Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool water, please & thanks! 

***CN Charlie, my wife already has some HO Bachmann EZ track. I agree with you on the quality of Kato Unitrack. For my N scale, it's Unitrack all the way. That being said, using some Atlas flex track (which I also have on hand) for some of the longer sections might save a few $. Just chomping at the bit for the day I will have space to really get going on something.

Night All. Rob

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening Diners!

Tom, I really hope things turn out OK for Lowell. It is really tough when a beloved pet gets old and starts to have problems. We are going through much the same with Jamie, our 13 year old Westie. He is home now recuperating from some major dental surgery on Friday and it is complicated by diabetes and weak kidneys. Even the $936 vet bill was an "Oh Well, these things happen". We just hope he can have a little more time with us and not be in any discomfort. He is a really great little dog who always seems so happy and he is definitely a "Mummy's Boy" so it will be especially hard on my wife when we lose him.

On another not serious but annoying note, our CD player died today. I called the store where we bought it and it turns out they don't make parts anymore to fix it as it is 15 years old and apparently they normally don't last more than 10 years. I liked it though and it matches the amp--both Acoustic Research.  Can't be without music though so will be looking for a replacement next weekend.

 I was at my LHS today to pick up some lamps to put lights into the engine shed that is basically finished. I am putting lights in most of my structures and will wire them up as a winter project. I was talking to a fellow who works there Saturdays and he mentioned that he has over 90 Pennsylvania diesels, 35 CPR and many steamers, a lot of which are CPR brass. I mentioned this to my wife as I thought my modest desires for locos will pale in comparison and she can then think how restrained I am when I buy the 3 I have my eye on this fall. Mind you with the vet bills piling up it might be sometime next year before any new locos make it onto the Mortimer sub.

Rob, you had asked about sectional track for your wife's layout and I can say that I really like the Kato Unitrack I'm using. The prices on it at Kleins are quite good too.

Jeff , your note about going to a Mexican restaurant got me thinking about them it Winnipeg and I think that there is only 1 in a city of 600,000. Several have started up over the years but they only last a short time. We have nearly every ethnic group represented here, even Ethopian but for some reason Mexican restaurants don't survive. The grocery stores have a good selection of Mexican foods for home preparation but that's about it.

Well it's after 11 here so I think I'll sign off for now.

CN Charlie

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Time for me to check in again.  I've been following the play-by-play, just not posting much.  Just hanging out with Duke in the back booth.

Quick update on things out at the orange grove.  Amazingly we are still harvesting some of the late oranges.  This is the latest we've ever had fruit, so it's a real treat for us.  Hope you're enjoying it up in the Diner.  The key lime trees are really producing now, much more than we can consume or give away.  Mango season is on the wane, just some more of one variety left to harvest.  A few papayas get picked each week.  Looks like next season's harvest of oranges will be another bumper crop.  Some of the oranges are bigger than baseballs already, and we have 3+ months to go before the real start of the season.

Things on the model railroad front aren't that good.    Still no progress.  I may need to turn in my model railroader's license and take up armchair railroading full time.

Ryan: You mean Gazpacho? I think Ed has a really good one that Fran makes! Hint.....hint....

Actually, Gazpacho is Spanish (Andalusian) not Mexican.  It's not very common down here.  In fact, I've never seen it on the menu in any restaurant I've been to.  Maybe it can be found in different areas, or in a better class of restaurant.  Fran had never heard of it before I made it.  It's probably more common in Tex-Mex cuisine, or Southwest cuisine.  In any case, here's the recipe that I use, but there are so many variations that you can freely change it around.  This recipe makes a fairly thick soup, with small chunks of vegetables.  Note also that this recipe isn't very spicy, but you can adjust it to suit by varying the amount of cayenne pepper you use.  Please forgive the funky line spacing.

Gazpacho

A liquid salad and the best soup for a hot summer day.

3 cloves garlic, coarse chop
1 medium red onion

3 ripe tomatoes
1 medium cucumber, seeded
1 green bell pepper, seeded

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded

½ carrot

1/8 cup olive oil

1/8 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups tomato juice

Juice of 2 limes

Chopped cilantro
ground chile pequin or cayenne pepper (to taste)

ground cumin (to taste +/- 1/2 to 1 tsp)
freshly ground black pepper
Salt (we don't use any)

Chop ½ of the onion, tomatoes, cucumber, jalapeño and bell pepper, and all the carrot, in chunks.  Place in blender with the garlic and some tomato juice and coarsely puree.

Remaining vegetables should be coarsely chopped (+/- ¼").  (Reserve a little chopped onion, cucumber, jalapeño and bell pepper to serve with soup).

In a large bowl combine pureed vegetables, chopped vegetables, oil, vinegar, tomato juice, lime juice, and spices.  Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours, more if possible.

Hasta luego,

Ed

 

 

[New Haven I-5]

 I don't think anyone cares but, I just bought Steam Locomotives & Project Ideas.

[twhite]

Jim--

Is Comcast available in your area?  I had my internet hooked up to Comcast cable and it's been really good.  Still kept AT&T for my phone-line (despite that irritating gal on the Verizon commercials), and so far I haven't had any trouble. 

Just an option, IMO. 

Of course if you're still having problems, let me know and I'll get hold of Guido and 'Thumbs' Louie.  They're buddies of mine and they've been known to rip off front porches with their teeth.  Lovely fellows.  And they really DRESS well!

Tom   

[Cederstrand]

in a SANTA FE mug, please & thanks.

Sorry to hear of the lost pet and other ill 4-legged companions. We know all to well how that feels.

The drain hose must have quit siphoning the old septic tank sometime last night. No matter, brought loads of dirt over (from next to the HUGE burry pit) and hand shoveled it as far as I could get it into the hole. Then I used the tractor to keep packing it down. Eventually, it became filled, at least it "appears to be" filled. Guess time will tell. I was still affraid to run over it with the rear tractor tires, but did pack it down reasonably with the front. Glad that task is completed.

For any MMA fans, on SPIKE TV tonight at 9:00pm EST, there will be some live UFC fights televised for free.

Need to ice the ankle again. Was getting all sorts of annoying "shocks" in it while driving the tractor. Gurrrr!

Rob

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Vinnie may want to warm up his brass knuckles.

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Janie - I'll have a bowl of brocolli cheese soup, whole grain bagette, and a RBF, please. (Yum!) Thanks!

Paul, good to hear your progress on the eye(s). Keep it up.

back, LilRob. How've you been doing, and what's new with you?

Flash, sorry to hear about Stinky's 'demise,' but good to hear another is ready to step in for him. Good to hear of your Dad's progress.

Tom, I can believe that Lowell is working his charm on the vet's staff, from your previous tales about him. Hope he gets to feeling better with all that new attention. It does seem strange to read the phrase 'absolutely unconditional love' used in the same sentence with 'cat' - but then again, Lowell's not your average cat, either...

Garry, I think vehicle engines can be hazardous for cats - place I lived back when I was married, we had a carport on the back of the house, and it was open on most of three sides. One morning I had an incident kind of like your one with your 'Little Kitten', but it was a smaller kitten and didn't turn out well at all. I also recall another morning, coming out and seeing cat pawprints and a few feathers on the top of the car roof. Silly cat didn't even use a napkin to clean up after its dinner!

Heartland Division CB&Q

Usually JimCG is good for RBF's. He chugs them down like there's no tomorrow!

Hey, Garry - I resemble that remark! And speaking of RBF's, Janie - another one, please.

 

Thanks!

Rob, that's one messy (NTBCW MESS(tm)) deal you have to tend to, there. How possible would it be to get some loads of dirt from another part of your place and fill the rest of the hole in? But I know next to nothing about septic tanks and such...

Jeff, maybe my internet provider studies off of yours - my DSL connection was giving me fits this afternoon (email with one picture was stalling after the first part appeared to have been sent - variously shown on different tries as 53 percent, 54 percent or 60 percent). I ended up hooking up via my WiFi part of my access point/firewall, and then decided the 'hecque' with it. Just loaded the laptop into the bag and headed over to Panera's. Their WiFi is more reliable, and the food is great, too. 

I've been looking at whether/when to drop my landline phone and either just use my work cell phone, or get me a personal cell (nope, not an iPhone - yet...). But I don't like several features of cell phone plans (like having to use minutes for my voice messages, having to pay for calls that I didn't originate, etc.). In our area of Missouri, it's mostly Verizon, or AT&T (and I'm with them). I'm about to terminate my Internet and my land phoneline with AT&T over the poor customer service and the too-regular problems with the lines to my apartment in general.

Any of you Diners have suggestions on phone options? Or should I (ahem...) talk to Vinnie about a little 'persuasion job' for him? ...

I'll be in the corner booth for a while. Don't mind my muttering, I'm not mad with any of you folks.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I was hoping the story would cheer you up a bit. It's sad Lwoell is so sick.

Usually JimCG is good for RBF's. He chugs them down like there's no tomorrow!

[twhite]

Ryan--

Well, DUH! on me , LOL!  You'd think I'd remember after hanging around here all year.  Yah, if there are any available, I'll have a BIG one!

Thanks. 

Tom

[SilverSpike]

Garry--

Thanks for the thoughts and the story.  Hate to sound computer-stupid (which I largely am, LOL!) but what's an "RBF?"

Tom

Root Beer Floats!!!!!

Sorry about Lowell!

[twhite]

Garry--

Thanks for the thoughts and the story.  Hate to sound computer-stupid (which I largely am, LOL!) but what's an "RBF?"

Tom

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I feel sadnees about Lowell, Tom.  We're down to one cat from the two we had for many years. The cat (Skeekie) who was "mine" died a few months ago. There's nothing quite like having a favorite companion put to sleep. It's heartbreaking. I certainly hope Lowell recovers so you ned not do that.

Our remaining cat, Little Kitten, would not be charming the people in the vet's office under any circumstances. I'll tell a little about her. A couple of years ago, I left the truck outside overnight. Next morning I was moving the truck, but it lost all of the hydraulics. No power brakes. no power steering.

I opened the hood, and immediately saw white fur all over the engine compartment. Shelley saw it too, and screemed, "Little Kitten!" ...  We found her on the deck with bloody paws and without large amoiunts of fur. We called the vet, and he enourged us to take care of her ourselves with his instructions. We concluded that the vet remembered how she behaved in his office previously, and just did not want to see her. That's the only mechanical problem I have ever had with my 2002 Chevy truck. The surpentine belt was broken which amazed me.

What was the previous visit to the vet like? ....er....well.........uh...never mind.

Any RBF's available?

[twhite]

Morning all--

Rough day, yesterday, had to take Lowell into the vet for an emergency IV drip--we got the blood-work back and one of his levels that was supposed to be a maximum of 30 was 260!  The vet said he's never seen a cat with a level this high that was still alive!  So he's spending the weekend at the vet.  Phoned to see how he was doing this morning, and the vet says he's doing pretty well--hooked up to an IV and eating like crazy and charming the heck out of the assistants.  So hopefully, the drip will work and I'll be able to keep him around for a little while.  Evidently the drip is the cat-equivalent of Dialysis (sp?).  We'll see.  Right now it's a waiting game. 

Needless to say I didn't get any work in on the MR yesterday. 

I know this might sound silly to some of you, all this for a cat, but Lowell's been a darned good companion the past 12 years, and one of the sweetest cats I've ever owned, so there's a really strong bond between us.  Pets are like that, they give you absolutely unconditional love--they become family.  I'd like to keep this member of the family around for as long as I possibly can. 

So right now the news sounds pretty good.  Hope it keeps up. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

[jeffrey-wimberly]

My internet signal is really flaky today so I called Suddenlink tech support to see what's going on. Just found out from Suddenlink (Sometimeslink in my book) that they apparently have a server problem on their end that's causing the lousy service I'm having today. My download speed is right on target but upload speed is around 40 kbps (should be almost 600 kbps). I could probably get better upload speed on dial-up.

[SilverSpike]

But now that Ryan is living in NC, that state must be moving rapidly to the top of the list! I suppose I should have stayed in CO (Caboose Hobbies is there, too.)

The best "cold soup": is a Root Beer Float. JimCG is good about supplying those. MMMMMMMM.

Hey, I resemble both of those remarks!

Yup, Dick and Garry, the South has some of the best durn food on the planet!

And speaking of food....soups on!

Hey Jim, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo....

[Fergmiester]

FERGIE: There is a TD off the Florida coast near the SC border, it bears watching, it may intensify. As for new layout, do you have the room to add another mainline outside the existing mainline? Can you add to your benchwork with some creative carpentry? If so, you can have the best of both worlds. BTW, Lisa will love the weather headed her way this weekend, 90's are going to spread all the way up into NS, and almost to Sheet Harbour.

Well thank you DICK! ya I saw that and checked it first thing this morning . At it's present forecasted rate it will be right over me by Wednesday. Saying that a lot can happen in the next 24 hours. So my fingers are crossed. BTW the Weatehr Stn is still not fixed on this so all the readings are askew. I'm hoping this will be fixed during the upcoming maintenance period. Trip is scheduled to be completed Friday. So we shall wait and see.

Apart from that not much else on the go.

Later All

Fergie

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

I'm off to Conneaut, OH this morning for Charter vessel exams.

Dorothy's nephew josh is spending the next couple of days with us so we are thinking of a ride on the A.C.&J RR weather permitting.  This is not to far from where the Plymouth locomotives were built.

 Lee

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[Flashwave]

Hi new guys!

Thanks fgor the comments on Northern, maybe I will build it. Just gotta come up with an Ops reason for stuff to go OUT... or, not.

     Sad news today: We had to bury a beloved pet (Plush) skunk. His name was Stinky, born from a litter of Ty's some 14 years ago. He was one of dad's healers during the last bout of cancer, and had a wonderful seat up onm the rear view mirrors. A very expressive lil' skunk, with lots of posturing. He passed while trying to soothe Dad's tender caboose while he had "waste disposal problems" today, somehow getting under dad and not being able to get out. we decided to end his miisery and buried him by the Mulberry Bush.  His star pupil, a Pokemon Plush called Oddish, will take his position, probably from a nice shelf beside the bed. We're looking at adopting a Stinky Jr, and I need styrafoam for a headstone.  

Dad's doing alright, no real news, but he's out of the rotisserie bed (The docs hate us now, we have THEM calling it that) and they called off the GIs from him, so progress is good if not slow.   

[Cederstrand]

Coffee refill, please & thanks.

***LilRob...hello and greetings from TiredRob.

Brain storm: Siphoning the liquid out of the old septic tank using a couple sacrificial garden hoses. Have it running into the mega-deep trash pit. Added a couple gallons of clorox for good measure.

Hope everyone is doing well. Healing thoughts to those in need.

Rob

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Hi TxRailnut.

Went out to dinner at a local Mexican place with my sister and her family tonight. I had Carne Asada. My sister asked me why didn't I just order fajitas, it's the same meat and all. I told her that I like to build my own fajitas, I don't like the way the restaurant makes them.

[Txrailnut07]

Hello strangers. Yup, I'm still around. Thought I'd stop by to say, Hi.

[rtraincollector]

rtraincollector:

If you are moving to Columbia, S.C. there is a really nice Hobby Shop in West Columbia.  At least there was several years ago.  The New Brookline RR HS. Say hello to Joe. At one time got a lot of stuff for the previous road when I lived in SC.

Dr. Robert Sylvester (He knows me that way)

WTRR

 

I acually live here now have been scince end of may .

I plan to try and get there one of these days.

[railroadnut675]

   Well this will be the last time I post... for a while.

   Starting tomorrow I leave at 6am to go to the Scout Hut; It will be a trip to a Scout Camp in North Carolina for a week. Friday night, my parents will pick me up en route to Cape Cod. We will stay in Brewster for around 10 days.

   Then we leave for home with a stop in New York City on the way. I may stay a few extra days with my uncle and cousins and post from Northern New Jersey. At the end of it all I will have been gone for about 4 weeks with 1 week left to enjoy summer at home--so worth it though!!!

[LSWrr]

Paul, glad to hear your eyes are doing better.

 

Rob, the Atlas TT's are easy but they model the closed pit turn tables and they come indexed.  You can pick them up pretty cheep too.  I think my LHS has an HO in brass for $12.

 

Ok, time to go back to work I hope to have time to stop in later this weekend.

 

Lee

[Paul W. Beverung]

Afternoon Gang: Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes about my eyes. It certainly has helped.

The kids were looking at a house about 2 miles from us that they really liked. It was on 2.3 acres with 5 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. A real nice place. They had been going to make an offer untill they saw the restrictions from the town. They wouldn't even be able to spit without approval. Some people have to control everything.

Rob you could fill in the old septic tank with the water in it but you would probably have sinking problems for sometime. We are having problems like that on the well sight where the drilling wast ponds were. I had it filled in again just yesterday. If you can pump out the water and let it run soak in some where that would be good. If it has tobe hauled away it may cost some. We have our tank pumped every couple of years and it runs around $100.

Well I must run the gang wants to go somewhere.??????

See you all later.

[Cederstrand]

***Dick, here in GA it may be too much fried food & sweets. My wife is guilty of both and with high cholesterol, I really worry about her long term health. Me, well fried foods are not the least bit appealing to me. I admit to being guilty of having a sweet tooth though.

Turntables: There is a part of me that likes the idea of that Walthers TT, but the cost is a bit insane. Was thinking of the excelent work done with paper print outs (that's you, Jeffrey, right?) and wondered if an Atlas TT couldn't be doctored up to look like wood using that approach? Also, how accurate/effective (and easy) are the Atlas TTs to set up and use? Any thoughts? (((with a train room, I WILL have a TT somewhere, so locos can be left out for visual enjoyment, rather than kept packed away in boxes)))

Rob

 

[JimRCGMO]

***Jeffrey, that is kinda what I figured. Know any good discount online sellers of EZ-track? 

***Jim, it arrived this morning and wife already deposited it in the bank. Funds will become available next Tuesday, so work can begin anytime after that. One small step closer to a train room. Critters are all doing well except for Sandy (oldest, mostly blind mare). She is really heading downhill, but as long as she can eat and knows her way around the paddock, I'll give her the best of care and attention. I really really really dread that day, which I know is coming. 

Rob, try these results of a search:

http://www.google.com/search?q=EZ-Track+discount 

Good to hear the check is no longer in the mail (but in your bank) now...

Dick, good to hear we won't have to have you go to the ER to have your wife's foot removed from your aft side... Me, young? I'm just this 20 or 30-something kid trapped in this 61-year-old body...

And since Garry reminded me, how about a nice RBF? Looks like Garry tricked me - okay, set 'em up for everybody, Zoe. Thanks!

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

***Jeffrey, that is kinda what I figured. Know any good discount online sellers of EZ-track?

Can't say as I do. I buy at regular retail price.