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The Flat Wheel Diner and Cafe, January 2010 Edition

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Posted by cherokee woman on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 4:42 PM

Went out to the grocery, post office and bank this afternoon, about 2:15.  Got all errands done, and was back home just before 4:00.  It wasn't too bad, until I was standing in the bus shelter, waiting for the bus to come home.  Then that breeze had a definite bite to it! 

They are predicting for us to get between 3 to 5 inches of snow Thursday.  Supposed to start snowing here around 4:30 a.m. Thursday.  Not looking forward to that at all. 

Joe, there is still some soup, and I've also made a  meatloaf, with green beans, and mashed taters & gravy. 

Everyone enjoy your supper, have a good evening, stay warm and take care.

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by cherokee woman on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 5:25 AM

Good Wednesday morning, everyone.  At least I hope you all will be in here today.  Looks like no one at all came in last night.  Sad  I've gotten everything cleared off the serving station, and everything cleaned up, and starting all over for this morning.

Coffee, juices, hot beverages are all ready to go.  On the warmer serving station this morning:  bagels, bear claws, turkey bacon, pork sausage, hash brown potatoes, scrambled eggs, homemade buttermilk biscuits w/sausage gravy. 

The weatherguessers are still predicting 3 to 5 inches for us starting sometime after midnight tonight, with winds gusting to 30 mph, and drifting snow.  No offense to Dale or any of our other Canadian friends, but call this stuff back to Canada, please.  WinkTongue

You know, guys, it's just not the same here with Mookie gone.  I hope she'll come back, soon, after all the brew ha ha dies down totally.  And we need some others back who seem to have 'vanished into thin air'.  I put that in little quotes, because I see them elsewhere on here, so I know they're still around. 

Everyone have a good morning, enjoy your breakfast, stay safe, warm and take care.

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 6:44 AM

Morning

Paula thanks for supper last night and breakfast today.we had some freezing drizzle overnight so matt is delayed 2 hours.Weather Guessers say 4-8 inches of snow coming depending which guesser you listen to.Going to get a nap then its chores this afternoon.Shovels are at the ready.

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 tree68 on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 8:04 AM

Still snowing here.   Nothing debilitating (tell that to the drivers who continue to find guard rails and ditches), but it's still snowing.

Time to take the trash out.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 8:28 AM

....17 degrees here now....but we're on target for 3 to 6" of the stuff coming at us tomorrow morning.  Wind with it too, and of course the cold is still here...{Below normal}, by up to 15 degrees recently.  Our snow fall so far this season has just been 7.5" so, so far that's not too bad......Just unseasonably cold recently.   Wind to be with the stuff tomorrow too and it's a dry snow that will drift easy.

Noted it was 27 in Tampa and 35 in Miami this morning, so it's wide spread.

Quentin

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Posted by switch7frg on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 10:22 AM

CW ; you are not a wimp. You are smart enough to stay in the house to put on a nice pot of ham & beans /w skillet corn pone for supper.LOL It is a balmy 33 deg. and breezy here in the mtns.  ~~~~Cannonball

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Posted by switch7frg on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 10:42 AM

Tree;  I saw on a thread where trains were stopped because of snow or cold.  Aside from liaibility are todays trains not designed to run in those conditions?? 

                    ( out on a limb ) I don't recall steamers having that problem in the midwest .       Cannonball

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by cherokee woman on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 1:12 PM

Cannonball, thanks for the compliment.  Although, sometimes I do feel like a wimp.  And thanks for your suggestion of the bean soup w/ham and the pone of cornbread.  That is now on the stove, in the big soup pot for tonight.

For Lunch, there's meatloaf and fixin's from supper last night. 

I will be so glad when my feet finally decide to warm up.  So tired of my feet staying ice cold.  Just like several of you all, I imagine!!  The sun may be trying to shine a little bit around here, but it's definitely not helping warm things up. 

Everyone enjoy your lunch, have a good afternoon, and I'll see you all later.

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 2:34 PM

 

Cannonball.....I wondered about that too.  Seems to me, decades ago, trains were running in all kinds of weather...And I'm referring back to steam days.....and specifically, over in Pennsylvania, including the lines around the mountain areas too.

Quentin

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 3:17 PM

afternoon

well we are under a weather advisory until friday morning.Matt did have school today but some schools in our area did not. Just going to take our time and be careful.Cw thanks for supper.Cannonball and Modelcar I might have part of your answer about trains.CSX is trying to stretch every maintanence dollar with fewer MOW workers and they want to combine trains so they use fewer crews.The longer your train in this type of weather the more problems it can create.The more slow zones a train encounters the longer it takes to get from terminal to terminal.Just my observations.Time to get stuff for work.

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 mudchicken on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 4:23 PM

Right now the track forces, even in the southern part of the country are doing little because the ground and ballast section is frozen solid. They'll save up their pennies for spring, summer and fall when they can do the most good.

This morning, the temperature went from 30 to about 10 in twenty minutes. Currently ice fog and light snow. The survey crew I was with could only see about a few hundred feet and their optical instruments magnified everything to white-out conditions.

Getting thawed out with a big cup of hot cider and sitting carefully after a couple of big falls (left more than just footprints today, more like craters Clown). Even Mr. Coyote , who watched us most of the morning, was carefully picking his steps.

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
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Posted by cherokee woman on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 5:00 PM

mudchicken

Getting thawed out with a big cup of hot cider and sitting carefully after a couple of big falls (left more than just footprints today, more like craters Clown). Even Mr. Coyote , who watched us most of the morning, was carefully picking his steps.

Mudchicken, sorry to hear about your fall.  Know you will be very sore for the next few days.  Been there, done that a few hundred times, at least:  in snow, and just walking down the stairs.  I won't talk about the times I've fallen walking UP the stairs. 

The bean w/ham soup and cornbread are now on the warmer serving station.  Along with some meatloaf and fixin's.  (I made two meatloafs yesterday, so there'd be enough, just in case people decided to come back in.)

Well, the current weather report is calling for the snow to start sometime after midnight, will most definitely see it by about 4 a.m.  I know one local TV station is going to start their newscast a half hour early, signing on at 4:30 in the morning. 

Take care, you all, stay safe and warm, and take care.

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by CANADIANPACIFIC2816 on Thursday, January 7, 2010 7:18 AM

It looks like I am the first one in here this morning. The coffee is brewing and I just pulled a couple pans of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. Otherwise, breakfast this morning will consist of blueberry pancakes, bacon, pork sausage links and scrambled eggs. Chef

It's another cold morning here in my hometown, currently we have a temp of -4 below 0. It will be considerably worse than this come tomorrow when the wind chill will hit -30 below 0 or greater than that.

ooo     ooo ooOOOOOo

 

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Posted by grampaw pettibone on Thursday, January 7, 2010 7:52 AM

Good morning. It was 19 at sunrise in Carolina, 20 and clear  at present. I spoke with a friend of mine (on facebook) this morning, who lives in Nicaragua. It is 70 there and folks are about to freeze, and are wearing long sleeves and jackets if they have'm. My oh my. Let'em come back stateside and see how they cope with what we have. Thanks for breakfast and everybody take care

Tom

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, January 7, 2010 8:47 AM

minus 16 last night, minus 9 now.....the weatherguesser thought maybe only minus four last night.

COWABUNGA !!!!! - HIT THE BEACHfrozen tundra

 

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
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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, January 7, 2010 9:13 AM

The way things are going lately around the country, weatherwise, our current 19 sounds downright balmy!

Time to head for the post office.  Got a belated birthday card to mail to my sister.   I always remember her birthday - I just never remember to send a card on time...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by diningcar on Thursday, January 7, 2010 9:17 AM

Az is missing all of the cold weather. High of 59 in Prescott yesterday and to 'show off' I wore a short sleeve shirt for a few hours.

But I have been there - done that - and have the tee shirt with winter weather. I have ridden a motor car, speeder to some of you, in below zero conditions. I liveed in Chicago for eight years and saw the city temporarily shut dow with snow twice. And I lived in eastern KS for 20 years. Now you know why I am in AZ. 

 

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Posted by Modelcar on Thursday, January 7, 2010 10:22 AM

....Yes, that temp sounds pretty decent.  Item:  I wear short sleeve shirts year around here.....but of course, going outside in this weather, it also includes a sweater.  And plenty of coats, fur hat, gloves, etc...... placed in the vehicle.

Early here this morning it was 19....Now 23.  We were to wake up to about 4" of new snow this morning, but here it looked more like 1".  We've been having some snow most of the morning, and it's to slack off this afternoon.  guessing now..lt might be 2.5" total of new stuff so far.

To add wind to it tonight, and a bit of snow tomorrow too, then super cold sets in for the weekend, but also some sunshine.  No plans for going out today.  Brought in any needed stuff yesterday, just in case.

Quentin

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Posted by cherokee woman on Thursday, January 7, 2010 11:05 AM

Good late morning, everyone.  Ray, thank you very much for getting things started this morning.  I decided to take a morning off for a change.  Maybe I should do that more often, as it seems there were more people in here this morning.

You have a smorgasborg to select from on the warmer/serving station:

1.  leftover meat loaf, etc.,

2.  Soups:  vegetable beef, beef stew, clam chowder, cream of tomato, oyster stew and cream of potato soup (plenty of cornbread, too, for the soups and stews)

3.  Freshly made turkey & dumplin's

4.  Burgers, cheeseburgers

Side dishes:  garden salad, green beans, broccoli & cheese,

Desserts:  Dutch apple pie, apple dumplings, yellow cake w/chocolate icing, chocolate cake w/chocolate icing, white coconut cream cake, homemade from scratch chocolate pie, and the following cobblers:  apple, cherry, peach and strawberry

Everyone have a good afternoon, stay warm, safe, and take care.

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, January 7, 2010 2:25 PM

afternoon

well the snow has arrived here in nw ohio.Thankfully the wind hasn't picked up yet.Plows have been doing a good job keeping up so far.Matt will be home from school soon.Cw thanks for the soup.it will go good with some homemade bread I get for shoveling out driveways.Time to get stuff for work tonight.

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 bubbajustin on Thursday, January 7, 2010 3:30 PM

Afternoon all.

The flashing yellow, and white strobe, and beacon lights of the state plow trucks battling the snow blizzard raging outside keep shining in our home this Thursday evening. School was canceled today due to the snow storm. It is downright nasty outside now. Our local highway’s are drifting shut with snow blowing across them in gusts at 25mph gusting to 30mph.

I took a measurement with a yardstick about 2 hours ago in our yard, and we had six inches of the white stuff. More coming too.

Have a safe evening

Justin

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Posted by Willy2 on Thursday, January 7, 2010 4:43 PM

Another wonderful winter day in Omaha. Since October 1st, 2009, the official snowfall total at Eppley Airfield is 36.1 inches, which is already 8 inches more than average for the entire winter. Out at the National Weather Service office in west Omaha, they've already recorded 44.4 inches of snow since October 1st. All school districts have already cancelled school for tomorrow, which is the 3rd snow day in a row and the 6th snow day since December 1st. Do you get the idea that this has been an intense winter so far? Cool

It looks like we might finally make a run at 32 degrees next week, for only the second time since December 1st.

Willy

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Posted by Modelcar on Thursday, January 7, 2010 4:59 PM

Ok Willy, turn off the white stuff now.....we get the point.  Just 5.2" for today but wind tonight will make trouble with it.

Quentin

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, January 7, 2010 5:30 PM

Up here in the snow belt, life's pretty normal...  If cold. 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Willy2 on Thursday, January 7, 2010 5:30 PM

Modelcar

Ok Willy, turn off the white stuff now.....we get the point.  Just 5.2" for today but wind tonight will make trouble with it.

I don't see how I could ever turn off the snow. That would just be way too uncharacteristic of me.

Willy

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Posted by switch7frg on Thursday, January 7, 2010 9:01 PM

Joe thank you for your insight on that. Next question ~~~ how deep of water can todays engines negotiate , providing the road bed is still sound??      Respectfully , Cannonball

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, January 7, 2010 9:21 PM
switch7frg
Next question ~~~ how deep of water can todays engines negotiate , providing the road bed is still sound?? 
Per NORAC, 8th Edition (we're on the ninth now, but I don't think it's any different)

117. Operating Through Water with Roller Bearing Journals

Engines and cars equipped with roller bearing journals must not be operated through water, except in emergency when authorized by the Dispatcher. In such a case, the movement must not exceed 2 MPH, and water depth as measured from the top of the rail must not exceed the following:

1. Diesel Engines, and Electric Engines Class E-60: 3 inches.

2. Electric Engines Class AEM-7, ALP-46 and ALP-44: 6 inches.

3. Other Electric Engines and MU Cars: 2 inches.

4. Rail Diesel Cars; Cars Other than MU's: 7 inches.

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 grampaw pettibone on Friday, January 8, 2010 5:21 AM

Good morning. I have laid out last night's leftovers on the buffet table. Enjoy yourselves. 39 degrees and falling in Carolina under cloudy skies. We were supposed to get snow last night and there are major disruptions, such as a 2 hour delay for most schools, etc. What we got was rain, which is apparently past now, with the cold front following behind it. Skies are clearing in front of it, so it will stay dry. Some places are actually closed because of the "snow". That'll learnem, durnem. Have a great day.

Tom

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Posted by cherokee woman on Friday, January 8, 2010 5:39 AM

Good Friday morning, everyone.  Brrr, it is COLD this morning, isn't it?!?! 

Larry, thanks for your answer to Cannonball's question.  I learned something, believe it or not.  ?And Cannonball, thank you for asking the question!

There's juices, and plenty of hot beverages ready for everyone this morning.  And on the serving station, plenty of hot breakfast for everyone, ranging from the bagels and bear claws, to homemade buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy, and fried taters. 

We have a current temp of 12 degrees F., with a wind chill of -3 degrees this morning.  When I awoke at 5, it was 13 degrees, with wind chill of -3.  All of the local schools and a lot of day care centers are closed.  I'm glad I don't have to get out in this mess today.  But Sarah does:  she has Standby at the firehouse today, so she'll be getting up in about an hour to get ready to head out.

Willy, are the universities closed there, also?  I would imagine that the employees probably have to go in, at the very least. 

Everyone please take care, getting out in this bitter cold, that seems to be wreaking havoc everywhere.  Keep as warm as possible, stay safe, and take care.  Looks like it'll be more soups and stews here in the Cafe/Diner today, to keep everyone warm!!

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by eolafan on Friday, January 8, 2010 7:23 AM

I will totally back up what Willy had to report from Omaha, having just returned from there last evening.  I traveled by air to Omaha on Tuesday just in time to be "knee deep" (literally) in the latest storm.  Wed. morning we drove to Atlantic, IA for a meeting and that was a real joy to negotiate.  For the rest of the day Wed. and all day Thursday we drove all over the Omaha metro area and was amazed at the number of accidents, wrecks, spinouts, ditch divers, etc. we saw (had to be over 100 we saw personally) and I was nervous I might not get back to Chicago last night but good old Southwest Airlines came through and my flight out of Eppley yesterday afternoon at 2:25 was the first one to Chicago not cancelled from Omaha yesterday.  I arrived back in Big Windy just in time for the evening rush hour in the snow and ice, so when I FINALLY got back into our home for dinner, I was SOOOOOO happy to be off the road. Next week I'm up in Minneapolis and I'm hoping it will be warmer than it is tonight...-15F!!!!!!

Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)

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