Good morning. Asphalt
Ulrich- Hang in there. Not much better in the land of milk and honey. No honey unless someone is rolling in the milk and is willing to share by hiring. Like Jeff said, since the government said that the cost of living did not increase, they gave no increase. Odd. The cost of insurance coming out of the check went up. Guess that doesn't count unless they want it too. ????? Your description of your waste program. I need to check something here. Go outside and walk around the block. Do you notice an unusually large amount of signs written in English and Spanish? Cause Hoss, it sure sounds like something they would dream up here in the States. Sounds to me you are about as close to the U.S. as you can get without having to pay our taxes.
Ray- We don't have to divide, or separate here really, just set out the blue tote box and hope they don't recycle that as well. They drive this separate compartment truck around and separate as they pick up. Probably like your place. Yup, sounds about like the government. "We'll save tax money by not having to support the waste service" means just that. It does not mean they will not spend it on something else like oh, I don‘t know, Twizzlers. But they won't be spending it on waste service. So that saves you money. See?
Chuck- I hope things get settled soon.
Jeff- wise move on the tank. I've gotten used to doing things by myself over the years using knees and elbows, head , feet and even some items designed for the purpose, however, given the choice, I believe I would have preferred to have an extra set of hands.
Lee-Great article. You are surely proud of him. Good lookin feller too. Must take after his mother. It's all in how you interpret the storm drain service. You see, the ones who have one get charged to have one. Those who do not, get charged because your runoff gets into a storm drain....., riiiight, oh where is that..... well, somewhere. Besides, they never said YOUR storm drain. See? Makes perfect sense.
Well, JP got me all misty eyed again, guess I better get moving.
Have a Great Day!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Good Afternoon,
Flo, I´ll go for a mug o´ coffee and a slice of that cherry crumble pie, topped with vanilla ice cream and cream chantilly. A sprinkle of hazel nut flakes on it is quite OK, as well. Thank you.
Chris - "Yes, I'm STILL in a foul, grumpy, anti-social, fed up with the human race kinda mindset..." - you and I must be brothers, you are just describing the way I feel already for some months (years?) now. Especially, when your fellow countrymen are Germans - egad!
Todd - the US are a tax heaven compared to Germany. Taxes are killing the economy and killing the people, and guess what our elected representatives are discussing right now - yes, you have guessed it right - more taxes! If you add up all taxes, a middle income is taxed over 70 % ! That´s more than double of corporate taxation. I´d be happy with signs in German and Spanish - here, the German language is on the retreat, it is Genglish and Turkish nowadays.
Lee - congrats on that smart and handsome boy of yours! I am glad the docs could help him with his hearing! Sometimes I wish, though, I´d find the button to turn it off - there is just too much garbage I have to listen to!
Saturday, we will be going to Hannover to see my son. He just moved into a new flat a month ago, and we are eager to see, how he and his girlfriend have settled down in this place. I am really looking forward to this, as we do not have much of a chance to go anywhere else than our local supermarkets these days.
CUL
Lee, Thanks for sharing the newspaper article with us. It's always nice to know or read about the many fine young people out there. I get tired of only reading about the losers. My best wishes on his graduation and my hope that all his ambitions are fulfilled.
A couple of weeks ago I picked up a really nasty virus on my laptop. No way was I going to do any banking or make any purchases on it, so I ordered a new laptop from Dell. Two weeks ago I read an ad in the paper of a local outfit which advertised that they could take care of problems like that. They had to wipe everything out and reinstall the operating system, but that was okay as I had transferred all my files to the new laptop. They were reasonable in their fees and very quick in the turnaround. I also had them come to the house and install a wireless router as well as take care of an issue I was having with an external monitor. Now all is right with the world and I'm back in business. I'm glad I spotted the ad and feel fortunate that I've found somebody reliable to help sort out these issues when necessary.
It's a beautiful, sunny day here around Pittsburgh. Supposedly, the rain won't be back until the weekend. I'll have to get the grass cut this afternoon before it's a jungle again. I think I've cut the grass more this spring than any other.
In the township where I live, each household pays $62.00 a quarter for weekly pickup of trash, garbage and recyclables on a weekly basis. Unlimited amounts with certain restrictions. Around here, I think it's one of the better bargains.
Just thinking I better wrap this up and maybe wash the car while I can.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Lee: That's great news about your son. Getting an implant at that age meant he had a lot to overcome to get to where he is now. He had a whole new world opened up to him and he grabbed onto it. I have a fair idea of what he went through growing up. Many people just don't realize how important being able to hear is until they lose it. While I've never been deaf I might as well have been when I was a child since I couldn't understand any speech I heard. I have a condition called global aphasia in which what I hear is scrambled. It also effects my speech. After 9 years of special ed schools you'd be hard pressed to tell that I had (still have) a problem with speech and hearing. I use a bit of lip reading to help me understand what someone is saying, but if the voice is coming over a PA speaker - forget it. I'm lucky if I can pull out 1 word in 4. The aphasia is still there but I learned how to cope with it and unscramble what I hear and make sure that what I say is understandable. However it still sneaks in once in a while when I'm tired or I'm not paying attention.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe just an English Muffin with strawberry jam and a cup of dark roast in a R&GV Mug please and Thank You! I'll be in the front booth soaking up what sunshine is coming in the window and watching all the activity outside.
Lee, That is great and I know you are proud!
Jeffrey, I can understand what you have gone through with the hearing. Only big difference is I lost mine as an older adult. I can hear most sounds, but speech without my being able to see the person speaking is mostly unintelligible. An inplant has been suggested for my loss, but tempered with, "You won't like it as a musician!" So I limp along on what little hearing I have left. The toughest thing is people including family members who get upset with me because I can't get what they are saying. yesterday my granddaughter was excited being down in the train room and she would ask me to run something or do something with the trains, and it came out as, "PaPa ndsjw djfj kkjdf ks nfokjkkj, OK?
Well, I have a Cub Pack Meeting with their new Carter Organization (Methodist Church) to get to and I don't want to be late!
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Happy Lunch Hour Gang,
Chloe, when you get the chance, bring on the Bush's beans with ham steak, sourdough bread and a diet Dr.P. to chase. Thanks much......................
JP., our sincere sympathies to you and your Mom. Dogs that become family members are just as difficult to say good bye to as anyone else, in most cases..............
Lee, wonderful news about your son and do wish him great success not only for this special endevour but for the rest of his chosen career path as well.
Jeff, I feel so much better now that you are going to keep that fuel system stock. I really didn't feel comfortable about the CELL idea, although I'm sure your precautions would have made it safe. If the time comes that you ever need to get rid of it, it will be much easier to sell with the stock tank.
Jerry, nice job on those backgrounds, looking good. Hope they got Pearl Street re-paved for you so that it is nice a smooth when Sally and you get out for a ride.
Tom M. You get a lot of work done in spite of all the time you spend on these forums, WHAT IS YOUR SECRET??
Bridge Tom, I have been eyeing up some of those Cripplebush rock faces, they really look good and I would like to use a larger one for an access hole into a tunnel area. What is your opinion of them and do you think this might work ??
Well, we are enjoying our visit with my Son here in Spokane. His Convocation is tomorrow , this is a great milestone for him in what he has been through the last three years (other than school). Then two more years for his Masters.
Picked up a few items from Sunset Junction yesterday, a GN Gunderson gondola with the stamped steel sides, from Exact Rail.Some spare trucks, some forest floor ground cover from Timberline Scenery and some other odds and ends. (You know how it goes, you don't need anything but you find things to buy anyway.)
We brought the Wife's Chevy HHR down this time rather than my truck, (Sierra) so that saved quite a bit of fuel but really limits what we can take back with us.
We will head home Monday, always sad to leave our Son, but he is living the life he has chosen and that must be recognized and accepted.
Ulrich, we are still praying for you, Petra and your Folks. It is time that the sun starts to shine for all of you. Blessings to you Buddy.
Also prayers for all others standing in need today.
The good Wife is ready to head out so must go and keep track of her... Lol.
Keep smiling ya all.
Johnboy out...............................for now
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
last mountain & eastern hoggerJeff, I feel so much better now that you are going to keep that fuel system stock. I really didn't feel comfortable about the CELL idea, although I'm sure your precautions would have made it safe. If the time comes that you ever need to get rid of it, it will be much easier to sell with the stock tank.
Good afternoon.
I've been painting the garage most of the day, and then I ran out of paint. No MRR for me today. Maybe this weekend.
Also thanks for the comments on my gas station. I got some road poured out yesterday. Maybe I can work on it also this weekend.
Hope everybody has a good evening.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
galaxyjeffrey-wimberly galaxyTHis may sound stupid, and you may have already covered this route, but is there an auto restoration company somewhere near you or in a bigger city within 1-2 hour drive of you? They may have contacts that could get you what you need, or they may be able to fabricate it for you. Just a thought. There aren't many auto restorers in this part of the state. Only place around here like that is less than a mile up the road. He focuses on mid 70's to late 50's as a hobby, so what I have is somewhat out of his realm. The newest Dodge van that he has on site is a 79 B250. It's a junker that he uses to store auto body parts in. He has to do some research on it but he's sure it will fit mechanically. The problem is that the wiring on it is a bit different. He has to find the proper interchange manual to see what it says about adapting it to an 81 wire harness. It's not quite as simple as just changing out a harness adapter. Design engineers sometimes have a nasty habit of changing the color codes on the wires. He is looking though and I can't ask for more than that. I KNOW, I KNOW! EVERYBODY: Lets all chip in and have Jeff's van stolen off to the guys at the Cable TV Show "Overhaulin'" in California!!! There they will totally restore and update it for him and he won't have to worry about gastanks or steering columns or bondo or paint jobs or anything else!!!! What y'all THINK?
jeffrey-wimberly galaxyTHis may sound stupid, and you may have already covered this route, but is there an auto restoration company somewhere near you or in a bigger city within 1-2 hour drive of you? They may have contacts that could get you what you need, or they may be able to fabricate it for you. Just a thought. There aren't many auto restorers in this part of the state. Only place around here like that is less than a mile up the road. He focuses on mid 70's to late 50's as a hobby, so what I have is somewhat out of his realm. The newest Dodge van that he has on site is a 79 B250. It's a junker that he uses to store auto body parts in. He has to do some research on it but he's sure it will fit mechanically. The problem is that the wiring on it is a bit different. He has to find the proper interchange manual to see what it says about adapting it to an 81 wire harness. It's not quite as simple as just changing out a harness adapter. Design engineers sometimes have a nasty habit of changing the color codes on the wires. He is looking though and I can't ask for more than that.
galaxyTHis may sound stupid, and you may have already covered this route, but is there an auto restoration company somewhere near you or in a bigger city within 1-2 hour drive of you? They may have contacts that could get you what you need, or they may be able to fabricate it for you. Just a thought.
I KNOW, I KNOW! EVERYBODY:
Lets all chip in and have Jeff's van stolen off to the guys at the Cable TV Show "Overhaulin'" in California!!! There they will totally restore and update it for him and he won't have to worry about gastanks or steering columns or bondo or paint jobs or anything else!!!!
What y'all THINK?
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
Evenin' guys!
Went to help a friend do some things, Now, of course, my back is screaming at me and oxycontin and hydrocodone and the muscle relaxer are now my new best friends.
I know this ain't the beer barn, but could I have a glass of WHite Zinfandel wine to relax with please?
At least it gave me something to do and got me out of the house for something other than a Dr.s Appt.
By the time we get an answer from the guys at Overhaulin' in CA. I think Jeffrey will have it all rebuilt for himself nicely. Besides, it would be no secret, I'm positive he read my posts! Nice idea though! Hey Jeffrey! If you decide to give up let us know we can all still write those letters about a deserving guy who "needs new wheels to get around and get to Dr/s APPt's with and he needs wheels to volunteer in his community FD even with his limited physical abilities, but smarts in the brains!" Just pretend to be "shocked" when you find out it's been "stolen"!!!!
WEll the N scale Kato GG-1 in Tuscan Red I orderd for my other half got here the other day. I don't think I mentioned it yet, if I did I repeat myself. I know I mentioned order it, but not sure if I did say it got here. Sure is "Purdy". It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It should run on the 11"R oval, but might be stretching it on the 9.5"R oval under the tree. HHMMM. While my other half is at work, I will have to dig out some N scale track, wire and a transformer and test it out make sure it works. Tuscan red ones are the favorite, but any thing red is our favorites. WE are making a new under the tree layout so that is why I have no track "RTR" to test it on. sure hope it works well. My other half wants a white snowy scene and I want a regular "green scene". MAybe I can convince as it {a green scene} shoudl remind us of days to come.... {spring/summer}! AMybe that idea will fall flat on its face but...
well you guys all have a great evening.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Coffee in a SMOKEY SOUTHERN mug, please.
***Ulrich, your waste management description brought a chuckle here. Are you sure your Chancellor's last name isn't Gore?
***Lee, wonderful article. You must be very proud of your son.
Had a scarey morning here when I awoke to the smell of smoke. Running downstairs into a smoke filled workshop, found the heat lamp had fallen into the tub of chicks (guineas,chickens,peafowl) and was burning the shavings. Lost 1 baby peafowl that was unfortunately trapped under the fallen lamp. All others seem to be OK thus far. Just depends if breathing that smoke hurt their lungs. Time will tell.
All for now, Rob
Evenin' folks!
Janie just a cup of decaf in a FGLK mug to relax me.
Lee, I didn't have time this morning to mention..... You probably are aware of this but, RIT has a very large and active group of students involved in model railroading. I am friends with the RIT Model Railroad Club adviser who is a member of the R&GV RR Museum. He is also a member of my division of the NMRA. More info is here. BTW a couple of the photos that show on the page are of the 1/1 scale stuff out at the museum. They do a lot of volunteer work out there and several of our younger members are RIT grads. I find the students in the Model Railroad club are just great people to hang with!!! If you get up this way, look me up. I love to give tours of the SLOW...
I spent most of the afternoon over at church. We no sooner got down to checking sound levels on the mikes than the fire call goes off. Since the other guy working with me is a fireman and the call was for a car accident, he takes off on the run. I decided to go run a few errands I needed to do, came back an hour later, found he wasn't back yet. I left a note for him to call when he got back to the church. No sooner get home and doing some other things, he calls........ We did make all the needed adjustments and check out the differences between to big board which was fried and my little 1202 Mackie.
We only have 3 services left before we go on the summer schedule and combine services with the American Baptist Church across town. Month of July will be at the Baptist church, month of August will be at the Presbyterian Church. So..... We have a month to get everything fixed and running without having to worry about Sunday Services.
I found out a couple days ago that an almost 90 year old Master Model Railroader will be driving up to visit his son and family first part of July. His DIL is a member of the board of deacons and has told him I am into model railing and working on the AP certificates towards MMR. He wants to stop over for a while while he is in town. I have some major cleaning up and progress to make by the 1st. if July.....
Morning guys!
I'm the first up at 5 am? HMM.
I know a lot of you guys have to be up this early to go to work. My ohter half gets up this early for work too. I usually get up to have some morning "us time" before we are separated for the day.
TMarsh Good morning. Asphalt
Good morning Asphalt? Asphalt?? Asphalt??? are you greeting us this way or answering a question about your scale roads? Is "Asphalt" the "word of the day"??? {Or did you party too much the night before and woke up "kissing asphalt" so you said good morning to it???} LOL I puzzled over this all day yesterday so I had to ask today, made me laugh when I read that greeeting though.
Hey there's a new idea---"the word of the day"! Here is the word for today: "discombobulate"- meaning "upset, confused" according to Websters New American Dictionary.
I hope your day goes well, and nothing is "discombobulated" for you!
Lunchtime in hot and humid northern Germany!
Janie, I´ll have a Lasagne and half a bottle of Montepulciano d´Abruzzo, 1991 year, per favore.
Temperature is "hovering" at 28 C, with a humidity of 95 %. We are expecting some nice thunderboomers later in the day. Here it is not as bad as in southern Germany, where there is some serious flooding.
Nothing planned for the rest of the day, maybe I´ll watch the opening game of the soccer championship in South Africa. I won´t be rooting for that arrogant German team, my heart is with the Bafana team of South Africa!
Asphalt? Isn´t that the sticky, black stuff which they smear in the roads?
Have a good day, y´all!
Good sunny morning.
Off to work in a few minutes . We got the house appraisal back yesterday and the house is worth $70,000. That's the second time the house came back at that price. So hopefully we can get it refinanced by next month and get some things paid off!!
Lee........Didn't get a chance to say anything yesterday about the article, but it was very touching.
Hope everybody has a good day.
Good Mornin', bucket of coffee to go... we's be gettin' ready to go see THAT 'bout some "face-time" here shortly.
"Good morning Asphalt" Hmmmmmmmm, Perhaps the King of Toddland was expounding some profundity lost upon us mere mortals???? I don't think it was word salad...
I suppose, we'd best follow suit, so:
Good Morning, Tarmac.
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Morning. Coffee and the #3 Special please. Over easy, Maple Syrup please. Thank you.
Robby- Great! Sounds like your work paid off. Now I hope the refinance goes well.
Galaxy and Chris- Sorry, I should have clarified. (hey, it made sense to me ) in an earlier posting I said I didn't know what the roads in uptown Williamsville were made of, Concrete or Asphalt, even though I drove or been on them in some way every single day of my memorable life! Well, except for April 23, 1998. (I was sick and didn't leave the house. Happens.) See, I want the streets of Gold Creek to resemble them, but yet I realized I didn't know what the material was. Is. Was. Whatever. So the night before the post I looked at the street to see just what it was. Asphalt.
I'll admit I'm NOT the most observant guy you'll ever meet. In fact, I'm not really sure, but I think we're living in a different house now. Something just looks...... different.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Zoe I'll have the Eggs Benedict this morning, and a cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug. I'll go sit at the Rivet Counter for a little bit.
Rob, hope the rest of the chicks survived the warming, and very glad you caught it when you did!!!
Lee, my insurance co. paid a one time payment of $400 per ear for my first set of hearing aids. They were analog and cost $3,500 for the 2 of them. Since they had already bought me a set of hearing aids, they won't pay again. My second set THAT I wear now set me back around $7,000. Oddly enough they cover the hearing test...... I would doubt they would cover anything for an implant! I have better things to do with about 2 years of my total income than to worry about being able to hear I guess. If speech sounds like a piano, I wonder what a symphony orchestra would sound like???
Started to install the turnouts last night. They are in place and just need to be soldered to the other rails. I will then solder a feeder to power the frog from the Tortoise machine. Hopefully by tonight they will be up and running trains.
My #2 son should be arriving sometime early afternoon. He is flying in from Chicago to Buffalo where he rents a car and them drives to Geneva. He is stopping in to see his Aunt as he passes through Canandaigua this morning and then heading to my house.
So....... I better get some more cleaning done! He is the fastidious one in the family. He usually arrives, looks at the Mess™, shakes his head, takes a deep breath and says, "Daaaaaaaaad!" At least I have him "trained" so he doesn't "help" me and clean off the kitchen counter for me. First time he did THAT, it took me a week to find the toaster. Over 3 months to finally locate the blender.........
OK, Later!
EDIT: I did have a long, very long, recitation on a subject that, after reconsideration, I felt could be interpreted incorrectly if you do not know me as many peple I deal with every day do. I decided to remove it.
If you had a chance to read it and did take it the wrong way, I appologize. In no way was I blaming every parent for anything. Nor was I saying any parent can do something more than they are. I have an opinion on many things, but I always take an individual situation and apply my opinion to that individual situation when it arises. No opinion I state is intended to be a blanket statement for all. They are generic feelings I have and like anything, do not necessarily apply to all situations. If anyones situation does not apply to my opinions, then my opinions do not apply in that case. I generally always try to see both sides and usually I do.
But please, don't hang out at a bar everynight drinking $2.50 beers, $2.75 shots and smoking $5.00 plus a pack cigarettes and complain about how you don't have money for diapers or utilities, new shoes for the kids or gas to get back and forth to work. I DON'T have much sympathy regardless the situation. So please, just keep that to yourself. (No one here fits that description. I heard it again last night through the window at work while they were outside smoking with a beer and a shot sitting on the bar.)
AmanaMedic I suppose, we'd best follow suit, so: Good Morning, Tarmac. Chris
Good afternoon. Brick
I grew up with a mother who had Multiple Sclerosis. By the time I was 13 in 1976, she was wheelchair bound. By the time I was 20 she was reduced to a quadruplegic. The health insurance company DENIED their claim for a custom built wheelchair for her FIVE times. By 1998 my father said enough is enough and had to pay out of pocket $8k for one to be built for my mother, who was a tallish woman of 5' 9".
They also had some trouble getting the DMV to accept the Dr.'s orders for a handicapped license PLATE- instead of those hangy-rearview mirror temporary things. AS though she were ever gonna get better and walk again.
It also cost about $15k to put in the electric wheelchair lift to their van, again an out-of-pocket expense on a new van. My father did have a $3k rebate from Chysler for the lift IF he bought a Chrysler van and had one installed, which he did most of his life {bought chrysler vans that is}.
It's tough on familys and persons of disability. I know, and they promise changes in health care. Yeah right. Lets just see.
galaxy AmanaMedic I suppose, we'd best follow suit, so: Good Morning, Tarmac. Chris Good afternoon. Brick
An earlier comment about asphalt?
----and here I'm thinking of a piece that had a line---"on the second second of forever I thought of a pair of broken chains lying on the tarmac"
Good Morning Concrete
And on that note i notice health care is an issue again---boy dont we know it up here---you want t do it this way? oi----thats all I'm saying. Money goes to those at the top---the front line healthcare ppl get to be laid off--isn't it just great? My dad worked as a healthcare worker in a mental institution all the while watching as more middle managers got jobs and his position became obsolete--as they closed down beds----just lovely---the place eventually got shut down in favour of the more "efficient" homes for special care------
I'm getting off the soapy box now---
I got some things to catch up on here as it appears that my order finally came through---I get to finish my conveyors---yay!!
Chloe, I'll just have a diet pepsi for now and a creamcheese bagel please---I'll be sitting at the window booth watching the noon hour switcher
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Exrta strong Italian roast coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
Expecting a MRRing shipment that we ordered months ago from the "slowest online vendor" we've ever dealt with. Finally asked them to replace items on the original order with some they "actually had in stock". Sooo, my wife will have all her (HO) people hanging laundry for the farm house, a trailer home and one house in town. Something else in that order, but can't recall at the moment.
Looks like the chicks will be ok. I misspoke about the fried chick, wasn't a peafowl but rather a baby turkey. Was one of only two to hatch out this year.
I keep seeing images of a Cab Forward on my (N) scale layout, pulling ore cars out of a volcano! But for close to that price, I could just as easily see a sound equiped Proto Mallet doing the same thing.
Have been reconsidering the Bachmann Heavy Mountain. Except for their nice 2-8-0, have had so many bad experiences with the brand.
And then there is the prospect of acquiring a couple medium size steamers instead. Good thing it takes forever to get paid. The downside is the wife will have forgot her comment about "buying lots of trains" and will have new plans for those funds by the time they arrive, like fence posts.
Have a good day y'all.
Rob
TMarsh EDIT: I did have a long, very long, recitation on a subject that, after reconsideration, I felt could be interpreted incorrectly if you do not know me as many peple I deal with every day do. I decided to remove it.
Todd, I feel your remarks were entirely on target, and anyone who might take umbrage probably can't see around their personal agenda..
Galaxy, kudos to your father for doing what had to be done! We have had a few fights with insurance as well. My wife is saddled with a myriad of issues, disabled since 1999. In 2005 it was determined that she needed a custom power chair, with forward and rear tilting seat, about 14K. The process began, and in 2006 we bought a Dodge GC Rollx conversion. Still no chair approval. 2007 came, and we bought an accessible house, as she was no longer able to navigate easily in our home. Her chair was FINALLY approved, and delivered on moving day. Good thing, too, as the chair could not even enter the old house.
The housing market tanked at the same time, old house still unsold (but at least rented out) after 20 months on market. Refinanced both in 2009. I retired last summer to preserve my health. The plan years ago had been to be mortgage free at this point, not with a 370K balance on the two houses. Add in the 40K+ for the van, the extra mortgage costs, misc. uncovered medical, and it's been a struggle. But, we have been very fortunate in the long run. Once deductibles were satisfied, insurance has covered 100% of allowable medical, in excess of 40K per year. Insurance also covered my 1984 heart attack, 2002 triple bypass and aortic aneurysm repair, even the 2009 vericose vein (40+ spots) ablation, and internal bleeding repair in January. Had to pay for the lasix on the eyes though, 2006.
If it sounds like I'm complaining, I'm not. There are plenty of down moments, but we are blessed in many more ways. Thanks to an excellent PT/OT program following her last hospitalization, she is again able to transfer chair/bed/bathroom/shower with minimal help, for which I am grateful. And I am grateful for the many faults, flaws, screwups, and "how could you"s" she has overlooked and/or forgiven me over the past 29 years. There is that "...for better, for worse, in sickness and in health..." thing after all.
Every day is a new day, and one that we are thankful for. I just wish they wouldn't go by so fast. Retirement has not been boring; I don't know how I found the time to work for 50 years (ok, I'm counting paper route as a job also).
Gary
Afternoon All....Its cloudy and thunder here looks like in could rain at any time...I'll have a diet coke please..Not feeling so good today having some dizzy spells..Nurse cam and checked my blood presure it was 120 over 60 so Dr called in something for dizzyness..gonna get in my recliner and spend evening..You all talking about hearing problems..I wore head phones 8 hours a day for almost 30 years..I have to be looking at someone to hear them..Guys I worked with said every year I turned the headphone up another notch!...
This is a turntable I made from a CD and case..can't bear the price but I don't know what I'm gonna do with it...
You all have a good one...Jerry
Afternoon all!!...I will have the half Bbq chicken with an ear of corn...salt potatoes and beans please. And lots of hot melted butter with a frosted mug of Coke please. Still moping around the house like a lost puppy healing from the hernia surgery. It's amazing the stupid little things you can find to do when you have nothing BUT time on your hands. I cannot find anything else to paint or glue for at least the next 24 hours. I even arranged the fridge magnets!!...On another note...Ray...you need to lighten up on the Maple syrup for our breakfast...Our good old NYS production is down 29% this year!!...What a huge hit. Good thing I have my private stash. Buckwheat pancakes only twice a week for you my friend!!!!..See ya all shortly...I need to go find something else to do...like clean the silver..
A true friend will not bail you out of jail...he will be sitting next to you saying "that was friggin awesome dude!" Tim...Modeling the NYC...is there any other?
Good Afternoon!
I've been home the past 3 days with a nasty cold/flu and just haven't felt much like stopping by, besides Chloe would have made me sit by myself with all the hacking and sneezing I've been doing. Feeling a little better now.
Weather here has been appropriate for my mood too, rainy and temps not even up to 60F. Perfect for sitting like a zombie in front of the telie all day. I looked at a couple of things on the layout but even turning on the power seemed like too much work.
We were down visiting our friends in Minnesota last week-end and had a great time as usual. I also picked up an order from Kleins I had sent there. I got an Athearn flat with the boat load which should go well with the harbour. The boat actually looks a lot like a Chris Craft of the mid-'50s. I also got a Vandy tender for my N scale Mountain as I just like the look of them. I did stop in to the LHS today after taking the wife to a doctor's appointment to pick up a barge and one of those new Digitrax sound decoders. I will be putting it into a B-Man Decapod to replace the rather flaky MRC decoder now in it. The MRC works but you never know at what speed step it will start or when the chuff will start, not to mention the poor slow speed control.
Well, I'm starting to feel a little sleepy again and I do have a the new Model Railroader plus CN Lines magazines to kick start a nap, so who am I not to give into temptation?
CN Charlie
Howdy everybody.
We left Detroit yesterday afternoon, and we spent the nite in Dayton. Now we are in Cincinnati for the weekend with two of our grand daughters.
Lee ... I read the article and you certainly have good reasons to be proud of your son. Read your posts and I see you also have cause to be very proud of your daughter.
Looks like a lot of other stuff is going on here in the diner. Prayers for all in need.
Jerry, I enjoyed your turntable creation. Now that's being resourceful.
Rob ... Is the mountain you are considering N or HO? I like my two Bachmann Spectrum mountains.
I'm looking forward to getting home an working on the layout. I bought more track on the trip. Also, I will have one more SD unit to put together. Before I left on this trip, Gus and I repaired my extra chassis which had been damaged as part of my "floor model" SD9. I bought another SD9 shell. After getting this unit operating, I will have plenty of SD units. (3 SD7's, 3 SD9's, and 2 SD24's)..
Happy Model Railroading
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU