Random Raves 49: Cats Can Have Little a Salami

[JohannaK]

Who is this Daria yoi so often speak of?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I think it's his imaginary girlfriend.

 

[Takhisis]

<---

 

[Ajidica]

I was helping my parents move some stuff around in the house when I found my old model trains! Haven't touched them in almost 15 years. I have several shoeboxes filled with tracks, buildings, cars, and engines. The trains are tiny, only 9mm between the rails. The holes in the steam engine along the boiler seem to be for mounting additional detailing like grab irons and piping.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Dude that's pretty flipping rad

 

[Ajidica]

Dude that's pretty flipping rad

Thanks!
Finding them is bringing back all the memories about the models I wanted back in the day. I have this print back home and I wanted to be able to recreate this scene:

Great Northern S-2 with the Glacier paint scheme (the pine-green boiler) leading either the flagship train Empire Builder or Fast Mail.

Unfortunately, my 12-year-old budget wouldn't stretch to one of those so I never got one. Now, with my 26-year-old budget I went hunting on ebay and other places and nobody is selling these models.

 

[Birdjaguar]

@Ajidica You should go ride the Empire Builder; It runs from Chicago to Seattle and back.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

Normally it's bad etiquette to call into a meeting with a lot of background noise, but when the noise is a bunch of kids babbling and quietly playing, you get a pass. Super cute. I was waiting for a the inevitable little girl banshee screech but it never came hahaha

People should mute when they're not talking.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Now, with my 26-year-old budget I went hunting on ebay and other places and nobody is selling these models.

For some reason this surprises me!

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Fun thing to do when on a call in meeting where some people have called in as groups: at some random point, in a very stern voice, say "you guys aren't on mute." Guaranteed, somewhere there is a group that has been making snide remarks in a side conversation, and they will freak out.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Oh that's positively evil!

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I have skillz!

 

[Takhisis]

my old model trains!

Side note: this reminds me of a tale I've recently read about how one of the extravagant rulers of the Princely States in India c. 1910 built himself a model train system (running on rails made of pure silver) to bring food from the kitchens to his great hall to serve his guests.

Fun thing to do when on a call in meeting where some people have called in as groups: at some random point, in a very stern voice, say "you guys aren't on mute." Guaranteed, somewhere there is a group that has been making snide remarks in a side conversation, and they will freak out.

If I take over the world I just have to appoint you Grand Vizier of something.

 

[Ajidica]

@Ajidica You should go ride the Empire Builder; It runs from Chicago to Seattle and back.

I take it at least once every year coming back from Chicago to the Twin Cities from a Model United Nations conference. I'd like to take it to Seattle, but when I'm planning my vacation I'll have to spend another few days traveling back on it (or a different train, either going up to Canada and taking Via Rail back across the Rockies or head south on the Coast Starlight and then up to Chicago on the Southwest Chief or California Zephyr as I would prefer not to fly if I can help it.

 

[MaryKB]

I am in love.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

as I would prefer not to fly if I can help it.

I'm currently trying to figure out if I can swing a coast-to-coast train trip for a wedding in October because I also don't want to fly.

 

[Ajidica]

I'm currently trying to figure out if I can swing a coast-to-coast train trip for a wedding in October because I also don't want to fly.

Ooof, that would be a long trip.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I take it at least once every year coming back from Chicago to the Twin Cities from a Model United Nations conference. I'd like to take it to Seattle, but when I'm planning my vacation I'll have to spend another few days traveling back on it (or a different train, either going up to Canada and taking Via Rail back across the Rockies or head south on the Coast Starlight and then up to Chicago on the Southwest Chief or California Zephyr as I would prefer not to fly if I can help it.

We ride the SW Chief from Albuquerque to Chicago regularly; we love it. We always get a roomette.

I'm currently trying to figure out if I can swing a coast-to-coast train trip for a wedding in October because I also don't want to fly.

You could take the SW Chief to Chicago and then either an overnight train to Philly or business class during the day.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

@Birdjaguar
Going all the way to NYC. Are there ready rail connections from Philly to NYC?

Ooof, that would be a long trip.

Yes but theoretically I can work through most of it and also I hate flying. Actually, I think my deathly fear of it has subsided a lot recently but I'm not thrilled to try it. I'd love to be able to see a therapist to work through it but that's not going to happen.

 

[JohannaK]

I am in love.

MARY!