December 2021, In the passing of this long hard year lets look ahead and never forget those we have lost in the past.
Happy 1st of December - 24 shopping days until Christmas (Yes, I wait until the last second)
Happy Chanukah for those celebrating…
I wonder if the above would get me banned - wars have started over religious beliefs…Not a fan of these heavy handed tactics
After work, ran down to the FD to sell Christmas Trees. I have to put in 10 hours, so 4 are in the books. Jenni came down and kept us company. Sold 4 and that was the night. We did have a fire call during, was a false alarm. A dinner at Panera - the only non fast food place open, then home.
We did pick out 2 trees and tagged them, so Saturday, we’ll see what we have. My Princess and future SIL will be joining us for the purchase, as they need one as well.
County Meeting tonight, I’ll have to leave early, as I have to pick up the mail prior. I have a phone call to make and depending, I may have another stop to make before my Trustees meeting at 7 and regular meeting at 8. Elections are tonight and I’m running unopposed. So, this is a slam dunk.
37 F now and 48F later - looks like the Sun is
Mornin’ guys and gal(s). Partly sunny and 38 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. NRHS chapter meeting tonight, which is the only event on my slate. Ms Kelly’s slate may MAY have more scripture…
Greenberg Show at Timonium, MD this weekend. Not going, working on the NPX.
Thanks for starting a new Coffee Pot, Kevin.[Y][8D]
Yeah, that just happened to me. Starting in January I’m the new president of the Virginia Train Collectors Association. The outgoing prez asked me if I wanted to take over and he tackled me before I could get out the door!
I think the formal change of command takes place in January. I’m not sure if there’s a formal swearing-in with my left hand on a Greenberg’s Price Guide and my right hand raised while I take the oath of office. We’ll see. [:^)]
Actually, I don’t think the job’s all that onerous, mostly just keeping the herd moving in the right direction. [;)]
Flint - There is no Bible and, yeah, I take the reigns in January.
Like the Toy Train segment, the membership is aging and not well. I have 3 years to either pi$$ off or bring the association kicking and screaming into relevence.
I’m hoping, with the help of several past presidents, to start sponsering speakers that can talk about the fire service (and bring in a few sheckels in the process), bringing in new and younger blood to foster new ideas and ways of thinking/doing things.
I may last 3 years or just 1 - but it’s something I think I can do…
All this and starting a new marriage and being Vice President and Sr. Trustee. Thank GOD my fiancee supports me in this and our collective train/Mopar habit…lol
Wow. First page of the month. Haven’t done this in a long time.
Sunny and almost 60 here in mid Mo. Got firm dates from two of the 4 contractors involved in my front porch renovation today. Their work will be done before the end of next week. More progress on the project!
Got a package of parts from the Train Tender yesterday. Now I can make progress on a 2026 repair job that fell my way. Biggest part of the job will be getting the puffer piston under stuck from the smoke unit. I’m assuming there is some smoke pellet residue gluing the piston in place.
I (your name here) will do my best, to do my duty, to train collectors, operators, enthusiasts and fans, both great and small, regardless of gauge, brand affiliations or personal preferences, to foster peace between toy lovers and rivet counters, to engage future generations at every chance, to not run off the rails to smell the buttercups, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, so help me (enter name of favorite manufacturer here)!
Jeff turned 70 two days ago
I LIKE that Becky! I may just use it! [tup][tup]
Good Morning -
Meeting went well, the president showed up - he is getting around, slowly. Great to have him back. I am now the President Elect of the Association.
Had meatballs and salad for dinner at Princeton/Mercer Engine 3 (where the meeting was). Conte’s has the best pizza and Italian food…
Spent the night with Jenni, and now back at work.
The interview with Monsignor (for the annulment) went well, my ex is contesting it. She has already re-married, so I have no idea what her problem is.
Rain last night, 50’s today, colder tonight. One of the association members is stopping by at the FD while I’m selling trees to have me look at some 40’s era Lionels. THIS coul
Very strange to be December second and not to need a jacket to go outside. 58 by 2:00pm. I will take it. [8D]
Checked out the train selection at Menards and it is very low. Just some military flat car loads and several other hopper cars, lots of very big buildings, nothing I want. [|)]
Got news that one of the gifts I ordered will not get here till after December 25th, go figure! [banghead] Granddaughter’s last cheerleader game tonight, pizza after that. [dinner]
I got one of those un-contested titled seats at the Moose once, decided after the fact, that the position sucked and I was the sucker who got it. [(-D]
[Y] [:D]
So far so good here, Chanukah has been going well. Video call the siblings off in college every night to celebrate together as a family.
My 2321 Lackawanna quit on me when I needed her during Thanksgiving, and the other day I decided to see what was up with one of my most reliable locomotives. The yellow wire from the E-Unit had broken from the brush plate. I realized preserving original wiring wasn’t an option, as this had happened before. The E-unit wires were all far too stiff, and I had to tear into it. Rebuilt the E-Unit while I was in there to do the rewiring, since I didn’t want to have to be in there again any time soon. Runs like a champ once more, but the bearings on the brush plate are looking very worn so I may be looking at doing more work on her in the near future.
The layout at the trolley museum has been doing well, I finished my rewiring for the time being and it runs like a charm. The voltage drops are gone, and the train can maintain a much more even speed now. Also ended up helping with a little of the 1:1 scale work, it was fun but very chilly towards the end of the day.
Looking forwards to seeing more of the family around this weekend, hopefully I can set up some trains to wow the little ones (and my grandfather, who might love them even more than the kids do!)
Hope all is well, take care and stay warm
-Ellie
Fife - 9 years ago we attended with Christina in tow… this was the famous ‘Awe aren’t you cute! Where did Daddy buy you?’… “Florida” interaction. Nice lady was speachless. [(-D]
88-[(-D]
Good Morning and Happy Friday!!!
I am off for Lionel Train Day tomorrow, I’ll put a couple of hours in for trees and then run over to Trains and Things in Ewing. They have the Train Day Box Car, so it will be coming home with me. I have the “green light” to find and buy a Blue Comet engine. Now, here is the rub: I can try to find an MPC era engine or find a TMCC Blue Comet. If I can get an MPC, I was considering moving the electronics from my LionChief to the MPC. The TMCC will be expensive.
Last night was another 4 hours at the FD selling trees. I got 1 run in for a “burnt offerings” in a motel. Damn microwaves, always burning things…
We sold 10 trees, I have 2 on hold so we can check them and take them home. Jenni wants to use the road runner to bring the tree home, so that’s what we will do. Home by 10.
Will try to get some ornaments on Mom’s tree today and tomorrow, I put o
Just returned home from babysitting youngest grandson. FifePops handed him the LionChief remote to his folks’ Hogwarts Express. He did fine for 10 minutes, until trying to put in his mouth (he is only ten months after all). Still, no pile-ups during his first trick. [Y]
Good Afternoon -
Got some lights up at Jenni’s, then went Christmas shopping last night - I wasn’t ready for that - stopped at TGI Fridays for dinner - food was good, ribs didn’t agree with me later on.
We now have 2 N&W 746 J Class ornaments - will probably give one to Jenni’s Dad.
Spent the morning setting up another heated cat house for the ferals, I have one more to do. Decorated the tree for Mom, she’ll put more on it then I need to get 1 more box out and finish off the house.
Off to Lionel Train Day at Trains and Things, then getting a tree with the kids and Jenni - I found the moving blankets so I can install the tree in the back seat.
Mostly cloudy and 45 now. Probably spend the evening moving furniture and getting the tree set up. Jenni is getting excited to get the trains up and running.
Work on Monday, then off Friday to Sunday for my niece’s delayed reception - she got married last year - 12/5.
Evenin’ guys and gal(s). Overcast and 50 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. Worked on the real train all day yesterday, and brought up ol’ tanenbum today. Been a-trimmin’ all afternoon, and had to “rassel” the angel on top, with the help of a step ladder. She had me so frustrated that it almost turned into a ladder match. Neck sore now.
Hello, Well winter is trying hard to break into the North Bluff. Will be down to 12 tonight won’t get over 33 today and the wind is pushing over 30 mph. Still not a flake of snow but we are ready if it happens.
Waiting on gifts we have on order and almost done with the shopping. Wife wants to put the tree up tomorrow and I want to find a reason to not be here. [(-D]
Would be nice to hear from Roy, and Shake and Bake and the two Dougs but I understand why they have ditched. Can’t say I blame then either.
Neighbor got a visit from the IL. DNR yesterday. Walked right into his shed. Seems they changed the rules on bating back in 2014 because of CWD in deer and he found out the hard way. $195.00 for the state coffers. [:O] When they left his house they went to the house of one of his friends that hunts on his land and gave him a ticket as well. [banghead] No feeding of whitetail of any kind any more but food plots. Good to know.
I think it is all about the revenue more than the deer?
About it from here.