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

[krump]

my answer to the question about The Pudgy Goat - see email sent
am I close ?, what do I win?

[Fergmiester]

Holy Smokes!!

Gone for a weekend and you're all down the tracks and outta sight.

Paul: I survived thank you. The first night was a chilly one but the Cubs slept in the lodges while a couple of us leaders slept in the Adirondacks. And it was the night of the first hard frost as temps dropped down to -2 or -3 (26F). There was a heavy frost on the ground by 10 PM and three of us sat around the campfire until the wee hours of the morning reminiscing. Orion was up and the stars shone brightly through the crisp air. When we finally went to bed none of us could keep warm despite the -10 rating on our sleeping bags!!

The good thing about these camps (Lisa was camp cook) is that we never starve as there is always plenty food but I always come home 3 to 5 pounds lighter.

Saturday was better as we brought in extra blankets, then again it wasn't as cold.

Overall it was a very good weekend but it's taking me two Texas tea cups to wake up!!

Dave and Emerald: Nice to see you back guys, though with the high level of traffic here we may have to expand this to the "Coffee Emporium" as it's going to start getting tight, especially with the rotten food!

John: We had 70 Tricksters last night, which is half of what we normally get here. I suspect it was because Haloween was a Sunday night.

BTW let's kill the rumours of me being relatively young as this would mean I would be forced to grow up.

Noah: No coal for you this Christmas, just a bag of salt to keep you from sliding when **** freezes over!!!!

Teffy: I believe we are in the final stages of proofing the decals!! and the DCC is being shipped today so I should see it before I go back to sea (I hope)

Anyway I must run

Fergie

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

I'm on my third cup of TEA. The body wont change time for another month so I'm awake at 5:00 instead of 6:00.

I painted my Walthers roundhouse before going to church and started building it after lunch. By 5:00 PM it was all done and if I must say so myself it does look good. I couldn't believe how easy it was. This one went together a lot better then the Heljan that I built for a club member. The engine facility is comming right along, now to find that Alexander coaling station that I built 40 million years ago. I dug out the Durango Press water tower yesterday and started reading the instructions last night. Looks like about three times through and I'll be ready to start.

Ed:
This is not the time to ask but did you sand the top of the cork roadbed before laying the track? I wrap a sheetrock sanding screen from Lowes around a 2x4 about 13" long, it makes the cork smooooooooth and gives me level track. This stuff is 150 grit but it looks just like screen wire for the window but a lot more durable. By using a 13" long 2 x 4 it takes the hills out of the cork. I don't worry about the occassional (SP) low spot - I don't pu***he track down into it.

I well remember the painted on ballast but later I went with the canary bird seed as it was easier to use (where do we get "the good old days?"). But then that was before Woodland Scenics.

The three layouts that I mentioned are all within a 20 mile radius of the house. I thought when you came up we'd see how many you could see. We also have one of the guys in the club in "N" so I thought we'd stop by and see his layout. Since you've put off your trip I haven't gone out in the garage and cleaned off my "N" scale layout. (I think it's still there.)

JP:
My halfhimmers has kicked in again, what scale are you in, please don't tell us Normal.

Krump:
I liked your description of the snow. We lived in Philadelphia until 1948 and I called my mother yesterday to read her your description and I thought she was going to p*** in her pants she was laughing so hard. She was the one to shovel the snow as dad worked for Baldwin Loco Works and was an on the road troubleshooter.

It's not our fault that you are only 40 years old. Your mother should have met your father earlier like mine and Fla/Phil's parents did.

Fla/Phil:
Do you need some more milled roadbed? I've got bocoos of it - I considered using it on my current layout and then at the last minute decided to go with code 83 because of the (track) switch selection, so that necessitated using cork and flex-track. This is the first (out of four) layout that I've used flex-track and I sure like the flexability in where to lay it.

John:
What about the Blizzard of '96 that shut down the whole east coast. I was on a charter with three busses and 95 kids on the way to washington DC. They closed the roads at Tuskaloosa Alabama, the lead bus (me) was the second in line. We had to fall back to Meridian Miss (90 miles) to find rooms for all of the students.

I hope the prediction that you gave us about the Redskins game showing the out come of the presidential election doesn't work this year. Kerry scares me. No new taxes - Cut the defficate (SP) in half - give more money to the middle class - increase social security - and (did I say it before?) no new taxes, but HE has a plan, he just wont share it with us until after the election.

I know that I dream but I don't remember them. is that normal?

Jim:
When are you going to tell us about the "Pudgy Goat"? What happened to the slogans, I enjoyed reading them.

Tom:
What really got to me was the way the ground shook when the steam engines went past, it's awsome.

I don't remember who told us about opening two Coffee Shops so we could read and answer at one time but THANKS it makes it so easy and I don't have to write all of those notes.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY
John:
What about the Blizzard of '96 that shut down the whole east coast. I was on a charter with three busses and 95 kids on the way to washington DC. They closed the roads at Tuskaloosa Alabama, the lead bus (me) was the second in line. We had to fall back to Meridian Miss (90 miles) to find rooms for all of the students.

Bob

During that blizzard I worked for Mail Boxes Etc. I don't even remember how many requests we got to ship shovels and ice choppers. We didn't ever end up sending any because the cost was just too outrageous as they would have been considered oversized and shipped at a 30lb rate. There were even requests from a local hardware store about shipping snowblowers--those would have been freight, you can imagine that cost. I wish I could remember how much they were back then. Also if UPS could get to you door to deliver the item in the first place then I guess you don't need it huh.

[railman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

QUOTE: Originally posted by railman

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

It is so thin out here, I don't even bother anymore. All the houses are on 2.5 acre lots. The kids don't walk, they ride on ATV's or in cars, just so they can get to a decent number of houses.

My kids didn't go out this year, first time. Neither one seemed upset about it either. Most of the candy they brought home either got eaten immeadiately, or saved until Christmas and tossed.

Now if it was trick or trains......[swg]

I know. Minnesota planning at it's finest.

[Noah Hofrichter]

[:D]Howdy all![:D]

[^]Had a good day![^]

[V]But lots of homework...[V]

[:(]So I can't stay...[:(]

[:)]Maybe I'll try to check in later[:)]

[:(]Better go! Bye!![:(]

[:o)]Noah[:o)]

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

All the houses are on 2.5 acre lots.

Elliot,
I remember when lots that size could be found here. Now they cram five or six
house onto lots that size. I grew up in a house on about an acre and a half and I thought the yard was small.
Looking back, it was nice to have all that space. If I had the space now, I would build a six or eight hundred sq ft building for a nice layout. Or you could just
rent me half of that basement of yours. [:D] Dave

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railman

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

We managed to get rid of all our candy this year, a first![:D]

The 1st year we moved in we got a grand total of 3 trick-or-treaters.
6 years later, its been a steadyly increasing stream of rugrats on the candy prowl. last night I got rid of 4 bags of candy and had to put out an "out of candy" sign. and so far no reports of any "burning doorstep baggies" in our vicinity...I was just too tired to get out last night...[:D][;)][:p]

[vsmith]

Hey what happened to the "Cover Girls" on MR topic? did it get nuked or did the author delete it for all the negative feedback he was getting?

Personally I think cover girls on MR was a bad idea but I was hoping to try to get some feedback interest on how popular a Makita/Model Railroad type calander might be? Not all of us have to sheild that kind of stuff from kids. Maybe I'll repost this and see what happens.

[dharmon]

Several topics got nuked today..Bergie's probably in a fairly bad mood due to teets and trolls....

[vsmith]

I better hold off on the Calender Girls posting for a while then....[:0]

[railman]

yeah, things have been getting nuked today...he's gotta clear out the forums every now and then.

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Several topics got nuked today..Bergie's probably in a fairly bad mood due to teets and trolls....

All this stuff always happens when I'm at work. I'm quitting tomorrow so I can stay home and catch all of the juicy forum action. [8D]

Boy. I can't wait to tell the boss what I really think of him.... Oh wait, I'm the boss.[:0] Dave

[railman]

Things have been pretty quiet around here all day, actually. Controversy comes and goes, I guess.

[Anonymous]

My blood pressure is higher than the moon right now. I had a nice lengthy reply, about the Pudgy Goat, typed out and AOL decides to "boot" me. Well you can imagine how I feel right now, BUT this is NOT the first time tonight they have booted me. I am just about fed up with AOL or is it India On Line.

Anyway, I promised Krump I would give him credit for the winning answer. He nailed it too. Tomorrow after I calm down I might try to post it again. I also might made installments of it to keep AOL from screwing with it again. In other words, I am not a happy camper right now. If I didn't have to call India to get AOL's attention I might call, but since you can't but halfway understand what they are saying I will not bother. They certainly don't seem to understand what I am trying to tell THEM anyway. I cancelled my DSL by AOL because of the extremely poor service. Dial up by AOL is close to getting the boot from me too.

Sorry about the rant. Some of you know what I mean about loosing something you have just spend 45 minutes typing only to loose it.

[der5997]

'Evening all: Interesting coursetoday. It appears theat 15 years ago our Federal government passed laws about workplace use of hazzardous substances. Now, the implementation of these regulations is getting down to the small business level. So, next Spring our students hired to look after the Visitor Information Centre and grounds will have to be trained in what all the hazzards are, and what to do about handling window cleaner.[8D] Trainer is yours truly, since I went on the course, and will be provided with an official certificate. Coo, I can hardly wait [(-D]

Fergie:

QUOTE: John: We had 70 Tricksters last night, which is half of what we normally get here. I suspect it was because Haloween was a Sunday night.

I suspect it was the rain. Sunday being a school night isn't much of a factor for anything else that's over by 7:30. (and most evening church services aren't hardly getting started by that time, at least as far as thte preaching's concerned[:D])

Bob:

QUOTE: John: What about the Blizzard of '96 that shut down the whole east coast. I was on a charter with three busses and 95 kids on the way to washington DC. They closed the roads at Tuskaloosa Alabama, the lead bus (me) was the second in line. We had to fall back to Meridian Miss (90 miles) to find rooms for all of the students.

That's some "fall back"! Don't remember the storm though. We were in Alberta at the time. Was that an unusually heavy snowfall for the northern tier states? I think the Red River flooded Winnipeg the next Spring. I flew over that on the way back from a meeting in Toronto.

TV program we taped last night is up for watching in a few minutes. I get to work the VCR, so I had better get ready.[:P]

Tom: Hope Shawna's feeling better again today.

Good night and God Bless.

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Quiet day here today (what day isn’t quiet down here?). It’s a holiday so the kids are out of school today and tomorrow. The holiday is Dias de los Muertos, or Days of the Dead [:0] . I guess it loosely follows the Catholic/Christian church’s All Saints Day and All Souls Day, Nov 1st and 2nd, in a similar way that Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve) is related to Nov 1st. It’s mainly dedicated to the memories of relatives who have died. Even though Catholicism is no longer the official state religion, the population is overwhelmingly Catholic and these are usually official holidays.

I continued running tests with cars and locos. The jury is still out on the problem, but some patterns are starting to emerge. Whether those patterns will lead to a solution to the track problems still remains to be seen. [:D]


Tom, good news about Shawna. Hope the visit to the doctor’s went well today. From here on out it’s a matter of rest and regaining strength. Any word from her instructors about letting her rejoin the classes?

Nice side step of the spelling issue. The word probably doesn’t really exist.


Glad to see the rest of you Sunshine State residents coming up for air and coffee. Really tough year for you boys.


Paul B / Teffy: - The hardest part about coordinating a visit is figuring out exactly when we’ll be up there. I’m pretty sure we’ll be there around the end of April. I have a construction old timer’s reunion to attend, and it’s held near Normangee, about half way between Houston and Dallas. Now whether or not we’ll make another trip before that time is really the question. Right now, I’d give it only a 50% chance of happening. We usually have pretty long notice on the trips so I’ll keep you informed. But there’s really no need to hold off on getting together for another 6 months on my account.

By the way, congrats to Teffy for his Cowboys and to Noah for his Packers. That is, if he’s still rooting for the Pack. Sorry about your Vikings, Elliot, but …………..
How about them Red Sox … ooops, NY Giants!!! Forgot to change hats after the end of the season. [:D]

QUOTE: Krump: …now I'm confused... a previous post indicated that I was one of the older guys, now I'm too young…

Actually I think you’re about in the middle of the Coffee Shop, age-wise. We’ve got ‘em from the teens through the 60’s. The only decade I’m not sure we have a member from is the 20’s, but there are several of you who I haven’t pinned the age down for yet.


Glad the camping trip went well, Fergie. I’d love to have that chance again, especially the part about sitting around the fire reminiscing. Of course, I probably would have turned in before you…wee hours and me don’t exactly coexist well anymore.

If you ship out again at the end of November, will you be gone over Christmas?


Teffy, I sanded some of the roadbed, but not all. But, with the exception of two spots where I have a small gauge problem at joints, the problems are all switch related. So I don’t think it’s a real level roadbed problem. But the investigation continues. Of course, I could just be running trains, but ‘investigating’ sounds better.


Jim, I feel your pain about losing a post after working on it a long time. I finally wised up and do most of my long posts (like this one) in Word, saving as I go along. Then at the end I just copy and paste in the reply window, add smilies, and I’m good. It really cuts down on the amount of fits I throw due to lost posts.


Well, that’s about all from down south today. Almost time for Monday Night Football. Maybe I’ve got enough time for a few more laps with the train……….


Hasta mañana

Ed

[railman]

AOL is a pain in the....you know where.

[Anonymous]

Well I ordered my CB&Q modern covered hopper project from the LHS not too long ago. I've got paint, decals, and an IM kit, as well as some stuff to finish up earlier projects with to give me something to do this month.[:)]

We never get any ankle-biters on Oct. 31st-we live too far out of town, I guess.
Not that I have anything against that, more candy for me! [swg]

Another rainy, lousy day today in Illinois, if it hadn't of been cruddy weather, my dad could of sanded and painted the module we built, but now that will have to wait again.

[krump]

Jim - thanks for the note. Thank you, Thank you very much...You've convinced me to buy that issue.

Ed- and usually I'm below average.

Everybody - it SNOWED here today, more than one inch - stuck around, roads are crazy, many drivers went off-roading (though it's not their hobby), so far out of my list ... #'s 1, 2, and 5 apply - bring out that sand and the salt ... icy...

[philnrunt]

Ferg- The camping sounds great. We just stack more wood on the fire (4 pieces for every 2 degree drop in temp, according to the McManus Campfire Formula ((Revised 1998)). I would probably have been somewhat worried if I couldn't have gotten warm in a 10 below bag. Probably could have seen the fire from your place.
We are planning our next trip in April, i try to plan it around the full moon due to the constantly moving shadows in the woods, after a few creepy tales, the young ones start seeing thingies about.
Does anyone know whats behind the Hawkins Hobby Shop add in the past few MR's?It dosn't sound too good, but I must have missed what started it. If anyone can enlighten me, please do. Or guide me to where I can find out.
Hang loose.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

Not much going on today or yesterday. I received two decoders from Loy's Toys yesterday along with his new "3 ring binder" info catalog. I've found a wealth of information in that thing and have it handy in it's own binder. All of the up-dates are loose leaf so you can throw out the old ones and put in the new ones. If you haven't purchased anything from them you need to try 'em you'll like 'em.

My body is still on daylight savings time so I got up in the middle of the night, 5:00 AM. instead of 6:00am.

The TT is the new toy. I spin the bridge by hand just to see how easy it moves. The pit is still being puttyed and sanded, getting ready for painting. I was talking to the guy that I take to our meetings every Tuesday the other day about colors for the TT and lo and behold this months MR had an inquire about the colors. Am I connected or not?[:D] If you'd like to see something in print just ask your local guru.

I've got to start cleaning up the house for Thanksgiving so let me start.

BE SURE AND VOTE TODAY IF YOU LIVE IN THE USA Bush needs all the help we can give him.

Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's going to be a great day in the mountains today. There are just a few odds and ends to do today, and then it will be time to get some railroading done. The Branchline coaches are very close to being finished. They are really beautiful kits. They take some time, but they are worth it.

Shawna is doing much better. The doctor cleared her to go back to school tomorrow. She has a long list of things she can't do, and another long list of things to do, but that's OK. As long as she doesn't pu***oo hard she'll be fine. Thank you all again for your thoughts, words and prayers. They've really helped.

Der, yes the "yard" I was talking about is the 1: 1 scale one out in front of the house. I don't actually have a modeled freight yard on the railroad. I had a small subdivision point yard which I had completed to the point of being ready to put down the ballast and cinders. It wasn't accurate for the area I'm modeling, and it was kind of like a 400 pound gorilla - too small to really work well, but large enough to dominate and overpower everything else. I was lucky enought to get ahold of a Sandborn Fire Insurance map for Murphy, NC which shows what was actually there in the late '40s. That decided it. Out came the yard and in went what was there. At some point in the future I may build a condensed version of the Southern's yard in Asheville, NC in what is now the dance studio / spare room adjacent to the railroad room. I've got good drawings and plans of the yard, roundhouse and turntable, tower, etc. First, I've got to get what I'm building now a lot closer to "finished".

Fergie, I'm glad you had a good camping trip. Sounds like it was fun.

Dave, with that much damage it's going to take a while to rebuild and repair. It's hard to imagine that much devestation. Remember that our thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone else there.

Teffy, the roundhouse is done. Wow! You're really making progress fast. Is this the new roundhouse they've just released or the earlier one?

Better go for now and get the day going.
Have a great day everybody,
Tom

[fec153]

Bob- Thanks for the offer. No I dont need anymore. I have some leftover.

Emerald- Thankfully not a bit of damage.

Fergie- The good food is found by going in the front door. Stay away from the back . Those are dumpsters
and it is not a buffet.
As to camping- Last time , my Uncle Sam provided tents and hot food. And that was the last time for me. Chinch bugs are[}:)][censored], nasty critters.
Flip

[der5997]

Ed:

QUOTE: It’s a holiday so the kids are out of school today and tomorrow. The holiday is Dias de los Muertos, or Days of the Dead. I guess it loosely follows the Catholic/Christian church’s All Saints Day and All Souls Day, Nov 1st and 2nd, in a similar way that Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve) is related to Nov 1st. It’s mainly dedicated to the memories of relatives who have died.

Ah!, and why did the Church Fathers choose to celebrate All Saints at this particular time of the year? From what I've been told, our "culture", that is peoples derived from the Indo-Europeans, have been thinking about the dead at this time of year as far back as recorded history goes. That's the Sumerians in about 5000 BC, in the general area of what is now Iraq. Turn's out that the dying off of vegetation in the northern hemisphere and the lowering of the sun on the horizon that triggers it has caught people's imagination for some time[:D]
The more northerly cultures really took it to heart, one might say. The Celts especially thought that this time of year was a time when the barrier between the living and the dead became, how shall we say, THIN Dias de los Muertos indeed[:O] (but not necessarily [}:)])
If you think this is improbable, ask yourself why , of all the wars in recent memory, it's the one that ended at the general time of Dias de los Muertos that gets remembered. November 11th.[8D]

[egmurphy]

John,

Your information doesn't surprise me a bit. It would have been typical for a new religion to take advantage of existing celebrations/events, adding their own touches and beliefs. It's easier than erasing the old beliefs and starting from scratch.

You are talking about Armistice Day and the "War to end all wars", no? What was it, eleventh hour, eleventh day, eleventh month.

Regards

Ed

[fec153]

Ed- you're correct about the 11th.
Whoops, I wrote "CHINCH" bugs. I ment CHIGGERS. Some folks call them Redbugs.
I can't tell you what I call them. NAASSTY things. Why did Noah include them?
NO, not you Noah. The one in the Bible.
Flip.

[der5997]

Ed:

QUOTE: John, Your information doesn't surprise me a bit. It would have been typical for a new religion to take advantage of existing celebrations/events, adding their own touches and beliefs. It's easier than erasing the old beliefs and starting from scratch.

This is going to be a slow evening, until 'their" [:D] election is decided. So, I'll slip this for anyone coming by the shop for a breather, and a java.
I couldn't agree more with your analysis. (I'd go further, but this is a RR forum, not a religion one) You only have to look at the Roman winter festival of the Unconquered Sun( the solstice is Dec 21st) to see the "ideal" timing for the celebration of the coming of the Light of the world. (Dec 25th). The real time must have been when the sheep were in the fields. Best time I've come across is some time in September. I think that was based on astronomical data, something to do with the position of Pices all those centuries ago.
Haven't been able to work on the layout for more than a week it seems. This week isn't much better, and the grandchildren are due Friday night. Still, maybe we'll get to run something then[^] [:D]

Well, I'd better get along. Still haven't been able to install the replacement Lexmark on Mrs. der's computer. something to do with drivers.

[Fergmiester]

Good Evening everyone

We seem to be a tad lifeless tonight or are we glued to the tube? I suspect so!

Phil: Yes the Camping was good as for the chil I have to say I'm a bit miffed as not only was I in a -10C rated bag, I also had a polar fleece, insert inside it as well as below it and on top of a self inflating inulated pad. I also had socks on, track pants and a T shirt. Not to mention the wool toque. Part of the problem was I wasn't dressed properly for the evening and got a little chilled. The Adirondacks stand about 12' tall and are quite lofty, They never heat up unless you hve full crowd in them. As the frost was heavy in was a good indication of the dampness in the air. When I awoke the next morning it was if the heat was being drawn out through my shoulders as well as my back (I was sleeping on my back). And the fire was to far from the Adirondack to be of benifit. Most Scouters will avoid sleeping in them and apt for a lean as you can keep them low to the ground and therefore not loose heat. I know it's an art form.

Teffy: Nice to see you got new decoders, hopefully they will fit the bill. My LHS sells MRC decoders for $32 CDN.

Tom: Nice to see Shawna is on the mend, I'm not 100% convinced as to the paper rock faces. Do you have any pictures of your rocks?

So the question for tonight is: What do you get when you camp with 40 cubs for a week end?

Answer: A cold!

Phil: I only eat at four star joints or forage for food under rocks! Garlic will do wonders to bring the best flavours out.

Anyway have a good evening and don't stay up too late as there will be a recount!

Sorry I know that was a dig but how could I resist. It's been CNN 24-7 for the last 4 weeks and my 14 year old could tell you more about the American Political system then most. Don't he's well versed in Canadian Politics as well. This is his World Series

Regards
Fergie

[egmurphy]

Thanks for the further comments. I'm sitting here with two browser windows open. I have msnbc.com in one window and I keep flipping back there and refreshing to get the latest election count. In between election news I'm scanning back here and a couple of other sites. I don't mind so much it being a long night, I just hope it doesn't turn into a long couple of weeks like four years ago!

Sitting on pins and needles.....


Ed