Re: RE:COFFEE POT #11 November 2010 for all to take a drink and chat. 5+ years and going. Plenty of coffee but also shrimp and grits along with sweet ice tea.

Hey All,

Been awhile, but really been busy!  As you would guess when we decide to move the company, it gets busier then heck.  But that's OK. 

Then last weekend we decided that since I wanted to go to the Cal-Stewart train meet, that  we would take the time off.  And since it cost SOOOOOOO much to get in ($30 for 2 days, (that would include the family w/kids under 21)), but it is still expensive for just 2 people!  Then if you go on Sunday, then its only $15.  Now if you want to sell a table is $35.  So I decided to pop for the table and maybe clear out a lot of stuff.  So did so and here are some pictures.......

"THE" table, I had a friend go with me, that way I was not constrained to the table.  He brought a few items, I think I filled about 90%,  (notice even had a printer there.  Managed a few "pitches" as well.)

A lot of MPC, except the War Bonnet, and Steam up on the shelf are all postwar.

Even brought some AF stuff.  Did sell some, hopefully tomorrow will be better, not that the dealers have all seen what each other has.

Early afternoon, I had the opportunity to take a quick run through the hall.

And of course I was looking for SP RAY.......

He was not to hard to find !  Exactly in front of the hall entrance door, with the Carpet Central.  It of course is all volunteer work, and they do a good job!  The majority of it is running Standard Gauge, because of the ease of viewing and also a rarity for a lot of people.

I asked if he wouldn't like to pose for a photo, and at first he declined.  I suggested it would make a good photo for the Pot.  Soooo  he started for the other sde of the area, and in a flash!   (I mean that ol' man was really bookin' out,.... like a house afire)

  It may appear that the photo is blurry, but I wasn't preparred, (note 1/1600th of a second.)

After I caught up to him, amongst the overwhelming GASPS of train collectors ALL around, the Security Guard, Nurse, Ticket Taker, Custodian, Floor Manager, who were all standing at the front door.  And literally HUNDREDS of small children screaming from he horror, and many hiding behind the mothers, the situation began to calm,  somewhat....

Ray of course didn't loose a step, but there was concern that Standard Gauge train was now Z scale.  Ray QUICKLY began to restore the situation as quickly as possible.  (Now even though RAY is a retired ENGINEER from SP, and has been up and down the Tehacapi Curve, Cajon Pass countless times, this was definetly one of the most precious moments. (Maybe, because I had the camera with me?)

To help Ray out, (since I had that printer there, remember?) I went over and printed a couple of 81/2 x 11's, and waited for him to leave the display area, (heh, heh, heh), , then took the pictures over to the guy putting on the whole thing, and asked him IF he could see that Ray got these pictures, as proof, that he WAS able to restore everything back, and no one would know what happened.  He said, "Sure, he would know exactly what to do with them."  So I left them with him.

So, if I am referred to as "Shake N' Bake", I think we may have the "Demo Crusher" here, unless someone has a better idea.

(All in all, it was an unfortunate accident, nothing was harmed, and no one was hurt, (except someone was a little embarrassed, maybe.)  But, talk about someone with a good sense of humor, Ray was able to laugh at himself, (everyone else was, anyway), and he pulled the whole thing off with Dignity.  He also knows about this post, (I think)