It has done it again. This afternoon I was on the previous page. Now at the top.
TOP OF THE PAGE.
IMG_2255 by David Harrison, on Flickr
Good afternoon. A blustery day.
Not Italian, but two pieces of music I love.
Hope you do also.
Sailing By - by Ronald Binge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic0mjPpCsks&list=RDIc0mjPpCsks&start_radio=1&ab_channel=DannyW
and Elizabethan Serenade - by Ronald Binge. The first time I heard this it was sung in German
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4XgbIhlOvk&list=RDIc0mjPpCsks&index=2&ab_channel=MarinovanWakeren
and in German. Still got the record.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Had a follow up with my eye surgeon on Tuesday. I have had a noticeable decline in the vision in my surgically repaired eye since my last visit in August. He noted that the graft was healing as it was supposed to, but what was a small cataract in August is now a large cataract. The pressure in that eye has also increased to the point that I will need to put in drops twice a day.
I still have sutures in the eye that will come out in January; then the eye can be measured and tested in March in preparation for cataract surgery.
I am now in month 15 since the graft failed, and 10 months post op. I am looking at another 6 months before my eye can be corrected. That sounds really depressing, but I remind myself every day that modern medicine is able to correct everything that has gone wrong, it just takes time.
Cheers, Ed
Good evening
Thanks for sharing Mr B. Certaily must have been hard times losing your Dad, both of you at such a young age. We all love the best teachers that had the most impact building integrity and good fundamentals in us. One of those two teachers was Dad
Wising you the best with your corrective eye surgery TC.
Judy always pulls surprises out of her hat like she did after we got back from Fort Snelling today. She earned a free hotel room at the Bloomington Hilton for excellent work performance.
Not the biggest room we've had but nice. The funny thing is it's only three blocks from our place. We could have walked here if it hadn't got so darn cold so fast
There's a view of the Reserve and the Highland Park Ski Slopes. They're making snow over there.
The view to the north you can see the city of Minneapolis if you zoom in to the top right. It's about 11 miles away as you wouldn't be able to see it but we're on the 10th floor.
Have a great night gentleman
TF
Thanks, TF. I'll get through this. My wife carries the biggest burden, as she has to do all the highway driving. Living in SW Kansas, there is a lot of highway driving...
I seem to avoid the expressways like it's the plague when I can. Don't care if it takes longer to get somewhere as I'm not in a hurry anymore.
Rather be traveling like this though!
https://youtu.be/VQXRwKJJMRQ
Italy still has a number of classic steam trains in service. Here is an overall view:
https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/best-old-fashioned-train-rides-italy
Here are a few of the highlights:
The Sila Railway:
The D'orcia Valley train:
The Ritten Narrow Gauge railway:
The Buggerru's mine train:
You can read about each of these railways here:
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good night
Just stopped in to see what's cooking before hitting the rack. Not much as I see its been awfully quiet in here. Speaking of cooking, ...I wonder what David made for breakfast over there across the pond. Could go for a midnight snack
Nice Italian train pics Dave and nice ta see ya.
Well, that's about it as starting at 4:00 AM makes for a long day.
Nighty night Kids
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I got to thinking that I rather suspect that all service personnel, especially those who made up the “citizern armies”, would be very displeased with the current extreme divisiveness amongst ffolkes who should know better. It wasn’t what they were fighting for!
I sure hope recent events are at least a small sign that things may be returning what would be considered "normal" or at least trying to maintain an even keel.
“Let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
D.D.E. 1954
Dear old Dad:
JJT_181crop by Edmund, on Flickr
JJT_181st-inf by Edmund, on Flickr
I just passed his medals, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star among them, on to my older son. Honor and remembrance is the least we can do.
Regards, Ed
Benvenuti in Turin/Torino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRgrYfIR-MI&ab_channel=Revisionee
Stazione Porta Nuovo, Turin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP8ly9L4f58&ab_channel=CityExplorer4K
Back later.
Good morning!
I'm not usually up this early, and I certainly haven't started my coffee and taken my morning old man pills. But today the dishwasher is empty and the cats are fed. The GF has taken the dog to the kennel, and will be back shortly. I'll have breakfast ready to start (bacon, eggs and toasted too-healthy fancy English muffins). Bags are packed.
We're off on the Bourbon Trail! I'm not sure about the Wifi or how much downtime I'll have, so don't send out the St. Bernards for nine days. It's 70 degrees here in Delaware, but we've seen forecasts of snow for Kentucky.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good morning
Finally understand the sandpit Guess I was quite the talented engineer when just a young lad as well Bear
A nice photo of your Dad Ed. Well, that explains how you got your handsome looks then. Must give you a good feeling passing down some of your more meaningful Heritage.
Having an extended coffee this morning. The stuff in the lobby is better than the sticks and twigs in the room
Waiting for sleepy head to wake up so we can go down to get our free breakfast. She's known to sleep in on her day off. Especially after our friends showed up down the hall last night, ...She may have had a bit wilder one than me...
Hope I'm not repeating anyone's video and I do apologize if so.
https://youtu.be/LFb7lEGch6E
Have a great Saturday gentlemen
Track fiddlerGuess I was quite the talented engineer when just a young lad as well Bear
“Anybody can jump a motorcycle. The trouble begins when you try to land it.”-Evel Knievel
Torino/Turin.
For the car guys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upjIEmUiOf8&ab_channel=BerlinettaFilms
Sights of Turin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNnNmrufHrA&ab_channel=GoTravelPlanet
we got our first snow of the season today. 2 inches. which was 2 inches more than they said. this storm fooled the weather guessers. and surprise it has stayed around all day and not melted off.
moelarrycurly4we got our first snow of the season today.
One for TF:
5-15-21, BNSF ES44AC 6022 by OHFalcon72, on Flickr
BNSF must have had some leftover decals in their drawer?
Transport_Italia by Edmund, on Flickr
Enjoy your weekend —
Track fiddler Guess I was quite the talented engineer when just a young lad as well Bear I reckon we all were!! Though building sturdy bridges from sand was a challenge!!
Track fiddler Guess I was quite the talented engineer when just a young lad as well Bear
I reckon we all were!! Though building sturdy bridges from sand was a challenge!!
Track fiddlerNever seen a BNSF locomotive with all the road logos from which she came from Ed.....COOL!
Their 25th anniversary loco. Nice touch!
BNSF 6022 West by Sam Brodersen, on Flickr
Bnsf 6017.. by Shane, on Flickr
Ed
The Burlington Route was hiding and I couldn't make out the SP&S behind the railing on the first photo.... Now I can. That 25th anniversary BNSF Loco is SWEET!
Makes me wonder if I can find one of those in N scale
P.S. Clicked on to zoom in and found Sam's slideshow of all the different views
Track fiddlerMakes me wonder if I can find one of those in N scale
https://www.scaletrains.com/fox-valley-models-n-scale-ge-es44ac-bnsf-25th-anniversary-heritage-iii.html
Benvenuti in Torino.
Espresso coffee please, Brunhilda.
All this talk of snow.
Neve a Torino/Snow in Turin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeXHrhzrVYE&ab_channel=CityExplorer4K
Turin in a Year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V2Pfw_G9w0&ab_channel=RebinHadad
Steam Trains in Tuscany.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g__D0dNB2AI&ab_channel=d-uk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr5Cl69iwDU&ab_channel=d-uk
Good morning, everyone. Just black coffee, please. Donut Day.
Another busy day and busy week coming. It seems like the past week I have not had any free time.
It's 12°F this morning, but no snow. East and west of us it was white, but we stayed winter brown.
Two more funerals this coming week. I don't believe I've ever had this many funerals to attend in such a short time. Of course, my friends and I have never been this old, either.
About fifteen years ago, I had my parents, my in-law parents, and my oldest brother all died within 18 months of each other. That was not an easy time.
Hope everyone has a great day today.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Remembrance Sunday
f8bb09374941da4b8a15f868558f17e2--remembrance-sunday-deep-thoughts by David Harrison, on Flickr
Poppy Flowers Desktop Wallpapers 9 by David Harrison, on Flickr
I hear ya John. It used to be weddings we'd go to frequently when we were young. Now there's just too many funerals. Judy and I try to keep our chin up when we have to say goodbye to our loved ones is about all you can do.
Liked the Italian steamers David.
Haven't seen Brother Elias for almost a week. Perhaps him don't like the cold lately. Maybe some rare pot roast will entice him out of his den.
The potatoes are in there somewhere That ought to be good around 5:00 tonight
If that don't do it, perhaps the Northern Pacific Bismarck Bridge just to the east of him. That bridge has alot of history over there.
A really interesting video gentleman. I learned things I never knew about the construction of piers over a river. The job was hell as many men became permanently ill and even lost their lives building the pier foundations.
https://youtu.be/23dQrf6aSU4
Gotta be my favorite bridge I visit.
Have a great Sunday gentleman
P.S. Thanks for the link Bear. I would have never thought they'd come out with those in N scale but seen the release is April 30th, 23. That anniversary loco will look incredible with my pair of Green Machine SD40-2's pulling double stackers.
Hello everyone.
I am back at home, but need to go to work.
I will catch up tonight.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good Sunday evening from the land of endless sunshine. We had five months of no rain over the summer and after a few days of heavy rain and wind, it has been sunny. Not good for the snowpack that gives us all the best water you could want dirt cheap. Makes for perfect hiking weather though.
Bear, enjoyed the "Canadas Oldest" video, watched it twice, and will watch the other videos the guy has on tap.
November 11 is always a whole day of reflection for me. As a child I heard the stories of Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins that served in WWII and how my Grandfathers life had changed as a result of gas warfare in WWI. I still have most of my Grandfathers kit from WWI. Not caring and/or not bothering to vote is the ultimate insult to these heroes in my book.
I like the BNSF locos with the multi logos. We get a lot of BNSF traffic through here and I will be keeping my eyes open for these.
I think we are done painting. We painted the whole house inside in the last few months except for my trainroom and trainroom office. Maybe some other day for that. My Mom loved art and I inherited a few really nice pieces that she bought back in the 60s. I looked into selling them but the art galleries insist on reframing first and taking a big cut when sold. For what we would get in the end we decided to just hang on to them and enjoy them, which we do. It just bothers me to have that much money hanging on the walls. They got a very thorough, careful cleaning.
TF, it is nice to get those Hilton getaways. When my son was doing movie work and went out of town he got put up in some pretty nice digs. He went for a ten-day shoot once and got a penthouse suite all to himself. They brought him breakfast to the room every morning 90 minutes before his call time like clockwork. Even the booze was paid for. They had some whopper parties on that shoot.
When the wife was working we went to some conventions that were all paid for. A few times at the Hyatt in Maui and Kaui and four-day weekends in Whistler. I married the right woman.
I was just going to bed late Friday night (midnight) and noticed my son was on FB so I asked him why he was up so late. He said he was sitting in a plane on the ramp at the airport. Two hours earlier they decided to fly to Toronto to see his girlfriend's grandfather who lives 3 hours North of Toronto. They saw there were seats on a flight leaving in two hours and hopped the train to the airport booking the seats as they went. The old guy is not doing well and his GF wanted to see him. He was grumbling that the only rental car they could get was a minivan when they got to Toronto.
He is a chip off the old block when it comes to last-minute travel. I had my own parking spot at the terminal at the airport and months of banked time off available. I would get burned out and just tell the boss on a Friday that I would be back in 6 weeks or so and go climb on a plane Friday night without even going home. I always had my passport and a packed bag in the car. I remember once hopping on a plane to Sydney and was scuba diving on the barrier reef 56 hours later. Oh to be young and single again.
My neighbour and I went over to our other neighbour that has gone back to Taiwan to see his family as he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and has gone downhill a lot in six months. We both had the John Deeres going and mulching the leaves and cutting his 2 acres of lawn. Only took about 90 minutes but the joint looks lived in again. He will have to get a landscaper to look after the place or move, I hate getting new neighbours, especially when the one leaving is great.
I am enjoying Italy. The best train trip I ever took was from Zurich to Venice with a real babe I had met in New Zealand. It pays to travel.
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."
The World Is A Beauiful Place
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
A bridge on the mothballed “Stratford- Okahukura Line.”
That is a wonderful scene Bear. Thanks for sharing.
Benvenuti in Genova - Welcome to Genoa
Trains around Genoa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VVswcmU72M&ab_channel=denniscallan
Zecca Righi Funicular Railway, Genoa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mKWlgpeSXE&ab_channel=WooWooMad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hCo1OvNGiQ&ab_channel=renzooroboncoidi