Elliot's Trackside Diner, October 2012

[shanny10]

7 miles from Union Bridge and 3/4 mile from Union Town. My parents bought 1870 farmhouse and were just starting a layout in basement-rock walls and dirt floor. My dad and several neighbors got together today and most cleaned all the yards around of debris and seems most everyones electric back on, dad says it was mild from what it could have tore apart around here with all the metal roofed houses. Trains anytime you want to see them around here and several spots to go watch in operations at the Lehigh plant in town or dad takes us to Hagerstown. Gotta go, school in morning. 

Shannon

[cudaken]

 Belch and another Beer pleases.

 Ken

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. Not hurting so much tonight. Maybe I'll be able to get a descent amount of sleep. See y'all tomorrow.

[galaxy]

First, a welcome to all new members of the diner. I hope they stay for awhile.

RAY's way and us, we really, I mean really dodged a bullet this storm!

Second, I don't think anyone was being flippant at all about the storm. But I know the frustration of those who are in harm's way and suffering. Although we did not flood or have tree damage to our trailer {we are high and dry} during Irene/Lee, we did have massive flooding around here that made even getting new refills of medication a challenge,and for MOH {MOH stands for My Other Half for the newbies} to get to work. and for us to get other services. we are automatically without power for 5 days when the are floods as our substation is in a flood zone.it takes at least that long to dry out/get repaired.  I rely on O2 at night and my electric O2 generator doesn't work. there is only one way in and out over hill and dale and through the woods literally  to get to/ from here to deliver O2 tanks to me.

I was saddened by the losses suffered that happened due to the storm I watched the news as much as I could stand, a luxury not afforded us when we loose power due to storms We have friends who relatives on LI, who have not been able to get in contact with.

Having suffered a house fire many many years ago, I know what it is like to loose EVERYTHING...even a comb to comb your hair. I had to stay in the hospital for smoke inhalation {happened at night} and then when I stayed at the hotel the night of it the next morning I had no comb to comb my hair! SO I had to go to a gas station and buy one on the way to work to detangle my hair! I am forever greatful for a COMB to comb my hair, and now always carry one with me! The simplest things can mean so much!

We commiserate with those who suffered losses, whether we did  suffer too or not. THAT is one aspect of the diner.

It was suggested by someone that I put up EXTRA prayer candles for those affected by the storm. I will do so, though i don't want to burn the house down! I will put up one general, one storm and one "Special" for those who are special to us tomorrow when I lite the candles!

 

howmus

 

I see Galaxy hasn't been in today, so I assume he is without power. Hope he and his wife are safe, and he can let us know soon what happened in his locale.

 

I wasn't in doe to our computer catching a "drive by virus" it could have been attached to ANYTHING online with a timer that the virus hits when "timed out". They call it a "Drive by virus" because it comes then goes so you can't exactly trace where it came from and then BAM hits you when it times out. It could have been in "innocuous" email, or any site gone to {including this one} that it attached itself to and then "drives by" and *bam* locks your computer. Since we know nothing aobut devirusing a computer it cost $140 to have it cleaned up. They did do a wonderful job of setting up the computer, though., we just got it and not all programs were activated properly, so they set them up and linked to desktop page for us {like MS WOrd}. So we are happ{ier} than we were this morning when it hit. so BEWARE of such viruses. Only took today to repair!

FIL had an episode and had to go to hospital so MOH went to stay with ailing MIL. WHne he was released I went and got him. HTe worst is over and he is "good to go for another 3000 miles".

So an eventful and frustrating {though not storm related} day for us. small things can add up as well.

Have a great night.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening ...

All my East Coast relatives are okay. Two were out of contact until late today, but finally heard they are doing fine.  

I was reading about how railroads are impacted by the storm. The freight railroads, CSX, NS, and smaller roads will be experiencing long service delays. 

Prayers for everybody affected. 

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - just a 'go' cup of hot chocolate for me, please. Thanks!

Jeff, that grain elevator is shaping up very nicely! Even if that's just a temporary spot, it's impressive. Do you already have a few (dozen/hundred...) covered hoppers? That big of an elevator probably could receive and send a bunch a day in harvest season.

As for THAT Disney-Star Wars deal, I do recall that Disney has put out some okay non-animated films, so maybe they can w**k up to a passable SW episode. Hey, ya can hope, anyway!

chochowillie

With an offer to purchase like that? You have got to be kidding asking "Why". Maybe he just wants to build a model railroad like Rod Stewart...

Now THAT would be the monster model railroad to end them all, with Lucas' computer animation team to 'enhance' the layout!

Galaxy, no problem on the candles - I was just thinking that a second (no, not second dozen... ). I think even two would be good, given all the people with an abundance of chaos in their lives (care of Sandy). Good to hear that you were spared major stuff in your area. There are a whole bunch of folks 'down state' from you and Ray who really got socked by Sandy. I recall the mess that you and YOH had (last year?) with the last major storm that came your way. Good to hear your FIL is 'tuned up' and back home, though.

I've become spoiled by internet access, I think. I now have pretty fast broadband at home, and (until this week) had quick public wifi at w**k, so I could even do system updates. Except, this week the wifi is there at the office, but it's not connected to the internet. Internet service provider for the office made some changes in their setup, and our agency had to order some new equipment that would w**k with the ISP's (and it's not in yet...). NOTHING compared to having power out, tree on the roof, or similar such 'fun' stuff.

Good to hear (so far) that so few Diners have had damage (except for some who haven't been in, those we don't know about yet). T'was tough enough for those with outages/damage; really hurt to see that one section of LI (Breezy Point, or something close to that) that burned a whole neighborhood to the ground. Sad.

Galaxy, remember to only have the candles lit when one of you is home. And everyone else, keep yourselves safe and sound also.

And we hope that our various MIA Diners will check in before long...

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape G.

[Burlington Northern #24]

chochowillie

Burlington Northern #24

jeffrey-wimberly

Burlington Northern #24

it's just gotten worse, george lucas sold star wars off to disney,  grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... 

Mickey Mouse with a light saber? Actually I'm a longtime Star Wars fan. I have all the movies, storyboards, special editions, interviews, etc, etc. I used to have a rather extensive model and figures collection but I was forced to sell that off. I was not a happy camper. As for selling to Disney, what the heck was he thinking!!

I know, I've been wanting to custom paint a couple locos one for the empire. but now I'm not sure if I want to?  I still have a bunch of figures my dads and my own, lots of ships, lots of micro machines. why lucas why? 

 

With an offer to purchase like that? You have got to be kidding asking "Why". Maybe he just wants to build a model railroad like Rod Stewart...

CDN Dennis

why sell off star wars just for that though, with all of the money he made off of fox though. 

two pages tabs are on me but I'm not 21 so those drinking beer are on their own. sorry.

[blownout cylinder]

Apparently Disney announced a new star wars movie come 2014

Good Morning

We be all energetic here...checked out the neighbourhood...apart from what was said earlier, only three trees in our immediate neighbourhood went down...and took wires down with them...few pockets still left with no power here...did hear about one woman in TO that died due to flying debris from the storm... for her family..and many others....

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

It's Wednesday, October 31, 2012

TIPTON IN

[galaxy]

Toto, our LAST day in Kansas, so follow the Yellow Brick Road Once more to: Morning Coffee in the Diner:

GOOD MORNING!!!

Enjoy your day!

[blownout cylinder]

Found this at another forum...the translation is" I am your uncle"

[galaxy]

I forgot.

The Hoogly-booglies, ghosts and gobblins, witches, warlocks and banshees will be out tonight!

If you participate, better make sure you got your candy !!!

FAIR WARNING!!!

{we don't participate so our automatic light  will be off and the porch door locked so no one can comes in!}

I was done with Holler Ween when I was like 8, didn't care for it really, except to take my younger brother around. WHen i was like 17, my mother {may she rest in peace} insisted i go dressed up too...as it seemed the older kids always did anyway. SO I did..as a hobo, wearing my father's dirty coveralls, a cigar amde out of brown paper bag with red lipstick as a "flame" and an onld ratty hat. It was the very last time I ever did, and while the candy was nice, I thought it tre gauche.

So now fast forward..MOH always liked Holler Ween, but notice that the same kids were coming around 2 or 3 times and that the older kids always did too...the ones MOH thought too old for such. Also, being a trailer park, people would drop their kids off to let them have at it becasue it meant many homes in a small area. Also, whether candy was passed out or not, our windows got soaped and we got TP's if it was gonna happen, So MOH became disappointed and decided not to participate anymore.

Nowadays they have plenty of warning about not going to well-lit houses as a dark house means they aren't passing candy out. Also around here, they have "trunk or treat" festivals at the school or churches where people with kids can go/take them to trick or treat at car trunks. The started that last year to avoid kids' disappointment that so many homes in our county seat flooded and were empty. {small town with 1300 of 1600 homes flooded}. It also seemed a "safer way" to give/get/collect candy for the kids.

The firetrucks and police will be around tonight for safety  too..so the soaping and TP'ing has pretty much stopped.

So HAPPY HOLLER WEEN to those who celebrate, And BAH HUMBUG to those, like us, who don't!

[Train Master]

Burlington Northern #24

two pages tabs are on me but I'm not 21 so those drinking beer are on their own. sorry.

Put it on my tab.

Jeff: Good job on the grain elevator so far.

[gear-jammer]

Good morning, Diners.  We have had 2" of rain in the last 24 hours, and it is not a  storm.  Ahhhhhh, western Washington.  I would not trade places with you on the east coast for anything.  Hurricane Sandy, what a monster!  Having lived through floods and wind storms before, I don't envy the clean up and damage. 

Prayers and best wishes for all.

Sue

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and some Chinese dumplings please. Thanks.

“She Who Must Be Obeyed.”….and yet so obvious. Now that I hear that, I think someone a year or two ago referred to their other half as that now that I think about it.

Many people over the years have asked “why do you..?” My response is “if it makes her happy, I’m happy. If she’s not happy…..oh boy words can’t describe.”

I heard a trilogy has been planned. I’d give Disney a chance, I mean other than a cameo by the little mermaid here and there, I doubt Disney will do a bad job. Besides, it’s not like Lucas was solely involved in the others anyway. We’ll see.  

So I didn’t do much on the shower yesterday because of the mortar issue. Actually turned out to be like 9 more tiles to go instead of 2 or 3. Didn't get in town to get any either due to some other things arrising not involving me until they waved me down. When Brenda came home for lunch she did her usual check the progress run and asked if I went and got more mortar to which I said no, I’ll get it tomorrow. You know what she then said in a somewhat accusing tone? Hm? Guess. Ok I'll tell you. She said unto me, “you’re not planning on stalling around so you’ll be working on this shower when the trick or treaters are out so you have an excuse to not answer the door are you?”(she does this every year. Halloween is her "holiday" not mine. I don't mind the tiny mights, but many are just beggers. She always says you don't have to answer the door, I will. Then when the time comes, she says "your turn" or, "I'm going to the basement to check on the laundry, I'll be back". Two years ago she LEFT to take the grandkids around the neighborhood!! And yes their parents were with them.... Can't trust her.)  Now I ask you, how can she figure that out, or should I say, know me well enough to figure that out so quickly, but yet she STILL makes cakes in abundance then continually makes comments as to why I’m not eating the cake, especially since every time she makes the comment and sometimes when the subject comes up without a cake, I say, “I like cake, but I’m not a big fan of it. I’ll eat a piece or two then I’m done. Pie however, I will eat until it’s gone. Breakfast lunch, supper, snack. It don’t matter I’ll eat it. Only a couple cakes I’ll eat on until it’s gone, but still not as quick as pie.” I should just make a recording and push play maybe once every week or two. Yesterday, she gleefully said to me…”I got you a cake from County Market”……

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[inch53]

GHOST TRAIN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twpW4iW1xkY

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 48° with patchy fog and 90% humidity. The high will be 78°.


Nothing particular planned for today, just more resting and movie watching. I may get some cleanup work done on the layout later depending on how I feel.

I hope all who had to contend with Sandy fared well and you don't have too much in the way of damage.

[galaxy]

Hi

Well, JEFFREY- I got the second Item we talked abouot...I will post it either tomorrow or Friday.

Have a lot to do today,. may be in and out, but witing for things like  a phone call back on an important matter, which I think will only be handled by going to the office some 30 minutes away. May still nto be resolved then, but if I am there in person harder to ignore me liek a phone call. Right now all people still in a meeting and I will ahve to go there anyway this afternoon. Wanna make sure I do the right thing and not the get skinned alive!

THe computer I don't think. is over its virus. MaY have to take it back again!!! {groan}. I will NOT be HAppy if that is the case. We paid good money for it to be completely removed!

Well, off to other things.

Have agood day.

If I am MIA, its because of no computer! SOme will have sorror at my missing, others will rejoice!

 

 

 

[JohnReid]

Bonjour y'all ! good to see all the smiling faces.I'll have a coffee Flo,darn that apple pie looks great but I had better hold it for now if I want to keep my boyish good looks.Have a great day.Lara's outside and is anxious to finish her walk.Cheers!

[LSWrr]

Ray,

Check your messages.

Lee

[howmus]

Good mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a couple creme filled donutes and lots of dark roast coffee to start this fine day...  Thank you Ma'am.

And a happy All Hallows Eve to you.  All Hallows Eve or Halloween is, of course, the day before All Hallows or All Saints Day in the Christian Tradition and is followed the following day by All Souls day...  In the ancient Celtic lands, Nov. 1 marked Samhain, the beginning of the Celtic winter.  Samhain, for whom the feast was named, was the Celtic lord of death, and his name literally meant “summer’s end.”  The eve of Samhain, Oct. 31, was a time of Celtic pagan sacrifice, and Samhain allowed the souls of the dead to return to their earthly homes that evening. Ghosts, witches, goblins, and elves came to harm the people, particularly those who had inflicted harm on them in this life.  Hence the earliest reasons for what we now call Halloween.  It was kept in the English speaking lands as a prelude to All Saints, at first celebrated from superstition, but later just as pure fun as it is today.

Lee, sent you an email.

Galaxy, good luck with all goings on!

I'll be baking some of my famous butterscotch toll house cookies for a couple little monsters who should be showing up on my doorstep tonight.  The little one already won second place in the Waterloo kiddie party for her costume.  I will have lots of goodies to hand out to the few who will brave the rainy weather to go door to door tonight.  I used to love Halloween back when I was teaching and used to do some great "tricks" on my students when they came around...  A couple of years I played a recording of what scientists believe T-Rex sounded like played through my JBL Pro Sound System hooked up behind the house.  Some of the Middle School monsters had to go back home and change their clothes that night!   The subwoofers did the trick!  I had "official" permission to pull that one from the local police dept.

Have a great day and stay safe!

73

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning Zoe, Diners! Yeah, got a late start on the day, but I don't have to go in to the office, so it's okay. I'll have a waffle with a pat of butter & maple syrup, 2-3 strips of bacon, glass of OJ and another of milk, and a CAW mug of coffee, please. Thank you.

TMarsh

I heard a trilogy has been planned. I’d give Disney a chance, I mean other than a cameo by the little mermaid here and there,...

Good one, Todd! Sounds like Brenda has you (or how to 'manage' you) figured out for Hallerween, eh? Since I live in an apartment building, I don't get kids coming around for their 'extortion goodies' at all.

This time of year, I tend to have to fight my body's usual response of shifting into hibernation mode. Now, once it gets actually cold, I find myself more motivated. Must be the Nebraska ancestry on my Dad's side of the family (they're used to REAL snowdrifts up there in the winters...). I was thinking this morning that I may need to go get a blanket, since I know winter's coming before too much longer. My old used-to-w**k-electric blanket (which doesn't have the control or the power cord, since they quit a while back) has become rather ragged, so it's about time. Maybe get out today and see what choices the stores have.

Also want to do some more painting on that Frenchman River's bank building, painting the tar roof part, and the corrugated metal roof on the back addition roof. Gonna use Floquil paints, as the crafts (acrylic) paint wasn't doing that well on the (satin?) finish of the brick color I used. Hope to post photos today or tomorrow of whatever progress I have.

I have had a couple/three interesting responses on eHarmony lately. Unfortunately, almost all the ladies are way far (as in five to eight hour drives) away from me. We'll see what transpires (and how amenable they are to a possible move to my area)...

Think it's time to chow down on breakfast now. I'll try not to let any scraps/crumbs get on any of you other Diners.

Hope everyone gets some of the things done that you have for today's ToDo list, and that yours doesn't involve a chainsaw and some huge tree over car/house/shed...

[Edit:] And speaking of breakfast, looks like it's my tab. Zoe, better restock the breakfast buffet! Hey, is that a bowl of candy corn? Yum!

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape G.

[galaxy]

Here i sit and wait for a phone call that doesn't seem to be coming. I know i have to go to the office anyway, but I would like to know what I am in for! Of course, waiting for the phone call means My phone has rung 5 times..I let the machine get every one but one, as it was "unknown" and I thought it might just be my returning phone call- wasn't was  lady wanting to talk to MOH whom I made clear was NOT here and was at work. but she chatted on about how she is form Hospice and for the MIL but I am not on her contact list, cant talk to me,must be MOH,...blah blah,. blah- I got the message, MOH will call her later!. Meanwhile, I await . Gov't bureaucracy!

I will wiat another 10 minutes then give a call back. Probably called while phone was busy!!!

GRRR.

Ate lunch meawhile as i was getting starving and sugar runnign low.

While waiting for the phone to ring went through my bookmarks and deleted ones I no longer wanted/needed/ or that weren't valid anymore. I am notf dne, but getting a headache!

GRRR>

well. see you later

[Burlington Northern #24]

I dislike being sick, very much. sore throats and runny noses and other things, my poor trains are sitting in their jewel cases and the layouts sitting in the office not close to being finished either.

I can make signatures for anybody who wants one btw, like mine below. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

I will wiat another 10 minutes then give a call back. Probably called while phone was busy!!!

Isn't it miraculous how many people decide they MUST call you when you're wailing on an important call? Had one like that myself a week ago and got calls from over a dozen people in the space of forty-five minutes. I usually get only five to eight calls a week!

[B&O1952]

Happy Halloween everyone!

Halloween is a big event at the Carlson house! I spent most of yesterday getting our decorations back up after Sandy departed. We also finished carving pumpkins:

These girls are just a few of my son Alex's friends who like to help out for the holidays.

They proudly posed with their work:

We usually get close to 200 visitors to our street. Oru neighborhood is what I consider to be the best in town.

I didn't bother to open the museum yesterday, and I've had no visitors this morning either. That's ok though, I have enough things here to keep me busy anyway.

Inch53, love the video! I shared it on Facebook a few minutes ago.

I was surprised that George Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney as well, you know the old saying "everything has a price".

We recieved this great shot of Erie Mikado 3184 at Salamanca in 1947 yesterday. The building in the backround between the locomotives is the Salamanca Rail Museum. At that time, the B&O had closed it and it was boarded up. I wish we still had that cast iron fencing behind the locos:

Everyone have a great day!

-Stan

 

 

[galaxy]

jeffrey-wimberly

galaxy

I will wiat another 10 minutes then give a call back. Probably called while phone was busy!!!

Isn't it miraculous how many people decide they MUST call you when you're wailing on an important call? Had one like that myself a week ago and got calls from over a dozen people in the space of forty-five minutes. I usually get only five to eight calls a week!

Meanwhile, I also got a call from FIL. He is back in the hospital after last nights soiree. Wants me to call MOH to tell to go check on MIL as Hospice volunteers are with her!

MOH doesn't get out of work until 1pm. I put in a vibrating call to MOH so knows to call me?

GRR

I may have to go get FIl form Hospital.....while waiting for my call! GRR

I DID call back and still waiting on an answer! SO that why I didn't get a call back yet.

Govt. bureaucracy, I tell ya!

GRR.

[galaxy]

Well, I still haven't gotten my phone call yet. Wil have to go to the office tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the FIL is going in to the hospital for a few days. That means the MIL, who recieves hospice help, will have to go into respite care at the hospital or nursing home too. That way my FIL has break from being primary caregiver of MIL so he can get well in the hospital.

So, PRAYERS for OUR/MY family would be MUCHLY appreciated. As much as I give in the prayer/special thoughts department, we sometimes need our own!

Thank YOU

 

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Brought in a couple dozen Butterscotch Toll House cookies for you good folks...

Let's see what is in today's mail....  "Our specially trained, licensed advisors can enroll you over the phone in as little as 15 minutes."  Think I'll pass as I already have better insurance, and they are most likely "specially trained" as con artists.  It is THAT time of year for those of us over 65 I guess!  What else did the mailman bring today?  "Mallstate, your in our conniving hands...."  Sent to my son who hasn't lived here in over a decade now....  To bad they didn't include a return envelope.   Guess I'll call them and harass them for a while....  Let's see, couple of charities wanting me to send them all my money....  Guess I'll read the paper, police beat, see what my former students are doing these days...

May have time to do a bit more on the scenery project before getting ready for the evenings moster attack...

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

howmus

Let's see what is in today's mail....  "Our specially trained, licensed advisors can enroll you over the phone in as little as 15 minutes."  Think I'll pass as I already have better insurance, and they are most likely "specially trained" as con artists.  It is THAT time of year for those of us over 65 I guess!  What else did the mailman bring today?  "Mallstate, your in our conniving hands...."  Sent to my son who hasn't lived here in over a decade now....  To bad they didn't include a return envelope.

Chronic junk mailers who are sending me lots of their stuff sometimes find it being sent back to them in their own return envelope. A few find another junk mailers stuff in THEIR envelope!