Yes, I typed that entirely correctly.
Briefly, I offered/insisted that I drive my mid-eighties dad and his girlfriend, who are snowbirds, from Vancouver Island to Indio, CA, where they spend half a year. He was falling asleep at times on the way home last April. There was no denying me...this year (my bros and I have been offering to do the driving for three years now).
I was gone all last week on this task and returned Sunday night to find my very-pleased-with-herself wife busting to show me the fruits of her labour. She made me close my eyes and led me into the dark yard, across it, and into the garage. It smelled different, yet familiar. Couldn't place the smell.
It is quite incomprehensible because I was a long way from planning a layout after we moved in July. Not only did she contact our contractor, but she emptied the over-stuffed double garage twice (!!!) and relocated or replaced every item....garden and shop tools, innumerable totes of every size, boxes still unpacked, cords, ropes, shelving, heavy chests of drawers and cupboards...all of it. Probably two or more tons worth. The two of them thought a bit, looked at some saved curved sections of track to estimate the width I would want, and then blocked off 9 feet with a pony wall, with poly and insulation between the studs. I now have a dedicated space just under nine feet by 17 feet. I can still get 46" curves!
I say incomprehensible because, not only did she do all that, she mowed our substantial yards twice, and helped with the installation of a small hot tub just off our back deck...yet another surprise.
I'm humbled...
-Sent from my new hot tub.
Crandell, all I can say is WAY TO GO! on picking your wife that is. I think we have both done good in that department.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Please congratulate your loving wife on her fine work!
We are in the same boat. My wife fully supports my involvement in the hobby.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Sounds like you have a great other half. Congratulations!
When we were rebuilding after a fire, mine pointed out the "train room." Unfortunately a son returned home and took the space (and more), but that wasn't her fault.
Mine is a supporter, but not a participater.
Have fun,
Richard
I knew she would get you out of the house eventually.
Charlie
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Congrats, Crandell, on your good taste in women and her impeccable attention to your every comfort. You are a lucky man, on par with my own good fortune in love.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes. Yeah, she's definitely a keeper.
Bear, I would be happy to provide a blow-by-blow commentary again, but would Mark Brunton like to initiate it like he did the last one? Or maybe I should just dig up the old one, probably 40 pages back by now, and attempt to do CPR...
And Mark, no helix this time. Been there, done that. I don't regret the experience because it was fun and it worked well. However, it took up a ton of room and blocked off a chunk of the main line view for me the last time. I'm seriously considering reverting back to the second layout's inner operating pit, and a folding loop around the room. That worked well and I really enjoyed having the trains and scenery surround me there.
-Crandell
Jeez man, you got LUUUUCKYYY!!!
Crandell:
so....No more attic? or do you get both? Or did you move and I missed it?
I am lucky MOH is also into trains. We take vacations to ride steam trains all over the NE seaside.-NEVER an argument!!!
ANd we just bought a new MRRing space with a kit,LR, 2 BRs and a single bath {so far} and 3 season room {could be train room???? above it! Now if we can get it out of hock and get to the closing, we'd be happy! or Happier!
Now, I/we still have to finish off the basement for the rec room and MRRIng space, but I sure we will accomplish it sooner than later...on the less expensive side.
MOH wants a 4x8' of N sacel euro models...
Congrats, Crandell....Until my MRRing space is ready, do you mind if I stand in the corner being [green}with envy?
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Crandell.... Cleaned garage. Layout space. A hot tub. ...... Does she cook, too? ...
Seriously, Congratulations!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
So...do we get to see teaser pics of the empty, unsullied space, Crandell? Oh! - And a shot of the hot tub, too.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
WOW I do believe you have a keeper !
Tom, I will post a couple of images later tomorrow. I expect to have to do my usual process...work it out on graph paper first, get a firm conceptual framework fixed in my head, and then place masking tape on the cement floor showing all the tracks and turnouts, plus the edges of any benchwork. Once I know it will all fit with no squeezes below my minimums and no kinks, and once I know any overhead clearances are doable, I start collecting wood, season it with a dehumidifier working for three days, and then begin to build.
It is a busy next eight weeks for us with two substantial absences, so I don't even expect to have drywall up until early in the new year. Then comes floor finishing with a decent floor cement paint to minimize dust, and finally laying the tape. I would be surprised if I make my first board measurement before the end of January.
Here is the hot tub. I'm still learning how to "balance" the water ph, alkalinity, and free chloride, but I have it balanced at the moment, according to the strip. We have talked about getting one, me mostly talking her out of it. But, when the cat is away....WAIT...I got a train room out of the deal, so as the scots side of me would have to say, "Ye cannae complain, lad." Aw, what the heck.
Now for the train room. Still needs a dedicated heater outlet, or one to run a dehumidifier, and one other train-running outlet. Needs three LED light panels in the ceiling (there are two older flourescents which I don't want beaming down on ground foam and acylic model paint), and of course drywall. That will probably all happen in December, maybe early January.
I appreciate everyone's encouragement. My wife's wonderful intervention was most unexpected, and now I'm forced into getting on with planning and building it, as my wife fully intented. I guess she felt I needed some therapy, and this was going to be it.