Good evening, everyone. Is there still any of that virtual birthday cake? As a diabetic, it's the only cake I can eat. Thanks.
I went out to one of my local bars to hear live music tonight. I love places like this. Decent food and good draft beer, plus live music for free. Tonight was a guitarist who also plays in a nostalgic rock band some nights. He did a lot of Bob Dylan and some Jimi Hendrix songs, too. I was singing along with at least half the music.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Steven Otte Don't see it in 3-D
Don't see it in 3-D
It has been many years ago, but the one time I tried to use the old time red/blue 3-D glasses I couldn't do it. I figured that I might be one of those people that just can't see in 3-D like that. (I haven't had need or desire to check it any further.) My depth perseption also stinks. I also have a few quirks with my vision. (I can't do the double vision test that the eye doctors use. My eyes auto correct for it and bounce between what eye I actually see out of. It gives me a headache.)
Evening diners,
I was thinking of getting a few bottles of paint and some droppers from the hobby shop and trying to mix up some colors for my railroad, once I have a ratio of green to black, white, and brown I can mix up bigger quantities...
Well not much else going on, I'll be in the corner with my lemonade/tea.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Steven Otte Ready Player One
I was going to mention that. I saw the trailer and it looked more interesting than any movie has in years. Of course it is still a dystopian future, like Blade Runner, one of my favorites. I need to see the new Blade Runner.
I went to see Howard Zane today. I brought along my former colleage Logan Holtgrewe who is featured in Allen Keller's videos of the Severna Park MR. Logan is my back stage pass. I enjoy building, but these guys are light years ahead of my skills. Logan went to college to be an architech and became a urologist, Howard went as pre-med and became an architech. Both are musicians. They are closer in age to each other than to me.
It's a treat to watch them discuss building techniques. Neither of them are much into operation.
I'm not sure why there is no sound on this video, but it's one of HZ's
https://imgur.com/lUcsccB
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Well, I found myself in Atlanta again today. I don't need anything from the diner tonight. I just ate.
.
I had dinner at Malone's Steakhouse and had a bowl of gumbo, house salad, pan seared tuna steak over garlic mashed potatoes with six blackened jumbo shrimp. A piece of pecan cheese cake finished it all quite well. What a meal!
Heading back home... everyone be safe.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
last mountain & eastern hogger Br. Zero, many happy returns on the Birthday. Where did your Wife take you to celebrate??
Br. Zero, many happy returns on the Birthday. Where did your Wife take you to celebrate??
I actually spent most of my four-day weekend in bed with a cold. Luckily I felt good enough by the actual day of my birthday (yesterday) to go out to the movies. We saw Ready Player One, Steven Spielberg's paean to '80s nostalgia. The plot wasn't too original -- scrappy kids band together to find the McGuffins needed to save (the virtual equivalent of) the clubhouse from the soulless corporate tycoon. In a way, the plot was the ultimate '80s callback. But the action was exciting, the actors did a good job, and the graphics were, of course, dazzling. Don't see it in 3-D if you get carsick easily.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
G'd afternoon Crew,
Am I too late for lunch ? Oh good, Then Cloe I'll have my regular Double Denver with home fries and a RBF. and please bring over the blender when you bring them. thx.
Congrats to all those fine parents and amazing kids out there. You truly instill a hope for all of us that these countries can be saved and will be left in good hands when we depart. (croak)
Brent, I can't imagine how tired your son must have been and yet to get the MVP. is remarkable in those circumstances. Hope your Wife is having success with the dogs at the shows. My Parents raised English Bulldogs, but we have mainly had rescue dogs, sometimes up to three at a time. Right now we just have the one, he is a healer/shepard cross that we rescued from Billings Montana. He had been shot by someone and is missing an eye and part of an ear, then we saw him through three months of Cancer treatment. The most expensive rescue dog we have ever had, but what a great fellow. It is if he knows that we gave him a second chance at life and is rewarding us with obeying, lots of love for us and any of our friends. Goes nuts a little when he sees our Grandson and they have a great time together. He is paying us back in full and then some. Cody, we wouldn't be without you... Thats not (Grivno) although we like you too.
Ray, What a change we see. You are not just dropping pounds but years at the same time. You will have to be very careful now as there will surely be more than one fine Lady chasing you. ( I'm not saying her name will be shirley though).
Br. Zero, many happy returns on the Birthday. Where did your Wife take you to celebrate?? What a great looking cake. Save me a piece.
I took a suggestion from one of the Diners here and now I have some great decals in my hand for the LM&E. I won't get at them for awhile as the top level of the layout gets it's landscaping shell built. This has pretty much stopped operations for a time and lately I haven't found much time to get it done. It is certainly progressing , but slow.
Well, I have to get started on writing a talk for Church for the week after next and then down to do some construction on the upper level. (east end of the mainline)
Love all the pix that are being posted, you guys are all my mentors even though I've been at it for years. However I do see improvements in my skills even though I am limited by some missing fingers, fading vision and age related stiffness, I have found more patience and that makes a big difference.
Vinnie: set up a round on me for all the boys and gals. Sure miss the Gals that used to show up here...... Give one to Cody too, Grivno, that is.
Johnboy out........................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Afternoon diners,
Mr. Otte,
I think by now we should be in the capitol city of Baton Rouge, we're getting close to my neck of the woods now! Bayous? Well there's Bayou Sara in St. Francisville... perhaps we can disembark over in Port Allen cross the HPL bridge (aka the "old" Mississippi River bridge) then we can route up through Baker, Zachary, and Slaughter. That is if you all want to travel by rail, or we can keep the diner train on the ferry and just float on up that way.
Ray - Last I knew, it was on a river boat on the mighty Mississippi. Somewhere along the Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, area. Plenty of neat little train spotting places nearby, so I'm told.
Maybe I missed it, but have we visited the Sunset Limited Memorial site while we were here yet? Seeing as how water travel is allowed for the diner as well, maybe a quick visit up the bayou should be in order...
Flo - Lets do another mocha. Thanks.
Yes, this weather is bugging my asthma today... That's why I'm still over in the corner, just saying hi every now and again.
We had a transformer fall (get blown over) into a pickup truck nearby a little while ago, plus now several trees snapped or toppled in the area. Surprised I still have power, and Internet services at this point.
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.
Heartland Division CB&QRay .... Don't look at the cake !
Cake??? What cake? All I saw was a large plate on fire with all those 52 candles. You mean I didn't need the fire extingusher???
Happy #52 Steven O..... You're just a kid, only 2 years older than my oldest son.
I had my Cherribundy Lite and a banana for lunch as usual. Not sure when I will get supper tonight. There is a rememberance downtown at Bi-Centenial Park in Geneva at the memorial stone for MLK, and then a service at one of the local churches in rememberance. Since I am the Treasurer of the MLK Committees here in town it is Voluntarily Mandatory I attend.... I probably would go to one or the other anyways.
I get to take Blackie to the Vet in another hour to check his blood sugar. The vet is also going to shave the hair off on his back legs. He still has clumps of the old cat litter caked on in several places. It does bother him and he doesn't like me touching those places. The new stuff doesn't stick to him....
Most of the "glue" has now flaked off where the incisions are for the surgery, and most of the swelling is gone. My doctor has given the OK for me to start walking again, so I did a mile and a half over at the fieldhouse this morning... Have to get moving on the program for the upcoming NMRA Meet. Still have no clinics scheduled.... Getting nervous. Also have several other items I need to spend some major time with, like a slideshow for the Eagle Ceremony, and the MLK Scholarship slideshow and stuff....
Have a great day out there, wherever we are?
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Yeah, getting nasty here. Gusts up to 50, roof tiles and branches flying everywhere. Might need to brush up on my munchkin-ese.
Yay Buffalo weather.
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!
Happy Birthday Steven
A big wind started to blow just after 12:00. The temp went from 70.5 to 65 in a minute. It is now 57 at 12:17.
Happy Birthday, Steven O.! Enjoy your day!
Good morning diners.
Flo - I will take a nice mocha please. Thanks.
Garry - No problem. Glad you liked the cheesecake.
Weather - Well, we got the wind... And now some snow... With a ton of wind.
Well, I'm gonna sit in the corner with my mocha, and see if it does the trick.
Catch you all later.
Steven O. ..... Happy birthday .... And thanks for the cake. Yummy! ... It makes more sense to visit regions instead of individual states. If we did one state at a time, it would take 50 months to visit just the USA not counting Canada and other interntional locations. . There have been recent months when we only did part of one state, and that would make it harder to visit all locations. ... My 2 cents . ... Yes, it was peaceful here while you were gone.
Ray .... Don't look at the cake !
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Happy Birthday, Steven. Cake looks delicious. Maybe one of our lovely hostesses could grab us some plates and a lighter for those candles.
I'm back. (Not that many of you noticed I was gone.) Thanks for not burning the joint down while I was out of town.
"The Deep South," huh? So we've gone from states to regions already? I guess by August we'll be saying "Welcome to the Diner in sunny North America," and by next year our location will just be "Earth." Why, in my day, the Diner used to be situated in a particular town, siding, or railfan location. It seems like turning a year older has made me a cranky old man, but truth is I've been this way for a long time.
Anyway, everybody, enjoy a treat on me.
LonehawkThat said, their input can still be useful as a fact-check, and I've seen too much "not my kid" syndrome to totally discount what input a teacher, coach or anyone else may have to offer. Sometimes, they do see things that we miss. It takes a village, after all...
Adam, Amen, amen, and amen..... Often time the worse the problem with the kid is the less the parent wants to listen to the teacher! that said there are professionals that also can be problematic and not like a kid for many reasons. Take everything with a grain of salt, but do listen and consider the thoughts of the trained professionals that work with your children!
"Old retired Teacher that has been through those things many, many times!"
Good morning, everybody ....
Dave ..... Congrats on your son's accomplishment.
Ricky ... The cheese cake was great. I hope you did not mind me razzing Ray regarding the roaches.
Ed .... I like the bridge photos. Nice of your wife to take the photos for you. If Iawa Interstate made their Rock Island heritage look like the Rock Island I remember, it would look different. Instead of the beautiful original paint scheme (red, white, and black), it would be an ugly maroon covered with thick layers of dirt and grime.
Hey Zoe. Another coffee, please?
Thanks for the advice, Dave. And you're more right than you know. I was a teacher at one time, so I know from first hand experience that we are NOT always right. Even more, nobody can (or should) know your child better than you, the parent. That said, their input can still be useful as a fact-check, and I've seen too much "not my kid" syndrome to totally discount what input a teacher, coach or anyone else may have to offer. Sometimes, they do see things that we miss.
It takes a village, after all...
SeeYou190 I love Model Master British Crimson. I use it on my tender decks and steam locomotive cab roofs. It is an excellent iron oxide primer color. . . -Kevin .
I love Model Master British Crimson. I use it on my tender decks and steam locomotive cab roofs. It is an excellent iron oxide primer color.
That's a sharp-looking tender, Kevin. Great work.
BigDaddyher recipe doesn't mention what the little round things are.
Henry, the little round things are mustard seeds. The duck rillettes look like they would be very tasty indeed, although I wouldn't recommend making a meal out of them too often unless you want to look like Ray in his old picture.
Speaking of Ray, congratulations on your weight loss! I need to follow your lead. I just bought an adult tricycle so I can get some exercise since walking becomes painful very quickly. I don't know how much weight I will lose but the exercise will do me a lot of good.
Congratulations also to all of the accomplishments that your children have achieved. My son Cole has just qualified for his Level 4 Water Operator's license. That's the highest level in the system. He has been working in the industry for less than four years.
Adam! Three weeks old! Congratulations!! In the next 20 years or so you will go through some highs and some lows. May there be many highs and few lows. If I can offer some advice as a parent, always advocate for your child. Don't place too much trust in the teachers or other authority figures that your child will encounter. Our naive belief that the teachers were always right caused our sons to suffer at the hands of some real brutes. Listen to your kids. Don't dismiss their concerns. If they are upset there is a reason.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
NWP SWPHow bout we take a good old river boat ride up the mighty Mississippi?
Mrs. Pullman was traveling with her sisters two summers ago and stopped in Davenport to check out the sights.
She actually grabbed a shot of the Rock Island Heritage, Iowa Interstate ES44AC locomotive crossing the Government Bridge!
242 by Edmund, on Flickr
RI_513 by Edmund, on Flickr
Then one of the maintainence people let her go below to see the roller-locks.
207 by Edmund, on Flickr
208 by Edmund, on Flickr
When they came home and I saw the photos I immediately recognized the bridge from my old post card collection!
Davenport by Edmund, on Flickr
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Bridge
Congratulations, Richard! My son did his basic and AIT at Ft. Jackson back in 1998. Too bad, due to poor weather the ceremony was held indoors. Have you seen the Danny DeVito film "Renaissance Man"? Parts of it were filmed at Ft. Jackson.
Neat Stuff!
Regards, Ed
Congrats to everyone's successful children and to Ray for losing the weight. The last time I was in Cracker Barrel, there was a whole table of your twin brothers and sisters. They were eating the special with the pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, cheesy fried potatoes and biscuits. I kid you not.
While I was messing with the screw to the coupler on my F3 half the coupler box and the coupler vanished. I dug through a very full trash can and found an allen wrench I didn't know I lost, but no coupler. I have more but it's the principle of the thing. It's not on the floor or the workbench. Gone.
I did solve my issue with keeping the headlight on in reverse so the day wasn't a total loss.
Anyone for some Duck Rillettes? Never heard of them but my cousin in law is a professional cook, her recipe doesn't mention what the little round things are. A rillette, I found out, is shredded duck legs cooked with enough duck fat to stick together like a pate.
I'll take the Land, Sea, Air BBQ Special, that's smoked beef, smoked turkey, and smoked lobster on a toasted sweet Hawaiian bun with a side of smoked mac and cheese, and I'll have a Beer, err a Root Beer that is, with an epipen chaser! better make that the land and air special!
Crawfish, Crawdads, Crayfish, what ever you call them they do NOT sound (or smell for that matter) tasty, I have never had the displeasure of having any which is due to my iodine allergy (hopefully when I get tested it is no more) but if you have ever seen where the things tend to hole up you would not go near them. But to each their own.
How bout we take a good old river boat ride up the mighty Mississippi?
Maybe make a stop in Baton Rouge or Red Stick.
BATMAN Heartland Division CB&Q I just sprinkled roaches on your slice of Ricky’s cheese cake so you won’t be tempted to eat it. That's what those were. I stole Ray's piece just to help him out. Ricky thanks for the cheesecake..........I think.
Heartland Division CB&Q I just sprinkled roaches on your slice of Ricky’s cheese cake so you won’t be tempted to eat it.
That's what those were. I stole Ray's piece just to help him out.
Ricky thanks for the cheesecake..........I think.
Hey now, I only supplied the cheesecake. Sans roaches. (Err, crawdads per Ryan....)
If others sabatoged it, it wasn't by my request.
Here - Have a slice minus the crawdads and see if it tastes better.
Heartland Division CB&QI just sprinkled roaches on your slice of Ricky’s cheese cake so you won’t be tempted to eat it.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Ricky. Thanks for the cheese cake. Yummy. ... glad to hear you can get back to running trains .
Ray ! ... what can I say? You definitely did have a weight problem . .. I hope you can continue losing weight . Your heart will appreciate not having to work so hard. I just sprinkled roaches on your slice of Ricky’s cheese cake so you won’t be tempted to eat it.
Good evening all.
Zoe - I brought a large Orange Cream Cheesecake to share. Please dish it out for all, and I will take a coke to go with it. Thanks.
Weather - The nasty stuff ain't here yet, but they are putting us on "stand-by alert" mode for now. (That's the message from local news.... Your guess what that one means is as good as mine....)
They are not expecting majorly bad stuff here, but are calling for strong to "potentially severe" storms shortly tonight.
Yes, this is the same system that spawned a twister outside Dayton today.
W*^k - Off today and tomorrow, but go back Thursday morning.
Trains - Two big crossing collisions made the news recently, and now today NS derailed in Huntingdon Pa.
Glad my models are doing better than that!
Our possible move has been pushed out significantly, (at least 18 months) so I am getting my layout back together somewhat. Next step is moving the "stored supplies" back off of the remaining layout, to re-lay the sidings and spurs.
Then, next one will be getting the industries assembled and placed.
Scenery will be sparse, but I can get back to operating trains much better than just running a loop.
Hope all are well, and that all have a good night!
And, enjoy the Orange Cream Cheesecake!
Good afternoon to all, it is 10c with a high O/C.
WHOA! Ray, it is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. A well deserved pat on the back for you. My Brother-in-law stands 5'6" and at 52 years old went from 315lbs to running marathons all over the world. Keep up the good work.
The kid made it back to Ottawa after winning silver at the tourney in Alberta. He got MVP again on day one. They had an MVP for each day this year. Had a barfing two year old sitting next to him on the way home on his flight. He just laughed and said no worries and that helped to ease the stress of the poor Dad trying to deal with it. I have to go pick up his hockey gear in a bit from his coach. It will be very ripe I am sure, as they had to hurry and pack up and get to the airport after their last game. I will let mom have the honour of opening it when I get back.
Adam, congrats on the new kid. My kids have been my greatest adventure (that is saying something) and it was over all too soon even though I am still very involved with them by offering as much support as I can. People can accomplish amazing things with just a little support.
Tin Can and Richard, you must both be so delighted with your kid's success that only comes from a lot of hard work. I came very close to going into Armed services as a pilot, went for three interviews and they called me back for two years afterward to see if I was still interested. I don't think I would have ever regretted that adventure if I had gone down that road.
I just found out on Saturday that a person that I have been the executor for the last 40 years, has changed her will as the two charities she originally had left her entire estate to are no longer in existence, and I am now the beneficiary. This is very significant. She is an American so I am boning up on U.S. probate and tax law and have found a good U.S. tax lawyer up here to help me through the minefield when the time comes. She will be a hundred years old soon.
My Daughter hurt herself riding the horse a couple of weeks ago and we have been taking her to the Chiropractor to be made straight again. It cost $3.80 every time we go. I don't know why they bother collecting that piddly little bit. Surely it cost more than $3.80 to collect it.
Well, I gotta go do it, the dreaded hockey gear pick up. I'll be taking the truck so it can ride in the back.
All the best to all.