Running Bear's April 2025 Coffee Shop

[bnsf971]

True. The odds favor the Big Investment houses in the markets, but the trick is to buy when the markets are low, ant when they are setting new highs. Tom O quoted Warren Buffet, who accumulates cash when the markets peak, and buys only when they are down...That's the way to do it.
Wish I knew that when I was younger.....

"Buy high, sell low, make it up in volume" probably isn't the best strategy...

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning. It's clear and 70.
The new laptop isn't going well. I got the stuff I know will never need updating, such as my music and video library, and programs that can be standalone, installed on it. Then, the power inlet connector started smoking. Looks like a bad internal connection. So, I managed to get it reset without starting a fire, and am returning it for exchange when the store opens today.
The best laid plans of mice and men...

 

[JimKrol]

Good morning. It's clear and 70.
The new laptop isn't going well. I got the stuff I know will never need updating, such as my music and video library, and programs that can be standalone, installed on it. Then, the power inlet connector started smoking. Looks like a bad internal connection. So, I managed to get it reset without starting a fire, and am returning it for exchange when the store opens today.
The best laid plans of mice and men...

You're lucky you have a warranty. I have a stack of 6 high-end gaming laptops, that all need repairs to even boot. They are on my list of "Things to do, but, not necessarily today"

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Good morning! It's 41°F with rain in Tipton. Lots of flooding in many parts of Indiana.

 

[TLOC]

And on this side of the Atlantic from what we are seeing, there has been a LOT of competition for that prize in the last few weeks....

No disagreement here!

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from the So. Central portion of Wisconsin. Slight chill in the air at 27 but feeling like 20f degrees. The high will be in the mid 50’s.

The grandson started the soccer season in great fashion. 3 goals in game #1 as they won 4-2. His 1st goal as told by his dad/coach was interesting. They got the ball 1st and they pushed it to him who then from the center of the field, sorry pitch, kicked it in for a goal. His dad said Brooks noticed the goalie talking to a girl at the side of the net, so he kicked it. Game 2 was 2-2 and he scored 1. Dad/Coach said he was pretty happy on the drive home yesterday. He has at least 1 more game this morning and if they win another this afternoon. No we will not go. There are way too many home soccer games this Spring season coming up. The Son in Law said spending time in the tourist trap of Wisconsin and water park center of the World between games was expensive. He did saying driving go-carts between the games was fun. Only the indoor portion of the water parks are open as are some of the go-cart tracks.

I realized yesterday afternoon that my TDS email was not working. When I looked I realized I’ve received nothing since Wednesday night. I’ve been sending emails but I had just realized no responses. Text messaging works but a few of my weathering clients do not text! Worked on it and then called the son. He was out partying but said will call me this morning. I will call him again after 1pm.

I watched or rather the Final 4 BB games were on the monitor yesterday as Terry said she wanted to see them. Duke sure choked under the pressure from Houston. Basically anything I thought of doing yesterday, I didn’t.

I called our friends in Gulf Shores and told them we would not be arriving to visit on Monday the 14th. Too many medical issues unresolved. We still hope to get there this Spring, but an April visit is out.

Terry did promise last night that she will not watch her Sunday morning news shows. I think yesterday staying away from her computers was good for her. Today may just be a 1 or 2 hour road trip to nowhere. We used to do that in the Spring and Summer of Covid 2020 just to get out of the house. Per agreement she can go back to her computer after 6pm.

Enjoy the day

 

[CambriaArea51]

Good morning.... Coffee Flo, please and keep the pot nearby.
Been working on a steel I beam load for a bulkhead flatcar. The trick is the color, it can be a bluish grey to a bluish black and in between. I think I've found a combo of color that looks convincing. It'll be a 3 part process, step one was completed last night. More to come.

 

[bnsf971]

I've come to realize there is now a market for an AI blocker extension for our web browsers.

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps, and our AI overlords reading this at some point in the future.

Not much to report. MIL still in hospital, still draining. Wife was able to visit her apartment to get the laundry and such to keep up and have everything fresh for when MIL is released.

Wife is playing catch up/get ahead with work today for when her mother is released, she can take the afternoon or full day off. they're trying to be there when the doctors come through. MIL's memory isn't the best, so if one of the girls are present, they can ask the questions and do the remembering.

WILLIE: Fresh pic of the garden. Wife says the Carrots are Little Fingers. I asked if she got them because of the character of that name on Game of Thrones? She didn't even laugh at my silly joke. I guess gardening is serious business.

She said on the next shelf down her Chives haven't sprouted yet. the Parsley and a few other herbs have, though.

Wife also said we're going to hit Logan's Steak Road House for lunch.

Which reminds me that I saw a news piece that said a new restaurant chain has overtaken Olive Garden as the number one casual dining chain in the US.... It's Texas Roadhouse. We've got one in town, but don't go because it is crowded from they open to when they close. Reservations are recommended. WOW! People must love those buttery rolls.

 

[migalyto]

Good morning all!

A gorgeous Sunday morning with temps currently at 43F heading to the upper 50s.

Yesterdays all day rain never happened here as was predicted for a lot of last week. Never received a drop of rain. Looks like it stayed 100 or so miles south of me. Doesn't look like any precipitation will happen till possibly Wednesday.

Today will be the day to ger the lawn mower out and get it ready for the season. I will probably put the snow blower away as well. Hopefully were done with all that for the year.

Have a safe day everyone!

 

[TLOC]

Well, howdy there internet peeps, and our AI overlords reading this at some point in the future.

Not much to report. MIL still in hospital, still draining. Wife was able to visit her apartment to get the laundry and such to keep up and have everything fresh for when MIL is released.

Wife is playing catch up/get ahead with work today for when her mother is released, she can take the afternoon or full day off. they're trying to be there when the doctors come through. MIL's memory isn't the best, so if one of the girls are present, they can ask the questions and do the remembering.

WILLIE: Fresh pic of the garden. Wife says the Carrots are Little Fingers. I asked if she got them because of the character of that name on Game of Thrones? She didn't even laugh at my silly joke. I guess gardening is serious business.
View attachment 216004

She said on the next shelf down her Chives haven't sprouted yet. the Parsley and a few other herbs have, though.

Wife also said we're going to hit Logan's Steak Road House for lunch.

Which reminds me that I saw a news piece that said a new restaurant chain has overtaken Olive Garden as the number one casual dining chain in the US.... It's Texas Roadhouse. We've got one in town, but don't go because it is crowded from they open to when they close. Reservations are recommended. WOW! People must love those buttery rolls.

I belong to a Foodie Group on Facebook for our area. For the most part chains are a negative commentary. But I have never had a bad meal at a Texas Roadhouse. Texas Roadhouse and Longhorn Steakhouses in Madison do come highly rated. Our Ruth Chris always seems to get knocked because of price but I think you get what you voted I mean paid for! I don’t understand complaints about Ruth Chris or Fleming Steakhouses. You should know before you get there you’ll be paying way too much.

I do reservations through the app called Open Table. Over the years I’ve had no issues with it and it’s nice to see the times available

 

[rgeiter]

Good morning. It’s 49 degrees (in freedom units) and rainy. People are still coming in to the park though. Have a great day.

 

[ctclibby]

Good Morning All!
30F @ 70% severe clear. Weather guessers lied about the night temps being mid 30's. Some of the local stores had Tomato starts out. Hmmm.

Started burning yesterday around noon. Was 45F when we started, 62F by 1600. Pile got to hot to rake and stir without loosing hair or getting a sunburn, so tractor time: stir with the bucket. 1st pile nothing but ashes and a wisp of smoke this am. Ya, need to turn them so we can start again today. Neighbor Brice has some bark and stuff he and Annie are going to bring over and if I get off my butt and get some fuel for the chainsaw, we will probably get rid of the remaining Cottonwood: a 30ft log, bunch of already cut up chunks. Said chunks still have bark on them, so pretty easy to split ( burn faster and hotter ). It has taken us almost 4 years to git rid of the Cottonwood from the property. There is one 60 footer on/near the property NW corner still standing, but think it is on that neighbor's property. Will talk with them.

Remember me talking about Maria getting a 'rock bucket' for the tractor? Got delivered a couple of days ago. Driver had a day cab with 40ft box. Knew a sleeper with 53 footer ( 70ft ) would never make the corners so was somewhat concerned about driver ability and fit. He was able to back off our skinny main road into our circular drive almost all the way. Went with the tractor to pull it off the truck and found out it was for a 'mini skid steer'. Had not heard of those yet. We refused it and she ordered the correct one which should be here today/tomorrow/nextday. Looking forward to get started on gathering rocks and getting stuff flat. Anybody want creek rock? We grow them and they are 10,000 year fresh!

L8r

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Cloudy and 39°. Cool day in store today in the 50's then the clouds depart overnight and we'll be back in the 70°+ range tomorrow. But not before a possible freeze tonight. Looks like mid-80's later in the week.

Yesterday was basically a lazy day in front of the computer all morning; catching up on news and other stuff. I have almost finished re-filing all of my photos into organized albums. Dozens made it to the recycle bin.

I spent my time out in the train shed yesterday, partly cleaning structures on the workbench, and making a mini-scene for the yard of one of them. I had previously made a small 1 5/16" x 1 5/6" concrete patio at one residence. Now presented a good time to add the mini-scene that I had planned for it. I added two potted plants, a partial woodpile, a doggie water bowl, a watering can, two dogs and two girls in those Adirondack chairs that I posted a few weeks ago.

Red, the visiting dog decided that the potted plant needed some moisture.

Need to fill in with some ground foam since this area was under a direct water drip last Spring after the tornado disaster.

Tom O - Too bad about the cancelled road trip. Seems like y'all needed it about now. No need to track down the website that tracks politicians stock moves. I was commenting sarcastically since she seems to do well. i think that the market is reacting too emotionally right now. I agree that some is probably intentional as well, but who???
I sometimes feel sad that a couple of my friends/acquaintances rely on SS for most of their living expenses. But on the other hand, I advised some over 20 years ago to prepare for their own future and they chose not to act. NO, NO, NO; Social Security is not an entitlement at all. I wish politicians would quit referring to it as such.
Len - Hope that Nurse Judy gets well soon.
John - You're so right about the Stock Market. Overall I have had many more good years, 2024 being the most recent, than bad years. Right now 2025 sucks. It will recover though.

Today is New Beers Eve, commemorating the ending of Prohibition on April 7, 1933. Hoist one in celebration.
Everyone have a great Sunday.

 

[santafewillie]

She said on the next shelf down her Chives haven't sprouted yet

It takes Chives and other members of the Onion family 3-4 weeks to germinate and sprout.

 

[migalyto]

Which reminds me that I saw a news piece that said a new restaurant chain has overtaken Olive Garden as the number one casual dining chain in the US.... It's Texas Roadhouse.

I can believe it. We used to be be huge Olive Garden diners. Over the last year, the prices have shot up (not unexpected it has everywhere) but the portions have gotten considerably smaller. Last time we went there my wife got Chicken parmesan, and the breast looked like it was a pigeon breast and a small mound of spaghetti. Even the waitress looked kind of embarrassed setting it in front of her.. We said we will find a new favorite. Same with Red Lobster. We went there a lot too, and it was pretty much the same experience.

 

[ctclibby]

I can believe it. We used to be be huge Olive Garden diners. Over the last year, the prices have shot up (not unexpected it has everywhere) but the portions have gotten considerably smaller. Last time we went there my wife got Chicken parmesan, and the breast looked like it was a pigeon breast and a small mound of spaghetti. Even the waitress looked kind of embarrassed setting it in front of her.. We said we will find a new favorite. Same with Red Lobster. We went there a lot too, and it was pretty much the same experience.

Mike: Olive Garden and Red Lobster - when we were on the road, found that both of those started skimping on service and portions, that was 3ish years ago. Closest to us is 120 miles CDA ( Red Lobster ), 150 miles Spokane ( Olive Garden ), one way each, so don't visit those. Used to be good places to go, but apparently not anymore. Texas Roadhouse, Logan's and Longhorn Steakhouse still are ones we get to when doing one of our big road trip loops as we know we *usually* get good service and food.

L8r

 

[shortwrench]

Well, howdy there internet peeps, and our AI overlords reading this at some point in the future.

Not much to report. MIL still in hospital, still draining. Wife was able to visit her apartment to get the laundry and such to keep up and have everything fresh for when MIL is released.

Wife is playing catch up/get ahead with work today for when her mother is released, she can take the afternoon or full day off. they're trying to be there when the doctors come through. MIL's memory isn't the best, so if one of the girls are present, they can ask the questions and do the remembering.

WILLIE: Fresh pic of the garden. Wife says the Carrots are Little Fingers. I asked if she got them because of the character of that name on Game of Thrones? She didn't even laugh at my silly joke. I guess gardening is serious business.
View attachment 216004

She said on the next shelf down her Chives haven't sprouted yet. the Parsley and a few other herbs have, though.

Wife also said we're going to hit Logan's Steak Road House for lunch.

Which reminds me that I saw a news piece that said a new restaurant chain has overtaken Olive Garden as the number one casual dining chain in the US.... It's Texas Roadhouse. We've got one in town, but don't go because it is crowded from they open to when they close. Reservations are recommended. WOW! People must love those buttery rolls.

We have a Texas Roadhouse 20 miles away and it is worth the ride. Yes, it is busy most of the time and quite noisy.
Found the best time to get there is before 4:30 on weekdays. Usually don't go on weekends. Good food and their
rolls and honey butter could be a meal by themselves. Really like their house Italian salad dressing. Have been to
other Texas Roadhouses 40 miles away and in Burlington, Vt. Same vibe; food and service consistent from restaurant
to restaurant.

 

[Marlin39]

Good morning from the So. Central portion of Wisconsin. Slight chill in the air at 27 but feeling like 20f degrees. The high will be in the mid 50’s.

The grandson started the soccer season in great fashion. 3 goals in game #1 as they won 4-2. His 1st goal as told by his dad/coach was interesting. They got the ball 1st and they pushed it to him who then from the center of the field, sorry pitch, kicked it in for a goal. His dad said Brooks noticed the goalie talking to a girl at the side of the net, so he kicked it. Game 2 was 2-2 and he scored 1. Dad/Coach said he was pretty happy on the drive home yesterday. He has at least 1 more game this morning and if they win another this afternoon. No we will not go. There are way too many home soccer games this Spring season coming up. The Son in Law said spending time in the tourist trap of Wisconsin and water park center of the World between games was expensive. He did saying driving go-carts between the games was fun. Only the indoor portion of the water parks are open as are some of the go-cart tracks.

I realized yesterday afternoon that my TDS email was not working. When I looked I realized I’ve received nothing since Wednesday night. I’ve been sending emails but I had just realized no responses. Text messaging works but a few of my weathering clients do not text! Worked on it and then called the son. He was out partying but said will call me this morning. I will call him again after 1pm.

I watched or rather the Final 4 BB games were on the monitor yesterday as Terry said she wanted to see them. Duke sure choked under the pressure from Houston. Basically anything I thought of doing yesterday, I didn’t.

I called our friends in Gulf Shores and told them we would not be arriving to visit on Monday the 14th. Too many medical issues unresolved. We still hope to get there this Spring, but an April visit is out.

Terry did promise last night that she will not watch her Sunday morning news shows. I think yesterday staying away from her computers was good for her. Today may just be a 1 or 2 hour road trip to nowhere. We used to do that in the Spring and Summer of Covid 2020 just to get out of the house. Per agreement she can go back to her computer after 6pm.

Enjoy the day

Are you trying to get in contact with me? DM me if yes.

 

[chadbag]

We made it back home. The water polo tournament is over. Both our local teams girls in 18u and the boys in 18u classes were supposed to play today for the championship. In both cases against the girls and boys teams from the same club/HS, which happens to be our neighbor up here in Salt Lake valley. But the other team didn’t want to play again and likely lose so they just forfeited. The girls had already played them three times and beaten them this tournament and the boys had played and beaten them twice, though the boys games were a bit closer. It’s unfortunate how it ended. The team forfeiting was awarded the silver medal as they had the next best record (in both cases). A lot of people were frustrated on how it worked out. They used a triple elimination format this year. I guess in years past they used a pool format (teams assigned to pools and you play in your pool and then you get the best from the pools playing each other.

Anyway they did not end up playing at all today and we were able to get on the road an out 90 minutes early. We only stopped once on the way home for a bathroom break.

Today was mid 50s and sunny with patches of blowing white clouds.

Before we were supposed to be there for the girls game the wife and daughter wanted to stop by the TJ Max store. It’s in the same shopping area as a Sportsman’s Warehouse (I don’t know how widespread they are but it’s an outdoor sports store for hunting, shooting, fishing, camping, archery, hiking, and that sort of thing ). So I went in Sportsman’s Warehouse and was looking at the firearms. An older gentleman asked if he could help me. I told him I was just waiting for the wife and daughter at TJ Max. He laughed and said that they get a ton of business from TJ Max. (I need a new gun like I need a hole in the head — of course I wouldn’t say no if one were given but I have enough and to spare already so unless I were to hit the lottery it’s not something I need).