Good morning, Diners! Janie, I brought some cinnamon rolls in (hide the extras so the late-risers can have some too).
I'll have one of those, plus some waffles, cup of coffee and a glass of Ed's OJ, please.
Have some fog this morning, but the rain might have stopped here. Supposed to hit the mid-80's (F) today (about 29 C.), and it's 67 F with 93 percent humidity currently and no wind.
Since it's Saturday, laundry to be done. Then I'll need to do some sorting, reorganizing and tossing of stuff that's been boxed up way too long. Oh yeah, need to vaccuum and clean the bathroom (oh, whoopee...). It is payday - just checked my bank account online and it's in there. (Does a quick happy dance....
Jeff & Dick, good to hear both of your lightning strikes will/have been covered by the surge protector company. I've been fortunate in that my present place has the underground power lines (just those little green boxes on the ground out in the back - or that might be the phone company's) our power comes in under the ground and comes up by the building where the meters are. Dick, as you're the EE guy, I've guessed that a lightning strike would self-ground before it got to my apartment building since it goes underground. Is that close to the truth, or have I just been foolin' myself, and I've been lucky so far?
I'm also going to make myself get the dining room table cleared off so I can solder those leads on - you know, guys, the ones I've been trying to do for the past week or two (seems like years...). I will get myself onto that today!
Janie, those waffles were good! Left you a tip on the table. Better get it before someone else comes in.
Hope Fergie gets some calmer seas and the rest of us landlubbers have some good trains time today. Prayers for those with health and other concerns. I am so glad it's the weekend (and payday)!
Oh yeah, and I see I got the TOP honors today, so Janie, keep me a total. I'll be back later to settle up and/or do dishes. Be nice guys, I have to pay the rent out this paycheck.
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Good Morning All
Another cold day on the Briny Ocean Tossed. Shaken but not stirred. Not a bad day out here 2-3 metre seas, picked up and dropped another mooring in 2000m+ water.
Anyway we're here!
Garry: They will be 2-10-2's as the available clearance was a tad too short. I can live with that as this will be grunters on the spur lines hauling ore. I changed the trailing trucks to something I prefer and I'm happy with the results.
Dick: Real time imagery eh?! Wait till summer and you may catch us sunbathing.. Hubba Hubba!
Well I'm ready for clear coating and after that will be assembly and just in time to pack up and head home.
Anyway I must run
fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
JimRCGMO wrote: Jeff & Dick, good to hear both of your lightning strikes will/have been covered by the surge protector company. I've been fortunate in that my present place has the underground power lines (just those little green boxes on the ground out in the back - or that might be the phone company's) our power comes in under the ground and comes up by the building where the meters are. Dick, as you're the EE guy, I've guessed that a lightning strike would self-ground before it got to my apartment building since it goes underground. Is that close to the truth, or have I just been foolin' myself, and I've been lucky so far?
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
good morning all!
Its after work for me just finished up a 12 hour shift. Thought I stop in and say hi!
Got nothing planed today except sleep if Im not on this thing for the next 5 hours
J.W.
I'll have some of those delicios looking cinnamon buns and some waffles with rasberry syrup. To drink? oh I'll have some apple juice.
I've been enjoying the reviews how about you fellows?
anyways after I'm finished with reviews Ill have to get the supports all cut up and placed then bynext week all the track will be down permanently!.
JimRCGMO wrote: Jeff & Dick, good to hear both of your lightning strikes will/have been covered by the surge protector company. I've been fortunate in that my present place has the underground power lines (just those little green boxes on the ground out in the back - or that might be the phone company's) our power comes in under the ground and comes up by the building where the meters are. Dick, as you're the EE guy, I've guessed that a lightning strike would self-ground before it got to my apartment building since it goes underground. Is that close to the truth, or have I just been foolin' myself, and I've been lucky so far?Oh yeah, and I see I got the TOP honors today, so Janie, keep me a total. I'll be back later to settle up and/or do dishes. Be nice guys, I have to pay the rent out this paycheck. Jim in Cape Girardeau
JIM, lightening bolts can carry millions of volts of electrical energy depending upon the buildup of electrical charge between earth and the cloud above. It does not matter whether or not the power lines, or any lines, such as Cable, Telephone, etc. are underground. If the bolt hits a the lines on the poles, it follows the lines right to a source of grounding. There is NO protective device that can withstand a direct hit of a high energy bolt of lightening. Just look at substations with all their lightening rods and grounding, ey they still get hit, and get knocked right off line. The best way to protect any of your electrical appliances during an electrical storm, is to UNPLUG them. We had a terrible storm years ago, and we live on a hill at 1000 feet elevation. I thought the house was going explode the thinder was so loud and lightening was hitting all around us. I have an electrical transfer switch that I installed back in 1967 when I built this house. The intended purpose was to use a generator for power outages. By code, you must prevent the generator from backfeeding out onto the lines so that you don't kill a lineman on the poles, so I have to physically throw the knife-switch to the generator position which cuts me off from the outside power company. I was able to throw this switch during this bad storm, and several more over the years, to isolate my house from the powerline and therefore any possible damage from hits on the powerline.
Lightening can hit water lines, and follow them right into your home. Have you ever wondered why they tell you not to take a bath/shower, or use the sink with running water during an electrical storm? The pipes are buried in the ground, yet people have been killed in their homes by electrical charges that followed the water lines. And they are grounded aren't they! There're buried 4 feet deep!!!
The bottom line...lightening bolts can split trees in half, cause them to burst into flames, etc. That takes tremendous amounts of energy. Nothing is safe when a lightening bolt hits it's target. We can only do just so much, but by following accepted safety rules, we can really cut down the possibility of damage or injury.
FERGIE: The eyes of the satellite will be checking you out this summer!!! LOL
Just waltzing through today. Didn't get the FA at the museum lifted back onto its' trucks as the towing guys need some 40,000 lb cap. spreader bars fabricating. Not sure I have the tube to do them either though it didn't come up as a question. Probably best to let them make their own out of I beam. Spent a couple of hours checking the bolts and plates on a couple of tracks in the yard and fixing (again) the range selector on the dump truck, then here (w..k) to make parts for a Lotus 7. Right now I,m waiting for the shift lever I just bent to cool off so I can refit it. I need to piece together a headlight rim for one of the 44 tonners later and maybe rework a spike setter if I get really ambitious. No end of projects.
The damage from lightening strikes is amazing. I hadn't heard of the electricity running through the plumbing pipes. I'd always figured it jumped to the fixtures through adjacent wiring runs. Good to know though we're not in the habit of showering during lightning storms. Too easy to end up burnt medium rare, no?
Back to it so I can get some time tomorrow for the layout. CUL, J.R.
GMTRacing wrote: The damage from lightening strikes is amazing. I hadn't heard of the electricity running through the plumbing pipes. I'd always figured it jumped to the fixtures through adjacent wiring runs. Good to know though we're not in the habit of showering during lightning storms. Too easy to end up burnt medium rare, no?
I had a friend hit by lightning several years back on the golf course. He survived after a few days in intensive care. Long term impacts, fortunately, were minimal (some hearing loss).
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Evenin, I'll have a barley pop please Flo.
Got back from a fish fry down ta the campground abit ago and found the dinner on page 2. So just a quick stop for now.
Catch ya'll laters
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
Good evening, Janie - just a quick stop for me. A go cup of decaf, please. Thanks! Hmmm... the damage for today's tab wasn't too bad - but then again, it looks like everyone was in their train rooms instead of online, from the times of the posts. Here's my plastic for what the day crew ate up.
Thanks for the electrical info, Dick - I guess we've just been lucky on the storms. Though maybe our odds are marginally better since we're down between two ridges (and there's a power substation on the western side of one hill from us). But as you say, if a lightning strike hits, it'll go where it durn well wants to go... I don't take showers or even sit on the toilet if there's a storm around, just to be safe.
Went by Hobby Lobby today with my online coupon from their site (40 percent off any one item), but only found some Woodland Scenics figures (engineers) to save on. Got that, and a package of WS's burnt grass scenery material. I was going to get a nice set of detail and other brushes, but couldn't find a set like I was wanting. Shame when I can't find MRR stuff that I want to buy.
Went by the art/LHS place, and they'd trimmed down the shelf space for their MRR stuff. (Pooh!) If they don't get some more stuff in soon, I don't think I'll be going back there. Didn't make it to the other (not-as-local) LHS.
I was looking at some possible 19 to 22" wide screen LCD monitors today. Went by Staples and BestBuy (whose prices weren't that...), and checked online. Staples actually had one of the best prices on a 19" one - they had an Acer 19" wide screen (must've been special purchase, I guess) that was about $150, which seemed pretty good to me. I also was looking for a replacement USB keyboard, but apparently cordless is the fashion, so I only saw one or two, and they weren't what I wanted.
Looks like the Cardinals forgot how to play like in Thursday's game. They lost today to the Astros 13-zero. (Ouch!)
Speaking of Texas: Rob L., Paul and Trent (and any other Texans in the Diner) - you'd better watch out; looks like there's a strong front, with lots of tornado watches/warnings from the Panhandle up through the KC area. The storms are moving almost due north (not much easterly movement at all). Our weatherguessers say this one isn't moving our way soon, and may just fall apart before it gets to Missouri. Take care of yourselves there, Paul and Trent and Rob L. - watch out!
I'd better be heading home and catching some shuteye. See everyone tomorrow.
Blessings and stay safe,
I already ate so I'll just have a strawberry milkshake.
I've been kinda busy with the subscriber only stuff today. So I didn't have time to cut the supports but I did get a good bit of stuff done today.
And yes it has been a bit slow today.
Mornin, just coffee Janie, gotta grandson here, so gotta wait till he gets up for breakfast.
Didn't get much done on the wiring, sun came out sooner than forecast, went to mowing n such, not going to get much done on it today either. We're going up to Paris this afternoon for some food shopping and watch Michael's [grandkid] last flag football game, he's playing quarter back this game.
Best get around on chores or won't get nothing else done. Hope ya''ll has a gooden n take cares
inch
Good morning ! from Indiana.
05-06-07
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good morning everyone.......partly cloudy and very chilly 46F this morning after hitting 39 before daybreak.....the last in a series of cold Canadian HIGHS coming south. By Tuesday it is going to be in the 80's.
Picked up the slide locks that I am going to use on the underside of the swing-down bridge on the layout. I hope these work OK for alignment of the tracks, if not, I will have to design an adjustable locking mechanism that will allow for track alignment.
While at the store, we also picked up the tomato plants along with other veggie plants for the garden, but they will not go into the ground for two more weeks yet. Last year we waited too long to buy them and the selection was sparse.
The pool cover came off yesterday also, the temp of the water was 62F, too cold for me yet, I need at least 70F......62F (17C) would be bathwater for FERGIE,LUC and DER JOHN, and icewater for FLIP, ED, PAUL,RYAN, and JEFF, maybe also for Cape JIM, PC, MIKE, and GARRY.....not too sure about DUKE in Michigan, they are pretty rugged guys up there in the Lakes region.
CAPE JIM: I have not heard of anyone being blown off the "John" by a lightening strike hitting the water pipes, however, I did read where a man was sent to the hospital after he dropped his cigarette into the toilet while sitting there reading the newspaper. It seems that he had been working on a project and foolishly dumped the alcohol residue into the toilet bowl. One might say that was a rising experience!!! LOL
TIFN
Holy Smokes look... Up the Sky! It's it's (I can't believe it!) THE SUN!!!!!
But don't blink
The winds are calm but there is a big old slow and lazy swell running to day so it's Up and down Up and and across and... you get the picture?
Got the Engines Clear coated last night and one Diseasel assembled along with "501". She's looking mighty fine!
grayfox1119 wrote: The pool cover came off yesterday also, the temp of the water was 62F, too cold for me yet, I need at least 70F......62F (17C) would be bathwater for FERGIE,LUC and DER JOHN, and icewater for FLIP, ED, PAUL,RYAN, and JEFF, maybe also for Cape JIM, PC, MIKE, and GARRY.....not too sure about DUKE in Michigan, they are pretty rugged guys up there in the Lakes region.
I'm thinking Sauna myself! We'll be heading back to St John's tomorrow right straight through Ice Berg Alley. Anyone need ice for their drinks?
Fergie
Good morning. I will have some of Jim's cinnamon rolls and coffee.
I worked alot last week and didn't even turn the computer on some of the days. You guys have sure been busy because it took me a while to catch up.
I planted a bunch of trees on the layout, but I am having trouble getting any pictures that I like. Maybe I will try again later today.
I am also working on some spring cleaning.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Good morning and top 'o' the day to all of ye.
We've got the May Fest going on in Leesville at present, so the main street (Third Street) of the business district is filled with arts and crafts booths, snack stands, live bands (mostly country), a street carnival, car shows, etc. This stretches out for over half a mile. The May Fest started in Leesville 31 years ago as a half day celebration of spring and through the years has gotten bigger and more popular. It now goes for three days and nights and is the hottest ticket in town that has seen such notables as Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George Bush (both of them) stop in and join in for the festivities. There have also been several famous book authors, movie actors, etc. For the last two nights there has been dancing in the streets, which in a city of approx 10,000 turns into a real event!
Today's Weather for: Sundown, LA 71446-6114 5/6/2007
Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
Heat Index: 79°FHumidity: 92%Dew Point: 72°F
So Far TodayHigh: 75°FLow: 74°FRain: 0.00"Rain Rate: 0.00"/hGust: 18mph SSE
Today High: 88 Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight Low: 68 Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. Southeast winds around 10 mph in the evening becoming light and variable. I'll have chili today.
I went down to third street today to get some pics of the may fest vendors area before the festivities start for the final day. These pics represent only a small area. In the condition I'm in there's no way I could walk from one end of the area to the other. That's almost half a mile, one way. Enjoy the pics.
Yesterday, May 5th, the MC called on and recognized the area fire departments and issued them certificates of appreciation for their heroic efforts. In 1907 the downtown districts of Leesville and Rosepine were almost destroyed by fire. It was through the selfless efforts of these people that the two cities were saved.
Hi Zoe, a root beer float this afternoon, please. Thanks!
Grayfox wrote:CAPE JIM: I have not heard of anyone being blown off the "John" by a lightening strike hitting the water pipes, however, I did read where a man was sent to the hospital after he dropped his cigarette into the toilet while sitting there reading the newspaper. It seems that he had been working on a project and foolishly dumped the alcohol residue into the toilet bowl. One might say that was a rising experience!!! LOL
Actually, Dick, that sounds like one email joke I got a while back - one of those long, shaggy dog stories in which the poor guy has the worst possible luck, multiple times in the same day...
Jeff, that looks like one huge festival - a person could wear himself/herself out just trying to cover half of those booths, food and all. I'm with you, my mouth was watering just looking at the one lady's spread of jams Pun? What pun? I liked the stained glass booth, too. So that's your department's badboy truck, huh? Do you have any buildings that tall in your area? That thing is lllllonnnnnggggg, for sure!
Fergie, if you can bring a small iceberg, Zoe said they have a horse watering tank out the back door that you can put it in. Then you and DerJohn and Luc can go swimming at a comfortable temp. You're making great progress on the projects, from the sounds of it, swells, or no swells. (Up, and down, and port, and starboard, and fore, and aft... 'scuse me - I think I need to get to the bathroom, quick!).
Need to get back to some projects I have this afternoon, so I'll see everyone later.
JimRCGMO wrote: Jeff, that looks like one huge festival - a person could wear himself/herself out just trying to cover half of those booths, food and all. I'm with you, my mouth was watering just looking at the one lady's spread of jams Pun? What pun? I liked the stained glass booth, too. So that's your department's badboy truck, huh? Do you have any buildings that tall in your area? That thing is lllllonnnnnggggg, for sure!
Hello everybody.......
Jeff........ thanks for sharing the local May Fest with us. I enjoyed the photos of it.
Sue ....... as long as you're Spring cleaning, please stop by. Our garage is ready for Spring cleaning.
As I shared with everybody we had dinner in Frankenmuth, MI last week. It was Shelley and I and Shelley's sister and her husband. Shelley's sister had trouble eating and some stomach pains. She said this was bothering her for several weeks. Finally (after family members prodding) she saw a doctor. Turned out to be serious. She's been in hospital past 2 or 3 days. Looked like possible cancer the way preliminary tests were reading. Fortunately, it was not cancer however. The mass of stuff making stomach to be 3 times too big was not a tumor. It was food that could not pass by a major ulcer in lower part of stomach. It's treatable and she will recover. It was a big scare for the family over past couple of days awaiting medical test results.
Lesson learned...... don't ignore symptoms. Get medical help when it's needed.
Have a nice afternoon, diners.
Good evening to all....spent the better part of the afternoon with friends, their grandaughter received her First Communion...very nice time.
Then it was home and trying to get the 2nd, 20 year old yard tractor started for the 1st time this season. After a 30 min battery charge, and a little rap on the fuel pump, she started. But the rear tire was flat as pancake and not looking good after 20 years of hard work. It looks like I had better replace this tire before it blows out just when I need it the most this summer. I expect this to be $$$ as it is a 23X9.50, 12" tire on the rear.
JEFF: That May event looks like a real fun time!!! Plenty of eats I imagine. I noticed that you live in Leesville, but you are on another fire dept, is it a section of Leesville? Our town has about 10,500 people in Leicester, which consists of three sections of town, Cherry Valley, Leicester Center area, and Rochdale. So is Sundown a section of Leesville?
FERGIE: How long will you be in port?
CAPE JIM: Yes, I had received at least three of those type emails in the past, but one event did indeed happen here locally with a flamable liquid in the toilet.....some people just aren't the sharpest tools in the tool-shed.
grayfox1119 wrote: JEFF: That May event looks like a real fun time!!! Plenty of eats I imagine. I noticed that you live in Leesville, but you are on another fire dept, is it a section of Leesville? Our town has about 10,500 people in Leicester, which consists of three sections of town, Cherry Valley, Leicester Center area, and Rochdale. So is Sundown a section of Leesville?
Jeff wrote:No, it's not ours. It belongs to the Leesville fire dept, I'm with the Sundown fire dept. We don't have anything THAT big! The tallest building in Leesville is the court house. It's 4 stories.
No, it's not ours. It belongs to the Leesville fire dept, I'm with the Sundown fire dept. We don't have anything THAT big! The tallest building in Leesville is the court house. It's 4 stories.
I was wondering, since I hadn't seen anything in your photos of taller buildings than the courthouse. So Leesville is a suburb of Sundown, huh?
Oh yeah, Jeff, thanks for dinner! Zoe, I think I'll be nice to Jeff and only have some ribs and some fries - I could smell those ribs cooking all the way up the block here - Yum!
Zoe, I think I may need a few more napkins, these ribs are so good. Oh yes, and a Dr. Pepper too, please. Thanks again. Mmmm, chomp, chomp....
That certainly hit the spot. I'll just sit here in the window booth and watch the trains while I finish up my Pepper. Yes indeed - a grand afternoon.
Blessings on your endeavors today,
JimRCGMO wrote: So Leesville is a suburb of Sundown, huh?
So Leesville is a suburb of Sundown, huh?
David Parks I am the terror that flaps in the night!
Evening Gang: I wasn't able to post yesterday. I guess it was the work being done on the forums. We worked on the yards yesterday and today. The entire yard had to be lifted to expose all the rotten ties, and there were a lot of them. We must have replaced 500+ ties in all. We also added a siding and ballasted and leveled the tracks and raised the ends to keep the rolling cars from hitting the bumpers hard. All it took was all those ties and maybe a couple of tons of ballast. All in all just a normal weekend on a 7.5 nch gauge layout. ( Ho is alot less work.)
Tonight I have to get the drain for the bath tub fixed. Mary Ann is wanting to take a bath and she can't get the drain poened to drain the tub. So I'll go get a screwdriver and get to work.
I may stop back in later.
Tootles
Train Master wrote:hello all. will not be long before mom and me are back in leesville. we are just waiting for school to end for the sumer then we are out of here. see jeff been to may fest. i miss that, all the art and crafts, food, fun and music. i like the dances in the street at night, that get wild sometimes
JEFF: Ahhh, that makes it clear. We have the same coverage up here also, it is called "mutual aid" to surrounding towns, and also includes the large city of Worcester, Ma, but primarely town to town.
ED & JP: The Texan is back with the dreaded Yankees!!! The Yankees pitching staff was hurting so bad that Steinbrenner went out and paid Clemens $28 million dollars to come back out of retirement. We will go to minor league to get back into shape, and then be ready to pitch against the Red Sox for their next series in 1st week of June. Money talks!!! The Texans are mad as hell that he did not go back to their team. Up here, the Red Sox fans on the blog all say that he will pull a hammy pitching at his age with the leg swing that he has.Time will tell !!
Time for bed, see you guys in the morning,