cheerfulWe drove over to where the frontage road crosses the legs of the wye and got out to watch them back in. The train stopped, blocking the frontage road. I commented that it was a good thing they were doing this switching on a Saturday evening, because they were blocking the only road access to the industries back there, including the asphalt plant, a building-truss-manufacturing business, and Fernley Auto Body & Tire Center. Just then a big rig that had been parked on the frontage road started heading up the frontage road. He got as far as the blocked crossing before figuring out that the train was going to be there for a while. (The switchman was walking the length of the train down to where the two legs of the wye converge in order to open the switches into the concrete plant.) While Lisa and I watched, the big rig gingerly backed up and eased its way into the parking lot of Chuckars Casino before reversing out and leaving. We figured that the big rig driver had planned on driving in to the industrial park to find a large lot in which he could turn around but didn't realize that there was a coal train blocking the grade crossing.
It has been a very nice week weather-wise here, with warmer-than-usual temperatures most of the time, and we've been getting out for regular walks. We're in a bit of a holding pattern on some of the home improvement work because we need to get the floor joist repairs done before we can do the next serious part of renovations. And we're grateful for the warmer weather since we have no way to heat the house except electric space heaters.
Meanwhile, my laptop has managed to boot a few times. No idea how long it will last or if the problem will recur. All of my most critical documents are backed up.