Good Morning Everyone. 42° and cloudy. Not too sure what the difference between cloudy and overcast is, but it looks more overcast to me. Weather Underground indicates 100% chance of rain today and tomorrow. Yesterday's 90% never materialized here. Weather guys need to communicate with Mother Nature a little bit better. Made the grocery/beer trek yesterday in record time, maybe since my wife stayed home! Gas stations all over Denton TX have regular gas for between $1.69 and $1.74 per gallon. Been a long time since I saw that price. Even out here in the boonies, $1.99 is the going rate.
Still savoring supper from last night. I fixed a prime rib roast medium-rare (more rare than medium), smashed potatoes, gravy, Yorkshire pudding and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts. Accompanied that with a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. We only have this once or twice a year due to cost, but rib roasts were on sale about three weeks ago and I picked one up. Wife actually made the gravy and Yorkshire pudding since I am challenged by both.
Had another day in the train shed of just running trains. Just not in the project mood right now. I am fortunate that I have completed the main line and I can just run trains when I am having a non-creative day. No pressures. I did experiment quite a bit with blocking the train out of the yard instead of arriving in town with a clutter of cars. While I always grouped multiple cars for a single industry together, I previously didn't do much in the order that they were in, in the train itself. Yesterday I did some grouping based on facing-point spurs and trailing-point spurs. For yesterday's "out and back turn", I also did not block the main with any cars since I had two sidings (opposite sides of the main) and several long spurs available for storage. Used the main only for getting back and forth and the eventual run-around. Added some additional interest to the whole operation, had to think more like a conductor. The next step will be sorting boxcars correctly. No more "RBL's" going to industries where "XM's" are more appropriate. If I ever implement the switching program that I have, this will be automatic.
Johnny - Since I have many relatives in the Dallas area, I generally get three to five gift certificates to Discount every Christmas. My birthday is ten days later and I get another handful. My grandson's however, enjoy picking out stuff that they think will fit, and they do a very good job. Actually I think that the nine year old does the picking for both of them and the eleven year old just goes along. I have gotten some very appropriate items over the years.
Best wishes and prayers for today's procedure.
Sherrel -
I wonder how long it will be until CA decides to ban fireplaces - at least wood burning types?
It probably won't be long, they need to raise revenues for PG&E to pay off the lawsuits.
Garry - Continue to have a safe trip.
Eric - You definitely deserved that Spotted Cow.
Ray - Nice wheels. Nice history and pictures as well.
Louis - I have been enjoying your historical photos of Baltimore all week long. Keep it up.
In the midst of all of the celebration of George H. W. Bush's life, Hanukkah, and the upcoming Christmas season, let's not forget that today is Pearl Harbor Day; a key date in American history. Thanks again to all veteran's especially those few remaining from that day. We salute all of you.
Have a great day everyone.