Depot Diner & Coffee Shop

[eolafan]

Halloween night was rainy and chilly here in suburbs of Chicago last night so we had a few trick or treaters from the neighborhood and a bunch "bussed in" by folks from other areas (guess they feel we are soft touches or because there is not much of a security problem here as compared to other areas). Well, I'll bet we had no more than fifty kids all night so had candy left over (oh, my aching stomach). OK with me though as I am getting too old to keep getting up and down from my easy chair every few minutes.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by blhanel

We ran out last night- went through four bags of the bite-size bars. Seems we have more young families moving into the neighborhood lately, plus alot of the older kids aren't too ashamed to come around collecting candy, even though they don't have costumes on. I find it kinda annoying, but the wife doesn't mind. She says, "they're just having good clean fun- let 'em be kids again".

Ah, smart lady, Brian. Some of the midwest charm coming through!

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

good morning
here mookie matt will help you with your bags.matt come back ! matt! mATTHEW JOSEPH ugh be right back
stay safe
Joe

It's ok Joe - I know where he stashes all those french fries, so the candy will go there and so will Matt and I....[:D]

[CShaveRR]

I guess we had our usual hordes, in spite of the wet weather (I was at work, so missed out on the fun). My wife managed to get rid of the stuff that sets my teeth on edge, leaving a few more palatable leftovers for me. (I'll share them, of course!)

And Mook, some of those leftovers include a whole unopened bag of Kit-Kats!

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CopCarSS

Chad, whatever happened to your 8 star status? I'm shocked that you would lower yourself to such pedestrian ranking! [;)][(-D] Seriously, though, I'll buy you a tub of popcorn on the next thread we find worthy of the machine!

Quentin, thanks as always for the kind words. [:I] I shot that one last year up at Yellowstone. It was kind of a grab shot very early in the morning. I actually set up the tripod in the middle of the road. Guess there aren't too many National Park Goers at 4:45 AM! At the time, I didn't think too much about it, buit afterwards, while reviewing the trip at home on my computer, that one became one of my favorites of the trip. I just love that beautiful blue pre-sunrise sky, and the haunting (hence the use in my signature line today) look of the silhouetted trees.

Well, I guess I must be on my way. Headed to celebrate Halloween by watching Monday Night Football at my favorite Sports Bar/Grill. [(-D] Hope you all have a great All Hallows Eve. Catch you on the flip side!

[oX)]Blondebeard the Fierce[oX)]

I'd trade all my stars for a trains.com bumper sticker in a hot minuet.[:D]

The National Parks are not just for daytime use. When I lived up in Alturas one of my favorite things to do was go up to Lava Beds NM and go Spelunking (Cave exploreing). There are literaly hundreds of miles of cave complex throughout that area. Well in a cave it don't matter if it's day or night so we would go up on Friday night and go underground with some supplys and mabee not see the light of day till Sunday. We never took watches with us (they tend to get destroyed by the course lava rock) so sometimes we would not know if it was day or night. Man that place is a blast. The caves range in size from something you could easily build a three story house in, to places you have to belly crawl for yards at a time. Some of them even have Ice flows and formations year round. Lots of natural ice slides and such. I explored that place so much that we found caves the park rangers didn't even know about. And a couple times we found ancient animal bones deep inside that must have been taken into the caves by Indians long ago. Some of those bones we found are on display in the park HQ.

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CANADIANPACIFIC2816

Yeah Chad, I know what ya mean by San Diego being a long way from South Dakota. I had been to San Diego once in 1977. I have an aunt and uncle who live up in Apple Valley, near Victorville. They are not far from Barstow, which I think in the mid 70's would have been a good place to watch trains on both the SP and the Santa Fe. Although I don't know for certain if both roads ran through Barstow.

CANADIANPACIFIC2816

I have some relatives that live up in the Apple Valley. My moms sister has a place right above Cajon Pass. Real convienent place to stay when I am fanning Cajon. And Barstow is only 30 miles north. I have spent a lot of time railfanning that area, especially Dagget where the UP splits off to Vegas from the BNSF transcon.[8D]

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

good morning
here mookie matt will help you with your bags.matt come back ! matt! mATTHEW JOSEPH ugh be right back
stay safe
Joe

It's ok Joe - I know where he stashes all those french fries, so the candy will go there and so will Matt and I....[:D]

mookie
thanks for helping with matt.just remember to bring the ketchup for the fries[:)]
stay safe
Joe

[CopCarSS]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas
The National Parks are not just for daytime use. When I lived up in Alturas one of my favorite things to do was go up to Lava Beds NM and go Spelunking (Cave exploreing). There are literaly hundreds of miles of cave complex throughout that area. Well in a cave it don't matter if it's day or night so we would go up on Friday night and go underground with some supplys and mabee not see the light of day till Sunday. We never took watches with us (they tend to get destroyed by the course lava rock) so sometimes we would not know if it was day or night. Man that place is a blast. The caves range in size from something you could easily build a three story house in, to places you have to belly crawl for yards at a time. Some of them even have Ice flows and formations year round. Lots of natural ice slides and such. I explored that place so much that we found caves the park rangers didn't even know about. And a couple times we found ancient animal bones deep inside that must have been taken into the caves by Indians long ago. Some of those bones we found are on display in the park HQ.

Chad,

I've always been an early riser in my outdoor endeavors. For starters, as a photographer, I get one terrific hour of sunlight in the morning, and one terrific hour in the evening. The in between time can range from decent in the winter, to downright harsh during the summer. It doesn't necessarily stop me from shooting, but the rate of keepers (already a low percentage of my shooting) definately goes down during the day.

Another key point involves when to be above timberline. Generally speaking, one can count on afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains. Having tried twice in my lifetime to become a lightning rod, I usually try to be below timberline during such times. Getting an early start when mountain trekking always helps. When I climbed Long's Peak, I started around 1 in the Morning. Lesser peaks don't require quite as much dedication, but it never hurts.

Two bonuses to being up early are free park entry (no one manning the entrances) and no crowds of driving gawkers who never travel beyond 10 feet of their cars and who can't wait to go shopping in Estes Park (oh how I wi***hey would stay there, and leave RMNP to folks who truly appreciate it).

Haven't done a lot of Spelunking out here, but did some of it back in the Illinois/Iowa area. Certainly a new and interesting world below the world that we know and love.

[chad thomas]

Chris,
I don't like hikeing in the heat. Unfortunatly I don't like trudging through the deep snow either. That limits high Sierra trips to July -August. So to beat the heat it's easier to get up to the higher elevations at night. I'm not the only one doing that. I would say there are twice as many people on the main trails on a good moonlit night then there are during the day, at that time of year anyway.[8D]

[cherokee woman]

Hi guys! Sorry I'm just now getting back to the Diner. Have had a very busy
day, including THREEtrips to the grocery!!

Supper tonight: Lasagna, garden salad, and garlic Texas Toast. (Unless
someone decided to get in the fridge and the leftovers).

[blhanel]

Ooooh, lazagna! I'll take a double order of all three please!

Still in limbo here re the mother-in-law. She's pretty much unconscious now though, and showing no signs of pain or discomfort. Everyone in the family is praying for a quick and quiet ending.

[espeefoamer]

NO ONE got into the fridge[C):-)]. As soon as I learned Lasagna was on the menu,I made sure of it[dinner].

[locomutt]

Espeefoamer, are you sure nobody got into the fridge?!?! Mookie has a
way of getting into places no one else has figured out how it's being done!![%-)]

Brian, your double order of all three is waiting for you.

In regards to your mother-in-law, hope the situation works out to the best for
everyone concerned. And I know it's not easy on any of you.
CW and I will continue our prayers for all of your family.

[Anonymous]

Hello All [8D]

Is anyone watching the count for replies and views?

We have a milestone coming up soon, very soon -- 10,000 replies. [:0] [:0] [:0]

It is just a little early to guess when it will happen, but it will definately be this month. [^] We will have to organize an online party for the day it happens.

We had the One Year Anniversary a while back but my computer went out (for those who remember) during the countdown to the anniversary.

But anyway, anyone want to place bets on WHO will be the 10,000th poster.

Anyone want to place a bet on WHEN the 10,000th post will be.

Now, I have everybody thinking. [;)] [:D]

Take care everyone, we wouldn't want you to miss the B I G party. [;)]

[cherokee woman]

Good morning all! Juice and coffee are ready. Since it's a chilly morning,
breakfast will be: turkey bacon, sausage, biscuits and sausage gravy,
scrambled or fried eggs, oatmeal, and toast.

Lunch special today: ham & cheese sandwiches, sauer *** w/ hot dogs,
burgers & fries. Dessert: Jell-O topped with Cool Whip.

Jim, I'll have to do some studying, and get back with you, on who will be the
one to make the 10,000th poster. But I'll go ahead and make a guess as
to when it will happen: I'll say it'll be next Tuesday, the 8th of November.

[JoeKoh]

good morning going to be a couple nice days coming up.matt and i can get the rakes back out for the leaves.
stay safe
Joe

[Mookie]

Hmm a party - I'm up for that! CW has such good food, no one can resist coming in!

Brian - our thoughts are with you. Losing a loved one is tough.

Jim - glad you are back in the forum. We need more of the old crew back to keep things from getting dull.

Speaking of old - anyone seen Bergie lately? He used to visit our forum once in awhile, before he became "Bergie Adams".....

Pass the fries, Matt....almost time to take a break and a nap....

Mz Moo....

[tree68]

Several dozen Diner patrons, message composed, cursor poised over the "Submit Reply" radio button, finger twitching over the button on their mouse, all waiting to be post number 10,000.....

Everybody clicks on it at the same time and the server goes down....[:P]

OK, we're one post closer!

[CShaveRR]

Or, a first-time visitor to the diner clicks in, and is scared off when all of the balloons drop, startling the cat, etc., etc.

Hope I'm close by when it happens!

(My bets would be on Mutt or Cher.)

[chad thomas]

Brian, Sorry to hear about your mother in law. I'll say a prayr for you.

[}:)] Wouldn't it be funny if Bergie locked the topic at 9,999.[(-D]

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

[}:)] Wouldn't it be funny if Bergie locked the topic at 9,999.[(-D]

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't give anyone any ideas!

[locomutt]

Chad,you better hope CW either doesn't see that,or ignores it;
She will probably cut off your dessert privileges !![:O][(-D]

[CopCarSS]

And A Tip Top of the Morning to You All,

Well, had an interesting night last night. Got to go see a living legend perform at the Pepsi Center. Quite a knightly fellow, too. Of course, I speak of the legendary Sir Paul McCartney.

It was wild though. He played some stuff from a band he was in before Wings. Some insect or something. Anybody ever hear of them? [(-D]

Seriously though, I thought his last concert here was a touch better, but he's still quite an act. The guy rocks for 3+ hours without taking any kind of intermission. I think some younger performers could stand to learn a couple things from a guy in his 60's (though he sure doesn't look it or act it).

Well, I guess this is a contribution towards our upcoming milestone. Can't wait to see the party when we get there!

Hope you all have a great day!

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomutt

Chad,you better hope CW either doesn't see that,or ignores it;
She will probably cut off your dessert privileges !![:O][(-D]

[:0] Hope I'm not the first one to get kicked out of the diner. Sorry CW, just being a wise guy.[;)][:D][8D]

[Mookie]

not wise, grasshopper...

[Mookie]

Paul Harvey sez: They have figured out diesel engines will run on coconut oil....

Hmmmm - possibilities - no more diesel smell on engines - just the smell of a good cookie? I'm waiting for the "will run on chocolate!"

[Modelcar]

....Better figure out something for "diesels" to run on except fuel oil with the price of it....Still 3.29 here in Muncie.
And speaking of McCartney doing the extended uninterupted performance.....Way back when....saw Presley perform at the then International Hotel Casino in Vegas and he worked the same way....Poured it out for hours until the sweat poured off him and he didn't stop.....An excellent performance....Our money's worth for sure.

[JoeKoh]

well if they could run on biodiesel they could pick up grain cars in the siding and fill er up at the same time.on to 10 000
stay safe
joe

[espeefoamer]

Can you imagine a 10,000 ton BNSF grain train smelling like coconut? Just thinking about it makes me hungry enough for a double portion tonight in the diner[dinner]!

[chad thomas]

9,773+227=10,000 So we have 227 to go, and there is an average of a page a day or mabee a little more, and there are 20 posts to a page, So I'll put my money on Nov 12th.
Yea, that's the ticket.[8D]