Running Bear's December 2025 Coffee Shop

[Bruette]

@migalyto My wife and I watched a parade from the Magnificent Mile on TV last night, it was fun to watch. Had it not been for you making me aware of the Magnificent Mile I doubt I would have watched it, thank you!

 

[chadbag]

You know we don't believe you. Seeing is believing.

I thought I posted the box when there. Maybe not. I’m planning on a pic dump soon form the trip anyway.

I didn’t get it set up. I had to do some more baking yesterday as I ran out of cookies and had a few bakes left on the list so my time after morning family time and before going to my mom’s was taken up with baking.

 

[migalyto]

@migalyto My wife and I watched a parade from the Magnificent Mile on TV last night, it was fun to watch. Had it not been for you making me aware of the Magnificent Mile I doubt I would have watched it, thank you!

Your very welcome!

My wide, daughter and I usually every year go into Chicago to see all the lights and window displays. We catch the Amtrak here in town
and it takes us right in to Union Station. It is a sight to see in person!

Sadly, we did not make it this year due to time just running out on us.

 

[bnsf971]

. It's another bulkhead flatcar from Atlas, lettered for a close to home short line AOK.
View attachment 252584
Can't decide what type of load, if any, I will make for this one. The TTX one from last week will be getting a pipe load which I am already gathering materials for.

I think a load of sheet steel would look great on it.
Then again, I don't have to build, paint, and install the load.

 

[JimKrol]

Good morning, Everyone!

I spent a few minutes setting a new PC my son gave me for Christmas. Being 100% Microsoft and making full use of the Microsoft cloud made that simple. A far cry from the old days of 486 and floppies, none of which do I miss!

Although I think I will have to download and install Microsoft Office. I'll know after it is done with all the updates.

I don't even have to pay to upgrade to Windows 11-Pro as it is already preinstalled.

Enjoy your day Everyone!

If you don't want to give MS more of your money, you can try "Open Office". It's free and does most of what MS Office does. I have been using it for at least 10 years, and it does all the Office stuff I want. It's part of Open Software Foundation.

 

[bnsf971]

If you don't want to give MS more of your money, you can try "Open Office". It's free and does most of what MS Office does. I have been using it for at least 10 years, and it does all the Office stuff I want. It's part of Open Software Foundation.

It's available in the Microsoft app store as "Apache Open Office", as well as direct download. I get rid of anything Microsoft that I can, and that's one of the things.

 

[Bruette]

If you don't want to give MS more of your money, you can try "Open Office". It's free and does most of what MS Office does. I have been using it for at least 10 years, and it does all the Office stuff I want. It's part of Open Software Foundation.

Thanks, Jim, for thinking of me. Adding another PC won’t cost me any extra since I already have the Family plan.

It's available in the Microsoft app store as "Apache Open Office", as well as direct download. I get rid of anything Microsoft that I can, and that's one of the things.

Terry, I’m the complete opposite, if Microsoft makes it, that’s always what I’ll choose.

 

[RhB Michael]

It's 72°F here now and I was able to open the door and windows again today. The light breeze blowing warm(er) air throughout the house is wonderful.

I might even grab a Hofbräu and head for the back yard for a spell.

 

[kbkchooch]

I get rid of anything Microsoft that I can, and that's one of the things.

Ditto here!!

 

[RhB Michael]

Well, I went for a spell, but even with the mild temperatures, sitting in the backyard in Winter is just not the same as sitting out there in Summer or Autumn. I stayed for a beer and I'm back inside.

I guess it's the fact that everything is brown and there are no leaves on the trees. Just not the same.

 

[westtexjohn]

It's available in the Microsoft app store as "Apache Open Office", as well as direct download. I get rid of anything Microsoft that I can, and that's one of the things.

My new HP laptop came pre-loaded with Win 11 Pro. It bricked about 6 months ago after a Microsoft "update". I finally was able to reformat the hard drive and I reloaded Windows 10 . No more Windows 11 for me. When support for Win 10 expires next Oct. I'll be going with Linux and Zorin Pro. I already have Zorin on one laptop and it works great.
I suggest Libre Office in place of MS Office. Libre Office is used world wide, is a free download and does everything MS Office can do. And it is compatible with MS Office.
Seems Windows 11 is more geared for harvesting private/personal information from users than being an "easy to use" operating system. Microsoft make a ton of money selling your info to insurance companies, consumer outlets and AI developers. There are some great YouTube videos that tell users of Win 11 how to turn off most info gathering operations and how to avoid setting up a Microsoft account.
Each to their own here. While our personal info can be harvested from other sources, I'm not going to "freely" give it up.

I keep Windows 10 on my laptop to run my ESU Loksound programmer. A lot of folks are hoping that ESU will offer a Linux version in the near future.

On another note, I may try to finish up my re-build of a Spectrum 2-8-0 as the parts I ordered arrived from Bachmann.

I spent 4 hours Christmas day trying to fix some hip and valley (compound angle cut) tube steel roof purlins that I drew for a steel fabricator about three weeks ago. After spending a bit more time, I found my error and sent him a new drawing. I was able to salvage the pieces he had already cut with just a bit more modifications. I hate making mistakes in my work. However, hip and valley work has never been my strong suit and unless a person does this type of work on a regular basis, you tend to loose the skills needed. I haven't done a hip and valley project in 5 or 6 years and as I get older, I have a hard time laying this crap out and trying to envision in my mind what the pieces look like, then do the math finding the correct work points. If I had a CAD drafting program and knew how to use it, the software can be used to figure the dimensions needed for fabrication But I cannot afford the software nor do I have 6 or 8 months time for a learning curve. If another hip and valley project comes my way, I am going to have to pass. Life is getting way to short for me having to do head banging work then worry is it going to fit. Luckily this was a small project and the fabricator said he would fix the pieces on the jobsite. Kinda spoiled my end of year holidays.

Better get busy doing something, be it right or wrong. Time is "a-wasting".

Happy New Year to all.........John

 

[Kusojiji]

Good morning. It is currently 37F and not raining. Every morning, I go through my emails of methods to go broke saving money. I'm slowly making my way to getting some UK passenger cars and have been making sure that they have pickups built in so that I can install lighting and effects. I found that the buffet car that I want does not, so I bought a set of bogies that have them, for a princely 5% off... Will be pulling the plug on the cars after the new years, along with a Pannier tank engine.

Looking at my house cam that keeps an eye on my pond, I found a rat making an exit from underneath it last night. Will have to go see if there is a nest and eradicate it and then try to make the place unappealing.

 

[migalyto]

I received my replacement/warranty trucks today from ScaleTrains. I ordered 8 sets of non-electrified trucks and received
10 sets of electricified trucks. Wonder if when they were bagging and tagging the wrong label got attached to the wrong
padded envelope would be my guess.

I guess I will email them to see how they want to proceed. Nice thing is they come with metal wheel sets. I was under the
impression they would just be the trucks.

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good evening, all! It has been a partly sunny day with temps in the 80's. I think we have a day or two more of 80's and then a cold front is to pass through. Spoiler, temps go back up. Today was a quiet day, re-coop from a very chaotic and enjoyable day. The entire family made in with one exception, a grandson's wife had fever and stayed away. I did thank her for her consideration for others. I had one great granddaughter tell me I was getting coal for Christmas. I told her it was okay since I'm a grinch. We played into that nearly the entire day. When she was leaving, she told her dad "She had to give the old man a hug". She's 7.
I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas as much as we did. For those that traveled, have a safe trip home.

STAY SAFE
LATER

 

[Marlin39]

Sunset tonight......just barely over the horizon in the lower right.

 

[-Possum-]

Evening folks, already have my day planned out for tomorrow. I got home today to find a puddle of coolant under my truck a few minutes after parking it. There's a hard plastic tee connector between the top hose, thermostat, and water neck to the engine that has developed a crack, apparently its common failure. Thankfully its accessible and easily repairable without taking to a shop. The non-OEM version is aluminum instead of plastic, so I'll pick that one to prevent this from happening again. I was wanting to flush the coolant out anyways, sooo I guess this is one way to do it...

 

[migalyto]

I got home today to find a puddle of coolant under my truck a few minutes after parking it. There's a hard plastic tee connector between the top hose, thermostat, and water neck to the engine that has developed a crack, apparently its common failure.

It always amazed me that they still use plastic in a vehicles heating/cooling system. Something that heats up and cools thousands of times in its life and its made of plastic. I know,, because its cheaper and by the time it fails its out of warranty.

Don't know how many dozens I replaced over the years of being a mechanic!

 

[Bruette]

 

[Bruette]

Good morning, Everyone!

The beautiful Christmas season rolls on, and while it’s a little quiet here in southeast Baltimore, I don’t mind that one bit.

Back to work today, and I’m hoping the activity will help get my glucose levels back on track and keep me out of the Christmas cookie jar!

Wishing you a joyful and blessed Christmas season!

 

[Kusojiji]

Made one pan pizza in my 10 inch cast iron skillet and one stromboli. It looked good, but I burned the crust. Gas stove burner is really too small for that skillet as I was checking it constantly, but I didn't look at the center area. Will be trying again later.

Troy's cheese on the edge technique works like a champ as it was nice and crunchy!