Sad times
Sometimes a picture is worth more than words to express my sincere sympathies
John
I'm going to Northern Wisconsin tomorrow guys.
My phone doesn't always work up there so if you don't hear from me for a while you know where I am.
TF
Good morning, everyone.
For me, this will be a busy day. I will finish the layout donut shop today.
It's also time to clean the backyard shed before winter hits. It's only September, but we are already having fall weather.
I'm off to church, then a big breakfast, then a nap. This is what constitutes a busy day for me now.
York1 John
Track fiddler Tonight I will tell a very sad story that I will never forget.
So many people have a story where they escaped death on a trip they were supposed to be on that ended tragically... this is mine...
When I was going to college in Nashville, it was 1985, and the Punk Rock scene in Cincinatti was the stuff of legends. We used to leave Nashville on Friday night, take turns driving/sleeping, then party in Ohio all day Saturday.
When the accident happened, my best friend in Nashville, Jeff, was driving the van, and slammed into a rock face at 100 MPH, and everyone inside died in the resulting fire. Everyone else was probably sleeping at the time of the accident.
My feelings were not so much "it could have been me", as "why wasn't I there?" Jeff obviously fell asleep at the wheel. He was driving in what was my normal leg of the journey, and I never fell asleep. I also never speed. I felt guilty for a long time that those people died.
The reason that I did not go was because I was attending the funeral of my first girlfriend, Holly, who was killed by a drunk driver along with her 14 year old sister the week before.
It was a very bad week for me.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Some grisly stories this morning. In mine nobody died. My college roommate and 3 other guys from our dorm drove from Fl to Va for a long weekend. When they got to Emporia VA on I-95 the guy driving ran onto the shoulder.
He had his eyes open and everyone thought he had it under control. He kept going and rolled the Vovlo station wagon. He was ejected, but no major injuries for anyone. His take away was that not wearing a seat belt saved his life. I saw the car later, on my way home, at the junk yard. I wear seat belts - always.
I also fell asleep once after working 24 hours. I was less than 100 yards from home and there was a ditch on the side of the road. It was like day dreaming, and I was thinking I am going into the ditch if I don't do something. That woke me up and I stopped before going in.
Now I drink plenty of fluids. It doesn't have to be coffee. You can't fall asleep with a full bladder unless you are drunk.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good morning ...
Apparently tragic accidents are a topic. ....
Kevin .... That sounds like a very bad one. There are some curves too sharp for 100 mph on the roads between Nashville and Cincinnati. I recall the worst drunk driving accident in history was on a curve on I-71 near carrolltown, KY (50 miles from Cincinnati, OH) where a drunk drove his truck into a church bus in 1988. 27 people died....
I had a drunk hit me at 50 mph in MI, and it took months to recover enough so I could go back to work. My back still bothers me over 25 years later.
Brent ..... The tile looks good. I can see the reflection of the photographer.
TF .... Have a good week in northern Wisconsin.
I hope everybody has a good Sunday. .
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
good morning every one,
condolences for those who have had losses.
luckily I have no tragic stories or I could have been in that car etc etc,
Did have one guy from HS who was a year ahead of me get killed by speeding, possibly drunk, I don't recall.
Well so far cootie free. which is good, co-worker has recovered and he will be back at work tomorrow. I am going to get teh antibody test, because I think I had it back in Feb before all this crap started.
finished up a 1958 RCA HI-FI record player for a customer so it should go out the door soon. I have started making youtube videos shwoing my repairs.
Afternoon all. First off to Jan, my condolences. That has to be terribly difficult. I feel for anyone who has lost anyone as well.
I don't have any tragic tales to share minus me finding my dad deceased after two days. I guess it's because I really don't have a circle of friends my age to be affected by tragedy as stated above
I gotta make a doctors appointment this coming week- symptoms of a stomach ulcer. I think when I didn't eat enough nor have enough vitamins'nutrients for almost a month, it messed up my stomach and let the ucler causing bacteria to fully bloom. I hate doctor visits though. At least I got my heartrate and bloodpressure to a healthy rate for my age, and I've been working on losing weight- at least 15 lbs since my last visit- 2lbs a week for a month=10lbs plus the half of this month. I've been trying to keep my risk of diabetes to nonexistent, and keeping out of the sun- terrified of melanoma since a friend had stage one or two, then caught a precancerous spot earlier last year. I'm only 28, but I'm trying to clean up my body from a LOT of stupid diet mistakes I made. I was 236 per my last weigh in, so I should be 221.... well I should be 150lbs max at 5'7''.
Thankfully I have a NMRA division virtual meeting at 2:30 today, and I am amazed at all the work the East Broad Top Foundation and the FEBT are accomplishing in such a short period. The biggest has been, 2-8-2 narrow gauge 16 has started the restoration to operation, with possible steaming in 2021! As well as the restarting of the belt system in the machine shop, receiving a grant to put in a fire suppression system in the whole complex, and RELAYING TRACK IN ROBERTSDALE!
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Afternoon all from the sunny Eastern shore of the Pacific.
Had a very productive morning cutting tile for the worlds slowest bathroom reno. I would normally have the whole thing done in a few days but I have too much on my plate right now.
Getting on my recumbent bike takes priority over just about anything as good health should be the most important thing in anyone's life. BP was 107/62HR48 this morning before I got to it. I am 5'10" and 170lbs@ 63 years old. My Recumbent bike tension is set as hard as it will go, I do a hilly mountain course, 14km in 29minutes five times a week. I invest two whole minutes of my time most days doing 25 pushups and 25 situps. My weight goes up and down depending on how much muscle I am packing not fat. I tend to be pretty skinny as keeping muscle mass is tough for an old geezer and requires too much work for no reason.
So Jimmy, keep at it and you will enjoy life a lot more knowing you are fit enough to do what you want when you want. Cholesterol meds are bad news as there is a correlation to their use and the increase in dementia showing up as the population ages. These wonder drugs are turning out to not be so wonderful. Being fit and eating right will mean your body operates the way it should including keeping your BP and cholesterol down. It can be hard work to get fit but once you are fit, it takes little effort to stay that way so keep at it.
Jimmy, PM me if you want to chat about anything. I have seen some amazing transformations with a few of my friends that decided that meds only add to health issues by masking them, why not fix the problem, to begin with.
Well time to hop on the Deere as the rains are coming. Train time is close and I hope to make great progress this year.
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."
One of my very good model train friends here lost his long and courageous battle with cancer today. Dan will certainly be missed. .. Sad
Garry, that is terrible news. I am so sorry to hear that.
Good Afternoon,
Herrinchoker, words just don't convey the sadness that I felt reading your post about your huge loss.
Jimmy, good advice from Brent. I too am only 5'7" with a slight build. I have never weighed more than 145 lbs. At 72 I don't take any meds for heart, diabetes or anything else. The glaucoma is hereditary. Anyway I have not been a fitness fanatic but I have always watched my weight with moderation being the word. If I gained 5 lbs. I would immediately start cutting back or changing what I ate. I believe in the old adage 'you are what you eat'.
We had a lovely drive along the river north of the city yesterday. The fall colours were truly magnificent. Robbie slept in the back seat. Car rides just put him to sleep.
Well time for some supper. Salmon is on the menu tonight.
CN Charlie
Evening from beautiful Antigo Wisconsin.
Beautiful fall weather and I have cell phone reception up here now. It seems they installed a tower not too far from Blue oyster and monsters house
It's beautiful and cool up here and I wanted to go fishing as soon as I got here. Brother-in-law said we can go if you want to get some exercise and beautiful scenery but we ain't going to catch any fish. I said how do you know we ain't going to catch any fish. He said did you forget?
I did forget. He took me down in his basement and I remember him telling me about his friend that has an Aquarium. Now my brother-in-law has two aquariums with a walleye in one and a Northern in the other.
The minnows are swimming around in both aquariums and I remember this stuff now. When the fish start to eat them it's time to go fishing because all the other fish in the area will be eating too..... and I used to consider myself a dock boy. My how the times have changed.
This sparked a memory I had to share with Steve from when I grew up on the resort. I used to open up the dock house at 6:30 every morning. The first thing I did was net all the dead minnows out of the minnow tank by the lake.
I kid you not they were always waiting for me when I got there. My pet Northerns close to shore wagging their tails and I swear to God they would smile at me.
Every morning I would throw the dead minnows to my pet Northerns. I knew who they were, one had a gash near his tail, another had a lot of pink in his fins. When one of my guests would catch one of my pet northern's off the dock while I was there I would say put him back. After I explained, they always did.
We are having a lot of fun our first night here. The bonfire is already going strong and Barbie is making beer can chicken over Kingsford. I was so happy my phone works up here so I could drop you guys a line.
Love you guys and have a great night
TF, that sounds great. What a nice week you'll have.
After my stomach was so upset, I have been eating nothing but brown rice for the past two days.
I am feeling better now.
Worked on the bathroom for a bit today, but I did not get enough done to talk about.
It's a holiday tradition in my family to put a toothbrush in everyone's stocking, part of my wife Julie's ongoing campaign to rid the world of plaque, decay, and the horrors of halitosis. Last year she went all out and got me an Oral B electric toothbrush with a rotating brush. (Stay with me. The horror part is coming.)
Everything was peachy, other than it felt like chewing on a vibrator. Last week, however, the battery failed. So instead of contributing to the heaps of non-disposable plastic, I decided to take the sucker apart and see how I could go about adding more power. I keep all my old power supplies from when my Internet providers determined I have to buy modem upgrades just for such emergencies. As it turns out, I didn't need anything more than an AA battery.
The now-dead battery that came out was solid red, completely devoid of writing, and looked like it was colored by pre-schoolers. I replaced it with an EverReady di-lithium power cell and fired the sucker up.
At first there was just a low rumble that barely shook the house, then the pitch of the sound rose in frequency until it was clear that what I held in my hand was mini particle accelerator. I said 'What the Frack,” turned it off and added toothpaste. I turned it on.
Particles of toothpaste accelerated across my chest and the mirror. And walls and counter and all the bottles of personal care items and Macallan's 12 mouthwash (tastes better than Listerine and still kills germs).
It was clear I needed a different strategy. So what I did was put the toothpaste on, stick it in my pie hole, then turn it on. Needless to say, there was a peppermint explosion in my mouth. Every single taste bud was hit, targeted with computer precision. The noise was indescribable. The vibration through my teeth, through my mandible, to the little stirrups, hammers and anvils of my inner ear created a racket that the word intense does not do justice. I fumbled for the OFF switch.
Putting on my glasses, I opened my mouth to see what damage was done. I couldn't hear anything except the residue of the sound of a Saturn 5 rocket in my head.
The tops of my teeth were clean and highly polished. I expected them to be worn to the nubs, but luckily the bristles of the brush gave out first and I could pick them out of my pallet with tweezers.
On the plus side, I now own a hand held device that can capture malicious ghosts.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
SpaceMouseAt first there was just a low rumble that barely shook the house, then the pitch of the sound rose in frequency until it was clear that what I held in my hand was mini particle accelerator.
Now that's funny writing!
It's too bad Kevin bought that expensive hammer chisel last month to break up the thinset. All he needed was an Oral B with an EveryReady AA battery.
Track fiddlerEvening from beautiful Antigo Wisconsin
Hey TF,
Glad to hear that you are having a good time! I love campfires!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
In Canada the toothbrush is Oral A
Dave, John I wish you were here, you would have so much fun we would have to change something I guess but probably not, is all good up here
I took a campfire break and the second thing to remember is if I had my way
I would have
Kevin
Ed- twice and the goat
Terry
Mike
Lion
Jan
Randy
Wayne
And all the rest of the gang here.
I almost forgot Overmod, I've been getting to like that Kid too!
Here right along with me for some good food and fun
At one time in my life, my goal was to have a house on a southern beach.
For some reason that goal changed. Now, my dream is to have a northwoods cabin.
Track fiddlerEd- twice and the goat
Thanks for always keeping the goats in mind, TF
IMG_1369 by Edmund, on Flickr
Enjoy your time with nature! Ed
Iv'e always loved your goat Ed.
He isn't as smelly and doesn't have as many whiskers as you
TF, that cabin sounds just like what I need right about now along with a little fishing.
The boys and I had a place we could go and every morning just as you could see a sliver of light on the horizon without fail our friend Don would go down to the dock, peel off every stitch and go for a skinny before the rest of the lake was up to see him in his altogether. Now when we would take a newbie up with us, or a couple of ladies we would warn them not to get up too early because they do not want to see the crack of Don.
I saw where you're going with that Brent but I pay to differ.
When I lived up by International Falls I knew this hot number I met at a basketball game that lived on the Iron Range
Her name was Dawn
I would drive down to see her drive down to see her drive down to see her drive down to see her
She was so lovely but I never saw the sun come up and I never did know a girl named Dusk or I would have gave that one a shot
That was funny Brent, you did make me laugh. It's just I could relate to the name Don/Dawn....as I was searching for the crack of Dawn
Early in the morning
All just silly humor of course
Track fiddlerIn Canada the toothbrush is Oral A
Did you mean 'Oral Eh'?
Yep Oral Eh!
Dave that's what I was searching for but I didn't get it that time
I guess I had to switch to Crest
Track fiddlerYep Oral Eh! Dave that's what I was searching for but I didn't get it that time
TF,
Thank you for acknowledging one of our Canadian idiosyncrasies, eh. Have another beer on me, eh!
Oh, sorry, I forgot to say sorry, eh!
Cheers, eh!!
Dave, eh!!
Eh!!!
Track fiddlerEh!!!
You just passed the Canadian citizenship test!! Come on up any time!
Cheers!!