Running Bear's July 2023 Coffee Shop

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This afternoon has been interesting, so far. Lightning struck a motor home being worked on outside the shop, and set it on fire.
No injuries, but the motor home really needs help now.
And of course, I suggested an opportunity for the new “Brimstone Edition” motor home. That idea went over like a shit-flavored snowcone…
 


Good evening fellow diners. The golf today was good and we are heading over to dinner. The computer will have all the final results and payouts figured for tonight at dinner. We played as individuals today and the computer has randomly put together teams. From what I understand we almost had a fist fight on the course. 2 other brothers (not us) playing together when one tried to pick up his ball and forfeit the hole. We don’t allow that, if u shoot a 10, 12 or whatever, you record it. I hear the last 3 holes they played were very quiet. His picking up messes up the system when we play random pairings. The weather was fine today with a sunny high of 78. The Canadian smoke haze particles are at 30 and should be better tomorrow. However, the heat will be on at around 88 degrees at 3:00PM which tomorrow will be about 1/2 way around the course.

Should be home after dinner I’m thinking about 10:30PM. Since I am already tired out there will be no peeking in the train room at the weathering bench. Terry mentioned something about the girls today in the lower level of the new place with my laser level out. I do have the chop saw set up along with all the materials including the foam board in the room. I got some heavy vibes today in the car with Terry saying we need to talk seriously about Hawaii. Not good!

enjoy the evening
 
Good morning!

Torrential rains overnight. It seems to have knocked down the smoke, and I can see the sky.

I've been thinking about that 'Blue Comet' Heavy Pacific that I purchased in BC. This one:
View attachment 171706

I'm entertaining the idea of changing the colors to something like these internet photos:
View attachment 171707
View attachment 171708
I don't believe it matters a hoot if they're not the same engine. Especially since no knowledgeable person will ever see my layout except on this very forum. Don't suppose it matters if what's written on it say's CN or Lisa's RR. I do know I don't seem to like the blue on a steam engine. Just dosen't seem natural.

Karl - Thanks for the info. I checked to see if there were similar slabsides available that worked for my ideas. At $61.00 +tax each, I believe I'll stick with my open hoppers. Just a month ago, I dropped more than a couple hundred on two 4-packs by Atheran.

Kriegslok - Well done with the wonderful photos you've been posting. Thankyou for helping to give the forum life!

Curt - I've felt the lack of motivation many times. No worries; a blast of inspiration will always rehabilitate the motivation. My greatest challenge is that I have too many other hobbies that seem capable of drawing me off point.

Terry - Every time you folks talk about the US tax system, I'm more glad I live up here in the cold bush. Fines on license plates!!! Private sale used vehicle tax!!! Wow! ( I don't intend this to be or get political; I'm only experiencing the 'Wow' syndrome).

I'm going to be working with my investment accounts this morning. Over the past year, I've made 26% on my personally controlled accounts, and lost 6.3% on my advisor handled account. I would have done better buying GIC's at 4% than trust a commission advisor.

Anyway, I'm going to make tracks. Have a wonderful day!!!
If you decide to do Great Northern colors on that Pacific, at least do an alteration on that firebox. Great Northern liked Belpaire boilers on many of its locomotives. Kitbashing steam locomotives into something one is interested in, can be diving into a rabbit hole.
 
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Well that was a drag! It's 106° outside and I was just starting supper around 6:00 pm CDT and the power went off!:mad: Arlene goes to the power company website where it was posted that it would be off until 8:15! No explanation, rolling blackout, substation failure or just a dumbass flipping off a GIANT breaker. OK, propane stove just has to be lighted manually, no problem. Whooops! That generates heat! No choice. The house doesn't warm up too rapidly since it is well insulated. Wife might have to take a cold shower tonight! That would be a disaster. That's something that I can tolerate at this time of year, since the water out of the faucet is over 73°. Having a ceiling fan would be nice since opening the windows is not an option, besides there is no breeze anyway!
Miraculously the power comes back on an hour earlier than projected, at 7:15. Still no explanation from the power company though. Of course, everybody on our end of the grid probably has all of the A/C equipment on high, thus straining the grid itself. I'm doing my part by going out and turning off the pool filter!;)
Things were pretty widespread, as folks in cities 20 miles away were posting on the website
 
Out in the country with friends.
Very nice thunderstorm which cleared the air from the horrible humidity. It left an awesome rainbow too.
 

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Well that was a drag! It's 106° outside and I was just starting supper around 6:00 pm CDT and the power went off!:mad: Arlene goes to the power company website where it was posted that it would be off until 8:15! No explanation, rolling blackout, substation failure or just a dumbass flipping off a GIANT breaker. OK, propane stove just has to be lighted manually, no problem. Whooops! That generates heat! No choice. The house doesn't warm up too rapidly since it is well insulated. Wife might have to take a cold shower tonight! That would be a disaster. That's something that I can tolerate at this time of year, since the water out of the faucet is over 73°. Having a ceiling fan would be nice since opening the windows is not an option, besides there is no breeze anyway!
Miraculously the power comes back on an hour earlier than projected, at 7:15. Still no explanation from the power company though. Of course, everybody on our end of the grid probably has all of the A/C equipment on high, thus straining the grid itself. I'm doing my part by going out and turning off the pool filter!;)
Things were pretty widespread, as folks in cities 20 miles away were posting on the website
According to the national news, Texas experienced record power consumption today, so the rolling blackouts make sense.
While we're at it, let's go ahead and add a few million electric cars that need charged at the same time...
 


Good morning, Everybody!

Louis.
Your waking up, I can’t sleep!

Have a great day.

Elvira, anything for Louis is on my tab. I want a diet pepsi caffeine free please
 
Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those without EVs (me included)

It's Troy again.

Today is #36

Can you believe she's put up with me that long?

I'll try to avoid the polytics side of the EV discussion, but imagine if we did as Terry said and had 100K or two of additional EVs on the road... what would happen?

Profit. That's what make America run. If you want change in this country, show the business sector there is money to be made. Follow the growth of the railroads... profit. Follow the current state of the railroads... profit...

Show the energy sector that a bunch of people want to charge their EVs at home from their own solar grid overnight. Someone will come up with a power wall and way to store their days' solar energy to be tapped later. The more they can sell of those, the more competition enters the arena, and the farther prices drop.

Back to my own profit... looks like the wife and I will be spending some at the Irish pub we stumbled across a week or so ago when we went downtown for pizza.

I've got the card in my desk drawer, I'll sign that and prop it up on her desk when I finish typing this.

Apple watch currently says AQI is down to 52 here in the Fort, down from highs in the 160s yesterday. AQI map shows we're right on the borderline of good vs bad air:

Screen Shot 2023-07-18 at 5.59.36 AM.png


I'm hoping that those 20s and 30s from Tom O's range come our way today. Highs in the low 80s with partly cloudy skies throughout the day.

Speaking of profit, I might just go spend some at the Amish bakery and get the wife an anniversary donut. I'm sure she deserves one. I'll have to get one for myself, too, of course. 😜
 


Good Morning All. Clear and 81°. No real change in the forecast.
Survived the power blackout last night, still no official word as to the cause. There were no rolling blackouts scheduled, so we are still assuming that it was a local failure.
I have no time this morning for a usual post, as I have a 7:30 appointment at the ophthalmologist for the pre-cataract exam and measurement. I'll be leaving in about 30 minutes. Need to get rid of the cloudiness in the right eye. It affects modeling and girl watching among other things.

Everybody have a great day. BBL
 
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