Elliot´s Trackside Diner February 2011

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening

Had an interesting day of w**k as it turned out that we ended up with 5" of scattered flurries show up.....which only meant that driving was interesting here...Highway 4  was a trip I'd say..

JohnDer:  I like how those decals are working out...I'm looking at getting something together as well or some freelanced decals as well as some not so freelanced ones... ....I'm still looking for my dang DVD's....

Galaxy: We will continue praying for your family.........we went through somewhat like that when my mother was alive...she had terminal cancer and my dad was trying his darnedest to get help for her towards the end of her life...one has to bounce on some heads to actually do the work required of them...getting a meeting with all concerned to get them on the same page may be an effective start...

Well ( kind of frozen subject)...we did manage to find a source for some more pink/blue stuff as well...so if none of my more local sources don't have it I can always go out to Cashway to pick it up...

Chloe, i'll have a burger platter with fries and coleslaw as well as a decaf coffee please...I'll be at the window booth for a bit...

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a Burlington Northern mug, please.

***Galaxy, sorry for all you're having to deal with. Nothing easy about end of life & quality of life issues, that's for sure. You're in our thoughts.

***Garry, you are in our thoughts as well. Do you see many more of these trips ahead? One day I hope you will be able to visit us here. You're always welcome. I understand it won't be an enjoyable trip, but do have a safe one.

***Der, we love how you created the building that looks just like a giant box of cerial. That must have taken you a lot of time. Kidding aside, those decals look great.

Off to do some farm chores before dark.

Cheers! Rob

[Robby P.]

 Well I got my taxe papers signed up and I start on the 17th.   Now hopefully the other interview goes as well. 

 Now my plan is to order some train cars and get them going on eBay.   I just have to figure out on what I will weather.

 Jim........I haven't sold anything in months.  I will probably use the money I make to go towards my credit cards.   I think its time to get rid of them . 

[edited by selector]

[der5997]

Good afternoon from sunny Nova Scotia!  And it's not cold out either, which is a huge bonus. Happy to report success first time out with making decals from print images using "decal-it". I've had this stuff, and the good intentions with which I bought it, for over 20 years! (Hoarding -with-intent Ron ) It works just fine, but I'm going to have to refine my technique, as you might expect. I took two sets of logos, one from a diabetes management news sheet from the pharmacy. It had the controlling company's logo too - Sobeys, a locally headquartered grocery chain. Also, a logo for SC Johnson from a supermarket flyer. The better quality paper on the newsletter gave a crisper result, but both are usable, so I've used them. In this shot the decal backing doesn't show as much as it does in this   Finally, the SC Johnson  - an altogether rougher decal. (with a tip of the hat to Ray on the angle!) I'm now testing an inkjet print of a raiLink loco herald. As far as I can see, the ink hasn't run in the water-based decal-it....yet. It's a time-consuming process, 6 coats at 15 minutes between each, then a two hour dry time before soaking to soften up the paper the image was printed on; then however long it takes to rub off the wetted paper, leaving just the dried and set decal-it with the ink from the image embedded in it. Then wait for that to dry before applying to the model.  Worth the wait if one can make custom decals at home for WAY less than the Decal houses would want.

 

Rob:

***Der, that is one nasty looking fire. Do you happen to know the story behind it?

...IIRC, the crew noticed a hot box and phoned it in. The RR's Rule book is worded such that they were forced to stop within a certain max distance; which, obedient souls that they were, they did. THAT placed them on the trestle! "Rules is rules" is the caption the photo's filed under in my album, and I see JR has much the same story. 

As for the silo position, they are just sitting there in that pic. They will most likely be located at the front of the chicken house where a truck would have access to them. That pic is from the backside of the farm anyway.

Oh, good! I was concerned I'd built them backwards way round...I was working off those photos.

Wife now wants a school bus (painted white) for a baby chicks delivery scene, like one sees around here. This means the doors cracked open, numerous people working in and around the front of the chicken house, and perhaps a bunch of tiny yellow chicks seen just inside.

...loose chicks in the bus? I thought they would be in stacks of cardboard boxes...does that show I'm no longer country, or am I thinking too modern?

 

Ken: I read your bank conversations to Kris. She says here Veterans Affairs would likely get you a lawyer. She also said, and this is a terrific idea 'cos it works all over the place, get the local media involved. Radio, TV, papers - just keep it factual so you don't get sued by the bank - but the media love a "Abuse by Big Business" story.

 I was all so surprised how busy the store was this morining, have $1500.00 before 11:30.  

..great! makes up for yesterday abit eh?

 

Tim:

.he could pass for a pirate or a Viking...lol

...and "there's an Ap for that" (if you add your home made beer!)

 

Ulrich: That's too much wind - and by the look of the clouds over the Atlantic, you haven't yet seen the end. Here's the satellite view as of 2:54 EST today. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/der5997/Feb52011.jpg

We build our houses a little sturdier over here, you know

...could that have something to do with having invented the 3 Little Pigs, and tumbled to the fact that masonry is better than wood in a high wind? Stikes me that by contrast North America is very 2^nd. Pig! LOL Have your mother's surgery logged in my planner, with a 2 day reminder.

 

Alvie: Sorry I missed the welcome mat last night, but What are your mrr interests/ era/layout...inquiring minds need to know.

 

Galaxy:

SO, Please, special thoughts and prayers for MIL.

  You've got it. It sounds like your OH is going through the anger stage of grieving- just ahead of the actual loss, but it's all the same, the time is to an extent irrelevant.

 

Garry: Prayers re your mom and her companion too.

 

Jim:

 
 I just got off the phone with a friend living in Northern British Columbia, Canada near the
 Alaskan border.

...which is not quite how she may have said it, since  as you'll see here, the red bit is The Yukon, and B.C. borders it (but kinda close to Alaska, I suppose)  

 

Dinner time again soon, and I hav eto look to the wood stove...TTFN

 

[JimRCGMO]

Galaxy, I'll [ditto] what J.R. said - this is the place (as you know) to come speak your mind (using squiggly lines and such, to keep the moderators happy). Whether I would use those words or not, I agree that it might just help your OH better to quit fighting reality (as well as to get the doctors all on the same page who are treating your MIL). After your OH's cooled down, you might give her a hug and tell her that (even though you still think she needs to think about NOT avoiding what's there) you love her.

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Janie - I'll have a bowl of the veggie beef soup/stew/whatever, a roast beef sandwich, and a Dr. Pepper, please 'n' thank you! And in honor of our new location, I'll be using Kudzu Green today...

Sheesh, stay gone for a while and I hear that Vinnie was asking my size for a casket - WHA??? I am NOT deceased, just distracted (too easily). But luckily, some of the Diners emailed me that if I didn't stop by soon, they were gonna sell off my window booth seat to the highest bidder on the 'Bay.

I see that while I've been gone we've had some Diners with new job prospects, Ulrich's got his module going (not to be confused with that MoJo thing...), Rob's making progress on his wife's layout (so soon it should be your turn, right, Rob?), and Garry's got a nice li'l ol' junkyard there! (Wanna ask you, Garry - where'd you get that DAWG from? He looks as mean as a junkyard dawg should) And Ray (per usual) is posting his marvelous photos and useful tips. (You da man, Ray!)

And I take it that we're in Mobile now, eh? Man, you would not believe how long that breadcrumb trail (by way of Caleefonya and a couple other side trips) was to get here! Hey, so long as the ladies don't use Kudzu for my next salad, I'm okay with the Diner being in Mobile. Now, I hope we're not still here come July - man, it can get stinking hot and muggy come summertime in the South.

Galaxy, add my prayers to Jeff and the others', for your MIL's health and/or peaceful passing (and comfort for your OH), as well as for your train Nut friend's wife's health and recovery.

NS Joe - you have me curious (I must've missed your original post about it), but how exactly did you manage to w**k trains into a THEOLOGY paper, fercryin'outloud? Was the teacher into trains also (that would be helpful for your grade, I'm sure...)?

My belated to the Diner, Ron (DrgnTrappr)! And I can understand exactly why you have some of those items - like those pliers that are rusted shut were going to be WD40'd (or such), but you haven't got that round TUIT just yet, etc. (Don't ask me how I know about that stuff...We'll just say that a long time ago, I had posted a couple of pics of my MRR tub 'towers'...)

Our weather here has been cold at times, and we got a somewhere between 2 and 4 inches (or 5 to 10 cm.) of the white fluffy stuff last night/this a.m., but it's mostly melting today (since it's s'posed to reach 35 F/2 C this afternoon, with the sun out some of the day). Roads are okay, and the major ones and interstate are clear. (I took I-55 down to my LHS-down-the-road this morning to pick up some Preiser painters to go with my others on the big ladders).

Tomorrow, I'll be going to some church friends' other church's (the friends attend two churches, go figure) SuperBowl festivities (good yummies!) and (for me) to watch the funny commercials.

Also, this past week I got the car repaired (from the minor tapping it got on the right front of it in late December). Some of my co-w**kers at the office hadn't even noticed, which makes the $1700+ that the other driver's insurance (State Farm) had to pay for my car's part pretty astounding. Well, they had to replace a bumper, right front headlight assembly, some other minor stuff and (I found out when I picked it up on Thursday) they had to straighten the frame also. But they did a bangup job on the paint - the car looked better than I've seen it -ever! (Sorry for stepping into Garry's punny territory.) The car still has a bit of paint smell inside, but not much. Overall, a great job on the body shop's part! Oh, one side 'perk' for me was, that several years ago, when I got a couple of payments behind on a previous car, State Farm's bank dept. repo'ed my car (which was one of a few factors leading to my going through bankruptcy), so having them (due to their customer's lapse of attention) have to pay to get my current car fixed up seemed fair to me.

On an unrelated topic, I have reconsidered going with the DeathStar company for my DSL. I tried calling their 'help' phone line, and was reminded of what a PITA frustration that THAT is..... So I'm back to the WiFi route for now, until my phone company (who's doing test research in Missouri to set up the city area with Internet via the electric lines) gets all of THAT figured out. Or until Charter (cough! P-O-C! cough!) decides they can offer me a reliable internet connection...(oh, yeah, right!)

I have managed to get my Kalmbach library about all together - in the recently purchased bookcase which is next to my bed. So if I get sick some day, I don't have to go far for some nice reading material, eh?

Ken, on your financial matters, I'd side with Todd - as you are able, try to keep paying something toward the mortgage. If nothing else, it makes it harder for them to claim you're a deadbeat who 'never pays his bills'... (My , anyway)

Jeff, I hope things stay warmer down your way (but some rain would be nice, yes?), and that something opens up so you can get some of those things tended to on your van. How's your layout re-do coming along, by the way?

Todd, hope you get the rest of things moved out (and can lower your expenses).

Chris, how's your (sorta) new employer arrangement w**king out for you?

Ulrich, I think you have the description of a lot of bank employees spot on! And the average age of those in banks has dropped drastically, which too often means you get ones at your local banks with little or no experience (and brains to match). I mean no offense to our teen Diners, as they are considerably smarter than the average bank w**ker I have seen. (And another reason I moved to a credit union - better attitudes there, I've found) And what's your current module setup look like? (A recent layout diagram will suffice for my curiosity)

Robby, best wishes on your NS interview (and beyond). Have you been selling much on the 'Bay? (What's your seller name on there?)

Barry, saw the photo of the church sign you posted. (It wasn't me!) I have been thinking about Ray, Robby, JR, Dick all our Diners along the Great Lakes area and in the Northeast, as well as our Canadian friends (including you) when viewing the weather reports the past couple of weeks. Sheesh, you guys thataway are getting more than your 'fair share'.

And I got an email recently from my friend Marj, who lives up near 'Sheekawgo' with this:

Warning .. Falling snow
 
 I just got off the phone with a friend living in Northern British Columbia, Canada near the
 Alaskan border.
 
 She said that since early this morning the snow has been nearly waist
 high and is still falling.
 
 The temperature is dropping way below -20 and the north wind is
 increasing to near gale force.
 
 Her husband has done nothing but look through the kitchen window and
 just stare.
 
 She says that if it gets much worse, she may have to let him in.

So with that, I'll leave for now. Hope to get back in sooner this next time.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[GMTRacing]

Galaxy,

   Our continued prayers for your MIL and MOH as well. If it helps, squiggle all you want here, we won't  hold it agin you. I understand all too well about the electronic record keeping. The main culprit is the patient confidentiality laws and the unintended consequences there in. Your MOH needs to get all these folks to meet and get on the same page and sign the paperwork necessary to have them communicate before they do more harm. If they are all cross prescribing meds and the pharmacy doesn't pick up on it,  things can go down hill fast. You and yours have enough to deal with already without the docs doing more harm than good. Hang in there and at least try to keep the MOH calmed down. You don't need them all in hospital, right? J.R.

[galaxy]

Good afternoon:

Update on MIL. SHe has congestive heart failure as well as pneumonia and an unidentified other infection. The CHF is what's causing her to loose conscience and drift into the coma as it is not providing enough blood to her brain, which is why a week ago she couldn't effectively talk coherently. The Doctors who have all been treating her have not been communicating with each other, nor have her records all been properly blended to reflect all the different findings. That is strange as Lourdes hospital has now all gone to electronic record keeping, but I know myself that all the records fo things don't get put into one patient file and kept. Each ER visit, for instance requires new electronics entries of everything from symptoms, tests, diagnosis, medications taken etc, medical history as though they had never seen the person ever before. I found that out from myself being there, with a following visit 2 weeks later, they didn't maintian the ER visit records, nor were they linked to my "patient permenant file". Unless a DR. knows what test tehy are looking for, for instance, they won't find it in the records. STUPID if you ask me! Electronic record keeping was supposed to simplify things, not make them as complicated or more complicated that paper records.

MOH came home in a tirade of anger and lashed out at me for the Dr.s failures to communicate with each other over MIL's care. Said if FIL wasn't there, MOH would have made a scene with the Drs., but didn't want to upset FIL, I said well then, don't come home and $#*(%^% start on ME cause you are *** at the DR.S!  THEY are the ones you need to $&^#&* AT, NOT me! I said you need to calm down and MOH said "don't &(%$^ tell me what to do!" and I said then stop $&^# taking it out on me! DOn't come home and cop a 'tude at me like this, it's NOT my fault, I am NOT the Drs. and I can do NOTHING about it! I said you also need to face the fact that your mother is going to die, probably sooner than later and you need to start facing it and DEAL. AND I said you SHOULD have, FIL upset or not, gone off on the Drs. who are screwing up your mohter's care. Going off on me isn't gonna help and won't keep peace in our house either.

Whew! sorry for the $&^# 's but trust me, there were a LOT MORE of those exchanged than the few I represented here! I hope I don't get suspended for the squiggles representing unprintable words.

I can see til MIL's passing that living with MOH is going to be a bit of sheer hell on me if this 'tude keeps up, which it undoubtedly will, as MOH is mad at the world that MIL is dying! AS I said, you need to start facing the fact that it's going to happen, hopefully quickly and peacefully for HER, and not that she just hangs on forever for your sake. MOH had a dog once insisting on putting hte dog through six cancer surgeries and 2 other surgeries to keep the dog alive {who probably suffered greatly} for 4 months only cause MOH couldn't let teh dog go peacefully, only to have the dog finally die what was probably an agonizing and long 3 day death for the dog.

With my mother, we had no problem "pulling the plug" to take mother {who had no longer any brain activity} out of her agony, and it was a complete family decision. BUt we had 30 years of her affected by the dreaded MS disease to prepare for my mother's passing. MOH has not had so long, but the last two months MIL has been through too much. MOH thinks the  Blood thinners will help ease the congestive heart failure and prolong her life, but again, I ask, for who? MOH? with MIL in agony and uncomfortable and in and out of conscience, further deteriorating her brain by lack of proper blood flow? WHY? Why NOT let her last days be comfortable and let her pass peacefully, than any
heroic eforts" to prolong her agony?

Sorry, I rambled again for those who actually read this stuff.

Prayers, please.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

We had ice falling again today under clear skies. It was falling from the trees as it melted off. It's peaceful once again as there's no ice crashing down on my roof. It was kind of weird to look out and see what looked like steam vapor billowing off the top of my van.

[cudaken]

 OK, I love snow, but it is getting a little carried away here in Maryville! Woke up to a fresh 6 to 8 inches of the white stuff!

 Only bright side is it going to be around 33 today.

 I was all so surprised how busy the store was this morining, have $1500.00 before 11:30.

 See you all later

              Ken

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a large waffle (w/ Maple Syrup of course) side order of sausage, home fries, and a cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug (w/ lots of refills).  I'll sit in the front booth watching for the latest Winter Advisory for the Finger Lakes to kick in....

I was asked yesterday to be an usher on Sunday, and since I planned on being there anyway for our Assoc. Pastors last sermon at our church, and the fsact that I enjoy being an usher, I said yes.  This morning we have a local weather alert calling for 3" to 5" of heavy wet white stuff to be on the ground when I get up tomorrow.....  Of course all THAT means is I will need to be out of bed about an hour and half earlier to run the snowblower, but.....  I don't like to get up an hour and a half early.  Currently 34°F here in the Finger Lakes.  Hopefully the white stuff on the roof will melt off today making safe room for the new white stuff predicted for tonight.

J. R., Ulrich and many others, Thanks for the kind words on the photo.  I think it is probably the best I have taken of the layout so far.

Garry, my prayers to you and the family both for a safe delivery of the grandchild, and strength for the other stuff.......!

Ulrich, Galaxy, and others, know you are in my prayers as well.  May He give you strength!

Other than doing the treasurers report for the MLK Committee meeting on Monday, I have today pretty much to myself.  Think I will head for the basement where the trains are.......

Later!

73

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning.

To each of you who commented on my scrap yard. Thanks!... It has been a very fun project, and it fills a scenic void I had on the layout.

Galaxy... Prayers for your MIL and for Train Nut's wife. Prayers for you too, and I hope the back is improving.

Ulrich ... Prayers for your Mom.

Our family is faced with some events. Our daughter in Detroit area will bring us a new grandchild next week. That's the good news. Shelley will travel to MI for that.

I will instead travel south to Alabama to help my sister there with our 91 year-old Mom. There are some major problems with Mom, and I will be there a while. Some of this stuff with Mom is rather sad, and it could be a tough trip.

Mom has been blessed with a male companion who lost his wife several years ago. (My Dad passed away 20 years ago). The relationship undoubtedly prolonged each of their lives. Mom's companion is now gravely ill and has been on a resperator for two weeks in ICU. His family (seeing no hope for his survival) is now abiding by lerms of his living will. Last night, he was take off the machine. At this moment he is still alive. I will be packing a suit for my traveling which might be needed to attend a funeral.

Since my Dad's passing, Mom has lived by herself. My sisters and I now agree Mom should not be living by herself. Mom will be going through a difficult transition.

So. I'm delighted about getting a new grandchild and sad about my Mom's situation.

Our bags are packed, and we leave on our trips tomorrow.

 

 

[blownout cylinder]

Good One!!

[GMTRacing]

Jeff,  So just like my trucks, if you go off and leave the turnsignal on you'll be able to find the van easily in a parking lot. Like I said, once you locate a heater core, the rest will be easy.  J.R.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

GMTRacing

   Jeff - I'm sure  with your skills you can get the motor and flaps positioned for defrost once you get a heater core and uncrisp motor in place. I hear the no funds part. Nest you'll get to do another extensive seach for a core that fits. How did the steering column/ turn signal/ key interlock ever finish up?

I didn't even bother with resetting the position of the column's key switch. I simply ran a new circuit to supply power from the battery to the wipers and turn signals directly from the battery. I cut the old circuit loose from the fuse block and wired the new one in. The wipers and turn signals work now and will even work without the key being on. The only problem with it is that the part of the fuse block that would normally be powered down when the key is turned off is now "full on" no matter what the key position is. As long as it works. The same fuses are still used, the original wires from the fuse block to the devices in question are still used, so the only difference is that part of the block is powered all the time.

[Anonymous]

Galaxy - special are being sent your way!

My mother´s surgery has now been scheduled for March 2nd, it leaves us a little time to take a deep breath and get prepared ...

[galaxy]

Morning all

Requesting extra special thoughts and prayers for my MIL. She faded into a coma yesterday and they were going to put her into ICU. But she came back around, so they moved her to a special care wing instead. If she faded into a coma once, then it can happen again. I do believe we are getting closer to loosing her, and I hope it's rather short and peaceful. SHe has pneumonia, that they know, but she also has another infection they can't pin-point, so they don't know how to treat it. My theory is taht an opportunistic infection settled in right with the pneumonia comprimising her immune system. I had two opportunistic infections settle in the last time I had a very bad case of Pneumonia 3 years ago. She is also 83, and is very tired, perhaps ready to pass.

MOH is off to hyperactively run errands today, both with purpose and to keep mind off MIL somewhat. Errands including stopping by work to tell all the important people that MIL is most likely going to wind up in ICU and if the call comes {from me} to work, that an event has happened, regardless of what is going on, MOH is leaving work immediately to go to her. The adreaneline {sp?} hyperactivity rush may not be good for MOH, but If it keeps the mind occupied and the tears from flowing...then I shall not stand in the way UNLESS MOH starts to get exhausted from hyperactivity, and crying uncontrollably over the thought of losing MIL. MOH is very sensiive to close family deaths and keeps a vigil on the anniversaries of deaths, and on Birthdays points out how old Grandmother, for example,  would have been had she lived {I think it's 110 y/o now. I gently pointed out this year that it doesn't do much good to carry on so and depress oneself, as most likely grandmother would have passed before reaching 110 anyway. I did it gently and I think it had a possitive effect as MOH said "you are right, I guess"}

I know my MIL's passing will hit MOH very hard and will long be remembered, whether it happens now or in the near future, or even the future. I just hope it doesn't happen Valentines Day, as then that holiday will forever be scarred for MOH. Of course if it happens this close to V day, it can still have an inpact everytime V day rolls around. MOH got the wish of not having it happen at the holidays times, but as I again gently pointed out, the way MOH is about the anniversaries of deaths, it won't matter when it happens, MOH will still morn and grieve at each passing year.

It's funny that FIL is no PITA at all when MIL is in the hospital, though MOH has stepped up efforts to help out at their house "for mother". FIL drives and walks all over teh hospital wiht his cast and walking shoe and walker without one complaint about his fractured ankle, but when MIL is at home, he is still a big baby aobut it. I think this time, though, MIL will not come home from the hospital. If she does leave teh hospital, I think she will go to a nursing home instead of home. It is her "dying wish" to die at home, but not all dying wishes can be fulfilled. Even with hospice care, if she slips into a coma, I doubt she will be sent home from ICU  for hospice care alone. Even when she has been awake, she slips back off to sleep in about 10 minutes. If she goes into ICU, I shall never see her again, as though part of the family,not a direct member and so won't be allowed in. MOH was not allowed into ICU when My mother went in before passing.

SO, Please, special thoughts and prayers for MIL.

SPecial thoughts and prayers for our train Nut friend's wife too, please. Our train nut friend's wife is back in hospital agian and had another surgery to remove a lesion on her small intestine and is in grave pain. Her episode started when they found a large ovarian cyst on her ovary the size of a soccer ball. The first surgeon at another hospital {she works for the organization behind it} butchered the job and her insides in the process, and didn't completely remove teh cyst or the ovary {to complete a hysterectomy}, severed her ureter to the bladder, and generally made a mess of things. SHe swtiched to our favorite hospital and when the new surgeon went in to finish the job, he said that the other hospital would have had to close her up again as they have no bowel resection specialiast there adn there was a kink in her large intestine as well, adn he got all the cyst, found and removed the remaining ovary, and reconnected the ureter, and called in {my } surgeon to do the resection for her bowel. The new surgeon said once that was all found at the old hospital, they would have just opened her up, looked in adn found all wrong and closed her up to send her to Lourdes anyway to get everything corrected as they had no surgeon specializing in correcting those things, so she would have wasted her time and energy at hte other hospital. They did surgery again on her yesterday to remove the lesion and to clear a bowel blockage she had. She said she is in more pain now than she has every been with all the surgeries she has been through.

SHe is trying ot complete her nursing degree, and if the teacher has any questions about her medical excuses for missing classes, all he has to do to confirm is to show up with her nursing classmates on hospital rounds, as she is magically on the floor they do rounds, so all her teachers and fellow students know her medical history as well. Hopefully she has nto missed too much time that they make her repeat this semster again, but with graduation supposedly in MAy, she may have to repeat if she can't make up all the work adn the tests, or if they stop being willing to work with her. WOrk is giving her a hassle also, They filled her position already on her  adn promised when she is Dr. ordered 100% able to go back to work and not a % less, they will find her another position in the company. She's not liking that at all as she loved her job and the nursing degeree would have meant a promotion adn of course a great pay increase. {she is currently nurses assistant}.

Well, enough depressing thoughts on "paper". I am sure you all have better things to do than to read my ramblings aobut the inevitable with teh MIL nad the woes of a friends wife.

Specail thoughts and prayers all around, please! .

TTYALLL8R

 

 

[Anonymous]

blownout cylinder

Ulrich: 160 MPH? Is there a house left??!?!    .....if you meant 160 KPH...still is a stiff wind!!! 

Not kph, but real mph, Barry. Our local gas station needs a new roof, but that´s all the damage so far. We build our houses a little sturdier over here, you know

The wind is down to a stiff breeze now and clean up work has started. There are many trees down in our neighborhood - fortunately, no one got hurt.

Zoe, a mug of hot chocolate, please -I need to get my daily dose of serotonin to make me feel happy.

Joe - how about the role of railroads during the Civil War? To my knowledge, railroads played an important part - for the first time in world history.

Ray - envy! What a great shot! Bringing that camera down to "eye level" makes such a big difference!

Garry - that scrap yard scene  -

Ken - there used to be a time when a person working in a bank was a well educated, knowledgeable person. These times are long gone, today they are run by (expletive, deleted) and (even more expletive, also deleted).

Jeff - a few days ago, my car was covered with an inch of ice - I could not even open a door. Just stayed home - no sense of going anywhere.

Alvie - . Good to see a new face again. You´ll find this place a nice one - lots of friends!

TTFN

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

     23F and snowing this morning. We're at the shop to get some stuff done - another big batch of magnafluxing and hopefully make some progress on a couple of other projects.  My flyin mechanic is stranded in Atlanta this morning - his flight was delayed and missed his connection due to mechanicals on the first leg. Better to miss a flight I think than have the plane develop issues enroute, no?

    Rob - love the progress pics. I still think the road gang is spot on even without the weathering on the truck. I suppose you could put the CFOs' backdrop behind the iNvisible scale part of the layout. Seems unfair to totally block yours out. on the camera front, if you jhave one of the newer DSLRs, you should have a color balance section on the menu. You probably are already there, but I keep the flash off as well.

   Ray - I'm green with envy. That is one honkin' good lense. The scene is not so bad either. Your construction has a great degree of believability to it.

   Der - that was the CSX "I have a hot box and need to stop the train right now - what do you mean I've stopped the bad truck on the last wooden trestle on earth and it's on fire" incident wasn't it? Gets railroadings Darwin award I think.

   Jeff - I'm sure  with your skills you can get the motor and flaps positioned for defrost once you get a heater core and uncrisp motor in place. I hear the no funds part. Nest you'll get to do another extensive seach for a core that fits. How did the steering column/ turn signal/ key interlock ever finish up?

   On the phone solicitation thing (and unwanted E-mails too) I simply don't speak with them. I agree with Todd that the clever crooks have set up all sorts of snares for the honest and it's better to just not take the chance. As it is, every couple of years, someone gets a company credit card number and we have to go through the cancel/reissue thing. Worst are the gas stations that still don't have pay at the pump so one of the urchins they hire can actually handle the card and get the info off it. By urchin I specifically do not refer to any of the upstanding younger citizens who visit the diner.

   Got the train room painted a teal sky color (more like the northeast/industrial area I model than bright OZ blue) Might need more dirty grey added but I'll cut that in later along with the light wash for the lower sky and perhaps some cloouds. 

   Time to grab my New Haven mug and skedaddle. Catch y'all later,   J.R.

 

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Coffe and a stack of those buttermilk pancakes.Today: A 30 percent chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. West southwest wind between 3 and 9 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. South southwest wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Garry- Very nice job on the scrap yard!

Rob- You’re coming along real well!

I deal with no one who calls me on the phone. I will call them on the numbers listed on their statements or bills the known company sends me. If I do answer and it does merit a look see (like the house refinance we just completed) any info is exchanged on a call that is returned to a number I know is theirs. Personal info is never exchanged over the phone and a legit outfit never asks. E-mail? Again nope. Nothing is responded to from an e-mail. If someone sends me an offer, an it rarely happens, I check it out by going to their website myself. Not through a link provided. They are very good about subtle spelling changes in the address line and I find it easier to just go to a site myself than see if I’m going to Chasecard.com or Chaseccard.com. No, I have no card with Chase. You couldn’t force me to carry one either.

Speaking of Credit Cards, I think they could afford to lower interest rates if the just cut back to HALF of the mailings they send out. I could fill a trash can a week on these silly things. And you’d think by now, my actual credit card company would figure out I will NOT use those outRAGEously interest rated and fee’d checks they send every other week. Really, eh-vury uh-ther week!

Ken- My opinion. Do not stop sending in money. Will it help? Depends. As you say you keep getting different answers. That usually means the people are answering based on what they think. Not necessarily what they know.If you stop sending money, you will lose the house for sure. If you do not stop sending, and there is a chance to keep the house, that will act in your favor. Sometimes diligence shows well on the loan people. You aren’t willing to give up and will fight to keep your house, they figure maybe you’re worth the risk. No guarantees of course, but then it depends on the fees and loan balances and what the bank gets for the house etc, if you will owe them anything after the house sells from the bank anyway. Also, Brenda found out that late payments and all that that show up on credit reports when you go to get another loan, if payed in full, get brushed off if when asked to explain you say, “loss of job” of in her case “divorce”. HIs response was the underwriters said, in spite of it all the bottom line was she paid her creditors in full. Just my two cents. Others could probably speak well for saving the cash for something else.

Joe- How about a paper on how the public ceased to ride the trains in favor of cars forcing the passenger service to all but disappear only to start griping about the traffic snarls theycreated and somehow manage to blame it on President Bush or Global Warming.

Ron- I too am a hoarder. I hate to admit. (model railroading stuff doesn’t count. That’s useful stuff)

Well THAT was longer than I expected, but I best get going. I’ve taken too long as it is. Sister did show up yesterday (yeah) and took a carload (yeaher). She and BIL are supposed to come back today around 10 am with a Ryder truck to haul some big stuff and more small stuff to help with the disposal (even yeaher). With any luck at all, I should be able to vacate the apartment by the end of the month thereby saving another 900 United Statsian dollars. We’ll see. Today isn’t over yet. And like the weather, you don’t know what she’ll do until she’s done it. No matter what she says.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

Crap. It's snowing. Sister will probably use that as an excuse.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 22° and clear. The high today will be 50° and sunny. There's no ice or snow in sight.

Cold this morning but no ice or snow on anything that I can see. Everything here is dry as a tinderbox. A hard freeze warning remains in effect until 10 am today. Am I going to do anything today that pertains to the layout? Probably not. But who knows?

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.

 I'm off to sign some papers, and tax papers at Wal-Mart.   Then who knows what we will do today.  Got some snow is the forecast but not much.

 Ray.........I also like the shot, very nice!!

 Tim........I think the game will be a good one, but its just the Steelers have to many injuries.   The Packers won't be able to run the ball, but the Steelers secondary is not very good (pass wise).  That will be the weakness.   Yeah Keisel does have a nice beard.   They even have shirts made for it..."Fear the Beard!!".   I do think he would make a good "viking" thou.

[blownout cylinder]

Ulrich: 160 MPH? Is there a house left??!?!    .....if you meant 160 KPH...still is a stiff wind!!! 

Good Morning

We are supposed to get all the way up to 28F today!! We're having a heatwave...a tropical heatwave!!...

Today is the first day of on-call...going to see how that goes by hiding in my trainroom...have a few loose ends to contend with here...

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a breakfast croisant please...I'll be at the RC with Ulrich for a bit..

 

[Anonymous]

Good Morning,

we are right in the midst of a quite serious storm, which brought us temperatures of 15 ° C, but also lots of rain.  Gust of wind exceed speeds of 160 mph, better to stay in the house. I had planned to get some more lumber to build some corner modules, but will postpone this.

Zoe, coffee in a JNR mug and a breakfasr bagel, please. I´ll stay here at the RC to wait for one of you folks to show up!

Stay safe!

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

[DrgnTrappr]

Hey Everone, Just thought I would drop in and say Hello. Zoe I will have a coffee for now.

Well after some deep personal thinking I have come to the conclusion that I am a hoarder. Not the piles of trash through out the house kind of hoarder, but a hoarder none the less. While going through my studio/workshop I have found boxes of nails, nuts, bolts, misc. hardware, and such that I have toted around the country for the last 20 years. I most have 30 pairs of pliers that are rusted shut, 10 hacksaw frames, 40 or 50 screwdrivers half of which are stripped or chipped, and yet I can not throw them away. Boxes of wire and two boxes of electronic parts that I can not remember where they came from. I have promised the better half that I would get rid of some of this stuff, but the throw away pile is still looking small.

Jeffery, I have the same problem with my van, its a 90 GMC conversion that we use to pull are trailer to art shows. The heater core started leaking under the dash and I was being cheap and thought that I could fix it with some stop leak, well that just made it worse. Now I am just going to bypass ithe heater core and we will just have to bundle up if we use it before spring.

Well I better get off of here its late and there is a storage auction in the morning, never been to one so I think I will check it out.

Night All

Ron

[fireman216]

Evening folks!!...Just thought I would drop in and offer up some homemade beer I have been brewing!!...Jolly good stuff that came out of a Mr.Beer kit my SIL got me for Xmas. 2 gallons of beer for about 15 bucks!!...My brother says it reminds him of Blue Moon minus the orange. Next batch I will get creative and add some hops and fermentabels in it to boost the alcohol %. Quiet night here in Upstate N.Y for a change...the sun actually was out most of the day! Got some more work done on one of the yards I was ballasting the other day. Added the bumping posts and some grass tufts from Scenic Express. Tomorrow I will play around with the yard buildings and switch tower and sand facilities. I lost the flip of the coin this year and will be hosting a Superbowl party. My loving wife had bought me a 40" flat screen for the train room..(yes I was spoiled). So the boys and I will be doing a mini ops session while watching the game and eating wings and homemade beer!! The kids will most likely be jammed in the toy room and the women will be trying to empty my wine rack one bottle at a time. At least it's the good Finger Lakes wine!!! I can see it now...wing sauce on my string of Pacemakers...and pepperoni for manhole covers.

Ray...Love the pictures!!...Your work inspires me!!...Hope you can make it over my way in a few weeks for our club show/division meet. Would love to see you.

Robby...I hate to say it being a Dolphins fan...but I have to be a Packers fan this Sunday..I like Aaron Rodgers more than the Steelers...man...you guys need a shave...That guy Keisel is it??...he could pass for a pirate or a viking...lol

Cederstrand...You have some great looking stuff there. One of these days I will get a better camera for myself to get the shots Ray gets. I can just hear my wife now..."You want to spend how much for a camera"?

ns3010..You could do a great paper on how the railroads and the Industrial revolution went hand in hand..or how trains played a huge part in the war effort. Or the rise and fall of great class 1 railroads like NYC and the Pennsy...the rise...decline...merger..and failure of them. Just a thought.

Everyone have a good evening!!!....Tim

[ns3010]

Evening all.

T...

G...

I...

F!

Even though we had a day and a half off, it was still a long week...

I got that huge English assignment done tonight, so that's off my back. Tomorrow, I have to revise a short essay, catch up on some physics homework (although I have until Thursday to do it), and start a 3 paragraph "newspaper article" for history that is due on Friday. Then if time allows, I'll do some work on the paper.
On Sunday, I'll have to do whatever I don't get done tomorrow. And write a letter so I can finally send my genset's board to Atlas for replacement...

This week, we were assigned a research paper in history. Our topics are due next week, and it can be anything in US History from Reconstruction-Present. I am seriously considering doing something train related, maybe either railroading's role in US history, or the rise, fall, and rise again of American railroading. I figure it would be fun to do since I've never written a paper on trains before (unless you count my Theology paper, which was sortakindanotexactly about trains), plus it would be easy to get a good 5-6 page paper out ot it. Any thoughts?

Well, it's getting very late, so I better head on home. I'll catch up once I get back here sometime tomorrow.

[cudaken]

 Evening Folks

 Flo, just a beer please in a frosted Monon Mug.

 Boy the dinner sure has been busy!

 Work Lets just say I am not going to get rich if I have many days like today.

 Lee Cannot tell you a lot about the motors except they have 2 mm shafts. If you look through my posting look for the one where I am asking about a motor for a PK 1000 F 3. Darth Santa Fe said there not as good as Mashima Motors but should work for PK engines just fine. There is all so a link there for the E Bay seller. For $5.70 each it would be hard to go wrong regardless.

 Galaxy and the House Front. Some very sound advices Galaxy. But, the problem is I never get the same answer 2 times in a row from the idiots that work there! Few examples.

 1 Told I was in a advances state off collections and may go into foreclosure.

 2 Next call was told they seldom foreclose on VA loan and I can send in partial payments.

 3 Next call they will not take partial payments and they will send them back.

 4 Next call told them I was working and was told "Great, let us know when you are full time so we can find a refinances plan that will work for you". Made me feel a lot better.

 5 Last call was told not to send in a payment, it would not help?

 Only thing I know for sure is I stop sending money, they will foreclose! But, I don't know if I do send in funds if it will help either?

 I sent in $750.00 that they should have received on the 31st. I have another $1,000.00 I can send now and can send another $900.00 before the end of the month. That would be a total of $2650.00 in 27 days. House payment is $877.00 and change so that is 3 payments. But no idea if it would help or not? 

 Does anyone know if there is free legal help for Vets? I really starting to feel I need a lawyer to help with this mess!

 Time to sleep and hope I have a good Saturday.

                  Ken

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

 

[Cederstrand]

***Der, that is one nasty looking fire. Do you happen to know the story behind it?  As for the silo position, they are just sitting there in that pic. They will most likely be located at the front of the chicken house where a truck would have access to them. That pic is from the backside of the farm anyway.

Wife now wants a school bus (painted white) for a baby chicks delivery scene, like one sees around here. This means the doors cracked open, numerous people working in and around the front of the chicken house, and perhaps a bunch of tiny yellow chicks seen just inside. Could make for an interesting scene.

Rob