Evenin' folks!
Zzzzzzzzzzzz............! Uh? Oh! Janie, just a decaf please.
Long, long day. The Division Meet went exceptionally well. Had around 40 people there I think (haven't done a complete count from the sign in. All the clinics were well received, had a huge number of Model and Photo entries, and I got railroaded again to be Superintendent of the division for 2 more years (all the officers will stay the same). We also had the current Niagara Frontier Region President as a guest today. He helped to present one of our members with his Master Model Railroader at the end of the meet.
I left home at 6AM this morning and arrived back home a little before 6PM tonight. I will have a lot of putting stuff away, "dis-aggregating Data" and such, then I can spend a few days w*rking on the layout I hope.
Debating lighting the wood stove or just putting on another layer of clothing....
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Thanks, Jeff! I guess those various additives and such need a wee bit of caution, eh? I never thought the grain dust was flammable, let alone explosive, but I guess it's like how fuel injection engines provide a bigger bang in cars (though more controlled...).
Jim in Cape G.
JimRCGMOOn grain elevator explosions I still have a hard time figuring what the reaction is that drives the explosion, unless it's something like semi-fermented grain dust creating miniscule bits of alcohol, etc. Anyone care to explain what the actual 'mechanism' is there? (Bear in mind, I'm NOT a whiz kid about chemistry, so KISS, as they say...). Hey, are you at the 'home' digital darkroom, or are you at w**k and manning the sports desk?
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
Good day to all of you fine folk loitering here in the Diner this Saturday afternoon, may I join you ?
Chloe when the time is right, I'll have my usual with a plate of home fries & onions rings and today I'll chase it with an RC cola. Thanks much.
Well, it is Saturday and here I am back at work. When I work On the week-end I usually try to have a history lesson for you, so sit down, relax, have a sip of something you prefer and do a quick little reading on a very unique rail system that started about 110 years ago. Hang on here it comes >>>>>>>>>>> Ulrich will be especially interested it was in his country.
A LITTLE JOURNEY THROUGH THE AIR St. Nicholas Magazine—1902By KATHARINE MORGAN CROOKS.
WHEN I was small I often heard my elders tell what a great invention a railway with wooden tracks, on which cars were drawn by horses, had seemed to them when they were young. Nowadays we are so used to the wonders of mechanics that the most extraordinary methods of journeying appear as matters of course to us. Those of you who have been in London have probably gone from one part to another on the "Tuppenny Tube," the electric railway deep in the earth, which winds its way like a long snake beneath London. It is built with two single-track tunnels; each tunnel, when you peer into it from an underground station, looks like a big tube, and is not much higher or wider than the train. From its shape and the fare, which is twopence (familiarly "tuppence"), comes the nickname Tuppenny Tube.
Many of you have looked down into the deep cuts in New York where men are digging and blasting for a railway under the city; and most of you are familiar with railways which, instead of burrowing in the ground, go on supports through the air. A railway through the air is now a prosaic, every-day affair. But there is one form of elevated-railway travel to which we have not yet accustomed ourselves and which does seem odd. This is an elevated railway where the car, instead of running on the track, hangs from it. I took a little trip one day last summer on the only railway of this kind in the world.
There flows in Germany, not far from the Rhine, a narrow winding river called the Wupper. On this river, about twenty-seven miles from the old city of Cologne, are two busy towns, Elberfeld and Barmen. About where Elberfeld ends Barmen begins, so that together they have a length of from six to eight miles. The factories and houses of both line the two sides of the little river, fill the narrow valley, and climb the hills which begin close beside the river's banks. I took a walk in Barmen up one of these hilly streets, and met an electric street car on its way down. The car ran on a cog wheel railway, so you may imagine how steep the road was. Although the odd kind of elevated railway of which we have spoken is called the Elberfeld - Barmen Suspension Railway, the Barmen end was not all finished at that time. It was, therefore, in Elberfeld that I mounted the steps to a station not quite fifteen feet above-ground, and paid five cents for a first-class trip to the end of the route.
In the station, as you may see by the picture, a stout iron netting is stretched for security between the two platforms, and apparently there are tracks. In reality what one sees are supports on which a car rests as the passengers get in and out, to prevent its tipping. Each car runs alone, like a street-car, and is much like a streetcar in appearance. The ends, however, instead of being square, taper slightly, something like a kite, and there is no open platform. Perhaps you would be interested to know something more of these cars. With all its belongings a car weighs about twelve tons; it is about thirty-eight feet long, over eight feet high, and nearly seven feet wide, is divided by a glass door into two compartments for first and second class passengers, and can seat fifty persons. The trucks for the wheels—and this is the curious part—are above the car, as you see, instead of below. There are two of them, one to the front and one to the back of the car; each has two wheels, one behind the other, so that the car seems to hang from the top edge of one side. The electricity is supplied to a motor for each truck by means of a contact-rail running beside the rail on which the wheels rest. When the railway is finished a car will run the whole route of eight and a quarter miles, including stops at many stations, in twenty-five minutes.
Now that we understand something about it, we enter by the door at the side of the car, first passing through the little gangway from the platform. The door is locked after us, and without noise or jar the car starts. The windows are large, and there is a glass door at each end besides those on the side of entry; a platform to the front, on which the motorman stands, is also inclosed in glass, so that one can see forward and backward as well as to the sides. The railway, which was opened March 1, 1901, has now been running sixteen months. In the beginning the townspeople, who get on and off every few minutes at a station, were curious about the railway; so many thousands scrambled to be among the first to ride through the air that the traffic had often to be suspended. Once, as a German newspaper solemnly announced, in the station shown in the first picture a car window was actually broken—whereupon the police were hurriedly called in, and they ordered the road closed for the day!
For a long way the car travels over the river between the rows of houses and factories. You can see how it looks from the picture of the structure as it straddles the stream. Here the supports look like big A's with very slanting sides and square tops; over dry land, as you see by the last picture, the supports to the railway are like big U's upside down. The Wupper is a narrow, dirty stream of many colors, like Joseph's coat, for the refuse of the dye and chemical works which line its sides give it more hues than has the rainbow. While passing above, you look down on a stream that is, by turns, yellow, brown, magenta, and many other shades, but never a natural water-color.
Standing in the car, it is necessary to steady one's self; altogether, though, there is very little jarring, and one feels like a bird looking down in this fashion on the world. This is especially the case when the car finally quits the river and travels over the road toward Vohwinkel, as the highway is lined on both sides by fine trees.
When I was a little girl and firmly believed every word of the "Arabian Nights," I used to sigh for a magic horse which would soar through the air without spilling me off. That horse, I feel, will never appear; but perhaps a substitute for him might be found in the magic coach in which one seems to float, during this part of the route, through a green bower. The illusion is heightened by the noiseless flitting-by of cars traveling the other way. There is nothing picturesque in the New York elevated railway, as all of you who live near that city know, excepting sometimes at sunset in the spring when a brightly lighted train, pictured against a glowing sky, flies past the opening of a cross-street, and the chance observer catches at the same time the shimmer of the river beyond. Novelty and nature, however, throw a charm over a large part of the route of the Suspension Railway. The scheme of building it as far as possible over the Wupper probably arose from the desire to have direct and speedy communication between the two ends of the sister towns without going uphill and down dale. Certainly the matter was long and carefully pondered before this form of an elevated road, the invention of an engineer in Cologne named Eugene Langen, was decided upon. So successful has the experiment proved that, as the conductor tells with much importance, there is talk of extending the railway to Cologne.
Now the German railway man is even less willing to answer questions than his American mate; and, just as local pride makes this one communicative, the magic coach comes to a sudden standstill. The Vohwinkel terminus has been reached in eighteen minutes after leaving the station in Elberfeld, which lies across the way from the ordinary railway station.
When, all aglow with the adventures of the day, I sought, on return to the pretty town from which I had gone, to narrate these experiences to the good Germans who had suggested the trip, they shook their heads and said: "So you really tried it, did you? Perhaps you don't realize what a dangerous river the Wupper is. Did you know that the refuse from the factories has made mud at the bottom twelve feet deep, and nothing that falls into it is ever found?"
Those were some interesting times. Do you think people 110 years from now will look back on our time and say the same thing ? I wonder............
Not much news in the transportation business here except that my Grandson has learned how to crawl forward now. He has been rolling over and could propel himself backward, but just couldn't get the coordination for going forward until yesterday, boy he is traveling now. He will be getting into everything for the next couple of years.
We will be going to Missouri in mid October and I already have a couple of parcels waiting for me at my Son's place. One from Walthers and one from Dallas Model Works. Just thought I would save some postage that way rather than shipping to Canada and I knew I wouldn't be getting to much RRing till we get back in early Nov.
Think I should get the ice tires on my truck as coming home through South and North Dakota we could get some winter weather by that date. ( Hope not )
We have been having great day time temps here and it should hold for another few day but by the end of next week it says it will be down into the single digits (Celsius) 30 to 40 F.
Paul, glad to hear things seem to be improving for your wife.
Ken, My third Son who is a Automotive Tech and Shop Manager tells me to tell you that it is Universal. He feels he is an idiot magnet as well some days. He says he shakes his head when they are leaving and says to himself "just think that they share the same air, reproduce and vote, man, that is a scary thought.
Prayers and blessings to all who stand in need.
Johnboy out.............................................for now
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Afternoon, Flo, I'll have a RBF for now, thanks!
Vincent, that sounded like you have the mechanic's version of "Who's on First?" there. Hope your sister's boyfriend's family gets the boat promptly!
Chris, I might not have as much of a level drop on the one side as Jeff's sister's house originally has. Not sure I'm up to THAT full challenge just yet... On grain elevator explosions I still have a hard time figuring what the reaction is that drives the explosion, unless it's something like semi-fermented grain dust creating miniscule bits of alcohol, etc. Anyone care to explain what the actual 'mechanism' is there? (Bear in mind, I'm NOT a whiz kid about chemistry, so KISS, as they say...). Hey, are you at the 'home' digital darkroom, or are you at w**k and manning the sports desk?
I like your delivery van there, Jeff! Actually, kind of a 'double' punny there.
This afternoon, I got the rest of the filling station ready for the gesso (aka, scale 'stucco'). Have it drying on the kitchen table, and I got out the jar of gesso. Will look through my brushes and see what size might w**k best. Here's a couple of photos of my 'progress.' First, the walls and signs:
(The one on the 'ground' goes with the longer piece horizontally coming out from the front center part of the roof, by the way.)
And here's with the roof (just set on top, didn't try to completely line it up yet. Looks like a bunch of gas stations from back in the 40's and 50's (and even later, in some rural areas).
The other sign would go out toward where the stand-alone sign is. (The stand-alone sign would like go to the side/elsewhere.) I will be sanding to round the corners of the 'bases' (both sign and the station itself). I'm figuring that the back two side doors go to bathrooms, or one a bathroom and the other a storage room. I want to make an interior for it, as well.
[Edit:] Okay, when I went back and edited some text below the photos, they disappeared on me!
I'll kick back here at the Rivet Counter for a while and let Chris explain how grain elevators go "Boom!!" (or let him do his best to get it into my thick skull...)
Prayers for those needing comfort, healing, rest and/or a good night's sleep. Hope everyone gets some MRR'ing time today or tomorrow.
Blessings,
Goooooooood Afternoon. It's sunny, 70s, beautiful outside. And I'm in the digital darkroom and on the sports desk today. *grumble grumble grumble*
JIM (from Missouri): I don't think you'd have to scratchbuild THAT neat little house JEFF posted. I'd kitbash it. I think RIX makes a bungalow house THAT would w**k for the front porch area, and I'd look at one of the smaller two-story house kits, AHM maybe, for the two-story part. The back would be the toughest with the change in elevations. Some scratchbuilding may be necessary for THAT.
And yes, the second dust explosion is much, much, much bigger/worse due to the incredible amount of fuel in the air to w**k with (thanks to the first one).
CURT: Stupid people is part of why I got out of EMS. Not just stupid patients, but stupid administrators (medical and non-medical).
Well (still way down, I got a postcard from the toads), I'd best get at it. THAT w**k ain't gonna do itself!
Chris (in Iowa)
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Somebody somewhere had commented on the tongue in cheek sign on an express truck I have. Whoever it was, here it is again:
Afternoon guys
Just got back from the train club. I had an issue with one spot of track derailing one of my cars. After some work, we got the track and car to co-operate. Had to adjust a switch and loosen one of the trucks on my car just a tad. They said I should think about getting a wheel replaced because it doesn't have much of a flange... I tried with the beacon on my Gp30 again, I found out two of my resistors I got with my 100 pack of LEDs works great with the athearn mini-bulb. I got it wired up and apparently the resistors bridged leads or something because the bulb burned out. Unfortunately I had CA'd it to a DW light casting. The bulb broke when trying to remove it. I tried to remove the glass but the plastic lens busted. Worse part is I checked my remaining mini-mulb and it's dead too. So the GP30 sits for a bit waiting for some mini-bulbs... I'll likely head over to pensacola next weekend and pick up some more.
Carwise I've been sanding on a cowl hood for my car. The cowl is necessary to clear the new upper intake. I'm also going to change the exhaust to equal-length shorties and an X-pipe. The work on my car will take a few days at most, and is dependant on when my sister's boyfriend's family moves their boat out of the way (it's been there since Issac). Reason being is that the new exhaust is on my dad's car, and he's swapping engines. The boat has to move for the engine swap, and I can't just take the exhaust off until the boat is out of the way(won't run without it). Another hold up is my father has to get his second car running before doing the swap. My father's plan is to start today and have me take my brother's car while mine is undergoing parts swaps. It would work but the instrument cluster doesn't light up and I work at 6am when it's still dark and it'll be a couple of days before his second car runs. His revision was to take my mom's car and he'll drop off my brother's car. My idea is wait till tomorrow (assuming they get the boat today like they are supposed to), and when I get home, get my car ready to swap parts. Then while it cools, help get the 2nd car running, then start working on mine. I like my idea.
Ken, I get stupid people at work every day. One about every 5 to 10 minutes. Luckily I don't have to deal with them often.
I'll catch up with you guys later.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Good Evening Folks!
I am later than usual today. Spent most of the day helping my friend Lothar to take down his old layout - not a nice job. We managed to salvage all building, figures, track, switches and switch motors, but the rest will have to be scrapped. Some of the lumber may also find its way into the new layout, which will be started soon. Once we have cleared the basement, there will be a good paint job necessary, before we can install the work benches. The new layout will be in his second son´s room, who is due to move out
I am still a little undecided about my own plans. I took some time to draft up an O scale layout, again based on John Allen´s timesaver. O scale is gaining market share, as a numbe of new manufacturers have entered into the German market. Lenz (the DCC folks) has a full range of supplies - from locos and cars to track and structures. They have a fairly inexpensive starter set with a little Diesel switcher, some cars, track and their DCC 090 set - very tempting!
You know me, I just had to put an idea for a O scale layout on paper:
Jim - I also got a little confused seeing Jeff´s picture of his sister´s house. I thought he had photoshoped a picture of an HO scale house into a real picture, as the house seems to be somehow out of proportion when compared to the truck. Well, Jeff - you got us fooled there
You folks have a good day!
Morning All,
Not much planned here for the day but go to the club later. There is a train show locally next Saturday so I will be going there. Had pumpkin flavored Leggo's for breakfast. MOH was going to throw them out because she does not like the flavor so I tried it and it tastes like pumpkin bread to me, so a little butter and I was set.
Jeff- That house reminds me of where my great aunt and uncle lived in PA.
Tom- Enjoy your visit. They grow up so quickly.
Karl- If you want to meet stupid people get a job in EMS. I sometimes wonder why the human race is still alive.
Paul- I am glad YOH blood values are looking better.
Hope everyone has a good day ad prayers or those in need.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
Thanks, Jeff - I had come back to this page, and was thinking "Wait a minute! That truck looks too real, and the lighting and background look sooooo real. I bet that isn't a kit, after all." That's what I get for not studying it closer the first time. I've seen several houses that resemble that one - wish somebody made a kit fairly close to that, though. That porch is different from pretty much all the ones I have seen out there (of course, that might depend on how closely I looked, eh?...). Thanks for the other photos; maybe if I get ambitious, I might try scratchbuilding one later. I'll save the photos for now.
Jim in Cape G. (with a bit of egg on his face...)
JimRCGMOHey, I don't know if I've seen that house you posted this morning - is that from an earlier layout? Who made that (kit)? Looks interesting, and not like most we see.
Mornin all!!
Janie, when ya get done with Jim, can you fix me up with 2 eggs over easy, toast, and some bacon and sausage on the side? If there is gonna be a pork shortage, I want to eat my fill before Miss Piggy gets on the table!
Jim, No anniversary cars from me. See, I delivered at the wedding,,,he didnt! I was off the hook,, took him almost 5 years to get off the hook! Priorities!
Paul, If you are going to give the wife an anniversary rail car, maybe one made out of a soft material,,,,so it wont hurt so much when it crashes into your head??? I know as generous as my girl is toward the hobby, flowers and jewelry trumps trains any day!
Ken I feel your pain. Working in a automotive service dept is a magnet for stupidity. I see it everyday, and it scares me sometimes....the people have a drivers license!!!
Galaxy, Resting on laurels eh? Never got a chance to try that, for there is no rest for the weary right?
Well, the vittles were good, but I really must get outside and get stuff done today, for the rain comes tomorrow! Hopefully it won't mess up the NASCAR viewing . And for those longtime followers of motorsports, veteran announcer Chris Economaki passed away yesterday, he was 91.
Cya!
Karl
NCE über alles!
Currently it is 55 with an expected high of 87 under sunny skies.
JimRCGMOYou mentioned getting your ballast in - what colors/types of AZ ballast did you go with? And I forgot (hmm, seems to be a pattern for me lately...), what part of the country is your RR set in? UP country? or elsewhere?
Jim - The ballast is a grey mix, it is called CSX, Southern Pacific, Wabash, in HO scale. I model in the SP in HO. I have used Woodland Scenics and HighBall ballast before, but this stuff comes highly recommended. It looks good in the bag.
I have a closing shift again today. They are suppose to move my wife today from the oncology ward to a long term ward. Same floor just a different hospital name. Something to do with insurance and physical rehab since she has been in there this time for over five weeks .I will stop by the hospital before I go to work to see if the move was made and how she is doing.
Prayers to all in need.
Paul
Living in Fernley Nevada, about 30 miles east of Reno, also lived in Oregon and California, but born In Brooklyn NY and raised on Long Island NY
It's in the low 50's right now here in Pittsburgh and kind of overcast. We are going to leave in about an hour and drive to visit my niece and her family outside of Harrisburg. She is having a birthday party for one of my great nephews who turned 6 a couple of days ago. We try to attend all the birthday partys for the great nephews and nieces. Always a lot of fun and we don't really get to see them as much as we would like to.
Coming back home tomorrow might not be as nice as thunderstorms are in the forecast, I don't like driving in the rain or in the dark too much these days. See how old age creeps into our daily routines. Probably won't get to do any railfanning this coming Sunday either. Funny thing is my wife has already mentioned that. She has even suggested that maybe we could take a side trip to Cresson & Cassandra on the way home Sunday. But that would add a couple of hours to the trip home, and if it rains, it would be a waste of time. I think she is getting into this railfanning more than I am.
Hoping everybody has a great weekend and stays safe. Tom
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning, Janie - I'll have an egg sandwich with bacon, and a Santa Fe mug of coffee, please. Thank you!
jeffrey-wimberly I try to avoid stuff that has to be cut with a razor or extremely sharp knife. I can get a very nasty cut and not even know it. (Been there and done that).
I try to avoid stuff that has to be cut with a razor or extremely sharp knife. I can get a very nasty cut and not even know it. (Been there and done that).
Ah, knew that you'd mentioned that, but my memory slipped on me. My bad, Jeff. You said last night that you thought those elevator windows (on the building part) were too big - I would agree. I (sorta) remember that on Chris' photos, his elevator didn't seem to have as many windows on it (of course, if you want ladders for your elevator crew to be able to get down, that's your call...). Hey, I don't know if I've seen that house you posted this morning - is that from an earlier layout? Who made that (kit)? Looks interesting, and not like most we see.
Paul, good news on your wife's tests and progress. May she continue with her healing. You mentioned getting your ballast in - what colors/types of AZ ballast did you go with? And I forgot (hmm, seems to be a pattern for me lately...), what part of the country is your RR set in? UP country? or elsewhere?
Galaxy, you come up with some very interesting information for us! Hmm, wondering if Ken were a Greek god, could he turn BofS into a tree? Guess I'd best get to my coffee, mind is doing some funny stuff this morning...
Dan, keep warm today at the open house!
I'll be eating my breakfast at the window booth and ask Jeff some more about that house of his.
Blessings and may you have a productive MRR'ing weekend,
Good morning. It's 72° with 100% humidity. There's more than a fair chance of rain. The high will be 82°.I don't think I'll be getting much done today. There's a heavy looking line of thunderstorms heading our way. It's showing up on the radar as heavy to severe. So looking like it's gonna get noisy and wet. The power has already gone off twice in the last twenty minutes. Just what I need when I'm trying to put together a descent looking structure wall in MSPaint. So in view of that it's looking like there will be no progress on the elevator project today.
Good morning, Diners. I will have my coffee now and save the belgian waffle until after my run. We are supposed to have drizzle this morning, but we may have dodged the bullet. The moon is out.
Jeffrey, It's looking good.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Good morning everyone.
Flo, I'll have coffee, and a belgian waffle ...
Today's gonna be interesting -- hopefully it warms up for the open house... At the moment it's 9deg (C, just shy of 50F), so would make for chilly tours. From noon to 4 (approximate running time of the open house), it'll be 17C (mid 60s F), so probably will end up being a crisp day. Not that I mind -- throw an extra jacket or a long sleeved shirt on under my "work shirt" (one of those Dickies heavy-duty ones from Target or Walmart) and it'll be all good.
IF we had the 4070 operational (or , heck, ANY steam locomotive there), I'm 99.9% sure it'd be a great attraction ... because they're WARM!
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
*grumble* *still grumbling* *grumble*
oj...wha? huh? OH, didn't see you there...coffee ...PLEASE...
well
GOOD MORNING!!!
Well, We here in the MRRIng may "finish" our layouts, but we then look for ways to "plus" it and rarely do we Rest on our Laurels! SO: REST ON ONE'S LAURELS:
To be satisfied with one's past success and to consider further effort unnecessary-
The laurels that are being referred to when someone is said to 'rest on his laurels' are the aromatically scented Laurus Nobilis trees or, more specifically, their leaves. The trees are known colloquially as Sweet Bayand are commonly grown as culinary or ornamental plants.
The origins of the phrase lie in ancient Greece, where laurel wreaths were symbols of victory and status. Of course, ancient Greece is where history and mythology were frequently mixed, so we need to tread carefully. The pre-Christian Greeks associated their god Apollo with laurel - that much is historical fact, as this image of Apollo wearing a laurel wreath on a 2nd century BC coin indicates. The reason for that association takes us into the myth of Apollo's love for the nymph Daphne, who turned into a Bay tree just as Apollo approached her (anything could happen if you were a Greek god). Undeterred, Apollo embraced the tree, cut off a branch to wear as a wreath and declared the plant sacred. Their belief in the myth caused the Greeks to present laurel wreaths to winners in the Pythian Games, which were held at Delphi in honour of Apollo every four years from the 6th century BC.
Following the decline of the Greek and Roman empires, the use of wreaths of laurel as emblems of victory seems to have taken a long holiday and didn't re-emerge until the Middle Ages. Geoffrey Chaucer referred to laurels in that context in The Knight's Tale, circa 1385:
With laurer corouned as a conquerourAnd there he lyueth in ioye and in honour . [With laurel crowned as conqueror There he lived in joy and honour]
With laurer corouned as a conquerourAnd there he lyueth in ioye and in honour .
[With laurel crowned as conqueror There he lived in joy and honour]
A 'laureate' was originally a person crowned with a laurel wreath. We continue to call those who are especially honoured laureates although the laurel leaves are usually kept for the kitchen these days. Nevertheless, laureates benefit in other ways; Nobel Laureates get a nice medal and 10 million Swedish Krona and Poets Laureate (in the UK at least) get a useful salary and a butt of sack (barrel of sherry).
As to the phrase's meaning, to 'rest on one's laurels' isn't considered at all a praiseworthy strategy - it suggests a decline into laziness and lack of application. That's not the original meaning. When 'rest on one's laurels' or, as it was initially, 'repose on one's laurels' was coined it was invariably part of a valedictory speech for some old soldier or retiring official. An early example of that usage is found in The Memoirs of the Cardinal de Retz, 1723:
The Duke [of Orleans] was old enough to take his Repose under the Shadow of his Laurels.
Of course, the 'repose' was figurative - no one was imagining someone sleeping on a bed of laurel leaves, although the citation above could be construed as referring to laurel trees rather than laurel wreaths. No such doubts with a slightly later citation from the London-based Gentleman's Magazine, 1733, on the retirement of a schoolmaster of Westminster School:
So thou, paternal Sage, may'st now repose. Nor seek new Laurels to adorn thy Brows.
As soon as we move into the energetic 19th century, the meaning changes and the phrase is used with a distinctly disapproving tone. The review magazine The Literary Chronicle, 1825, which praises the work of Maria Edgeworth:
We do not affect to wish she should repose on her laurels and rest satisfied; on the contrary, we believe that genius is inexhaustible... For Miss Edgeworth there must be no rest on this side the grave.
We are hardly any more charitable these days. "One hit wonders" are sneered at and, with proper Anglo-Saxon earnestness, Anthony Burgess dismissed his fellow author Joseph Heller's inability to write a second book for 13 years following the success of Catch-22 by sniping that "Heller suffers from that fashionable American disease, writer's block".
*grumble* *grumble* *Grumble* *grumble*
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Good Morning! from Tipton IN.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
NKP Steam Crane, IMC Dist., north of Noblesville IN -circa 1945
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Evening All,
Karl - Interesting idea about the commerative cars for your anniversary. A little story about anniversaries, for our first year anniversary I gace my wife 1 yellow rose. Yellow is her favorite color. On our second anniversary I gave her two. Seemed like a good idea and at the time inexpensive gift, and she really liked it. Fast forward 42 YEARS, Do you know what 42 yellow roses cost in 2012, don't ask. I think next year I will give her a commerative rail car.
Ken - I seem to get more than my share of stupid customers every day I work. Sometimes I really cannot believe how some people function being that dumb.
Stayed at the hospital all day today instead of going into work as planned. They draw blood every 6 hours to see how her blood counts (red and white cells) are doing. Her numbers were up after all the draws today, so she is making her own cells which is great.
I received my 6 bags of ballast from Arizona Rock and Mineral in todays mail. Just need some time now to start do some ballesting.
Evening Folks
Flo, Beer Pleases.
Well it is Official, As A Whole I Hate Stupid People! Well, that pretty much covers the Work Front today. I swear if 15 people walked in at the same time and there where 10 Sales Persons at the counter everyone of them that where IDIOTS would wait for me to help them!
Guess that is why I wound up having Bank of Stupid owning my home loan! I am a Idiot Magnet!
Paul, glad to here your wife is fairing well so far.
Galaxy Sorry to hear about your furnaces problems. I would have thought it would last longer than a year.
Ulrich my friend, I know all about rotten teeth. Uses a lot of mouth wash, it might help.
Well I am beat up pretty bad tonight.
Ken
I hate Rust
JimRCGMOJeff - sorry, I think Mr. Murphy did something to my Murphy trap... Hey, you're movin' along on your elevator there! Do you ever find sales on styrene or other wall materials for scratchbuilding/kitbashing at online (or LHS) places? (I was trying to recall if you had a LHS (or not-so-LHS) in your end of Louisiana). I know anytime I get to a LHS (near or far), I check out if they have a clearance box or stuff they're clearing out. Figure it might come in handy later...
Evening, Chloe - I'll have a hot fudge brownie sundae and a mug of decaf, please. Oh, any of the Western RR's would be fine. It's the weekend (until tomorrow 8 a.m., when I am on-call for 24 hours; then the rest of the weekend is available to enjoy). Thanks!
Galaxy, good to see you were awake enough for our 'morning lesson' today.
Jeff - sorry, I think Mr. Murphy did something to my Murphy trap... Hey, you're movin' along on your elevator there! Do you ever find sales on styrene or other wall materials for scratchbuilding/kitbashing at online (or LHS) places? (I was trying to recall if you had a LHS (or not-so-LHS) in your end of Louisiana). I know anytime I get to a LHS (near or far), I check out if they have a clearance box or stuff they're clearing out. Figure it might come in handy later...
Lee, sounds like you might be feeling some better today, if you're ready to tackle a week's worth of posts.
Any other Diners see that they're predicting a worldwide shortage of pork and bacon in the next year? Miss Piggy had better watch out! (Wee, wee, wee... all the way home...)
Yep, Ulrich, I've had a few of those "too long" months at times. Sometimes they were good for reminding me that not everything *I* wanted was actually THAT vital (Well, except for food, electric, heat, etc., y'know...) Good to hear that 'over-the-counter' pain medication is helping. Maybe we should add your teeth to the list?
Ray - if you want a starting point for your awnings, get one set of awnings from Frenchman River Modelworks (family-run - they're out of Nebraska). Their sets include the pre-cut striped scallopped awnings and wire for the awning supports. (I figure after you get one set, you'll be making all the rest that you need, anyway) I'd agree with Todd (maybe except for that Pterodactyl thingee...) that Hopewell is a very fine town! Which reminds me - I need to go take another look through your layout pics..
Dan, thanks for your info on European trains (and I wouldn't have known half of what you and Ulrich covered!).
Those Diners who are talking about the furnaces with longer warrantees, I'm betting you are talking about for houses, right? While Galaxy, on the other hand is talking about one for a mobile home, and from my time living in one of those when I was in the Navy near Memphis, the furnaces there are smaller and look to be not as well-made as a house furnace (so likely parts aren't in stock as long, harder to replace, etc.). Just my personal observations, YMMV.... Ah, I see that Galaxy already covered those bases. Good idea though, to check w/the manufacturer just to be sure about the warranty, though. G, maybe we should change the topic and let you go rest up a while (in a nice, dark, quiet place, right?)...
Chris, that was (in a rather unnerving way) odd about elevator doors leading to nowhere...(so to speak). Sounds a bit like a plot idea for a Road Runner cartoon or such. As for those grain explosions, is that second explosion due to the remaining grain/dust being dispersed in the air, so it then has enough oxygen to ignite? Ya got me curious there... As for your antique home, I'm hoping you have done everything possible to weatherize your windows, doors, basement openings, etc. Yes? Oh, I think they call themselves (I think...) 'postal carriers' or 'letter carriers'. Almost sounds like some kind of disease, depending on the tilt of one's particular mind...
Paul, good to hear the report on your wife's progress.
JeremyB, sounds like a Mr. Murphy thing about the timing of your unit's installation. I do recall hearing that getting the A/C with the furnace gets you some price breaks from a lot of the installers.
Karl, that was really generous of your wife to share, and all that. Your freight car deal with your buddy sounds pretty good - but do you also have to give him a car for each of his anniversaries, too?
After I got laundry done tonight (which was after I got off w**k), I took SIL's card by their house. When I got there, nobody was home, but I was greeted by their Schipperke, Joey. She'd somehow found a way out of the fenced-in backyard. She doesn't come when you call her, either, will stay about 15-20 feet away and run back a bit if you try to come to her. After a bit of that, and even opening the fence gate by their carport entrance (the gate leads to the backyard), I closed it. As I was walking to my car, I see Andy pulling into the drive, so I gave him the card with his present ($$) in it. He said Joey has found a loose board and they still have to get the right size board and fix that spot. But at least Joey sticks around the house (we decided it was because she didn't get fed by any of the neighbors, probably...).
Guess I will head for home. Want to get back to that gas station kit a little tonight, if possible. Will resume tomorrow on it and some other structure projects while I'm on-call (unless the phone calls, as it were...)
Prayers for healing of body (and headaches), comfort and other needs.
Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.
Janie, just a decaf please...
Found out why my son invited me over for dinner tonight. He needed the truck to pick up a new water softener for his house. The old one is on its last legs and is costly to run as well. The new one will do the same job (only better) at a fraction of the cost as the old one. Had a nice dinner and got to play with the granddaughters for a while. I walked in and went over to the big chair the youngest was sitting absorbed in a Disney Video... She didn't see me come in. when she looked around and saw me she got very excited, threw her arms around my neck, shouted "Papa!" and gave me a big hug! This grandfather gig is a great one!
Galaxy, while we were at the supply place to pick up the softener for my son, I told the clerk what is happening to you. He couldn't believe they only gave you a year warranty on a brand new furnace! Actually got angry for you! I would keep your options open on this. Do call the manufacturer and complain about it dieing so soon!
Karl... Just do your homework on it!
Jeffrey, looking good!
I probably won't have time to stop in for breakfast tomorrow morning as I need to be on the road a few hours before I usually get up...
Have a good one!
I did a test printing of part of a structure wall to see ahat adjustments I'll have to make. To me the windows look too big.
galaxy XXX heating and cooling products for manufactured housing are warranted for one year. This warranty covers parts and labor as well as mileage for the technician: 1 Year Parts 1 Year Labor 1 Year Mileage
XXX heating and cooling products for manufactured housing are warranted for one year. This warranty covers parts and labor as well as mileage for the technician:
Hi guys, Thanks for all your concern adn comisseration over the furmace issue. I have checked the furnace company website for warrantee info, here is what it says:
Extend your standard 1-year parts and labor warranty to 5 or 10 years under our Watchdog Protection Plan. If you ever sell your home, the protection plan is transferred to the new owner at no cost. See your XXX dealer for details
Since my dealer never offered me the OPTION of buying an extended plan, I don't think I will get far with the manufacturer as they state they only offer the 1 year parts/labor/mileage {did not know mileage was included? moot point now}
NOTE : I have purposely not mentioned and avoided the manufacturer's name to avoid any issues, though the fact that it failed so soon after warrantee and that I am complaining here that it did are facts, not any other issue.
the most I think I could do is take the Intial installing {and sales} company to task over not offering me the extended plan...but I think I am litterally "out in the cold" {BAAAAAD pun, I know} where the furnace and repairs from the manufacturer are concerned!
I am SURE he told me the warrantee on the furnace when he sold it to me,they are a large dealer/servicer of heating/A/C stuff in the area, BUT I never thought about it failing in the first year of its life {basically since it only ran for 7 months of life then stilled for the summer months}
Like I told the Sears saleswoman who tried to sell me an extended 5 year warrantee on the washer we bought, "if it isn't going to last at least 5 years, then it's not worth buying". she said "oooh, good point".
Mr. Dispatcher:we live in a park, we do not own the land. If I get your drift, building a shed for the furnace wouldn't help...it'd have to be installed in the ground to be a "regular" updraft furnace...and house furnaces are not cheap ether.
Why do I still have this headache {for real?}