Running Bear's Coffee Shop LXVI

[Sirfoldalot]

NICE work Everyone!! I have been in the doldrums today .. and, once again, NOT a great night, but I will make it! I just cannot get Ramon out of my mind. He was already in the room when they shoved me thru the door - spoke broken English, but most of the time I could understand him. Either His daughter and/or son, ages 35-45, was with him the entire 4 days that I was there and he was in considerable pain a great deal of the time with the drainage tubes from his lungs and torso. In spite of this he maintained a cheerful outlook laughing and talking to a constant parade of visitors. He owned some sort of business near Long Beach - and from best I could gather - it was mostly family run.
HA .. I have to admit .. At the time I had wished that he did not have so much company. A couple times I was just on the cusp of complaining- Now, I am so very glad that I did not! When I am in the hospital (and have been several times lately) I just really don't want any company. I am not a cheerful patient (except to the nurses and doctors) and HATE to make "small talk" when I am flat- on- my- back, "How do you feel?" (Do you really want to know?) - "You look really good!" (Are you kidding me, I know that I look like crap!)

Willie, Curt, Joe, Eric, Louis, .... all of you - The reading of the forum the past few days had been great. I will say this: The airlines had their own methods ... The supervisors were mostly promoted from the pilot ranks and it was comical that most of them were the worst pilots. (probably the best place for them- out of harms way) If the airline made the news for landing at the wrong airport, diverting for being short of fuel, etc; you could almost bet on who was at the helm, but they did love to hear themselves talk.

Eric -- you're determination has me thinking about trying to get something going again. I am still "stuck" on which scale but have been accumulation a few pieces of HO though.

 

[GarryCBQ]

Sherrel .... Perhaps airline management was similar to railroad management.

I figured out the career advancement strategies at the railroad were as follows. .... In the Operating Department you kicked ass. In the Marketing Department, you kissed ass. In the Finance Department, you covered your ass. In the IT Department, you were half assed. .......

 

[Beady]

When I am in the hospital (and have been several times lately) I just really don't want any company. I am not a cheerful patient (except to the nurses and doctors) and HATE to make "small talk" when I am flat- on- my- back, "How do you feel?" (Do you really want to know?) - "You look really good!" (Are you kidding me, I know that I look like crap!)

I try to be pleasant in those situations, but there's only so much I can take. Luckily, being a target shooter, I have a lifetime supply of earplugs that I keep in the bedside drawer. Also luckily, I like music; earbuds and my phone take care of most extraneous noises short of screaming. Mostly, though, my wife has learned that when I'm sick the best thing is to just go away and let me sleep it off.

One thing: I get really upset when the doctor asks how I am. For the money he's making, *he* can damned well tell *me* how I'm doing!


This signature is intended to irritate people.

 

[BigE]

And ..... let the construction of the New Palmer Valley Railroad begin!!!

 

[Boris]

Sherrel .... Perhaps airline management was similar to railroad management.

I figured out the career advancement strategies at the railroad were as follows. .... In the Operating Department you kicked ass. In the Marketing Department, you kissed ass. In the Finance Department, you covered your ass. In the IT Department, you were half assed. .......

Garry: Outstanding assessment of how the railroad career development worked.

 

[tootnkumin]

I try to be pleasant in those situations, but there's only so much I can take. Luckily, being a target shooter, I have a lifetime supply of earplugs that I keep in the bedside drawer. Also luckily, I like music; earbuds and my phone take care of most extraneous noises short of screaming. Mostly, though, my wife has learned that when I'm sick the best thing is to just go away and let me sleep it off.

One thing: I get really upset when the doctor asks how I am. For the money he's making, *he* can damned well tell *me* how I'm doing!




This signature is intended to irritate people.

I particularly love it just when they're wheeling you into theatre and the say "Good luck". I feel like saying, "You got poker machines in there, have you?"

 

[Bruette]

Here is something that some may find interesting.

https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/new-to-csx-or-rail/railroad-101/

I'm too tired to say any more than Goodnight Everybody!

 

[tootnkumin]

A video from the 2017 Australian Narrow gauge Convention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIygBzhYc_Y

 

[tootnkumin]

And a walkabout at this years Brisbane show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGL5SEATL6k

 

[2Tracks]

Good evening.

Sherrel, Chet, Joe, and Johnny.... Thanks for commenting on my bridge project. Much work remains. I'm working on water below the bridge now.

Jerry ... I am a little slow welcoming you to the Coffee Shop. Evidently, you are a GN fan living in Oregon. I model CB&Q because that is what I saw growing up in Illinois, but I have lived in other states too. I also have GN, NP, ATSF, and other roads.

Cheers !

Good morning all, looks like we're headed for round number three on the thunder storm front. There has been a few spot fires so far from the storms, but the fire agencies have been quick to respond. THANK YOU guys!
Garry---- thanks for the welcome, much appreciated! Pretty much in the same boat here as in running cars from other roads, but that's what I like, the variety! Or do I? Besides the GN, there is the SP, NP, SP&S, WP, CB&Q and other roads on the west coast here that when a manufacturer has a new release, I am forced to buy at least one if not two, three, or four depending on the car style... It's an addiction I tell you, an addiction!
Everyone. Have a safe day!

 

[bnsf971]

It's an addiction I tell you, an addiction!

Hi, my name is Gomez, and I'm a trainaholic...

 

[Boris]

Good morning y'all. 67° and cloudy. Going to 74°.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning Gang. Well it cooled off to 80° overnight with clear skies. At least the humidity dropped to 80% and there is a slight 7mph breeze. Made for a much more pleasant walk this morning than the last two. Hey! One good side to the recent rain is that I don't need the dust mask when mowing for a few days!
On the modeling front, I am pretty much still in the same vein of general maintenance and train running. Nothing of any significance to report.

Joe - Go for it. That's one of my problems that I can't decide what to do next and I have half-finished projects all over the place. But I am staying busy at least. When indecision hits, I just turn on the power and run trains. I do think that I have a street outline in one of my blank plywood towns decided on, so that might give me some incentive to jump into it.
Eric - A lot going on in your world right now. I really don't need a professional modeler since that is what I enjoy the most in this hobby! That's quite the load of lumber that you have there, should keep you busy at least two days, pending the noise and neighbors. Heck! They might even pitch in!
Louis - Rough couple of days huh? Unfortunately you are now on the "forever audit" list with the state in case you weren't already there. Contesting even the smallest amount will do it. My wife the H&R Block agent can relate horror stories from some of her clients. You did make the right call on the fender-bender though. The ticket might be negated, but weigh in the time and effort before fighting.
Chet -

I turn the light on in the train room when I run trains.

Same here despite having lighting coming on line soon, in my case it will be all interior.
Greg - That mirrors my consultant experience as well. The first one in 1991, not the last one who didn't want to talk to me! At least the first one gave me partial verbal credit in the presentation to management. He was actually OK. He and I would go train watching after work sometimes. Funny thing as well with him, was that he sat in a specific place in the conference room, where he could view the BNSF mainline. Everyone, upper management included, knew that meetings/presentations would come to a halt whenever trains came by!
Curt - That is a nice effect on the roofing.
Jerry - Addiction??? What addiction?

Everybody have a great day.

Willie

 

[montanan]

Good morning. Starting off at 56 degrees with an expected high in the low 80's. Only had a high of 77 yesterday.

Eric - It looks like you're ready to rock and roll. Enjoy.

Sherrel - Interesting story about the hospital. I am lucky enough to never have been in the hospital, except to visit others, but I can see your point. Just leabe me alone so I can feel miserable by myself. You'll get through this.

Toot - Enjoyed the videos. Some nice modeling.

Louis - Interesting quiz. Only missed 2

Jerry - Glad to see you stopping by for a cup. I was trying to think of a way to have GN power on my freelance railroad, but freight equipment is the best I could come up with. I do connect to both the Milwaukee Road and the Northern Pacific, but being that I am modeling the area where I live, the High Line where the GN ran just doesn't work out.

Here's my rail photo for this morning.



Later

 

[Flip]

Howdy- Its 84 already- so darn muggy the birds are walking, not flying. Back up to mid 90's again in pm. Welcome to sunny (HOT) mid Fla. in the summertime.
Spoke to SHERREL yesterday. Sounded a heck of a lot better. I even had him laughing.
Constantly amazed at the quality of the modeling you folks post.

Prayers for all,
Phil

 

[Bruette]

Afternoon All,

The temps are supposed to get to about 98 F today and with the corresponding humidity. Hotter tomorrow. I did some pool work this morning. The grand kids coming over got changed to tomorrow. Today I played around with the styrene sections I cut yesterday mounting them like aluminum roofing sheets. I gave them 2 coats of a aluminum looking craft paint (thinned). After that I put on a coat of MM rust (thinned). Because of the alcohol in the MM the craft paint partially came off in a patina that I like. The roof is planned to be heavily rusted/weathered as it's it will be in a engine servicing area.


Louis- It sounds like you are going through some stuff lately. I hope it all works out. Good luck on your future house...I mean structure to support your massive Lionel layout!

View attachment 62494

I hope everyone has a good night.

Curt they do look old.

As for my troubles, they are minor. I always say "any day you can get up and go is a good day" Thank you for your encouragement.

Looking at this house from the outside it does not appear to be as big as I was hoping for, but it's bigger than what I am in now and the deal is looking to good to pass up.

If it is the condition I expect it to be in it will be easy to resell. They have already sold 3 of their other properties. I tried to convince the owner they could sell this one as well, but they insist they want to do something for me and they would be offended if I did not let them.

Despite what we see everyday on the news there are still many good people in the world. Truly loyal people who never forget what others have done for them.

Now that I am back to work I have had little time for my trains. I'm content to wait to find the "right' house to retire in.

It's an addiction I tell you, an addiction!
Everyone. Have a safe day!

Hi, my name is Gomez, and I'm a trainaholic...

Gentlemen you are not alone!

 

[Flip]

CHET- What about an Excursion/Sight-seeing trip ??
Or just a rail fanning trip ??

Phil

 

[Bruette]

Louis - Interesting quiz. Only missed 2


Here's my rail photo for this morning.

View attachment 62497

Later

Chet I have yet to try the quiz, but if you missed 2 I'm thinking I won't do so good.

How is your wife's foot healing?

Great photos, so far this one and the "Halloween" (in my mind) pictures are my favorites, but they are all good. I like this one because it demonstrates my out look on life; I am always heading into the bright sun, thank God!

Louis - Rough couple of days huh? Unfortunately you are now on the "forever audit" list with the state in case you weren't already there. Contesting even the smallest amount will do it. My wife the H&R Block agent can relate horror stories from some of her clients. You did make the right call on the fender-bender though. The ticket might be negated, but weigh in the time and effort before fighting.

Willie I hope I'm not on that list. I am hoping they were surprised to see me return to the tax roll after being disabled for over 10 years. I think that may be unusual. Time will tell. At least they accepted most of my "creative" accounting. When it comes to deductions, I have a broad definition. After it was all said and done, including the additional $182 and change My wife and I paid a tax rate of 3.5% last year. I know I won't do so well this year because I won't have start up costs to off set income.

On the other hand my son and his wife paid 28% and he made almost as much as we did. The difference was he did not enjoy working for himself and abandoned the business I helped him start. I can't blame him. He works 36 hours a week and makes a small fortune working for Northrup Grumman. He is still pursuing his masters degree, that his employer pays for. He will soon make double what I made and he will still be working 3 days a week.

I was really hoping the Republican controlled government would provide some relief for the working men and women being paid with W-2s and close some of the loop holes for businesses.

As for accidents, I always play by the rule book. Even people you think you can trust can get crazy when there is money involved.

You are Irish and German, don't tell me you don't enjoy a good fight. I've never started a fight in my life, but I always stay for the finish or run when I saw the blue flashing lights. I will lose more by wasting my time and energy going to court rather than working but, I can't help myself, I enjoy fighting. I should win, but expect to lose because me and judges don't seem to get along, but oh well.

Here is a picture of the address they say I was illegally parked at. Why or how could anyone illegally park here?

Howdy- Its 84 already- so darn muggy the birds are walking, not flying. Back up to mid 90's again in pm. Welcome to sunny (HOT) mid Fla. in the summertime.
Spoke to SHERREL yesterday. Sounded a heck of a lot better. I even had him laughing.
Constantly amazed at the quality of the modeling you folks post.

Prayers for all,
Phil

Good to see you my friend!

 

[Bruette]

I have a busy schedule today and for the next few days, weeks and months.

In addition to working I am contemplating buy a store for my wife to run.

I tried to convince her to wave bye-bye to the upper management, with one finger, but I failed. She does not want to retire yet. Damn Hungarian work ethic! I guess that is the pot calling the kettle black. My wife makes me look lazy!

My wife wants to build a bigger nest egg to share with my grandsons, bless her heart.

Lots of research to do along with the other minor issues and work of course. Thank God I have energy to do it!

Have a great day Everybody!

PS the picture did not come out good. maybe this one will do better. I am trying to show the big FREE parking lot. I was never at! They were closed at the time I go the ticket. Silly rabbit got the address wrong. They say I was at 1901 South Hannover street. I was at 1901 South Charles street, in a loading zone no less!

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning, it is 72 with 96% humidity. Supposed to get some more rain today.

2 tracks, nice to have you in the coffee shop!