Trains.com

THE FLAT WHEEL CAFE Locked

152991 views
5201 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: Kansas City area
  • 833 posts
Posted by Trainnut484 on Friday, August 15, 2008 5:59 PM
 Mookie wrote:
 Modelcar wrote:

.....Jen....you might pass on some basic tips of computer cleaning you might suggest.  Might be something many of us could learn from.

I have an older free puter from former job.  It had a few games on it that I had put on myself.  When I tried to use the media, it said I was short on memory and I said - well I tried not to let that show. 

Anyway - it asked if I wanted to delete some unused files and I said why not.  This will be one of those occasions when you threw something away and then after 27 years find you are looking for it. 

I deleted some silly games I had put on and never used.  Went through my programs under the start button and cleaned some of those out.  Be careful.  If you get too exhuberant you end up with a rather large paper weight on your puter desk.

I have gone in to cookies in the past and culled some of those out.  Probably should do it again, but not too sure just what is good cookies and what are stale cookies. 

Puter was running quite slowly - but scans revealed nothing, so figured it was just limited memory.  Works better now.  I can type 85 wpm and it was really not keeping up with me.  Much better now.

Now need to find a dust cloth!

J

Hello Mookie,

Dust also collects inside the computer where the CPU and Memory live.  Excessive dust can cause the computer (mainly the CPU) to overheat causing it to act sluggish or worse yet shutdown.  Best way to clean inside it is use an air can.  Ask someone who knows about computers to do this for you if you are not comfortable with opening the computer box.

BTW...to defrag the hard drive as suggested by MC, since you have an older computer, start the defrag process before going to bed or if you know you won't be on the computer for a while since it will take some time.

Take care,

Russell

All the Way!
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Friday, August 15, 2008 5:35 PM

Tom, the second recipe you gave is the one I have. 

The bbq ribs and side dishes mentioned earlier are now on the warmer bar.  As a matter of fact, the ribs just came off the grill.  To Tom and everyone else, I hope you enjoy them.

The birthday cake Tom asked for is out of the oven, iced and has the appropriate number candles on it, as in the two numbers themselves, not that many candles.  Thought we'd give the fire personnel a nice break tonight.Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Everyone enjoy your supper, dessert and your evening.

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Friday, August 15, 2008 4:42 PM

Mooks:

Hast thou defragged?

// wanders off to dry off water & jet-fuel soaked feathers.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,315 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, August 15, 2008 4:33 PM

mamma likes the recipies thanks for sharing.the cake won't last long at our house.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Friday, August 15, 2008 3:09 PM

ANOTHER RECIPE, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT

PIG PICKING  CAKE VERSION 2
Printed from COOKS.COM
 
____________________________________
1 box Duncan Hines yellow  cake mix
4 eggs, well beaten
1/2 c. Crisco oil
11 oz. can  mandarin oranges and juice, oranges cut up
1 c. nuts
Mix ingredients thoroughly in order given. Bake  in 3 or 4 layers at 350
degrees until done. Cool.
PIG PICKING  ICING:
1 (9 oz.) container Cool  Whip
1 sm. instant vanilla pudding mix
1 lg. can crushed pineapple  and juice
Mix together and spread between layers and on  top of cake. Keep refrigerated.
 Pig-picking came from making a pig of  yourself

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Friday, August 15, 2008 2:08 PM

For those interested 

PIG-PICKING  CAKE
Printed from COOKS.COM
 
____________________________________
1 pkg. Duncan Hines yellow  cake mix
1/2 c. Crisco or good cooking oil
4 eggs
1 can Mandarin  Orange slices and juice
Mix ingredients in mixer and bake for 20 to 25  minutes. 3 layers.
ICING:
9 oz. pkg. Cool Whip or 1  pkg. Dream Whip
1 lg. pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 (20 oz.) can  crushed pineapple with juice
Mix with mixer until right consistency to  spread, about 15 minutes, between
layers and ice. Pig-picking came from making a pig of  yourself.

 

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,018 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, August 15, 2008 1:30 PM
 Mookie wrote:

Thanx Tree - I did a couple of those "things", but see some more I can do. 

We used air on my keyboard at work and I always looked like a large lint collector afterward!  Black Eye [B)]

When I first started working in the computer business, things like smoking and eating at your workstation were legal.

We were using "dumb" terminals, hooked up to the mainframe.  Occasionally a key or two would start sticking and the technician would be called. 

He'd look around, then take the keyboard by the sides and rap it on the desktop, dislodging all of the cigarette ashes and cookie crumbs, fixing the problem...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: MP 175.1 CN Neenah Sub
  • 4,917 posts
Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, August 15, 2008 12:54 PM

Randy-

I'll be careful.  The main reason I got my cycle temps is to drive an "uber-moped" to work in town.  Should save on gas in the summer. 

Quick stop in today then back to work and out of town for the weekend.  I hope everyone has a good one!

Dan

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, August 15, 2008 12:31 PM

Thanx Tree - I did a couple of those "things", but see some more I can do. 

We used air on my keyboard at work and I always looked like a large lint collector afterward!  Black Eye [B)]

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,018 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, August 15, 2008 11:54 AM

Ms Mook - Deleting cookies might mean you have to type in your login ID for a given site next time, and sites you're logged in to (like Trains) won't remember you (so you'll have to log in again), but otherwise really won't do you any harm.

Temporary Internet files can be a killer, too.  Set the amount of space used as low as tolerable (this computer will go down to 8, but recommends 50).

Get into Explorer (as in files, not IE) and look for files with a "TMP" extension.  You can usually delete any and all of them and not lose a thing.

While you're in Explorer, browse around the various folders and look at file size.  You might have some ancient word processing, spreadsheet, database, or picture files you can delete and free up a lot of space in a hurry.

As for the dust bunnies - make notes on how everything is hooked up, then shut down and unhook everything.  Take your computer outside, along with a can or two of "air."  Open the cover and blast away, especially anything that looks like cooling fins.  Keep it all dry, though. 

Hook it back up and play away!

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Friday, August 15, 2008 11:24 AM

I've got our Friday Fish Fry ready for lunch today, and when I finish typing the lunch menu, I'll be starting on those ribs for Tom's birthday supper tonight.  

LUNCH MENU:

Fish:  cod, perch and shrimp w/fries, corn on the cob, hushpuppies, cole slaw

To go with the bbq ribs tonight, we'll have baked beans,green sweet peas (fresh from the garden), baked potatoes and cole slaw and potato salad.  

Mookie, I think we need to do that with our computer!  

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, August 15, 2008 11:10 AM
Tom - sounds wonderful - I just polished mah fork!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, August 15, 2008 11:08 AM
Q - had an edge - took piano lessons from 6 to 17.  Made my fingers frisky.

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Friday, August 15, 2008 11:02 AM

.....Thanks Jen.....I'd say by deleting those "games" programs you did the most good.  As you indicated, made space available...to do important work...{Trains.com}...ha.

We had 4 or 5 girls in our high school typing class that could do that rate of typing but not too many boys.  I really liked typing class...had two years of it and then did not use it for 40 years or so....I still think of my typing teacher as I work our fun stuff on here daily.

If I remember correctly, I was a "B" student in typing but not near as fast as your figures.  Still enjoyed it.

Quentin

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, August 15, 2008 10:53 AM
 Modelcar wrote:

.....Jen....you might pass on some basic tips of computer cleaning you might suggest.  Might be something many of us could learn from.

I have an older free puter from former job.  It had a few games on it that I had put on myself.  When I tried to use the media, it said I was short on memory and I said - well I tried not to let that show. 

Anyway - it asked if I wanted to delete some unused files and I said why not.  This will be one of those occasions when you threw something away and then after 27 years find you are looking for it. 

I deleted some silly games I had put on and never used.  Went through my programs under the start button and cleaned some of those out.  Be careful.  If you get too exhuberant you end up with a rather large paper weight on your puter desk.

I have gone in to cookies in the past and culled some of those out.  Probably should do it again, but not too sure just what is good cookies and what are stale cookies. 

Puter was running quite slowly - but scans revealed nothing, so figured it was just limited memory.  Works better now.  I can type 85 wpm and it was really not keeping up with me.  Much better now.

Now need to find a dust cloth!

J

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Friday, August 15, 2008 10:20 AM
CW, that sounds similar, Pig Pickin cake has a lot of fruit and I believe it has some custard baked in. It is very moist. The name comes from the fact that you make a pig of yourself picking it apart! Thanks for the wishes, and by the way, some BBQ ribs would be nice for supper. Thanks

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Winston-Salem, NC
  • 247 posts
Posted by piouslion1 on Friday, August 15, 2008 9:58 AM

Got to sleep in a bit (vacations are good for that) so the report is a bit late from here. Here in Winston-Salem presently we have 76 and rising with a high of 82 for this afternoon.

Happy birthday to Grampaw Pettibone, with the wish for many more to come

A good day to go kayaking on the New (the river that is) close by here in Jefferson NC.

Sandwiches and tea for lunch by the river.

Everybody have a great day,

PL

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Friday, August 15, 2008 9:41 AM

.....Jen....you might pass on some basic tips of computer cleaning you might suggest.  Might be something many of us could learn from.

Quentin

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
  • 2,483 posts
Posted by CANADIANPACIFIC2816 on Friday, August 15, 2008 7:40 AM

At the present moment we have 63 degrees here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it is shaping up to be a very nice day here. Yesterday was nice too, weatherwise, we had finally gotten a break from the ultra high humidity last week.

I went to see my doctory yesterday morning for a long overdue physical exam, and despite having high blood pressure and type II diabetes, he told me that he thinks I'm in pretty good shape for my age. I weighed in at 166 pounds and my blood pressure was not too bad, 130/84. I did end up having my doctor's pretty nurse clean out a buildup of excess wax from both of my ears, and that was not fun at all.

Happy Birthday to Tom! I hope your birthday, Tom, will be special and filled with a lot of fun......Happy B-Day [bday]Happy B-Day [bday]Happy B-Day [bday]Happy B-Day [bday]Happy B-Day [bday]

Ray     ooo    ooo ooOOOOOo

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, August 15, 2008 7:35 AM

Belated Happy Birthday Tom.  And many, many more!

PL - I love to know why people use the screen name that they do.  Kind of a hobby of mine.

Pickled Pigs, Pigs Pickling, not sure about this cake, but hey - it's food, so I am willing to try it. 

Weather cooler and ergo more humid.  Forecast calls for rain/no rain, cloudy/sunny, cooler/warming up - just a normal Friday in the true Midwest. 

Did some housecleaning on puter today.  Runs a little better. 

Randy seems to be a real mover these days.  See the sights while you are young, I guess. 

CW - coffee on the veranda - or is it the lanai - or how about just the patio?  (Too much HGTV lately!)

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Friday, August 15, 2008 7:16 AM

...Our day here is building with a 62 degree temp and sunshine.  Today will be a mowing day.

Of course tailgating a semi is a no-no and all good drivers will certainly know that.  There is also a certain distance behind a semi that produces rather noticing buffeting.  That being back a ways where the air is banging back together from being split by the rig passing thru the air.

Quentin

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,315 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, August 15, 2008 6:39 AM

good morning

yeah randy they gave that story on a local news channel too.you could also be cited by a patrolman for assured clear distance.we did get a little rain last night but going to be a nice weekend.highs around 80 lows in the 50's.tommorow looks like a great day for deshler days(formerly the corn city festival).Cw thanks for supper.time for a nap then chores to work on.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Burlington, WI
  • 1,418 posts
Posted by rvos1979 on Friday, August 15, 2008 6:15 AM
 switch7frg wrote:

  Randy;  trucking is full of surpises. Loose wheels are a real hair raiser. I found an easy to find one or more. If you have steel wheels , look for rusty streaks around the bolt pattern or for aluminum look for gray streaks . Usually they reveal after wheels get wet.  Or take a ball peen hammer and tap around the bolt pattern ,tight lugnuts will sound solid . You can tell a loose one by a different sound if the wheels are dry. It could save you from a (out of service ) tag. Good luck to you on the slab .

                              Respectfully, Cannonball   ( ret. ?? )

Cannonball:

Thanks for the tips, but my wheel failed in a different way, it rusted through and separated at the welds.  Looked okay when I picked up the trailer that morning, but near as I can figure, failed about 300 miles down the road.  When the mechanic took what was left off, he whacked it with a sledge, and a lot of rust fell off.  Saved the piece, plan is to give it to one of our instructors at the school we have in Trenton, OH, next time I get down that way.

Is there ever such a thing as retiring from trucking?  Heard a story on the trucking channel on Sirius about one couple, after retiring from pulling reefer, they had to install and program a generator outside their bedroom window so they could sleep through the night, they were so used to having the reefer unit running that they couldn't sleep without it.

Anyway, in East St. Louis this morning, will drop off the load in Pontoon Beach in a couple hours, then probably either reload out of there or run over to Budweiser for a load, of course this is subject to change.

Dan, just don't end up under one of our trucks, PLEASE?  Motorcyclists make a big mess when we run over them, and nobody likes to clean it up, either.....

Another trucking news item:  Apparently, Woman's World magazine ran an article in the last issue saying that one can save about 10% on fuel if one tailgates behind a semi.  Pardon my French, but what the %#^*&#%$ was that writer THINKING?!?!??  Yes, it does save fuel, but it's also a great way to wind up UNDER my trailer, and I really don't care for the lawsuit, and neither does my company.  To borrow from the news show host on Sirius, it's a 10% gain in mileage, a 400% rise in insurance, and a 90% decrease in material between the shoulders when they go under the trailer.....

Okay, rant over, time to cool off and have some of CW's good home cooked breakfast.  See everyone later.... 

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Friday, August 15, 2008 5:34 AM

Good Friday morning, everyone; and, belated Happy B-Day [bday] to Grampaw Pettibone (Tom)!!

Coffee is ready, and fresh juices are available, along with hot water for hot tea.

The danish, doughnuts, muffins and cinnamon rolls are on the counter.  There is an apple danish with a candle in it for Tom; otherwise, the rest of the breakfast menu is up for grabs for everyone.  

Tom, is your 'pig picking cake'  the same thing as a  'pickling pig cake'?  You know, the one that has Cool Whip, mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, coconut and nuts in it?  If so, I do have a recipe for that.  And will bake it later on this morning for tonight.

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Thursday, August 14, 2008 8:30 PM
No problem, CW. Are you familiar with a pig picking cake? If so, I sure would like one with a candle on top. If no, a coconut layer cake will do. Thanks, and don't worry about forgetting. It happens....

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Thursday, August 14, 2008 8:24 PM
 grampaw pettibone wrote:

Good evening. I had a big day, and a big week for that matter. Tuesday was my 61st birthday and the wife and I went out to celebrate. Once a year, I get to blow my diet with a huge plate of BBQ ribs and ice cream. Once a year cause it takes us that long to pay the credit card for such a meal.... Today, I had to ride over to the VA hospital in Columbia for an evaluation. Over 200 miles on the buggy and half a tank of gas for a consultation that was over in less than 5 minutes. Wow, that could have been done over the phone. My wife is closing her business and we stopped off on the way back to pick up some of her stuff from the building. End result was an SUV full of stuff, two aching backs and three cuts. There is still more stuff to get, but I think we'll let it slide for a day or two. It is good to be back home under the air conditioner. Ain't nothing better. I did manage to see several NS tracks with freight cars, but no engines.... RATS! Keep cool.

 

Tom, let me apologize for forgetting your birthday Tuesday!!  To make up for my mistake, let me know what you'd like to have tomorrow, and I'll fix that in the Cafe/Diner for your belated birthday dinner!!!!!  (I'm glad I still have the birthday decorations handy:  I'll just put them back up tonight. 

Does anyone else have a birthday this month?!?!  If so, let me know, and I'll mark my calendar!!

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Winston-Salem, NC
  • 247 posts
Posted by piouslion1 on Thursday, August 14, 2008 8:06 PM

Mookie:

It is just a nickname I have had since I was 12.

Actually I'm Scots-Irish

Regards to a great lady,

Roy Alexander

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:54 PM

Hmmm - makes me want to sing:  N-E-S-T-L-E-S.....the very best - C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E......

after all that food - gooey chocolate would be very good!

PL - I have been wondering - what is a Piouslion?  (a religious kitty?) Sounds very British - something Germanium would know.....

Curiouser and curiouser....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:49 PM

....Tom, that's a shame you and many other vets have to drive so far to get what's needed at a VA hospital.  It has been my pet peeve for some time now....Cure this Vet hospital condition, situations we hear so much about....and whatever else by giving a Vet a plastic card good at any hospital to have his needs taken care of.  Yes, It would be costly to our government, but....and it's just my opinion Vets of all stripes deserve this service....

Edit:  We used to come down to Columbia on I 26 and turn south on 321 to head down almost all the sway to the south tip of South Carolina and then over to I 95 down to Jacksonville and so on....on our way down to Florida for the winter.

Quentin

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Winston-Salem, NC
  • 247 posts
Posted by piouslion1 on Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:42 PM

And Good evening to you sir:

Sounds like you have been busy. I'm just on a bit of vacation this week, but delayed (deferred) chores have caught up  with me. Fixing the front steps, replacing floodlights on the house, painting the new boards for the steps, and errands l have forgotten how many to run. Sounds to me like some oven toasted and buttered pound cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top might just be the end of day snack that should be shared with the better half. Personally I'll have mine with some good decaf coffee as well.

Sounds good to me and I'm only 56

PL

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy