I've been fighting with Samsung for a week. The microwave handle pulled off the door. First they told me my micowave was not in warranty. Their authorized service wanted $200 to replace the handle. I checked and it I bought it 50 weeks ago. I called back and they authorized the service.
The service guy showed up today and announced the handle was broken! duh! He called Samsung and they refused to authorize the repair. They claim this failure has never been reported. Meanwhile there are 7 different sellers of this very handle on Amazon and 180 reviews. Since not many people write a review, it must be a fairly common problem.
There is good news. I had an upper and lower endoscopy of my esophagus and "down there" The took some biopsies of my stomach, it looked inflammed and I woke up in time to see them lasso a polyp in my colon. Actually more of a snare and they burn it off and out. Polyps can turn into cancer so we just prevented cancer today.
The prep was better this time, as in I could actually drink it. The results are what you expect, run to the bathroom double quick. Clear liquids wasn't fun, but one of our regulars can't eat at all, so I can't really complain. I was in no danger of wasting away by not eating for a day.
If you are over 50 ask your doctor about a colonoscopy. I had polyps once before.
Train front: I stumbled on Youtube clip of a Burt Lancaster movie called The Train. I don't mean offend Ulrich. Bad things happened on both sides and there is a bias in US movies. Anyway I seems Burt is French Resistance in a Interlocking Tower without a trace of French accent. The German officers want the trains to leave the yard and Burt is giving orders to the operator to throw this switch and that, the loco going forward and back. It looks like a multiple switchback move in the yard.
I forgot, the steam loco I thought was a Hollywood invention. But I googled and the Russians and the Germans had armored steam. Burt and operator sabotage the move jamming the officer's pipe under the levers and then the air raid sirens start. That's all I know about the movie.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hi, Fellas'
Just a quick pop in the door then off to do a few ch*res.
BATMANEd, You and I must be about the same age, I am January 57.
August of '56 here, Brent. Old enough to know better
The dryer heater box just arrived. I hope that is the cure. The replacement is a bit heavier than the original, and "Made In USA". The factory one was made with sheet metal that is no thicker than what is used for tuna cans!
I have to get that dryer done soon so I can play with the pair of Athearn, Amtrak SDP40Fs that also arrived today
Best wishes to all for a safe and healthy week ahead...
RR_Postcards_33B by Edmund, on Flickr
Remember to visit the Diner on your trip!
Regards, Ed
Good morning, it is noonish on the West Coast and we are having a heck of a blow. It started in the middle of the night and should abate in the wee hours tonight. I am surprised we haven't lost our power yet.
Ken, thanks for the info on Serta. The wife likes it a lot so far, however, if we only get a few years out of it, we got it cheap, so it won't matter.
Ed, You and I must be about the same age, I am January 57.
I just did the element in our Samsung dryer. It was an easy job, however I was surprised how the element just disintegrated in my hand when I took it out, it should have failed long before it did. I also did the pump in the Samsung washer. My wife punched in the code to see the number of loads it has done and all we could say was WOW! We would have never guessed it would be that many. Then again we do hundreds of Hockey jerseys after tournaments and such, so I guess when you think about it.
Ray, sounds like a good trip. With Canada having a population a tenth of that of the United States, our train shows, and various conventions are a little more "Ho Hum" shall we say. Seattle has some goodstuff on through the year, however, they tend to conflict with Hockey or Dog events, but one day!
Galaxy, Glad to hear Mom is still hanging around to watch over us. I was very close to Mom, Dad both Grandmothers and an Uncle. I find it strange that those five come to mind out of the blue and unlike other family members, I get a strange sensation of them being present when they do. While I am open minded about pretty much anything, the proof is in the proof as I like to say.
I like to try and keep up to date in the world of Physics and what is going on with the hadron collider. Theories and discoveries of that world, sure give a lot of food for thought. When people see ghost are they seeing something from other times or dimensions that happen to be colliding (for lack of a better term) I start reading about what is being discovered in the world of physics and before long a few hours have passed. It is better than any science fiction in my book. I just wish I had the brains to be a physicist.
Richard, nothing wrong with going back to school. Back in the early eighties, I became good friends with my stockbroker. He tried to get me to go to school and become a stockbroker. That was a job I had no interest in, however having decided that I wasn't going back to school anytime soon, I got him to list the most important books he used through University and went out to the University of British Columbia and spent a small fortune buying all these books. They were hard to get through as I found most of it really boring, and sitting in my truck reading these things between flights especially in the middle of the night, tough work. That investment in time and money has really paid off over the years and I learned whether you go to school or self-educate, it will only help you succeed.
Well the wind is really howling again, so best hit the post button before the lights go out.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Richard
(knock, knock, knock......) Hello? Hello? Hmmmm. I guess the place is closed... Lights are off, heat is set to low, and nobody's been in in over 14 hours.... My, My, guess everyone is out of town....
Oh welll, I just popped in to let everyone I arrived home safe and sound yesterday evening from Rhode Island and the NER Convention. Had a good time, made some good contacs within the Regoin, and met a bunch of fine people there. Only attended 3 clinics, but they were all valuable. Visitefd two great layouts, and spent a lot of time just hanging out. The meetings I was at all ran over so I mossed a couple climics I wanted to see, but.... That is the way life goes. next yerar the Convention will be in New Jersey. A bit closer, but not much.
I am now in rush mode to everything done for the Meet next weekend here in Geneva, NY. I have a lot of paperwork to get done, and my house needs cleaning have several hours of fixing, cleraning, and preperations to do on the layout which will be open for the afternoon session.....
Hope somebody shows up with the coffee soon!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Evening all! Could I get a Hawaiian pizza this evening? (Something a little different but I seem to be in the mood for one tonight.)
Hobby Front: I finally got all but one of the GP20s equipped with their plows (That one is waiting for parts to fix some damaged areas.) I showed the pink unit last month so here are the other two schemes that my 20s ride around in: This is one of two that serve the passenger trains. The colors are the standard MEC Pine Green, Engine Black, ATSF Silver on the front stanchions, and Reefer White on the end rails. The decals are Microscale 2" stripes and some custom printed decals on an ALPS printer. This is one of five that are in freight service. Basic MEC Green and Reefer White on the end rails. The decals are also custom printed decals on an ALPS printer.
Howdy ...
Ulrich .... I enjoyed the videos. Thanks for sharing.
Ed ... The Toledo Central Union Station post cards are neat !
Galaxy ... Thanks for your long reply about retirement savings. My comments are well intended advice for young people. Of course there will always be barriers to saving money. Everybody lives through the same economic conditions and business cycles, and so everybody should deal with them as well as possible . Other adversities such as health issues and family issues will impact individual finances, too. You summarized some of your own experiences with them.... There are people who have such adversities during their younger years who overcome them and are able to save for their retirement. On the other hand, there are people who don't have such problems, but still fail to save their money and invest it wisely. ... I simply advise young people to manage their finances as well as they can. They will be surprised how fast the years go by and they become members of the retirement age....
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Hello, Ladies and Gents
Flo, I'd like one of those beers that Ken has been lining up for me, please.
Thanks, Ken!
Last night (well, the wee-hours of this morning) I was tearing apart a two-year old Samsung electric dryer instead of playing with trains
Now, I'm no stranger to making appliance repairs but this one has me at wits-end!
Simple enough problem... motor runs, drum turns, no heat. OK, open 'er up and check the thermal cutout, continuity of the heater coil, motor-run switch (if the motor isn't turning the heater circuit is open).
All good! Still no heat.
I took the heater box out and hot-wired it to a 230V supply. Hot, hot, hot. I could have made a grilled cheese sandwich.
Removed the motor, checked the run switch, good. Put everything back together and checked again with the meter. Heater relay, good. Both leads to heater, 120 V to ground and 230 across both heater feeds. Still NO heat.
A new heater box with over-temp and thermostats was supposed to be delivered Saturday. It is still in the back of the Post Office's truck!
So, tonight I'm not even going into the laundry room. It is trains, trains, trains!
angelob6660Ed- Some of those postcards are hard sometimes.
Yes! That calls for more
RR_Postcards_0009 by Edmund, on Flickr
Toledo Central Station—
RR_Postcards_0005 by Edmund, on Flickr
Like Day & Night! Amtrak is still using this station, built in 1950.
angelob6660I guess the armed forces love football.
The PRR used to run dozens of special trains to the Army-Navy Games near Philadelphia every fall! Passenger cars from all over
I hope you are all doing fine!
angelob6660Ulrich- Has your Swiss layout sold yet?
No - and I don´t think it will. There is hardly a market for used layouts. I guess in the end it will be dismantled and whatever can be salvaged, will be sold separately. Maybe some of the buildings, the trees and the vehicles. The rest will have to go to the dump.
It is sad, but that´s the way it is.
Evening Diners,
Ulrich- Has your Swiss layout sold yet?
Ed- Some of those postcards are hard sometimes.
Veteran Sunday is filled with football. I guess the armed forces love football.
I'll buying Ken his beers for a while. Since I'm on the top of page.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
cudakenWhat I was not counting on was them holding back complet checks till I met what they keep when I make over $17040.00! You would think they would want us older folk to keep working?
Yeah. It's pretty cruel of them to tell us that Social Security is only meant to supplement retirement income, not replace it, but then they penalize us for working even enough to make ends meet.
Not as cruel, though, as an entire Sunday slate of NFL games with only one game featuring two teams with winning records. Not just the games on TV here, all of the games! Oh, well, nice day for a walk outside.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good Afternoon!
Should I say "Good Evening"? The sun has aleady st for some time in my neck of the woods, making this time of the year not my favorite. I can cope with bad weather (at least most of the time), but the winter time darkness really eats me up. Unthinkable that we will lose another hour until the days start to slowly get longer again!
I am not up too much lately. Haven´t run a train for some time, as I have difficulties plugging the controller into the 12-pole socket. My right arm still refuses to do what I am telling him, but my ability to do things with my left hand improves. I´ll be having the shoulder scanned end of February next year, which is the nearest appointment available to me. I am not happy about this!
I enjoyed watching a video recently filmed at Norm Charbonneau´s breathtaking new O gauge layout.
The purist will most likely shun me for admiring this toy train layouts, but there are times I wish i had the space and the money for something like it. I think I still could cope with trains of this size. Well, life will not allow me to!
Edit:
One more video, this time showing my alltime-favorite PRR K4!
Good morning everybody.
Ed ... Thanks for sharing the post card with us. Long ago, I had some trips on the Twin City Zephyr. I recall the train went at about 100 mph, and it could get bumpy at that speed. I have the same post card with no writing on iot which I got while riding on the train.
Hello, Folks!
Thank You Veterans!
Great photo of the parade, Jimmy. Thanks to everyone who has commented on my submissions of photos and such. Today my paid plan at Photobucket expired. Unfortunately lots of visitors to sites are going to get the Ransom-Meter insert.
Too bad, I wonder how much it has affected the participation in the various forums? RR and otherwise. Funny, I don't see any recent business news about P-B. I see the Denver BBB has listed them as B A D.
I have had a Flickr account for several years, Thirty-thousand photos there. Now I have to sort them into albums. What a pain!
I was just scanning some old post cards I have in my collection.
Here's one for you, Garry...
RR_Postcards_0010 by Edmund, on Flickr
Looks like Skip had a rough ride coming into Chicago? Or was it just an excuse for the sloppy handwriting?
RR_Postcards_0011 by Edmund, on Flickr
This was sent four months before the doctor turned me upside-down and spanked me!
Ken, I dug around in my back-shop and found Broadway F unit I can part out. It's just the frame, motor, trucks and light board. I'm sure I have some spare QSI decoders around here, too. I know I have a bunch of old "Blue-Line" decoders. You want those?
I'll have to gather some stuff together for you.
Well, back to some layout fun! Looking forward to Monday when my new Amtrak SDP-40-Fs should be here.
Regards to all and prayers for the folks in need...
Fergmiester Just highballing thru with some freight! Cuppa Joe flo and thank you!
Just highballing thru with some freight! Cuppa Joe flo
and thank you!
Fergie. !!
What a pleasant surprise seeing you in the Diner ..
Feel free to chat with us for a while.
Cheers.
Evening Diners
Flo, Give the gang a on me.
Work Front Was Good with $6592.00 in sales! At this point I have no idea what if anything I made extra.
Spent a few hours going over the math about taking SS at age 62. Cannot complain with what SS will give me. If I stopped paying my CC bills which I will not do, I would be fine. What I was not counting on was them holding back complet checks till I met what they keep when I make over $17040.00! You would think they would want us older folk to keep working?
Got to walk Sparkie The Rocket Dog.
Ken
I hate Rust
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
Hey gents {or is that germs?}
Busy busy night at the 'tel. Its 7 pm, 2/3rds are checeked in now, I started at 3:30 instead of 4 as someone called off due to malfunctioning car, so Schedules got adjusted, the GM took today's shift, but Allowed me to punch in early. He said he would have called, I said I would have come in earlier, I'm looking for extra money anyway for Xmas. Im actually looking for a second pt job before it starts counting against me next year at the end of march.
BATMAN/Brent...Know that your mother is now your guardian angel, and you and your daughter{?} just happened to catch a glimpse of her! She watches over you now.
Mr. B, Garry, others on Retirement, and money. During the 80s my early working years, I was always able, on "some college" {ran out of money and refused to saddle myself with loans} to be well above minimum wage. By 1989 I was a little over 3x minumum, had full time two jobs, continued college {3 As and 1 B per semester for 2 semesters WHILE working the 2 full time jobs}. I lived in a resort area in New England. Then 1990, the economy ground to a halt, I was laid off without unenjoyment from one job completely, and the other job cut us from 40 hours to 20 to 12 to 10 hours in Feb. I said "I cant pay all my bills", and left the area...to Florida, but it was the wind down of winter season there, and so back to NY I came. SInce then, My wage line has been flat, barely above minimum, and only due to increases will I be getting more. EVEN had I finsihed college, I'd be in the same boat, only about $2/hr than I am now. I've also been the victim of wage regression. That is as minimum goes up, my pay does not, so the amount I'm making over minimum deminishes or reduces as minimum increases. My current wages are almost eactly what I was earning per hour at more than 3xs over minium in 1989. in other words, FLATLINED. SO you see I was no slouch, either in working nor in savings for the future.
Continues: now during those 80s, I save about $10-12K a year from the 2 jobs {out of $28-30K annual income, so about 25-30% at least}, I always worked 2 jobs, was happy at it {it kept the depression at bay...I had a "purpose" to daily living}, Had substantial savings for retirement as I saved MORE than the 10% my maternal grandmother and parents instilled in me. Around age 25, though, the medical issues started settling in. Ive been dealing with degenerative disc disease since age 25. By age 28, when the economy collapsed, I had to go through all my savings and retirement covering uninsured medical expenses, covered medical bills when I lacked coverage, and even some to live on. I eventually went through it all, and ended up homeless, living under a bridge next to the railroad tracks. {it was comforting to know the midnight special, the 2am and 5 am ran on time}. Literally. NO, my parents would not help out,, my sibling is my fathers favorite,and while I was homeless, he was giving my sibling 3 sets of $50k allotments to buy 3 more rental units. Clearly you know who was NOT the favorite. I ended up FINALLY getting welfare safety net, and medicaid. I only had 2 years of welfare though. I could not work, could not find work, it was tight very tight job market around here then. I foundered {or is it floundered} at various jobs, but medical issues kept coming up, knocking me out. One year I spent 8 months total out of 12 months in the hospital total. I have 23 chronic continuous medical issues, and the early stage heart failure and A-fib just added #24. I also take 19 prescriptions to keep this body going currently. I ended up working for a friend in his small business, who understood I coudn't always work, but knew I did very well at my job when I was working and able. MY SSDI was approved on my 3rd application. A relief, as I then not only had a steady income but I had steady health care coverage I could count on. Now, 14 years later, the SSDI doesnt pay the bills the way it used to as bills have gone up relatively astronomically, and if you have SS, you know COLAs have not kept up..
COntinued. WHen I met My OH, Oh was just out of bankruptcy, living off a small inheritance German Gmother left, so OH was just geting by. I worked to restore credit for both of us, worked up savings so we could do things like go to Disney World, and Hawai'i, and to save for the house we just bought 2 years ago. My Oh started 5 years ago at one of the two jobs MOH has, at $5 ABOVE minimum wage, is now only $1 over minimum, wage regression hitting hard again. When NYs minimum becomes $10.40 this dec 31 for upstate, OH will be just $0.60 over minimum wage and I will regress to just $0.10 over minimum, unless my GM ever gets his head out of you know where and gives me my review and the raise we talked about at hiring time. I doubt that's going to happen, but where I am now $0.80 over minimum, IF i get the raise I was promised at 90 days {which was 4 months ago}, I will be only $0.60 over minimum wage, regression again.
COntinued, think about it...I WAS more than 3xs over minimum, now am just barely above it at about the same wages I was getting in 1989. SO Garry, costs of living have gone up drastically, while my wages flatlined, and while I was able to get us to a point to buying a house to replace a failing mobile home, We really don't have much to save now. MY OH works two jobs, about 50 hours a week, some weeks only gets 25 hours between the two, and I have gone back to work to the best of my availability and ability, in order to boost my SSDI, It was also supposed to help us save more, but vehicle reapirs, bills rising, 35% increase in budget for total utilites etc have erroded our ability to save much.
COntinued...I have long held, regardless of what we do, that we are "upper poor class" {UPC} or "poor middle class" {PMC} as our income for 3 jobs and SSDI puts us squarely in the bottom rung of the supposed definition of the nation's Middle Class, by income level, Yet we struggle to save any significant amount any more. The $2.00 differnece in having finished our college MIGHT throw a different light, but we'd have had to finish wiht student loans, probably negating the $2.00 difference. SO we stumble along, our biggest asset is the house, which also in two years we now own 52% of, instead of that equal amount added to savings. We have some debt from upgrading the house, but when it gets retierd in 3 years left, we should be able to sock away a healthy sum, should circumstances remain as they are. Others are in the same boat. I hate to say it, Garry, but your working time of life things were completely different. My OH and I have NEVER worked anywhere where we had a pension, 401Ks are even hard to find, you're lucky to find health care from an employer, but expect to pay aobut 50% of your weekly/monthly income for THAT priviledge. Its not like it was by any means. Even trying to put away 1% some weeks, let alone 10% can be like shooting out a star. Forget the 30%+ I used to save. Im actually looking for a second job to add soem savings beofre it really starts counting against me being Over SGA and losing my SSDI. I am now a "working person with disabilities", not just an SSDI recipient. I have 13 years before I reach FRA, at which point they may move it on me, and I may have to work all of them even at my SGA level, just to boost my permanent SS to where it's going to be livable for the rest of whatever life I may have, Im not expecting a long one with my health issues. It's a lot tougher now than it was back then. Wish I could have left my savings retirement alone,and it would have grown quite a bit through the years, well maybe not as much, interest and stock returns are not what they used to be either.....
Hobby front, SInce we are moving the washer/dryer up to the kitchen, if the plumber ever gets here, I will not be treading to the basement, and am wondering if I will ever get a new layout set up, or like Ulrich, if I should just sell off,a nd be done with it. We don't have the space where our tree goes, to even put up a under tree layout, except maybe for My OH's N scale stuff {my old N scale is just that, really old junque}. The bonus room is used as TV room and dining room, so no place there, and I'll be darned if I'll take up the precious garage space now. I understand Ulrichs pain and disheartenment, as I am suffering too. Its not that the stairs are rickety, they are just solid, but Steep and my knee cant navigate them well....
HAPPY BIRTHIN' day to the Birhtday boy{s?}....
Special thoughts and prayers for those in need....
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Your energy introduces you before you even speak" {unknown}
Sleep well, My friends, the train will rock you to sleep....
-G
-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.
Hey all. Thanks for the birthday wishes all. Today was the county Veterans day parade, and this year the parade was in my town. I was off today, so I went down and watched it. It was a nice sized parade, lasted about an hour almost. There were a ton of WW2 vets, as well as modern ones. Included is a photo of one of the groups
Honestly, I think I should go into the photography business sometimes.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Morning diners,
Veterans Day
Jimmy- Happy Birthday!
Ed- Love the Amtrak pictures.
I been redesigning my track plan again. Replacing structures, track alignments, and road placements.
I'm happy and disappointed with it. It's a well designed 1950-1970s train set but it doesn't resembles a more modern 1980-2007. Replacing structures and smaller scenarios will look somewhat modern.
MEMORIAM
To the men of the 777th. sqdn., 464 TCW, TAC----Operation Ranch Hand/Dragon Rouge---
herrinchoker
Good morning, everybody ....
11/11 ... traditional Vets Day.... Thanks, Veterans, for serving !
Ed ... I like the horshoe curve photo.
Brent .... That is solid advice you got from your father. Glad you followed it.
FRRY .... You are wise to save money in retirement accounts.
Mr. B. ... I know the statistics say wages have been flat for a number of years, but people should not allow that to be an excuse not to be saving their money and investing it wisely. Fortunately, the overall inflation rate has been low over the same years which offsets their excuse about wages being flat.
I sometimes hear about people who have high incomes and spend it all. Later, they lose that income, and live in poverty. .... On the other hand, I sometimes hear about people with modest incomes who live frugally and wisely budget their money. They save their money and invest it wisely. Later, they lose their source of income, but can continue their standard of living with earnings from their investmnts.
The average person is born with a highly intelligent human brain, and it behooves him to use his brain to manage his money wisely.
Eveing Diners
Flo, Birthday Boy Jimmy and Ed, Gary, Brent, Galaxy, Ulrich, Jan, Inch and I will have a please.
Work Front I was stunned by how many folks came into the store today. Lot of folks looking for stupid stuff like $200.00 queen sets, $300.00 king sets and so forth. While I eaked out $2919.00 in sales for my self only maybe $54.00 or so. Comparied to the rest of the month it was a good day. That is not saying much I will add.
Brent It depends on the mattress and the auction. Was it really a $3299.00 mattress or was it the sudggest retail prices? Has a whole here in the US Setra is junk. I have worked at 3 mattress companys and all have dropped Serta while I was with them.
Ed If by chnaces you can help with a chassis that would be of great help!
Later, Ken
Mentioning retirement and such, I have a 401(k) through work (they match contributions to 6%.) and then I have a private Roth IRA through my bank. I started on the 401(k) shortly after I went full time at that job. (I have been FT there for over 10 years.)
Hobby Front: Getting closer to having all the GP20s done. The next to last solid green one has its plow glued on, meaning it is ready to be sent back to the layout. The two passenger units have the fill-in panels done and will be painted this evening. I don't plan to install the plows today on those units though. (Too tired from work but not tired enough to pick up the paintbrush.) The parts shell for the other solid green unit is scheduled to arrive on Monday according to the tracking.
Thanks all for the Happy birthday. I spent today relaxing after a long day at work on Thursday And playing with my trains. I set up my consist for next week's open house... twenty coal hoppers and two assorted cars with one kato loco. I'm now eating a birthday dinner from my favorite pizzeria in the Monongahela valley, and am going to go hang with some friends for awhile tonight, then go to the club business meeting afterwards. It's been a nice quiet day- I even got snow today lol. Nothing laying, but flurries.
On this day.
Good morning from the sunny West Coast. 8c and a good day for a long walk with one of the fleabags. The wife is away at a dog show this weekend so the lid will likely stay on the job jar.
Happy Birthday to J.B. You will have to adjust the age in your signature unless you stop giving opinions at 26.
Went to safeway after taking the "girl kid" to school. They only had one register open and the self-checkouts were shut off. The reason being they cannot get enough help, the manager was apologizing profusely and went to man a checkout himself. They pay 18.52 an hour. I then went to McDonalds for an egg McMuffin, same thing, no staff. Big sign on the door, help wanted $17.40 an hour.
I see inflation taking hold in the not too distant future. The feds. are really increasing immigration and it is a good thing too, or there will be no one to wipe my nose when I get to the old folks home.
On the subject of retirement, my Dad gave me the best advice. He said he could never understand the idea of having to cut back when you retire. His philosophy was that because you weren't working you needed more money to amuse or enjoy yourself with. We have a registered retirement savings plan up here in Canada and I thought my Dads advice was sound. I put $3200.00 (the max I could) when I was seventeen and put the max in every year up until about eight years ago, I am now sixty. My Dad never bought a new car until he retired and that was the first thing he did when he retired. He worked for the Post Office (middle management) and got a good pension. He had also put away funds in his RRSP and had an awesome retirement with lots of travel.
I had no idea I would be working for the Feds for 36 years and get a really good pension, I did not think I would have a company pension at all when I was thinking about career paths and so had prepared for that eventuality.
We also started the kids Registered education savings fund right when they were born. So far 19 year old #1 son hasn't needed it as he has made enough to be self funding, so we are getting that back bit by bit. He can't believe how much the kids at University spend on booze. He might have a beer on a Friday or a Saturday, he says so many of his fellow students wonder why they're broke. Not to mention the $5.00 they spend at Starbucks every day. He got his friend to realize that he was spending almost $300.00 a month on Starbucks and Beer every month. Coffee is free in the cafe as they are on the meal plan, my kid just fills a large travel mug there in the morning.
I have been playing around with lighting circuits recently using the LED WIZ http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
I think I am getting close to what I want in the roundhouse, so may work on that after my walk.
Ken, yesterday at an auction we bought a brand new "Serta Masterpiece King Size mattress with a 4-inch Plush pillow top" for $500.00 Canadian, about $380.00 U.S. Is that a good deal? Wife said they retail at $3299.00 CA. but who knows. That was a real bear to get home and up the stairs, I'll tell ya. No delivery provided by the auction house and you only have 48 hrs. to take it away. I don't notice any improvement over our old one. Not sure what the boss thinks as she was gone early.
They also had a German steam engine that I wish I had bid on. Not a Loco, but one of those you put a little fire under and it turns the wheel. It came with a bunch of little tools like grinders and other things that it would run. Also in the lot were a bunch of tintype trains, track and old transformers and other toys. The train stuff was junk, however, the Steam engine and add-on tools are going upwards of $500.00 on Ebay. It went for $31.00. I am kicking myself as I always wanted one of those steam engines since I was a kid.
Well, I best get on to the park with the dog. Last night I watched a show called Supernatural on netflix. I had actually seen them film the parts in that particular show at the park we go to. I think that was about ten years ago or so. I'll go see what "stars" the mut and I can see or chat with today they love dogs.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Hello, Folks...
Woke up to a blanket of white-stuff all over. Nice thing is that it covers the leaves that I haven't vacuumed up yet!
Heartland Division CB&QEd ... It seems like we can count on you for interesting posts.
Thanks, Garry. And I learn just as much from all the folks here who post neat stuff, yourself included!
Happy B'day, Jimmy Hope you have an enjoyable day. My sister shares the same birthday.
cudaken I have no idea how that happened, I never dropped it.
Neither did I, Ken... I bought that engine used off Ebay. Maybe it got kicked around in shipping? Glad the CB&Qs are still going strong.
cudakenGoing to call BLI and see if they have any replacments.
Let me know if they turn you down. I might be able to scrape something up
I hope everyone is doing fine this weekend!
RR_views_0002 by Edmund, on Flickr
RR_views_0006 by Edmund, on Flickr
That's all the news from "The Curve"
Heartland Division CB&Q Mr. B. ...... On the flip side, a person have $0.00 benefits as he waited until a later date to take benefits. They should weigh the alternatives accordingly. In any case, a person should remember SS is only meant to supplement incomes. Everybody should have ample savings to fund retirement before they retire. There are 401K plans and IRA's to help people save, and they should do that in their working years.
Mr. B. ...... On the flip side, a person have $0.00 benefits as he waited until a later date to take benefits. They should weigh the alternatives accordingly. In any case, a person should remember SS is only meant to supplement incomes. Everybody should have ample savings to fund retirement before they retire. There are 401K plans and IRA's to help people save, and they should do that in their working years.
I completely agree, but many Americans are approaching retirement with minimal savings. The past decade or so of low wages has had many living from paycheck to paycheck and unable to put anything away.
I was at a Medicare seminar a few years back, where the speaker was discussing supplemental insurance to cover the things Medicare itself does not. One unfortunate woman in the back row asked how she was going to pay for the supplemental insurance. Apparantly, she actually though Social Security would be all she would need and hadn't planned for anything else. I fear that a lot of people may be both as broke and as clueless as she was.
Jimmy!