Morning all.

Lazy day here with nothing planned.  

Hard to believe 9/11 was 23 years ago.  I think we'll all remember that day.

Jeff

Morning all.

I'm stunned the Patriots managed to win yesterday, unfortunately the Hawkeyes lost Saturday on a last minute field goal. 

Trip to the grocery store later this morning, otherwise no plans here for the day.

A P-47D from the airshow.

Jeff

Morning all.

I slept an hour and a half late and I'm still the first one here?  Everyone must be out a Labor Day festivities.  

Maybe some layout work later.  Spray painted the track.  Time to work on the road.  

Picture of a commemoration parachute drop.   It's the 79th anniversary of the end of WW2.   Never forget.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Hard to believe it's September already. 

Hawkeyes won yesterday.  Slow start, but offense woke up in the second half.  Last year they were the worst offense in the nation, scoring an average of 14 points a game, and many of those were defensive points.  We're hoping for improvement this year. 

Need to mow the yard later today.  Maybe I'll take a short walk this morning as my broken toe hasn't bothered for the last few days. 

Will get that track painted today hopefully.

Always good to see a Zephyr preservation. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Long day yesterday.  Drove to and from Western Chicago to get the new van.  Now, the deal had been made, they had all are info, etc, and yet we were at the dealer for 3 1/2 hours!  Unbelievable.  If each sale takes 5 hours (I was there an hour and a half last week), no wonder they have so many sales people, who mostly sat around yesterday as it wasn't really very busy.   Anyway, it's much quieter than the old one and rides nicely.  

Iowa football starts this morning.  Go Hawks!

Jeff

Morning all.

Heat index made it up to 114 yesterday.  Another scorcher today.  I'm getting ready to head out to work.  

This truck was at the rail museum.  Looks like something Raymo would like. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Going to have record heat here today, up to 97.  I have a trip to the grocery store on tap for this morning.  Glad I mowed yesterday when it was only 93.     

Did some layout work yesterday, hope to get back at it today.  

One plus to driving to near Chicago for the van order was a trip to Lombard Hobbies.  I'd never been to their store before.  I've never seen so much rolling stock in one store.  I had to feed my tank car addiction with a Tangent three dome car.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Glad to see Onewolf has returned to the lair.  Nice looking layout space, keep us updated on how you're going to fill it. 

Work was tiring yesterday, though not too busy.  Hard to go back after a week off.  

I do need to mow today (it rained on Wednesday so it didn't get done), otherwise nothing planned here.  

Jeff

Morning all

Back from our foray to Door county Wisconsin.  The grandkids had a great time.  I, unfortunately, missed a step and have a broken toe and a left hand in a splint.  Great to see them but happy to be home and in the quiet. 

I have a haircut appointment this morning and really need to mow today. 

This was the view out back from our rental place.  The front had a large pond with a small sand beach. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Off for the next 8 days.  Heading out to Door County Wisconsin tomorrow where all my children/grandchildren will gather for a few days.  Need to pack and gas up the van today.  

This is an Avro Lancaster seen at the airshow.  Didn't get to see it fly, though.

Jeff

Morning, all.

Later on today we'll drive to Des Moines to pick up my daughter, SIL and the grand kids.  Trains will be running for a couple of days.

The sales person at the dealership was afraid to call me after I texted her that I thought "the numbers were the numbers".  The sales manager called me.  I read him the riot act.  Anyway, I'm waiting a couple of weeks on the new car until some of the dealers have them and can figure out what to do.  

There are only two flying B-29s left.  Both were at Oshkosh this year.  This is Fifi.

Jeff

Morning all.

Having issues with the new vehicle purchase.  Costco and Consumer Reports both have buying programs.  I have been contacted by 4 dealers.  One didn't know how to order a car.  One didn't know the 2025s were out yet.  Two had no idea what the prices were, even though they were posted at the Honda site.  I'm dealing with a dealer in Des Moines and she quoted me a price, which was the 2024 price, but then when it came time to OK it, amazingly the price went up to the 2025 price.  I need to send her a nasty text this morning.  

I did run a train yesterday which showed no layout "issues".  Now to run the others and see which locos are usable and maybe run a quick cleaning train.  Layout room needs vacuuming as well.  


Achtung!  Spitfire!

Jeff

Morning all.

Well it's back to work today.  Really tough going back after 11 days off, but only 19 more months to go...

Here's a B-17 from Oshkosh.  

Jeff

Morning all.

I think I've finally recovered from all the walking/standing at the airshow.  Today's the last day of my week off.  

My wife is scheduled for platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections into both knees this morning, we'll see if it helps her knee issues, though her back is the main pain at this time.  

Glad to hear Jim's wife is doing better.  

I also have a trip to the grocery store planned for later in the day.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Back from our trip to Oshkosh.  Two great days at the airshow, but even with my working up on the walking, my legs and feet hurt after the first day, and then we went back the next with the grand kids.  Today will be another recovery day, but I need to mow later as well.

I'll bore you with my vacation photos.  This is a P-51 Mustang tribute plane to Robin Olds, a triple ace from WW2, who died in May at age 102.  He was a regular at Oshkosh, talking about his flying days.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Forgot to check in yesterday.  I went 6.3 miles on Friday's walk, skipped yesterday and will do a shorter one today.  Need to clean out the van for our trip this week.  We've put purchasing a new one on hold, as the 2025s should be announced in a week or so and we'll see if it's worth waiting.  Probably will start packing for the trip as well. 

I hope to attach the pieces to the top of the walls on the ITLA kit to "finish" it today.

Jeff

Morning all.

0827 and no patients yet.  I almost enjoy working in the summer as it's pretty quiet.  

They found no leak with the car, but the timing belt and spark plugs need replacing soon for over $2K.  I've convinced the wife we need to replace the van as I'm not pouring that amount of money into a sixteen year old vehicle.  

If I can make it through today I have the next eleven days off.   Headed to the Oshkosh air show next week.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Trash/recycling is out and car is charging.   Gonna be another hot one today.  The humidity is 93% already.  I'll be going out for my walk early, hopefully can make at least four miles.   

The garage cleaning was a chore yesterday, not only because it felt like a sauna.  I moved everything, swept everything, and...the power washer didn't work.  At first it was due to water hook up issues, but later  it tripped the circuit breaker, and I think it burned the motor out.  So after an online study of power washers (and drying off), fortunately Lowe's had the one in stock I wanted, and at $50 off.  The garage still wasn't dried out after 3 plus hours.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Thunderstorms rumbled through this morning, but it's not going to cool us off.  Hope to get the garage washed out today.

Jeff

Morning all.

TGIF, my four day weekend is here.   I have an MRI scheduled this morning and will go out for an early dinner this afternoon to a set of villages west of here called the Amanas.  They are an Amish sect from Germany and have restaurants that serve great food.  Der sauerbraten est wunderbar!

Jeff