Hey all, missed me? I've been just too busy this week.... 6 cashiers at work quit in the week before Christmas, so I picked up another day of work- 7 more hours and a few more bucks. Ugh, but I am exhausted still.
Christmas shopping was done on Thursday- Dad got a giftcard, mom got a foreman grill, and my uncle got a DNA ancestry kit- Mom and I went in together to get him that.
After this week, If I ever won the lottery, I'd be willing to buy property in the hills (Near the Wheeling and Lake Erie trackage), build a huge house with a huge basement, and put a 30ft wall around it...maybe electrify it to. But, I to have dreamed of owning a private passenger car- preferable to own a club car, observation or sleeper with a small kitchen.
The open house season has been going well for the Mid Mon Valley model railroad club...we broke 170 yesterday, and normally we get about 100-150 for a year, so we are ahead of the game- see my other post in the general discussion about something cool that happened there yesterday.
Health- Asthma has been bad again, as has my anxiety. I hope everyone is well here, and has a very happy holiday season.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Jimmy_Braum my uncle got a DNA ancestry kit- Mom and I went in together to get him that.
my uncle got a DNA ancestry kit- Mom and I went in together to get him that.
We been trying to get for more than 5 years. But never had the money or the courage to get one. We wanted to get one for our grandma, to find her origins on her grand grandma's side. We don't have a clue why her side has slight red hair for being Mexican.
So Jimmy what is reason?
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Eveing Diners
Flo, get the gang a drink of there choice and I have a Keg of
Called Mom and Dad today from work to wish them a Merry Christmas. Mom did not sound happy to hear from me, asked what was wrong? She said "I am not happy, Matt died'! Matt is or should I say was my Dad.
Kicker? Dad hated Funerals and people fighting over what they get. So while it was no surprise he did not want a furneral the shocker was he died Dec 15th 2017 and she did not call me? God I knew my family was Dysfunctional but this has to be a record!
Dad less Ken
I hate Rust
Well, Its Christmas Eve, and I'm stuck working. I have what we call a turnaround shift, that is I work tonght and again tomorrow day shift. I get from 10 pm off until 8 am tomorrow, because I said we were getting up early Xmas morning To do our presents, so the night auditor is coming in early at 10. Its still going to be a long day tomorrow, up at 3 am to open our presents, then work 8-4, then off to very dear close friends and the "great nepehws" for dinner and to open their presents that santa and Uncle galaxy and My Oh bring to their grandpa's house.
That means roughly I'll be up from 3 until about 11 pm, unless we duck out earlier from after dinner and presents. No time for my afternoon nap even after work. I volunteered but didn't know I was going to have a turnaround shift. I volunteered so the day person can have it off with her kids, ages 8-14. It IS time and a half, and next year If I'm still here, I'll say I worked last year, this year someone elses turn!!!! ANd If I DO have to work, I'll say I want either xmas eve or xmas day OFF so I, too, can have a Xmas. {those who argue with me over "XMAS", I wish youd google it to see it actually has as much respect as "Christmas", is older and means the same}
Slow tonight all check ins already here. Unless someone wanders in, or a new reservation comes in, i have nothing else to do. Tomorrow I HAVE 8 CHECK OUTS, AND 5 CHECK INS. I don't have housekeeping, but the breakfast person and the one maintenance guy will be here to so I won't be totally alone till around noon, then all alone.
No train stuff this year for xmas. I dont even know what I'd want if I did get trains...
My OH and I opened one gift each today...I got My OH a crystal Angle ornament adn MY Oh got me two new ties. SInce I wear ties to work, They are welcome. One purple one and one gold one. My Oh didn't have much to work with, only $20. I spent $26 on my OH. Then I got us and wrapped some of our favorite xmas candies, which this time of year I enjoy since candy isn't on my diabetic diet plan. I got MY OH a sweater, a pr of Pjs, and a New jacket. I got the same, except the sweater. It still was cheap enough on sale to get myself the Pjs and also a jacket, that should match My OHs nicely. Since mY OH doesn't read this forum, I can post what I got. LOL. Not much, just enough to know its christmas. I got a $10 gift card for DD from My Front Desk Manager. That way I can get a nice cup of coffee on my way to work, ours isn't bad, and Actually I think I will give it to My OH, who drinks more coffee than I do, and is out and about more, maybe can use it more than I can.
We got the 8 yo great nephew a razor scooter, the 3 yo a big boy scooter, and the 1 yo a trike. I got stockings for teh boys as well. I've got tofill them tonight too, when I get home. I have the stuffing. I'll add 2 oranges to the bottom, as I used to get when I was a kid. I asked my mother once why? {My grandmother had a winter home in FLorida, adn often sent us oranges or we went to visit for easter, so no big deal to us to get an orange. SHe said in the old days that meant you were wealthy enough to afford an orange form florida to put in the stockings for the kids for xmas}. the other stocking stuffers are age appropriate or candy, whcih I got the same for all three boys. I hope they enjoy them, nothing special other than it came form Uncle Galaxy and My OH.
Well, its 7 ok, have to check where santa is. Over europe I guess. Three more hours to go.
If I don't pop in tomorrow, MERRY CHRISTAMS!!!!
Belated Happy CHanunuka!!
Happy FEstivus{?}
If I don't see you htis week, HAPPY NEW year! May it be happy, healthy and prosperous!!!
{ We (My OH AND i) could definitely use a healthy and properous one!}
-G
-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.
cudaken Eveing Diners Flo, get the gang a drink of there choice and I have a Keg of Called Mom and Dad today from work to wish them a Merry Christmas. Mom did not sound happy to hear from me, asked what was wrong? She said "I am not happy, Matt died'! Matt is or should I say was my Dad. Kicker? Dad hated Funerals and people fighting over what the get. So while it was no surprise he did not want a furneral the shocker was he died Dec 15th 2017 and she did not call me? God I knew my family was Dysfunctional but this has to be a record! Dad less Ken
Kicker? Dad hated Funerals and people fighting over what the get. So while it was no surprise he did not want a furneral the shocker was he died Dec 15th 2017 and she did not call me? God I knew my family was Dysfunctional but this has to be a record!
Sorry to hear of your loss, Ken!
Was He your father or step father?
Sorry to hear about your dad Ken, deepest sympathies... put your drinks on my tab...
Well the family Christmas went over well enough, it was a typical awkward family get together...
Modeling front, Project Big Bad John is still in the planning stages but a forum member by the handle "Overmod" sounds quite knowledgeable on locomotive specs and has been very helpful...
Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, and Happy Holidays to all!
Two more of my Christmas favorites!
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
angelob6660 Jimmy_Braum my uncle got a DNA ancestry kit- Mom and I went in together to get him that. We been trying to get for more than 5 years. But never had the money or the courage to get one. We wanted to get one for our grandma, to find her origins on her grand grandma's side. We don't have a clue why her side has slight red hair for being Mexican. So Jimmy what is reason?
If yhou know much, you can do soem reasearch at ancestry.com
My father got back into Ireland, and the point where the King Of England exiled my ancestors form Scotland to Ireland. But the trail goes cold in the 1600s into Scotland. So I'm one of the dreaded Scots-Irish, and his mothers side was Norwegian Immigrants. Is it any wonder I had bright curly red hair as a lad, myself? ANd my beard WAS red, though my hair turned to a light brown as I ended puberty, that is whats left of it, i started losing at age 16.. There is some reminents of the red if you look at my beard, but sigh, its been gray for years.
Its my mothers side I want to know more about, but I think we are Irish there as well, though It wasn't talked about, probably because of the "No Irish need Apply" 'rules" of a certain time period. The rest is English, probably some German adn definitely European.
Oh, and DURN IT! NO ROYALTY on my dads side!!!
If you find out anything, let us know. I know the kits arent' cheap. But they cna hold a wealth of info.
I'd like Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr to go digging into my ancestry and go further if they can. On his show on PBS "Finding your roots". But he only does celebrities, not ordinary folks. I could care less about Kim Kardasian's or George Clooney's roots, I wanna know more about mine! He may run into the same brick wall my fahter did though.
Have a great night....
Merry Christmas everybody.
We leave for Ohio tomorrow. Next we go to Michigan. Be back in a week. Another whirlwind trip .
If I get a chance, I’ll check in here during the week.
...
Ken... Condolences about your father dying and sad to hear about the family being disfunctional.
Have a good week, everybody.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Merry Christmas to all........
And to all, A Good Night!
73
P.S.- Ken, my deepest sympathies on the loss of your father.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
My condolences to you as well, Ken. Thankfully my parents are still around, but for how much longer I don't know.
I will add a ¡Feliz Navidad! to the mix as well. I will be going out to the ranch and making dessert. My tradition. I change it up every year. (Some years I have no idea what I will do until very close. Some years I know fairly early.) This year was changing up until the first part of the month. It will be a Caramel Apple Torte. Angel food cake, caramel pudding, cake, canned apple slices, repeat. I will be putting it in clear glass mugs (think beer type mugs). I couldn't find a clear glass bowl so I improvised. The pudding and the apples I had but the cake wasn't added until earlier this month.
Mom will have ham with cherry sauce. Yams with brown sugar, topped with pineapple slices and flavored mini marshmallows. (That is something her mom, my grandmother, always made and we have kept that tradition.) I also think there will coleslaw and asparagus.
Also will most llikely be doing a few repairs at home. Mom can't and Dad isn't moving well enough to do it.
Twas the night before Christmas when across the layout not a creature was stirring, not even a Krauss (Maffei), the locomotives were placed in yard with care, in hopes that the Zephyr soon would be there... the sleepers were nestled in a quiet spur, while the Mallet Articulateds were placed in their sheds...
Thats all I've got right now if you have a suggestion please do post it...
I'm very saddened to hear of your double-dose of bad news, Ken. You and Sue are in my thoughts. Well, maybe it is a triple dose since it happened so close to Christmas, too.
Maybe your mom just didn't have the courage to call to let you know. Some people don't know how to handle death or bad news.
If there's anything I can do to help don't hesitate to ask...
Your friend, Ed
Seeing as how it's now midnight and officially Christmas here in the Central Time Zone...
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!
Seasons Greetings amd Happy Holidays, Wish you and yours Good Tidings and a Merry Christmas from the NorthWestern Pacific and SouthWestern Pacific Railroad System, the Great Pacific Fleet!
Good morning all.
Merry Christmas
Ken, my condolences on your loss.
Just a sputter of snow this morning inteh wilds of Western KY. ( like 5 flakes)
Heading over to the parents here in a bit, my sister and brother in law are visiting.
I watched all my obligitory Christmas movies last night.
See you all later.
Morning everyone, and Merry Christmas to erveryone who partakes in it. Mom is working, so we're doing the gift opening here later today.
Ken, I am sorry as well for your loss.
I watched all the Christmas movies last night as well. Fell asleep to "It';s a wonderful life". We received snow here last night, so I finally got the "White Christmas" I've wanted for awhile.
I plan to go post christmas shopping for my model train gifts- since very few know what I want, I always suggest to get me money so I can pick it out myself.
To All---
Merry Christmas, and a healthy, safe, prosperous New Year !!
From the Island,
herrinchoker
Merry Christmas diners,
cudaken Kicker? Dad hated Funerals and people fighting over what they get. So while it was no surprise he did not want a furneral the shocker was he died Dec 15th 2017 and she did not call me? God I knew my family was Dysfunctional but this has to be a record!
My mom has the same idea. She wants to no fuss over family gatherings and sadness. We will see what happens when we get to that bridge.
Sorry about your dad, Ken.
Galaxy- It seems more than I do. My dad's side is Swedish and Italian, and my mom's is Mexican.
So do you celebrate your ancestry cultures since you found out more?
Have a Wonderful Day!
Merry Christmas to all!
Sorry to hear about your Dad, Ken. May he rest in peace. Is your Mom going to be OK without him around?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I did not stay up for midnight mas. Went to Mass on Sunday and again this Morning, that's, enough, thankyou.
Anyway, at this morning's Mass Fr. Odo really belted out that last stanza of Joty to the World on the organ. You could feel the building shake and the lights dim ans the organ burned up those ampeers.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Merry Christmas everyone though it just doesn’t feel like it (Sort of feeling how Charlie Brown felt). In fact the only tree that we put up this year is a Charlie Brown tree.
I am hoping to finish the SIW move this week before the Greenberg trainshow so I can pick up a few odds and ends there.
Joe Staten Island West
Merry Christmas, all! Hope it is a safe one!
-6 , sunny and windy. Wind chill is at -28.
Sorry about your Dad, Ken. That really sucks.
Spoke to my son in California, all is well with him and DIL. They leave for Maui next week for DIL's brother's wedding.
Daughter and SIL/ grandkids were on the way up to visit. About 15 miles from their home the emercency brake light was on. Looooong story short, they turned around and limped it home. Disappointment all around.
Soooo, I'm in the basement running trains and working on minor projects. Wife is watching Christmas movies.
Wife gave me 30 Prieser Holstein cows and a 3 pack of Accurail GN covered hoppers! She got a remote starter for her SUV.We get each other stuff all year, so we try not to go nuts on Christmas. The stuff for the kids/ grandkids is a completely different story! LOL!
Have a good one!
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Ho ho ho..., Meeeerry Christmas!!
just pulled the prime rib outta the oven and brought some in to share. er.. I guess rib roast actually. Prime rib sounds better to me Though. Maybe others can bring in a few dishes and we can have a late potluck Christmas party.
Ken- so sorry to hear about your dad.
Welp, all is well here I suppose. Good to see you guys. Quite a few new guys I see. That’s great.
getting ready for the wife to start coughin (she’s had the flu all last week but better now) so I best get back to w*rk here.
I’ll try and stop in on New Years to help get Jim off the chandelier. Happens every year. Still don’t know how he gets up there.
Ya’ll have a great day now ya hear?!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Ken my condolences on the loss of your dad. Hideous way to find out too.
My sirloin roast turned out well. I cooked it at 450 for 20 minutes to avoid browning it in a skillet. Not that anyone noticed but the bottom didn't get very brown. Next time I will dirty a skillet. It turned out well as did the potatoes. My son made green beans and pine nuts and tiramisu.
Narrowly avoided taking my OH to the ER. Her oncologist decided 100.7 wasn't high enough, given her lack of symptoms and to wait for 101. It never hit 101 but now, 24 hours later it is again 100.8.
I thought I mentioned my DNA testing before. I am 0.1% Yakut a Siberian oriental tribe. Did the Russians go west or did the Yakut go east 4-500 years ago? My wife who thought she was 1/2 German is more Scandanavian than German.
Hope everyone is having a happy holiday.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Eveining Diners
Flo, the gang will have a glass of spiked eggnog with a chaser. Give the none drinkers what every they like.
BigDaddyKen my condolences on the loss of your dad. Hideous way to find out too.
Henery I think you put it best! I was stunned by the news but not what happened! Told my wife last year "what you want to bet Mom does not call when Dad dies?" Just another messed up chapter in my life! Amazing with my childhood I have not needed therapy. Still turned out to be a decent person and father to my daughter.
Thank You for all of the condolences. I learned a lot from Dad, good and bad, but more good. Part of me will miss him, part of me not as much.
Christmas Was pretty good. Daughter and SIL did get to the house pretty late, around 2:15. I had not eaten yet and I was glad we ate before we opned the presents. Gave Sharon and Shawn some cash and a Lowes Gift Card. They are remodining there bathroom. Over all pretty pleasant Christmas and for a change a White Christmas.
Todd Great To See You!
Ed You gave me the best Christmas Pesents. Running the Mighty B&O F7's, Mighty CB&Q F7's and NYC RSD as I miss spell.
Merry Christmas, Ken
Happy Christmas evening all! Cold, cold, cold. It only got to 1 above today. Expected to get to -14 tonight.
Dessert: As I mentioned previously, I was making a caramel apple torte for dessert. Unfortunately, both Mom and Dad thought that it was a little bit heavy. Hmm. Have to come up with something a little bit lighter for next year. (As of late, I can't seem to come up with anything dessert wise that keeps them happy.)
On a different point, however, Dad didn't say much when I asked about snagging a piecce of plywood to built the new layout section. He also doesn't say much when I use his radial arm saw for cutting things. (He didn't train me on using it until I was high school. He was concerned about me misusing it and causing problems.) Does make it a lot easier for cutting plywood and such. The 1x4s can usually cut with a hand saw but the radial arm saw does make it easier.
Judging by the weather, I may be able to buiilt the framework I need the second week of January. From what the weather is showing, next Monday will be a repeat of today.
I also have decided that I will leave the shop only as one kit. I took a quick look at the available space and determined that there isn't wnough room for a second kit. (Besides which, it saves me money not buying the second kit. I have enough other bits and pieces that I need that saving money will be handy.)
Ken!
cudaken Amazing with my child hood I have not needed therapy.
TRAINS are therapy. Every time someone asks me "how much did that cost?" pointing to a locomotive or something I just say, "about three sessions worth" and then they understand.
It sounds like you have a good grasp of how things are dealt out in life... that's good, Ken!
I hope the coming New Year brings you some good cheer!
centurycard by Edmund, on Flickr
Best Wishes to ALL!
Ed
A belated Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for 2018!!
Sorry, this is a few minutes late. I have been having such a good time with my wife Dianne, our son Cole and his wonderful fiance Kaitlin that I didn't have time to get to the computer on Christmas day. This is the first time we have had Cole home for X-mas in four years, and having Kaitlin here was a big bonus. We are teaching her how to play euchre and she is off to a good start. We also played a Canadian trivia game which we were absolutely lousy at but it was fun. We cheated by giving lots of hints if we knew the answer to the question!
I prided myself on not going back for seconds during Christmas Dinner. . I was sorely tempted but I managed to maintain my resolve! That was until the snacks came out for the after dinner games and the cookie platter was brought out again. That pretty much killed the attempt at waistline control!
We have suffered the benefits of having employees (my wife's) who really like their managers. Dianne got a bunch of very generous gifts from her staff, but the best was a Jamaican fruit and rum cake that was literally intoxicating (and I believe quite flamable)! It was so moist that you could have squeezed the booze out of it. We were warned not to drive after having some. I chuckled at the warning but after the first piece I suspected that the warning was true! There is still half a cake left. What to do, what to do?!?
Cheers everyone!!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Well it turned out to be a nice Christmas after all Sister in Law surprised me with money to spend at the train show. Perfect because the wife wants me out while the furniture is moving Saturday, so I will go to the train show Walmart and then see the Star Wars movie. Cannot think of a better way to spend a “get out of the way Saturday.”
I need more reversing track for the Subway and while I am at it I think I will swap the stock couplers for Kadee 158’s and see if that makes for a more prototypical looking space between subway cars.
Everybody outta bed. It's not Berea, but it's all I got this morning from Coal City IL