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

[railman]

We got zero trick or treaters this year...oh well.

[dave9999]

Emerald,
Things are still a mess around here. I would say it will be at least a year before it's
all back to normal. Life has changed and you can see it everyday.

I heard the other day that 45,000 roofs are damaged as a result of Ivan. That's just
roofs... there is a lot of other damage and it makes itself know every time I drive
around town. Things that I have become a custom to seeing are gone or have severe
damage.

I remember after the storm, it looked liked winter... all the leaves were off the trees. It
was dreary and kind of depressing.

Home Depot and Lowes are madhouses... I went to HD today to get a door and some
2 x 4's for a job I'm doing and was in line for half an hour.... on a Sunday!!! I thought I
was being smart not waiting until Monday morning, but I was wrong.

Anyway, I wish you and your's, and everyone else who has been effected, all the best
in getting back to a normal way of life. And here's to a quiet hurricane season next year.
Dave

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

Well, I was right, darn it. Wife kinda broke down a bit. Dummy me forgot her Gramps past on on this date. Kicking my butt.
Dummy Phil

Hey Phil, after this summer, thats probably not too hard to do, I'm sure you have a lot on your mind as do most folks in Florida do. Don't worry too much about it, even after almost 35 years of happy marriage, I still manage to get a case of "Hoof in Mouth" once in a while and my little one still forgives and realizes that I'm not perfect. You'll be just fine.

[der5997]

Jim:

QUOTE: I had 7 trick or treaters. The first group of 3 came at 6:45. I was about to turn off the light and give up. Then had two groups of 2.

Sounds like you were on Sober Island. [:D] Same numbers, almost the same configuration. (If you don't count the mother of a teen girl who was also dressed up (How wierd is that?) ) Surpluss candy saved for grandkids who are due next weekend!

Tom: glad to hear that Shawna is improving. Must be a great relief to you all.

QUOTE: We got a lot of work done in the yard over the last couple of days

Oh!, that yard! [:D] Had us going for a minute!

Early start tomorrow. I've got a course on handling hazzardous materials. I'm to learn all about it so I can let the Visitor Information Centre staff know next Spring! (and myself too, I guess, if I ever get back to conservation work at the museum. Frankly, I'd rather be working on the layout.)
So, Goodnight, and God Bless.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Snow?? What is snow? We have been hovering between 85 and 90 degrees around here and it is
getting a little old.... I guess it's going to be another Christmas in shorts this year.[8D] Dave

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D] How does one get a Florida boy to understand snow? [;)]... here is my attempt, from my uniquely twisted perspective ...[:D][:D][:D]
1) go take a swim in the pool / ocean ... now you understand wet
2) then stand in a walk in freezer for an hour in those shorts you're wearing (no shirt, or you're cheating) .... that'll give you the chill effect.
3) Next, take those 40 pound sandbags that hold back your floodwaters, and toss them / pu***hem up and down your driveway for another hour, using a large garden shovel (no particular point to this exercise, just do it) ... that'll show you how labour intensive it is.
4) Now, repeat this process 3x per week, for the next 4-6 months
5) if you do all of this wearing rollerblades, while walking on banana peels, ... that will give you the experience of slipping and stumbling regularly

6) add the fun stuff like skiiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating, hockey season (usually), tobagganing, snowball fights, hot chocolate or mochas...
also winter clothing and difficult road conditions (not fun) and, now you know...

still, a bit of snow for me doesn't sound so bad after the hurricane season. Glad you're still here and TRAINing.

I need a coffee [^]

krump,
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
Thanks for the explaination.... there is some good news...the high on Wednesday
is only going to be around 70 degrees. Brrrrr!! I hope I don't freeze. [:D] Of course
this "cold snap" probably won't last long.

Actually, we do get snow (about half an inch every ten years) so I have seen the
stuff... didn't have to do much shoveling though.[:)] Dave

Hi Dave9999, Glad to see someone up there still has a since of humor. Over here on the east coast, folks are still very skittish and nerves are frayed. you see it on the road and just about anywhere you go. Start talking about "Francis" and "Jeanne" and some folks just come unglued, others just go numb with fear. You see most of the east coast residence from Vero Beach on down to Ft Lauderdale, have never experienced a hurricane until this year, God what a way to loose your innocense. The last big one that I went thru was Beulah in 1967 in Texas. I did go through David and saw what Andrew did to Miami and Homestead, first hand, but I've never seen a summer like this and hope I never do again. How about you Dave, things getting back to normal but nervous yet? Hope so. As for snow, I grew up in the North Country of Northern NY State and believe me, as much snow as the Champlain Valley gets every year, I think I could take that better than another Fla summer like 2004. Thanks for the weather forecast for Wednesday, got something to look forward to. BTW; Fla Phil, How did you make out this year, any damage????Well, I've got an early morning so it's signoff and to bed shortly. Hope the coffee doesn't keep me awake tonite. Good night all...D

[tomwatkins]

Good Evenin' Everybody,
It's been a really good weekend here in the mountains. Shawna continues to improve day by day, and that is really wonderful. I've got to take her to the doctor tomorrow for a check up, but she is much better.

We got a lot of work done in the yard over the last couple of days - leaves blown and most of the bulbs planted. We saved some of the daffodils and tulips to put in several beds that are now full of white inpatiens. As soon as it gets cold, the impatiens will go away and we'll put the rest of the tulips and daffodils in there for spring.

I also got quite a bit done on the Branchline coaches. All that's left is to assemble and mount the trucks and weather them very lightly. They are really nice kits. They're not inexpensive, and they sure aren't "Shake the box" but they are building up very nicely. These are my first passenger cars and I'm really enjoying them. I need a few more, and I need to detail out a Spectrum light mountain as a Southern Ts-1. All in due time.

Jim, I know what you mean about seeing a real, living, breathing steam locomotive. For me it was the Great Smoky Mountains Railway's consolidation. I went for a train ride in 1993, right after I moved up here. Oh My! That was an experience. I hadn't seen a steam locomotive since I was very young. It was really something .

I really enjoyed "The Hands" Thank you for sharing it with us. It brought back a lot of memories.

Chris, Happy Birthday ! I hope you had a great one. It sounds like you hit the jackpot with the trainwatching. A Heritage I, a green one and a blue bonnet all in one train! Very cool.

Krump, I thought your description of the joys of lots of snow was really good. We don't get nearly that much here, so we can focus on how beautiful it is, rather than how much work it is. Speaking of snow in Fla., I can remember it several times in Jacksonville ( northeast Fla.) Once, when my two oldest kids were little, there was enough to make a small snowman. That was really neat.

Teffy, Sounds like the turntable is coming together well. I agree with you on track spacing. I've used 2 1/4". It allows a little room for the klutz factor. I have a chance of rerailing one car without derailing several others.

Ed, good luck with the trouble shooting. you're right, the best time to get it sorted out is now, before the scenery goes in. Did you notice how I avoided having to spell "sceniced" or scenicked". Neither one really looks right to me.

I'd better go for now. Have a great evening everybody,
Tom

[Paul W. Beverung]

Teffy; That sounds like a trip that I'll have to think about. I wouldn't like to try it in one day, but two or three could be. What about trying to arrange a meet with Ed some where? That would be fun. I'm still working on the drawing of the layout. I hope that you all will be able to understand it.

Jim; you need to come down here to see some good light rail and some not so light rail. We've got the Trinity express running between Ft. Worth and Dallas. We've ridden it a few times and like it. I'm going to use it the next time I have to go to the VA hospital in Dallas. I can take the Trinity to Dallas and take Dallas light rail to the VA. Beats driving in heavy traffic for an hour and a half. The Trinity is running RDCs on some of the trains.

Fergie; Are you back yet? How was it?

Paul

the Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern

" The Superior Route "

[Anonymous]

Well the ladies at work were wrong. I didn't have any trick or treaters last night and didn't even see any on my road. So I guess they will come tonight. I bought about 5 bags of candy and usually have less than 10 trick or treaters so I am more than ready. [;)] I have checked the candy and determinded that it is ok to give to the kids. The Butterfingers, Heath bars, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are all just fine and taste the way they should. [:p] The sun is starting to set and it is 5 pm. By 5:30 I bet I will have a trick or treater. If not, well I might just knock on my own door and treat myself. [;)]

I went to B A M today and bought a railroad book and two mags. One mag is "Railfan and Railroad" and has a really good article on the D & H Alco PAs. The other mag is "Railroad Model Craftsman", it has a CP Rail Alco C424 on the front.

Anyone ever heard of "The Pudgy Goat"? [?] If there are no answers in a day or two I will reveal the answer. [:0] [B)] [:p]

Ed [8D]

The River Rail is very limited in its service area. It basically is for downtown and its speed is probally less than 25 mpg. I really would love to see light rail here and even went to a meeting to voice that concern. Other than Amtrak's Texas Eagle we have no passenger service here. I would love to see a cross country train linking Little Rock to Memphis and even Oklahoma City or Tulsa and beyond that.

Also another forum member was asking me about N scale and problems he was having with it. He is a teen from Pennslyvania, I suggested he post here and talk to you N scale guys. So far he has not posted.

Well see yall later. Take care.


Update at 8 pm.

I had 7 trick or treaters. The first group of 3 came at 6:45. I was about to turn off the light and give up. Then had two groups of 2.

I just don't know what I am going to do with all this leftover candy. <yeah right> [;)]

The train magazines I bought today are pretty good. I have already learned some things I didn't know. Believe it or not I have been going through the mags and have not even looked through the new book.

Well in a few more minutes it will be time for bed.

Sleep well everyone.

[der5997]

Flip:

QUOTE: John- My cousin was born Jan. 1949 during or shortly after the storm. Have newspapers showing the cops who delivered her because couldn't get Aunt Lil to hospital . Snow to deep and blowing too hard. Forest Hills,Long Island,Queens,New York.

Glad to say that one missed us. So "The Great Storm" (an Vicar of Dibley fans out there?) was winter of 1947/8 in our book. Sounds like what happened in "White Juan" in Halifax last winter. A mother was taken to the hospital to deliver a baby in the bucket of a front end loader that was moving snow! All over the TV of course, and the driver and baby's family now fast friends, etc.

Ed:

QUOTE: Writing down the dreams is another story as I don't remember them long enough to each for the paper. Funny enough, as I say that, I do remember that I dreamed about cooking the Thanksgiving turkey last night. Probably a reminder to myself to buy a couple of ingredients when we're north of the border that I can't easily find down here!.

There you go, then. If you can remember that much, I expect you can remember some small detail about the process. How did the turkey look? Which way was it facing? (Not a dumb question, What colour was it?)
Was it in your kitchen, if so, how do you know (details, details) Note down all the little facts, and quite probably more will come to mind.
If you do this proceedure on waking up from a dream, you will capture more and more bits (maybe a byte or two, or they pixels?)
I'm certainly not one who thinks that every last bit of every dream has significance. After all, if you deprive people of REM sleep, they do not thrive. There seems to be an function for dreaming that has to do with processing the day's information, sorting files(?) Defragging(?) etc. But in amongst all that there are gems, if one wants to pick them up.
Ed:

QUOTE: Oh, that 1/2" strip.

That'll be the one. What do you do with it?

Noah:

QUOTE: Teffy, I tried that, and my nerves were killing me that I wouldn't get my bid in on time. Now I just stick in the most I will pay for it and wait for the e-mail one way or another. Gives me a better peice of mind that way.

Couldn't agree more. Besides, I figure that whatever it is will a) come up again, or b) isn't vital to the success of the layout. So, if I get it, fine, if not there'll be another day. Also, the shipping cost is a factor that keeps me from bidding on a lot of neat looking stuff. By the time it's got here, it isn't the bargain it was on the screen!

Sounds from below indicate that Pumpkin Soup (From the bits cut out, the rest is by the front door awaiting small personages.) is being readied. That will be accompanied by a baked potato with cheese and bacon. Just right for a dreary evening of mist and rain.[C=:-)] [dinner]

[Noah Hofrichter]

Teffy, I tried that, and my nerves were killing me that I wouldn't get my bid in on time. Now I just stick in the most I will pay for it and wait for the e-mail one way or another. Gives me a better peice of mind that way.

Well, enjoying my last day of a four day weekend today. I've got to get going though, as I've got to go rake leaves and then do a little on my layout. My try to stop in tonight, we'll see.

Noah

[fec153]

Ed- I'm puter dummy. Have trouble turning the darn thing on and off. I read what you said, will have better 2/3 read it. Wife is so much more puter literate than me.
Thanks for the tip. Happy N-ing.
Flip

[egmurphy]

John, I'm a big 'notes' person. Always carry around a folded up 8x11 sheet with my 'To Do' list, and add stuff as it comes up each day. I maintain it on the computer so it's easy to pu***hings that didn't get done farther down the list. [:D] The I can print off a new list every few days.

Writing down the dreams is another story as I don't remember them long enough to each for the paper. Funny enough, as I say that, I do remember that I dreamed about cooking the Thanksgiving turkey last night. Probably a reminder to myself to buy a couple of ingredients when we're north of the border that I can't easily find down here!.

Oh, that 1/2" strip.


Regards

Ed

[egmurphy]

Flip

The easiest way to forward it would be to 'copy' it from the message on this board and 'paste' it in it's own Word document and 'save' it. Then, when you email someone, just 'copy' it from the Word document and 'paste' it in your email message.

Regards

Ed

[fec153]

John- My cousin was born Jan. 1949 during or shortly after the storm. Have newspapers showing the cops who delivered her because couldn't get Aunt Lil to hospital . Snow to deep and blowing too hard. Forest Hills,Long Island,Queens,New York.
Flip

[der5997]

QUOTE:

QUOTE: QUOTE: der: Our LHS (local hardware store) only stocks 1" foam, so that's what I use. I cut off the 1/2" strip and save it.

Bam, right back into the land of confusing posts… What ½”strip?

QUOTE: One question though, did you say that your foam is 2’ wide? The ¾” stuff that I bought was 4’x 8’. I'' ve never seen two foot wide foam.

Ed: BINGO! The1 " thick, 2' wide stuff has a 1/2 inch strip molded on the edges so they interlock if two need to be put together for a 4' wide (or 16' foot long [:O]) section.

QUOTE: I never remember anything once I wake up. Not all that unusual, I don’t remember everything when I’m awake either!

The remedy is the same in both cases, Ed. Take notes. If something isn't on a list for me, it usually is forgotten[:I]

The great snow winter was in 47/48, folks. At any rate it was in the UK, and I understand also in Canada. Lupo maybe can verify. My memory of it is jumping off the top of an iron railing fence and disappearing over my head in a snow drift on the other side. That, and chilblanes...but that could have been any of the winters I was at school[V] Bob, you may think a snow drift to bury me as a kid probably wasn't much of a drift,[:D] but it was deep enough to me!
Lupo, you mentioned the micro climate you have on the coast. We have the same sort of thing here on Sober Island. 12 km away (and maybe 3km inland from us) the weather can be quite different. For instance, when Fergie in Dartmouth said he had had heavy frost the other day, we hadn't any. Our first frost was 2 nights ago. The Harbour had been having nightly frosts for a week or more. Today it's rain and much more mild. It'll be the same for Fergie too, I don't doubt, judging from the cloud deck.

Lunch time...got to go.

[fec153]

Well, I was right, darn it. Wife kinda broke down a bit. Dummy me forgot her Gramps past on on this date. Kicking my butt.
Dummy Phil

[fec153]

teffy. Good morning Bob. I didn't get into MRRing till I was 54 yrs. old. Not much money and the Tru-Scale was not being used. Was allowed to take and use it. Sure saved a lot of time, effort and $. Now , 14 years later , Iam still using it on my third or is it my 4th layout? The Tru-Scale must be 30 or more years old. Darn good stuff.
Jim- Thanks for "The Hands" Brought back old memories. Can see my Grampa as I write this. Gotta wipe away the tears. When my wife reads it, I know her tears will flow also.
How can I send this on to others? Need help on this.
Flip. AKA- Fla.Phil

[egmurphy]

Good Morning Coffee Clubbers,

The extra hour of sleep last night felt good. I’m just killing time here on the puter while DW fries up the bacon and eggs for breakfast. The first cup of coffee tastes pretty good.

The weather here may be making it’s first attempt at improving. Yesterday was actually pleasant outside, and I did spend some time reading on our patio swing. Now they are forecasting a possible cool front to come in later this week with high’s in the 70’s. I can’t wait.

Well I continued trying to troubleshoot the track yesterday. 98% of it is fine. But I have three or four spots where I have enough derailments to make me think I need to do something more drastic at those spots. [:(!] I’ve done what I can and don’t really see the problem spot, but there must be something. I think I’m just postponing the inevitable decision that I need to pull up some track, make a few changes in the track arrangement at those spots, and relay the sections. [:(] I hate to do it, but I know if I ignore it and go on to scenicking (how do you spell scenicing, scenicking, ?) those sections I’ll just regret it later.


Flip, yes with that added bit of explanation I finally got the picture. I actually think I had envisioned something like that before, but just got lost somewhere on the ramp between the second level and the first.

QUOTE: der: Our LHS (local hardware store) only stocks 1" foam, so that's what I use. I cut off the 1/2" strip and save it.

Bam, right back into the land of confusing posts… What ½”strip? [%-)]


Wow, John, you’re really up on this dream interpretation stuff! I know I dream, but I never remember anything once I wake up. Not all that unusual, I don’t remember everything when I’m awake either!


Sounds like you did good on both fronts, JP. Nice negotiating with the VP of Finance, and smart shopping. One question though, did you say that your foam is 2’ wide? The ¾” stuff that I bought was 4’x 8’. I'' ve never seen two foot wide foam. “Military Discount” …what did you say you do in real life?


[#welcome] Welcome, Ben. Feel free to join in the conversation. It may take a couple of pages to figure out who’s on first.


Teffy, I actually used Tru-Scale milled roadbed on my very first attempt at a layout, some 45 years ago. Also bought the ‘paint on’ ballast that they sold. It was a grey paint that had some sand or texture in it. You painted it on the sides of the milled roadbed to make it look like ballast. I couldn’t figure out how to get it in between the ties!

I’ll assume you got more than just a business car for your $275? I just emailed in my order to Ben, haven’t got a response yet, so he may have been away for the weekend. Don’t know if you saw him when you went in or not. He’s supposed to mail it to me c/o general delivery in Harlingen so we can pick it up when we make the border run.

Are those other layouts you mentioned over in the Golden Triangle area near you?


Well, back to pondering over whether or not I need to rip out some of the track. Maybe I can stall making the decision long enough for football to start. [:D]

Hasta luego,

Ed

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

My TT is making good progress, the pit is just about all puttyed, sanded down and getting ready for the first coat of primmer.

[#welcome] Ben. Tell us a little about yourself. IE: age, scale, layout size or proposed. Noah's the youngester and Fla/Phill is the oldster.

Fla/Phil:
It's nice to know that someone is about my age but just a little older. Think about how much we learned and forgotten.

JP:
I use 3/4" plywood, with cork roadbed, and atlas code 83 flextrack and Walthers switches. Phil & Ed- remember when we were considered wimps if we used Tru-scale MILLED roadbed and not handlaid ties. If you're in HO, foam isn't going to be strong enough to support the load. Also don't listen to MR - tracks need to be at least 2 1/4" c/c, if you have fat fingers think about 2 1/2". You need to be able to put a car on the track without knocking something else off.

Ed:
I went over to Papa Ben's yesterday and am now $275.00 lighter, but the new Kato Santa Fe business car sure looks nice on the tail end of my passenger train.

Do any of ya'll know what the difference is between the first and second run of the Kato business car?

Tom:
How is Shawna doing?

Jim:
I had a tear in my eye when i was reading about "the hands". I've sent it to several friends already. THANKS

Noah:
I've found out that if I snipe on eBay (turn in your bid 30 seconds before ending) it usually is cheaper because their isn't someone raising your bid just to see how far they can push

Dave 9999:
You and I have the best about advantage about snow - if we want to see it, get in the car and drives 300 miles north, enjoy it, drive back home and go to bed. Glad that you came out allright with the hurricane.

Paul:
This is an enticement to get some friends and come south. I will guide you on a four layout tour. 1) Steve Barkley's Northern Pacific, 2) Mickey Taylor's Katy, 3) John Kupper's KCS, and 4) my Almost Nothing with a lot of Santa Fe steam.

Steve's layout's signaling was written up in MR in the same issue as the Mexican Hat Canyon. It is 20'X24' almost all done (well as much as they ever get done)
Mickey's layout is all deisel (whatever that word means). It takes up a two car garage that been completely weathered in and AC'd.
John's layout is 14' X 16' layout in the deisel era. Modern double stacks.
My layout is 13' X 15' and is nothing but plywood prarie, in an upstairs bedroom.
So that give you two layouts in the transition era and two in the diesel era.

Suggested itenararey:
1) Leave Sat morning and come down visit all four and go home. Makes for a long day but doable.
2) Leave Sat morning, visit Papa Ben's in Houston. Do two layouts Sat afternoon and night, do two layouts on Sun and go home.
3) Leave Sat morning, visit three layouts in the afternoon and evening. Do one layout Sun morning and then got to Papa Ben's and then home. Papa Ben's doesn't open untill 12:00 on Sun.

I think it would be a nice weekend for a group of modelers. All of the layouts use Digitrax with radio control. Let me know what you think. John is probably the only iffy one as he is a nationwide trouble shooter for Air Liquide and sometimes isn't always in town on the week end.

Well I've got to get ready for church
Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[fec153]

Oh,By the way, almost forgot, we had a snow flurry in North Miami back in ' 77. Didn't last.
Phil

[fec153]

krump-I think you're to young to remember the blizzard of 48/49. I do. Also the one in late 56. Thats why I have been in Fla. for so long. As to skiing, we have water skiing and a whole bunch of other healthy OUTDOOR IN THE WARM SUNSHINE activities to keep us happy. Keep your snow. The ice is handy to keep our beers, coffee and other drinks cold.
Coffee time. Read you all later.
Flip

[Anonymous]

Hey...
I havent said hi yet so i thought i would drop in and get somthin to eat.

Cool forum

Benjamin R.

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Snow?? What is snow? We have been hovering between 85 and 90 degrees around here and it is
getting a little old.... I guess it's going to be another Christmas in shorts this year.[8D] Dave

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D] How does one get a Florida boy to understand snow? [;)]... here is my attempt, from my uniquely twisted perspective ...[:D][:D][:D]
1) go take a swim in the pool / ocean ... now you understand wet
2) then stand in a walk in freezer for an hour in those shorts you're wearing (no shirt, or you're cheating) .... that'll give you the chill effect.
3) Next, take those 40 pound sandbags that hold back your floodwaters, and toss them / pu***hem up and down your driveway for another hour, using a large garden shovel (no particular point to this exercise, just do it) ... that'll show you how labour intensive it is.
4) Now, repeat this process 3x per week, for the next 4-6 months
5) if you do all of this wearing rollerblades, while walking on banana peels, ... that will give you the experience of slipping and stumbling regularly

6) add the fun stuff like skiiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating, hockey season (usually), tobagganing, snowball fights, hot chocolate or mochas...
also winter clothing and difficult road conditions (not fun) and, now you know...

still, a bit of snow for me doesn't sound so bad after the hurricane season. Glad you're still here and TRAINing.

I need a coffee [^]

krump,
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
Thanks for the explaination.... there is some good news...the high on Wednesday
is only going to be around 70 degrees. Brrrrr!! I hope I don't freeze. [:D] Of course
this "cold snap" probably won't last long.

Actually, we do get snow (about half an inch every ten years) so I have seen the
stuff... didn't have to do much shoveling though.[:)] Dave

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Snow?? What is snow? We have been hovering between 85 and 90 degrees around here and it is
getting a little old.... I guess it's going to be another Christmas in shorts this year.[8D] Dave

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D] How does one get a Florida boy to understand snow? [;)]... here is my attempt, from my uniquely twisted perspective ...[:D][:D][:D]
1) go take a swim in the pool / ocean ... now you understand wet
2) then stand in a walk in freezer for an hour in those shorts you're wearing (no shirt, or you're cheating) .... that'll give you the chill effect.
3) Next, take those 40 pound sandbags that hold back your floodwaters, and toss them / pu***hem up and down your driveway for another hour, using a large garden shovel (no particular point to this exercise, just do it) ... that'll show you how labour intensive it is.
4) Now, repeat this process 3x per week, for the next 4-6 months
5) if you do all of this wearing rollerblades, while walking on banana peels, ... that will give you the experience of slipping and stumbling regularly

6) add the fun stuff like skiiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating, hockey season (usually), tobagganing, snowball fights, hot chocolate or mochas...
also winter clothing and difficult road conditions (not fun) and, now you know...

still, a bit of snow for me doesn't sound so bad after the hurricane season. Glad you're still here and TRAINing.

I need a coffee [^]

[dave9999]

Snow?? What is snow? We have been hovering between 85 and 90 degrees around here and it is
getting a little old.... I guess it's going to be another Christmas in shorts this year.[8D] Dave

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hawks05

wednesday it was freezing cold here. well not really but it was super cold, really bad fog at night, i think it was around 35 or something, today i wake up and my dad has the windows up and its 70 degrees. the humidity and dew points are in the 60s. we're supposed to get some big thunderstorms tonight i guess. whats up with this, 70 at the end of october. in 1992 it was about 10 degrees and we were getting 26 inches of snow.

stupid weather. anyways i'm off to get something for lunch then go and lift some weights. got another fun night of work ahead of me

Jim, you're young, you might want snow. Us older guys have no use for it. It costs me money to get rid of it. I just got a bill from my plow guy, and we haven't seen a single flake. The nice thing about rain is, you don't have to shovel it.[swg]

[Anonymous]

Evening all, have you really looked at the subject line on here lately, it says we have lousy food, actually I tried the Sausage Gravy and Bisquits, it's fantastic, you should try it. Coffee' s great too. Any one other than me, working a lot of overtime due to the Hurricanes? I'll tell ya, the money is great, for a while, but when you get to the point that you can't remeber what day it is, that's it, day or two off and let the world go by. I'm at that point now after 5 weeks of 60-65 hour weeks and one 70 hour week. Uncle, Uncle, Uncle.......Anyway, I've got a nice 2 week vacation coming up in 2 weeks, so I'll be fully recouped by the end of November. I was reading about one of our people up in Pensocola Fla that lost his house completely, then turned around two days later and lost his truck on the way to work. Caught fire and burned up completely, talk about bad luck. I don't whose had a birthday lately, but [bday][bday] just in case. Anything new going on?

[Noah Hofrichter]

Paul, It helped that I got to be good buddies with the local crew that runs up here to my town, and one day they were nice enought to give me a cabride about 4 miles down the track to the quarry town. They'd given me rides around town a few times, but never that far. Unfortunately there was a rebid on the jobs on the WSOR, and they switched to different lines, I miss the guys. I keep in e-mail contact with one though. And you bet I'm going to model the quarry, it's a major thing on the Reedsburg Sub, the line it's on, and I plan on modeling the whole sub. By the way, if you every happen to see pinkish purple ballast on a mainline anywhere, especially UP as they own the quarry, chances are it came From Rock Springs WI. This is one of the only quartzite ballast mines around that I know of.

Ed, I was wondering why they couldn't be clicked on, but that's why. I'll remember that for next time.

Hawks, Sounds right, as the tipical train is about 60-70 cars long. Did you notice the ballast color? If it was pickish purple, it was from my area. [edit] Hawks, looking at your website, I see a picture of a UP train, 2975 on your second picture page, you can see half a green hopper in the picture, these are also used for ballast from Rock springs.

Chris, have a [bday] Hope you have a good day!

Well, not much, infact no model railroading done today. This Morning got to go catch another Rock Train in Rock Springs, but other than that, not much excitement today. Couldn't get on the internet thsi morning, so couldn't get on here. Server finally got the problems fixed, and I'm on now. Must have had something to do with the storms afore mentioned by Hawks, we got it pretty bad here too. No siren though. Just alot of wind according to my Dad, I was asleep. Well, I've got a plan drawn up for my little diorama, but it won;t happen for a while. I'm going to be shelling out about 70 bucks if I win an E-bay auction on two WSOR engines, made by Walthers about 5 years ago. SO the diorama will go on hold to the shoveling season for SNOW starts. let it SNOW let it SNOW let it SNOW!! ('scuse me.... got to go hide from Fergie again, and remember you didn't see me!!!......)

Noah

[JPowell]

Well all, I submitted the budget to the CFO this morning...and it passed within a minute of submission w/ a max price tag of $100.00! So, after hanging some of that plastic window stuff in our bedrooms and some running back and forth to the basement to do some figuring for materials, off I went to Home Depot. I got 2 - 1.5" x 2' x 8' pink Insulfoam Board, 1 qt of joint / spackling compound, 2 - 1" x 2" x8' er's, 1 - 1" x 4" x 8' er (woods for attaching fascia to parts of the layout), plus some things the CFO added to the list. All told, $35 was spent, after 10% military discount!
I'm now waiting for some compound to dry as I had a few 'low' points on the plywood.
Off to go check out progress, and read current issues of Trains and MR that came today!
Have a good evening all
JP

[Anonymous]

Hello All [:)]

I received an email with the following item. It is worth sharing with you all. My sister emailed this to me, she got it from a friend who got it from . . . well who knows. [;)] I do believe in giving credit where credit is due but just know know who to give the credit (started to end with "give the credit to" but caught myself.
Some of you will appreciate this more than others.



Grandpa's Hands


Grandpa, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.
He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands.
When I sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my presence
and the longer I sat I wondered if he was ok. Finally, not really
wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time,
I asked him if he was ok.

He raised his head and looked at me and smiled.
Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking, he said in a clear strong voice.

I didn't mean to disturb you, grandpa, but you were just sitting here
staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were ok.

Have you ever looked at your hands, he asked.
I mean really looked at your hands?

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them.
I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.
No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands,
as I tried to figure out the point he was making.

Grandpa smiled and related this story:

Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have,
how they have served you well throughout your years.
These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools
I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.
They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.
They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.
As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.
They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.
They dried the tears of my children and caressed the love of my life.
They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war.
They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.
They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.
Decorated with my wedding band, they showed the world that
I was married and loved someone special.
They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when
I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle.
Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole
and lifted a plow off of my best friends foot.
They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger
when I didn't understand.
They have covered my face, combed my hair, and
washed and cleansed the rest of my body.
They have been sticky, wet, bent, broken, dried, and raw.
To this day when not much of anything else of me works real well,
these hands hold me up, lay me down, and continue to fold in prayer.
These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God
will reach out and take when He leads me home.
And with my hands He will lift me to His side and
there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ!



Well hopefully I will come back and post again a little later. The sun is going down and all the ladies at work told me to expect the trick or treaters tonight so I don't want to miss any of the little folks. [;)]

Be nice and take care.