Well, if you folks are keeping score at home we're up to FIVE cats rescued from Mrs. Pullman's aunts house. The call came in at nine PM last night, another occupant:
Churchill by Edmund, on Flickr
This poor guy looks pretty beat. Cloudy eye to boot. We just got back from dropping him, plus one other at the PetFix clinic. The gray long hair is going to our usual vet tomorrow. She (the cat not the vet) has a bad case of roundworm. This is the friendliest cat I've met in a long time.
The PetFix spay and neuter clinic we found has a first-come, first-served daily service for any cat or dog dropped off and one day service. Yesterday we took in the first two cats for spay, rabies, general exam and the charge was $31.00 each. We gladly gave them the fee and then some.
I'll be fixing up a place in the goat barn for the two most recent guests. They're definitely outdoor variety barn cats. I'll set up a heating pad for them.
I came across this neat, detailed steel-mill railway the other day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTG9WMOcSl8
I really admire this level of detail!
There's a lot of ethnic neighborhoods around Cleveland and during this time of year there are lots of places selling paczki pastries. These are more of a cake treat sort of like a beignet but with filling. I like the Bavarian cream variety.
Paczki by Edmund, on Flickr
Top-O-The Page! Does everyone have their Spam filter working???
Spam_Yum by Edmund, on Flickr
Belly-up folks!
Cheers, Ed
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
I finally have a whole day stretching before me with nothing to do and nowhere to go. The layout is calling. After fighting to get the plywood base smooth, I gave up. Yesterday a trip to Menards, and I came back with these:
I'll cover the entire layout with foam. It will also give me the opportunity to do what Brent suggested about some inclines. I'll be able to start an incline a little smoother by taking out some foam to get below the surface.
All the stray cat stories reminds me of after we were first married. The elderly lady next door would make a large number of crabcakes and give them away. The cooking smell attracted a large number of cats. The cats would stay around because she felt sorry for them and would feed them.
At one point, she had over 20 cats that stayed between our two houses. Our driveway was covered with cats. Those 20 cats had 20 million fleas. When you went out our back door and came in, your legs were literally covered with fleas.
I used to like cats.
I know we have some diners with ill health. I am thinking of you and I hope everyone has a good Thursday. For all you poor working stiffs, you're on the downhill slope of the workweek.
While I typed that, it reminded me of my working days. Thursdays were always my worst days. The kids were getting tired of the week at school, but in their minds, there was no end in sight. Thankfully, I had good teachers who normally handled things themselves, but Thursdays were still days where if you walked by my office, you might see a kid or two sitting, waiting to see me. By Friday, they knew they were at the end of the week, and things were better.
York1 John
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, a quick coffee to go with cream, please.
Mike: I moved to LA in 75, so my experience with Vern's donuts would put it at 1974 - early 75. When I moved to LA, the big donut shop there is Winchell's. They're ok, but not outstanding. I never stopped in at Randy's donuts, so I don't know if they were good or not. Ed: Those paczkis look delicious. Is that pronounced "patch-key?"
John: Hope the foam does what you want it to.
Well, gotta run. Maybe I'll stop in later.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
up831Ed: Those paczkis look delicious. Is that pronounced "patch-key?"
I guess it's more like "pownch-key"
You should be saying “paczki” like “pownch-key,” which is how the word is pronounced in its native Poland.
There were quite a few Polish families in my elementary school. I kind of had a "thing" for one of the daughters of a Browns player, Dick Modzelewleski and she tutored me in the fine art of Polish pronunciation
I love the diversity of the old neighborhoods and all the customs that go along with them.
York1While I typed that, it reminded me of my working days. Thursdays were always my worst days. The kids were getting tired of the week at school, but in their minds, there was no end in sight. Thankfully, I had good teachers who normally handled things themselves, but Thursdays were still days where if you walked by my office, you'd might see a kid or two sitting, waiting to see me. By Friday, they knew they were at the end of the week, and things were better.
So ewe was a principal... I remember that office well, but was not one of the roudy ones. mor frequently the roudyee. Anyway I eventually went to work for the school district. Same school and principal as when I was a kid, but now as one of the five night-time custodians. One of the best jobs I ever had. Onion wage, limited responsibilities and seldom any kids underfoot.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Henry: When I had the original transplants, I was told they would last a lifetime. Current opthamologist told me that cornea transplants average 20 years; so at least I was ahead of the curve there. As my left cornea has made it 33 years, I guess it is on borrowed time.
LION: My wife is retired, I work full time. I have been trying to find a plow attachment for our lawn tractor, but they have been out of stock since we bought it last summer.
Tin Can III have been trying to find a plow attachment for our lawn tractor, but they have been out of stock since we bought it last summer.
Mike
Good afternoon diners.
This month was snow plows - One was promised. Now I am delivering.
CR 64568 MOW Plow by Richard W, on Flickr
This plow is now on display in a small park in Meadville PA, near a small ERIE loco, Bessemer box car, and a few large machinery pieces. It is right alongside the former ERIE main. (Now WNY&P Main, home to ALCO locomotives.)
Hope all are well, best wishes to those not, and hope all enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Tin Can II Henry: When I had the original transplants, I was told they would last a lifetime. Current opthamologist told me that cornea transplants average 20 years; so at least I was ahead of the curve there. As my left cornea has made it 33 years, I guess it is on borrowed time.
Depending on how old you are, the cornea may have lasted a lifetime as promised, but you actually lasted more than that predicted lifetime. Congratulations!
I had a water heater with a lifetime warranty for as long as I owned it. Yes it failed. They honored the warranty, but I had to send them a copy of a current real estate tax bill to prove I still owned the house.
Lifetime doesn't even mean what it used to.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good afternoon from the drizzly West Coast.
Going abroad tomorrow, heading down to Portland for some hot lovin for the mutt. However, there are supposed to be anti-vax protests at the crossing or crossings. I think it will just be the commercial crossing but who knows. We have four places we can cross the border so hopefully, we can get across at one of them. My wife booked us in at a Best Western down there somewhere. So they will do a breeding tomorrow when we get there and then one the next morning and we head home. The first trip of any length in the Toyota, it steers itself and also keeps distance when on cruise so will be interesting.
Ed, that poor kitty looks pretty rough, hope things have now turned around for it, That Cockerill 80 layout is amazing.
John, this is how I started my inclines, smooth as can be. That is the only bit of ply on the layout the rest is open grid.
BigDaddyWe stayed in that hotel in Lake Louise on our Rocky Mountaineer vacation. It was of the most spectacular views I have seen.
Henry, my GF, and I stayed there many times over the 8 years we were together. The first time we did not have a reservation as we were not going to stop there at the time. It was January and -30 and the place was booked up. I pushed the check-in guy a bit and he said to hang around and wait for a cancellation. We went for lunch and a long walk around the area and came back. He said no cancellations but we have one room on the sixth floor overlooking the lake we don't usually fill. He said we get complaints it is haunted, I said we'll take it. We stayed in that same room several times over the years hoping to have a ghostly encounter, nothin or no one from the spirit world ever dropped in. we were both disappointed
Whistler has an awesome bobsleigh track, it is on my bucket list. We go up quite often for a couple of days to get a break. However last time it was closed for maintenance. GRRRR! Hope your arm starts feeling better soon.
Check out the video.
https://www.whistlerreservations.com/winter-activities/whistler-bobsleigh?keyword=bobsled%20whistler&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjJOQBhCkARIsAEKMtO3JhWQN0MrC4zPmD-bzxaXPIrzRn-wQjOXN19d7AkkUZkOZAu_tU3QaAhdkEALw_wcB
That Spring Creek Trains looks like a great place, I was checking out the pics. Vancouver has one good store that I sometimes visit when I go into the big city which is not often. PWRS is not to far away and though they let you in to look around it is just a warehouse and not conducive to browsing so I don't usually bother.
Lake Louise is also gorgeous in the summer, a spectacular place to watch the rails and all that lurk there. The kid and I spent a great day together in several spots watching these monsters grinding their way up to the continental divide.
Of course if locomotives could talk, they would be looking at those mountains saying "there they are boys, lets getter done".
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Mr. B: I was 30 and 31 at the time of my first transplants. I am 63 now.
When I was first diagnosed with kerataconus (sp, cone shaped corneas) at 15, and told that at some time I would have to have transplants, my Dad asked our opthamologist how hard it was to get corneas. His response, "as long as there are motorcylists in Houston, we will always have an ample supply of corneas." I am very thankful for the gift of sight I have received now, three times.
The wife and I had to take a covid test to cross the border. I didn't realize how tiny my brain was until I stuck that swab way up my nose. It passed a vast expanse of emptiness until it touched my brain.
The things we do for our wives.
BATMANThe wife and I had to take a covid test to cross the border.
Getting here is easy. I hope you looked into what is required to get back.
Greetings from the Southern Command
Was a warm day here today and will be tomorrow, then the bottom drops out.
I can tell there is a low pressure coming as I have the massive headache today.
usually have one about 3 days before the event.
well off to bed, see you laters
maxman BATMAN The wife and I had to take a covid test to cross the border. Getting here is easy. I hope you looked into what is required to get back.
BATMAN The wife and I had to take a covid test to cross the border.
The land crossing is no problem, they have to let us in, we live here. Flying is another issue. I would not risk it.
BATMANThe land crossing is no problem, they have to let us in, we live here.
I guess they have to let you in...eventually.
A lot of the normal Canadian vendors and visitors were no-shows at the recent Amherst Train Show not because they coulnd't get there, but because of whatever Covid testing requirements they were afraid they couldn't fulfill to get back.
maxman BATMAN The land crossing is no problem, they have to let us in, we live here. I guess they have to let you in...eventually. A lot of the normal Canadian vendors and visitors were no-shows at the recent Amherst Train Show not because they coulnd't get there, but because of whatever Covid testing requirements they were afraid they couldn't fulfill to get back.
BATMAN The land crossing is no problem, they have to let us in, we live here.
There is no "eventually" about it.
If you travel by land and test positive you still get let in and are required to Quarantine at home. If you are flying and test positive before you fly, you have to wait 11 days, test negative before they will let you get on an airplane. It is about getting on a plane and infecting fellow passengers at that point, not crossing the border. Simple and straightforward. A lot of people are getting infected while away and cannot get back on a flight for a couple of weeks. They just better have the money to go to a quarantine hotel, miss an extra couple of weeks of work and then rebook a flight. As usual, it sounds like people were just too lazy to read how it works and decided to stay home. The test we took was easy and straightforward, not rocket science.
If they were flying to the Amherst show and flying home, then I wouldn't go either. Traveling by land will cause no issues if you know how to read.
Ah hah, I see. The old if you test positive you self-quarantine at home and you’re on your honor to do so trick.
Out of curiosity, which test do they give you, in either direction? No, not that direction. I mean north and south.
I didn’t have much faith in those go to the testing place and they give you those swab up the nose and text you the results in a couple hours places. But when I got back from the show I started to feel crappy and the boss convinced me to go.
So I went and was happy when the test came back negative. Then I read the fine print. Seems that if the result is positive that means that one is infected.
However a negative test does not necessarily mean one is not infected. I don’t like tests where the answers are yes and maybe not.
maxman I don’t like tests where the answers are yes and maybe not.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Almost exactly
A little roughed up here:
Jordan Spreader Ashtabula by Edmund, on Flickr
Seen in Ashtabula, Ohio, back in '99 or so.
Wabash in Ohio:
Follow the Flag Through the Snow by Craig Sanders, on Flickr
maxmanSo I went and was happy when the test came back negative. Then I read the fine print. Seems that if the result is positive that means that one is infected. However a negative test does not necessarily mean one is not infected. I don’t like tests where the answers are yes and maybe not.
That is to be expected. If you are infected, then you are infected, If the test is negative it could mean that theses cells were not infected, but others, which they did not find might be.
If you drill for oil in your back yard and do not find any, does not mean that there is no lil in your front yard.
Good Morning Diners. Zoe, a western omelette, english muffin, and grape juice please.
Got a couple inches of heavy, wet snow overnight. Enough for local schools to cancel in person and go to virtual instead. I'm so glad I didn't grow up in an era when this was even a possibility. It sounds like a real PITA.
Got a message last night that there was a last minute alteration to the soccer tournament schedule tomorrow, moving my daughter's first game back by 90 minutes. That's okay by me as I wasn't looking forward to waking up at 5:30 on a Saturday to make sure we got there on time. The tournament is about 2 hours from home.
Haven't done much with the trains since my flury of activity a couple weekends ago. Some of the track is covered in tape right now to protect it, so I haven't even been able to run a train. Yeah, I know I could pull the tape and the put more on later, but I've already done that twice. I need to just find the time to push through and get it done so I can at least run something again.
Happy Friday guys.
Hi Gang,
Here is some snow removal action on the Donner Pass. Remember to click on the 'Watch on YouTube icon to get the full view:
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good morning. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
We actually did not get under freezing last night. However, the wind is blowing from the north right now, and by tomorrow, we won't get above freezing. No snow predicted.
I'm getting some of the foam glued onto the layout. It will be nice to have a good, flat surface to lay new track.
I hope everyone has a good Friday today.
Union Pacific snow plows:
World's Heaviest Snowplow by Chuck Coker, on Flickr
UP snowplow by David Brossard, on Flickr
Just for fun!
OK, Lion. That's one of the strangest videos I've seen.
Strange doesn't even begin to describe it. I think some of that date stuff got into the ceremonial wine.
C'mon, confess. You know who you are
Flour_Sugar_Hoard by Edmund, on Flickr
At the end of the day:
Plow_Crew by Edmund, on Flickr
So, like overnight, we have eleven cats amongst us! The two barn cats are happy to be occupying the old goat barn. Dee Ann's son happened to be getting rid of an old chest of drawers and that made a nice cat nest for them.
This little one, so far named Swiffer since she looks like an old feather duster, seems to be having a tough time getting adjusted:
Swiffer by Edmund, on Flickr
This was Wilson's bed right next to the wood stove that he graciously gave up for the new kid.
Brrrr—
GTW, Michigan, United States by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Have a great weekend, Cheers, Ed
Is that plough supposed to stand out. To me it looks more like camoflage, i.e. like a zebra. Don't let Lion get too close to it or he might bite a chunk off!
Hi Ed,
Speaking of hoarders, we discovered in 1971 that my great grandfather had been guilty of hoarding during WWII. We discovered a 100 lb. sack of white sugar buried in a corner of his farmhouse attic. After close to 30 years in an uncontrolled environment it was as hard as a rock, but nothing had been chewing on it. My parents, having been raised in the 'Dirty Thirtys' wouldn't throw it out. It lasted several years as we dutifully scraped the block down to turn it back into crystals.
Cheers!!