Model Train Journal

Strange!

I know. I was the last one to post.

I really, really tried, but if worse comes to worse, I'll start up the evilbait comedy hour again.

Maybe a rusted, bent, parts missing 1110 Scout engine (no tender!) that is Vintage! Rare! Collectible! for $150 plus expedited shipping!

Nobody’s buying anything 3-rail, building anything 3-rail, sharing anything 3-rail. Too many grumpy ol’ men. From a 3-rail perspective, MTJ appears to be forsaken.

Still waiting on parts for my Bora Centipede. They were supposed to ship on Monday, still on back order. I was going to post some additional photo's/videos of the A5 but I felt uncomfortable with the "deck" not being secured. Same thing on some other projects. Small but critical parts either ridiculously expensive of almost impossible to find. I can't even find a decent hybrid bike to exercise on.

I was buying some detail parts for ship models from some folks in the UK, but the cost of shipping is through the roof, while it takes six weeks to get here. One vendor has politely said they are temporarily no longer shipping to the U. S. Meanwhile, an eBay purchased Hornby clockwork 0-4-0 has gone missing. Yes, it's very frustrating.

Still, piles of stuff here to work on. I need a motivational kick-in-the-butt...

healey36 wrote:I need a motivational kick-in-the-butt...

That seems a common condition. There are days when at best I feel like I am just phoning in the entire day.

That seems a common condition. There are days when at best I feel like I am just phoning in the entire day.

I feel like a CPU that's "thrashing". You bring in a job to work on and don't get very far because a critical resource isn't available. You swap that job out for a different one. Same result. Process repeats. You are extremely busy but actually accomplishing nothing. Extremely frustrating.

chuck wrote:

That seems a common condition. There are days when at best I feel like I am just phoning in the entire day.

I feel like a CPU that's "trashing". You bring in a job to work on and don't get very far because a critical resource isn't available. You swap that job out for a different one. Same result. Process repeats. You are extremely busy but actually accomplishing nothing. Extremely frustrating.

Do you mean "thrashing"?

George

Do you mean "thrashing"?

Yes. "Autocorrect" and I didn't detect it. (and I had the wrong glasses on while I was typing ).

Since I don't/haven't used e-bay for anything and don't knowingly order anything from the UK or elsewhere, to what do you attribute the problems?

Since I don't/haven't used e-bay for anything and don't knowingly order anything from the UK or elsewhere, to what do you attribute the problems?

It pretty much comes down to COVID 19 in some way/shape/form even if it's just an excuse.

I went shopping to buy some paper towels. They aren't "out of stock" per se but there does seem to be a massive imbalance in paper product production. A while back you couldn't find toilet paper to save your backside. Right now, in SE Lower Michigan the grocery store aisle that used to handle paper towels and TP is now nothing but TP, maybe one bay with some paper towels. A 60' aisle with 55' dedicated (and fully stocked) with TP! It used to be a 60/40 split of towels and TP.

Disinfecting wipes are starting to come back in stock but you have to get into the store early (like within the first 60-90 minutes to buy a limited quantity, usually one or two.

Toothbrushes are in short supply?

Hand sanitizers are showing up regularly. Rubbing Alcohol is still hit or miss unless you order on line. Even the drinking alcohol seems to be affected. You can't use most of that as a substitute for hand sanitizer because the proof is too low. Based on the issues with the bottle return lines I guess people are drinking a lot more than they used to ?

Hobby supplies coming in from the far east have been affected (not just China, Korea and Japan are affected as well. I can't tell if it's shipping issues from there or offloading and transport from the docks over here.

Things could be way worse. All critical items are coming in (e.g. food and medicines). A lot of other stuff is too, some of it requires a little more thought or planning to obtain it. I am still amazed at the number of complaint posts in Next Door digest et al by folks that don't get the seriousness of this pandemic and that it isn't being done to "inconvenience" them personally. There are going to be lines, you are going to have to get up early. You are going to have to wait. Get over it.

And Lysol spray. Suddenly nowhere to be found...for months. Factory says 01JUL on the shelves. That was two months ago, and so far, 4 or 5 grocery stores, nothing.

Try Microban 24. Allegedly better product. I think one of our Targets got some Lysol in stock but it was limited. Store associate tried to tell customers the other product was available. Hard sell. I don't care about "brand names" per se so long as the stuff works.

When the wife is used to a specific product..that's what you look for. Tried the MicroBan...meh. You didn't get the same aural impression as Lysol.

Sort of like a used car salesman telling you a Chevy is better than a Ford. You remember the exit is over your left shoulder.

Aural impression? Is this another example of autocorrect being awful correct? I thing they both make the same pfft sound when you spray them?

I can sympathize about the spouses "preferences". I only buy real Coca Cola classic because that's the only pop she will drink (and it's only supposed to be in cans). I also only buy it on sale when it's less than $3/12 pack OR in 2 liter bottles at less than $1.25 per bottle (and I have to show her the flyer with the sale prices to support the 2 liter purchases).

I have had occasional discussions about why I didn't buy brand "X". Because the store doesn't sell/carry brand "X". I tried pleading with the store manager to let me buy stuff they don't carry/sell but they seem very serious about not allowing this to happen.