Running Bear's February 2026 Coffee Shop

[Kusojiji]

Good afternoon all. Just a quick visit and update

We have left Rotterdam and heading Stateside (eventually). Soon we arrive in Antwerp; an attractive city to visit. Not this time though. Our time here is only three hours. Memories of our last visit to Antwerp are still fresh in our minds.

That's quite a trip you and Dawn are on. I look forward to the pics and stories. You know that you are falling behind on new locos, right?

I just ordered a Hornby N2 0-6-2 from Footplate.

They use shopify which changes the currency based on location. I selected GBP as the currency but as soon as I entered my shipping address, it changed to JPY. I calculated the exchange rate and it was horrible. I bought it anyway as it was pretty cheap, but sent them an email about it. They said that they could try to bypass shopify on my next order, so I responded that I appreciate their willingness to accomodate me. Good folks!

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from the very slowly thawing tundra! 23f degrees now heading into the 40’s again.

The car dealership texted last night about the offer they made 10 days ago on the car. They are now asking for my $$$ number for the car! I did tell the sales person they were off by $1800, obviously overlooked. I will wait for Terry because they are now $250 off what we wanted. We told them at the dealership no game playing yet here they are with a third offer since we drove away. While still $250 away from what we had decided we wanted it is better than the $1800 less they 1st offered. I say nay but if Terry says yes I’ll respond to it.

I tried to set up a meeting with the town board the new farm project is in. They said 60 days till they can meet. I can go through the county planning commission 1st but I prefer to work locally before going there. Both have to approve the development anyway but now I have to find a way in locally to see how they operate. Gave it to the attorney via text last night to earn his money on. The surveyor is going to divide this project up into 4 segments and 3 phases. The 4th segment is for the daughter’s hubby’s expanded vineyard plans on current crop land. Keeping active farmland is always a good thing for local boards. Vineyards are quiet after the initial fencing is up. That should make anyone buying building lots
happy even though it’s farm and horse country. The other 3 phases will use up the balance of the property of which maybe 20% is fallow farmland the rest is wooded hills, my favorite building sites.

Time at the bench today will be mainly finishing up a couple bridges, minor things. Then I need to move onto my commission work. I have a paper mill to build and pieces to start weathering that arrived last week. For the paper mill it’s a modern one and I want to start cutting the styrene and Sintra for it. This will be built over in the daughter’s workshop space but the cutting usually I will do here at the house. There is enough Sintra PVC board sheets to cut though I can use a table saw. But since I don’t have one I will be taking boards over to the daughter’s shop to use her’s. Styrene is still cut with either a box cutter or #11 blade. I got my start fee Sunday night.

My goal is 10 hours a week on this. No thread on this build because it’s a commission but it will appear occasionally in my “ let’s build a paper mill for a friend” thread. That is a 1965 PNW paper mill, this is a current era paper mill. The thread is mainly false fronts, this one will be mostly full 3d versions of structures. Both will be fun

Be well

 

[TLOC]

I've been dropping forums as well. Both of them thought it was nice for them to rewrite my posts. I prefer they just delete them like here. Rewriting a post to their preference is very disrespectful.

I believe my use of OMG was hurtful to somebody. I don't know as it wasn't explained to me. Or it may have been the use of the word "the"...

I’ve cut way back on online time which frees me up for real life. I am trying to stay under 2 hours daily including research time for projects. That is where Ai has greatly helped me. But Ai is not always accurate

I know Terry was great in letting the Bad Bunny discussion go here but I don’t remember anybody invoking politics. The other place deleted comments of most except a favored few

 

[NorthBrit]

That's quite a trip you and Dawn are on. I look forward to the pics and stories. You know that you are falling behind on new locos, right?

I just ordered a Hornby N2 0-6-2 from Footplate.
View attachment 257467

They use shopify which changes the currency based on location. I selected GBP as the currency but as soon as I entered my shipping address, it changed to JPY. I calculated the exchange rate and it was horrible. I bought it anyway as it was pretty cheap, but sent them an email about it. They said that they could try to bypass shopify on my next order, so I responded that I appreciate their willingness to accomodate me. Good folks!

It is a journey we have wanted to do for some time. Now we have the okay from everyone. to do it.

When we arrive in the U.S.A. we shall be meeting family for the first time. It will be a friendly visit lol.

My grandmother was a 'War Bride' (WW1 that is). Apparently she was not welcome by members of my grandfather's side of the family. A common theme then. Anyway, when my grandfather died my grandmother packed her bags and with her four children returned to the U.K. on RMS Aquitania.

We have been in correspondence with my family for a few years now. It will be good to see them in reality.


A good looking locomotive you have. I have a picture at home showing a N2 with two Pullman carriages on a Bradford to Doncaster service.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Partly cloudy and 42°; 20° colder than this time yesterday! Mid-60's today after low-70's yesterday. It actually sprinkled a couple of times although never in the forecast even after it started. Not enough to measure even if I had replaced my broken rain gauge. There's still thunderstorms in Saturday's forecast, but it shouldn't get this chilly in the next ten days.

Cardiologist visit went OK yesterday. Like all of my other doctors, he told me to lose more weight and made a minor adjustment in one medication. He expects me to live until our next visit in 6 months! Today is the 8-week follow-up with the electrocardiologist following my ablation in December. This appointment is at the other end of my morning, at 11:30. That means lunch out at somewhere that my wife picks. She had scheduled this appointment time and I think that she did it on purpose.
Much of the rest of yesterday was spent getting the garden ready to till. As I posted yesterday, I am bypassing the early spring veggies this year, I should be planting them right now.

Just a short time out in the train shed yesterday. Ran trains as usual these days and did some more housekeeping. Yanked a couple of different projects off the shelf, but I haven't decided on which one to do yet. One choice is to rebuild a Bachmann gondola and another is to build a Walther's structure kit of a farmhouse. Either one could be a challenge.

Terry - I've gotten used to the automatic headlights and windshield wipers in our car. One less thing to distract me while driving. I'm getting used to the voice-commands as well. Starting slowly with radio volume and station changes for now. I'll work my way into climate control next!
Swal - Good luck with the fasting. The longest that I have done is 6 days.
Patrick - Good to read that the procedure was successful.
Kevin - Good luck with the ongoing back recovery.
Tom O - You're definitely in a different world where you are. Mr & Mrs are still used by most of the youngsters around here. Respect for all people except lawyers and politicians is still high up on the virtue list.
Michael - It is not a "show/football connection", but a "football/entertainment connection". It's a few steps above the traditional marching band era of the past.

I still haven't quite gotten used to the 'Mr Carter' yet.

It took me a while to get used to the Mister thing.
David - Continue to have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday.

 

[TLOC]

Good afternoon all. Just a quick visit and update

We have left Rotterdam and heading Stateside (eventually). Soon we arrive in Antwerp; an attractive city to visit. Not this time though. Our time here is only three hours. Memories of our last visit to Antwerp are still fresh in our minds.

David thanks for sharing. Always wondered what a trip around the world would be like. Now I can find out from the comfort of my own chair. Have a great time and tell the captains to be safe

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps and those dropping forums .... I'm not on many. I do "Discords" for the gaming stuff. They're like forums, but have long-running threads instead of individual topics.

One of them was run by the gents behind the Podcast I just participated in. The vitreol over the new edition of our game (Kings of War) was pissin' and moaning all over the threads by just a few individuals.

Rather than kick those two or three off the Discord, they started removing their brand from the discord. It went from [Podcast name] to "After Dark"... they're just trying to find someone to take over the running of it.

That's the one where I "debate" Meta-gaming and Win at all Costs (WAAC) tourney play vs just having fun. I can see why the podcast staff said enough, and let it go feral.

Wife gets her hairs trimmed today. I suggested Mexican for tonight's dinner. She didn't say no.

Had my doc send in a script for my "little blue pills" refill - you know, to keep the wife happy.
At least that's what I tell myself ... quietly.... and out of range of her hearing.

 

[RhB Michael]

31°F out there today. Big difference from yesterday. It topped out at 68°F. It will be only 51°F today, but I'll take that in the dead of winter in the Midwest.

Ran trains yesterday and took photos but still have to upload them to the computer and edit.

Have a great Mittwoch! Servus!

 

[MilwRoader_Steve]

Greetings this clear morning in Minne-Snow-ta. A brisk 17F to start the day and heavy frost on the windshield, but headed above freezing. Still got a good snowpack, but looking relatively mild few days - maybe even 50s Saturday! Almost golf weather!

Does anyone use the Caboose ground throws with the built in SPDT switch? I put one in a long time ago in the yard, but am looking at these as an inexpensive way to power frogs so my short industrial pullers can go slow through the turnouts. I've got two 0-6-0 locos, 1 dsl 1 stm, neither are sound, and a couple of other small switchers, 1 of which is sound. I have seen the NIX small keep-alives, but not sure if I can fit even them in.

Anyway, I got a few of the SPDT Caboose and am thinking of giving a try, but would appreciate any collective wisdom.

 

[NYC_George]

Swal - Good luck with the fasting. The longest that I have done is 6 days.

6 days that's a long time to go without food Willie. I'm on my 5th day and I might be cracking. I 'm running out of energy. I'm not fat to begin with. They say 3-day fasts are the best. I think I'll go that route, intermitting 3-day fasts. Swal

 

[RhB Michael]

Greetings this clear morning in Minne-Snow-ta. A brisk 17F to start the day and heavy frost on the windshield, but headed above freezing. Still got a good snowpack, but looking relatively mild few days - maybe even 50s Saturday! Almost golf weather!

Does anyone use the Caboose ground throws with the built in SPDT switch? I put one in a long time ago in the yard, but am looking at these as an inexpensive way to power frogs so my short industrial pullers can go slow through the turnouts. I've got two 0-6-0 locos, 1 dsl 1 stm, neither are sound, and a couple of other small switchers, 1 of which is sound. I have seen the NIX small keep-alives, but not sure if I can fit even them in.

Anyway, I got a few of the SPDT Caboose and am thinking of giving a try, but would appreciate any collective wisdom.

I used their plain ground throws and Frog Juicers. One day I'll have to try them with the built-in switch. That would be handy for entry and exit signals.

 

[chadbag]

I'm wondering what in the world a "bad address fee" is, and why it would show up on my member account for my credit union. I sent a message to them, and of course they haven't responded. They charged it twice, with no explanation.

We just had a similar one show up for my kids minor accounts that are “inactive” at one of the CU we use. We did move and I updated our address on the main account. Since we’re linked and they’re minor accounts (though now neither kid is a minor) I guess I unconsciously assumed they’d get updated when I updated mine.

I’m going to stop by next time I’m in the area and ask them to give the money back and then close the accounts.

We’ll see how it goes. It’s a reasonable place so I’m hoping and expecting they’ll refund it.

 

[chadbag]

I ordered a couple of items from a place called the toy supply pro. When I placed the order, I received a confirmation email from what I thought was a provider or handler and then a payment confirmation from paypal from another place called NURHUDA. So 3 different entities involved with this one order. So, I looked up thetoysupplypro and what I found was not good. They rate high for a scam site.

So I gave it a couple of days and sent them an email. No response. Sent another to the provider and the email on the website, no response. Sent another to both, no response. Last email I said that the next would go to the FBI.

So, I went to the FTC fraud site and gave them everything I had. I hope they can find these a-holes and shut them down. Also, another issue with paypal is that I can't contact them and complain about the charge since they no longer monitor the email address that they sent the charge on. I need an account, which I can't get. So, steering clear of them as well. Hell, I may complain to the FTC about them.

You can still complain to PayPal. I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.

 

[chadbag]

6 days that's a long time to go without food Willie. I'm on my 5th day and I might be cracking. I 'm running out of energy. I'm not fat to begin with. They say 3-day fasts are the best. I think I'll go that route, intermitting 3-day fasts. Swal

The other thing you can do is daily intermittent. 16 hours from dinner to breakfast the next day. That allows you to burn fat and your body to fully process everything. I’ve been doing it pretty faithfully for years. I used to do 13-14 hours over night era but moved it back to mostly 16 hours.

I started before it was fashionable when I read a study they did with mice. 3 groups of mice. One allowed to eat anything it wanted whenever it wanted. One group on Purina Mouse Chow as a control group. And one group that could eat whatever they wanted for 8 hours but then no food for 16 hours.

Group 1 that was eating whatever they wanted whenever they wanted had terrible blood work.

Group 2, the control group, that could eat whenever and however much Mouse Chow, and only Mouse Chow, they wanted had good blood work.

Group 3, despite eating mouse versions of burger and fries, pizza, cakes and cookies, etc but only for 8 hours and had to fast for 16 hours had blood work similar to the Mouse. chow control group.

The conjecture was that humans might see similar benefit and that the fast allowed the body to fully process everything and clean up. But more study and testing was needed. Since then this style of intermittent fasting has become popular.

 

[Rubicon]

Swal, seeing your post about boot automatically made me think of my son. he was doomed to go to the University of Parris Island. Grandson of an Marine and born on 10 Nov.

Another 3-4" of white stuff overnight, but since it was close to 33F it was heavy to move. Warmest it has been here in weeks.

 

[Marlin39]

Genetics play a part as does physical activity. I eat continuously, but just not a lot of high fat, high sodium, high processed, high carb crap.. My blood work is normal if not low normal.

I stopped my part time gig at Trader Joes last February. I was doing close to 20,000 steps daily and lifting & moving pallets of produce. I was only going to the gym 2x weekly and weighed 4lbs less than I am now. Now I'm at the gym every other day, but not continuously on my feet like before. My knees and back are thankful.

Now, I am physically stronger and my resting heart rate stays between 48-52bpm. My metabolism has slowed down a lot. Indulging in carbs like bread, pizza , beer will pump my weight up 1# overnight from water retention.

Everything in Moderation. Stay active.

 

[RhB Michael]

Michael - It is not a "show/football connection", but a "football/entertainment connection". It's a few steps above the traditional marching band era of the past.

It took me a while to get used to the Mister thing.

Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday.

I remember seeing marching bands at half-time when my dad was home long enough to watch a game.

 

[NYC_George]

Now that I have a car payment again, I thought I should check my monthly, and yearly balances. I'm amazed at the result. My total yearly income from Railroad Retirement, Local 235 and Metropolitan life is $43,860.00. All my bills, that's everything to keep this house, my car and truck going is $43,860.00 They're exactly the same. I have a credit card but don't use it and the house was paid off 13 years ago. Any gambling I do has to come out of my saving account. It was much easier when my wife was alive being that all her income added up to $31,000.00. We were $31,000.00 ahead every year. This is the reason I'm looking to meet a new girl. I told my old girlfriend to come up but she says she no longer could stand the NY weather and for me to sell the house and come down to NC. That may actually happen, I'm thinking about it again. I still have a good some of money in my saving account but that will go fast if anything comes up. Swal

 

[Texas Hobo]

Willie not as tough as the USMC but close. Swal

I'm not sure Machine Gun Dotty, Sister Dorothy Marie, would agree with you.

 

[migalyto]

I'm not sure Machine Gun Dotty, Sister Dorothy Marie, would agree with you.

When I went to Catholic grade school the nuns were being phased out at a pretty good pace. We only had a couple left. Remembering correctly they were just as tough as most of the drill SGTs I had in basic. Meaner too!

The principal was Sister Samuel...AKA "swinging Samuel" and not that kind of swinging the other kind! Thankfully that was all but done by the time I went to school there but their reputation carried over from past students. Most I got was a swat or the famous ear yank.