Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

 

Dick said ....GARRY: Bad news lad, I was watching the TV news at noontime today and they said that the results were in for the states with the most Obese people. Mississippi was #1 followed by #2 Alabama and Kentucky was #3 !!!!!!!! " border="0" width="15" height="15" /> Colorado came in dead last with the least Obese people percentage-wise. I believe that Mississippi was something like 38% Obese. What are these people eating down south to make them so darn fat!! I know that southern food is real good for sure.

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.

Fergie..............any chance of obtaining blind drivers to install on those big locomotives for your existing curves? .......... The MESS's mechanical department should have known about this issue ahead of time.....Anybody get fired at the MESS for this problem?

 

[grayfox1119]

Wow is it hot and getting hotter and more humid each day. Still have to do the work outside, if not, things will get OOC ( Out Of Control ) very fast.

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.

PAUL: Glad to hear the eye exam went well, hope you keep sun glasses on when outside.

CAPE JIM: Spicy cold soup is just fine with me on these dog days of summer. And not to worry about the CFO, all is in control, you see, at age 69, do you really think our wives do much worrying about us? Now if I were a young man like you once again, that would be a different story. As the old saying goes, you can look at the menus, but don't order. LOL

GARRY: Bad news lad, I was watching the TV news at noontime today and they said that the results were in for the states with the most Obese people. Mississippi was #1 followed by #2 Alabama and Kentucky was #3 !!!!!!!! Colorado came in dead last with the least Obese people percentage-wise. I believe that Mississippi was something like 38% Obese. What are these people eating down south to make them so darn fat!! I know that southern food is real good for sure.

Time to get back out,

to check my weather , just click on www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119

[Cederstrand]

***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

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Zoe. You're right, I didn't get back yesterday. One of those days - went a little late in the afternoon. Also, have been trying to stretch my gas until payday (Tuesday), so I don't have to dip into Dick's retirement contributions... 

Today I did something that I never did before. I drove a car, legally! I got my learners permit yesterday and I cannot wait until June when I can get my license.

(In keeping with Flash's warning...)

Okay, Jeff - have you warned everyone in David's parish (county) there about this? Best wishes on safe driving, David - and watch out about a carfull of friends distracting you from your driving. Careful driving keeps your insurance rates down lower, y'know.

Jeff, sounds like you need a good rest, after yesterday's hard work (topped off by that meeting). I'm sure your weather is worse than ours here is, on the heat & humidty. 

Ryan, I'm just missing the good stuff on lunches lately - now I missed the turtle soup, too? Hey, Zoe, if you do have any of that turtle soup left, I think I'll have a cup of that and a ham & cheese sandwich please, with a Dr. Pepper. Thanks!

Tom, good to hear things went fairly well at the vet's. Hopefully, Lowell will be able to heal up for many more months/years with you. With your neighbor, that could be a pretty good trade for the use of your creeper!

Don't want to offend any of our Big Articulated Lovers in the Diner, but I never had a hankering for anything bigger than a Mikado or a Pacific (or a six axle diesel...). Different strokes and all that... 

Dick, careful there - talking about Jill, or your CFO'll clean your clock! Sounds like your weather is as hot and humid as ours (maybe more humid). We've got 83 percent RH today, it's been creeping up on the humidity, with it also warming up in the evenings. Only got down to the 70's (F) last night. But hey, hot soup (or some of Jeff's hot sauce) will clear out the pores, Dick!

Rob, you taking care of yourself and not over-doing, right? Hope the FedEx folks show up today with that check. How're your critters doing with the summer?

Fergie, my condolences on having to redo your MESS(tm), but then again, I've heard about model railroads that they're never really 'done.' Good to hear you had (in your absence) a good turnout for the garden show. Congrats on getting your hands on the new loco, and (once you get things re-done) hope you get it into running order soon. Meanwhile, back to being a 'cork in the ocean,' eh? And that other hand wasn't holding the same soldering iron as the other, was it?

I have more done on the MRR'ing this weekend (like the basic wiring, for example); want to be able to run trains this year, by golly! Now, if I could do like Jerry and get my workbench cleared off (more often...), that'd be good, too.

CN Charlie, maybe the polar bears are stealing your early tomatoes because they're thirstier this year and all...?

Flash, that's a good plan there (and not your everyday one, either!). Hope you can build it with the new transfer table once it's available.

CP Rail, thanks for the word on the (possible) sale - not sure if it's the same up NOTB there, but down here they worry about antitrust, monopolies, etc. (unless it's Micro$oft, of course...)

to the Diner, Dr. Bob (if I may be so casual) and have a cup on me. Very good Great job on your town/city there. Got more photos of the layout? We can always use more good examples to motivate us slackards like me... Fill us in on your layout, please.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

What is a good "affordable" HO track I can use to lengthen strait sections between EZ-track curves & swiches? Or will we save anything at all by the time I lay roadbed for it, ballast it, etc?

By the time you purchase the roadbed, ballast and other materials and put them down (you haven't bought the track yet) you've spent almost what it take to get the EZ-Track in the first place, not to mention the time it took to put all that roadbed down.

[robert sylvester]

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

[Cederstrand]

in a SANTA FE mug, please & thanks.

OK, not a great topic for the Diner, so appologies in advance. One small section of the old septic tank caved in, leaving a dangerous hole in the middle of the yard. On one side runs the phone line, on the other side runs both the power & pipe from the well to the studio. Will need to very carefully dig around until I locate the exact location of those. Then I hope to use the tractor for most of the filling. Looks like it might be a home-made septic (out of bricks) and is quite large (can't even spot two of the sides). Wonder if it should be pumped out before trying to fill it or if dirt will absorb all that liquid?

Been contemplating our designated train room. Will be nice for the wife to have a place to develop her circus/carnival and redneck town ideas. Was looking at HO EZ-track for her....that stuff is EXPENSIVE! What is a good "affordable" HO track I can use to lengthen strait sections between EZ-track curves & swiches? Or will we save anything at all by the time I lay roadbed for it, ballast it, etc? (((psst: My N scale Unitrack doesn't seem so pricey after all)))

3 nights in a row of little sleep is taking a toll. Just can't shut off the brain at night. Going to take it easy today.

Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Indeed, the Hudson is big. Nearly 300 feet long. Completed in 1963, commissioned in 1965 and still in active service, speed 16 knots and a crew compliment of 37.

[Fergmiester]

Ferg: it's a brave, if not fool-jhardy soul who dissassembles a steamer on a bobbing (understatement?) boat.

But Alas my young man this is no mere Boat! This is a ship!! plug CSS Hudson or CCGS Hudson into the internet and you'll be amazed what you will see. She is resonsible for the first of many discoveries and ventures and it will be a sad day for many of us when she is sent off to the Breakers.

Besides if you ever saw some of my brass work I use to do when I was a Model Ship builder and working on an Icebreaker that was real talent!!! A soldering iron in one hand and holding on for dear life with the other!!!

Yes Tom I know what your saying and deep down I have been looking for an excuse to start from ground level. I figure 40% of the layout is salvagable or so I think and I might be able to twin the main line and lengthen it.

Dick: just looked at the most recent update on Bertha and I'd say she is well free and clear of where I am and will be for the next week.

Anyway must run

 

Fergie

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Tom........... We were communicating about observation cars several weeks back. you may be interested in the photos I posted of Silver Fountain in the thread entitled "LED's for passenger cars. You can see the interior with the roof off the car. Cheers.

[Cox 47]

Good morning All....Looks like another hot humid day here....I'll have ham and eggs over easy, toast and coffee please...Thank You...I got the work bench cleaned up yesterday..can even see the top!!Planning on putting ground cover on the last two small places that have none yet...You all have a good one...Jerry

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good Morning.........

Hello Jeff........ Sounds like you needed some firefighter breathing equipment. You certainly don't need smoke inhalation. I salute your work as a volunteer firefighter!

CPRail modeler ....Good to hear from you. I like the red and white loco in your avatar. The "news" report In My Opinion would be something to be skeptical about Our US media is bad enough, but I recall the "news" when we were in Vacouver. Certain events in the USA were highly distorted, and as a USA visitor I felt like the Canadian media was insulting the USA. Fortunately, it's not lthat bad with media in other parts of Canada. As for BC Rail and CN, there would have been lots of insiders because railroad people communicate with each other all of the time. I doubt there wasany sort of scandal.

Paul ... That's really good news about your eye. I'm gald to hear about it.

Happy Model  Railorading!

 

 

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 76 and partly cloudy in the Sportsman's Paradise this morning. It will become mostly cloudy later as the high climbs to the mid 90's. There's a fair chance of thunderstorms as well.

I don't need many days like yesterday. I was helping put out a woods fire north of town yesterday afternoon. The smoke was so thick you could have probably cut it with a knife. Where it was blowing across the highway (where I was pulling hose from a truck) it was difficult to get a good breath and I was seriously considering going in search of clearer air. Just about the time I thought I was going to pass out the wind direction changed and I could breath again. We had three trucks and about a dozen firefighters on the scene. It's still a tossup on whether the cause was a cigarette butt flipped from a passing car or sparks from a train going past on the KCS mainline. There were no injuries aside from a couple of minor cases of smoke inhalation.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/18/2008

Heat Index:  80°F
Humidity:  84%
Dew Point:  71°F

So Far Today
High:  79°F
Low:  76°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  5mph ESE

Today  High: 95    Mostly cloudy. Scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. Light and variable winds becoming east around 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.    
 
Tonight  Low: 72    Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds around 10 mph in the evening becoming light and variable.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[Flashwave]

Hey guys,

I decided to drop on in for a quick update. I haven't been here for a while, so I might as well spread a bit of news.

Last Friday, I was watching the news when I heard something about the sale of BCRail. I quickly tuned in and apparently the government is reinvestigating the sale of BCRail to CN. There was also some talk about the possibility of there being an "inside man" in the deal. Oddly enough, I haven't seen any topics regarding the sale on this forum.

I just thought I'd spread the word (just incase no one knew).

Huh?

[CPRail modeler]

Hey guys,

I decided to drop on in for a quick update. I haven't been here for a while, so I might as well spread a bit of news.

Last Friday, I was watching the news when I heard something about the sale of BCRail. I quickly tuned in and apparently the government is reinvestigating the sale of BCRail to CN. There was also some talk about the possibility of there being an "inside man" in the deal. Oddly enough, I haven't seen any topics regarding the sale on this forum.

I just thought I'd spread the word (just incase no one knew).

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: The trip to the doc went well. He said that everything looked good and to come back in seven weeks. At that time if I want glasses hell give me a scrip for them. I don't know if I'll get glasses since I need them for reading only. I'll have to see if they would help my distance sight.

It's really late and I'm pooped.

Good Night All

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening ........

Flash ...Good plan there. i always thought it would be neat to have a transfer table.

Fergie .... before you make a mess of the MESS, are you really sure about that 2-10-4.... I actual nave a brass CNR loco. It's a United CNR 2-6-0. Neat little engine. But oh, go ahead with that 2-10-4........

I'm still finalizing plans for a section of the layout that will have a double deck reverse loop. My 2-10-2's and 4-8-2's can handle 30" curves with no problems, and that's my mainline minimum radius. I am envious of the Yellowstone king, but I'll be glad to see his engines in the Forum.. ooops.........oh, Hi, Tom..... I really should look st the corner booth before saying anything......

Tom, baby food, eh.......sounds like Lwellenjoys it.... glad he'll be OK.

Our Little Kitten is still the same. i must confess that I though of her whe nI saw the fox resting between the house here and the road for a while this afternoon......... ...That's a way to reduce vet bills.........

Anyhow, I'm about to cut up wood in the woodshop for my next layout sections.

Jeff ... The KCS could have sold the track rail as well as the car for scrap... Thanks for the pix.

Happy Model Railroading...............

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff, I sure have enjoyed the photos of the baggage car and find it amazing that they just abandoned it on a siding like that. Here CN would have seen dollars and sent it for scrap long ago.

That's what happened to an old track tester they had sitting up here. It sat up for years and years, then one day it was gone. It was probably hauled to Shreveport to be scrapped. As far as I can tell the old spur the baggage car is on doesn't connect to the yard tracks anywhere. I'm happy that you've enjoyed the photos as much as I have. About half of them were taken by my young helper. He's known as Trainmaster on this forum.

 

Well, looks like I'm buying for the night crowd. I just had white fish and hush puppies with a side of fried okra.

[Flashwave]

Northern Enterprises as a Switching layout. I may or may not do this, revovles around the new Transfer Table. Igore the odd space at top, that shouldn't be there, and the extra piece apprearing in the right side past the shelf.

For those who can;t read it, the lowermost track is a Revoery Train. One of the things Northern does is travel to museums and haul out old rusting stuff and bring it back to be spruced up. This track holds the pair of 250 ton cranes and the flat cars/tool car/sleeper to hold the equipment. The large section center Left is gonna be the Milwaukee Station shed, holding Northern's fleet of charterable cars. Above that is a small building for holding chairs, washing linens, and serves as a commisary. Above that is the shed for the pair of MP15s, the GP60 Center Cab, and the Trackmobile. Straight over is the machine shop for building parts and working on/building diesels. the top track holds metals to be offloaded, and feeds the boiler powering the whole area. South of that is the construction shops, and behind are the paint shops. Below that is a storage track, and a lead track to the Steam House where we perform the boiler refits required by Fed Law.  The exit track is the one closest to the shed witgh the switch.

BTW: Here's the link, I'm still getting things to show up.

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening Diners!

Well I just finished writing a post and it just disappeared off my computer before I could hit post. Not sure what I did so this is round 2.

Tom, Glad to hear things went well or relatively so with Lowell today. We had our Jamie at the  vets today too as he appeared to have a sore mouth. He isn't eating much and didn't want his jaw touched. Turns out he could have an abcessed tooth so he is in for emergency dental work tomorrow. He may be eating baby food tomorrow as well!

Jeff, I sure have enjoyed the photos of the baggage car and find it amazing that they just abandoned it on a siding like that. Here CN would have seen dollars and sent it for scrap long ago.

Dick, Sounds like the garden is going well and I'm impressed that you have tomatoes already. Here they are green and tiny but summer seems to be a month behind. How about sending some of your heat our way. In the spring a hot, dry summer was forecast so naturally it has been cool and wet. At the beginning of the week a warm sunny week-end was predicted but oslowly the forecast got worse and worse so now we expect cool and wet. So much for going to the lake.

Well the coffee and a hot croissant are ready so I'll be in the back booth munching away. Join me if you like.

CN Charlie

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Man, I am wiped out! I've been out helping fight a woods fire most of the day then we had a Thursday fire dept meeting after that. Tired doesn't even begin to describe how I feel.

[twhite]

Just re-read Fergie's thread and had to comment: 

Fergie--I feel your pain, believe me, friend.  Let me tell you a little story.  The current Yuba River Sub came about NOT because I fell in love with Articulateds (I had about 5 and they were pretty comfortable with 28" radii) but because I fell in love with a Rio Grande NORTHERN!  Yup, a 4-8-4 that I ordered from Caboose Hobbies and was so proud of that I could split!  What a beautiful loco.  What a USELESS loco on my 28" radius.  It's when I found out that I wanted big non-articulated steam to run that I realized that the present layout had to go.  Either that or find another hobby.  The layout went.  Into a dumpster.  The garage was empty.  I fussed and fumed for almost a year, until I was in my LHS and spied some Bachmann EZ wide-radius track. 34".  Out of curiosity, I brought some home.  Snapped it together, and VOILA--everything WORKED!  Some stupid Snap-Trak brought me back out into the garage, and I started all over again.  The Yuba River Sub is all laid out with 34-36" radius curves (believe it or not, the Bachmann EZ track is still in place around the Buttes and Yuba Pass), and since I re-built it, I've got Big Steam all over the place.  And I'm a Very Happy Camper. 

And since you've already built the one layout, believe me, the rebuilding is going to go MUCH easier than you thought.  Of course you're going to shed tears over what you have to tear out (it's YOURS, after all), but what you put back in will probably turn out to be even better. 

Oh, another thing--once you get the goop scooped out of that 2-10-4 gearbox, get either some Pearl Drops or Rembrandt toothpaste and run it a little bit to really CLEAN out the gears, then rinse, dry, and use about two drops of Labelle gear grease.  You should be home free as far as good running.  And if the loco has an open-frame motor, it might not hurt to replace it with a NWSL can that will fit into the firebox.  They're POWERFUL little motors, and really smooth out the running.  Mount the motor with silicone gel, and you are automatically DCC ready, if you're in to that. 

Good luck.  But as far as tearing apart the MESS for the new track--it's only the FIRST rip that hurts, the rest of it just happens.  Believe me, I've been there.  More than once. 

Tom

 

[Flashwave]

Ferg: it's a brave, if not fool-jhardy soul who dissassembles a steamer on a bobbing (understatement?) boat.

 

[grayfox1119]

Good evening, very hot out in the yard and garden this afternoon, I must have drank a gallon of Orange Gatoraid. I got all exited this evening when I watched Cody's office, I saw a locomotive in those famous maroon and gold colors and said " that is a new B&M loco offering" and sure enough it was. BUT, it was "O" scale.....darn!!!! I enjoy Cody's office, a nice touch by Kalmbach.

FERGIE: I didn't know you were back to sea so soon, I thought you were home for most of the summer!!! Be careful out there, Bertha is headed for the Gulf Stream, and those water are warmer so she could intensify . And we have a cold Canadian HIGH, a big one settling in from the North. Very similar to Perfect storm, but not exact. I hope the Captain stays alert.

So you retire in 9 years, does CG of Canada have a manditory age 55 retirement??

As for 30" curves, I guess you could give a lot of advice to modelers on not even considering 18" or 28" curves for mainline when beginning their layouts. Pulling the curves back up has to be a royal PITA. Sooner or later, "most" modelers who run at least some steam, want to try the big power locomotives, and that means 30" curves.

RYAN & MARK: Thanks for COLD soup recipes, they sure are appropriate these days, and I love carrot soup AND those spices.

GARRY: Thanks for trying to find those locos, but you might as well try to find a flea on a snake as to find those loco types. Why the big manufacturers don't offer those models is completely beyond reason.

MIKE: Had a frustrating time with the old rototiller this afternoon. The garden needed tilling down the isles to keep the weeds under control, but the belt would slip every time it dug in. I finally had to move the belt to the slower pully speed position and readjust the tensioner. I really needed this aggravation out in the 110F direct sunlight. I finally got the beast going OK and completed the task. Good thing too because that new TD off the Florida/SC coast "might" hit us on Monday with COPIOUS amounts of tropical rain. The weeds would be OOC if that were to occur. Picked our FIRST full sized tomatoes today, the cherry tomatoes were ripe last week. This is ONE MONTH earlier than last year for tomatoes and we love it!!

Later,

[C&O Fan]

I'll passs on the Turtle soup I can barely swallow chicken noodle

Got some of the rafters done for Arts engine house

I've done as much as i can do till he gives me the drawing for the back wall

Sure glad you got your fires under control Tom ! and hope the pooch will be ok

[Cox 47]

Bump!!.....Jerry

[twhite]

Afternoon all--

Just got back from the Vet.  Good news and bad news.  Lowell underwent hydration and had a blood panel (didn't even yell.  Muttered a  bit, though).  The Dr. did a thorough physical exam and found out that Lowell has one good kidney.  Not great, but good.  We'll have to wait for the blood panel to find out exactly how much damage is done, and Lowell went on a Gerber baby-food diet for a while.  Little guy just scarfed up beef and chicken like there was no tomorrow when I got him home.  Walked around for a while, letting everyone know he was feeling better.  Now he's curled up under the piano for his afternoon nap.  It's a wait and see proposition. 

Nice weather outside, fires are under control (mostly) thanks to some really Good Neighbors from New Zealand, Australia and Canada, helping to relieve our VERY tired California firefighters.  Think I'll go out and work on the MR a little bit this afternoon.  Brad brought the Creeper back, offered to pay me rent for it.  I told him that good neighbors don't CHARGE rent, as far as I was concerned.  So he asked me what kind of beer I liked.  Bless his heart, now I've got an extra 6-pack of Gordon Biersch pilsner in my 'fridge.  Just the thing for a nice summer's day, by golly!  Brad can borrow that Creeper any time he's a mind to, IMO

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

3H weather continues here in the Northeast, but no TS's, the air is too stable, but that will change by Saturday. Hot as it is, I still have outside work that has to be done, the garden can't be let go or the weeds will be as high as a Giraffe's a**.

Haven't heard from our Nova Scotia friends, Luc, John and Fergie, we miss you guys where are you?? And that goes for Sue also out in Olympia, OR.

JOHNBOY: I agree, Jill is "hot"....  oHHHHHHHH, the train movie was good too!!!

GARRY: I would LOVE to get my paws on a brass Pacific, B&A type. Also a Brass B&A 4-6-6T or 2-6-6T. But where can I find one??? I think the wife would buy it for me "if" we ever found one.

RYAN: SOUP??? When it is 110 in the shade??? I want that cold soup that they serve down south, don't know the name, I think it is some kind of carrot soup, served cold, spicy, and REAL tasty. Great on hot days.

OK, back outside, see you guys at supper,

You got me curious and I looked for B&A brass steam on ebay. I suppose you can use the "saved searches" feature in ebay to get emailed when one is listed. I saw a B&A coach by Bev-Bel that looks like one of their custom paints of an Athearn coach. Meanwhile, at least you have a hobby shop nearby.

[Fergmiester]

Good Afternoon All

Well what can I say. The new aquisition has arrived! No hoops or hollers just final comiserations... The MESS now has to do some major alterations. I don't think there is a single section of main line curves that can be saved. Everything will have to go to 30" curves. What this means is the last couple of several years or so I spent doing and re-doing and re-re-redoing curves will have to be, not re-done but rather re-thought, re-designed and then re-done. This aquisition has put me back two years as far as completion. Then again no completion date had ever been established.

Sorry Dick I've been preoccupied this past week. We did a Program and Captains change and now we're back at her and headed to a point 138nm South of Sable Island. We'll be bobbing up and down for the next 8 days in Bertha's swell

So does that answer your question Dick? As for John's whereabouts, I suspect he's very busy with summer activities. He had alluded that a few weeks ago whn I contacted him.

Had a short talk with Teffy last night and he's good and sends his regards, he's busy as well.

As some of yuo may have known I was to home for my garden show last weekend but as luck had it my leave was cancelled and my wife, her mother and the kids pulled the slack in my absence. Well we saw about 100 people go through and it was all positive All proceeds went to the Chrones foundation.

Flash: Truly sorry for your problems. I think you should take Garry and Tom's advice and advise the creditors and seek legal aid before it's too late as some scum sucking bottom feeding souless beancounting leeches (Am I allowed to say that?) will take advantage of your plight even if you do have rights, which they are not obligated to inform you about. You have to ask and even then you won't get a straight answer.

Ryan: Don't you mean "Mock Turtle Soup" After all the poor critters are on the endangered list! I have tried cooled cucumber soup before... Different

Tom: It doesn't run... No Surprise as supposedly it hasn't been run in 20 years so I suspect the grease in the gears is packed solid. Anyway the beast is with me as we sail so I'll be able to tear her down in the evenings and get her ready for painting.

BTW: Happy retirment!!! (9 more years, 9 more years....)

Paul: glad the eye is healing!

Terry: Sounds like you'r doing OK as well, good to see your making progress despite the pain and such.

Anyway I have to run.

Later All

Fergie