Ray and Mark, I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back here. Of course, by doing this, I have just violated my own policy of mid month posting here, but I feel I owe you guys a reply. I should have done this a week ago.
By now you both should know that we had a fantastic weekend. My son and I had a great time, and the layout tour was a huge success.
Ray - There was a six year stretch, when my son was in high school, that we didn't have much contact, but ever since he went away to college, things have been much better. None of this was his fault, he was just caught in the middle, as was his sister. She has been a little more difficult to come around, because she has more of an independent streak when it comes to family, and tends to stay a little closer to her mother. Once he moves back down here, she may get a little more involved, but I'm not holding my breath. I've called her a couple times in the last two weeks, and not a peep, and the first time was her birthday.
The lift bridge is just for looks. I'm not even going to try to make it go up and down. As for JMRI, I spent an hour that Thursday night, when my son was here, explaining how it's supposed to work, and it sounds like he's interested in helping me with it. When I told him that the end goal was to have the trains run themselves, he thought that would be cool. So, I guess that makes at least three of us.
Mark - There's always a push on, when guests are expected. The skirts were a big hit this time, so was the camera caboose. Now that the event is done, I haven't been downstairs since. Patrick is off until the 25th. This Saturday is my birthday, and my wife and I are going to the soccer game again. Sunday is the one year anniversary of the toe incident, and I'm happy to say that it is fully healed. I expected it to take up to a year to heal, so I'm not surprised.
