Running Bear's May 2025 Coffee Shop

[TLOC]

Good morning from a nice start to the day. The WeatherChannel app says it’s heavy fog. Must be elsewhere as it wasn’t here for the 5:30 walk and even the radar wasn’t showing it. It’s still not around. 62f degrees now and a guess of 88 later. In between we have severe wind, tornado and hail warnings already posted for this afternoon. Madison is on the very southern tip of the storm rolling through. So it most likely will miss us, hopefully so.

We will see Clue at the theater this evening. The SIL and Daughter saw it Tuesday and loved it

I installed the 3 on/off miniature toggle switches yesterday. 2 on the cold storage siding and 1 in the engine ready track. Thankfully that gave me a distraction from the 1st hockey game. I had grabbed my IPadPro to watch the hockey games and I rarely do that for the train room. That Toronto/Florida game if the Leafs lose this series that should get Matthews traded. The overall lack of effort and the goaltending by Toronto was pathetic. Made worst since it was a home game. I told the SIL (big leaf fan) before the 1st series if the Leafs won in 5 games against Ottawa they’d beat the next team. If it would take 6 or more to beat Ottawa the next series (this one) they’d probably lose. It really seemed like they didn’t care in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Sad but they still have a chance as game six is Friday but in Florida. I think Florida rolls again. The 2nd game in Vegas was a o-o thriller and was won by Edmonton over Las Vegas in Overtime. That was playoff hockey. Non stop action with goaltenders playing lights out and nonstop efforts by both teams. I still think Edmonton wins the Cup but their top guys need to start scoring. I love hockey…

The wedding on 5/24 in Pasadena has become a money pit. We lost the Airbnb we booked in January last week. We knew it was possible because of the LA fires. One of the victims families was renting it long term but still it was rented to us. I have a feeling of wanting to extract some revenge but those fires…

Anyway, we will stay 2 days longer in Vegas at my brothers before the wedding now flying in on Friday morning. The girls found 3 rooms at a Pasadena hotel for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As much for those 3 nights as the AirBnB cost for 8 days.. I was unaware until yesterday this is the Memorial Day weekend. The niece, now known as bridezilla made a Friday night rehearsal dinner change and now his parents said they will not pay for it. My brother called to confirm about staying at his place in Vegas and told me about the Friday rehearsal dinner. She also made a minor change for the wedding Saturday that also added some costs, like free alcoholic drinks! I had agreed to pay for the small wedding of 50 guests that has grown to 125 guests and the reception and dinner. Bridezilla is my god-daughter and I promised my Brother in Law long before he passed I’d watch over the niece and my sister 20 years before he passed when he was given 6 months to live. I didn’t pay for drinks at my daughter’s wedding and won’t for this last minute change. I don’t pay for alcohol at dinners out for the other diners! Alcohol is on individual separate bills and everyone has known that for decades. You want alcohol you pay for it! Now I’m the bad uncle but she violated the agreement, not me

I have 2 turnouts remaining to fix and while I don’t want to I should get them fixed today and tomorrow. I called 2 LHS and neither has ME #6’s in code 83. I do have 2 #10’s but then I have to rip up some track and realign it. I’m not sure that’s worth it.

Stay safe, cool and dry

 

[TLOC]

Anyone get the Go to the Winchester for a (cold) pint?

I should have added, and "and wait for this to all this blow over"

I cheated and did a Duck Duck go search

I’ve never heard of the cult classic movie Shaun of the Dead

PRETENTIOUS FACTOR​

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.​

Everyone needs an occasional time out, so why not have it at a nice, cozy pub?

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Clear and 74°, only going up to 84° today with a one day cool front coming in. The NWS really blew it with their forecast. For over a week they have been predicting 101° for yesterday, but I only saw 96°, same as the Weather Underground guy around the corner! No complaints though. Thunderstorms predicted for Saturday through Tuesday with highs in the mid-80's. That means a lot more mowing coming up later next week.

Given the current outlook right now, I am not going to take the winter cover off the pool yet. While I would like to capture the rain to help fill it up, the trade-off is adding chemicals when it is still too cold to use. Current water temperature is 68° under the black cover and it will drop for a few days once the cover comes off. Then it will take about 10 days to absorb enough sunlight to get to a usable 78°. Cloudy, rainy days ahead will not help. Air temperature does not heat a body of water, sunlight absorption does. Interesting trivia: My pool holds 14,000 gallons of water, at 8# per gallon. That's 112,000 lbs or 56 tons in an area 24' in diameter!

Weekly grocery trek this morning. Vitamin Shop and pharmacy to get a prescription that they had to order are also on the itinerary. Oh! And Sam's Club for more charcoal and a hearing aid adjustment. Later today I'll be in the garden, as it was too wet from the irrigation Tuesday night to get into yesterday. I have another load of firewood to unload and stack, that I picked up before the heat yesterday. There is still at least another cord of wood already cut and stashed in various places that needs to be moved, along with some remaining tree trunks that will require splitting after being cut up. This is all still left from last May's tornado. On standby too, is changing the oil in the Accura. Not high on the priority list since we only use it occasionally.

Out in the train shed yesterday, infrastructure maintenance was the project. I installed the first of the two light fixtures that I bought Tuesday, and ran the Romex wire and outlet boxes to it and several other already installed fixtures. While the fixtures are all under the upper level, lighting the lower one, all of the wiring is actually under the lower level. Much of the layout has a double sided backdrop mounted on 2" x 2" posts and I can run the fixture wiring through it unseen. Downside is that I have to get under the lower level to install the wiring and outlets. It's easily accessible, but hard to maneuver this body under there. This will continue for a few days, although I will operate trains as a break in the action.

Dave - 42 bird species is impressive. At best, I can only identify 18 or so here, definitely not as diverse as your neighborhood. I still have vultures living in my mostly destroyed barn though.
Tom O - I love walking in the fog, especially those very heavy ones that we get sometimes. Got to pay attention to vehicle noises though, and step aside if I hear any from behind.
It's the uncoupling of shelf couplers that irks me. That's why I use the Rix magnetic uncoupling tool. I only use track magnets in two places.
Kusojiji -

How many stickies did you get to take of the refer?

Not sure that I understand the question.
Deacon - Neat layout find. Have fun.

Of special note to me, former Dallas Cowboy running back, Emmitt Smith is 56 years old today. He was born on the day that I graduated from high school. I met him once in the mid-90's while on a home layout tour at a model railroaders home. Don't know if he is still interested in the hobby.

Everyone here have a great Thursday.

 

[Boris]

I expect it to get shut down before too long since the debate has now turned to prisoners
building our models in the US as cheap labor

I stopped following that forum long before the tariff debate started...It just wasn't interesting any more.

One thought, if we were to use convict labor to reduce labor costs we would be the same as China is now.....which is sad, when you think about it.

 

[Boris]

That Toronto/Florida game if the Leafs lose this series that should get Matthews traded. The overall lack of effort and the goaltending by Toronto was pathetic

Matthews has been this way since the Buds returned to the playoffs. The Leafs chances diminished when Stolarz (Jersey Guy), was injured. What we did learn though was it wasn't Sheldon Keith's fault after all. Paul Maurice knows the feeling too...Karma? You do realize they are not going to trade Matthews, regardless.

 

[NorthBrit]

I expect it to get shut down before too long

Amazing how a thread wanders off and members start arguing.
I am a Moderator on a site here and the times I have told members 'to cool it'.

 

[TLOC]

Matthews has been this way since the Buds returned to the playoffs. The Leafs chances diminished when Stolarz (Jersey Guy), was injured. What we did learn though was it wasn't Sheldon Keith's fault after all. Paul Maurice knows the feeling too...Karma? You do realize they are not going to trade Matthews, regardless.

I read Sportsnet.ca every day for the hockey news. I love the comments after the stories regarding the Leafs. They are fanatic fans or haters!

The core 4 is done but Travaes will be back but not at 10 million more like 8. He never gives up. Marner if they lose is not coming back even if he cuts his salary request. He’ll easily get $14 mill because he is a great regular season player. The only true re-set for this team is to move Matthews to a California team or the Utah Mammoth. He was born in Arizona but that team moved to Utah. If the Leaf ownership is serious they need to terminate Shanahan the President and boot Matthews with his permission. With the increase in salary cap moving Matthews contract is no longer difficult. He’d have to ok the trade though because of his no trade clause. San Jose, Anaheim and Utah have enough draft picks and upcoming players that could entice Toronto and not destroy the remaining team. The best fit IMOO is move him to the Hawks. They have a great group of upcoming defense and forwards and a couple talented goaltenders in the minors. They have more draft picks over the next 5 years than any NHL team. Plus he’d be a huge name in Chicago but in a city big enough if he wants privacy he’d get it. Unlike in Toronto where if he burps the whole city knows about it even when he is in Phoenix the Toronto press and social media follow him every where.

I know it’s unlikely because even though they are horrendous in the playoffs they are winners in the regular season and of course fill out the arena for every game.

Plus they still have what I would call now a semi miracle chance to win this series. It’s why they play the games…

 

[Bruette]

Over on the MRH forum reading the new thread on tariffs?

Not a chance, not for me, wouldn't be prudent. My Cardiologist told me to avoid stress.

I was fixing a flat tire. Which turned out to be an adventure. I got it done, but the tire proved to me I'm a broken down old fu(&!

 

[traiNscale]

can someone maybe explain why Fleury had hes debut in the national team this world championships? if i remember correctly he has retired this year in the NHL? And i mean, heas a fking legend. but why he has hes debut so late? just because he was in the NHL all the time? or do i mix up some things?

 

[TLOC]

Amazing how a thread wanders off and members start arguing.
I am a Moderator on a site here and the times I have told members 'to cool it'.

The thing about the thread over at MRH is the owner started it. He has deleted a few comments when they move political but he’s let a lot go on this version of a tread on tariffs.

As I have written before I have no real issues with realistic stable tariffs. I will leave it there.

I couldn’t be a moderator!

 

[NorthBrit]

I couldn’t be a moderator!

This site is easy. (imo) A friendly crew.

One reason why I like it.

 

[TLOC]

Not a chance, not for me, wouldn't be prudent. My Cardiologist told me to avoid stress.

I was fixing a flat tire. Which turned out to be an adventure. I got it done, but the tire proved to me I'm a broken down old fu(&!

Stress, I don’t think so. To me I read it and wonder how so many of the comment makers have made it in life? It’s more a stress reliever for me because some of the comments are so laughable. The ignorance of how people think business works would get you Louis rolling on the floor. It’s like those who truly believed Mexico would pay for a wall not on their soil. (I hoped but knew better)

Flat tires! I found out a couple years ago my VW has road service. Blew a tire 2 blocks from home and they came out to fix it. After I retired in 2014 I rolled over something on Interstate I39/90/94 in Wisconsin that deflated my tire slowly around 9pm in the dark. There are some great people out there. I opened the trunk to get the spare out and a trucker pulled over followed by the State Trooper. Trooper had a jack and the trucker had that thing changed in a few minutes.

 

[migalyto]

Amazing how a thread wanders off and members start arguing.

Especially on that forum. It seems a lot of threads over on MRH goes way off topic.

I do visit there daily because there is some really good info. I have been a member of it for almost
10 years and have less than 50 posts. I have never really felt comfortable posting there.

This forum has always felt like home to me anyways.

 

[TLOC]

Especially on that forum. It seems a lot of threads over on MRH goes way off topic.

I do visit there daily because there is some really good info. I have been a member of it for almost
10 years and have less than 50 posts. I have never really felt comfortable posting there.

This forum has always felt like home to me anyways.

Been a member since 2011 and a poster there almost daily up until the Covid. Since then maybe I’ll post once a month usually on the show something picture threads

There are many super modelers there like here that are willing to share their ideas and techniques. There do IMOO seem to be many more then there used to be commenters that always have better ways than the poster. You know I have no issue with constructive criticism but it doesn’t seem to be too constructive over there since Covid changed the world. The layout threads at MRH are pretty awesome

 

[truckdad]

My pool holds 14,000 gallons of water, at 8# per gallon. That's 112,000 lbs or 56 tons in an area 24' in diameter!

Willie, thats the same weight as an old, fully dressed Cat D-9H.....So, you got that goin for you. If someone should ask......

 

[Marlin39]

Especially on that forum. It seems a lot of threads over on MRH goes way off topic.

I do visit there daily because there is some really good info. I have been a member of it for almost
10 years and have less than 50 posts. I have never really felt comfortable posting there.

This forum has always felt like home to me anyway

I've never ventured over to MRH. It sure sounds like I'm missing some fun!

I was banned from a gun forum for telling a poster, in specific detail, that his bragging rights, "original condition," firearm was a restoration. I was polite about it, but the truth hurt his feelings and I was reported.

Tom - You have my sympathies. It may be her day, but it's your money. My in-laws told us they were going to use our wedding as a way to repay social obligations. We had less than 30 guests between the 2 of us. They had close to 200. The evil step mother invited every out of towner, not just immediate family, to the rehearsal dinner. My dad, bit his tongue, and paid for it.

 

[TLOC]

This site is easy. (imo) A friendly crew.

One reason why I like it.

Absolutely. I’d have no issues with almost any of you stopping by the house to visit!

 

[DeaconKC]

Yes to Pratchett!
76 here today, gonna hit 88 with storms off and on the weather prognosticators say. Gotta a quick blood test at the Doc's in a bit, then heady to Searcy AR to hit the Hobby Lobby and then to the bustling community of Bald Knob to the nearest train store. LadyC is having lunch with our g'niece Emma. Nice easy day here.

 

[TLOC]

I've never ventured over to MRH. It sure sounds like I'm missing some fun!

I was banned from a gun forum for telling a poster, in specific detail, that his bragging rights, "original condition," firearm was a restoration. I was polite about it, but the truth hurt his feelings and I was reported.

Tom - You have my sympathies. It may be her day, but it's your money. My in-laws told us they were going to use our wedding as a way to repay social obligations. We had less than 30 guests between the 2 of us. They had close to 200. The evil step mother invited every out of towner, not just immediate family, to the rehearsal dinner. My dad, bit his tongue, and paid for it.

I had my say last night and this morning. My sister is too sick to disagree with her daughter. My brother and I worked out a deal this morning about the alcohol (I’m not a tee totaler). I just won’t pay for booze for anyone except for the booze at my house. On top of all this there is now a Sunday brunch. Neither my brother or I have been asked to contribute but 200 are invited. I’m sure my sister got talked into paying that one in the last month. California has changed the born Chicagoan who became a very broke New Yorker who moved to LA in 2019.

I have always lived by budgets and handshake agreements since freshman year in college. By time the wedding happens at 4pm on the 24th I hope to be more relaxed but I really do dislike being taken advantage of. Especially when we have always been there when she needed us. I still don’t understand the dress code of California casual for the events! Oh well

 

[chadbag]

Almost 9:30am. Watch says 49F. House sensor says 51F.

Lots of big billlowing gray clouds but lots of blue sky in between.

Time to go out for my walk. Shorts, undershirt, and t shirt today. With the sun and the slightly higher temps than last night’s walk (low 40Fs ) I should be ok.

About 1 hour and 3.25 miles. Floppy hat and sunglasses.

“I’ll be back”