Come and see Flo at Coffee Shop 18

PNKFLOYD · Sep 10, 2009

My apologies t0 those who thought my previous post yesterday was too sappy. However, I still stand by my statements.

I feel we have gotten away from telling people they are "doing good" when we see it. After seeing what happens on other forums (not just railroad related), this is a pleasant place to be.

Gotta go attend a kindergarden "Grandparents Day" with my #2 grandson. This should be interesting... and noisey.

Jeffery- keep your feet up today!

pcarrell · Sep 10, 2009

jeffrey-wimberly · Sep 10, 2009

We got 1.5 inches of rain yesterday according to the rain gauge. The power out here has gone off 3 times in the last 90 minutes. The power company says they're working on something and it shouldn't take much longer. I seem to remember a comment like that just before the New York blackout back in the 60's.

leghome · Sep 10, 2009

Phillip I would have loved to take my grandson to see the Disney Train yesterday but my rememberer is not what it used to be. I got the INRD digest this morning and they said that there were over 15,000 folks who went thru the train yesterday. They also reported that this was the largest one day visitation the train has had. Some folks waited for over 5 hours to take the tour. So a 5 hour wait with a four year old may not have been a good idea anyhow.

RexHea · Sep 10, 2009

BOC: Thanks for the photo of "Merchants Row"

. I saved it for a guide when I get around to finishing some of my DPM kits.

Jeffrey: Glad the foot is doing much better. Again: don't get in a hurry to start getting up and about. I'm sure you have some sit-down work for the layout.

Mikey: Nothing wrong at all with what you posted; I thought it very warm and sincere. I also agree with you and always amazed at how distant and different we are, yet so close and concerning at the same time. When I have had the pleasure to meet someone from the forum, it was like I already knew them as a friend.

Ya'll have a good'un!

UP2CSX · Sep 10, 2009

Morning, Everyone.

BOC, those are some great downton pictures. I wish we saw more of that kind of thing. There are so many street details, like the small sidewalk trees and decorative banners hanging from the lamp posts, that we often miss as modelers. It makes our business distrcits look much more sterile than they really are. One interesting point is the lamost complete lack of awnings except for those little decorative things. It may be a good cut-off point for an era by the number of functional business awnings, especially on upper story windows. In the 50's and before, you'd about die in the summer heat without awnings. As air conditioning and malls became more common, awnings started to disappear, since store awnings encouraged window shopping in the shade and everyone started going to the mall, where it was air conditioned. Today, functional awnings have just about disappeared. I think I've just defined an "awning transition period".

Tom, your meeting sounds like about a hundred I had to go to. I hope they had donuts at least.

Great, first, it's BOC, then Rex, and now Jeffrey is stealing our rain.

My lawn is turning brown again. Plus, I know you're not really sorry, Rex, you rat!

Chris, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you today and hoping for good news.

Jeffrey, tell me about ER bills. Mine is up to almost $10,000 and I still have no idea how much Blue Cross will pay. Get Obama on the phone.

However, if you need ER care, get it. If you never pay the bill, you'll just join the other 40% of Americans who never pay their ER bills. Most hospitals have just given up even trying to collect on ER bills.

Mikey, no need to apologize, I thought it was a very heart felt statement. A little sappiness is good for us once in a while.

Spent last night repairing another locomotive. Again, nice weathering job but the wiring left a lot to be desired. I don't know if some guys haven't heard of heat shrink and wire ties or what. At least tape up the decoder so the contacts aren't exposed and get some double sided tape to hold the decoder in one place. Finally found the one bad wire the had one strand left in a cold solder joint. Stripped that and make a good solid joint. Now I have to get all the wires bundled and squeeze everything back in the shell.

Another hot, sunny day here. Fred managed to top out at a category four hurricane, which is pretty amazing considering how far south and east he is. He'll soon be heading off into swine flu country and will be a lowly tropical depression by Monday or Tuesday. That rain the Jeffrey's been getting is part of a complex in the Gulf that has a slight chance of developing into a tropical depression over the weekend but it won't spend enough time over water to do more than that. Other than that, the tropics are amazingly quiet and we are in what's normally the busiest week of the hurricane season.

jeffrey-wimberly · Sep 10, 2009

UP2CSX said:
Jeffrey, tell me about ER bills. Mine is up to almost $10,000 and I still have no idea how much Blue Cross will pay. Get Obama on the phone. However, if you need ER care, get it. If you never pay the bill, you'll just join the other 40% of Americans who never pay their ER bills. Most hospitals have just given up even trying to collect on ER bills.

I hear you on that. I'm not as fortunate as my parents. They have Medicare, TriCare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and a couple others to pay their bills. For them to have to pay a medical bill or even a co-pay is very, very rare. All I have is my Medicaid and it's very limited and I'm afraid this so-called 'reform' is going to make it worse, not better.

tompm · Sep 10, 2009

UP2CSX said:
Tom, your meeting sounds like about a hundred I had to go to. I hope they had donuts at least.

No not a crumb. They didn't even have coffee. Their excuse was they didn't have any filters. If they were telling the truth; they were a bunch of whooses for construction guys

. When I used to work construction the lack of coffee filters never stopped us. If it was paper and fit in the basket, it was game. If all else failed your coffee came with "flavor crystals".

vato loco · Sep 10, 2009

WARNING Rant comming on!
Skip this post if you don't want to hear it.....

Well, it's offical...............................................I got my walking papers as of noon today I have until October 9th which is my Offical last day with the county! 9 days before my 13 year's 6 month anni. in the county!

It ain't like I didn't see it comming but there is people that have been in my position for less than a year!

and my record is all most spotless with exception of the small fender bender with the county truck

So how is it that my 13 years gets the axe and the newbee get to keep his? SOB this sux's!

Now if i want to reapply for any of the very few new positions opening up at starting wages I may do so! Doesn't mean I will get hire but it might make me feel better I was told

SOB's Man this layoff smacks of foul play and fixing if I have ever seen it!

SOB I'm mad!...................................... End of rant i'm tired.....

IronBeltKen · Sep 10, 2009

WOW Chris that sucks - sorry to hear it!

Actually what your describing is quite common. The corporate bean-counters know that the guys who been there the longest usually make a lot more per hour than a newbie. So they actually save the largest amount of money by getting rid of the higher-paid people. I've seen that stuff happen here in my organization, too.

pcarrell · Sep 10, 2009

Aw, man! Chris.....I was hoping for better! Sorry to hear of it man!

jeffrey-wimberly · Sep 10, 2009

Chris, sorry to hear you got the ax. I can understand the part about letting the guy with 13 years under his belt. They can put the newbee in his place and pay out less. Makes sense to an old businessman like me. It still sucks though.

kbkchooch · Sep 10, 2009

Hiya Gang!
Mikey, NO NEED for apologies. You elequently put into words thoughts that we all have felt from time to time, Bravo!

Jeffrey, keep that foot up and r-e-l-a-x and give it time to heal.
Chris I feel your pain! I went through a similar thing about 2 years ago with a company that I had been with for 19 years. Why? Because I was (a) at the top of the pay scale and (b) I was a threat to my immediate supervisor. Funny thing is that my stepson still works there, and he says that barely a day goes by that somone doesn't ask about me and how I am doing. And that includes upper management. (Guys higher than my boss was) However even if offered the chance, I would not go back. I've found something else to do that I enjoy even more. Remember, when one door closes, another opens so keep knocking. Maybe the lawn service thing will now blossom to a full time business, one that someday you can pass down to your son.
Jim, I know what you mean on loco wiring. I once was given an engine to fix that was supposed to have had DCC & sound "professionally" installed. It had masking tape on the wiring joints!

At first my reaction to the lack of common sense is to try to educate the ignorant, but I gave up when I realized 2 things. 1) they wern't listening and b) they had more money than sense. So I continue on, fixing stuff and getting paid for it

Well, time to trot, cya all l8ter!

UP2CSX · Sep 10, 2009

Chris, I'm sorry my hopes and prayers didn't come through the way we wanted. The one thing about layoffs is they tend to target those where they lose the least headcount and save the most money. I guess you were in that group.

But, what the heck, the Fed declared the recesssion to be offically over and there are lots of lawns down there, so this may be your chance to build your own full-time business and not have to worry about idiots as supervisors. This is exactly what happened to me when I was laid off, back in 1990. I started my own business doing the same job I was laid off from and built up a real nice career. You never know what the Lord has in store.

blownoutcylinder · Sep 10, 2009

Chris That SUX HUGE!!!

This only makes me wonder how many mid to upper management people got to keep theirs---I worked in one place were this actually happened--took out a wack of plant floor guys and 'SAVED'( that was the wording used!) a bunch of higher paid managers----GRRR

Now--you get to do the househubby thing---

At least you get to expand the landscaping business!!

Jim I'm starting to tell people to archive any photos they may have around the house---those things be useful----

Well, I started to get all the stuff ready for some evening courses I'll be taking next week. Paid out a pile of money for tuition and my books now. Me wallet is now crabby

Have a good one---

vato loco · Sep 10, 2009

Thanks Guys for the Thoughts, Prayers, and Kind words!

Well I plan to give the lawn service until this time next year to see if We can live off of it

. I feel such a strong calling to it, more so now than 3 years back when I started it. I just wish three years back when I started it I would have push it harder. I'm also going to apply for one of the six new Park attendent 1 positions, it starts a $10.54 an Hour I'm lossing $3 hr. but If it's closer to home I'll take it. If not O'well, but Either way I go, I'm going to continue to push the lawn service. The pay is way better, Better hours, and closer to home. Only problem, I keep fight with the owner (Shhhhh, he's a real A hole! Shhhhh.), But I can live with that

Well I'm tired and got to get some sleep, I got to go to the debriefing and start filling out applications for the PA1 position

It's kinda Ironic and frustrating to have to start all over again

O'well

Good night guys!

CBCNSfan · Sep 10, 2009

They can put the newbee in his place and pay out less. Makes sense to an old businessman like me. It still sucks though.

Yep and sometimes they get what they pay for.
That's real tough Chris, sorry for your troubles. I kind of like Jim's post, certainly worth a try. At least you have the experience behind you so it's not like starting out from scratch.
Take care and best of luck to you in whatever you chose to do.

Willis

RexHea · Sep 10, 2009

Jeeze Chris! I sure am sorry.
After some well selected cus words and a keg of brew, bounce back up and go for better

.

bnsf971 · Sep 10, 2009

Chris, that's really bad. Maybe you can get a few mowing contracts from finance companies and banks to take care of the foreclosed houses there. It may help.

Sandy · Sep 10, 2009

Chris...I am sorry that you lost THAT job, but I agree with the other folks here. Your lawn service may be that window opening up. You sure know what you are doing with it and it seems to be growing exponentially. You are going to be fine!

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