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Jeffrey´s Track Side Diner - December, 2019 - Christmas in Vermont/Maine Locked

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Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:54 PM

Track fiddler
what was your beautiful Summer temperature in New Zealand today? .

While I’ve been catching up with paperwork in the mornings, let’s just put it this way.
 
My daughter bought home the fixings for a VERY large bucket(s) of strawberry daiquiri which she has been serving as a slushy.
 
“Comfortably Numb” is how I think Mr. Floyd would describe the situation.
 
 Cheers, the Bear. (Enjoying very little w**K, and 70+ F temperatures.) Big Smile DrinksDrinksParadise

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:35 PM

I always was a big fan of the Forum Funnies Bear.  Thanks for that oneLaugh 

And if you don't mind me asking,  what was your beautiful Summer temperature in New Zealand today? .....Ya spoiled BratLaugh

 

Smile, Wink & Grin TF

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Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:21 PM

TF birthday by Bear, on Flickr

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:04 PM

BATMAN

 

 
Track fiddler
My PJ's replaced my blue jean's so fast when I got home tonight it would make your head spin

 

I took off the PJs and got on the bike for an hour and burned off 1500 calories, had a shower and put the PJs back on and here I sit.Laugh

 

 

Dat-a-Boy

And now the beers to thick and heavy and has lumps in it.

You may have to resort to the rum and coke or the red at this pointLaugh

 

 

TF

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:03 PM

Okay here is a first, the kid next door came over and asked if I could look at his car as it would not start. It was not his parent's regular car but a loaner, they are out and the kid has to get to work. I got in and it started right up, he said what did you do? I shut it down and as I turned the key it started back up just fine. He says oooooohhhh you have to turn the key! 

He has only had his DL a short time and only has experienced push-button starts. Where's my Rum?

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, December 26, 2019 7:57 PM

Track fiddler
My PJ's replaced my blue jean's so fast when I got home tonight it would make your head spin

I took off the PJs, put on the shorts and got on the bike for an hour and burned off 1500 calories, had a shower and put the PJs back on and here I sit.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, December 26, 2019 7:48 PM

BATMAN

Happy Birthday, TF!  Didn't mean to blow your big day off ya young punk.Laugh

 

 

LaughLaughLaugh

God I love humor..... Thanks Brent.

 

Dave,  I hear ya.  I've been eating like a horse. 

My PJ's replaced my blue jean's so fast when I got home tonight it would make your head spinLaugh

Thanks

 

TF

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Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, December 26, 2019 7:34 PM

Happy Birthday TF!

Sounds like you had a great time with your daughter and her fiance! I'm not sure I could tackle a 24 oz. filet. I ate enough on Christmas Eve and Christmas day that I decided to skip supper tonight.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, December 26, 2019 7:30 PM

Happy Birthday, TF! I am so tired right now as I read the threads not much in going in.ZzzLaugh Didn't mean to blow your big day off ya young punk.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, December 26, 2019 7:23 PM

herrinchoker

TF,

60 is nothing, wait until you close on 80----that is scarey-----don't know if you will see the next sunrise, or be part of it.!!

 

 

Well hmmm...... That's kind of a downer!  I prefer to see the positive side of things.  As fast as time has been going lately I'm sure I'll get to your age soon enough and that's OK too.  For today I was just trying to have fun and I did.

I had so much fun today, it may take plastic surgery to remove the smile off my faceSmile, Wink & Grin

Thanks for the nice birthday wishes Terry, John and MikeYes  The three more smiles added when I got home were like the icing on the cake.

Thanks!

 

TF

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, December 26, 2019 6:23 PM

SeeYou190
The children don’t even need to speak the same language to be able to play pool games with one another.

Kevin your report warmed my heart. A few Christmases back we were in Hawaii and my young son was playing with a young Japanese lad in the pool, my son asked if he spoke English too which the Japenese kid nodded no, and then he asked if my son spoke Japenese to which my son said no. In the end, it turned out they both spoke fluent French and had a wonderful time together over the next few days speaking French the whole time. 

Oh, did I see a bite out of one of those gingerbread houses?

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, December 26, 2019 6:04 PM

How I spent my Christmas:

.

We went to Orlando this Christmas to spend time with my youngest daughter. She and her fiancé flew into Orlando for three days, and we drove up to meet them.

.

I rented a two-bedroom suite for three nights at the Caribe Royale Resort near the Walt Disney World Resort. The Caribe Royale is a magnificent hotel, and one of my three favorites in the Orlando Resorts area.

.

They had the lobby completely decked out for the holidays. The centerpiece was the thirty-foot-tall Christmas tree. There were six other beautifully decorated trees around the lobby.

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The Grand Staircase was also well decorated.

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This magnificent Gingerbread Village was up by the reception desk. It was full of fun details to look for. If the kids could find all the details and fill out a card they could win a private party in Walt Disney World.

.

.

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This was the view from my living room:

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.

My Christmas present to everybody was a meal at Charley’s Steakhouse on International Drive.

.

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Charley’s is one of the best steakhouses in Florida. They cut and age all the meats in-house. The steaks are cooked on a carefully monitored grill that is fired by a combination of Oak, Hickory, and Citrus woods.

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I ordered a 24-ounce Filet Mignon with all the trimmings. I cannot describe how wonderful this piece of meat was. My daughter had an 8-ounce piece of “Wagyu” Filet. My wife ordered the 24-ounce Porterhouse. My non-beef-eating-soon-to-be-son-in-law had a filet of Black Grouper.

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This was an amazing meal. I left so happy and satisfied.

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This new attraction on International Drive is called the “Star Flyer”. We planned to go up on it after dinner, but we were all so full we decided to put that adventure off until a later date.

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Christmas Eve we opened our presents. I received this Magnificent Mint-in-Box 1977 C-3PO from my daughter’s fiancé! How cool is this?

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Christmas Day, we burned out the last usage we will have on our 2019 Disney All-Access Passes. Had a great time and tried to squeeze in too much. The Christmas Day Parade at Walt Disney World is really something you need to see one time in your life.

.

We decided not to wait for how long it would take to get into the new Star Wars section. That will need to be for a future date as well.

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This is me this morning under the waterfall at the hotel. It made it to 80 degrees on Christmas and the day after. What an incredible few days.

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If you ever want to renew your faith in humanity, you should hang out by the pool in an Orlando resort on a perfect day. You will see families from the Middle-East with their lovely young women swimming in modest burkinis, women from Brazil wearing much less, and everything in between from all over the world. Everyone gets along, nobody is eyeballing one another, and everyone’s kids play together regardless of what they are wearing or what color they are. The children don’t even need to speak the same language to be able to play pool games with one another. It is amazing how we can all be in one place from all over the globe, and just swim and have fun amongst ourselves. It is truly an uplifting experience that fills you with warmth and hope.

.

-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, December 26, 2019 6:03 PM

Good day, all it is 5c, cloudy with a snow advisory for tonight.

Sorry, I did not make it in to wish the gang here all the best for the season, to say I have had my hands full is an understatement. Getting POA to look after this lady's affairs is a rude eye-opening experience. So far she is over $400,000.00 out of pocket for reasons that never should have happened. She is well off but was made a ward of the Province as she had no money in Canada and nobody knew she had plenty South of the border. 

On Christmas Eve I had a long meeting with her lawyer and had to then get Stateside and do battle with the insane banking industry that exists down there. I was dreading long lineups to cross the border but someone was looking after me and the lines were short in both directions. I must admit I was feeling a little ticked off by the whole thing as I wanted to be with my kids, I then started thinking about all our service people overseas not getting home for the holidays and stopped feeling sorry for myself.

I have had a number of meetings with the Minister that was supposed to be handling her affairs and he is the nicest guy you could ever meet. The church he ran is huge as churches and congregations go and nice as he is, saying he is dumb as dirt is an insult to dirt. I am not sure how he got to the position he is in. He is out of the picture completely now, unless he gets implicated in some of the shenanigans that have been going on, but I cannot see that as he is such a caring guy.

We had only 18 for Christmas dinner last night as some of the kids are overseas doing missionary work or just seeing the world. My Nephew and his wife are heading back to the Middle East to help with the boat people that just keep coming across the Mediterranian. I am most pleased when they come back from these experiences with a better understanding of what is going on in the world. When they are there in person they see real people in real situations that don't end after a 30-second news clip.

Two or three years ago my Sisters church sponsored two families from Syria and even though I am a Heathen and don't belong to the church I threw a few bones into the pot to help the cause. I met one of the families at a gathering recently and the Dad asked why we had not met at the church before and I told him I was a heathen and didn't go to church. He laughed and thanked me for the help in getting them to safety. This guy, his wife and three kids came to Canada with the clothes on their back and three years later he employs 78 people in a computer tech company he started. A lesson to be learned by a couple of deadbeats I happen to be related to through marriage.Laugh

Time to go and fire up the layout as tomorrow it is back South of the border to try and understand "The Bank Of America", all the other banks down there are great and there are no problems at all with them, it is like dealing with the mob with those guys. I am a tired guy.

All the best to all.Cowboy

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, December 26, 2019 5:57 PM

howmus
Actually if I had somebody to actually go to the city with, I might have fun

So much to see, from the Statue of Liberty, to the various museums, to riding in the first car of a subway.  10 years ago, another online group I belong to, had a get together in Central Park.  I took Amtrak from Baltimore and since I had never seen the Brooklyn Bridge, I took the subway to Brooklyn and attempted to walk to Central Park

It was the Festival of San Gennaro street festival and there was all sorts of Italian food from real restuarants in the city.   I ran out of time and had to take the subway again, and discovered the A train Express doesn't stop anywhere near Central Park.

 

 

Growing up within walking distance of John Waters, I better not comment on "Pink Flamingos"  

Flickr, bless their hearts, shows me an ad between every 3 pics, unless I upgrade to Flickr Pro. 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by herrinchoker on Thursday, December 26, 2019 5:31 PM

TF,

60 is nothing, wait until you close on 80----that is scarey-----don't know if you will see the next sunrise, or be part of it.!!

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, December 26, 2019 5:14 PM

Track fiddler
I'm 56 today,  a little scary nearing 60  Looking forward to another fun day.

Your just a kid, get back to work! Laugh

Happy Birthday TF.  Have a few on me.  Beer 

Mike.

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Posted by York1 on Thursday, December 26, 2019 5:09 PM

Track fiddler
Today my daughter is taking me to a fun place for my Birthday.  They have a great big miniature golf setup, tons of old pinball machines and some pretty good food I'm 56 today,  a little scary nearing 60  Looking forward to another fun day.

 

Happy Birthday, TF!  It sounds like a fun day.  Love the old pinball machines.  By the way, you're just a youngster.  Hope you have many more.

York1 John       

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, December 26, 2019 5:08 PM

I'm not a city guy, preferring a nice home in a quiet suburb where I don't have to go to sleep to sirens, and where I can afford a room big enough for a decent layout.

But, when I VISIT someplace like NYC or Boston, I love the restaurants and museums, attractions that are few and far between elsewhere.  Each environment has its own virtues, and I am happy to have both available.

The last time I was there, I was living in Boston and the girlfriend was in Virginia.  We each took Amtrak and arrived downtown within minutes of each other.  For that distance, the train beats flying every time.  We ate well and saw a Broadway show.

If you're there, visit the 9/11 Memorial.  We sat and cried.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by saronaterry on Thursday, December 26, 2019 5:01 PM

Track fiddler
I'm 56 today,

 HB, TF!!

Terry

Terry in NW Wisconsin

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, December 26, 2019 3:11 PM

Thanks for sharing your cheerful disposition, Ray Whistling

I visited Manhattan and environs back in 1966, '68 and a few times in the early 1970s. Enjoyed every minute Smile

Years ago I used to edit the newsletter for the model railroad club I belonged to. Every now-and-then I would come up with a simple crossword puzzle to spice things up.

Here's a sample, nothing fancy:

 Crossword1 by Edmund, on Flickr

You can click, then download it from Flickr if you choose, then print it. I'll post the answers on Saturday Big Smile

I'm just getting familiar with the program again so the above is basically a trial-run.

Have fun! Ed

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Posted by howmus on Thursday, December 26, 2019 12:42 PM

Afternoon folks!

 

The Rotten Apple???  Well I guess if that's where the rest of you want to end up for the month of January......  LOL  OK by me as we have to be somewhere.  I guess being an old farmboy I prefer rural settings, but I will go with the crowd just as long as it remains virtual!  My rotten sister asked me a while back if I have ever BEEN to NYC.  I told her no but I have driven around the place several times on my way to somewhere else and didn't have any desire or reason to visit there.  She of course being the nasty person she is told me all the wonderful things I have missed, none of which I really wanted to experience anyway.  But the big rotten apple is OK by me......  Actually if I had somebody to actually go to the city with, I might have fun, but that hasn't happened yet.

The weather here in the Finger Lakes can be summed up as follows:

Hope you are enjoying the second day of Christmas out there!

37

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, December 26, 2019 12:03 PM

 

"Meet me under the clock" used to be heard often while in Grand Central— in reference to the unique, spherical clock at the information booth in the center of the concourse.

Sure, Manhattan and environs sounds like a great way to begin 2020.

 RR_Postcards_0008 by Edmund, on Flickr

I'll be up at the bewitching hour and if no one has any objection, I'll take the reins for moving the Diner.

 EL_Pocono by Edmund, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by York1 on Thursday, December 26, 2019 10:47 AM

NYC is great with me, too.  The last time I was there, I stayed with a friend at Hicksville, Long Island.  We road the LIRR into the city to sightsee.

York1 John       

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, December 26, 2019 10:22 AM

December 26 is my daughter's birthday.  When she was younger, we moved the celebratory party to Valentine's Day because so many of her friends, and sometimes our own family, were away.

Shoppers know that December 26 is a busy day at the stores as unwanted or ill-fitting gifts are returned or exchanged.

NYC is fine with me.  I love subways, and even model them.  Before retirement, I had a picture of my Saint Anne Street station as a screen saver on my computer.  A co-worker, a native New Yorker, kept staring at the screen and finally said that he didn't remember that station.  I had fooled him with a photo of a model.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Thursday, December 26, 2019 9:52 AM

Good Afternoon!

December 26th is the second day of Christmas, quite like Boxing Day in the UK, only with all shops still closed. So it´s a very quiet day. Good!

Petra is spending most of the time in the kitchen, preparing all the goodies she wants to force-feed our son with. I have no reason to complain, though - I was able to snatch some of them for myself!

I´ll second Steven´s motion to move the Diner to the Big Apple for January 2020! We can have an early start watching the countdown on Times Square. I am all for it!

 

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, December 26, 2019 9:26 AM

Merry Christmas Steve, NYC sounds good to me.  I'm sure Ed, gmpullman, will also have lots to offer,  I've never been there myself.  I like it from a distance, about 900 miles. Smile, Wink & Grin

Mike.

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Posted by Steven Otte on Thursday, December 26, 2019 9:00 AM

Good morning! Hope everyone had a great Christmas, or is having a great Hanukkah, or had an adequate Festivus, or whatever. I'm keeping the great MR ship on course alone today, so it's good to see things have been quiet here. (I'm trusting they've been quiet, since I haven't scanned back yet. Wink)

So, any thought to where we're moving the Diner next? How about New Year's Day in NYC? Lots of train action there. And I'm sure LION can tell us all about the subway system. 

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:34 AM

Good morning.

A coffee with peppermint eggnog please.

I sure had a great Christmas Day with my Brother and Judy.  I hope you all had a great one as well.

Today my daughter is taking me to a fun place for my Birthday.  They have a great big miniature golf setup, tons of old pinball machines and some pretty good foodDinner

I'm 56 today,  a little scary nearing 60Laugh  Looking forward to another fun day.

 

 

TF

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Posted by herrinchoker on Thursday, December 26, 2019 2:02 AM

Dave,

They look quite nice. good job. I have built some using fiber optic cable, and had reasonably (for me) good results. I marked the ends with the color I wanted the light to be, stuffed them down the tube, and then applied the color led to the colored strand. I was supprised as to the visibility of the light coming out of the signal head.

herrinchoker 

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Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, December 26, 2019 12:27 AM

Thanks Ed,

For those of you who might be wondering what we are talking about, I have promised a friend that I would build (or at least try to build) an N scale three track signal bridge representative of something CN or CP might have used in the steam era.

There is a thread on my attempts to build N scale signals here:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/277895.aspx

I will continue the signal discussion on that thread.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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