No German blood in me. According to my DNA I am
Heck, I had three direct ancestors (from both my mother and my father) on the Mayflower. I also had a couple of aunts from way back that were killed for being witches in Salem.
Richard
Welcome to Texas! Let's have a nice, healthy Texas-sized breakfast of steak and eggs. Yee-haw!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
John - I was aware that the German ancestry group was quite large, but not that it is actually the largest of all. Quite interesting is the fact, that the Irish group has more people tha Ireland inhabitants!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Ulrich, I'm glad you're starting to feel better. Losing that much weight so quickly is not a good thing.
Tinplate ToddlerI understand that Texas has quite a large population of German descendants.
Many Americans believe that most of our ancestry is English. However, the largest common ancestry of U.S. citizens is actually German. My own area of the midwest has all kinds of German festivals throughout the year.
Both sets of my grandparents came from Germany. One in the late 1800s because the U.S. had lots of free farmland. The other came in the early 1900s to get what he hoped would be a better opportunity. His younger brother stayed in Germany and was killed in WWI.
I found what I think is interesting -- a chart of common ancestry of U.S. citizens:
York1 John
Good morning, everyone. Uhggg... we woke up to more white stuff this morning. It'll melt, but I'm officially tired of the stuff.
If you get to the Dallas area, a neat place is the Lonestar Hi-Railers, a model RR club in Grapevine. Their O Scale layout is in a baggage car.
http://lonestarhirailers.com/
Another day of not too much to do.
Lion, I didn't know that not only do you know me, but you've obviously been spying on me while I work with tools. Those are funny, but true.
Hope everyone has a good day.
Good Afternoon!
I finally seem to recovery from that virus. While still weak, my appetite is coming back. The last 10 days cost me 25lbs., as the food wouldn´t stay in long enough. I a couple of days time, I´ll be able to enjoy some good hot Tex-Mex food and large steaks - I hope!
Texas is the one state I always wanted to go and visit, but never made it. I understand that Texas has quite a large population of German descendants. New Braunfels is home to the famous Wurstfest. It has less of a German, but more of a Bavarian flavor to it. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans think that Germany is just like Bavaria. No at all! Heaven forbid! We Germans could very well do without Bavaria! Actually, Bavaria fought on the Austrian side against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. They were beaten up badly in a few days and changed sides, now marching against the Austrias. Traitors!
No German wears Lederhosen, only Bavarians do!
Back to Texas!
Let´s enjoy a ride on the Texas State Railroad!
Lion - I like your explanation of tools!
That's funny stuff Lion. That must have been some project you were working on I think every one can relate to a lot of those examples working with tools. Primitive Peat I think they call it.
Bad tool experiences can be interesting to listen to. They also can be beneficial hearing someone else's mishap to gain more respect for the same tool the next time you use it.
It would take me a while to list my bad tool experiences. I'll list one though. I was ripping a board through the table saw. Worst yet it had a 45 degree angle on the end facing me.
I don't have to describe what happened next but I still wear that scar on my stomach. I don't ever know what happened to that T-shirt with the hole in it
TF
TOOLS EXPLAINEDDRILL PRESS : A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.WIRE WHEEL : Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, 'Oh ****'DROP SAW : A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.PLIERS : Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.BELT SANDER : An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.HACKSAW : One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle... It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.VISE-GRIPS : Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.OXYACETYLENE TORCH : Used almost entirely for lighting on fire various flammable objects in your shop. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.. TABLE SAW : A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK : Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.BAND SAW : A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST : A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER : Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER : A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.PRY BAR : A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.HOSE CUTTER : A tool used to make hoses too short.HAMMER : Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.UTILITY KNIFE : Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.ADJUSTABLE WRENCH: aka "Another hammer", aka "the Swedish Nut Lathe", aka "Crescent Wrench". Commonly used as a one size fits all wrench, usually results in rounding off nut heads before the use of pliers. Will randomly adjust size between bolts, resulting in busted buckles, curse words, and multiple threats to any inanimate objects within the immediate vicinity. Son of a ***** TOOL : Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Son of a *****' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.
ROAR
[Profanities Bowdlerized by the admin]
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good morning. Black coffee please.
I was hoping the weather today would be as nice as it was yesterday but the weatherman says it isn't. You have to enjoy it while you can.
I have a follow-up with my doctor this morning about my knee. It's been doing a little better every day.
I have gathered Brent and Ulrich have been ill. I hope you both feel better soon.
I enjoyed admiring everyone's work last week. I've been thinking about getting back to some modeling myself if Judy's errand list isn't too involved today.
Make it a great day everyone.
It was a good week. I'm happy with the transition from Kentucky to Texas this weekend.
See you guys next week. It's time to hit the rack
Dianne and I had a really interesting day on Saturday. We attended a fund raiser for Marfan's Syndrome.
I'll bet that you have never heard of it. Most people haven't. It is a life threatening condition caused by a gene mutation, and those who have it are at huge risk of suffering heart failure early in life as well as a host of other complications. Here is some information if you are interested:
https://www.marfan.org/about/marfan
One of the biggest problems with Marfan's is that relatively few doctors are aware of it so it goes undiagnosed in about half of the cases. Those afflicted usually have very long fingers, arms, legs and toes, but that is not where the main risk is. All sufferers develop enlarged and weakened aortic heart valves. There is an enormously high risk of those valves tearing if they experience any excess stress. That stress can range from something as simple as lifting a heavy object to suffering trauma like that that would occur with a simple fender bender car accident. We have all heard of young people who suffered sudden death while playing sports. There is a very real likelyhood that those people had Marfan's Syndrome and didn't know it. They had a weak aortic valve and it ruptured when their heart was working hard.
If you have taken the time to read through all of this then I thank you enormously. The fund raiser event raised more than $5000.00, and there were only a couple hundred people involved. Our niece Morgan, who suffers from the syndrome, was the person who got the ball rolling.
One of the points that Morgan raised was to ask yourself if you know of anyone who is extremely tall and thin, with long fingers, arms and legs, and who has suffered regular back, joint and muscle pain from an early age. You might save their lives by raising the possibility that they have Marfans.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Kevin, You are so gifted at placing decals and fine detail modeling, better than the Kung Fu Master of the Far East
I'm a man who loves humor but I really meant that statement!
Garry, I have seen your work too. Second to none in my book.
I'm sorry the Silver Streak is not available in HO but be careful knocking that Cascade Green in lieu of red.
Remember I have some Irish mixed with my Scottish. Burlington merged with Great Northern and became Burlington Northern. And if you check your history, ... RED is Extreme Irish and we wouldn't want one of those guys running the show
P.S. On a more serious note. Later in the game when Burlington Northern merged with Santa Fe. I do remember my friend Paul from my Model Railroad Club who was an engineer for both Burlington Northern and Canadian Pacific, saying. "Why did they choose the colors of orange and black instead of that beautiful Red and Silver together"?
Heartland Division CB&Q I still prefer CB&Q's Chinese Red locomotives
Red and gray is a color combination that just looks great together. The CB&Q locomotives have always been very handsome. It is a classic paint scheme.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Howdy again.
Tomorrow, March 2, is the 50th anniversary of the Burlington Northern merger. I still prefer CB&Q's Chinese Red locomotives instead of BN's Cascade Green locomotives.
TF: ... I wish Kato made its Zephyr model in HO as well as N scale. If they did, it would be on my layout.
Good night everybody.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Track fiddlerAnd Kevin I saw that poker boxcar in WPF. I had three Aces once in a poker game but never four I really like that box car!
I'm glad it was to your liking. This was really a piece of whimsy. I have the card suit decals from a fighter plane set. They fit close to perfect on a boxcar. I did the rest of it one letter at a time. The data came from a NYC set for the PITSBURG AND LAKE ERIE. I rearranged the initals to be the EP&E.
MLC!
You are definitely guilty of post-hog now as you have taken two posts consecutively. You are now the new post hog glutton
I do not wish to hang up my post hog regularity up to you completely but welcome to the club
Other than that, This new location in Texas seems to be working pretty well.
And Kevin I saw that poker boxcar in WPF. I had three Aces once in a poker game but never four
I really like that box car!
And by the way, after I cleaned all the windows on the truck after I ran it through the car wash two times because it was so filthy, I organized all the tools.
In other words I had a good day and I hope you all did too
BN loco at the Houston Belt and Terminal Hardy Street maint facility Houston TX
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a please and Dirk half a dog treat.
Last two times I have posted the site had shut down during the post? That is reason I have not had the customery ending with Dirk Going Woof, Woof. Just seems strange?
Nice day here in Maryville ILL! It hit 69 degrees. Time to think about planting new grass.
Dang it, I pulled the trigger on a BLI Pargon 3 A&B unit PRR Shark Nose! I sure hope I like them and it pulls worth a darn. I wish the B unit was powered but we will see. Love the way they look!
Later, Ken buying again and Dirk say's Woof, Woof.
I hate Rust
Track fiddlerRemember when I was joking about I wonder if Corona beer sales have gone down lately?
12 Packs of Corona are buy one get one free this week at our favorite grocery store. I never recall seeing beer as a buy one get one deal before.
Kevin, I have a hard enough time with the hot and humid heat periodically up here to let alone a long streak like that, ... Yuck. I don't know how you do it.
Garry, I almost bought that Burlington Silver Streak passenger set at the train show yesterday. After your post, now I wish I did. That is a beautiful train.
Remember when I was joking about I wonder if Corona beer sales have gone down lately? Judy came home from work tonight and informed me the sales are down 40%. No one wants to drink a beer with a name of a virus
P.S. Remember the old classic movie Silver Streak with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. That movie was a Hoot! I may be looking for that one in my collection soon.
Hello:
Austin_mopac by Edmund, on Flickr
I see a lady coming out the door. Is her name Jane?
Cheers, Ed
Track fiddlerNo painting before then, you got that straight.
One of the (many) disadvantages of living in Florida is the 9 months of weather where the high is always in the mid 90s, near 100% humidity, and it rains every day.
This is not acceptable weather for painting. I usually decal and assemble models in the nine Summer months, and paint when it is dry outside. I did a lot of painting in December, but have not reallyassembled anything since then.
Now I have a house to remodel and a layout to build.
Heartland Division CB&QIt certainly was a beautiful train.
Yes, it certainly is. Truly a beauty.
Howdy ....
Ulrich thanks for moving the Diner to Texas.
I was born in Houston, TX.
Here is a photo of the Texas Zephyr which operated between Denver, CO, and Ft. Worth, TX.. It certainly was a beautiful train.
..
I will be away for a couple of days. My eye surgery which had been postponed is now scheduled for tomorrow. A week later I do the same thing with my second eye. If they find a third eye, it will be the following week.
CHeers, everybody.
Way to go Ray, The old hang the Snowman Trick. That ought to get rid of winter better than that groundhog BS
SeeYou190 You bet I did! 72 degrees, blue skies, paradise. In a few weeks 9-10 months of hell-weather and then hurricane season begins, and I am not going to get any painting done before then. -Kevin
You bet I did! 72 degrees, blue skies, paradise.
In a few weeks 9-10 months of hell-weather and then hurricane season begins, and I am not going to get any painting done before then.
Nice, Nice 72 and sunny! Enjoy that beautiful weather Kevin, before your heat index starts.
No painting before then, you got that straight. You're like Mr. Moses, you got a river to part and a small world to create
Track fiddlerCouldn't ask for a nicer day. Hope ya got one too
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good afternoon.
Just got home from my Railroad Club this morning and then having lunch with my daughter this afternoon. What a beautiful day, it's 48 degrees in Minnesota.
Tropical Heatwave I'll tell ya T-shirt weather for Northerners and Canadians Eh! Next I'm going to grab a bucket of water and some Windex and go clean and organize all the tools in my truck.
Couldn't ask for a nicer day. Hope ya got one too
I just tried to follow the Colorado on Google maps. I got to Lamesa, TX. Says it's the source of the Colorado River.
Mike.
My You Tube
Afternoon all from the land of milk and honey where it is 10c and I might get the grass cut today.
Had a productive day even though I feel like crap, the wife is still sick and I think I had a relapse.
I started off with painting the water tower I have been working on, it is coming along nicely. Then I gutted the trainroom bathroom. It is a fair size having two sinks and a 4' shower. It was time to do it, but I still hate HGTV for brainwashing women into thinking they need new bathrooms every six months. I had the whole thing to the studs in under an hour. We have four BRs and this is #3 I will have done. The master is next and it will be a major redesign and expensive as it is pretty big having an Olympic size tub and large shower along with two sinks and a good amount of cupboard space.
Well, I finished my lunch of my two oranges and 5 celery sticks with Philadelphia cheese so time to take some Dayquill and cut the lawn. Can't get on the bike as I cough my guts out so I am on reduced rations to prevent the goo from setting in.
The Texas heat feels nice to this sicko.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."