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

[rtraincollector]

RT: Congratulations on the grand kids, all of them. Are you going to be busy spoiling them. Espeicially the boy. Have you got him some trains yet?

Okay when did I have kids that could have kids I missed something there and I thought I would have at least remembered the part of having my own kids LOL. Think you must be thinking of Jerry. By the way Jerry congrats

Morning all just a quick in and out todhis am will talk later

[james saunders]

Morning/afternoon guys!


I just bought A DSLR a Pentax *istDL it comes with the standard 18-50mm lens and a 80-210mm lens, they also throw in two UV filters. some of you may  ask why I went for Pentax over Nikon or Canon, one is price, i got that whole lot for $A799 where as the Canon or Nikon equivalent is about $A1200. Two is my old Film SLR was a Pentax MZ60 Which I had excellent results with. I will probably add a 70-300mm lens and small wide angle lens at a later date, but i feel the 18-50 and the 70-210 is plenty! I pick it up on sunday


I have hardly had time for Model Railroading this week and that won't change this weekend as Tomorrow I have Cricket from 12:30. so unless I do something in the morning
And on sunday I go to get my camera in the morning and in the afternoon myself and the rest of the family are going to visit my ill grandmother up the coast. she has been getting chemotherapy to help fight the cancer.

Work has been really busy and i've been run off my feet and buried deep in paperwork!

Also In my last couple of visits, i forgot to mention I got my Learners license Last thursday, I have had a bit of a drive around with mum(mom) and dad,they said i'm doing really well and that i'm a natural!!


That will do for me, I don't want to bore you now

P.S That coffee looks really nice, i'll take one!

Prayers and thoughts for those in need

[SilverSpike]

Friday, September 15, 2006

Good morning and welcome to another wonderful day here in paradise…

Bon jour, madam Chloe, I will have an order of beignets and some café au lait, sil vous plait!

Regular unleaded gasoline has dropped to $2.33 a gallon. Now I am supposed to feel like that is a bargain, but I can remember just over a year ago or so when gas was around $1.50 a gallon. Back in the old days (ha) in 2000 I can remember when I used to pay 99 cents a gallon at the Shell station in La Place. LA.

Time to catch up with this here forum, been Tuesday and page 1189 since I really read any of your postings….

Great news there Trent, glad to hear that Kelly is doing well! Continued prayers for more health and wellbeing down the road for you all!

Ed, wow, fresh virtual OJ, I can’t wait! And just in time for the virtual cold and flu season too! Also, thanks for the email on the mail system!

Congratulations RT on being VP of the model railroad club! And I am so sorry to hear about Edythe passing on; our prayers go out to her and you during this time of need. You will always have her in your memory and the feelings in your heart will last forever. Sorry to hear about your mother too, prayers go out to her also.

Der John,. Great pics from Trenton, I like those spiffy looking cars there.

We had a time trying to get enough milk out of that old cow [almost got caught by the farmer that owned her].

inch

Inch, all that milk from one cow, now I bet that was the freshest tasting ice cream ever!

BTW, great pics from Bethany, I saved a few of them too! Thanks!

Now how about some pics of your layout and the creek progress???

Fergie, prayers go out to your dad, hoping he has a quick recovery soon, and good luck with the rats!

Duke, congratulations on having a grandson! So how many grandkids do you have in the family now? Hey, what is the Apex countdown at today?

Luct, that was a horrible event, some compare it to the Columbine incident, and it really is tragic. Not sure how or why these things happen, hopes and prayers go out to all who are affected.

Jeff, good luck with the water heater, is it gas or electric?

PC, great news on the move deal with work! Having just moved this year myself I know all about the recruiting friends deal when it comes time to move, amazing how all of a sudden they find other things to do very quickly… hummmm….

Paul, being able to burn brush is a great thing! I got a huge pile of yard debris in the back yard, think I will wait until it gets a bit cooler out and light that one up. Permits are free at the local fire dept, and we can burn anytime between 6 am and 10 pm.

Neal, tell Mom that she has a great quilt there! Bet she could sell them if she wanted to!

Dick, thanks for the spinach warning! Wow, food borne illness alerts seem to be getting more frequent these days.

Cheers,

Ryan

[pcarrell]

PC, great news on the move deal with work! Having just moved this year myself I know all about the recruiting friends deal when it comes time to move, amazing how all of a sudden they find other things to do very quickly… hummmm….

 

I'm lucky.  My friends have been asking me for about a month now about when the move date is so they can plan to be there.  They're a great bunch!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good mornin' an' top 'o' the day to all of ye.

It's good to see everyone here today and all problems being handled in one form or another.

My problem yesterday with the water heater has been licked, and by the way it is electric. I will not have gas appliances in my home. The problem was a flaky thermostat. It was a simple job to replace it and now the water heater works normally.

Gotta run.

[Anonymous]

RT, sorry to hear about your freind, sounds like she's in another world free from all the pain she was having.

[grayfox1119]

Good morning everyone, Cloe took Spinach off the menu today until the FDA sorts out the problem.

MIKE: Happy to hear that you have not seen any issues yet, but keep an eye on things for a few days, E-Coli is very serious and can kill. Most people think it only happens in meat, WRONG!!! E-Coli comes from Fecal matter, so it can be on veggies just as easy as other products.

GMTRacing: Nope, no word on him yet, but keep an eye out.

RYAN: The price here is down to $2.43 a gallon and dropping each day it seems. The price of home heating oil had dropped also, now at $2.56 here. I locked in back in June at $2.72...ohhh joy !!!

JEFF: I will not have natural gas either. I have seen too many homes blown apart just in the New England area alone. Some due to contractors, other due to poor maintenance.
My hot water is heated by the sun. Three solar panels on the roof since 1984 have heated all my hot water needs except for periods of three or more days of bad weather, then the oil fired furnace takes over. I have not had to use oil since last March for hot DHW. The state and the Fed give tax credits to install, so I don't know why more people don't take advantage of this great savings.

Time for lunch, French meat pie toped with Creole sauce...wow!!

[der5997]

Coffee Shop fans: A peaceful near Fall day here on the eastern shore.

I added a gif when I was in here recently, it was a Scottie dog running. It ran in the preview, but doesn’t in the main page, at least it doesn’t for me. Do you recall if it was working for you guys?  Any ideas as to why some animated gifs work, and some don’t?

BTW, how do you make a gif file if your “Save Image As” thing doesn’t have gif as an option?

 

OZJim:  Learner’s permit eh?  Do you have to have one of these on your vehicle?   They don’t over here, but the driving schools, I think wisely, put a STUDENT DRIVER sticker on the cars.  Good to know you are a natural!

 

Jerry:

Glad yo hear your working on the railroad again....

…Wish I was. Maybe you’re thinking of Ed?  Perhaps this weekend I’ll get back in. At least I scored 5 of 5 from the to-do list yesterday, even with the dog sitting.

 

Dick:

I locked in back in June at $2.72...ohhh joy !!!

…Our “Capped price” plans are set at the beginning of Sept. You pay no more than the market price then, all season. If the market price drops below that at the time you buy the fuel, you pay that lower price.  This arrangement is good right through to May 31^st.  Seems a better way to go.  Bit of a gamble for the oil companies, and some have discontinued this year.

On the natural gas thing, we had that in Alberta, and had no trouble. Maybe once a year, somewhere, there would be an explosion, certainly not a whole lot.  We weren’t worried about that, but didn’t go looking for leaks with a lighted match either!

 

Tea Time. TTFN.

[pcarrell]

Hey!  What's this doing back here on page two?!?

I'll fix that!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I bet you will.

[HEdward]

Steak and baked potatoe for me, please. 

Is it really going to stop raining?  I've got way too much outdoor stuff to take care of.               

[inch53]

evening all, just a quicky stop,

RT,,called me abit ago and, his putor be down again, and may be off awhile this time. Said he's needs a new one this time. I'll try n kept ya'll update best I can on what's going on as I know.

 Got things going on here, back in laters
inch

[HEdward]

My 20 year old stereo receiver blew up.  I've got a spare 5yr old pc.  Ask RT if he'd like to swap.      

[bjdukert]

Evening all and just a short as I need to get some pics that Flip sent me put into the puter and posted for him.

Thank you all for the congrats on the grandson and he will be the last grandchild as we only have two daughters and both have and only want two kids.

Jerry and Mike Your families are like my brother’s. If he would have had all boys he would be one short of fielding a full baseball team. And I am not sure how many grandkids he has,BUCO!!

Ryan Three weeks from today I plan on being at Apex sometime mid morning and hope to see you and the family on Sat. But hey!!!! Who’s COUNTING ANYWAY!!!!

Ok,time to see about getting those pics in the puter for Flip

That’s about it,so best to all on sick call and to those that have lost a close one.

Talk to you later

Duke

P.S. Flip,sorry it has taken so long but it has been a busy week.

[grayfox1119]

Good evening guys, today was scheduled maintenance day on our 2002 Ford Explorer, for 45K checks. Well, it turned out to be one expensive day!! We needed to replace the disc brake pads, and of course that means turning the rotors. The front sway bar bushings were making a noise, so they were replaced. And, as if this wasn't enough, we had a broken rear coil spring. Now you cannot replace one coil spring, you really must replace both sides due to load balnace with new vs old springs. And of course there was the usual 45k stuff like oil change, filter change, air filter change, gas filter change, new wipers ( winter is coming, bad blades make for iced up windshields) anti freeze change. After we discussed the porous metal on the coil spring and received $100 discount for normal wear and tear after 45K miles, the total bill came to $601.90!! And I need for new tires!! That will run me about $480 tomorrow!!
After I bandaged my right hand, suffering 3rd degree burns from handling my credit card, went looking for part time work for people on fixed incomes......I found one at the new Walmart.......passing out happy face stickers!!!

So, I checked out Consumer Report online just now, and it looks like Goodyear Fortera triple track HL Edition tires for SUV's is the best rated tire for our Explorer.

Cloe, I need a Jack n Coke, quick !!! I will be over in the corner table crying.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening All: We’ve been hard at it again today. Had to go to town to get the truck gassed up this morning, $2.29/gal. After that we went for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I think that we eat there too much. They know us when we walk in the door. Mary Ann found a couple of ornaments for the Christmas tree; they are a couple of angles. They only cost $.99 each so I got her to buy them. She needs to treat herself more often.

 We picked up seed for one of the fields at the feed store and than went and got the tractor. After driving it back home I went down and mowed the weeds in our lower field then we unloaded seed and I got the truck ready for work tomorrow. It’s been a long day. You will notice that there was no MRRing. It’s only 7pm and I’m ready for bed. I may go down to the basement and see if I can work on the layout a bit.

RT: My halfheimers must have been in gear. Yes I meant Jerry, anyway too bad about your puter. There was one at the auction last night. It probably went cheap as there were very few there to bid.

James: Keep your eye on the road and you mind on the job. You are getting a whole new world there. Good show on the DSLR. I’ve had Pantex cameras and have liked them. One of these days I’m going to get a DSLR but not for awhile. One of these days I’m going to learn how to post pictures here to.

Well I’m going to say Good Night. I’ll be back at work tomorrow so see you all then.

 

[egmurphy]

Paul B:  After that we went for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I think that we eat there too much. They know us when we walk in the door.

I noticed we all got pretty good service when Fran and I went there to eat with all your troop.  But they do have pretty good food at a decent price.

 

Dick: After I bandaged my right hand, suffering 3rd degree burns from handling my credit card, went looking for part time work for people on fixed incomes......I found one at the new Walmart.......passing out happy face stickers!!!

And they have a medical insurance plan for workers too......  Too bad they don't have a train section, would really work out well with your employee discount. 

 

Later

Ed

[grayfox1119]

I forgot to mention that the Conway Scenic RR in North Conway, New Hampshire finally has 7470 under steam and running!! The Fed inspector gave his Ok a while ago, and the 0-6-0 has ben running this summerevery day, and will be running for railfans weekend, THIS coming weekend. She was made in Montreal, CA .
Check out the web site, it has pics of the boiler repair, grates going back in, and air pumps being re-installed.

http://www.conwayscenic.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.steam7470

[der5997]

Dick:  That’s a shocker on the vehicle maintenance.   Keeping up with these kinds of financial situations is a bit like trying to catch this critter!

and the 0-6-0 has ben running this summerevery day, and will be running for railfans weekend, THIS coming weekend. She was made in Montreal, CA .

  Yeh!

 

Paul:

Mary Ann found a couple of ornaments for the Christmas tree; they are a couple of angles. They only cost $.99 each so I got her to buy them. She needs to treat herself more often.

…I read that out to Kris…I think she took you seriously…she said “Christmas ornaments, “for herself”…is he for real?”

 I’d better watch what I say…she’ll be expecting proper presents from me next.

 

Better run, or no mmr will get looked at again today.

all, and God Bless.  Prayers continuing for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.
 

[JimRCGMO]

Good Evening, Chloe - a root beer float, please, on Mike's tab. Pretty good feed here lately, with Bill T. bringing in the pastries, and Luc providing coffee.

RT, sorry to hear about your M-I-L’s death (and your Mom’s problem with swallowing. Hope you found an nice suit. Will be praying for you and the rest of the family, this weekend especially. Good to hear the car missed you. That’s another good reason *not* to be standing around too long in one spot... Should I congratulate you on getting the VP-ship, or send my condolences?

Scott - excellent work on your 9/11 tribute. And HEdward, thank you for expressing what many of us (here and elsewhere) have felt since that day.

Lisa, sorry to hear about your back - will say prayers for healing (and low pain in the meantime).

Chuck & Kathy, good to hear from you two again, even if you haven’t been able to get much MRR work done.

Trent, great news on Kelly’s doctor visit. So long as the pills aren’t terribly expensive, it beats having to have any surgery, etc. done.

Ed, I wish you the best in getting some work going on your layout again. Loved your previous set of pics and can’t wait to see what else you do with it. And also looking forward to the ‘real’ OJ shipments to start getting to the CS.

Fergie, hope your Dad’s out and home by the weekend (the sooner the better, usually). Yep, better watch it with Lisa, I understand those casts can pack a wallop if they hit ya. Wow - that’s some remodeling job (especially when it doesn’t do the main thing you wanted done! I hope you haven’t signed any contract yet with him. Good argument for one of those contracts where you get to hold out a percentage of the payment until they get it all done correctly. Keep at it with your temporary garage guests. Good to see you back in the Shop.

Mike, I think you are the depot photographer to beat all here in the Shop - you keep finding more and more of ‘em to get pics of. Your cable company sounds about as arrogant as they come - don’t blame you a bit for telling them where to put their dish...

Congratulations, Grandpa (again) Duke! Good to hear that the mother and new grandson will receive excellent nursing care.

Dick, at least with your Phase II purchases, that should by itself ensure you keeping your parking spot up front at the HD store. That’s some increase! Maybe I should make sure I have what I need to finish this phase of my layout before prices go up again. Should I tell you that gas in the town right here next to Cape dropped yesterday - to $1.99 a gallon? I’m hoping for it to drop a bit more between now and payday (22nd). Yeah, I remember those lower prices, too, but I don’t expect to see them again soon (if ever!). Of course, gas prices could go down, but if we have repair bills like yours, we’ll all be looking for another job, too!

Luc - I saw the accounts on the college shooting on the news, too. Sounded very traumatic for all the students who were there (and, no doubt, their families as well).

Jeff, I had a ‘little’ water heater problem, too - except mine was the upstairs neighbor’s. One of the heating elements broke, and it ended up leaking water from their bathroom into mine, via the exhaust fan (which now doesn’t work). I turned off the breaker for the bathroom once I saw the water stains and drips. Now, it smells a bit like mildew in there, and gave me sinus headaches this morning. I’d tried pointing a box fan at the bathroom door from my kitchen to try drying things out some, but only helped a little. Landlord came by today and looked at it while I was at work, said they’ll have to replace the fan (duh...). I just hope he gets all the water out, since I don’t want to come down with some infection from the mildew or whatever it is. I’m about ready to start looking for another place to live (was considering it before this, anyway). Just need to scrape together deposits and such for the new place (which I don’t have, and couldn’t afford to wait for the landlord to get around to whatever refund he might pay). Pooh!

PC, I’d take your company’s owner up on that offer (just make sure you do the packing before it ships, so nothing gets mashed/mangled). You might try to negotiate that you’ll agree to their deal this time, so long as you are guaranteed being able to take a real vacation in (pick how far down the calendar here) weeks/months. Sounds like a great deal - and it saves your back (and Inch’s), too! Now, how can I get your boss to talk with our bosses at my work? I’d already asked for the week off between Christmas and New Year’s from work (and got it approved by my supervisor). We’ll see if they let me take off, when that time gets here.

Neal - thanks for the pic of your CFO’s 9-11 quilt. A lot of work gone/going into that.

OzJim - congrats on your Learners license, and drive just as carefully when you don’t have Mom & Dad in the car after you get the Driver’s license, too! Congratulations on the new DSLR, too. Of course, you know we’ll be awaiting some pics once you get some practice with it... Oh, and you never bore us (not me, for sure!).


DerJohn, yeah, better not let Kris read your posts, either... or you may need that part-time job like Dick to pay for those gifts!

Jerry - thanks for the book title - and yes, Woody did live an interesting life (just from what I’ve heard about him, let alone all the other stuff you are probably reading in his book).

Ryan, good ol’ carpenter glue and I are well-acquainted from all my cork-gluing. Sounds like I should have contracted out my benchwork to you, at the rate you’re going. When I look at my benchwork, I wonder whenever I move, how hard will it be to get things re-assembled together properly...

Oh, the spackling paste is working for the littler gaps and cracks on the roadbed areas of my layout sections. I’m using the spackling from the newer can, because the older can (metal one) had thickened/hardened too much. A bit of sanding still needed (or carving, haven’t quite decided just yet). This weekend I should be able to get back to track-laying.

[JPowell]

Evening all -

  Yeah I know... long time, no speak! Anyways, not much has been going on.

  Dick - If you have them in Cent Maqss, go to Dunn Tire. They're a major retailer here in NYS and have the best prices around for new tires. I got new one's for my Jeep back in March - Dunlop's. I had Goodyear Wrangler RT/S at the time, and had to use my 4-wheel drive in the lightest snow. The day after I got the new tires, it had snowed so there was about a inch on the road. Guess what...I did not have to use the 4x4 at all. Nice smooth drive, and no slipping on wet pavement either. Best thing was they did not even cost $500 for the set of 4.

  Ed / Dick - Looks like we (Red Sox) need to focus on next year. Sounds like they will shut Manny down for the rest of the season w/ his knee problems and they are not expecting Papalbon back either. Also hear they are seriously considering putting Pap in as the 5th starter for next season. the guys on ESPN are talking about Roger coming back possibly to us next season as well. My personal thinking - drop Coco, Timlin, Wake and Foulke and bring in some good young guys for Closer and CF.

Well all, my week has been a long and busy one. I think it's time for a beer before bed. CFO and I came to the conclusion last week, that we'll never live together anymore and have decided to get a legal separation (need that for 1 yr before we can get the divorce). And yes, it is best for both of us to do this. Prayers to those that need them.

Night!

[inch53]

Mornin all, farmers special, OJ, coffee, Janie please, I'll be in a corner.

Sunny with highs in the mid 80's, low back to bout 55 tonight. If nothin happens today, it's camping tonight, and I'm ready. Didn't get much of anything done yesterday, ended up with kids most the day. Did get to the layout some, still haven't found my ground cover box.

OZ,, sounds like a good deal on the camera there. I've been wanting one like that, but the price and my pocket didn't match. Congrads on the learners permitt, just keep your mind on what your doing. We'll say a prayer for your grandma, hope every thing works out.

Ryan,,  Gas is down to 2.33 and lower in IND. now, and no it don't seem like much of a bargin to me either. Remember buying gas for 18 cents before, 30 to 32 was normal back then. I could go on a date, buy gas, go out for a burger, a movie, then go down to the Wabash and watch the submarine races, for less than $10

Jeffery,, glad you got the hot water fixed. We've had natural gas in the past with no problems and have propane now, only thing with it is the price now. Got electric water heater now, but plan on replacing it with next time.

Dick ,,, they were telling on the local news yesterday the spincich warning wasn't for ILL, but no body here buying including us. Does your hand feel any better today after the trip to the garage. If it wasn't for our boys being mechanices [#1 son works for ford],  we could afford the prices now for repairs

HEward,, plan on talking to RT again this weekend, I'll ask him bout swaping

Duke,, I've gotta baseball team with relief, in grandsons 12 now of the 22 or is it 23.

JIM CG,,, just been lucky onthe depots finding lattely is all. Heard bout a couple more I need to check out some time an see if their still standing, maybe a road trip Sunday if Mothers in the mood.

JP,, sorry to hear bout you n the wife, wish you both the best.

Not much planned for today, working outside most of it, then setting up the camper for tonight. I may post some layout pics tomorrow.. Mother has an all most the day jewlery sales meeting in Terre Haute, then a baby shower, before she gets to the campground, so I have most the day to myself... Need ta get ta chores, hope ya'll has a gooden

inch

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

09-16-06

:

[Anonymous]

Good morning.

 

 

Happy MRRing

[Fergmiester]

Fergie, hope your Dad’s out and home by the weekend (the sooner the better, usually). Yep, better watch it with Lisa, I understand those casts can pack a wallop if they hit ya. Wow - that’s some remodeling job (especially when it doesn’t do the main thing you wanted done! I hope you haven’t signed any contract yet with him. Good argument for one of those contracts where you get to hold out a percentage of the payment until they get it all done correctly. Keep at it with your temporary garage guests. Good to see you back in the Shop.

Jim in Cape Girardeau

Dad's still in and won't be out until next week as he's got an  infection now, nothing serious but they want to see how the antibiotics are fighting it.

Got a second contractor in and it looks promising (thumbs crossed) He looked at the plans from the first lot and started to show me some faults ( alot of the measurements were off) I feel very bad about this as I never bothered to check them as I figured the computer program they were using would have insured accuracy...

WRONG!

I feel a nastygram coming on

I won't tell ya how much we paid for the plans but for that kind of money I think we deserve some of it back if not all of it.

[pcarrell]

Oh Luc, that coffee looks good!  So do Bill's donuts!

Couldn't sleep this morning.  Wouldn't you know it.  I get a day off and can catch up on some Z's, and I'm wide awake!  Don't get me wrong,.....I'm exhausted from the week, I just can't sleep!

Well, it's less then two weeks till move day!  Comin' up fast!  Our plumbing is all in and the painting is all done.  The tile floors are done, and carpet is next.  It's all coming together now.

Got the wrong faucet in the master bath though.  Gotta get that straightened out.  Not a big deal though.  It's the right style, but we picked the all chrome one and this one has gold trim.

Going to see my parents today.  Probably just meet them out at the house since they want to see it. 

Later tonight we have church.  We're thinking about joining with another church and pooling our efforts to reach the community.  The two church's are doing great things, but together we can do more.  Why don't more church's do this?  There seems to be a lot of seperation within the church.  It's not good.

Well, I suppose I'd best go to the store and get some coffee.  I didn't notice we were out.  I hate having to get up and go out for coffee.  It's so much nicer to just wake up and there it is, ya know?

[Anonymous]

Good morning to all,

Went to the Drs Wed about my back, after x-rays discovered my head is sitting to far forward on my spine, good news is, not disk problems and some therepy shold do the trick.

Pc it's good to hear about churches working together, I think the biggest reason more churches don't has to do with "theological differences", personally I think that's the wrong attitude to have and I don't think our Lord is happy about it but we humans"need to be right".

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good mornin' and top 'o' the day te all of ye. Steak and eggs today, if you'd be so kind.

Fergie I hope your dad improves soon.

PC Nice to hear that the house is coming along fine and I hope that the plan to combine the churches efforts comes together. It's so nice to see churches work together instead of at cross purposes against.

There's nothing special going on here today so I may get some time today to get out of this chair and do some work on the layout for a change. I'm almost finished with the basic trackwork.

Have a good day.

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   Sunny and mild out though the ground is still soaked. The CFO was out in the worst of it yesterday shuffling engines to Penn and L.I. through the worst of the 8 inches of rain they got out on Long Island. She was on the road for just on 12 hours, a trip that would normally take around 6.

   Grayfox - Sorry to hear about your car troubles. I would have thought the bushings and springs would have been covered under the drivetrain warranty. Springs normally don't break and I've never heard of a porous spring. Bad heat treat or contamination of the alloy maybe but not porousity. I am also skeptical about the need for replacing both rear springs as once they take a 'set' they stay there. Probably they have no way to determine the actual spring rate and erred on the safe side (or fitted the only set they could find). The bushings for the sway bars are another matter as we now are on our third set with the Excursion and I changed out all the rubber for polyurethane on my Focus as it developed "wanderlust" early on. Even on the race cars we don't turn or change out the brake rotors unless there is noticable scoring, runout (more than .005"), or cracking. Unless you run thepads down metal to metal, a set of cryogenically heat treated rotors will last you until the Explorer meets the crusher at the junk yard. Of course the rotors are most easily found on the aftermarket.

   Paul - I think Cracker Barrel just hires the right people and manages to avoid a lot of employee turnover. In the ten years I've been running my own business, I've been going into the same Cracker Barrel in Winchester Va. and had the same people serving me. We all know each others' names (and have for years) and going there is like old home week even though we only go to that track once or twice a year.   It might be a case of a company doing things right.

   Lisap - a belated welcome to the coffee shop (you must have come in whilst I was off on the road). Glad to hear you don't need surgery. The CFO is getting therapy for her wrist and knee (the result of too many years catching fast pitch softball) and between the therapy and chiropractor she's improving. Good luck to you and we'll include you in our prayers.

   I'm at work waiting for a customer to bring a car in for work, but I need to get going here and do some tidy up. CUL, J.R.

[pcarrell]

Pc it's good to hear about churches working together, I think the biggest reason more churches don't has to do with "theological differences", personally I think that's the wrong attitude to have and I don't think our Lord is happy about it but we humans"need to be right".

Man, did you nail it!  The big idea is to agree on the essentials, the rest we'll find out about when we get there!