Good morning. I feel great this morning. I think whatever bug I had has finally left me completely.
Enjoy a cold can of Coke With Coffee, Caramel Flavor, to start the day. I love this stuff, but most people I know hate it.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
moelarrycurly4 Last season I could not get my weedeater started. I got it started yesterday and trimmed all I could. I realized that I have had that weedeater for 22 years. It is a cheap weedeater from wall mart so it has served well.
MLC: I gave up on gas powered lawn tools a couple of years ago and started buyng 40 volt battery operated versions. One season with mixing gas, priming, pulling, choking, and adjusting sold me completely.
I just pop in the battery and pull the trigger. So much better in every way.
Maybe I will get ten years outof each tool. Time will tell.
The shower valve in the bathroom is leaking intermittently. When the handle is in the down position it is supposed to be off, but most times now it has a slow trickle out of the spout in that position. If I wiggle it enough it will stop.
Something else to work on during my next day off.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good morning, everyone. Thanks for breakfast, Lion, and I'll pass on the Coke with Coffee, Kevin. I've never tried it, but it just doesn't sound good. I'll take a regular black coffee, please.
When I first moved to New Orleans, I had coffee with chicory, and I thought it was horrible. Then, I got to like it. When we moved north, it took a while to get used to the thin watery coffee again.
hon30critterUse just enough cement to make a light bond that will hold up to being handled but can also be separated fairly easily if you have to make a change.
Dave, I use regular Testors glue for my plastics. However, it sounds like there may be something better to use that could be better?
Even though I'm now in year four since starting my first layout, I still feel like a newcomer, so any help is appreciated.
My first bridge's problem was that I glued (!) everything very heavily, and I glued it to the layout. It was impossible to remove or take apart without breaking it apart. Lesson learned!
We're getting ready for a trip later this week. I'm anxious to go, but my wife is getting harder and harder to talk into vacations. She'd rather just stay home.
It's good to hear from everyone!
Car at Colorado's Ridgway Railroad Museum:
York1 John
York1 I'll pass on the Coke with Coffee, Kevin. I've never tried it, but it just doesn't sound good.
That's OK. Most people do not like the taste.
The first one I tried was the Vanilla flavor. I did not like that one at all. It was a few weeks before I tried the Caramel one I bouight at the same time. The Caramel flavor was much better.
It is a treat for me now. I only buy it when it is "Buy One Get One" at Publix, and then I only have one once every few weeks.
I am much more of a basic black coffee drinker.
York1Dave, I use regular Testors glue for my plastics. However, it sounds like there may be something better to use that could be better?
Hi John,
The only Testors glue that I have ever used was the thick gooey stuff in the tube which is horrible to work with. It is okay for filling small gaps but otherwise I avoid it like the plague.
I use Tamiya's Extra Thin cement. If I only apply a very small amount the joints can usually be popped apart again. The brush that comes in the cap works great for this. When I want a permanent joint I use a slightly larger paint brush.
It's not cheap, but a little goes a long way.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Afternoon,
Expecting a major storm here Wed., a blizzard. Expect to be snowed in until
John, I like Faller Super-Expert for gluing plastic. It comes in a bottle with a needle applicator so it easy easy to control the amount applied. I got it from M.B.Klein.
I didn't bid on that GP9 shell as it went for more than I was prepared to pay.
The Juncos have started to arrive. The expected storm will be hard on the migrants.
CN Charlie
Roller Steaks?
Timken_Steaks by Edmund, on Flickr
Who knew? Sure beats meat smoked with hot journal box smoke.
Now that Tenax is unobtanium, the Tamiya green and yellow bottles are a favorite for me, too. Sometimes for bigger joints I'll use the Faller stuff in the needle point bottles.
Glue_bottle by Edmund, on Flickr
Lots of choices...
Solvent_cements by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
I am a Testors Liquid Cement fellow.
It just works well for me.
I have been thinking a bit about how irritated I have been with the seasonal residents now that I work in retail.
I guess it boils down to this: I am just so tired of hearing complaints about how we do not carry the same items in our Home Depot they can buy at their local Home Depot "Up North" where they are from.
Today I had a guy ask about some sealer product used to waterproof basements. Well.. we don't have it. Guess why... no basements in Florida! He wanted to use it for some other purpose and thought it would work well.
He actualy wanted me to write while he dictated a letter to the CEO of The Home Depot about why stores in Florida should keep basement sealer in stock.
One of them said to me, about a week ago, after not being able to get an electrical box that was coded "Not Available To Ship To Florida", that "This is just another example of how you say you want us here, but you don't really want us here" like it was a conspiracy to keep that electrical panel away from him.
I wanted to say "No, it is more like we say we don't want you here, and we REALLY don't want you here", but of course I did not.
I remember reading CudaKen's stories from work. His point of view sure makes a lot more sense now.
Dealing with the general public can be a chore sometimes.
On Friday's we play wargames at my friend Lt. Col. Rob's house. He lives in an upscale gated community in South Fort Myers. Right now his neighborhood is packed, but in a few weeks it will be 98% empty and quiet.
We'll be drinking beers on the golf course after gaming again.
The World Is A Beautiful Place
BroadwayLion BATMAN Where -O- where is the Fiddler? Did you look on the roof ???
BATMAN Where -O- where is the Fiddler?
Did you look on the roof ???
Good morning Brent, Hi Lion
Was battling the on-going problem posting with my phone. I definitely ain't Post Hog anymore
I got rather involved starting on layout scenery and the problem got worse taking too much time away from the modeling
Seems to be working a little better this morning.
Silly Lion
You can't find "Fiddler on the Roof" ??? Him wrong Fiddler, ...Him 'Movie Star'
Just look on down The Line for da utter Fiddler
Have a great day gentleman
Track Fiddler
Track fiddlerWas battling the on-going problem posting with my phone. I definitely ain't Post Hog anymore.
Good morning Mr. Fiddler.
Great to hear from you again.
Scenery on the layout must be a nice new step. Congratulations on moving forward.
Good afternoon Diners. A large coffee please, Chloe.
Been to the funeral of my late Uncle. He was the last of his generation.
TF. Glad to hear from you. When I hear of your challenges to post I wonder if others are having difficulty too? Have they given up posting altogether?
Ham Hock with vegetables and roast potatoes.
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
Good wet morning from the labour and delivery ward. The mutt has gone into stage one labour, so 12 to 24 hrs from now we should hear the pitter-patter of little feet around the house again.
The weather guessers sure are not getting it right this week. They have Sun icons for the week but it has not been very sunny with hail and lightning and thunder.
Kevin, I know how you feel dealing with the public, can't do it, couldn't do it. About forty years ago I came up with an idea to start a fencing company based on the student painter model. I approached two people to be partners and we went from one to 16 employees in the first month as we would go into new subdivisions and put up miles of fencing. We made an obscene amount of money right from the get-go. I stuck it out for a year or so but had to leave just because dealing with the public was not for me. The company went on for years as a money-printing machine but the work was not for me. If I ever needed money or a job, I at least know that worked well.
Your leaky shower tap could be grit in the line. Take it apart and clean it. We had the water main break up the street and though it was all flushed out after it was repaired there was a little grit that caused a little leaking.
Ray, I went for my first helicopter ride when I was about seven. Since then I have been in plenty of different makes and models over the years. I have my pilot's license and was going to get my helicopter license as well but you can only do so many things in your life. I did learn to hang glide. Helicopters are quite safe, I would worry about the drive to the airfield much more than getting in an aircraft. You should try and find a soaring club and go for a ride in a glider, no sound, you feel like an eagle. When I get to Hawaii I try to get up in a glider while I am there, it is the best.
Charlie, enjoy your blizzard. Vancouver island is still waiting for you. I am sure glad Dad moved us West when I was two or I might still be there as well, though unlikely. Once my Mother-in-law moves on, I think we will head over to the Island. When I moved here it was about 8 miles to the bus stop, now one comes by a mile or so away. They're closing in on us. Greater Vancouver has the second-highest real estate prices in the world and those of us that have been here for a long time have won the real estate lottery. I bought my first place 46 years ago. They have a saying here though and it goes, "once you leave you can never afford to come back, so be sure you want to leave". I am ready to leave.
I have been working on the Kana Model coaling tower, it is rated advanced on the skill level and while I am having no issues putting it together, it is wearing a little thin, and I wish it was done. The instructions are vague and the drawings horrible. I wish I could find some decent photos of a finished one. I use to scratch build some pretty big R/C planes from plans and of my own design and really enjoyed that. Maybe age is catching up to my model-building desires.
Good to see TF back.
Oh look here comes a blizzard.
All the best from the maternity ward.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Good late morning. I think I missed breakfast at the diner. I'll have bacon, eggs, and coffee for lunch.
We're leaving town for a while -- I talked my wife into it. She doesn't really want to go, but she also doesn't want to stay home. I'm not sure what that means.
I had to run the normal errands before we leave. I have the TV on in my layout room, and it's all day 1960s beach movies. Teenage music and movies were a lot more innocent then! It's nice to hear the music, and the movie are such fluff you don't have to pay attention. I enjoy it.
I made an n scale template of a bridge copied and traced onto paper. I'm not sure if this will be the final side view of one section, but it gives me a starting point.
Dave and others, thanks for the advice on glue. When we get back, I'll check into what I can use.
SeeYou190I remember reading CudaKen's stories from work. His point of view sure makes a lot more sense now. Dealing with the general public can be a chore sometimes.
I found the same thing in my work. The worst were the phone calls at night complaining about some coach not giving enough playing time to a kid. While the complainers were a small minority, they were the ones I remember most.
I, too, miss Ken's regular reports on his retail experiences.
I hope everyone has a good day today, even those of you getting the snow. I'll check back into the diner when we get home.
Ah... Here is the LION... I just watched this video, I know of these places and so it was interesting to see.
It is snowing here in North Dakota... Big almost blizzard snow. Bilz is predicted for tomorrow knight, some say 20 to 30 but they hedged their bet by not saying if that was inches, mm, cm, meters or feet.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
A quite perfect scene —
Soaring above the Snake by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Almost summerlike here today, into the low 70s and plenty of sunshine
SeeYou190 I am a Testors Liquid Cement fellow. -Photograph by Kevin Parson It just works well for me. - - - - - - - - - - I have been thinking a bit about how irritated I have been with the seasonal residents now that I work in retail. I guess it boils down to this: I am just so tired of hearing complaints about how we do not carry the same items in our Home Depot they can buy at their local Home Depot "Up North" where they are from. Today I had a guy ask about some sealer product used to waterproof basements. Well.. we don't have it. Guess why... no basements in Florida! He wanted to use it for some other purpose and thought it would work well. He actualy wanted me to write while he dictated a letter to the CEO of The Home Depot about why stores in Florida should keep basement sealer in stock. One of them said to me, about a week ago, after not being able to get an electrical box that was coded "Not Available To Ship To Florida", that "This is just another example of how you say you want us here, but you don't really want us here" like it was a conspiracy to keep that electrical panel away from him. I wanted to say "No, it is more like we say we don't want you here, and we REALLY don't want you here", but of course I did not. - - - - - - - - - - I remember reading CudaKen's stories from work. His point of view sure makes a lot more sense now. Dealing with the general public can be a chore sometimes. - - - - - - - - - - On Friday's we play wargames at my friend Lt. Col. Rob's house. He lives in an upscale gated community in South Fort Myers. Right now his neighborhood is packed, but in a few weeks it will be 98% empty and quiet. We'll be drinking beers on the golf course after gaming again. - - - - - - - - - - The World Is A Beautiful Place -Photograph by Kevin Parson - - - - - - - - - - -Kevin
I'm not in the retail business. In fact, my company is sort of positioned to where it has its clients pretty much baked in, so its not even much of a competitive situation.
So this comes strictly from my observations from my position as a consumer, and not a business owner or employee.
But the problem with any business/ customer relationship boils down to one thing....
...stupid customers.
....picky customers.
....entitled customers.
Need I say more.
I'm the guy who orders simple "meal number 1" from the drive thru menu because I don't want to be the guy I typically get stuck behind who has to ask 8 different questions about the sandwich options like its a made to order restaurant...like he's never been to a McDonalds before and doesn't know what they offer.
(hope I didn't offend anyone who typically takes a wee bit too long in the drive thru. LOL)
- Douglas
AAAAAAH yes, closing in on the dinner hour, mutt very restless. I went for a short 4.59km walk in the hail with my bud ( our only male dog) Garmin says I did each km in 7.27 minutes. HR went to 119 while scrambling up a 37m high hill. Burned 250 calories.
I have rum and Pepsi in hand and the Canucks are playing Vegas tonight which helps pass the time waiting for the pups to start coming out. I think it will be morning at least till we see one.
I have two FB accounts, one with my real name that I use for family and a couple of close friends, the other a pseudonym that I use on other sites. An old girlfriend just sent me a friend request, haven't talked to her in at least 40 years. She was gorgeous back then. I checked out her page and she is happily married with adult children now. Both she and her husband are massive, it is quite the shock to see her like that as whenever I think of her I remember a 5'4' cutie that would knock your sox off. I think I will decline her friend request as I just hate the whole idea of that part of FB except to communicate with my kids and close family. I will still remember her as she was, I think.
Lion, I enjoyed the container ship video. I watched the next one as well which showed the inside of the hold. These ships just fill the horizon when they sail in here.
Time for a refill, I am on duty watching the girl, the wife is catching ZZZZs as she will be up all night.
Not sure what's for dinner, maybe we will order in.
All the best to all.
NorthBritBeen to the funeral of my late Uncle. He was the last of his generation.
Hi David,
Please accept my condolences on the loss of your Uncle.
Dianne and I have been through similar situations recently. My Aunt Mary passed away last fall. She was the last of six. Dianne's dad passed away a couple of years ago. He was the last of 12. It's part of life, but I don't like it.
Doughless I typically get stuck behind who has to ask 8 different questions about the sandwich options like its a made to order restaurant...like he's never been to a McDonalds before and doesn't know what they offer.
So I suppose that you wouldn't like getting stuck in the line at Dunkin where the customer asks the child what donut she'd like, either.
York1I made an n scale template of a bridge copied and traced onto paper. I'm not sure if this will be the final side view of one section, but it gives me a starting point.
The sketch looks great. It will help a lot. That's why I spend some time drawing things up on 3rdPlanIt. Usually I get the proportions pretty close on the first build. That's not always the case however. My first attempt at the steam engines for my snow plow didn't work out. They were too small. The nice thing about 3rdPlanIt is I don't have to re-draw the diagram. I can just blow it up a bit.
Cheers!!
P.S. Happy vacation!
SeeYou190Dealing with the general public can be a chore sometimes.
I hear you Kevin!
After I retired from Sears Canada I worked at Home Depot for a year or so part time. Ninety-five percent of the customers were great, but there were a few who tried to rub me the wrong way. One guy in particular wanted to order a house full of windows but he refused to explain exactly what measurements he was giving me. In fact he started to curse at me. I should have refused the order but instead I ordered the windows 3/8" short on all sides. A few weeks later the same customer came in absolutely screaming that his windows were too small, and he was demanding that I get fired on the spot! The bottom line was that the store manager accepted my explanation for what had happened and told the person that they would not be replacing his windows. I have to say that that was rather satisfying!
Hang in there!
Good evening everyone.
Today was actually a great day at work.
Sorry about being so grumpy yesterday.
Nothing else to say right now... I will see you all tomorrow.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Brunhilda.
Thanks, Dave. A Generation leaves. The next , remembers. Then realises they are the oldest.
Not interesrted in FB at all. Model Railroading, Canal Boats and Cruise Ships is enough computer time.
Speaking to the public all my working life was mainly stressful. The same for Dawn. When we retired there were times we hardly spoke. We both knew that saying not a word was golden.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
Good morning
I'm sorry to hear about your Uncle David.
I liked the video Lion and was also familiar with some of the RR equipment and the area. I didn't know Twin Cities & Western went out to the Dakotas but I do now
Never get tired of seeing that bridge Ed She's a doozy!
SeeYou190 Track fiddler Was battling the on-going problem posting with my phone. I definitely ain't Post Hog anymore. Scenery on the layout must be a nice new step. Congratulations on moving forward.
Track fiddler Was battling the on-going problem posting with my phone. I definitely ain't Post Hog anymore.
Hi Everyone,
Just dropping in to say hello.
Cements: I used to use Revell Type S for all styrene models and Ambroid for wood. Not that I was ever that good with wood. Unfortunately, neither one is available anymore. I never understood why Testors is the most common tube of plastic cement. It leaves these trails all over the place like a web. Really a mess. I tried the Testors liquid cement years ago. I didn't think it held very well. Small parts would always fall off. Plus, working with that stuff would get you dizzy if you weren't carefull.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good morning from the edge of the Salish Sea where the Sun is trying really hard to make an appearance.
Track fiddler Translucent wax paper over your drawing so you don't have to scrape lots of paper out of your joints when you're finished also helps alot.
Like this?
David, I am sorry to hear of the passing of your Uncle and I know what you mean about being the oldest generation, we are close to being there ourselves. Being in our forties having children, I am not sure whether I'll be around to see grandchildren.
I was very lucky in my Government job, I dealt with senior Government officials such as Ministers, senior military personnel, and consulate officials from a lot of different countries on a regular basis and always found them professional and appreciative of the job we would do. I needed that atmosphere for my sanity.
David, my wife, and I go for long periods of time at home or in the car without saying a word to each other, we don't need to as we seem to communicate well without saying a word. When I worked I was by myself probably 90% of the time which was perfect for me. I would drive to the airport and get out of my car and into my work truck without even going into the office. I could go a couple of weeks without seeing my boss or anyone else in the office.
NEWS FLASH the girl is starting to push! Film at eleven.
The hospital is set up in case we need to take her in for an emergency C-section. Doesn't happen too often, fortunately.
I Hope Charlie is managing the blizzard OK.
I think I better go and hold a paw as I am getting that look from Mama.
Good Morning,
Well the storm is raging, a lot of snow and wind. Most of the city has shut down. We are keeping busy sweeping areas of the patio for the Juncos, wife estimates 300 at times. She is worried we will run out of seed but we have 75 lbs. on hand. I don't think we will be able to go anywhere in the car until Sat.
Ed, have you talked with Ken lately? I often wonder how he and Dirk are doing.
I have been unsuccessful in tracking down Johnboy. It has been a few years since he disappeared.
Tired today as was up earlier than usual.
Interesting conversation about customers. I can relate having run my parents hardware store for a few years. The worst to deal with were the railroaders in town. They always wanted a large discount, seemed to think we operated on a 200% margin. When I ran the credit dept. I was called a few unprintable names and even threatened. I developed a very thick skin.
Time for lunch,
CN
IT"S A BOY!
IT'S A BOY!