Running Bear's March 2026 Coffee Shop

[kbkchooch]

Holy Smokes, Gomez is 96!!

Happy Birthday to the one and only John Astin — born March 30, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland. And what an extraordinary 96 years it has been!
Of course we all know and love him as the wildly enthusiastic, fez-wearing, train-set-loving, Tish-kissing Gomez Addams on The Addams Family (1964–1966). But here's the remarkable thing — he's been involved with the Addams Family universe MORE than any other actor in history. From the original series, to the 1977 TV movie Halloween with the New Addams Family, to voicing Gomez in the 1992 animated series, to returning as Grandpapa Addams in The New Addams Family in 1998. Once a Gomez, always a Gomez.

But oh, this man is SO much more than Gomez!
He had a small role in West Side Story (1961)... as Glad Hand, the nervous social worker at the dance. He played The RIDDLER on Batman in 1967 — yes, THAT Riddler! He was hilarious in National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), spooked us in Peter Jackson's The Frighteners (1996), and had a beloved recurring role as Buddy on Night Court. Over 150 acting credits in all.

And here's the connection that will blow your mind — THREE generations of Astins have worked with director Peter Jackson. John appeared in The Frighteners (1996). His son Sean Astin — yes, Samwise Gamgee himself — starred in the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. And Sean's real-life daughter Ali Astin played his character's daughter in Return of the King. How incredible is that?

Here's one more gem: this brilliant man started college as a MATH major before switching to drama at Johns Hopkins University. He eventually returned to Johns Hopkins as a full professor, headed their entire theater arts program, and taught there until 2021. They even renamed the theater building after him — and surprised him with it at the reopening ceremony! He had no idea.

He's a passionate devotee of Edgar Allan Poe, regularly attending Baltimore's yearly Poe birthday celebration and even touring a one-man Poe show across the country. Of course he is. PERFECT for Gomez.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning. It’s 49 climbing to 78 this afternoon.

Back home from an Ultra sound and this afternoon is a full set of labs. Tomorrow afternoon we fly to Florida.

I have maybe 90 minutes of cleaning in the train room remaining as the re-organizing part is complete.

I’ve been having issues with the door stairs Roomba. The robot stops for no reason stops in the train room and just beeps in 1 spot and it’s the same spot. Read the manual, did the online help thing. Called no existent customer service. All warranties are void as they filed BK a while back. No problem I know how to vacuum and the shark goes where I guide it. Last night around 7 the door bell rings and I see the back of the UPS driver as I open the door. Roomba sent me a new machine! Unexpected but nice. I will set it up for doorstairs sometime today!

Enjoy your day

 

[RhB Michael]

Good morning all!

Currently 65f with an expected high of 70f here in north Florida. Sad thing is it’s going to be warmer back home today reaching almost 80f.

We are having trouble getting on WiFi here at the condo. Hopefully someone can resolve it sometime today. I really hate using my phone to cruise the forum on this tiny screen.

We really have no plans today. It’s a see what happens day.

Have a safe day everyone!

Use your phone as a hot spot for your computer.

 

[migalyto]

Use your phone as a hot spot for your computer.

I did try that last night and couldn’t get it to work. Granted I didn’t mess with it too long as it wasn’t that critical. Wife put in a work order to the condo leasing company and hopefully will be resolved this morning.

 

[migalyto]

Yea! The condo IT tech got us up and running with Wi-Fi.

Life is good again and I am on my laptop!

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Cloudy and 63°, heading up to the mid-80's later on. Same pattern for the next few days, with the sun peeking out occasionally. Still have thunderstorms in the forecast for Wednesday night and again Friday and Saturday. Then cooler weather for a few days.

Laundry day here yesterday, but I did fix some Baby Back Ribs for supper while I was doing it. Did some more mowing, maybe half an acre on the NE part of the front yard; I'll finish the rest today. So the cycle begins!
Today once again starts with the dishwasher, seems like I just emptied it.
Interruption: Wife just reminded me of a medical appointment this morning that I thought was tomorrow! So I'm finishing this post now after we returned. The appointment was to see the Nurse Practitioner at the Electrocardiologist's office and discuss the results of the week-long heart monitor that I wore back in February. Nothing wrong, all of the readings were good. So after all of the tests and visits with four different doctors and the NP, no one can tell me what went wrong??? Or what is wrong. While I still think that over-medication has a lot to do with it, no one else is buying into that theory. Since my hospitalization in late January, I've had a chest sonogram, a carotid sonogram, an MRI, numerous EKG.s a heart monitor for a week, all kinds of medication combinations and a dozen or so blood tests and I am still fatigued just from walking to the trash dumpster and back...a total of about 250'. Plus no one can tell me the cause of the internal bleeding that led to the ER visit to begin with.

Out in the train shed yesterday, it was a typical short Sunday visit. I did add a few trees to both the back corner and to the area that I put the ground cover on Saturday.

I also started to refresh the paint on the three figures that I removed from the General Store base.

Mike - Enjoy your time on the "Gulf".
John - I never had to drill out the weights in Accurail cars. I use a 2-56 x 3/16" screw for the trucks, (or maybe it's a 2-56 x 1/4" one; I don't remember) and I use the same size for the coupler boxes. On those, I have to slice off the retaining pin and drill a small hole in the Accurail cover. Been doing that to old Accurail models since the mid-90's. Back then I wrote them with my suggestion, and lo and behold, they implemented it a few years later! I'm sure that others pointed this out as well.
Troy - Other than the one that I posted about last week, I have not "coved" any corners on my layout. It doesn't bother me anywhere else except that one spot, and I am the only one that it has to please. There's 9 others.
Patrick - Voluntold; I like that word.

Guitarist Eric Clapton is 81 today.

Everyone have a great Monday.

 

[migalyto]

. Tomorrow afternoon we fly to Florida.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

 

[chadbag]

While I still think that over-medication has a lot to do with it, no one else is buying into that theory.

I think you have it on the nose.

 

[Texas Hobo]

Around here, we just call it “The Gulf”.

Exactly!

 

[westtexjohn]

@westtexjohn - Sorry if I missed it, but how did the truck come out with the vibration issue?

Well, the balancing and repair of the driveshaft with new u-joints seemed to help a bit. But the vibration is still there. I am guessing now an axle bearing or center section bearing is slowly going away. I can drive the truck and the vibration now occurs between 60 & 65 mph, sometimes more noticeable than others. The vibration at 40 to 45 is gone. It is to the point where I am starting to believe in "gremlins". It will go back to the shop as budget allows.
Thanks for asking....John

 

[westtexjohn]

View attachment 261592
Holy Smokes, Gomez is 96!!

Happy Birthday to the one and only John Astin — born March 30, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland. And what an extraordinary 96 years it has been!
Of course we all know and love him as the wildly enthusiastic, fez-wearing, train-set-loving, Tish-kissing Gomez Addams on The Addams Family (1964–1966). But here's the remarkable thing — he's been involved with the Addams Family universe MORE than any other actor in history. From the original series, to the 1977 TV movie Halloween with the New Addams Family, to voicing Gomez in the 1992 animated series, to returning as Grandpapa Addams in The New Addams Family in 1998. Once a Gomez, always a Gomez.

But oh, this man is SO much more than Gomez!
He had a small role in West Side Story (1961)... as Glad Hand, the nervous social worker at the dance. He played The RIDDLER on Batman in 1967 — yes, THAT Riddler! He was hilarious in National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), spooked us in Peter Jackson's The Frighteners (1996), and had a beloved recurring role as Buddy on Night Court. Over 150 acting credits in all.

And here's the connection that will blow your mind — THREE generations of Astins have worked with director Peter Jackson. John appeared in The Frighteners (1996). His son Sean Astin — yes, Samwise Gamgee himself — starred in the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. And Sean's real-life daughter Ali Astin played his character's daughter in Return of the King. How incredible is that?

Here's one more gem: this brilliant man started college as a MATH major before switching to drama at Johns Hopkins University. He eventually returned to Johns Hopkins as a full professor, headed their entire theater arts program, and taught there until 2021. They even renamed the theater building after him — and surprised him with it at the reopening ceremony! He had no idea.

He's a passionate devotee of Edgar Allan Poe, regularly attending Baltimore's yearly Poe birthday celebration and even touring a one-man Poe show across the country. Of course he is. PERFECT for Gomez.

I loved him in Evil Roy Slade. What a talent.

John

 

[shortwrench]

Just came back from an eye doctor's appointment. The building is full of medical offices so patients are
coming and going all day, making for a very busy and full parking lot. I allocate an extra 15 minutes travel
time for this. While looking for a parking spot, there was a Camaro taking up 2 spaces in the middle of the lot.
Sharp looking car and veteran's license plate. Appreciate his military service but cursed under my breath for
him taking up the extra space. All I could do to restrain myself from spitting on his window. Must be nice to be
entitled to the extra parking space. Nice day so the walk to the building was not an issue but there were a
lot of patients that didn't have handicap plates and could have benefitted from a shorter walk to the building.

On the way home I drove by a Polish American Club which has one of those electronic signs by their entrance.
It said "Tiger Woods is the best and worst driver in the world". Makes up for the Camaro and I was all mellowed
out by the time I got home.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

We finished up our boardwalk project this morning and got final inspection approval by the lady of the house.

Gary was the supervisor, Dave was the equipment operator and I was the flunky.
Got our mess cleaned up, stored some excess boards in my basement for another project and took 10 extra boards back to Home Depot for a refund.
After I got the refund, I talked with a manager about the bent tailgate that I finally got to latch on the left side. The guy was very nice, took some pictures, had me fill out an incident report, apologized and told me their insurance company would contact me in 2 - 3 business days.

i did not get a chance to yell or threaten to spread the story on social media.

Now, I am going to get a cold beverage and let aching muscles rest from moving 2 x 4s around.

I am going to use my recent vast construction experience to load a model gondola with a scrap load tonight.

 

[Kusojiji]

Well, the balancing and repair of the driveshaft with new u-joints seemed to help a bit. But the vibration is still there. I am guessing now an axle bearing or center section bearing is slowly going away. I can drive the truck and the vibration now occurs between 60 & 65 mph, sometimes more noticeable than others. The vibration at 40 to 45 is gone. It is to the point where I am starting to believe in "gremlins". It will go back to the shop as budget allows.
Thanks for asking....John

Ah cr@p man! I was hoping it would have been fixed. Sucks to have to keep chasing that kind of thing around. Fire the parts cannon at it and hope you get a hit. The dealer for my car troubleshoots with my money, so I only go for a diagnostic and then do some research myself.

Does the shop have rollers that they can put the truck up on and do the screwdriver to the ear type approach (not literally of course). Just the drive train since I believe you've already eliminated the front end.

 

[shortwrench]

We finished up our boardwalk project this morning and got final inspection approval by the lady of the house.
View attachment 261603
Gary was the supervisor, Dave was the equipment operator and I was the flunky.
Got our mess cleaned up, stored some excess boards in my basement for another project and took 10 extra boards back to Home Depot for a refund.
After I got the refund, I talked with a manager about the bent tailgate that I finally got to latch on the left side. The guy was very nice, took some pictures, had me fill out an incident report, apologized and told me their insurance company would contact me in 2 - 3 business days.

i did not get a chance to yell or threaten to spread the story on social media.

Now, I am going to get a cold beverage and let aching muscles rest from moving 2 x 4s around.

I am going to use my recent vast construction experience to load a model gondola with a scrap load tonight.

Nice job on the walkway.

 

[Kusojiji]

finished up our boardwalk project

That was an awesome thing you guys did! And glad HD did the right thing.

 

[Kusojiji]

Sounds like our weather is the same as what some of you are getting - rain for the next few days. I need to remember to turn the auto-watering timer off. The last big rain we had flooded my garlic as the drain hole got plugged in the box. One little guy drowned but the other 5 survived. I did a quick check and there are no bulbs growing, only the stalk and greens, so I may only get garlic tasting, onion looking stalks.

I should go drive around a little bit so I don't have to wash the car...

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps and those with drain holes.

It's Troy again.

Evidently they got Mother-in-law's drains working again in the hospital. They've gotten over 3 liters of fluid out of her so far. One liter was taken with a big needle from the lung. Tomorrow, they'll drain the other lung. No wonder she hasn't been breathing well.

The Hospitalist (a NP on staff that see's every patient each day) said there are ways to get the body to react to the diuretic pills if they stop being effective - as they were with MIL. So that'll be next step. Once she's flushed out, they'll probably have her not take any for about five days, then start them again.

Wife spent all day there today. I took two naps since I had to stay up late, but still got up at 4am. Wife said she'd get a rum and coke, then head to bed early tonight to try to get sleep caught up

Over on the Layout thread, I updated a couple of times today. Be sure to check out the color of the backdrop panels. First coat is on them.

Been working with Claude the AI about the layout theme and bounding some names around. One prime location will be the Midnight Abbey, where the crack scientists are holed up, researching the zombie outbreak. The rail service is their only lifeline for supplies. I'll also need to set up an army encampment with some 1980s vehicles. Because if there are zombies, the military is always involved...

Wife reminded me that the town of Ghoulstone, loosely based on my hometown of Goshen IN, will need to have several Amish buggies with zombie horses, tied up behind the BRAINS bar.

I'm actually fired up for now working on this. But I'm sure I'll stall out in a week or so and go paint some toy soldiers for a couple of weeks. That's the goal .... do one hobby for about two weeks - then switch back to the other one.

 

[bnsf971]

Crack scientists? I thought they’d already perfected crack.

 

[DeaconKC]

Wow, lots of reading today. @PNKFLOYD God will certainly bless you guys for your work! Slept in today then took my Missus to lunch at Cracker Barrel and it was not only delicious, but we had the best waitress, she was great. Ran some other shopping, mostly my wife spending Birthday money. Picked up a new light/fan for the master bathroom, the old one had it's light quit a few weeks ago, so now our handyman can come put it in next week. Hit 81F today, sunny and breezy, so my hanging out in the car with the windows down was real nice. Supposed to be nice the rest of the week, listening to the Cardinals on the radio. Y'all have a good evening.