Well, the move has been made, the switcher has uncoupled and is off to a new assignment. The girls have cleaned up the mess and the Diner is now re-opened for the month!
Welcome aboard!
Wow, this place is quiet - all cleaned up as well.
There looks to be a new waitress working the breakfast shift. The coffee smells hot and inviting just like always. Mmmm, some eggs and sausage, chili in a bowl, burgers and fries, what kind of pies - the Tom Waits song bounces around inside my head not long breaking into conciseness from the night before. I ease myself onto the bar stool gazing at the menu sign written on the wall that hasn’t changed since 1956 - why should it, the menu carries all the old favorites and we don’t eat New York city food around here.
The waitress said her name was Marge and that she would be looking after me - shewt, that wouldn’t take long as I was still the only one here and I still hadn’t got past the coffee on the order I was working on in my head. OK, just coffee, thanks, Marge, oh, and bacon with two eggs, poached, nice a
My sister was recently trying to tell me (after her son totaled his Scion) that her son is really a good driver. I looked at her in disbelief! I said to her “I’ve been driving for over 35 years. In that time I’ve had 4 accidents, 3 of them minor. The last one was over 10 years ago. Your son smashed up your car how many times in 1 year? 7? Since then he’s totaled 4 others and been in minor wrecks with 5 more? Don’t bother counting. You’ll have to borrow 6 of my fingers to make the full count. 16? And that’s the ones we know about? How does that make him a good driver? If I was still selling car insurance I’d turn him away in half a heartbeat. He’s too dangerous and he’s only in his mid 20’s. What lies ahead? So far he’s been lucky and walked away from every one of them with only a few scratches. At some point the law of averages is going to catch up with him and I don’t want to be there when it does. He doesn’t consider himself drunk until there’s an empty case of beer cans and God knows what else he does.”. This came up because he’s trying to talk his parents (my sister and brother-in-law) into giving him still another car. I say that if he wants another one (he still has a pickup, a van and a motorcycle) he can get it on his own. Maybe then he’ll take care of it. I think she’s seeing the point I’m trying to make.
Welp. Time for this little one to head off for some shut eye—
My blood sugar is now in the high single digits–that is in our Canadian manner of speaking here–now to see if the thing stays down there—
Ulrich… please check your mail… and reply as soon as possible. If you have no mail… please write me in any form you feel is the fastest… your co-operation is appreciated…lol.
Accidents… wow… I’ve got a story… sort of~ I think it was Jeff that once said… Fridays … no one is on… well here’s my story. Gather around folks… just in time for the celebration… its a May Pole story… May 1st!.
I don’t know if you can imagine… a modern ‘pass’… going over oh an easy 4,000 foot elevation…in a major rain storm… but one time… Jeanne and I were driving through the desert…going over the pass. Four lanes across, each way … but more like a freeway… with a negative pitch… I know it sounds crazy… and the grade is about 6 percent as well. No I’m not kidding … I’m talking about the famous Cajon Pass… yes… the old… UP, BNSF route into the basin of Los Angeles. Its got to be the steepest / working railway in the west.
Take a look at the pic… actually click on it… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cajon_Pass
heres a brief description… I had to laugh… “… known for high wind, turbulence and fog. The weather over the pass can vary, from foggy days with poor visibility to clear afternoons where aircraft are bounced by gusting Santa Anna Winds that top 80 mph”
Well Jeanne is driving… and we’re in a storm… a fairly big one … enough to know… that we are now on the down side of the mountain… and gaining speed… as well as intensity of the rain. Jeanne is going fast… and I mean fast… I say… “Ah hon… don’t ya think you better take it easy a bit” … and she doesn
You guys move fast. It’s still April in Indy (for another hour, anyhow)
First off, I need to apologize for getting lost in the diner shuffle. There’s a lot for me to catch you up on (namely, paperwork-certified at Indiana Transportation Museum to be junior brakeman…) but I need to thank you all again fro your support two years ago with my Dad. Unforunately, I need to ask for it again. Cause I’m gonna lose him in the next 24-48 hours to a complication of cancer. We couldn’t lick it, and now he’s building fluids too fast to pump it out. We can hear it in his breathing. Everything south of the neck is retaining, and there’s a bunch of infections running aound to boot. Mostly, he’s peaceful, the body and spirit are barely connected. Every now and again he flinches, struggles, and cries out “no”, sometimes to us telling him its alright to leave, and then he slips back out. But I know I culd use your help, and he’ll need it to get to the station at the Gates. He’s afraid to leave, and none of us want him to, but we’ve said our goodbyes and we’re ready.
Sorry to be such a downer. But it ain;t been a fun second Semester.
There is no question here at the Diner that most of us keep us others in prayers here. We do suffer they neighbors loss and to be amongst friends is … well family. I have always maintained civil comments…concerning religion… and many beliefs… even during the Christmas Holidays when some troll tried to dash our holidays.
As far as physical comfort… if your father has fluid in his lungs… sitting up he’ll breath better. If he lies flat… its harder for him to breathe. A semi reclining position / or bed might do the job.
And if I should be kicked off this forum, for posting this… well then it is well worth my friend. I can’t help… but I want to help. If I have offended others here in the diner… I’m sorry.
My friend… at this point… this is all I have to offer.
Pray this with your father.
My Lord and my God, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and that He died on the
cross and shed His blood for the forgiveness of my sins.
I believe Jesus rose again from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost and sits
on the right hand of God.
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and wash all my sins away with Your blood.
I invite you into my heart as my personal Savior, and will follow you the rest
of my life.
Your Word says you’ll turn no one away, and that includes me. Therefore, I know
you’ve heard me, and I know you’ve answered me, and I know I’m saved.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving my soul.
The first time I prayed that… I was 12 years old. I have never forgotten it.
If I’m banned… its been nice knowing all of you. ~
[:-^] Uhh, is there a {low jack } device on the Diner or just the EOT?? I seem to be having location problems . ~~~ My presant loc. is mp.31.5 in time warp~~~ , other than that things seem to be on track?? Izzat richt? LOL. The 2 previous posts remind me of trips down infamous Donner Pass with the comedy of errors. I better have some coffee in my chipped N&W mug / w a slug of coal dust for added flavor [(-D] 18 wheelers can be fun driving in rain & fog , right? Respectfully, Cannonball
KEITH: If anybody bans you for this… they’ll have to ban me too, because I’ll defend you to the end on this one.
MORGAN: Our thoughts are with you, your Dad, and your family at this most difficult time. May he find comfort and peace.
Chris[8]
[:(] Morgan ; sorry to hear about your Father. Prayers are being said from my family to yours . Respectfully, Az. Jim
Your comment about the flavor of the coffee reminded me of my grandfather and his trusty percolator that he never washed. One day my grandmother washed it. After the chewing she got about washing away all the built-up flavor she never touched it again while he was alive. That percolator perked away for another 10 years before it got washed out and retired, only after my grandfather had passed away in 1976 from lung cancer at the age of 76. My grandmother couldn’t bring herself to throw that dented up thing away so it occupied a place on top of the china cabinet. After she passed on in the 90’s it was passed to my father who still has it in his kitchen. It rarely gets used anymore but when it does it works just as good as it did back then. Somehow the coffee brewed in it tastes better than what you get from a modern coffee maker.
Morgan - my [angel] go out to your father, your family and you! We are all in His hands.
Good Morning,
I actually did catch some more sleep, but too little to be fully restored. Need to do something about it.
Jeff - my FIL was like that as well - never cleaned “his” coffee maker. He died 13 years ago, and we keep this old coffee pot the way it was, but don´t use it [:D]
Keith - should you get kicked out, I´d join you, together with Chris and others…[yeah]
Chloe (or Marge?), I´ll have my French breakfast - a bucket full of cafe au lait, trois croissants, beurre, and jam/honey, ah, well, and some of that home made lemon curd, please.
Morgan:[angel] go to your father and your family. We are in His hands here–
Jeff: My dad was exactly like that. In fact my sister still has the unwashed perculator and will use it on occasion…
Hello–
We got the T’storms and showers coming today and tomorrow. Just in time for the weekend[:-^]
I’m going to go into the trainroom and see whether I can get some pix of the Denfield mill site–
Flo, I’ll have a coffee in a chipped CN mug and a toasted bagel please----I’m going to the window booth to check out the scenery here–[swg]
Good morning all,
Well once again I’m behind posts……
The funeral for my Grandma went very well, we didn’t expect many people to attend as most of her peers have passed already; however a few surprises were in store. 1951-1963 my Grandmother worked for Schramm’s Nursery in Toledo, OH, a 17 year old kid started working there and had no car, so for 8 years my Grandmother would pick him up and drive him to work, well he showed up to the funeral home, the wife of my grandfather’s cousin stopped in, and my uncle’s best friend from high school stopped by. It was almost a family reunion with the Himez, Mann, Burkhart, and Soule’s all together.
My concrete contractor stopped out yesterday and laid out the chalk lines for the new apron and made the cuts in the curb. Today he will be here to remove the old apron and the heaved up spot under the garage door.
Tomorrow is the NMRA train show in Sandusky, OH.
Thunder storms tonight through Monday, so I’m going to try and get some of the yard work finished….
Morning - Marge, is it? Some of our late night and weekend servers are harder to learn names than others. Welcome to the Diner from one of the (lately very) occasional Diners. I’ll have a go cup of coffee, please, as in about a half hour or so I will be on the road to Cadiz, Kentucky. Gonna visit Garry and his retired train guys/fellow MRR’ers there, run a train or two, have some lunch, etc.
Keith, I haven’t problems with your post - and Morgan, have your Dad and your family on the [angel] list. Anything you all can do to comfort, support and encourage your Dad as he heads for the big P.Gates station, and may he have a first class ride getting there.
Keith, thanks for posting the link about the Cajon Pass. Though I had a hard time seeing where the rail lines were in that wide-angle view, that shot of the UP loco coming through looked nice.
AzJim, good to see you again (though you may have been through while I was out, I’m sure). [tup]
Had some thunderboomers move through last night/this a.m.(early), but the worst stuff on the radar looked to be another county or more north of us (so said some [angel][angel] for Todd, Jerry, Inch and all our Indiana/Ohio Diners).Supposed to be raining today and tomorrow also (great weather for driving to Kentucky…)
I may be able to start getting a little more caught up on posts tomorrow afternoon. Not sure how late it may be when I get back home tonight. Depends on how much of a party animal Garry is when Shelley’s out of town…[swg] I’d best get myself loaded up and going now. See you all later!
Blessings and prayers,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Lee … Again, sorry about your grandma. It is good, however, for familiy to get together. That often happens too rarely with today’s busy schedules and geographic distances,
Morgan … Of course, we are here to support you, and I am very sorry to hear the news. I would like to assure you there is something much better waiting for your Dad and each of us when our bodies are gone. I thought of you, PC, and Bill T as I drove through Indiana last week. I would have waved but did not see you.
Today, Jim CG will be here for a layout tour of three layouts (Dan’s UP, Gus’s IC, and my CB&Q)
Lots of raining out there now.
Happy Model Railroading.
Good morning. It’s 74 and cloudy. the high will be around 82 and there’s a chance of thunderstorms.
Well I haven’t heard any bad news in relation to the lab work done at the docs office yesterday. I’ll check back with them Monday and see if there’s anything I should be worried about. The only real wind damage we;ve had here from all the wind lately was a tree was blown over on some power lines and some trees got the tops ripped out of them. Nobody hurt that I know of. I may be able to get some weathering work done on a tank car today but it’s also laundry day, so I’m gonna be busy with that.
Good morning all. Whew! Been busy with little free time in the last couple days. I said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m leaving the retired life and going back to work. I need a break. Dodged the storms last night. Unfortunately I see others did not .
Keith- Thanks but my ailment is nothing more than a narrowing of the holes the nerves exit the vertebra through. No pain unless I move, then pain is an option, sometimes there is just a loss of feeling in my legs, not like turning off a switch mind you, it takes abit, similar to laying on your arm and I goes to sleep. Like walking on soft ground sometimes not sure of a bottom. Sorta. Kinda hard to describe the feeling. Weird it is I must say. When there is pain, it usually comes in two forms. A sharp mule kicking with an ice pick that will just about bring you to your knees, or a small slightly sharp pain that changes into a dull ache getting progressively worse over a hours last up to a few days until it suddenly “poof!” goes away. Feels like a pulled muscle, except for the way it goes away. Poof. Usually that is the longest lasting of the symptoms and is the one that finally sent me to the doc to find out it wasn’t a pulled muscle. I originally went to get something stronger than the OTC’s that weren’t cutting it. Thusly ending my career because the Army docs determined I do not have 100% mobility in my back. Thanks for the meds thought anyway, but I use pain, not saying I’m tough and don’t feel pain, but I use it as a “don’t do that” warning and a “ok now it’s healed” green light. I don’t usually take ‘em. Uuuusually. Of course, my little inconvenience is doodly squat compared to what G and Jeff deal with. BUT, with what I do have knowing it is small potatoes, I can imagine their situations and empathize. Enough of me, now for you. I’m really enjoying watching the progress of your scene. Though I haven’t had time to play much with my RR, I am enjoying watching your progress. You trip through the KAY- yown pass had me ro
Oh but of course! Everybody just keeps getting in his way as he flies along at 20-30 miles over the limit. He’s one of those ‘If you don’t like the way I drive then get off the sidewalk’ types. I won’t ride with him. He asked me once if he could borrow my car. My answer was a very definite NO.
Hi guys!
A hot balmy day here for the first of May! Time to turn on the A/C so it doesn;t get unbearable in here!
We WERE going to go to Steamtown to watch them play with the trains…but called yesterday and they aren’t running steam until the END of May. That and my other half got called into work cuz someone called off for today and we certainly need the extra $$$.SO that ruined my plans for this wonderfull, if hot day. Woulda given me some good excersize wandering around the yard too. IF my back held up nicely.
I don’t have any gumption yet to plan/play/mend the garden yet. I’m hoping soon I will so I can get some kind of excersize doing that. Last year I ran a depressed state all year long and didnt do any gardening and so the dandy-lions have taken over the plot, so I don’t know about this year yet…
Oh for those who read it wrong cuz I wrote it wrong, I’m at a 1600 calorie diet, not a 1200. Just below the “normal” 1800 calorie diet. I do cheat once in awhile too. Like my other half HAD to bring some frozen yogurt home! The issue with my gaining weight can also be attributed to the 18 medications I take, not including the three pain relievers and 1 muscle relaxer I take. I’m also borderline diabetic and we all know that can spell trouble with a capital “T” sometimes.
Jeffrey- sounds wise not to let the kid take your car! I wonder just what his insurance rates are! I’ll bet a far cry from the $600 a year I pay for full coverage on the new van. Of course we also always ttake the safe driver courses every 3 years to get the further discount on the insurance. Me thinks someone ought to sign the boy up and make him go to take it if it’s offered in your state and area.
Well, guys who need prayers…and I saw a few, but don’t remember now exactly who…