Running Bear's July 2026 Coffee Shop

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A lot of these California high schools have covered parking lots and they use solar panels as the “roof” material over the parking spots.

I’m out at the car waiting for my better half and there is this really loud buzzing. All the inverters for the panels are buzzing loudly as it’s a sunny day. It’s mostly the fans in the inverters that I hear, I think.

Kind of weird


IMG_1765.jpeg
 


chadbag said:
A lot of these California high schools have covered parking lots and they use solar panels as the “roof” material over the parking spots.

I’m out at the car waiting for my better half and there is this really loud buzzing. All the inverters for the panels are buzzing loudly as it’s a sunny day. It’s mostly the fans in the inverters that I hear, I think.

Kind of weird
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That's probably a great solution since land for a ground array is in short supply and a premium.

Wonder how Kilowatts that thing produces a day in that sunny climate?
 
migalyto said:
Is it possible you have a snake residing in there somewhere? It might explain the no mice.
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Not only a possibility, but known from around mid-November until late April. That's when they go outside and get a real feast and a drink. Not only have I seen one (or more), I have also found and discarded some shed skins. But they don't bother me and if there is a rodent present, they will get it. They don't really come in to search for a meal, but to brumate, a reptilian form of hibernation.
 
santafewillie said:
Not only a possibility, but known from around mid-November until late April. That's when they go outside and get a real feast and a drink. Not only have I seen one (or more), I have also found and discarded some shed skins. But they don't bother me and if there is a rodent present, they will get it. They don't really come in to search for a meal, but to brumate, a reptilian form of hibernation.
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Willie, I hope you carry a 22 or 38 with some snake loads when you go out there! Thankfully it's been dry around here, so the cottonmouths are not too thick. I've killed 4 of them in our yard in 5 years, plus a diamondback who was getting obnoxious. Be careful.
 
Well howdy there internet peeps, and those know where their birth certificate is.

It's Troy again.

and I learned today that even if I can prove a chain to my great-great-grandfather, I can't order his death cert online from the State of Indiana. I have to send in a paper request, with check. I haven't checked yet to see if I have to have the Amish deliver it to the archives via horse drawn buggy, but it won't surprise me if so.

My daughter's birth cert long-form is, however, in process.

I'd hoped to save on postage getting them back to me. Sadly, that's not the case.

And, I learned that this air quality warning is specifically telling me not to go for an evening stroll.

Screenshot 2026-07-21 at 6.37.24 PM.png


At that level, I was only about a 1/4 way around the outer loop when I knew I'd need my inhaler by the time I was home. When the lung tickle starts... It wasn't an emergency for the inhaler. but that creeping up feeling that I'd need it. So I cut all of the extra inner loops that take it from .65 mile up to a full mile.

In other news, I did update my layout thread with roadbed laying. Since then, I added some more roadbed, and got past the half-way point on the main loop. I'm far enough along that I'm plotting and planning where to put turnouts for industry spurs.

Speaking of turnouts: Which brand do you recommend for use with Atlas Code 83 flextrack? I'll be using tortoise machine for most of the turnouts.
 
DeaconKC said:
Willie, I hope you carry a 22 or 38 with some snake loads when you go out there! Thankfully it's been dry around here, so the cottonmouths are not too thick. I've killed 4 of them in our yard in 5 years, plus a diamondback who was getting obnoxious. Be careful.
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In the 45 years that I have lived here, I have not ever encountered even a single lethal snake. No rattlers, water moccasins or copperheads at all...thankfully. Not sure if I would shoot a firearm inside the train shed to begin with!
 
troyphoto said:
Well howdy there internet peeps, and those know where their birth certificate is.

It's Troy again.

and I learned today that even if I can prove a chain to my great-great-grandfather, I can't order his death cert online from the State of Indiana. I have to send in a paper request, with check. I haven't checked yet to see if I have to have the Amish deliver it to the archives via horse drawn buggy, but it won't surprise me if so.

My daughter's birth cert long-form is, however, in process.

I'd hoped to save on postage getting them back to me. Sadly, that's not the case.

And, I learned that this air quality warning is specifically telling me not to go for an evening stroll.

View attachment 270433

At that level, I was only about a 1/4 way around the outer loop when I knew I'd need my inhaler by the time I was home. When the lung tickle starts... It wasn't an emergency for the inhaler. but that creeping up feeling that I'd need it. So I cut all of the extra inner loops that take it from .65 mile up to a full mile.

In other news, I did update my layout thread with roadbed laying. Since then, I added some more roadbed, and got past the half-way point on the main loop. I'm far enough along that I'm plotting and planning where to put turnouts for industry spurs.

Speaking of turnouts: Which brand do you recommend for use with Atlas Code 83 flextrack? I'll be using tortoise machine for most of the turnouts.
Click to expand...
I really like and use the Micro Engineering switches but they can be finicky. The friends layouts I have been working are mainly using the American style Peco. They seem to be fool proof
 


santafewillie said:
In the 45 years that I have lived here, I have not ever encountered even a single lethal snake. No rattlers, water moccasins or copperheads at all...thankfully. Not sure if I would shoot a firearm inside the train shed to begin with!
Click to expand...
That's great. We have 3 ponds within a half mile from us, so if it gets wet, the cottonmouths get thick.
Well, it is still 103 here! Yuck. Lucas came by and brought our mail in for us. I got out long enough to go get pizza for us from Dominos. We are getting stuff out of the master bathroom, they are coming Thursday and Friday to replace our shower. My Missus is very excited.
Anyway, I guess I will listen to the Cardinals again tonight, the last two nights they have blown leads, let's see what happens tonight.
 
Bruette said:
If it is too loud, you are too old. Well done young man!

My wife warns I’ll ruin my hearing, but I’m already legally deaf; what’s left to ruin? I might miss some notes in a song, but I make sure I can feel every beat!

God Bless you! What is the little one's name?
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It’s a she. Meet Maddie. Healthy 6 week old. Too young for vaccinations yet so she’ll have to be quarantined. She does have a flea or two so she’s getting a bath tonight. Currently on an antibiotic for her sniffles and a few small wounds on her face. She’ll fit in just fine.
IMG_1351.jpeg
 
With the tournament over (just one game today) we met some friends from the boy’s team who arrived early. Their session of the junior olympics stars Thursday. We’re in Newport Beach at the beach.

I didn’t put my suit on as I didn’t want to have to smear sunscreen all over my fat white body. I burn just looking out the window on sunny days. And it’s bright sun but only 78 right now and a nice sea breeze.

IMG_1766.jpeg
 
troyphoto said:
Well howdy there internet peeps, and those know where their birth certificate is.

It's Troy again.

and I learned today that even if I can prove a chain to my great-great-grandfather, I can't order his death cert online from the State of Indiana. I have to send in a paper request, with check. I haven't checked yet to see if I have to have the Amish deliver it to the archives via horse drawn buggy, but it won't surprise me if so.

My daughter's birth cert long-form is, however, in process.

I'd hoped to save on postage getting them back to me. Sadly, that's not the case.

And, I learned that this air quality warning is specifically telling me not to go for an evening stroll.

View attachment 270433

At that level, I was only about a 1/4 way around the outer loop when I knew I'd need my inhaler by the time I was home. When the lung tickle starts... It wasn't an emergency for the inhaler. but that creeping up feeling that I'd need it. So I cut all of the extra inner loops that take it from .65 mile up to a full mile.

In other news, I did update my layout thread with roadbed laying. Since then, I added some more roadbed, and got past the half-way point on the main loop. I'm far enough along that I'm plotting and planning where to put turnouts for industry spurs.

Speaking of turnouts: Which brand do you recommend for use with Atlas Code 83 flextrack? I'll be using tortoise machine for most of the turnouts.
Click to expand...

Peco, Peco and Peco. Did I mention Peco? Buy once, cry once.
 
@chadbag thanks for sharing your journey; family and competition, two of my favorite subjects!

Ive competed long enough to know winning is seldom easy; competing is the real prize. I'd have more to say but my feet are swollen from sitting on my butt too much after surgery. I did like they said, "take it easy for two weeks" Sometimes you can't win for losing.

On the bright side I can watch MLB.TV with my feet up on the couch! :D
 


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