Running Bear's August 2025 Coffee Shop

[NorthBrit]

Chad is mentioning V2???

A time long gone here in the U.K a V2 was a rocket that had landed before you heard it. If you heard it you were okay. If you didn't you were not.

 

[kbkchooch]

One of the best opening lyrics to a song!

Opening line for this song too!!

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

62° as I sip my morning coffee, only gonna climb into the mid 70s today with a gray, misty sky. Trust me, I ain't complaining. It does no good to complain about the weather anyway. You can't change it.

Idiots are along that same thread. You can't change them. Lately I have had my share of them at work, on both sides of my desk, making retirement more appealing and also seeming more distant at the same time. I'm really starting to believe that some people are like slinkys. They are not really good for much, but they do put a smile on your face when you push them down the steps!

BBL

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Mostly clear and 74°, going for the mid-90's today. Same old forecast, warm and dry. They are predicting a couple of days of rain at the end of next week, but that's a ways off. The rain yesterday morning was a complete dud, did nothing except get everything wet.

After doing all of the household chores that I could find to do yesterday morning, I occupied myself with setting up my new to me laptop. My SIL gave me one last Saturday that was originally a business one from my daughter's now shuttered private practice. I'm having to get used to the touch screen laptop format after using a desktop with a mouse for over 30 years. I'm not getting away from my desktop with it's 23" screen, just adding the laptop for use out in the train shed. He had wiped it completely clean, so I started by adding Firefox which I like to use; and I am getting used to Win11 which I am going to be forced to use soon on the desktop. I could easily add a mouse, but there isn't room on the workbench in the train shed for it; and no where to otherwise set it up except on the layout benchwork itself! I also need to get a wifi extender that will get the signal out there. The signal currently will reach the steps but doesn't make it inside. My main intent is to use it for my maintenance records for all of my rolling stock; so I don't have to write everything down and then later enter it into the computer. I have records for some stuff going back to 1996. It's all part of an inventory/switching program.

Today is the weekly grocery trek. On the agenda is several other stops including the stop at the tire place to get the new tires for the Accura. I don't need them for an inspection sticker since they don't do that in Texas any more, but all four failed the penny in the tread test. Since we put less than 5,000 miles a year on it now, this will probably be the last set that I have to get for it. Post office and pharmacy are also on the itinerary.

Nothing new out in the train shed yesterday, I continued to just run trains. I did attempt to clear off a little more of the workbench, but it was a futile attempt.

Louis - Damn! I don't know if I could survive with BP readings that low!
I don't know how serious that MLB re-alignment is, but it will never happen in my lifetime. Not that it really matters to me as I don't follow baseball at all.
John - I like Accurail rolling stock. A decent level of detail that doesn't break easily, and mostly simple to assemble. I have over 125 of their cars.
Mostly various covered grain hoppers.
Joe - I just read this morning that Hurricane Erin now covers an area as large as the state of Texas. That's pretty big!

Everybody have a great Thursday.

 

[troyphoto]

Welp... wearing long pants today. Got bit by a spider that dropped on me during my morning walk yesterday. got a red bump on my left collar bone. Been putting benadryl gel on it to keep the swelling down. These usually fade in a couple of days. Just keep an eye on it for a while.

While I was out on my walk today, listening to Around the Layout Podcast, where Ray interviews TomO's fellow Wisconsinite Allen Schroeder (layout pics at the link below)

Alan Schroeder & The Marias Pass — Around The Layout Podcast

How can the gift of a single locomotive change layout plans? That's what we'll find out on this episode of Around The Layout Podcast as we head to Wisconsin to talk to Alan Schroeder about his Burlington Northern Marias Pass layout.

www.aroundthelayout.com

I was listening but thinkin about my own layout. With two decks, and a future helix (maybe... I'm debating on doing a Willie and not crossing the streams between the decks), I was wondering about adding off-layout staging yards.

Here are the two expansion places:

That lower shelf to the right is just about perfect height for staging above my writing desk.

I wouldn't want to add a lower level yard, since that would interfere with the writing desk.

The other side of the layout could handle staging for both levels:

This end is where I have the Teeter Table set up so it can slide out of the way easily.

Either way, I'm thinking about 18 inch wide by 6 to 7 feet shelf attached to the wall. That should give plenty of room for N-scale staging.

Adding at least one staging yard/classification yard per level gives me the option of not having a lot of classification on the layout. I can keep it simpler with more industry service.

 

[NWP Dave]

Tank load in the Green River yard Tuesday while on our morning walk. Most of the military loads that come through these days are desert camo paint schemes so these were a different look. Anyone know what the cars are on the right?

 

[RhB Michael]

68°F/65°F this morning at 0820. Expecting DP to fall into the lower to mid 60°Fs later today. I'm going to try again for that haircut later this morning after my coffee. At least the groceries were delivered on time yesterday.

I had a small container of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream yesterday. That is the first ice cream I've tasted since April. I cut all sweets out of my diet back then to lose a few pounds and it worked. I thought I'd treat myself and cheat a bit.

 

[Boris]

@Boris Praying for more good results. I spent almost 4 months in a collar in 2003 from breaking 7 vertebrae. Not fun!
Only hit 91 here today and felt great! Tomorrow is predicted for 88. Had a really good service at Church tonight.

Thank you. Prayer works all the time.

 

[migalyto]

Good morning all!

Another very nice Northern Illinois day on tap. Really enjoying the last couple of much cooler days. Looks like the trend will continue through the middle of next week at least. Currently 68F heading up to a high of 78F. No rain in the forecast.

been a busy morning already. Have the second load of laundry drying. Also have the dishwasher emptied, and am working on the Wednesday vacuuming that never got accomplished yesterday.

Hopefully some train time later tonight.

have a safe day everyone!

 

[bnsf971]

Ever notice a small increase is $50, and a large discount is $5?

 

[PNKFLOYD]

I spoke with lurking forum member L&N CASTLE over the weekend.
He sends his regards.

 

[kbkchooch]

Believe me, the Cervical Collar is not comfortable or pleasant.

You have my best thoughts and prayers from here. I had to wear a neck brace for 6 weeks after getting my screws and plates in my neck, and it was not a pleasant experience. Plus I had to sleep in the basement in a recliner because I couldn't get comfortable in a bed, and I couldn't drive for 6 weeks. Drove me nuts!

 

[Boris]

I spoke with lurking forum member L&N CASTLE over the weekend.
He sends his regards.

How is he doing? Hopefully OK.

 

[TLOC]

Sounds awesome. My girlfriend and I were up in the Puget Sound area last month visiting some of her relatives. One of the places that was pretty good was the Bayview Thriftway store in Olympia. In the deli they'll make some food for you to take to this one dining room. I got a burrito while my girlfriend and her cousin both got some kind of pasta. After lunch My girlfriend and I went for a walk around the docks for a little bit while her cousin did some grocery shopping. We also stopped in Everett while we were up there and visited another one of her cousins and got tacos from a food truck near the hotel we were staying in that night. We then drove back down to Seattle the next day. I wish we could have stopped at the Space Needle and my girlfriend wanted to stop at the first Starbucks location, but it was the middle of rush hour. We were running kind of late and needed to get to our next hotel near the airport so we could catch our flight back in the morning. We'll have to do both of those another time.

I had been to Seattle on business before. One of the things I’ve noticed over the years was how when I was on a business trip anywhere it usually was hotel, client, clients to restaurants and maybe a bar or two. Yes I visited the city but rarely explored. Now with Terry it’s like I am a first time visitor because my business trips unless conventions were client calls maybe 2-3 nights long. Now we get to visit these cities. Seattle is nice but a strange vibe so far in the downtown and tourist area. Can’t put my finger on it yet

 

[Marlin39]

I had been to Seattle on business before. One of the things I’ve noticed over the years was how when I was on a business trip anywhere it usually was hotel, client, clients to restaurants and maybe a bar or two. Yes I visited the city but rarely explored. Now with Terry it’s like I am a first time visitor because my business trips unless conventions were client calls maybe 2-3 nights long. Now we get to visit these cities. Seattle is nice but a strange vibe so far in the downtown and tourist area. Can’t put my finger on it yet

It's the homeless population just like in downtown PDX.

This was not a political statement, but a factual one.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning Crew. 60f degrees now and 77 later. Tour rides we have found are easiest way for us to get a small understanding of the city we are visiting. While we prefer the get on/off trips today is strictly an informative one. There are a couple spots to stop, gather and let the guide explain but we shall see. We gather at the bottom of the Space Needle to start and instead of walking the 1.4 miles we will walk 2 blocks to the Monorail and take that to the SpaceNeedle.

Later

 

[DeaconKC]

Good morning folks, hope you are doing well today. 84 here right now and sunny, headed for 91. Working on my second cup of coffee right now to insure the safety of those around me. G'niece Nataley has her first volleyball game tonight but it is 40 miles from here, so debating on making the trek. Gotta find out more details. Seems to be a good report from the Doc yesterday. My Boss called last night, he has to be an Expert Witness in a Murder Trial tomorrow, so I have to go in to work. That's nice, because I am taking my usual Saturday off and that helps the Hobby Fund.
Anyway have a good day and may God bless.

 

[Patrick]

Morning again,

Great News, Dr said I'll live until I'm dead! So I have that to look forward to.
Tomorrow will be my last PT for this knee. I hit 125° of flex at the office and I said I could go more as my shoe didn't slide on the vinyl exam table. He said no need because as easily as I went to 125° I only needed to hit 120°.

BBL

 

[RhB Michael]

Still no one showed up at the barber shop. I was there at 0930, 30 minutes past opening time. I guess I'll have to get out the scissors and mirror and hack it up myself.

Turned the A/C off and opened the windows. Lovely day outside. I hope it remains like this until the first frost. 72°F/67°F now.

 

[migalyto]

G'niece Nataley has her first volleyball game tonight but it is 40 miles from here, so debating on making the trek.

My daughter has her first game Tuesday of next week.

Looking at the schedule, we have several games that are going to be over an hour away.

Crazy how far they travel on some of these week night games. I could see if it was a weekend.