We made the mistake of hosting a BBQ contest at the roundhouse for several years and discovered that the one common thread in all the contestants were they were all whiny, tempermental pains in the butt.

I have also had the great pleasure of tasting many fine kinds of BBQ in many fine joints, the best of which was an old wooden open sided shack in South Miami which had the picturesque tradition of burning down every couple years back in the 60s and 70s.

My Texan friends assure me that any animal other than cow when smoked and sauced is not actual BBQ. We seem to do well with chicken and pork and ribs in the rest of he world. I like it all, but it all isn't to everybody's taste.

Sonnys, while a chain, does offer many different varieties to please each different idea and caters like pros for any occasion. You can trust them to please everybody except vegetarians but there is no explaining that form of mental illness anyhow.

Omniverous and proud of it, Dave

lathro19@idt.net

>
> discovered that the one common thread in all
> the contestants were they were all whiny,
> tempermental pains in the butt.

Hmmmmm... sounds familiar......reminds me of a lot of Running Trades people!!



oldtimetrains@rrmail.com

Is that stuff safe for us Yankees to eat?

> Is that stuff safe for us Yankees to eat?

Howard,

Barbeque is like sex. When it's good it's great. When it's bad it's still good. I go to Greensboro every year for Thanksgiving, and BBQ is a Wednesday night tradition that I anticipate with much pleasure.

Best regards,
Kevin


kevingillespie@usa.net

> Is that stuff safe for us Yankees to eat?

Well, Howard, I am originally from Pittsburgh and it hasn't killed me yet. Of course, it was the south side of the Monongahela.

I have noticed a distinct tendency to talk slower and drive like an Atlantan so you might pack along some chowder for antidote.

Dave

lathro19@idt.net

> Frank, I can only add that some of the
> benefits I have gained from chatting with
> others at these meetings have saved people I
> have worked for the cost of attending many
> times over. There is no value that can be
> placed on the benefits of the networking.

> In my former career, a mentor told me that a
> technical director was no better than his
> catalog collection. Since there are no more
> catalogs for a lot of what we need our
> networks have to take their place.

> Best of luck overcoming their small minded
> penny saving attitude at the expense of
> dollars saved down the line.

For the past few years, Associated Foundations Inc. of Pasadena CA has been offering stipends up to $500 to send new railway museum volunteers (less than 5 years experience) from the Western US to ARM conventions. I don't know if they are offering the program this year, but you can contact Barry Herlihy at 626-405-4873 or write Associated Foundations at 225 S. Lake Ave., Suite 1125, PAsadena CA 91101.

Railway Preservation Resources
jsmatlak@earthlink.net

It is possible to mix barbeque and Connecticut. One of my favorite memories of T.R.A.In. conferences past is of J. David Conrad explaining the concept of barbeque to the Chinese trade delegation seeking to peddle new 2-8-2's to the conventioners at Palestine, Texas.

Aarne Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48867-0665


froboma@mdot.state.mi.us

I'm already packed and my oil changed.

Might I suggest that the college students, (especially the Grads who always seem to be held in higher favor than we peons) solicit their university for at least some reimbursement. Maybe you could word it as some kind of research cost, make it into a summer Independent study course, I know AASU makes a big deal about oral history, would that be relevant?

You'ld be amazed all the money floating around in the university system. Talk to some history professors even if you aren't majoring in that area, at the very least, they might be able to give you some connections.

Best of luck!


angel.ina@mailexcite.com