Good morning
Took quite awhile this year but finally adjusted to that daylight savings time garbage. Wonder just how much time they actually think they saved, waking us up at 3:30 for weeks?
Didn't get as much snow as they said we could have at the tail of the ice storm....Yet! A lot of tree limbs are down from the weight of the ice though. Slickery out there. Need to slip and slide to the grocery to replace some Staples.
We like The Santa Claus with Tim the Tool Man over here as well Mike. Have a big stack of those Christmas DVD's. Bet my Daughters pick that one along with the Polar Express this year too.
We made Christmas cookies yesterday. Needless to say our sugar intake is up but they sure are tasty.
Going to work on re-configuring the deck girder bridges today so the piers can be sized, capped and painted.
Ya got your green here, Ya got your red there, Ya got your...
Christmas card Andrew Dierks
Happy Hump Day gentlemen
TF
Good Morning Diners. Brunhilda, scrambled eggs and bacon please.
My oldest is home from college and the family seems to be on a quest to get through a list of holiday movies. Sunday was some cheesy romantic comedy I avoided. Monday night it was White Christmas. Last night it was The Santa Clause. There are a handful I want to make sure I see each year, then after that, I'll catch what I can but don't make it a point to see them. The Polar Express is one on my list, as are White Christmas, The Grinch (w/ Jim Carrey), some version of A Christmas Carol, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story. Trying to get them in around everything else can be a challenge. No need to add to the list!
hon30critterDianne and I came home with 11 bottles of wine this morning as a result of winning 4th prize in the Christmas Wine Contest
Mike
P-C on the Curve:
Penn Central 4290, ex-PRR E8A by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
Tern arouns shot of Penn Central 4290 by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
As rough-n-tumble as it was, I really miss the Penn-Central era. Sorry to say, things really haven't improved much in fifty years.
NYC_25-Ani_0007 by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
CNCharlieWell the washing machine just died, water won't pump out.
Hi CNCharlie,
I hate having to deal with worn out appliances.
We had a funny thing happen when our previous washing machine (which was ancient) bit the dust. There was a small trickle of water coming out from under the washer so I decided to investigate. When I pulled the washer away from the wall I was shocked to discover that the casting that the drain hose was connected to stayed right where it was. It was so corroded that it simply fell off of the washer! Why it hadn't fallen off before and flooded the basement is a mystery.
By the way, Dianne and I came home with 11 bottles of wine this morning as a result of winning 4th prize in the Christmas Wine Contest at the Probus Club. We now have a very interesting selection of both red and white wines in the house!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Again, funny how we can remember stuff like that through the years. Was reading the lyrics trying to put a melody to it and was doing pretty good but then...
You needed a little more separation before the part about the washing machine. Was trying to make sense of it thinking it was the chorus of the jingle until It dawned on me reading a little further down.
Sorry to hear your wife is still having problems with anxiety. Thats gotta be tough.
Latch your shutters and warn the others! The rain is turning into a sleet and snow mix now and will be working its way to your neck of the woods.
I'll have a glass of that rum witcha Charlie.
Cheers
TF,
Don't wait for spring do it now,
When there are men who know how,
If the job is interior
And the work is superior
Don't wait for spring , do it now.
Well the washing machine just died, water won't pump out. It makes noise but nothing happening. It is too old to fix. Problem is my wife won't allow anyone in the house to deliver a new one, never mind shopping for it. She is afraid they will bring covid in the house. Not sure what to do.
Storm supposed to hit tomorrow.
I need a big glass of that Pusser's rum
CN Charlie
Good evening
Was able to post on some other threads this afternoon but was getting 403 Forbidden here.
Love the Polar Express movie too Brent. I'm going to see it with my daughters on Sunday as they like to watch that one every year.
Congratulations with rewards as a result of being a great parent. That's a lot to be proud of with your Son. Almost got a tear in my eye just reading about it. That sort of thing is about the best there is, making it all worthwhile.
I got my hatches shut tight Charlie! It started to hit a couple hours ago. Started with a steady rain and will be followed by sleet, topped off with snow through the night here. Sounds like some kind of ice cream treat That should make a delightful hockey rink with the frosting on top of the roads and highways.
I'd love to see that Canadian commercial of the 50's, promoting people to get their inside jobs done in the winter. That's funny you still remember the jingle. Seem to remember old ditties and jingles from way back when as well. I'll start singing one of those silly tunes out of the blue sometimes and Judy busts a gut. Wish you could find that old commercial and post it my friend.
Have a great evening gentlemen
PS Had to drop my winter train pic to get it to work. Maybe I'll give it another shot later.
BATMANGot some Emails asking if I heard my son on a podcast last night, I had not but I was told to listen to a certain part so I did. The host said to him, you are doing well and are pretty high up in the corporate world for a 24-year-old, who is your hero, who do you really admire, and who has influenced you the most? The kid said, my Dad, my Dad, my Dad. He is the first person I call if I am having a bad day or have to make a tough decision. I admit a tear or two flowed when I heard that.
You done good Brent!!
Five and half minutes of sheer beauty (imo).
Stockholm to Narvik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYdlJUvth3I&ab_channel=RalphBrouwer
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good evening Diners. A glass of Pusser's Rum please, Flo. I'll leave the bottle for anyone who requires.
IMG_4996 by David Harrison, on Flickr
Music. Always loved music. Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Records, radio, anything that played music. Still do. Classical, pop, rock, jazz, whatever. Music is played all day in the house. Cannot play an instrument. Cannot read music. Sing really badly. Love music.
Finland
Rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village) to Tampere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVBIegvf5LE&ab_channel=SimonAndersen
Kajaani to Helsinki.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu_yOqFj3eo&ab_channel=NonstopEurotrip
Today's request.
Burger, Onion Rings, and British Chunky Chips (Chunky Fries).
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
Good morning from the sunny West Coast where it is 0c.
TF, love the Polar Express pic. It's our favourite movie. We watch it every Christmas eve. We put the Blu-ray in as it has much more audio encoded onto it than you get over the streaming service. When that train starts to rumble in my 18" subwoofers make it an enjoyable experience.
Got some Emails asking if I heard my son on a podcast last night, I had not but I was told to listen to a certain part so I did. The host said to him, you are doing well and are pretty high up in the corporate world for a 24-year-old, who is your hero, who do you really admire, and who has influenced you the most? The kid said, my Dad, my Dad, my Dad. He is the first person I call if I am having a bad day or have to make a tough decision. I admit a tear or two flowed when I heard that.
When I was a kid my Mom taught piano and voice and did some professional work as well. She had a role in an opera that came to Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre which has 2600 seats. I was probably five years old and had to go along as rehearsals were every day during the week. She said I could go anywhere in the theatre but not outside. I ran all over that theatre and stuck my nose through a door up at the back of the theatre that turned out to be the control room. The guy saw me and said come on in. It was where the spotlights were controlled and where the button that opened and close the stage curtain was pushed. He let me push a lot of buttons during those rehearsals but the biggie was opening and closing the curtain. His name was Warren and I still think of him 60 years on.
We just finished the last of all the stuff my wife grew in the garden this year. It's back to store-bought. Had prime rib with a nice Australian Cab-Sav last night and get leftovers tonight.
My wife owns and/or co-owns a lot of dogs that live with other people so every couple of months we get about 900lbs of dog food delivered and they all come and get it. Today is that day. My afternoon is planned so I need to get out for my scoot with my buddy soon, he is lying on my feet giving me that look. I can't imagine life without a dog, I have never not had one.
My favourite line in The Polar Express that I have repeated to my kids more than a few times when they have stalled.
"The thing about trains, it doesn't matter where they're going, what matters is deciding to get on".
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Good Morning,
Another warm cloudy day here. Well I guess 'warm' is relative, for us it is 30F. Expecting to get the edge of that big storm to the south. I hope TF has batten down the hatches.
I'm off to do some errands this afternoon.
TF, I remember a cartoon ad and jingle they played onTV here inthe late '50 to encourage winter indoor work, Don't wait for spring do it now. I can still sing the whole thing, must have made an impression. At least you can still pick up work. Not much call for a retired commercial credit manager.
My mother was a musician. She had a degree in piano performance. She taught piano for many years. She also learned to play a pipe organ. None if her takents rubbed off on me.
Interesting about your music career Ray and thanks for sharing. Had a stong interest in music back in my school days. Loved music then and still do. Had talked to the school counselor about different schools but it never went any further than that. Immediately was discouraged by guidance members of my family so never did follow that dream.
Fourty years later, my body is all beat up by taking the role as a lifetime carpenter in the construction trades. My Grandfather, a wealthy man, payed for us grandchildren's school and tried to talk me into dropping out of carpentry to pursue architecture. There is no coulda shoulda woulda, but sometimes one can't help but wonder how things may have turned out going another way.
Never heard of a musician or architect (having to) soak in the hot tub after work
Attuvian1 Ah, Track Fiddler, the tempter. How long will it take for LION to come out of his lair?
GMTRacing Ah TF - Lion bait?
Ah TF - Lion bait?
Ya know, ...The Lion with his set apart character and "Far Side" humor, I've grown accustomed to through the years here. Just feels like a big part of normalcy is missing when he's not around. Also like to recap on my childhood Sunday School lessons when he speaks of what's going on at the Abbey
Well, just like always this time of year, nobody wants work done in their home. Got the plumbing repairs done in the building but haven't repaired the water damage on the ceilings below, except for in the halls.
Something about this time of year never understood. Work always came to a screeching halt in the Winter, especially during holiday season. Always planned ahead for that scenario and thank goodness one has a hobby to fill in the lull time.
Then in the Spring people would call to have their basements finished, when there's more outside work then one can shake a stick at. Who wants to be a cellar dweller when it's beautiful outside and the birds are singing...
Alamy
Have a good Taco Tuesday gentlemen
Good Morning All,
18F this morning with the 4"of s**w from Sunday still very much in evidence on the ground. Drs appointment this morning so I got in a bit early so I can get something done before leaving for my appointment. Just a regular to go please.
Car club dinner at West Points Thayer Hotel Sunday was nice. Got to see some friends and just spend a few hours relaxing. Got home in time to see the s**w really start to come down. West Point was really buzzing because of their win in double overtime over Navy. Oh well, wait til next year.
David - Sorry to hear about Dawns friend. Must have been quite a shock.
Time to get some stuff done. Ciao, J.R.
Good morning Diners. Another cold day. A large coffee with a shot of brandy please, Janie.
East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials. 11 Dec. 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dP-ONl5N70&ab_channel=T.M.Railways
6233 Duchess of Sutherland 11th Dec. 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5AjG2zo1Hw&ab_channel=TheSouthWesternTurbo159
Good Morning Diners. Flo, coffee with a little Bailey's mixed in.
We got an unexpected $500 vet bill yesterday. By chance, my wife stayed home sick yesterday and mid-morning texted me saying one of our dogs had to go to the vet hospital as he was bleeding out of/by his butt. Turns out he has an infected anal gland (sorry, I know there is food being served here) that burst out through his skin. Several medications to treat it and three follow up visits scheduled. This one is going to hurt the 'ol wallet. He's already battling heart disease, so all this means five medications in the morning and six at night for a while. Now, he also has periodontal disease, so all the pills have to be crushed up and mixed with soft food. Since he has decided he is above canned dog food, he eats like a king.
Somewhere in Switzerland:
You bet it's cold!
rr12596 by George Hamlin, on Flickr
You can hear the snow crunching under your soles...
rr12597 by George Hamlin, on Flickr
Brrrr — Ed
“Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings.”-Robert Benchley.
We actually got some good news today!
Dianne and I are members of the Probus Club which is a social club for seniors. They organize all sorts of interesting events including trips, dinner parties, monthly speakers etc. etc....
One of the things they do is have a wine contest each Christmas. Everyone who wishes to participate contributes one bottle of decent quality wine and a draw is held to determine the five winners. This year there are 78 bottles up for grabs. Each day, for the 11 days preceeding the draw, several names are eliminated so by the end of the 11 days there are only four people left (everyone's name goes back in for the fifth place draw). Dianne is still in the draw for one of the first four prizes!! That guarantees us at least 15 bottles of good wine, and if she gets 1st prize, we we will get 23 bottles! How's that for a stocking stuffer!!! We will have to buy another wine rack!
We’ve been eating summer greens from the garden for the past few weeks, but tonight some of the zucchinis were ready to pick, so made some “Zucchini Surprise”
Hi Bear,
Congratulations on your green thumb! We love eating produce from our own gardens (read 'Dianne's gardens' - I just watch and enjoy). Some of her plantings were hugely successful, like the jalepenos of which she harvested several dozen, and others were really good but not in the quantities that we had hoped for (we don't have a lot of space). Swiss chard is a favouite, and I love the beets. I wish we had a heated greenhouse. Romaine lettuce is currently $9.00 Cdn for three small stocks!
In contrast to your summer weather, we got several inches of snow last week and we are expecting a bunch more starting on Wednesday. There is a huge storm working its way across North America. Fortunately we never get it as bad as some areas like Niagara, where they can get several feet in a single event.
Enjoy the weather!
Attuvian1Added observation: I do note that it was likely "staged" in at least one respect:
John, If you click the photo and go to the Flickr site you can often get additional photo information as to dates and photographer's comments.
Union Pacific No. 618 hauls a freight toward the Edwards Lane grade crossing, where a 1949 Chevy pickup waits for its passing. This photo freight is part of a winter photo shoot on Utah's Heber Valley Railroad on February 6, 2007.
See all of Mike's uploads at his Flickr gallery here (almost 3,300 photos):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikedanneman/
The Beilhack HB 1200S Snowblower control console:
Beilhack CN-3 by marche ou crève, on Flickr
At least a few of these mean-looking machines have been imported for North American use.
CSX MWK SB1000 Worcester MA 26 Jan 2005 20050126S-3 by Dick Leonhardt, on Flickr
CSX MWK SB1000 Worcester MA 26 Jan 2005 20050126S-4 by Dick Leonhardt, on Flickr
Well, a trip to the 'net did reveal that Mike was with Trains magazine from '90-'95. Which answers a number of questions here. But in some ways makes these shots even more impresive. I wish there was more about him as a person on line. Apparently nothing on background right off under Wikipedia.
gmpullman Cold, but cool! Storming towards Heber—1 by Mike Danneman, on Flickr Storming towards Heber—2 by Mike Danneman, on Flickr Cheers, Ed
Cold, but cool!
Storming towards Heber—1 by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Storming towards Heber—2 by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
I'd like some basic information about Mike Danneman. Yeah, I could go first to the 'net and see what's there, but . . .
At first glance, these two pictures have such vividness, clarity, and definition to make me think they were taken long after steam went out of style. Even if this was a local in Utah ("Heber"?), the crossbuck for the grade crossing is old style. I think the house could easily be something before the 60s. And if I'm right, it looks like and early or mid-50s Chevy or Ford pickup - that looks almost new. In short, if this was staged with a restored steamer (very few of which I have seen hauling freight drags) and a beautifully restored vehicle, this makes these generations old photos. If so, what did Danneman use to produce shots like these? I am always amazed with his - art.
John (the Attuvian variety)
Added observation: I do note that it was likely "staged" in at least one respect: Farmer Frank whould have had plenty of time to cross the tracks prior to the arrival of the train. Unless he was a railfan from a previous generation!
Evenin' Folks!
Track fiddlerSounds cool you sung in the Opera Ray.
Well... A deep subject. I was a voice major at Eastman School of Music way back when (Public School Music major). Studied with Anna Kaskas, lead contralto at the Metropoliton before she became a professor of voice. My junior year I became a student of John Malloy, who was the lead Tenor at La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy before he came to Eastman. Herr Maloy used to yell at me constantly because I was to become a Public School Music teacher and not become a Bass Baritone singing professionally. The final compromise was that I would have my teaching career and then he would get me singing engagements up and down the East Coast of the US that would be major $$$$ engagements. Unfortunately he passed away while I was still teaching and my owning a Pro Sound/Live Sound reinforcement company, DJ, and Recording business did in my hearing big time! ;)
I do still hold a record at Eastman School with a guy named Mitch Miller. You know him as the "Sing Along" guy, but at Eastman he was considered to be the finest Oboeist living when he was a student there. Mitch Miller and I are still the only two Undergraduate Education Majors to ever have our name in Lights on Eastman Theater.
He as a soliost with the Eastman Philharmonia and I as the Bass Soloist for the Kodaly Te Deum with the Eastman School Chorus and The Eastman Philharmonia.
OK.... Bragging done! I did, during my career, perform as a solist with several local Orchestras over the years before getting to the point where I was too deaf to do that. I do miss perfoming on stage!!!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Opera? Opera?
Is that not a Browser for your Computicator?
LION *is* sophisticated! Him went to see the Bolshoi at Lincoln Center.
Tickets were only $50.00, but then that was fifty years ago.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good morning from the sunny and warm West Coast.
Heard a thump and upon checking it out realized Frosty had dodged a bullet. Once I finish my coffee I'll hook up the truck and pull it off the road.
When my daughter was very little, we took her to a lot of plays and musicals. Our school system had an excellent music director and orchestra, so just a junior high production was a big deal. We started with Peter Pan, and eventually ended up in Boston for Cats. For a girl of five, seeing Peter and Wendy flying above her was quite a thrill.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good afternoon
Sounds cool you sung in the Opera Ray. Sang in the choir in both junior high school and the church back in the day.
The name of our choir teacher in school was Mr Sundt and we practiced all 4 quaters to have a big recital at the end of the year. It was called (Twenty for 20), as it was 20 songs and the choir teachers last year of 20, before retirement.
Funny how one can still remember all the words of the favorite songs from way back then.