BarstowRick's H&P Layout Restoration

Ever wonder why kids are so impatient, and their attention span is so short?

As we age, each day/week/month/year represents a smaller and smaller percentage of our experience, so they appear to shrink, and our perception of time speeds up.

"Don't blink!"

 

The time it takes for me to do something or accomplish something is even slower.

I need to move some lumber off the back slab and into a woodshed. It's finally happening. I had to take moving boxes I stored in the shed and knock them down. Out into a recycle bin. Which is basically a fake out.

Then build a shelf for the lumber. Once that's done then I can move everything into the shed. Place my work bench under the eve. Noting that I'm now ready to do some wood work. You know for curves, risers, and the likes.

Temperatures are dropping making it more inviting to work out side.

The stub end yard is coming along. Do I dare say slowly?

Hang in here we are seeing progress.

 

Time is the same at all times. The perception may differ from person to person. I think it has to do more with what was done with our lives.
I for one do not see it passing faster. Nor does the time I spent in the Navy seem like yesterday, nor when I started college.
I am coming up on my 63'rd birthday, and to be honest, I am surprised I made it this long.

 

Its good to hear the stub end yard is coming along Rick. Remember the cheesy saying, slow and steady wins the race, it's true in model railroading. Prolongs the enjoyment.

That's a good comment David. For some reason, it reminds me of a line from a Billy Joel song, "The good ole days weren't always so good and tomorrow's not as bad as it seems"

Keep at it guys!

 

I had to give BNSFFan a Like for quoting Sharkman. Well put Sharkman.

With all the philosophers we have here on TrainBoard. We should be able to see our way into the future. Despite my not having a DeLorean.

When did time slow down for me? Time for me suddenly slowed down as I was packing-up to move to Idaho. Up till then I measured it by how much I could do and the fact that nothing seemed to stop me. Today, well that's another story. At 73 going on to 74. Let's just say it isn't welcomed. Getting older, of course. Health issues being what they are.

I think I can say with certainty, I'm surprised I made it this far. We may share that in common.

The shelf in the woodshed is almost finished. I have some cutting to do and then I can move the lumber in.

I will be moving some closet doors out of my tool-shed and into the woodshed. Then, I will have room for my table saw. Getting it out of the weather.

Oh happy days!!

 

One thing about getting older >>. Try to stay as active as one can. Sitting staring at a computer screen or a TV sure wears me down...

 

This is true. In my circle of work and associates we had a saying, "Sit down and you die". Active is the key. I usually turn the TV on put in a Train Video and fall asleep. I have no idea what is in the middle of most of my videos.

Even Jaw Tooth on You Tube doesn't keep me awake. Oh well.

 

Welcome to the "twilight zone" of being in-between able to start collecting Social Security and signing up for Medicare.

 

Already did that, however you'll find it doesn't cover everything we twilighters need.

I should of said above, that I slowed down once i got here to Idaho. Time on the other hand took off like racing greyhounds.

This is the day we all look forward to. The eagle landed. Shopping to do.

More later.

 

Sunday I hit 62 and oh yes, I am starting to draw my SS! I put plenty of years into paying into it and now I want mine back!

 

Next year I will do the same! 61 yet, so got to wait for a bit longer.....but did do the responsible (??) thing this weeka nd get a plot purchased, with another for the wife. Kinda freaked her out a bit. Then went and started the whole funeral home setup. Don't want to burden the kids and such with these things, had a good example with my dad. He had things mostly set up before his unexpected early passing at 66.

Next up, a good long weekend with some trains!

 

Being north of 65, staying safe while working around the house has a much higher priority than it did when I was younger.

Ladders and fold down attic stairs in particular deserve respect, thinking through the project and using three points of contact at all times if possible. Today I replaced spotlight bulbs under our eaves and raked pinestraw down from some roof valleys with a very long home-brew rake. The ladder was placed with great care at each location and my wife was stationed below to assure the ladder stayed in place.

After a career in heavy industry and being immersed in its culture of safety, I probably overthink my projects. An inevitable challenge will come someday when I'm forced to recognize that I should no longer be doing these things.

 

Remember the days when you could pretty much dance up and down stairs without hanging onto anything?

Handrail? What's that for?



Doug

 

Yes, I do. Three at a time if I remember correctly.

Now I'm yelling at my land lord to install handrails on the front and back door steps. In time I may build my own. He won't like them and that may be the fire I can build under him to get'er done.

Wait and see.
Later!!

 

I remember those days, Doug. When we moved into this house 7 years ago I installed the ceiling fans and chandelier myself. It wasn’t quite as easy as when I’d done it previously but I was 67 at the time. When we move into our new home in a month or so I will pay someone to install ceiling fans. I’m just not up to it anymore. Getting old is not for wimps.

 

Ten years ago, when I was 60, I got a part-time job at Menard's just waiting to retire. Every once in a while, the area where they had all the ceiling fans displayed had to be redone to show the latest models. My compatriot and I volunteered to do it and we spent about a week removing older models and hanging newer ones and it was no big deal, climbing up the ladder and installing those fans.

Now, I wouldn't dream of trying it. I have one at home that needs repair/replacement and I doubt it is going to get done unless I hire it out.

Doug

 

I still do the yard work myself, but I've had to start mowing front and back yards on separate days.

Maybe the recent string of 100+ degree days (with high humidity too) has something to do with that...

Yeah, let's go with that...

 

The news I've been waiting for. A visit to an eye specialist and the prognosis is. According to him, "We want to maintain what we have". In other words it isn't going to get better. It could but isn't likely.

Prompting the question what does this mean for the layout. I've waited more time then I'm happy with to get the job done. Of course I have to be able to see the fine details I work with to perform my track work properly. Up to Rick Standards. Complicated... so I won't get into it here.

I went and looked at over the counter classes and picked-up a 2.5 optical power. The problem with that is I can see some fine details with one eye. The other eye isn't the same. I need to be able to see some distance to get around. Perhaps a pair of glasses with bifocals? Maybe then I can get the job done.

So off to the Optometrist to see what he or she can do. Not much. As it turns out.

I did purchase a Magnifying Lamp. In hopes that will get the job done. This may be my only hope. Now to figure out how it works. Where it will be best to clamp it onto the layout.

Am I having fun yet. Only when I can get trains running. Actually for me it's the building I enjoy. Not so much remodeling. It gets tricky. For more reasons then I will go into here.

For now: That's the news.

Harrumph. Why do I feel a whole year older?

 

When I started this thread it was in hopes my eyes would clear up and I could move forward. I never thought it would take this long. Perhaps more disclosure then is needed but I wanted to share the good news. Okay so it hasn't been the best news.

The magnifying lamp will work in certain applications. However, the clamp they gave me won't fit on 1X3's. I don't really have anything else for it to clamp onto. I may have to build a base for it.

So time moves on and here I sit broken hearted. Tried to ...well you can probably finish this.

Later all !!