Running Bear's February 2022 Coffee Shop

[Jaz avalley]

I’ve got a great idea for a new layout – it’s the Lake Powell & Missabe Railroad. The premise is this: the tailings from the coal mines in Arizona are taken to Minnesota to fill in the open pits left after the iron ore mining there. In turn, the iron waste product is hauled from MN to AZ to fill in THEIR open pits. Now this is where it gets good. The layout starts in my train room. It punches through the exterior wall, crosses two back yards and enters my neighbor’s house, and into HIS train room. The lead locomotives are fitted with cameras, and each of us has a CCTV feed to the other’s control panel. Our ‘radio’ communications will be via Wi-Fi. What do you think?

I laughed with the others. But (who screamed you don’t start sentences with but) I think it is a fine idea, if you had seen the original idea we had for our layout the other half enabled most of it, the only thing he did not get past the planning committee I.e. me was stealing the garage and joining the loft and the garage via a helix. If you and your neighbour are good, and the other back y adds are ok and do not have dog issues or raccoons or such then I think a plan like this is ambitious, but omg people are going to be so envious. By the way, I don’t think alcohol or coffee was enough you drank Irish coffees fully laden with both. You go modeller. FYI do the neighbours back yards first to ensure they allow it and don’t cave because if you do the walls out and then can’t get to each other’s that will be sad.

 

[Jaz avalley]

Well, howdy there internet people and those waiting on Snowpocalypse 2022 part Deux!

It's Troy again...

Lets talk about happy and frustration... but first:
View attachment 140101
Fort Wayne is currently under Wintry Mix...

Yesterday, late afternoon, I experienced Frustration on an epic level.

Someone posted to one of the bookface author groups about an email from the largest AudioBook distributor, owned by a parent company that sent it's former CEO into low earth orbit on a rocket that resembled ... well... a male... um... member.

Seems that said audiobook company - whom I deal with exclusively for my books, and I'm a small fry in a very large ocean of authors. We small fry use what's called Royalty Share. We split the profits from the ebook equally between us. The audio company deposits their share to their bank, and my share to my bank on a monthly basis.

That worked well, each of us getting a 1099 at the end of the year. That was, until the Audio company decided that they would stop sending 1099s to narrators about royalty split amounts, and pass their royalty amounts onto the authors via OUR 1099s from said audiobook company.

So, let's say I have one book with one narrator and received $300 in royalty split. That means the narrator for that book deal with got $300 from my book, straight from Audio into their account.

But, my 1099 would say $600 was paid on behalf of me. Nevermind that half of it went to the narrator and I didn't touch it.

Now, take a narrator or author that does that with say a dozen partners across all their books.

To top it off, not one single author in any of our groups can find the email that Audio claims to have sent a year ago explaining that this was happening.

So, I now have to file 1099s for my three narrators... unlike the 1099NEC which has a $600 threshold, the 1099misc for royalties, has a $10 threshold. All three of my narrators made that or more.

And the reporting of funds for each book from Audio is at best. I've only got six books out on audio, and I'm guessing it's going to take me about two hours to set up a spreadsheet from their data.

BUT, on the HAPPY front, I wrote up an article for the gaming blog and it just went live. If you want to read about Vive L' (tiny) Emperor, you can find it here.

Warlord Epic Waterloo – Vive L’ (tiny) Emperor!

by Troy A. Hill “For the love of God! Troy! Here we are painting up stuff in 28mm and you go batshit crazy in 12mm…” was what one of my local gaming friends posted under the photo of my…

nodicenoglory.com

So, before I dive into spreadsheet heck, I'll go check the oil in the showshovel, and get it warmed up.

Grossly unfair the big boys clearly save them selves cash and time at your expense,and by the looks of it you can’t claim this back,surely if the others are honest and declare the tax people get twice,madness.

 

[Jaz avalley]

Phyllis doesn't look very happy in her new FL life.
George

She has time to sit around in her dressing gown with her hair in curlers,scoffing donut and coffee,what the ‘ell has she got to be unhappy about,plus she has got rid of the crappy ex, if this was real and a woman I would have thought she would be celebrating. she could do with losing weight and plucking her eyebrows and best pluck the moustache at the same time.That pink fluffy robe does nothing for her……sniggers.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Happy Groundhogs Day everyone. No shadow here today! Cloudy and still 52°, but expected to go downhill from here. Currently expected to start raining around 3 pm, and then temperature going below freezing around 6 pm. The NWS is predicting 2.6" of rain before it stars snowing around 3 am with 2" of white stuff. Somewhere in between there will be sleet/freezing rain, or at least I expect that to happen. Meanwhile there will be 20 mph+ winds until sunset tomorrow. This is not a pretty picture. Temperature will not get above freezing again until midday Saturday, although we're expecting sunshine Friday. By the end of next week, we'll be in the 60's again.

Wife and I both have a 9:00 am doctor appointment at our primary care physician this morning, routine maintenance. On the way home we'll make the weekly grocery trek, but I don't expect much as the panic buying started Monday locally. On the other hand, maybe everyone has already stocked up and there will be no crowds. My daughter went to the store in Dallas yesterday and told my wife that the only thing in plentiful supply was ice cream. My wife went to a high volume discount grocery store yesterday on the way home from her eye doctor and grabbed a few things and fled because of the madhouse there, thus leaving it up to me to take care of everything else. She'll probably head over to the wine store nearby while I am left to fend the crowds by myself. OK, while she has actually resumed complete mobility recovery from her surgery, she is still not particularly swift yet. We should return home for a late lunch and a nap before the stuff begins.

I spent part of yesterday bringing dry firewood inside and cleaning the ashes out of the heater. That wasn't really necessary, but the last fire that I needed was Saturday and I "make hay while the sun shines" and emptied it while the opportunity presented itself. The fire will be non-stop for the next five days.

Wow! 95 posts here in the Coffee Shop yesterday. February is starting off with a bang. Thanks to all for the likes and comments regarding the mini-scenes that I posted yesterday; George, Joe, Lee, Dave B, Smudge, Dave, Sherrel, Tom O, Troy, Karl, James, Hughie, Louis, Mikey, Patrick, Justin, Curt, Jaz, Tom, Rick, OB Ken.

I spent a little time in the train shed yesterday, just painting figures. I have 52 of them on the workbench, all in varying stages of completion. I do one color at a time over several figures. I made a lot of progress, but actually only completed one!
Back to the archives for a few more mini-scenes.

Most likely I will not visit out there again until Sunday because I still have not bought another heater!

Louis - Belated Happy Birthday to Angela. I have to point out that the only reason she got you is because I wasn't available at the time.
Lee - Some more good looking pictures, Thanks.
Sherrel & others - I too got squeezed for Girl Scout cookies Sunday from my granddaughter.
Troy - That is going to be one heck of a painting project!
Hughie - Yup! We will probably see some snow out of this weather system, but after today, I have no place that I have to go until next Wednesday. We're used to being cooped up here, but have lots that we can do.
Have you checked with Bar Mills about Ernie's? I know that it will be more expensive though.
Mikey - Thank you.
OB Ken - I read an article yesterday, sorry I don't remember where, that reported that a lot of folks are getting that automated letter from the IRS. The computer sending the letter doesn't know that overall the IRS is 6-9 months behind in processing returns! It just knows that your return and many others have not gone through the system. Typical bureaucratic BS.

Everybody stay safe and have a great day. Keep warm and off the roads if possible.

 

[NYC_George]

Good Morning All. Happy Groundhogs Day everyone. No shadow here today! Cloudy and still 52°, but expected to go downhill from here. Currently expected to start raining around 3 pm, and then temperature going below freezing around 6 pm. The NWS is predicting 2.6" of rain before it stars snowing around 3 am with 2" of white stuff. Somewhere in between there will be sleet/freezing rain, or at least I expect that to happen. Meanwhile there will be 20 mph+ winds until sunset tomorrow. This is not a pretty picture. Temperature will not get above freezing again until midday Saturday, although we're expecting sunshine Friday. By the end of next week, we'll be in the 60's again.

Wife and I both have a 9:00 am doctor appointment at our primary care physician this morning, routine maintenance. On the way home we'll make the weekly grocery trek, but I don't expect much as the panic buying started Monday locally. On the other hand, maybe everyone has already stocked up and there will be no crowds. My daughter went to the store in Dallas yesterday and told my wife that the only thing in plentiful supply was ice cream. My wife went to a high volume discount grocery store yesterday on the way home from her eye doctor and grabbed a few things and fled because of the madhouse there, thus leaving it up to me to take care of everything else. She'll probably head over to the wine store nearby while I am left to fend the crowds by myself. OK, while she has actually resumed complete mobility recovery from her surgery, she is still not particularly swift yet. We should return home for a late lunch and a nap before the stuff begins.

I spent part of yesterday bringing dry firewood inside and cleaning the ashes out of the heater. That wasn't really necessary, but the last fire that I needed was Saturday and I "make hay while the sun shines" and emptied it while the opportunity presented itself. The fire will be non-stop for the next five days.

Wow! 95 posts here in the Coffee Shop yesterday. February is starting off with a bang. Thanks to all for the likes and comments regarding the mini-scenes that I posted yesterday; George, Joe, Lee, Dave B, Smudge, Dave, Sherrel, Tom O, Troy, Karl, James, Hughie, Louis, Mikey, Patrick, Justin, Curt, Jaz, Tom, Rick, OB Ken.

I spent a little time in the train shed yesterday, just painting figures. I have 52 of them on the workbench, all in varying stages of completion. I do one color at a time over several figures. I made a lot of progress, but actually only completed one!
Back to the archives for a few more mini-scenes.
View attachment 140103
View attachment 140104
View attachment 140105
View attachment 140106
Most likely I will not visit out there again until Sunday because I still have not bought another heater!

Louis - Belated Happy Birthday to Angela. I have to point out that the only reason she got you is because I wasn't available at the time.
Lee - Some more good looking pictures, Thanks.
Sherrel & others - I too got squeezed for Girl Scout cookies Sunday from my granddaughter.
Troy - That is going to be one heck of a painting project!
Hughie - Yup! We will probably see some snow out of this weather system, but after today, I have no place that I have to go until next Wednesday. We're used to being cooped up here, but have lots that we can do.
Have you checked with Bar Mills about Ernie's? I know that it will be more expensive though.
Mikey - Thank you.
OB Ken - I read an article yesterday, sorry I don't remember where, that reported that a lot of folks are getting that automated letter from the IRS. The computer sending the letter doesn't know that overall the IRS is 6-9 months behind in processing returns! It just knows that your return and many others have not gone through the system. Typical bureaucratic BS.

Everybody stay safe and have a great day. Keep warm and off the roads if possible.

Willie does that tractor still run?

 

[TrucTrain55]

T

Well after a few tries at strapping down a couple of pipe loads, I decided against it for a couple of reasons. One I couldn't get it to look right, Two I'm picky, Three it has to be mobile to go to shows. The car with all it's detail needs to be able to go in its box and the load separate. So I just wrapped the yellow chart tape to simulate nylon straps to hold the load to the car. It is was it is and I'm just going with it.View attachment 140076View attachment 140077

Tom your flat car loads look great and some nice pics of the layout

 

[TrucTrain55]

Good Morning All. Happy Groundhogs Day everyone. No shadow here today! Cloudy and still 52°, but expected to go downhill from here. Currently expected to start raining around 3 pm, and then temperature going below freezing around 6 pm. The NWS is predicting 2.6" of rain before it stars snowing around 3 am with 2" of white stuff. Somewhere in between there will be sleet/freezing rain, or at least I expect that to happen. Meanwhile there will be 20 mph+ winds until sunset tomorrow. This is not a pretty picture. Temperature will not get above freezing again until midday Saturday, although we're expecting sunshine Friday. By the end of next week, we'll be in the 60's again.

Wife and I both have a 9:00 am doctor appointment at our primary care physician this morning, routine maintenance. On the way home we'll make the weekly grocery trek, but I don't expect much as the panic buying started Monday locally. On the other hand, maybe everyone has already stocked up and there will be no crowds. My daughter went to the store in Dallas yesterday and told my wife that the only thing in plentiful supply was ice cream. My wife went to a high volume discount grocery store yesterday on the way home from her eye doctor and grabbed a few things and fled because of the madhouse there, thus leaving it up to me to take care of everything else. She'll probably head over to the wine store nearby while I am left to fend the crowds by myself. OK, while she has actually resumed complete mobility recovery from her surgery, she is still not particularly swift yet. We should return home for a late lunch and a nap before the stuff begins.

I spent part of yesterday bringing dry firewood inside and cleaning the ashes out of the heater. That wasn't really necessary, but the last fire that I needed was Saturday and I "make hay while the sun shines" and emptied it while the opportunity presented itself. The fire will be non-stop for the next five days.

Wow! 95 posts here in the Coffee Shop yesterday. February is starting off with a bang. Thanks to all for the likes and comments regarding the mini-scenes that I posted yesterday; George, Joe, Lee, Dave B, Smudge, Dave, Sherrel, Tom O, Troy, Karl, James, Hughie, Louis, Mikey, Patrick, Justin, Curt, Jaz, Tom, Rick, OB Ken.

I spent a little time in the train shed yesterday, just painting figures. I have 52 of them on the workbench, all in varying stages of completion. I do one color at a time over several figures. I made a lot of progress, but actually only completed one!
Back to the archives for a few more mini-scenes.
View attachment 140103
View attachment 140104
View attachment 140105
View attachment 140106
Most likely I will not visit out there again until Sunday because I still have not bought another heater!

Louis - Belated Happy Birthday to Angela. I have to point out that the only reason she got you is because I wasn't available at the time.
Lee - Some more good looking pictures, Thanks.
Sherrel & others - I too got squeezed for Girl Scout cookies Sunday from my granddaughter.
Troy - That is going to be one heck of a painting project!
Hughie - Yup! We will probably see some snow out of this weather system, but after today, I have no place that I have to go until next Wednesday. We're used to being cooped up here, but have lots that we can do.
Have you checked with Bar Mills about Ernie's? I know that it will be more expensive though.
Mikey - Thank you.
OB Ken - I read an article yesterday, sorry I don't remember where, that reported that a lot of folks are getting that automated letter from the IRS. The computer sending the letter doesn't know that overall the IRS is 6-9 months behind in processing returns! It just knows that your return and many others have not gone through the system. Typical bureaucratic BS.

Everybody stay safe and have a great day. Keep warm and off the roads if possible.

Wow Willie I think these are one of your best yet so many great pics in this set I can’t decide so I’ll just say I like them All. Thanks for the complement too.

 

[PRR Modeler]

Good Morning,

After viewing the post from Hughie last night I want to add pole lighting around the build when it's on the layout. I've been looking at WS lights but I'm not going to buy all the rest of equipment to run them.

My question is can the wire ends be cut and soldered onto a lighting buss (with resistor) and work properly?

 

[TrucTrain55]

Good Morning all. 28 degrees in the Ozark Foothills with about a inch of sleet with ice underneath it. Just got a text from my work that said “No trucks on the roads today” roads are very bad in St.Louis Mo. right now I called in very early this morning. I use to not let weather like this stop me from driving but it’s a different ball game now days with Truck Drivers that don’t know how to drive on bad roads thinking there driving a 4wd pickup. Truck Drivers like my Great Grandpa, Grandpa and my Dad and myself are long gone these guys knew how to drive in any condition and you wasn’t afraid to truck with them you were in good hands not these days. Ok enough of that Troy. I’m going to be sending you a present of the frozen liquid after while hope you enjoy it and if you like the first one I’ll send you a bigger one tonight lol. Here’s another O27 Piggyback I build this Fall. Stay safe and warm everyone.

 

[Jaz avalley]

Good Morning All. Happy Groundhogs Day everyone. No shadow here today! Cloudy and still 52°, but expected to go downhill from here. Currently expected to start raining around 3 pm, and then temperature going below freezing around 6 pm. The NWS is predicting 2.6" of rain before it stars snowing around 3 am with 2" of white stuff. Somewhere in between there will be sleet/freezing rain, or at least I expect that to happen. Meanwhile there will be 20 mph+ winds until sunset tomorrow. This is not a pretty picture. Temperature will not get above freezing again until midday Saturday, although we're expecting sunshine Friday. By the end of next week, we'll be in the 60's again.

Wife and I both have a 9:00 am doctor appointment at our primary care physician this morning, routine maintenance. On the way home we'll make the weekly grocery trek, but I don't expect much as the panic buying started Monday locally. On the other hand, maybe everyone has already stocked up and there will be no crowds. My daughter went to the store in Dallas yesterday and told my wife that the only thing in plentiful supply was ice cream. My wife went to a high volume discount grocery store yesterday on the way home from her eye doctor and grabbed a few things and fled because of the madhouse there, thus leaving it up to me to take care of everything else. She'll probably head over to the wine store nearby while I am left to fend the crowds by myself. OK, while she has actually resumed complete mobility recovery from her surgery, she is still not particularly swift yet. We should return home for a late lunch and a nap before the stuff begins.

I spent part of yesterday bringing dry firewood inside and cleaning the ashes out of the heater. That wasn't really necessary, but the last fire that I needed was Saturday and I "make hay while the sun shines" and emptied it while the opportunity presented itself. The fire will be non-stop for the next five days.

Wow! 95 posts here in the Coffee Shop yesterday. February is starting off with a bang. Thanks to all for the likes and comments regarding the mini-scenes that I posted yesterday; George, Joe, Lee, Dave B, Smudge, Dave, Sherrel, Tom O, Troy, Karl, James, Hughie, Louis, Mikey, Patrick, Justin, Curt, Jaz, Tom, Rick, OB Ken.

I spent a little time in the train shed yesterday, just painting figures. I have 52 of them on the workbench, all in varying stages of completion. I do one color at a time over several figures. I made a lot of progress, but actually only completed one!
Back to the archives for a few more mini-scenes.
View attachment 140103
View attachment 140104
View attachment 140105
View attachment 140106
Most likely I will not visit out there again until Sunday because I still have not bought another heater!

Louis - Belated Happy Birthday to Angela. I have to point out that the only reason she got you is because I wasn't available at the time.
Lee - Some more good looking pictures, Thanks.
Sherrel & others - I too got squeezed for Girl Scout cookies Sunday from my granddaughter.
Troy - That is going to be one heck of a painting project!
Hughie - Yup! We will probably see some snow out of this weather system, but after today, I have no place that I have to go until next Wednesday. We're used to being cooped up here, but have lots that we can do.
Have you checked with Bar Mills about Ernie's? I know that it will be more expensive though.
Mikey - Thank you.
OB Ken - I read an article yesterday, sorry I don't remember where, that reported that a lot of folks are getting that automated letter from the IRS. The computer sending the letter doesn't know that overall the IRS is 6-9 months behind in processing returns! It just knows that your return and many others have not gone through the system. Typical bureaucratic BS.

Everybody stay safe and have a great day. Keep warm and off the roads if possible.

Love the bikers

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning all! Rainy and 42 with the temp expected to fall during the day. Rain turning to freezing rain about the time I'm to drive home from work, so I'm not looking forward to dealing with that. Snowmageddon 2022 is expected beginning overnight after we get a nice layer of ice on the road first. Hearing we can expect anywhere from 3 to 10 inches of snow. I vote for sunny and 75 but not expecting to win that vote. If things get as bad as they say, I'm staying home from work. The little gravel road I live along isn't even close to top priority for snow removal, so I may not be able to get out to the main roads anyway, even with my 4x4 pickup truck.

Still can't get through to the IRS to ask questions about that letter we got a few days ago. Every time we call they pretend to forward us to an agent when all they really do is forward you straight to a recording that then hangs up on you. They claim in the letter we need to re-file the forms we already filed immediately. However, they didn't provide an address to send these forms to and they won't actually talk to us on the phone so we can't even do what they said. The IRS has been too high and mighty for too long. Sad there is nothing the little guy can do but obey and pay.


Absolutely loved the song Buckaroo. Used to play it over and over on my record player as a kid.

Have a great day everyone and be safe out there!

A similar thing happened to me with the IRS. For over a month I was on the phone over 10 min each time being transferred, entering numbers, being transferred again, and ultimately get a message to call back tomorrow.

Ready to blow up after 4 attempts with same result.

Ultimately my congressional representative was contacted, and 4 months later I got my check (Please just send it, or better yet direct deposit)

Congressional office was rude, too

Dave LASM

 

[chadbag]

Woke up to about 4-5" of new snow. Have notbeen outside but since it is 16-18F it should be light powdery dry snow. The wind blowed too so there is drifting in some places 12" deep while other places are no more than a dusting (due to drifting). A week ago the weather guesser had a 50% chance of snow for last night, but yesterday or the day before I had checked and there was nothing listed at all so I thought maybe things had changed in the week since. I guess not. Kind of sucks as I had some re-positioning of some bracing to do too help straighten the walls of the house build out. Maybe that is postponed. We'll see if we can do it in the snow. SHoldn't last long. Tomorrow high is 35F but by the weekend and next week sunny and in the low 40s every day.

Sucks today if you own PYPL stock. Down about 25%. I have a credit spread on it so I need it to bounce back but we'll roll out of it if necessary. I opened a second spread for the same strike date but with the new lower values so hopefully we get a bounce back up and I can bank that premium against the first spread loss (before rolling).

 

[ctclibby]

Good Morning all!

5F here, still white on the ground. Weather guessers say maybe get to 16F bout 1600, warmer for the next few days, above 32 for most.

Ima almost to starting benchwork - still have some moving of electrical and sealing holes. Old does have it benefits, I can screw off and not feel guilty. Ya, right - nothing gets done though.

Finally got in touch with Ky unemployment. Filed claim when we could not go back to work due to covid around June 5th 2020. Heck, we could not get out of the State; driving, flying or taking the train. Was not a rental car in site. Think that ima owed about 16K - can you say multiple RR stuff buy? If it does happen, most is going for a garage but I will spend some on me.

Enjoy you day!

 

[NYC_George]

Love the bikers

We have a clock where on the hour the bikes start their motors, and they move out of the garage. I was playing golf with a friend telling him about it and he said, I'll give you $125.00 for it right now without even seeing it. I said, no.
George

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good morning all! Very foggy here, visibility about 750 feet. Another warm day on tap. I guess I'll get the snow shovel out, oh wait I don't have a snow shovel.

Flo, any of yesterday's SOS left. Coffee please.

Willie - Ernie's Gas Station is a Blair Line structure. I'm guessing here, but it might be an older building, seems hard to locate someone with it in stock.
Curt - I can't say if your idea will work. I can however tell you that wires from the WS light poles, and their vehicles as well, is like working with a single strand of human hair, at least that's how the N scale versions are. I did manage to tin the ends, barely.

STAY SAFE (avoid drifts taller than you)
LATER

 

[Patrick]

Well, between snow showers, so I went out and played with the snow machine. 8" on the drive with more expected. Ground is still very warm, so the bottom inch is slush which freezes when exposed to the colder air (19° currently). I need a break with not everything done. Still work up a sweat running that machine.

 

[troyphoto]

Don't worry, we've had our first inch plus here in The Fort (NE Indiana)

Tossed the cat out on a snowy patio where he likes to go all summer long.

Evidently, snow isn't his thing The retreat toward the door was hasty.

In the hour since the photo, I shoveled the first inch off. Heavy wet stuff. I'll be back out in an hour to clear it again.

 

[bnsf971]

Good afternoon.
It’s smokey with a chance of explosions.

 

[BigGRacing]

Heavy wet stuff

Really heavy ?

 

[Texas Hobo]

Really heavy ?

I'm guessing McLeod got heavy stuff. The tricycle motors must really be keeping Guy busy. Miss his photos.