Running Bear's September 2025 Coffee Shop

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You are brilliant, how in God's name do you know all this stuff? All this illustrates why I am a proud financial supporter of WikiMedia.

I admire your creativity as well as your intelligence. Thank you for sharing some inside information.
There is a "personality test" called the Clifton Strengths (aka The Gallup Strengths Finder because Gallup purchased the rights to the research Dr. Clifton did).

Research Psychologist Dr. Clifton and his grad students interviewed hundreds of thousands of folks back in the mid to late 20th century, and identified key strengths that people had, which would make them successful or not at certain professions. They found 34 of these key strengths. They then developed a test for each of those strengths. If you've ever taken one of those 150-ish question tests for Meyers-Briggs, DISC or others, same idea.

BUT they're not trying to put you in a box like the INFJ or ENTP or whatever Meyers Briggs does. Instead you get a ranking. Here are my top 10, next to the other 24.
00-Strengths List.png

If the strength is in the top 10, I can use it easily and naturally.

Note the green Strategic Thinking and Blue Relationship Building strengths are all top 10.

The purple "Achiever," that is top for almost all very successful business builders, That's my LEAST strong attribute.

Once I learned this style of strength building, I learned why I was talented with photography, but sucked at the business side.

Those top strengths - AFTER Adaptability - all work for making the stories flow. I'm better at coming up with the story ideas and writing the books, than looking at numbers, making marketing decisions, or building the business.
 
Morning folks. Laundry is in the dryer and I've had some cheese and crackers for breakfast. A little unusual, even for me but it was pretty good.

Stripped the frame on a P99 yesterday. It is in its original OD Green factory molded color now. Not crazy about the color, but back in '02 it was all the distributor had in stock for a P99. I painted it not long after, and then again a decade after that. The paint holds up pretty well on polymer, but like any other coating, it wears over time on the high points, sharp edges, and from holster contact.

Undecided on a re-paint. For now I'm going to leave it factory for awhile.

Nothing planned today but I'm sure I'll find something to do.
 
Good morning gang! (damn near lunch time!)

74° and sunny with scattered big white fluffy clouds, speaking of big white and fluffy we had a Pyrenees when I was just a kid. Santa was his name. Me and my cousin used to ride him like a pony. Big gentle fluff of a dog, but lethal to any ground hog in the pastures or fields.

Been crazy busy at work the last few days, with several people extending the Labor Day holiday . Next week should be calmer. These 11-12 hour days are tough!

Personality test?? I don't need one, I have quite the personality!!! 😁 ;)
 


Good morning all. 77 here, heading for 86 and mostly sunny. Today hit 64 on the Annual Count, the body feels quite a bit older! Picked up some Hazelnut syrup last night and trying it in the coffee this morning, jury is still out. Gonna run a couple errands later, then church tonight.
@troyphoto what is your pen name? I would like to check out your work.
Happy Annual Count day
 
It’s afternoon in Wisconsin without looking at the clock! The tornado/air raid/civil defense sirens are practicing the Wednesday noon ritual. They are loud as I just start to type

The windows are open and there is a nice breeze rolling through the house. Between the rains this morning I boiled 20 brats and 20 mild Italian sausages and then grilled them. Grilled 5 pounds of bacon, did some taste testing and I will freeze them later. For lunch I finished off the other 1/2 of last night’s Chinese cashew shrimp and fried rice.

Next up is a quick trip over to the grandson’s house and I let his mom and dad know I’ll be there at 1. Both work from home, sort of. The daughter now has an outbuilding about 1000’ from the new house that she works out of. The SIL goes about 1 mile away to his vineyard and works mainly out of his support building that we have not finished his office in yet. They will both meet me for their lunch breaks to test the slot track. Neither were informed by the grandson there might be some issues. I’ll bring over 3 of my slot cars for the testing. That will give us a base line if it’s the grandson’s cars or the track being an issue

The SIL texted he wants to meet about planting more vines in the vineyard this month. Terry is gone until Sunday or Monday and he wants her to do a Zoom meeting. That means he short for money. I suggested Thursday, so we shall see what she says. I’m not sure how we can both harvest and plant this month. He usually plants in early May and mid October after the September harvesting! I do know his harvesting Crew he has hired the last few years are no longer in the area. They stayed in Mexico this season

One of the layout guys texted as he had a cancellation for a OPS session at 8pm tonight. I couldn’t promise I could absolutely make it as I had a meeting at 4pm this afternoon changed to a dinner meeting at 6:15. Free dinner, of course I changed it!

Enjoy the day
 
Good afternoon, all! Overslept this morning. Guess I needed it. Sun is out, hot and humid. Not much happening here.

Deacon - Happy Birthday.
Smudge - Could it be a insulated pressurized tank car used for LPG or Butadiene.
Marlin - I have been tempted on a few occasions to adopt a Great Pyrenees. Now I'm too old to properly care for a dog that big.

STAY SAFE
LATER
 


Good afternoon, all! Overslept this morning. Guess I needed it. Sun is out, hot and humid. Not much happening here.

Deacon - Happy Birthday.
Smudge - Could it be a insulated pressurized tank car used for LPG or Butadiene.
Marlin - I have been tempted on a few occasions to adopt a Great Pyrenees. Now I'm too old to properly care for a dog that big.

STAY SAFE
LATER
This is the first true "working" dog we've ever had. The litter was advertised as a 50% GP & 50% lab, but we did the DNA test twice and she's definitely 100% GP. We wouldn't have adopted the pup if we knew. They need livestock to guard. GP's know what their "job" is and you're not going to tell them otherwise. It ain't stubbornness. They genetically know what they need to do....to protect the flock (currently our family).

My wife says she has never felt so safe in the house alone or on a walk. They're also nocturnal and will roam the house at night.....and alert to any strange noise especially at the 4am Amazon delivery. Unfortunately when Sugar switches on she becomes Cujo and it's a while to switch off. When she hears or sees a coyote it's hold on tight because it's game on.

We will never get a puppy again, of any breed. We almost didn't last the first 2 years with her. I'll admit It's tough and takes a lot of time & energy when you get older. If there's a next dog it will be an adult rescue.
 
I’ve never painted a poly frame but wouldn’t something like Ceracote work well on it and have less issues wearing?

Not really. Cerakote and the other epoxy based finishes are more prone to chipping. Any coating holding up for ten years is good in my book. If I do it again, it will be another can of Krylon Fusion.

Here is an example of Cerakote on the Marine Corps issued Colt M45A1. They are returning them to Colt and they are not happy about them.

Colt-M45A1-USMC-return-cerakote-1.jpg


Here is another example after only 10 months. The Krylon held up better on my Walther than Cerakote ever will.


cerakote-issue-v0-zmzicy8fpwta1.jpg
 
Not really. Cerakote and the other epoxy based finishes are more prone to chipping. Any coating holding up for ten years is good in my book. If I do it again, it will be another can of Krylon Fusion.

Here is an example of Cerakote on the Marine Corps issued Colt M45A1. They are returning them to Colt and they are not happy about them.

Colt-M45A1-USMC-return-cerakote-1.jpg


Here is another example after only 10 months. The Krylon held up better on my Walther than Cerakote ever will.


cerakote-issue-v0-zmzicy8fpwta1.jpg
I don't know the chipping almost makes it more rugged in a way. but anyway nice pew
 
God evening all
It has rained most of the day.

I have been expecting a parcel to be delivered today. According to Royal Mail tracker it was eight miles away 24 hours ago???
They will deliver it tomorrow!!!

Dawn hasn't been 100% today; not even 60%. A good job we are not ill together.

Flo, can I have a large tea please.

Just purchased a little 0.4.0 locomotive brand new at half price.. Reason it was half price is the livery is not a popular one. Store wanted 'rid of it'. Should arrive early next week. One happy NorthBrit.
 


Not really. Cerakote and the other epoxy based finishes are more prone to chipping. Any coating holding up for ten years is good in my book. If I do it again, it will be another can of Krylon Fusion.

Here is an example of Cerakote on the Marine Corps issued Colt M45A1. They are returning them to Colt and they are not happy about them.

Colt-M45A1-USMC-return-cerakote-1.jpg


Here is another example after only 10 months. The Krylon held up better on my Walther than Cerakote ever will.


cerakote-issue-v0-zmzicy8fpwta1.jpg


How long for the Marine Corps guns to look like that? I suspect they see a lot of use. Parkerized (and blued) guns that are heavy use also show a lot of wear from holstering etc. I suspect Marine Corps 1911s aren't safe queens.

I've only ever used Duracoat but it held up nicely on an AR I did. For any of those the biggest challenge is surface prep. No oils or grease or dirt is allowed and polymer probably needs to be roughed up a little to get a surface to adhere to.

I've had an aversion to painting guns. I have plenty I could have done it to but for some reason I find it emotionally hard to do it. Same reason probably that I don't weather my trains. On the rifles (mostly AR) I mix colors for various doo-dads. Stock, grip, panels, etc might all be different colors to try and break up the outline.
 
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