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The MAY, 2021 Diner: Touring the US Anthracite Region

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  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 5:55 AM

NorthBrit
That's my afternoon taken care of.

And it sounds like a great one!

Well, I got the rest of my dirt moved last night.  Only took a couple of wheelbarrow loads to feel like I never stopped shoveling from the day before!Laugh  Sheesh!

They opened up the vaccine to 12-15 yr olds yesterday and the local health department made them immediately available.  My youngest got her shot, so we are a few weeks away from having the whole family fully vaccinated.  What a relief.  She had two birthdays impacted by the whole thing, right at the tail end of the age where they (at least for me) still feel like a big deal.  She was really bummed about it this year.  We are going to let her have a big sleepover with friends once everyone is protected to "make it up" to her.  A big group of 14 year old girls at my house going bonkers over being able to hang out again?  What have I agreed to?!?! Laugh

Track fiddler
Happy Hump Day everyone

Amen!

Have a good day fellas!

Edit: Top of the Page!  Breakfast is on me!

Mike

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 6:04 AM

Thanks, TF, Glad you're enjoying the ride Big Smile

It "looks" to me like some of those decks can be adjusted for height? The Golden Ray was only two years old, oh well, she got more use than the Titanic Whistling

Here's a runby with some neat equipment in it:

Three of these cars belong to my nephew. The Santa Fe Pine King; the B&O Shenango and the NKP City of Chicago. He just got done repainting and relettering them. You should see the pan of water you have to soak the decals in! I helped him research the B&O paint and lettering.

He's repairing the interiors, too, trying to make them as original as possible. Quite a task for 65 year-old cars. They are being moved for some upcoming trips from Cincinnati to locations in Indiana.

 NKP_151 by Edmund, on Flickr



 

I don't remember if I posted these before. I did volume I the other day and I can't find a vol. 2 so here's vol. 3 Whistling

Sunny today but still cool. High of maybe 50°!

     Regards, Ed

 

 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 6:11 AM

If I lived closer I would have came over to help you move that dirt.  Your breakfast made my mouth start watering Mike.  That's enough bacon to sink a Battle(Golden) ShipWhistling  It's easy to poke fun at a big disaster like that when luckily no one was hurt.

 

I know what's on the list of things to do for me today.  I have a trip coming up on the 28th to see my grandson graduate in North Dakota and then a short trip to St Cloud on the 8th or the 9th. 

Rental car prices are off the charts so I'm breaking my own rule and taking the truck.  My windshield wiper transmission motor went out and needs to be replaced.  I only have one wiper working on the driver side so it looks like Car Care Seminar on my truck todayTongue Tied

 

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 6:36 AM

How about chopping up a RORO that is completely submerged?

 

Looks like they have abrasive stones strung along the cutting line. Handling those wire-rope slings is dangerous enough on dry land. Underwater? Nuts!

This is the MV Tricolor which was rammed by a container ship in the English Channel near Dunkirk in December of 2002.

There's a longer story about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ENOJBLVgjw

and here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Tricolor

How did we get from hard coal to shipwrecks? (I know, my fault) Embarrassed

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 6:39 AM

TF   You should have been quicker.   News that we are baking a pie spread like wildfire.  Son, daughter and other grandchildren want a piece!

Ed.   A great host,  thank you.

Mike.   The sleepover sounds it is going to be manic.

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 6:42 AM

gmpullman

The Golden Ray was only two years old, oh well, she got more use than the Titanic Whistling

                       POST HOG!

It seems both ship captains felt navigating quickly opposed to safety was the better decision for some unknown reasons.  You would think one would have learned a valuable lesson from history.  Leaving a little buffer zone of weight in his ballast tanks instead of risking the chances making a huge mistake could have been a better choiceWhistling

Leaves me to wonder if in the future they will have an on-scale weight and an off-scale weight, loading and unloading cargo to calculate the ballast tank levelsIndifferent

 

P.S.  Oh man!  I didn't reserve my slice of breakfast pie in time DavidCrying  Heartbroken now, ...No nice weather for you!Laugh

 

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 8:37 AM

Good morning, everyone.  After reading some of the cooking going on by the diner crowd, my bacon and eggs seems tame.

Mike, savor every minute of your daughter's parties.  I had three girls, and that time went by so fast.  I now look back at it and wonder what happened.

Ed, your nephew sure has a neat idea of restoring the passenger cars.  Is he doing that for a company, or does he own those cars?  What a great project to preserve the cars.

Hope everyone has a good day today.

York1 John       

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 9:04 AM

York1
Ed, your nephew sure has a neat idea of restoring the passenger cars.  Is he doing that for a company, or does he own those cars?  What a great project to preserve the cars.

He owns two and is a partner with the third.

He has an Empire Builder car, too:

 L&CP3 by Edmund, on Flickr

He was planning to sell this one and I'm not sure if he did or not. For a while owning a private car wasn't too much of a headache but new policy at Amtrak has made it difficult. The best recouese is to be located near a shortline and avoid Amtrak if at all possible.

I used to spend time with the people who owned C&O Business Car #3. That car would be 100 years old this year and it is still Amtrak certified and can operate at 100 miles an hour Cool

 C&O 3 Chapel Hill 9-1975 mb by mbernero, on Flickr

I like traveling by private car Big Smile

 IMG_0435 by Edmund, on Flickr

 IMG_0468 by Edmund, on Flickr

You can grow accustomed to it very easily.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: Ludington, MI
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Posted by Water Level Route on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 9:10 AM

York1
Mike, savor every minute of your daughter's parties.  I had three girls, and that time went by so fast.  I now look back at it and wonder what happened.

I hear you John.  We've always been a close family and spend a lot of time doing things as a family.  My girls are 14 and almost 17.  I'm already wondering where the time went.Crying

York1
Ed, your nephew sure has a neat idea of restoring the passenger cars.  Is he doing that for a company, or does he own those cars? 

Ed, I'm wondering the same thing.  That is pretty neat.

Edit: I see you posted an answer.  Pretty cool!

Mike

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 9:15 AM

Ed, those are great pictures of something I've always dreamed of, but never experienced.

Every so often, I will check in on the private car owners website just to see how people I envy live.  I also look at the Ozark site to see what passenger cars are for sale.

The train museum in Chandler, AZ, has some private cars parked there.  I loved looking at them.  It's too bad Amtrak has so restricted private cars and made it nearly impossible to use them.

York1 John       

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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 9:32 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q
Other interesting sights on the way to Yellowstone of course are Mt. Rushmore and Devils Tower.

We tried to see these in 2019 when we went through South Dakota. Unfortunately, it was raining that day, and the opportunity was lost.

Heartland Division CB&Q
At Zehnders , we ask to be seated in the Cow Path Room which is smaller than the large dining rooms elsewhere in the building . It has only 6 or 8 booths.  I suggest you have the all you can eat chicken dinner. Their chicken is as good as it gets.

I added this suggestion to my travel notes. Thank you!

NorthBrit
The Airfix turntable was first released in 1961. The picture on the box is a 1960s design.

Thank you for this information David. That answers my questions. I think the beams will end up on a gondola as intended, but I might try to make the turntable into a static prop with a lighter bridge structure.

Track fiddler
Could be a subliminal message to stop in Duluth and Proctor to see the Yellowstones before you go to Yellowstone.

If we veer North and see Porcupine Mountain in the morning, we might be able to visit Duluth in the afternoon.

Water Level Route
Top of the Page! Breakfast is on me!

That looks delicious! Thank you for sharing.

Dinner

gmpullman
Here's a runby with some neat equipment in it.

That was not what I was expecting when the video started. The privately owned passenger cars must be a labor of love. I cannot imagine all the upkeep involved with something like that.

Track fiddler
Rental car prices are off the charts.

You are speaking the truth! I think I posted before, but mine is costing $2,000.00 for the month. That is over double what I paid in 2019. It is still better than putting 10,000 miles on my own car, and I do not need to worry about travel delays in case of break down.

Water Level Route
We've always been a close family and spend a lot of time doing things as a family.  My girls are 14 and almost 17.  I'm already wondering where the time went.

If you find out where the time went, let me know. I don't know how my baby-baby turned out to be 25!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 11:37 AM

Well,  that is the baking done.   

TF   I did an  extra pie and have left it in the Diner.  Smile   There are some pineapple tarts as well.

 

Dinner  Black Beany Beef with Loaded Wedges.

 

Then a well earned rest.  

 

Stay safe Everyone.

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 9:00 PM

This was a banner day.  I finished the fourth and last set of layout crossing signals.  I started this in January with some online Arduino lessons.  Tomorrow I am putting all the Arduino stuff away for a while to let my brain decompress.

York1 John       

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 10:37 PM

Today was "Make The Chex-Mix" day!

My favorite grocery store, Publix, puts different stuff on sale buy-one-get-one-free every week. About every eight weeks I can collect all the ingredients for Chex-Mix for 50% off.

I make massive batches when I make Chex-Mix. Here are all four pans mixed up, buttered, and spiced... ready for the oven!

And into the oven for 75 minutes of cooking.

Then all dumped out on baking paper to cool down.

Finally the goodies are bagged up for consumption, but the best is the bowl I eat when it is still warm from the oven!

That was my fun for the day.

They were supposed to be here to install the new garage door tomorrow, but they called and need to delay it until the 25th because of illnesses.

That actually works out better for me. I was going to spend the day cleaning out the garage, instead I spent the day doing pretty much nothing.

The World Is A Beautiful Place.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, May 13, 2021 4:56 AM

 

Good Morning!

The good folks of Scranton left their sign lit up for us!

 

 Scranton_Electric by Edmund, on Flickr

 

I'll take two big fistfuls of Chex Mix, Kevin  Dinner That stuff is addictive!

I hope everyone is doing well and has a great day.

        

Regards, Ed

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 13, 2021 5:30 AM

Good morning

Flo, I'll have a coffee and the breakfast pie that David left meDinner  Bring some extra plates please, so I can share it with others that stop in this morning.  Tell him thanks if he doesn't make it in before I leave and let him know his nice weather is on the waySmile, Wink & Grin

Checked out the video of the LV's this morning Ed.  I have three U36B's.  I haven't seen The 23's or other variations before today, or a live prototypical one for that matter.  Could definitely see the superelevation in that video.  I wonder if they ever repaired that soggy rail that sagged up and down as it looked like an accident waiting to happen.  I wonder if one could model one of those?

Great looking Chex trail mix Kevin.  Erv always makes a good version of that for ice fishing in the winter.

Good to hear you got your signals done John.  Now you shouldn't have any crashes on your layout like on The Addams Family layout,  As long as the little people obey themWink

Nothing much happened yesterday except getting my wiper transmission and linkage in my truck replaced.  Went over to Jerry's on a break in the afternoon to get some chicken for lunch.  It's a grocery store but they have the best rotisserie chicken and also a really good Deli and bakery.

I don't know if anyone here remembers the Mickey's Banana Flips from the 70s but it was a real treat when you got one of those packed in your lunch when I was in grade school.  They just disappeared one year,  I can't even find a picture of one anymore.  The bakery at Jerry's had homemade ones that were way more tastier than the processed Mickey's ones ever were.

These things are called Angel Flips and a light fluffy taste of Heaven.  Melts in your mouth Man!  They also had lemon, strawberry and vanilla ones I'll have to try next.  So bad for you but 'Oh' So GoodDinner

 

Well, I have some odds and ends to do in the building today.  I'll finish up enjoying my coffee here, drop Judy off at work and see if I can get busy getting a few of those things done.

 

Have a great day everyoneWink

 

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, May 13, 2021 9:24 AM

Good morning everyone.

The afternoon rains have begun down here. They are sproadic right now, but they will become daily very soon.

I am hoping to ready the area by the front door for the pavers today, but outside work is now weather-dependent. I will begin framing the closet inside if outside work becomes impossible.

Everyone be safe.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, May 13, 2021 9:30 AM

Good morning, everybody .

Ed .... Thanks for all the photos and videos. The C&O business car is very nice. Seeing the old videos of freight trains reminds me of the 1950's when boxcars were so common. I liked watching freight trains and looking at all of the different railroad names in a 100 car train of mostly boxcars. 

Kevin .... The Chex mix looks good. 

Everybody ...... Have a very nice day. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, May 13, 2021 12:35 PM

Kevin:  Regarding your upcoming trip. We have neighbors here in Kentucky who just took a trip to Michigan driving through Indiana . They said the COVID restrictions in both states had closed indoor dining at restaurants while they were there. ..... So, I just called Zehnders in Frankenmuth. Good news is indoor dining is now available . They must follow rules however. Face masks and social distancing are required. The Cow Path room is open but seating in it is hard to get.  They do take reservations, and I suggest you call ahead for that. You could arrive downtown before your reservation and do a little shopping first. Usually, the restaurant gives coupons for free ornaments at Bronners Christmas store. So if you want to shop at Bronners wait until after you eat. Also, if you like authentic German sausage, there is a store selling that between Bronners and Zehnders . Zehnders Facebook page has their phone number and a picture of the all-you-can-eat chicken dinner. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by NorthBrit on Thursday, May 13, 2021 1:59 PM

Good evening Diners.   A Highgrove tea and a blueberry muffin please Brunhilda.

I hope Ken is feeling much better and will soon be here.

Others not here  I hope they too are okay.

It has been a busy day today.   I was down at Durham Cricket Club arranging a 'Retired People  Practice Cricket Session for tomorrow.    Afterwards I was doing a few jobs around the house.

Flo said the pie was all eaten.  Big Smile

 

Dinner  Teriyaki Sesame Chicken and Green Beans.   Dawn's favorite.

 

Stay Safe Everyone.

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, May 13, 2021 9:25 PM

All is well in my neck of the woods.

I sincerely hope everyone else are all doing OK.

The World Is A Beautiful Place.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, May 14, 2021 4:39 AM

 

Welcome To Centralia Pennsylvania —

        

Cheers, Ed

 

 

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Posted by NorthBrit on Friday, May 14, 2021 6:50 AM

Good afternoon Diners.   A coffee ad some cake, Chloe, please.

Spent the morning at Durham Cricket Club on a taster for Seniors Cricket. I have found out I am not as fit as I used to be.  Thumbs Down   I had better be 'in shape for next week.  A game to play.

Time to run some trains later.

 

Thoughts & Peace to All who Require

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
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Posted by Track fiddler on Friday, May 14, 2021 8:46 AM

Laugh

 

 

TF

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, May 14, 2021 9:33 AM

Howdy ... 

KEVIN ...... I hope you read my previous post with information for you. 

Other people .... Excuse my talking jsut to Kevin. I have too many problems with the private messaging here in this forum.

TF ..... The Adams Family sometimes had a sick sense of humor as in that vidow. Stick out tongue

Ed .... Interesting about the underground fire. 

 

Everybody ...... Have a nice day..... 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Water Level Route on Friday, May 14, 2021 9:38 AM

Good morning all.  Hope everyone is feeling well and troubles are small.  Got my sprinklers fired up without a hitch this morning, not much else on my to-do list.  Don't tell my wife! Laugh  Will probably get some more backyard work done, sweep the garage, and maybe some train time.

Mike

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, May 14, 2021 10:26 AM

Good morning from the sunny, warm West Coast.

David, you mentioned going down to the cricket club, yesterday I went to sign up for either senior's baseball or fastpitch softball and both are still suspended. I use to play in very competitive industrial leagues years ago and thought I should get off my butt and get back at it. Getting on skates is just too painful and actually playing hockey would push me over the top in the pain dept, but I think I can handle baseball it is mostly standing around.Laugh The other day I got my glove out and was playing catch with the neighbour kid, the arm still works pretty well for an old guy.

The kid was here on Sunday for mothers day and we were playing some hoop out on the driveway. The net disintegrated and the ball I got for my 11th birthday finally won't hold air anymore. It only lasted 53 years!Laugh We actually have four basketballs and they are all crap so now the kid has moved out I'm feeling flush and made the big investment.Laugh

 

 

I started playing basketball with the other neighbour kid. They put up two basketball nets at either end of the large culdesac out front. That kid is really good but I can keep him on his toes even at my age.Laugh We also have two proper full-size hockey nets out on the culdesac that have seen an awful lot of use over the years. They get moved to the rink in Winter.

 

We bought a new Toyota Highlander so that means new custom dog crates. Well, they arrived from Sweden yesterday and I will put them together today and install them. They are pricey but the wife has seen a lot of dogs badly injured in automobile accidents over the years and won't have anything but the best protection for them.

My mother was slammed head-on by a speeding moron once. When I arrived on the scene she was quite a mess and the paramedics were working on her. I went to check on the dogs and the crates they were in were crumpled beyond repair but other than bloody noses and being banged up they were OK. There is no doubt they would not have survived if they had not been crated.

Noticed a slight uptick in aircraft flying over and covid #s are heading down. I can't wait for the border to open up so I can get to the U.S. to take care of some Biz on this Estate I stupidly volunteered to look after some 30 years ago. The beneficiary has been great in understanding the issues I am having with the border being closed, but they should have their millions within a couple of months of it reopening.

Well, my second cup is done, time to assemble a double dog crate and install it.

All the best to all.

Push done, headin back down for lunch.

 

RailPictures.Net Photo: CP 5677 Canadian Pacific Railway EMD SD40-2 at  Stoney Creek, BC, British Columbia, Canada by Jeff Robertson

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 up831 on Friday, May 14, 2021 2:54 PM

Hi Everyone,

Long time, no see.  Brunhilde, coffee with extra cream, please.

Been away from the forums for awhile.  Haven't even kept up with the posts.

While reviewing recent posts I noticed that Chicago style hot dogs were mentioned.  IMO, Chicago style dogs are the best on the planet.  You get Vienna Beef hots dogs boiled to perfection, add a steamed S Rosens poppy seed bun, mustard, emerald green relish, diced white onions, tomato slices, a long pickle spear, two sport peppers, and celery salt.  Ah, perfection!  To a Chicagoan, it is sacreligious toput ketchup on a hot dog.  Eh, to each his own.  I also like chili dogs, which are a Los Angeles invention FYI.  A little place called Art's at Florence and I think Vermont in south central LA is generally credited with the invention. I've heard it's closed down now.  Sad!

Kevin:  if it's not too late, I highly recommend seeing Mt. Rushmore.  If you're on the I-90 Fwy in South Dakota, you'll go real close to it.  It's inspirational.  Nearby is also the Badlands and Wall Drug on the east, and Sturgis and Devil's Tower on the west.  My wife and I stopped at Devils Tower the year after Close Encounters was released.  May or may not have the same impact now.  In any event, have a great trip.

No promises, but I'll try to stop in the diner a little more often.

Less is more,...more or less!

Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, May 14, 2021 4:34 PM

My job here is done and Meryl is happy.

 

 

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 moelarrycurly4 on Friday, May 14, 2021 7:39 PM

evenin all, 

 

John (York1) : my actual degree is in television and film production, however I ended up not going that route as TV jobs were few and low paying, Film was hard to break into and I did not wish to live in a closet it LA paying all salary to rent and working as a waiter. 

So, on the side I make my own projects and edit other things. 

 Went to the doctor this week as I had wierd rash on my left arm that tunred an angry red. turns out is plaque psoriasis, So I beating it down with some ointment.

Scored a free push mower from curbside. Had free on it, All I had to to was fix the front wheel and clean the carb, and put the governor spring back on and she fires right up. I am going to take it to the Southern Command to use there. 

 

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