Running Bear's March 2026 Coffee Shop

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Welp... I learned that the battery pack (Mr. Peabody) can run the downstairs fridge for at least 13 hours.

Wife left the freezer open slightly by putting something back on the wrong shelf, so it was running for about 45 min non-stop to fill the infiltrating warm air.

I let it run 12 hours with that issue, and it was at 31% left. So, probably 16 hours?

I didn't want to have it go dark overnight while I slept, so I switched it back to main power.
 
Good evening folks, it hit 91F here today. Worked a half day today as the shop was dead. Did pick up a cheap upper that someone had pawned and never came back for. So now I definitely need to finish building a couple of lowers that are waiting.
Been trying the ultrafine paint pens from Hobby Lobby and am quite impressed, should have tried them long ago.
Teaching Sunday School tomorrow.
You guys have a great evening.
 
Good evening. It looks like one of my two NCE decoders has failed by simply sitting in a box for 7 months. It ran fine before I moved 7 months ago, I pulled a freight with it before closing down the layout and packing everything up.
This afternoon, I pulled out the pair of U25Bs with the NCE decoders and tried to run them. One works fine, the other one--well, the headlights come on, won't go off, and it won't move. No shorted decoder noises, but also the decoder is not detected on the programming track.
I live for this stuff. Especially with anything that says "NCE" on it. I know not to bother contacting them. Any ideas? Karl? I did try resetting, but "decoder not detected"...
What command station?
 


...still laughing...

OK, I don't ordinarily do this, but this one is just too good to pass up.

Q: What do you call a woman in heaven?

A: An angel

-------------

Q: What do you call a group of women in heaven?

A: A host of angels.

------------------------------------
Q: So what do you call ALL women in heaven?

A: Peace on Earth.

I love my sister, but she's in San Diego for a week...and I'm SOOOOOoooooo loving the peace and quiet.
 
From my niece:

Cecilia is graduating to inpatient rehab! We will be moving her to Levine in Charlotte sometime this week. She is no longer using a feeding tube, is only taking her pre-trauma maintenance medications, and is absolutely KILLING IT with her PT/OT. She is walking during her therapies with the assistance of two staff, a walker, and me jogging backward to cheer her on. She still requires a handful of procedures at later dates, but we’ll cross those bridges later.
Cecilia has handled this situation better than anyone else involved. I’ve watched her accept her treatments and push forward to improve with a level of kindness, bravery, humor, and grace reserved for Catholic saints and Disney princesses. She is truly the best person I’ve ever known and I want to be more like her when I grow up.
Thank y’all so much for continuing to support and pray for us. We are endlessly grateful for these miracles!
 
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Good morning Coffee Shop, it's Sunday! The temperature is 64°F (18°C) and clear. :cool:


Looks like a day for yard work. :)
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Have a great day!;)
 


What happened? If you don't mind, so that I don't make the same mistake.
I bought a "new" Atlas N scale GP60, the current production, with a bad sound decoder. I confirmed the decoder was, in fact, bad, then bought a replacement for $112. (yes, electronics are going up in price--a lot). I installed the decoder, and placed the engine on the track to make sure it worked before I programmed it. It didn't, rather spectacularly, and I now have a second bad decoder, along with a damaged shell. An examination after the fact indicates the motor had a short to the frame. Next time I do this, I'll put the engine on my programming track and check it with "paged mode", or reduced power, before trying it on the main line.
Anybody want a slightly used Loksound 5 Micro sound decoder with the factory smoke removed?
 
From my niece:

Cecilia is graduating to inpatient rehab! We will be moving her to Levine in Charlotte sometime this week. She is no longer using a feeding tube, is only taking her pre-trauma maintenance medications, and is absolutely KILLING IT with her PT/OT. She is walking during her therapies with the assistance of two staff, a walker, and me jogging backward to cheer her on. She still requires a handful of procedures at later dates, but we’ll cross those bridges later.
Cecilia has handled this situation better than anyone else involved. I’ve watched her accept her treatments and push forward to improve with a level of kindness, bravery, humor, and grace reserved for Catholic saints and Disney princesses. She is truly the best person I’ve ever known and I want to be more like her when I grow up.
Thank y’all so much for continuing to support and pray for us. We are endlessly grateful for these miracles!
Great news!

Will keep the thoughts and prayers coming.

Good to see you back!
 
Good morning all!

Not as nice today as the last few days. Currently 59F and that is our high for today. Temps will fall throughout the day in the lower
40s by tonight.

Have an all day volleyball tournament for my daughters travel volleyball team. Its about an hour away so not too bad. Last one for
this season till the championships in late April.

Not much else going on at the moment.

Have a safe day everyone!
 
From my niece:

Cecilia is graduating to inpatient rehab! We will be moving her to Levine in Charlotte sometime this week. She is no longer using a feeding tube, is only taking her pre-trauma maintenance medications, and is absolutely KILLING IT with her PT/OT. She is walking during her therapies with the assistance of two staff, a walker, and me jogging backward to cheer her on. She still requires a handful of procedures at later dates, but we’ll cross those bridges later.
Cecilia has handled this situation better than anyone else involved. I’ve watched her accept her treatments and push forward to improve with a level of kindness, bravery, humor, and grace reserved for Catholic saints and Disney princesses. She is truly the best person I’ve ever known and I want to be more like her when I grow up.
Thank y’all so much for continuing to support and pray for us. We are endlessly grateful for these miracles!
Wonderful news Louis, we’ll keep the thoughts and prayers coming!!
 
One was me.
Kuojiji there is a learning curve to all this. With the 244 song playlist I created I really don't need the 10 CD player unit anymore, so I threw it out but keep the stereo speakers which I plan on powering with the new computer speaker amp I bought from Walmart for $32.00. I also bought a golf cart speaker unit I plan on using on the course for $28.00. I have added some songs to the list that now brings the total from 168 to 244 songs. 168 people have taken a look at the playlist as of today. Swal

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G'morning,

Wifeykins woke up with a cold and deteriorated all day. I did work on the layout, but it was one of those days wherein I was fightin' the gremlins the whole time.

I glued down the trestle and commenced the switch-out of the PSXX for the old PSX. I kept making mistakes. Mistakes that come from not thinking through the tasks. ARGH!! Example: I'm using manual reset pushbuttons. I ran the wires through the panel and soldered them to the switch . . . . but forgot to put the panel nut in place first!!!! So had to un-solder the leads (boy, is that a PITA!) only to discover that the PB body is basically the length of my 1/4 inch hardboard panel. I spent, it seems, like three hours swapping the one board. Have you ever had one of those days????

Quit, and got wifeykins a whiskey and a whisky for me as well. Went out to a glorious day: warm, sun, no snow, and started the grill. Then thought: "No way she wants a steak dinner." Came in and went down to where she was watching 'Downton Abby,' and talked to her. No, she did not really feel like steak, but didn't want to disappoint me. Ouch. So got her a chicken soup and saltines. Damped out the fire, and made myself a salad and soup.

Today begins a very busy stretch for yours truly. Two funerals this week, and then Holy Week. Layout time will be at a premium. And worse: Golf courses are opening!! No golf for this boy until maybe the Monday after Easter. I do hope to sneak a few hours for the layout, though. I want to get the last bit of track laid, which is the track that goes up the berm and onto the trestle. That will be a tricky bit to do, so must be in good state of mind to pull it off. Obviously, there will be no speed there, but I do not want derail issues on the trestle.

Blessings to all this Lord's day! Yesterday's high was 77F . . . . today? 41F. Welcome to ??Spring?? in the northern lands!

Steve J
 


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