Running Bear's April 2025 Coffee Shop

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Its 9:30 and 81, heading to 95 in my area, Could hit 100 in PHX. Ahhh summer is back. Do not miss Snow and Cold and Yuck.

Another fun cruise, we took my daughter and friend. It was a planned 7 day to Mex carib on RC. Boat hit the dock at Costa Maya, and got a 60 foot gash in its side. We spent 2 days on the beach, drinking yard long Pina Colada's, while they patched the boat. Got the boat moving again, and arrived back in New Orleans in the evening, they put us up at the Hyatt, for a fun night in New Orleans. Those on board that decided the had to get back, got a bus ride across Mexico, with armed guards. A fun time for all!!
 
Good afternoon, I came home at 10 and then napped for about an hour. Not really sure if Terry will be released today or not. The daughter is with her now. I head back at 2 as I think today I rather be at the hospital that at home waiting for the grandkids.

SAD’s? Like many other retired model railroaders I don’t quite live in the lower level or basement of our house, but I come close. All my stuff and personal space is down the stairs. For me though it’s year round. I have issues with the heat and Wisconsin’s occasional brutal (almost Texas like) humidity. So since the whole house has AC I spend most of my waking time downstairs. In my cave where the blinds are usually closed over the windows. There are no windows in my train room.

In January of 2021 after basically 2 months of very little sleep I was diagnosed as depressed (my words, they used the medical gombily goop terms). I saw the therapist and she recommended finding my happy place and go there when I was feeling bad. Well to me the whole world was my happy place but she tried to convince me other wise. After 3 sessions (weeks) I slept all night for the 1st time in months. Not because I found a happy f..g place But I found the sun or rather an imitator of the sun. SAD therapy lights. I purchased on Amazon a stand up therapy light. My regular doctor suggested the SAD light therapy and it was under $50 in 2021. Here is the same light from an Amazon page today
IMG_0448.png


So does light therapy work for me? I’m saying yes. My therapy light lasted maybe 4 months when it blew out. Replacement bulbs back then were hard to find and the manufacturer was hopeless. So I built my own wall of lights.

I have LED’s behind the valance over my layout. I have a mix of bulbs and hangable Barrina garage light strips. I was using 5000k day light and figured while not the therapy lights 10000 power maybe those would work. Since I needed more for the layout I ordered another batch of 8. . Here’s what I ordered and I am still using them 4 years later. Here’s is todays listing
IMG_0449.png


Not exactly a true therapy light but putting 4 together on a sheet of plywood has kept me away from the therapist with no pills to swallow to stay in my happy place for over 4 years now. Notice I said I purchased 8 but today’s ad only indicates 6 and it is $20 higher than in 2021. I have 24 of the 4’ strips behind my valances. Shrinkflationat its best

Will this work for any one? I don’t know but I feel and my doctor feels it does works for me. I will sit at the bench and put the wall of lights to either side of me for 15 minutes and then move it to the other side. If I just want to veg out I will sit in my recliner (every train room has one right) place the light wall in front of me and set the timer for 30 minutes. 3-4 times a week if I feel I need it. For 2025 I have used the wall 3 times and twice so far this month. YMMV and I’m certainly no expert. I did lend it to a friend for a week and he felt no different.

Type in your favorite search engine, I use Duck Duck Go, the term Seasonal Affective Disorder for info about SAD’s. Believe me I thought previously when I read something about people with SAD’s I thought what weak disillusioned people enabled by quacks! They are not, it’s a real thing and it can be miserable
 


Never been on a cruise; and I never plan on going on one. Can only look at the water for so long and then it gets boring. I'm retired, so I don't need to spend thousands of dollars to relax. Joan and I like Amtrak; we've been on every train in every season, going and coming. You get to see the back yard of America...and it's constantly changing. One day we will probably fly to LA and take the Coast Starlight up the Coast and then into Canada to take Via across to Niagara Falls and then Back to Washington and then the Empire Builder across upper US to home
 
Hawkesburytrain said:
I'm in the same position as you Troy, I spend about 12 hours in the basement with no access to outside lights when I'm at my workbench.
I'm now in the process of redoing part of my basement for my crew lounge and debating the kind of light to use and I would install a few over my workbench also.
Any suggestions?



On cruises, I'm on it to relax and enjoy company, so no politics or religion. Out of 20, only once was I asked about my opinion and I replied "Do you really want me to tell you" .... LOL. On my last cruise, I was talking to an Australian and we talked about hobbies, to find out that he was as passionate about model trains as me, so for 11 days we talked trains at supper time and we are now good friends, same with our cruising friends from Denmark. What a small world.

Now I need my first cup of coffee.
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Crew Lounge lights.

In 2923 I started operating frequently around So Central and West Central Wisconsin. The crew lounges are pretty well lit up. Some are very bright but none are dark. All have windows.

Train rooms though are varied. All have aisle over head lights controlled by an on/off switch. I am unaware if any have dimmers. When on the aisle lights are dimmer than lights above the trackage. Of the main 6 layouts I operate on all have 5000k day light led light fixtures from Barrina. 2 of the guys operate with the aisle lights off. I have the same setup but my aisle lights are also 5000k daylight and by myself running I turn the aisle lights off.

The 2 new layouts I am helping with are using led light tape above the trackage. Even though the specs say 5000k daylights to my eye they are not as bright.

Ask 10 guys about brightness and you’d probably get 6 different answers. Me, I say go bright…
 
John from Indiana said:
Never been on a cruise; and I never plan on going on one. Can only look at the water for so long and then it gets boring. I'm retired, so I don't need to spend thousands of dollars to relax. Joan and I like Amtrak; we've been on every train in every season, going and coming. You get to see the back yard of America...and it's constantly changing. One day we will probably fly to LA and take the Coast Starlight up the Coast and then into Canada to take Via across to Niagara Falls and then Back to Washington and then the Empire Builder across upper US to home
Click to expand...
The best part of being retired is that we're debt free, sacrificed and planned well for it, and really don't have to worry about how we spend. Everyones retirement is different. We know we're very blessed & fortunate and life isn't guaranteed.

I hate to travel. I was in outside sales for 40 years and came to despise airports and airplanes are like flying Greyhound buses now. My wife is 5 years older and has cheated death 3x in the last 5 years, so I do what makes her happy.

Cruising is like being in a luxury hotel on the water. 90% of the ocean travel is done at night. You're normally in your port of the day by breakfast.

We took a private excursion train from San Jose to Reno once. 4 hours by car.....9-1/2 hours by train. We didn't know at the time that freight trains took priority over passenger trains (including Amtrak). Sitting in Oakland for 2-1/2 hours was painful.

I would love to do VIA.
 
TLOC said:
Crew Lounge lights.

In 2923 I started operating frequently around So Central and West Central Wisconsin. The crew lounges are pretty well lit up. Some are very bright but none are dark. All have windows.

Train rooms though are varied. All have aisle over head lights controlled by an on/off switch. I am unaware if any have dimmers. When on the aisle lights are dimmer than lights above the trackage. Of the main 6 layouts I operate on all have 5000k day light led light fixtures from Barrina. 2 of the guys operate with the aisle lights off. I have the same setup but my aisle lights are also 5000k daylight and by myself running I turn the aisle lights off.

The 2 new layouts I am helping with are using led light tape above the trackage. Even though the specs say 5000k daylights to my eye they are not as bright.

Ask 10 guys about brightness and you’d probably get 6 different answers. Me, I say go bright…
Click to expand...

My layout is well lit and I have 2 light strips in my valance, one white and one RGB for night operations.
I'm talking about a crew lounge/den/bedroom which is going to be 10' x 13'. Den = watch hockey, Bedroom = for visitors
 


I was on the USS Montrail PA 213 for 6 months when I was in the USMC, I hated everyday of it except went getting back aboard after playing war games in the Sarah desert. I'll will take the ship over the desert any day. I don't know how people even live there and what they eat. I dreamed about being home playing golf and baseball. I have plenty of things to do right here that keeps me busy all day every day. I don't need to be on the ocean for any reason.
Swal

USS_Montrail.JPG
 
I spent all day yesterday planning for the day I pass on. Cashed in my life insurance policy to be put in a K1 trust fund at the funeral home in Pawling NY so my brother and sister will not have to do anything the day I pass on. I already had my lawyer draw up the Control Disposition of Remains form which is required in NY if you want to be cremated. You cannot say you what to be cremated yourself in NY. Someone else has to decide this which makes no sense to me but that's NY for you. So my brother had to sign and agree to this. Any way I don't plan on going anywhere for a while but just in case I'm ready.
Swal
 
Well, howdy there internet peeps and those who like BIG BOATS!

It's Troy again. Coffee and a plate of Bacon FLO.

Finally got my cruise guy to return my call yesterday, and snuck in on the big sale at NCL: Cabin is reserved! Just need to call him with Credit Card # today to place the deposit.

Looks like an inside cabin on the Norwegian Getaway for a 10-day sailing to the Eastern Caribbean
Screenshot 2025-04-11 at 5.37.42 AM.png

Pic via NCL website.

We like NCL because of their Freestyle. I'm on vacation, I'm not going to dress up to shove food in my pie-hole. Khaki slacks and I button up my Aloha shirt for the main dining room. Eat whenever. It's just the two of us, so we alternated between the dining options.

And, we're platinum on the loyalty rewards program. So that's three visits to Moderno, the Brazilian meet-2-ur-table, slice it as you watch place! Unless the wife makes me go to the italian place at least once.

By Mid Oct we'll have to make final payment, and that will lock us in with no refunds or cancellations.

The only downside to booking is that MIL's health decline is a big unknown. IF she continues the spiral, she may pass by this fall. If she plateaus, then we may have to cancel and rebook for a later date. Wife will want to spend time with her mother, as it should be. Cruising is something that's easy to push off.

NYC_George said:
About being in debt. The country owes 36 trillion dollars. How stupid can you be.
Swal
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Well.... I'll just say "Poly-tics" and leave it alone. ;)

I asked the other day, but didn't notice a response. (apologies if you did):

Metal Wheelsets for N-scale. Is there a good brand? Do the N-scale wheel sets have differing sizes? I feel Like I should order a box before the tariff tit for tat make them cost as much as a new loco... oh, wait, those are going up in price too. ;)
 
troyphoto said:
Well, howdy there internet peeps and those who like BIG BOATS!

It's Troy again. Coffee and a plate of Bacon FLO.

Finally got my cruise guy to return my call yesterday, and snuck in on the big sale at NCL: Cabin is reserved! Just need to call him with Credit Card # today to place the deposit.

Looks like an inside cabin on the Norwegian Getaway for a 10-day sailing to the Eastern Caribbean
View attachment 216492
Pic via NCL website.

We like NCL because of their Freestyle. I'm on vacation, I'm not going to dress up to shove food in my pie-hole. Khaki slacks and I button up my Aloha shirt for the main dining room. Eat whenever. It's just the two of us, so we alternated between the dining options.

And, we're platinum on the loyalty rewards program. So that's three visits to Moderno, the Brazilian meet-2-ur-table, slice it as you watch place! Unless the wife makes me go to the italian place at least once.

By Mid Oct we'll have to make final payment, and that will lock us in with no refunds or cancellations.

The only downside to booking is that MIL's health decline is a big unknown. IF she continues the spiral, she may pass by this fall. If she plateaus, then we may have to cancel and rebook for a later date. Wife will want to spend time with her mother, as it should be. Cruising is something that's easy to push off.


I asked the other day, but didn't notice a response. (apologies if you did):

Metal Wheelsets for N-scale. Is there a good brand? Do the N-scale wheel sets have differing sizes? I feel Like I should order a box before the tariff tit for tat make them cost as much as a new loco... oh, wait, those are going up in price too. ;)
Click to expand...
If I were going metal, I’d try to get Intermountain wheelsets.
I just remember the “good old days” when metal wheels=Bachmann… Sometimes, trauma leaves lasting impressions that are tough to shake.
 
Good morning. Happy Friday!

For those who observe / care, Passover begins tonight at sun set. For those of us who don't, Carry on.

I have been immersed in IRS rules for Grantor Trusts, as the Trust accountant is no longer in business, (No announcement), and I have to at least apply for an automatic extension. From what I'm discovering here, apparently the Accountant may been filing incorrectly. Last year's return resembles something they just filled in the blanks...They should at least provide guidance.

Some progress on the layout. I watched the latest Walthers product introduction video. Nice stuff....some of the Cornerstone background structures are 20 years too late for me. They are bringing back the EMD SW-1.

The rain hasn't started yet, but once it does, it will be here for a while. We need a soaker, vs. a gully washer.

Caps won over Carolina in a shoot out. six days remain in the regular season.
 
troyphoto said:
Metal Wheelsets for N-scale. Is there a good brand? Do the N-scale wheel sets have differing sizes? I feel Like I should order a box before the tariff tit for tat make them cost as much as a new loco... oh, wait, those are going up in price too. ;)
Click to expand...
I have read that N modelers also really like ESM (Eastern Seaboard Models) metal wheels. Their website is a bit clunky.


There is also Fox Valley (which is now owned by Scaletrains) wheels that are supposed to be very good.
 


Welp... the morning didn't go as planned...
Made it to Menards (Big Box Hardware/lumber store) did my shopping, and ended up like this:


Battery 1.jpg


I thought the battery might have been in need of replacing, but kept putting off getting it checked.

And, I had taken the brand new set of Jumper cables out of the trunk since winter was over... So I ran back into Menards and bought a new set.

Texting a friend to come over, and a gent in a F150 pulled in next to me. "Need a Jump?"

Five minutes later, I drove across the road to Auto Zone.

The assistant manager was a young woman with a buzz cut, and enough tattoos to make me believe she could repair about any engine, weather it was bike, car, truck, or Firefly class starship.

Battery 2.jpg

I'm glad I let her do the install. I wouldn't have known to add the terminal shims that she put on. She warned me the next install will need at least a full shim, instead of the half-shims she added.
 
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