Running Bear's December 2022 Coffee Shop

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David I was born with a hearing deficit and I only started with 23% in each ear. So as of today with today's technology I have 17% in each ear today. My mother was severely ill when she was pregnant for me. So in the development stages my nerve endings did not fully develop. So back in the 60's as you know technology was not yet there yet for the hearing. They had hearing aids that were very primative but very damaging. Think of hearing aids like this, they are basically microphones. Yup, just amps that increase volume that screams sounds into your ear day in and day out. Damaging! Hearing aids never correct one's hearing. In this day an age it still holds true. We are not there yet. Someday maybe I will be able to have stem cells for my corrective hearing? So having said that. When I sleep, I sleep very well and hard! lol I do not hear anything although I do feel vibrations and some very loud sounds with out my hearing aids. The thing about a loss of one's senses the other senses do increase and are highly developed and heightened even more than the average person. Anyways I have always been that way with sleep. I do however listen to my inner self and follow my instincts and gut for a lot of things. If I am tired I do what I need to do to obtain sufficient rest. As for my hearing I communicate well and most people don't even know my hearing impairment. I read lips, sign in 2 languages, I speak spanish too. I spent many years in my adolescent years training and in speech therapy. Now I have a southern drawl with a midwestern twist LOL
Out of curiosity, how have you adapted to understanding speech?

My wife's niece was born with a similar condition, and she adapted early on to reading lips.

Niece and her hubby were just on a cruise (won't mention the cruise line, but they expected more of a carnival atmosphere - what they got was low-class debauchery). Her report on the entertainment was that when even the almost deaf girl says the entertainment was bad, it's not worth watching.

We joke about it, but there is a grain of truth in it.
 
Here's a pic of the Froggy morning down in the Big Easy.

froggyday.jpg


Fortunately, Mel opened a Starry buk$ with that Watery Tart as his logo, right across from our hotel in the Warehouse district. Once the crew is up, we'll head into the french quarter to explore.

Wife said she really wanted to take the streetcar up a couple of lines and explore the city cemetery. I must have rolled my eyes. In a city with as much character as New Orleans, and you want to spend our only day here pre-cruise, looking at graves and markers?

We were warned that the WWII museum is a 6 hour visit, so I politely said we could skip it. My wife, bless her heart, can spend the entire day looking at old grave markers. That's a 30 minutes at most for me. Think I'll politely decline, and head back to Mel's starry-buk$ location by the hotel if they insist.
 


Good morning to all the modelers here even though the politicians think they should not be. It is cold in my portion of Wisconsin. 14f degrees real temperature but the wind has slowed to 15mph so the wind chill is 3. The winds supposedly will hold steady today after yesterday‘s gust over 50mph so the 15 mph seems calm.

I spent maybe 30 seconds in the train room yesterday. I will increase that today. Still deciding whether or not to keep the rolling stock for a 2005 op session.

I went alone to the NCAA round 1 Volleyball on Campus yesterday, the SIL and grandson dropped me off. Event staff saw my crutches and treated me super. Even got to use an elevator in the building I did not know existed. Badgers destroyed Quinnipiac to advance to the 2nd round game today. The Badgers who are the defending NCAA champs play TCU out of Fort Worth later today. TCU looked ok yesterday in the game played before the Badgers. The Badgers beat TCU in Fort Worth in September. While it should not be a blowout , it will be a disappointment if it’s not an easy win for UW today. Terry will come along for that one. Yesterday for her was a long planned girls night for the daughter, granddaughter, their neighbor twins and the mom of the twins. Today’s game though is special for us. The 4th anniversary of our 1st Badger Volleyball game, also a playoff game. Do people other then my wife keep track of stuff like that? We are in a box by invitation today. We are going to be asked to contribute (reduce the price) towards the purchase of a house that the association looked at the other day. The association is the non university organization that pays the coaches beyond the state allowed wage scale. It’s how a new coach can get offered 7.5 million per year to leave one school and come here. I am not a fan of this but willing to listen…

Hearing loss! I don’t wish that on my “unfollowed” person. Terry has hearing loss from childhood issues that were either missed or ignored till 5 years ago. Aggravated the doctors have said by not wearing decent hearing protections at Rock concerts over the years. She has hearing aids now but I still get frustrated after 5 years of her not hearing what she doesn’t want to hear. I know, I am bad… I’m still trying

I know it’s cold out by looking south out of the windows. The few horses to be seen in the pastures have the full heavy blankets on as the morning brightens. The sun rises at 7:11am for it’s official meteorological appearance.

enjoy the day
34AC7F76-214A-482F-893B-6CF83936F831.jpeg
 
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Good morning, it is chilly and windy, although we have full sunlight. Birds are out in full force, had the Pileated woodpecker at the suett for about 10 minutes, did not have the camera was only about 10 feet away on the porch.

Ken - I see your posts on the coffee shop I didn't even know there was such a thing as a ignore list.

James - I knew about your hearing, however was mainly amazed how you function on 6 hours of sleep! I did it for several months but not by choice. Upon giving it more thought, I know we are all different so for some I am sure it comes naturally, statistically speaking.

David - good to hear you are mobile, albeit somewhat inconvenienced.

Will be working in the train room some today and also a small rail fence we are putting up in our real driveway. Probably take a short video if I get the cows in since a bunch of the backside is not videoed.

Before sunrise here are the "early birds" today:


IMG_2911r.JPG

one black capped chickadee and a downy woodpecker, I think, We had a dusting of snow last night and it looks like maybe 4 inches on the ground, temp is -2F

A layout shot this morning:

IMG_2913r.JPG

back later Dave LASM
 
Good Morning All. Clear and 42° after a wind shift from the north about three hours ago. Weather Underground showed 61° at 1:00 am.

Don't remember what I did yesterday to keep busy, and today is unplanned mostly. Wife is leaving to spend two days in Dallas to go to granddaughter's ballet presentation tomorrow, four different presentations over a six hour period. This afternoon she's going to a benefit concert given by my grandson's high school orchestra. He plays "first cello". Monday morning will conclude the trip with a stop by Trader Joe's for some overpriced Christmas goodies.

Thanks for the reactions and comments to yesterday's random scenes pictures.

Some progress out in the train shed yesterday, I painted a 2' x 9' area of plywood a light earth color. Had to stop because it was time to fix supper. I'll get some more today before I spray paint the track, ties and roadbed
IMG_2562.JPG

Still thinking about the large blank area on the near end. I am also considering tying that stub-ended loading track, the one with the tankers on it, into the other one to make that track double ended as well. The blank area will not have any rail-served industries on it other than that tail track. That may be removed if I connect the two loading tracks.
It will be mid-week next week before I can get the other piece of backdrop, but I won't be building anything in front of it yet.
During the course of cleaning out this area, I came across these signals.
IMG_2561.JPG

Does anyone recognize or can identify them? I need to know what voltage they are so I don't blow them out! Is there a way of determining that other than starting around 5v and gradually checking further voltage steps? These were given to me by a non-modeler who found them at his late uncles house after his widow had sold all of his model railroading stuff.

Tom O - Wow! Seven months out for a video doctor visit! She must be really sought after. While I have not needed an Endocrinologist and I don't know how long I would have to wait, I have never had anything longer than two weeks to get any doctor's appointment in my area.
My doc reduced the Metformin from 1000mg/day to 500mg/day about a year ago after my A1C dropped to 5.4. Still there. He also took me off daily glucose testing. I still check about once every ten days or so and it's staying below 120. Good thing though since I like beer. Basically gave up rice, most bread, potatoes and pasta. Watching carb intake has become the norm now, I don't even have to think about it. The Metformin may not even be necessary any more, but there is no copay on my drug plan, so why not.
PM sent.
Dave B - That structure that you commented on is a DPM (now Woodland Scenics) kit known as Seymour Block. I liked it so much that I bought another one to use in a different area.
Christian - Happy looking doggie.
Ken (D&J) -
I logged off the forum then checked "New Posts" and the Dec coffee shop was there.
That's because the software doesn't realize that it is you, so it ignores your ignore list.

Today is Ozzy Osbourne's 74th birthday. At least he sings about trains.

Everybody have a great day.
 


Good Morning All!
21F and overcast, looks to be blue sky a little later.
Nother 2" of the white stuff with none in the forecast for a couple days.

TomO: Are you talking about 'selective hearing'? If so, I do that and it really pisses the wife off. Maybe not quite selective; as if ima busy concentrating on something I pretty much even ignore myself.

Dr Visits: If we have to go someplace other than the local VA Clinic, we seem to be *at least* 4 months out. Does not matter if in person or zoom. It was worse when we were driving as all the stars and planets had to line up for everybody so we could hit the week of the designated appointment time aligned with hometime. PITA. Well, if blood is involved, that is the fastest way into the place, or ER!

Sleep: Like some of you, I am an early riser; usually about 0300. If I don't fall asleep in the recliner in the evening, bed is around 9. Most nights I sleep 5 or 6 hours; unless I have 'busy brain'. Then after about 10 days, body says 'recharge' and I sleep for 8 to 10 hours. Have been doing that since High School. Have never used an alarm clock - the internal one still works just fine.

Well, went out about dawn this morning attempting to get some snow pix. The sidings and other locations I usually go into have not been plowed yet and don't want to give it a go with the Edge. Know I can get in, it is the getting out part that could be interesting. Saw 1 movement after being out an hour - then it dawned on me that it was Saturday. No pix as I was motivating to the next siding and it got in between. Not much happens round here on the weekend during the day. Oh well.

Later
 
Good Morning All. Clear and 42° after a wind shift from the north about three hours ago. Weather Underground showed 61° at 1:00 am.

Don't remember what I did yesterday to keep busy, and today is unplanned mostly. Wife is leaving to spend two days in Dallas to go to granddaughter's ballet presentation tomorrow, four different presentations over a six hour period. This afternoon she's going to a benefit concert given by my grandson's high school orchestra. He plays "first cello". Monday morning will conclude the trip with a stop by Trader Joe's for some overpriced Christmas goodies.

Thanks for the reactions and comments to yesterday's random scenes pictures.

Some progress out in the train shed yesterday, I painted a 2' x 9' area of plywood a light earth color. Had to stop because it was time to fix supper. I'll get some more today before I spray paint the track, ties and roadbed
View attachment 157100
Still thinking about the large blank area on the near end. I am also considering tying that stub-ended loading track, the one with the tankers on it, into the other one to make that track double ended as well. The blank area will not have any rail-served industries on it other than that tail track. That may be removed if I connect the two loading tracks.
It will be mid-week next week before I can get the other piece of backdrop, but I won't be building anything in front of it yet.
During the course of cleaning out this area, I came across these signals. View attachment 157102
Does anyone recognize or can identify them? I need to know what voltage they are so I don't blow them out! Is there a way of determining that other than starting around 5v and gradually checking further voltage steps? These were given to me by a non-modeler who found them at his late uncles house after his widow had sold all of his model railroading stuff.

Tom O - Wow! Seven months out for a video doctor visit! She must be really sought after. While I have not needed an Endocrinologist and I don't know how long I would have to wait, I have never had anything longer than two weeks to get any doctor's appointment in my area.
My doc reduced the Metformin from 1000mg/day to 500mg/day about a year ago after my A1C dropped to 5.4. Still there. He also took me off daily glucose testing. I still check about once every ten days or so and it's staying below 120. Good thing though since I like beer. Basically gave up rice, most bread, potatoes and pasta. Watching carb intake has become the norm now, I don't even have to think about it. The Metformin may not even be necessary any more, but there is no copay on my drug plan, so why not.
PM sent.
Dave B - That structure that you commented on is a DPM (now Woodland Scenics) kit known as Seymour Block. I liked it so much that I bought another one to use in a different area.
Christian - Happy looking doggie.
Ken (D&J) -

That's because the software doesn't realize that it is you, so it ignores your ignore list.

Today is Ozzy Osbourne's 74th birthday. At least he sings about trains.

Everybody have a great day.
Willie I see the paint can there. Don't tell me you're finally going to paint the facia boards.
 
Afternoon All,

Missed yesterday because I was feeling poorly and spent most of the day in bed. I feel better today but still some fatigue which has caused me to take a 2 hour nap earlier. Today I did do a morning walk and some minor chores. I plan on sitting on my butt the rest of the day. Maybe my afternoon coffee will pick me up a bit.

Willie- Nice scenes. What's your radius of the curve in the background? I would either try NJI (my pick) or BLMA for the signals.

TomO- Sounds like you're doing great with your diabetes. It's the reason I started walking in the morning.

Todd- My wife takes Ozempic but it causes her nausea and vomiting several hours after eating. This started with this drug. I've been trying to get her to talk to her doctor but you can guess how that goes 👎.

Christian- Beautiful pup.

Troy- Have a great cruise.

Snowman- Take care of your Mom, that's what matters most.

Dave- Nice set of locos.

I hope everyone has a good night.
 


Thoughts so far after walking the French Quarter - some parts, like Louis Armstrong park, are nice.

It's crowded, noisy, and stinky. Def has a sewer gas odor, and piles of "ralph" at the odd street corner, and, all sorts of wacky tobacky

I chuckled as I went on my morning walk. Rounded a corner onto Bourbon St., and a young man had a "fun cigarette" lit, but his hand held a wad of smouldering Sage (used in religious/rituals - usually pagan - for cleansing bad vibes and such.)

I wanted to tell him it would a lot more than that amount of sage to clean up the French Quarter.

But it did smell better than light night's recycled beer.
 
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