Elliot´s Trackside Diner May 2010

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Finally made my way into the new diner......  Well actually I found it right before bedtime last night, but knew if I popped in here I would not get to sleep when I needed to.  I still didn't get to sleep when I should have.  Just tossed and turned for a couple of hours, almost got the sleep and Blackie the cat decided to jump on the bed and come up and put his paw on my nose.  THAT means, "daddy, its time to pet me me and snuggle for a while."

Flo (who's the new waitress?)  No, NO!  Just wondering, I don't think I have seen her before....  Anyway I'll have a cup of decafe in a FGLK Mug please.

Morgan, know that your Father and your whole family are in my prayers for a peaceful transition to the other side!

Rob, you too are in my prayers.  You have a really hard job ahead of you.

Got up at 5:00AM this morning and hit the road by 6:30AM.  The meet was a great success.  We had, counting the folks from the host club, well over 40 people attending.  About 35 members and guests attending.  One was a member who has let his membership lapse and during the morning asked how he can reactivate.  Those are sweet words to the Superintendents ears....  He is also a fantastic modeler who I really want on board!

My clinic was well received by all!  And THAT included a few in the audience who are known to be excellent Model Photographers as well as some of our best modelers.....  I was also the only one who kept the clinics on schedule.  Had to jump up and down (nicely of course) to get the others to hurry up.  We ended up being a half hour late by the close of the morning session.  Nobody seemed to mind either! 

Photos of the day will be up in a couple of days.  Right now I need to bake brownies for the church "Talent Show and Ziti Dinner (put on by the Deacons) and rest........

Later!

73

[teen steam fan]

Hey guys, a slice of rhubarb pie, some grilled chicken, and a big ol' jug of Diet mountain dew for me.

Shockwave, best wishes, I lost my great uncle a few years ago to stomach cancer, and a good family friend to the same thing.  I know that the pain can be awful. If you need anything, feel free to PM me or just try to get a hold of me.

On a brighter note, I've been looking to buy a Hornby train set. Maybe one with Mallard or Flying Scotsman. I know that the Bluebell Railway is selling a limited edition one of a terrier, Stepeny with 2 coaches.

Hey you guys hear that the new Peppercorn A1 Tornado will wear Brunswick green soon? Man I can't wait to see that engine in British Rail express blue.

[Packers#1]

Cederstrand

***Sawyer, your right about the lighting, but the work is excellent!

 

Thanks! hopefully I'll get some better shots tomorrow.

Well, horse racing might be on but I'll be watching machines with several hundred horsepower racing tongiht! Sprint Cup racing from Richmond tonight! Brad Keselowski won the Nationwide race last ngiht, but I was at the USCA baseball game and didn't watch the race.

Morgan, dern, I don't know what to say. God is just and His plan unfolds and it's all for the best. Just keep the Faith and your dad is headed to a place of no pain, no hurt, no shame, no strife, no worries. May God be with you and your family during this time.

[Cederstrand]

Strong Italian Roast Coffee in a  STORMY SOUTHERN  mug, please.

***Morgan, very sorry about your father.

***Sawyer, your right about the lighting, but the work is excellent!

***Todd, thanks for that. I'm just waiting for Sandy to let me know when it's time.

Haven't followed horse racing this year at all. I only wish for no injured horses on the track. Lost most of my interest in it after Barbaro.

My wife ordered a number of items today: Silos (for chicken house), Paramedics w/ stretcher, more motorcycles/choppers, CSI set, a couple weeping willows, and a few assorted ambulances & police truck.

I still need to pick out a magnifier to use for building models (and reading stuff). Think I'll give this one a try: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SNA3HE/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A3NUNNXXHUJDMF Any thoughts and/or suggestions?  

Hope to make it down to the train room tonight.

Rob

[Packers#1]

 Well, today has just slipped away from me. been nice though, got a lot of scenery work done. here's the pics. the yellow will be toned down/mixed, and I knwo the lighting is crap:

Seems there's been a landscaping frenzy. The yellow will be toned down/mixed, and yes I know the lighting is crap, I shoulda brought the desk lamp over. but anyways...



 

 

 

 

Should have some tutorial videos up soon.

[Robby P.]

 LUNCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Well its finally the weekend.  So far I've made it to the casino to bet on the horses, made a trip to Sam's Club, got the rental car (cobalt UGH!!)and still go a lot to do today.  Hopefully before it rains.

 Hope everybody has a good Saturday.

 

[TMarsh]

galaxy

MOTHER'S DAY is NEXT SUNDAY! You have been forewarned!!!

ALREADY!!!!!!

Ah, medicines. Yep, some have a weight gain side affect. Not much you can do about that other than muscular and cardio vascular excersize. I hope they get your back figured out so you can not only get some needed excersize, but be able to move around and do things you want.

 

[galaxy]

Hi guys!

A hot balmy day here for the first of May! Time to turn on the A/C so it doesn;t get unbearable in here!

We WERE going to go to Steamtown to watch them play with the trains..but called yesterday and they aren't running steam until the END of May. That and my other half got called into work cuz someone called off for today and we certainly need the extra $$$.SO that ruined my plans for this wonderfull, if hot day. Woulda given me some good excersize wandering around the yard too. IF my back held up nicely.

I don't have any gumption yet to plan/play/mend the garden yet.   I'm hoping soon I will so I can get some kind of excersize doing that. Last year I ran a depressed state all year long and didnt do any gardening and so the dandy-lions have taken over the plot, so I don't know about this year yet...

Oh for those who read it wrong cuz I wrote it wrong, I'm at a 1600 calorie diet, not a 1200. Just below the "normal" 1800 calorie diet. I do cheat once in awhile too. Like my other half HAD to bring some frozen yogurt home! The issue with my gaining weight can also be attributed to the 18  medications I take, not including the three pain relievers and 1 muscle relaxer I take. I'm also borderline diabetic and we all know that can spell trouble with a capital "T" sometimes.

Jeffrey- sounds wise not to let the kid take your car! I wonder just what his insurance rates are! I'll bet a far cry from the $600 a year I pay for full coverage on the new van. Of course we also always ttake the safe driver courses every 3 years to get the further discount on the insurance. Me thinks someone ought to sign the boy up and make him go to take it if it's offered in your state and area.

Well, guys who need prayers...and I saw a few, but don't remember now exactly who...the prayer candle will be lit with extra prayers and thoughts for those in need.

Well, I guess all for now, I sign off, with a "happy May day" to all and the females in their lives!

Don't forget guys... MOTHER'S DAY is NEXT SUNDAY! You have been forewarned!!!

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

Jeff- Sounds like someone I know who is also a "good driver". Does he too feel none were his fault?

Oh but of course! Everybody just keeps getting in his way as he flies along at 20-30 miles over the limit. He's one of those 'If you don't like the way I drive then get off the sidewalk' types. I won't ride with him. He asked me once if he could borrow my car. My answer was a very definite NO.

[TMarsh]

Good morning all. Whew! Been busy with little free time in the last couple days. I said it before and I'll say it again. I'm leaving the retired life and going back to work. I need a break. Dodged the storms last night. Unfortunately I see others did not .

Keith- Thanks but my ailment is nothing more than a narrowing of the holes the nerves exit the vertebra through. No pain unless I move, then pain is an option, sometimes there is just a loss of feeling in my legs, not like turning off a switch mind you, it takes abit, similar to laying on your arm and I goes to sleep. Like walking on soft ground sometimes not sure of a bottom. Sorta. Kinda hard to describe the feeling. Weird it is I must say. When there is pain, it usually comes in two forms. A sharp mule kicking with an ice pick that will just about bring you to your knees, or a small slightly sharp pain that changes into a dull ache getting progressively worse over a hours last up to a few days until it suddenly "poof!" goes away. Feels like a pulled muscle, except for the way it goes away. Poof. Usually that is the longest lasting of the symptoms and is the one that finally sent me to the doc to find out it wasn't a pulled muscle. I originally went to get something stronger than the OTC's that weren't cutting it. Thusly ending my career because the Army docs determined I do not have 100% mobility in my back. Thanks for the meds thought anyway, but I use pain, not saying I'm tough and don't feel pain, but I use it as a "don't do that" warning and a "ok now it's healed" green light. I don't usually take ‘em. Uuuusually. Of course, my little inconvenience is doodly squat compared to what G and Jeff deal with. BUT, with what I do have knowing it is small potatoes, I can imagine their situations and empathize. Enough of me, now for you. I'm really enjoying watching the progress of your scene. Though I haven't had time to play much with my RR, I am enjoying watching your progress. You trip through the KAY- yown pass had me rolling!

Galaxy- I'm no doctor, but I heard a long time ago about these low cal diets and how they backfire. Your body actually doesn't use as much as it should and stores the rest into fatty deposits or something in case you need more food. Oh, I see Barry's heard the same thing. You are needing exercise to burn the calories more than your body takes in. I know, I know. I understand the pain thing and that will be an obstacle to overcome. (hopefully not too much longer) BUT, the added weight can't be helping with the pain causes either. (assumption)

Ulrich- I kinda like the one with the hall. I think it would, in my humble opinion, fit well with the lower shopping levels and really complete or compliment the overall scene. Of course I still wear large belt buckles so take my ideas on what I think looks good with that in mind. ( that, by the way, was used on me just recently as to why someone shouldn't necessarily take my decorative advice regarding landscaping, of all things. "Are you gonna listen to a guy who still wears a billboard for a belt buckle? Have you bought a new belt buckle since the seventies?" )

Weather- Ahhhh. I think we have it made here in Midwest Central when the Southern folks say it's cold at 50 degrees we can come back with "ha! Try 5 below with a wind chill of -35!" When it gets to 85 or ninety in the north and folks are complaining about the heat we can say "Ha! Try 105 with 85% humidity!" Others have it better or worse by the season, but we get it aaaaaaall. Folks in the course of a normal year we see temperature fluctuation of 100 degrees! Which reminds me, my sinuses are really letting me know they are here! (sniff, sniff, cough, cough, hack, spit, (blows nose) sniff, cough)

Rob- I forgot I was going to say this and had it typed when the power went out Thursday for a couple of hours. But, I'm thinking of you during this time with Sandy is it? I'm praying that when the time comes, for you to have the piece of mind knowing you're doing the right thing, and for her, that your aim is straight and true.

Jeff- Sounds like someone I know who is also a "good driver". Does he too feel none were his fault?

Bruce- Great story.

Morgan- My prayers go out for you and your family.

Lastly- I feel the door swings both ways. I am a believer, but if you are not, well, so be it. We'll find out who is right someday and it will be too soon as it is. I don't want to fight about it now. However, if I am forced to listen to the folks who constantly rant about how we are an accident, or a by product of some atomic fart, why can't I express my views that differ with theirs? Talk about censorship and trying to force only your beliefs on people. That is the ones who are doing it. Not us. But I guess they'll twist things around and "prove" how wrong I am so it's a mute point.

Today, I shall clear some brush from the backyard, depending on the moisture content of the grass, may mow. Maybe compare last months MR issue and this months to see if I can tell the difference in fonts. Go to the mailbox "mailbox" and see if the scenery mag that was to be delivered late April has arrived. Think about startingf a thread asking where it is. Nah, somebody will beat me to it. But I want to attack the layout. Not holding out for it, today but this weekend I want to finish the little trestle.

Oh and Brenda does not agree with the coffee pot theory. I tried to explain it to her years ago. She's short, half Italian and half German. I don't argue.

Have a Great Day!!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 74 and cloudy. the high will be around 82 and there's a chance of thunderstorms.

Well I haven't heard any bad news in relation to the lab work done at the docs office yesterday. I'll check back with them Monday and see if there's anything I should be worried about. The only real wind damage we;ve had here from all the wind lately was a tree was blown over on some power lines and some trees got the tops ripped out of them. Nobody hurt that I know of. I may be able to get some weathering work done on a tank car today but it's also laundry day, so I'm gonna be busy with that.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Lee ... Again, sorry about your grandma. It is good, however, for familiy to get together. That often happens too rarely with today's busy schedules and geographic distances,

Morgan ... Of course, we are here to support you, and I am very sorry to hear the news. I would like to assure you there is something much better waiting for your Dad and each of us when our bodies are gone. I thought of you, PC, and Bill T as I drove through Indiana last week. I would have waved but did not see you.

Today, Jim CG will be here for a layout tour of three layouts (Dan's UP, Gus's IC, and my CB&Q)

Lots of raining out there now.

Happy Model Railroading.

 

 

[JimRCGMO]

Morning - Marge, is it? Some of our late night and weekend servers are harder to learn names than others. Welcome to the Diner from one of the (lately very) occasional Diners. I'll have a go cup of coffee, please, as in about a half hour or so I will be on the road to Cadiz, Kentucky. Gonna visit Garry and his retired train guys/fellow MRR'ers there, run a train or two, have some lunch, etc.

Keith, I haven't problems with your post - and Morgan, have your Dad and your family on the list. Anything you all can do to comfort, support and encourage your Dad as he heads for the big P.Gates station, and may he have a first class ride getting there.

Keith, thanks for posting the link about the Cajon Pass. Though I had a hard time seeing where the rail lines were in that wide-angle view, that shot of the UP loco coming through looked nice.

AzJim, good to see you again (though you may have been through while I was out, I'm sure).

Had some thunderboomers move through last night/this a.m.(early), but the worst stuff on the radar looked to be another county or more north of us (so said some for Todd, Jerry, Inch and all our Indiana/Ohio Diners).Supposed to be raining today and tomorrow also (great weather for driving to Kentucky...)

I may be able to start getting a little more caught up on posts tomorrow afternoon. Not sure how late it may be when I get back home tonight. Depends on how much of a party animal Garry is when Shelley's out of town... I'd best get myself loaded up and going now. See you all later!

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Well once again I’m behind posts……

The funeral for my Grandma went very well, we didn’t expect many people to attend as most of her peers have passed already; however a few surprises were in store.  1951-1963 my Grandmother worked for Schramm’s Nursery in Toledo, OH, a 17 year old kid started working there and had no car, so for 8 years my Grandmother would pick him up and drive him to work, well he showed up to the funeral home, the wife of my grandfather’s cousin stopped in, and my uncle’s best friend from high school stopped by.  It was almost a family reunion with the Himez, Mann, Burkhart, and Soule’s all together.

My concrete contractor stopped out yesterday and laid out the chalk lines for the new apron and made the cuts in the curb.  Today he will be here to remove the old apron and the heaved up spot under the garage door.

Tomorrow is the NMRA train show in Sandusky, OH.

Thunder storms tonight through Monday, so I’m going to try and get some of the yard work finished….

[blownout cylinder]

Morgan: go to your father and your family. We are in His hands here--

Jeff: My dad was exactly like that. In fact my sister still has the unwashed perculator and will use it on occasion...

Hello--

We got the T'storms and showers coming today and tomorrow. Just in time for the weekend

I'm going to go into the trainroom and see whether I can get some pix of the Denfield mill site--

Flo, I'll have a coffee in a chipped CN  mug and a toasted bagel please----I'm going to the window booth to check out the scenery here--

[Anonymous]

 Morgan - my  go out to your father, your family and you! We are all in His hands.

Good Morning,

I actually did catch some more sleep, but too little to be fully restored. Need to do something about it.

Jeff - my FIL was like that as well - never cleaned "his" coffee maker. He died 13 years ago, and we keep this old coffee pot the way it was, but don´t use it 

Keith - should you get kicked out, I´d join you, together with Chris and others...

Chloe (or Marge?), I´ll have my French breakfast - a bucket full of cafe au lait, trois croissants, beurre, and jam/honey, ah, well, and some of that home made lemon curd, please.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

switch7frg

I better have some coffee in my chipped N&W  mug / w a slug of coal dust for added flavor  

Your comment about the flavor of the coffee reminded me of my grandfather and his trusty percolator that he never washed. One day my grandmother washed it. After the chewing she got about washing away all the built-up flavor she never touched it again while he was alive. That percolator perked away for another 10 years before it got washed out and retired, only after my grandfather had passed away in 1976 from lung cancer at the age of 76. My grandmother couldn't bring herself to throw that dented up thing away so it occupied a place on top of the china cabinet. After she passed on in the 90's it was passed to my father who still has it in his kitchen. It rarely gets used anymore but when it does it works just as good as it did back then. Somehow the coffee brewed in it tastes better than what you get from a modern coffee maker.

[switch7frg]

  Morgan ;  sorry to hear about your Father. Prayers are being said from my family to yours .  Respectfully,  Az. Jim

[AmanaMedic]

Blazzin

If I'm banned.. its been nice knowing all of you. ~

KEITH: If anybody bans you for this... they'll have to ban me too, because I'll defend you to the end on this one.

MORGAN: Our thoughts are with you, your Dad, and your family at this most difficult time. May he find comfort and peace.

Chris

[switch7frg]

  Uhh, is there a {low jack } device on the Diner or just the EOT?? I seem to be having location problems .  ~~~ My presant  loc. is mp.31.5 in time warp~~~ , other than that things seem to be on track??  Izzat richt? LOL. The 2 previous posts  remind me of trips down infamous Donner Pass with the comedy of errors.  I better have some coffee in my chipped N&W  mug / w a slug of coal dust for added flavor   18 wheelers can be fun driving  in rain & fog , right?  Respectfully, Cannonball

[Blazzin]

  There is no question here at the Diner that most of us keep us others in prayers here.  We do suffer they neighbors loss and to be amongst friends is .. well family.   I have always maintained civil comments..concerning religion.. and many beliefs...  even during the Christmas Holidays when some troll tried to dash our holidays. 

  As far as physical comfort.. if your father has fluid in his lungs.. sitting up he'll breath better.  If he lies flat.. its harder for him to breathe.  A semi reclining position / or bed might do the job. 

And if I should be kicked off this forum, for posting this.. well then it is well worth my friend.  I can't help.. but I want to help.  If I have offended others here in the diner.. I'm sorry.

My friend.. at this point.. this is all I have to offer.

Pray this with your father.

My Lord and my God, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and that He died on the
cross and shed His blood for the forgiveness of my sins. 
I believe Jesus rose again from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost and sits
on the right hand of God.

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and wash all my sins away with Your blood. 

I invite you into my heart as my personal Savior, and will follow you the rest
of my life.

Your Word says you'll turn no one away, and that includes me.  Therefore, I know
you've heard me, and I know you've answered me, and I know I'm saved.

Thank you, Jesus, for saving my soul.

  The first time I prayed that.. I was 12 years old.  I have never forgotten it.

If I'm banned.. its been nice knowing all of you. ~

[Flashwave]

You guys move fast. It's still April in Indy (for another hour, anyhow)

First off, I need to apologize for getting lost in the diner shuffle. There's a lot for me to catch you up on (namely, paperwork-certified at Indiana Transportation Museum to be junior brakeman...) but I need to thank you all again fro your support two years ago with my Dad. Unforunately, I need to ask for it again. Cause I'm gonna lose him in the next 24-48 hours to a complication of cancer. We couldn't lick it, and now he's building fluids too fast to pump it out. We can hear it in his breathing. Everything south of the neck is retaining, and there's a bunch of infections running aound to boot. Mostly, he's peaceful, the body and spirit are barely connected. Every now and again he flinches, struggles, and cries out "no", sometimes to us telling him its alright to leave, and then he slips back out. But I know I culd use your help, and he'll need it to get to the station at the Gates. He's afraid to leave, and none of us want him to, but we've said our goodbyes and we're ready.

 Sorry to be such a downer. But it ain;t been a fun second Semester.

[Blazzin]

  Ulrich.. please check your mail.. and reply as soon as possible.  If you have no mail.. please write me in any form you feel is the fastest.. your co-operation is appreciated...lol.

  Accidents.. wow.. I've got a story.. sort of~ I think it was Jeff that once said.. Fridays .. no one is on.. well here's my story.  Gather around folks.... just in time for the celebration..  its a May Pole story.. May 1st!.

 I don't know if you can imagine.. a modern 'pass'.. going over oh an easy 4,000 foot elevation..in a major rain storm...  but one time.. Jeanne and I were driving through the desert..going over the pass.  Four lanes across, each way .. but more like a freeway... with a negative pitch.. I know it sounds crazy.. and the grade is about 6 percent as well.  No I'm not kidding .. I'm talking about the famous Cajon Pass... yes.. the old.. UP, BNSF route into the basin of Los Angeles.  Its got to be the steepest / working railway in the west.

  Take a look at the pic.. actually click on it..   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cajon_Pass

heres a brief description.. I had to laugh... "... known for high wind, turbulence and fog.  The weather over the pass can vary, from foggy days with poor visibility to clear afternoons where aircraft are bounced by gusting Santa Anna Winds that top 80 mph"

  Well Jeanne is driving.. and we're in a storm... a fairly big one .. enough to know.. that we are now on the down side of the mountain.. and gaining speed.. as well as intensity of the rain.  Jeanne is going fast.. and I mean fast.. I say.. "Ah hon.. don't ya think you better take it easy a bit"  .. and she doesn't listen.. "Ah Jeanne .. I mean it.. I'm surprised people aren't sliding out right now~"   "Jeanne.. I'm getin scared, its pouring rain".. "I mean it slow da da .. ah gheez that person is out of control!"  "Look out!" .. "Ah gheez.. another one.. and another.. whoa."  Well I counted about 3 spin outs right there.. at least 5.. total.. all down the grade.  Like  a pin ball machine.

  So now.. two years later.. we're approaching the famous.. Cajon Pass.. and she's driving.. .. and speeding.. and we're on this grade.. 6 percent.. with the negative.. pitch.. lol.  And here is where my letter to my brother-in-law comes in.  I wrote this letter to him.

And/but now for my real story... lol.  On the drive back.. early in the
morning..
oh about 9 am or so, we were heading back from Vegas.. approaching the dangerous
downhill grade.. just leaving Victorville.  Snow was up on the mountains..the
air outside was chilly... Ryan had just finished talking to me on the cell
phone, and I was telling Jeanne how much I really like to kid Ryan. Now as I was
telling Jeanne .. about being a good 'kidder' and kidding Ryan..and how you
really have to make it seem so real.. that the person just can't believe it
either way..

 I get this sharp pain in my back. I let out an "ARGh"  with jerky
movements.. if not somewhat spaztic.. and every which way I move.. I feel pain..
in my upper back and I mean I'm squirming all over... making all sorts of
sounds.  Jeanne is laughing.. cuz.. I'm always a comedian around her half the
time anyways.  I now the pain is so bad.. I am now turning the car seat into a
reclining fashion.. with my arms above my head. After all, I was sitting
half/cocked talking with Jeanne.. if you can imagine my arms in the air.. moving
faster than the words coming out of my mouth..  this very sharp pain, felt like
a knife shoved in my back!.. No.. wait.. two of them.  Cuz now the pain has
moved into between both right and left parts of my back.  Yes.. I've had that
pain before.. but never as bad as this.  And~, it was only / ever on the right
side of my back between the spine and shoulder blade, in which I had always
contributed to arthritis, esp If I were to go to bed with no shirt and an
openned window.... the same exact pain. 

So now~.. I'm telling Jeanne.. that the
pain has moved to the right side.. and now pain is on both sides.. and .. ow..
oouu.. ahh~  haa~  the pain!.. Well she's laughing.. but asking .. "Is this for
real"?  And now I'm laughing.. and telling her.. "Honey.. I want you to know.. I
love you"  "Don't cry for me .. if anything happens.. 'actually Jeanne.. I feel
sorry for you poor souls that have to stay on this planet"
  I really didn't know what was happening to me.. but I didn't want Jeanne to
know either, that this could be real.  So I kept joking and laughing..wondering
if I'm throwing some embolli/blood clot and it settled in my lungs.. and a quick
painful death was immenate.  I told her of my faith in Christ and how with any
doubt.. I knew I was saved.  In between all this.. I'm trying to find some
comfortable position.. but always going back into the reclining state ..with my
arms up.  Jeanne is still laughing.. but with a serious look on her face. 

She says..

 "YOu want me to pull over... and get some aspirin out of the trunk"?
I said sure.. but the next off ramp."By the way.. do you smell something sweet? 
Like flowers?"  and laughing so much.  In the mean time.. I'm now getting front
pain and spasm's up front at the level of my gall bladder... now I'm telling
Jeanne.. my gall bladder is choking on a stone.. and I start to lightly slug my
lower chest.. as to crush up those gall stone (in which I had done in the
past)and she's still wondering.. am I joking.. heck I didn't know.. but I did
feel victorious.. as I was telling Jeanne. I was saying..
"Without a doubt hon, I know I am saved... eteranl life.. I have no problem with
meeting my maker."
"Every man wonders how he'll meet his end"  Will he be sobbing like some scared
person.. or victorious"
  Ah here Jeanne.. there's the one and only off ramp.. Kenwood offramp.. I think
it was.. I said "Oh Look.. there's a trailer there along the side road...
perhaps a 'Mobile Chest X ray' unit.. lol.
  "I don't care if the guy is not there.. out in the woods taking a dump..
but.... You're gonna take the x ray hon."  But no~  she drives to this area..
like some dead end.. closer to the off ramp.. but its a dead end.. and its a
place where ppl drop off the garbage/junk.. old toilets.. and what ever else
that was disguarded there. 

 I say again.. "Ah yes.. every man wonders how he'll
meet his death.. and where it will be".. lol. "At least people were~ here.  So
we get out of the car.. she gets the aspirin.. I take the first one.. and it
sticks to my tongue.. she ask's.. "There .. maybe that will help".. and I say
"Ah you sure.. they never seem to work" as the aspirin is still stuck to my
tongue.. it was out of 'slapstick' and we're both laughing till our sides are
aching. She massaged my back.. and a few minutes I was feeling good. So now.. to
sum it up.. my near death experience.. or at least I thought it was.. I can
honestly say.. I was victorious.  But honestly.. after we got on the freeway..
this big fat lady spun off on the freeway... I told Jeanne I bet the same
thing happened to her.. maybe it was the high altitude..and the cold air.. but
something settled into my back muscles.. and I would have not been able to have
driven a car.. coming down off the mountain.  So that sums up what I've been up
to Bill~ 

  Ok.. so much for Friday May 1st stories... lol.  If a man lives long enough, you'll wonder.

Now you can say Fridays no one is around.. lol.

[blownout cylinder]

Welp. Time for this little one to head off for some shut eye---

My blood sugar is now in the high single digits--that is in our Canadian manner of speaking here--now to see if the thing stays down there---

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 My sister was recently trying to tell me (after her son totaled his Scion) that her son is really a good driver. I looked at her in disbelief! I said to her "I've been driving for over 35 years. In that time I've had 4 accidents, 3 of them minor. The last one was over 10 years ago. Your son smashed up your car how many times in 1 year? 7? Since then he's totaled 4 others and been in minor wrecks with 5 more? Don't bother counting. You'll have to borrow 6 of my fingers to make the full count. 16? And that's the ones we know about? How does that make him a good driver? If I was still selling car insurance I'd turn him away in half a heartbeat. He's too dangerous and he's only in his mid 20's. What lies ahead? So far he's been lucky and walked away from every one of them with only a few scratches. At some point the law of averages is going to catch up with him and I don't want to be there when it does. He doesn't consider himself drunk until there's an empty case of beer cans and God knows what else he does.". This came up because he's trying to talk his parents (my sister and brother-in-law) into giving him still another car. I say that if he wants another one (he still has a pickup, a van and a motorcycle) he can get it on his own. Maybe then he'll take care of it. I think she's seeing the point I'm trying to make.

[citylimits]

Wow, this place is quiet - all cleaned up as well.

 

 

There looks to be a new waitress working the breakfast shift. The coffee smells hot and inviting just like always.  Mmmm,  some eggs and sausage, chili in a bowl, burgers and fries, what kind of pies - the Tom Waits song bounces around inside my head not long breaking into conciseness from the night before. I ease myself onto the bar stool gazing at the menu sign written on the wall that hasn't changed since 1956 - why should it, the menu carries all the old favorites and we don't eat New York city food around here.

 

The waitress said her name was Marge and that she would be looking after me - shewt, that wouldn't take long as I was still the only one here and I still hadn't got past the coffee on the order I was working on in my head. OK, just coffee, thanks, Marge, oh, and bacon with two eggs, poached, nice and runny with a side of toast just to let my heart know that the battle was still on. As I waited I absent mindedly pick at the linoleum that coveres the counter as I watch Marge's legs,  a bounce in her step, as she walked back into the kitchen where Cookie would prepare the food I had ordered.

 

I started to feel queasy even before the bacon hit the skillet or an egg shell was cracked open.  Cookie has owned this joint since discharging himself from the Navy just after the war. Rumor has it that he fell in love with a Philippino gal and they shacked up in a one room love hotel on Manila Bay. He missed his ship, an ancient Tin Can Destroyer, when it sailed back to "Frisco without him. The SP's were sent out to find Cookie, but the ships captain signaled back to say not to look too hard because the chow Cookie served up on board was almost inedible - for the crew, Cookies new berth on the beach, was a blessing. Eventually, Cookie found his way back Stateside as a Ghost Sailor.

 

 

Back at the Diner, Cookie still wore a Ruptured Duck clasp on his grease stained skivvies - he never did trust the government and thought some rogue SP may still be out looking for him.  Folks here in town will tell you that Cookie has a train set in his walk-in pantry, but that's just a rumor. Everybody knows that Cookie likes trains though. Some years back he had this plan for delivering food from the kitchen to the customers at the counter. The waitress's would still deliver food to the booths just like they usually did.  Cookie wasn't big on complicated track plans or turnouts. Some years into its operation the Government filed an anti-trust case against Cookie and his Diner because somebody complained that he was running a Railroad monopoly in his Diner, so he had to lease off some of his track to a local short-line who then wanted to convert all of Cookies track to narrow gauge.

 

Another Viceroy might do the trick, and settle me down, but the smoke was like a rasp tearing down my throat and I felt even worse than before.  I stubbed out the smoke and stared blankly at the wall.  That was a tough operating session we had last night, nothing seemed to go right for me and all the freight car movements in that crappy yard just went all to heck. Big Pete, whose layout we were guests at, wasn't impressed at all with my efforts.  I have been banned from his place for three months or until I learn to stop sneaking Bourbon into the Branch water he kindly provides as a refreshment and he said I need to learn how to use a controller without shorting out the whole system.

Darn, if this gets out at the LHS I'm doomed. Even around town there will be smirks and looks of derision leveled at me.

 

My breakfast arrives and I move in on it quick, too quickly, and my body moans at the sudden ingestion of grease. But it just has to be that way - I have to eat faster. Marge looks at me like she is watching a man who hasn't seen food in over a week - what's up, honey, she asked, nothing Marge, I just gotta get out of here before the operating group at Big Pete's closes up and they all roll in here for breakfast and laugh themselves to pieces at my ineptitude as a model railroad operator.  Never mind, she said, there's a day crib out in back you can rest up there until it gets dark again and it's safe for you to go home. Beaten and dejected at my miserable failure as an operator, afraid of the ribbing I was sure would follow once the guys from Big Pete's showed up, I stood up from the bar stool leaving my half eaten food  at the counter and followed Marge into the small box room with an old army crib set against the back wall. Above the crib hung a faded photograph of a young Philippino gal looking back at me with a half way grin. Latter Marge bought me a cup of coffee and I slipped into a fitful sleep waiting for dusk to cover our small town and my escape home. 

 

 

Bruce

[Anonymous]

 Well, the move has been made, the switcher has uncoupled and is off to a new assignment. The girls have cleaned up the mess and the Diner is now re-opened for the month!

Welcome aboard!