Running Bear's April 2022 Coffee Shop

[chadbag]

Good evening. Another two crises going on. First, the insurance company is again trying to kick my wife out of the nursing home. This time they gave her a notice at 4 this afternoon, with a deadline for appealing this at noon tomorrow. The people that handle appeals leave at 5 pm, giving me an hour to call, wait on hold, and submit the appeal. I got it done, though it was 4:50 when I hung up.
Second is Apple, with their $%^$#^%$!!!!!!!!!!!!!! two-factor authentication. I have been actively resisting this for my wife, whoe really doesn't need the hassles involved with it. Unknown to me, Apple locked her account (again, they do it at least twice a week) for "security reasons", and insisted she enable two factor authentication in order to unlock her account. So, she did, without telling me. I found out about it when her iMac here at the house was iCloud locked, and wanted approval from "a trusted device" to unlock it. I managed to log in to her email account, and found the authorization link in a deleted email, and once again reverted her account to standard, with a password. I also strongly suggested she did not ever do that again, no matter what Apple tells her, and let me handle it. The last thing we need is for her to accidentally drop her "trusted device" in the toilet, thereby rendering all her stuff useless...

There are many ways to get an account opened up again if she drops her phone in the toilet. Her stuff is not gone forever.

I am not saying to turn on 2FA -- just that there are ways to fix the potential problems. I would agree that in her state it is probably better to not turn it on, btw.

 

[chadbag]

Terry -- I am sorry to hear about more troubles for your wife. This is maddening and heartbreaking. Prayers and good thoughts that you can get through it and that she can get the care she needs.

 

[Jaz avalley]

Figures light relief…..who has nudes lol

mine are based on a comedy tv series, hence the officer knocked on his bum,they are seniors as the home guard
Dads Army.

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

Headed to the office soon. May rain overnight, but probably not. Currently partly cloudy and 64° this morning.
BBL

 

[Smudge617]

Just had a phone call from my American model shop, the NMRA gauge has arrived, only £26 or $32.50, think I may leave that for now then.

 

[troyphoto]

Figures light relief…..who has nudes lol

mine are based on a comedy tv series, hence the officer knocked on his bum,they are seniors as the home guard
Dads Army.

I just printed a whole bunch of Gaulish Nekkid Fanatics from the Punic era...

Not painted yet... But, as I pulled them off the new printer, I thought to myself: "I wonder if Jaz has a nudist colony on her layout..."

 

[OBTC 1909]

Good morning all! 48 degrees on the way to a day of mostly cloudy and 68 with showers possible later this evening.

First part of the day at work yesterday was pretty busy but in the afternoon there wasn't much going on. Got a few projects I need to complete and started working on one of those with my work-study assistant. After work bought mower gas and mowed all evening to make up for having been too lazy to do it over the weekend.

Leaving work early today to go follow up with the eye doctor and get my yearly eye exam too. Sometimes my eyes seem to be doing better and other times they get all watery again. Driving me nuts.

Hope you all have a great day!

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning. It's 42 and mostly cloudy.

 

[TLOC]

Doctors kickback, you can check your dr. at this site, https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/

Second booster - for me the jury is still out on that one. I'm hearing it only boosts for approximately 4 weeks and then you're back to where you were. With our current numbers way down, (1 hospitalized, 700 reported cases, no deaths in a county of 360,000) I leaning toward waiting, maybe in the Fall.

STAY SAFE

LATER

Thanks

Wow, plug a doctors name and state and you quickly know. None of my Dotors have received any money.

I remember when the staff and doctors in the Marshfield Clinic system were no longer allowed to even let the Pharma sales folks into the office and had to refuse the bakery, lunch and dinners.

Second booster, I think now it was also a better safe then sorry. I guess I don’t want to tempt fate!

TomO

 

[TLOC]

Second Booster, yeah, why not. We are waiting until 6 months from the last time, or around June 1. Like the flu shot, the protection afforded is better than no protection at all.

Agree, better safe then sorry

Tom

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Partly cloudy and 62°, probably hitting the low-80's later on.

Weekly grocery/beer trek this morning, then a return trip this afternoon for a stress test at the cardiologist. That will be interesting since I haven't had one in well over ten years. Hope that I pass!

Thanks for the likes and comments yesterday covering a wide array of stuff. Sorry but there were way too many to personally acknowledge all of you, but you know who you are. Thanks again.

Out in the train shed yesterday, I went to the next item in my extensive "to-do" project list. Just a small one here. Several years ago, I posted a scrap yard that I built, but never added gates to the fence.

Why??? I either mis-measured or couldn't get all of the elements just right.

So today I just said screw it, I'm going to leave them open all of the time so "so what?". But I still wanted them to operate so I could at various times leave one or the other partially closed. Kinda like varying the scenery every so often. I move vehicles around for the same reason.
First step was to add a post. Start with drilling a .020" hole.

Applying CA with a toothpick.

Inserting the wire and holding it in place with a small screwdriver.

After drilling holes in the layout, this is the semi-final result.

Now that they are installed, I will go in next and finish off the ground cover alongside the inside of the fence. Shouldn't take long.

Guy - Back to the figures - I generally get 20+ poses in the packs that I receive. All gifts from my kids or grandkids, but I'll end up with nine figures in one pose and just two or three figures in some of the other poses. The nine are generally all a difficult pose that I have to do surgery on because I don't need nine people with chainsaws or something.
Tom O - I hate hospitals because like you, I believe that they are cesspools of virus. Good luck to you with your upcoming procedure. Wife and I are still debating the 2nd booster. It can't hurt, and as you posted, better safe than sorry, and it's free. Since it's only been four months since we got the first booster, we have time to get a lot more opinions.
Good to read that you are getting back into the train room. You're spending more time in there this week than I have been able to spend here.
Lester - Sorry that I am unable to assist you with the engine. I only run straight DC and do not have any knowledge of DCC. Perhaps you could post where you might live and get a response from someone nearby.
Sherrel -

That part is nice such as the daughter and GKids presently on Okinawa and my kids on the Gulf and Atlantic Coast.

I use a telephone!
Troy -

"I wonder if Jaz has a nudist colony on her layout..."

I don't know about Jaz, but I have nude sunbathers and I have a plan for a large group of skinny-dippers. A few topless women in windows of some trailers as well.

Everybody have a great day.

 

[McLeod]

Good Morning!
Looks like the rain/snow has passed, and there will be sunshine today. Not very warm, though; 45F tops.

It happens every spring. Someone asks me to quote a new fence to replace the rotting old one around their home.
This morning, I'll submit a quote to a person in town for a couple hundred feet of pressure treated fence. Usually, the price is not accepted because it sounds high. Then the people get other quotes from contractors; and then they come back to me. - Yep; it happens every spring.

Guy- Nice looking trout. I'm curious, do you fish as much when the ice is gone?

Thanks for asking, Curt. Yes, we fish all year through when we feel like it.
I have a small 12' Jon boat I can throw in the back of the truck for fishing the small lakes around here; electric motor driven:

The lake we enjoy the most, though, requires that we leave the boat behind and walk into the foothills for 4km. That makes for a very nice day, and the probability that we have a lake to fish all by ourselves.
Here's a couple photos of us at that lake:
The wife with her catch, a few years back:

Me, with my catch, a few years back:

I'm at the age where I don't need to buy a fishing license anymore; the wife will still need one for another 12 years.

Jaz avalley - I really enjoy the photos you post. I believe you have a-lot of Airfix models on your layout, which I believe is 1/76 in the older, and 1/72 in the newer products. I'm wondering if the differences between 1/87 - 1/72 are really all that noticeable when one has a quantity of it on the board?

Well, I suppose I'd better get ready to go meet the fence people. A 100' tape along with paper and pencil should be all I need today.

Have a great day!

 

[TLOC]

Good morning fellow pill poppers and insurance program fighters. That’s a joke, a desk jockey decides someone on drug program for 7 years no longer qualifies.

pill popping, 2 before breakfast, 2 after breakfast and 5 in the evening taken right after dinner. Total is down to 9 from a high of 14 about 3 years ago. Many dosages reduced since 11/2021.

trains, more time at the paint bench yesterday. Weathered my paper mill complex’s wood chipper building. Did another side on the 3 WC covered hoppers. Received a covered hopper ordered in September, 2021.

8 year old grandson, got suspended from school for 3 days yesterday. Called his Calculus teacher a jackass in front of the whole class. His dad last week stepped on his glasses Thursday at the hockey tournament. Got notes from his parents and eye doctor requesting any tests be held till his new glasses come in. Gave to front office, the principle and home room teacher PER THEIR PROCEDURES. Calculus teacher said take the test or fail just because you are 8 doesn’t give you special privileges. Then the grandson unloaded on the teacher. I went with his parents yesterday late afternoon to meet the teacher, principle, the math chair, 2 associate principles, a school board member, his English Literature teacher because she is also his assigned Mentor and 2 assistants taking notes.

When questioned the teacher admitted that yes he received the info about the broken glasses but he doesn’t have to follow that ridiculous procedure, no one in his class especially an 8 year old is special. You could see the principle cringing in his seat when that was said. The daughter then explained that the little guy by Wisconsin State law and the school district has been ruled as SPECIAL. Both of her children have been ruled as special, the 10 year old is Down Sydrome and is classed as disabled, (don’t tell her that) the 8 year old was pushed by the school district as Exceptional. That is a possible legal case forthcoming, the daughter is totally furious.

Anyway, there wasn’t much talk about a compromise or solution. Finally they asked Brooks a few questions. Why did he call the teacher a jackass? Reply was my Lit. Class teacher has told us this week to use different words in conversation that we don’t normally use. He used jackass instead of the word fool. Per a book assigned in class the word was used as a replacement for fool. So what is the issue? The Lit teacher agreed the substitution of words was appropriate. That drew a chuckle! What ended up happening is the gd/son wanted to apologize in front of the class, the teacher said no way. Grandson offered to orally take the test in front of everyone. Principle asked the Math Chairperson if that was possible and she said yes. Teacher said no the grade is a fail, no re-takes. That was over ruled. The Math Chair put 4 of the test questions on the white board. Asked if he could read those, reply was yes. Stupid teacher said if you can read the whiteboard you could read the test on paper. Son in law then stopped the procedure. He said Brooks is wrong, you are not a fool or a jackass and I am sorry for what he called you. What you are is a fu….ng idiot. We will see you and the School District in court. As we were getting up the Mentor asked that we stay and the teacher was dismissed. Principle apologized and said he will get a pass grade for the test. The little guy says he will not return to that class and will take all the tests for the balance of the school year. Math Chair said not necessary as you will have a different Calculus teacher next Tuesday. The daughter texted me they assigned him to the former neighbor who they are great close friends to and the little guy calls by their first names. I asked if school knew how close of friends they are and replied not sure but doubtful. She did text the Principle last night for copy of the notes the 2 assistants were taking during the meeting.

So stupid in many ways but so funny when the innocent little 8 year old was answering questions from the adults. So proud of him and actually impressed by the SIL. Totally out of character for him to lose his cool especially in front of people. Terry is in Hawaii and her PHD was on educational law and she spent 25 years as an administrator in a large North Central Wisconsin school system and 11 years as a Special Education teacher. On Skype last night she was appalled by the teacher’s responses for everything.

I know this isn’t over. The School District has lots of explaining to do. I am still chuckling

Willie, best to you on the stress test. Remember it’s pass/fail no studying needed

all have a great day
TomO

 

[Smudge617]

Good morning fellow pill poppers and insurance program fighters. That’s a joke, a desk jockey decides someone on drug program for 7 years no longer qualifies.

pill popping, 2 before breakfast, 2 after breakfast and 5 in the evening taken right after dinner. Total is down to 9 from a high of 14 about 3 years ago. Many dosages reduced since 11/2021.

trains, more time at the paint bench yesterday. Weathered my paper mill complex’s wood chipper building. Did another side on the 3 WC covered hoppers. Received a covered hopper ordered in September, 2021.

8 year old grandson, got suspended from school for 3 days yesterday. Called his Calculus teacher a jackass in front of the whole class. His dad last week stepped on his glasses Thursday at the hockey tournament. Got notes from his parents and eye doctor requesting any tests be held till his new glasses come in. Gave to front office, the principle and home room teacher PER THEIR PROCEDURES. Calculus teacher said take the test or fail just because you are 8 doesn’t give you special privileges. Then the grandson unloaded on the teacher. I went with his parents yesterday late afternoon to meet the teacher, principle, the math chair, 2 associate principles, a school board member, his English Literature teacher because she is also his assigned Mentor and 2 assistants taking notes.

When questioned the teacher admitted that yes he received the info about the broken glasses but he doesn’t have to follow that ridiculous procedure, no one in his class especially an 8 year old is special. You could see the principle cringing in his seat when that was said. The daughter then explained that the little guy by Wisconsin State law and the school district has been ruled as SPECIAL. Both of her children have been ruled as special, the 10 year old is Down Sydrome and is classed as disabled, (don’t tell her that) the 8 year old was pushed by the school district as Exceptional. That is a possible legal case forthcoming, the daughter is totally furious.

Anyway, there wasn’t much talk about a compromise or solution. Finally they asked Brooks a few questions. Why did he call the teacher a jackass? Reply was my Lit. Class teacher has told us this week to use different words in conversation that we don’t normally use. He used jackass instead of the word fool. Per a book assigned in class the word was used as a replacement for fool. So what is the issue? The Lit teacher agreed the substitution of words was appropriate. That drew a chuckle! What ended up happening is the gd/son wanted to apologize in front of the class, the teacher said no way. Grandson offered to orally take the test in front of everyone. Principle asked the Math Chairperson if that was possible and she said yes. Teacher said no the grade is a fail, no re-takes. That was over ruled. The Math Chair put 4 of the test questions on the white board. Asked if he could read those, reply was yes. Stupid teacher said if you can read the whiteboard you could read the test on paper. Son in law then stopped the procedure. He said Brooks is wrong, you are not a fool or a jackass and I am sorry for what he called you. What you are is a fu….ng idiot. We will see you and the School District in court. As we were getting up the Mentor asked that we stay and the teacher was dismissed. Principle apologized and said he will get a pass grade for the test. The little guy says he will not return to that class and will take all the tests for the balance of the school year. Math Chair said not necessary as you will have a different Calculus teacher next Tuesday. The daughter texted me they assigned him to the former neighbor who they are great close friends to and the little guy calls by their first names. I asked if school knew how close of friends they are and replied not sure but doubtful. She did text the Principle last night for copy of the notes the 2 assistants were taking during the meeting.

So stupid in many ways but so funny when the innocent little 8 year old was answering questions from the adults. So proud of him and actually impressed by the SIL. Totally out of character for him to lose his cool especially in front of people. Terry is in Hawaii and her PHD was on educational law and she spent 25 years as an administrator in a large North Central Wisconsin school system and 11 years as a Special Education teacher. On Skype last night she was appalled by the teacher’s responses for everything.

I know this isn’t over. The School District has lots of explaining to do. I am still chuckling

Willie, best to you on the stress test. Remember it’s pass/fail no studying needed

all have a great day
TomO

Oh ! man, would loved to have been a fly on the wall for that meeting, good on your grandson, and your SIL..

 

[Sirfoldalot]

TomO - Kudos for explaining that episode in great detail! How you and family kept your cool is a wonder to me. I would have been tempted to punch that "stopid f&%kin ID10 jackass" teacher right in the nose! You must keep a written account of that for when Brooks grows up. Tragic and Funny at the same time.
id
I'll be back - have a few things to catch up on this morning. Kate will self test again this morning -- I took a few groceries out to her and her sister yesterday (who may now also have Covid) who will also self test this AM.

BBL - still roller coaster weather - only 68f today - back to 85F tomorrow?

 

[Patrick]

Good morning all! 48 degrees on the way to a day of mostly cloudy and 68 with showers possible later this evening.

First part of the day at work yesterday was pretty busy but in the afternoon there wasn't much going on. Got a few projects I need to complete and started working on one of those with my work-study assistant. After work bought mower gas and mowed all evening to make up for having been too lazy to do it over the weekend.

Leaving work early today to go follow up with the eye doctor and get my yearly eye exam too. Sometimes my eyes seem to be doing better and other times they get all watery again. Driving me nuts.

Hope you all have a great day!

Must be mind linked....I'm leaving early for my annual eye appointment as well.

Been a busy morning in the city, I've gotten quite a bit accomplished, but due to short time the next couple days, I can't start my big project until next week. Figuring out 2FA or MFA (2 or Multi Factor Authentication). The very same stuff Terry was complaining about what Apple is doing for his wife's account. In our case our insurer's are really charging us big time for not having it. I think I finally understand how to set it up. More changes people are gonna hollar about, but my hands are being tied.

 

[troyphoto]

Troy -

I don't know about Jaz, but I have nude sunbathers and I have a plan for a large group of skinny-dippers. A few topless women in windows of some trailers as well.

Everybody have a great day.

You know... I never once asked myself: "Self... do you wonder if Willie has nudes on his layout?"

Not once did I need to ask myself that.

Nope. Not once. . I already knew the answer.

 

[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Started out with some chores then modified some bare branch trees replacing the trees around the coal mine. I fit the white metal switch machines to the finished T/O areas. I'll glue them down tomorrow. I also fiddled around with the coal miner's village placement. Lastly today I took my large Pennsy picture I got in Strausburg, PA. The wooden frame has broken several times, so I took it in for a metal frame. I ordered HO children, hobos, and dogs.

Terry- Very sorry to hear about the insurance A-holes.

TomO- Great story. The math teacher needs to find a new line of work.

Sherrel- Prayers for Kate and your SIL.

Willie- Nice job on the gate.

Guy- Nice putting a face to you and your wife, and of course the trout!



I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[Jaz avalley]

I just printed a whole bunch of Gaulish Nekkid Fanatics from the Punic era...

Not painted yet... But, as I pulled them off the new printer, I thought to myself: "I wonder if Jaz has a nudist colony on her layout..."

Me no I would go and paint on little bikinis lol…I have a sneaking suspicion Willie does tho I have seen those girls on the roof tops.

The sailing yacht has a scantily cold lass, but she is safe out at sea, the beach lovers are typical English, rolled up trousers hankie with knots and a newspaper instead of sun cream, the kids on the lilos are the closest.

Mini skirts and short shorts in general are as sexy as my brits get, I think the lass in the white bikini and her nicely well built boyfriend, drools, who have retreated to their camper are the best you’ll get, probably Spanish holiday makers regretting not staying in the Algave.

No sex we’re British LOL.

 

[chadbag]

Funny thing about the nude figure subject is a day or two ago I got an email from a vendor that they had a Noch set of N-scale nude models available and they had a pic or two of the set. I was wondering how one would go about using these in a normal layout

I know one guy on Instagram posts his layout and there is a porn shoot going on behind some trees with cameras, lights, and two nude figures going at it... Pretty funny to see the train pass in the background