Running Bear's September 2023 Coffee Shop

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Good Morning All. Clear and 69° on the old homestead this morning. Low to mid-90's for the high all week, 70°± for the overnight lows; no rain in the forecast other than the 2% chance for today. The waiting game begins with the pool temperature, it's been holding steady in the 84°-85° for a few days. Let's hope that it stays that way for a while longer. I have plenty of pool chemicals to last for a while, and I have a brand new winter cover just waiting to go on.

Pleasant day yesterday. I mowed with the battery operated push mower for almost an hour until the battery needed a recharge, mowing around trees, flower beds, wood piles and other areas that are hard to do with the tractor. I like using it because I don't have to use hearing protection with it. Still need the safety glasses though. No dust mask yesterday either since there has been enough rain to settle the dust. I finally stacked the wood from the tree that fell over during the storm about 10 days ago. It's been cut but occupying the garden cart ever since. I needed the cart for the shredded leaves and grass clippings to go to the garden.

Fall is sorta here, at least to the local snakes who are migrating to my barn. There is a 150 sq ft shop inside there with a wood floor and they like to spend the winter sheltered under that. Small rodents and crickets hang out there too, providing readily available meals all winter.

I made very little progress yesterday out in the train shed, things were just not going together well, so I switched a bunch of cars around in the staging yard. I did get the parking lot stripes done at Betty's Diner.
IMG_0484.JPG

I did get one wing done on the motor inn as well, but that was a bit frustrating.
IMG_0482.JPG

IMG_0483.JPG

I haven't set it aside yet, but the temptation certainly was there.

Sherrel - Glad to read that you are feeling better. That energy bucket just keeps being harder to find. Good luck with the dryer; it seems to be past the point of no return.
Tom O - Have a safe trip. I don't remember where you said that you were going.

Today is National Pancake Day. That explains Mel's special on breakfast this morning.
Everyone have a great day.
 


Well, howdy there internet peeps and those without gold bars and tons of cash in envelopes you "pulled from your savings!" Or those who don't fly around on billionaire's jets

It's Troy again...

Just got back from the dentist for the bi-annual chomper check-up. All was good. Got to meet the new DDS doc. Looks like she's gearing up to take over the practice when the old guy retires.

And, I had chatty-cathy as the hygenist. During previous visits with her, she'd stop working to chat. I don't mind a bit of chatting, but I warn them that I'm pumping smooth jazz through my Bluetooth hearing aids to keep my dental anxiety under control... Didn't phase her. And she kept asking questions while sharp pointy things were in my mouth.

Fortunately, she retires in Feb '24, and my next check-up is April '24

Got the cover artist booked for the next two books. Now I just have to figure out the plot and write them.

Back to work. Need to study a new book genre's market, and finish up the last book. Only about 5ish chapters to write.
 
Good morning from a very wet So. Central WIsconsin. The rain collection beaker out front had more then 1.5 inches of rain water in it. I need a new beaker, the lines are getting very faded. From 11 last night till maybe 10 this morning we have been getting rain. Definitely needed.

The main track crew of 3 are running about 45 minutes late and I’m ok with that. I actually slept later and better last night than I have in a while. I am just relaxing.

I am packed for the start of the travels tomorrow. Just my meds and some diet Dr Pepper to be put in the car in the morning. We normally leave on trips like this between 8 and 9. Seems the navigation expert says between 6 and 7 for tomorrow. She wants to avoid the rush hour traffic in KC on I35. Funny as she doesn’t seem to ever be the driver during the big city drive by on I35.

enjoy the day
Have a safe trip.
 


LOUIS - I'm crushed! Your in the makings for a layout ahead of me.
I may be on the scoreboard first, but this is only the first inning. It took me six years to get this far.

I play by the old rules, no pitch clock.
Problem is that when I get home from work, I'm usually too tired to do much.
I suspect that it is your body telling you to rest. Take my advice and listen when your body talks.

You have done a phenomenal job already. I get tired just reading about all you do!
I actually slept later and better last night than I have in a while. I am just relaxing.

I am packed for the start of the travels tomorrow.
I hope those good sleeps continue.

Have a safe and enjoyable journey.
 
Being that Japanese trains are in effect narrow gauge I assume that width is narrower also. That might just work out perfect for His needs.

Yeah typical JR non-Shinkansen (bullet trains) are Cape Gauge (1067mm IIRC). So both N (1/150) and H0 (1/80) are non standard so that the track looks "more correct" compared to the train. With N scale, the Shinkansen models are 1/160 as the Shinkansen run on the standard gauge tracks. At the scale of models the difference between 1/150 and 1/160 is not that big so having both bullet trains at 1/160 and regular trains at 1/150 doesn't look bad.

What is interesting is that besides the Shinkansen at standard gauge, there are other trains that run on standard gauge as well. Almost exclusively non-JR. The private railroads, of which there are not few, are a mix of the cape gauge like JR and standard gauge. JR does run a small amount of standard gauge with non bullet trains in an area or two where they run through on private railways that are not cape gauge (ie, the predominant railway in the area is a private standard gauge and JR owns a section that interfaces and runs through on the private railway).

The private railway I am most familiar with is Hankyu, which is in the greater Osaka area, and they are standard gauge.

Almost all freight services are run by JR so they are all cape gauge. It gets confusing for those of us who notice or have a clue of any of this.
 
Good Morning All. Clear and 69° on the old homestead this morning. Low to mid-90's for the high all week, 70°± for the overnight lows; no rain in the forecast other than the 2% chance for today. The waiting game begins with the pool temperature, it's been holding steady in the 84°-85° for a few days. Let's hope that it stays that way for a while longer. I have plenty of pool chemicals to last for a while, and I have a brand new winter cover just waiting to go on.

Pleasant day yesterday. I mowed with the battery operated push mower for almost an hour until the battery needed a recharge, mowing around trees, flower beds, wood piles and other areas that are hard to do with the tractor. I like using it because I don't have to use hearing protection with it. Still need the safety glasses though. No dust mask yesterday either since there has been enough rain to settle the dust. I finally stacked the wood from the tree that fell over during the storm about 10 days ago. It's been cut but occupying the garden cart ever since. I needed the cart for the shredded leaves and grass clippings to go to the garden.

Fall is sorta here, at least to the local snakes who are migrating to my barn. There is a 150 sq ft shop inside there with a wood floor and they like to spend the winter sheltered under that. Small rodents and crickets hang out there too, providing readily available meals all winter.

I made very little progress yesterday out in the train shed, things were just not going together well, so I switched a bunch of cars around in the staging yard. I did get the parking lot stripes done at Betty's Diner.
View attachment 174548
I did get one wing done on the motor inn as well, but that was a bit frustrating.
View attachment 174549
View attachment 174550
I haven't set it aside yet, but the temptation certainly was there.

Sherrel - Glad to read that you are feeling better. That energy bucket just keeps being harder to find. Good luck with the dryer; it seems to be past the point of no return.
Tom O - Have a safe trip. I don't remember where you said that you were going.

Today is National Pancake Day. That explains Mel's special on breakfast this morning.
Everyone have a great day.
Willie

Eisenhower Museum in Abilene, Kansas
Truman Museum in Independence, Missouri
Midwest modelRR in Independence, Missouri
exploring Kansas City with friends
exploring Springfield, Missouri with friends
St. Charles, Missouri for 2 UW WIsconsin hockey games
exploring St. Louis, Missouri
Lansing, Michigan Women’s VB
Art Institute, Chicago
Kenosha, Wi friends

This should be a fun trip if the weather cooperates as the predictions indicate
 
A little scene comes to mind from "Full Metal Jacket" when drill instructor finds Private Pyle's box open😆

Funny story:

I joined the Army reserve under the delayed entry program. I went to basic training in between my junior and senior year of high school. That movie cane out just before I left for basic training, and a bunch of us watched it together one night that were in the same program. We were freaking out thinking what awaits us in a few months!

Imagine this 17-year-old kid from a town of less than a 1000 people seeing this movie and having to go off to basic training in a few months.

Yea! Highly traumatic!
 
Funny story:

I joined the Army reserve under the delayed entry program. I went to basic training in between my junior and senior year of high school. That movie cane out just before I left for basic training, and a bunch of us watched it together one night that were in the same program. We were freaking out thinking what awaits us in a few months!

Imagine this 17-year-old kid from a town of less than a 1000 people seeing this movie and having to go off to basic training in a few months.

Yea! Highly traumatic!
The drill instructors played that movie for us on the evening before graduation...I thought this was pretty hilarious. That was my first time watching and pretty funny how you describe the "before" as opposed my "after" reaction.
 


My father grew up in Baltimore, born in '50. He was still a Colts fan even after they left Baltimore. He didn't believe in teams moving and being a different team. He always thought the Ravens were the Browns.

He didn't have a good answer for me when I asked him about the O's being the St. Louis Browns. :D He loved the Orioles, always listened to games on the radio.
I understand how your dad felt. I was a young man when the Colts left, and I still feel an affinity to the Colts. I became interested in the Redskins when Vince Lombardi was head coach. In 1972 the Colts failed to make the playoffs, so I routed for the Redskins in the playoffs. When the Colts left the Redskins became my number one NFL team. I still follow the Washington Commanders, but the Ravens are the number one NFL team in my book!

There are still a few Colt fans here in Baltimore. Next February will be forty years since that sad snowy morning when the moving vans pulled out of Baltimore. The Colts are mostly forgotten here in Baltimore now.

The Colts were deeply rooted in Baltimore culture. Many Baltimoreans have forgoten the Colts were more popular here than the Orioles. The Orioles were one of the most successful franchises in MLB, yet they struggled to draw a million fans. At one time the Baltimore Colts sold out every game. The Orioles have always been my favorite. Baseball is the best sport in my mind! The NFL is a close second.

It's an odd twist of fate. The Orioles and the Ravens were both named the Browns before moving to Baltimore. Once again, real life shows it is stranger than fiction.
 
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