Elliot´s Trackside Diner - December 2011

[cudaken]

 Evening Dinner and Happy Birthday JR!

 Flo, Beer please!

 Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! Would you believe I started training today? Yep, for 8 hours all I did was take test on line from the back offices! No answering phones, no helping customers or looking for parts! I had 15 test to take, dated back as far as 11-23-2011 the day after I was hired. One of the managers I worked for (it was 2 weeks before I even knew there where any test) told me they where not important and not to worry about them?  

 Monday they are flying in the Division Trainer to work with me! What shocks me is there is a trainer! Boy, I wonder what kind of fire was put under Dave's Caboose by Neal? While I am still worried, I feel like I still have a fighting chances! I was all so told today I am still a Manger In Training, so I keep my salary for now. But I am not holding my breath on that one. I hate to say it, but I don't feel like at this point I can count on anything I am told by the area supervisor. Guess I need to call payroll Monday and see what I am listed as. 

 Newer Town Car I found this a site about auto repairs and it looks like my power window balls went bad! No kidding, my Town Car window has balls and they are not ball bearings!

 While I am not looking forward to taking the motor out to replaces the bad balls it is a cheap repair. Cost is around $10.00 for the new plastic balls. My self, rather have Brass Balls than Plastic Balls but what can you say?

 Galaxy I am not out the door yet and even with thinking I was being dropped down to $8.00 a hour plus commission I was still glad to have a job! Sorry your other half has a caboose for a department manager. 

 Ulrich, is the job gone for sure, or is it still up in the air? You are in my prayers, if anyone needs a break in life you are one of them!

 Well I see you all in the morning, I don't go in till 9:30 AM.

                Ken 

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening

Yep...raining all day, all night, all tomorrow, now into tomorrow night as well....rain rain rain...oh well...

Prayers to those having sickness, no jobs, big issues...

GMT!!!!!

And itseems to have been a quiet weekend for now..no issues to be had insight...good.

Chloe I'll have a coffee for now please...I'll be at the RC for a bit.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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

[BamaCSX83]

Hey all.  Just stopping in for the night.  Today was a good day overall.  Went hunting, but didn't get anything.  Made spaghetti for dinner tonight, it was good as always.  Now I'm just settling in and relaxing for the rest of the evening.  I'm off tomorrow from my "real" job, but I do have a couple of side jobs to take care of. Not complaning, as the funds from such jobs get to go into the Christmas account.  Of course, after the end of the week, I go on vacation, so will come my MRR time and some more time to go hunting and all in all enjoying some time away from w**k.  Well, I think I'm going to go and plunder around on here and see what else I can see and comment on.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a decaf for me. 

Got a good number of obligatory stuff out of the way today.  Got the Advent Candles in the windows on timers, Made and printed the Christmas Cards, printed up some photos to include in the cards (found I am now out of 8.5 x 11 photo paper).  Even got to do some more details on the Boiler and a good start on the second Steam Boiler.

Tomorrow I will need to run to the post office for some little things to stick on the envelopes and visit Stapes for some supplies....  Have a bunch of empty ink cartridges to recycle anyway.  May also make a quick run down to the LHS to see if they might just have the size tubing I need to make the smoke venting from the boilers.

Barry, where DO you find those contraptions....?  Interesting to say the least!

Ulrich and Ken....  "Illegitimi Non Carborundom!"

Have a great evening and prayers for all in need!

73

[galaxy]

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Monday, December 5th, 2011!!!

Only 3 weeks left to Christmas shop!!!

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

 

 

 

[thortenney]

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!  My Dog and I are up having some coffee. My wife made my lunch last night so after a shave and shower I will be ready to take on the day!  I spent yesterday putting the finishing touches on my bench work. I went to Home Depot on Saturday and picked up 5 sheets of 3/4" plywood. While I was at Home Depot I tried to order some Homosote. The man at the Pro counter had never had that request before. But I told him Boise cascade has it and he is going to call them today and try to find me some. I just hope I don't pass out when he tells me the price. Also I volunteered to be the librarian at our NMRA club on Saturday so I will start getting that put together this month. It is fun to get out and get involved. I am happy and excited to help the group. Well I hope you all have a Good Day!  I will see you later tonight.

                                                                                                                  Thayne. 

[blownout cylinder]

And a Good Morning to you all!

My ain't we all chipper this Monday morning...here we be sitting in the rain...for another rainy day..

I'm having those evening classes things going tonight so I'll be having a somewhat slow morning here...

Flo, I'll just have a coffee for nowt please..i'll be at the RC for a bit.

Oh, and Ray: There is a 1,720+ page thread of this over at http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585...some of the things these guys fall over there are something to behold!!

[LSWrr]

Good Morning All,

 

I have a problem and looking to see if anyone in the group has suggestions…

 

My dog lost one of toe nails 20 days ago and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.  I’ve had her to the vet twice and she has been on anti-biotic and something to lower the swelling.  I can see the toe nail is starting to grow back but the foot just looks horrible.  I’m wondering if I need to go to a different Vet for a second opinion…

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Coffee and a breakfast pile with sausage please, thanks.

Cloudy, with a high near 38.

Ken- Sorry about the job situation. Oh I see things are looking back up again. Good luck. Oh and I can’t resist…..should have bought a Dodge.

Sue- I usually do help her with a small amount of decorating. She now has no idea what to get me regarding the RR. Not that she wouldn’t, she has and did a great job, all things considered. She even got me a boxcar that was an offshoot road name (Texas and Mexican) that most others could not use, but I can justify having. But now, at this point, I don’t even know what I need or want.

Gotta get back in there. Maybe after the holidays.

We need a new TV also. That cold solder joint is really getting worse. It’s a Zenith console and it really has a great picture. Tube you know, and not digital of course. Looks like we are gonna get another flat screen for Christmas.

J.R.-

Lee- If it were me, yes I would. I wouldn’t necessarily tell my current Vet, I but I definitely would seek a second opinion. Don’t forget to take with you any medications the current Vet has given. If you’re anything like me, you’ll read the bottle and when you get to the Doctors, you say “and she takes something that sounds kinda like…..”

Floor Wars Williamsville: Phase One- Welp, would have been done yesterday, but guess what. She wanted to go into town and buy a Christmas tree. Went to like 5 places until she found one she liked. That in itself wasn’t too bad, but when in the stores, she would meander around just looking and touching stuff. You know…, shopping I think they call it. When we got home, she wanted the place where the tree goes cleaned out so she could put up the tree. This morning, the tree is still in the box. I look for the floor to be done and the mess cleaned up before the tree gets put up. Now, all I need is about an hour of undisturbed time and I can finish this floor. Except for the transitions. She needs to pick the stain for them. She will probably do that ohhhh, say, Saturday morn-... no, afternoon. Late. Then we have a party that night, and then she'll want the thing stained and installed and carpet tucked by Sunday.

If I didn’t love her so much I’d scream like a girl.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[cudaken]

 Morning Fellow Dinners!

 Flo, coffee please.

 Need to get going here pretty soon, I start work at 9:30 AM and the shop is a bit of a drive.

 Todd I did look for Dodges while I was looking for a car. Current Dodges I like where out of my prices range. Ones that where in my prices range was just a small step ahead of the now retired Daytona. Would you believe a 2002 Neon is still bring $2500? I think they where only $11,000 new.

 Talk at you all when I get home.

                                 Ken

 

[gear-jammer]

Just a quick coffee before I head to work, Chloe.

Happy Birthday, JR.

Sue

Looks like I buy this morning.

[blownout cylinder]

uuummmmm Chris...

[Curt Webb]

Morning All,

At w**k today and nothing much going on so far. High supposed to be 79 or 80 F today and the rest of work week. I was looking at the spot on the layout that the wife suggested to put a pond in and it looks like there is a natural bowl on 3 sides and if I build up Talus on the 4th side it will work so I'm going to do it. Most likely Friday or Saturday.

I ordered a 8 x10 B&W photo of a streamlined K4 on that site last night. It looks great and it was taken in Youngstown, OH in 1938. That is where my parents grew up. At the time my Dad was 5 and my Mom was 3. To me that makes the picture more than just a loco. Does that make sense?

Prayers to all those in need. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 60° and wet with plenty of rain. The high will be lower at 57° and there will be plenty of rain. Chance of rain is at 70%.

I'm sitting here listening to the rain falling on my steel over roof. The sound is quite relaxing. Today I'll see if I can finish the cleanup on the layout. I couldn't do it yesterday as my back was screaming at me for some reason, probably those big packs of paper towels I brought in. I almost fell backward out the door when I was bringing them in. I only just saved myself from a nasty fall by locking my arms out to the sides so my elbows caught the door frame then fell to my left knee putting me over on my left side against the fridge. It still hurt but I prefer it to falling out the door and falling an additional two feet down the steps onto my back on that hard ground. I still had some bad twinges in my back last night but I feel better this morning. I just have a cut on my left elbow from the metal edge of the doorway. Today looks like a good day to get some rest as the weather makes any weathering work nearly impossible. I hope everyone else has a good day.

[Cederstrand]

Extra strong coffee TO GO, please.

***Jeffrey, nice old rust bucket there. Getting more into steam are we? Sorry you took a fall, and glad it wasn't a more serious one. Do take care!

***Ken, crossing my fingers for you. Sounds promising. Hey, if you got balls that work, what more can you ask for!

***Curt, that photo makes sense to me! Post pics of your pond progress when you can.

***Todd, you still have the funniest posts.

Barry, those are some pretty interesting space-aged looking cars. Sorta like Batmobile wannabes. Wonder what they would be worth today?

Have a good day all. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

***Jeffrey, nice old rust bucket there. Getting more into steam are we?

Nope. That Niagara is the last of my big steamers. I got rid of the others. All I have left is a Pemco 2-6-0, a Bachmann 0-6-0, a Bachmann 4-6-0 Hall type that can't pull two boxcars and a Spectrum 4-6-2 that's on permanent display in the park.

[BroadwayLion]

thortenney

While I was at Home Depot I tried to order some Homosote. The man at the Pro counter had never had that request before. But I told him Boise cascade has it and he is going to call them today and try to find me some.

 

Homosote is a brand name. They may have a similar product under a generic name.

I was at Menard's the other day and asked for Masonite, but they had never heard of it. But they had "hardboard" which was the generic name.

Homosote or rather similar material is used as an under-floor material. Maybe the flooring department will have that or something similar.

The LION uses "Celotex" for his layout, but while the Celotex company still exists, this sheet product that used to be used in the 20's and 30s as a cheap wallboard or ceiling material is no longer available. Something to do whit fire codes, I presume. But I had ten sheets of it from a building that we had torn down.

ROAR

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a breakfast bagel with sausage and cheese and a cup of dark roast coffee to start the day.

Dark, damp, drizzly day here in the Finger Lakes.  Currently 48°F and raining outside....  Wish Barry would keep this stuff up in Ontario and not keep sending it my way!  Too warm today to light the wood stove, so I will bundle up to keep warm in the house.

First order of the day is to find someone to help me unload the woodsplitter from the trailer.....  Then i have way too many other odds and ends THAT have to get done today, ending with a meeting at the Cubmaster's house to finish the rechartering of both the Pack and the Venture Crew..... 

Have a good one!

73

[blownout cylinder]

Oh, but, Ray, I have to share this 'lurvely' weather with someone....

[Stourbridge Lion]

Good Morning!

Nearly finish putting up our X-Mas decorations this weekend but with the recent Snow/Cold weather I decided not to get the ladder out and do the gutter lights yet and risk falling.  Going with a simple N Scale X-Mas tree setup inside and using our two small trees with RR and Firetruck ornaments so it's a RR X-Mas this year!

[howmus]

Stourbridge Lion

Nearly finish putting up our X-Mas decorations this weekend but .........

Got mine done!

73

[Stourbridge Lion]

LOL!  Been there!

Now I hope that is not a reflection of the layout wiring too!

[howmus]

Stourbridge Lion

Now I hope that is not a reflection of the layout wiring too!

Heavens NO!  My layout wiringf isn't anywhere near THAT neat!!!

73

[Curt Webb]

Had a good laugh at the Christmas lights. About 5 years ago we had icicle lights. When I took them down they kept getting tangled up so finally in frustration I just tossed them in the box. The next year when we went to take them out MOH took one look at them gave me the dickens (note the Christmas reference) and has never asked for outdoor lights since.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a SUNNY & SOUTHERN mug, please.

***Ray, nice outdoor lights there. If I wasn't skipping Christmas this year, I might go for the same look.

***Darren, sounds like quite an interesting tree. Please post pics if you can.

Back from running a bunch of required errands. Will be in a corner booth, trying not to nod off. Exhausted again. Rob

[Stourbridge Lion]

Cederstrand

***Darren, sounds like quite an interesting tree. Please post pics if you can.

Will do...

[AmanaMedic]

Good afternoon, I heard BARRY was giving a lecture on the history of the Hurst Tool, AKA: "The Jaws of Life," so hustled on over. 

Hurst picked up a major advertising opportunity when in a 1972 episode of "EMERGENCY!" the crew used a Hurst Tool to extricate a little girl from a crushed car. As it turns out, the LA County Fire Dept. didn't have these tools...yet. Jack Webb ended up buying two sets: one for his show (to be carried by Squad 51) and one for the department to get them started in the modern era of vehicle extrication.

THAT early model Hurst, is about 100 pounds of steel, iron, something very very heavy. Makes me glad my fire department's new set is only in the 40-60 pound range.

 

I had an interesting Saturday night...well, interesting to me anyway. THAT Editor sent me to Das Peoples' Demokratik Republik of Iowa City for a charity event. Some people were getting their heads shaved to help out the St. Baldrick's Foundation raise money for pediatric cancer research. Among the shavees was the North Liberty Police Chief. We'll call him....Officer Obey, of "Alice's Restaraunt" fame.

So, it's in a college town bar on Saturday night. Oh joy. Oh rapture. Downtown Iowa City parking sucks on a "normal" day (nothing is "normal" in Iowa City...). I ended up in a parkade about four blocks from the bar...in the pouring rain. Yippee. Inside the bar, which was supposedly supposed to be something of a more "upscale" joint; the stench of stale beer assaulted me immediately. Then, I noticed I was sticking to the floor with each step.

Nice.

Eventually, they get around to having the event. They shave one dude's head. They shave the head of a rather attractive young lady. Her...mother's boyfriend has cancer, so she's shaving her head because she can't move to Texas to be with them right now. Amazingly, she was even...hotter...with a bald head. Strange. Must've been some lingering fumes or vapors in the place...

Finally, they do the Police Chief. I'm clicking away on the camera, getting plenty of shots to choose from. At one point he says "Chris, THAT little newspaper of yours can't possibly use all these pictures you're taking."

Without thinking about it, without missing a beat I fire back "who said they're all for the paper?"

The room cracked up. Score one for the newspaper guy. I'll be watching the rear view mirror extra close for awhile whilst traveling through North Liberty now...

At least the four block hike back to my truck, in the pouring rain, gave me a chance to wash off my shoes...

Best wishes to all in need, and it sounds like we've got plenty in THAT category today.

Chris

[blownout cylinder]

Good Afternoon...

Chris:  Hope you had fun in that place..sounds like a funtime was had by all  

OK...I found somethings that I also posted in a thread here...

Chloe, I'll have a coffee for now please...I'll be at the RC for a bit...