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Chatterbox Spring 2017

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Posted by locomutt on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 2:26 PM

Well, for some reason around here, the neighborhood cats seem to wind up shaking water off their bodys instead of "four paws on the rim".  Our Robins do use both the bird feeder and the "hunt & peck" system.  The latest problem we have had with the outside "critters", is going out for the morning paper & removing a squirrels tail from the front porch.....

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 1:40 PM

Mookie
All take a bath and then drink the bathwater in the birdbath. Ugh....

    And it's a drinking fountain for the neighborhood cats.   It amazes me how they leap up and land with perfect balance with all four feet on the rim.

_____________ 

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 7:52 AM

Mookie,

 

Wife puts the peanuts in that looks like a 'slinky' with the ends tied together in a loop.  It is really entertaining to watch the Jays hang upside down trying to get at the peanuts.

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, May 1, 2017 10:10 PM

Murphy Siding

 

 
Mookie

 

 

Wonder if this is the same robin that eats bird seed...(think about it)  

 

 

 

 Thinking, thinking, thinking...um, don't they all eat bird seed?

 

 

We attract about 5 common varieties of birds that eat birdseed, which is put in piles on the cement slab. The robins eat bugs and worms - except for one.  This robin almost runs up the driver's pantleg as he walks over to put out the birdseed.  The robin will eat quite a bit of the birdseed and then leave. The rest of the robins dig around in the surrounding dirt and stay off the pavement.  

Further - the squirrels eat the birdseed and the blue jays eat the peanuts in the shell that the driver puts out.  All take a bath and then drink the bathwater in the birdbath.  

Ugh.... 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, May 1, 2017 8:54 PM

Mookie

 

 

Wonder if this is the same robin that eats bird seed...(think about it)  

 

 Thinking, thinking, thinking...um, don't they all eat bird seed?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, May 1, 2017 8:53 PM

Our good soaking of rain was white and 3 to 4 inches deep. It took about 8 hours to get mostly rid of it. Things should be extra green starting tommorrow.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, May 1, 2017 6:05 PM

tree68
The hard part will be sneaking up on the bird so he can hit it with a book.

Oh, groan!

We got (finally) a really good soaking rain along with hair dryer winds - (35-50mph).  AND - we have a 3rd apt in our duplex!  Mama Robin is building a nest on the ledge outside a 2nd story window.  It is a masonry duplex, so the ledge should hold the nest pretty securely, altho it isn't very wide.  And it is a window here in my office, so I can watch the proceedings!

Wonder if this is the same robin that eats bird seed...(think about it)  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, May 1, 2017 6:00 PM

Norm48327

Larry,

hanks to adequate snowfall last winter and plenty of rain this Spring we are sending you water whether you need/want it or not. The ponds and lakes in your old home territory are at least a foot above where they were last Fall.  Only part of that flows to the Mississippi. The rest is yours to deal with. Smile

Yeah - the Huron River drains much of Oakland County, not to mention portions of Livingston, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties - and that flows into Lake Erie.

The leading edge of the storm brought a 50 MPH gust here, and about a half inch of rain.  The wind has settled down, but the rain will continue for a while.  

LarryWhistling
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Posted by edblysard on Monday, May 1, 2017 4:43 PM

"Snow-man's new mugshot is impressive. Wonder if Boss Hen would let me have one of those things. Last time there was that much face fur was 1989."

Thats how it came back in, so gonna let it run as long as it can!

23 17 46 11

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, May 1, 2017 4:39 PM

Larry,

Thanks to adequate snowfall last winter and plenty of rain this Spring we are sending you water whether you need/want it or not. The ponds and lakes in your old home territory are at least a foot above where they were last Fall.  Only part of that flows to the Mississippi. The rest is yours to deal with. Smile

Norm


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Posted by tree68 on Monday, May 1, 2017 4:21 PM

JoeKoh
Matt has a book project."To Kill a Mockingbird."

The hard part will be sneaking up on the bird so he can hit it with a book.

There's a pretty impressive line of storms coming across the lake right now - we'll see if it holds up here, as the lake usually moderates stuff for us here on the east end.  South of us could get pounded.

A bigger problem here right now is that the lake (Ontario) and river (St Lawrence) are both well over a foot above normal for this time of year - many docks are underwater and there is shoreline flooding.  The powers that be can only let so much water out of the dams of the St Lawrence Power Project else there will be flooding downstream (ie, Montreal).

I may go over and help a neighboring fire department with filling sandbags tonight.  Gotta keep an eye on the storms, though, too.

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 JoeKoh on Monday, May 1, 2017 3:23 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.Destruction down the road has people in fits.It will get better soon.Chores to do here.Matt has a book project."To Kill a Mockingbird."

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 Monday, May 1, 2017 2:32 PM

At least it's not a warning. Us jaded folks out here at either end of tornado alley are a little punchy.

Saturday's 14 inches of snow is now gone in less than 36 hours. a little "squishy" though.

Snow-man's new mugshot is impressive. Wonder if Boss Hen would let me have one of those things. Last time there was that much face fur was 1989.

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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, May 1, 2017 1:49 PM

tree68

Well now, we're under a tornado watch!   

 
As opposed to a digital watch??Whistling
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Posted by tree68 on Monday, May 1, 2017 1:32 PM

Well now, we're under a tornado watch!   

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 Uncle Jake on Sunday, April 30, 2017 10:09 PM

Years ago, when my grandparents came to visit, Grandpa would take my brothers and I into town and we would watch the local switch. We'd sit at a crossing and watch until someone came up behind us, then drive across and circle around or watch from the other side. It made for a good morning of fun, topped off with a stop at a local mom and pop burger joint. Fun times. 

Yesterday was my day off, I worked 7 hours. More fun times. It's OK though, I think I'd go crazy if I wasn't working in agriculture.

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Posted by blhanel on Sunday, April 30, 2017 7:37 PM

Took my 5-year-old grandson out train-chasing yesterday afternoon.  We drove back and forth on US-30 between Lisbon and Mechanicsville, IA along the UP transcon- saw three stackers, two EB and one WB, and got to pace one each way.  The EB we paced, which was very long, was barely making 50 MPH.  The WB, which was relatively short with three engines up front, was doing 67 MPH.  I will not disclose how we know that.Wink  Grandson had a blast.

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Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, April 30, 2017 2:59 PM

You're not getting old, are you Carl? I understand that the aches from injuries show up in old age.Smile

After several days of sporadic rain, we have had none today. It is still unseasonably cold, but the promise is that within a week temperatures wlll be more like normal.

Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, April 30, 2017 2:52 PM

We had gotten our three inches of rain by this morning, and it hasn't stopped yet.  I had to postpone a train-watching outing with a longtime friend yet again, and our friends from the cafe in Gary won't be coming to see the lilacs today, after all.  

This must be quite a storm system...this morning my left clavicle was aching.  I broke it in a biking accident nearly 30 years ago, and this is the first time it's done that to me.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, April 30, 2017 8:54 AM

Mud Season starts today. (I kinda resemble that remark) ... 14" of wet snow and 23 degrees right now. 60 degrees this afternoon. Lotsa broken branches and shattered trees. Good part was that the streets and sidewalks were so warm that there was little to shovel or plow. Duncan the scottie is perplexed.

(Methinks the graduation class of 2017 for Weatherliar U may have to take remedial classes this summer)

WESTERN KANSAS IS CLOSED

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 Saturday, April 29, 2017 11:46 PM

The weather prognosticators are promising thunderbumpers over the next couple of days.  We'll see if the system holds together.

Finished up the EMS conference today - two days plus an evening of continuing education.

One of the speakers was nationally know EMS cartoonist and writer Steve Berry ("I'm not an ambulance driver").  Pretty entertaining!

One more night of the PBS auction.  I'm pooped.

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 JoeKoh on Saturday, April 29, 2017 8:02 PM

evening

Well Matt got to experience I-75 and idiots upon it today.Went down to help Big Sis.It was warm and humid south of Dayton after the rain but north of Sidney it was cold and damp.Might have to get the boat out.Also picked up signs my Nephew did for Deshler.Did see some csx,Ns and I&O here and there.Not everyone was moving.Need to get some chores done here.

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 CShaveRR on Friday, April 28, 2017 10:33 PM

We're going to be under a flash flood watch starting tomorrow afternoon.  I think they said that we could get up to three inches of rain in the next couple of days.  Areas to our south could get twice that.  Temperatures are going to be cold, even for the season...mid-40s for the high tomorrow.

Last month I opened one of my freight-car files, only to find that it had been completely replaced by a different file!  I blame that on operator ineptitude.  Fortunately, a backup had the information I was looking for, and the revised file now has been brought very much up to date, both in information and format, so it's beyond what I had before.  

That rebuilding of the file was one of five things I had on a "to-do" list dated Tuesday.  So far, two things were accomplished, two others are in progress, and I have to dredge out some information on the fifth one.

Some brighter news today:  Four new signs were dedicated along the Illinois Prairie Path in the village.  The IPP is, as you may know, one of the first rail-trails in the country, on the roadbed of the Chacago, Aurora & Elgin through the western suburbs.  Lombard is the first cmmunity along these lines that I'm aware of to post historic signs to illustrate the four stations that used to be along the line within the current village limits.  Pictures of the station at Main Street are pretty common, and Stewart Street and Green Valley's shelters have been seen in pictures before, but the station at Westmore (or Home Acres, in one picture) was something I'd never seen illustrated until now (and Green Valley/West Lombard had two shelters at different points in time).  Platform timbers can still be seen at most of these stations.  One photograph of Stewart/East Lombard had two houses in the background that are still recognizable.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, April 28, 2017 7:08 PM

Yup--rain almost every day here; daytime temperatures in the forties; ski resorts happy with the new snow up there (will stay open daily into May and then on weekends until the snow is gone).

I stay warm and dry.

Johnny

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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, April 28, 2017 5:45 PM

blowing rain to snirt to thundersnow to 6"-8" of wet snow overnight.

Springtime in the Rockies, Ma Nature is off her meds again!Surprise

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 JoeKoh on Friday, April 28, 2017 2:22 PM

afternoon

Ns sent a westbound with a CN cowl unit on the point.They were going into the siding when I got off work.Rain has arrived too.Time to get chores done.

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 JoeKoh on Thursday, April 27, 2017 2:24 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.Going to sisters house.Big brother has flown in from Virginia.Will see if CSX has anything on the way.

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 JoeKoh on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 2:22 PM

afternoon

Westbound stack train on Ns when I left work.Asked me to stay but need to take Matt uptown so he can mow.Need to get stuff loaded up.

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, April 26, 2017 7:03 AM

Looking at summer-like temps here for the next couple of days, then back to normal.  Can't complain - I'll be inside for some classes on Friday and Saturday.

The PBS auction continues.  The last couple of nights have been positively placid.  The fun begins tonight when they start bringing major items into the mix - they really slow things down.  This is one of the station's big fundraisers for the year, though, so those big items really help the bottom line.

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 CShaveRR on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 7:59 PM

Oh there are plenty of other new reporting marks since 1976 with fewer than four letters.  My home town has the MS going through it now, and the MQT runs down to my wife's home town.  EEC had thousands of box cars, but those are disappearing.

As for Dow and Blue Cube, I think there are still a whole lot of DOWX cars out there.  As far as I know, Blue Cube hasn't gotten any of the covered hoppers that Dow owns.  While I was attempting to dig out information, I discovered that Dow has absorbed Rohm and Haas, and the Olin Corporation.  A merger between Dow and DuPont is next in the works.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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