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Flat Wheel Cafe/Diner, August 2009 Edition

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Posted by Modelcar on Friday, August 7, 2009 8:43 AM

Nice morning here in muncie.....low 60's earlier to start our day and should reach low 80's this afternoon, but lookout....the muggies and heat for the next few days starts tomorrow.  Still dry...!

Cut of "rail" cars on NS parked here for a few days has been moved.  Don't know which way they went.  Someone's area is about to get roughly 6 miles of new rail....about 1438 tons worth.  That should put a few people to work ripping up and installing new somewhere.

New employment figures announced this morning encouraging....Perhaps we are gaining slowly but going in the right direction for recovery of our economy.  Sure hope so.  Of course, for all kinds of employment.

 

 

Quentin

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Posted by Willy2 on Friday, August 7, 2009 10:26 AM

Had an excellent thunderstorm last night. Nothing like what Louisville got earlier this week, but we did have well over an inch of rain in just half an hour. Plenty of cloud-to-ground lightning too. Now the heat will be on. We're expected to hit 100 degrees tomorrow. South winds are supposed to be strong too, which will just blast that heat like a furnace.

Willy

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Posted by switch7frg on Friday, August 7, 2009 11:27 AM

CW , when you go to the garden ,give your pet garter snake a friendly pat. They need all  the friends they can get . LOL

 

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by cherokee woman on Friday, August 7, 2009 1:41 PM

LaughCannonball, I hate to tell you, but I don't have a pet garter snake.  Yes, I like to look at them from a distance.  And even though I know they are absolutely harmless, I will not get anywhere close to them.  Prefer to stay on the side of caution:  stay safely away from all snakes.  

Our Friday Fish Fry, with  all the regular types of fish, and the side dishes are now on the warmer bar.  

Our desserts today:  yellow cake w/caramel icing, apple, peach and strawberry cobblers and cherry and pecan pies are in the pie chest.

I have been reading David Baldacci's book, Total Control, and I'm having a very hard time putting it down.  Totallly engrosing.  I was reading it until after 11:00 last night, and am now about half way through it.  

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by Modelcar on Friday, August 7, 2009 7:22 PM

Watched a work train come into Muncie in the last hour....About 10 flat cars with Moble home like, crew quarters....and many, many flat cars containing special equipment....even a sizeable tandem axle truck chained down on one of the cars.  Also contained in the consist, about a half dozen gray painted box cars.

I suspect this train must be involved in some way with the six miles of new rail we commented on in the last few days that was in the area.  Heard a "van taxi" communicating to pick up some crew members in the Muncie area off the train.

Quentin

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 7, 2009 8:16 PM

Day 42 of 100+ degree weather this season here in Alamo City.

There are indications, however, that we may have some upcoming days only in the upper 90's.

Hmmm...I'm gonna have to hunt around for my jacket.  Cool

 

 

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Posted by Modelcar on Friday, August 7, 2009 8:25 PM

Murray

Day 42 of 100+ degree weather this season here in Alamo City.

.....We are to start 3 days of muggies and 90 plus degrees tomorrow.  Kind of pales with all the 100's you folks have had.

Quentin

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, August 7, 2009 8:58 PM

We did get our promised cool weather today--mid-fifties in the morning, and only into the mid-seventies in the afternoon. We expect the same tomorrow and Sunday. The swamp cooler is resting today, tomorrow, and Sunday, but I expect to start it up again Monday.

We had a much high wind yesterday, and I saw some branches that had been torn off trees as I was out this morning. We lost only a very small branch off one pussywillow;

Walt, watch out about that Total Control book.Smile

Johnny

Johnny

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Posted by CANADIANPACIFIC2816 on Saturday, August 8, 2009 7:18 AM

Good morning! The coffee here is about done brewing and I've mixed a fresh batch of orange juice. For breakfast this morning we have blueberry pancakes with hot maple syrup, french toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, and we also have a generous assortment of donuts, rolls and bear claws.Chef

Currently, we have 72 degrees here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but I know that the conditions here will get nasty as the day wears on. The weather here was nice up until a couple days ago.

Ray     ooo    ooo ooOOOOOo

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Posted by cherokee woman on Saturday, August 8, 2009 7:30 AM

Good Saturday morning, everyone.  And Ray, thank you for taking care of breakfast this morning.  I slept so well last night, that I only woke up almost an hour ago.  

I hope everyone has a very good day today, and I hope our friends down in Texas manage to get some relief from their heat.  

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by Modelcar on Saturday, August 8, 2009 7:42 AM

Yes, we're to be a bit warm and muggy today....Morning paper indicates we'll get to the low to mid 90's.  Partly sunny right now and our day started earlier with a peek at the instrument indicating 70 degrees.  Normally rises at least 20 degrees to the heat of the afternoon.  Still very dry here.

A good weekend to all.....

Indiana State Fair is underway, and has added 5 days to it's schedule this year making it {I believe}, 17 days.  Guess the Fair Train will be running from north of Indy to take people to the Fair Grounds.  I actually haven't heard anything about it yet, but also didn't hear of it not running...It has been each year.

Quentin

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Posted by bubbajustin on Saturday, August 8, 2009 8:02 AM

Morning

It has been a good week here in western Indiana. Supposed to be really hot, and humid like Quinton said. 71* right now. Looks like a little shower is up by Fowler on the radar. Not much rain though.

Quinton, NS, and CSX have been leaveing out ties along the tracks for about 2 months now. Upon investigation of our local rail it looks like it is in dire need of replacement/grinding. It is shelling something awful. Maybe it will come here, maybe not. Anyway cool find!

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, August 8, 2009 10:57 AM

Afternoon(well almost)

on and off rain this morning.been helping with chores.matt is also seeing what fits and what doesn't for school.will be back for pizza tonight.defiance

here is a shot of my old neighborhood if this works.

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").

 

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Posted by locomutt on Saturday, August 8, 2009 2:18 PM

Deggesty

Walt, watch out about that Total Control book.Smile

Johnny

 

At Least I read the synopsis for that book before it was bought; don't think I have to worry too much about that, but....................... Alien

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, August 8, 2009 4:02 PM

Busy day.  Started off quite cool (44 in August?), but warmed up nicely (80 now).  Finished the initial wiring on the truck - now the emergency light bar and radios work!  I still have to build an accessory switch panel, but that's a project for another day. 

Got the lawn mowed, too.

Got a text from my son - it appears granddaughter will be dealing with asthma.  Maybe she'll grow out of it, or at least will not be debilitated by it.

Time to get cleaned up so I can run into town and get a birthday card for my aunt for tomorrow.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, August 8, 2009 5:05 PM

Tree - front door nailed shut - came in thru screened in porch!  Clown

Hi all - got lost out there in the big world.  Finally found my way back here.

100 here now - high wind - but low humidity, so not unbearable.  Out until about 2pm - then home and a haircut in the upstairs "barber shop". 

CW - Baldacci is one of my favorite authors.  I just finished "The Broken Window" by Jeffery Deaver.  I highly recommend it.  And remember - Big Brother is watching.  Evil

Off to do more Mischief

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by cherokee woman on Saturday, August 8, 2009 6:05 PM

Mookie, thanks!  I've written down the title and author's name, and will be checking the library!!

I went out this afternoon, on a longer bus trip, to a different Kroger for a few groceries:  basically meats to last maybe a week.  A little bit of the meat may be fixed tomorrow on the outside grill.  

Here is tonight's menu for our Saturday Night Pizza Fest:

1.  Anchovie;  2.  Canadian Bacon;  3.  Goetta;  4.  Hawaiian; 5.  Pepperoni/mushroom; 6.  Supreme; 7.  Italian sausage calzones

Dessert tonight:  Homemade ice cream in the following flavors:  vanilla, chocolate, peach, strawberry, vanilla w/walnuts, Snickers, Oreo Cookies & Cream, and chocolate peanut butter.

Everyone enjoy your pizzas and ice cream, and have a good evening.  Stay as cool as possible, and take care.

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, August 8, 2009 6:07 PM

Evening

well G+G came over and liked our new and improved porches.Wind has picked up.Looks like it is trying to stir up a storm east of us.The triple H's will arrive overnight.Cw thanks for the pizza.hey I always thought it was Mookie on guard.

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").

 

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Posted by CANADIANPACIFIC2816 on Saturday, August 8, 2009 6:41 PM

It's been a hot one here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Right now we have a temp of 88.3 degrees and the humidity is at 40%. I walked home from work in this miserable, gawd-awful heat and about lost half my body weight in sweat. Will not venture out anywhere until tomorrow morning. Thank God for central air conditioning and the guy who invented it! I understand it got a little warmer down in Lincoln, Nebraskyland where Mookie lives.....

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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, August 8, 2009 7:49 PM

that's cuz we're further south...Big Smile

I think we hit 102 or 103.  cooler tomorrow - about 95...still, not too bad.  No frostbite, no 30 lbs of clothes, and no shoveling.

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Modelcar on Saturday, August 8, 2009 8:26 PM

......Clear skies and it just got dark....90 plus today with higher humidity than we've been having.  Tomorrow, warmer and more humidity.  Some wind today....especially beginning late afternoon, and that helped when outside.  Still dry...!

Stopped by to catch a train by McD's parking lot, but not to be....Since, 3 have passed.  Can hear them from here {home}, as the line heads west out of Muncie.  Line passes about a mile north of here.  Plus the scanner told me they were coming {past the defect detector}.

Quentin

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Posted by rvos1979 on Saturday, August 8, 2009 8:43 PM

Evening all.....

A hot one today, thermometer on mirror bounced between 90 and 95 between Knoxville, TN and Cartersville, GA.  on most of the pulls uphill I turned on the manual engine fan to keep everything cool.  Took the Idleaire unit about a half hour to cool down the inside (shut truck off and went inside for a couple hours, watched Caddyshack on AMC).

Tried to visit the "as seen on TV" outlet in northern Tennessee today, but it was closed, sign said they were changing ownership.  Will have to try again in a month or two, would like to see what they have.....

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

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Posted by Modelcar on Saturday, August 8, 2009 9:11 PM

rvos1979
on most of the pulls uphill I turned on the manual engine fan to keep everything cool. 

Randy....You might comment a bit on your "manual engine fan"....Is that in addition to a continously rotating engine cooling fan.....?  Are normal fans on a rig as such electric or belt driven.

Our last automobile had cooling fans {2}, that were run by hydraulics. But of course on an automobile {thermostatically controlled}.

Quentin

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Posted by rvos1979 on Saturday, August 8, 2009 11:17 PM

Sure, Quentin.....

I have a single, LARGE, fan that is belt driven off the crank.  This fan is normally "off", or free-wheeling.  If the engine coolant temp gets too hot, or refrigerant pressure gets too high, switches cycle an air valve, which locks up the fan clutch, then the fan turns at engine speed.  I also have a switch in the cab to override all the automatic switches, and setting the switch to 'manual' keeps the fan turning all the time.

Keep in mind, I actually have three radiators on the truck:  The A/C condenser, the aftercooler (cools down the compressed air after the turbos before piping it into the engine), and then the radiator.  When pulling hills like I-75 southbound out of Jellico, TN, the heat coming off the engine is more than just the ram-air effect can remove, so I turn the fan on, pulling more air through and keeping the engine cooler.

I usually don't like the coolant temp to get above 200 degrees, and the engine oil to get above 220.  Pulling Jellico today with the fan on, coolant stabilized at 200, and oil was about 210-215.  (should mention that the engine oil is kept cool by the engine coolant, oil goes through an oil cooler on the side of the block, oil in a diesel engine takes a tremendous beating, it cools the pistons, plus the turbocharger(s).)

That fan moves a LOT of air, it's not uncommon for us on a dry gravel lot to create a small dust storm when the fan kicks on.  One quickly learns to keep the windows and vents closed, unless you want to completely clean the interior again..... 

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

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Posted by cherokee woman on Sunday, August 9, 2009 6:48 AM

Good Sunday morning, everyone.  Here in Louisville, we have sunny skies, with a temp about 70-72 degrees this morning, going for a high of 92.  Yesterday's high was 89.  Going to be a very hazy, hot and humid day today.  It already feels quite sticky out.

Coffee is ready, fresh juices, iced teas and lemonade are ready to go, along with hot water for hot tea and there's plenty of Gatorade (most flavors, as I believe we're out of the lemonade Gatorade).

On the warmer bar this morning:  turkey bacon, pork sausage patties, and buttermilk pancakes w/plenty of syrup:  blueberry, maple, strawberry.  And there are also some blueberry pancakes; also have scrambled eggs and hash browns.

Everyone have a very good morning, take care, and stay as cool as possible.  Any requests for Sunday Dinner?  If so, please let me know by about 11:00 EDT.

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, August 9, 2009 6:48 AM

.....Good answer Randy....Thanks, fully understand.  Seems you're just beating the heat buildup as you approach the grade by "beating" the automatic system to turn on your cooling fan.  Sounds like it might be a biggy. 

Understand the rig radiator / fan of the engine cooling system would have to be sizeable.  It has several jobs to do.

Today:  This is going to be a hot one....75 degrees already, and well add at least 20 degrees to that by our late afternoon.....Still very dry.

Quentin

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Posted by CANADIANPACIFIC2816 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 6:54 AM

Well, it looks like I'm the first one in here this morning. The coffee has finished brewing and I've mixe a fresh batch of orange juice. There is also a large jar of ice tea in the fridge. There are two  pans of cinnamon rolls on the counter here, fresh out of the oven, and there is also a generous assortment of donuts, rolls and bear claws. Chef

I hope the rest of you all have a very good day, and stay out of the heat as much as possible!

Ray

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 9:50 AM

Well, decided this morning to do a little experimenting.  After a trip to the store for the Sunday paper and some Half-n-Half and bread (I usually only keep sandwich rolls in the house), I set to work making "Santa Fe French Toast." 

It was worth the time it took (although the standard batch of batter will definitely feed a family of four, and maybe a couple more - be forewarned).

The closest thing I could find for the "homestyle bread" was Italian at our little convenience store - but it worked fine.

And the trip through the oven is definitely a part of the process.

A nice thick of ham finished the meal off.

De-licious!

I'm good until I get to the family picnic later this afternoon.

 

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...

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Posted by Mookie on Sunday, August 9, 2009 10:50 AM

^?  Picnic?   Someone said hot dogs, brats and burgers? CW - I think we should all join Tree @ the picnic!  He will never notice we are there!  Approve

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, August 9, 2009 11:03 AM

.......Did someone mention hot dogs....??   I'm on my way.......

Quentin

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