Running Bear's August 2023 Coffee Shop

[PNKFLOYD]

Although not as warm as other parts of the country, it was 77 degrees F this morning at 5:30 when I got up this morning. At 6:30, it is now 80 degrees with a heat index of 86. Looking for more humidity to move into central Alabama today with a heat index of 114, depending on which weather guesser you watch.

I have been working on an old O scale DPM building kit made of cast urethane material. Very basic kit with walls, sheet plastic for roof and windows. No base, flooring, signs or accessories. I am cobbling together some furniture and signs.

I cleaned and sanded the wall edges to get them flat, but did not notice that they had a 1/16" warp. The warp showed up when I glued everything together. I'll post some pictures later when I have made more progress.

 

[troyphoto]

I ac

Troy -

I just go straight to the "What's New" tab and select threads from there. Not sure that I have seen the red dot on the bell, I usually see a number.

In the mornings, I actually use the Forums tab. It shows the threads I'm subscribed to and not all the extraneous stuff that I haven't followed.

It's later in the day, after I got the words worded, that I use the what's new to find out what I've been missing.

 

[TLOC]

Willie: Yeah, Medical Necessity is a very broad area. However, it is so much better than the Managed care Amtrak offered. For instance, the only Network Orthopedic was 32 miles away, in Woodbridge, and affiliated with a Hospital near Metropark Station.
Most of the people at my primary's office have been there for 20 years or longer, and some are pretty bad. Only reason I continue with him is that other Primary care practices are much worse.

Sherrel: Since the Covid Emergency was declared over, covid tests are no longer covered except under certain circumstance. You are better off going in to a walk in if you can't get in to see your primary. Check with Kaiser's web site to see if your plan still covers the test.

Orioles won 7 -0 over Toronto...unfortunately, Tampa Bay won in the 10th . Also unfortunately, the Yankees ended their losing streak tonight over DC, 9 - 1 . The Mets, however, have returned to their losing ways, Atlanta 7, Queens 0.

Tom O: About time the Sox cleaned house...Rumors are flying that they are interested in moving to Nashville...

Have a good night.

I am tired of pro teams building stadiums or modernizing stadiums by saying they may have to move. I don’t follow baseball like I used to growing up or even as a younger adult. But, if the White Sox can get a better deal then what they have and the same with the Brewers let them go. I remember Reinsdof saying they were going to Tampa Bay before the State of Illinois built them the ball park they are still in. The Brewers have a great retractable domed stadium that they don’t want to pay for the upgrades they want. I sort of follow 3 teams online, the Brewers, Cubs and White Sox, if any of them leave, it’s one less team I will check in on.

I think it is very unfair to make any tax payer pay a multi-billion owner of a multi- billion $ franchise any about of money to use a stadium. Terry, that’s not political that’s an opinion based on fact. Look at the GB Packers. They use League funds and sell occasionally a gift certificate they call stock to upgrade Lambeau Field. There is a tax added to purchases in the “Stadium District” that does help them and while I disagree with that too, it’s in a limited area of businesses around the stadium

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from the heat of So. Central WIsconsin

It’s going to be another stay in day. We supposedly hit 118 on the heat index yesterday and will be close today.

Terry’s appointment yesterday was quick. Scheduled for 10:30 it’s a 40 minute drive in traffic. We left at 9:45 and there was little traffic and most of the lights were green as we approached. We arrived after check in at the waiting room at 10:15 and it was empty! The mammogram lady called her in and we were in the car heading to breakfast at 10:26. The lady said to Terry that most of her day appointments had been cancelled and her department staff 3 of the techs were sent over to the Hospital to work the patient there!

In the last 50 years we have belonged to 2 healthcare systems. The Marshfield Clinic system until 2018 and the University of WIsconsin Health System. We’ve never had the issues I read that you guys experience with billing, appointment scheduling or the belief tests are scheduled as money makers. Maybe it’s because they are Intergrated systems that are very well managed. My sister only regrets leaving surburban Chicago because of the healthcare system she had there. It also was an Intergrated system. In Pasadena where she is now, they are all individual practices were the only thing the doctors share is the ability to make money and practice at a hospital.

I spent an unusual amount of time in the train room yesterday. I usually get eye strain, stress, back and feet issues if I spend too much time there. I usually work in 2 hour times sessions and it really has made me more efficient and helps me enjoy the hobby more. I try to limit myself to a morning, afternoon and evening session giving me plenty of time in between. Many days I will skip a session entirely, but rarely do I miss an entire day, if we are home. Yesterday though, with the heat outside I spent the majority of the afternoon in there moving between various projects. After dinner I did the normal 2 hour session. I accomplished many things but I miss sitting outdoors and will miss it again today. This morning though instead of the weathering bench, it’s layout time! I will be adding the 2” base foam I use to the 140’ of installed framework. The girls are coming over to install the staging level and the nolix leading to the staging yard under the main level. First they will cantilever the 6 track staging yard, 16”w x 24’ long at 46” above the floor. Then construct the nolix leading to the turnback off the main lever. They think they will be able to build the turnback framework too but I doubt it. I am there if they have questions as I will be across the room installing foam! I’m not needed, they have the plans and most of the framing materials are cut! They will be here at 9 and lunch from the grill is at 12:30. Grilled salmon salads is their menu as I feed my framework crew very well. Heck, it’s cheap labor and they are better at it then I ever was.

The Air Quality number now is 63 but Terry says her TV gal expects a warning to be issued as more of the smoke haze is moving into WIsconsin today.

enjoy your day

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those with retractable roofs on your stadiums

It's Troy again, hopefully in the correct thread.

Just dropped the Camry off for its 60K mile service. That's going to be $800 out of the bank account. Ouch. Was expecting $500-ish. Prices have gone up.

Since they're projecting 2.5 hours, I asked to get shuttled to Panera Bread. Here's my office for the next few hours.

The priest and his compatriot in the photo just left. I'm curious is we had a demonic bagel infestation going on?? Either way, for a few moments, I felt safe from such evil pastry. Hmmm.... there may be an idea there for a book. Or at least a scene in the current book.

Now that I've got ideas, I should probably get to work. Word some words. Demonic Bagels... hmmmm....

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Morning everyone! Starting my day here at a temp of 62 and looking for 87 later on with sunny, clear, and breezy!

TODD - Thanks for the info on the vehicle. Anymore I cannot tell one from the other except an occasional one like you have there. Nice looking ride!

CURT - Wishing you a speedy "get well"! Does not sound as if you are enjoying your ailment along with me!
I am heading to the Kaiser Urgent Care facility and let them check me out - something is wrong and I should find out!

TOM-O, I am with you in your thoughts on the stadiums. If I wanted a Golf Course - the powers that be would not build it for me.

MIKEY - Add some poles and braces to the side to keep the wall from falling down. I have seen that on other buildings?

WI LLIE - You have been wearing out your tires lately with the Medical establishment; get off that treadmill - LOL.

GUY - That loco is a sad looking machine! Wishing you and the missies a great time. Take a bag of carrots with you?

There she is! FLO, scrambles this morning with bacon, hash browns and WW toast, PATY!

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

Taking a quick break from the madness of a user getting breached last night. Seems her Authenticator app kept dinging trying to get a code for email. She has since found several of her accounts on other websites jacked up. We reset her passwords within the network, and have not found an internal breach. I suspect they couldn't get in as we have a lot of the world locked out of our systems and almost all of our external facing holes no longer exist. I'm getting to old for this s**t.

On another note, temp of 80° this morning going for a high of 104°, heat index of 110°.

BBL

 

[chadbag]

I am tired of pro teams building stadiums or modernizing stadiums by saying they may have to move. I don’t follow baseball like I used to growing up or even as a younger adult. But, if the White Sox can get a better deal then what they have and the same with the Brewers let them go. I remember Reinsdof saying they were going to Tampa Bay before the State of Illinois built them the ball park they are still in. The Brewers have a great retractable domed stadium that they don’t want to pay for the upgrades they want. I sort of follow 3 teams online, the Brewers, Cubs and White Sox, if any of them leave, it’s one less team I will check in on.

I think it is very unfair to make any tax payer pay a multi-billion owner of a multi- billion $ franchise any about of money to use a stadium. Terry, that’s not political that’s an opinion based on fact. Look at the GB Packers. They use League funds and sell occasionally a gift certificate they call stock to upgrade Lambeau Field. There is a tax added to purchases in the “Stadium District” that does help them and while I disagree with that too, it’s in a limited area of businesses around the stadium

Amen. Teams should provide their own stadiums or private capital can invest and provide the stadium services to the teams. If it make such good sense, as they claim, then private capital would be all over it.

 

[bnsf971]

Good afternoon. It’s partly sunny and 90.
I received a phone call this morning from Blue Cross/Blue Shield wanting to know why I was trying to enroll in North Carolina health coverage when I lived in Florida. I let them know it was a scam, and I already had coverage through my employer.

 

[kbkchooch]

Good afternoon gang!

72° with light drizzle, might get to 78° later. No trains last night, watched the TV instead. I can't comment on what I watched here.

Maybe trains tonight??

BBL

 

[NorthBrit]

Good evening all. A warm, dry day.
Been playing Walking Rugby. Okay, so we had to walk whilst playing; it was still pretty hectic. Good fun all round.

Disney Magic arriving Port of Tyne.

'Queen's View' Sutherland, Scotland.
Note the colours in the cloudy sky. The differet shapes of stones in the walling. The bushes; well they have their individual shapes and colour.

A Push-Pull train in Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway livery.

 

[Bruette]

Team owners should stop investing insane amounts of money in players' salaries. Then they would have no excuse not to upgrade or replace ball parks!

Has anyone seen Lamar Jackson's contract? He has won one playoff game. He finished the last two seasons on the disabled list. The fans are to blame as well. They would have screamed if the Ravens had not signed Jackson.

It's not only Jackson. I could name hundreds of other overpaid players in every major sport.

I get it, carriers only last a few years, but it's gotten out of control. The fans are paying too heavy a price. I say make all players free agents every year. No more long-term guaranteed contracts. Let's see how much they get.

 

[Bruette]

Willie, Happy Birthday to your Mom and a big thank you to her for raising a fine son. I suspect she had her work cut out for her!

Speaking of thank you. I have used your recipe for salsa to produce a salsa I love myself. I got a little overboard with the garlic the first time, but I got it exactly right now!

I have used a lot of salsa and a few corn chips to eliminate all other salty snack foods. Primarily potato chips, my favorite. In doing so my A1C has dropped from 9.6 to 7.6! I was worried because I tend to run dangerously low on salt. By adding extra salt to my vegetables that has not happened.

Thanks again!

 

[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Sleep last night was hit and miss but not because of itching. I think I'm returning to my regular sleep pattern. Today was spent with chores and discovering the floor steamer wasn't making steam anymore. MOH ordered another one. I'm not sure what's on the agenda for tomorrow. My fencing order shipped today from MTS. Next week 3 days are tied up with VA appointments, 1 for Dad and 2 for me.

Guy- That was very kind of you and your wife. The trip sounds fantastic.

TomO- Just more reason to not support pro sports. It amazes me that just because someone is good at sports that they think their opinion matters. What does WRVT stand for?

Terry- I gave up using Hotmail many years ago when they told me that my own account was not mine. Total BS.

Willie- Nice track shots.

Sherrel- I hope it's nothing serious.

David- Nice photos. I believe the Wonder is homeported at Port Canaveral, FL.

I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[TLOC]

Afternoon All,

Sleep last night was hit and miss but not because of itching. I think I'm returning to my regular sleep pattern. Today was spent with chores and discovering the floor steamer wasn't making steam anymore. MOH ordered another one. I'm not sure what's on the agenda for tomorrow. My fencing order shipped today from MTS. Next week 3 days are tied up with VA appointments, 1 for Dad and 2 for me.

Guy- That was very kind of you and your wife. The trip sounds fantastic.

TomO- Just more reason to not support pro sports. It amazes me that just because someone is good at sports that they think their opinion matters. What does WRVT stand for?

Terry- I gave up using Hotmail many years ago when they told me that my own account was not mine. Total BS.

Willie- Nice track shots.

Sherrel- I hope it's nothing serious.

David- Nice photos. I believe the Wonder is homeported at Port Canaveral, FL.

I hope everyone has a good night.

curt

WRVT is the Wisconsin River Valley and Terminal Railroad

It’s my Proto-freelance HO scale model railroad. After years of modeling the Valley Sub in Central WIsconsin that the Milwaukee Road, WIsconsin Central and the CN owned I went with my own in 2018.

The story is the employee owners of Papers of WIsconsin not only had enough to buy their own jobs at the paper mill they had enough from their pension plan and a friendly rich former Central WIsconsin family to purchase the mill and Valley Sub from the CN. Since 2018 the employees have moved into ownership of a large Midwest convenience store chain, a transloading complex and a partial ownership in a flour milling company. Mile per mile they are currently upgrading the railroad to again meet class one standards and the paper mill to compete in the global paper making market.

some pictures from the previous layout

 

[NorthBrit]

David- Nice photos. I believe the Wonder is homeported at Port Canaveral, FL.

Disney Wonder is off to Sydney Australia returning toVacouver in 2024.

Disney Magic is based in Florida in the Fall. Prior to that she is in Europe.

 

[Bruette]

Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1s
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Army-Navy game?

 

[Boris]

Joe - Very few of my primary care docs staff members last more than 3-4 years; but I like and trust him as well as the PA that sometimes accompanies him.

Willie: I felt that way about mine, I started seeing him about 25 years ago, when his father retired, until my "Wellness Visit" on 5/31/23...was like I was a new patient, and one who already outlived his life expectancy...not pleased at all. Conclusion, even if I stay with him, I will never trust his judgment and no more wellness visits anywhere...purely a data gathering exercise, a waste of my time, and a waste of Medicare's money... After 25 years everything discussed at a wellness visit is already in my file, plus a whole lot that doesn't come up during a wellness visit. Total change since he merged his practice with a mega practice based up North. now not even a number, just a chump.

 

[Boris]

I think it is very unfair to make any tax payer pay a multi-billion owner of a multi- billion $ franchise any about of money to use a stadium.

For example, look at the LA Dodgers. They built in Chavez Ravine in 1958, and are still there.It's theirs, they pay taxes, and maintain the facility and you never hear them ask for taxpayer help...yet they have been consistent winners. They would have remained in Brooklyn, had the politicians had the guts to stand up to Robert Moses and let them build by the LIRR station at Atlantic ave. (Well documented how Wagner wouldn't cross Moses who was a bureaucrat, not an elected official). Another example would be the Red Sox another the Cubbies. Most of the others are owned by billionaire vagabonds, Intimidating politicians and leaching off the taxpayers... Baseball used to be cheap entertainment...no more.

 

[troyphoto]

Back from the Toyota dealership....

Passed over my Visa card for the 800$ bill, and was told that Debit or Check were preferred, and there would be a 3% surcharge if I used credit instead.

Mentioned it would have been nice to know that before I arrived, and would have brought the checkbook. I so rarely use it. Instead, I used the debit card which had enough of a balance but was running low after vacation and the mortgage about to hit next week. Transfered in the money from the generic savings account that would have covered the credit card charge next month.

Doesn't matter, since we pay the Credit Card off each month, and don't get dinged interest.

But it would have been nice to know before I arrived. Some folks live on tighter budgets, and eating 3% up charge isn't possible. I'm not even sure that the business is following the terms of service from the credit companies. I was always told I couldn't upcharge for accepting cards, back when I had my photo biz going.