Running Bear's October 2023 Coffee Shop

[santafewillie]

Good Afternoon. Good news, as one of our housemates has the USB cable that I need to connect the camera to the laptop. Thanks Kirk. This is where we are staying. View from the street.

View from the beach.

Gulf Shores is an island bordered on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, and on the north by an Intercoastal Waterway. This part of the town/island is two properties wide with a road running down the middle. Here is a view from the front porch showing a new house being built across the highway (AL-82), with the waterway behind it.

I have been coming here for over 10 years now, and I have never seen the Gulf so calm as this morning.

Let's take a look back to yesterday at the Traintastic Museum.
Entrance.

Much of the new museum was funded by Richard P. Mueller, Jr. and Glenn Mueller, Sr., brothers who started years ago with their first Dominoes Pizza franchise in Gulfport. The first layout in the entryway is a large Lionel 2-rail layout that offers a loose interpretation of the Gulfport area. It is highly animated with scenes that were custom-built for the layout.
Of course there is a Dominoes Pizza.

That's an animated car wash to the left. While you cannot tell from this picture, the fellow in the blue shirt to the right, twirls that pizza crust that he's holding, over his head.
Here's the museum with a mini-train that circles it.

Here is a gym with folks working out, yes it's animated as well.

More later as this house has the slowest wifi that I have ever experienced. It took over 30 minutes to upload these ten pictures. I'm returning to the beach in that elusive search for bikinis.

 

[Bruette]

Rare woman.

That she is!

I count my blessings and thank God every day.

 

[kbkchooch]

I'm returning to the beach in that elusive search for bikinis.

Happy hunting my friend!

 

[migalyto]

I doubt this ever saw service in the UK. US caboose with the British Rail logo.

Looks like it could be the perfect start to that track cleaning car your going to build.

 

[NorthBrit]

I had the x-ray on my ankle today. In and out inside five minutes and home.
Before I left I was told to contact the doctor in THREE WEEKS TIME!!!!
.
Meanwhile the ankle bxxxxx hurts.

 

[Smudge617]

Looks like it could be the perfect start to that track cleaning car your going to build.

What, by destroying it ???

Sounds like a good idea tho'

 

[Smudge617]

Looks like it could be the perfect start to that track cleaning car your going to build.

Looking at some of those videos, a caboose might be too small, not enough weight and too small between the trucks to mount the cleaning pad.

 

[Boris]

That's what i was thinking. It wasn't the first time i saw Keystone trailing an electric behind. Amtrak people are crying for money, but there is an electrified wye in Harrisburg, or the crew can run around the train and recouple at the front. Seems a waste of good running locomotive that could be used elsewhere.

The train set frequently turns in the station in NY, plus there are no longer crews at Race Street to swap power during the station stop at 30th Street.

 

[rgeiter]

Only problem with that is, Toy Train Heavens website is a mess! Maybe an upgrade is in their future!

My thoughts exactly.

 

[KriegslokBR52]

The train set frequently turns in the station in NY, plus there are no longer crews at Race Street to swap power during the station stop at 30th Street.

Right, i forgot about change of direction at 30th Street St.

 

[migalyto]

Looking at some of those videos, a caboose might be too small, not enough weight and too small between the trucks to mount the cleaning pad.

Most of the videos I've seen use an old Bachmann (or something along those lines) boxcar.

 

[Smudge617]

Most of the videos I've seen use an old Bachmann (or something along those lines) boxcar.

I've got an old Triang car that might work.

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning. It's clear and 64.

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

65° and mostly cloudy. Chance of rain 40% later. High of 70°.

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

42° and clear,, heading to 68° later.

We had a brief power outage Saturday, and the big TV in the living room refused to restart afterward. Through the miracle of the internet we have deduced the problem to the power supply board. Evidently this is an issue with Phillips TVs. After watching several how-to videos on power supply board replacement, parts were ordered last night. Stay tuned to find out if I spent $60.00 to save $700.00 or if I am gonna be $760.00 in the hole.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from a little part of Wisconsin. It’s Autumn in this gloriously confused State. Right now at 6:52am it’s 60f degrees heading to 78. It’s still dark as sunrise is scheduled at 7:22am. It will be a great afternoon to cut the growing grass.

Terry is joining me for the morning walk that today will be outside instead of the machine that goes nowhere. I may skip the pool this morning

enjoy the day

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps and those wishing they could shack up with Willie and Co this week.

It's Troy again.

Killing time while I wait on the apple watch to finish charging. I sleep with it on, and usually put it on the charger while I shower.

Been up since four, working on a Sales Landing page. In the 6 years that I've been trying to write books to make money, I've paid for a fair bit of advertising "classes" on line and at seminars. I finally found one that isn't just "How to set up an ad on Facebook" basics.

Taught by a retired F-16 pilot. And he teaches like he flies. My way is best, I already did the work. It costs to get this platform, and those add ons, but they're the best. Shut up and use them. Your wallet will scream, but you'll be making money soon...

So, yeah... I used this pic for the author mugshot he suggests...

Now I need to go get the expensive email collector and integrator that mates with the shopify store I'm setting up.... and it integrates with the Unbounce Landing page (ouch, that one is pricy)... and the DangerMouse... er ... mouseflow software... ugh... I better sell some books soon...

Speaking of, I'll be at the Niles Brewing Company tonight for a book reading and author chat with their book club. And I'll have books available to sign/purchase etc.

If you're in the area, come on down. No idea if they have room left or not.

OK, watch is charged. Off to do the morning shopping.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All from Gulf Shores AL, where it is partly cloudy and it is either 63° or 66° depending on which weather feed I look at. No thermometer at this house so I can't verify either. This morning, the Gulf sounds very angry, it's still too dark to see it. Back home it's raining and 69°. The forecast for home is rain for the next 8 days. The Weather Underground station about a mile from home shows 0.82" yesterday; so far since midnight another 0.12" has been added.

What does one do while on vacation??? Most of my housemates sit in chairs on the beach all damn day long. I can take about an hour or so of that a day. One of the guys, who just finally retired in mid-September mostly sat in an easy chair inside and texted and visited old workmates and friends for most of the day. That's what he was doing at 0500 this morning when I made an appearance. He disappeared at 0615 when I went out on the balcony to listen to the roar of the surf. I mostly caught up on the forum after two days on the road. Yesterday, we went grocery shopping for a while, but that is only good for the one day. Today I and probably my wife will drive about 11 miles to the model railroad museum in Foley AL, that we have gone to before. So far there are no other takers. Tomorrow our plan is to head 35 miles east to the Naval Air Station Museum in Pensacola FL. It's the home base for the Blue Angels. It has finally reopened to the public after the 2019 terrorist attack there. The museum is 350,000 sq ft inside and 37 acres outside.

Last night's supper was at a place that I hadn't been to before, Wolf Bay Lodge. Really great food, but expensive. I had a 14 oz rib eye steak with a 32 oz Samuel Adams draft beer, and sides, wife had grilled red snapper with sides and a glass of wine. Bill was $115, plus a 20% tip.

Here are three more pictures taken of the opening layout at Traintastic that I took Sunday.

The next three pictures are from an HO layout that is unfinished. Significantly, this builder likes to string electrical wires which is not something that I attempt yet. First, a crane car and a wreck

Those green buttons that you see here and maybe on other layouts are for starting and stopping trains, or for activating animation.

Sherrel- Where is the Lionel layout going???
Patrick- That's tough luck on the washer, twice!!

That's it for now, I am going out to take pictures of the surf. Uploading on this wifi is really a pain compared to home. At home it takes about 4 seconds to upload a 6 MB picture, here it is taking 4-5 minutes each for the same 6 MB picture.

Good day for now, I'll see you later. Be safe and keep warm if applicable. Everyone have a great day.

 

[Alcomotive]

Morning shop dwellers! This morn it was 34° F and steadily climbing back up to warmer temps. Currently 43° F. I started working on clearing my layout last night....still lots to do but I am satisfied with my progress. Removing all the boxes and clutter as part of my layout became a catch all for while. no more of that!

It's supposed to warm back up again into the seventies Thursday and Friday. Thursday I may take the day off and go golf with my lady friend. We have been dating now since July 22nd so far so good. Her grandfather was an engineer for the old D&H RR for 30 years. So she understands my passion for MRR that's a plus.

Next week I am approaching my celebration of another trip around the sun on Nov 2nd....a little bitter sweet because it is also Souls Day for the Catholics. My family will be going to mass that evening to pay respects for the loss of my baby sister last year and receive her cross that was on her casket during the funeral last year. My parents are still in heavy heart of course I am too. No parent should lose a child at any age, it sucks. So on that day I will be 55. Hence the bitter sweetness of that day. My lady friend and I will go out to dinner that evening and celebrate the next day. I will take the 3rd off.

I have started a new regiment in the fitness world after a 10 year hiatus. I started on October 1st. So here we are 24th day. I have mainly been doing cardio and dropped 8lbs already. I am walking 4 miles a day and right after walking doing the exercise bike as well up to 3 miles. I am fasting intermittently and am on a high fiber and protein diet. I will do another 2 weeks of cardio and will be adding swimming into my routine too before adding physical exercise such as machines and free weights. Which will be a low low weight and low resistance but very high repetitions, which is key. Not looking to to get huge again even though I have muscle memory that will bounce back but no need to bulk up not at this age lol. I am looking forward to it actually. My target goal is to go back to 205 weight class, currently I am at 255. I should be able to make it by February 1st at the latest.

I have been enjoy the fall transition. Still have lots to do around the house but it will get done.

Ya'll have a good day and rest of the week. My EMD SD40 showed up at my door step yesterday. I plan on posting tonight the pictures and a video for my channel on YT.

Later!

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Morning everyone: Currently 53 looking for 75 with variable clouds and breezy.
Fitful night - don't know why - "newsed" bed is comfortable - was up after 4 hours of sleep and watched two movies on the telly and then was able to fall off pretty good for a few more hours.

JAMES - Early congrats on another successville orbit! Blessings to you and the family from the loss; been there myself.
Don't hurt yourself with the exercise?

PATRICK - Sorry for the mishaps with the washer machine - you are sloshing way too hard!

KARL (the TV Man) Good luck with the electronics. Keep us abreast of the happening?

WILLIE - I'll have a full bay of the 3 car garage after MUCH cleaning out and tool sales!
I did not realize that the Navel Museum had a terrorist attack?
Have you tried using your phone as a hotspot for your photos? Might be faster?