Elliot's Trackside Diner XXII-Just a track over

[Cox 47]

Good morning..Its 29 and partly cloudy..Just coffee for me..waiting on transit bus to take me to Casey for Dr. appointment...Worked yesterday on coupler conversion for Atlas RS3..Made my own..used accumate couplers and scrap plastic.was pretty easy and alot cheaper than the M/T conversion kit..hope to finnish it up this afternoon when I get home if I'm not to tired..You all have a good one...Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Finally got an answer back from Home Health. They were wanting to know at what time I started my antibiotic treatment this morning. Seems they didn't get the message that I'd been taken off them for the time being. They're checking with the doc today to see where the wires got crossed.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 I got a message last night to call Vernon Home Health between 8 and 9 this morning. I've done that, twice. So far it's been 'They're not here yet', 'They're all in a meeting', or 'Nobody's available at this time'. Do they think I have nothing better to do than wait around for them to get off their duffs? I'll give them a bit more time but at 9:40 I'm out the door and headed to my eye appointment.

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Its sunny, but cold. 

 Well its been pretty busy at work.  One guy up and quit in the middle of the shift.  Just two more days, and it will slow down some.

 Weather wise.....Its pretty cold, and the are calling for some "snow" Saturday.  At least I will be off.

 Not much planned today.  Maybe mess around with the layout some.

  Hope everybody has a good day.

[TMarsh]

Good morning, gonna be one of those days today. Just coffe and a sweet roll please.

Sawyer- Molar Mass? Weeeelll doggies, ain't that a fancy name. Around here we just call ‘em Mole Hills.

Jim- One would think that MRR is all that's left to do , but generally there always is someone who says "Saaaaaay, since you're not doing anything....."

Best get a movin', well, after I see how the NMRA thread turned out.

Have a Great Day!!!

　

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning-

DULL DULL DULL----oh---and cold. That is it for our weather.

We had a broken watermain down the street---which left us with no water until early this morning. It looks like it must've been a big break as there is now a rather large ice lake down there--with the barricades up and all that. When I leave here for my own doc appointment later this morning--i's gotta be doing a roundy round just to get outta here-----

pcarrell

for riding in that kind of weather

Oh, for that!  Thats one of my less nutty things I do!  I shield you guys from the REALLY crazy stuff!

Hey!! ---I sometimes ride my mountain bike in this stuff!! ----and people think this is nuts----

Chloe---I'll have a coffee and a cinnamon bun please----I'll be over at the RC for a bit--

[pcarrell]

bjdukert

My concern is that cold tires and cold pavement do not make a good mix so please make sure you have a safe ride.

Well noted....thanks!

BamaCSX83

PC....you're a nut

You're just catching on?

for riding in that kind of weather

Oh, for that!  Thats one of my less nutty things I do!  I shield you guys from the REALLY crazy stuff!

just listed the bike on the Bay this afternoon...

To buy a better one, right?  *Please say yes.......*

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

 Last night the local MRR club held their annual Christmas party.  A fellowship was the center of attention instead of the track work or operations of the layout.  I brought in my PRR coffee mug set and 2 vintage peculator coffee makers.  More food than any of us could eat. 

 Jeff, good luck with your eye appointment and MRI.  My eye doctor has a machine that will examine your eyes without the dilation drops, however my medical insurance won’t cover it. L

 Jim, in my web pictures I have a few historic images on the Hulett.  The first ones were built in Conneaut, OH and were steam powered. The PRR dock in Cleveland was the largest dock for Iron Ore built with four of the heaviest Hulett un-loaders.  That pier primarily served the Youngstown and Pittsburg steel plants as did the Ashtabula and Conneaut docks.  There are Hulett un-loaders still in service near Chicago unloading red ore.

  Bama, I have a power stroke and you do have to look at the fact the truck (hopefully) is paid for, and $2000 is nothing compared to replacing the injectors.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 41 and mostly cloudy. The projected high is 50 and it will be partly cloudy.

After it's first day on the job the wound vac seems to be working well. It's pulled about two ounces of liquid out from the wound so far and it looks as though there's still more to come. My foot feels much better and the swelling in the lower leg has decreased some. This morning I have to go to the eye clinic in town for a routine diabetic eye examination. That will take the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon. After that I have to go over to the Deer Creek hospital for an MRI. That'll probably take the better part of a couple of hours. There's another day shot. By the time I got home yesterday I was hurting too bad to even think about doing some light sit-down work at the layout. Maybe this evening I'll have a chance to work on one of the bobber cabooses. The couplers are less than my idea of quality pieces and will be replaced with Kadee #5's or Kadee #148's, depending on what I have on hand, and yes, I fully intend to have one on the tail end of the heavy freight when the rivet counter shows up. He loves to point out the non-prototype practices I use and I give him plenty to point out. His reaction to the bobber should be classic to say the least. Last time he came over he almost turned purple when he saw my GP42X. The guys a glutton for punishment. He loves pointing out errors on the layouts of others but don't even THINK about pointing one out on his.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

AmanaMedic

JEFF: THAT is the first "wound vacumm" I've ever seen... I'm surprised we didn't carry them at the home healthcare joint I used to w**k for. Doesn't sound like the most comfortable contraption, but I suppose it's better than nothing. How long do the medical speculationists think you'll be stuck with the thing??

No idea. They're going to watch it's progress for a couple of weeks and see how it performs. I'm the very first patient in the Deer Creek hospitals wound care program so I'm sorta the guinea pig for this therapy. It's already pulled a bunch of stuff out. Looks to be about 2 ounces so far.

[AmanaMedic]

*opens door slowly...very slowly. Peeks inside. Sees Flo and most importantly...no Vinnie!*

Good evening... Flo? Ma'am? May I please have a cup of coffee??? Thank you Ma'am. Yes ma'am, at the Rivet Counter. Yes ma'am, I'll behave...it was just a misunderstandification earlier...you see, Chloe thought I was speaking, favorably, I might add, about her, well, ahhhh anyhow...I wasn't, I was actually speaking about JEFF's new acquisitions. Yes ma'am...I'll go sit down now.

VINCENT: Don't sweat it Pal, I was in arrears with VINNIE, the bouncer and "enforcer" of the Diner. Somehow I got tossed out last night, and well...with the aforementioned misunderstandification, he kinda, like JIM said, chased me down the tracks. VINNIE don't like it when we mess with the ladies...intentional or otherwise!!!!!!

VINCENT, was you the one with the caboose repaint or no dilema?? Here's an idea for you, if you have enough home road cabeese, you could always paint one up for a connecting RR. Case in point, back when CNW still ran waycars, once in awhile, a UP caboose would show up on the rear of a freight, more often on coal trains or TOFC jobs. Even better was when a MoPac caboose would appear, especially if it was one of their home-built baywindow units. Champ Decals is a good bet, I'd also recommend Herald King and Oddballs. With Oddballs, it's a good idea to coat the decals with Microscale Liquid Decal Film. He prints them with an inkjet, which makes 'em kinda touchy and delicate. If you're short of bucks to repaint/decal, what's the rush? Strip it now, paint it later, decal it whenever. I've got a rebuilt boxcar (from CNW foobie to MoPac) THAT got some of its decals almost a year ago. I'm still waiting to find the other set I need to finish it.

There, my half-a-cent worth of opinion.

JEFF: THAT is the first "wound vacumm" I've ever seen... I'm surprised we didn't carry them at the home healthcare joint I used to w**k for. Doesn't sound like the most comfortable contraption, but I suppose it's better than nothing. How long do the medical speculationists think you'll be stuck with the thing??

Still no ULRICH? I'm officially worried now.

SAWYER: WHAT in the wide, wide world of sports could be tougher than a test on mole equations???? You brought back terrible, terrible flashbacks. GEESH! Anyhow, best of luck to ya on the remaining tests. Somehow, I've got a hunch you'll do just fine.

Welp, back to w**k, I'm plowing through a bunch of "content" for THAT...should make her a happy little editor again on Friday.

Best wishes to all facing exams, medical issues, or issues in general.

Chris

 

 

[Blazzin]

  "  Oh hi.. you must be Flo.. the brunette and then there's your twin sisters.. Zoe and Chloe a redhead and a blonde. Wow all three of you look alike~ I'll have coffee"  ..

  Der John, once again you have pulled me from the fire~  In reading your post,  I was wondering in the back of my mind ."What did I .. didn't do?"  The glue held to the cork.. but not the plastic.

  What do you think?  As I say that?  I'm thinking that maybe I should have roughed up the bottoms of the ties with some light sandpaper.  Yep..  dah~  DOH!  Of course good glue wouldn't hurt.  But right now.. I've used Krystal Klear glue so much.. I'd bet  Canadian dollars to Peso's just those two remedies alone would be better.  I forget who mentioned Krystal Klear.. but I have really come to like it.  Once that stuff dries.. it holds. But since you've shown some interest,  I'll tell ya.   I am at the point.. (I just got back from the hobby store) where I have to tackle some problems... issues .. decisionis.. and downright choices .. and finding the solutions. This is where I am at. 

1.  Curved Re-railers is one of my solutions.  Also, I am still trying to put in straight re-railers.  I think you'd agree .. no matter how well you lay out the track .. there is some car that wants to derail .. no matter what.~      Keep in mind I will be having a very long run..  I'll need re-railers.. inside the mountains ...  maybe double re-railers~  I'm such a doubter.. I doubt even my doubts.

2.  Aside from buying re-railers.  I bought some Peco's.  Just like the Atlas #6's.. but I think peco has a diff. number for it.  I bought the Peco's because of the 'click' in them.  And that was one of my other issues.  Coming to the point of deciding.. of using ground throws.. verses manuel.  And the Atlas that were available did not have a click.  I have so many Peco's .. just like these..  on this particular staging area,  I will go with the manual throws.. that have a click.  I just dont' think I'd have the space for the ground throws period.  Maybe on one of the other staging area's I'll go with the proto typical look.  I do have the ground throws already, but not the desire. .lol.  So I am  gathering up all my Peco's that are the same length as an Atlas #6's.. ..for all the liner's I'll have in my small working yard. .. lol.  I am going with your suggestion of using the Atlas #6 size.. in hope of less de-railing of the long cars.  I know you're running N scale, and let me tell ya.. for every foot I gain.. I gain the space of placing two long cars in the yard.  So 12 inches is very valuable.  In short... I think I can pull this off with very long yard leads.. since this was designed anyways for three mains.  Some of the space I hope to gain also.. is having some blunt end of the yard ladder that goes into the mountain... and gain some space.  I'm trying also to add a few buildings.. and have come to the conclusion to try to fit as much space in any given area.. you need to consider.. making a dioramma.. something you can just drop in there.. all pre made.  I'd hate to think of me bending over.. and trying to build it.. aside from Oops.. how about my back!  Ok.. thats it in a nut shell.  btw.. I'm not rushing it~  but on the other hand .. you don't know my 3 kids.  I've raised them to be tough.  Jeanne alone is a tuff one, I said to her not too long ago.. "Gheez Jeanne I can't get a word in~"  she replies.. I've had over 3 decades of this.. I have to jump in and keep talkin" 

  On a different note, we have had to changed the dog food to Iams'  it has more zinc in it. Right now my Huskies eyes.. are a dark brown in the fur.. kinda yuky.  Well not as bad as my one eyed cat Polly.  You should see a see a pic of him.. lol.  And speaking of dogs.. you know how I said the Husky can say "I love you" Well that stray pitbull we picked up.. she's been living with us not for about almost 3 years now.. she's starting to say that too.  I guess she noticed it gets peoples attention... heck I dunno~ but she doesn't have it down quite right. but she says Ruff woou~  the Husky actually says " Urr Lovff fvoou"  Jeanne says my camera does video.. perhaps I'll surprise you all some day... and post a vid.  Then again ..I've trained all my cats to come by a whistle.  No not a mouth whistle.. but a 'wet your lips' whistle, you know~  'whistle whilst you work'  Its kind of funny I never realized what kind of a whistle I used.. .. just a 'Hi Low'  whistle drawn out~ and I was calling my cat.. Sassie.  And Jeanne says it sounded like the beginning of Lassie .. Omg.  btw.. yes I remember Captain Kangaroo.. who every mentioned.. it.  I forgot about him... lol.  Also... the 3 only channels.  Heck after 10 pm.. there were no tv shows on.. just a 'BURRRRRRRRRRRRRR' 

[ns3010]

Evening all. I've been so busy and everything is so screwey. I was busy all weekend with train rides and hockey (we've lost every game thus far). Then I was sick Monday and Tuesday. And the charging cord for my laptop broke and my new one won't come till next week, and the home computer doesn't work. Tonight, I had dress rehearsal and practice. Tomorrow is our band concert, which counts as our midterm exam. Progress reports came. Lowest was an 87 in algebra, which I expected, so not too bad. And this week isn't going that great. I threw my contacts out, since I needed to replace them. And then my mom tells me that she never got me more. Great. So now I have to be blind for a week, until they come in (I wear my glasses during classes, even though they're hideous). BUT, my friend (who I coincendentally like...) said I looked 'different,' in a good way with them on. So whatever... Well, I gotta go, so I'll see you guys once I'm back on my computer. Peace...

[BamaCSX83]

Evening all, just stopping in for a nightly RBF.  I've been doing the w**king thing more (not complaining about the hours either).  I've also got a pretty big job going at the shop.  Got a guy with a '98.5 Dodge 3500 with a Cummins, its got no power, and several CEL (check engine light) codes stored in it.  I've read all the codes, checked the trouble tree's for them and well....I've got to condemn the injection pump on it, even though the truck runs fine, just has no power.  Aside from the injection pump, I've also got to condemn the accelerator pedal position sensor and the MAP sensor....all in all, about 2200.00 in parts alone, but them's the breaks of having a diesel powered truck.  You pay to play.  Well that's enough of my complaining, nothing really else happening, the new crossing gates and flashers are up at one of the crossings here in Troy.  the other three that come through downtown are still slowly being worked on, but the one right at the interchange point with the COEH is up and probably running as of this evening, they were doing what looked to be final checks on it as I came home from w**k this afternoon. 

Sure is going to look different with the crossing all lit and gated now when CSX or the COEH rolls through, but it'll help nonetheless. 

Welp, that's about all for me, continuing thoughts and prayers for all those in need (that'd be all of us). 

PS: PC....you're a nut for riding in that kind of weather, I normally won't ride in weather below 40, unless its an absolute necessity, but at the same time, my period of being able to ride is getting cut short, just listed the bike on the Bay this afternoon...

[der5997]

Good evening all. A hot chocolate please Chloe, but hold the marshmallows. Yes, whipped cream would do very well instead! Thanks.

  (by CapeJim)Keith, with that much trouble on the tracklaying, I'd be re-thinking about just spiking the track down (or get the AMI roadbed DerJohn was talking about), just to avoid all the aggravation of having to re-do yet one more time. Need to figure something that will continue to hold the track without letting go.

...Keith: I wouldn't use AMI roadbed again...except for , well, roads! I would recommend trying the double sided tape  - the kind that is just adhesive, not the foam backed. That's what I've used in my freight yard re-model, and it's pretty good. Far less messy than, I imagine, any of the caulking products are/could be. I've not used those for track, so don't speak from knowledge. For the curves, don't try to bend a long piece of the tape, just follow the curve with short pieces. If you are thinking economy, you don't need a continuous strip of tape. Think of track nails, they aren't every tie. I use a fair amount of the tape however, and once the track is where I want it to be I press it down into the tape firmly. A block of wood would do, but this last project I used the top of a bloodsugar test strip bottle.  I'm putting the tape directly onto that blue (or pink but ours is blue) foam insulation board. How it would stick to cork I don't know, but so long as the cork is fine-grained and smooth it should work. Another track laying tip. If you can't get right down to track level to eye-ball track alignment, try a mirror laid across the track at arm's length. It's amazing what that shows!  And. I double ditto the don't-rush-it-for-the-sake-of-getting-something-ready-for-visitors. Gremlins feed on that behaviour!!!!  Oh, thought of another. Rail joiners - don't be in too much of a hurry with those either. Make sure that each rail end seats properly into the joiner so that the rail heads are the same height and align correctly. This is especially true for the insulated joiners at turnout frogs- at any rate in N scale.

Well folks, I got all the missing ties replaced yesterday, and the ties painted this afternoon, and the rails done this evening. So now I'm letting that all set up. Ballasting is next - but  not likely tomorrow unless there is time after we get back from New Glasgow. Friday is another Truro day working at our daughter's place.

Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers continuing for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.

  sorry the cupola is non-regulation Jeff, LOL

 

 

 

[galaxy]

JimRCGMO

Galaxy, I'm envious (no, not of the free w**kout, though that's kinda neat) - you have your shopping about done? Goddness, man - you'll give all the Diners with wives or girlfriends trouble if their CFO's think that this is when most guys get the shopping done!

Yep, Jim, all done shopping. Found what I was looking for today. Everything that is here is all wrapped and everything!   Two items ordered online may be late. Hopefully one will come Friday, if not it won't arrive until after Christmas. The other is no biggy, it is from the puddys {cats} to their loving pop-pop {me}, although I will share with my other half willingly. It is Susan Boyle's CD I Dreamed a Dream. If you don't know her or familiar with that CD, boy have you really missed the news-complete with Utube's anual most viewed video award. I hope it arrives soon. It said it was in stock, but I wouldn't be surprised if I got a "backordered" notice email.

PT for hands a regular deal, but working the one machine for conditioning is really playing ahvoc with my back. Have to stop using that machine, or we undo what we are trying to accomplish with my back at tomorrow's PT.

Jeff- hope you are feeling as good as can be. The prayer candle was lit part of the day today with special thoughts for just for you.

Take care guys

[Packer]

Garry, I'm in college for technical drafting using CAD. I only have to take a few more classes before I get the degree.

Jim, I would re-paint, if 3 of my 7 cabooses weren't already bay windows. I want to try to balance out numbers based on the prototypes balance. Right now that means I should get more wide visions (I have 3) or slant coupla cabooses (the bachmann one is actually right for one). the 7th caboose is a CB&Q 4-window wood caboose in BN green paint. That and I already spent my $$ on more trains.

[blownout cylinder]

howmus

  As a Superintendent of a Division, I should have gotten something to that effect sent from either National or forwarded to me from the Region.  I get updates several times a month via email from the Region.  As a matter of fact, I would highly doubt that a National policy would come out right now to that effect as National has just opened the National Convention next Summer to all people whether a member or not....  see: http://www.nmra75.org/  Those that wondered if it was somehow different insurance regs in Canada....  Nope the same insurance policy covers all of the US and Canada.  The liability issue is an important one.  We have to have a signed release if anyone who is not a member opens their layout for the tour on any of our meets.  They need to know the Insurance covers the NMRA and its members only..... 

I thought so----hence all my questions. My insurance thing was more of a point about how sometimes these insurance things happen because we see people going into lawsuit land---

-----------------------------------------------------------

We done the Children's Hospital and the mall---we have a coupla nursing homes to sing at---caroling is so much fun

I spent a bit of time at the Children's Hospital on the MRR forum---had a surprise when I got back home tonight---little 'Spring' was cuddled up BY the laptop with his paw around it like he was cuddling it---

------and those triple grease burgers were really nice!!

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Went over to school to observe the last Pack Meeting of Pack 2 in Geneva.  Next time they meet as a pack, the number will have changed and they will have a new Chartering Organization.  It was one of the meetings that nothing went right, but the cubs had a great time.........  Lots and lots of energy, but no focus.  After the meeting they loaded their huge cabinet with all the cub stuff into my old pick up truck and the Cub Master and I took it over to another leaders house for storage until it will be moved into the new home of the pack.

blownout cylinder

 mmm---I see a thread showed up about NMRA---wonder what will occur with this one---

 

Barry, It will be locked.......  I was going to say that earlier, but had to leave for the meeting.  Got home and checked, and Yep!  It is locked.  tstage put the kabosh on it.  I was going to say almost exactly what Tom finally did, but again I didn't have time before the meeting.  In my first post at the thread, I stated that I know of no National policy to limit a guest to 3 meetings.  As a Superintendent of a Division, I should have gotten something to that effect sent from either National or forwarded to me from the Region.  I get updates several times a month via email from the Region.  As a matter of fact, I would highly doubt that a National policy would come out right now to that effect as National has just opened the National Convention next Summer to all people whether a member or not....  see: http://www.nmra75.org/  Those that wondered if it was somehow different insurance regs in Canada....  Nope the same insurance policy covers all of the US and Canada.  The liability issue is an important one.  We have to have a signed release if anyone who is not a member opens their layout for the tour on any of our meets.  They need to know the Insurance covers the NMRA and its members only..... 

I think the last couple of posters hit the nail right on the head!  The OP just wants to be entertained for nothing.....

OK, now I'm going to enjoy the nice cup of decafe Zoe brought me and go sit by the stove in the back.

73

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool lemon water, please. 

***Jim, I didn't see the mask you were refering to. Tomorrow that person should bring several for me to choose from, so perhaps I'll find a better fit. Made the one I have work by adding a rolled up sock where it hits the forehead. I'm sure I look rediculous, but only my wife sees me that way.

As for the trailer skirting, once the wood/glue had dried enough, it took only a few minutes this evening to cut & glue it to the base. Turned out to be a simple shortcut.

Now a little more paint and it will be done. Guess then it will be time to work on the actual trailer park. Or perhaps dig out the first carnival ride kit.

Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff. With your new best buddy there, do you slide your foot under it, or what?

It has a shoulder strap and is carried like a shoulder bag. There's a foam pad in the wound that abuts another pad that runs a little way up my ankle to a plastic vacuum tube that runs up beneath my pants leg to the vac unit. The foam padding is sealed with adhesive backed film so a suction is created through the foam to draw the air and liquid out of the wound. The suction sets up a negative pressure causing the positive pressure outside to force the wound closed on the foam. That's as much as I can say about it without somebody losing their last meal.

 

Heartland Division CB&Q

Jeff, I like the bobbers. Do some of the figures represent some of the diners? That must be Todd on the platform. Who's that guy chowing down all of those jumbo bergers and fries? Barry? ..I'm not sure, but is that somebody sleeping in the back corner? Who could that be?  .... hmmmm... we could have some fun with this one.

The figures came with the caboose. Somebody went to the trouble of installing them sometime in the past.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Moved again, I see.

Jeff, I like the bobbers. Do some of the figures represent some of the diners? That must be Todd on the platform. Who's that guy chowing down all of those jumbo bergers and fries? Barry? ..I'm not sure, but is that somebody sleeping in the back corner? Who could that be?  .... hmmmm... we could have some fun with this one.

Also, Jeff .. continued prayers for your health.

Vincent ... you're in college. What are your studying?

Barry .... You're really chowing down on those burgers and fries!

Duke and PC .... Um, cars have windows and heaters. Try a car next time in the cold weather.

Someone mentioned Kukla, Fran, and Ollie .... I recall them. That was before color TV. ... It may have bee nblack and white, but at least the programming in those days was appropriate for all family members.

I'm still getting into DCC. It's not a perfect world. One decoder ws defective. Today, the program circuit quit in my DCC unit and I can't program on the prgram track as a result. For now, I have 4 SD's, 4 Baldwin diesel switchers, and 2 steam switchers programmed. That is plent for the one part of the layout wired for DCC.

Happy Model Railroading

 

 

 

 

 

[JimRCGMO]

Good Evenin', Chloe - I'll have a turkey sandwich with the veggies and some of that mayo-miracle-stuff on it, and a CAW mug of coffee please, with a slice of apple pie (on plate, yes) and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of the pie. Thanks!

Anybody know why Vinnie was chasing Chris down the tracks as I came in? Was it something he said?...

Jeff. thanks for the info on the Bachmann bobber cabeese. I did a search online and found out that Kadee makes a kit (kinda rare for them) of a bobber, and it only runs about $5 more than the Bachmanns. I may get one for my mining or logging runs come next payday (or maybe after the start of the year; I still have property taxes to pay...). Hey, did you add personnel inside that bobber, or did it come that way? Looks nice (though I'm sure OSHA would have something to say about that!). With your new best buddy there, do you slide your foot under it, or what?

Barry, now that Spring has found out how warm the laptop is, will you be able to pry him off of it? And how soon can we expect the photo(s) of your superbly, uniquely lit home?

PC, I'm with the Duke and the others about that riding in 12 F weather - not counting the 60 mph wind chill (on top of the 'standing still' wind chill..). Brrrrr!! It might get you sent home early, but with a side trip to see the shrink for an assessment...

Galaxy, I'm envious (no, not of the free w**kout, though that's kinda neat) - you have your shopping about done? Goddness, man - you'll give all the Diners with wives or girlfriends trouble if their CFO's think that this is when most guys get the shopping done!

Todd, what can you do, when the ground is froze over that hard? Guess the only thing left to do is MRR'ing in the basement, huh?...

Keith, with that much trouble on the tracklaying, I'd be re-thinking about just spiking the track down (or get the AMI roadbed DerJohn was talking about), just to avoid all the aggravation of having to re-do yet one more time. Need to figure something that will continue to hold the track without letting go.

Lee - yeah, when I went looking for info on the Huletts, I saw that Cleveland port had four of those puppies (and they are BIG!!). How much more space will you need for the boats, in addition to the dock and the Huletts?

Vincent, I'll second Lee's suggestion of Champ Decals - have ordered from them in the past a couple of times and they have most everything you can imagine, plus they're quick on getting the orders out to you. Good folks! Oh, they have (if it's still available) a book that shows where various decal sets go on different freight cars (which for a dumiezel (my German spelling isn't güt...)  like me, is quite helpful)

Sawyer - got our last two on the list. Hope you did great on the ones earlier in the week, even if you don't absolutely need to in order to pass.

Rob - on your trailer 'skirt footing' idea, EXCELLENT!! (I think I'll steal it to use with mine, too) I didn't see, had your local stations carried the piece yesterday about the new (smaller) CPAP mask/fitting? I went looking for a link to post, but couldn't find the article on their website yet. Maybe tonight...

I'm hoping for a night that's "all is calm, all is quiet...". On-call time this evening and the next 2, then the *weekend*!!

Hope that everyone's coming along well with their Christmas preparations. Think I'll see about ducking outside and get a photo or two of my Christmas lights from there, and another inside shot.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

***Jeffrey, did the wound vac ever get worked out, or will the nurse have to return to finish the job? I don't envy your medical shedule.

The minor leak seems to have worked itself out. The nurse will be back on Friday. I wouldn't wish my medical problems on my worst enemy, though there are some people whom I could single out to enjoy the experience. The problems I post on here are only some of what I've got going on.

[Cederstrand]

Grilled chicken with mushrooms, onions, and a side of steamed veggies, please. 

***Vincent, CONGRATS on the exam. More time for work and money it brings for trains is also a good thing.

***Jeffrey, did the wound vac ever get worked out, or will the nurse have to return to finish the job? I don't envy your medical shedule.

Respiratory therapist comes out to the farm tomorrow to set me up with the Bipapa machine. Hope it helps. I've now lost 15.5 lbs since adopting the caveman diet (as I call it). Wish it was all fat, but there is muscle loss, too. Perhaps some of that is from no longer being able to workout. Wife just prays it isn't lymphoma. Me, too!

Cut some little pieces of playwood and glued them to the bottom of that last model trailer. When that dries, it will make it a snap glueing the skirt around the outsides.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Rob

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening--

 mmm---I see a thread showed up about NMRA---wonder what will occur with this one---

Anyhooooo----our house is now all lit up--not quite in the same flair as a certain fellows down the street but with our own ---eherm--style. I'm going to get some stuff done tomorrow for final details and then we'll see if it makes any difference in terms of looks---

I also discovered that I need to get more cleaned up here-----sheeesh

Wwweeeeeeeeelll---better get ready to go off and sing the little heart out---heeheehee

Chloe, I'll have 3 triple grease burgers and a large bucket of fries---as well as a large RBF inna bucket please----I'll be at the RC---

[Packer]

Sawyer, the exam was way to easy. I nailed all 50 questions in 15 minutes. But I am Free from college for a few weeks!!! Which means I can get more hours at work, thus, more money for trains.

Chris, what'd I do?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good afternoon. I finally got all my stuff for today done. The Home Health nurse came by 'around noon' as they call it. Actually about 1 and fitted me up with the wound vac. It took over an hour because she couldn't get it a tiny leak stopped. About 2:10 I finally said it would have to do because I had to take off for my Doppler scan, which I was late for. I got that done then went to the food stamp office to turn in my paperwork there then to the library then to the gas station to get gas for the car, my mother's treat. Tomorrow morning I have to go into town to get my eyes dilated and checked. I'm not looking forward to that at all. In the afternoon I have to go back to get an MRI done. Fun, fun.

Here's a peek at my new favorite pest.

[Packers#1]

 Vincent, I hear ya on exams. My grade in spanish is to where if I got a zero on the exam, I'd probably get a 70-something for the semester. Which is a decent grade, but I'm hoping I at least passed the exam.

 Had an exam today, and I either passed w/ flying colors or epically failed. There were maybe 30 or 40 problems dealing w/ molar mass, and either I did the equations or reverse, so either I got 'em all right or all wrong.

Tomorrow I have 3rd and 7th exams, then I'm FREE!

Hey Tom, we had a Christmas assembly today. You probably would have liked the choir part of it, but for me, the band absolutely blew them out of the water Had a great band at Schofield last year, looks like all those awesome ppl.s have funneled into AHS

Jim, thank you for the encouragement on the exams. My two toughest are tomorrow.

[bjdukert]

PC  I understand about dressing for it because I have ridden in some pretty cold weather myself and have told others that it isn’t any different then riding a snowmobile, just dress for it. My concern is that cold tires and cold pavement do not make a good mix so please make sure you have a safe ride. Oh, and by the way I live a little further North than you and at times we get more of the nasty stuff then you do.

Duke