Running Bear's May 2025 Coffee Shop

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

52° and sunny this morning, heading to a high of 68°.

Here in the U.K it takes a week (most times) to receive a letter that is posted locally.
Yesterday I received a parcel posted FedEx in Ohio last Wednesday.

Every time I think we have it bad, I remember dealing with shipping to the UK. Back when I was selling on fleaBay I sold a loco to a gentleman in England. I copied his address verbatim, added the proper postage and shipped the package. After 2 weeks the package was reported to be local to the buyer, a few weeks later it was back on my door step. I contacted the buyer and confirmed all his info and I resent the package. a few weeks later he received the loco. Nothing was ever wrong with the address, why it made 3 crossings of the ocean we will never know. Evidently the Royal Mail is a royal pain in the

BBL

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning all,

38f and light rain.

Sun is supposed to make an appearance by 8 am.

More later. Dave LASM

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Clear and a cool 62°. Supposed to only get into the low-80's today and into the 50's tonight. An unusually cool forecast for the next ten days, with only 1 day of 10 getting into the 90's. High only in the 70's at the beginning of next week. All in all, a very cool period for us. I don't think that it rained yesterday, marking another day that the NWS missed their forecast.

Despite the rain Sunday, yesterday was a gardening day. Mostly I pulled weeds and tucked errant tomato branches into their cages. I also made a major picking of Lettuce, which has hung on longer than normal. With the ongoing cool nights, it will last until the end of May this year. Weeds were easy since the ground is so wet, but they are also plentiful, a hazard from living in the country. I also did some firewood stacking.
More of the same today. I need to pick the green peas again. And I'll get back to trimming branches into stackable firewood since it is now dry. Too wet to mow, but I should be able to use the weedeater. It needs both everywhere.

Despite my best intentions, I ran trains again out in the train shed. First, I installed another 2' LED strip to light a section of the lower deck, so I at least started advancing on projects again. I also pulled out a list of 11 places that I need to add some trees. I have been working on them randomly for the last year, and I now have about 2 dozen ready for planting. I hate making trees, but it seems that once made, it takes me a while before I actually plant them. There's more places that need them besides those on my list.

Tom O -

The golf course my brother is on in Maui discourages non golfing walkers

So just carry a club and a ball with you. You're a golfer aren't you?

Swal - The postal service around here isn't as bad as what you describe. Don't know why your area is so bad.
Hughie - I have noticed over my years of driving, that you have to have a really heavy foot to be pulled over by the DPS in our part of Texas. I routinely pass them at 12-14 mph over the limit without a worry. Others are passing me by and not getting stopped. Local cops are not quite as tolerant, but they mostly stay off the Interstates and other major highways. I honestly believe that there is some profiling going on though, i.e., too many heads in the car for example.
David - Congratulations on the good health news. Hope that the next round goes as well.
Troy - Sad story about the train and fisherpersons.
John - First of all, a belated Happy Birthday. I hope that you snap out of your funk quickly. I'm no stranger to having to get three things done in order to get one accomplished.

Cher is 79 years old today. I liked her best as half of Sonny & Cher.
Everyone have a terrific Tuesday.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from very wet, windy and stormy So Central Wisconsin. It was supposed to start around 2am and all I know is the lightning cracked nearby at 3:05 to wake me up and I’ve been awake since. It’s been occasional lightning and thunder ever since but the rain has been continuous. I was on the treadmill at 4:15 for an hour, boy I dislike that machine. Rain here is supposed to continue till 3-4pm with occasionally severe. I can see the rain gauge out front but the markings are turned that I cannot read the amount of rain that has fallen.

Just biding time till we get on the plane Wednesday. I should clean the train room. I starting taking pictures yesterday for posting here and on Facebook for some upcoming Front end Friday pictures. I have 3 spots on the layout I really like for pictures, yesterday though I purposely took the pictures in different spots. Not sure if I like them enough to post. Maybe more playing today


Enjoy your day

 

[ctclibby]

Good Morning All!

44F @ 78% Sun is shining today ... so far. It has been raining for the last few days. Maria as mowed at least 3 times when the wind dries the grass. It just sorta leaps up.

Everybody here is good. We thought we lost one of the cats as we didn't see her for a couple of days. Apparently Maria opened the RV to let it air out and the wind closed the door at some point. Guess where the cat was? Made a beeline to the food dish and water immediately when out of jail.

Got really frustrated yesterday; spent at least 4 hours trying to get a direct deposit setup. Vendor needed a 'voided' check. We do not have any such thing as we do not use checks: Cash, Debit or V/MC only. Hoop jump. Had to get my information on bank letter head, then post via their website. Will see this am if that worked. On top of that I got stuck with a circuit I was working on and asked some questions about the design. Geesh, thought that I was on MRH for awhile - finally got some constructive criticism when I looked this am. Required a couple of adult beverages last night.

Grandkids are to be here on Memorial Day weekend coming in from Mukilteo, Wa. Angela has boxes and boxes of their stuff in her storage, more boxes in Maria's office; probably more upstairs. Don't ask why. They are supposed to be bringing a BIG uhaul. So Sunday will be hamburger and hotdog BBQ day. I am good with that as I have not had a hot dog for at least 3 weeks!

L8r

 

[NorthBrit]

why it made 3 crossings of the ocean we will never know.

They should have given it to me when I worked for Royal Mail. I would have loved three crossings of the ocean.

 

[migalyto]

Good morning all!

Its a cold, windy and wet Northern Illinois day today. Weather is a carbon copy of what TomO is experiancing.
Don't know how much rain has fallen in the last 10 hours, but its a bunch. Don't have my rain gauge set up yet.
Actually nothing in the backyard is set up yet. Pool is probably next weekend.

Been a busy morning thus far with graduation and the party tomorrow. Today is a retreat day for my daughter till
1:30. I told her to relish it, as it very possibly would be the last time she will grace the halls of Holy Cross. She's
pretty emotional about it.

Check back in later.

Have a safe day everyone!

 

[chadbag]

This was 10 minutes of pure American Muscle car power in Germany. I played it on the big screen and turned the sound up. You can see the speedometer through the steering wheel.

Of course if it had been a big fat *ss Merc with V8 or something you wouldn’t have had all the vibrations. It would have felt like your going 60mph when you’re doing triple.

Troy: My wife always says the same thing when we stay at a place that has breakfast.

*I* always say the same thing. Don’t waste food or spend money you don’t need to. (Says the man with a huge train collection and many other collections)

 

[migalyto]

Every time I think we have it bad, I remember dealing with shipping to the UK. Back when I was selling on fleaBay I

When I sold my extensive N scale collection when I made the switch to Ho scale. I sold some stuff to Europe and Australia. What a pain!

Within a few weeks I learned to state in the listing. Lower 48 states only. Made it a little easier.

 

[chadbag]

Been cold at night. As low as upper 30s. Sensor said 41F at 11pm sat night. I wouldn’t be surprised if it dipped into the 30s in the middle of the night. The night before it did. 7am this morning and sensor already said 46F. Mixed clouds. Same as yesterday. Have a million and one things to do to get ready for our plane tomorrow. SLC — LAX — ICN — KIX. Then a limo bus and maybe a subway and maybe get picked up.

 

[migalyto]

Have a million and one things to do to get ready for our plane tomorrow. SLC — LAX — ICN — KIX.

Have a safe trip and enjoy Japan!

Maybe send a couple of photos our way if you get time.

 

[Bruette]

A little trivia, one of her brothers was one of the people that created Little League baseball.

You should be enormously proud!

I don't know much about the history of Little League Baseball. The only name I know of the creators was Carl Stotz. I know his name because I used his quote every year to remind the managers of why Little League Baseball was created "to provide a fun and structured environment that promoted sportsmanship, fair play, and teamwork" I added it was not created to win trophies!

It didn't do me a lot of good, but I tried, year after year. No sooner than we began drafting players, than the egos of most managers took over. I can't tell you how many times I fought back the urge to kick one or more of their asses! But I always kept my cool for the sake of the kids. Words are meaningless when you set a bad example.

 

[Bruette]

so baseball? well not my cup of tea,

I won't hold that against you.

Maybe try watching it with a cold beer instead of tea.

 

[Bruette]

I could venture a guess but I probably would no longer be welcome on this site.

That would make two of us.

 

[Bruette]

*I* always say the same thing. Don’t waste food or spend money you don’t need to. (Says the man with a huge train collection and many other collections)

I'm right there with you.

I think/hope God will understand the collections.

 

[Bruette]

Been cold at night. As low as upper 30s. Sensor said 41F at 11pm sat night. I wouldn’t be surprised if it dipped into the 30s in the middle of the night.

How was the temperature in your house? Did you need any heat?

I still haven't used the heat or the AC, but our outside temperatures haven't dipped below the 50s. When the temperatures peaked into the low 80s for a couple of days it got up to 77 in the house, but the ceiling fans kept it comfortable. It is 69 as I'm typing this.

God speed on your journey!

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good morning, all! A record high predicted today. Can you say one hundred? Now add feels like. This could be a very miserably hot summer.

David - I guess being unabashed is better than being bashed.
Willie - I use 10% over the posted limit.
Chad - A big a$$ Mercury can't outrun a police cruiser. However, Hellcats can. Have a safe trip
TomO - Safe travels to you as well.

And this is for a fellow Coastie. Cutter Point Caution at the Deerfield River base in Apple Ridge.

STAY SAFE
LATER

 

[Bruette]

As I mentioned to Chad in my previous post, I haven't been using any heat or AC. At the end of May, it will be close to two months! Other than a couple of days of high humidity it has been amazingly comfortable in the house. And I'm loving the fresh air, not to mention the low energy bills!

The ten-day forecast is in our favor, for whatever that is worth.

We have another beautiful sunny day today; it is 63 with only 44% humidity. Tomorow the forecast is for rain and a high of only 59! A good day to close the windows and make Ham, cabbage, and potatoes.

Many of you know I seldom mention the weather, but this is unusual for Baltimore in late May. I'm not complaining!

 

[chadbag]

How was the temperature in your house? Did you need any heat?

I still haven't used the heat or the AC, but our outside temperatures haven't dipped below the 50s. When the temperatures peaked into the low 80s for a couple of days it got up to 77 in the house, but the ceiling fans kept it comfortable. It is 69 as I'm typing this.

God speed on your journey!

The first image is the heat pumps reported energy use on a daily basis for May. The left vertical axis is Kwh. It's been colder the last week with night times often in the mid to upper 40s, except the last two days which were a bit colder. The heat is set to 70F and stays pretty constant. It had gotten slowly higher the week before this past week so had gotten warmer and up to 74/75 so I switched it to cooling. The cooling is set to 73F. Then when the cold spell came through a week ago the temp slowly adjusted itself downward and finally dipped down to 69 by evening so I switch it backed to heating.

I'm setting it back to cooling tonight so it will be cooling while we are gone but I'll move it up to 75F to save a little electricity and will, if I can remember it, set it back to 73F a day or two before we get home. The geothermal based heating and cooling is a slower process than forced air (takes longer for the changes to happen) and they work best at keeping a set temperature rather than changing the temperature. We used to, in the old house, turn the heat down at night during the winter and keep a "hot" house in summer. (We used to keep it at 66F during the day and 60F at night with a smart thermostat so it would be warm again when people got up but the last two winters there I had it at 68F during the day -- as you get older it's harder to deal with cold and hot temps. The house back faced south and had lots of windows so we would open the blinds and let the sun warm the house during the day so it was often 70-72F on sunny days, inside the house, even when 20-25F outside but as soon as it got dark the temp inside the house would drop. During summer I used to set it at 78F but last couple years had been setting it at 76F).

The second image is the heat pump's self reported energy usage on a weekly basis since we put to into operation on March 5. The first month we adjusted temperatures a few times to see where we liked it so it was 70F, 68F, 69F, and back to 70F, where we left it).

I am pretty sure that this doesn't show the actual energy used to run the pumps that push the hot or cold water through the floor as that's external to the heat pump and these charts come from the heat pump itself.

We don't use gas in the house so all the heating and cooling is electric as is the domestic hot water. Offset by our solar (which I'd like to expand).

 

[chadbag]

Chad - A big a$$ Mercury can't outrun a police cruiser. However, Hellcats can. Have a safe trip

Merc is not Mercury. It's our German friends from Stuttgart, Mercedes...

Non-AMG sedans are regularly capable of 160mph plus (in their gentleman's agreement limited 250kph form -- higher in delimited form) and the AMG non electric ones are around 200mph top speed.

But more importantly they're engineered to go that speed and make it feel like you're going 60mph.

I had a small s$$ Mercedes C180 four banger as a rental in early 2000. It maxed out at around 135mph (yes I tested it). You didn't feel like you were going that speed until you got close to the top end. When you pushed it you started to get some vibrations and stuff but at 120-125mph it felt like you were going 60-70mph. And that's a "low end" 4 cylinder C class rental quality car.