Elliot´s Trackside Diner May 2011 - Welcome Aboard, Everybody!

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Flo I would love a piece of Blackberry Cobbler warmed up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a coffee.

Not much has happened at w**k today, just the normal stuff. Tomorrow I have several errands to run first thing then hope to paint the top of my layout, cook dinner then attend a club business meeting. Hopefully Friday with be structure modeling day.

I have developed a problem on my laptop. For some reason it appears Internet Explorer is not loading all the way. I ran a full virus check w/o any issues and I have reset the computer back a month when it was working fine but still no go. I will get MOH to look at it tomorrow to see if she can figure it out. She is pretty tech savy.

Everyone have a good night.

[galaxy]

howmus

What the heck was THAT!!!???!!  Oh, Galaxy has started the prep, huh?  Hope he took some good reading materials out to the little house out back with him....  Model Railroader or something...........

Yup. #8 glass of Miralax and the running has begun...

Moviprep is old news now done OTC with Magnesium Citrate {drank 1 bottle last night to prep for today} and now 8 glasses every 15 mins of Miralax, followed by two glasses of h2o.

Thought I had some gas..forgot I've been drinking laxative for the past 1 3/4 hours....but made it in time.

Enough of that. Suffice it to say the running has begun, and he's off...by a bubble slightly to the left...

 

NERM!!!!!!!!! good to see you back...almost forgot about you...figured school was keeping you busy.

Amazing! I haven't been in here at night lately as it was always so S L O W  or wouldn't load at all....but seems to be working fine...

Since I can't have any anyway, I think I'll have teh Chef's salad, TBone Steak, Potatoes au Gratin, steamed asparagus and a big piece of tripple chocolate Double fudge cake for dessert.

Ok, now I'm gonna be sick....

Later

 

[james saunders]

Garry: Thanks for the welcome back. We got off to a great start this year in Brisbane with our biggest flood in 25 years happening in January. I spent most of my weekends helping my fellow Brisbaneites clean up the thick layer of mud and gunk and all sorts of rubbish that flowed through about 45,000 homes and 8,000 businesses. For those who aren't aware Brisbane is pretty much just one big flood plain with a river snaking right through the middle of the city. My home and where I work were high and dry so it's all good on that front.

I have recently found time to get back into some model railroading by visiting the annual Brisbane show last weekend, and building a few kits. I plan to build a 7x3 N scale layout to exhibit next year at the show. You can see two kits I built in the most recent Photo fun thread.

Cricket season is about to start again so thats going to eat up my weekends. Thats pretty much it for me.

 

Gday Lone Jeep - I honestly can't remember where I got them from, they've been my signature for about three years. I will try find it and post back here with my results.

Edit: Lone Jeep - Try this website: http://www.trainweb.org/cajonsubgifs/train_gifs.htm or http://www.bluarcher.com/traingifs/frograil/intermodal/gundMaxiIV-1.htm

Cheers,

OzJim

 

 

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

I'll have the fried Bass dinner, with a trip to the salad bar and a cup of decaf.  So where did you folks get the fresh bass anyway?  Oh, Garry's back yard.....  Lake is a bit high I guess.

The day here ended up with no liquid sunshine falling from the sky, so this afternoon I tackled the lawn again.  It has grown about 2.5 inches since it was mowed a few days ago, and I set the mower back down a bit.  Very hard going, especially where I was stomping through the water out back.......  managed to do about 1/4 of the lawn before running out of steam (both the mower and the pusher guy).  So I changed my shoes and headed down to the layout for a couple hours.  Lots of wetness down there from the precipitation yesterday (an inch).  None in the layout rooms, but coming in by the back entrance to the cellar.  Got a siphon going over to the sump (it collects behind the concrete steps at the bottom and then runs in to the basement).  It should dry up by tomorrow when it rains some more.

Spent most of the time adding the signs to the toggles.  Looks better and is more easily read than the old labels I had.  The labels would spontaneously unglue themselves every now and then, so these should be better in many ways.

What the heck was THAT!!!???!!  Oh, Galaxy has started the prep, huh?  Hope he took some good reading materials out to the little house out back with him....  Model Railroader or something...........

Hi NERM!  Good to see you again!

Catch you all later!

73

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Rob... It's the corner of our house. The neighbor took the photo and sent while I'm in MI. ... I'm glad the water can not go higher because it is at the top of the dam.

I was told some guys were fishing in a bass boat on our land.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee refill, please.

***Garry, "branch line"... Thanks for the chuckles. That water came mighty close to your friends house. Are they on well water and do they have a septic tank? Could imagine some potential trouble if that water remained high for too long.

Noticed our phone line is still on the ground down the driveway. Looks like light stuff so it's probably temporary. Should be replaced with a heavier cable. Tis' still nice to be back online and have a phone again. How spoiled we become.

Cheers! Rob

[lone geep]

Flo, could I please have a lemonade in a Canadian Pacific glass. It's finally sunny and I have a productive day so I am happy. This thread is moving fast! Before I joined the Diner, I thought this thread was about a craftsman kit from FSM or BTS. James Saunders, what website did you get your emoticon trains that you have in your signature?  

The Lone Geep

[cudaken]

 Hello Folks!

 Flo, Big Boy Sub and in a frosted Monon Mug.

 Cut the front grass today and really need to do the backyard, but boy I am tired. I hope all it is, is because I am not sleeping well. (been sleeping in the family room now for 8 months because I snore) Here I preach the benefits of a good mattress and I sleep on a couch? Yet my wife and my Irish wolfhound sleep on a $4800.00 King Mattress? Well guess it is time to buy a twin mattress from work and sleep on a real bed.

 Heading too K-10 Model Trains Thursday to order 2 left and 2 Right number 4 turnouts.

 See you all Thursday and good luck Galaxy

[the North East Rail Modeler]

jeffrey-wimberly

Good to see you back NERM.

Thanks Jeffery.  It's good to be back.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Ulrich .... Here is the link to the Frankenmuth website for your information. We ate at Zehnder's which is listed. .  http://www.frankenmuth.org/  The bakery in Zehnders may rival some of Petra's good food. (if Petra has time, tell her we would enjoy her streudel.)  Kern's Sausage Company has authentic German sausage. Bronner's is a popular, year-around Christmas store.

In recent months, the goofy atheist activists have been to town to protest a city government sponsoring a religious holiday, Chrismas. Can you imagine that. Local residents repsonded by displaying crosses in their front yards.

Chris .... Thanks for the comment on the flood. Water is at the brim of the dam, and so lake can not go much higher fortunately.

Nother East Rail Modeler... Glad you are back in the diner.

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good to see you back NERM.

[the North East Rail Modeler]

Well, Where is the diner now, Flo? Germany!? I thought there was somethin fishy goin on when my GPS told me to go strait through the ocean.  How did you get it over here? Oh, is that why the dinner smells like salt?  O.K. I get it now.

Well, I finally got my computer fixed and squared away (It was the reason why I disappeared off the face of the earth for a few months) All is good as far as it stands now.

 

I'll be a while, playing catch-up with all of the happenings that have gone on.

 EDIT:  Ah, figured. I just got back, and I get tops. Oh well, Eat up everyone.

 

[mononguy63]

Galaxy, in addition to echoing the sentiments of everyone else here, I encourage you to read this piece from Dave Barry. He's a humor columnist writing about his experience a few years ago. It's priceless. His reference to doing an imitation of a space shuttle launch still makes me laugh each time I think of it.

Jim

[jeffrey-wimberly]

[AmanaMedic]

ROB: Wow....glad you, the Other Half and the critters came through THAT safe and sound!

GARRY: I guess after having w**ked a flood in Central City, IA back in '99, I'm a little surprised nobody put up a wall of sandbags outside your house. THAT photo looks a lot like the scene along the Wapsipinicon River through town. We'll cross the fingers the water drops back down quickly!

GALAXY: Good luck Pally, and if it were me....I think I'd just take up residency in "the room" until the colonic storm has passed....along with everything else....

ULRICH: This Frankenmuth place sounds a lot like the Amana Colonies in eastern Iowa. The Germanic names remain, and the place "looks German," I guess,  but it's deteriorated into a tourist trap. Heck, they'll be having their annual "Cajun Fest" in a month or two. Now, don't anybody get me wrong here. I've got nothing against Cajun, Cajun Festivals, etc. I just don't see how it fits into a cluster of colonies founded a long time ago by German immigrants living a communal lifestyle. Alligator tail and sauerbratten? 'Eh, No. Maybe you can come over here and straighten them out!

 

Back at it go I...I've got two high school golf meets to make something out of, am waiting on track meet results to arrive from a Monday meet; and have to make something out of Grandparents Day at the Heritage Christian School in North Liberty, Iowa. THAT might just be a two paragraph blurb to go with the photos....

A good, SAFE day to all!

Chris

[galaxy]

sfcouple

Galaxy,

I had similiar issues that turned out to be lactose intolerance...so now I put Soy Milk on my Wheaties, cut out all dairy products and feel great.

I AM lactose intolerant...so I too use soy milk, BUT milk, milk by-products, whey and whey by-products are in about everything!!!!! SO I take a lot lact-aid pills with about everything I eat just to be sure.

 

Thanks for all the "well wishes" and prayers for tomorrow. Tonight I shall take out stock in the Scott Tissue company and the Preparation H companies!!!

I went through it many many years ago to get the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome {IBS} so I have been there done that but forgot it also.

WEll..TTYALLL8R

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Rob ... Is the diner on the branch line?

Our neighbor just sent this picture showing how close the lake is to our house. Water is at a record high and is higher than after the Nashville Flood last year. The lower level (walk out basement) has my workshop with numerous power tools located behind the white double door. The layout room is farther inside the lower level. I am thinking of returning home to protect everything, but evidently the flood is close to peaking and all will be OK.

 

[Cederstrand]

Strong coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.

***Galaxy, good luck with the test. Hope the Docs can figure out what is causing you grief.

***Lee, the only house damage was a couple screens of our "Diner inspired" back porch. Trees came down on either side of the house (leaves touching it), while the big pine directly behind us remained standing. Mother Nature let us off the hook on that one.

This morning I felt well enough to rsume chainsawing and cleared the tops of the big trees which came down from Goose Island into the orchard. Will just leave the main tree trunks as natural bridges, as there is no way to cut or move them.

Not sure when I'll ever make it back down to work on MRRing. Sooo much work to do and it is going to take us a long time. A group of chainsaw wielding volunteers from the Red Cross is said to be scheduled to come help us this Saturday, so I'm really crossing my fingers they will show up. Even 5 years ago I would have handled it all myself, but these days I admit the help is needed.

Have a good day y'all. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I got the control arm end on and put the control arm back on the tractor and lined up the front wheels. Doing the alignment was harder than putting the dang rod back on as I only needed three hands for that though I did quite nicely with two. Now I'll just get some rest as I think about dirtying up a boxcar or two.

[sfcouple]

Galaxy,

When I said you could get in your car and go eat breakfast after the test, that is only if you're not the driver ! You should have someone drive you to and from the clinic/hospital, the anesthesia isn't all that bad but driving a car afterwards would not be a good idea.

Good luck and yes, if you sneeze today/tonight be very very careful,

Wayne 

[LSWrr]

Good Morning,

Wayne, I cook it (rhubarb) down then freeze it.  I have quarts and quarts in my freezer. J

Ulrich, oh-ok I was wondering if it was like the old Columbia House Music club or something. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_House

That would be interesting if they had a Columbia House Model Railroad Club, I know I would be broke!

Galaxy, I hope everything goes ok for you tomorrow and for heaven’s sake don’t sneeze tonight unless you’re sitting on the throne.

[Anonymous]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Ulrich ... Perhaps it would be good if you and Petra could immigrate to Frankenmuth. Thye could use more real Germans working there. Years back, many people working there had German accents. Now it is second and thrid generations without the accents. Also, between Flint and Frankenmuth is the Huckleberry Railroad with narrow gauge steam and old narrow gauge passenger cars.

I think I have seen a report on TV about this place. I would have to work on my German accent, though, as I have retained my slight American accent, even during my time in London!

Maybe I should watch "Allo, allo" more often. Remember Herr Flick saying "Vee hav vays of making you talk!"

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Ah, Zoe, What to have this morning....  Breakfast muffin with Canadian Bacon and cheese and a cup of dark roast coffee to wake me up.  Slept in again this morning.  Think I have caught up on the sleep now.

Dark, gloomy, chilly and still raining here in the Finger Lakes.  Currently 43°F with a high of....... 46°!  Whoppie!  I am very tired of cold and mud.....  I do very much still prefer it to tornadoes and hurricanes on the other hand.

Galaxy, I'll keep you in my prayers for your "procedure" tomorrow.  As others have said the prep is the worst part of it.  I have had two of them.  While I was sedated, I was fully awake both times and do remember both of them (watched the whole thing on the monitor screen).  My sister always argues with me and tells me, "You were not awake for it!  They put you to sleep!"  Obviously she was there?????  Anyway, the procedure itself is a piece of cake, whether you are completely knocked out or awake but sedated.  Not painful at all.  Biggest thing I don't like afterward is they don't want me to work on the layout for the remainder of the day.  No driving anywhere, and no playing with #11 exacto knives.........!

Ken, watch for something in the mail from me.

I plan to disappear to the train rooms and put up more of the switch labels I made last night.

Hope all of you have a great day!

73

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning 

Good to see each of you here.

Hello to "James in Oz" .... I remember your postings of a long time ago. Welcome back. Please tell us what is new with you.

Rob... Glad you survived. Photos look terrible. Next time, your better half wants to chase tornados, it may be best to take cover.

 Bob in AZ ... Sounds like a unique and interesting job.

Lee .... I went to P&D where they have a good selection of detail parts. I got what was needed to complete the details I am adding to my SD7's and SD9's to make them look like Burlington units. I would like to go to GLH, too.

We took the family to Frankenmuth, the German town north of Flint, MI. We ate a lot of food. Stopped at the Christmas store and the German sausage shop, too. They have a replica of a German village selling souveniers.

Ulrich ... Perhaps it would be good if you and Petra could immigrate to Frankenmuth. They could use more real Germans working there. Years back, many people working there had German accents. Now it is second and thrid generations without the accents. Also, between Flint and Frankenmuth is the Huckleberry Railroad with narrow guage steam and old narrow guage passenger cars.

Galaxy .... Hope all goes well with your situation.

[Curt Webb]

Galaxy- When you are taking the laxitive tonight stay close to a bathroom. You will need to get there very quickly because there is no holding it in. Everbody is right, the procedure is easy, the worst is the prep. I hope everything comes out OK....sorry could not resist the pun. Prayers winging your way for a clean bill of health.

[sfcouple]

Galaxy,

I had similiar issues that turned out to be lactose intolerance...so now I put Soy Milk on my Wheaties, cut out all dairy products and feel great.

Good Luck and like Jeff said, you will be nearly out and won't be in any discomfort during the test.  In fact, when you walk out of the clinic/hospital you won't remember anything, you can get in your car, go get some breakfast, a cup of coffee, and won't be suffering from anything.  You'll remember going in for the test, and then your next memory will be having someone say "it's all over."  

Wayne 

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon,

a slow day today - I am still feeling sort of miserable with my hay fever. The little rain we had didn´t do the job right.

Zoe, a slice of that cherry crumble pie and a coffee, please.

Galaxy - holy sh.... - you are in for some fun! Been there, done that. The job itself is no biggie, but the preparation for it - well, you´ll be glad when it´s done. You are in my they don´t find anything nasty.

Lee - Hobby Search is a mail order business near Tokyo. - the place my dad has ordered the train for me. They sent me a confirmation of shipment, enabling me to find out, what my dad had ordered. I hope it arrives before I have to set off to my parents´ place.

Curt - we are at $ 9.20 a gallon right now - wanna bet it hits $ 10 right in time for the summer vacation? We have up to 5 price changes daily!

TTFN

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

 

Well this week the Dr.s get me- I have the psychiatrist, the cardiologist, the neurologist and the gastroenterologist on Thrusday for a colonoscopy! Today I am on the "clear liquids only" diet and tonight I take massive amounts of laxative to clean out my system. I shall be grumbly all day.

You won't be awake for it so you won't feel or remember it. I've been through a couple of them myself.

 

 

Good morning. It's 45° and sunny. The high will be 74° and it will be sunny and pleasant.

Have to go down to my parents place today and put the tractor back together so it will be ready the next time I need it. I'm the only one who uses it anymore. My father uses the little Yardman (MTD) as it's more comfortable for him. Other than that there's nothing on my schedule today.

[galaxy]

sfcouple

From Galaxy:

"Well this week the Dr.s get me- I have the psychiatrist, the cardiologist, the neurologist and the gastroenterologist on Thrusday for a colonoscopy! Today I am on the "clear liquids only" diet and tonight I take massive amounts of laxative to clean out my system. I shall be grumbly all day."

 

Galaxy, you'll be more than grumpy but the good news is the prep work is worse than the actual test.  I just had one of these two weeks ago and was given some kind of anesthetic (I think Propofol of Michael Jackson fame) and wasn't aware of anything during the test.  Had complete amnesia after the procedure.  

good luck, try not to worry, if you get through the prep work the rest is a piece of cake...well, almost a piece of cake. <g>

Wayne 

 

Well, I am going because I am reaching that magical age but also because I have been experiencing abdominal crampage going on,, so the "change in bowel habbits" is the reason. Ideally, of course we hope they find nothing, but then we have to explore other avenues as to why I have cramps. I take a med for the cramps now that DOES take away the pain of cramps, but what is causing them who knows? my diet has not changed and I take fiber twice a day to AVOID bowel issues, but not enough maybe? I already have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, have for many many years diagnosed at aobut age 24 so that is why I take the fiber. Could be its just acting up right now. Dunno

Thanks for the input, though! I shall think only happy thoughts and go to my "special place" as they put me out!

 

[sfcouple]

From Galaxy:

"Well this week the Dr.s get me- I have the psychiatrist, the cardiologist, the neurologist and the gastroenterologist on Thrusday for a colonoscopy! Today I am on the "clear liquids only" diet and tonight I take massive amounts of laxative to clean out my system. I shall be grumbly all day."

 

Galaxy, you'll be more than grumpy but the good news is the prep work is worse than the actual test.  I just had one of these two weeks ago and was given some kind of anesthetic (I think Propofol of Michael Jackson fame) and wasn't aware of anything during the test.  Had complete amnesia after the procedure.  

good luck, try not to worry, if you get through the prep work the rest is a piece of cake...well, almost a piece of cake. <g>

Wayne