Judy was born and raised in New Orleans. The last time we went to Mardi Gras was the millennium. Those people know how to have fun down there. All the carnivals we've been to we're crazy fun but the 2000 was the Big Kahuna.
My son got a little thick with a young gal who was family with Endymion. She was on the float when the float went by. It stopped and she just loaded us up.
We also went to a private party with food, drink and satellites. It's kind of nice to have your own satellites because as the saying goes "There's nowhere to pee on Mardi Gras day".
Two things happened that day when the floats went by.
Someone threw me the good beads, the great big solid knocker ones. When I caught them they recoiled and knocked me in the forehead so hard I saw Stars. I had a goose on the side of my head the rest of the time I was there. Maybe I still hadn't read the Mardi Gras rule book yet.
The first time I went to one of these carnivals I chased a float. I guess I was excited. Judy laughed when I got back and said honey you don't have to chase a float, another one's coming.
The other thing that happened that day. The Endymion girl saw my son and through him these silver and gold Kiss beads. (The Band Kiss) They would have been really cool but unfortunately someone snatched it out of his hand and they busted into pieces. He still has some of the pieces. The rule down there is you don't reach for beads if they hit the street. You may just get your hand stomped. Unless you're sure was added to the rule that day, ... I guess my son was luckey.
I got the Baby New Year beads which are really cool. I still have them, we save our prize beads.
A while back we had a couple garbage bags full of these dumb beads. It's amazing how people go nuts for insignificant hunks of plastic. I guess that's the fun of it though.
We went to St Patrick's Day parades year after year and threw them amongst the crowds there to get rid of them. Even here in Minnesota when you throw beads to people you're treated like a rockstar.
Mardi Gras..... Yes
TF
York1To keep small children out of the crush of the crowd, we built seats and fastened them to the tops of step ladders.
I'm glad it worked. I've spent too much time working on step ladders. As long as someone is standing on the ladder, for stability, and nobody bumps into it, I guess you made it work.
Neither of us, wife and I, had any interest in Mardi Gras. To those that do! Have fun! Maybe a glimmer of interest back in the long gone crazy days.
Lion, serves her right!
Gary, thanks for the Rat Hole explanation. I think I had read that before, but wasn't sure.
Getting ready for another winter blast here in SE WI. 7" to 12" expected, they figure the worst will be more south, and closer to Chicago, which is only about 80 miles, so it's a fine line.
This last weekend was great. 50's. Snow blower is fueled and ready. I love that electric start!.
I learned a long time ago, for the wet heavy stuff, douse the inside areas of the blower, discharge hood, and auger with WD-40, it's a little cheaper than a silicone spray.
Have a great day!
Mike.
My You Tube
York1 The parades are not people standing along the street watching. They are wild events with the crowd being part of the action.
The parades are not people standing along the street watching. They are wild events with the crowd being part of the action.
Unfortunately, this has been a rather somber Carnival season in NOLA as two people have tragically died after being run over by floats.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/orleans-agency-fatally-struck-mardi-gras-float-69152947
BroadwayLion I pulled into the gas station to get a drink. When I walked up I noticed two police officers watching a woman who was smoking while gassing up.. I saw her and thought, "Is she crazy ?!! With the police right there too?!" But anyway I went in and got my drink.... As I was checking out, I heard someone screaming.. I looked outside and the woman's arm was on fire! She was swingin her arm and running around going crazy! I ran outside and the police officers had put her on the ground and were putting the fire out with their coffee!! Then they put hand cuffs on her and just threw her in the police car.. I was like "That's what she gets, she shouldn't have been smoking and pumping gas at the same time!" But being the nosey person that I am, I asked the police officers what they were arresting her for.. The one officer looked dead into my face, rolled his eyes and said ... " For waving a fire arm."
That reminds me....... Last time our propane tank was filled, the propane truck driver was smoking as he filled it. Really.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Lion, I hope you know I am the most gullible person in the world.
York1 John
Good morning ...... Coffee and a donut, please.
hon30critter Heartland Division CB&Q they were used on the Rathole Division Okay, I have to ask. What is the proper pronunciation of 'Rathole'? Is it "Rath-ole" or "Rat Hole"? I suspect the former. Dave
Heartland Division CB&Q they were used on the Rathole Division
Okay, I have to ask. What is the proper pronunciation of 'Rathole'? Is it "Rath-ole" or "Rat Hole"? I suspect the former.
Dave
Dave .... It is pronounced Rat Hole. I suppose it should be two words. The name originated because there are numeous tunnels on the line from Cincinnati to Chattanooga.
Here is a photo of Cincinnati Union Station. It is only a couple of miles away from the Ohio River and Kentucky. It once served SOU, L&N, PRR, B&O, NYC, C&O, N&W, and others. Today, Amtrak has a train that stops there. Much of the building is a museum today. There is an excellent model railroad there.
Southern Railway had two named trains that went from Cincinnati and through Kentucky to Florida. (The Royal Palm and the Ponce de Leon).
Below is the Royal Palm on the Rathole Division.
Next is the Ponce de Leon on the Rathole Division.
Everybody ..... Have a nice day.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good morning.
Today is Lundi Gras, Shrove Monday, when Rex and Zulu arrive in New Orleans by boat.
I had a friend who worked for the government investigating railway accidents. His office was in New Orleans. Each year, he had to argue with his superiors that the office had to be closed Fat Tuesday. Even if the people wanted to work, there was no way for them to get through one million people crowding the streets.
To keep small children out of the crush of the crowd, we built seats and fastened them to the tops of step ladders. You had to get to the parade route early to get room to set up the ladder. The kids got a good view of the parade, and lots of beads and doubloons were thrown to the kids.
Below is my wife and three daughters on the ladder at one of the parades.
Good morning. Black coffee please.
It's been awhile since I slept past 6:00. Judy reminded me it's just another day in Minnesota tomorrow.
Fat Tuesday in New Orleans. She wants to go get a King Cake today. I hope we find the baby in it. I guess that means health and wealth.
Well, I'm going to have coffee and scrambled eggs. Then back to some modeling. First I'll take a pic of the updated portal.
See ya soon.
I found a Critter Vision, a streaming youtube channel. It was happening at 7:30 pm Sunday. Raccoons, deer, possum. Earlier an armadillo came in. The raccoons were scared of him. They also have a video of a a copperhead coming in and disappearing under one of the food boxes they put out.
Coronavirus is a big deal now in South Korea and Italy. Italy had 3 cases on Thursday, now they have 212 and 4 deaths. The stock market is going to open down 700 points this morning.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
SeeYou190For brush painting solvent based paints I prefer "Taklon" brushes. However, I only brush paint glossy colors on small areas intended for decal work, so I do not have much experience to speak of.
Thanks Kevin,
I'm sure you have more experience than I do so anything you can offer is worthwhile considering.
Continuing with getting the workshop out of the back bedroom...
I found this model I must have assembled 10 years ago. It is a 1/48 Tamiya model of a King Tiger/Porsche Turret. I completely ruined the camoflage, and the model is not worth finishing. Why did I ever save this one... To the landfill!
Then I found this 1/56 scale Panzer-4. This is the ONLY piece I ever bought for my planned Wehrmacht WW2 Bolt Action army. I have since opted to play Soviets for my Bolt Action army. This unfinished gem will be given to a friend on Friday. This is a very pricey resin model.
The stuff I am finding just fills me with befuddlement.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good evening .
John Yok1 ...... Excellent scene with the tunnel and the UP passenger train.
Ed ... I like the photo of the UP passenger train.
CN Charlie .... My wife is similar to yours regarding sleep. Mine reads books until almost morning. Right now, I'm up later than normal for me, it is now midnight here.
Racoons : .... I don't like them. Enough said.
...
Southern Railway acquired EMD SD24's about 1960, and they were used on the Rathole Division in KY and TN. 6309 is an example of one. SOU operated them long hood forward.
Track fiddlerEd's in the house!
Thank you, TF My, you're a generous tipper, too
Cheers, Ed! In the House
Cheers to you Ed
I have another one for you right after that. And that makes a double.
Ed's in the house!
My deck railing ends near the kitchen window. One night, after midnight, I turned on the kitchen light to find that a raccoon had slashed the screen and was helping himself to some of the fruit that was kept in a hanging basket near the window!
I definitely stepped up my trapping activities after that. We have since begun raising chickens and the raccoons have killed off quite a few. Just another reason to keep the raccoon population in check.
IMG_1785 by Edmund, on Flickr
Good Riddance!
Thanks for that little hit of Maker's Mark, TF Make mine a double
Cheers, Ed
hon30critterI believe that the Winsor & Newton brushes that you recommended are designed to be used with water based paints.
.
Dave, Yes, the Winsor And Newton Series 7 brushes are intended for thinned water soluable paints.
For brush painting solvent based paints I prefer "Taklon" brushes. However, I only brush paint glossy colors on small areas intended for decal work, so I do not have much experience to speak of.
One night, ... The crickets are cricketing, ... The tree frogs are tree frogging. Just a peaceful night, you know?
Judy's sitting at the deck table on the deck that wraps around the house. So I go in to mix a cocktail. I hear WOH! WOH!
So I quit mixing cocktails and run outside through the door.
Judy says this Slinky thing came slithering between the deck railing and the table, the thing jumped over the railing and Magnum jumped over the railing and I don't know where they went.
I went back in, finished making our cocktails and went back out to the table.
Magnum returned about an hour later, ... I was curious but I didn't ask him
Urban coyotes
York1Dave, I thought of that watching that raccoon video. It won't be long before the raccoons get dissatisfied when the dog food runs out and they start scratching the house and the doors. I wonder how the neighbors feel about the people feeding the raccoons and attracting them to the houses? Maybe they live out in the country without neighbors nearby.
I was hoping the same thing. Anyone who was doing that in a residential neighbourhood must be insane. Just the sheer volume of poop that that many raccoons would produce is a recipe for disaster, to say nothing of the damage they would do when looking for places to nest and have their young!
Don't get me wrong. Raccoons are cute, that is as long as they are out in the wild. Unfortunately they have been urbanized. The city of Toronto has literally tens of thousands of raccoons living happily within its limits. Attempts to design raccoon proof waste containers have often proven to be futile so they have no problem finding food. The varmit control guys are making a fortune. It cost me $700.00 to get rid of a pregnant raccoon that had torn into my attic and it took less than two hours. The laws prohibit killing them, nor do they allow the raccoons to be relocated any significant distance from where they are trapped. Feeding them deliberately and causing their numbers to increase is unconscionable.
Yeah, I never found out. Nothing ever came through that door.
Not that I'm aware of anyway, ... we did sweep up a lot of fur on the tile owning two dogs. If I really think about it, it seems to me there was some fur sometimes that could not be identified
hon30critterWhen I was selling patio doors for Sears Canada I ran into a customer who had had a raccoon tear through their patio door screen. Needless to say, it was more excitement than they wanted for the evening!
Dave, I thought of that watching that raccoon video. It won't be long before the raccoons get dissatisfied when the dog food runs out and they start scratching the house and the doors.
I wonder how the neighbors feel about the people feeding the raccoons and attracting them to the houses? Maybe they live out in the country without neighbors nearby.
Track fiddlerMagnum on the other hand ..... A black lab, black Shepherd and trained to watch! Friendly disposition almost always as trained well. Watch mode was something different. No raccoon ever came through our doggie door ever and I would have felt sorry for whatever did
That's one way to address the issue! Kind of leaves a mess behind though with raccoon parts and fluids all over the kitchen!
I hope you see the humour in my comment. I'm not doubting Magnum's abilities.
York1I've read about dog doors that have an electronic latch. The dog has a chip in his collar, and when he approaches the dog door, the latch opens. I think the dog has to be right at the door so that it doesn't unlock if he walks by the door.
Hi John,
We didn't have anything so sophisticated to offer our customers. The best we could do was suggest that they put a slide bolt lock on the door so nothing could get in. That basically defeated the purpose of the dog door because the dog owner still had to get up and go to the door to let the dog out and then lock the door after it came in.
When I was selling patio doors for Sears Canada I ran into a customer who had had a raccoon tear through their patio door screen. Needless to say, it was more excitement than they wanted for the evening!
Kevin those figurines are most certainly impressive as I said before.
A short story for you as I remember when I was in my teens and I was a member of the Dungeon and Dragons Club. We used to buy, I do believe pewter figurines and paint them. I remember some of them, they were painted pretty good.
Looking at yours though I don't think ours were that good. I remember at our club we had the Dungeon Master. You probably know about this but he was the leader of the game and how the story went with the shakes of the dice.
One night I fell into a shaft that led to a room full of Orc Socks
And nobody can make up a story like that.
I've read about dog doors that have an electronic latch. The dog has a chip in his collar, and when he approaches the dog door, the latch opens. I think the dog has to be right at the door so that it doesn't unlock if he walks by the door.
I have no idea if they work or not.
hon30critter
But you never had me as a customer Dave. I would have bought that doggie door in a minute from you.
I always worried if there was a fire and I wasn't home but my dogs were.
Not a good picture but here's the doggie door I remember for so long.
The top of it anyway with the light coming through.
Nellie, our English Springer was our bird dog and a good one at that.
Magnum on the other hand ..... A black lab, black Shepherd and trained to watch!
Friendly disposition almost always as trained well. Watch mode was something different.
No raccoon ever came through our doggie door ever and I would have felt sorry for whatever did
His bed was right by the doggie door. We slept very well at night.
That was just Magnum, ... Rest his soul.
Hi Kevin,
I have a question about paint brushes for you. I believe that the Winsor & Newton brushes that you recommended are designed to be used with water based paints. If that is correct, what would you recommend for use with solvent based paints like Humbrol. I really like the Humbrol enamel paints. I haven't really had any problems brush painting the Humbrol enamels, but any opportunity to improve my methods is appreciated.
cudaken Set the sort of live trap again. Seems we still have a Attic Bandet up there. I hate killing them, but what can I do but send them to Raccoon Heaven?
Do it Ken, you should NOT have critters like that, living in your house. Pets, ok, wild critters NO.
hon30critterYour figure painting skills are pretty amazing Kevin, out of practise or not!
Dave, Thank you for the compliment.
I have been clearing out the cabinets with the Wargaming supplies in them. These were put up about 14 years ago when my middle daughter moved out.
I found this figure up behind everything. This actually made me a little teary-eyed. This is the figure I painted for my daughter to use in the last Dungeons And Dragons campaign that we participated in together. The torch was broken off, and the paint was damaged a bit in places.
I repaired the paint and the torch. This really brought back some good memories of hours and hours of daddy/daughter time when she was a Senior in High School.
TOP OF THE PAGE! Sunday evening, we are still in Kentucky, and I still have some of this bottle of Maker's left. Lets all have a bit and kill this bottle tonight.