very funny
keep them comming
Gav
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good morning
First off, Barbara and I, along with all our critters are all OK. Ten or so days ago, after our last day of helping Barbara's folks settle into a room at a new living facility, Barbara and I rewarded ourselves with a trip to see Iron Man. Long story short, upon arriving home we found our house fully engulfed in flames. Barbara called 911, I grabbed Luigi & Lorenzo and got them to safety. Being so remote, by the time the fire dept arrived the house was completely destroyed. State Farm was out the very next day and have been most helpful this past week. Although offering to put us up in a hotel, we chose to stay with our animals. The power company hooked back up the studio that same night, so although we had no water, we did have a place to rest. Two little old ladies from the Red Cross also showed up that night to see if we needed anything, which impressed me. Anyway, every morning I filled a solar shower from our storage tank and by evening we could take quick showers with it. A new line was put in from the well to the studio ytwo days ago and phone/Internet was reconnected yesterday afternoon. Barbara has had some good crys. Not sure if I ever mentioned it before, but her father helped her build the second floor before I moved out here. She is not telling her parents, as her Dad is very susceptible to seizures when he is stressed. It has certainly been a trying time, but we are fine. All my recent train purchases (and the Tech II's & DeWitt Clinton) were in my workshop and are untouched. I did lose some trains, but honestly I'm more bummed about my larger skulls which were still in the old studio. Fire Marshall said we will probably never know the cause, but it is obvious to us it could only be electrical. Both gates were still locked when we arrived home. The only thing we left on that day were some lights (incase we got back after dark) and a crock pot of beans on low, which interestingly was one of the few things still recognizable. Just waiting for the final OK from State Farms fire investigators who came out over the weekend before cleanup begins. And the task of trying to remember what all we had is a daunting one. There is no way we will remember everything.
Will drop in when I can. Barbara returned to work today for the first time since the fire. Used all of her PTO. Hope everyone is doing well. -Rob
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Rob I am so sorry to hear about the fire at your house. State Farm is fairly good at responding quickly to most claims and sounds like you are already on the recovery track. Let us know if you need anything, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Today is Monique's birthday! Please join me in wishing her a Happy Birthday! She is kind of down today because she misses her sister who is in her second trimester of pregnancy and her son Bryan who is starting LSU in the Fall.
Nice to see some of the ole timers from the CS make their appearances in the Diner, you know who you are!
You all have a goodin'!
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
Happy Birthday !!! Monique
Back to the hospital for another dose of radiation for me
I wonder if all this radiation will deprogram my DCC locos ?
Wouldn't that be a hoot ?
Have fun today everyone !
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
Morning, Zoe - I'll have a glass of Ed's OJ, cup of the TH, and I'll take a plate from the buffet, please. Thanks!
Jeff, I'm glad to hear your report on your eyes (and that you're eating right to help them out, as well).
Rob, so sorry to hear about your house fire - thankful that the studio was okay and that you have a roof over your heads in the meantime. Think of everything you had, and everything you think you might have had, in the house when you're making that list for the fire adjustors. Good that you didn't lose any of your critters as a result. are going up for you. Hug Barbara for us, too.
Monique -
and have a slice of cake (ask one of our servers for the ice cream of your flavor on top):
I'd guess you must be... what? 29? Obviously, Ryan married much younger than his age.
Texas Terry, if it does deprogram your DCC locos, you may just have to re-program them, huh? But I'm no DCC expert, so I'll let someone else tell you on that one.
Had a prospective new club member at the MRR club meeting last night. Seems like a good sort, and (some of you Diners could relate to this) he has a lot of rolling stock and locos, but no layout to run 'em on just yet. Actually, I think he's a lot like one of our MRR club members (who also doesn't have a layout started yet).
Got training at work today (hopefully both halves of the day, unless the guy who's covering for us gets swamped. Based on yesterday's activity level, he should be able to cover it if it's like then. The center's even providing lunch for us! Mostly (or all?) covering paperwork, to get the outlying offices and ours all doing it the same way. I think there are some changes on a few forms too. We'll see.
Well, i'd best get to my breakfast - got to have that energy to sit through all that training, y'know...
Blessings on your day,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Alex
Good Morning....
Now, that's really bad news, Rob. I suppose it's a blessing that it did not start in the middle of the night while you two were asleep. Please keep us informed. We all care.
Terry, we're thinking of you, too. Keep up the humor, and it will help you through this. My bet is you can some day post that you beat the disease and are free of it.
Ryan...... Best regards and birthday wishes to Monique. Are you preparing a candlelight birthday celebration with her favorite recipes? .......or is it a night out on the town?
Jeff ........ I'm glad your eye appointment was okay. I like the park scene.
In my youth I used to get up to Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton when I was gorwing up in Chicago area. That part of Wisconsin was just clobbered by storms. BTW, some trips back then were by train (MILW RD). Also road the Q's TCZ to La Crosse, WI back then.
Happy Model Railroading
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Morning all--
Well, it hit 103 here yesterday, dry as a bone and the air quality was ZERO! Had to stay inside all day because of the COPD--real bummer! It's breezy today, but it's a North wind, so that means warm and dry and the fire danger is going to go through the ROOF around here. Luckily, the wind isn't supposed to be in the Sierra, though, just here in the Valley. Went outside for a while and didn't get doused with Pollen, so maybe it'll be a fairly good day.
Rob: I'm so sorry to hear about the fire--it must be devastating. I'm very glad you've got State Farm insurance, though--they're usually right on the mark about their coverage. I'm just glad you and your wife weren't IN the house when it caught, though. My prayers for you on the rebuilding.
Jeff: Glad the eye exam went well and that the bleeding has stopped. Good luck with your foot.
Terry: Egad--I HOPE the radiation treatments don't accidentally de-program your locos, LOL! Especially that neat Allegheny.
Well---IT CAME YESTERDAY!!! My Topside Creeper. And it got delivered to the wrong house! I saw the UPS guy pull up near my place, unload this big box and trundle it across the street. An hour later, the lady across the street called and asked if I'd ordered anything from Van Buren, AK. I said yes, she said it was over at her place. I'm 6345 Templeton, she's 6346. So I went over and attempted to drag it across the street to my place, my next door neighbor Jon came over and helped me, asked me what it was, I told him, his eyes lit up and he said it would be PERFECT to use to work on his van. I have a feeling this is going to be a VERY busy Topside Creeper around the neighborhood, LOL! I'm putting it together this morning. Thankfully the instructions are in clear-to-read English, though I'm going to have to borrow some socket wrenches from Jon. Hey, he's so excited about the darned thing, maybe HE'LL put it together for me. Think so?
So this means that I have no excuse not to put in my Buttes--or finish my backdrops or a whole bunch of other stuff--question guys: When do we ever get to just settle down and RUN our trains?
Well, I see Jon outside looking longingly over at my place, so guess I'll go out and get started. Of course, there will be photos to follow, LOL!
Have a great day. Prayers to those in need, and let us not forget our friends in the Midwest who have lost homes and property to those terrible floods.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Thanks Terry, Jim and Garry for the Birthday Wishes for Monique! I copied them and just sent her an email, I am sure she will appreciate them.
Garry, I made her birthday dinner on Friday night since it was more of a relaxed time to really enjoy the meal. Tonight all she wants is dessert so we are going to Goodberrys Frozen Custard for some desserts.
Thanks again!
Speaking of food, I just got back from a lunch at Firebird's, the company paid our way and gave us $50.00 gift cards for the work we did back in April at the conference in Denver. That should buy me a tank of gas. LOL
Tom sounds like the topside creeper is already set for a good workout! Keep us posted on the results!
Afternoon all...we got between 1/2 and inch of rain last nite but the cold front brought in clear blue sky,low humid temps right around 80 a real nice day...I'll have A Polish Sasauge,onion rings and a diet Coke please...Thank You.....Did some more cleaning up of work bench and ran trains for awhile...
Centerstrand and Barbara...So sorry to hear about your fire but thank God that you both are OK...
Johnboy...Got a good laugh out of Train Ticket story but for some reason Sallie thought it was hylarious?
Luc and Bill...Good to see you fellers checking in..Bill that breakfast buffet just gets better and better!!
Jeff....Glad to hear foot Dr. gave you a thumbs up..You gotta take care of your eyes and feet...
Monique....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Terry...You continue to be in my prayers and thoughts...
Jim....Wow you get to "train" at work?sounds like my kinda job!..I use to get to watch the Conrail mainline from the station's main studio window it was great!...
Tom...103!!....You need a glass of iced tea and crank up the A/C.....
You all have a good one...Jerry
Good afternoon to all, it is 3H weather here again today, Hazy, Hot and Humid, 95F. We broke the record yesterday set back in 1933 and we broke another record just now when it hit 95F. There is a front moving in late this afternoon, the same one that has ripped the midwest apart with storms and all that flooding.
I have been trying to keep the blueberry bushes watered as well as the veggie garden, they get full sunlight all day from 5am until 8:30pm, so they get mighty dry real fast under these conditions.
TOM: Is that creeper the type that you can wheel under the table, but the ladder and platform is extends way over the layout so that you can reach those hard to get at areas from above?
ROB: I am so sorry to hear of your fire and losses. If you need anything Rob, please let us know, I know that is very hard to do, but we want to help. If you ever find out what caused the fire, let me know please. I used to be a safety leader at work and I still like to investigate things like this. I don't know what type of Main Power Panel you had, but I do know that Federal Pacific Main panels were extremely fire prone and have been taken off the market, in fact, the company is no longer in business. So you might want to check that out. Dryers have caused many house fires also even after being shut off, as they smoldered in the vent. Coffee makers that get mounted under kitchen wall cabinets are yet another item that has caused many house fires, even turned OFF due to cheal, faulty switch!! Yet another house was burned down due to the installation of vinyl siding. A nail was used that was too long and went into the wiring running in the wall between wall studs from outlet to outlet. It caused a short that smoldered for quite some time ( like months) before it carbonized into a resistor and really heated up and finally flashed into a fire. It more than likely was indeed electrical.
JEFF: Very happy to hear that your eyes didn't need any lasering, and your foot was doing well. You are doing a good job with watching your health.
JERRY: More rain??? If this keeps up you will have an inland great lake in the midwest!!
RYAN: Happy Birthday to Monique!!! Did she get a 4-6-2???
Later,
Afternoon all
Rob Really sorry to hear about the fire and hope that everything works out for the best.
JR How are things coming along with the insurance company for your house??
Terry If you don't decode your decoders,I bet your night running will be interesting.
Hey Monique HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! and Dick,I know where there is a Southern 4-6-2 she would like to have. Let's say it is in 7.5in gauge and makes a visit to Apex,NC at least once a year.
Jeff Sounds like things are getting better for you and maybe slow and easy is the best way.
That's about it
Best to all on sick call and those recovering
Talk to you later
Duke
"Don't take a wooden nickel,because it isn't worth a dime" by my Dad
"There are only 3 things you need out of life:A gentle grade,the wind in your face,and cinders in your hair.....But keep an eye on the water glass!" Jack Evans
Okay, everyone. I got the Creeper put together--I can reach over and TOUCH the Buttes!! YAY!! Here's what it looks like hanging over the Buttes--it's too windy today to do much work on them, but at least I'm ready to start. Went together in about an hour with a socket wrench. Talk about STURDY! And I'm not exactly what you'd call a 'lightweight.'
So here she is:
Which also means I have to watch out so that I don't whack my little pointed head on the inside of the garage door, LOL! I think Creeper and I are going to become pretty good friends this summer.
Looks great Tom !!!
But --------- well ---------Er----- hum
Some one needs to clean up under the layout !
Terry--
In Process, LOL! You shoulda seen it about a month ago--WHEW!!
Evening all
just a tea for now please
Rob absolutely gutted for you and yours thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
came in tonight to be told that 1 of the tv's in the basement had been stolen after checking cctv caught the guy on camera just waiting for the police to arrive and burn a disc must have known his way around because used a very quiet entrance.
see you all later
C and O Fan wrote:Some one needs to clean up under the layout !
Evening Gang:
Rob I'm very sorry to hear about your fire. Thank God now one or critter was hirt. I know what you mean by wanting to stay with your animals. We'ed do that even if we had to sleep in the truck. If you need anything you know where we are.
JR how are things going for you? Since I've been away for a few days I'm way behind.
Tom that creeper looks great. I have a friend who has been thinking about getting one. I'll let him know that you are happy with it.
Monique Happy Birthday.
I'm going to head out and come back later.
phew
that was close another tea please4
jeffrey-wimberly wrote: C and O Fan wrote: Some one needs to clean up under the layout !Looks like the underside of my layout.
C and O Fan wrote: Some one needs to clean up under the layout !
Jeff:
Thanks, friend, I feel a LOT better, LOL! Actually, that's a combination of 'stuff' that I cannot part with for the life of me, and hasn't been moved yet because I'm too darned lazy to rent a storage space. I'd get one of those 'portables' for the back yard, but it's all full of swimming pool , so I'm slowly re-organizing it. VERY slowly, BTW!
Oh, and everyone--I found how the Creeper folds UP, so I can maneuver it into the island I have on the layout. This little Critter is just NEAT!! Talk about a Birds-Eye view--dang, I had no idea my mountains were so bloody TALL! I must have REALLY gotten bit by the John Allen Bug!
For my next insane train experiment...
WEATHERING!!!
I will buy a cheap boxcar, and somehow weather it.
The problem is... how?
I have a set of paintbrushes (not airbrushes) and some paint. What are some of the most basic and easy ways to weather something?
Open to questions.
My best to all,
Francis
Good Evening Diners,
Rob, I was very sorry to hear about the fire and but was glad all the critters are OK and of course you and your wife. This is just a virtual diner but you know you have lots of friends all over the continent that are pulling for you so drop by often and by the way your tab is on me until you get back on your feet again.
Ryan, Happy Birthday to Monique. Hope she had a great day!
Tom, I am always amazed at layouts in a garage especially when I see photos like the ones you just posted as just the idea here is so unbelievable. You have the heat but -30 is a whole different thing.
Just to make you feel better, I got gas for the car last night and it was $5.29 a gallon. Mind you I'll bet Gav would think that is cheap. Can't wait to see what happens to the price of natural gas next winter.
More rain and cool weather in the forecast for the next 4 days. Looks like layout time could be coming soon. Good time to put together a few more trees as you can never have enough.
Well it's getting late and the alarm clock seems to go off just after I've gone to bed so I'd better make tracks.
CN Charlie
Evening, Chloe - just some strawberries and vanilla ice cream, and a decaf for me. Close to bedtime, and I had a big enough dinner earlier. Thanks!
Jerry, hate to burst your bubble, but it wasn't (dang!) that kind of 'training' - got to sit and listen to procedures, and the afternoon covered forms I've been using for a while when working crisis (learned one new thing there, though, at least). We got done about 2:30 p.m., instead of the 4 p.m. they listed on the memo. 'Hard' part - if you can call it that - was that at our lunch break (oh yeah, they sprang for BBQ beef sandwiches, chips, baked beans, etc. ), a co-worker who's only here a day or two in the week (works as a contract therapist) asked if she could use my office to see her afternoon clients. I said yes, so when we got done early, she had my room tied up through her 6 p.m. appointment. Well, what's a fella to do? I had to wander around, visit with some co-workers, and find another office to sit in. And since I didn't know which office I was going to be in, neither did the receptionists up front (so they couldn't put any phone calls through to me...). I did have one crisis call around 3 or 3:20 p.m., but he ended up going to the hospital ER to be assessed, due to the lateness in the day. Wish I'd gone to the P.O. box earlier - then I would've had my Railroad Model Craftsman issue to read!
Tom, glad your creeper finally arrived. As you said, no excuses left to not get some of those things going on the layout, huh? And you know your neighbor Jon will be chompin' at the bit for you to finish up so he can borrow it for his stuff, right? You're gonna be a very popular guy in the neighborhood, what with helping the neighbor kids to learn about MRR'ing and with the other neighbors borrowing your tools. And I won't comment about Texas Terry's comment - no sir, not a word... That creeper looks like a nice thing to have, though.
Dick, when I saw on our news about the heat wave on the East coast, I was thinking about you and Colby and all our other Easterners sweltering there.
Definitely a good day for that pitcher of lemonade and some shade and A/C!
We did get a bit of a break in the temp here - only in the low 80's and will be dropping off to the mid-60's tonight. They're even saying it's possible we may see some fog by morning.
JR, how are things coming along with you and the insurance folks doing on your adjustments?
I'll be at the corner booth, finishing up my dessert. Prayers for (continued) healing and for comfort for those of us Diners in need.
Blessings,
Thanks everyone for the kind words, support, offers, etc. Believe me, it is very much appreciated.
***Tom, have you considered pushing the layout to the rear of the garage and filling the rest with more layout? Are you ever concerned with it being up against a garage door with temp variations? Very cool looking layout!
***Gav, hope they catch the thief. Excellent you had it on video.
***Jeffrey wishing you continued healing.
One of my wife's relatives heard about the fire from someone in a bible study group and e-mailed tonight. Hopefully she reads my reply and can keep our loss to herself. The last thing my wife needs is for her dad to hear the news, get all stressed out and end up showing up (again) in the hospital as a patients. Crossing my fingers. It has felt strange going with the wife to check on her parents (almost daily) this past week and pretending everything is fine out at the ol' farm. But I am in total agreement they do not need to know. They are barely getting along in this new facility and from what I have witnessed, things could easily shift downhill. OK, enough rambling about Inlaws. Sorry about that.
Feeling tuckered out...perhaps I can catch up on some sleep tonight. Take care all and thanks again. Rob