My plans? Wait I have plans? Oh yeah… 1. Finish the N scale caboose scratch build I started last weekend. 2. Change the trucks out on four N scale ore cars 3. Write a paper 4. Maybe, just maybe start another HO scratch build car. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Congratulations Jim. On Monday I officially rejoined the workforce. When I retired two and half years ago I planned to work at least part time but covid ruined that as the potential jobs dried up. A few weeks ago a friend called and asked if I would run a construction project. For me the timing was just right. The project involves reestablishing the link between the Manayunk Canal and the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. I spent the week get used to the new schedule. This weekend we need to take a trip to Delaware to gas for my car. The wife wants to do a little plant shopping. Between storms this weekend hopefully we can get any plants we buy into the ground. We have some more shopping to do. I have an RF&P Athearn blue box caboose to weather. I have two blue box and three Con-Cor Tropicana reefers to build. Maybe I can run some trains.
Rick- Good luck with the surgery. It takes a lot out of you the first couple of weeks. They went in through the sternum on me, so while I could walk around a bit I wasn’t allowed to lift anything as heavy as a gallon of milk while my chest healed. It can be scary and you can feel a little silly and helpless once your energy returns but your bones haven’t knitted together yet. But on the bright side-one of the only things that wont require any real lifting is running trains and doing things on you workbench. Good luck with it all. John Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
First and foremost to try and stay fire-free out here in east county San Diego; bone dry, hot and windy. Super great combination! I am continuing my crusade to install ESU sound decoders in "most all of my KATO locos. I have done many (many more to go) but each one gives me new ideas on how to do it better. I am really happy with the results. When I get to the U-boats, then I will have to do some cutting to install speaker and baffle. I find that I am installing the included LED's as I am not happy with the lack of brightness from the board mounted SMD. Maybe I will re-start doing some more ballasting and landscape planning. Brian
Rick, I was born with a bicuspid valve. At the age of 59 it needed to be replaced. I'm just 17 days post-op from aortic valve replacement and LAD bypass. I also had to have my sternum split. The incision is approximately 10". I was a little skeptical when everyone I talked to that had the same split told me it wasn't that bad. Turns out they weren't lying. For me the first couple days were very uncomfortable because of the three drain tubes in my chest. I would not call it painful but very uncomfortable. The second day after surgery the tubes came out and I felt like a new person. I did better than expected and came home third day post op. Pretty amazing. I have a daily routine of taking my vitals, inhaling through an incentive spirometer and short walks. All in all pretty easy stuff but it takes up a good bit of the day and wore me out at first. I'm also restricted to lifting no more than 5-8lbs. Not using your arms to assist getting up and down takes some getting used to. Having some loose fitting button down shirts helps alot the first week or so. Good Luck with everything and please keep us posted. Logging Loco aka John
Welcome back and congrats Jim! Happy for you both! Rick, good luck with the surgery. You will do great and we will send a prayer for your speedy recovery your way! We are going to continue car shopping with my son. Not buying anything today. We looked at 3 different car brands last weekend and he has 4 more brands he wants to look at before he narrows his choices down. I enjoy looking at new cars but detest it at the same time. It's his first time shopping for a car and I can tell you that car salespeople really know how to ruin the experience and that is all I will say on that. Sunday should be a bit more relaxed and for the first time in weeks, I hope to get down to the layout and run some trains. Hope you all have a great weekend!
Thanks Philip! We were down there at the same time but did not actually go to any of the venues. I knew there was a lot to see there but still was amazed at all the neat things to take in. We hope to go again maybe in two yeras.
Jazz Fest is definitely worth the visit. All the food and drink of Mardi Gras, but less naked debauchery. And great playbills with all sorts of people sitting in with all sorts of other people.
