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So, how has this virus affected you. Locked

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  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Posted by emdmike on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 9:04 AM

It has put building my OO scale layout on hold as I am unable to get the track I need from Gargraves(proper American OO gauge track).  Until they resume production, they are out of the curved sections I need.  

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

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  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 5:39 PM

My son still has what he says is a "weird cough" but is not otherwise sick.

I went to Home Depot, parking lot was full.  Everyone was wearing their government ordered mask  Checkout was interesting.  The few cashiers were in plexiglass booths and they lined everyone up 6' appart and an employee directed the first person in line where to go. The line was 2/3 across the store. 

The rest of the shopping center was empty. 

Statewide cases have plateaued but are not falling.  Our governor isn't going to be an earlier opener as his line has been: we are only a week or two from being NY.

The IRS now acknowledges that I should get stimulus money, at some point in the future.  Check back tomorrow. 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 6:17 PM

Well, ... How this viruses is affecting me right now? 

It's about every three months I like to take a vacation.  Not much of a vacation, a week to 5 days is always fine.  It's what I'm used to and have been doing this for many years.  It's my getaway and escape I always need.

Now-a-days reminds me of Aerosmiths song "Permanent Vacation".  At first permanent vacation wasn't too bad.  More time for model railroading, more time with the wife, more time to get the homestead organized.

Cooped up too long is not a vacation.  I like to travel.  There are no planes except for mandatory purposes.  I got a strong urge to drive but as Pink Floyd would say "I got nowhere to fly to"LaughWhistling

 

Seriously though, we're remaining very positive here.  I just miss my vacation time and will never take it for granted againSmile, Wink & Grin

 

 

TF

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Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 9:11 PM

emdmike

It has put building my OO scale layout on hold as I am unable to get the track I need from Gargraves(proper American OO gauge track).  Until they resume production, they are out of the curved sections I need.  

 

What do you need, they have tons on e-bay.

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Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 9:15 PM

BigDaddy

My son still has what he says is a "weird cough" but is not otherwise sick.

I went to Home Depot, parking lot was full.  Everyone was wearing their government ordered mask  Checkout was interesting.  The few cashiers were in plexiglass booths and they lined everyone up 6' appart and an employee directed the first person in line where to go. The line was 2/3 across the store. 

The rest of the shopping center was empty. 

Statewide cases have plateaued but are not falling.  Our governor isn't going to be an earlier opener as his line has been: we are only a week or two from being NY.

The IRS now acknowledges that I should get stimulus money, at some point in the future.  Check back tomorrow. 

 

There was something like that going around in the fall, we all had it and wife got quite sick. When I say everyone I mean everyone I know that I talk to regularly.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, April 30, 2020 6:46 AM

UP has canceled their steam program for the rest of the year. 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, April 30, 2020 7:36 AM

CapnCrunch
Kevin, If you haven't already disposed of your N-95 masks, you can try vacuuming them to extend their dust-control life.

That is what I have been doing.

I won't post a picture, but they are becoming gross... really gross. All of the rubber straps have broken and my replacements I stapled on are terrible. The insides are disgusting, and there is an incredible amount of embedded thinset dust.

I think I will begin a quest today...

Track fiddler
It's about every three months I like to take a vacation. Not much of a vacation, a week to 5 days is always fine. It's what I'm used to and have been doing this for many years. It's my getaway and escape I always need.

I love to travel, and you would think this would be ideal for me... cheap gas... vacant hotels... empty roads... retired... I could really get out and enjoy myself.

Unfortunately the two things I enjoy most about travel are local restaurants and local shopping. Both of these are not good options right now... so I stay home.

I don't know how local enforcement in small towns would feel about an outsider right now walking around their cities photographing churches and old structures.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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  • From: Maryland
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Thursday, April 30, 2020 7:49 AM

I had a small stock of N95 masks on hand when this began, almost by accident because I don't wear them as often as I should in my work. But we had recently done a small but very nasty insulation job on an old house. I bought two boxes of masks for the occasion and used maybe one box.

My wife is high risk, I quickly turned them over to her. 

Lots of people around here are making rather nice masks, mine has race cars.

Overall, the effects of the virus on our lives have not been as bad as I feared. 

Looks like the house sale will go through without delay or trouble, the rental property to be disposed of is nearly fixed up, and that real estate market is actually strong with a low inventory.

Work has slowed a little, but that is ok.

We have few small projects to do at the new house, after which I can begin layout construction. I need to get busy on the rest of the track plan detais.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, April 30, 2020 8:02 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
I had a small stock of N95 masks on hand when this began

I did too, I always have a half dozen or so at home. I wear them all the time when working with anything that creates dust.

Hopefully I can come up with a pack. The thinset dust is very fine, and I doubt a home made mask will be much help.

I have been removing ther thinset with this IR air hammer and 3 inch wide chisel. I can only do about 6 square feet per day.

The local tool rental places are closed to all but contractors, so this is what I had on hand.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Thursday, April 30, 2020 8:16 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
I had a small stock of N95 masks on hand when this began

 

I did too, I always have a half dozen or so at home. I wear them all the time when working with anything that creates dust.

Hopefully I can come up with a pack. The thinset dust is very fine, and I doubt a home made mask will be much help.

I have been removing ther thinset with this IR air hammer and 3 inch wide chisel. I can only do about 6 square feet per day.

The local tool rental places are closed to all but contractors, so this is what I had on hand.

-Kevin

 

I know...... Doing construction here in the Mid Atlantic, a world of mostly wood framed houses, I don't really have a lot of love for ceramic tile. I talk customers out of it when I can.

Wood frame buildings move, tile does not, good tile work requires a lot of careful structural prep in wood floored houses.

It is expensive, and personally, I would rather have some warmer, softer surface.

But if they want it, we do it, and we are just as good at it as everything else we do.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, April 30, 2020 8:58 AM

People are finding unique ways to lose their job thanks to work at home.  

A screen share from a U of Miami professor teaching his class showed he was also visiting an adult site, which featured, of all things, female college students. Certainy not comendable behavior, but it makes one realize that a whole lot of letters behind your name does not mean you have any sense.

One news reporter appeared live in coat and tie and no pants.  Another appeared on a broadcast with not his girlfriend romping around in the background.  She was less than fully dressed, as well.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by Billwiz on Thursday, April 30, 2020 12:30 PM

BigDaddy

The social ramifications of people not being able to be with their dying loved ones or hold funerals or marriages or visit their premies in the newborn nursery still seems incomprehensible to me. 

This mandated cabin fever leads people to talk about even iguanas. 

 

this was our situation.  In early March the nursing homes in PA were closed to visitors so we could not visit my mom.  On April 14th I recieved a call she had symptoms and was being tested.  On the 16th Covid 19 was confirmed.  On the 17th at 11 AM she was doing fine, resting comfortably.  At 5 PM they called that she had passed.  We never got to see her.

The funeral was a graveside with immediate family only.  

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Posted by rrebell on Thursday, April 30, 2020 12:34 PM

Fine tuning my mountains today. might paint some patio furniture later bas I finnaly braved the lines yesterday in HD's paint dept also got wife some chairs for patio overflow for  BBQ if they ever happen this year, proubly will as most of the people who come are in our group. This all would be much more boring if we didn't have a group that has been together from the start, seprate houses but we see each other all the time.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, May 1, 2020 9:51 AM

It seems that the Building Inspectors office in Cape Coral will be opening on Monday, so maybe we can get permitting done and get some forward motion on this project again! I am still waiting on the new back door and front window.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by rrebell on Friday, May 1, 2020 10:23 AM

Daughter learned that in some places in Texas you don't need a driving test anymore as long as you have enough hours on your permit, weird. As for her they are lifting some restrictions. Went to Costco yesterday as my relitive was getting gas and then we were going off to HD on a trip to get stuff for finishing his bathroom project and noticed no line. Not many people inside and only thing they were out of was TP and clorox wipes, no selection on products like klenix but they had some. Finished basic mountain form so on to wiring, then final interior detailing. Wonder what the world will look like when this is all done?

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, May 1, 2020 10:27 AM

rrebell
Daughter learned that in some places in Texas you don't need a driving test anymore as long as you have enough hours on your permit, weird.

I hear they're doing that in Georgia, too. Parent signs off and good to go. What parent, cooped up with the kids for six weeks isn't going to OK getting a licence?

I found a workable solution to the mask shortage Big SmileSurprise

 Crown-face by Edmund, on Flickr

It even comes with gold, satin ear-strings Yes

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Track fiddler on Friday, May 1, 2020 10:37 AM

Ed that's a hoot!Laugh 

I got to get me one of those!  I'll have to give the whiskey to Erv though so I don't get in troubleLaughLaugh

P.S.  I forgot to comment, that's a half of handsome-looking face thereYes  The shot reminds me of Wilson on Home ImprovementSmile, Wink & Grin

 

 

TF

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, May 1, 2020 10:43 AM

Track fiddler
The shot reminds me of Wilson on Home Improvement

Fun Stuff!  Big Smile Be Happy!   Ed

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Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, May 1, 2020 4:08 PM

Went to the big box liquor store.  How big?  They had 14 cashiers, easily as big as a big supermarket.  They were limiting the number of customers inside.

The have metal shelves extending across half the store, at the very front  usually packed with empty liquor and wine boxes. If you buy a case or two of wine, they put it in a box.  There were no wine boxes and maybe only 20 or 30 whiskey boxes.

Also went to the motorcycle store, to return some parts.  Apparently I was supposed to have an appointment in these days of Covid.  As I was the only customer, in what is usually a very busy store, the accomodated me.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, May 1, 2020 5:16 PM

Billwiz
We never got to see her.

Losing someone close is trying under normal circumstances...
My condolences to you and yours.
Kind regards, the Bear.

"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 Billwiz on Friday, May 1, 2020 9:38 PM

 

 

 

 
Billwiz
We never got to see her.

 

Losing someone close is trying under normal circumstances...
My condolences to you and yours.
Kind regards, the Bear.
 

 

thank you!  

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, May 1, 2020 11:24 PM

Billwiz,

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your mother, especially given that you didn't have a chance to be by her side. Covid-19 is a very harsh disease.

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 rrebell on Saturday, May 2, 2020 5:16 PM

Well got nothing done today except help neices family with bathroom remodel.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, May 2, 2020 5:30 PM

rrebell
Well got nothing done today except help neices family with bathroom remodel.

I was a slug today too, except I did walk 4 miles.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by rrebell on Sunday, May 3, 2020 10:08 AM

I would have loved a walk but boring by yourself. Do not know how today will go, ussually go see my mom but there was a problem yesterday as she left water running in heer condo and a rag fell in the sink, you get the picture. Got other relatives going and kinda don't want to deal with it. Still trying to fiqure out the insides of the tunnels now that the mountains have basic form.

 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, May 3, 2020 10:18 AM

Tomorrow I am going on a quest to find N-95 masks. I am pretty sure Home Depot will still not have them, but I will try Grainger, Presher's Supply, Northern Tool, and (*yuck*) Wal-Mart.

I am itching to get some more interior dust-generating work done.

Prior to this virus I had no trouble getting dust masks.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by Lazers on Sunday, May 3, 2020 2:39 PM

Lockdown has been further productive to my MRR progress. Finally, I have got a continuous Circuit of Track around the room, including a temporary section over my dodgy Lift-out - where one or both of the adjoining B/Boards have moved again (Mrs L's Carpets) and at the moment, I have to use Body-mass Force to align the Bullet-dowels.

I gave the honour of 'Golden-Spike' to my old Athearn Blue-box 4010 (1984) GP38-2 PWR Southern Pacific - since this was the first model I ever bought after becoming interested in USA Railroads. It buzzed-off happy as Larry. Then I hitched-up a couple of ebay Boxcars and called my Wife in, to take a look.

She thought it was brilliant and immediately started singing, "Freight train, Freight Train, etc.

Which reminded me that I must keep practicing songs for when our Pubs eventually open again and I can go along to 'Open Mic Nites'. Right now I'm brushing-up on 'City of New Orleans' and 'Wild, wild Heart', by Bill Staines.

Fortunately our DIY Stores have just opened-up again and so I could do with some 'Quick-Clamps' from Homebase, for my MRR of course - not Household DIY. Paul

"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".

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Posted by davidmurray on Sunday, May 3, 2020 2:47 PM

SeeYou190
Tomorrow I am going on a quest to find N-95 masks

Please do not use n-95 masks for wood working.  They are over kill for that, and in short supply for medical workers, etc.

The cheaper cloth masks would be good enough.

Also phone ahead to see if they have what you need.  The non grocery big box stores around here are doing curb side pick up only.

 

David Murray from Oshawa, Ontario Canada
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, May 3, 2020 7:18 PM

davidmurray

 

 
SeeYou190
Tomorrow I am going on a quest to find N-95 masks

 

Please do not use n-95 masks for wood working.  They are over kill for that, and in short supply for medical workers, etc.

The cheaper cloth masks would be good enough.

Also phone ahead to see if they have what you need.  The non grocery big box stores around here are doing curb side pick up only.

 

 

Kevin is not doing woodworking, he is doing demolition of thinset mortar from a tile floor. Very fine particulate dust, about the same as breathing baby power.

I do woodworking for a living, I never wear a mask for normal carpentry work........

I can't speak for where Kevin is in Florida, but construction supply stores here in Maryland are open, as long as you wear your mask.........

Life is at a slower pace, my I have not missed a day of work yet.

The only reason I had some N95 masks for my wife who is high risk, is because I had some left over from a nasty insulation job........

Sheldon

    

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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, May 3, 2020 9:29 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Kevin is not doing woodworking, he is doing demolition of thinset mortar from a tile floor. Very fine particulate dust, about the same as breathing baby power.

Exactly.

Menards has a new policy, all customers must wear a mask.  We were at the local store on Friday, all emplyees had mask, but very few customers, including us.

Now it's mandatory,  you can buy a mask at the door, for a buck.

Heading to North WI., on Tuesday, to install a vanity, and linen closet, and open up our north woods retreat.

The following week will be the custom kitchen cabinets.  Uppers are 14" deep, and go to the ceiling, with no soffit or wasted empty space, and the base cabinets have full roll-out shelves/drawers, no more being on your knees to find that missing Tupperware cover.

All made with solid oak.  They are heavy!.

Up there, we about 800' from our closest neighbor.  Talk about social distancing.

Although, at cocktail time, we are across the table from each other.  I have no problem with that.

I can't wait to get there.

Mike.

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