Elliot's Trackside Diner, November 2012

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a nice hot cup of decaf please...

Curt, nice photos!

Tom, I did get a nice gift card to be used at Micro Mark from my son and family...  My #1 Granddaughter gave me a steam train calender (she picked it out herself), amongst some other stuff.

Jeff and Galaxy, this time of life is both trying and sad as you see the people in your families fail....  One of the saddest moments in my life was the day, after my Mother had landed in the Nursing Home after breaking her hip, she looked me in the eye and asked, "Am I going to die here?"  What do you say?  The real answer was yes... she was going to die there, and we all knew it.  But, I just said, "I don't know, mom."  When she passed, there was both that awful saddness and a sense of relief at the same time.  Do your best to enjoy both the difficult and the impossible as this chapter unfolds in your lives, and trust those things you believe!  My prayers go with you!

I have been busy printing stuff, going to the post office, putting away clean clothes, making phone calls, and talking on the phone with son #2 in Chicago.  For dinner tonight I had left over steak, baked potato, and squash from the feast last night.  My son was supposed to take me out to lunch today, but had to cancel out as he had been at an early morning meeting at work and didn't sleep last night.  He did find out the company is doing well so his job is secure for the moment!  That was probably part of the reason he didn't sleep well last night.  He called about 3:30 and asked if I could meet him at the Medical Group to help him while the granddaughters got their Flu Vaccinations.  Of course I went over to play with the girls while they were at the Docs...   The little one was fine and didn't even flinch when she got hers, the older one cried I guess... On the way out of the Medical Group we stopped in at the Drug Store near the exit.  It is owned by the girls Uncle Steve.  It is the last independent Drug Store in the area.  I just transferred all my Rx's over to his store.  The girls just walk right in and go into the back where Uncle Steve is working.  He stopped what he was doing to entertain them for a few minutes....  I miss the old fashioned stores these days!  The girls finally came back out with some candy and a couple little toys he has for little kids.

Catch you later!

73

[Curt Webb]

I meant to ask, does anyone recognize what type of diesel is the white one I posted a picture of. I have been looking online but can't seem to find it.

[Stourbridge Lion]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Darren .... Glad you stopped in with the photos. I hope you find more time to visit the diner.

Thanks Garry!!!

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Just finished supper and drinking a cup of decaf. Flo I would like a slice of Ray's cake if any is left.

Well the Prism installers were 1.5 hours early and it took about 2 hours to get everything up and running. The picture looks better than Dish on the HD channels. Of course it took me 3 hours to figure out how to re-save our favorite shows. I already see one downside, no RFDTV so no Trains and Locomotives. I go back to w**k tomorrow. Temps are back up to the mid to high 70's this week. Got to love FL in the winter.

 

 

 

 

Hope everyone has a good night and prayers for those in need.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Had dinner with my parents today at their place. Fried catfish, onion rings, coleslaw, beans, hush puppies. Yes, very diabetic unfriendly but delicious.

I know my parents have been married a long time but I wasn't exactly sure how long. So I asked. Fifty-six years. I wish them all the best but I strongly suspect there won't be a fifty-seventh anniversary. Even my father doesn't think so anymore. He counts every day they have together as special and he tries to make the best of it.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening

We had a bunch of runnin' 'roun' doin' stuff done this afternoon. All the Xmas shopping that needs done will wait until next weekend thanky very much like.....

We did get to our expected high today...all of 33F...yay...

Ray:   #2!!!!!!

Galaxy and Jeff:  Good luck on handling the parent and in-laws...we btdt as well...

Lee:  Congrats on the hooking up!!!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon. 

Trying to catch up from the long holiday weekend.

LEE ! ............ Big congratulations to you and Dorothy! ....... You are keeping up with tradition. Model Railroaders couple up! 

Ray ...... Happy Birthday, young man. Don't pat attention to what John Boy said your age. ...... Any cake left.

Vincent and BN 24 ..... I saw you guys talking about BN passenger trains. One of you had a link to a picture of an ex-Q E7 with a green nose and stainless steel sides. I recall seeing it when they were running west of Chicago. They may have been the best looking BN engines ever. However, BN passenger trains did not last long because Amtrak was created soon after the BN merger. I never saw a BN passenger train with all BN lettered equipment except for suburban trains in Chicago. .... Early Amtrak trains included equipment in colors of GN, NP, and CB&Q.

JR  ..... Sounds like an interesting trip.

Galaxy and Jeff .... Good luck taking care of parents and in-laws. 

Ken ... Sounds like a great day at work.

Ulrich ..... Smile. We like you. 

Paul in NV ....... If you are looking in, we are thinking of you. Let us know if we can be helpful to you.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

The hospice woman, said, if we don't get some kind of way to get coverage for the MIL 24/7 {ether do it ourselves or get full paid help in to cover MIL} We COULD BE TURNED IN FOR ELDER ABUSE!!!!

Yep. Same thing here. The home health nurse told my father today that he needs to arrange for Hospice care. Trouble is that's not 24/7 care here. So he's going to be putting an ad in the paper for a live-in nurse to help. Otherwise she'll be placed in the hospital for her own good, by force if necessary. These legal people down here can get pretty ugly.

[galaxy]

last mountain & eastern hogger

 

Galaxy and Jeff,  I don't know how you can be more firm, but, you have to get the message across that your health comes first and without it you can be no further help to anyone.  Hard to do,  but, Must be done.

 

Easier said than done, Johnboy.....The hospice woman, said, if we don't get some kind of way to get coverage for the MIL 24/7 {ether do it ourselves or get full paid help in to cover MIL} We COULD BE TURNED IN FOR ELDER ABUSE!!!!

So,unfortuantely, the law happens to be on Hospice's side and children CAN be chafrged by states for the care of elderly parents!

Unfortunately ., also, THe MIL could last longer than just a few months fo care..she already has lasted 2 years on hospice care..so!

On top of it, I am coming down with: sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarhea!

Aslo, I have a heart condition myself,and take 2 medications to keep it beating regularly..we hope...and he has had my heart a jumping and a jumping all over today!!

 

SO!

GRRR

 

 

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Hi Gang,

I slept in this AM, Wife is at the hospital for a chest x-ray as the bronchial pneumonia seems to be getting worse or at least not improving. My cold seems to be somewhat better today, I don't feel as weak.

Did a little vacuuming in the LR. to get ready for the tree.  I'm going to take a little break here and have some lunch and see then how I feel. I might then attempt to get said tree up.    This the Season to be Jolly   ??  Why don't I feel that way right now??

It snowed again this morning, but it is going to lay there for awhile as I don't feel up to that right now.  I have the rest of today and tomorrow to get up to speed and then work on Wed. & Thurs.

Accidentally broke the retaining wall I built for between the Honeymoon Tunnels.  I think I have figured out a way to save it and plan to work on that later.    I was for awhile. Then thought,  Hhmm. I am not in any contest here I believe I can repair this.  We'll see if I'll be content with the results.

Ken,  hope that store comes through for you and you can free yourself from some of those Dead Head Managers.

Galaxy and Jeff,  I don't know how you can be more firm, but, you have to get the message across that your health comes first and without it you can be no further help to anyone.  Hard to do,  but, Must be done.

I hear my soup is done, so must go and feed the cold.

Keep smiling, it sure looks good on all of you.

By the way, it is sure hard to believe that a bunch of us young guys are hanging out

with Old Pharts like Ray.   Glad you had a good one Ray, did you try the Hummus ?

Happy Rails & trails.

Johnboy out................................where is my soup spoon

[Burlington Northern #24]

just went for a jog but it seems my newly received sickness didn't like that. all righty who done it? who passing the bug around. 

in Model railroading news my GN FA-FB pair arrives, my con cor cars haven't shipped(really?), my tichy snowplow kit arrives but it will be kitbashed/scratchbuilt into this images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT4Y2JkQFFDVgcOGG7Lxq4foCYDVUKBZm9EmUgOjc7xwsN0SZZNQ I have a donor unit shell(an old life like F7), now to find a B unit to repaint. 

[tcwright973]

Ray - Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and many more to come. Now for the important stuff. Did you get yourself some grand railroady kind of thing for your birthday?

Lee - Congratulations. Wishing you both a great and wonderful future together.

The wife and I are doing well. Had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with my nephew and his family. Yesterday we managed to sneak in a couple of hours of railfanning and caught 5 trains. It's okay watching from inside the car on these cold days, but we both enjoy it more when we sit outside on our folding chairs. Today has been busy with breakfast at our diner, then shopping and errands until about 1:00. Now we are home and I've got 6 or 7 loads of laundry to knock out. So I better sign off and get to it.

Have a great day everybody.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

The FIL made a mjor stir this AM and I SWEAR I got MANIPULATED!

Ain't in-laws wonderful? Sounds like some of the stunts my father pulls.

[galaxy]

GRRRR

GRRRR

well,

The FIL made a mjor stir this AM and I SWEAR I got MANIPULATED!

First I call him to remind him I have Dr.s Appts today and I'm NOT available! Then he tells me hes going to drive himself over tot the hospital!! He is NOT ALLOWED to drive!!! Tehn he calls me as I am going out the door to the neurologist that his car wont start, he HAS to get to the hospital as the Hospice Lady is to be there, and hes panicked and all.{he has a bad heart}.... SO I tell him I'll cancel my appt, and come get him....

I could NOT get thet appt people onthe phone! so I rush over thetreand get him. Atthe hospital he says for me to go on to my other apt and my ohter things to do,,,HE SAYS "I'll take a CAB home"!!!!!!!  GRRRRRRR

WHY OH WHY didn't the man jsut take a CAB to the hospital????

TO see, I am sure, if he could manipulate me into doing his bidding!!!

SO I MADE a BIG PRODUCTION out of making the call to cancel it while AT the hospital in MIL's room! NO WAY can I be at the drs. AND at the hospital in another city!!!

GRRRR

[Curt Webb]

Lee- Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. do you have a date yet?

[JeremyB]

Hi Fellas,

Cold out today and snowing lightly. I called in sick today to work ( haven't felt all that great lately and hate the place with a passion,lol ) I also had a doctors appointment today and was cancelling that for sure. I also had a busy weekend so that took alot out of me but made a little cash on the side.

Im now left with a nice quiet day to myself and don't know what to do with the time, maybe organize the train room or just lay down and play some PS3 or read a book and just generally sit and rest. Im leaning toward just laying around, but did see a freight train on the way home and that kind of peaked my train interest,lol

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Had to make a quick trip to town to make a bank deposit. My account was in single digits and I don't want it going minus because I made an error or forgot to list a small charge. I decided to take the scenic route (parallels the KCS mainline) so I went out via Ford Stewart Road, asphalt all the way. go to the end to find a train approaching. A single loco. I didn't give a close look, probably an AC44 from the sound. I thought this won't take long. A tank car unit train, GATX. A hundred cars later and I'm still waiting. Must be all empties or that loco has some really serious horse power. Got to the bank and made the deposit then went down the street and got $10 in gas then back home. Other than that it's been an uneventful day.

[howmus]

Mornin' all!  Funny I don't feel a year older...

Zoe, I'll have a bowl of old phart organic flax seed granola cereal and a cup (or 3) of dark roast coffee this morning.

Thanks for the Birthday wishes folks!  So far I have had a good time...

Cloudy with the sun peeking through every now and then here in the Finger Lakes Region this morning.  I am waiting for a call from my son to go out for lunch today.  Currently 36°F with a high around 38°F later this afternoon.

I got the word this morning that the 501c3 account is being set up at the bank for the MLK Committee, so I will be printing a few hundred letters today.  Also need to stop at the bank and get stamps for the mailing as well.

Best get to w*rk!

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

Jeffrey- Oh, good picture! I don’t recall seeing that one before. New or or just poor memory for me?

That's an old one, taken around six years ago I think, maybe longer. It predates the Shell Service Center I used to have.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and a waffle please with maple syrup thank you.

Happy Birthday Ray!!

Hey. How come Ray gets two birthdays…….oh. (nods head) Guess you’re right. He deserves them.

Congratulations Lee!!!! How long have you and Dorothy been together? I assume long enough for her to know what she’s getting into.

Jeffrey- Oh, good picture! I don’t recall seeing that one before. New or or just poor memory for me?

4 Days after Thanksgiving and not a move toward the tree has been made nor a mention of Christmas lights. Odd. Usually Friday after is “Ooo! Christmas tree!” And the beginning of the “when are you gonna put up the Christmas lights?”

Upstairs almost cleaned up, just my office and the supposedly former, but still current "oh look there's an empty space let's put it there" room. Then on to the basement, which will be a monumental task, and finally, by my choice, the trainroom. Garage will wait until Spring.

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[galaxy]

Well well

Havethe neurologist today.

THen go to the pharmacy.

Then have to get our HEAP application, see my father.

Have afew other things to do.

Then, probably have to go to the Inlaws....Of course, MOH is planning on going there after work {out at 1 pm}, so maybe I won't have to.

Then home to cook some lamb that was on an incredible sales price...{probably because lamb is not a traditional TG day eating...}

SO busy day for me...

The prayer candles will be lit as much as possible!

 

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

Things be a lot quieter today...last few days were rather hectic

Today's weather i some sun, a lot of cloud and rather cold ...high of 34F expected here...

Today is going to be getting more groceries and other such essential items...and watching out for a few more flurries....

Jeff:  Hope you get better!!!!

[Darryl]

Good morning all!  I guess the cold is here to stay in Cincinnati ...I hate cold weather....A nice hot cup of  would be great about now...off to another week of work ...guess I can't get it over with until I get it started...have a great Monday

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 60° with 100% humidity. It's mostly cloudy. The high will be 78° and there's a fair chance of thunderstorms.


I managed to get a few hours of sleep last night and I feel a bit better than I did last night. I still don't feel well though.

I may get some layout work done today. That remains to be seen.

[LSWrr]

Good Morning all,

 

Ray happy belated birthday.

 

So I put the tree up Saturday and when Dorothy came home I finally got her to open her Christmas present early under the premise that I was afraid the dog would eat it.  She reluctantly opened the Athearn box and joked she got bubble wrap for Christmas, and then she pulled the ring box out and opened it.  She just sat there and stared at the ring for several minutes. I began to get worried she was going to say no.  Everything went fine, but I told her she needed to use her lunch money to get it sized; I’ll be making payments on it for the next 12 months….

 

Things have been busy at the house and at work so I’ve been neglecting the diner. The VA has me going to C&P medical exams over the past couple of weeks and things continue this week.  I have a pulmonary function test today after work and a hearing test Wednesday after work.  I saw the doctor (MD) this past Saturday and he said I don’t have flat feet.  Really? All those stupid podiatrists I’ve been going to for the past 20 years must have gotten their degrees out of a Cracker Jack box then.

[GMTRacing]

Thanks for the correction Bear.  Guess that's an issue with getting older, once you reminded me it was New Zealand and to Australian I remembered along with the underlying issue about the nukes. As far as the WWII history is concerned, I'm always interested in hearing another perspective especially as the bit about abandonment came from someone else who wasn't entirely unbiased. J.R.

["JaBear"]

GMTRacing

Greetings from Sydney,

   We're back in Sydney and fly out tomorrow. It's been a good trip but we're both ready to return. One of our drivers fliess back on the same flight with us before we change planes in Dallas.The container was all loaded and ready to ship to New Zealand yesterday so we had a free day here to go to the aquarium and maritime museum. Very nice and we learn something every day. Those of us old enough to have still been taught history may remember The Great White Fleet the first president Roosevelt sent around the world early in the 1900's.  Turns out if came to Oz on the personal invitation of he Prime Minister (contrasted by history quite a bit later when US Navy warships were banned here). 16 battleships and the flagship was the USS Connecticut. The fleet was credited with inspiring Australia to build their own warships which stood them in good stead when they were basically abandoned by an overextended Great Britian at the start of WWII. (Of course that last tidbit is not found in most history books). Dear old Dad flew out of Oz until getting transferred from one wretched Pacific island to another until he was shot down off the coast of the Phillippines . "

Happy Birthday Ray! How many more "merit badges" before you qualify for your MMR?

Hope the rest of you are doing ok. I will now try to catch up posts.   CUL, J.R. 

Gidday JR.       Afraid you can't blame the Aussies for banning US Navy ship visits, it was New Zealand as part of the  then Labour Governments "Nuclear Free South Pacific Policy" in the mid 1980s.. It was all to do with our protest against  French nuclear testing in the South Pacific, the then fashionable "bashing" of President Reagans increased tensions with the Soviet Union, (the fact that it eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall is often conveniently overlooked), and the US Government policy of neither confirming or denying whether visiting US Navy ships were not only nuclear armed but also nuclear powered. The negative diplomatic ramifications of banning the US Navy from New Zealand ports is still affecting our two countries even today.

Regarding an over extended Great Britain abandoning Australia and New Zealand in WWll. The Australian and New Zealand Forces were at the time already in action in North Africa against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. With the out break of war with Japan  in the South Pacific, the Australian Government wished too and did bring their troops back to defend Australia. The New Zealand Government recognising that we would be relying on the US military might, left the New Zealand Division to continue the rest of the war fighting in North Africa and then Italy. The bulk of the  Royal New Zealand Air Force and Navy ,( though numerically very small)fought under US command in the South Pacific.

What , and I'm ashamed to say this,  is overlooked is that at the "Battle of the Coral Sea" in May 1942, the US Navy, with the loss of the carrier "Lexington" and damage to the "Yorktown" basically stopped the Japanese advance south towards Australia and New Zealand. We should always be grateful and Never forget that. 

The Great White Fleet did visit New Zealand in 1908, the railway  significance is that the "Parliamentary Train" was the first train to travel over the nearly completed North Island Main Trunk Line.

Here's a link for those who are interested.  

 http://www.100megsfree3.com/glaw/gwf/index.htm

Cheers, the Bear.

[galaxy]

Morning Coffee in the Diner

GOOD MORNING!!!

*groan* Monday...

 

RAY: "Happy REAL Bird Day TO Ewe"    another year older and deeper in debt, St. Peter don'tcha call RAY, cause he can't go...

Prayer candle will be lit as long as I am home today.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning Folks!

Unlike the weather forecast, it is a nice and sunny day - unusual for this time of the year. November is the month with a lot of "Schietwedder" - hence the name of my new layout.

Despite the nice weather, I feel kind of dull. There is something looming above my head which I cannot yet identify. My parents are not in a good shape, and so is my sister. She is still in hospital. I guess no news is good news.

Christmas time is approaching rapidly. It´ll be a fairly lonely time for Petra and me. Our son will be away for the holidays - he needs a vacation and some rest and relaxation. He has not had much time off in the last years, so a couple of weeks away from work, studies and home will do him good. It also means he won´t be seeing us for Christmas

We won´t be going to my parents´place, either. My mother won´t be able to put up with us for more than hour, and a 5 hour round trip is just too much for an hour´s visit - aside from the outrages cost of gas.

Winter Blues!

Have a nice day!

Jeff - I do hope you get to feel better today - I am worried!

[GMTRacing]

Greetings from Sydney,

   We're back in Sydney and fly out tomorrow. It's been a good trip but we're both ready to return. One of our drivers fliess back on the same flight with us before we change planes in Dallas.The container was all loaded and ready to ship to New Zealand yesterday so we had a free day here to go to the aquarium and maritime museum. Very nice and we learn something every day. Those of us old enough to have still been taught history may remember The Great White Fleet the first president Roosevelt sent around the world early in the 1900's.  Turns out if came to Oz on the personal invitation of he Prime Minister (contrasted by history quite a bit later when US Navy warships were banned here). 16 battleships and the flagship was the USS Connecticut. The fleet was credited with inspiring Australia to build their own warships which stood them in good stead when they were basically abandoned by an overextended Great Britian at the start of WWII. (Of course that last tidbit is not found in most history books). Dear old Dad flew out of Oz until getting transferred from one wretched Pacific island to another until he was shot down off the coast of the Phillippines . "

Happy Birthday Ray! How many more "merit badges" before you qualify for your MMR?

Hope the rest of you are doing ok. I will now try to catch up posts.   CUL, J.R.