The Coffee Shop (a place to chat) Est. 2004

[egmurphy]

Welcome to the Coffee Shop, e_bone,

QUOTE: Originally posted by e_bone9

I have a series of questions that must be incredibly common... where is the correct place for me to post these questions? I don't want to clutter up a board unnecessarily.

I'd suggest you post it on two forums. 1, the Classic Toy Trains forum. Those people are knowledgable about Lionel. 2. The Model Railroader General Discussion forum (like, here, just not specifically in the Coffee Shop thread). Your general question like deciding on a scale will get good response there.

You can access the Classic Toy Trains forum through the forum index in the upper left part of the page.

No problem in asking here in the Coffee Shop, just understand that we are just a small subset of the forum population so it doesn't get as wide coverage. Although the thread has 6,000 posts, it's been an ongoing thread for 10 months.

QUOTE: My situation: I was a model railroader as a youngster.. then put the train away.. now I'm 40 and getting interested again.

Like Yogi said, "It's deju vu all over again." This must be the most common intro line for adult newbies in the hobby. Welcome, you're in good company.

QUOTE: 2) How did other people decide what scale to build in?

I went from Lionel to HO as a teenager, who knows why? That was a long time ago. I found N scale when i was an adult living in an apartment. Now that I'm retired and in a small house I'm still in N. Primarily due to space considerations. There's one story. There are a million more in the Naked City (of trains).


Regards

Ed

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers

Another nice day down here in Paradise. Stayed overcast, so the temperature just got to ‘warm’, not ‘hot’. Threatening to rain, but nothing yet.

Finished "gooing" down the last of the ground throw switch stands today. I need about 7 more, but that’ll have to wait until we make the trip NOB later this month.

I also finally got started on putting some ground cover on the layout. Got the ‘fine’ ground foam down on the extreme right hand side of the layout. I’ll see how that has turned out tomorrow, when it’s dry, and then maybe move on to some ‘coarse’ ground foam to give a bit more texture. Yup, big day here on the FCVN. At least it's a start.


John, nice progress on the layout. I look forward to seeing this section with the viaduct when you get it done.

QUOTE: grayfox: Nothing done today on train room as honorable son #2 had a problem with his computer, and also his boys computer, so "gramps" had to go over the hill and through the woods to effect repairs.

When we lived closer, I was more used to my daughter coming over and fixing Dad’s (my) computer! [:D]

QUOTE: Mikeygaw: …as i was sitting here thinking i realized i haven't posted much about my layout, and i promise i will in the morning when i'm not falling asleep at my computer…

Sounds good. You’re overdue!!

QUOTE: Fergie: …I couldn't move due to the large amounts of Baby Back BBQ'd, garlic and pepper marinaded ribs that I inhaled. Man it's hard to realize supper starts an hour before it's cooked as one could trip over the sweet heavenly aroma of the ribs melding in their juices. MMMmmmmmm.

Yup, it’s easy to see Fergie’s back. Mouth watering time again. [C=:-)]

QUOTE: I made a set of number boards for front end as those L.E.D.'s are blinding. used Paint Shop Pro 8 to draw them and then printed them off. I then applied a layer of non glare scotch tape over the numbers and applied three layers of masking tape behind it to cut down the light. I then cut them out popped out the glass and inserted them I'm really happy with the results. 601 has a really nice glow to it!

Ouch. Glad you’re in HO. I can’t even imagine trying to do that in N. [:0]

QUOTE: Flip: It is a gp, gray with road #8330, small decal on nose -white with orange G&O. Questions are- gp what? and what does the G&O stand for?

It’s the Gulf & Ohio. It’s a GP-10. Look at these. You’ll find the 8330 on the second link, under Nash County Railroad.
http://www.trainweb.org/railrunner/G&O/G&O%20ROSTER%20road.htm
http://www.thedieselshop.us/NCSL.HTML

QUOTE: grayfox: NICE SHIRT !!!! you look pretty cool Ed, did you pick out the shirt or were you always cool? OR, does your wife pick out your shirts like Lorraine does for me?

What shirt, the blue striped one in the photo of wiring the layout? You ought to see me with my flowered summer shirts!! Actually, Fran and I shop together for clothes, whether they be mine or hers.

QUOTE: Siberianmo: I'll probably settle on a thumbnail for the signature - but have to figure out how to do that "automatically"

Go to “Profile” up on the blue tool bar. When editing your profile, enter the photo address, including the img tags, just like you were posting it in a post, in the “signature text and graphics” box. That should do it.



Think that should about do it. I’ll still be hanging around for a while so maybe it won’t be just….

Hasta mañana,

Ed

[twhite]

Hoo-boy! Just got in from the Great Garage Empire and I'm bushed. Decided to do what a lot of you are doing and try some foam scenery (I've been doing foam supports with hardshell on the rest of the layout). Chose the new extension. Four hours of cutting, forming and cursing, and all I've got is a 10"x 6" HILL! Even got one of those foam-cutting hot tools. I think I'm going back to tried and true, gang. Much as I admire the layouts I've seen with contoured foam scenery, I am firmly of the opinion that God created THIS guy for hardshell! So, back to the garage armed with rolls of Hefty paper towels, hydrocal and crumpled newspaper. Think I'll use the scrap foam for a base, then go about my usual business. At least I've got room on the extension for a TOWN! Not a big one, but a little mountain burg. Now I can get out those Walthers buildings I bought two millenia ago and put the little dears together. Canyon turned out like something you'd see in New Mexico around Gallup, which is cool, but we don't have those kind of geologic formations in Northern California, so back to the drawing board. It was one of those days. SHEESH! Oh well, it's not like it's real ROCK, right?
Later. You can write to me care of The Home, heh-heh!
Bridge (or Cat) Tom[B)][:I][xx(]

[fec153]

Ed- You hit the nail on the head. One of the GP9's is the same gray and the large white numbers on the rear -same placing and size. Thankyou for the time and input.
Have smoothie on me. Ask Zoe to put it on my tab.
Who is the club manager? Lost the address to mail my check.
Regards and goodnight,
Flip

[Attaboy]

Looks like I'm alone here tonight. Flip left while I was logging in. Just popped in to see what has been going on today. I finished the suspended ceiling in the train room and decided cleaning up the mess and starting the trim work could wait for another day. Going to relax the rest of the evening before work tomorrow.[:(]

[Attaboy]

Uh, oh, looks like drinks are on me this time. Belly up to the bar folks.

[Fergmiester]

This is getting crazy!

I turn my aqttention to the MR and building a bridge and "Shazam" two pages!

Again I can't move as Lisa cooked a marvelous Roasted Chicken, well actually two, stuffed with a wild rice medley. No room for desert!

[#welcome] e-bone9: Post away and don't be worried about band-width as none of the rest of us are! You may have better luck on the "Classic Toy Trains Forum regarding the Lionel stuff. You will be quite happy with HO, ignore the N scale peanuts gallery, as they boistrous and sadly[:(] out numbered .

Tom as soon as I get the raised brass letters I'll apply them and let you know how I made out.

Si: Drop me an e-mail as to when your getting in as I'm off cycle in May. Tomorrow will be busy as John will be over and I have MESS to clean up. Who knows the Bridge maybe finished by then as it's about 2/3rds done

Ed: sorry if I'm I'm endangering your mid drift I too have problems with Speedo's as they aren't fitted with a safety. Not a pretty sight!

Luct: Sorry about the under carriage but I can empathize as I've had both sides done.

***: John is about an hour and a half away. Not a nice drive this time of year, though the weather is suppose too be good tomorrow. The Rumbling? Oh I thought that was the N scale crowd again[(-D]

Later Gents

Fergie

[Noah Hofrichter]

Well, I see Fergie is in here tonight, I’ll be over with you in a minute, as soon as I get a nice OJ.

Wow! You folks really talk in a day and a half. The most I’ve seen posted in a while, must be close to three pages!

Steve, I like the way you have the pictures changing day by day in you signature. It’s neat.

Ed, I feel like I’ve flown down there to Mexico with you today, It got all the way up to.......Drum roll please......... 60 degrees today!!!!!! It was really beautiful, made me even more wanting of spring to come. Problem is that it might snow tomorrow........

Well folks, I had a very good day. I got to see the two from MR I mentioned yesterday today, and it was great. David Popp explained about his layout that he’s building for the Step by step column in MR. I even got to see some photo’s of the expansions that the rest of you won’t see until the July or June Issue. Cody Grivno talked about modeling Amtrak Mail cars, which was also very interesting. I also stopped by the hobby shop, and spent way to much (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing....) I got a Pin vise for my newly acquired drill bits for detail parts, a Marinette, Tomahawk, and Western boxcar, and I ordered some road bed to fill in the gap on my layout(the type I use my LHS doesn’t carry). I should have that by Friday or so, and then there won’t be a rise and fall in two spots of my track like there is now.

Well, Better get going, Got things to do, and the Train still comes sometime tonight, will have to listen for him too. I’ll see ya!

Noah

[Anonymous]

Duke -

QUOTE: That was me.Do you have a Club House in the park that they would let you use,and NO you are not trailer trash.

unfortunately the park has no such place.... I would love it if they did but this place isn't the greatest although we do have some new management.... but I wouldn't trust anything built in anything the park owned because of the kids around here would tear it to pieces and use it for skate board ramps or something like that.... the kids just have no sense of anything.

well I'm off to go do some other stuff.... I think I have to go get dinner because my mom is tired from work and dad is asleep.... and of course my older brother is to blind to drive at all.

See you all Later.

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Noah, Fergie (oops, he's heading out - see you later!), Brian and Zoe. Zoe, I'll have an OJ smoothie on Attaboy's tab. Tell him thanks when he comes back in again.[:)]

Fergie, you'd better wear your flak jacket when you come back in next time. I heard a couple of the N-scalers outside muttering about you as I was coming in.[}:)][;)] Me, I model in HO scale because I can't see that eeNcy scale stuff without a big magnifier.[8D][:O]

I got the layout plan re-drawn this afternoon, using only LH and RH switches (so I can maybe get it going without buying any additional switches.... Yet! The drawings that I had done previously are on that hard drive that for now is unavailable to access, but I was lucky that the layout program (RailModeller) works also under my older OS version, so I just downloaded another copy (might be an update, actually) and emailed the author to re-send me the registration key. Dropped that into the folder and I was able to start drawing again. Had a printout from the older version, so I didn't have to start totally from scratch.

By the way, thanks for the suggestions on a steam loco you guys here gave me. After looking at some of the models on the Walthers site, I'm inclined to go with the IHC Mogul - there're some which have an oil tanker. Would that be about right for my transition period (1950's about 1959), to have an oil tanker on the steam Mogul?

Sounds like several of you have been making good progress this afternoon on your layouts - ***, Fergie, and it looks like Tom o'Cats and Noah have been learning stuff this afternoon (in their own respective ways...). Noah, is that layout the Turtle Creek that David Popp is working on?

Better finish off my smoothie and go - have some straightening and stuff to do to get ready for tomorrow. Will 'see' everyone tomorrow.

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[tomwatkins]

Good Evenin' Everybody,
Today was a much better day. Louise is feeling much better. Wharever she had was nasty, but thankfully of short duration. Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, so we got outside and looked at all the flowers that are blooming or popping up. It was really nice.

I did get a little foam carved today, and a little more glued up. Tomorrow will be a work day on the club layout in the afternoon and then the meeting tomorrow night. Bill M. is going to come up for it. That should be fun. His club meeting in Atlanta is actually closer in miles, but it's easier to get to Copper Hill and takes less time.

Luc, sorry to hear about your latest problem. We've got to get ya'll well.

RevAndy, that's a good joke. I really enjoyed it.

SiberianMo, Sometimes Teffy doesn't pop in for a while, but when he does, he moves things right along, doesn't he?

BJDukert, I used 1/2" plywood on my layout, and with sufficiently close joists, it's worked fine. If I were starting over, I'd use 3/4" and eliminate all worries. Somebody once asked Tony Koester why he used 3/4" plywood. He said because he couldn't find 1" anywhere.

JimRCGMO, For small or medium steam at less than $150, the Spectrum 2-8-0 would be hard to beat. It looks good, It runs great, including at low speeds, and you can find them for $69-79.00 . There's plenty of room in the tender for a decoder and a good sized speaker if you want to go that way. The Spectrum decapod and ten wheelers are also very nice.

Flip and Trainwreck, Zippos are truly cool. They are one of the few things that are guaranteed. Period. One of my prized possessions is a brushed finish Zippo with a Marine Corps emblem that I bought at the PX at Parris Island, SC on May 6th, 1965, the day I graduated Boot Camp. It still works just fine. I finally had to send it back to Zippo last year because one of the hinges broke. They fixed it, for free, and sent a new mechanism for it. I've still got the old one in it.

Der, the layout pics look good. I really like the viaduct.

Fergie, you're back, and you're making everybody's mouth water with your descriptions of your meals. Ribs on the grill are one of our favorites, too.

Der, I'm glad the foil rocks turned out good. I've not tried to cast them in place. That's good to know. I will give it a try.

I'm going to sign off for now. Have a great evening, everybody,
Tom

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: (CG)Jim: Would that be about right for my transition period (1950's about 1959), to have an oil tanker on the steam Mogul?

If you're road used oil instead of coal (same as mine does) then the time frame isn't an issue. If they still had a Mogul operating, they'd have it burning whatever fuel was common there.


Regards

Ed

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang; Well just a short one again. I;m off for the next couple of days. I was supposed to work untill Thursday but felt that was too long to wait for a rest.

Diesel hit $2.12/gal today. Gas is over $2.

Paul

[der5997]

Just a quick cuppa and I'm off to bed [:D] Ed: I was just talking to the chap who gave me the N de M car. He's glad it's going to a good home! He said he saw one for real in Toronto a few years back, thought it was lost. [(-D]

Here's the pics of the "foil" rock casting, if railimages is on the ball, they'll be there by eleven[:D]





It's the other side of the doorway, the one not shown too much[:-^]

BridgeTom: I'll see if I can find a photo of the bridges overthe gorge I had in B.C. I think you will be amused. [:D]

Well, early start tomorrow. Goodnight all, and God Bless.

[bjdukert]

Evening all It will be short tonight almost bedtime

Bob & GaTom-Thanks for the input,looks like ¾ it will be. I should be able to go to maybe 24” center on the joist or should I stay with the 16” [?][?]

That’s about it for now

Talk to you later

Duke

[Fergmiester]

That's it. I'm done for the night as I was able to get all the stringers glued in place and will fini***he bridge tomorrow with the cross braces.

Later Gents
Fergie

[e_bone9]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

You can access the Classic Toy Trains forum through the forum index in the upper left part of the page.

No problem in asking here in the Coffee Shop, just understand that we are just a small subset of the forum population so it doesn't get as wide coverage. Although the thread has 6,000 posts, it's been an ongoing thread for 10 months.

Ed- Thanks a ton for good info. I'll sniff around there and see where it leads. Best of luck to all of you coffee shoppers.

[philnrunt]

First- WHOEVER ASKED ABOUT PECO TURNOUTS AND DCC_ Page 92 of this April's MR might help you- "Wiring a Peco Electrofrog CROSSING for DCC. I don't know how much info it has about turnouts, but check it out.
RRBrit, Ferg and der5997- At least our censorship program dosn't substitute "chicken" or goober or anything else. But how did Flip get away with petcock? Those Fla people know all the ins and outs!
Capt Turk- Overhang, eh? I only have 3 words for you- "outriggers", er....oh yeah, "build some". There, thats 3. I think. And as for getting that engine on the roof? Start about 3 miles away and start working on a viaduct. By the time you get to the RV, people will mistake you for a government project, and if you play your cards right, you can get Federal funding! And remember- build it right down the middle of the busiest street in the area, or you'll give yourself away.
Siberianmo- What you said about tying the guy down to the railroad tracks, tie him down to HO tracks, and use the Polar Express to continually thump into his head. Like the Chinese Water Torture, but more fun.
Ed- Card carrying N Scaler? Then Joe McCarthy was right! He said he had a list of over 100 card carrying N Scalers! Be careful, my friend, or you may be ...High Balled!!!!
And Pennsyhoos last post was early Feb, I think. Hope he isn't THAT busy at work. That would bite! And you are the MAN!!!! I just read in one of the mags (Diesel Era) about G& O being based out of Knoxville Tn, and I thought I was going to be able to give Flip a heads up on it, and here you scoop me. Guess that OJ keeps you sharp, huh? Or those smoothies. You old smoothie.
Teffy- 212#s? 212 pounds???? Man, my LEFT LEG weighs 212 pounds!!!! I always used to tell people (I've lost weight) that all those bodybuilders bragging about lifting 350 pounds, thats no big deal, I did it every morning I got out of bed!!!
Got to watch NS switch the Portland Cement plant, (not Portland Cement, but a cement plant in Portland,) yesterday. Lots of fun, they really bang those 2 bay hoppers around. Had a high hood GP-38-2, and a GP-15-1. Good show.
Spent today chopping up some of the limbs the ice storm brought down in Jan. First day thats been dry and decently warm enough since it hit.
TomWatkins- I know what Louise had, Atlanta-itis. I feel it coming on anytime I even THINK of driving thru that town! Give her our best. And tell Bill we said hi when you see him.
OK, now for the serious stuff- Bad news about the RCMP boys. We have a web site here called fallen heros, we get updates weekly about US officers KIA'd. Way too many young ones that make rookie mistakes, but a bunch of older officers that become complacent. A boy that I got into police work about 15 years ago just started with our local drug task force, last night we were visiting and he got a call and had to go and do a drug buy. Talk about un-easy. I know he is a very good officer, but you hate to see him go out at 2300 for something like that. Sometimes you "what if" yourself sick. He returned about 0040, and we all felt a bunch better, especially his wife..
Also, US police tend to look on the Canadian cops as kinder, gentler brothers in blue, and it shakes us up when we hear about them dying. And when a bobby dies, thats just crazy. But like you all said, it seems the world is going that way.
Thanks again for letting me air my thoughts. Don't know if anyone reads them, but it sure helps to type them out.

[trolleyboy]

Good evening everyone,I trust you're all well.Just came in for a quick sleepytime tea,and I've dropped off a couple of apple pies courtesy of mom.It's amazing how much food she'll make for dinner.6 people and food and desert for 20[dinner] Oh well I feel a bit like fergie to full to move. Dad seemed better today he's decided not to fly out for the funerals but the force he served with is sending 10 people or so so it should be well attended.He said to pass along his thanks for everyones support. Well it was a long day so I'm packing her in for the night. nite all.[zzz][zzz][zzz] Rob

[Mikeygaw]

ok ok finally making the post... it's a morning late ( well it's morning here... 1 AM) right now i have a 4 foot x 8 foot in my front room consisting of two ovals (one elevated over the other) along with two sidings... dont have any reasonably sized photos at this second... ones i do are at about 800-900k (never bothered to fool with them in editing yet, will do it during the day I promise [:D] )

I am currently planning to remove one siding and add a trolley line travelling through my town and looping by the siding and near a passenger station on the elevated line.

I was supposed to get half of my basement to build a layout, but unfortunately the work the needs to be done one the basement isn't getting done [:(]

I had some designs planned out for it that can still be useful, as it was going to be a scaled down version of what i planned to build when i get my own house (living with my parents at the moment)

It was going to have a double tracked main that would go around the boards and spin off a staging yard... ws planning to try and get access to the closet under the steps for it; i was going to put it behind the heaters if i couldn't... also off the main line (around a major depot i was planning at the edge of a large town) i was going to have a single-track branch line that would lead to several industries. Also was planning to have a round house... well i'll post a bit more when i can get some pics up

[Grubby]

Evening all, sorry for the "short" post last night [:p]. I lose track of where I am but really had nothing to say... so when in doubt [:D] Large Coke, hold the ice thanks...

I have started intensive work on refining my track layout, working on the switching etc... if only I could get any of the track software to be as fast as doodling, still drawing scale turnouts to scale is well fun??

Anyways, I have planned enough and this week I hope to start laying out the mainline around the layout... after another late night trip to JJ's Hobbies for some more Peco turnouts at $25-$30 a piece.... you US guys have it so cheap in comparison. Thanks for all the input, I have decided to go with insulfrog.... but may well change my mind.... April Issue of MR wont be here for another month or so...I only just bought March last week.... and February today at a Newsagent that is not too on the ball.... but I'll look out for it.

I constantly click on the links everyone posts of their layouts, wow, there is some impressive stuff going on, I just hope I can pull off some the "simple" stuff you guys have got so together.

Off to try to absorb more from the forums... maybe I can do it subliminally somehow, there is so much to learn..... out



[:)]

[red p]

Well, im back.
Had a pretty fast turn around this time.

[grayfox1119]

Good morning to all.......I see the coffee shop is empty, I guess Fergie is sleeping in late after the big meal that Lisa made for him yesterday, Ed is out in his Orange grove picking oranges for Zoe, Ga Tom is checking the blooming flowers of Spring, Duke? Where are you Duke?

Cloudy day today but temps rising to 50's...can Spring be far away? Nay, nay, plunging temps tomorrow night, and another storm with 1-3 inches, maybe a bigger one on Friday....ohhh no!![V][V]

Duke: that website that has landscapes is really nice, I have some good ideas already.

Ok, back to work.......see you guys all later today,

[Anonymous]

I'm addicted to four things in my life...

My Wife.
My Kids.
My Trains.
and Coffee.

This is my first post to the coffee shop, though I've read quite a bit. Keep pouring the java gang. It's a long run to the next station[8D]

Trevor

[Fergmiester]

***: I don't sleep! I build!!



You guys should know me by now[:-,]

Later Gents

Fergie

[Anonymous]

Afternoon all

Still awaiting assorted Fleischmann parts, this has to be some form of record! Ah well, essay season has started here - have to get a 2'500 word one on Khruschev's reforms for my USSR post-1953 module in for the 14th, and make a start on one for my US Intelligence module, though I've still not picked a title for the second one. It's not due until 20th April though so no rush. I'm currently at 990 words on the first one and have two days off this week, so it should be done fairly easily.

Welcome aboard to all the newbies, think this is probably one of the most-read sections of the forum!

Well, nothing else happening here, it's grey, soggy and cold outside. Bye for now!

[trolleyboy]

Good morning everybody,I see Matt's in the shop so I'll grab a tea and join you in a couple of minutes.We're keeping Rev Andy's table warm for him.Well we missed the snowstorm yesterday the weather climbed above zero so our trip to N Falls was pleasant.We had a really good day at the museum tables at the show and as I said last night an even better dinner with mom and dad(I'm still feeling rather sluggish) Today's snow storm is 6C on the upside and rain so I can almost see the tree in the front yard as it's cover of snow has retreated a fair bit the last two days.I was leafing through my MRP2005 and by golly I found the answer to a couple of nagging doorway problems so hopefully now it's full steam/jiuce ahead for the rest of the mainline. Well I'm off for now will try to frop in again tonight after work. Rob

[trolleyboy]

Okay so I'm back already.Quick [#welcome]to trevorg good to have another canuck on board.John I like the look 'o' those rocks so far[tup].Did they set up well or was it a pain getting them out of the tinfoil?Flip I hop[e you got the e-mail I resent it let me know if it got lost in cyberspace. Well I'm out this time for sure. Rob

[siberianmo]

fergmiester

QUOTE: Si: Drop me an e-mail as to when your getting in as I'm off cycle in May.

Will do!
============================================
tomwatkins

QUOTE: SiberianMo, Sometimes Teffy doesn't pop in for a while, but when he does, he moves things right along, doesn't he?

It's nice to know that I'm alive every now and then! No problem, really.

Enjoy!
=============================================
philnrunt

QUOTE: Siberianmo- What you said about tying the guy down to the railroad tracks, tie him down to HO tracks, and use the Polar Express to continually thump into his head. Like the Chinese Water Torture, but more fun. (philnrunt)

Now there's something to think about. But cleaning the tracks would be a mess, especially if the guy wound up in one of my loooooooong tunnels!

Well, it's 11:22 AM here in mid-continent, USA - and still no UPS truck. It's not that I'm looking, or anything ..........

See ya!

[twhite]

Morning all: I was just going to tell you to check out Fergie's post on the forum, but he posted it here, too. Now i've got yet ANOTHER case of Bridge-Envy!
Spent the evening working on a combination of scenery for the new extension (which means I keep putting off installing that viaduct on the other side of the Buttes), went back to my old habit of foam forms, newspaper and hydrocal. I've overbought so much of that Insulfoam that I can just cut it into blocks and use it as a base. A little more time-consuming, but at least I'll have a solid base for when I start planting that forest of furnace-filter trees that Aggrojones posted a couple of months ago.

Tom GA: Glad to hear your wife's health is improving. If it was Spring Flu, it hits hard, but luckily doesn't seem to linger around too much.

John Wood: Looking forward to seeing those bridges you built in B.C. Hope you can find the photos. You know me and bridges, by now--heh, heh--(evil grin). Like your rock-work, that's going to be some SPECTACULAR gorge!

RevAndy: Don't know if you could use this joke, but its' a favorite around my Parish: Young Priest at first parish, getting along well, but has troubles with his Homilies (sermons to the rest of you). Deacon at church suggests that to relax himself, Priest have a glass of wine before Mass, that way he won't be so nervous during the sermon. Priest takes Deacon up on the idea, relaxes into the sermon the next Mass. Afterward, Priest asks the Deacon how the sermon went, Deacon says, "Well, it went fine, Father, only David 'smote' the Phillistenes, he didn't kick the crap out of them." Maybe not up to your golf jokes, but you might be able to use it.

Hey, Trevor, you found the Coffee Shop just like I did--hang around. I have a lot of fun here, you will too.

Well, time to feed the puddytats--Wiley is acclimating well, but the other two are thoroughly convinced that I brought a small dog home. I'm not sure, but I think Spooky is trying to teach the little guy how to steal a caboose. Egad, that's all I need, is TWO caboose thieves! Knowing Spooky, she'll break him in on that little Pennsy cabin-car I bought for the J-1, then work him up to the Rio Grande's. Thank God she's not an ocelot, she'd be dragging my Yellowstones around!
Later,
Tom
[:P][:P][:P]