THE FLAT WHEEL CAFE

[spokyone]

pain in the butt

Last time I was there with my sister, she had to have a smoke between flights. Does the phrase, "I'd walk a mile for a Camel" ring a bell?
Anyway, she is a great person.

[eolafan]

.....Seems I always felt comfortable in and out of O'Hare....and yes, I really did wonder what the "ORD" really stood for.  I'm speaking of many years ago flying in and out of the Chicago area.  Thought the O'hare Terminal was easy to get thru and around in too.  I realize there has been lots of changes since I used to be in and out of there quite often.

MC, yes there have been mucho changes at ORD in the past decade or two with more to come.  Parking is a pain in the butt as well as very expensive and ovreall it takes me less than half the time to negotiate the terminal at MDW than at ORD.

[Modelcar]

.....Seems I always felt comfortable in and out of O'Hare....and yes, I really did wonder what the "ORD" really stood for.  I'm speaking of many years ago flying in and out of the Chicago area.  Thought the O'hare Terminal was easy to get thru and around in too.  I realize there has been lots of changes since I used to be in and out of there quite often.

[eolafan]

Eolafan Jim, I'll take a guess (I had a little bit of help) and say Orchard Field.

 

CW, you are totally correct!  It was indeed Orchard Field before being renamed O'Hare in honor if Butch O'Hare, a navy pilot from Chicago killed at the battle of Midway in 1942. I'm impressed with your knowledge of Windy City history.

[cherokee woman]

Eolafan Jim, I'll take a guess (I had a little bit of help) and say Orchard Field.

For lunch and supper today, think we'll have:  beef stew w/cornbread, leftover veg. beef soup from yesterday, and also the leftover broccoli/cheese soup.  And if anyone wants it with their veg. beef soup, I'll fix you a grilled cheese sandwich or two.

 

[eolafan]

.....Jim, years ago when we traveled into Chicago land, there were times we put down into Midway....A landing location I really didn't  care for.  Just no room for errors.  Favored going into {Butler Aviation} at O'Hare.  In my way of thinking {yes there were more planes}, but much more landing space and room for errors.

Anyone else have those feelings about Midway....?

Yes indeed, Midway's runways are much, much shorter than at O'Hare and landings can be "white knuckle" at times.  Last week I was coming into Midway on an AirTran flight from Minneapolis and were about thirty seconds from landing and the pilot "goosed" the engines and went around (took about ten minutes to get into and out of the pattern) and he explained we did not leave enough safety room.  The short runways really make things tough during poor weather like last year (?) when a Southwest plane ran off of the end of one runway and through the fence and onto 55th. Street and landed on top of a minivan, killing a little boy in the process.  Changes have been made since then but it still can be interesting.  After considering all of this, I still prefer Midway over O'Hare.

Here's a little bit of airport trivia for you plane fans out there.  What was O'Hare originally called in the pre-WWII days?  Hint, the original name accounts for the code letters "ORD" on the O'Hare baggage claim tags.

[diningcar]

Good morning to all from AZ. It will be 65 in the mountains today and in the 70's where they are playing baseball.

I shall have the pineapple juice, scrambled with patties and a bear claw with BLACK coffee. Would eat more but must save room for Paula's lunch with more temptations.

Jack 

 

[blhanel]

I thought that was at O'Hare???

[diningcar]

If you have constipation problems Midway might be a solution. There have been accidents, one in the last few years where a plane went through the fence and onto a city street.

Jack

[Modelcar]

.....Jim, years ago when we traveled into Chicago land, there were times we put down into Midway....A landing location I really didn't  care for.  Just no room for errors.  Favored going into {Butler Aviation} at O'Hare.  In my way of thinking {yes there were more planes}, but much more landing space and room for errors.

Anyone else have those feelings about Midway....?

[Mookie]

Jim - taking lessons from our favorite traveling chicken?

[eolafan]

Oh, the joys of being a road warrior these days...we were an hour late leaving Chicago Midway on Southwest yesterday and 45 minutes late into St. Louis due to having to get in line at Midway to be de-iced TWICE.  On the flip side we were thirty minutes late out of St. Louis last night due to ATC problems (no, not automatic train control, but rather Air Traffic Control) and 30 minutes late into Chicago so I was able to see all of our infamous rush hour driving home...had some chicken and broccoli with rice and fell asleep on the couch watching TV. The good news is the customer presentations and meetings went very well.  Home in my office today and back on the road to Wisconsin tomorrow.  OH joy!

[JoeKoh]

morning

a balmy 8 degrees this morning.got rid of last nights dusting.the sunrise was nice this morning.have to sleep fast.matt got to the bus but they are dismissing early because of the basketball tournament.cw will take some warm oatmeal please.

stay safe

joe

[Mookie]

That's in Neenah, about 3 or 4 blocks away from CN's yard.  I might try for some pics of it in the near future.

Did I see some yellow snow outside your new home, Dan?  Hmmmm? 

 

 

 

[cherokee woman]

Good Wednesday morning, everyone.  Well, we are currently at 21 or 22 degrees, and our high today will be 30.  Just a coating of snow on the ground, streets are in good shape.  With the wind chill, it feels like and will continue to feel like the temp is in the teens.  Thank goodness, March 1st is just three days away (not counting today)!

Coffee, oj/oj-tangerine, pineapple juice and grape juice are all freshly made this morning.  

On the breakfast/warmer bar this morning:  turkey bacon, oatmeal, toast, scrambled eggs, sausage patties & links, and the usual bagels and bear claws.  

Everyone have a good morning, and if there are any meal requests for today, let me know, please.

Message From:
The Cook

[Modelcar]

.....Appears once again, the storm system didn't leave much for us.  For one thing it got in the upper 30's today and any wet stuff it did put down melted.  Believe the Low system is getting too far east to be much of a problem for us overnight, even on the wrap around from the Lakes.  But it will be down in the teens by morning.

[tree68]

Soup and sandwich is a winner!  Still snowing here.  Not hard, but consistent, and it just dropped below freezing.  And the wind is blowing pretty good.  Hard to say what the morning will bring.  Wouldn't mind a day off, but I have folks here to work on my systems at work, and they wouldn't appreciate an extra day off.

One of the members of that team hasn't seen snow in around 17 years (back when he was in single digits).  He's getting his money's worth this week.

 

[Railfan1]

I thought I'd drop in to say hi and get a bowl of soup on my way to work. Everyone have a great evening and stay warm.

[cherokee woman]

I've got soup on the warmer bar (veg. beef and cream of broccoli) and grilled cheese sandwiches are just now coming off the grill. 

Our weather today has been off & on light rain showers, and snow flurries.  The snow flurries will continue thru tonight, not supposed to be much of a problem.  

You all have a good evening!

[CNW 6000]

That's in Neenah, about 3 or 4 blocks away from CN's yard.  I might try for some pics of it in the near future.

[spokyone]

Here is a video about a guy named Dan, somewhere in snowy Wisconsin.

http://www.weather.com/multimedia/videoplayer.html?clip=9973&collection=topstory&nav=topstory&from=36hr_outlet_video

 

[JoeKoh]

afternoon

went and got the mail and matt went sledding on the hill out back.When I got back there were some snowballs flying around.matts ready for some hot chocolate.the wind is turning from the north so all this slush will be an ice rink tonight for work.Cw thanks for supper.

stay safe

Joe

[spokyone]

Davenport IA just received 4 rr cars of salt from Canada. Twas on the news. Now if D'port can buy some pothole filling, that would be great.
  Grilled cheese and soup is perfect for tonight.

[CNW 6000]

The City of Oshkosh just bought $2M worth of salt from some place in MN.  It's supposedly serviced somehow by rail and the city could have had it shipped that way cheaper and delivered to town on the CN.  So...they chose trucks which cost more, which got stuck on a road that wasn't (ironically enough) salted.  Smart planning there! 

Cold day and I'm kinda spoiling for trouble today it seems.  Off to go find some...

[blhanel]

Brian: Might wan't to teach the IaDOT road crews that there is this marvelous stuff called sand that does wonders on glare ice. (never mind salt, beet juice, mag chloride or aluminum sulfate)...I watched them plow all night and not put anything down. 

After last week, they might be running out of the stuff. 

EDIT: Be very glad you didn't have to drive across the state a week ago- I-80 had an uneven, crusty, bumpy, solid, impregnable layer of compacted snow and ice zero to three inches thick on it.  You would have gone through two sets of shocks negotiating that mess.  I didn't personally experience it, but I saw news videos and Cedar Rapids city streets are STILL like that.

You shoulda called me and taken a relatively short detour to our guest room...

[diningcar]

Paula,

Since you were busy with Dr's, as I was yesterday, I went out for my mexican lunch and it was great. Chili Rellano (sp) made with Pablano Chilis and xtra spicy salsa's (2) with great chips. Ice tea w/lemon and I am good till evening.

Jack

[cherokee woman]

Well, I'm back home now.   Dr. visit went semi o.k. (if anyone wants more info, just email me).  This visit was not for the knee or hip. 

Joe,  grilled cheese and a bowl of soup sounds good to me, right now.  

By having a doctor's appointment so early this morning, looks like I missed some excitement right out my front window!!  Oh well, I've seen plenty of them, in the past 20 years.  

Does everyone want soup & grilled cheese tonight, or do you want our Tuesday Mexican Fiesta?  I'll leave the decision up to all of you!

 

[spokyone]

I-80 was closed for a while last night. That stretch is hazardous. Newton>>>Davenport.

[mudchicken]

Jingle Bells....well, we only got "snice"....and our great street dept put down salt water before it started, so the streets are clear.  Driveway crunched, but I can live with crunch.

Sniffles is home again today with a bug.  He went to bed at 5:30 pm last nite - sez he doesn't ache quite as much today.  Ah - winter bugs.... Sounds like warmer weather is on its way.  Must move the beach chairs outside for today's patrons....

Coffee anyone? 

 

That wasn't the wind at 9:30 pm that Mooks heard last night. That was me with a big sigh of relief that I had survived I-80 in Iowa and Mook's net was frozen in place. Watched two rollovers happen in front of me at MM180-182 near Kellogg, IA.  Got blown sideways off the road at 5MPH near Atlantic.

Brian: Might wan't to teach the IaDOT road crews that there is this marvelous stuff called sand that does wonders on glare ice. (never mind salt, beet juice, mag chloride or aluminum sulfate)...I watched them plow all night and not put anything down. 

Got home at 5am ...staggering around now

[tree68]

Larry, got room for another over there? I need a cup of coffe and relax after this mornings excitement!

 

Oops!  How do you not see a big yellow bus?

Plenty of room in the booth - come on over.  I've got some eclairs stashed away here, too (Don't tell Madam la Mook!).