It's raining this morning in Nebraska. I had to walk in the field house today, which is not as enjoyable as outside.
I saw that Kevin was in my part of the country yesterday. Most people refer to us as "flyover country". We just laugh about it because we know those people won't be moving here and messing things up.
Years ago when we moved to Nebraska from New Orleans, it took my daughters and me a while to adjust to no people, no seafood, and no Mardi Gras. But within several weeks, we loved it. My wife loved it the first day we were here.
We actually complain now when we sit at our stoplight and there is more than one car ahead of us.
Since I can't work outside, I will have to force myself to work on the layout. I'm ready to start on installing windows on my N Scale gas station. I'm cutting those out of clear polystyrene, but I'm not sure if I can get them to fit correctly. Part of the adventure!
York1 John
gmpullmanI came across this little guy during my walk today: Bittern-4 by Edmund, on Flickr Pretty sure it is an American Bittern Green Heron! He was fishing by the shore of the pond.
Neat sighting Ed! Good pictures too.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Track fiddlerWhat happened to cocky Ed. I liked that guy and I have to say I miss him.
His last post as 7j43k was at the "Trains" Magazine forum 27 days ago. I think he was just a little more of a straight-forward kind of guy. He was very knowledgeable, for sure.
Sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to keep up with the "people roster" here but some folks prefer their privacy, and that's OK, too. There used to be a Grampy's Trains" that posted some great photos of his PRR layout here but he hasn't been around for a year or-so.
I'm planning to leave written instructions for my wife to make a post here if there's still an internet, when the time arrives that I'm no longer able to. I mean, this is kind of our extended family and we do have quite a bit of "sweat equity" invested here.
Century_Englewood by Edmund, on Flickr
The Century at Englewood, Ill. 1966.
Anyone with time on their hands may enjoy this informative site:
https://chicagology.com/
Have a great day, everyone!
Regards, Ed
Track Fiddler,
My Father was a Journeyman Carpenter. He started training in 1922, his instructor was 70 at the time. I picked up some of the trade from him over the years--old school. At the end of the day he would break out his saw vise, saw set, and three sided files, and I learned how to keep my saws sharp to make clean cuts. There was no such thing as a "pre-hung" door or window, we made them. Power tools were an unknown item, until I started as a helper with some of the boat builders here on the Island. Dad had come close to loosing his left arm when he was knocked into a running table saw by another worker, and infection set in--this was way before the advent of antibiotics. The doctor treating him at the time drew a line around his upper arm, and told Dad, "that if the red lines reach this point, we are going to amputate your arm." After that, Dad had an unreasonable fear of power tools, to the extent that he never had a skill saw until he was 63 years of age, I bought it for him--the first time he used it, he had to rip a 12 foot piece of 3X5 dry spruce. If it had been pine he probably would have used his hand rip saw.
The one thing he stressed when we did a job, was that anything we built was our signature. He would tell me," Son, when you build anything, that is your signature as a craftsman--do you want somone fourty years from now looking at that and saying, "who built that piece of crap?" I believe it is called Pride. When I see some of the construction today I want to sit on the curb and weep.
We both made excellent incomes re-doing what others had done, often on new construcion. This was in addition to our 40 hour per week vocations.
We were amazed at times at some of the items that we found, especially in new construction. I do have empathy for your statement.
herrinchoker
You know.... I got to ask you guys. I'm a little concerned here. I refer to him as cocky Ed.
I think some of you know who I'm talking about. He was cocky. Sometimes he pissed you off but sometimes he was really funny the way he did it in his words. I always liked cocky Ed.
He wasn't as good as the current Ed here of course but he was good enough. We have to look after our brethren. His call number if I do recall had a j and a 7 in it. It was all numbers and letters.
What happened to cocky Ed. I liked that guy and I have to say I miss him.
TF
Glad you're on the Sunny Side Ken, kind of like you, a little. 6 foot under is a reality we're all going to face.
Just not today. Your doing good kid. Keep up the good work
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a and leave a stein outside for Ulrich.
Just wanted to stop by to let you all know I am still on the sunny side of the ground.
Ken
I hate Rust
Yes there are strict guidelines to follow in construction. If they are not followed correctly, things go south quickly. I read all your construction observations and what you guys had to say. I could relate to them perfectly.
You would not believe the crap I have seen over the years. Very sad,.... job security I guess. There are craftsmen and contractors that care about what they do. More commonly there are the hacks, the world's full of them.
Flashing, counter flashing, simply basic water intrusion prevention. I remember when I was 18 years old. My carpentry instructor told the class you need to learn to think like water.
I think like water. I care about what I do. Everyone I work for, I treat their home like it's my own. A summed up rule that applies to everything. My Dad taught me this rule when I was very young. That's how I roll.
Track Fiddler
Thanks for all the positive reinforcement, and the T-shirt. I would wear that. Instead of Judas Priest, I would be Irish Priest I would be afraid I'd start on fire putting it on though
Brent I saw a black Lamborghini Countach in Stillwater on Saturday. Those cars are freaky. Definitely my favorite car in high school, maybe it still is. I tapped Judy on the shoulder and said "wow" do you see that. She did.
I'm not a fancy lad. I'll never have one. I'm going to dust off the Mustang here pretty soon. That's more my speed.
Looked through last week's WPF catching up on the forum here. Always great stuff to see. Still looking good guys
Anonymous, Ulrich, Tinplate Toddler, The man who started it all. We miss you. I know you must have a lot on your plate, but I hope you can stop by We left the Railroad Lantern on for you
Afternoon all, not a cloud in the sky (at least where I am) and 15c.
Sold the slide for $150.00, that's more than we paid for it. Had a stampede of people wanting it, I should have asked for more.
Spent the morning gardening and going to the landscaping store. I hate gardening, I only like to ride the John Deere, the rest you can have thank you very much. I need to get a yard of lava rock but the wife could not decide what colour she wanted so we came back empty handed or should I say empty trucked.
TF the stucco job looks top notch I would hire you any day. I amazed my self blending in repairs to a couple of spackle ceilings, even I can't tell where the repair was.
Glad you are enjoying working at the Y Steven. Even better is hearing you have your bike back on the road. The babes like guys that are in shape, even I get chased still. I must say that when I look at women that are supposed to be my age I find it hard to believe they are not a whole lot older. My wife looks younger than she is so it all works for me.
I am currently talking with the kid in Ottawa. He has a two-hour break between exams today and is in the cafe having brain food and looking at the river. This is his view he sent.
FB is really pretty cool the way we can keep in touch with family. It would be awful just getting a letter once a month. The kid is ready to come home, he is exhausted. He has worked incredibly hard this year and has straight "A"s for his effort. He was asked to join a panel discussion on global affairs earlier even though he dropped those courses, he impresses with his knowledge of constitutional law and he gets asked to participate in panels where that is relevant.
Time to go pick up my daughter from school. Think I'll take my 19-year-old truck. All the owners of the Bentleys, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins get nervous when they see me heading their way. Glad I am not in their league. I hate the one-upmanship that tends to go on there. It's like the Beverly hillbillies rolling on to the school grounds when I show up. We can pay the tuition but that's it.
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."
mbinsewiWhile doing home inspections, I've seen a lot of it. Bad installion, and maintainence issues can cause a mess.
One of my ex-wives (I forget which one) was an architect and one or more of the contractors she worked with was always specifying Dryvit exterior finishes.
https://thestuccoguy.com/what-is-dryvit-stucco/
When I saw what it was and how it was applied I thought "this aint' going to last long in the wet, freezing climate around the Great Lakes area"...
Sure enough, it didn't take long before the outer finish was peeling off, sometimes in huge chunks, leaving a green-colored foam board exposed underneath.
I'll bet some building inspectors got hoodwinked in allowing this stuff to be used to such a great extent. It really seemed to be popular for finishing off retail stores and shopping malls, which today, in their abandoned states, look awful.
Hope everyone is doing well
Cheers, Ed
maxmanSomething to do with improper installation around windows resulting in moisture behind the stucco.
While doing home inspections, I've seen a lot of it. Bad installion, and maintainence issues can cause a mess.
EIFS (exterior insulation and finish system), is moisture resistant, not moisture proof, and maintanince is a huge issue.
https://www.eima.com/eifs
The particle board, (or plywood) used as the wall sheating during home constuction, will completely rot away, in time, if moisture issues aren't corrected, and the proper maintainence done.
You don't see it, until mold issues show up on the inside. Then it's way too late.
Commercial buildings use it with good success, but they usually are buildt with metal studs, and the correct sheeting used underneath the EIFS. A totally different system than a house.
Mike.
My You Tube
Whale, there is stucco and then there is the plastic stuff that looks like stucco.
We got the plastic sort of stuff... Snow drifts pile up against the stuff, and then freezes to it. Then the drift pulls away fropm the wal and the pseudo-stucco pulls off.
So it has bee patched many times and so our slype has three different colors on it. It was suppoosed to be repainted, but that has not happened yet.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Track fiddler What do you think guys? I could use a pat on the back TF
What do you think guys? I could use a pat on the back
My advice is to avoid stucco at all costs, unless you're absolutely, positively, certain that the person doing it knows what he/she's doing.
Around he there are many large stucco covered 2-story colonial homes, only a few years old, where the stucco is failing. Something to do with improper installation around windows resulting in moisture behind the stucco. Homeowners insurance doesn't seem to cover that, so the occupants are stuck with the bill. I'm hearing 60 to 80 thousand dollars to do the corrective surgery.
cudakenOne of the rerson I bought a all brick house was because I never need to have it painted?
Tuck pointhing and sealing... : )
Our buildings are 100+ years old, some bricks are in good contition, othere sless so, especially the ones that we made ourselves. Tuckpointing is a frequent evolution, not as often as painting but still not main-free.
roar
It's another beautiful morning on the Great Plains. 35 degrees to start the day, birds by the thousands along the trail, a good two-mile walk, a great breakfast of sausage and eggs, a second large cup of coffee, and another full day of retirement to enjoy. This is much better than I deserve.
Steven, I hope you had a good time at your prom. I'm so old I remember very little of my prom, but I know you and your suit are much better-looking than the geeky guy in my prom picture.
I'll second (or third, fourth, or fifth) the idea of saving, especially when one is younger. When I started work, educators were allowed to have money put into a Tax Sheltered Annuity. This was before there even was such a thing as an IRA or 401K. That let me save money that is still untouched, but will be used in the next several years.
TF, I agree with Ed and Dave. You did a great job on the stucco. Like Ed, I once tried to patch a textured ceiling. I worked and worked at it, but it never did match. Most people never notice, but even 15 years later I notice it every time I walk through that room.
Brent, I'm jealous. When I try to get rid of old stuff, my wife has a fit. Our basement is so full we could open a second-hand store. Of course, her old stuff is different than my old stuff. My stuff is worth keeping!
Be sure to read Kevin's posts of his coast-to-coast journey, visiting train stores and seeing this country's great scenery.
I hope everyone has a great day.
Steven,
GeePee35start saving 15% of your gross income towards retirement.
No better advice than that! It will be hard to do at first but life will be easy when you are in your early, comfortable retirement. If you can't do 15% every pay cheque, then try for 10%. Don't make the mistake of saying "I can't put in the full amount so I won't put in anything this time." Always put something in.
My dad was a very careful saver. He put some money aside for each of the important things that he wanted in life. Even though he never made a huge wage, he had a car fund, a house fund, a boat fund and a retirement fund. He wasn't able to put a lot in each month, sometimes very little, but at least something. The result was that he drove decent cars, had a decent home (and a cottage), and a nice boat (not huge) and he retired at 52! The biggest mistake he made was that when he did have a fair amount of money in his later years, he wouldn't spend it on himself or my mom!
Cheers!!
Good Morning. A black coffee please. Well, time to hit the pavement again
Have a great day all. TF
Hi all!
I'm back like a bad penny.
KEN: I smoked since i was 9, regularly since 16, and quit in 2005 after we came back from Hawai'i, so a long time. I quit for 10 years, then the relationship stress, the financial stress, stress, S-t-r-e-s-s, STRESS, did I mention STRESS???? caused me to go back to it. Now we were suposed to quit by end of year last december. HAH! Stress wiith the dementia FIL took care of that.ANYWAY, KEN, I found you will only quit...by cold turkey, the patch {which I used}, Chantix, tapering off or other method...ONLY WHEN YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO QUIT. I tried quitting dozens of times before to no avail. Only wen I made my mind up to QUIT, did I succeed. If you don't set your mind to it, you'll never quit......I wish you luck, and will only say that once, I certainly won't harp on you!
Well, at work tonight at the 'tel. I cna READ the forum on my smart phone, just can't make a post on it. I RARELY use the old computer at home, so I'm using the one here at work {don't tell on me!}
I like night audit shift. It's hard to sleep days, but I like the slower pace of night audit. Two more hours until I start breakfast. I don't mind doing breakfast, but hate doing it, if that makes any sense.
I just tjhought I'd pop in while i hve a moment.
Young Steven: yes,you look very handsome. Any girl would be lucky to connect with you, and judging by your work, you have a "go get 'em" attiude, appear to be reliable, are hard working and I hope willing to go the extra mile. Keep it up no matter what you do, itll take you far in life. I'm handicapped, get around wth a cane and I still workpart time. Good luck in life. and a piece of unsolicited advice I wish I had...start saving 15% of your gross income towards retirement. Open yourself a ROTH and fully fund it, take advantage of any 401Ks offered and save up to the match, if any, at least, and then go for tax advantaged accooounts. You'll be a millionaire ealier than later, a multimillionaire later and retire happy, no matter how little you make. I DID save a bit in my 20s but severe medical issues in my 30s meant I had to spend it. Now im mid 50s, ad our biggest assset is only our house, really {bought in 2015 fall, and now own half of it}. We have some savings, but no where near a million. I'd hate to see you in your 50s scrambling like we are. start now and religiously save that 15%, and you'll be looking AT retirement in your 50s, not working through it like my OH {Other Half} and I are doing. You dind't ask, but I thought I'd pass it on, I WISH someone had told me to save it and NOT touch it for any reason, but alas, no one did, and I used it all on living expenses and medical bills,,,,hard to get/keep a job when you spend 8 months out of 12 in the hospital!. I also cashed in 401ks for various emplouyers thining that was what I supposed to do when my employment ended. i could have kept retierement invested and been OK now. Getting pension was the thing when I was your age, but they were drying up then, with you pay into 401ks takng over. Best of luck to you for your future. Remember its not how much you make, its what you do with what you get!! Lecture/rant over.
well, I'd best go get the coffee pots set up so I can strart those at 4:45am, to be done by 5am.
Special thoughts and prayers for everyone who needs thems!!!
Now I'll go back through and read all the posts I've missed.
GEEPEE35, formerly/still known as galaxy
hon30critter NWP SWP Did you guys see the picture of me in my suit for prom? Yes I did, and I will make the same comment - handsome guy!! Dave
NWP SWP Did you guys see the picture of me in my suit for prom?
Yes I did, and I will make the same comment - handsome guy!!
Thanks Dave
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
NWP SWPDid you guys see the picture of me in my suit for prom?
Hey, hey, hey!
Yeah I know y'all were talking about me, I try to keep tabs on what's on the up and up in the diner.
So I'll go ahead and do a big update of my various exploits.
Did you guys see the picture of me in my suit for prom?
If not here it is again.
I look rather dapper if I do say so myself.
I've been at the Y almost 5 weeks now, still learning something new and encounter a new variation of crazy everyday, I finished the new computer software training program, we're transitioning from Trinexum by Daxko to Personify, supposedly my job becomes easier when that happens but we shall see what we shall see.
As of last Tuesday the Midsouth Model Railroad Club finally has an official Instagram account, for the uninitiated Instagram is a social media platform for sharing photos and videos, somewhat similar to Imgur, Flickr and the like but also VERY different, usually one posts pictures of themselves, their families, friends, ect... well as of Sunday we had three followers, then I posted a picture of a Rock Island caboose on the branchline local and bam we started gaining followers like gangbusters, as of 5 minutes ago were up to 57 followers!
Heres the page so you guys can see all the wonderful photography work we've been doing.
https://www.instagram.com/midsouthmodelrailroad/
I don't know if you have to have an account to view the pictures hopefully you guys can see it!
As far as the Rustang its currently in storage in a tin building which is a vast improvement over the cloth car cover I had been using.
Sunday I'm going to Jazz Fest to see BLEACHERS LIVE IN CONCERT!!!!!
For those unfamiliar with Bleachers and the work of Jack Antonoff here is what in my opinion are the top 10 Bleachers songs off their first album Strange Desire and their newest album Gone Now.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Exd-vw9psKWgfFbZ_cH_VtJ6hZhhjf5
Everybody Lost Somebody is by far my favorite of all even though it is explicit, it's only one word towards the end of the song but it's a big one think Bruce Willis "Yippee ki yay 'Melon Farmer'", other than that it's a great song.
And Ken you want stucco? Oh how could you get stucco, if your home doesn't triple in value in a year I don't know what your gonna do about it!
^^that's a Groucho Marx bit if you didn't get the reference from the film "Cocoanuts"^^
I fixed my bicycle this past weekend, needed new tires and tubes, I've been riding it a little everyday trying to get some exercise.
I've got some modeling projects in the works, I need to get back after that KCS gon, I'm planning on doing another heavy flat with a homebuilt tarpaulined load we're doing a special move train for the one so I figured might as well have two, and I'm wanting to do a mine kitbash but that's probably the farthest from being started right now!
Ken congrats on the go at quitting, keep at it!
I'll try to keep in touch guys I've just been too busy, night all!
Good job Ken.... If your system works for you, you're doing okay. Way better than it was.
BigDaddy Not everyone here knows who Art Linkletter was. A US TV personality who made a fortune on the premise that "Kids say the darndest things" in the 60's
Not everyone here knows who Art Linkletter was. A US TV personality who made a fortune on the premise that "Kids say the darndest things" in the 60's
Just a note to Henry,
Yes, Art Linklater was a grea comedian and show host who spent most of his career Stateside but, the man was actually born in Moose Jaw , Saskatchewan, Canada. which is a Canadian Pacific Division point and major yards. It is 46 miles west of where I live.
We all take a little pride in that.
Johnboy out..................and trying to stay on track
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
cudakenin the last 7 days I have smoked 51 cigarettes. Before vapping it would have be 240 cigarettes. I will still take this as a win. I not waking my self up hacking my brains out, coughing during the day and breathing some what better.
Ken!!!!
That is absolutely a win!! Keep it up!!
I will donate what little willpower I have to your cause!!
I will gladly patch your ceilings Dave. And I will gladly accept your shot and a beer Ed.
Thanks TF
I agree with Dave. It is pretty tough to mimic a hand-applied finish like that. I think it is called skip-trowel travertine or something like that, where you skim the high spots after you stipple. I tried to patch a ceiling that I first did fifteen years ago and couldn't match it.
I think 'ya done mighty good
I can't pat 'ya on the back but I'll buy you a shot & a beer
Track fiddlerPlease give me some positive reinforcement if you will. Anyone? This is only the third time I did a stucco patch. There used to be a in wall air conditioner there. It's not painted yet but I do believe this is my best stucco patch.
I'd say you done pretty good! It won't show once it is painted.
Can I get you to patch my stippled ceilings?!?
Thanks cudaken.... I feel better now I am now eating steak and potato soup. I'm going to go sleep in it. Thanks for your whatever... ? I can't find the flippy thing symbol to flip you
Flo, give the gang, Stucco Man and I a and leave a stein outside for Ulrich.
Stucco, Stucco, Stucco Man I just want to be a Stucco Man. TF I have no idea why that poped into my head, it just did? Seems stucco is the new thing and painting brick houses according to the DYI shows. One of the rerson I bought a all brick house was because I never need to have it painted?
John Boy Glad you checked in again. You are right about needing to have are relatvies letting the dinner know if one of us goes to the big round house in the sky.
Scratch Bulit Station. Sorry I don't rememeber the name of the poster but looks great.
Work Front When this company folds and it will I will be spending my days at the local Library. It will be just like work! I will set on my butt and read all day and no one will bother me!
Brent I am somewhat with you with Steven. If we had the internet when I was 18 years old I would not have hung out with old farts like us! I wonder what he did with his Rustang?
Vapping Front Ray and other's you are right the only way to stop smoking is to stop. But cutting back, well in the last 7 days I have smoked 51 cigarettes. Before vapping it would have be 240 cigarettes. I will still take this as a win. I not waking my self up hacking my brains out, coughing during the day and breathing some what better.
Later, Ken