Running Bear's March 2026 Coffee Shop

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Good Freitag to everyone. It is 63°F and climbing already. Supposed to be 80° today, but I think that's wishful thinking on the Talking Heads account. Sunny right now, severe storms expected between midnight at 0800 tomorrow morning. I may be up the better part of the morning early tomorrow.

Going to call the optometrist and find out where my new glasses are. I was expecting a call by now saying they were here.

Going to be getting a fish dinner from the Parish this evening. I hope they don't overcook it.

Have a great weekend! Servus!
 
26F this morning in S. NH and woke up to another 2+" of snow. Looks like it started as freezing rain and then snow on top. Not going to be an easy cleanup today. Temps expected to go up to mid sixties on Monday.

Slow work day on the docket today so might have time to run to the basement (been working from home, when not on the road, since 2016) and trim down the board I intend to use for the diorama. Maybe get the first layer of foam glued as well.
 
Good morning from Wisconsin where maybe I should put out the rain gauge. Started raining around midnight right before bed time and was still raining at wake up and 2.5 hours later it’s drizzling! Better than snow for sure. 45f degrees now a wet 63 later, t-storms this evening.

Our “in case of unrest” spot has a 86’ well drilled so water should not become an issue but beyond 30 days would be interesting for food stuffs.

Off to a haircut and then labs

Enjoy your day
 


There sure is a lot tin foil hat wearing and hand wringing going on lately.

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Good Morning All. Cloudy and 67° with rain in the forecast for later today. There is some in the east right now, but that front passed us already and it didn't rain. Mixed forecast for the next ten days with tomorrow being the only cooler day.

Yesterday went well, the grocery trek was OK, everything was in stock and prices were at normal levels. Pork is half the cost of beef right now so we're eating more of it. Picked up my RH hearing aid and it's good to have my hearing balanced out again. Wife's laser surgery went OK, but it took far too long and we didn't get home until after 3:00. All other stops went all right. Did my twice a month startup of the tractor yesterday, to ensure that it still starts and runs well. I usually change the oil and filter on April Fool's Day, so that's coming up. Probably not needed since I only put 35 hours on it in the last year due to the total lack of rain since September. But I'll do it anyway.

Today starts with the dishwasher and then some laundry. If the weather cooperates, I intend to rehab the planter box next to the back porch for some annual herbs and wife's flowers. I'd love to have the whole thing devoted to herbs, but a happy wife...

Out in the train shed yesterday, I just ran trains. Basically looking for the freight car that dropped the truck pin that I posted about yesterday.
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Brought various trains out of staging and examined known Accurail cars as they passed over the workbench. At least I knew that it was on the upper level which reduced my looking by 50%. Finally found the boxcar with the detached truck, so I redid it.
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While I have no shortage of correctly-sized screws to use, I chose to just reuse the pin. It has worked without fail for over 25 years, so why not.
I may or may not have posted last month that I found a defective part in a Walther's structure kit.
1772809419081.jpeg

I called them last Monday and talked to their rep, who said that she would get back to me... Well, that return call took over a week, but the part is in the USPS system somewhere and delivery is promised for Monday. I'm not an instant gratification person, so that's fine with me.

Patrick -
Patrick said:
Playing with the retirement money and found I'm on the better side of required minimum withdrawals at 75. I'll still have some money left that will require it as I don't intend to start taking from one account until I have to do so.
Click to expand...
Good planning on your part. I'm currently in a good position and only take distributions because I am required to, not because I need to.
Michael -
RhB Michael said:
I didn't sleep too soundly last night. I wish I weren't such a light sleeper.
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I guess that is one advantage that I have, once I remove the hearing aids for the night.
Troy - Too bad about the book sales. Sorta gives new meaning to "Made in America" where the data centers should have been to begin with.

Everyone have a fabulous Friday. It must be Friday since I hear the truck emptying the trash dumpster as I type this.
 
There are a lot of things we take for granted we should have at least a backup of.
Scissors
Razor(s)
Soap
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Salt
Axe
Toilet paper
Rechargable flashlight and a way to charge it without power.
A way to start a fire.

Something to consider is figuring out “natural” methods of treating any ailments we may have. Something that helps is better than having nothing.
 
Good morning folks, it's 67 and cloudy here with possibility of rain. Been dry here too, last year was so wet it chased snakes out of their dens early, causing the demise of a large water moccasin in our driveway. Self-inflicted gunshot wound....tragic. Our pear trees are blooming early and while the neighborhood has lots of blooms, it is still so early we could still get some weather cold enough to kill the blooms.
Made it through the second night of being back in my bed and slept well, pretty stiff this morning, but feel better.
Hope this isn't political, but praying that Iran can get some leadership that can become good neighbors.
Spent a good deal of yesterday afternoon priming around 40 Battletech , miniatures to discover that I missed large areas on about 15 and primered two in the wrong base. Oh well, that can be fixed without too much trouble.
Y'all take care.
 
From my niece

BIG UPDATE:
She is awake, she is talking, and she is feisty! She told me, “I love you, mommy!” She wants to go for a ride and eat pasta. She said “uhuh, no thank you,” when she saw my salad. She called Aunt Tiffy and mentioned Uncle Sharky. She is giggling with the nurses and using her princess good manners. She is still CELIE. Thank God.
❤️

I was under the impression yesterday that it would be at least 48 hours until Cecilia would likely be in a position to be awakened. So I decided to seize the opportunity to make the trek back to Shallotte/ Little River to check on our houses, pet the animals, do some laundry, pay some bills, handle life, and decompress while there was still time. True to form, Cecilia always does her tricks when I walk out of the room and decided she was done with being intubated. That was the longest two and a half hour drive in history. Hearing her little voice on the other end of the phone was the happiest moment of my life, one I deeply feared might never happen again.
We still have so far to go and she is NOT happy about being strapped to a bed, but we’ll think about that tomorrow. She’s back.
❤️
 
Bruette said:
From my niece

BIG UPDATE:
She is awake, she is talking, and she is feisty! She told me, “I love you, mommy!” She wants to go for a ride and eat pasta. She said “uhuh, no thank you,” when she saw my salad. She called Aunt Tiffy and mentioned Uncle Sharky. She is giggling with the nurses and using her princess good manners. She is still CELIE. Thank God.
❤️

I was under the impression yesterday that it would be at least 48 hours until Cecilia would likely be in a position to be awakened. So I decided to seize the opportunity to make the trek back to Shallotte/ Little River to check on our houses, pet the animals, do some laundry, pay some bills, handle life, and decompress while there was still time. True to form, Cecilia always does her tricks when I walk out of the room and decided she was done with being intubated. That was the longest two and a half hour drive in history. Hearing her little voice on the other end of the phone was the happiest moment of my life, one I deeply feared might never happen again.
We still have so far to go and she is NOT happy about being strapped to a bed, but we’ll think about that tomorrow. She’s back.
❤️
Click to expand...
Great news Louis.

I will keep the thoughts and prayers coming!
 


Good morning from Wisconsin where maybe I should put out the rain gauge. Started raining around midnight right before bed time and was still raining at wake up and almost 4 hours later it’s a light drizzle. Better than snow for sure.

2 Friends are at a work session today but I had labs and a haircut this morning. I am getting texts as the layout builder finally is getting rid of stuff from the old layout. Lots of parts from the power plant, ethanol and walls from the Walthers kits unbuilt will be making their way back here for future kitbashing builds. I said just take what he’s giving away.

I hear the alarm on the Roomba in the train room. It’s struck I bet deep in messy floor


Have a great day
 
Morning all,

Overnight severe storms brought another 3/4" of rain and not much damage. I did have to go out and pickup the overturned and windblown garbage bin and place it where the trash collectors could get it, but no trash left spilled out. Had a couple of empty boxes on the top that were still there when I tipped it back up.

Been out and got an oil change done on the car the grandson is now borrowing from his uncle. Kid turns 16 and he's hell on wheels...LOL.

BBL
 
westtexjohn said:
Some folks say canned items will last far past the date on the can, but I have noticed a lack of taste in a couple of canned goods only a month past their date. And yes all my stash is kept in a cool dry place.
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Most will last far longer than the “use by” date. The only ones to really worry about are ones with acid like tomatoes. (As a general class). Some due grow bland. Canned green beans is one. That’s when you make a “throw everything in the pot” soup or stew. A can or two of bland green beans taste a lot better in a rich stew or soup.

I’ve regularly been eating stuff that’s way over date from our stash (we’re not that good at rotating). Some tastes just fine and some are more bland. But they’re fine from a danger stand point.

Any can that’s bulged, lets out audible air, or bad smells (for things that aren’t normally bad smelling) or are leaking should be tossed. The only “bulged” cans I will eat are those little cans of sliced or diced jalapeños or diced green chilis. And that’s only a very mild bulge that comes from their very acidic and pickled insides that naturally slowly offgasses. (I’m not dead yet).

If in doubt throw it out.
 
Well, I bought some of the textured paint:
20260306_102223.jpg


Stuff was NOT cheap. just over $15 for the can at Home Despot, even with my 10% vet discount!

But is the result worth it?
20260306_102230.jpg


That is one coat. Upon reading the instructions, yes, I am that guy, I learned that you can apply successive coats in 15 minutes after the first application. So that is just one coat.

It's not a bad look, and I think at the HO scale, not a bad representation of dirt and rock, maybe. But I also have to wonder if some basic spray paint with hobby dirt/rock sprinkled on would not be a cheaper solution with even better results. But I spent the cash, so I'll use it for this project.

Anyways, if you were curious, that's my report.

Currently 46 in the Twin and Certifiably Insane Cities with non-frozen water falling. Golf courses are opening for three days starting Sunday! WooHoo!!!!

Steve J
 
As for prepping...

I live in Tornado Alley. We don't usually get them as bad as the Palm Sunday '65 outbreak... but we do get them.

www.wvpe.org

Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak remembered 60 years later

On April 11, 1965, 55 tornadoes swept across the Midwest, leaving a path of devastation. For Debbie Watters, who was 6 years old at the time, the memory remains vivid.
www.wvpe.org www.wvpe.org

Interestingly, the Midway trailer park destroyed by the tornadoes in that story was in about 1000 ft of where the infamous Ford Pinto was rear-ended and "blew up" in a fireball killing the passengers. That area is cursed. Later, from about 1978 on, I lived a farm field behind the rebuilt Midway Trailer Park. Bestie at the time lived in a trailer there. I may or may not have been affected by the cursed land. ;)

so, having a good stash of food, water, and get through the emergency supplies is good.

We moved across country four weeks before Covid hit and shut everything down. I've been putting off the rebuilding of supplies since then. Nothing like a war to get the reminder front and center.

I'll keep rebuilding, just like I did when was hanging with the other side back in 2009. We had a good stash back then, sure that SHTF was right around the corner.
 


Just "cleaned" the driveway, still has about 1/4" of ice down on it, but at least the snow is off of it.

I guess a little bit about me since I've stayed around. While my wife and I are not preppers, we are prepared. Each vehicle has a GHB with basic stuff including GMRS and ham radios, clothes, FAK and lifeboat rations in it. We would keep extra ammo in it, but she works in MA and my company office is in MA as well. It is nearly impossible to get a MA out of state carry due to the hoops they make you go through to exercise your rights, besides, I don't have any 10rd mags left for any of my carry guns (sold them to a friend when we escaped to NH). The house is well stocked for provisions, water, etc. that get rotated out regularly. Neighbors are of the same mindset and one belongs to the same gun club we do.

I am also a member of my town's and the next town over's CERT programs so I have friends in both town's PD and FD.

W1DCS
 
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