Good Morning All. Clear and 65°. We're definitely into our fall weather and fall doesn't even start 'til Tuesday. Highs in the low-80's and lows in the lower to mid-60's. Just for fun, the weatherman threw rain in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
Stayed busy yesterday, mowed the south part of the yard as well as parts of the "back 40", while doing laundry and emptying the dishwasher. Still making the daily trip for dry ice for the non-functional freezer while waiting on delivery of the new one Tuesday. Hope that it's not raining when they come! Wife and I did do some culling out of some frozen (still) stuff though, we found some frozen garden produce, chopped onions and bell peppers from 2014 that were in the back of the bottom drawer. While they were most likely still good, I have plenty of more recent harvests to use.
Received some interesting news yesterday regarding the window company that I worked for for 43 years. The owners who bought the company in 2000 and pretty much left it alone until 2013 when they consolidated two of their other plants into ours, are finally wiping out the very last vestiges of my original company. They had already moved all of the window and patio door operations (ours and theirs) into a new location and are now shutting down the extrusion and paint divisions that we had started in 1978. My buddy, the plant manager is totally distraught. He had planned to work at it for four more years and then retire. While he and all other employees have been told that they could have jobs at the other location, doing other stuff, he has always been adamant that he would never go to that location. By offering jobs to all of the employees, the company doesn't have to lay anyone off and avoid that issue. Most of the employees will not go. When they moved all of the other operations in 2015-2016, they only kept the then current workforce for 90 days because they offered a bonus of $300 if the employees moved and stayed that long. Most employees, approximately 450, stayed just two weeks longer so they could collect their Christmas vacation and bonus checks before the plant was totally devoid of employees after New Years Day! Even when I still worked there before retiring, I saw the owners make some pretty stupid and costly decisions like that over the years.
Hey there Flo! How about a Western omelet and a slice of raisin toast for me today.
Thanks for the many likes and comments yesterday everybody;
Chet, Lee, Justin, Patrick, Rick, Jerome, Guy, Chad, Karl, Hughie, Phil, Curt, Tom O, Ken, Tom, Garry.
Spent some time in the train shed yesterday. While still dealing with painting details, I got to work on the next part of this project area. There is a structure to the right of the diner that I had painted and assembled a few years ago. It didn't really fit the location that I had originally planned, either size-wise or in keeping with the character of the location. So it languished on the shelf for many years.
The structure is an older DPM kit called City Cab Co. That's not what I intend to use it for. I will be using it as an HVAC contractor business. Left side is offices and the right side is indoor storage with a drive thru garage. Out back will be multiple pieces of "junk" representing used equipment.
Yesterday, I installed clear styrene in all of the windows to get started, today I will search the parts cabinet for some roof details (I have many), and get them painted and maybe even installed. I may also start installing the road out front, and working on the parking area for the diner. I actually need to deal with the railroad behind this scene, as I haven't even painted the rail or ballasted it yet. Best to do that before I fasten the diner down. The base on the diner started warping slightly after I started assembling it and it also has fixed interior lighting. Otherwise I normally don't attach structures to the layout. This will be a rare exception.
Here are a couple of more close up pictures of some of the items that I purchased Monday on my visit to the LHS. First up is the Laube Linen Mill from DPM. Note that this LHS is a discounter and all prices are 20% off MSRP.
And a structure (intentional repeat for me) from Smalltown. I will be varying the color and it will not be Tony's gym.
By painting it a different color and giving it a different orientation, I don't mind duplicate structures. I'll show you a trick or two when I build it. There's really not enough different manufacturers any more that can provide different structures for larger layouts.
Troy - I don't (can't) dance either. I was forced to at each of my children's weddings. At least I didn't have to dance with my son!
Sherrel - Congratulations to Kate on her progress. Nice picture of the Austin & Central Texas RSD-15. It began life as a Santa Fe locomotive back in the 60's. As far as I know, it is still undergoing re-restoration after 15 or so years of service on the A&CT.
Seems that
Joe explained the kettlebells already.
Tom O - Much congratulations on the 44th anniversary. Hoping that there are many more to come.
Garry - The stripes on those poles have been befuddling me for well over a week. They are getting closer to my satisfaction. First the red paint, then the white paint, then the red etc. That and I get cross-eyed and have to set it down and come back later. Impossible for me to do all of them at once!
Thought about giving up and just painting them all one color.
Today is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. Since I am socially isolated and don't see anyone, I guess that I will not be celebrating.
OK, now that the sun has risen (or has it), I can see that the Left Coast smoke haze has finally drifted south far enough to affect us. That will screw up my Vitamin D intake for the day. At least it appears to be high enough in the atmosphere to not affect breathing. Thankfully.
Everybody have a great day and a wonderful weekend.