Elliott's Trackside Diner XII

[Flashwave]

SO, ust got back fromt he High School's first of two production of Little Shop of Horrors. Yep, I'm set crew. Lots of fun, went well tonight *Knocks on wood* I'm some up most of the posts, and say thank you,  both for Dad and for the compliments of the car. I too, am proudI think I found everyone.

inch53

MORGAN,, good job on the Lincoln car.

twhite

Morgan:  That's a model of the Lincoln Funeral car, right?  I like what you did with it a lot!  Got any 'under construction' photos?  Nice job! 

Not of this car, unfortunately. I started it last Saturday with plans in head, and then caught the "Hey! Idiot! Your NOT invincible, stay in bed and sleep for the day" cold you gets on little sleep and a lot of musical practice. You know it? From there it was kinda a hastened rush to get it done before thursday so mom ( REALLY wanted to be there too...) presnt it on the eve of the train's travels. He LOVED it, sent me an e-mail and sid h'd treasure it, and gave the group a copy of the original timetable of when the train went through. But I plan to build another one for myself, so I'll be sure to get pictures of it.

TMarsh

Morgan- Unusual project, I've not seen or heard of one before. Very nice.

Heartland Division CB&Q

Morgan... Your Lincoln's car is outstanding. Trivia: Lincoln's birthpalce is only about ten miles from the KY Ry museum. .......I'll be praying your Dad's chemo has cured the disease........good luck with the SAT.......

I think I went by when I shapdwed there for a buisness class my 8th grade year. So far the cancer (same one that caused the scare in July, just now finishing up) has been responding. I can't wait to get him off these Benadryl/Steroid swings. He doesn't sleep cause the 'roids. and he can't stay awake for the benedryk (allergic reaction to one of the meds)

blownout cylinder

Heartland Division CB&Q

Morgan... Your Lincoln's car is outstanding

 

I agree with that one!! That Lincoln car must've been a patience tester! And good luck on the SAT!!

JimRCGMO

Good to see you back in the Diner, Morgan - and will be sending a few up today for your tests, as well as for your Dad's treatment(s). I'd have to agree with the other Diners on that excellent passenger car (which probably wasn't as easy as the finished car makes it look...).

You'd be surprised. The hardest part of building the car, was actually putting it on the track for bench tests. Turns put we had some trucks on too tight so they had too little free-play, and the way the inside truck arms are mounted, it was something like trying to put a centipede on a string. Or, I think I can sympathize with BridgeTom and his articulated. Beyond that, I fretted taking off the detail parts underneath without showing torn plastic, and that was it. There's NO major re-building of the car itself, putting the parts on is no more difficult than adding a detailing package to a locomotive really, but I could hum a few bars and fake it if you'd like.
 Dad might say that tieing he tassels for the bunting was the hardest part, working with tiny string and tiny knots, but he volunteered since I had no life for the musical. I set to getting the roof. All told, it was 16+S&H fpr he car, I laready had the styrene, the tissue and the spraypaint for the bunting, and the decal paper, all that was less than 10, and the trucks are basically 10 as well, thouh I stole a pair from another car, but I'll need to replace.

Ugh, SAT tomorrow at 7 freaking 45 am. Have you seen my life? I'd very much like it back.

Prayers for all of yas, I;m sure you all need them, and I'll try to be in more.

[TMarsh]

OK, you're right Ray, enough of the Swallows and coconuts. We'll talk about Shrubbery. But ONLY if you bring another shrubbery. And place it next to the first shrubbery, only slightly higher to give it a two level effect with a little path running down the middle. Oooh! a modeling idea!

Nik- We know. That happens to be my favorite movie of all time. Well that and The Outlaw Josie Wales   "Now spit"

I wonder how you could make an HO scale Herring. 

G'night all. Big day tomorrow. Prayers for those in need.

 

[AmanaMedic]

Good evening,

Chloe? a plate of fries, a 7-Up, and how's about one of those hot fudge brownie sundaes? Sounds real good tonight.

JimRCGMO

Chris - I'd heard that those Central Valley bridge kits had an abundance of parts, so that was probably a bonus for your loads project (maybe a costly one, but what the heck - it's for 'art', right?). I like it!

Thanks JIM (and LEE), like I said, I built it back in '87, had it in storage from '88 until...2004, scrapping of the bridge occurred in 2005 or 2006. The parts have been collecting dust in the parts/tools/supplies bins ever since.

I keep thinking, the main parts were quite long, and had to be cut to size. I think a full-scale template was included to facilitate this. Probably a lack of a scale rule then, plus the working environment  (dorm room) led to some less than perfect cuts, and less than perfect fits...which ultimately gave me a "perfect fit."

I don't remember what I paid for the kit back then, I'm sure it wasn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination...but, 22 years later, I've finally found a good use for it.

And yeah, I like it too...

Oh yeah, an update on the missing tripod. Loving Wife found it. As it turns out, she brought it back a long time ago...putting it up here, in my office.

Oh well...at least it wasn't out in plain sight...

Chris

Just had a thought... IF I hadn't sliced up the bridge a few years ago, I could've used it to model the CRANDIC (ex-MILW) bridge in Cedar Rapids, post-flood...

Nah...scrap loads is/was a better idea... must be time for bed.

Goodnight, and MORGAN, good luck on the SAT stuff, and everything else. From a former techie to a current one.

[LSWrr]

Good morning all

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

[TMarsh]

Mornin, Lotsa coffee please, Thank you Big Garage sale day. The guessers took the rain out of the forecast. Best get cleaning out the junk. Fire Dept is having a pancake and sausage breakfast so I am tasked with fighting the crowd upstream... both ways, to get Brenda Breakfast so she can stay and sell all the stuff we don't want to someone else. I love this country.

Have a Great Day!

Oh and I keep forgetting with all this Monty Python stuff; Jerry, Elvis left the building yesterday. Keep an eye out. 

[secondhandmodeler]

Good morning folks.

I am up bright and early to help my Kiwanis club clean a highway.  I've never done it before, but it's about time I did.  Earlier in the year I was so happy to see the bags of garbage on the roadside, ready to be piked up.  I thought, "boy, I'm sure glad they cleaned that up".  Then I thought, "who's they?"   Well wouldn't you know, at a Kiwanis meeting the other day they announced that we would be doing the clean up at eight a.m. Saturday.  I requested to come in late at work and here I go.   I'll have to to bring a change of close so I don't have to clean in a suit!  I'm starting to understand the good feeling of volunteering again!

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!  I had a good day at work and the evening wasn't too shabby either.  I ordered the twenty ounce prime rib, medium rare!  I could have finished it, but we had dessert instead.  Now I have a prime rib sandwich waiting for me later.:D   A few of my family forgot to call, but I forget to call them some years too.

NO modeling tonight.  We are getting  together tonight with my in laws for my birthday.  I requested a night of bowling and beer!  I haven't done that in a long time.

I hope you folks have a great day!  I know I will!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff, I'd seen that hot dog stand in our local H-L, but wasn't sure I could weather it enough to not look too toy-like. But I might reconsider getting that one, after you get done and I see what it could look like...

Here's what mine looks like after a quick spray with alcohol and black acrylic. The antique coke box is an addition from the junk box. It looks a whole lot better than the sticker in that location.

 

[TMarsh]

Wow Jeff! You'd never know that was pre-built! Great job. Now, about that health dept thing. I thought I was the only person with that old coke machine. Mine's leaning against the back of the Pizza/Bait/Gas and Garage...in the junk, I mean Treasure pile. 

Oh, and I'll take one of those Hires Root Beers. Haven't had one of those in years.

  

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Nice and sunny outside here in the Finger Lakes but a bit cool at 50°F.  High today will be 58°F with a mix of sun and clouds.  We did end up getting a little over 1/4 inch of rain last night and there are puddles drying up as I write.

Dick says:

  RAY: That was very interesting info regarding Bully Hill, I didn't know that he had passed away and his wife was now running the show. How about sending a 19K tanker full of Moscato blush via CSX mainline?

19K of the stuff?  Doubt they made that much and it is undoubtedly already been bottled.  So I'll probably have to ship a couple boxcars of what they have here to the dinner for special occasions.....  

TMarsh

OK, you're right Ray, enough of the Swallows and coconuts. We'll talk about Shrubbery. But ONLY if you bring another shrubbery. And place it next to the first shrubbery, only slightly higher to give it a two level effect with a little path running down the middle. Oooh! a modeling idea!

 

I will not cut down a tree with a herring!  That's just silly!

Next to the Grumpy Old Men movies, Monty Python's Holy Grail is just about my favorite.

Zoe I'll have a bran muffin and a cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug please.

Today will be spent partially finishing several things that were supposed to be completed a few days ago.........   Then mowing more lawn.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 71 and partly cloudy. The high will be around the mid 80's and it will be partly cloudy.

Went to Alexandria yesterday to visit the LHS and found that is was closed for the weekend so I went to Hobby Lobby instead. Picked up Bob's hot dog stand (on sale 1/3 off) and a Bachmann Erie Lackawanna covered hopper. Both went under the weathering spray of alcohol/black acrylic last night just before dark and they look fairly good now. Plans for today are still undetermined. I'm currently looking through the Walther's monthly flyer. I'll be ordering a Digitrax DZ125 decoder (245-DZ125) and I'm considering the lumber stack (506-130) and the National Oil Company (433-1331). I may order two of them.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/2/2009

Heat Index:  77°F
Humidity:  95%
Dew Point:  70°F

So Far Today
High:  72°F
Low:  71°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  9mph S

Today  High: 88    Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight  Low: 72    Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

[Robby P.]

Its a sunny/rainy day today.  Not to much planned either.

The wife, and her brother got in a arugement last night.  The B-I-L left, and maybe he went home (FL).  He was being disrepectful, and not listening.  So................he had to go!!!

Now, I feel like I'm not babysitting.  Even thou he's 27.  It ended up being a BIG mess last night.  At least thats over.

We might go to a LHS, and maybe hand around town.

Guys/gals, I guess I will be back in later.

Jeff, nice looking hotdog stand.  I miss my Hobby Lobbys!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Robby: I know what it's like being with relatives like that. I have a ton of them and many of them are Native American. Fortunately they live far enough away that a social call (visit) is out of the question. That's a good thing as being near most of them feels more like a trip to the dentist for root canal surgery.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.

***Jeffrey, what kind of paint did you spray on that building and what was the % mix of alchohol to paint?? That's an approach I would like to try on some of the wife's structures.

***Robby, you have my sympathies with the Inlaws. Sometimes they're nothing but trouble.

The worst of the storm was south of us. Spent about 30 minutes last night out on the screened porch enjoying Mother Natures fireworks display. Really enjoyed her sound system. Just can't capture thunder quite the same way with man made speakers.

Have a good day all. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

***Jeffrey, what kind of paint did you spray on that building and what was the % mix of alchohol to paint?? That's an approach I would like to try on some of the wife's structures.

My weathering mix contains 1/2 an ounce of Folk Art 479 Pure Black acrylic paint mixed with 16 ounces of 70% rubbing alcohol. Shake well.

 

Just placed my order with Walther's. The total came to $59.93. That includes $14 for shipping (2-4 business days).

Items ordered are:

245-DZ125 24.99 each - Quantity 1 @ 24.99

506-130 4.98 each - Quantity 1 @ 4.98

433-1331 7.98 each - Quantity 2 @ 15.96 

[Ole Timer]

 I like the LEDs over bulbs ... less heat ... last 20 times or more longer .... and you can run more of them in a confined area .... plus they come in colors . No large sockets to mount either .... less power drain . 

 Cedarstrand ... radio shack used to make a little reverb addon I used ... it added just the right effect for alot of sounds including thunder ... it's variable on the reverb . Even makes train yard and engine sounds more realistic . I used to play train yard sounds in the backround .... am going to again if I ever get this layout started ... LOL .

[Cox 47]

Afternoon All...Its sunny and 61 here..I just slipped it to computer ...My Son has Sallie's day bed well on its way to being ready to use...My time in here may be alittle limited for awhile..My Sons Dog was setting in my chair with me last nite when He jumped down He stepped on  my leg...Ended up in ER took 10 staples to close Dr. says it will be slow to heal and have to spend as much time as I can with my legs up..probaly gonna cut down on modeling some to..Before they catch me I'd better get back in my chair!..LOL...You all have a good week-end...Jerry

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Jerry. I'm sorry to hear about your trip to ER, and I hope you are not in too much pain. If I may ask, what in the world kind of dog was that? Sounds like a mix between a pit bull and a kodiak bear!

I posted an SD7 in the WPF for all you SD fans.

Happy Model Railroading

[Cederstrand]

Coffee refill, please. 

***Jerry, major bummer about the ER trip. I too am curious what kind of dog that was? Sending healing thoughts your way. 

***Ole Timer, I may still have an old Radio Shack reverb unit from my monster making days. It would be burried somewhere in my dungeon though. One day it would be fun to make a soundtrack from our own farm and have it playing under the wife's (HO) farm.

Picked up the following stuff on the-bay today. Am going to need a LOT more tunnel portals. Anyone know anything about this bridge? I just hope it isn't total junk and can be made to look decent. Might resell the engine house, as I have not planned for one.

Spent a good hour gluing and hacking at some foam in the train room. This time it was on MY layout for a change.

Something went wrong with my barely run (N) Heritage Berkshire loco. Suddenly stopped, made a hum and now if you put major current to it, you can hear the motor run but no go? Think something in it busted or slipped out of place? Suggestions? I'll have to wait until I get a magnifier to bother opening it up. Wahhhhhh!

Rob

[gear-jammer]

Good afternoon, All.  Chloe, I will have a hot cider on this raining  afternoon.  Did I hear that Jerry is buying?  We should thank him.

I am still working  on  the streambed.  It takes forever to do an inch.

Later,  Sue

[LSWrr]

Afternoon all,

This morning I stripped several layers of old paint off of 2 Atlas GP7’s using Chameleon model paint stripper.  I was very impressed it removed enamel spray paint and acrylic latex paint all the way down to near white plastic.

Currently I’m repainting several used hopper cars getting them ready for LS&W markings and I put a fresh coat of gloss black on the GP7’s.

The molds; 2 out of 8 plaster molds came out fine on my first attempt to create latex molds.  These are sacks on pallets.  I’ve been pouring latex over lumber stacks and some junk piles for the past week.  The final application of latex was applied Thursday night and I’m still waiting for them to cure.

Jeff, nice hot dog stand.

Jerry, I hope you’re feeling better, when do the stitches come out?

Rob, I remember reading an article in Model railroader where a guy hid speakers around his layout.  The volume was turned down so you would have to be standing in front of a certain section to hear the sounds, but he had crickets, thunder, kids playing, and a base ball game all running off Radio Shack tape recorders.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello..

It looks like a productive weekend so far in the diners!  I am glad to see it.

I mentioned we were on a trip. Upon return, I discovered a problem in our lower level (Basement for northerners)  One of our water heaters was leaking, and a lot of leaking water missed the drain in the floor next to it. The lower level has always been dry, but not now.  The humidity is rather bad.

On the layout, my paper backdrops with all the clouds are screwed up by the problem. I have about 90' of the backdrops installed, and I hope when things dry it will be OK. This may be a huge backward step for my layout progress.

 

[Cox 47]

Evening all...Slipped awayand checked in while I' posta be on a bathroom run....Dog is a German Shepard pup about 6 months old...ER Dr. said He wants to leave staples in for 3 weeks as He dosn't think because of My other problems it will be hard to get healed up...been fighting pressure sores for over a year..Have a good one...Jerry

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Been a busy but productive day on the home front....  I now have everything done that had to be done on Friday!  For me, that is good. Got the lawn mowed, finished weeding the herb garden/asparagus patch, finished the data sheets for the MLK Comittee and took the originals back to the former President of the comittee (that way if they don't make it to Monday's meeting, I'm not to blame ), drove to Canandaigua and fed my sister's cat and watered all her plants, created the agenda for Deacons next Wednesday and emailed it out to everyone, and now have officially collapsed for the rest of the evening!

Garry that is horrible news!  I do hope you have a dehumidfier running down there.  The most important thing is to dry things out ASAP.  Hopefully as the benchwork dries out the backdrop will go back into shape. 

Jerry, you are in my prayers for getting that leg healed up.  Man that hurts just to think about it!  Sounds like that puppy needs to have his toenails clipped. 

Got a DVD in the mail today from one of my Lakeshores Division NMRA Committee members.  It is a DVD of a film advertising MOW equipment back in the 1920s.  Haven't watched it yet, but I hope to pick up some ideas for detailing the layout.

Flo. I'll just have a nice big mug of decafe please! 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Jerry: Sorry to hear about your leg. I know what a bother those pressure sores can be. I've been fighting with the one on my right foot for five years now.

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Janie, Flo - have you ladies been busy today? What? Not the pie catapult again.... Well, I'll have the Chicken Parmesan, a side salad and a nice glass of your Finger Lakes finest, please 'n' thank you.

TMarsh

I wonder how you could make an HO scale Herring.

 

Verrrrry carefully (though not as excrutiatingly carefully as if you made an N scale Herring, Todd... Hey, how'd your garage sale go today?

And Morgan, fill us in on how your SAT felt - I say 'felt', because they never get the results back very quickly at all, unless they've improved considerably since I took the SAT.  When I took my SAT eons ago (or any other standardized test)... I never knew how I did. Sometimes I'd think I really flubbed it, only to find out I did well; other times I'd think I had blown it away (but the test results weren't as good as I thought - though still tolerable). Most of the time, I do well on standardized tests (suppose I'm a good guesser) - so hopefully, you'll do like that, Morgan.

Well, just so I wouldn't have to apologize yet again, I did get one of my Accurail kits assembled today (and photographed) - the Western Pacific, boxcar #36008:

and before someone points it out to Robby - yes, it is WAY too clean. Think I'll start practicing some weathering skills next weekend.

Also, for Lee (or anyone else fond of work trains, here's the CAW work train (the left two cars acquired at a train show, the third from left used some parts from one of those old MDC 3-in-1 kits (anyone recall those?), and the rightmost one (boxcar) is an Athearn kit that I repainted (wasn't happy with the paint job that came with it originally). I wouldn't mind re-doing the work train in a light grey color, but I don't know where to get some work train decals to replace the ones on the two leftmost cars. Lee, you or anyone know of someone who makes work-train decals?

Roll those strikes, Corey, and have a great evening!

Thanks for the photo of your hot dog stand, Jeff. Hmm, I think Walthers is running the J-L Innov. soda machines on sale this month (just in time, eh?). Oh, and nice shot of that ex-D&RGW diesel!

Robby, at least now both you and your wife can get some peace. Good thing that he lives in Florida (good for you, that is - Floridians might or might not agree, eh Flip?)

Rob, good to hear you and the CFO made it through the front okay. I think for us to even approach Nature's version of lightning and thunder, it'd take about a six feet across speaker for the low, rumbly tones. I bet your rain barrels don't need any filling up by now. On your Berkie, I wonder if there was something in the gearing that broke or came loose.

Jerry, you take good care of your leg - that was not the way we hoped you would get out of your place! I think that dog needs his nails clipped, and probably grounding from the chair for a while... Do you have a good supply of MR and RMC mags on hand? Those, and a Walthers catalog could keep you occupied, maybe. We got a little warmer here today, too - about 64 F, but because of clouds and the occasional rain, it didn't feel that warm when I was outside.

Saw one woman when I was doing laundry today who looked to be an appropriate age, easy on the eyes and all, but couldn't see if she had a ring. Then I saw what car she went outside to with part of her laundry - some kind of Lexus sporty thing. I think she's a bit out of my price range, if she's driving that kind of car.

Sue, it sounds like you and Rob (I think it's Rob using the paste for his river, right?) could have a 'race' to see who gets their river done first. Hearing your report, I'm glad now that I model the Southwest - shallower streams (no, I'm not going to model flash flood season on my layout...). But hey, Sue, you take it nice and careful, and that river'll look as great as the rest of your layout.

I've been trying to get answers back from more of the church singles about the reschedule of my buddy Mark's fish fry/pot luck dinner he wants to have. Asked them about which of two Fridays this month would work better. Have only heard from 3 or 4 out of about a dozen I've contacted. Sheesh - hard to tell Mark how many to plan for. Maybe I'll hear more from some tomorrow morning at church.

Garry - how many clamps do you have - maybe use those and some boards to hold the backdrop papers to the supports? Or can you detach the backdrop supports from the layout, and re-glue as needed, with some books or other weight to hold the papers down? 

Ray, you have me drooling about that MOW DVD - if you can get any stills from that, PM me, please. Good that you got 'caught up' on your weekend; now you only have to fit two days of MRR'ing stuff into tomorrow, right?

I did start some on gathering up the stacks of receipts and other papers from the dining room table this afternoon. I really want to get that cleared off and where I can w**k on some more MRR kits tomorrow afternoon. Maybe get the background warehouse back on track to being ready to test-fit on the layout before toooooo much longer. We'll see, though.

I'll settle back down with my dinner for now. Janie, could I have another glass of this Finger Lakes wine, please? Glad that Ray arranged to have a boxcar load shipped to the Diner.

Prayers for healing of legs and other ailments, and a good night's rest for all you Diners (and hope Morgan did great on his SAT today!).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Cederstrand]

Crab cakes, corn on the cob & a baked potato, please.

***Jim, I really like those two work train cars. As for rivers, must be someone else you're thinking of. I haven't even begun work on the wife's (HO) river yet. I did cut & glue foam for my little (N) canyon today but haven't decided if I'll have a river in it or just go dry bed. Might settle for a trickle at the bottom. Time will tell. 

Our female mallard duck is injured, probably from a goat stampede the other day. I made sure she received some feed today. Her male companion hasn't left her side. Wife will take closer look at her tomorrow. Often something comes up on a farm, this time a duck.

One of our water storage tanks is overflowing, the other almost full. More rain expected tonight with some "Yee Haw Storms" predicted tomorrow afternoon into tomorrow night. 

Rob

[TMarsh]

Evenin‘ Everybody, Boy you know, just not hungry or thirsty , well maybe a piece of chocolate cream pie please. Today was surprisingly pleasant. Sunny and about 65. I too got some stuff done. Ate pancakes and sausage at the Firehouse. Took my BIL to a house to pick up a horse they didn't want, loaded the truck with junk and took it to the Township garage for village cleanup day, mowed the yard, got in trouble with the wife for mowing front yard while she was trying to tell people about stuff in the garage sale, ate fish at the Masonic lodges fish fry, put the tractor up, I'm here and the dog still loves me. All in all a good day.

Ray- "You're right. 'Tis a silly movie"

Robby- Why is it that those of us who don't like to argue always get drug into one?

Jeff and Robby- In-laws, why also is it that there is always one that you'd really rather not be around? I have one BIL, not the one with the horses, he's OK, who for some reason always has to make some comment about everything, and I mean everything. He also feels that because he chooses to drink and smoke all his money awy we are supposed to somehow feel sorry for him and cut him a deal on well everything. But "Hey! I'm good for it. I make good money!" PPPHLLBBPT!!

Rob- I love thunderstorms, mild or far away.

Ole Timer- Keep talking to these guys and you'll be puttin' those plans in action sooner than you think.

Jerry- You little kid. Sneakin off to hang out with yer friends when you should be taking care of yourself. We'll have you in our prayers and be here when your better. So do what the Doctor says. Sound good? (I don't blame you )

Garry-Oh what a bummer of a welcome home. Hopefully things will dry straight and flat (crossed fingers and toes)

Jim- Great job on the pictured items. The garage sale went well. Brenda sold stuff I couldn't imagine people would want. I joked that she was selling the stuff that wasn't worth a plug nickel for 2 bits and I was takin the stuff that wasn't worth a tinker's dam to the junk. I was taking the daughters old bike out to the truck to take to the junk, stopped to talk to someone in the drive and someone came up and asked how much Brenda, without blinking, said $5 and it was sold. We've had that bike in garage sales for years. No one would buy it. Go figure. By the way, did I miss something? I haven't heard you talk about your lady friend in California was it? Or has it just slipped my feeble memory.

The bikes that go into the junk pile get donated to an organization called Bikes for Tykes, I think is the name. The take all these bikes and repair them using parts from each other and fix them up to give to needy kids. So they go to a good cause. You wouldn't believe the amount of bikes this community has.

(yawn) well off to bed. The dog just poked me with her nose. That means, "Hey, I'm going nighty night". Guess I'll follow suit. Church tomorrow and hopefully a day of rest. Meaning TODDLAND! (of which I'm king) Prayers for those in need.

[Robby P.]

Well Todd, I honetly don't know.  I would leave them room before he came in.  I was trying to be civil. 

Jim, please wether that car.  It hurts my eyes .

Well time for bed  .

[twhite]

Evening all from StillRainyCal--supposed to continue until Monday, then clear up and dry out and head toward the 'eighties by the end of the week.  Which means----POLLEN!  .  Lots and lots of POLLEN!  I can hardly wait (sure!). 

Jerry:  Take care of that leg.   That is not a happy thing to happen.  Hopefully the Dr. wrapped it really tight so that the pressure will help it heal rather quick.  About 15 years ago I had a sore on my ankle from a varicose vein that refused to heal, then the Dr. pressure-bandaged it and it healed up fairly quick.  They're not fun.  Hope that puppy got its toenails clipped. 

Well, here's the news from the Home (Jesuit) front.  Didn't have to play the concert tonight, the accompanist showed up.  The guys were just AWESOME!!  I was standing up and cheering just about all the way through.  Then I ran into the Department Chair during intermssion and he said, "Can we talk?" and proceeded to let me know that the accompanist is quitting, seems they offered her a pay-cut (for reasons I don't know or care to find out about), and am I available next August when school starts, at a slightly reduced salary for three days a week?   Budget concerns, you know.  Private school, you know. 

Well, HELLOOOO-- I AM retired, you realize.  They're offering me a new salary on TOP of my retirement to come back and teach part-time, and I'll have my Guys back.  Plus working again with that ultra-HOT choir director that I adore, plus having the Guys back, plus having the Guys back plus having those wonderful, Goofy Guys back to keep me young--

AHEM!--- of course I said YES!!!

So, I'm back, as of next Mid-August.  Yay!! 

Anyhow, got to hit the sack and do the Grandparents Mass over there tomorrow morning.   So next week, I'll vacuum all of the pollen off the MR, run some trains and plan on just exactly WHAT I'm going to spend my new salary on.  Hm. 

I think the first thing is going to be one of those new Atlas track-cleaning Energizer Bunny cars.  You guys seen the ad for that puppy?  About the only thing it DOESN'T do is make coffee, LOL!

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Jim, CHAMPS is (Still) going out of business you might find something there you can use or you can call high Ball Graphics and see what they can do for you.

Jerry, you should ask them to move the computer closer to you.

Rob, sounds like the mallard should have ducked when the goat came running by!

Lee