No good luck for me today, I'm afraid. It started in the wee hours of the morning, with an ice dam developing upstairs. This happened once before, quite a few years ago, an now, after 35 years in this house, it's back again. Anyway, there I was at 1 AM in my stocking feet, rigging a piece of rain gutter trough inside the window sill. When this happened before, I had cut this piece and fitted it with some flexible plastic tubing. Fortunately, I'd saved it, but the seal at the end had come loose so I still had some work to do.
It woke me up after 5 hours, because the temporary job hadn't held well enough. I replaced it for the day with some Tupperware containers, and went down to check the weather on the computer. I turned on the computer and got...nothing. Dark screen. Not even the motherboard's splash screen that comes on before Windows loads.
I spent some time looking at it, re-seating the boards and the like. To gain access to tech support, I pulled out an old Dell computer and got it running after a bit of a struggle. The odd thing, though, was that I could see the shared files from the the computer that isn't working. I think the problem must be the graphics card, as the computer itself seems to be running fine. So, I'll take a trip up the Amazon and order a new one. Installation should be a piece of cake. Just have to hope it works.
Oh, did I mention that it's snowing again?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Civil at our house for now.
MOH agreed to the outing.
We will see what happens.
Maybe good will come of it.
not much else, get out taxes done tomorrow. that will be Off my list now...as of tomorrow.
Not much, usual chores...
LQQKED at the TRAINS.
later.
-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 diners,
Plans change when they come unexpected. (Railroading in different scales.) Sometimes it's good going back to want you love. It could be HO to N or Burlington Northern to Seaboard Air Line. (Examples).
I'm wishing everyone good luck today.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Italian roast coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
***Ken, no track plans. The general benchwork and how it fills the space is what I like. Will alter it just enough to fit my particular room. Trackage on mine will likely be considerably simpler.
***Ulrich, I like your new idea there. Hope the n-scale trains sell well for you.
Fella called from the one nursery and said the peach tree will be sent out next month. The other nursery will delay shipping of my big order (8 trees) until next month. I just hope this ankle is better by then.
Have a terrific day all.
Cheers! Rob
Good Afternoon, Folks!
It´s a gray day here, but, providing our weather guessers are right, tomorrow will be bright and sunny! No wonder, it´s Petra´s birthday! I have to figure out how I can sneak out of the house to get a nice bouquet of flowers for her. With those glasses of mine, I shouldn´t be driving and the florist is at the other end of the town ...
Flo, make that a mug of hot chocolate and a slice of that cherry crumble pie for me, please.
All my N scale stuff is packed up and ready for the "Bay". I will have a friend helping me to sell it. With a little luck, I will get sufficient funds to pay off the bigger part for my new glasses and maybe still have a few €€ left to do some MRRing. It´ll be really on a shoe strong budget, something in the area of a set of micro layouts I can put together to form a bigger one at a later stage. Similar to what I did with that Japanese style layout I built some years back.
I got the idea from a page I found searching the web. There is a modeler in southern Germany, who built a nice little layout, using ready-made boxes from an arts & crafts supply as the benchwork. Linking (and alignment) is done via standard plugs and sockets -a simple and inexpensive method. The layout is HO scale on 9mm tracks, so it´ll be narrow gauge again (which suits me fine, as narrow gauge is my secret love anyway).
Here are a few pics from this layout:
The boxes (at $ 8 each):
How the boxes are connected to each other:
The track plan (adapted to my space requirements)
I figure on building module 1 and 2, plus a cassette staging as a beginning, with progress according to funds available. Will be dead slow, though.
I hope to be able to get a starter set to have something to play with - like this one
I should have come up with this idea a lot earlier. The concept suits my skills and financial abilities and I am confident I´ll be able to come up with something nice. Still, my level of confidence is not up to what it used to be, but these bit-sized chunks I can swallow!
Here is a video of Gerd´s fantastic little layout - do I adore his German accent (Like Herr Flick in "`Allo, `allo"!
Waldbahn "Eusserthal"
Enloy!
Thanks, Gerd, for this great inspiration!
cudaken Galaxy You have more restraint than I that is for sure. If you do get her away for the weekend might be a good time to ask her why she as wandering eyes?
Galaxy You have more restraint than I that is for sure. If you do get her away for the weekend might be a good time to ask her why she as wandering eyes?
Ken: The idea is to help restore some marital fidelity to remind us both of what we are "commited to", not start another fight! I can do that well enough at home!
Word of the day:
Evening Dinners
Flo a JSTL and a Beer please, give the Buick guy one as well if he shows up.
Rob That was a great looking layout! Any chances you found the plan for it?
Health Front. I am going to the VA Hosptial this Friday, Yep Friday The 13th Of All Days? While I am there I will have a good talk with my Dr about the meds I am on. I have finally read some of the side effect warnings that come with my meds. One of my blood pressure meds states "It will make me feel tired and rasie my Blood Sugar"? With me having diabetes it does not sound like a great thing to be on! Plus I am all wise tired and don't feel like doing anything. I am sleeping better now I have a CPA machine and good mattress but still tired! Even working out did not help?
Latter, Ken
I hate Rust
Mint tea, please and thank you.
***Mark, Oreo looks quite content and comfortable. Beautiful cat. Elsa is cute, too.
The vid of the train layout which sparks my interest (after some rearranging) is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ1XRnKkMKo
Friend helped me plant the two trees and do a bunch of other farm stuff, so I'm now as ready for the coming cold snap as I can be. One tree was missing from the container though. I sent the Company a message, so we'll see if the company makes good on their error.
Have a good night all.
I have suggested to MOh we take teh weekendof the 28th to go away to a hotel {even if weather bad and down the road 10 miles only}, Jus teh two of us, and no fighting, no work, no prsssure, adn have a romatnic weekend jsut for us.
so far, MOH seems to be goiing for it.
We will see what happens next...
Hello model railroaders! ... It is dinner time in the Diner. I'll have steak and potatoes, please.
On the layout today, I am back to working on my layout extension. Slow progress because I keep doing other stuff.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Gratuity ! I will give him the five finger Gratuity in the shape of a nuckle sandwich ! I run a tight ship done by the numbers and by the code. As they say on the old show Living color "Homy dont play that"
Galaxy - I agree it is always complicated and never easy. I do agree with trying to work through every possible solution to resolve it. Hope it works out.
You guys who live up in the snowmegadon territory I am sending some sunshine your way. Hope ypou are enjoying the modeling time. Send some this way so I can stay home and have an honest excuse to not w**k and model
Ulrich - Dont get down. As a friend said to me today as I was fussing about our current leadership, you can find something to be thankful for, at least you havent gone horizontal pushing up daiseys! You are still Vertical.
TTYL
YGW
Strong coffee with a pinch of coal dust in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
Think I found a layout which will work for my room. Well, not the exact layout, but general benchwork arrangement. Saw it on YouTube but don't recall the name of the layout. When I re-find it, I'll scribble down the idea on paper and post it here in the Diner.
Hired hand couldn't make it, got sick over night. Fortunately, a good friend is coming over to help me get those three tree starts planted and other farm stuff done. Sent a message to the other vendor to hopefully delay shipment of a larger order (8 trees in all) until the end of the month or next.
Have a great day all.
After hockey last night, I got a big laugh by telling everyone I'd used my Medicare card for the first time. Just a check up for my blood sugar. The doctor took me off the Metformin a couple of months back, and we agree that it was another one of those medications that I don't "tolerate well." He just said to keep on keepin' on, and keep up the exercise.
The snow seems to have gotten to people, as we had a poor turnout last night. That forced us to move "Old Joe" back on defense along with me in goal and Warren, a new guy who has taken my crown as perennial oldest guy on the ice. Between me, Warren and Joe, we have 199 years of experience back there. "Old Joe" is actually the youngest of the trio. At 64, he still races motorcycles competively. For us, our sports keep us all young.
I think I'll name my snow shovel "Matilda." It's time for my daily exercise, and today it's going to be "waltzing Matilda" out to the driveway. The USPS tracking says my Phase 3 accessory lighting power supply is "out for delivery," so I don't want any issues with those last 30 feet to the house.
Good Afternoon!
I am having issues with my Internet connection - again. Having access is like gambling these daysw. I called the service hotline a couple of times and there is only little improvement. I might have to change the provider ...
I am waiting for an answer to my request for helping fund the new set of glasses. I really need them! No answer for over a week, makes me nervous.
For the time being, I have lost my interest in model railroading. Whatever plan I have, I have too many second thoughts about it. Maybe it is because I have lost confidence in my skills, maybe it is all those plans are kind of foul compromises to what I really would like to do.
I hope my interest will be rekindled one day.
Galaxy - brother, what can I say. It hurts to see you in such misery! Keeping you in my prayers!
CUL!
Just for YGW, and what I DON"T NEED:
Flowers: Check miniature read/white varigated rose {gave it already and got a "thank you" that was it, and MOH has hinted wanting flowers for 2 weeks? Maybe I got the "wrong one"?}
candy: check 3 lb box, don't come no bigger.
Diamond: Check, heart shaped necklace with 3, count 'em 3 diamonds
"Car angel", CHeck, MOH has been wanting one, it says "I am with you alawys"..with CZ in it. could be me with you always or the man upstairs...
Lamb steak dinner: check, MOH been hinting, no good lamb lately in store. Today was. {MOH works both jobs saturday, so it will be sunday dinner....}
yep, I am ready for valentines day. I didn't get a card as i dont' wnat to be "mushy" right now, it doens't seem to be more than words on apage to MOH, need to SHOW more love...I guess..who can figure out a spouse?.
Later
PS. Grocery store shopping wiped me out, next week is my spinal nerve shots, i should be better after then!
PS never too wiped out for romance however....
Good morning .
Mark ... Thanks for sharing your pets. I like your clever name for the cat. Both look like good companions.
Galaxy ..... Sounds like you are doing what is best considering the circumstances. Hopefully, you have always had a good relationship with the father in law because he might be sympathetic to yoru situation if that is the case. Perhaps, you can continue telling your wife the marriage means a lot to you, and you are willing to work with her to make it better for both. Not trying to be nosey here, but just want you to know your friends care. You are being wise also by not saying too much in the forum. You deserve respect.
Meanwhile, back at the layout. My jinxed 2-10-2 finally has its numerous bugs corrected, and it is running fine with sound around the entire main line. I'm happy about that. Long story, but I'll just leave it at that.
Hi Everyone,
Well. I just finished my second week working in the new building in Reno. What a laugh! Ugh...and a 120 mile round trip to boot. Anyway, we shut down the one in Fernley sooner than expected. This $100billion internet retailer just don't get it when it comes to safety...or any sort of decency for that matter. To make matters worse the state of Nevada enforces nothing in protecting the working population of the state. So as a result, I have established my own personal safety consultants and staff.
My cat Oreo, and...
my Pomeranian...Elsa.
They are smarter than any 10 managers at work.
So now when I have a safety issue on the job and any of the managers want to know what's going on, I'll just say: "Nah...I'll just go home and tell my cat, or dog about it." I would get about the same response.
Anyway. Going back to playing with the trains.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
ALL:
Thaks for the degree of support, it is far more complicated than what all I let on in the diner. I, as far as I am concerened, still am "not at fault" for what is ruinging our relationship, but it is very complicated mess, and this is NOT the place to ari our dirty laundry. I only hint at the problem to you guys so you have an understanding of what is going on. One does not easily throw away 14 years if there is an underlying problem that can be solved...
I am trying to get MOH to go to marriage counseling, as a "fresh perspective' might help. I see things one way, MOH the other, natrual in most any relationship, now it comes down not to who is right or wrong, but can the twain meet? and resolve the underlying issues.
CN CHARLIE, MY FIL will fight and take it to court to gurantee I don't get any part of the house since he paid for it...and there isn't enough money for me to buy any half out, or for MOH to buy out...I will have to walk away from it, trust me, I will be homeless if we split, AND MOH KNOWS THAT!
DIVORCE May come..but I want to exhaust all possiblities before we do..like i siad throwing away 14 years easily, mostly good, is a cop-out to "just leave" becasue I don't liek something or there is a bump in the road...
I don't know...I jsut don't know...
don'tknow anymore..
Will shut up now..
Good evening Diners,
Flo, I'll have some Earl Grey tea with cream and honey, please.
according to the weather forecast, were supposed to get 1-2" of the white STUFF, but after that, the temperature is supposed to drop like a rock! I hate winter, with a passion!
Got the " How To Build Small Model Railroads" booklet in the mail. Even though it's a lot of re-prints, the package is very convenient. It gets it to where my feeble brain can formulate ideas.
All for now, I hope everyone is OK, safe and warm.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Galaxy, You should check and see what the law is in your state but here, as soon as you get married your spouse has a right to 50% of your home. I had purchased a home before I was married and even though the title was in my name only, my wife would have been awarded 50% by any divorce court. There is a legal principle under common and most statute law, called dower rights. I suggest you do a little research. I bet there is a lot on line for your state so seeing a lawyer shouldn't be needed.
Still snowing here too, but only about 5 inches so far. At least it is mild. That won't last as we are expecting a windchill of -33C tomorrow afternoon when the storm clears and the wind shifts to NW.
I did run trains for about 10 minutes today so I suppose that is some train time.
CN Charlie
Evening Folks
Flo a JSTL and bring out my keg and starw. Give the Buick guy a starw as well.
Just down in the dumps today. Had to take Sparkie The Rocket Dog to the Vet so there goes $63.13 that I need for the house payment. Sink drain I fixed last week started leaking tonight! I know what the problem is, I just do not feel like fixing it tonight.
Just don't feel like typing anymore right now.
Ken
Coffee refill, please.
I second what ROAR had to say. Get those ducks in a row, before you go.
Have been watching lots and lots of train vids today, mostly the full scale stuff.
galaxyProblem with THAT idea, YGW, the house [mobile home} is really MOH's, paid for by my FIL long before I came along!
That makes it simple. Pack up your stuff and leave. Cancel all joint accounts, take what is yours and begone with you. Think about where you can go and what you will do now. What funds do you have access to. What resources do you have. Get these things well nailed down before you rock the boat any further.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Afternoon folks!
Chloe a cuop of hot chocolate would hit the spot right now...
angelob6660Oh howmus, I know you were talking about snow.
Wrong 4 letter word....
I spent about 2 hours chopping up and disposing of a couple huge piles of ice today... The first was the two foot high 4 foot deep,. and twelve foot wide (across the driveway) pile the city sn*w plow pushed there last night around 10PM. The second was trying to clear out the mail box so the mailman could deliver the mail... Glad I did as my new credit card was in today's mail. Old one got compromised by a company I have never heard of and have never done business with. I should get the fraud paperwork in the next couple days so the card company can go after them! BTW, why is it called Mail? You have to pay a fee to send it, so shouldn't it be called FeeMail? What about the days the person who delivers the mail is a lady? Is she therefore a FeeMailMan? I dunno...
Tomorrow I will be doing my best to get as much STUFF off the roof of the house as possible. I also have to clear a 30' path from the back porch to the other driveway and clear a place to put out the trash on Friday. Figure it will take at least 2 days to get it done.
Got my teeth cleaned today, then stopped at the post office and bought a roll of those little sticky thingies to put on letters, then went over to the Finger Lakes Crimes newspaper place and picked up all the first place Stuff from the MLK Art and Poetry Contest. Hopefully tomorrow I shall make the rounds and get everything out of my house and back to the school buildings from whence they came.
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
yougottawanta Galaxy - Yes it is. My first wife ran around on me. I hired a private detective and found out the truth and who the bum was she was seeing. She supposedly had to go to work at an odd hour one day. I went to the bums house and there was her vehicle. I knocked on the door and told her to not bother coming home. Then on the way home changed the locks and with a new key. YGW
Galaxy - Yes it is. My first wife ran around on me. I hired a private detective and found out the truth and who the bum was she was seeing. She supposedly had to go to work at an odd hour one day. I went to the bums house and there was her vehicle. I knocked on the door and told her to not bother coming home. Then on the way home changed the locks and with a new key.
Problem with THAT idea, YGW, the house [mobile home} is really MOH's, paid for by my FIL long before I came along! IF we seperate, I have to be the one hwo moves out.
In OUR fight the recent Sunday, I said in the middle of it, "maybe i'm nto getting it, maybe you are trying purposely to drive me away, maybe you want me to leave. And got no answer to that. Or much of my questions. MOH sure can talk when wanting to, but sure can clam up also. I am not going to bore you with my details, it is my problem....
Oh howmus, I know you were talking about snow. I thought it would be funny to joke around with it.
Nothing going on today except another 80*f weather for the third day in a row and with a somewhat 20% of rain over the weekend, if the clouds change.
Everywhere else it's still winter, but in Tucson it's summer time. Well still warm.
YGW and Lion,
Uuuhhh,...gratuity, yes, that's the ticket, gratuity!
Of course, portraits of Grant or Franklin are a much more appreciated expression of....."gratuity."
Good morning Diners,
Flo, I'll have my usual gigante coffee with boo coo cream, please.
Not too much going on here this week, just cleaning up around the house. Have to put some drain cleaner down the drain. I want to try the lazy way (not to mention less messy) first before acquiescing to removing the trap. Starting a new job Monday. Have an interview tomorrow, too. I must admit that I'm so very blessed in that I still have good health, and Im privelidged in that I get to do what I love for a living, such as it is.
I really feel for those who have health issues.
We have had some snow here, but not anything like the NE has gotten. Reminds me of last year here. It's supposed to get cold this weekend.
Galaxy: I think most of us understand that in a situation like yours, you need to talk about it and vent. So, don't feel like you're boring us or anything like that. It's just that helpless feeling like standing there and watching your house with all of your belongings go up in flames or a tornado.
Nice cars guys! A lot of work and TLC went into those.
Sylmar: Real estate in So Cal has been absurdly ridiculus for a long time. Before the bubble burst, houses were around $400/sq ft, and that was in Solvang. I just cringe when I hear real estate people enthusiastically talk about a turnaround and that prices are going up. I just think, didn't you guys learn anything from the last time? IMO the problem is in thinking of a domicile as a marketable commodity. That leads to greed and buying on speculation that one would be able to flip and make a large profit. With that thought process in play, what happened to the housing market was inevitable, and it was on the part of every single entity involved.
Ok, no more soap box,...promise.
I'll try to say something more RR focused next post, cause I don't want Vinnie to come calling.
I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.