"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
GM, MEN!
Ulrich must not have wifi where he is. Sad to not hear form him!
Today's word:
-probably TOO MUCH gaudeamusing going on on college campumses!
Today's quotes:
The most important discoveries will provide answers to questions that we do not yet know how to ask and will concern objects we have not yet imagined. -John N. Bahcall, astrophysicist (30 Dec 1935-2005)
Well, two public servants here have been arrested fro skimming money from hte public!
People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.
Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.
I believe things cannot make themselves impossible.
[color-red]MAKE IT A GREAT DAY![/color]
PRAYERS for those IN NEED
-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.
OH, GREAT!
we have a leak in the basement when someone showers!
I was down there while MOH showered, and heard drips.
Sure enouhg we have a leak somewhere!
have to call hte plumber after joint counselling.
good way to start the day!
Lion - sorry to hear about your father. Here is a for you and your family.
Galaxy - Can you tell if the leak is coming from a supply line or waste line ? If it is a waste line then it should be pretty easy to fix yourself.
Jim - Yea I bet you all up noth roll your eys at us in this area when they start talking about a "blizzard snow storm" of 7" LOL
Howmus - That wasnt 267" at once was it ? That was the whole season ? Does any of it melt between snow events
Der - 100 emails ? Geez I hope most of that is advertising notices ???
Ken, Garry ...Howdy
I tell you this year is not starting off well. Last week one of my friends tried to commit suicide - again - , Last night my sister had to have emergency surgery for kidney stones, my moms best friend is in and out of the ER and they do not expect her to live long, three coworkers have been laid off and then there is my SIL and all of her and her boys struggles. I sure hope 2016 gets better soon !
TTYL
YGW.
Lion: Condolences from the Valley of the Sun.
Richard
Goooooooooooood Mooooorning Everyone!
(Walks in and sings...)
"Gaudeamus igitur Juvenes dum sumus. Gaudeamus igitur Juvenes dum sumus. Post jucundam juventutem Post molestam senectutem Nos habebit humus. Nos habebit humus.
Vivat academiaVivat profesoresVivat membrum quodlibetVivat membra quaelibetSemper sint in flore,Semper sint in flore."
Ah yes, great song! Johannes Brahms used the tune in his wonderful Academic Festival Overture in a fortissimo rendition performed by the full orchestra! Wonderful, wonderful!!! One of my absolute all time favorite songs to bellow in my wide open very fortississimo basso prufundo voice to start faculty meetings way back when.... (I got spoken to a lot back then.......)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZLaWx0597Y
Back to w*rk!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
yougottawantaHowmus - That wasnt 267" at once was it ? That was the whole season ? Does any of it melt between snow events
That was season total. Usually a lot will melt before the next storm, but....... Last winter that didn't happen much. So in Western, NY and places like Boston they were having some real difficulty dealing with where to pile the stuff. Here in Geneva, they had the big John Deere machine and the big bucket on it to put snow into trucks and dump it out of town someplace (that also had to be dug out to accomodate the stuff.). In one huge parking lot of an abandoned factory just west of Geneva they had 20+ foot high piles of it. It was the first of August before all of it ahd melted... This year, the couple inches we got a few days ago is almost gone.
Do hope your year improves for you and yours!
BroadwayLionRIP The Daddy LION has passed away this afternoon, he was 93 years old.
Lion, prayers for you and yours at the DER household. My father made it to 98 - he was trying for the 100 as he had been given a prophecy to that effect in the Philippines in the 1980s. So, I know perhaps something of your feelings. Just to illustrate how interconnected we are, my father told of how he was working outdoors in Australia when his father died in England. He sensed that his father was standing right beside him - knew it was physically impossible, and just waited for the telegram! (Oh, sorry kids, that was texting back in the 1930s, but a wee bit slower )
Galaxy - mailed today.
YGW Saw your info request email. Will reply - for now, that would be Retired P. LOL
You can split the flex track at desired position. To do that, select the flex, right click over the place where you want to split it and finally select "Split" from the context menu. You can split the track as many times as you need. You can also reshape the already laid flex track, by use of "Reshape" command in the context menu.
Teatime! A small green please Chloe, and a couple of those dark chocolate covered Digestives. Ta ever-so, and I'll be over in the back booth...
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
der5997 Galaxy - mailed today.
der: Thank you very much~~!!! Glad you got it worked out...
Afternoon folks!
Galaxy, are we still sending the $$$ to you for the YGW Fund or sending them to his Church? I plan to get my pledge out by early next week at the latest.....
Been busy with a couple errands and taking the candles (electric) I have in my windows over the Advent/Christmas Season down and storing them down cellar. I also had the doorbell ring and it was a man in Brown who gave me a package I have been waiting for. It was supposed to be two packages but one that was scheduled to be delivered today appears to be stuck in Colorado for the past 3 days.... The one I got is my new toy for my other hobby! Photography. Since my 18-85mm lens decided to go Pffffffftht... And crap out on me and I am not going to spend another $180 sending back to be repaired... (The problem seems to be rampant with that particular lens.) I decided to get me a bit better piece of glass. This one is an 18mm - 135mm and set me back a little over $600. Got some test photos of it downstairs in the train room just to make sure it works correctly and to see what it can do.
All of these photos were taken with the camera about 3' from the corner you see in the first photo. All photos were done with the aperture stopped down as far as possible (f/22 or above, didn't check how high) in AV Mode on my Digital Rebel Sxi. As I always do with layout shots I used manual focus.
This is at 18mm.
These two are at 135mm.
To my old eyes everything I want clean and crisp is clean and crisp... In the second photo I got just about the amount of blurring I was expecting in the foreground... I think I will have fun with this lens!
Evening Dinners
Flo, please.
Last night I had a nice long post, then hit a wrong button again! I tried closing the window I was using for Photo Bucket, closed the wrong one.
BoS Up Date I got the papers I need to fill out last week, and filled them out and sent them in. Today I had to go to the Edwardsville BoS branch and sign another form. Looks like I will be closing on Jan 19th. Best part is I can skip Jan payment. Good thing! My normal Avg Mid Month Commision is between $250.00 (poor) $400.00 (OK) and high around $700.00. THis coming one is $48.00?
Train Front I all most got a turnout machine wired. Got 2 of the 3 wires ran, cut the control panel, mounted the Life Like power supply and mounted 1 machine control switch. Then I heard Sue yelling, seemed I need to do more laundry and make dinner. What little time it took, I was done afterwards.
yougottawantaWhich do you think is pretty ? Moron ? Sante Fe ? B&O ?
YGW Hum, I did say pretty. I should have said best looking. Hands down Santa Fe Warbonnet Passanger engines. I fell in love with them when I was around 5 years old.
Lion Soory to hear of your lost.
Later Ken
I hate Rust
RAY..
I will send you a PM tomorrow morning... Look for it...
Thanks!
Galaxy
Very early morning diners,
I noticed that Kato will have the Amtrak Southwest Limited 8 Car Set and a ATSF 2 car add on. Now I can model a correct reputation of the train.
I was also looking at the cars. The baggage car 1171 is an ex CB&Q CZ (don't know if they are going to do it correctly)
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1999236
A ATSF 4-4-2 sleeper Regal Dome is still in Santa Fe paint in 1974 without the name.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1739192
I'm excited about getting an Santa Fe 11 Double bedroom sleeper to model the El Capitan in the 1960s.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
sorry guys, not feeling up to snuff this AM. A col turned into brochitis last night.
I ahd two appts today I have to cancel to see if I can get into the drs office if not hte walkin.
Morning all
I would break out in song for you all like Howmus did the other day - BUT - I cannot afford to replace any more glass in my house ! Last time I was singing my neighber liked my singing so much he threw a BRICK through my WINDOW so he could hear me better !!!
Galaxy - Hope you feel better soon
Ken - How about "Handsome" ? I like the B&O colors of yellow and blue better I think. The Santa Fe is pretty good but I am tied of seeing so much of it.
Der - How many years were you a "P" ? I tell you I think "P" do not get enough credit for their calling. The good book is pretty clear on how to have a a great life here and how to be prepared for the next one. And when people follow the simply instructions their life improves DRAMITICALLY. But peopel are people and think they know better than God and end up making messes of their lives and of those around them. For the life of me I couldnt be a "P". I have little patience for people who just keep making the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. It has to be a God thing and you must have the patience of Job to deal with stubborn stiffed neck people who think they now better than God and refuse or are incapabale to make the right choices. I take my hat off to you !
Howmus - August ! You still had snow in August from last year ? That is amazing !
Well gotta get ready for my weekly production sales meeting a necassary evil.
YGW
Good morning ...
YGW, Ken, and others... Regarding the best paint schemes, it is sometimes hard to choose among the many colors of the 1950's streamkined passneger trains. Of course, B&O and Santa Fe are popular, but others look as good.
Here is the GN Empire Builder with CB&Q E-units hauling it on Burlington tracks.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I see the Dr at 1 pm. I MAY have developed into brochitis OR the dreaded pneumonia...MOH is taking time off work as I am in no condition to drive myslef.
I had a fever this mornign but it broke it seems.
I will let y'all know or if i disappear y'all will know i am in the hospital again.
thanks for any prayers you can muster.
-G
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have the #2 special to start the day. Over easy eggs, bacon, home fries, and a double order of gthe sour dough toast, and leave the jar of grape juelly if you would. Did I mention I need a 30 cup pot of Seneca Lake Blend Dark Raost Organic Coffee too? Yes, my R&GV RR Mug.....
yougottawantaHowmus - August ! You still had snow in August from last year ? That is amazing !
Remember that was the remains of a pile several hundred feet long and up to 20' deep in places... There is a story about an ice house on the O&W that burned down one Spring. They still had melting ice there six months later! When you have that much ice (snow or whatever) it takes an awful lot of heat to melt it. By the second week of August the pile here was gone.... There was a few small, very dirty looking packs of ice a couple feet deep when I saw it in the first week of August this year. Twas in the shade as well.
Been exchanging emails with the NMRA Region President this morning. For some reason they still don't have everything done monitarily from our Convention last May. I forwarded his email to my Treasurer. I don't know if a check is waiting in Customs somewhere at the broder, or hasn't been mailed yet or what! Not what I needed to hear in the midst of trying desperately to get everything done for the MLK Service on the 18th. The last few months around here have been completely crazy. Take that back! The last year around here has been absolutely crazy!!!!!
I did find that UPS is supposed to deliver the package that was supposed to be delivered yesterday today.... It sat in Commerce City, Colorado for over 3 days.... I was about to send out a nastygram to see where it might be lost... Now I am just waiting on some stone wall parts I need for the Bridge Supports. The guy has to pour them for me, and he should put them back up at his website when they are done. I know that will take a week or so..... I checked in with my Mentor (a well know MRR author who is an MMR as well) on how to best make the supports and he says use a tall stone abutment on each side of the lower tracks. Should look very impressive when done. He told me to say that the SLOW being broke used two old bridges from an abandoned branch rather than to spend the $$$ to build a single longer and wider span, hence the need for the middle supports on it. I told him that the SLOW being a Proto Freelance of the NYOW has been in Recievership most all of it's existence. He wrote back and said, "(his Model Railroad) is owned by an eccentric who thinks that steam will rise again. To that end he maintains a large fleet of steam locomotives. The railroad itself is broke!"
Keeping many of you in my prayers! Got an email late last night and found out that a lady who is a long time Scout volunteer in our district and whose son is now a Professional Scouter and Camp Director for many years, got home from the District Roundtable last Wednesday night to find her trailer home engulfed in flames. Her husband died a few years ago, their house burned to the ground soon after that and so she bought a Mobile Home. She lost both her dogs in the fire and everything she had.... She is completely devastated (particularly at losing the pets, other things can be replaced)! For the moment she is staying at her sister's house while her sister is visiting her family in another state. For those of you who would like to include her and her family in your prayers, her name is Diane. Her son has been a good friend of mine for close to 20 years in Scouting....
Howmus - Snow still there in Juloy just boggles my mind. In July here we are hitting temps close to High 90s - Here is a for Dianne. If you get involved in a fund raiser for her let me know I will help.
V8 - Here is a for you to help stay dry from all of the
Galaxy - What did the saw bones say ?
Ulrich hope you are okay
Ken - I think I here your other half calling is she ringing her bell for you to come wait on her ?
Garry - that is nice. I kinda of like the Hiawatha ( sp ? ) color scheme too.
I'm back safe and sound from skiing, but dang, am I tired! In my defense, we did 5 days straight of skiing and this was our first time out this season.
Overall, I feel good, but it's just past dinner time and I'm ready for bed.
Oh, but I got to see a train running on the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad, the short line that parallels part of our drive. It had a couple of switchers, coupled cab-end to cab-end, and 3 heavily grafitti-ed boxcars.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
howmusI tried to order some rock castings that I use for the cut stone on the layout today.
Ray, have you tried getting a mold and casting them yourself? I've got several stone wall molds, original made by Dave Frary and now sold by http://sterlingmodels.com/.
This one is from a mold called "cut stone wall"
I made this from the "rough stone wall" mold. I let the hydrocal set up but not harden, and then I placed the mold over a curved form and left it until it hardened up.
YGW: I have a bronchial infection on top of an upper respiratory infeciton. GAve me 4 prescriptions! My mental health therapist called to tell me she changed my Appt next week, and said she had been out all week sick. In fact she normally does not work on Fridays and was in to work. Others we know have had "it" for awhile and is difficult to throw. i feel lousy.
RAY: did you get my PM?
I am lousy lousy lousy, but it could be worse. Just cant breathe well.
Evenin' folks!
Janie, I really need a cup of decaf!
Except to go get the mail and the newspaper I haven't been outside the house today. Well I opened the door and got the package from UPS I have been waiting for. Somehow it majically got from Colorado, to Geneva, NY overnight and was out for delivery by 6AM this morning. Truck arrived about 6PM tonight with that... All that was in the box was some code 70 rail for the Guard Rails on the bridge, a couple packages of little itsy bitsy bolt heads for the safety rails on the ties, and a fancy Passenger car set of trucks...
I spent much of the day doing some electrical rewiring under the layout. I will be feeling it tomorrow when I hopefully will get the rest done. I am spliting the layout into 3 districts for my NCE DCC system and adding the lightbulbs for short protection. Got the first district wired and working today and added the long feeder wiring to the other side of the layout. From where that ends I will pull power for the other two blocks.
Mr. B, nice cut stone work! I have poured a lot of rock work for my layout over the years so I would have no problem using a mold and doing it myself (except for the occasional bubble that likes to appear). Even made my own molds for the Octagon Blacksmith Shop a couple years ago. For what I am making now which will involve a lot of cutting and fitting I want to use the single rows of stone (from New England Brownstone). That is what I have been using in a lot of places where stone is used on the layout. And with these I can even claim credit for scratchbuilding as they are considered to be "Basic Shapes". I supposed the ones I have poured myself could qualify as well, particularly if I made the mold.... LOL
Galaxy, got your message and PM'd you back.
YGW, thanks for the offer to help, they do have a "GoFundMe" account. Somehow I think your situation needs all the "extra" you can come with right now! I'll be making another donation to the one here and I'll be thinking of your generosity when I do.... Did find out tonight that the lady didn't have any insurance on the place... Now that is just plain stupid! Someone in her family should have made sure she was set up with at least a basic policy. But, it is what it is... They evidentaly didn't know. From the photo they put up at the site, it appears to be a fire from the wood stove that was the problem. Could have been a chimney fire. The family is trying to find her someplace to live as her sister will be coming back soon and there is not room for her there.
Catch you all tomorrow. Prayers for all in need!
Flo, Please
Work Front Lot of negative things going on right now right now.
1 My sales are in a slump.
2 Jerry sales are good.
3 Jerry is Nancy (Owner Wife) new best friend and cannot do any wrong.
4 Jerry talks to Nancy about people behind there back.
Case in point. Ronda is the / or was the offices manager. She is the person that has to straighten out paper work mess ups. Seems Jerry messed up some paper work Wednesday and called him about it. Seems Jerry did not like the way Ronda spoke to him. He called Nancy and complained. She told Marvin (her husband) and now Ronda thinks she is out of work. Seems I will have to guard my what I say around Jerry!
Train Front
yougottawantaThe Santa Fe is pretty good but I am tied of seeing so much of it. YGW Funny story about that comment! When I first got in the hobby I loved the Stana Fe Warboonet from my youth. My wife like most woman did not understand why I liked trains and thought it was a waste of money! (like my wife needs 75 pair of shoes and 65 handbags) So all I bought was Santa Fe Warbonnets! All she saw was the Colors and they all looked the same! I think I was up to around 20 engines before she realized I was buying more stuff. I was sneakie, I was buy off E-Bay and having the train stuff sent to work. Got my first turnout machine wired up! I now wondering why I waited so long!I have been in the hobby for 10 years now, I have many Atlas switch machines and never used them. (remember I was buying off E-Bay and came with many of the lots I was buying) I have around 30 of them, maybe more. Hope to get another one working Saturday and in the long run around 6 at key points. Galaxy Get better soon and stay out of the Hosptial! Ken When I first really got going.
yougottawantaThe Santa Fe is pretty good but I am tied of seeing so much of it.
YGW Funny story about that comment! When I first got in the hobby I loved the Stana Fe Warboonet from my youth. My wife like most woman did not understand why I liked trains and thought it was a waste of money! (like my wife needs 75 pair of shoes and 65 handbags) So all I bought was Santa Fe Warbonnets! All she saw was the Colors and they all looked the same! I think I was up to around 20 engines before she realized I was buying more stuff. I was sneakie, I was buy off E-Bay and having the train stuff sent to work.
Got my first turnout machine wired up! I now wondering why I waited so long!I have been in the hobby for 10 years now, I have many Atlas switch machines and never used them. (remember I was buying off E-Bay and came with many of the lots I was buying) I have around 30 of them, maybe more. Hope to get another one working Saturday and in the long run around 6 at key points.
Galaxy Get better soon and stay out of the Hosptial!
Ken
When I first really got going.
Morning {not good, just morning}
Rough night. Could have slpet if not for coughing fits every 10mins or less. Drowsy from both lack of sleep and meds.
A certain kind of rich man afflicted with the symptoms of moral dandyism sooner or later comes to the conclusion that it isn't enough merely to make money. He feels obliged to hold views, to espouse causes and elect Presidents, to explain to a trembling world how and why the world went wrong. -Lewis H. Lapham, editor and writer (b. 8 Jan 1935)
The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
The state comes into existence for the sake of life and continues to exist for the sake of good life.
MAKE SOMEONE'S DAY BRIGHTER!
Prayers for all in need
LION has arrived in North Carolina. LONG bunch of flights. Arrived at Dickinson Airport around 6:30 for a flight that leaves at 0800. Flight Delayed because there was snow in Denver. Two hours later, we fly. Airlion assures us that all traffic in and out of denver is affected. We arrive in Denver, and my next flight is right near by, which was a good thing because when I arrived at the gate they had already started boaring, right on skedule! There were some delays depating, and deicing, but other wise the flight to Newark was uneventful, if not long. The lady next to me bitched about eveything, apparently believing tha an interupted movie was the end of all civilized life.
Arrived in Newark only a little late, again my ought bound flight was only a few gates away, but upon trying to find it was very confused by the airport. LION broke down and in contravention to male norms, did ask directions. Next flight was still at the gate, with long lines waiting to board. LION stopped at a nearby snack joint to acquire a Dr. Pepper and a sandwhich which came to $15.00! took sandwich and pop onboard plain, him's group now being in the process of boarding, and sat down. LION not care how late this plain might bee, it beeing the last flight of the long day. At least I was seated between two guys instead of between two women! LION was in middle seat on all flights ('cept the first which was single seats on each side of the isle.)
Him arrived in Raleigh at 9:09 pm (that is 2109 for those who can tell time both ways) About an hour to recover bag from checkin (Great felids do not eat Carry-on, ewe know!) and more time to rent a car. There were no signs telling where the rental car place might be, so again I broke down and asked. "Go out that far door, and a bus from your rental company will come by and get you..."
I must tell you that United acquired their seats from the Abu Grab tortoure cells once they were closed down, and I think that I shall complain to my congress critters about this continuing form of torture, and shall book future flights on Delta!
I rented a nice Prius, but it was another 90 minutes to Greenville, in the dark, on unfamiliar roads, in the rain, and in the fog. LION did not even bring his heavy coat, even admitting that it was only 7 'grees fairy height in North Dakota, since him knowed that North Carolina was in the south. And him was correct, it being a balmy 44 'grees here.
Mom is in the building across a small field from where I am staying (actually our garden in North Dakota is figger than this feild, but I guess down here they would think of it as a field) so I'll head on over there in a few minutes, and then we will drive to my brother's house about 40 minutes from here.
Eough of Long Posts! I don't read all of the long posts so I guess I'd better cut mine short, eh?
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good afternoon ...
Ray ... That's very sad about Diane lsoing her pets and all of her belongings in a fire. Prayers for her. ...... Also I like the old trucks in your photos in WPF.
Lion .... That sounds like a difficult trip. At least you had an opportunity to sit next to the lady who the world revolves around. You and your family are in our prayers.
Mr. B .... Thanks for showing the photo of the curved rock wall. That came out looking very nice.
Happy Model Railroading.
Good Afternoon!
Finally, I have a chance to keep in touch with you guys.
The place I am staying has no WiFi facilities available, but just by chance I found a WiFi hotspot in a cafe, where I can link up for the price of a cup of coffee ($ 5).
The clinic is beyond my worst fears - the room I have is best described as a rotten, filthy hole, with furniture from the 1960´s and a mattress in which someone must have died a long time ago - prior to WWII. The food is edible, but absolutely tasteless. Believe me, I have no intention to stay a second longer than I have to, which will be two more, long weeks! Other than that, I feel quite fine, not better, nor worse.
Lion - my heartfelt condolences on the passing of your dad!
I´ll be trying to get Petra "on the phone" via Skype now - we have not talekd since I arrived here on Monday!
CU next weekend!
Good Morning,
A rather nippy day here with a -35F windchill but it is sunny.
Not much new here. We finally are getting our bathroom reno finished. The installer came yesterday and installed the basin taps and also a new set in the kitchen. He is coming back today to finish up and I know he will show as he left a lot of his tools here.
We have finally started going back to the gym which is also a centre for post cardiac rehab. It was rated one of the best in the world a while ago.
I bought my wife a tablet for Christmas and now have to figure out how to use it so I can show her. I really am not that comfortable with computers even though I had to use them a lot when I was working. That was mostly with spreadsheets though and we had a tech department if I needed help.
Lion, sorry to hear about the passing of the patriarch lion.
I hear the installer's truck in the driveway so will sign off for now.
CN Charlie
Good morning to you all ! Flo stack em high for anyone that wants pancacks, breakfast is on me !
Lion - Read the whole thing what an ordeal ! But it looks like he was watching over you and helped you arrive at the right time and in one peice.
Ken - Yep I would keep an eye on het guy ! Man I am GLAD MOH supports my hobby ! Man that was a LOT of SILVER in the old picture of your layout.
Howmus - Okay just let me know if I can help. Please keep us posted.
Galaxy - Bronchial infection is NO FUN ! Take care of your self !
Mr. B, Nice job on the rock wall ! What scale were the skis ? O? HO? N? ON30 ?
Train front = very disappointed missed the NMRA meet with the James River division today. Sounded like a great topic, train orders. MOH is not feeling well this morng. Ah well catch the next one. I expect the delivery of some cheap Peabody coal hoppers today. Going to the POffice at 1 when they open here to see what arrived.
Gotta get to w**k on chores.