Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[twhite]

Morning all from SunnyCal. 

Supposed to hit 95 here today.  Didn't get as hot as they predicted yesterday, so maybe we'll ease off a little today, too.  Supposed to get some cloud cover in here later in the week, which means the humidity will go up.  Hope the temps don't, however, otherwise it'll feel like Louisiana (sorry 'bout that, Jeff, LOL!). 

Speaking of, Jeff--I really like that water tower.  That's some really nice work.  I notice that your UP set didn't stay that way very long, either.  Attaboy! 

Paul:  You're right about the tailings.  Guess that little truck carries them away as soon as they get dumped off the trestle.  Also realized I forgot to put a tailings load in the little ore car, too.  Back to the drawing board--  Oh, and Spooky the cabeese-stealer is doing just fine, she's taken over the computer room for some strange reason, so I've got a lot of purring coming from behind my monitor. 

Matt:  Loved those shots on the Yreka Western.  One question, though--is the CN still running over Siskyou Summit through Montague, do you know?  I know they were planning on shutting down the line between Black Butte and Ashland, but I've not heard anything further.  Hope they haven't. 

Rob:  Yah, that big MT-3 is part of my Espee family (I've got a TON of Espee steam, also), and gets worked pretty well when I get an urge for an all Espee operating session.  But I think I'm going to take her over and see what kind of NWSL can will fit in her firebox--that old, OLD open-frame is really noisy.  She runs nice and smooth, though.  But like my Rio Grande northern, I sure wouldn't put her on anything less than a 30" radius.  And speaking of cats, hope those two of yours didn't break anything.  But if they got bit by a critter, best get them to a vet and have them checked. 

Well, that's it from SunnyCal, except for the fact that we have a NEW fire in the Feather River Canyon--this one on the Middle Fork.  That's the third, this year.  And just between you and me and the gatepost, I think there's something more than 'lightning' involved in these burns.  Like: Can you say "Pyromaniac?" 

Time to take Lowell for his injections.  He's eating like a horse, lately.  Hasn't gained any weight back, but he's still pretty perky.  Just as long as I can keep the little guy stable--

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom  

[SilverSpike]

The detail parts are taking a bit of time to get how I want em! I started with the Alexander Scale Models parts for interior machinery detail including the floor standing drill press, the lathe and the machining tool. Painting these little pieces of metal are a real challenge and trying to keep a steady hand is another trick. I was contemplating buying one of those alligator clip stands, but decided to save my money and use some clamps and even a spring clothes pin for holding them steady. Saved me some time and money too! Here are a few progress shots of the three detail machinery pieces. I still need to add both black and red paint to highlight some of the controls such as knobs, wheels and settings.

  Also worked on repairing a Walther's #6 left throw switch due to consistent de-rails by rolling stock. Using the NMRA Gauge tool I found the rails at the points were too close and forcing the right side wheels on trucks to rise up and over the outside point rail. I also noticed that the outside rail was detached from the frame and there was movement. I surgically applied a small amount of adhesive to the underside of the rail to re-attach it to the base ties without permanently adhering the point rail. That was a real trick too, but it helped the situation. I also slightly bent the outside point rail a little to compensate for the tightness. Then I attached a Caboose Industries ground throw to the switch points control rod and this seemed to resolve the issue. I made a half-dozen passes with a 20 car consist with no failures. So, hopefully this issue has been resolved.

[Train 284]

Matt:  Loved those shots on the Yreka Western.  One question, though--is the CN still running over Siskyou Summit through Montague, do you know?  I know they were planning on shutting down the line between Black Butte and Ashland, but I've not heard anything further.  Hope they haven't.

 

Thanks Tom.

If you mean C.O.R.P. (Central Oregon and Pacific), no they have discountinued service over the Siskiyou Line recently (April I believe) so we are currently hauling no freight. This has really hurt the major shipper on the Yreka Western, Timber Products. Because we can't interchange loaded cars now, they have to ship by truck. And so far this year, shipping their veneer products by truck has cost them an extra $500,000! An even better reason to ship by rail.

On the upside, many shippers and a couple shortline railroads (including YW) are fed up with CORP and their Fortune500 owners and want to get the line operating again under different ownership. The Yreka Western has also expressed a great interest in taking over the Siskiyou Line, but things are still up in the air.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff looks like that TS may deliver some rain to your area.  Maybe more than you need.  Wow that water tower looks good, when will you be getting more steam?

Not gonna get any more steam. I'm all diesel.

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Zoe. I'll have a RBF - can I get that to go, this time? Thanks. 

Just about to get the new virtual grill burnt in and ya'll pull up the stakes and move on down the line! Like a traveling show of nomads, never stay in one place for very long! This place is starting go get like disposable razor.

Hey, now, Ryan, I still use disposable razors (and am having some difficulty finding the ones I like)! Well, we tried to tell you to put that grill on some wheels - easier to pull it behind the diner cars...  Nice job on the bench tools, by the way!

Hot, hot, HOT day here, but going to get hotter tomorrow (predicting 97 F). Sure feels bad enough as it is today around 90 F (I think their thermometer is broken). Humidity is only 52 percent though. Kinda a dry bake day, with toasting on the grill tomorrow afternoon.

Good day to spend with these folks:

Jeff, good job on the water tower there.

Inch, I hope they get the funds to rebuild your school (and that the other district forgets about bugging your local one). That mold is NO fun to try to get out - better to scrap the building and replace it than to try just wiping with bleach and stuff. 

Tom, are you sure that trestle won't dump the loco into the trailings pile? That looks pretty rickety from the photo. (Nice work putting that together). Maybe Spooky is warming herself off the 'puter's exhaust fan? So long as you don't have to go clearing out any hairballs from the back of the monitor or such.

Matt, love those shots of the Yreka, and hope you have as much fun learning the ropes as a fireman.

My co-worker's out today (taking one of her kids to the Dr. in St. Louis), so keeping it somewhat brief so I can get back. One of those stretch-the-gas-till-payday weeks, and I'm the backup through Thursday, alas. 

Well, time to head back to it. Everyone stay cool as possible.

 

Blessings & prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang: Im still waiting for the family to get back from the airport. The granddaughter's girl friend is going back to New Mexico today. The two of them had a good time here. They saved over 200 turttles from the frack pit. There are still a few in there so I guess I'll have to help Sara get them.

So Spooky has taken over the computer room, Tom. I guess she figured that cabesse were getting too easy.

Terry I hope that the TS doesn't hit you too bad. It can bring all it's rain up here. We need it bad. So how are you felling?

I had planned on taking a nap while the girls were away but the afternoon has just rushed by.

I'll try and stop in later.

[C&O Fan]

Snip

Terry I hope that the TS doesn't hit you too bad. It can bring all it's rain up here. We need it bad. So how are you felling?

Snip

 

I volunteer for Cocker Spaniel Rescue and today they flew in a 757 from Phoenix

to take Dogs and Cats to the Denver area from the Houston City Pound

Some of our people were ask to help assemble crates

We will be ready but you could bring a bucket and take some rain water home with you

 

 

[Cederstrand]

in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thank you!

***Jerry, probably not a great deal on the TT, but less than a retailer if you include their shipping or buying in state and paying tax. It's not a pricey item, so I'm fine with it. Still need to find a motor for it, since I would prefer not to have a silly manual dial showing.

***Lee, I'm going with (N) Kato Unitrack. Have some, but with a train room around the corner (by December?), I'll be expanding the distances to create more scenery. I might mix in some Atlas flex track (already have some), but most will be Unitrack.   Wife's layout (HO) is going to be all EZ track.

***Tom, wife took some serous scratches medicating Jambo cat. Next tiem I think we need to us a heavy towel. We started both injured cats on oral antibiotics. Will see how they do.

***Ryan, can you imagine drill presses, lathes, etc... in N scale? Nice job on those.

***Paul, free icecream sundays on me to the girls rescueing all those turtles.(unless you plan on cooking them, then I'll eat those icecream sundays myself.

Wife is out bushhogging this evening.

Rob

[grayfox1119]

Good evening, sunny today for a change, we only had 0.01" of rain, a sprinkle this noon time from one big cloud. The second step got resurfaced today, the bad one came out looking good, now I only have the landing to resurface. The acrylic hardener that you add to the top coat cement really strengthens the cement for doing thin set areas of 1/2" to 2" thickness. Everything is the veggie garden is coming in hot and heavy now that we are in August and the days are getting shorter.

MIKE: If you are looking for an outside wood furnace, one Mfg is Central Boiler. They make a variety of sizes for home, farm or business use, and, they also heat domestic hot water. The lines come into your house underground. I can highly recommend the Jotul 500 if you decide to go with a wood stove inside. My wife does not like wood stoves either, but she loves this stove. No damper to control, just a primary air feed lever in front under the glass front door. It takes 21" lengths of wood also. The best stove that I have ever owned in 40 years of burning wood, and very easy to maintain. You can go online to check them out if you wish.

FERGIE: Do you ever travel up to the drilling sites on the Arctic where Ice Road Truckers go in winter?

Later

[twhite]

Afternoon all:

Had a visitor today--the girl that used to live next door and was always hanging around when I was working on my first garage layout WAY back when, came by with her daughter and husband.  She lives in Omaha now, but was back visiting her mother.  She wanted to show her daughter and husband my layout, and SURPRISE!!--hubby works for UP in Omaha.  I was working on the tailing trestle a little bit more (putting a load of tailings in the little ore car), so I ran a train for them.  Hooked up the big PFM Rio Grande #3612 L-131 2-8-8-2 I got not too long ago to a mixed 25 car freight.  Hubby was pretty impressed.  "Do you have a Big Boy?" he asked.  "I don't do UP, sorry," I answered.  "Hm," he said, watching the train work its way out of Deer Creek and up the South Yuba.  The train went through Wagon Wheel Gap and onto the Middle Fork bridges.  We're walking around the layout, I'm following it with my ControlMaster 20 (with the added 15-foot controller wire).  He's just watching.  Wife and daughter are going 'Ooh and Ah'.  #3612 heads into my short 2-1/4% curved grade at Malakoff Diggings, gives a grunt and heaves up toward the Makakoff Bridge.  "Think a Big Boy would have 'grunted' there?" he asks.  I shrug.  "I don't know.  She ALWAYS 'grunts' there."  We moved out of the inside to the front of the garage while the big lady slowly drew the train toward the Buttes.  He cocked his head a little as she came out of Butte tunnel and across Plum Creek bridge toward Bassett's.   "Hmm.  No Big Boys, huh?"  "Nope.  Too plain.  I like my articulateds with the guts hanging out."  He laughs.  I grin.  He grins back.  Just then an Atlas cement car decides to jump the tracks right before Yuba Pass tunnel.  I mutter, turn the train off, re-rail the NEW Atlas car (one of my very few Atlas cars, BTW).  He shrugs.  I shrug.  The train winds through Yuba Pass tunnel and down the other side of the Pass toward the Deer Creek viaduct.  "Ever lose a train here?" he asks.  I make a very quick, very silent "Hail Mary" and say, "Not so far."  Luckily, PFM creeps across the trestle with the train (if I were running solo, she'd ROAR across it, but I've got company, remember).  Back through the curves and down into the 2.4% into Deer Creek. 

One derailment.  Can't BELIEVE my luck, LOL!

We talk some more.  He's a really nice guy.  They're leaving tomorrow, otherwise he says he'd come over and watch me run it again.  No, he's not into model railroading, but he likes trains--the real thing.  But he still says I should get a Big Boy (no way). 

UP must put their employees through some kind of Mind Control about that locomotive, LOL!

Anyway, I'm very proud of #3612, she did her job quite nicely.

 

You GO, girl!

Tom  

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Well the gang got back from the airport finally. The flight was delayed in leaving for about 4 hours. Now does that explain one reason why I don't fly commerical? If our elustrious leaders don't wake up we won't be able to go anywhere except on foot or horse back. Yes this is a rant!!!!! Been awhile since I did one of those.

Mary Ann, Rachal ( 2yr old GD ) and I went over to the creek to move the hose and restart the pump. I got into fire ants hooking up the hose. I guess those little buggers like the water and cool. Anyway I think that the flood system is going to work out. Not perfectly but it's going to help.

Tom that L 131 looks almost as good as a M-3 or M-4 Yellowstone. I still like the Yellow stone but the other is pretty good. Nice that you had only one derailment. That's better then UP has been doing lately.

I've been looking at the weeds in the fields and there are two that like good candidates for trees. Pine or spruce, maybe or some other tall straight tree. I'm not going to get nit picky I just think some thing that's not going to take more time to make then a locomotive. I need to figure out a way to preserve them. I used to soak weeds in glycerine. I'll try that. Of course there is also dry them and dip in dilute white glue. Tomorrow I may pick some and give it a try.

Well bed time.

Good Night All

[rtraincollector]

Geeze let a guy work a couple of nights OT so he can pay his bills and you all move the dinner on him and change the name.

  Well not to much happening got to cardioligist tomorrow as when I saw my new doc he niotice I had one of the leads that they recalled and boy did he have me an appointment quick tried to tell him was checked out in TN but before I got home on thursday he was calling to tell me he had me an appointment for tuesday morning at 9:30 and not his nurse or staff  it was him calling. Kinda has me a little upset if hes that worried about it. I'm to be there about 8:30 as they have me set up for EKG at 9:00.

Well other than that all seems find other than fact he said my sugar was high so I need to cut off the sweets and anything that has concentrate sugars init. Juice ect. ect. well I remember I've been eating a lot of high sugar items for the past couple of months. I have enough problems I don't want to add diabetes to it.  

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I recall that JP is to arrive home Tuesday.

So it's time to welcome him home with a big Elliots Diner Celebration. Marching band; picnic; fireworks; Snoopy dancing............

.....When JP comes marching home............harah..............harah!!!

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool water, please & thanks. 

***Tom, thoroughly enjoyed your story telling. Now what's wrong with Union Pacific BIGBOY locos? I also like those smaller articulateds and hope to replace the Mallet I sold with a newer production model one day. Can't wait for a layout to run my new Bigboy on though. BTW, I am just as thrilled watching an 0-8-0 or smaller loco as I am watching an articulated. Truth is, anything steam is pretty enjoyable for me. OK, I also love diesels...so sue me.

***RT, good luck with those diet changes. It's tough to change old habits, but beats the alternative. (do as I say, not as I do)

Good Night All. Rob

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[sleeper33]

afternoon

 gang

 darn it nobody told us overhere we were moving. but ill have a tea while im here

 hope all are well and prospering

 I'll be at the counteer if anybody needs me

 yours

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

      It didn't work - I found my way back anyway. May I suggest a GPS transponder (or a set of sound bouys for Fergie and Lee) for those of us who don't live in the adjoining sleeper?

      No progress on the house yet. The permits are in the works and the adjustor and GC were still working on the half inch thick item sheet for the structure but hopefully soon. We're still going back and forth about cedar shakes vs. plastic and the configuration for the upstairs bathroom (those expensive might as well words again) but most of the rest seems settled. In some ways Robs' loss while worse is easier to deal with though I wouldn't wish either of our situations on anyone.

Jeff - that water tower is great. are you sure you're just going to leave it abandoned in the middle of the layout? No temptation there at all, eh? I'll look forward to the pics of the weathered loco later.

Lee - It's good to see more covered wagons back in revenue service. I saw a pair of FL-9's in Wassaic so Metro North is still using them for fill in during maintainence of the mobile cheese slices. The FL-9's were New Havens and have been in continuous service since the mid 50's with rebuilds and upgrades. Most are now repainted in original livery as well. Sharp units.

Matt - good trip you had. How often does Yreka run the passenger service? Must be some hot in that cab in the summer time.

Ryan - may I borrow the machinery when you're done? I'd like to show the boys how it should look insted of covered in swarf as ours are.

GAv - welcome back. How is your summer break going?

Well - gotta go lots to do yet and we leave tomorrow for a new track in New Jersey as well as the Monterey trip. We'll have crews in two spots for the next two weeks a week off and then Lime Rock and Watkins Glen, Salt Lake, Elkhart Lake and VIR all back to back.  Wish us luck. J.R.

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Big storms here last night.  Still some hanging around.

Looks like we're gearing up for round two of the track work around here.  Took this from inside the van yesterday, so thats why the glare.  http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/IMG_0003.jpg

Oh well, I'm off to do the daily grind.

[sleeper33]

 

 summer breaks going well thanks GMT.

 Loads of filing painting and general computer stuff. But best of all is the silence thats wonderful

 PC yep looks like round 2 to me as well

 oh well time for another tea

 yours

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

As I was approaching the E 9th St exit last night in Cleveland, OH there was a Norfolk Southern train on the tracks.  Looked like F9 A-B-A and passenger cars from the 50s - maybe 10 passenger cars in a maroon color.  Impressive; the engines looked "new" but the cars needed work. I need to keep my camera in the truck!  My guess is someone filming another movie in town.  There is a small stone (abandon) passenger station (NYC) in Lakewood maybe 2 miles from E9th.  I know PIXAR has been running around town filming the Cleveland skyline & river for the last 2 months and the rail historical socity has several reconditioned heavy weights Hollywood leases from time to time. Hollywood leases them, re-paints them and then returns them.  I guess a field trip to the roundhouse is in order next month!

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind around 10 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Northwest wind at 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHEAST OHIO...NORTHWEST OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA: A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BE IN THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE SEVERE IF WE CAN GET ENOUGH SUNSHINE LATER TODAY TO DESTABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND AND HAIL.

Lee

[LSWrr]

Tom, I enjoyed your story I think its cool the neighbor "girl" came back to visit your layout, you must have made quite the impression on her.  While reading your story I was waiting for the husband to leave and return with a brand new big boy he wanted you to have, lol.

SECURE ALL HATCHES AND GUN COVERS! Make YOKE reports to the bridge by departments.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?5day#contents  Well Paul and those in SE LA and most of TX I hope you fair the weather, some of you may get more rain than you possible need.

ROB, that Unitrack and  EZ-track is expensive, good luck with the new layouts.  What eras do you and the Mrs. Intend to work in on your respective layouts?  My flex-track was 90 cents/3 foot section and the cork was 35 cents/3 foot section. I'll never buy model power flex track again, it's far too ridged compared to ATLAS.

RT, good luck with the doctor appointment today, keep us up to date.

GMT, good luck with the permits, sounds like a bunch of paperwork.

OK time to get to work.

 

Lee

[SilverSpike]

Just about to get the new virtual grill burnt in and ya'll pull up the stakes and move on down the line! Like a traveling show of nomads, never stay in one place for very long! This place is starting go get like disposable razor.

Hey, now, Ryan, I still use disposable razors (and am having some difficulty finding the ones I like)! Well, we tried to tell you to put that grill on some wheels - easier to pull it behind the diner cars...  Nice job on the bench tools, by the way!

Hot, hot, HOT day here, but going to get hotter tomorrow (predicting 97 F). Sure feels bad enough as it is today around 90 F (I think their thermometer is broken). Humidity is only 52 percent though. Kinda a dry bake day, with toasting on the grill tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks Jim! Going to be a hot one here too today with an orange air quality alert.

***Ryan, can you imagine drill presses, lathes, etc... in N scale? Nice job on those.

Yeah Rob, I would need a microscope to get my eyes peeled on stuff that small, HO is quite a challenge for me! Thanks!

One derailment.  Can't BELIEVE my luck, LOL!

Tom, can you say Murphy's Law? I see him all the time in my train room! And he loves to show off when company arrives unexpectedly...

Ryan - may I borrow the machinery when you're done? I'd like to show the boys how it should look insted of covered in swarf as ours are.

Yes sir J.R.! Swarf is the easy way out though ain't it! LOL

Hope all are safe and sound in LA and Tex with the storm heading their way!

[Cederstrand]

in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thank you!

***R.T., sure hope everything gets sorted out soon for you. Personally, as much as I like real wood, those plastic shakes might be the way to go. Which type will last longer and require the least (if any) maintenance?

Cement truck just pulled out. Need to run talk to our concrete guys about a sidewalk before they take off.

Have a good day all. Rob

 

[inch53]

Mornin, just a coffee please Zoe. There's a heat advisory issued for here today and thunderstorms.

Partly cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms will move through today. Temperatures will be the warmest of the summer topping out near 92° this afternoon with a heat index between 100° and 110°. Scattered rain and thunderstorms will continue tonight but will exit the Wabash Valley by Wednesday morning. Wednesday will still be warm with a daytime high near 88° but it will not be as humid because of northwesterly winds.

Jerry,

The only reason I'd heard bout the school so soon is because of the grandkids going there. Registration is this week, so guess we'll hear more about then.

Matt n Tom,

There's been several threads on CORP in Trains Magazine n Train Board forums. Here's a link to one in Train Board.

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=100439

DICK,

She's wanting one of those outside boilers, but I'm thinking a stove inside would work better for us on those days without power at 0 degrees outside for 20 hours. Worst of it is, I don't own a chain saw or a truck anymore and no place close to cut.

Jim,

We're hoping FEMA comes thru for a new building rather than just cleanup n repairs. Nothing is going to stop the take over talk; we've heard it for years.

Paul,

Was wondering if you might get some much-needed rain from Edouard.

RT,

Good luck with the doc today n hope everything comes out ok

JR,

I thought maybe you'd have most everything settled by now. But from others we've known a total loss is easier to deal with than a repair, even with total replacement insurance.

Best gets moving, kids got up at 6 and I've been since 5 trying to get this post done with lots of help. Thoughts for all in need n hope ya'll has a gooden.    

[Train 284]

Matt - good trip you had. How often does Yreka run the passenger service? Must be some hot in that cab in the summer time.

During the Summer we run Wednesday thru Sunday with diesel on the weekdays and steam on weekends. And in September and Ocotober, steam is solo on the weekeneds.

The surprising thing is the cab is not hot all the time. The only time it gets hot it when you are standing still, such as waiting at the station. When you are moving, you get a nice breeze goin' thanks to the nice open cab. 

[Cox 47]

Good morning all....Its cloudy warm and humid here this morning with storms latter..Looks like PC is getting hit with some storms this morning....I'll have a sasage sandwitch and coffee please...Thank You....I started switching couplers on 3 50 foot hoopers yesterday need to add some weight too...

Ryan..Nice paint job on the machinery..I keep 5 or 6 spring cloths pins on the work bench for all kinds of uses They make good clamps when glueing...

Rob...I have seen a Atlas Turntable powered by a old open frame motor from a loco and power from a old power pack that let you operate the TT at any speed you wanted and you could reverse it...

Tom...Only 1 derailment!!....Murphy's law always show up when I try to show the layout off..

RT...Let us know how thing go at the Dr...Good luck with the diet..

JR...Best wishes with racing...Hope you seesome proggress soon on your home...

Lee....Wow!..F 9's and no camera....

You all have a good one.....Jerry

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning Diners! It's

WELCOME HOME DAY for JP!

And I understand that Ryan has been working up a special menu, assisted by PC in the BBQ department, correct guys? And of course, there will be cake and ice cream,

RBF's

and a lot of yummy eats and drinks in the Diner.

Zoe, I'll have a cup of coffee until the guest of honor gets here. Thanks!

Tom, your UP guy probably is just used to the BigBoys being more publicized in the general RR media. Until I met you in the Diner, I hadn't even heard of Yellowstones, but had heard of Athearn's BigBoys ('cause they were in some email notices they sent me). Good that you only had the one (minor) derailment during your demo'ing.

Rob, you might want to get one of those BIG towels to throw over that cat when you get ready to give it its next dose of antibiotic. Ouch! I can just imagine your wife's hurt (and yours, if you got within the cat's range). Not quite as easy to tend to as Lowell, I'd say. And you just reminded me - how's the appointment for that scan coming along?

Good to see all our stragglers are finding their way to the new location. We were hoping the birds wouldn't eat *all* of the bread crumb trail we left you.

Gav - how's your summer coming along so far? Enjoying that silence, I'm sure?

JR, good to hear they have permits lined out and are beginning to start on things. Hopefully, they will develop momentum as they get going past the sheets and basic structure.

All our upper Midwest Diners like Inch, Jerry, Lee, PC, and points east may need to watch out today. Our radar on this morning's weather looked like some turbulent weather rolling through mid-to-northern Illinois, so it's heading your way, folks!

Us, I doubt that we'll get any more rain today than Paul has been getting (and we know how that's been, right Paul?). About 95-99 F with suitably nasty heat index...

I'll be waiting in the window booth while the band tunes up in prep for JP's arrival.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Been bust here today. My father and I have been up since early this morning tying down anything that couldn't be moved indoors. We moved my mother's small potted plants inside, the bigger one's will have to weather the storm. We're watching as the storm bands dray closer and hoping we don't get too much in the way of wind.

[Flashwave]

Good Morning Diners! It's

WELCOME HOME DAY for JP!

*Snip*

Rob, you might want to get one of those BIG towels to throw over that cat when you get ready to give it its next dose of antibiotic. Ouch! I can just imagine your wife's hurt (and yours, if you got within the cat's range). Not quite as easy to tend to as Lowell, I'd say. And you just reminded me - how's the appointment for that scan coming along?

*snip*

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

Yeah. When are they scanning ya?  

When was there weather here lasdt night? I was up til two (Don't ask why) and saw not a drop. 

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Morning gang,

Zoe, it is late enough in the morning that I will just have a cinnamon bagel and a rootbeer float,  Thanks.

Fellas & Gals,  Just so you don't have a near heart attack as I came close to having this morning, I want you to be aware of what went on here.  ---

I turned on the puter wanting to come to this site but before I did I thought I would check my e-mail account.  There I find an e-mail that states there has been $8577.36 withdrawn from my chequing account in the name of Carrington Mortgage Services.   This message comes from "Shirley Kelly @ [e-mail]

I checked my one account and all was correct, but I can't get into the other one until ten, I guess I could now..  Anyway, I phone the Police Service and they informed me that some of them had received it as well and it appears to be a blanket e-mail hoping that someone will bite on it and call them back at which time using various tactics they will try to extract the rest of your banking info from you and then away they go.   The Police said they are on to it and to just send this to trash and then delete it right out of the system.

Boy, the depths that some people go to. There sure are alot of people out there with no scrupples or concious at all.

JP..      Welcome home, we are all glad to see your smiling face again. Thanks for the Service.

Jeff..  Hang on tight there, it looks like it is coming your way.

Rob..    Glad to here the rebuild is getting under way.   New Train Room Here We Come

I have lots to do today, so I had better get started.  No time for the RR.

Will check back later.

Johnboy out.........................

Prayers and blessings to all in need.