Good morning
Interesting about your music career Ray and thanks for sharing. Had a stong interest in music back in my school days. Loved music then and still do. Had talked to the school counselor about different schools but it never went any further than that. Immediately was discouraged by guidance members of my family so never did follow that dream.
Fourty years later, my body is all beat up by taking the role as a lifetime carpenter in the construction trades. My Grandfather, a wealthy man, payed for us grandchildren's school and tried to talk me into dropping out of carpentry to pursue architecture. There is no coulda shoulda woulda, but sometimes one can't help but wonder how things may have turned out going another way.
Never heard of a musician or architect (having to) soak in the hot tub after work
Attuvian1 Ah, Track Fiddler, the tempter. How long will it take for LION to come out of his lair?
GMTRacing Ah TF - Lion bait?
Ah TF - Lion bait?
Ya know, ...The Lion with his set apart character and "Far Side" humor, I've grown accustomed to through the years here. Just feels like a big part of normalcy is missing when he's not around. Also like to recap on my childhood Sunday School lessons when he speaks of what's going on at the Abbey
Well, just like always this time of year, nobody wants work done in their home. Got the plumbing repairs done in the building but haven't repaired the water damage on the ceilings below, except for in the halls.
Something about this time of year never understood. Work always came to a screeching halt in the Winter, especially during holiday season. Always planned ahead for that scenario and thank goodness one has a hobby to fill in the lull time.
Then in the Spring people would call to have their basements finished, when there's more outside work then one can shake a stick at. Who wants to be a cellar dweller when it's beautiful outside and the birds are singing...
Alamy
Have a good Taco Tuesday gentlemen
TF
Good Morning,
Another warm cloudy day here. Well I guess 'warm' is relative, for us it is 30F. Expecting to get the edge of that big storm to the south. I hope TF has batten down the hatches.
I'm off to do some errands this afternoon.
TF, I remember a cartoon ad and jingle they played onTV here inthe late '50 to encourage winter indoor work, Don't wait for spring do it now. I can still sing the whole thing, must have made an impression. At least you can still pick up work. Not much call for a retired commercial credit manager.
My mother was a musician. She had a degree in piano performance. She taught piano for many years. She also learned to play a pipe organ. None if her takents rubbed off on me.
CN Charlie
Good morning from the sunny West Coast where it is 0c.
TF, love the Polar Express pic. It's our favourite movie. We watch it every Christmas eve. We put the Blu-ray in as it has much more audio encoded onto it than you get over the streaming service. When that train starts to rumble in my 18" subwoofers make it an enjoyable experience.
Got some Emails asking if I heard my son on a podcast last night, I had not but I was told to listen to a certain part so I did. The host said to him, you are doing well and are pretty high up in the corporate world for a 24-year-old, who is your hero, who do you really admire, and who has influenced you the most? The kid said, my Dad, my Dad, my Dad. He is the first person I call if I am having a bad day or have to make a tough decision. I admit a tear or two flowed when I heard that.
When I was a kid my Mom taught piano and voice and did some professional work as well. She had a role in an opera that came to Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre which has 2600 seats. I was probably five years old and had to go along as rehearsals were every day during the week. She said I could go anywhere in the theatre but not outside. I ran all over that theatre and stuck my nose through a door up at the back of the theatre that turned out to be the control room. The guy saw me and said come on in. It was where the spotlights were controlled and where the button that opened and close the stage curtain was pushed. He let me push a lot of buttons during those rehearsals but the biggie was opening and closing the curtain. His name was Warren and I still think of him 60 years on.
We just finished the last of all the stuff my wife grew in the garden this year. It's back to store-bought. Had prime rib with a nice Australian Cab-Sav last night and get leftovers tonight.
My wife owns and/or co-owns a lot of dogs that live with other people so every couple of months we get about 900lbs of dog food delivered and they all come and get it. Today is that day. My afternoon is planned so I need to get out for my scoot with my buddy soon, he is lying on my feet giving me that look. I can't imagine life without a dog, I have never not had one.
My favourite line in The Polar Express that I have repeated to my kids more than a few times when they have stalled.
"The thing about trains, it doesn't matter where they're going, what matters is deciding to get on".
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Good evening Diners. A glass of Pusser's Rum please, Flo. I'll leave the bottle for anyone who requires.
IMG_4996 by David Harrison, on Flickr
Music. Always loved music. Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Records, radio, anything that played music. Still do. Classical, pop, rock, jazz, whatever. Music is played all day in the house. Cannot play an instrument. Cannot read music. Sing really badly. Love music.
Finland
Rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village) to Tampere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVBIegvf5LE&ab_channel=SimonAndersen
Kajaani to Helsinki.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu_yOqFj3eo&ab_channel=NonstopEurotrip
Today's request.
Burger, Onion Rings, and British Chunky Chips (Chunky Fries).
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Five and half minutes of sheer beauty (imo).
Stockholm to Narvik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYdlJUvth3I&ab_channel=RalphBrouwer
BATMANGot some Emails asking if I heard my son on a podcast last night, I had not but I was told to listen to a certain part so I did. The host said to him, you are doing well and are pretty high up in the corporate world for a 24-year-old, who is your hero, who do you really admire, and who has influenced you the most? The kid said, my Dad, my Dad, my Dad. He is the first person I call if I am having a bad day or have to make a tough decision. I admit a tear or two flowed when I heard that.
You done good Brent!!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good evening
Was able to post on some other threads this afternoon but was getting 403 Forbidden here.
Love the Polar Express movie too Brent. I'm going to see it with my daughters on Sunday as they like to watch that one every year.
Congratulations with rewards as a result of being a great parent. That's a lot to be proud of with your Son. Almost got a tear in my eye just reading about it. That sort of thing is about the best there is, making it all worthwhile.
I got my hatches shut tight Charlie! It started to hit a couple hours ago. Started with a steady rain and will be followed by sleet, topped off with snow through the night here. Sounds like some kind of ice cream treat That should make a delightful hockey rink with the frosting on top of the roads and highways.
I'd love to see that Canadian commercial of the 50's, promoting people to get their inside jobs done in the winter. That's funny you still remember the jingle. Seem to remember old ditties and jingles from way back when as well. I'll start singing one of those silly tunes out of the blue sometimes and Judy busts a gut. Wish you could find that old commercial and post it my friend.
Have a great evening gentlemen
PS Had to drop my winter train pic to get it to work. Maybe I'll give it another shot later.
TF,
Don't wait for spring do it now,
When there are men who know how,
If the job is interior
And the work is superior
Don't wait for spring , do it now.
Well the washing machine just died, water won't pump out. It makes noise but nothing happening. It is too old to fix. Problem is my wife won't allow anyone in the house to deliver a new one, never mind shopping for it. She is afraid they will bring covid in the house. Not sure what to do.
Storm supposed to hit tomorrow.
I need a big glass of that Pusser's rum
Again, funny how we can remember stuff like that through the years. Was reading the lyrics trying to put a melody to it and was doing pretty good but then...
You needed a little more separation before the part about the washing machine. Was trying to make sense of it thinking it was the chorus of the jingle until It dawned on me reading a little further down.
Sorry to hear your wife is still having problems with anxiety. Thats gotta be tough.
Latch your shutters and warn the others! The rain is turning into a sleet and snow mix now and will be working its way to your neck of the woods.
I'll have a glass of that rum witcha Charlie.
Cheers
CNCharlieWell the washing machine just died, water won't pump out.
Hi CNCharlie,
I hate having to deal with worn out appliances.
We had a funny thing happen when our previous washing machine (which was ancient) bit the dust. There was a small trickle of water coming out from under the washer so I decided to investigate. When I pulled the washer away from the wall I was shocked to discover that the casting that the drain hose was connected to stayed right where it was. It was so corroded that it simply fell off of the washer! Why it hadn't fallen off before and flooded the basement is a mystery.
By the way, Dianne and I came home with 11 bottles of wine this morning as a result of winning 4th prize in the Christmas Wine Contest at the Probus Club. We now have a very interesting selection of both red and white wines in the house!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
P-C on the Curve:
Penn Central 4290, ex-PRR E8A by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
Tern arouns shot of Penn Central 4290 by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
As rough-n-tumble as it was, I really miss the Penn-Central era. Sorry to say, things really haven't improved much in fifty years.
NYC_25-Ani_0007 by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Good Morning Diners. Brunhilda, scrambled eggs and bacon please.
My oldest is home from college and the family seems to be on a quest to get through a list of holiday movies. Sunday was some cheesy romantic comedy I avoided. Monday night it was White Christmas. Last night it was The Santa Clause. There are a handful I want to make sure I see each year, then after that, I'll catch what I can but don't make it a point to see them. The Polar Express is one on my list, as are White Christmas, The Grinch (w/ Jim Carrey), some version of A Christmas Carol, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story. Trying to get them in around everything else can be a challenge. No need to add to the list!
hon30critterDianne and I came home with 11 bottles of wine this morning as a result of winning 4th prize in the Christmas Wine Contest
Mike
Took quite awhile this year but finally adjusted to that daylight savings time garbage. Wonder just how much time they actually think they saved, waking us up at 3:30 for weeks?
Didn't get as much snow as they said we could have at the tail of the ice storm....Yet! A lot of tree limbs are down from the weight of the ice though. Slickery out there. Need to slip and slide to the grocery to replace some Staples.
We like The Santa Claus with Tim the Tool Man over here as well Mike. Have a big stack of those Christmas DVD's. Bet my Daughters pick that one along with the Polar Express this year too.
We made Christmas cookies yesterday. Needless to say our sugar intake is up but they sure are tasty.
Going to work on re-configuring the deck girder bridges today so the piers can be sized, capped and painted.
Ya got your green here, Ya got your red there, Ya got your...
Christmas card Andrew Dierks
Happy Hump Day gentlemen
Good afternoon Diners. A Brunch (breakfast/lunch) and large coffee please, Chloe.
Congratulations, Dave and Dianne. Enjoy!
Japan.
Sunrise Express. The first half is nightime in suburbia. The second half is morning in Wintertime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG53Pr3pFg4&ab_channel=Kuga%27sTravel
The Limited Express. Snow all the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKp9CjFrcz4&ab_channel=Kuga%27sTravel
The liyama Line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcT1OP_Vgvs&ab_channel=Kuga%27sTravel
The Aizu Mount Express
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ8cgpdhNnc&ab_channel=Kuga%27sTravel
Good evening diners.
Zoe - A strong coffee with a peppermint stick in it please. I will take it to go. Thanks.
Train news - Layout section 2 of 4 is up! Just need the other leg of the L now, it wil be two sections simply for ease of getting the materials up the stairs. (As a self proclaimed wimp, I do not wish to wrestle a full 8' long hunk of plywood up a flight of stairs.)
The fun part is that might take a while - I have some sort of bug, negative Covid tests, but of unknown type and who knows where I got it at, which is not helping the asthma any, hence the coffee, and I fell on some ice Monday, hurting my hip and back. Landed hard enough that I "knocked the wind" from my lungs. I highly suggest that others not try it! (Although somehow I did not end up with a concussion. Knew my hard head was good for something. ) So layout benchwork is taking an unexpected break.
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Good morning Diners. A cold, snowy day in the land of the former North British Railway. A hot chocolate and some cookies please, Chloe.
New Zealand
Snow at Arthur's Pass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6acPX_00M9Q&ab_channel=railpast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h8otbcMiF8&ab_channel=CPRail1
Tranzalpine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heYCThxvei4&ab_channel=geoffmackley
This is fun!
Even the stodgy, old Pennsylvania Railroad gets into the Holiday Spirit:
PRR_xmas by Edmund, on Flickr
Red Caboose yesterday, Green Caboose today.
FlickrRemove the second one though....
Bad color match
Make it a great day gentleman
We went on a cruise out of Galveston last week; family event. Back to work on Monday and lots of catch up; lots of catch up here in the diner.
Good to see Ken check in; hope he pops in more frequently.
My brother got covid in the middle of the cruise and was quarantined. My wife started having symptoms on the last day; and she tested positive when we got home. Despite a 12 hour car ride with her, I have managed to test negative twice since them. But we are living apart in the same house; basements really do come in handy!
Here is another snow plow hard at work:
Tin Can, I hope your layout is in the basement.
The GF had Covid, which she got from a houseguest. Just like a cold, not even that bad of a cold. I was here the whole time, never got Covid from anyone.
I slept upstairs, and did the shopping and cooking. Then I left the room while she ate. It was nice to finally go out to dinner again.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good Afternoon,
Another blustery day here but still mild at 30F.
As my wife can't tolerate delivery or repair men in the house I plan on attempting to repair the washing machine myself. It is the pump that is gone and a new one has been ordered. I think I have figured out access and it appears to invole the removal of the bottom panel. I have looked at exploded diagrams of our model on line. Wish me luck as I will need it.
Hope the snow removal guys come soon as I can't get down the drive in the car at least not safely.
I sure miss watching NCIS reruns with my buddy. 2 years now.
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Nice to hear of everyone's music experiences. I too love music. the first music that I was aware of as a type of music was classical. Still love it to this day. Had I made some smarter decisions when I was younger, I'd be doing it a lot more than I am. The problem is sight reading. Unfortunately, reading always got in the way of playing, so I never really learned to read. Definitely paid a price for it.
I shan't bore you all with pictures, the few that I have. I'll just sum it all up with this: I loved performing and recording, I hated the industry. Glad I'm out of it.
Well. I've no train in snow pictures to share; however, those pictures of trains out in the cold and snow make one long for a cozy cup of hot chocolate as you sit by the fire.
Winter Hot Chocolate by Jim S, on Flickr
And, if one is feeling hungry on a cold winter gameday, then there's this...
Pizza and beer by Jim S, on Flickr
I've been feeling a little under the weather the last couple of days, so I'm loading up on echinacea and oranges, and drinking herbal tea. That has really helped.
Hope all are feeling well or at least soon will be.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Fourminutes of self indulgence.
Bavaria. I was here in 1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ2QbvFY3r0&ab_channel=GustavoFurlan
MisterBeasley Tin Can, I hope your layout is in the basement. The GF had Covid, which she got from a houseguest. Just like a cold, not even that bad of a cold. I was here the whole time, never got Covid from anyone. I slept upstairs, and did the shopping and cooking. Then I left the room while she ate. It was nice to finally go out to dinner again.
Mr. B; the trains are downstairs, as is she. As you did, I am upstairs with the kitchen and our bedroom. She has a full bath and a bedroom downstairs where we normally sleep as it is cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Got a text from my asst. director at my previous job that our accountant passed away this morning. Wholly unexpected; she developed a very serious medical issue that rapidly escalated.
CNCharlie I plan on attempting to repair the washing machine myself. It is the pump that is gone and a new one has been ordered. I think I have figured out access and it appears to invole the removal of the bottom panel. I have looked at exploded diagrams of our model on line. Wish me luck as I will need it. Hope the snow removal guys come soon as I can't get down the drive in the car at least not safely.
I plan on attempting to repair the washing machine myself. It is the pump that is gone and a new one has been ordered. I think I have figured out access and it appears to invole the removal of the bottom panel. I have looked at exploded diagrams of our model on line. Wish me luck as I will need it.
Good morning Diners. A large bowl of soup and bread please, Brunhilda.
At minus 7C it is rather cold.
Scotland
Corrour Railway Station built by the North British Railway Company
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAkJJ110CEA&ab_channel=mykull
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgc3cQeSKOc&ab_channel=philipdean345