, and they were all longer? Not a valid comparisson anymore.
RT, Glad to hear the cats didn't cause a lot of damage.
Fife, Glad the storm didn't hit you, sounds like it was a rough ride for some folks in Md and FL.
Lion, When are you going to finish all that work? I get tired just reading your posts.
Roy, I almost called you regarding my issues with the layout, had some real crazy ideas about what was causing the problem. Kay and I have been watching some of the old shows on METV. Seeing initial episodes is interesting.
Had to take my Big Boy engine in for some repair, been two months. Getting run around re Lionel providing "available" parts. Dont know who is the problem Lionel of local repair guy.
Take care ALL and be SAFE !
Don
Aloha. Overcast and a lot cooler downtown near the lake than back home. A difference of maybe 20 degrees over 45 miles. Welcome Gnome - it is fun to trace old rail lines on the maps. I am one of the members here still gladly working to support their social security. lol. Highlight of the weekend was the parade to the Union cemetary for services. Followed the youngest who played trumpet in the combined-high school marching band. Somebody had a good idea there - with the high school seniors all graduated and so many people away for the long weekend, it made sense to combine the band members for the parade from all three town high schools. Watched the grand-dog too whilst the daughter and her husband looked for apartments in the city...
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Morning gang!
Mid - July temps in late May -
Vegged out most of yesterday
Brent - good luck with the rental property quote - I assume this is the porch issue we all talked about in April at York. Have fun teaching Christina riding the bike!
Fife - nice cookout gathering! We grilled Salmon last night - although pretty warm there was a decent breeze out.
Gnome - nice you had something to discuss with your friend...who know's...maybe he'll bite?
We have been watching the reboot of Lost in Space on Netflix. It is very good and the new 'Dr Smith' is evil
Regards, Roy
Mornin' FellasSpent most of the past two weeks updating the basement bathroom. New vanity, faucet, paint, and good deep cleaning to get all the cobwebs and dust removed. That bathroom never saw much use due to the basement being a disaster zone from the layout construction. Now have to finish patching a couple spots on the ceiling, then finish painting the walls and ceiling in the basement... then will need to clean the carpet.Still waiting for contractors to return messages about the rental property in Pittsburgh... ugh.Fife - sorry to hear about the chef. Sad. Gnome - [welcome]Spent yesterday watching Tora, Tora, Tora! and The Longest Day. Squeezed in some time trying to teach Christina to ride her bike without training wheels. That's about it.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
Mornin' boys. Supposed to be dry today, so I will try to mow the jungle.
We hosted a small family cook-out. My folks, 2 daughters, 1 fiance', 1 boyfriend, and fiance's folks. Good eat and greet.
Perhaps they shouldn't rebuild Ellicott City. They should read Patapsco:Baltimore's River of History before they do.
Think I ODed on pollen and heat over the weekend.
Will be cloudy today so not as bad working outside. Wife only has three more flower beds to mulch.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Morning all. 74 and rainy. Not much on calendar until a dinner tonight in Raleigh.
Gnome, nice recruitment effort. Hope it works.
Have a good one.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
The picnic went well yesterday, despite the heat. I encouraged one fellow to try the hobby, because it would be consistent with his background and he is deaf, which isolates him socially. This forum does not require ears. But of course its a longshot. if you are not interested then you are not interested. He was a ceebee in the navy then a land surveyor before retiring. He and his brother had a model train when they were kids. i sent a couple of links to his wife. That is all i can do, i think.
Good evening,
Worked outside 5 hours today. Go back to work to rest tomorrow. Got latest CTT Saturday. Good issue. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
The Gnome Banks, over the last week i tried posting a bio in my profile but saving caused it to disappear. Maybe that happens because the account is new. I will try again in a few days.
Banks, over the last week i tried posting a bio in my profile but saving caused it to disappear. Maybe that happens because the account is new. I will try again in a few days.
When I edited mine yesterday it took forever for it to upload. I was beginning to think I'd lost the whole thing.
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Morning all. Woke up to the cats knocking some things down from a shelf that is about 9' up in the air. They jump from one place to another till they get high/close enough. So they brought today in with a bang. It always sounds a lot worst than it is. But scares the living devil out of you as your asleep and you hear this.
Hope all have a good Memorial Day. Calling for rain here. Suppose to start in again about 1 P.M. off of that system in the gulf. Think I'm going to make something to eat and relax. Time to take pills and make breakfast. Talk to you all later.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Hello there,
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.
Been to Mass and a graveyard veterans Memorial service.
Off to a parade soon. Then to visit our parents graves.
The clan is coming to our place for wings and burgers later.
Best get moving.
Prayers for those in need.
Morning all!
Celebrate Memorial Day Did I mention it is hot and sunny?
SJ - we need A/C for our porchChuck - The Tribe pulled a 9th inning comeback last night and ended 10-9 over the Strohs in the 14th!Been a low key weekend...watched racing all day yesterday Oiled and adjusted the stops on the garage door.Wife and I tried out a new dry rub pork ribs recipe yesterday afternoon. Applied the rub and let them sit in the fridge all night. Let them sit out after lunch yesterday to come to room temp. Baked them at 250 for 4 hrs. Daughter and her BF joined us. Ribs came out great!
Memorial Day
To all veterans...Thank you.
Hot for us, 90s. The snow has finally melted. We cooked outdoors yesterday but ate indoors.
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 guys,
80 already and heading to the high 90s again.
Can't breath out there.
Woke up to the cat barfing all over the place. Pitched him out and he hurled on the rug in front of the door so I got to clean that up first thing. At least in this heat it will dry fast.
We don't have any special plans for today, will just see what comes our way. Maybe take a ride to Plainfield to go to Mom & Dad's grave site.
NASCAR was a one man show yesterday.
Morning. Off to Blue Star Memorial dedication. Misting rain but who cares. Been wet before.
My wife will go to the cemetary event this morning. Then we have the annual family picnic. Lets hope for a breeze.
We made provress cleaning out the basement yesterday. Somehow we will have to arrange for a special trash pickup, which is awkward from distance. Until then, old mattresses etc are stashed in the garage.
Yesterday i spent some money on trainstuff online. I hereby resolve to not buy anymore at least until my new toys have arrived in the mail.
Good evening all,
Kevin, it was a glass half full today. First time to see #14 lead the race in a long time.Except for a cut tire midway thru the race, TK could have been there at the end ( I think the wreck was due to pushing too hard to make up ground ). I hope everyone has a good day.
Hello there, been busy doing nothing. Gnome......thanks for the info. You can find the story of my life here.
http://cs.trains.com/members/banks/default.aspx
Why don't you copy yours to your biography
Hope everyone is havinga good Memorial Day weekend. It was just starting to dry up and it started raining again. No cemetery visits and flowers today. We'll squeeze that in some time tomorrow in between Mass, parade, veterans memorial service and picnic.
Kev......a lot of corn that was in early looks like he!!. It's yellow from to much cold and wet.
I'm getting sleeeepy.
Prayers for those in need
97 in the shade!!!!!!!!!!
One down and the real race to come. I tend to think if NASCAR does sell it can only help to get it away from the family.
I feel for MikeC as it looked good for AJ's team even after they went to the back.. The wall seemed to have the day. And my Plainfield IL based team Dale Coyne did their normal job.
Not much into those glass jars on wheels racing but it was a fair race, so my Indy watching for the year is pretty much over now. PSP went out as I figured she would.
Guess I will water the birds. They love the sprinkler.
Afternoon all!
High 90's today and tomorrow. 100's starting Tues ... ugh already...
Chuck - The Tribe took the Strohs last night despite Altuve's MVP level efforts...
Kev - Yep - all day race day today! Indy and NASCAR!
Race junky day today. I am in! Way to hot for much else. Rob, AC is doing OT already. Not been a month since the heat was on. Go figure,,,no spring this year.
Chief is right about trying to kill myself working on the land but not the worse way to go. Wife and I enjoy the outside as much as we can. Otherwise it is trains for me and house cleaning for wife.
I was sitting under the Shed porch two days ago and a big coyote walked out of the wood and past me before returning to the wood. Wife is worried about the cat out at night now. I figure he was looking for baby Bambi, it is that time of year. That is only the second coyote I have seen close to the house in the 14 years we have been here but they have both been within the last year. I may have to unlock the 22 rifle.
Enjoy the reason and the holiday guys!
We are staying in my brother in law’s house (owned by him, my wife and their sister in thirds). He is in assisted living. Every time we come up here i work in the basement, cleaning it out. Last summer i cleared the garage, mostly. The guy is a packrat with the memory of an elephant, so i can’t throw out all the trash for fear he will ask about something specific.
Break time. That is enough work for today. It seems like a hopeless job anyway. Even stacks of dusty old mags can't be thrown out. Don't ask me why.
He has a Lionel Lines O gauge starter set in the basement that works fine. simple oval on a board. No scenery. The width is 39”, so i guess you don't need much space for o gauge if you want a small layout.
Gnome, welcome. Don't believe that story about Don Baker, Buckeye and Roy working. Never in their lives. Now KEV and I worked when employed and now we try to kill oursleves doing outside things.
Already hot and humid. Set out more HOT pepper plants before showering.
Wifey went to Sunday School after fixing me a good breakfast. Made me feel better after last night's meds. I slept unitl 8:50 this AM. That was good too.
Have a safe and good holiday. Remember the reason for this holiday.
Morning All,
The A/C is already chugging away. The humidity is the problem, not the tempurature....yet..... Remember when we were complaining about the cold a month ago?
Not much on the go. I went out for another "coffee 'n camera" trip this morning. Caught an Eastbound mixed manifest. I'm really starting to enjoy the photography side of the hobby. I've even been pricing scanners. I can get a decent Uniden one for around $100.00.
After I repent my sins. I'm going to pop over and see if my FIL needs a hand re-charging his car A/C. (More an excuse to go have a few and watch baseball!!)
Gnome - Welcome! I see you are a Michigan grad. GO BLUE!!
Have a good one and prayers.
Rob
Coffee's cold
We have had a run of beautiful weather however today and tomorrow is heading for the low 90s. We sit outside till after sundown and now I have the latest CTT to browse through.
If you have a flag, how about putting it out today. Yes I know some like me do that everyday. Just a reminder.
Good afternoon,
We got about .3" of rain yesterday afternoon so it is like a sauna out there already. Corn jumped 4" overnight. Everything here is planted Banks. Got to cut grass around the house and in front of the shed but not much else going on here. Plan to stay off the roads and out of site from the holiday crowds.
Gnome, I to am retired, it will be 10 years next Jan. Put 36 years in at Caterpillar in Aurora Il. Started as an assembler for,22 years then 7 years in Hex Forestry Machine Engineering and ended as a Caterpillar Logistics Services Senior Planning Analyst Manager for third party suppliers. I do O gauge in the basement.
Morning All !
Welcome Gnome, your various residence locations sure brought back some memories. Spent 3 years at Reese AFB just outside Lubbock, home of Texas Tech. Even went TDY to Bunker Hill AFB once to repair one of our aircraft that a student pilot managed to trash one of the engines during their cross country filght. The trip outbound was a story in itself, flying out of Reese in an ANG C-119, the Flying Boxcar if you guys remember them, and believe me that bird was really showing it's age. It truly defined the term Shake/Rattle-n-Roll. However it did get us there, loved to watch those B-58's take off at night in full afterburner. But it made one wonder how anybody was able to sleep if you lived anywhere near the runways/flightline.
Haven't been back to the museum after making it there a while back. Trying to get the Doc's to do something about my various health issues but one in particular. Take care of the one and I can function and tolerate the others but they are dragging their feet and kicking-n-screaming NO. There have got to be options available to help minimize the risk factors involved. Better to address the problem in a planned & prepared manner than to possibly have to address it on an emergency basis.
A beautiful ceremony on the flight deck of the USS Midway this morning.
Guess it is time to get off my duff and get moving, I hear my morning meds calling.
Later All.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Good Morning All,
Gnome, Welcome to the forum! Pretty good bunch of guys here. My wife's family is from the Dalute/Superior area.
I too am retired, Mfg Eng, worked in computer industry, and ended up with my own business the last 20 years. Live in So Cal, where spend a lot of time putzing around with my O scale.
Going to go to a ham radio/computer swap meet this am. See if I can find a couple of spare power supplys. (One for my laptop, and a ATX computer p/s.) Then today is Chris' birthday so probably do dinner. With all his driving to the mine and back, he really enjoys listening to Louis L'Amour stories, so got him about 20 cd's. Should keep him occupied for awhile.
Then hopefully will make it up to the TTOS train show tomorrow.
And most importantly, go by the cemetary and put a flag on my dad's grave site.
Then take in the racing this weekend.
Hope you all have a great week-end !
Morning. 76 and 87% humidity. Guessed showers not coming now. Maybe Monday. Fifey got the lucky straw as Alberta headed his way and not here as guessed earlier.
Resting up and not got anything planned.
Have a safe and happy weekend and holiday.
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