Things might be starting to get back to normal at our house. Well, not completely normal, but better than what it has been. After two months, the wife was discharged from the nursing home this morning. She is still limited to 50% weight bearing on her leg, and is limited to the first floor. So we now have a hospital bed in the dining room. We have 6 steps coming into the house, and she was able to come up those, although very slowly, using her quad cane and a walker. Natuarally, her walker doesn't quite fit on the walkway from the driveway to the porch steps, so I have to put a couple of pieces of scrap plywood down to provide some extra width. Not really a big deal.
Next step is to see the surgeon again on December 16th. I don't know what, if anything, will change then. I do know the screws in her ankle won't come out until late January or early February. I'm glad to have her home, and she is definately happy to be here.
Kind of a chilly and damp day here in Pittsburgh, but the best day we have had for some time.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
PA Tom... I've been wondering how Mrs. PA Tom is doing. Sounds like there is progress, and it's good she can be home for Christmas holidays. Hopefully, her heeling will continue.
Rob ... Sorry you have trouble sleeping. Perhaps, you can get a nap on a rainy day.
Sue ... SOunds like a close call for the BIL.
Welcome to "Goodness181". Please continue visitng.
I'm glad at least a couple of you watched that video of the NS trains. I wonder if NS speed matched DCC for those big diesels. It's unusual to see two intermodal freight trains pacing each other at that speed.
I recall trains pacing each other on the old Burlington Route on the 3-track main west of Chicago. It was passenger trains doing that. I remember riding in one of the suburban trains with the two=level Budd cars. We were pacing the Empire Builder on the next track. Looking at the EB dome car I could see several sailors from the Navy admiring a pretty girl who was riding in the coach I was in. It looked like they were about to try jumping from one train to the other.
Happy Model Railroading
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
HELLOOOOOO!!!!!! Is anyone home???
Oh hi chloe, where'd everyone go and hide now?
I'll just have a coffee for now please..oh the head is better now thanks..I guess Flo didn't like the comments I made...
I'll be at the RC and so who else shows up
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/
Evening All,
Flo I would love a cup of decaf please.
I thought I heard crickets in the Diner but Ray arrived. I think I will drink my coffee and watch him eat dinner.
It looks like MOH's surgery will be the first week of January. She has to get Cardiac clearance then a actual date will be set. Sorry if I already posted this I couldn't remember. I did some research on the surgery and it has not calmed my worries about it. I was looking through the Diner today and I realized I missed 2 pages somehow. On a better note is that my Dad just got the news that his Prostate has no issues from his recent testing.
PA Tom- I am really happy your wife made it home and especially for the holidays.
Everyone have a good evening.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
Curt Webb I thought I heard crickets in the Diner but Ray arrived. I think I will drink my coffee and watch him eat dinner.
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
Blimey Sorry I couldn't resist
howmus No sooner got up this morning and the phone rang..... 'Twas the Dodge Dealership calling about the exhaust problem on the old Dakota. I grabbed a hearing aid, and sat down. He said, "Good morning, are you sitting down?" They found a crack in the catalytic converter, and a few other things that are just about rotted through as well. Worst case scenario.... $1800!
No sooner got up this morning and the phone rang..... 'Twas the Dodge Dealership calling about the exhaust problem on the old Dakota. I grabbed a hearing aid, and sat down. He said, "Good morning, are you sitting down?" They found a crack in the catalytic converter, and a few other things that are just about rotted through as well. Worst case scenario.... $1800!
Evening Fellow Dinners!
Thank you Flo.
Berry Unless you have all ready told them to do the work on the Dodge, pull it out of the shop! You should be able to get all the work done for $900.00 or less at a exhaust shop! Pipe is cheap, if the prices is to high like at a Midas tell them to bend the pipe. A 8 foot stick was (pipe) around $12.00 to $20.00 depending on the OD and was thicker than the bolt in stuff.
Guess that is one of the reasons I not happy about this job. I feel like I am screwing people over. I am buying the same part anyone can from NAPA. Lets say NAPA list is $40.00 on a rotor, they sell it to walk in traffic for $30.00. I buy the same rotor for $20.00 but then I mark it up to $75.00?
At lease when I was selling a $200.00 Mattress for $1,000.00 I knew they could not buy the mattress direct from Sealy for $200.00. When I was in auto body the mark up was only 35% If I bought a fender for $100.00 I sold it for $135.00 not $350.00.
But then again, that is why I learned to do the work on mt own cars to began with. May have a little soul searching to do.
Ken
I hate Rust
Time for me to call it a night. My eyes don't hurt quite so bad today but then I didn't do much reading either. The computer did the reading and I just listened.
Duplicate post. The 'Oops!' screen strikes again!
Ken... It is the mark-up that keeps you in business. Every dealer who handles a product has to add a mark up to it. The other stores are supply stores, they will not install it for you. My brother uns an automobile repair place in NC. He has the highest shop rates in town, and has substantial markups on the stuff he sells. The part that you might get at the auto store for $30.00 can easily come to your shop with a $30.00 (or more) shipping cost. I ship wine by freight, and the minimum fright bill is about $60.00 with 150 pounds being the point where additional weight charges begin to apply. In other words, one case of wine or four cases of wine, the shipping is all the same. And if you send a man to a supplier to pick it up you are still paying his salary. Furthermore, your shop is putting its implied warranty on the product. If it turns up bad, you are the one who must make good to your customer on it, and then you will be the one to haggle with the vendor for replacement.
It is what is called a value added business. I can buy a computer from Dell, and they will stand behind it, I can build a computer from scratch, and I'm the one who has to stand behind it.
My shop teacher was doing some handy-man work during the summer, and some special wall paneling was required for the job. He doubled the price of the material on his estimate. The homeowner inquired about that, and he said, if I screw up one piece I want to have another one ready. He then told the customer that if he did not like that someone else could do the job.
After a few weeks of looking, the customer came back to him for the job. Not only was it the lower of the prices out there, but he was honest about his pricing up front.
As I said, my brother fixes cars. Foreign cars only. If someone comes in with an old clunker he will triple his estimate right off the bat. He *knows* that he will find more things wrong with the car that he will want to fix, and he wants a satisfied customer after it rolls out of the shop.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Evening all. Just stopping in before throwing the girls in the bath....(35 minutes later). Hey guys, I'm back! I actually threw the girls into the bath and did the dishes. Yeah, I guess I'm a good husband.
Ray: I happen to agree with Ken, on this one. That's a bit much for simple exhaust work to be done. Even a "stock" replacement catalytic converter isn't over $350.00, and the pipe is like Ken said, earlier, shouldn't be more than 20 per 8-foot stick. Just saying, but at the same time, if you don't have an independent shop you know and trust, then go ahead and pull the trigger on it.
Ken: I know how you feel about marking up parts to "list" prices, but I also understand that as a shop, you've got to make some money on the parts too (and I don't know if its a "hard" rule there or not, but you don't always have to mark up to full list). I know that I don't really have any mark up on the parts for customers when I do side work, namely because 99% of the customers I have are smart enough to walk into a local parts store and find out just how much that radiator costs them. Oh yeah, something else about your Town Car. I've found that in a pinch you can use hot glue sticks cut to length to replace the plastic inserts that go into your window motor (as you referred to them, plastic balls). The actual replacements cost about 10 bucks if you want to do it the "right" way, but to each your own.
Todd: Good luck on floor wars, I've already done all but two rooms in my house (those two rooms are the back bedroom, which has been yet to be remodelled, and Heather, oldest daughter's, room). I wish you the best of luck on it.
Well, now that I've hung out here a while, I do believe that I'll have a large hot chocolate and hang out at the RC and look over a few things.
PA Tom: Glad that you've gotten your wife home, even with certain limitations, its always good to have 'em home.
All right enough rambling for me, guess I'm going to enjoy my hot chocolate, then roam around on here and see what else everyone is up to.
EDIT: I've got TOP, y'all eat up!
Evenin' Folks!
Janie, just a decaf and a piece of the pecan pie you got there...
Got quite a bit done on the "odds and ends" needing to be finished today. Mailed out the Christmas Cards this evening, and i managed to get in touch with the schools that didn't get back to me about the MLK Art and Poaetry contest info I sent them. Even got some quality time in the train room. Basically finished the second Steam Boiler, and finished the #6 turnout I started at the Batavia Train Show a few weeks ago. I hope to make a couple more this coming weekend at the RIT Tiger Tracks Train Show in Rochester.
Ken and Bama, thanks. The quote was for the entire system, including the manifolds on the V6 engine with Mopar branded items. He was not sure he could get the bolts off without cracking what is left of them.... Remember this is an 11 year old truck on its original exhaust system up here where road salt eats everything....... I am going with a cheaper 3rd. party equipment which will save some money. The dodge has a 3" Diameter tailpipe and it is thick, heavy metal. I gave him the go ahead over the phone this morning. I know of folks that have paid considerably more than that for the Big Dodge trucks with the monster V8 or V10, and that was from some of the el cheapo shops around here. We have both a Midas and a Monroe Muffler in town. I had a couple bad experiences with Midas years ago, and few have much good to say about the other place. I have done business with the dealer I use for close to 30 years. They have saved my Butt on several occasions with loaner vehicles, free tows, etc. And much of the time they come in below the price of the competition. I'll stick with them. I do expect the total will be less than the quote! (I hope!) This is the 4th. Dakota I have owned, and the first time I have ever replaced an exhaust system on one..... Of course the others I got rid of earlier (the '93 was 8 years old at the time).
Prayers for all in need! Have a great night.
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Ok ok, so you're doing the manifolds and all, that makes a might bit more sense to me now. I retract my previous statement (as well I should).
Welp, I'm off to sleepy land, good night to all, my thoughts and prayers to those whom need!
BamaCSX83 Ok ok, so you're doing the manifolds and all, that makes a might bit more sense to me now. I retract my previous statement (as well I should).
LOL, no need to retract anything.... You could still be right! I sure wish it was under $1000..... I do hope to keep the old girl for another 5 or so years... So I figure I ought to put something on it THAT will last longer than I want to have the truck.
Have a good one!
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good morning my friends! well I did it again, I got off w**k a little early yesterday and I ended up at the tool store in town.. I came home with a new 14" Jet band saw in the bed of my truck. I wanted a good one to use on the layout and for my other projects, I'm gonna make some Homasote roadbed and also resaw some pine with it to make some spline roadbed, Also My wife Is in Vegas our son lives there and sometime today or tomorrow our #2 Grandson will be born. We are very excited My wife is Going Nuts! She cant wait! I am off to w**k so see you all soon!
Sue, I am glad your BIL is ok! We have a few dollies with those super singles on them and I steer clear of them, I stick with the old stuff! I have talked to guys that run them on their trucks but have never heard any one say anything good about them. But hey they look cool!
Thayne!
Good Morning All,
PA Tom, that’s encouraging news, I hope she continues to get better quickly.
Thayne, a new band saw and grand child? Wow big Christmas for you this year…
Watched an interesting HOW TO video on eye handy dot com last night on how to build a photo booth, now if those girls would do model railroader segments……
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning
It will be a mix of sun and cloud today...maybe..right now it is overcast and dull dull dull....
Get to go to the doctors today and see about my bloodwork...see whather my A1c has actually come down a little
Then off to get some more pink foam to redo the valley a little on Eric's layout...
Flo, I'll just have a coffee please...yeah..the 40 cup urn seems about right this morning..thankye....I'll be at the corner booth for now..
Morning All,
Just wanted to say hello to everyone.
Today is Pearl Harbor day. As someone who served on subs in Pearl Harbor for 14 years and seeing the Arizona Memorial every day while in port this day is one I will never forget.
Take care.
Good Morning!! Coffee and…..more coffee.
Sorry guys and gals, time for Todd to vent.
Now I haven‘t been mad in a looong time. But yesterday afternoon, I was as mad as I, well I can’t remember when. At least since the last time I was mad. Got this cell phone in the mail. Didn’t order it, didn’t win it, nothing. Turns out it’s one of those SafeLink things. I don’t qualify. So I try and do the nice thing and contact them to give it back and unsubscribe, but mainly to find out how they got the info to qualify me. NOWHERE on their worthless automated phone system is an option so can you talk to someone. Not even Peggy. I guess I shouldn’t say nowhere because after an hour of trying different options, I finally got some chunk of dead brain matter who was trying to be nice I guess, but couldn’t answer any of my questions without my account number and last four of my social security number. The first I of course don’t have because I never signed up, the latter he ain’t getting. All the while he kept saying “ our records show we’ve sent your phone, you should receive it any day sir” Well duh. That’s why I’m calling you. Dumber than the north end of a chicken headin south. Did you sign up? Now if he knew me, he would know I’d sign up to clean the wax out of someones dirty ears before I’d sign up for another stinkin phone. Did someone sign you up? What? How could someone else fill out the forms to qualify me. Anyway he gives me a phone number to call about my account which I don’t have, and I can talk to a real person. He gives me a phone number that sends me right back to the system. That sent me over the edge. If it were just a TracPhone, which is what it really is, I’d a just give it away, or busted it up and mailed it back. What I want is to find out about my “account”. Then, I’ll bust the thing up and mail it back. That doesn’t seem to be an option.
Whew! Thanks for the vent.
My a commin:
Ken, don’t feel bad about the mark up. Though I haven’t seen THAT huge of a markup, usually what they charge is the list price on the ticket from the NAPA. They are right. You HAVE to make money, as a business, on your parts. When I charge for parts though, I charge my cost and the sales tax. I keep the receipt to prove sales tax was paid on the part. Basically, (legally) they buy the part, I just pick it up for them and the pay me er, um, "reimburse me". Remember, the labor rate doesn’t cover all aspects of the business.
And SPEAKING of labor rates. Keep in mind Ray lives in New Yowk. (Try that Jeff’s British voice program.) The difference could be largely in the labor rate, taxes and all that melarcky (how does that program work on misspelled words there Jeffy?) The actual cost of parts, could be very close, or higher depending on the area. Myself, I’d pay to have someone else do exhaust w**k. I hate it. Always have. Nothing, and I mean nothing ever lines up. Ever bust a bolt off in a head, usually the back, in the vehicle, usually up against something immoveable so the drill wont fit ar the tap won'e swing, and try to get the blamed thing drilled out, tapped or helicoiled straight so it’ll line up with the hole in the manifold and pull down square enough to get tight? I’ll slam my head in a vise now thank you. Ray, the dealership is potentially the least hassle free of your choices, in my experience. It also has the best recourse if you are not happy and that is Chrysler Corp. Trust me, I have known people who could get nowhere with a dealership, but one call to Chrysler and all was well. Pay your money (I hope it is less and many times they will shoot high because no one likes the call saying it’ll be more, but no one complains when they say “well it didn’t end up as high as we thought”) and be glad you ain’t laying on your back in the drive saying “Why didn’t I just pay someone to do this”. Besides, at least around here, dealership prices are not THAT much higher than anywere else any more.
Whoa! What a long one today. I best shut up and let someone else talk for awhile.
Christmas party for the elevator tonight at the Texas Roadhouse in Springfield. Free steak so gotta go.
Ya’ll 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 morning, Chloe. Coffee, please.
Curt, Garry, & Thayne, Thanks for the concern about BIL. We won't know if the knees are trashed until he gets back. He is a tough old bird. They could be broken in a gazillion pieces and he would keep going. I guess it is all he can do to crawl into the truck.
Oh, nice engine facility, Curt.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Morning All.
Flo Coffee please.
Did not sleep worth a darn last night. Got to do something about getting a real mattress and get off the darn couch. I slept better out in KC on Steve guest room bed than I am at my own house.
Bama As far as the ball repair kit, I have seen them as low as $3.00 and as high as $21.00 but that kit had the big plastic gear as well. Before I worry about the window motor I need to get the door hinge pin's replaced! It is work I could do my self if I had someone to hold the door while have the hinge unbolted from the door. Sure be handy to have a door caddy again.
Thanks for all the comments on the parts markup.I got to keep in mind the reason they are at the shop is because they never wanted to learn on how to work on there vehicles. I just need to keep that in mind, it there fault not mine.
I am off today but looks like I won't have much personal time today. Seems some boards rotted off the fences. Need to go and take a look.
Later
Good Morning Modelers!
Been working on getting all my old Trip Videos on Tape converted to AVI files before I don't have access to a camcorder that can still read the tapes. Man talk about chewing up disk space quickly but I will later get these burned off to multiple DVD's and/or BR's disks and stored in different locations. You got to protect these digital copies like negatives in case things get damaged and have another copy in a safe place!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
Good morning. It's 33° and mostly sunny. The high is due to be 47° and it will be variably cloudy.It's on the cool side here this morning and my computer still sounds like a presenter on the BBC, rather like a cross between Graham Norton and Richard Hammond. Nothing planned for today. I just need to let my eyes rest. The right one isnt hurting this morning but the left one is. Both are quite bloodshot so please excuse me if I don't make another appearance today.Here's something that's super rusty!
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a breakfast bagel with bacon and cheese please.... Oh, and a cup of your finest... Oh, you brought the dark roast coffee with you, Thanks!
It's a gray, gloomy, foggy day outside here the Finger Lakes.... Currently 37°F which is the high for the day. About all I have to do outside is put up a couple wreaths THAT have been sitting on the picnic table on the deck since last Saturday.....
Got up to find I had a call from the Dodge dealer..... Todd, you are very right about they are the least hassle free in the long run. They got the Catalytic Converter off the truck with no problem, but when they went to install the new one, it didn't fit..... Seems like I have a truck outfitted with the 50 state one... The 49 state one can't be put on my truck as it will screw up the oxygen sensors on each cylinder and at best I will have a very poorly operating truck. They have to find the correct one (which nobody in NYS has....) and get it shipped, so truck may not be ready when expected. I told him not to worry, that I can do without the truck for a few more days and get it done when they can. Wonder what those other places might have done to "make it fit"? Of course it wouldn't be their fault when the truck wouldn't run..........
I have just enough experience working on exhaust systems back in my youth to know it is something I will gladly pay someone else to do.... LOL! I changed out several mufflers on my old VWs way back when and even with them being ultra simple, there were a couple times I had to drive it over to a shop without any muffler on it to get them to finish the job. Those would go through a muffer every 18 months or so. Todd, your right the holes NEVER line up right! The only ones THAT were simple were the ones on the old Ford Tractor we had on the farm (also the only tractor we actually kept a muffler on.... I got to drive the junk ones we borrowed from the "dead letter office" at Don Howard's Farm Equipment).
Sue, sure hope your BIL isn't doing more damage to the knees driving home!
[edit]... Oh! Don't forget, today is December 7th.! This was the day back in 1941... 70 years ago.... THAT the NYC put the last rendition of the Empire State Express into service. It was supposed to get front page headlines in papers all over the country, but alas, barely got a mention due to the events in Pearl Harbor! Please take time to remember all that happened on the fateful day 70 years ago!
The R&GV RR Museum now owns the Empire State Express BTW.
May be able to spend some serious time in the train rooms today..... Have a good one!
Chicken Soup, a fruit & veggie smoothie, followed by a strong coffee in a STORMY SOUTHERN mug, please.
"Thoroughbred Train Race" video was AWESOME! Great job!
***Tom, fingers crossed for wife's continued improvement.
***Curt, excellent layout pics!
***Ken, ROAR put it better than I would have. Wouldn't give it (the mark-up) a second thought.
***Barry, can't see how those skids could possibly steer that log train or are the tracks independent? What am I missing? Cool old photo.
***Darren, I can relate to the need for tape transfers. Still have over 10 hours of video (on HI8 cassettes) in need of transfer to discs. Everyone charges a LOT to do that, but at some point I'll just have to pay for it to be done. Would be nice to see them after so many years. Probably a lot of shaky video.
***Jeffrey, that old steamer looks like it belongs on a siding where it can replenish the earth with iron.
Meeting with my neighbor later (with the trackhoe) to go over a bunch of farm repair needs to be done. Have a good day all. Rob
Darren, I’m doing the same thing except I bought a USB TV Tuner. It has a Red White yellow connection and a cable jack. It also came with a digital TV antenna. Not only can I record VHS and live TV, but I can also copy from my DVR player. It saves everything into a MPEG-2 file natively. I just need to learn to convert it to regular movie type DVD now.
My mechanic charges 10% mark up on parts and $21/hour for labor, but she gets the parts at about 25% cheaper than I can buy them. That’s not bad considering I would need to make 3 trips to the auto store and use about $5/hour in first aid supplies before I got anything done.
Cederstrand ***Darren, I can relate to the need for tape transfers. Still have over 10 hours of video (on HI8 cassettes) in need of transfer to discs. Everyone charges a LOT to do that, but at some point I'll just have to pay for it to be done. Would be nice to see them after so many years. Probably a lot of shaky video.
Check your HI8 Camcorder and see if it was port that can be hooked to a Firewire or USB cable and attached to your PC. If you have that you are 90% there in doing it yourself!
LSWrr It saves everything into a MPEG-2 file natively. I just need to learn to convert it to regular movie type DVD now.
Can it convert to AVI format as that would be better? I will try to remember to check the video editing software I have to see if it can read MPEG as a source. Once you have a video editor that can read the digital version most of those can burn the DVD in true Video DVD or Blue Ray format including have menus and Scene Selection options. The wife and I are slowly movie towards video over stills while also using the stills in the videos. This way we can also capture the sounds and can add overlays and narration to replace decades of photo albums!
Good Evening!
December 7th - not only Pearl Harbor Day, but also my Dad´s 85th birthday. He was a lad of 15, when the Japanese raided Pearl Harbor and Hitler subsequently declared war against the US. It was the day the family decided to have suitcases packed, ready to go and leave their home at any time. That came true when the Red Army broke through in January 1945.
I am glad that these days are long gone and former enemies have become friends for decades now.
Blessings to all those families who lost a beloved on due to this treacherous attack.
I am still fighting for survival in the company. It is actually not my personal survival, but the survival of the business. I have come to terms with one bank, but there are three more to go. I had all of them three weeks ago...
There is also a Plan B slowly developing. I have started talks with a tax advisor and counselor, who is looking for help in his turn-around management business sector. Could be an option for me, saving ailing businesses from bankruptcy. Let´s see how that develops.
I am going to retire to the sofa soon. My mind has stopped working, so an evening in front of the idiot box is all I can do.
Janie, a please, and put whatever the gang is having for drinks on my tab!
CU tomorrow!