Good afternoon from the sunny West Coast. It was a beautiful day today with lots of dirt being moved.
The wife and Daughter have just left for the horse and lesson, so I finally get to sit down and relax. '
Ray, good to see you are racking up the miles walking, it is much easier chasing the girls when in shape and being in shape makes it even better after you have caught them.
Moelarry, glad you are feeling better, I rarely ever get sick but like you, I am just getting over a couple of things.
On the subject of divorce, as a child, it was impressed upon me that you stuck it out through thick and thin and I saw a lot of miserable people as a result. It did not take me long as I grew into adulthood that the reality is, people, change as they age and I know many couples that have divorced and have much fuller happier lives as a result. They are all on good terms and all attend family gatherings together with their new partners. Life is too short to spend it in misery. I didn't get married until I was forty as I was having just too much fun to even think about it. I almost always had a girlfriend though.
My first true love was in high school and we are great friends to this day, 45 years later. She still is a drop dead gorgeous blond that is a Doctor at the University of Chicago hospital. Though we were best friends we had different philosophical differences as she was a devout Christian and I was a heathen. If we found ourselves both unattached and not dating at certain times we would hook up and go on vacations together. She also got married late in life as her career was her main concern. She now has four kids and a pretty good life.
All I can say about marriage is if you find yourself wondering if you should marry someone, you have answered the question by having just asked it. There was nothing I wanted more when I found the right girl, there was no question in my mind.
CN Charlie, I hope you get more trips in, though you can consider yourself lucky and not shortchanged because of the ones you have had. If I never get to travel again, I have seen plenty to keep a smile on my face. It is not quite the same planet that we have experienced in the past.
I worked at Vancouver International Airport for years and had my own parking spot at the terminal. I would always have my passport and when the end of the day came, I could sit in our office and see what flights had room and would go get on one. Either I was taking vacation time but often I would just tell the boss I would be back in a month and go. You can do that when you worked as much as I did. Once I left for a month and stayed away nine weeks. I just had to phone and tell the boss. Always had the go bag in the car.
My car would be soaked in kerosene when I got back from all the jet exhaust. It was pretty disgusting to deal with. If I knew I was going on a trip I would park my old Datsun 510 racing car and take it through the vehicle wash that was airside. It was brutal on vehicles so I would never take a good car through.
I never understood why people will get in their car and drive for ten hours to say Calgary to have a break, but just getting on a plane for ten hours and going to say Germany or France for a break is a big deal. Sitting for a couple of hours outside a restaurant with a bottle of wine in Paris watching the world go by is just the best way to get away from it all.
Oh well, it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things.
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."
Evening All! Happy St. Patrick's Day (a little in advance.) Of course, I'm one of these people that doesn't normally wear green for St. Patrick's Day. (Although I did today as w*rk is celebrating it for both today and tomorrow.) I wear orange. While that may sound wrong, I wear it for a very good reason: I am orange Irish. This year, i will go a little different even for me: I will also throw on my green tie as well. I don't even know the last time I wore a tie. (I had a few people at work think I should have dyed my beard orange. My hair is dark enought that the idea wouldn't work.)
Dad Front: Didn't see him today. (Too much snow. Mom didn't come in. Not that I'm complaining. I have gotten too tired from all the running out to the ranch to help Mom. I actually fell asleep with the laptop on my lap this afternoon.) However, he is being moved to rehab for 20 days, so he seems to be greatly improving.
Eveing Diners
Flo, get the gang and I a , give Steven and Rick a Pepsi and Taco's for everyone. Yes Flo, leave some Taco's and a Stein outside for Ulrich.
Pain in the Caboose Day Off. Made my first house payment with the new company on line today. Between making a user name and password there site liked. Plus getting AOL going again I spent around 1.5 hours getting it done. Big pain was AOL, my old AOL 9.0 is no longer supported.
Did a bunching of running today. Went to 3 greosry stores today? Well anything to save a buick. They are all close to each other so I did not waste gas.
Still no Thundering Tenneis Balls. I have reset the reciver 3 times Ed. There are a lot of things that may be causing the problem.
1 It is with in 3 foot of the computer and 1 foot from the router, booklet says magnate feilds could cause problems.
2 Reciver is with in 10 foot at points from the layout. Reciver may not be able to find the single as it passes by.
3 Have yet found the time to read the on line document for trouble shooting.
Later Ken
I hate Rust
I am better today, less crud. Now on to more cleaning. I think I need to take the dryer apart agian, the bolt for the new bearing keeps coming loose. I will be getting some locktite.
Afternoon folks!
I am just procrastinating on getting started cleaning the aquariums. Long overdue..... Been SLOWly cleaning some of the house (bedroom mostly) and have found a bunch of items I think it might be time to pass on to the granddaughters. Some of the dolls my late wife made, a small quilt, and some jewelry as well. Also have another bag of old cloths to send to "goodwill" and get out of my house.
Got home about an hour ago from getting a mile and a half walk over at the fieldhouse. Would like to get up to 2 miles within a couple weeks. I did 9 laps today. Two more will be just under 2 miles.... That is the next goal.
OK, Back to w*rk!
"A young mind in a healthy body is a wonderful thing. Especially for an old man with an open night." - George Burns
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Thanks, Garry. If we get the house we want, then yes, there will be a train room, or at least part of it will be a train room. The community also has a train club and even a small LHS.
My daughter's boyfriend's parents divorced and both have re-married, so she's accustomed to the situation. The daughter actually suggested that I get a divorce, because she said she'd rather see us apart and happy than together and miserable. We aren't pushing it and she hasn't met the GF yet, or even been officially told about her, but I think she'll understand and accept.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Howdy .
Mr. B .... Good to see you. Sounds like you have some fun trips ahead. It has been a long time since I was on the Durango and Silverton. I saw Alaska on the train instead of a cruise. Does the GF have any kids? I Know you have an adult daughter, and I hope she accepts your GF. Good to hear the GF supports your hobby. Perhaps there will be a layout in Deleware.
CN Charlie .... Sorry to hear your African trip was cancelled. If you want to get away for a while, there are plenty of potential trips availble in Canada and in the USA. Good to hear you are running trains.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Wow, I'm the first one up on Friday??? Good morning to you all!
After the divorces, the girlfriend and I will be moving to Delaware as soon as our houses sell. We ran through the numbers yesterday, and it turns out we will be better off financially than we had hoped for, so that was great news. She supports my train habit so I'll have a comfortable train room to restore my layout.
It will be a while before we're settled, but in the meantime we've already been planning a cruise to Alaska and a trip to the Durango and Silverton.
Good Evening,
Galaxy, nice to see you in the Diner. Hope the snow stops soon. We don't have much of that stuff this year so will likely get an early melt. It is about 32F and sunny so what snow we have is getting soft.
Ken, yes is is good not being dead. Not sure how that would feel and hopefully it will be a long time before I find out.
I actually ran a train for about 5 minutes yesterday. I ran the train I put together a couple of months ago around to the water tower. At the rate I'm going the tender will be overflowing by the time it moves again. I have the light mountain pulling a string of express reefers, a consist that I like.
I am feeling a bit better but my wife sure isn't. Cancelling that trip has hit her very hard as she doesn't think we will be able to go again. I think we might be able to but it really depends on her as she was always the driving force behind our Africa trips. Those trips require a lot of planning and organizing and I hope she will feel up to it in the future.
I had hoped to go out the the LHS today but will likely go Saturday. I have a few items to put on consignment. One is a PK2 SW1200 in CN green. It runs nice but I really don't need it as I have 2 others but in black. I had managed to find it in 2014, NIB at Central Hobbies in Vancouver. I guess it had been sitting there for close to 10 years as it is a pre-Walthers product. I also want to find out what is happening with the K5 Pacific stored here that the local society is trying to buy. It would be nice additon to the old 4-4-0 that they run now.
Have a good night,
CN Charlie
Eneing Diners
Flo, give the gang a and Steven and Rick what they would like. Yes Flo leave a Stein outside for Ulrich.
Work Front It was dead, but I am not so that is a good thing, I think? Ok, not being dead is good.
Frrykid Glad your dad is doing better!
Later, Ken
Evening diners,
This afternoon I saw a show about abandoned places that featured the Goat Canyon Trestle on the San Diego & Arizona Railroad and the Kinzua Trestle.
One thing I wish is a tech company would make a computer and smartphone that never has OS upgrades, all new features are optionally added to the OS, upgrade cycle is seamless being that your new device is an exact copy of the originals software and data.
Been looking into getting a new baseball bat being that my trusty Louisville Slugger has gotten too short for me at 6' 2-3" 240lbs, and I need a bat that'll last, found a bat made by a company called MacDougal that's laminated Tan Oak and Hickory supposed to be much more durable than a solid wood bat, I won't touch the new sluggers, not the same thing now that Wilson bought Hillerich & Bradsby.
I'll pop back in later.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Evening all. It was a beautiful day and I got a lot of dirt moved. Feelin pretty good and my wine rack is empty. GRRRR!
Watched the Olympic Canadian men's sledge hockey team play the South Koreans in the semifinals. The poor Koreans did not even get a shot on goal. Oh well, it is all about having fun. In the past, I have helped run the sledge hockey program for wounded warriors. I think it was one of the most rewarding things I have done. These Vets that have had various parts blown off have come back to life for the first time when introduced to the game. One year we had six soldiers come up from Columbia that had become amputees through the war on the drug cartels in that country. That was special, their escorts were in tears as their world changed for the better when we pushed them onto the ice. They now have developed a program in Columbia for their Vets and are starting programs for disabled kids as well. Playing sledge hockey is much more physically demanding than normal hockey. I have strapped myself into a sledge a couple of times and did not last long.
Enjoying the pic's Ed. The spaghetti is ready and I have no Cabsav. Live is rough.
Hope all are on the mend if sick.
Good Evening all.
not much going on here. I have had a touch of crud and I am worn out.
Tired of this crud. Give me an Alka Seltzer.
Hellooo...
No problem getting a seat in the Diner tonight!
Glad to hear that your dad is improving, FRRY.
I'll just tape this old (August, 1923) Post Card to the cash register for everyone to enjoy. These jaunty fellows sure know how to have fun!
MCRR_Detroit by Edmund, on Flickr
Glad you're enjoying the old pics, Garry
See you all later — Ed
Evening All!
Dad Front: Creatinine down to 5. Getting there slowly.
Hobby Front: Nothing new. (Too tired for much of anything non-electronic tonight.)
Good morning from the sunny East side of the Pacific, just North of the 49th. Temp will get to the mid-teens c today and I sit here stalling while looking at my tremendous dirt pile out on the front lawn.
I feel much better today so back at it. Wife is away doing dog stuff and our fleabags are quietly sunbathing, soaking the spring warmth.
I was watching a video on a model boatbuilder and was surprised when he said he could take his models off the shelf and put them in the water. Some of them even had engines and were R/C equipped. Made me wonder how many model railroaders actually build their tugs and ferries so they can actually be put in real water.
The kid is incredibly busy with University and now has this internship on top of everything else. We usually have frequent video chats about what he is working on, those days may be over for a while. He was also invited to join another organization that is all about international affairs and did so. That has opened up even more doors for him. He is thriving on the pace, it's not for me thank you very much.
I was surveying his hockey equipment as I have to get it to Alberta for the tourney he is going to. I think I will be going to the hockey shop to get him some new items. I feel like the Mom that throws out the holy underwear without saying anything. In this case, broken pads are a safety concern and I know he will appreciate a few new pieces of gear. I may just go to the tourney to watch and take it myself, I really miss the social side of being at the rink and I will know lots of people there. We will see.
Had a tree come down from across the street partially blocking the road, I'll get out there with the saw and my neighbour has a John Deere with a bucket on the front that will push the bits back into the forest. It will probably take 15 minutes and problem solved. Our two neighbours further down the culdesac will just complain until I tell them they should be part of the solution and help, instead of being part of the problem buy wasting time whining. My wife will then say I should be more diplomatic and I'll say yes dear.
Well, best get my third cup of coffee and wander outside.
Heartland Division CB&QWe always do our own taxes. The software for it makes it simple.
Simple, until Turbo Tax decided to stop supporting Windows XP. They provided a web-based product, but it didn't support some of the features I needed, so last year I switched to H&R Block. This year, they dropped support for XP. I hope their online product will do what I need.
My Windows XP machine has been working perfectly for many years. Why give that up for a product that most people hate? Besides that, my Flight Simulator yoke and pedals are "Gameport" devices, and Microsoft dropped support for Gameport, too.
Good morning ....
Ricky .... That is a lot of snow.
Ed ...... I like the car ferry photo.
Galaxy ..... Nice to see you.
Ken .... We always do our own taxes. The software for it makes it simple.
Good evening all.
Just stopping in quick to grab another slice of pie, err, cheesecake this time. Thanks Zoe. (Yes, in my book, cheesecake counts as pie.)
Weather - Remember that 6" or so this morning? That turned real quick into about 26" or so.... Yikes! At one point, I would swear we were getting almost 4" an hour!!!!
Yes, that made for some extremely interesting driving conditions. (I activated GPS on my phone, even though I knew where I was going, as you couldn't see anything for a while!)
Erie Pa Snow record - Again - Highest snowfall for the month of March has been set and broken already, and it's still only half way through.
And the all time record for the Eastern Great Lakes? Buffalo has it, but only by a whole 7.9 inches. Second place is Syracuse, by a whopping .6 inches. Third place sits Erie, currently.
Yes, it is still snowing, with a "forecasted" (HA-HA-HA!) 3-6 more inches in the snowbelts (evidently my back yard this time...) and 1-3 for Erie. (Laughable forecast was less than half of what we already got! The "forecasted 6-9" was "6-9 my foot!" Or, more correct, 6-9" + a foot!)
W*^k - Made it in, and back. Didn't have very much to do. My boss was impressed that I had made it, as I even called ahead of leaving just to make sure they were open, as the snow came hard and fast! They said they were there, but really slow... But because the other new guy had called off, they would appreciate if I could make it in. (Took me almost 1&1/2 hours, but I made it!)
Everyone have a great night!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Back again...
Once more, Ken:
cudakenStill no Rolling Tenneis Balls
Have you tried to reset the reciever???
Unplug power; hold in reset button; plug in power; release reset button...
Just maybe
Good Luck!
Solano, Central Pacific by Edmund, on Flickr
Good night, Folks —
Ed
HEEEEEy YOU GUYS!
At the 'tel again.
Been shoveling freaking snow every 1/2 a bloody hour! It wont stop! Weve managed to mostly avoid the last two noreasters, but not this one! My back and hips are hurling insults at me, as our dear departed Jeffrey W. would say!!! evbery blood half hour!
Then Im sitting in back office here, and I hear DRIP DRIP DRDRIP. Yup got a leak above the finished ceiling in the laundry. not my job.maintenance, hes on his way.
Poseta stop snowing at 10, but hree its afte, and still snowing, now also drifiting in the bitter cold wind.
well, thought id check in, but with maintenance on his way, don't wantto get caught talking to yous guys.
health and happiness to all....
-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.
I will take either a piece of peach or apple pie for Pi(e) day. I actually forgot about Pi(e) day until I saw something at the Hospital cafeteria. That leads to:
Dad Front: Creatinine is down to 5.6 from 6.5 yesterday and a 9.1 just over a week ago. Going down slowly, but still in right direction. (Needs to be at 1.5 at worst.) He was looking for the remote for the TV when we got there.
Hobby Front: Got a little bit further on the hopper car. However, I am in need of a decal that I have no idea where to find. Working on that problem with another post.
Afternoon Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a give Rick and Steven what they want and leave a Stein outside for Ulrich.
Had my Taxes done today by AARP. I was hoping on getting $600.00 from the feds, but it was only $233.00 this year? With what I owe to the VA it is knocked down to $100.00. I am getting back $838 form MO (state I am paid from) but owe $388.00 to IL the state I live in.
Played with the CV's in the Bessmer SD 7. Still no Rolling Tenneis Balls but I changed CV 2 to 2, CV 6 to 127 and Cv 5 to 255 and it is running much better!
I went to the one at the mall. The one with the hotel that's attached.
NWP SWPBest pie related dish I ever had was at a place called "Shake Shack" in Orlando,
.
I hope you went to the Shake Shack on International Drive across from Joe's Crab Shack. That place is awsome. I have never had a bad experience there.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good afternoon from the West Coast of Canuckland. It is 10 wet dreary degrees Celsius and I have a cold from H-E double hockey sticks, gut issues and some pretty good Arthritis pain going on. Someone, please put me out of my misery! I must have caught the cold when I went for my ultrasound. Medical facilities are the germiest places around.
The kid had his first day at the U.S. Embassy yesterday. He has to turn in his phone and computer to security every day, he is use to giving it up as he often has to do that on movie sets. He said after his security screenings/interrogations he was emersed into the deep end somewhat and even day one was an eye-opening experience as far as trade and economic realizations go. The discussions are based on evidence and facts with the emotional and/or political parts removed. He found it quite refreshing.
Got some dirt moved, probably have ten yards left to do, when I feel better. I think the pile keeps growing.
Being a deadbeat I actually turned on the TV. The cross-section of news channels is really something. Al Jazeera news must have a huge budget with all the international reporting they do. Lots of international on-scene investigative stuff presented. The BBC and CBC have obviously sneaked back on their spending as the investigative end of their reporting has been thinned out somewhat, though still not too bad. Nasty water situation going on in South Africa, I certainly hope that turns around. My wife has a few relatives there that have stayed with us and have brought us some of their great local wine offerings. We have an open invitation to stay with them, hopefully by the time we get a chance to visit things have turned around.
Ed, this pic of the Coast Starlight makes me think a washout could be a nasty event.
gmpullman Here's a couple of shots from one of my California Amtrak rides: Aboard the Coast Starlight... Coast_cal by Edmund, on Flickr Have a wonderful night, Everyone, Ed
Here's a couple of shots from one of my California Amtrak rides:
Aboard the Coast Starlight...
Coast_cal by Edmund, on Flickr
Have a wonderful night, Everyone, Ed
Well, think it is time for some Dayquil or Pepto or mega pain pills. Decisions, decisions. Poseiden give me strength. Is there a God of trains?
Afternoon, Everyone
howmus It is most likely the result of high temps and welded rail I would think.
While earthquakes are fairly rare, sun kinks (and pull-aparts in cold weather) can be a major contributor to derailments.
Two Amtrak derailments, one in Crescent City Florida and another in Kingston, Maryland were atributed to sun kinks on hot days. I think both of these were in 2002.
https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/Derailment_of_Amtrak_Auto_Train_P052-18_on_the_CSXT_Railroad_near_Crescent_City_Florida_on_April_18_2002.aspx
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAB0405.aspx
Railroads will post slow-orders when climate conditions warrant it. Sun kinks usually pop up where ballast may have been disturbed or track geometry doesn't allow for expansion.
Cheers, All! Ed
Garry, I'll take some of that Kentucky Derby Pie! It sounds delicious!
Best pie related dish I ever had was at a place called "Shake Shack" in Orlando, it was a vanilla custard concrete with pecan pie blended in!
howmusHey Ken, maybe your problem is trackwork??? That even happens with the 1:1 scale stuff.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Jim ... LOL about your Paul joke.
Mike K ... the T shirt humor is very good
Steven NWP SWP..... I also like pecan pie.
Speaking of pies, a slice of Kentucky Derby Pie would be good for me. If you wonder what that is, you can google Original Kentucky Derby Pie. Yummy.