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

[Noah Hofrichter]

Ed, I got some time, but what I ended up with was nothing fun at all. I finally got to run a few of my WSOR SD40-2’s, and it wreaked havoc on my re-designed track plan. I’m thinking of making a few revisions, I’ll explain farther down in my post, after I finish with the rest of my replies.

Welcome Back Fergie, good to have a little pick in the shop again, kind of makes the place glow......

Well, I said I’d speak of my plans, and I will. I’m seriously thinking about completely tearing out the layout, scenery and all, instead of just re-doing the track. There are some major problems with this plan that I’d like to fix. But, fixing them involves some major moving of tracks, so now might be the time to start over anyway. I’m not sure yet, but I’ll probably decide in the next few weeks.

Well, I better get going, got things to do.

Noah

[JPowell]

Well all - Just a quick note to let you all know I'm alive and kickin'! Been eatin' alot of Mexican food at some of the local 'mom and pop' shops down here as well as downin' a few Corona's w/ the food. All otut of beer in my room.. time to go fill up the fridge! Also time to go eat. I think tonight's menu will be Chinese.....YUM! and more beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see we're up to page 328...I last posted on 313. WOW. I've read up to 319 and will have to fini***he rest at another time.
Take care all -
JP :-))))

[Anonymous]

Hi all. Just popping in to say that. Welcome back fergie.

Robert

[JimRCGMO]

Good evening Zoe (and Chloe, see you're both here over suppertime) - a nice OJ smoothie, please. Looks like just me and the corner lurkers in the window booth. Hi to you all!

Tom (Calif.), I'll bet the cats just supervised building the pyramids. You know how easy it is (not) to get cats to do anything they don't want to do... Might want to lay in some serious supplies of catfood if Wylie gets a growth spurt. That, and maybe buy stock in Purina, huh?[}:)][:)]

About the train yard, I would put it along/near the layout edge and just tell people that the town is just off the edge of the layout.[;)] Had one friend tell me that I didn't have enough parking spaces for my industries when I showed her a plan of my intended layout. Oh, you might need to layo

Phil, I hope all your doctor appointments go great. Keep us posted, okay?[:)]

Fergie, I will [#ditto] what John said - I think the building has room for a barber shop, but no way (even in a smaller one) a coffee shop crew could fit in there.[;)]

Ed, you're right about my having some nice friends - and a lot of them hang out here, too![;)] (And elsewhere, too, in case some of my Cape Girardeau friends are passing through the shop)

Siberianmo, I only wish I were as organized with my MRR's and Kalmbach booklets - mine are not even all in the cardboard cases![(-D] So, how good are those cases? Do you think they're a decent value for the price?

John (der), let's see - and if I carried my track home in a bucket, would that make it the railsnailmail pail?[}:)][;)] (tee hee - that one's for Ed...)

RevAndy - nice story about the little granny - several of my co-workers got a chuckle out ot that. Never underestimate those little ol' ladies!

Matt, wasn't it part of the Camelot story that snow could only fall if it melted before a certain time in the morning?[;)]

Hi, JP! Was wondering where you were. How's your search for a new place (with layout space) going? But you better watch the beer, or you might lay some crooked tracks...[swg]

Well, I will try to drop back in later tonight (unless I get called out by then). You all take care!

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[JimRCGMO]

Just poked my head back in the door for a minute - wanted to say Hi to *** and Duke! Order up, guys, while both girls are working! I think Zoe said she leaves about 6:30 or 7 unless it's really busy. It looks like another tank car of Ed's OJ got here.

Blessings, and happy dinnertime, guys!

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[bjdukert]

Hi all and I see that *** and JimCG are in as well,so have some of the chocolate chip cookies that my wife made,but leave some for the late comers,please[:D]

RevAndy-Missed you the other day when I said HI to others so how about a belated[#welcome]

Not much to say,but some of the pics I have been seeing are great and you give others of us something to strive for[^][:)][bow]

***-I have a story for you,but will email it.

Ok that’s about all for now

Talk to you later

Duke

[bjdukert]

Sorry [*^_^*] ,I forgot those of you that can't have the sugar.I will bring sugar-free tommorrow,but they will be store bought.

[grayfox1119]

Good evening gents......down to 15F at 7:30pm, it is real cold this March. Last year we had a heat wave and it hit 60 here...what difference a year makes.

Ca Tom: I too would worry about "drop" shipments, a young lady two towns north of me had her car demolished by a huge ice block that fell from the sky. It was a frozen "dump" from a plane's toilet storage tank, but the FAA could not determine who/which airline it was........so watch out for DROP shipment DUCK!!![:O]

Matt: Our 4x4's are basically the same, Ford just took the lever off the floor and now uses electronics with push buttons to do the same thing. No more levers and linkages to freeze up either. But I love LOW range 4x4 for steep hills. A good example was two years ago when we drove up to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. When you come down, they have turn-outs to let people pull over and cool their brakes. Two young ladies died sevral years ago coming down the mountain when they failed to follow these safety rules and their brake fluid boiled. No brakes !!! They went over the edge are were killed.
With 4x4's, all you need to do is set the transmission to LOW range, then place gear shift into D1 ( Low gear), and you literally will stop on the grade without having to use brakes. I had to give it gas to actually move forward. D1 will work with a regular auto, but the gearing is still too high, so you still need your brakes a lot on a steep grade.

Ga Tom: the new blue color looks great now that it is dry, very happy with the results. I also got the rug fitted, cut, and laid down, and actually moved a work bench in and a few train items...were're getting there little by little.

Duke: Tomorrow I attempt the clouds with the kit from HD. I will let all the guys know how this works out.

Time to go watch Survivor...

[fec153]

Man it's past my bedtime. Hi all. Fast question- G&O - Does that stand for Gulf&Ohio? I'll read the answer tomorrow. Please!
New loco on the tracks. It is grey with large 8830 on the rear side and no, did not get a look at the wheels. I know, either a gp or a sd. I will try to see it tomorrow,no luck today.
Goodnight all. [bday].[#welcome].To those newbies and bd guys.
Flip

[Attaboy]

Hi, guys an gals, looks like I'm alone in here this evening.

Just got back from picking up my new digital camera. I wasn't home when Fedex tried to deliver it today so had to go get it. Now all I have to do is figure out how to use it and maybe I can post a pic or two.

Ed, the guy has a pretty nice tan except where he used to wear a speedo. Do you wear speedos?[:D]

Der5997, nice looking bridge so far. The only bridges I see on my layout are in my minds eye at the moment. I'm jealous.[:P] I also know how it feels being stuck with dial up as that's all I have at the moment. The local cable company says they are upgrading their system and will have cable broadband here late this summer or fall. We'll see, hope it isn't like their repair people, "It will be done sometime between August 2005 and March 2006, stay at home and wait for us."

Siberianmo, look on the bright side, you have a few more days to get more track ready to run it on.

Cape Jim, I have about 30 years of MR in those binders they sell and they are pretty solid. Some of the earlier years were stored in damp conditions for a while and warped slightly but they are still solid.

See you later.

[Attaboy]

Hi, Ed, see you just came in while I was proof reading my last post.

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Quiet day, some errands, some work on the switch stands on the layout, a short nap, all in all not a bad day.

Probably the most exciting thing I did was make another experimental smoothie this afternoon. Great for the Coffee Shop, it was basically bananas, coffee and plain yogurt, with some cinnamon, honey and real vanilla. Came out okay. [C=:-)]

By the way, vanilla is cultivated very near here (did you know the plant is a variety of orchid?) so it’s easy for us to get real vanilla extract.

QUOTE: grayfox: As for carpet, my knees are shot from playing softball in my younger days, so it really hurts to kneel on hard surfaces.

I can’t kneel down for very long either. Knee pads help some. The other problem is getting back up afterwards. [;)]

QUOTE: If you use trusses for the roof, all the weight of the roof will be on the outside walls of the house, so you will not even need load bearing walls.

Not very common here. Housing construction in this area is almost 100% solid masonry walls (not veneer over wood framing), with concrete columns, and concrete second story floor or roof. Think “bunker”. [^]



Siberianmo, sorry about your Polar Express not arriving. Since working and living down here I’ve developed a lot of patience for stuff like that. It’s a necessary attribute for living here. Nothing ever happens when it’s supposed to.

QUOTE: Capt_Turk: I guess I'm going to have to check this forum more often. It took me longer to catch up than it takes to get to the tracks. Lol

I suspect that’s one thing that keeps some people away. With the amount of stuff that gets posted each day it is difficult if you really want to try to keep up. People ask questions, and when they get back they have to plow through pages of posts to see if anyone answered. And if you don’t read at least a majority of the posts, a lot of the comments just don’t make any sense.

QUOTE: Noah: I’m seriously thinking about completely tearing out the layout, scenery and all, instead of just re-doing the track. There are some major problems with this plan that I’d like to fix.

Sometimes that’s just what you have to do, especially if you have major problems that bother you. Just ask (western)Tom.



JP, sounds like you’re not suffering on your trip to San Antonio. Enjoy your time there.

QUOTE: (CG)Jim: About the train yard, I would put it along/near the layout edge and just tell people that the town is just off the edge of the layout.

Town? We don’t need no stinking town!!! [(-D] All seriousness aside, there was no room on my layout for a town after I put in track, a small yard (which incidentally is along the edge of my layout), industries and left space for some rolling hills.

QUOTE: I carried my track home in a bucket, would that make it the railsnailmail pail?

Not to belabor the point, but if you were waylaid on your way home, but the cops followed the robbers, would they tail the railsnailmail pail? [:0]



Okay, that should get me about current. Wife is debating whether tomorrow will be an orange grove day or whether we wait until Saturday. But don’t worry, shipments go out regularly on the FCVN whether I personally go to the grove or not. By the way, I expect we have another 2 months to go on the season.


Hasta mañana,

Ed

[egmurphy]

By the way, just in case you were wondering, the Red Sox just won their spring training opener 4-3 against the Minnesota Twins. [:D]

How 'bout them Red Sox!!!



Okay, signing off for the night. Sweet dreams.

Ed

[twhite]

Just finished dinner (chinese, don't ask me why!) and I'll be hungry again in an hour.
Jim: Very cool idea about having the town off-layout. Yard's in, that means I'm standing in the middle of Broad Street while I'm doing switching moves. Me and Godzilla, right?
And yes, you're right, the cats only supervised the Pyramids. Can't you see all of those furry little beasties staring through transoms and waving their paws--"Over THERE, stupid!" Ah, warms the heart.
Great news, guys, my un-hidden return loop WORKS! I had to use a level crossover of the east and west lines in order to maintain the radius, but hey--my two most problematic locos, the J-1 and a USRA 2-10-2 slipped over the new extension very smoothly. Now to the canyon and mountains and beads flying all over the place--urp!
BTW, if you want to check out my website, I posted photos of the little furries and the new species-challenged addition. If Lowell looks as if he's got a hangover--well, it's that Malibu catnip, I swear. Got to find that boy's stash before he gets on the computer and orders more.
Later--Wiley's yelling that it's "South Park" time. Sheesh!
Tom [:I][:P]

[der5997]

Just got through reading the posts, and getting replies together, so this is Hello and Goodnight all in one!
NorthernPhil:

QUOTE: Eyes, bloodwork, counseling. I'm glad I got back with my doc, he's a good guy.

On the eyes thing, as you are aware, retinopathy is a concern for diabetics. The elevated blood sugars causing increased production of blood vessels on the retina. For many years now, almost as long as I’ve been diagnosed as diabetic, I have been taking shark cartilage capsules. One effect claimed for shark cartilage is that it has anti-angiogenesis properties. It is said to slow the formation of new blood vessels. All I can say about its effectiveness is that so far, in all the tests over all these years, there has been no increase in retinopathy in my eyes.[^]

Mickey:

QUOTE: just prefer to stay cloaked most of the time

Glad you dropped in again, where-ever you are![(-D]

TrolleyRob:

QUOTE: I'm affraid that if I prime before i paint the detail will dissapear anyone have suggestions.

Just one Rob, Light coats. Go easy on the trigger.[:D]

Matt:

QUOTE: I passed all three. 64-55-60 which equates to a high 2:2, though at this stage they're only counting towards my final degree score.

Probably needs some translation, like you did when you mentioned High School a few pages back. UK academic nomenclature isn’t well known this side of the pond, where high numbers are revered! The courtesy is reciprocated mind you. The dean of the Theological College I was to attend in Toronto wrote to the Registrar of the National College of Food Technology in Weybridge asking for my transcription. The reply was “We consider transcriptions to be a North American aberration. Be assured that Mr. Wood has a BSc. Rather fun actually, as all I had was the Associateship of the College as it wasn’t a degree granting institution at the time. Reading University later took it over, and started issuing BScs to graduates of the same courses. What’s more, the Registrar confused me with another Wood who came just after I left! LOL.[(-D]

QUOTE: so what happens when the software to keep them going gets lost?).

Ever thought what happens to the coming generation that can’t do simple arithmetic without a calculator when the whole system crashes, and there are no more batteries?

QUOTE: just hoping that at least one makes it to the preservation groups -

I remember watching lines and lines of steam locos going down the line to Swindon to be scrapped when I was a teenager at school in north Oxford.[V][V]

Ed: Thanks for the diorama photo. I don’t remember it, perhaps before my time? Anyway, looks good, and encourages me that I’m not totally out to lunch on my plan. I take your point about there only being so much that one can do with ground foam to build up surfaces.

QUOTE: I’m still a week away from getting my March issue

Lucky dog. I returned January’s to the library yesterday, and cant’ get February until the folks in Halifax get it back from the chap (or maybe lady chapess?[:D]) who's got it now.

QUOTE: Town? We don’t need no stinking town!!! All seriousness aside, there was no room on my layout for a town after I put in track, a small yard (which incidentally is along the edge of my layout), industries and left space for some rolling hills.

[#ditto] as far as my container wharf is concerned…and I can’t say the town’s in front of the layout there because it’s meant to be sea[(-D]

Andy:

QUOTE: who said the food here was lousy?

Our beloved founder Elliot, is who. However, since he dreamed up this whole virtual café, he gets to say what is what.[:D] (A theological principle that mankind has been questioning for some time, is it not?)
Thanks for the story, it’s going out later tonight to a select circle of seniors[(-D]

***:

QUOTE: It looks like we have another stormy week coming next week, starting Sunday night here.

By Tuesday here, more or less, or so the w.guesser said today.

QUOTE: It was a frozen "dump" from a plane's toilet storage tank,

gives a whole new meaning to blue ice doesn’t it[swg]

siberianmo: that was “drop shipped” not “drop kicked” wasn’t it[:D] Frustrating now, but sweeter when it comes. Hope Monday works out.

Steve:

QUOTE: not sure were to buy the filter stuff

Do you know anyone with forced air heating? (Unknown when I was living in the UK) Or, maybe air conditioning? Failing that , we’ll have to look some out and send it. The green or blue may be a stretch for me here. I don’t remember seeing any in the stores.

Good to see you again JP. That’s a lot of reading..what dedication![bow]

Time for bed. God Bless.

[trolleyboy]

Good evening clubbers[:)]First off [#welcome]back Fergie,yes there have been a few changes but we're all pretty happy about them.Chloe the new girl is Zoe's twin,you'll have to ask Flip how to tell them apart though the rest of us don't want to go there again[:-^][:-^][:D] John ,I want spring there's got to be some way to move that jet stream,maybe it needs a blast of hot air from Ottawa[}:)][:p][:D]*** and Ed have you guys thought of building yourself a crawler for under your layouts.It would save your knees,we built two for the club and the nice thing is that since it basically was a seat on castors you were actually looking up at your work and can roll around without getting up on the knee's.Just a thought.[:)]Well I'm off for know talk to you all later. Rob

[trolleyboy]

[oops][:O] Made totp my treat. I left some sugar free and regular peanut butter cookies for everyone as well,so as long as Chloe doesn't eat them all help yourselves. Rob

[Mikeygaw]

is it crunchy peanut butter? i'll take smooth if i have to, but i prefer crunchy

[trolleyboy]

It's crunchy I wouldn't have it any other way.BTW I like the CN of Borg UP of Borg thing.It should be interesting to see who ends up absorbing who in the end[}:)][:p][B)][:0].I know where my vote is. Rob BTW John thanks for the painting tip,I do tend to be a bit heavy with the coats so I'll practice on something unimportant first. Well it's late I'm off to bed. Nite all[zzz][zzz][zzz]

[SilverSpike]

Good evening all!

Just a short hello!

Hello!!!!

[#welcome] to all the new faces in the shop!!!

And ….

[bday] to all who are making it another year!!! Mine is on Halloween.


This has been a very busy week at work, and with the Cub Scouts. Projects at work and help desk cases non-stop. And Cub Scouts Blue and Gold Banquet Monday night, and preparing for the three day campout this weekend has taken up all my time. Camping at Camp Salmen in Mississippi with the district and about 12 other Cub Scout Packs, should be great weather. The rain front pushed through this afternoon, and clear blue crisp afternoon was great.

Camping Menu for the Cub Scouts:
Chef Ryan is preparing Crawfish Monique for dinner tomorrow night, crawfi***ails in a spicy cream sauce with green onions tossed with rotini spiral pasta. Yum! And some parmesan cheese to top! Of course roasted marshmallows and Smores!

Dinner Saturday night is Scout Campers Stew. It is a make it yourself pouch of foil where the Cubs and parents get to make their own self contained dinner. In the foil pouch you put a hamburger patty, heaping spoonful’s each of peas, potatoes, green beans, corn, carrots, onions, mushrooms, a little water, some margarine, and a little shake of onion soup mix, salt and pepper. Fold over the foil to seal the pouch and place over a hot bed of coals for 15 – 20 minutes per side. When done, all you have to do is lay the whole thing down on the table cut a large X on the top and dig in! Yum!!! And then some Cherry Cobbler a la Dutch oven style for dessert.

The Cubs will get to do a little BB Gun shooting, Archery, Canoeing, Hiking, Obstacle Course, Hiking, First Aid, Hiking, you get the idea!

Oh, and almost done with the floor tiles in the kitchen. Next on tap is the grouting phase! Then the 1/2 bath toilet and sink came in last weekend! Plenty more to do before the train room benchwork gets started, but one step closer still.

Oh, and started on the taxes, about 1/3 done with getting all the info put into the tax program.



Hello again to Flip, Ed, Tim, Tom, John, Matt, Fergie, Noah, JP, LilRob, Rob, Jim, Duke, ***, and all the new guys!!!

Be back on Sunday!

Ya’ll have a great weekend now!

Take care,

Ryan

[siberianmo]

Twhite

QUOTE: Siberianmo: Let's hope your Polar Express arrives tomorrow instead of the 7th. I always get nervous when they tell me they're going to 'Drop' ship something. Actually, maybe some of those people should be replaced by cats--they designed the Pyramids, you know. Keep the faith--saw one in my LHS not too long ago (it didn't stay long) and that's one BEAUTIFUL train!!

Tom, thanx for the encouragement! Monday is the date - so says UPS.

JimRCGMo

QUOTE: Siberianmo, I only wish I were as organized with my MRR's and Kalmbach booklets - mine are not even all in the cardboard cases! So, how good are those cases? Do you think they're a decent value for the price?

Jim, organized is my curse! Been that way for as long as I can recall. The binders are expensive - but then again, so is everything that I have purchased in connection with this addiction - ooops, hobby! Having said that - yes, they are a decent value for what you get. Once I construct my bookcase for issues going back to the mid-1960's, those binders should look great!

Attaboy

QUOTE: Siberianmo, look on the bright side, you have a few more days to get more track ready to run it on.

Yeah - right, more track! I think my 20 ft x 5 ft shelf railroad for this Polar Express will just about be it! Then again, a couple of remote switch tracks ..........

egMurphy

QUOTE: Siberianmo, sorry about your Polar Express not arriving. Since working and living down here I’ve developed a lot of patience for stuff like that. It’s a necessary attribute for living here. Nothing ever happens when it’s supposed to.

Ed, hopefully I'll NEVER get accustomed to that! It's a happening when it happens and I like it happening when it's supposed to happen! But patience is a virtue - that I can dig. Thanx for the thoughts!

der5997

QUOTE: siberianmo: that was “drop shipped” not “drop kicked” wasn’t it Frustrating now, but sweeter when it comes. Hope Monday works out. der5997

You know, I thought of that too ..... but then again, gotta think positive. It WILL be sweeter when it comes. You are so right! Thanx!

Time to hit the sack! Nice talking to all of you!

[philnrunt]

Goood Even-ing (read like Alfred Hitch***)
Anyway, here we go-First, where is PennsyHoosier? Anyone hear from Lawrence recently? Did I miss something when I was in Ga? Let me know!
TomWatkins- Got the pic we took of us back today, you guys look great. Sure was a great visit, and we WILL be making time to come back, especially if another 9F day comes along. This winter just dosn't want to let go. I look sooo happy in the oic, and to think only a few hours later I was threatening to KILL Indiana. Hav n't quite worked out how to yet. Man, I need some Georgia! I almost headed your way yesterday when the quake hit, then I realized it was just ED saying he thought about Horribly Oversized if he had more room. About a 6.9 here. What was it in the mountains? [:D][:D]
der5997- I've thought about cementing over Portland myself a few times. And thanks for the heads up on the Shark Cartilage. I would hate to be the guy that asks the sharks for donations, tho.Read on for an update on my eyes.
Ed- AMEN to a reason for taking care of myself! Amyjo tends to keep me "on track" so to speak. The eye doc (1st visit ever, thought I'd give up where I hid the gold, but no pain at all!!) said there was some mostly reversable damage, but no glasses, no big problems and go back in 6 months. Went outside into a HUGELY bright sunny day with seriously dialated peepers,, realized I forgot my sunglasses (of course, always in the Jeep- but at home today!), met Amyjo for some great Mexican fare, she said I looked like a lemur. Just the effect I go for. Now about your space problem, build up, then bridge over not only your in laws, but everybodys house. Sure at first they'll complain, but when the shady (in more ways than one) benefits make themselves known in July, you will be made mayor.Trust me on this![}:)][}:)] And BTW, I spoke with my Transport Dept and keep an eye out for when we return your tank cars, one will have a current issue of MR in a baggie inside. Shouldn't cause any problems with Customs, but you know those guys better than me.
siberianmo- For getting your grandson involved, you get a free beverage of your choice! And from how you feel about the PE not arriving, might I suggest we step into the Club Car for a little Irish Coffee....uhhh, better make that decaf. But, as long as you aren't bitter about it, thats the important thing! [:P][:P][;)]
twhite- I was worried that maybe those Planning Genes were involved with this latest MC aquisition, but as you are still alive...at least... your post...says you are (If they could mastermind the pyramids, they could learn.....nah) sounds like a win win.And you WILL respect his a-thor-a-teeee!
capt turk- You have all of that roof area, and you live in sunny Fla, slap some G Gauge up there and go a' railin! It will handle the occasional rain storm, but you might want to put some extra weight in them during hurricane season.
Flip- You might keep an eye out for some heavily weighted G Scale model rail-planes this fall.
JimRCGMO- I'll find out where the M Twain HS is, I know how to get there but not how to explain. And hey, isn't that a unique name? There isn't hardly ANYTHING named for Mark Twain around that area, huh? Huh? Huh.[:P][;)]
Noah- Brave move, just don't be like me and forget to start building the replacement layout. I agree with Ed, that is sometimes the best solution. Keep us posted.

[Anonymous]

quote SilverSpike

QUOTE: Dinner Saturday night is Scout Campers Stew. It is a make it yourself pouch of foil where the Cubs and parents get to make their own self contained dinner. In the foil pouch you put a hamburger patty, heaping spoonful’s each of peas, potatoes, green beans, corn, carrots, onions, mushrooms, a little water, some margarine, and a little shake of onion soup mix, salt and pepper. Fold over the foil to seal the pouch and place over a hot bed of coals for 15 – 20 minutes per side. When done, all you have to do is lay the whole thing down on the table cut a large X on the top and dig in! Yum!!!

If my memory serves me right the term we use for that out here is HOBO STEW.... because it's just ground beef and what ever veggies you have on hand... Many years involved in scouting brought me something I guess.

I'm still waiting for my mom to pick up my merit badge counseling application and Railroading Merit Badge book so I can become a counselor for it.... I would suggest that any of you out there that have had an affiliation with the scouts in the past should do the same.... I feel it's a great way to share our knowledge about trains and model railroading.

As for everything else going on it appears that my dad and I are going to be heading into storrage tomorrow to see what we have in there.... I am praying that we still have our old train stuff... that will be one way for me to get started with the layout because I will be able to sell all my HO stuff off.... if it's in there first dibs go to you guys in here.... I will post images and set up some sort of bidding on my website for you all.... after that is done the rest will go to ebay.

Well it's nearly 11pm here or 2300 for all of us ex military types.

See you all tomorrow.

[philnrunt]

Hey, there's something i didn't know- In the post above, I typed Hitch*** and the name appeared complete, but after I posted it, it has asterisks in place of the letters that if taken out of context or typed by themselves, could mean something other than a male chicken! Interesting!
Now I wonder, are there any railroad terms that could be censored by an automatic system like this? There has to be something on a steam, or diesel, engine that has the right combination of letters to kick the auto system in. I've heard of ball*** valves, we'll see if that does it.
I see that another Hoosier is in the shop, welcome ftwNS- and twhite is up and reading too. Well, gotta get back to my 50 Great Ghost Stories, just wanted to mention this. Take care everybody.

[philnrunt]

It do! it do! it do censor itself!!!!! Only it puts 3 asterisks instead of 4, which is the number of letters typed. Does everyone else know about this? Am I , as usual, the last to find out? Ah well, it was news to me.
Had the local NS go thru a bit ago, a rare occurence these days. Got to hear a 567 ramping up, then coasting off, a sound I could listen to all day. In the old days, when i was a Pepsi man, I would park next to engines idling whenever I had paperwork to do. Just sitting there 20-30 feet away, you could feel the power. I would also sit near the NS-CR diamonds in Marion, just to hear the wheels clank over them. Love those railroad sounds!
OK, honest, this is my last post of the night, been slow here, had a home invasion-shooting southeast of town last night, so it was a bit hectic, even tho the County took care of it. Tonight, just 3 abandoned kids, parents out drinking, left a10 year old boy to watch his 2 sisters, 4 and 5. He thought someone was trying to break into the house, and ran barefoot, in his underwear, 4 blocks in 14F weather to report it. All turned out ok, except we didn't get to smack the parents around.
See y'all Sunday night!

[Anonymous]

Morning all

Well, most of our snow has gone - have been watching the fun down in the South-East where they seem to have loads of snow and an awful lot of people who lack the skills required to cope with it - someone should tell these people that wheelspin does not help...

John, sorry if it was unclear - never been 100% sure how the US system works either! Basically over here you have Primary school from 4-11 or so, then secondary/High school until 16, then (in my case) two years of sixth form before Uni at 18. After 16 it's really up to the individual - you can choose the vocational route instead, go through a Further Education college, and come away with qualifications in specialist areas (catering, mechanics, etc), or you can go straight into the workforce. Uni marks look crazy at first (40 is a pass) but they mark pretty harshly - 70 and above is high-IQ genius first-class stuff over here, only one guy I know got a 70 this year. Mid -60s equates to an upper-second class degree (2:1), which is apparently more popular with employers as they feel that the holder has probably had more of a social life!

philnrunt, looks like the forum censoring system has similar problems to one on a UK site I visit - it looks for patterns of letters without considering the whole word, and would often replace the word in question with "chicken". The fun starts when you attempt to discuss plumbing - consider the alternate name for a stop valve...!

Bye for now

[Grubby]

Hey all, I need a seriously large glass of Coke after reading all the days posts....actually I finished one while I was reading them all.

So tonight the boy and I went to JJ's and bought our first Peco double slip...at $86.00 we wont be buying too many more...next week $100 will get me 4 Peco RH Medium turnouts...expensive little addiction this, especially buying in Aussie dollars on the other side of the world...

The heat is fading but still too hot to wear clothes.... if only they would change those laws, we could all be so much more comfortable in Summer....

Off to keep reading, I need to work out whether to use Electrofrog or Insulfrog by next week....I intend to run DCC and I am not sure it matters but if anyone has an opinion, I would be very happy to hear it.....

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

By the way, just in case you were wondering, the Red Sox just won their spring training opener 4-3 against the Minnesota Twins. [:D]

How 'bout them Red Sox!!!



Okay, signing off for the night. Sweet dreams.

Ed

Lisa says: "It's Spring Training, it don't matter" (this was said with eyes rolled and contempt) She's the fanatic

She knows all the word to the old Blue Jay song you know the way
[LETS GO JAYS [
(it mentions Dave Steib).

Anyway enough drivel for the day. First day home saw me in a daze as I try to catch up on sleep (slept in to 6:30) but I got one DSD installed, two engines programmed and ran into a snag. As I was erecting the Trestle over the alcove, it dawned on me this would be an excellent location for the "Marina". This now creates a problem as I will have to incorporate a span in the middle of the Trestle. Is anything ever easy in this hobby of ours?

Dad heard & watched the Challenger in action yesterday and asked if "we" should get the 2-10-4 next? He was smiling like a Cheshire cat watching that puppy (He's in his 80's). BTW it can easily swing an 18"(-) 8% grade without problems.

I think I'll apply the decals (once the black drys) later today.

Phil and RRBrit: I think your going off half ****'d with your PC as the word **** is found in the ***tionary.

Silver Spike: Up our way this concoction is refered to as "Tin Foil Dinner". Though I like the idea of onion soup mix, normally we give our delight a good dolup of BBQ sauce and use hash brown patties as the potato additive. Never quite tastes the same at home though[:(]

And to the rest of you thank you for the Happy Returns as it's good to be home again!

I still want my "Lazy Boy" back[:(!]

Later Gents

Fergie

[JimRCGMO]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SilverSpike


Dinner Saturday night is Scout Campers Stew. It is a make it yourself pouch of foil where the Cubs and parents get to make their own self contained dinner. In the foil pouch you put a hamburger patty, heaping spoonful’s each of peas, potatoes, green beans, corn, carrots, onions, mushrooms, a little water, some margarine, and a little shake of onion soup mix, salt and pepper. Fold over the foil to seal the pouch and place over a hot bed of coals for 15 – 20 minutes per side. When done, all you have to do is lay the whole thing down on the table cut a large X on the top and dig in! Yum!!! And then some Cherry Cobbler a la Dutch oven style for dessert.

Ryan, your stuff about the all-in-one Scout cooking got my memory machine working (and me salivating [:)]) - was recalling several articles in Boys' Life magazines and my old Boy Scouts handbook (still have my original one and another one or two that were a few years later, all of 'em pretty old now). Summer camps, Courts of Honor (I only made Second Class - didn't get moving soon enough on the various requirements; my older brother got Star, I think), Order of the Arrow tapout and that weekend ([;)]). The memories (as the DJ might say) just keep on a'comin'...[laugh]

Your recipe sounds a bit spicy, eh? Garontee it? [;)] Never got a taste for too much spicy stuff, just good, basic food for me (but I like salads - may just ask Zoe to fix me one later today when I come back in, but not for breakfast).

Ryan, best wishes on your remaining tiling and honey-do's [;)], and on getting your tax return finished off. It feels so good once that's out of the way - even better if a refund is coming. (And then trying to figure how much of it we can use for MRR'ing)[:)]

Well, need to get going. Had a quiet night (no calls out - praise God for that!), and have the semi-annual checkup with my opthalmologist (spelling?) for my glaucoma. And get another prescription refill on my drops. Then laundry to do (ah joy! [;)])

See everyone later in the day. Hope you all have a productive and fun day (or at least, once you get off work and can start on layout-related stuff!).

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[JimRCGMO]

Fergie,

ROTFLM***O![#oops][(-D][(-D]

Jim in Cape Girardeau