Running Bear's November 2025 Coffee Shop

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Welp... it happened again.

Never heard of a company called Uni Uni
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But they got a package with a gift for the wife, and delivered it today.

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Note the proximity to the green sign.

Dude had time to take three required images to prove he delivered said package:View attachment 248292

but didn't have time to read the sign that says "Please place all packages inside gate"

The email telling me my package had been delivered, also had a "tell us how we did" link.

So i tapped the link and told them.

Next time, the Uni driver will probably step on my package before tossing it over the fence... into the neighbor's patio...
Its so hard to find good help these days! 😀
 
Troy: Probably!

Got home Saturday after the grandson's play to find one of the torsion springs on the main garage door broke. So as I was leaving through the front door, I darn near tripped on a package that was showing to be delivered today. Had spent the night on the porch, delivered sometime after I locked the door at 8:30 last night. Wife said it was still showing as out for delivery. Garage door getting fixed for the 4th time since we bought the house as we use the big garage door (double bay) a lot. Last time I asked them why they seem to be failing a lot and was told because we're using it a lot. He suggested I have them install heavy duty springs, so that's what they're supposed to do. I had jinxed us the day before by telling the wife that it had been a while since we had to replace a spring (I have them done in pairs).
I feel your pain. We also use the garage door as the main way we go in and out. only lost a spring one time, I replaced them both. Lost a garage door opener because the motor shaft snapped off with the drive gear.(chain Drive) Switched to a belt drive, much quieter and I don't feel like it jerks the door so hard when it opens, and it does have a softer close.
 
Welcome to the Coffee Shop and to the forum John. Thank you for asking about this build.
This structure is a kit from Downtown Deco. It's made from Hydrocal, a harder form of plaster. This particular structure is called Addam's Ave Part 3. All of Randy's (owner) structures are castings like this. He mostly specializes in "other side of the tracks" type structures. I have built many. Here are a few of the others that I have built. This one is Addam's Ave Part 2.
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Addam's Ave Part 1.
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A shot of the right side showing some of my detailing.
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Here's one called Blair Ave Part 1. Note that the sidewalks and details out front came from me and are not included with the kit.
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These are just a few of the kits offered. Not all are still available since the molds do wear out. Check out their website: Downtown Deco
Your building structures are looking great.
You know if I were one of those little people, for my night out the first place I'd go to would be the......B&B Pawn shop.
Now that I have some cash on hand, it's time for a night out at the........ Co Co Club.
And you guessed it, it's the morning after, now I'm calling the ........24hr Bail Bonds ... from you now where.
..........Wished I never went to town ........LOL.
 


I just looked at the pictures. Wonderful work! Congratulations.
Thank you for the comment. They take a lot of time to paint, but the results are very satisfying.
I started with one of their "practice kits", Rosa's Place
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An interesting side note is the cash vs credit card scenario. When we went on vacation, the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana all allowed businesses to charge more for purchases made on a credit card. The state of Texas doesn't allow that. However in Texas, they can give a discount for cash, essentially the same thing!
Here in Jersey It has become an accepted practice to surcharge customers for using a credit card to pay for a purchase. The average for gas is 10¢ / gal. For retail up to 4%. Some want to surcharge debit cards also. Many of these establishments do not want cash either, so I am back to writing checks...So much for a paperless society.
 
Here in Jersey It has become an accepted practice to surcharge customers for using a credit card to pay for a purchase. The average for gas is 10¢ / gal. For retail up to 4%. Some want to surcharge debit cards also. Many of these establishments do not want cash either, so I am back to writing checks...So much for a paperless society.
The is not that prevalent in Utah. Some gas stations list two prices, cash and card. I avoid those.

I've not seen other retail establishments have a surcharge or give a cash discount. I'm sure they exist but they're not places I ever go.

It's going to get worse. There is a potential settlement being negotiated that would let merchants change the surcharge depending on the type of card or even refuse certain cards. I don't mean Visa or MasterCard. I mean specific cards, like your WhizBang Super Cashback visa that pays 4% everywhere.

I refuse to do business with companies that play games like that, as much as possible. I'll let them know I'll be going to their competitor. But that's just me.

When I was running eguns.com the merchant agreements didn't let you charge a different price for cash vs card (at least publicly). But then some lawsuits changed it but I was already more or less not doing business except on the side with existing customers and their referrals, not full-time.
 
A view of the UP/NS buyout from UP


Interesting
What does it say? They won't let me read it unless I download their app.
 


What does it say? They won't let me read it unless I download their app.
Sorry about that. Big head cheese on the UP business train moving slowly through the Chicago bottleneck inferring that the coming together of UP and NS will speed their freight but especially intermodal through Chicagoland. No downtime for switching in Chicago becausebthevtrainsvcan keep going right on through
 
What does it say? They won't let me read it unless I download their app.
Here's a link to the full story. no app should be needed.

 
Just heard that penny's are going away
The Navy Exchange in Yokosuka did that 20 years ago. I thought it was a very good idea and my pockets thanked them for it. I still have bags of pennies lying around the house. The banks on base won't take them unless you count and roll them.

The 1 yen coins are also a pain. At least the convenience stores have donation boxes at the cashiers which is where I put my 1 and 5 yen coins.
 
Good morning, Everyone!

I took a day off yesterday. The morning was "blah", but I felt better as the day went on.

I put Christmas lights in the living room windows. Multi-color lights around the windows and candles. Three sets of old school candles. Two with three lights and one with five. The center window is bigger than the other two. All with red and green bulbs. Some might say it is tackey, but I love it! It is certainly not elegant as Angela would like, but she tolerates me because she loves me
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The NFL channel on Amazon's Prime TV had highlights of old Thanksgiving Day games on yesterday, I loved it!
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Enjoy your day Everyone!
 
On every field and in every hand, labor and legacy meet; Thanksgiving is not just a day, but a witness to the Grace of God and gratitude carried forward.

✝️ Faith​

Faith is the steady hand that lifts legacy; every day’s work becomes a prayer remembered.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family​

In the circle of family, tradition is carried forward; each story is a gift passed from one generation to another.

🙏 Gratitude​

Gratitude is the light that turns labor into testimony; Thanksgiving is its eternal flame.

⚒️ Labor​

Every tool and every task bear witness; labor is not just toil, but the shaping of legacy.
 
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You may have noticed, I am not working today. I feel fine but it is raining, hard at times! Another advantage to being an independent contractor is that I work when I want too. Thank God I don't need the money otherwise I would be out in the rain. Been there, done that and now I no longer have to, thank God.
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On the topic of pennies, no big deal to me, I only use cash for tips. Pennies have always been useless for tips. I still won't pass one if I see it on the street. I remember being a kid, find five pennies and I had a pack of baseball cards and a stick of gum to give to my sister!
 
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