Elliot's Trackside Diner November 2011

[inch53]

Arthur is 90 years old. He’s played golf every day since his retirement 25

years ago.

One day he arrives home looking sad. “That’s it,” he tells his wife. “I’

m giving up golf. My eyesight has become so bad that once I hit the ball I

couldn’t see where it went.”

His wife makes him a cup of tea, and says, “Why don't you take my brother

with you and give it one more try.”

“That's no good,” sighs Arthur, “your brother’s a hundred and three. He

can’t help.”

“He may be a hundred and three,” says his wife, “but his eyesight is

perfect.”

So the next day Arthur heads off to the golf course with his

brother-in-law. He tees up, takes a mighty swing and squints down the fairway.

He turns to his brother-in-law and says, “Did you see the ball?”

“Of course I did!” replied his brother-in-law. “I have perfect eyesight.”

“Where did it go?” says Arthur.

“I don’t remember.”

[blownout cylinder]

Inch:  

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

Good Morning

Mainly sunny and a lot milder today..we'll go all the way up to 56F..vs the 35F yesterday..in the dull ....

Everyone be up and all energetic here...get to do a few things today like get groceries and things for the house...then it is get ready for w**k at w**k

Flo, I'll just have a coffee urn here please..make it the IV version please..I'll be at the corner booth here...

[galaxy]

WEll.Now that TG is over, we had a long exhausting day.

I fixed hte turkey in one of those "oven bags" by Reynolds, so I didn't have to satnd there and baste it every 15 mins to keep it juicy, WOkred out well and I had 3 hours peace basically while the turkey roasted away happy in its bag. The *** was SO moist juicy and delicious it was sinful! Melt in your mouth happiness!.

I spent about an hour prep time on my feet wed. nite, and an hour Thursday am to get turkey ready and another hour geting gravy and stuffing and carving/plating the meal so not bad.. My back ached a little....glad I had the radio frequency nerve frying  thing done!!! My LEGS were what are giving me fits today...they want to charley horse in my calves somehting fierce.

Went to the Inlaws...MIL was happy wiht the delivery free TG dinner they got...FIL slept through our visit. SO MIL happy ot see us, happy wiht her TG meal and happy wiht the Christmas Cactus we brought.{she requestd it but doesn't remember}.  She is only up to about 45 mins visit anymore themn she tires out under the idea she doesn;t want to "hold up us busy folks".

I offer two different easy-on-me dinners for Christmas day to MIL...she Chose Crock Pot Chicken..I can put it in crock pot with stewed vegies and broth, and let it simmer away. I will make stove top stuffing {R} and a can of gravy and good ot go reheating those. Easy enough. Other choice dinner was ham, smahed potatoes and glazed carots.

MIL is Needing holidays this year, as she fears this my be her last??? but she said that last year too. Her health at 84 IS declining.She had a stroke aobut 15 years ago so that limits her too. FIL is just a bitter old man.

Then we went to my father's and took a TG meal to him. He was pleased. Of course at 77 and in good health he thinks HE is not long for this world eoither, But his father was 92 or 93 when he died..so my fahter could be retired in limbo for anohter 15 years or so,

Family gotta love them!!!

At least I didn't have to drag around a lot of meal stuff this year.

Well, I will recover from yesterday.

Have a great day y'all.

 

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Coffee and some Pecan Pie please. What? Oh, like those sweet rolls or the quart of Maple Syrup that gets dumped on pancakes have any less sugar. Thanks.

Have a safe trip Ken.

Say Jeff, did you happen to slide out of the van and hit the ground at say about….naw, couldn’t have been. That is way too far away.

Well, Thanksgiving was a success. I guess. Stuffed I was. No football here, NCIS marathon. You know we have all seasons on DVD, yet we must watch it on TV too. I don’t understand.

I have to get several things done for the weekend today, so I best get a movin.

Why does a retired guy start so early? So I can take my time, goof around some and still get nothing done. That’s why.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[cudaken]

 Morning Folks!

 Flo, Coffee Please.

 Feeling pretty good so far today. Feel wide awake for a change. Boy, will it always take a whole day to rest up after only working 2 days?

 Steve was wrong about my pay. Got the full paycheck thank goodness. Will be able to pay all my bills, have eating out money and replaces what I had to take out of savings.

 Hope to leave today around 4:00 PM, that will put me right around 8:00 PM.

 Well, better get the running around going. I will drop by before I hit the road. 

           Ken

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 48°F and sunny. The high will be 69°F and there will be low clouds. There's a possibility of a thunderstorm after midnight.

I don't really know what I'll be doing today. There are several cars that need some weathering and there's always some cleanup work to be done. I'm expecting a package to arrive any day now and I have no idea what's in it.

Thanksgiving dinner was at my sisters place yesterday. It was a full house. Several of our area fire fighters and their families were in attendance and my niece and nephew had some friends there. After dinner it seemed that every place that could be used for a nap was occupied. I've never been able to understand that napping after eating turkey. I've never had a need to sleep after eating a big turkey dinner. I guess I'm one of the few people it doesn't effect.

[Curt Webb]

Morning All,

Off w***k today so I may goof around the layout today for awhile. Wednesday night  I  ran a FP-7 pulling reefers around for about 30 minutes before going to bed.

Yesterday was very busy at w**k but  at least our station was able to sit down together and eat dinner for 30 minutes before anyone had to leave. We did prime rib instead of turkey. I had nothing to do with cooking and it was delicious (probably the reason why).

Today MOH wants to go to Lowes and JoAnn's. Fingers crossed about the crowds. I'm acttually surprised, we aren't much  for going out shopping on black friday.

I will talk to all of you later.

[gear-jammer]

Had a great Thanksgiving.  Now back to regular stuff.  Today is the day that is least likely to rain.  We will probably cut wood & do outside stuff.

Rob,  My neighbor had a varmint gun that was chambered for 204 Ruger ammo.  He had chickens to protect.  He (the neighbor) has been gone for 2 years, and the population is back.

Jeffrey,  What route did  you climb on El Cap?  It has been a long time since I climbed in Yosemite.

Oh yeah,  Nice Air Stream.  Did you get a new camera?

Sue

[jeffrey-wimberly]

gear-jammer

Jeffrey,  What route did  you climb on El Cap?  It has been a long time since I climbed in Yosemite.

Zodiac. It's 1,800 feet and seemed like a good climb for a novice climber or so I yhought. It was slow going and took the better part of five days. Lots of work.

gear-jammer

Oh yeah,  Nice Air Stream.  Did you get a new camera?

I got a new used camera. My Olympus D550Zoom was having problems so I got another Olympus D550Zoom to replace it. Cost a whole $22 with shipping.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning.

Galaxy ... Sounds like you did well with your Thanksgiving.

Ken ... I hope the trip goes well....... I recall the long drive when I was a kid before interstate highways. .We went from St Louis to KC, but before that we had to go to St. L from Chicago where I grew up. It was on US 66. Probably went through Todd's town in IL. .... "Air conditioning" in the old Buick meant all the windows were rolled down. We could smell every barnyard on the way. ... Dad's family members were in St. L and also in Eastern Kansas. It was better by train. The direct line to Kansas was the Santa Fe Railway.    ........ Oh, the good old days.

We're having a nice visit. Grandkids have the wood train tracks all over the "Big Room" in the lower level of the house.

Inch ... That was funny.

Todd .... Retirement means everybody else thinks you have time to do their stuff. Right?

Curt.... I am glad we're not planning any shopping today.

Cheers

[thortenney]

Good morning diners!  I'm just getting ready to get moving. I got all of my chores done yesterday. My w**k never called me?? So I guess its a 4 day weekend for me!! Camille and our neighbor Vicky went Black Friday shopping. They left at 10pm last night. NUT'S If you ask me!! They go every year?? They think it's fun to fight the crowds for a bunch of JUNK we don't need?? I honesty don't understand it! I am gonna get some layout work done today. I hope you all are doing well. I will be back later to see what everyone is up too!

                                                                                                                                                   Thayne. 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe just a Raisin Bran muffin with real butter and a cup (or two) of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug.

My cold is seemingly getting better.  Slept like a rock last night (first time in 3 nights).  It was about 10 minutes before 10 this morning when I woke up.  Guess I needed the rest.

Today and tomorrow I have to myself.  Hoping to get some time in the trainroom.  Have to do wash, so THAT puts me down cellar anyway....   Sunday, I have been informed there is another "Family" get together/celebration... Been informed I need to be there!  I have a feeling I know what it is about!   Sunday isn't the day though.......

Sun is busy shining here in the Finger Lakes today.  Currently 53°F with a high around 56°F later.  We get the same weather Barry gets only a few hours later usually....

Stan good to see you again!  Doing any paintings lately?

Guess I should move around a bit... Catch you all later!

73

[edit]  Looks like I have top again.  Zoe just run a tab for me, and no they can't charge the prime rib for breakfast on my tab......  I pay up later.

[Cederstrand]

More coffee, please.

***Sue, I have been considering a Mini14 with 223 rounds for a long time. My 300Mag would do it, but it's such overkill for a coyote, not to mention it makes a significant bang/crack for after dark varmint control.

***Barry, that is a very cool old "farm car", as I would designate it.

Rob

[galaxy]

jeffrey-wimberly

gear-jammer:

Jeffrey,  What route did  you climb on El Cap?  It has been a long time since I climbed in Yosemite.

 

Zodiac. It's 1,800 feet and seemed like a good climb for a novice climber or so I yhought. It was slow going and took the better part of five days. Lots of work.

I think the highest thing I climbed was Diamond Head volcano {extinct} on Hawaii's Oahu. It is the backdrop scenery when they show Waikiki beach a lot. It is aobut 800' I think. But I couldn't do it or anything like it again now, not wiht a cane in hand, It is reached by switch back paths and two staircases, a tunnel and such. When we reached a certain point at the top of a 101 very step steep open staircase, I paused and said jokingly to MOH "next time, I am going to take the elevator". A very tall man with a baby strapped to his back behind us paused, and while panting, looked around and croaked " there's an elevator?"

But at least I can say I've climbed a volcano in my life! {never said it was active}.

[B&O1952]

Good Afternoon, All! I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. We had a great dinner, and then went for a walk at twilight to a stone tower constructed by the CCC workers in our local State Park. I took one of my oldest RR lanterns which still works nicely after 120 years!

Garry, I still have the painting, so email me your address, and I'll send it to you. I've been pretty lucky this fall with bartering, and I put this one aside for you.

Ray, I haven't painted much for the last month or so, I've been focusing on museum projects and the layout at home.

I finally settled with the Railroad Retirement Board, and with the back pay they owed me, I was able to add to our fleet with some nice MTH and BLI steam, so it was an early Christmas for the boys as far as the layout is concerned. 

I also sold two paintings to a couple of friends who are former Erie and New York Central engineers at the Buffalo train show. That money didn't last long!

Here's a look at our new MTH Hudsons:

And a look at our new NKP Berk:

NKP 759 is in the Steamtown collection in Scranton, Pa, and I have a shot of my 12 year old son Jonathan and I next to it when he was 4, so it kind of has a little sentimental value to it.  All of the new locos are nice runners and look great.

I'll be around the diner a little more now that the museum is nearing the close of the season. Our Christmas schedule gets a little crazy, but we're only having our Holiday Express event on 2 weekends as compared to 3 that we ran in the past.

Everyone have a good evening! -Stan

[Train Master]

jeffrey-wimberly

 

gear-jammer:

 

Jeffrey,  What route did  you climb on El Cap?  It has been a long time since I climbed in Yosemite.

 

Zodiac. It's 1,800 feet and seemed like a good climb for a novice climber or so I yhought. It was slow going and took the better part of five days. Lots of work.

 

 

gear-jammer:

 

Oh yeah,  Nice Air Stream.  Did you get a new camera?

 

I got a new used camera. My Olympus D550Zoom was having problems so I got another Olympus D550Zoom to replace it. Cost a whole $22 with shipping.

 

Mountain climbing? I remember you talking about that when I was a kid. That was years before I was born.

I had a great dinner with my family yesterday. It did not take long for my dad to crash after dinner. I followed his example a short time later.

This morning I had to do some work on my satellite dish before I could get on line. Something got hungry and chewed though the cable. My dad and I could some new cable and put a metal sheath on it then put that in a PVC conduit. Whatever bites through it now will need a big set of choppers.

CUL8R

[cudaken]

 Well, I an on the road again! See you all next week!

      Ken

[Cederstrand]

One last coffee refill, please.

***Ken, safe travels!

***Stan, love those hudsons. Cool locos!

***Galaxy, have always found all types of volcanos to be fascinating. Last one I looked down into was Mt Saint Helens. Missed the eruption by about a year, which is a good thing I suppose. Sure are powerful creations. Guess that's why I'm modeling one in N scale.

Never made it back up on the shed roof to patch the holes. Just to tired today. Tomorrow I won't have a choice, as rain is predicted come next evening.

Rob

[Cederstrand]

Is that the sound of crickets in here?

OK< here are pics of the barns I thought would work for N scale. Have no plans for snow, so if I use that one, I would make it overgrown with trees and turn the snow into heavy leaves. As much as I like the look of that particular barn, 3 barns is probably plenty.

Rob

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening...

Well, it was a beautiful sunny day today got all kinds of stuff done around the house and garage...

Rob:  I know a couple of underwater volcanologists who work out of the university up here..we're always getting some interesting rock samples from them...

Chloe, I'll have a coffee and a pecan pie slice please..I'll be at the RC for a bit...

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

"On the road again......."  Now why is THAT song runnin' through my head?  Did see some guy who looked like a tire salesman tearing down the road in an old rattletrap just now..... 

Janie, I'll have the turkey casserole and left over green bean stuff with a side of yesterday's stuffing.  Oh, and a decaf to wash it down with.  (Sure didn't take long to get THAT on the menu did it?)

I had a relaxing day around here.  I appear to be getting over the cold I had, so I am feeling a bit better.  Did 3 loads of wash.  Still need to hang up the last one.  Did spend much of the day playing with odds and ends on the layout.  Got one roof in place on the powerhouse.  It is the one on the tallest part of it.  complete with lights glued up there for night time.  Getting everything to fit right (one of the things I don't like about plastic kits) usually means that you get one thing glued in place and by so doing you pop 2 other parts out and have to redo them a few times.

Rob, maybe you could put the last barn on the North end of your layout......

Janie, I think I'll have THAT last slice of Pecan Pie.....  Oh........  Barry just ate it!

Going to sneak back downstairs to see if the glue is dry....

Later!

73

[blownout cylinder]

Rob:  I'm kind of partial to this little fellow...

[cats think well of me]

Hi all,

A cup of coffee with some hazelnut creamer please.

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving had been a good one. Mine had been quiet with a few very good dishes prepared and served, which is quite honestly how I like it. 

So for Black Friday, I avoided the malls, marts and the rage and went to my fave bike shop to buy a few things to fix up an old Schwinn Passage from the '80s so I can sell it soon (for Christmas monies). 

A fellow I know around here asked me again if I might do personal care work for him. It'd be extra monies, decent money, but as I already work 40-hours a week at a job that is rather tiring I'm not sure yet if it's in the cards. And for the record I don't truly need additional employment right now. 

Excited about running my trains for clubs yearly show though! Every Sunday we're running a show, so there'll be plenty of action (when all goes right). I have an N&W freight train and an 8-car Powhatan Arrow set to run, it'll be fun!

Alvie

[thortenney]

Evening Everyone! I had a good day worked on my layout all day,  It's starting to come together. If it don't  work out we will have some expensive fire wood... 

Rob, I have a Sako Deluxe 223 and 222. They are great Guns, Really fun to shoot. They pack a wallop but they don't really kick much. They are perfect for critters like coyotes etc,  Get a coyote call for a couple of bucks. they are kind of like a duck call. Only they make the sound of a wounded rabbit. (sounds like a baby crying) The coyotes will come right on in, for some reason they cant resist that sound.

                                                                                                                  Thayne.

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Ran trains for awhile today and thought of a scenery change next to the 2 portals. There is a deep narrow ravine between the 2 track beds and I think I  am going to put water in it and have a couple of fishermen on the abandoned track bed.

Tomorrow we are taking my Mom out for her birthday.

Rob- I like the red barn the best because I have a cousin in Western PA that is a dairy farmer and his barn is like that one.

Stan- Very nice additions to your layout.

Galaxy- I have climbed Diamond Head several times with the Boy Scouts  and the Girl Scouts. That set of stairs is a killer, but the view at the top is spectacular.

Everyone have a good night.

[galaxy]

Well, after a dinner of turkey and gravy over noodles {what else} we napped for over 2 hours...BOy did i need that.

Woke in time for meds and a night snack {leftover turkey and gravy over toast} and soon time for bed.

Did NOT go "black friday shopping" today. We don't have any money and we don't need anything worth busting down a door  and fighting crowds  at 10 pm, at midnite or even at 5 AM. Did not even get teh sales ads to even look so I wouldn't be tempted!

My legs are  not threatening to charley horse on me as bad..and I take a muscle relaxer to keep them form doing that...any time I spend a lot of time standing in one place { and I did but over spread of hours} seems they really charley horse on me and HURT when they do.

So I bid yo'all g'nite.

G'inte Ray!

G'nite jeffrey!

G'nite Johnboy!

Oh. sorry this isn't the tv show...

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

Did NOT go "black friday shopping" today. We don't have any money and we don't need anything worth busting down a door  and fighting crowds  at 10 pm, at midnite or even at 5 AM. Did not even get teh sales ads to even look so I wouldn't be tempted!

Really? I got bombarded with Black Friday ads in my email all week.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a decaf at the moment.

For the most part it has been a relaxing day.  Didn't worry about the "black" shopping disaster stuff....  most of the stores THAT do the most with THAT aren't places I shop anyway....  I stayed home al day, and played some with the trains.

Much of the MRR time was spent trying to put a couple of the roofs on the powerhouse.  I was doing well until i tested out the lighting I had installed on the high roof (inside) to see how bright it was.  They didn't light!  The circuit is made up of two 12 volt grain of wheat bulbs wired in series which will be powered on a 16v circuit.  Makes a nice yellow early incandescent look.  But they didn't light.  Checked and the 12 volt batteries I was using were both basically dead so I got a couple fresh ones for the tester I made....  Still no lights...   After some wiggling and checking I found I must have broken the little tiny wire from one of the bulbs right where I soldered the longer, heavier wire to it.  Since the roof was already glued in place, I had to unglue the bulbs, pull them out as far as I could and resolder the circuit.  They now work great, but in the process of reinstalling them I glopped Pliobond onto two of the large windows in the building.....  They have been removed and I will use the two remaining ones to repair the damage....  One step forward and two steps backward!

My birthday present I bought myself won't be arriving until sometime late next week so the powerhouse will have to go on hold until I can get everything done for the inside....  Still trying to figure out what to use for the turbine drives and the generators.....  You would think I could find something out there THAT would w*rk!

Guess I will call it a day, and see what tomorrow shall bring........

Later!

73

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

[quote user="galaxy"]

 

So I bid yo'all g'nite.

G'inte Ray!

G'nite jeffrey!

G'nite Johnboy!

Oh. sorry this isn't the tv show...

No it's not Galaxy, but it still works well here.

Good night Elizabeth,

Good night Galaxy.

Johnboy out,.........................Good Night All.