Good Morning All. Cloudy and 33°, inclement weather seems to have moved on. Snow depth at it's fullest was about 2"; it's disappearing as fast as it appeared. Overall yesterday and overnight, the rain gauge collected 1.25". Gradual warm-up is in store.
The doctor visit yesterday was inconclusive. The blood tests and breathing test that I went through a month ago came back completely normal, and he has no idea why I am short of breath and wheezing. More tests and another visit next month.
I'm taking my wife to Dallas this afternoon for a two day stay with the grandsons. Daughter and SIL are both going to be out of town on business related trips. My other daughter and her husband are also both out of pocket. While the two boys aged 15 & 13 can take care of themselves, the oldest cannot legally drive them to various practices and events. School is just two blocks away and they walk there anyway; and they are adept at using the kitchen. Grandma is needed to be a taxi driver. Daughter will bring her back home Friday.
Drivers licenses and license plates here are in two separate buildings located about two blocks apart. license plates/registrations are easy and normally don't take over 10 minutes. Over at the drivers license place, we now have to go online and schedule an appointment, but there are usually same day appointments available. The next county over (with four offices) is more crowded and you might wait a week or more. Fortunately no one has told those people that they can go to any county in the state.
Thanks for the comments and reactions regarding the "clean" structures shown yesterday.
I did venture out to the train shed yesterday and did some more structure cleaning. I did these four which are just temporarily stored in a 72" x 16" undeveloped space. Three of these will eventually go here, maybe even the fourth.
In order to break the monotony, I started the build on the first of the P2K covered hoppers. These are very complex kits, but I really enjoy building them. Here are a few highlights.
The train line is a separately applied part and is quite delicate and takes some time cutting it loose.
I went in steps.
Here it is with part of the brake gear.
I managed to get all of them without breaking anything. So far no other lost or broken parts.
The train line loops and threads it's way around the frame. Here it is with the two brake levers, hatches, shaker brackets and bolsters installed.
At this stage, I have installed 26 parts including much of the B-end brake stuff (not shown).
Tom O - I do the soft drinks, sugar-free A&W Root Beer and Caffeine-Free Diet Coke in the 12 ox cans. Used to be 4-12 packs for $10, now, 18 months later, a sale is 4-12 packs for $14, a 40% increase!!! Only eggs have gone up more and at least there is a legitimate reason for eggs. The soda stash is down to 4-5 weeks. Beer stash is remaining around 6-7 weeks in case of a severe snowstorm. Best estimate of the wife's wine stash is a little over two weeks.
I also never went to train shows looking for sales, just layouts and home tours. Most of the ones locally just had the same old stores bringing in a few tables of their shelf inventory to sell to the visitors to the show. I just patronized their brick & mortar places as there was always more choice. But in the last five or six years prior to Covid, more and more "estate sellers" began to show up and would sell stuff more cheaply and still make a profit. They are also (mostly) willing to barter if you purchase multiple items.
All shows are now in the Dallas suburb of Plano now, since the venue in Ft Worth started charging for parking in 2015.
Sherrel - Thanks for noticing the rail color. Wow!!! $78 for breakfast! You need to find an IHOP or Waffle House!
I would have punched someone in the nose if they tore up my car title.
Everybody have a great day.
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love.
