Number Seven

Wow! Two days in a row. Who would've thought?

It started snowing - finally - about an hour ago. It was predicted by most outlets to start between 2 and 4 this afternoon, but the front was held up by strong easterly winds. The coast had snow by about 3 and it just took its sweet time moving inland. Because of the late arrival, now it seems it might last a little longer into the morning hours before changing to rain. That could be messy for the morning commute - glad I won't be in it.

Number Six

Wow! September? Really? That was the last entry? Well, I'll just have to fix that!

I introduced a new blog for my model railroad today, simply called "Central Valley and Davis." (That's the name of the railroad.) I've been telling myself for 30 years that I'm going to build it, yet I have boxes full of equipment that has never seen the shiny side of a rail. Maybe by going public, I'll be more accountable for actually getting something done. We'll see.

This, of course, depends a lot on how well my shoulder heals and how much help I can wheedle out of other people. I've had the plans for awhile now - time to start acting on them.

Number Five

Will somebody please remind me why the conversion to digital was such a damn good deal for TV viewers? Since the cable company and the networks switched, I have had more problems with getting a signal than I ever had with analog. Tonight (this morning) was a case in point: Dave Letterman had the return of Joaquin Phoenix to his show and the signal kept dropping off. I got to see most of the interview, but there were some key points I probably missed. What's worse, when Craig Ferguson came on, the intro to his show had him playing a part on "The Big Bang Theory," whose cast was on the show. Unfortunately, the signal cut out right in the middle of it and I'm sure I missed some great laughs (Craig is a big fan of the show). I was taping (yes, we still have a VCR - don't get me started on that racket) the show for Brian so he's going to miss it as well.

This, of course, was all due to the government cramming another "better" idea down our throats, but I digress (maybe I'll talk about other idiot government ideas - like outlawing incandescent light bulbs). The show has now cut out for the third time (and yes, it's across all channels). If Comcast wants to retain customers, it's going to have to do a better job than this.

Number Four

At this year's PNR Convention, mom and dad were presented the President's Award by PNR President Walt Huston (that's Al Lowe lurking behind dad in the back). This is the highest service award presented by the PNR. The citation for the award read as follows:

"One of the recipients has been a member of NMRA for over 50 years, and has attended every National Convention since Portland 1994 as well as volunteered his services to the convention committee to serve in any capacity needed at each convention.
- Served as a primary member of the PSX 2004 Convention Committee working facilities and clinics.
- Attended National Conventions in Ft. Lauderdale, Toronto, and St. Louis for the primary purpose of selling the Seattle convention and working the PSX 2004 registration desk.
- Has been a frequent clinician at the national level.

"The other member of this team has been a member of NMRA for many years.
- She has attended every National Convention since Portland 1994 and has volunteered her services to the convention committee to serve in any capacity needed at each convention.
- Served as a primary member of the PSX 2004 Convention Committee working as the Convention Secretary and non-rail/hospitality Chair.
- Attended National Conventions in Ft. Lauderdale, Toronto, and St. Louis for the primary purpose of selling the Seattle convention and working the PSX 2004 registration desk.

"One has a solid record of service to PNR as Region Secretary for 5 years and Education Chair.
- PNR Convention attendance and active participation Kennewick (1998) through Edmonton (2009)
- Clinician at PNR Conventions
- PNR contest Judge
- PNR AP Judge
- PNR AP participant

"The other also has an exemplary record of PNR service
- Switchlist editor for 4 years
- PNR Office Manager
- PNR Convention attendance and active participation Kennewick (1998) through Edmonton (2009)
- AP program participant (Volunteer certificate)

"Together they have become the heart of PNR 4D operations and activities. There is little that goes on in the Division that does not have their fingerprints on the planning and execution.
- He served as 4D Secretary for a number of years and has been a constant attendee and contributor to the Tacoma clinic.
- He has served with distinction on numerous Division mini-meet committees.
- He has been a principle clinician for 4D train shows, introducing basic model railroading concepts and skills to the public and prospective members.
She also attended and was a primary player in Tacoma clinic for a number of years.
- She has served as a host for out of state clinicians in town to support 4D events.
- She has provided room and board as well as transportation services for many.
- With all her involvement, she has also found time to foster a love for railroading and the hobby in her sons who are also very active in NMRA and their home regions and division.

"Together they have not only served but have provided the best possible example of what volunteerism is for all members of the Region and Division.

"They have dedicated their efforts toward National, Region, and Division activities. They have been extremely supportive of the various 4D module groups and have frequently assisted those groups at shows and events. They have frequently brought their Time Saver module to events and provided a singularly effective opportunity for youngsters and those considering the hobby to experience and enjoy realistic train operations.

"Both are walking, talking recruiting stations for NMRA. At every opportunity they are busy selling the positives of the hobby and the advantages and benefits of NMRA membership. They really “get it” and try to make existing and prospective members understand what the hobby and NMRA are all about. Both can frequently be found working with kids to teach them about “trains” and to encourage their participation in the hobby. With respect to service to the hobby, this couple set the standard.

"Both are constantly in the public view at events and gatherings from the national level down to the local train show level. They are consummate salespeople for our hobby and NMRA. They are ready to offer assistance to any who need it and advice to any who ask. We could not have a better “public face” for model railroading and NMRA.

"I could go on for several more pages about this couple’s contributions to the hobby elsewhere, out side the PNR, but I’m sure you get the idea how these active volunteers are serving the hobby.

"Please come forward for your well-deserved recognition – Ed and Gay Liesse, from our President Walt Huston."

This comes on the heals of dad winning the 4th Division Golden Grab Iron in 2009 and mom winning it this year. Nice to see them get recognition for the work they've done in their hobby. All they need now is a national service award. Way to go mom & dad!

The convention itself was a great experience and I had a lot of fun. My poor brother was stuck in the Contest Room pretty much the whole time, so he didn't get to partake of any of the other activities. Bob Sample gave an excellent clinic on making furniture, and I've already asked him if I can steal it when he gets it written up. Not bad for a throw together clinic!

Despite my slung arm, I was also able to learn some weathering techniques from Walt Huston. That was fun, and since Walt uses dad's cars for the HO parts, I'll see the car again. Dennis Hill showed a nifty way to find and make period signs and my brother (in his only forray out of the Contest Room) gave a clinic on developing an operating system. MMR Jack Hamilton (WAD NMRA) came ready for anything and stepped in several times to fill holes in the clinic schedule,two of which I attended.

Friday afternoon was given to AP judging and I was glad to lend a hand. We had over 40 models in the contest, most of which were assessed for AP. 22 Merit Awards were given and my friend, David Faussett, earned his Structure Certificate on his first try at the AP. I love being a judge for AP because even though I don't do a lot of modeling myself, through the AP I'm learning what makes a good model great. One of these days...

P.S. I would have posted a photo of the award presentation, but this idiot Blogger program won't let me!

Number Three

When I was five-years old, I received an Aurora Postage Stamp N-gauge model train for my birthday. It consisted of a Santa Fe F-9 diesel, an Erie gondola, a Union Pacific flat car and a Santa Fe caboose and box car. This train was expanded by the addition of two Santa Fe passenger coaches and my little empire was started. Over the next few years, this set grew onto a piece of plywood and eventually to a small layout with folding legs. My dad, who is a lifelong model railroader himself, was instrumental in guiding me down this path, patiently showing me how to wire a layout, build cars and buildings and various aspects of the hobby. This all started over 40 years ago.

Throughout the years, my interest in model railroading has ebbed and flowed. Different phases of my life have brought me other interests and hobbies, but I always seem to find my way back to the trains. One big change that occurred during this time was my changing from N-gauge to HO. About the same time my brother went the other way, switching from HO to N. Naturally, I ended up with most of his HO stuff and he got my N. One of my reasons for switching was at that time, there were very few detail accessories available in N whereas they were quite abundant in HO (details have always been one of my favorite parts of the hobby). Over time the amount of details available in N have increased and N is now the second most popular scale on the market. (I've often thought about switching back, but that's a different matter.)

Over the last few years, my participation in the hobby has waned. I still attend local gatherings and even held a leading role in our local group's hosting of a National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) national convention. My father still has a layout in his basement and I enjoy helping him with it from time to time, but my personal activity in the hobby has somewhat dropped off - until yesterday.

Michael Highsmith, owner of the Rainier Great Western model railroad, put out an open invitation for anyone interested to drop by his layout for a work party. My wife, Karen, convinced me I should go since I actually had a Saturday off. I had suffered a string of migraines (which can be self-perpetuating), so Karen felt this work party would help get my mind off the headaches. I was a bit reticent about going, but I looked forward to seeing Michael's layout and lending a helping hand. I arrived just before Wain Miller, who has helped Michael on his layout from the beginning. It turned out that the entire work party consisted of the three of us.

Now I haven't actually worked on a layout - save for some ballasting work on dad's layout - since I left California many, many moons ago, so I was a bit fearful of what I might be asked to do. Upon arrival, Wain and I found Michael working on a wiring problem that had had them both perplexed for some time. I couldn't offer an opinion on the wiring, since I'm not that great on electrical work and had no idea how they had wired it in the first place. So, after Wain gave me a tour of the layout, I was assigned to put in a track on the temporary portion of the layout. This little project (including the wiring) took me just about two hours. Not bad for someone who hadn't laid track in over twenty years, but certainly not setting any speed records. Michael ended up actually connecting the wires (man, am I out of practice on soldering), but I discovered that the wiring created a short circuit on the layout, so I left the problem for Michael and Wain to figure out.

Once done with this little task, Michael and Wain figured I was okay with track and put me to work on another section. This one was a little more complex, entailing having to remove part of the existing track, inserting a switch and tying it into another track. The main track at this point leads up to what will be the centerpiece of Mike's layout - the Molzahn Bridge. The bridge is named after Dick Molzahn, a wonderful modeler of whom I'll write at a later time. Again, I was a bit timid about what I was doing as this track would be an important, permanent part of the layout and I certainly didn't want to screw it up! I inquired as to the preferred method of laying track and Michael said that anything was good as long as the end result produced derailment free track (no pressure). So into the fray I went and tore out some of the temporary track and setting about putting in new. I won't bore anyone with the details of this part of the project (since most of you are probably bored already, if you're still with me). Unfortunately, do to a slow drying spackle, I wasn't able to finish this project.

However, Wain and Michael had tasked themselves with putting up more facia (a protective and decorative "wall" around the edges of the layout, and had gotten to the point where they needed another set of hands. Since mine were available... We spent the next couple of hours cutting and mounting facia until Michael's wife, Jennifer, was kind enough to make us ham sandwiches for lunch. We did manage to get a lot of the facia put up and I was amazed with how quickly things went with the three of us all working together. Finally, my time was done and I excused myself to head for home. All in all it was a most satisfying day - I'm glad Karen convinced me to go.

So whatever happened to those Aurora Postage Stamp trains? Believe it or not, I still have them. They've all been repainted or modified over the years, but they're still in my possession (and probably will stay there). I guess that no matter what happens in life or whatever paths I may take, I will always be a model railroader and will always return to that path.

My thanks to Michael Highsmith for the invitation and for allowing me to screw up his layout, thereby allowing me to indulge in a life-long passion - one I may abandon occasionally, but to which I'll always come back.

Number Two

Uh-oh! I'm falling into a rut - my second post is titled "Number Two." There is definitely a pattern developing.

We've been speculating at work what a combined UA-CO airline would look like. Most importantly, what will it be named? We hashed several ideas around and several people liked the moniker "Conted," but that may be too close to a derogatory comment. The consensus ended up being "Unicon." This, of course, has a double-meaning: it's a nice amalgamation of the two names and it also reassures passengers on both airlines that they'll be screwed equally.

Glad to see the weather prognosticators right on the money again. Today's rain wasn't supposed to start until sometime after 11:00pm tonight; I drove through a downpour on my way home from work! I actually don't begrudge the weather folks for a three-hour miss on their timing as predicting the weather in the Pacific Northwest has always been a hit-or-miss proposition. Hopefully it will become easier when they get the new doppler radar up and running on the coast. This will allow a better view of what's coming across the ocean.

Speaking of weather, I'm hoping Saturday's is not too wet or beset with low overcast. I'm taking the camera kid up to take a look at a B-17 at Boeing Field. It starts flying at 10:00, taking folks with a spare $400+ on 30-minute rides around the Puget Sound. Should be a lot of fun and I can't wait to hear those big pistons turning.

Number One

I really don't have much to say, but I figured I better post SOMETHING. So here is the first post on my blog, appropriately named "Number One." I can't guarantee that the next one will be named "Number Two," but there is that possibility. Now aren't you glad you came looking for this blog?