24 replies to this topic

[Cascadia]

Hi everybody, a lot of you know I am up here in Bellingham Washington an hour or two north of Seattle. It would be the natural thing to do to come down and meet you all, I would have counted on it but this year has been filled with so much uncertainty until just recently!

My reason for riding Amtrak so much and getting involved with train knowledge was that I was always riding the Cascades up to Vancouver BC to see my boyfriend up there, I did that for almost ten years. Had to break it off in January because I just couldn't handle the commute on public transportation any more, and I needed to be home more and not go out of town, needed to work on a lot of things in my life that were getting neglected.

Then in March I got laid off from my job where I had worked for 8.5 years. Looked for work and applied for job after job for the last six months which was really a brick wall, and finally got hired just this week for the perfect thing, a part time job working for a friend in a very suitable place, and I can work on being self employed again on the side.

Bellingham is a great place except when you are looking for work, then it is really awful. I never want to go through this again so I am putting my nose to the grindstone on a new business and hope to never go through this job hunting experience again.

Anyway I think I am going to start this new job the first week of October or somewhere right in there, have to talk to him about the exact date.

Couldn't commit to anything about the Gathering up til now because everything was up in the air and uncertain and didn't know what would be going on (plus I'm broke, but that doesn't matter so much because I can get down to Seattle okay and I have several places to stay with friends/family if I could get away from here)

The new job is every day. Will find out soon if I can go away in time before I start, in which case I will seriously consider coming down to say hi to you all. Otherwise I am just grateful and so relieved to have something in my life resolved and such a load off my mind. A lot of good things happened this year, plenty more than enough to balance out the bad stuff, but still it's been a hell of a year, lots of changes in my life. I'm doing great though, my health is really good, that's my biggest priority. Next priority has to be moving forward in a very serious way on this new business.

Thanks for reading. I know I've been quiet in the forum - haven't been riding too many trains. I am however sitting on 50,000+ Amtrak points! want a winter trip on the high plains . . .

Winnie

[jimhudson]

Winnie: Good luck with your new life! Hopefully things will fall into place where maybe you could at least come down for the Friday evening Dinner or maybe even more of our Seattle actvities! Lots of our members, Amtrak , and people all over, have had a tough year but as you said you have your health, a new opportunity and you live in a nice place!

Edited by jimhudson, 17 September 2011 - 03:21 PM.

[Shanghai]

Good luck on the new job. I hope you will have good success.
Sorry you will not make it to the Gathering.

[Cascadia]

Hey you guys are sweet to reply and say hi, Jim you are right, maybe I could just come down for one thing, that might work out okay, I will be able to figure it out soon. Thanks for saying hi! Will let everyone know when I figure out if I can make it to part of it or not.

Winnie

[JayPea]

My own appearance at the Gathering is now looking slightly iffy. There are three of us who work the overnight shift at our grocery store, and one of them is having severe diabetic problems with his feet, and is currently off work for two weeks. He's had so much problems with them he may never be back to work. The week I'm to be gone, that would leave only one person. I think they can arrange things so that I can be away (I'm only taking four days) but that's not 100% certain. Fortunately <insert shameless self-promotion here > they like me at work, like the work I do and the fact I'm reliable, which is a huge help. That plus I already spoke for my vacation months ago helps too, as they aren't known to cancel someone's vacation when they asked for it so many months ago. But it's not 100% certain, as I said. Here's hoping..........

[the_traveler]

Best of luck to both of you! And remember, you don't have to attend all the events or days.

When the Gathering was in Boston a few years ago, I easily could have attended each day. (BOS is only 90 miles away.) But I only went to BOS fort Saturday's ride, dinner and Sunday''s morning tour. (Plus I drove the 30-40 miles or so to PVD on Friday to meet the gang on their ride on on the Acela and to bring RI chow-dah for the misfits - er I meant AU gang!)

[pennyk]

Best of luck to both of you! And remember, you don't have to attend all the events or days.

When the Gathering was in Boston a few years ago, I easily could have attended each day. (BOS is only 90 miles away.) But I only went to BOS fort Saturday's ride, dinner and Sunday''s morning tour. (Plus I drove the 30-40 miles or so to PVD on Friday to meet the gang on their ride on on the Acela and to bring RI chow-dah for the misfits - er I meant AU gang!)

I agree with the_traveler. Hopefully, I will get to meet you both, even if it is only for part of the weekend.

[Cascadia]

Hey you guys, thanks for writing, and JayPea, sorry to hear about your co-worker, I hope you can get away and make it to the Gathering which you planned so far in advance! Good luck and I hope your co-worker does recover, that sounds serious.

[JayPea]

I think I'll be all right. My co-worker is supposed to be back next Wednesday, a week before I take off. He doesn't even try to take care of himself which is a big part of his problem. Now that I think of it, once before when I was to go on vacation someone had quit and there were only two of us for several weeks, including the week I was gone. They found someone to fill in then, so they probably will again. They rarely deny vacations and when they do it's only those employees who ask for vacation at the last second. Of more immediate concern is my balky ankle; I have an ankle that somtimes gives me trouble, and it's pretty bad right now. Not enough to cancel but enough that I'll be hobbling around trying to keep up with everyone!

[AlanB]

Of more immediate concern is my balky ankle; I have an ankle that somtimes gives me trouble, and it's pretty bad right now. Not enough to cancel but enough that I'll be hobbling around trying to keep up with everyone!

Not to worry about needing to hobble. We've got one member with bad knees who doesn't exactly run from train to train, another that walks with a cane, and I beleive that we'll have two members in wheelchairs this year.

[oldtimer]

Hello AU'ers


I had hoped to make it to Seattle but my wife can't get the time off from her employer(some goofy company NRPC, it is called by some other name I don't recall right now ). I have convinced her that I will be in good hands while I am gone, but she has her doubts. I also hobble around very slowly with degenerative arthritis, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

I am wondering if I can find someone taking the EB round trip from Chicago that would be willing to checkup one me every so often. With that in mind I think that I can talk her into letting me go. I have not made travel or hotel arrangements yet so I am flexible as to dates. With 35+years I can usually ride in the TD with 24 hours notice.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.

Oldtimer2 aka Al

[JayPea]

Winnie and Oldtimer2, I hope you will both be able to make it to the gathering. I want to meet as many AU'ers as I can; I've never met anyone from this forum save for my uncle, and he doesn't count: he's posted on here less than 10 times. It looks like a definite go for me; my co-worker is going to be back to work before I leave, and, if not, I know they will find someone to fill in. The third person from our crew is on vacation next week, and they've found someone to fill in for him, so if need be, they will for me too.

Now to get my ankle back in some sort of good shape or I will be hitching a ride on one of those wheelchairs!!

[GG-1]

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.

Oldtimer2 aka Al

Aloha

Here is a copy of a poll, as you can see there are a lot of travel options.

• EB arriving 10/6- 4
• EB arriving 10/7- 1
• EB arriving 10/8- 0
• CZ to CS arriving 10/6- 1
• CZ to CS arriving 10/7 1
• CZ to CS arriving 10/8- 0
• SWC to CS arriving 10/6- 5
• SWC to CS arriving 10/7- 0
• SWC to CS arriving 10/8- 0

[AlanB]

Al,

Since you didn't specify what dates you'll be on the EB, which makes it a bit harder to give you better info. However, I know of at least 4 people who will be on the EB to Seattle out of Chicago on the 4th arriving on the 6th. So if you're on that train, I've no doubt that at least 1 or 2 would step up to help you out. I think that there is only 1 person on the EB on the 5th, arriving on the 7th.

I'll be on the returning EB on Monday the 10th, so if you can still get a room on that train, I'll be more than happy to check in on you from time to time. If you want the 10th, best hurry there are only 5 roomettes left, save something crew in the TD. I can't help you going, since I'm booked on the CZ out of CHI on the 3rd, taking the longer way to Seattle, unless you can find an empty room in the dorm on CZ for that date and then the CS after changing in SAC.

Going still has at least 8 rooms on the 4th, and again I'm sure that one, if not all, of those traveling on the 4th would be happy to help you out.

We can also make arrangements to keep tabs on you while in Seattle too. But first lets deal with getting you on the train, then we can talk hotels.

[Everydaymatters]

Hello AU'ers


I had hoped to make it to Seattle but my wife can't get the time off from her employer(some goofy company NRPC, it is called by some other name I don't recall right now ). I have convinced her that I will be in good hands while I am gone, but she has her doubts. I also hobble around very slowly with degenerative arthritis, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

I am wondering if I can find someone taking the EB round trip from Chicago that would be willing to checkup one me every so often. With that in mind I think that I can talk her into letting me go. I have not made travel or hotel arrangements yet so I am flexible as to dates. With 35+years I can usually ride in the TD with 24 hours notice.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.

Oldtimer2 aka Al

Al, please let us know when you will be taking the EB to and from Chicago. I don't think there are any of us who would not check up on you.

Edited by Everydaymatters, 22 September 2011 - 05:53 AM.

[pennyk]

Al, I will be on the EB leaving Seattle on 10/9. I think others will be also. I will be happy to check up on you.

[Cascadia]

Hey, things are looking more possible now. I guess I'm training for my new job this week, then won't officially start til the 22nd. So I have some open time in October which coincides with the Gathering. No money though, but I'd have to solve that regardless of whether I'm coming down or not.

I just figured out the days I will be working yesterday afternoon, and I haven't had a chance to talk with anyone I know in Seattle about staying overnight the weekend of the gathering. My cousin is out of town but I expect to talk with him soon.

I really haven't even looked at the schedule of events yet but you all mentioned the Friday night dinner which I guess if I was going to go to anything it should be that?

Going to Seattle gathering or not is something I need to do before I start working so I might as well plan to come down and say hi to you all, it sounds so fun! I have learned so much from this forum and I wouldn't be sitting on 50,000 points if it wasn't for reading and posting here and getting so many good tips.

Glad to see some other "iffy" attendees are thinking things might work out after all?

I have to plan this trip and I have to plan my trip home to Minneapolis for January too and get these things nailed down. Will keep updating this thread and will look at the schedule of Seattle gathering events and see if it can work out.

Thanks everyone!

[Everydaymatters]

Great news Winnie. You have my cell number, give me a call if you have any questions. (Be sure to leave a message if I don't pick it up right away.)

[JayPea]

Glad things look as if they are working out for you, Winnie. Unfortunately, my co-worker is now off work for at least a month, but they've hired a temporary worker to fill his spot plus have moved another person to our shift so that we won't be shorthanded. So it's a definite go for me too. Looking forward to it!!

[pennyk]

I am looking forward to meeting both of you, Winnie and Jay. I am pleased that things worked out.