Come and see Flo at Coffee Shop 18

[jeffrey-wimberly]

But being my age and in the condition, physically(I'm 56 and not 26), not many companies feel that they will get their money's worth out of me, I guess. I know that my limitations, bad back, diabetes, neuropathy in both arms, et al, will be a negative on the books, but I can supervise with the best and I am results oriented.

Take heart, you're still in better condition than I am.


Good morning.

It's 66 and clear. The high will be around 86 and it will be partly cloudy.

Went to see the foot doc yesterday to fill out the paperwork for the upcoming foot operation. That took from 9:30 to 11:45. The operation is scheduled to take place the morning of September 8th at the Deer Creek Doctor's Hospital in Leesville. No layout work yesterday as I basically just took the rest of the day off. Today I'll start work on a DPM kit I painted last month. After it's done I have one that I received in the mail yesterday that need's painting. Those DPM kits are easy to put to put together but they're a pain in the butt to paint. However the level of detail is acceptable. I also have some clouds that can stand to be redone as the edges appear to be just a tad too sharp.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA 71446-6114 9/1/2009

Wind Chill: 66°F
Humidity: 69%
Dew Point: 56°F

So Far Today
High: 71°F
Low: 66°F
Rain: 0.00"
Rain Rate: 0.00"/h
Gust: 9mph ENE

Today High: 85 Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight Low: 60 Clear. Lows around 60. Northeast winds around 5 mph.


http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm18/forum-2/DSCN1839-1.jpg

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Good Mornig

The household is slowly waking up. Steven's( the one who I'm going to keep the eye on as he goes to the university here) parents have gone out back to be under the trees to do some bird watching---while I'm still trying to get the sleep out'n the eyes---

Jim That orange fellow is "Sweetpea" my sisters cat---she's the one who gives you the 2 year old NNNOOOOOOO!! when she gets picked up in the middle of her playing. Palmerston Station is being used, I guess, as the local museum at this time---in fact they have the old pedestrian bridge still up

The bridge in question: Just iimagine being a kid during the 1950's with the Kodak and watching the trains from there---the yard at Palmerston ON was the principal branchline hub for that region---by the 1980's not much was left.

 

[tompm]

Good morning folks

It was 59 F with a chill in the air this morning as headed out this bright morning. Our high today will be 76 F.

No much to report. Last night we went to the Pet Store and got some goldfish to restock the aquarium with. The last few years we have had trouble with tropical fish so I figured we might as well go back to goldfish. When we were talking about aquariums I realized that I have had an aquarium operating for 41 years. It all started with a goldfish in a bowl that I won at a kindergarten fair.

My back is still bothering me from installing the kitchen faucet. I did not try to do any modeling because I could not get comfortable. Last night I was up and down out of bed with it. I think I may have gotten about 2 hours total sleep all night. I made it to work and we’ll see how long I last.

I hope everybody has a good day.

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Good morning folks.

My wife is continuing the hunt for a decent paying job. I'm sure she could get one for eight dollars an hour, but I'm not going to let her do that until she has to. For now she is a stay at home mom with no kids! She actually gets pretty good money for unemployment, so I'm not worried. I figure that her and I are cash cows for the state and federal government. We've usually made good money with little to no write offs. When we did have write offs, I was self employed. That means that I got to pay into the unemployment pool but couldn't collect when I stopped paying myself. No, I don't feel one bit bad about 'living off of' the unemployment.

I'm continuing the building of building kits. It' s getting could around here pretty early, so the window for outdoor painting is closing. Hopefully the wife will understand the need for many new kits right away! I still have to detail and weather the already built buildings, but construction is the name of the game.

Today I get to arrange for individual health insurance for my wife. Her former employer is no longer offering any coverage for they're remaining employees. That means no c.o.b.r.a. . I get to pay an insurance company a couple hundred dollars a month to get to pay cash for most medical costs. They will cover my butt if something REALLY expensive needs to be done. I've been doing this my whole adult life for myself. For those of you who don't want health care coverage to change, just wait until you lose yours. (I know that statement won't be popular around here)

I'm spending the weekend at my Mother's lake house. I don't think we'll spend much time on the lake though. Highs of seventy don't make you want to go on the water.

I hope you all have a great day!

 

[stationmaster]

Corey, 70's? That is warmer than it was when I launched my boat this year. Ice was barely of Lake Huron and we were getting wet. Water temp was around 46* or so. But, one must consider "ice off" was a bit late this year. 70's isn't so bad as long as you go slow and stay dry. You just won't be able to wear your Speedos, and may have to wear jeans and a sweat shirt. Water temps should be warm though.

When I sold my last business this year, I was laid off by the new owners. I am drawing the ol' 'ployment cheque. I figger I worked for all of these years not ever drawing it, might as well take a piece of the pie for once. The only time I didn't have a full time job in my adult life is when I went to school. What the heck. Right?

Insurance? Well, I pay my own also. Not cheap. But, I have a $1500 deductible/$2500 limit and copay.... And my prescriptions cost $4 each at WalMart. Doctor visits cost $35 with specialists costing $50. I ain't complaining. But, although I do think that something needs to be done about health care costs, the fix presented to us is not the answer. Fix the problem, which is ghost charges and all of the surcharges and usage fees charged by hospitals and such. Better quit, I might be getting too political here.

The better half says I can go North by myself soon. She just asked me what I was going to do about the boat since it doesn't look like we will get back there for any length of time for a bit. I told her about getting the boat repaired and maintenance done. She didn't argue. Good sign.

Well, lunch is over, time to go play painter some more.

Bob

 

[RexHea]

Hi gang! I have the backdrop removed and things out of the way for the guys to remove the A/C unit. I will probably repaint the sky on the backdrop, but I wasn't that happy with it anyway.
All insurance at my house is a priority and comes before new cars, boats, trips, wanta's, etc. It ain't cheap now and will never be free.

KenL: This A/C is 5+ years old. It is a Whirlpool that was made in the US. I was advised to just fix it rather than take a chance with a $500 new unit. Almost "all brands" window units are now made overseas with cheap parts and worse labor. The lifetime for them is anyone's guess...(5-8 years tops: less for all day use/every day). One indicator of this lifespan is the warranties. Now it is one year where it used to be 5 years. The cost for me to fix my unit should be around $150, if all I need is a new fan motor and capacitor. If the fan seems ok, then it will be a $25 starting cap.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Only picked up 3 items today totaling $16.62.

An Athearn BB 50' SD boxcar lettered for Southern #19856 (ATH5544)
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH5544

And 2 packages of DPM modular walls.

 

[UP2CSX]

Afternoon, everyone.

Man, I feel bad for all of you guys trying to find jobs anywhere today. The unemployment figures are a complete lie. They only count people who are drawing unemployment and actually looking for work. There's a huge number of people who's unemployment has run out and they've given up looking. The "real" unemployment rate is actually about 14% but those figures will never be released since the economy is doing so well.

I planned to retire at 55 and was very lucky to have been in the market at its peak and also had my peak earning years in my 40's. A few years either way and it wouldn't have worked out. Timing is everything, we just don't know what the right timing is in advance. I did retire at 55 and then my wife got leukemia and died. No plans in life ever go as we expect them.

Chris, Florida has gone through boom and bust periods for the last 85 years, With all the hurricanes and now the crash, I'm surprised the bust didn't start earlier. The bright side is that Florida real estate is becoming a bargain again and I think Florida is at least at the beginning of the end of this bust. A lot of other states still have to go through it.

Jeffrey, I sure hope you foot operation goes OK and solves some of your problems. Those DPM buildings are tough to paint but the ones you've done so far look good.

BOC, I don't know why I had you and "Alco confused last night. I think my mind is slowly going. Sweetpea sounds like she can be a handful. Milo is the sweetest cat ever. I wouldn't mind having four cats if they were all like him. He even sits up on his hind legs like a dog when he want to be petted. I'm glad they preserved the bridge and station but that last picture reminds of looking at a graveyard. I wonder how it all changed so fast?

Tom, I hope your back improves. Nothing worse than not getting enough sleep because of pain. It's a real ball getting older.

Corey, I'd take the unemployment as long as she can get it. As you say, it's hard to get any kind of job that, after expenses, will pay as much as unemployment. I have to pay for my own insurance too. I pay over $800 a month for Blue Cross for me and my two daughters. It's $1000 deductible and covers me if I get hit by a train and things like that. It's nice to have now since my ER bill is at $8,000 and still climbing. I can't imagine what it would have been if they really had to do something to me. The real issue with health care cost is that we already have free insurance. Go into any ER and they have to treat you and you never have to pay the bill. Alabama has no Medicaid program if you're over 19 except for OB/GYN, so the ER is the clinic. Hospitals are going bankrupt or just barely keeping their head above water. They have to charge outrageous rates to insurance companies and to Medicare in hopes of making back some of the money they lose every year to all the non-payers. The only viable answer I can see is for the Federal government to fund a national Medicaid program so hospitals aren't getting stiffed by every other patient that walks through the door. That would cost us each some tax dollars but it would lower the overall cost of hospital care. The other answer is to pay a higher rate to insurance companies that operate the most efficiently. Now, every company gets the same percentage of what's billed so there's no incentive to do better. I know that a government run, single payer program is not the answer. We already have one good example of that type of health care. It's called the VA. That's not my idea of quality health care.

Bob, getting that boat winterized sounds like a lot of work. I think you should haul it down to Chris's place and have him keep it for the winter. I'm sure he'd take good care of it.

Rex, maybe a cap got blown by a nearby lightning strike. I've lost two of mine in three years. If it's just a cap, the repair should be pretty reasonable. I'd certainly try to keep that Whirlpool going. I have two window units in the basement. both heat pumps. One's a Kenmore that was put in when the house was built so it's going on 10 years old. Runs like a champ, no problems at all. The other is a Korean piece of junk that was put in 4 years ago. It's already starting to make noises like the fan motor is getting ready to go and the outside case is getting rusty. I'd stick with that Whirlpool if it's fixable.

Went out to get Dianna a milk shake to lessen her whining level. It was dry at my house and pouring rain downtown, four miles away. Our weather patterns seem to be set to make sure my lawn never gets any rain. I'm glad I'm not in Baja California though. I don't know exactly where Jimena but they are going to get a pounding. He's going through an eyewall replacement cycle now and may be able to get to cat 5 strength before landfall. If he continues across Baja and up the Gulf of California, Arizona is in for some serious flooding.

The other feature of interest is Invest 94, which is finally getting her act together and is now Tropical Storm Erica. She's still poking along a 9 mph and her central pressure is only 29.72, which does not a great storm make. It looks like she has very little chance of developing beyond a TS due to the high shear conditions. I think she'll sideswipe the northern Leewards and the Bahamas and then head out to sea between the US and Bermuda. If she can go just a little more south, she'll get into warmer water and lower shear, so we'll have to keep an eye on her as a threat to the west coast of Florida.

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Bob, don't get me wrong, seventy for a high is beautiful. It's just a little brisk in typical summer attire. I notice the beer tastes the same no matter what the temperature!

As far as the insurance thing goes, I'm not sure what needs to happen. I just know that the folks with employer covered group plans have no idea what it's like on the other side. Nothing is covered on personal plans. If it is, it's a ridiculous premium. If you're planning on having a baby like we are, then you are up a certain creek without a paddle. I was just quoted for my wife a $2850 deductible, then 80/20 for another $2000 for $170 a month. There is no coverage for preventative care until the deductible is met. They cover prenatal checkups after a year of coverage. At no time does any plan cover any labor and delivery. So for $170 dollars a month, they cover exactly nothing until IT hits the fan. Then we're covered. There are lower deductible plans, but the premiums go through the roof. Sorry for the rant. I can't stand health insurance, or any other insurance for that matter. I know insurance is like lawyers. You don't like them until you need one.

I think I'll go play with trains now.

 

[kbkchooch]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Woke up this morning, it was 62 degrees. Weatherman says may drop into the high 40's tonight!!!
I'm going back to not getting outta bed til I can smell the coffee downstairs!!!

One of the girls at work was reading the Farmers Almanac today. September, cool and wet, October, cool and damp, November cold, normal precip. December, january and February,,,,,,,COLD AND SNOWY!!!!!!! no dry air til March!!!
I'm going out this weekend and restocking the basement with hobby stuff and firewood!!!!

 

[kbkchooch]

Oh, and Insurance, let me pass along this I got in an email this week.

Let me get this straight.
The new health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he
doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and whose
members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by
a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general
who is obese, and financed by a country that is nearly broke.

What could possibly go wrong?

(That was funny-bone-ticle, not poli-ticle)

 

[pcarrell]

We were at 48 degrees in Indiana when I rolled out yesterday. It made todays 53 degrees feel like a virtual heatwave!

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Oh, and Insurance, let me pass along this I got in an email this week.

Let me get this straight.
The new health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he
doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and whose
members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by
a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general
who is obese, and financed by a country that is nearly broke.

What could possibly go wrong?

(That was funny-bone-ticle, not poli-ticle)

ROTFLMAO!!!!! How something like that could be cobbled together is----well---wait a minute------

And this was a HaHa----as opposed to poly tickle

-------------------------------------------------

Audrey went to the Dr's to get her physical done and I took Steven up to the university to look for his residence----nice views--riverside--walking trails---fields---UC Hill--- We also went to pick up his course books at the book store----all "New Editions"--( they could've only changed a photograph---still call it ---"New Edition"----GRRR). Lovely prices too BTW for 4 books $589.49

Jim That whole area was just covered in rail at one point but what clobbered it all was declining rail traffic due to the advent of trucks/cars and the general abandonment of all the lines by both CN/CP. During the 1950's--into the 1960's a series of "disinvestments" occurred which saw that decline continue into the 1980's and on. There is a shortline ---Goderich-Exeter RR that serves the Goderich area through Exeter and ends up interchanging with CN here in London ON. This line recently suffered a setback when a trestle was burned down--It is still running but through some other way

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Sorry for the comments on the insurance industry. I know it's a can of worms to open, but I was feeling very frustrated. Trains, trains, trains.

So far my day has been a complete waste. Oh well, at least I had lunch with my Grandmother and washed my car. Not a complete waste at all I guess.

I think I'll continue building my first Walthers modular building.

Have a great night everyone.

 

[bnsf971]

You guys talking about the lows of 62 are funny. Here at the edge of the desert, the low is usually 55-60, with the high generally 105-115. It was 63 this morning, and the outdoor thermometer says it is 100.2 right now. It's kind of like living in a convection oven, but it's a dry heat.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

No problem on the insurance thing. I used to work in insurance and finance and I can tell you some insurance mishaps that would curl your hair.

 

[kbkchooch]

Audrey went to the Dr's to get her physical done and I took Steven up to the university to look for his residence----nice views--riverside--walking trails---fields---UC Hill--- We also went to pick up his course books at the book store----all "New Editions"--( they could've only changed a photograph---still call it ---"New Edition"----GRRR). Lovely prices too BTW for 4 books $589.49

I feel your pain. Just got the bill from my son Kevin. $535.00 for his 1st semester books! Chinese,German, Calc & few electives. I didn't know having a smart kid was sooooooo expensive!
Fortunately he has an Aunt who never had kids (I call her the old spinster) who is contributing greatly to the book fund. Good thing too, the tuition is bad enough!

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Jim The area that we've been going to has all kinds of stuff like the ones here---

 

[RexHea]

Sorry for the comments on the insurance industry. I know it's a can of worms to open, but I was feeling very frustrated. Trains, trains, trains........

Yeah, I think this is one topic that we all had better stay away from. It's just too controversial/explosive.

BOC:You're not far off with reference to "new editions". When publishers see a decline in sales with new book purchases vs. used book sales, they will and do come up with a new edition. Instructors/Professors select the text book they want to use, but if it is a "new edition" to their old choice, then that's what will have to be. Think about it: math is math, writing is writing, psychology is psychology, histories are histories. (What the H is new!) Sciences, Medical, and Engineering are the ones that always have frequent changes and a new edition is expected. This with outrageous tuition rates, higher learning is leaning to a point where only the more wealthy families will be able to send their children to college.

 

[sparkyftw]

Boy, you think those books are expensive, just hope they don't go premed, legal (lawyer stuff), or any science/engineering.

I have friends where $500 is cheap just for one book.

I can't complain. I had a cheap semester, only like $300 for all my books. Most of them are smaller novel sized books.