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rosarugosa
11-2-22, 6:39pm
Funny story: DH gave one of our chronically down-on-his-luck friends a ride to the food pantry once, and he went inside with him. The woman running the pantry urged DH to grab a bag and take whatever he needed. DH declined and said he was just giving a ride to a friend. Apparently you risk this kind of interaction when you wear your casual clothes to rags! Let that be a cautionary tale to all of us fashionistas on the SLF!
The food pantry in our town posts the following requirements on their website:
To receive donations: We ask that first-time clients please bring a photo ID, proof of address, and documents showing any State or Federal aid you are receiving.
Teacher Terry
11-2-22, 10:21pm
Rosa, that’s funny about your husband:)). IL, you are right about the ACA doing away with catastrophic insurance so it left you no options. Food banks are struggling in some places.
early morning
11-3-22, 10:02am
Re: food pantries - a church in my aunt's neighborhood has no storage for fresh foods, and they rely on donations from local stores and producers. They are open two or three days a week, in a poor area of town. But when they get a big truck of yogurt, milk, meat, cheese, and/or produce, they put people on the road to flag down cars and pass it out to anyone who will take it. By the end of day, if it's still there, it all has to go into the trash. It's unorganized and wasteful, but since our food pantries here are pretty much all volunteer, catch-as-catch-can organizations that are doing the best they can, I don't see how people who are "undeserving" could be weeded out. My aunt often gets several large boxes, and calls family to come and take what they can use. My cousin, who lives with her, used to go the a VA pantry, where he could "shop" and only take what they could use. That program was "privatized" and now he too gets huge boxes of way too much of some foods, and none of others, with no consideration of dietary needs or preferences. You don't know what's in the boxes - it's a drive up pantry and they just load the back of the car or the trunk. For the two of them, several weeks ago, he got 15 loaves of various kinds of bread, a case of almost outdated yogurt, 2 gallons of milk, a ham, and no veggies. Oh- and a 20# bag of cat food. They don't have a cat. Maybe in big cities it's more efficient, but in this area, it doesn't seem efficient at all! And there are many who are hungry, and are unable to access the pantries. There must be a better way to distribute food to those in need of it!
It’s one thing for food pantries to give away stuff they don’t have room for/can’t store.
My town’s food pantry is administered by the township office. They also provide emergency assistance with rent/utility bills, job training, school supplies, and holiday food baskets, among other things. It’s all together, which is why you have to prove you have a need. You can only visit the food pantry once a month. Not sure how much food they provide.
My whole post was the mindset of publicly urging people who have no need to get food from a food pantry. I have no problem with someone volunteering and being giving extras at the end of the shift.
My challenge today is EXTREME BOREDOM whilst gallery sitting. The past few few weeks has seen a big slowdown (usually happens this time of year here). Today is the pits. I'm still sitting on the awful wooden chair (with a pillow, but I haven't gotten around to buying anything yet). I can only knit so much before my hands and wrists start complaining. I brought my computer so I have done some of my own stuff I need to get down but still...
One. More. Hour. until I can close up and be off for two days.
iris lilies
11-8-22, 12:21pm
My challenge today is EXTREME BOREDOM whilst gallery sitting. The past few few weeks has seen a big slowdown (usually happens this time of year here). Today is the pits. I'm still sitting on the awful wooden chair (with a pillow, but I haven't gotten around to buying anything yet). I can only knit so much before my hands and wrists start complaining. I brought my computer so I have done some of my own stuff I need to get down but still...
One. More. Hour. until I can close up and be off for two days.
ugh. That is the worst kind of job! Well, for white collar work anyway.
OMG, that would be fab time for reading. Lots of reading.
OMG, that would be fab time for reading. Lots of reading.
I teach online and could do both jobs at once--bonanza!
OMG, that would be fab time for reading. Lots of reading.
I had a job for a long time that required me to answer trouble/outage reports on the evening shift. The library was a couple of blocks away and i would come in with an armful of books to amuse myself with while I waited for the inevitable mayhem.
frugal-one
11-8-22, 10:25pm
I worked the night shift at a hospital once where I brought my college coursework. I got my work done… then my studying done. It was wonderful.
The thing is I have a hard time concentrating on actual books sitting upright in an uncomfortable chair. I read flopped on the couch at home or propped up with pillows and a heating pad in bed in bed at night. My ability to concentrate on books has gotten more difficult lately; I blame it on all the computer scrolling, scanning the headlines, in general digesting (or not) quick little read-bites. It is something I need to correct, like many of us - less screen time would fix it, I'm sure.
Today is a work day and is bound to be slow again. After sweeping up and dusting the gallery, I'm going to finish some knitting and take my computer so I can work on organizing photos, maybe put some images up for sale in a collector's group I'm in.
I so miss my old job managing the other gallery - my studio was in the back so I could work on metalsmithing during down-time, and if I was tired I could lay down on the bed back in the bedroom and take a cat nap (I had a bell on the door to alert me when people were coming in). Those were the days!
I read out loud to myself and that helps me concentrate.
The thing is I have a hard time concentrating on actual books sitting upright in an uncomfortable chair. I read flopped on the couch at home or propped up with pillows and a heating pad in bed in bed at night. My ability to concentrate on books has gotten more difficult lately; I blame it on all the computer scrolling, scanning the headlines, in general digesting (or not) quick little read-bites. It is something I need to correct, like many of us - less screen time would fix it, I'm sure.
Today is a work day and is bound to be slow again. After sweeping up and dusting the gallery, I'm going to finish some knitting and take my computer so I can work on organizing photos, maybe put some images up for sale in a collector's group I'm in.
I so miss my old job managing the other gallery - my studio was in the back so I could work on metalsmithing during down-time, and if I was tired I could lay down on the bed back in the bedroom and take a cat nap (I had a bell on the door to alert me when people were coming in). Those were the days!
Actual books? Do you do ebooks at all? I’m a massive fan of ebooks even though I still do hard copy books.
I opened at 10:00; it is now 1:30. I have not had a single person in here except the lady who sells tamales door-to-door (they are exceptionally delicious, BTW). There is all this leftover Halloween candy staring at me as well. I do pretty good not eating some of it until about 3:30 starts calling to me...been doing stuff on my computer for awhile but am tiring of that, so now I am going to finish a glove. What I really want to do is take a nap...
I have been telling customers left and right I will be on vacation next week so please get me needed paperwork asap. NO ONE has any urgency. I have one other coworker in my dept. very stressful when the other is out. People send me paperwork I’m not asking for, for shipments that arrive in January. I finally have been telling everyone that if you don’t get me what I need before I leave, we will not be responsible for any delays, port storage charges, etc. I was told by a customer to not be so alarmist. I give up. They’ll bellyache when their stuff isn’t cleared through customs but we have proof of many emails asking for needed paperwork.
ToomuchStuff
12-11-22, 9:32pm
I have been telling customers left and right I will be on vacation next week so please get me needed paperwork asap. NO ONE has any urgency. I have one other coworker in my dept. very stressful when the other is out. People send me paperwork I’m not asking for, for shipments that arrive in January. I finally have been telling everyone that if you don’t get me what I need before I leave, we will not be responsible for any delays, port storage charges, etc. I was told by a customer to not be so alarmist. I give up. They’ll bellyache when their stuff isn’t cleared through customs but we have proof of many emails asking for needed paperwork.
So when they want you to come back and work during your vacation, you should have one of these emails with a billable rate, that would make it work your time, say a million dollars an hour.
iris lilies
12-14-22, 3:06pm
Tax law. UGG. I am ignorant about it all and we had a recent tax event that caused me to go out on on the web and find out what Mr. Google had to say about it. It wasn’t clarified for me at all.
I just hate that our tax laws are so complicated.
DH talked to our CPA and apparently there’s no way we can dodge a big stock sale capital gains hit coming our way, completely unexpected. Blech.
happystuff
12-14-22, 3:30pm
So when they want you to come back and work during your vacation, you should have one of these emails with a billable rate, that would make it work your time, say a million dollars an hour.
With a 2-hour minimum paid in advance! LOL
sweetana3
12-17-22, 7:06pm
Got a lovely Christmas card from our local Habitat for Humanity personally signed by the director. Husband volunteers for them full time most of the year and donates a lot. Problem: in this nice card is a donation request and return envelope. Is it too much to just get a nice card for the holidays? I get plenty of donation requests throughout the year. I got pretty upset and sent them a message regarding this. None of the other local charities we donate to did this.
I swing between being angry and thinking I am just being petty.
Got a lovely Christmas card from our local Habitat for Humanity personally signed by the director. Husband volunteers for them full time most of the year and donates a lot. Problem: in this nice card is a donation request and return envelope. Is it too much to just get a nice card for the holidays? I get plenty of donation requests throughout the year. I got pretty upset and sent them a message regarding this. None of the other local charities we donate to did this.
I swing between being angry and thinking I am just being petty.
You're not being petty. Volunteering in various places left a bad taste in my mouth also.
rosarugosa
12-18-22, 8:19am
This bears some similarity to a previous rant of mine dealing with old crispy brown holiday wreaths, but it's not quite the same thing. People plant evergreen shrubs, most often arborvitae. Sometimes they do well, and sometimes they die. Some of the ones that die are quite obviously dead, dead, dead, totally brown with not a green needle to be seen anywhere on the plant. However, the homeowner leaves them in the landscape, often for YEARS, either hoping for a miraculous resurrection, or perhaps deciding that everbrown is as good as evergreen. It isn't.
iris lilies
12-18-22, 7:33pm
Got a lovely Christmas card from our local Habitat for Humanity personally signed by the director. Husband volunteers for them full time most of the year and donates a lot. Problem: in this nice card is a donation request and return envelope. Is it too much to just get a nice card for the holidays? I get plenty of donation requests throughout the year. I got pretty upset and sent them a message regarding this. None of the other local charities we donate to did this.
I swing between being angry and thinking I am just being petty.
oh no! I wrote out a couple hundred Christmas cards this year for bulldog rescue as I always do. Our Christmas cards include a donation envelope and a thank you for past donations note. While this is our only by-mail request for funds, we do regularly ask on Facebook especially for a specific efforts.
sweetana3
12-18-22, 7:56pm
I think if it is a seldom sent mailing and a thank you is included, I might not have been so angered. We are bombarded with donation requests (especially with Giving Tuesday and all the other dates) and after getting a nice card from 3 of our supported charities without donation forms, it was irritating that the group we give the most to of time and money included the donation request.
This literally could be a yearly rant. I hate Christmas lights!! I am having the worst time with them burning out this year which isn't helping my disdain for them. Yesterday I replaced one strand and blew out 4 others in the process!! Had to take down all the lights and redo a smaller area because of all the strands I could no longer use. Then this morning, I see another 2 strands burned out over night. I am seriously thinking of just getting that thing that you put in your yard and it projects lights onto your house for next year!! >:(
iris lilies
12-20-22, 11:08am
This literally could be a yearly rant. I hate Christmas lights!! I am having the worst time with them burning out this year which isn't helping my disdain for them. Yesterday I replaced one strand and blew out 4 others in the process!! Had to take down all the lights and redo a smaller area because of all the strands I could no longer use. Then this morning, I see another 2 strands burned out over night. I am seriously thinking of just getting that thing that you put in your yard and it projects lights onto your house for next year!! >:(
I’ve had a couple of those. I turned them into the thrift store this year. They are oddly unsatisfying.
Not a good day. Was having ear issues. Was doing a dive and a team was coming the opposite way on the way out. Exiting teams have right of way. However, there was NO place for me to get over right there. I tried to go forward a bit where things widened out, but they just pushed past me. When we got out and went back to our cars, the guy from the team that pushed past us started screaming at me at the top of his lungs. “If you ever block the way of me and another diver again, I’m going to kill you. And you have no business diving.” Cranky old guy. Woman he was diving with kept trying to shush him. I apologized and said I was trying to get over, but there was no space. Guy kept yelling. Instructor I was with went over to try to calm the guy down. Guy said he had a run in with me last year, but I have no clue who he was and don’t remember anything. From the things he said about me (knew I had done full cave in MX and recently did rebreather training), it seems he might be one of the online bullies I’ve had issues with.
frugal-one
12-23-22, 2:31pm
For the first time in years, I was looking forward to Christmas… going to a house party, everyone making appetizers, a food gift exchange and a rousing card game! So turns out this will be another year sitting at home alone… I tested positive for Covid this morning. I had a sore throat a few days ago and now cold symptoms. The good news is that we have heat and food though.
Frugal, so sorry to hear you have the plague. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
iris lilies
12-23-22, 3:52pm
For the first time in years, I was looking forward to Christmas… going to a house party, everyone making appetizers, a food gift exchange and a rousing card game! So turns out this will be another year sitting at home alone… I tested positive for Covid this morning. I had a sore throat a few days ago and now cold symptoms. The good news is that we have heat and food though.
oh no! Here’s hoping it passes you by lightly.
Is there anyone here who has not had Covid? I have not had it that I know of anyway.
catherine
12-23-22, 4:20pm
oh no! Here’s hoping it passes you by lightly.
Is there anyone here who has not had Covid? I have not had it that I know of anyway.
DH and I have not gotten COVID. Not sure why. We were at one of my mini-college reunions in September and we were talking about COVID and one of our friends' husbands said to us "So you NEVER got COVID??" And we said no. He said, "REALLYYY!" We never thought of it as being unusual. I suspect we'll finally succumb at some point but it helps to not mingle with many people up in a rural county. My son's fiancee has gotten it, as has my DDs husband, and both my son and his wife. We have escaped it so far.
I haven't had COVID, not at all surprisingly.
iris lilies
12-23-22, 4:36pm
I heard that someone I sat next to at an iris convention last May, sat next to him for two hours and we interacted because we were working on a project, came down with Covid 48 hours later. But I have forgotten to verify that with him. If he did have it then man I had a narrow escape.
I heard that someone I sat next to at an iris convention last May, sat next to him for two hours and we interacted because we were working on a project, came down with Covid 48 hours later. But I have forgotten to verify that with him. If he did have it then man I had a narrow escape.
You may just have a robust immune system, or be naturally immune. I've read there are such people.
My home tests two weeks ago were positive but I never saw a doc to confirm. The tell-tale for me has been a pronounced loss of smell and taste. I am a week over it and things still don't taste right. Hoping it comes back over time cuz I love to eat!!
Is there anyone here who has not had Covid? I have not had it that I know of anyway.
Neither my wife nor I have had it.
iris lilies
12-23-22, 5:37pm
You may just have a robust immune system, or be naturally immune. I've read there are such people.
Oh and I forgot DH had it several months ago, at least at home Covid test showed positive. But he thinks he had some thing else, some thing associated with his appendix.
ApatheticNoMore
12-23-22, 5:54pm
I have not had covid. I mean I don't constantly test, so if it manifested asymptomatically or as a 1 day allergy when tests were scare, I would not know. Plus my boyfriend thinks they may have had it in Feb 2020 though other than a stomach ache one day I wasn't sick then either. I have not had so much as a cold's worth of symptoms and not a positive test yet.
My home tests two weeks ago were positive but I never saw a doc to confirm. The tell-tale for me has been a pronounced loss of smell and taste. I am a week over it and things still don't taste right. Hoping it comes back over time cuz I love to eat!!
Try supplementing with zinc for awhile--can't hurt.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23305423/
Is there anyone here who has not had Covid? I have not had it that I know of anyway.
I've not had it and have been the human pin cushion for shots and very conservative in going out. Among my small social circle there are a few who've not had it with various degrees of exposure risk, but all have been vaccinated. The rest have had it, but none have been especially sick. Again, various exposures and most with a couple or few shots. I don't know of anyone who hasn't had at least the first shot and then the booster.
I’ve not had Covid either. Had all my shots and boosters.
Tradd, just feel the need to express my anger over the diver's abusive behavior. (Post 3526) I'm sorry that happened to you. No one should threaten to kill you. Ever. I'm glad the instructor stepped in to try to help.
He does sound like a bully. Hope you have shaken off the incident.
frugal-one
12-24-22, 1:21am
Frugal, so sorry to hear you have the plague. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Thank you. Thankfully, I have had all shots and boosters so this has not manifested into a grave illness. I just feel like I have a cold. The weather is frightful so a good time to be indoors resting.
rosarugosa
12-24-22, 6:56am
DH and I have managed to avoid it so far. We've had all our shots and boosters and we wear KN95 masks in public places.
My husband and I have avoided it too, using masks when out and fully vaccinated. We have declined invitations knowing people coming were not vaccinated and unmasked to boot.
happystuff
12-25-22, 11:54am
I have avoided covid, but have had bronchitis and right now a sinus infection working it's way down my throat. (Very depressed as I will not be joining family for Christmas today).
iris lilies
12-25-22, 12:05pm
I have avoided covid, but have had bronchitis and right now a sinus infection working it's way down my throat. (Very depressed as I will not be joining family for Christmas today).
Awww, i’m sorry.
frugal-one
12-25-22, 2:06pm
That is a bummer happystuff. Hope you feel better soon.
Happy, hope you’re feeling better soon.
rosarugosa
12-25-22, 3:38pm
That is too bad, Happy. I hope you have a good book to read and that you feel better soon.
Feel better soon, happystuff!
happystuff
12-26-22, 10:11am
Thanks, everyone. Trying to find a "doc in a box" or will be heading to the ER (the VA's answer when all else fails).
Do you have a Walgreen’s or CVS nearby? They often have a clinic inside.
Teacher Terry
12-26-22, 11:34am
Frugal and Happy I hope you both get well soon.
I’ve had a couple of those. I turned them into the thrift store this year. They are oddly unsatisfying.
Yes, I don't really like those projectors either and will probably put up regular lights like always. Just gets so frustrating having strands go out every year!
happystuff
12-27-22, 11:16am
Yes, I don't really like those projectors either and will probably put up regular lights like always. Just gets so frustrating having strands go out every year!
I actually got a small strand of led solar lights this year for just around the entrance on the front porch. So far they have worked great! I'm thinking the real test will be taking them out again next year to see if they still work.
I actually got a small strand of led solar lights this year for just around the entrance on the front porch. So far they have worked great! I'm thinking the real test will be taking them out again next year to see if they still work.
Our neighbor used solar lights this year too but I'm not sure they would work for us. I have tried solar lights for our sidewalk and I don't think we get enough direct sunlight for them to work.
First day back at work today. Only other customs dept coworker is off. It’s quiet today so that’s ok. Problem is that about 45 min into the day, our customs software module went down and we couldn’t get back in. Took at least two hours to bring it back up. I had hundreds of emails to go through, shipment documents to print out, etc. Now on lunch.
DH and I have managed to avoid Covid so far, both of us are fully vaccinated and boosted.
But....had a close call at Christmas. Saw sister, BIL and nephews on Christmas Day, got a text 4 days later that one nephew and sister had symptoms and tested positive. BIL tested positive next day. Luckily so far DH and I are fine, other guests that were there on Christmas Day report being fine and sister's in-law family that sister and family saw on Christmas Eve are also OK.
Sister thinks they may have gotten it when they went out to a restaurant on the 26th but who really knows. But in any case, looks like a very narrow miss.
Looking like I’m going to skip a big gathering with my goddaughter’s family this weekend. There’s. Lot of crud going around and I do NOT want to get sick. Can’t afford to be sick.
Found out this morning that a friend died in a cave diving accident in FL. I’m numb. Feel so bad for his family.
Found out this morning that a friend died in a cave diving accident in FL. I’m numb. Feel so bad for his family.
Tradd, that's awful. How did it happen?
iris lilies
1-9-23, 3:45pm
Found out this morning that a friend died in a cave diving accident in FL. I’m numb. Feel so bad for his family.
Oh my god.
early morning
1-9-23, 3:47pm
Tradd, how terrible - I am so sorry to hear that.
So sorry, Tradd. Condolences to the family and you.
iris lilies
1-9-23, 5:40pm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27723015/
A summary of cave diving deaths published in 2016.
iris lilies
1-9-23, 5:44pm
Tradd do you know about this one? Recently, and in my state.
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/cave-diver-dies-60m-deep-in-missouri-spring/
Too many deaths lately--how horrible for all involved!
Tradd, that's awful. How did it happen?
We don’t know yet. The international cave rescue group that pulled him out and works with LE in FL cave country is doing an investigation. We do know he was solo diving. Solo and cave do not mix. He did other risky stuff! But he was the nicest guy. Had dinner with him and his wife in WI in October when I was in the midst of my rebreather training and he was diving at the same lake.
Tradd do you know about this one? Recently, and in my state.
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/cave-diver-dies-60m-deep-in-missouri-spring/
Oh yes definitely know about that one. Two friends are part of that exploration team.
Teacher Terry
1-10-23, 1:09am
I am so sorry Tradd.
Tradd do you know about this one? Recently, and in my state.
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/cave-diver-dies-60m-deep-in-missouri-spring/
A report was just released on what happened.
https://nsscds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Roaring-River-2022.10.14.pdf
Tradd, that's awful. How did it happen?
It’s beginning to look like it might have been a medical issue. There’s usually a lot of scuttle butt going around if deaths were caused by something correctable (aka diver made a mistake and would have lived if he did something different). Nothing about that in this case.
It’s beginning to look like it might have been a medical issue. There’s usually a lot of scuttle butt going around if deaths were caused by something correctable (aka diver made a mistake and would have lived if he did something different). Nothing about that in this case.
It is comforting to know more of what happened, I imagine. There is not a whole lot you can do about an unexpected medical event. I am so sorry this happened to your friend.
It is comforting to know more of what happened, I imagine. There is not a whole lot you can do about an unexpected medical event. I am so sorry this happened to your friend.
Thank you. Friend was cave diving solo, which is a definite no no, but even if he had a buddy, if you have a heart attack underwater, the odds are against you making it.
iris lilies
1-12-23, 5:50pm
A report was just released on what happened.
https://nsscds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Roaring-River-2022.10.14.pdf
harrowing account.
If you have a medical emergency under water, I'm sure your options are limited. I'm so sorry Tradd. While not a diving story, we had a tragedy in our local community when the founder of Shelburne Farms died trying to assist his grandchildren when a squall upset their boating trip in the bay. https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/obituary-marshall-canfield-webb-1948-2022/Content?oid=36312388
These tragedies remind us how fragile our lives really are. I'm so sorry for your loss.
My cousin died during his first dive in California, while his daughter tried frantically to save him. I never heard whether it was an equipment problem or a medical event. As you say, you never know...
I am glad you are always diving safely, Tradd.
iris lilies
1-13-23, 7:25pm
I am glad you are always diving safely, Tradd.
I wish she would not cave dive.
I wish she would not cave dive.
Not going to give that up, sorry.
iris lilies
1-13-23, 9:27pm
Not going to give that up, sorry.
:D I know, but I got to say it, you know? Kind of like how my mother used to nag me. Always so effective. Not!!!! Haha
Another funny from the frugality groups on FB:
People bellyaching about how much it costs to raise their families of 4-8 kids. OMG, my electric bill is $400 a month. My grocery bill is SO high. I just laugh and then post about my $26 electric bill. These are people who were on the edge before the current economic situation. Maybe you should have thought about expensive the kids were going to be BEFORE you had them? Yes, I include my goddaughter’s family in this, although they don’t complain. They just find ways to make it work. I just shake my head, but one set of grandparents helps a great deal.
Of course, religious reasons come into the large family decision for many people.
Another funny from the frugality groups on FB:
People bellyaching about how much it costs to raise their families of 4-8 kids. OMG, my electric bill is $400 a month. My grocery bill is SO high. I just laugh and then post about my $26 electric bill. These are people who were on the edge before the current economic situation. Maybe you should have thought about expensive the kids were going to be BEFORE you had them? Yes, I include my goddaughter’s family in this, although they don’t complain. They just find ways to make it work. I just shake my head, but one set of grandparents helps a great deal.
Of course, religious reasons come into the large family decision for many people.
My husband and I discussed how many kids we could afford before we got married. Decided two was the magic number. People need to discuss financial matters long before they find themselves in certain situations and make sure they match up. A saver with a spender will never work and will probably end in divorce.
catherine
1-15-23, 11:49am
Another funny from the frugality groups on FB:
People bellyaching about how much it costs to raise their families of 4-8 kids. OMG, my electric bill is $400 a month. My grocery bill is SO high. I just laugh and then post about my $26 electric bill.
I remember going to the pharmacy to pay my phone bill (a practice which wasn't unusual back in the 80s/90s before you could pay online). I'd go there to post it because I was often just on the cusp of being cut off. One day a man was in front of me in line and his bill was about $25 and he paid in cash. My bill was astronomical--I think that was when we had a lot of long-distance calls to family and my kids were acting so there were long-distance calls to and from NYC. I clearly remember being so jealous.
I did choose to have 4 children, and it made the lives of those children, and DH and I, difficult at times for sure. They faced the humiliation of bounced lunch money checks, not being able to go on field trips, being picked up in "sh*t boxes" as my daughter referred to them--just the other day when gushing about her "new" 2008 Toyota Sienna.
I wouldn't have done it differently in may ways, but I certainly went into it blindly. I adore my family, and I think they adore us, so it all worked out, but I know the downsides of not having enough money to support them adequately.
happystuff
1-15-23, 11:54am
I remember going to the pharmacy to pay my phone bill (a practice which wasn't unusual back in the 80s/90s before you could pay online). I'd go there to post it because I was often just on the cusp of being cut off. One day a man was in front of me in line and his bill was about $25 and he paid in cash. My bill was astronomical--I think that was when we had a lot of long-distance calls to family and my kids were acting so there were long-distance calls to and from NYC. I clearly remember being so jealous.
I did choose to have 4 children, and it made the lives of those children, and DH and I, difficult at times for sure. They faced the humiliation of bounced lunch money checks, not being able to go on field trips, being picked up in "sh*t boxes" as my daughter referred to them, just the other day when gushing about her "new" 2008 Toyota Sienna.
I wouldn't have done it differently in may ways, but I certainly went into it blindly. I adore my family, and I think they adore us, so it all worked out, but I know the downsides of not having enough money to support them adequately.
I can relate. But then I just remind myself that we did the best we could at the time. I think what a lot of people forget is that finances - no matter how well you plan - can change in an instant. Lost jobs, unexpected expenses, health issues, etc. Not everything can be anticipated and/or planned out.
catherine
1-15-23, 11:57am
I can relate. But then I just remind myself that we did the best we could at the time. I think what a lot of people forget is that finances - no matter how well you plan - can change in an instant. Lost jobs, unexpected expenses, health issues, etc. Not everything can be anticipated and/or planned out.
Yes, happystuff, when people seem to be floundering, it's not because they are either lazy or stupid. We all do the best we can with what we've got.
iris lilies
1-15-23, 12:42pm
I can relate. But then I just remind myself that we did the best we could at the time. I think what a lot of people forget is that finances - no matter how well you plan - can change in an instant. Lost jobs, unexpected expenses, health issues, etc. Not everything can be anticipated and/or planned out.
oh sure, that is a truism, but it’s also a truism that having a sizable emergency fund will save you from many bumps in the road of life.
And you’ve seen the statistics about the number of Americans who have six month’s worth of emergency money. It is a tiny percentage.
I can relate. But then I just remind myself that we did the best we could at the time. I think what a lot of people forget is that finances - no matter how well you plan - can change in an instant. Lost jobs, unexpected expenses, health issues, etc. Not everything can be anticipated and/or planned out.
These people I see online were struggling long before Covid and the current inflation situation. The women are always trying to find something to do from home, but they have no education and no marketable skills to enable them to work remotely. They’ve never seem to have had much money. So already low income when they had the big families.
happystuff
1-15-23, 3:13pm
oh sure, that is a truism, but it’s also a truism that having a sizable emergency fund will save you from many bumps in the road of life.
And you’ve seen the statistics about the number of Americans who have six month’s worth of emergency money. It is a tiny percentage.
Really not to be argumentative, but there were times when there was nothing left to build an emergency fund with. As I said, we did the best we could and there were times when "the best we could" was keeping the family in food, clothing and housing - not adding to an emergency fund.
And, yes, we have an emergency fund now and I agree with the importance of having one - when able.
Yes, I know too many who struggled even before the current situation, so if they had a few hundred in savings, that was a lot.
frugal-one
1-15-23, 5:28pm
At one time I worked for a utility and a woman came in each month complaining she could not pay her bill. I commented … if you would quit having children that might help…She had 7 kids at the time. My boss was not happy with me BUT I so tired of the complaining when the remedy was obvious. It also irritates me when I am expected to pay the bills of these people. All of our utilities have a mandatory line for those who cannot pay. I thought this was a business? Why are those of us who pay our bills required to help the business?
At one time I worked for a utility and a woman came in each month complaining she could not pay her bill. I commented … if you would quit having children that might help…She had 7 kids at the time. My boss was not happy with me BUT I so tired of the complaining when the remedy was obvious. It also irritates me when I am expected to pay the bills of these people. All of our utilities have a mandatory line for those who cannot pay. I thought this was a business? Why are those of us who pay our bills required to help the business?
Utilities should not be run like profit-driven businesses. They are part of the infrastructure.
I’m sick of people thinking EVERYTHING is a conspiracy these days. Egg prices are so high. Conspiracy! When you mention avian flu and many chickens having to be killed, you’re told “oh that’s what they say.” When I mention avian flu is a big problem in the UK, too, more conspiracy crap. The endless bellyaching over self check out. Either don’t shop there or do pickup/delivery so you don’t have to deal with it. Corporate conspiracy to get rid of all the workers.
On and on.
frugal-one
1-17-23, 4:25am
Utilities should not be run like profit-driven businesses. They are part of the infrastructure.
The small community I live in has it’s own utilities (telephone and electric). It is ALSO irritating that both also each charge me for the fire department in the community who, if they sold all the old/extraneous fire equipment would not need support. They have enough equipment to have a parade each year with no other vehicles. They had one of their vehicles on the cover of a magazine as one of the most expensive fire trucks ever ordered. Then, again, I am charged on my tax bill again for the fire department. Whammies all around.
Friend’s wake was today. My WI diving instructor (the canoe lady) was there, as well as plenty of diving buddies as well as diving friends (never dived with them). Stayed for 2.5 hours. Good chats were very healing. Found out more info that really makes it look like it was a medical issue.
Egg prices
I read today that Cal-Maine, nation's largest egg producer, is having record profits.
Our news today announced the third library plus a civic center in the region have been closed for cleanup after contamination by people smoking meth in bathrooms. The first required $200,000+ to clean up the ventilation system in the bathrooms and beyond. I suspect then other libraries started testing. The news hasn't focused on the homeless, but it doesn't take much to connect people seeking warmth in public buildings.. It's a known problem without effective solutions so far. Also, traces of fentanyl closed the restrooms for a while in a major light rail center. I think the solution to homeless has been discussed already, so it's just a rant maybe.
It's a sad day when centers of learning where kids can go for educational purposes are no longer safe. Maybe the functional days of public libraries are in their sunset with the internet?
iris lilies
1-19-23, 10:32am
Our news today announced the third library plus a civic center in the region have been closed for cleanup after contamination by people smoking meth in bathrooms. The first required $200,000+ to clean up the ventilation system in the bathrooms and beyond. I suspect then other libraries started testing. The news hasn't focused on the homeless, but it doesn't take much to connect people seeking warmth in public buildings.. It's a known problem without effective solutions so far. Also, traces of fentanyl closed the restrooms for a while in a major light rail center. I think the solution to homeless has been discussed already, so it's just a rant maybe.
It's a sad day when centers of learning where kids can go for educational purposes are no longer safe. Maybe the functional days of public libraries are in their sunset with the internet?
I remember when the bed bug infestation hit libraries. I was sitting around the table at the weekly administrative meeting of our library system when someone inquired if we should test for bedbugs. Several of us practically lept across the table shouting NOOOOooo!
Because— if we test, we will find. And treating 20,000 sq ft in one old building would not be something we wish to manage.
early morning
1-19-23, 2:21pm
Because— if we test, we will find. And treating 20,000 sq ft in one old building would not be something we wish to manage. Wait, what??? So then patrons will drag home bugs, and THEY will have to bear the costs of bed-bug treatment, because the library board wasn't willing to test and possibly have to treat? Please tell me you at least removed all the upholstered furniture! I may never sit in a library again..... >:(
Though the downtown library here is our closest one, we travel to another branch not frequented by folks seeking shelter and wi-fi. I would be very sad if libraries went away.
iris lilies
1-19-23, 4:16pm
Wait, what??? So then patrons will drag home bugs, and THEY will have to bear the costs of bed-bug treatment, because the library board wasn't willing to test and possibly have to treat? Please tell me you at least removed all the upholstered furniture! I may never sit in a library again..... >:(
we had no infestation. I woukd not be at all surprised if an energetic pest control employee found a few.
We had homeless oh, I’m sorry unhoused persons in our library all the time, and even tho we set limits on the amount of their personal crap they could bring in with them, , they undoubtedly, had some… Visitors on their person.
iris lilies
1-20-23, 6:16pm
Electronic ticketing. Ugh.
I paid giant money to see Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock this Sunday night. Someone told me the secret code to get into the online ticket sale site to buy tickets before the actual day of sales. That seems weird that there is such a thing, but boy did it ever work!
So then I start getting all these email Messages from the concert venue telling me that I need to put the tickets in my Apple wallet. Well, guess what, I’ve never set up my Apple wallet and I don’t wish to do that. So while I’m mulling that over my old Apple phone decides to shut off. At the moment it’s back on, but it seems to have trouble holding a charge. But using a Wi-Fi connection I went in to try to follow the directions of the ticket venue but none of it made any sense when I set up an account with Ticketmaster as requested. Ticketmaster said I had no tickets on file. Maybe that’s because I didn’t put them in my Apple wallet?
So by today I’m scared because again did I mention I spent giant sums of money on these tickets? and I’ve got to be able to get into the venue on Sunday night. So I went downtown to the box office and a nice lady assured me that my tickets are “there“wherever that is and she sent them digitally to my text box. And, she gave me my “account number” so if something doesn’t work that account number will get me in.
TLDR: I am old and I want a paper ticket, do not make me jump through all these digital hoops. so why don’t you Mr. Venue just charge me an extra $20 and mail me an mf paper ticket?!!?!
Sounds like you need a new phone. I love digital stuff.
Utilities should not be run like profit-driven businesses. They are part of the infrastructure.
Agree.
iris lilies
1-21-23, 12:14am
Sounds like you need a new phone. I love digital stuff.
I think this odd behavior of my old Apple phone is a push. I need to get a new phone. DH traded his old model in for a new one and I’m going to get exactly what he has, a low model, small size. I dislike the big phones.
ToomuchStuff
1-21-23, 1:56am
Electronic ticketing. Ugh.
TLDR: I am old and I want a paper ticket, do not make me jump through all these digital hoops. so why don’t you Mr. Venue just charge me an extra $20 and mail me an mf paper ticket?!!?!
How do you count the concerts you have been to?
Do I count the one, that my grandmother, always wanted to see, that we (as a family) took her to as a birthday present (Boxcar Willie)? I didn't.
I went to one concert, Friday June 13th, 1986, and we got them back out for 9 encores. (Tangerine Dream)
So when I mentioned to my boss, that I found out about Roger Waters coming to town, and missed the tickets until they were really too expensive on the secondary market, he took notice. A couple years before that, he wanted to buy me tickets to see Steve Winwood (someone we both like), but one of the two brothers was off for some time do to surgery (my hours went up as I filled in)
So in 2020, when it was announce Roger was coming back, he called the day of the announcement and bought 4 tickets. Pandemic hit and the concert was to be rescheduled. Boss dies and the gal who was his caretaker had the tickets in her email. She died and her phone was deactivated, and there was no way for me to get the tickets as they kept disconnecting me.
I am with you on paper tickets.
rosarugosa
1-21-23, 7:00am
We went to a concert a few months ago, and I paid about $15.00 extra to have paper tickets mailed to us. We didn't want the digital hassle at the door, and we wanted the ticket stubs for our collections!
I think this odd behavior of my old Apple phone is a push. I need to get a new phone. DH traded his old model in for a new one and I’m going to get exactly what he has, a low model, small size. I dislike the big phones.
I had an 8 plus. It was not holding a charge very well either last summer. I got a 13. Regular size, not the big Pro model. I’m going to suggest a 13. The 14 came out in the fall. The battery life and screen are so much better than my old 8 plus. Camera much improved, as well. There will be deals on the 13 since it’s the previous mod.
iris lilies
1-21-23, 11:53am
I had an 8 plus. It was not holding a charge very well either last summer. I got a 13. Regular size, not the big Pro model. I’m going to suggest a 13. The 14 came out in the fall. The battery life and screen are so much better than my old 8 plus. Camera much improved, as well. There will be deals on the 13 since it’s the previous mod.
I just looked up model 13’s “mini “size so maybe I’ll get one of those. I don’t remember which model number DH has but I it’s not as high, I don’t think anyway.
oh crap, this model13 is powered by UsB-C cord? All of my other power cords won’t work? Yoinks.
I just looked up model 13’s “mini “size so maybe I’ll get one of those. I don’t remember which model number DH has but I it’s not as high, I don’t think anyway.
oh crap, this model13 is powered by UsB-C cord? All of my other power cords won’t work? Yoinks.
My 13 still takes lightning connector. The only thing that’s usb-c is my new iPad 10.
iris lilies
1-21-23, 3:15pm
My 13 still takes lightning connector. The only thing that’s usb-c is my new iPad 10.
I don’t know what a lightning connector is. I saw a reference that the 13 comes with a USB – C2 lightning connector. I have no idea what that is.
My Mac computer takes some sort of connector that is not what my old iPads take. I just looked at both iPad minis, and they are “fifth generation. “
I don’t know what a lightning connector is. I saw a reference that the 13 comes with a USB – C2 lightning connector. I have no idea what that is.
My Mac computer takes some sort of connector that is not what my old iPads take. I just looked at both iPad minis, and they are “fifth generation. “
I had to buy two lightening connectors on Amazon because both my iPad and iPhone were out of date. No big deal--$7 on Amazon for the pair.
Lightning connectors are the Apple proprietary ones. They’ve been around for a while now. My 2015 MacBook Air takes a MagSafe magnetic connector. I think the newer ones take a different version of that. There are all sorts of different connectors for Android phones and other things such as cameras.
For my iPhone 13, I generally use wireless charging for it. I have a case with circular magnet on the back. The round charger sticks to that. What’s nice about wireless charging is that its much easier to use the phone while it’s charging via the back rather the with the charger though the bottom port.
My honey is completely oblivious to the insane amounts of grease that builds up on the stove-top after his daily bacon and eggs. He literally does not see it, or if he does, does not care about it all. Me, on the other hand, is grossed out by it. Most days I clean it up, because that is what I do, and most of the time I don't mind it THAT much, because I lreally like a clean kitchen and that's on me. However, I am going to be a way for a week and I kind of dread coming home to a huge mess in the house...
catherine
1-21-23, 10:42pm
My honey is completely oblivious to the insane amounts of grease that builds up on the stove-top after his daily bacon and eggs. He literally does not see it, or if he does, does not care about it all. Me, on the other hand, is grossed out by it. Most days I clean it up, because that is what I do, and most of the time I don't mind it THAT much, because I lreally like a clean kitchen and that's on me. However, I am going to be a way for a week and I kind of dread coming home to a huge mess in the house...
My next "need" I'm working on getting is a range hood. We don't have one, and DH is a huge stovetop cook! Every day frying something, sautéing, searing, braising, you name it. Everything is covered in grease way too often. Plus the air when he's cooking is unhealthy, especially in the winter when we have little ventilation.
He heard someone on TV saying something about not using the stove, and he asked, "how can he not use the stove??" and I told him how my mother never used the stove. She always cooked in the oven. We'd have casseroles, and meatloaves and she even baked the French fries. So, to me, throughout our marriage having so much hot oil going on all the time was weird, but that's what he grew up with, and so that's what I've gotten used to after 45 years of it.
So, yeah, I can relate to the greasy stovetop!
It's amazing how far the grease travels, actually, kind of horrifying. About once a year I get up on a step ladder and clean off the three vanity lights we had installed above the stove so we can see what we are cooking (I don't think there is really a way to install a stove vent in our weird, hand-built house). The metal shades of these lights get so coated with grease! It takes a lot of elbow grease (ha - no pun intended) to clean them off; I figure once a year is good enough for me because you can't really see up there, per say.
5117
My honey is completely oblivious to the insane amounts of grease that builds up on the stove-top after his daily bacon and eggs. He literally does not see it, or if he does, does not care about it all. Me, on the other hand, is grossed out by it. Most days I clean it up, because that is what I do, and most of the time I don't mind it THAT much, because I lreally like a clean kitchen and that's on me. However, I am going to be a way for a week and I kind of dread coming home to a huge mess in the house...
Tell him to start cooking the bacon in the oven. Eliminates the mess on the stove top. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Line the bacon up on the sheet. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Comes out perfect every time. Less grease too. Wait for it to cool and then wrap the grease in the foil and dispose in the trash. If done right, there is no mess on the baking sheet and you can put it away so no extra clean up either. I will never cook bacon any other way now.
frugal-one
1-22-23, 6:43am
Have you tried grease covers for the frying pan? Can get them at Dolllar Tree ….
iris lilies
1-22-23, 11:22am
Tell him to start cooking the bacon in the oven. Eliminates the mess on the stove top. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Line the bacon up on the sheet. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Comes out perfect every time. Less grease too. Wait for it to cool and then wrap the grease in the foil and dispose in the trash. If done right, there is no mess on the baking sheet and you can put it away so no extra clean up either. I will never cook bacon any other way now.
That is a good method, but for someone who cooks bacon often, doesn't that use up a ton of aluminum foil?
we cook bacon in the microwave oven. It is fairly easy to clean up. We have a grooved hard plastic device made for cooking bacon. Put paper towel on top to absorb grease.
edited to correct our coking method!
"Have you tried grease covers for the frying pan? Can get them at Dolllar Tree …."
I bought them a few years ago and they stay forgotten, hidden in the cupboard...
I think a lot of it is that I like to have a reasonably clean house and to keep it at that standard I do most of the housework, which I actually don't mind because I am proud of finally owning my own house. I am much better at housekeeping than he is; he does all the firewood stuff because I can't- the wood hauling, the chopping of kindling, etc. He also does the dishes without me asking. Actually, we take turns doing the dishes, and take turns doing the cooking. But to me cleaning up after the evening meal means not only doing the dishes, but wiping the countertops and the stovetop as well.
However, when I am gone, I shouldn't have to come home home to a complete mess. I don't expect it to be exactly up to my standards, but I told him the last time I was away that just doing the dishes isn't quite enough - I don't think I should come home to a week's worth of bacon grease on top of the stove, is all.
catherine
1-22-23, 12:28pm
"Have you tried grease covers for the frying pan? Can get them at Dolllar Tree …."
Same here.
I love your kitchen space, SiouzQ. I love that color yellow-orange. My kitchen is yellow (I'd take a picture but I'm on a report deadline, and grease is the least of my problems in terms of housekeeping right now). DH wants to keep the yellow, but I'm thinking of a deeper shade--something between gold and orange/yellow. I'm not fond of the current "buttercup" yellow. I'd rather have off-white, or if I go with color, something richer than chirpy yellow.
happystuff
1-22-23, 3:54pm
That is a good method, but for someone who cooks bacon often, doesn't that use up a ton of aluminum foil?
I do the oven method and actually just cook the whole pack at once. The extra is put in a container in the fridge and just the desired number of slices are taken out and reheated for each day's breakfast. (The reheating is done either in the toaster oven or microwave depending on how much of a hurry I am in. And sometimes it is actually just eaten cold.)
iris lilies
1-22-23, 3:59pm
I do the oven method and actually just cook the whole pack at once. The extra is put in a container in the fridge and just the desired number of slices are taken out and reheated for each day's breakfast. (The reheating is done either in the toaster oven or microwave depending on how much of a hurry I am in. And sometimes it is actually just eaten cold.)
good idea! Bacon freezes well.
I cook mine half a package at a time in a small electric skillet with a couple of tablespoons of water, lid on. No grease escapes.
frugal-one
1-22-23, 5:39pm
good idea! Bacon freezes well.
Both raw and cooked. I reheat cooked slices from the freezer too.
Teacher Terry
1-22-23, 8:29pm
I cook my bacon in the oven but don’t use aluminum foil because it’s such a waste. I empty the grease into a glass jar and wash the pan.
As some of you know, one of my favorite towns I have ever lived in (for short periods of time) is Ocean Grove, NJ. I used to rent an off-season home for $950 a month. At one point, I dreamed that someday I could be a permanent resident. I loved everything about it.
The COVID diaspora from the cities and the housing bubble ruined that dream. Of course, I'm now living my dream in VT, and am thoroughly happy here, but I still can't get over how unreachable OG would be if I ever changed my mind about Vermont.
Look at this Zillow listing. $1.5M.... for a tiny plot of land!! No house!!
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/25-Seaview-Ave-Ocean-Grove-NJ-07756/39342521_zpid/
It also makes me believe that all the charm of OG will soon be gone because despite the fact that its a historic landmark town with rules, the character of the town will completely change. :(
iris lilies
1-26-23, 1:30pm
As some of you know, one of my favorite towns I have ever lived in (for short periods of time) is Ocean Grove, NJ. I used to rent an off-season home for $950 a month. At one point, I dreamed that someday I could be a permanent resident. I loved everything about it.
The COVID diaspora from the cities and the housing bubble ruined that dream. Of course, I'm now living my dream in VT, and am thoroughly happy here, but I still can't get over how unreachable OG would be if I ever changed my mind about Vermont.
Look at this Zillow listing. $1.5M.... for a tiny plot of land!! No house!!
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/25-Seaview-Ave-Ocean-Grove-NJ-07756/39342521_zpid/
It also makes me believe that all the charm of OG will soon be gone because despite the fact that its a historic landmark town with rules, the character of the town will completely change. :(
what do you mean “the character of the town will completely change? “ Rich people like their architectural integrity so as you mentioned, I can’t see that changing. But I suppose it is annoying when people who run their lies by writing out a check take over a town. We saw we saw a neighborhood change to “checkbook rehabbers” and that had some consequences I didn’t especially like.
what do you mean “the character of the town will completely change?"
The old Victorian homes have been kept intact and in good shape pretty much for 150 years. It was developed by the Methodists who had a very clear, communal, holistic vision of the town. Therefore, they consciously designed the blocks so that everyone could enjoy the ocean to the extent possible. Also, one of the unique features of the town is the tent community. The church is surrounded by platforms and in the summer generations of families have come and built their semi-permanent tents there. I cannot image that "rich people" from NYC are going to look kindly on the "riff-raff"---I also don't think they'll give a rats ass about blocking a neighbor's view.
Plus, they might say they like good design, but does that mean they really know Victorian architecture, or that their modern touches won't completely overshadow the vintage aura of the town?
This reminds me Madison, where I grew up in the summer--all the "rich people" have made similar changes to that town. Of course, the older generation hates it. The only solace I can take from this, now that I live, not on the ocean, but at least on a lake, is that maybe someday my kids will say "Wow, Mom and Dad only paid $164k for the house and NOW it's worth 1M!!" And that will be nice, as long as higher taxes don't force them to sell, which is what happened to my old Madison friends and neighbors.
iris lilies
1-26-23, 1:49pm
If the building code does not prohibit blocking ocean views, then they arent protected.
The tent aspect seems very cool.
If the building code does not prohibit blocking ocean views, then they arent protected.
The tent aspect seems very cool.
Here's an article about the tent community:
https://www.theinnsofoceangrove.com/our-blog/ocean-grove-tents/
iris lilies
1-26-23, 2:08pm
Here's an article about the tent community:
https://www.theinnsofoceangrove.com/our-blog/ocean-grove-tents/
some of those furnished tents are super cute, but what do residents do for food? There is no cooking facility. A summer of eating out is not appealing to me.
some of those furnished tents are super cute, but what do residents do for food? There is no cooking facility. A summer of eating out is not appealing to me.
Actually, the semipermanent front room is attached to a cabin that has a kitchen. I forgot about that.
"The front room, or canvas room, in each tent is covered by a canvas roof framed by a wooden structure on three sides, with a front door individually purchased by tenters. Creating a seamless, enclosed space, the canvas room is attached to the cabin, with a kitchen, toilet and shower. The total enclosed space is roughly 600 square feet. Many tenters have ingeniously carved out spaces for everything from tiny bedrooms with bunk beds to areas for the most prized possession of all: a stacked washer and dryer."
iris lilies
1-26-23, 2:38pm
Actually, the semipermanent front room is attached to a cabin that has a kitchen. I forgot about that.
"The front room, or canvas room, in each tent is covered by a canvas roof framed by a wooden structure on three sides, with a front door individually purchased by tenters. Creating a seamless, enclosed space, the canvas room is attached to the cabin, with a kitchen, toilet and shower. The total enclosed space is roughly 600 square feet. Many tenters have ingeniously carved out spaces for everything from tiny bedrooms with bunk beds to areas for the most prized possession of all: a stacked washer and dryer."
very cool! 600 sq ft is a LOT of space
I imagine change is coming there, unfortunately. I went to high school for two years in Middletown and we rented in Seabright at first. We used to go to Asbury Park. It was so seedy. But so cool! My first job was working at Rite Aid in Red Bank. My mom loved New Jersey--it was one of the last places she remembered living.
We visited Ocean Grove, NJ one afternoon and I looked on the internet for a few weeks wondering how it would be to live there. It was such a lovely town. I am sorry to see the big money taking over. it's often, not good for ambiance. We've seen it in Ocean City, MD, Frederick, MD. Nice family neighborhoods houses bought, torn down and a monstrosity built. But, I guess that is just change, even with codes and historic districts, height restrictions....somehow worked around to allow it.
Today I’m going to rant about the places that require you to fill out a form they provide via email or the internet, yet they don’t have the form set up so you can type right into it. You have to print it out and hand write everything! My handwriting is very loopy. It’s hard to read if you’re not used to it. Annoying as hell. And when I’ve suggested a form you can type into, nearly all the places get really bent out of shape. Sheesh.
iris lilies
1-30-23, 2:04pm
Today I’m going to rant about the places that require you to fill out a form they provide via email or the internet, yet they don’t have the form set up so you can type right into it. You have to print it out and hand write everything! My handwriting is very loopy. It’s hard to read if you’re not used to it. Annoying as hell. And when I’ve suggested a form you can type into, nearly all the places get really bent out of shape. Sheesh.
one of the few downsides in moving my files to a Mac environment is that I am encountering nothing but trouble when filling out online forms.
Same forms, no trouble using HP computer.
This is not making me happy. I will be damned if I keep this creaky old
windows 7 machine up to complete plant society forms and National Garden Club forms. I hated this machine since the day we got it in 2014. I love the fact it is retired.
one of the few downsides in moving my files to a Mac environment is that I am encountering nothing but trouble infilli g out online forms.
Same forms, not trouble using HP computer.
This is not making me happy. I will be damned if I keep this creaky old
windows 7 machine up to complete plant society forms and National Garden Club forms. I hated this machine since the day we got it in 2014. I love the fact it is retired.
Are you filling out documents on the browser or after you download them? Are they pdf or Word format files? It does make a difference.
Another one: I’m sick of business management types telling me it’s MY fault that my workload is tough to handle when I’m gone. Same with coworker in same department. This is a head scratcher. We don’t need a third person with current workload. So a third person might be needed to help cover when either of us is on vacation maybe a month each year. I’ve never worked any job where the boss will be OK with paying salary and benefits for someone needed about a month a year. I do my best to get all stuff possible done or prepped for when I’m gone. Same with coworker. We’re in international shipping and freight doesn’t stop moving so we can’t just leave our workload and pick up when we’re back. Someone has to handle stuff when we’re gone. We can’t help it when urgent shipments are dumped on it that we had no knowledge of. That’s the kind of thing that throws everything off when you’re covering for someone. ��*♀️
iris lilies
1-30-23, 2:18pm
Are you filling out documents on the browser or after you download them? Are they pdf or Word format files? It does make a difference.
Hmmm, in the old world The NGC forms were downloaded, and they were editable pdf files, I think (even tho I do not have Adobe Pro to edit pdf.) maybe I need to play around with them on this Mac.
the lily society form was supposed to be editable from the browser, I think. But it did not work.
Hmmm, in the old world The NGC forms were downloaded, and they were editable pdf files, I think (even tho I do not have Adobe Pro to edit pdf.) maybe I need to play around with them on this Mac.
the liky so ietyndorm was supposed to be editable from the browser, I think. But it did not work.
What specific problems are you having?
The Mac Preview app can edit pdf files. If you’re using Safari for your browser and you’re not downloading forms, try Firefox or Chrome, whichever you prefer. But if you’re trying to complete forms that were created in MS Word and you’re trying to complete them with Apple Pages (word processing app), Pages often doesn’t play nice with Word format docs. LibreOffice is what I use instead. It’s free, open course.
There’s a website called pdf2go. It’s free. I use at work for combining different attachments into one pdf file. There are lots of functions on this website for working with pdf files. You might give it a try. I find it very user friendly.
iris lilies
1-30-23, 2:39pm
What specific problems are you having?
The Mac Preview app can edit pdf files. If you’re using Safari for your browser and you’re not downloading forms, try Firefox or Chrome, whichever you prefer. But if you’re trying to complete forms that were created in MS Word and you’re trying to complete them with Apple Pages (word processing app), Pages often doesn’t play nice with Word format docs. LibreOffice is what I use instead. It’s free, open course.
There’s a website called pdf2go. It’s free. I use at work for combining different attachments into one pdf file. There are lots of functions on this website for working with pdf files. You might give it a try. I find it very user friendly.I will investigate this. Thank you.
Teacher Terry
1-30-23, 2:51pm
The medical websites I have been given don’t require you to print out a form and you simply fill it out online. Not everyone has a printer and then you have to remember to bring it with you.
rosarugosa
1-30-23, 3:07pm
Can you please translate "liky so ietyndorm" to English for us?
iris lilies
1-30-23, 4:41pm
Can you please translate "liky so ietyndorm" to English for us?
Oh you! Iwill fix it.
The medical websites I have been given don’t require you to print out a form and you simply fill it out online. Not everyone has a printer and then you have to remember to bring it with you.
Doctor’s offices are usually on the ball about that stuff if they send them to you ahead of time.
I’m talking about places like the condo complex where I live. They have a stupid info form you have to fill out every year, even if nothing changes. Have to print it out and fill it in by hand. I got a call about what some of the stuff I wrote was. When I suggested a form you could type directly into, the woman got downright nasty.
Teacher Terry
1-31-23, 1:27am
That sounds super annoying Tradd.
rosarugosa
1-31-23, 6:54am
Oh you! Iwill fix it.
I honestly had no idea what it was supposed to mean, although it seems obvious now that you've fixed it!
iris lilies
1-31-23, 10:33am
I honestly had no idea what it was supposed to mean, although it seems obvious now that you've fixed it!
I wouldn’t expect you to know what it meant, but it didn’t really matter because it was just blathering from me, my usual too much.
iris lilies
1-31-23, 6:45pm
Dear women who change your name multiple times:
please, when you are registering for an event you expect to be credited to your record, use the same name in your record.
I am trying to untangle an accreditation problem and these events always go through several hands. I don’t know if this snafu is because somebody along the way dropped the ball, or if those in the chain used one of the subject’s 3 names, or what exactly.
IL: Sometimes it is fun to try to guess, like a puzzle or something, lol.
As far as names go: I will die with the same name I had when I was born. If I ruled the world, nobody would ever change their names. Many years of working in HR only reinforced my opinion that name changes are a major pain in the a$$.
Contacted one of my WI buddies yesterday about cave diving at the WI mine in the next couple of weeks. Very bummed to find out the mine is probably going to be off limits for fun diving. Not sure why. The use agreement is being renegotiated with the owners. Instructor will still be allowed to teach out there. Not sure what’s up with the owners. That’s a huge bummer. Awesome place to dive and I’d not gotten back to the ore certs yet! Had only done one dive out there this winter.
There’s a quarry in OH that’s open on winter weekends, but it depends on if there’s no ice. Plus it’s 6 hours away instead of 3.
Teacher Terry
2-1-23, 12:50pm
I have had 4 last names. Changing is a big pain. To get the real ID I took all my divorce paperwork to the dmv. I even had the first one from 1975. Well they only accept marriage licenses so I had to pay the states I got married in to get them. They don’t even want the divorce paperwork. If I was young now I wouldn’t change my name.
I have had 4 last names. Changing is a big pain. To get the real ID I took all my divorce paperwork to the dmv. I even had the first one from 1975. Well they only accept marriage licenses so I had to pay the states I got married in to get them. They don’t even want the divorce paperwork. If I was young now I wouldn’t change my name.
My DS#3 is getting married. His fiancee has an awesome last name. He kind of hints at her changing to his, and I discourage him from pressuring her to do that. My two DILs didn't change their last names, and neither did my daughter. When I got married, I changed my official name from [first name][middle name][last name] to [first name][last name][married name]. I didn't hyphenate. Hyphenating can be super confusing. One of my son's former girlfriends got married and she and her husband both hyphenate their two last names.
I don't have a problem with my name the way it is, but that's only because it's been my name for 46 years now, and it will stay that way. If I were to change my name at this point, I'd have it legally changed to "Catherine" because my legal name is not that, but I've always loved that name and wished my mother had won over my father, who was a huge fan of Wuthering Heights.
iris lilies
2-1-23, 1:20pm
I changed my name upon marriage with some thought, but not tons of thought. It just seemed easier, a one time conversion. It was easier because I was picking up and moving to a new city with a new job so I could start fresh with a new name.
After working with the public for decades, I lose patience with the name changers because too many of them don’t seem to know the concept of surname, and what their surname is. One will say “my name is Mary Smith Jones” and I will say what is your surname? And they won’t be able to tell me if it is Smith or if it is Jones.
I’m not saying that’s true for everyone of course, but a percentage of the population doesn’t get it. Many people are thinking of their names as Catherine presents it, a last name, and a married name. That’s fine, you can call yourself whatever you like but what is your surname? Then, please be consistent in using that.
I honestly got the impression from one or two people that they wanted ME to determine their surnames.
My last name is such a bear to get other people to spell properly that I always swore I would never change my name unless hubby had a much easier to spell one. At this point I doubt I’ll ever get married, but that was always my stance on changing my name.
I have an exceptionally short and completely phonetic last name, so it's never mispronounced, but you'd be surprised at the number of times it's been misspelled. My SO had a lovely, euphonious last name, but--had we married--I would have kept my birth name.
I honestly got the impression from one or two people that they wanted ME to determine their surnames.
I would always assume the last name in the string of names is the surname. In my case, it's my married name. But I think that many people just don't know what a "surname" is. I bet customs officials go crazy over that when people fill out those forms on the plane before they land. There are probably all kinds of erroneous responses.
When getting married, I was more or less indifferent as to whether I changed my name or not, so I did change it. Now my thinking is, I wish I had kept my birth name.
iris lilies
2-1-23, 4:06pm
I would always assume the last name in the string of names is the surname. In my case, it's my married name. But I think that many people just don't know what a "surname" is. I bet customs officials go crazy over that when people fill out those forms on the plane before they land. There are probably all kinds of erroneous responses.
As a librarian who took cataloging classes to learn formulation of surnames, that aint always the case.
José Santos Almeida
is one thing in Spain and may be another surname in Portugal. There are all kinds of variations in the world. But I suppose this is over thinking it!
But the women with multiple names may have used her last name at one time and she is recorded that way but her married name may be her NEW last name, and in that a change of name on the record is required. That is why the individual gets to decide his/her surname.
My last name is such a bear to get other people to spell properly that I always swore I would never change my name unless hubby had a much easier to spell one. At this point I doubt I’ll ever get married, but that was always my stance on changing my name.
Nobody can spell my last name correctly, but I find it entertaining to watch them try. DH's name is easier, but what fun is that? I used to have a little collage at work that I made from cutting out the many variations of my last name from my mail (back in the days of lots of paper).
I do dislike the symbolism of a woman's identity being subsumed by that of her husband. For me it was kind of a non-decision. I had never given the matter too much thought, but when I was getting married and was asked if I was going to change my name, it was an absolute "of course not." DH has always been on board with the decision.
...
I do dislike the symbolism of a woman's identity being subsumed by that of her husband...
Exactly. The women in my family mostly just switched their birth name for their middle name, which then disappeared but for an initial.
Teacher Terry
2-2-23, 2:23pm
The first time I got married I never gave it any thought and changed my name but I was 18. Then when I divorced I kept it because I wanted the same name as my son. So when I married a second time I wanted to change my name and my second husband adopted my son.
When I got married the third time I didn’t want to change my name because I had the other one for 27 years and was known professionally by that name. But he had a fit so I changed it to a name no one could pronounce or spell. Upon divorcing I changed it back to my kids name because that’s the one I had the longest and feels like my name. People not knowing their surname are being stupid.
The first time I got married I never gave it any thought and changed my name but I was 18. Then when I divorced I kept it because I wanted the same name as my son. So when I married a second time I wanted to change my name and my second husband adopted my son.
When I got married the third time I didn’t want to change my name because I had the other one for 27 years and was known professionally by that name. But he had a fit so I changed it to a name no one could pronounce or spell. Upon divorcing I changed it back to my kids name because that’s the one I had the longest and feels like my name. People not knowing their surname are being stupid.
When my mother divorced and remarried, she took her second husband's last name, which gave us a different name than hers, which did get slightly confusing, especially back in the 60s when so few people were divorced, let alone on their second husbands. Then she divorced my stepfather and remarried someone whose last name happened to be just a couple of letters off from her FIRST married name. Think about how confusing that was, especially juxtaposed to the last names of her children. It caused a lot of confusion.
iris lilies
2-8-23, 1:46pm
Today I was blocked from the very general, benign, and largely uninteresting sub Reddit R/entertainment. I’ve only posted on it a couple of times. I don’t care about that community, so this is just odd.
I was blocked because I “participate in the brigading reddit sub /Dave Chapelle.” I think I’ve posted there a total of five times.
I can only surmise that it’s the trans activist philosophy that is driving this silly moderator decision. It must be a bunch of 15-year-olds moderating the sub r/ entertainment forum, 15 year olds who have time to comb through posters on their forum and check their posts to see if there are posts from that person on Chappelle forum.
Today I was blocked from the very general, benign, and largely uninteresting sub Reddit R/entertainment. I’ve only posted on it a couple of times. I don’t care about that community, so this is just odd.
I was blocked because I “participate in the brigading reddit sub /Dave Chapelle.” I think I’ve posted it there a total of five times.
I can only surmise that it’s the trans activist philosophy that is driving this silly moderator decision. It must be a bunch of 15-year-olds moderating the sub Reddit entertainment forum, 15 year olds who have time combing through posters on their forum and checking their posts to see if there ate pists on Chappelle forum.
What does brigading mean?
iris lilies
2-8-23, 5:10pm
What does brigading mean?
I assume it means piling on, or a form of that.
I ask because the way it was written in sounded like they were saying the sub itself was brigading, not you. I don't understand Reddit, how it works, what a sub is, etc.
iris lilies
2-8-23, 6:10pm
I ask because the way it was written in sounded like they were saying the sub itself was brigading, not you. I don't understand Reddit, how it works, what a sub is, etc.
I believe they DO mean the sub itself is brigading. Others on the Chappelke sub reddit are reporting same banning message.
Reddit is just a space on the internet where anyone can form a discussion forum on any topic. Moderators can set their own guidelines for their sub forums as long as those guidelines don’t conflict with Reddit central’s guidelines. So if they want to ban me for posting on r/ Chappelle forum, they may do that.
So you post on a sub and they don't like the sub so they ban you? Can you still post on the sub, but not other subs? I am not understanding why they don't ban the sub, and no one can post on it, if they deem it out of the guidelines? It seems very odd to me, like are they disapproving of Dave Chappelle and so you are not allowed to post because you wrote about him? But the sub still continues?
iris lilies
2-9-23, 10:42am
So you post on a sub and they don't like the sub so they ban you? Can you still post on the sub, but not other subs? I am not understanding why they don't ban the sub, and no one can post on it, if they deem it out of the guidelines? It seems very odd to me, like are they disapproving of Dave Chappelle and so you are not allowed to post because you wrote about him? But the sub still continues?
not exactly, “they” have no power to ban the Chappelle sub.
I didnt say anything about Dave Chappelle on the entertainment sub where I was banned. I wrote on entirely different topics. That’s why this ban is so WTF.
It’s like: I’m banned from the Simple Living Forum because I post on the Mr. Money Mustache forum. If I’m someone who likes face punching, to moderators here I must be an evil person.
Reddit is made up of thousands of sub forums, each with their own moderators and rules.
You post on MMM?? I'm blocking you, IL! Violent face-punching triggers me!!
Seriously, that is over-the-top. We are all retreating into little bubbles of self-concern.
I belong to a.. I don't know what you'd call it... a program, a webpage, a way of life... which used to be called "Optimize" (which I liked ) and now it's called "Heroic" which seems a little overblown to me, but whatever, it's still the same principles and programs which I have benefited from for a number of years. One of their core principles is that we have the opportunity to work towards being "anti-fragile"--which basically means the more life beats you down the higher you rise to the occasion. You condition yourself that way. It feels like the culture is going in entirely the opposite direction, unfortunately.
iris lilies
2-9-23, 1:50pm
You post on MMM?? I'm blocking you, IL! Violent face-punching triggers me!!
Seriously, that is over-the-top. We are all retreating into little bubbles of self-concern.
I belong to a.. I don't know what you'd call it... a program, a webpage, a way of life... which used to be called "Optimize" (which I liked ) and now it's called "Heroic" which seems a little overblown to me, but whatever, it's still the same principles and programs which I have benefited from for a number of years. One of their core principles is that we have the opportunity to work towards being "anti-fragile"--which basically means the more life beats you down the higher you rise to the occasion. You condition yourself that way. It feels like the culture is going in entirely the opposite direction, unfortunately.
there are those who predict the “leading your thoughts by your feelings “ way we have been interacting with the world is about ready to run out of steam. There are others who say it’s all so broken it ain’t never going to recover. It’s a crazy world.
I think there will be a societal correction and fairly soon ( within 5 years) but it won’t come back to what it was 10-15 years ago, it will be something different. And maybe that’s OK.
I think there will be a societal correction and fairly soon ( within 5 years) but it won’t come back to what it was 10-15 years ago, it will be something different. And maybe that’s OK.
Unfortunately it may take some unpleasant event that teaches people what they're capable of being without the whining.
I believe that there are a lot of "lines" that have been stepped over that cannot be taken back. I am one of those people and probably due to my age that just hopes we limp along until I expire. No one in my family line or my husband's have had any children.
Nobody can spell my last name correctly, but I find it entertaining to watch them try. DH's name is easier, but what fun is that? I used to have a little collage at work that I made from cutting out the many variations of my last name from my mail (back in the days of lots of paper).
I do dislike the symbolism of a woman's identity being subsumed by that of her husband. For me it was kind of a non-decision. I had never given the matter too much thought, but when I was getting married and was asked if I was going to change my name, it was an absolute "of course not." DH has always been on board with the decision.
I saved something Disney World sent us addressed to "The Lunatic Family". Wow.. when the happiest place on Earth refers to your family as lunatics, you just have to accept it. :laff:
That is hilarious!! I might frame that one.
That is hilarious!! I might frame that one.
What's interesting is that our last name isn't even supposed to be Lunick. When husband's Grandfather (German) met the Grandmother (American), she refused to marry him because his last name was Luniac which she thought was too close to "lunatic". Little did she know that many many years later, what she made him change it to would still be mistaken for lunatic.
iris lilies
2-11-23, 10:17am
I believe that there are a lot of "lines" that have been stepped over that cannot be taken back. I am one of those people and probably due to my age that just hopes we limp along until I expire. No one in my family line or my husband's have had any children.
that is exactly what I think.
on my side of the family there is only one new generation kid, and she will be protected from whatever comes with her brains, beauty, and education, shielded by millions of $ (that she probably doesn’t know about.)
But on DH’s side of the family there are children and their children. Lots of progeny.
I hate it when people bring food to the office for a potluck and get offended when you don’t eat it. Half of my small company owners are Indian and there a few coworkers who are Indian. We’re having a potluck today. Bring whatever you want. I have a sensitive stomach and am very wary about trying new things. Anything with curry makes me VERY sick. One person keeps trying to get me to eat whatever it is and no, thank you isn’t cutting it. I’ll eat samosas, though. They are very yummy.
early morning
2-14-23, 2:15pm
I've always found that variations of "oh, that smells delicious, I do wish I could try it/ eat it" has always let me off the hook.
frugal-one
2-14-23, 4:44pm
The park we are in continually wants to take your picture to post as new to the park…renter etc. Now they are going around trying to get everyone’s picture for a village directory they can sell. I find this a total invasion of my privacy and not especially smart in this day and age. I am one of the few who refuses.
This falls under Frustrating Challenges: I am just so tired. The past two months has been non-stop stuff, starting with me getting Covid on Dec. 28. I wasn't terribly sick, but the fatigue from it was immense. A few weeks after that I went to Tucson by myself to help a friend at her booth at the Gem Show, so that was a solid week that included a long drive and working outside 6 days in a row plus the long drive back. I got horribly sick with gastroenteritis on the way home and in Truth or Consequences I ended up in the ER there from dehydration. I finally made it home the next day but spent another week recovering from that. Hubby and I went back down to T or C together last Friday and Saturday for a quick hot springs getaway. I went to work on Sunday and later in the day was when his car accident occurred. We spent something like seven hours in the ER and they sent him home at 1am. So the past few days have been spent tending to him and the house, which means hauling the firewood (his usual job), doing all the meals, clean-up, running errands to Santa Fe while he is laid up in bed. We did hire a friend last night to chop up a huge box of kindling because I am unable to do that kind of work because of my neck and shoulder issues.
My physical resiliency has been so compromised these past few years after my daughter's death and all the wrist and other surgeries I went through, my own weird falling accidents in the yard and in general the arthritis and other musculo-skeletal and chronic pain issues I have. Every time I start getting some sort of exercise routine started, something happens to disrupt it and I have to start all over again. I had been going to the gym twice a week (the gym is in Santa Fe which is about 27 miles away so I can't really fit more than 2x a week in) when I got hit with Covid and have not been able to get back to it. I was planning on starting this week but then the car accident happened.
Maybe next week when things settle down...
So sorry to hear. What sort of workout do you like? Maybe time to invest in a piece of equipment at home or find something you can do at home?
There is a huge number of great exercise videos on Youtube for free. Ranging from cardio of all kinds, to meditation, stretching, etc. I even looked up Hip Hop Step to see what types of moves might be in a class. Classes for any age or fitness level.
All you need is a way of getting video from youtube and maybe some cheap dumbbells. Pick the instructor that you connect with and go to it. Save that 50 mile round trip.
I'm embarrassed to add that I bought an exercise bike during the first year of the pandemic; I swore I wasn't going to be one of those people that let it sit and get dusty from lack of use. I am that person, sadly...a lot of it is getting my mental gumption up to start doing it again. I find that if I make a point of going to the gym for the express purpose of working out, I actually end up at the gym doing just that. When the equipment is at home however, I seem to always find something else that needs doing instead.
A lot of it is a mental thing, I'm afraid...I let my fatigue and lack of motivation get to me.
Oh that’s too bad. I would have thought you’d like not having to drive all that way.
catherine
2-15-23, 10:20pm
SiouzQ, I also have a terrible time with motivation. I have joined gyms often enough to have formed a resolve never to join another one. I sign up and then I don't go. So, I'm the opposite end of your experience with the treadmill clothing rack.
The only thing that has helped me are some specific habit-forming behaviors.
I exercise in the morning, but when I started with my regimen, I limited myself to one minute of exercise. That's it. (My exercise of choice is planks, push-ups with some yoga thrown in). I stopped myself at one minute. The next day I told myself that if I even do 1% more, that's great! Those daily 1% incremental improvements add up. Everyday I would just pledge to do 1% more or better, but that was it
Those mental tricks helped me form the habit of exercising. It has been the most successful approach I've ever had. At 70, I can now do 5 minute plank workouts and I can do more push-ups than I could do when I was 14 years old in gym class. I do the same with cardio, although I find that harder to do in this small house. I'm very bad at doing a cardio routine in the winter. In the summer, I can schedule time at 3pm to go out and walk. I have tried YouTube, Pelaton, and other videos and they don't work for me. Too many steps. I have to find one or two, make a decision, follow through with the routine even if I don't like it. I'm just not motivated by them.
I acknowledge how frustrating it is to see the days go by without feeling you've pushed yourself physically. I hope you find something that works for you until you can get to the gym!
There is a huge number of great exercise videos on Youtube for free. Ranging from cardio of all kinds, to meditation, stretching, etc. I even looked up Hip Hop Step to see what types of moves might be in a class. Classes for any age or fitness level.
All you need is a way of getting video from youtube and maybe some cheap dumbbells. Pick the instructor that you connect with and go to it. Save that 50 mile round trip.
I actually do some chair cardio along with Caroline Jordan videos. You work up quite a sweat and can modify as needed. They are easy on my knees, which is ideal.
I was scheduling my gym trips on the days I went into Santa Fe to run errands, so it wasn't an "extra" trip. I think I am suffering from the winter doldrums, along with all the stressful stuff going on in my life. I swear, it hits me so bad in the mid-afternoon and I just want to curl up and never get out of bed. But right now it's both of us in bed as he is recuperating from the accident. The other factor is I am not working very much outside the home right now, as it is the slow season in our little tourist town. I'm only scheduled for two days a week, and the other days I either run the errands or I work in my studio. This week I am just so unmotivated to be creative because of all the other stuff going on. Talking to lawyers, filing a claim for the totaled car, etc, etc. It's all very unsettling, to say the least. I am trying to take care of myself and get enough rest and not beat myself up too much this upset in my schedule. This too shall pass (I know it in my head, but it's just so frickin' tiring).
frugal-one
2-16-23, 12:25am
I actually do some chair cardio along with Caroline Jordan videos. You work up quite a sweat and can modify as needed. They are easy on my knees, which is ideal.
Thanks for posting this. I will give her a try tomorrow! Hopefully, this will motivate me!
Thanks for posting this. I will give her a try tomorrow! Hopefully, this will motivate me!
Hope you like her! She developed the chair cardio when she had an ankle injury some years back.
I should try this too. Ugh. But thank you, will try.
Meth Head Matchsticks: Don't hire a meth head to chop kindling for you. I'm having a devil of a time getting a good fire with nice coals going. She forgot to leave some decent mid-sized pieces left...
5198
iris lilies
2-16-23, 2:33pm
Oops, I accidentally cut my cat’s whiskers on one side of her face. Mr Google says it will take 6 weeks to 3 months for them to grow back. I’m glad she is not out in the wild having to find her way in the dark.
ToomuchStuff
2-16-23, 3:16pm
Oops, I accidentally cut my cat’s whiskers on one side of her face. Mr Google says it will take 6weejs to 3 months for them to grow back. I’m glad she is not out in the wild having to find her way in the dark.
Guess we will learn if what I always heard is true, a cat uses it's whiskers for balance. (cat act drunk?)
iris lilies
2-16-23, 3:52pm
Guess we will learn if what I always heard is true, a cat uses it's whiskers for balance. (cat act drunk?)
Whiskers act as antennae to alert her when she’s running into things. Things being walls, brush, plants, furniture.
littlebittybobby
2-16-23, 4:13pm
Oops, I accidentally cut my cat’s whiskers on one side of her face. Mr Google says it will take 6 weeks to 3 months for them to grow back. I’m glad she is not out in the wild having to find her way in the dark. Okay---IU would advise that you STOP micro-managing your Catts life! They are NOT a Bulldogg or a Huskee who requires a high level of maintenance. They are a CATT. Their body is their property. Don't be surpised if she starts plottig to knock a vase off a shelf, right above your head. Yup. Hope thatt helpps you some.
rosarugosa
2-17-23, 7:03am
IL: How on earth did that come to pass?
iris lilies
2-17-23, 9:46am
IL: How on earth did that come to pass?
I was trimming the ruff around her neck. It is the first part of her body to get knots.
I will have her shaved in a few weeks, but right now I am just trimming with scissors.
Teacher Terry
2-17-23, 11:53am
Bobby is right that your kitty is probably plotting revenge:)). Dogs forgive and kittys get even.
iris lilies
2-17-23, 12:30pm
Bobby is right that your kitty is probably plotting revenge:)). Dogs forgive and kittys get even.
I see no hint of anger toward me. She is always a happy little Buddha cat! She just bops along in life, playing, napping, taking cuddles.
littlebittybobby
2-17-23, 12:32pm
Okay-----Fluffy gave herself a restyle awhile back, by sitting on the stove, next to an active burner. She was just warming herself, BUT I guess she musta singed her fluffy coat, on the lower sides. It didn't burn her scalp at all. But yeah--I first noticed the odor of burning hair, before I saw Fluffykins' noo doo. Ha. So anyway--it was kjinda beneficial to her. I was "thinking"(ha) maybe Faux could put the tea kettle on to boil, and her Kitty from Indyanna could get up next to it, and maybe trim those imperfections off. Hope thatt helpps you some. Thankk Mee.
Walked into the house yesterday ready to enjoy my 3 day weekend when I get a text from a co-worker saying there was just a homicide in the City where I work. I happen to process crime evidence for the City I work for so that means that come Tuesday, not only will I have a bunch of stuff waiting for me from the long weekend but now I will have a crap ton of stuff from the homicide. Fricking great! :devil:
My husband is really struggling with the back pain from the auto accident a week ago. It's making me really worried and I am trying not to freak out about what a possible long-term injury with a long healing time will mean for our lives. He finally sees a doctor tomorrow for a follow up. I really want him to insist that he gets another set of x-rays and an MRI just so they know what he is dealing with and can have a plan going forward.
He is not going to be able to return to work tomorrow like he had planned at the rate things are going now.
early morning
2-20-23, 1:11pm
Oh, that is frightening. I have a DH with debilitating back problems - I think your concerns are totally justified. I am sending all the good vibes I have your way. Here's hoping it's an injury that will heal well. Healing for back injuries does seem to take a long while - which, when you think about it, is hardly surprising.
iris lilies
2-20-23, 1:11pm
SiouzQ, I am sorry to hear of this development. Yes, insist he get those tests done.
SQ, keep good track of his issues. Might even suggest a diary using the 1-10 pain record with when and where it hurts. Lawyers will need the info if there is any talk of costs including pain and suffering. Doctors also need all the information to help. Neck/back pain can be so difficult to diagnose and treat. But it has not been very long and damage can take some time to resolve. Dont delay.
early morning
2-20-23, 2:36pm
IMHO, he should NOT return to work quickly. An accident or further injury at work because he's in pain, or not as strong as usual, could muddy the waters as to it being partially a workers comp issue instead of totally the accident issue. And I will add my voice to the don't delay follow up on this chorus. Best of luck!
happystuff
2-21-23, 10:21am
Sending prayers and healing thoughts to your dh, SiouzQ.
I hope your husband heals fully and without incident, SiouzQ.
And I agree with Sweetana3--document!
I am a very practical person but sometimes it takes my brain a while to remember that. Case in point... I was redoing my tiered tray for St Patrick's Day. I needed a couple of the stands to keep certain items upright. I look through my decor bins figuring I would put them where they'd be most accessible. But I have quite a few bins because I decorate for every season and holiday. I could not find them.
So I decided to deep dive into the bins thinking they might have fallen to the bottom as the bins got moved around. Nope! I was getting mad because all I had were the really small stands that weren't tall enough to keep things up. Two freaking hours later as I was about to really lose my temper, I remembered being a practical person and keeping things easily accessible.
It finally hit me that the stands I was looking for two hours ago were in the TV stand cabinet. I go upstairs and bingo!! That's where they were all along!! What makes me madder was that I was in that cabinet earlier and it never registered they were there.
Absolutely peeved right now. Remember, I’m a customs broker and have been in intl transportation for 30 years. One of the import people screwed up and didn’t pass along an air freight shipment to be cleared on Friday. There was $4K in airline storage. Owner now said my customs dept coworker and I will have to clear air freight shipments coming in over the weekend by doing it on the weekend. Coworker has the capability to work from home as he did it every other day during pandemic. I started after that. I told them they would have to supply me with a laptop if they expect me to work from home on a weekend. I have a 2015 MacBook that probably wouldn’t play well with the Remote Desktop software. I also told the import manager that once the end of April comes, I am gone all weekend diving and I am not home. She doesn’t think there will be a lot. We’ll have to check on Friday afternoon to see if there is anything. The $4K in storage was billed back to the origin agent who sent a shipment on a weekend, after they were instructed not to ship air freight to arrive on a weekend. This is for shipments we know about. If overseas sends something without telling us, that’s their problem, not ours.
Another option is to use our Indian office, which works the weekend (half the company owners are Indian). We could do the data entry and they just hit the button to send the clearance. Depends though. But it is an option to consider.
Gas prices jumped 40 cents overnight - from $3.24 to $3.64. Crazy. NW suburban Chicago.
The backlog at local auto body shops is crazy. I accidentally rear ended someone in mid-December right before my FL trip. Had to get a rental for trip. Front end damage - grill all smashed up, hood and both front quarter panels pushed back. Both headlights somehow out of position. Amazingly, car is OK mechanically. I’ve been driving it all this time. Pushed back front panels interfere with front doors opening all the way, and door front edge is pushed back some, but it is what it is. I took it in for an estimate in January and was told they wouldn’t be able to get me in until today. That date held. It will be close to three weeks before I get my car back, but I have $25/day rental car coverage (for 30 days) on my insurance. I got a Camry. My share is about $5/day. That car is so low compared with my Escape it’s not funny.
iris lilies
3-13-23, 2:58pm
Well this sucks big time.
https://www.kmov.com/2023/03/13/two-officers-shot-hermann-mo/
A gunman went on a rampage here in tiny bucolic Hermann last night. He has not been caught, but SWATteam , bomb squad, and tactical units from nearby big bad city have moved in where they think he is holed up.
Two of our police officers were shot, one dead. That is 50% of our police force.
littlebittybobby
3-13-23, 3:32pm
Well this sucks big time.
https://www.kmov.com/2023/03/13/two-officers-shot-hermann-mo/
A gunman went on a rampage here in tiny bucolic Hermann last night. He has not been caught, but SWATteam , bomb squad, and tactical units from nearby big bad city have moved in where they think he is holed up.
Two of our police officers were shot, one dead. That is 50% of our police force.Okay--Dude, I don't mean any harm by hijacking your thread, but I believe this is headline news. So yeah---I starrted a wholly new thread in publicc policy. An event like this amounts to more than a "peeve". Dude, hope that helps you some.
Well this sucks big time.
https://www.kmov.com/2023/03/13/two-officers-shot-hermann-mo/
A gunman went on a rampage here in tiny bucolic Hermann last night. He has not been caught, but SWATteam , bomb squad, and tactical units from nearby big bad city have moved in where they think he is holed up.
Two of our police officers were shot, one dead. That is 50% of our police force.
OMG, that's terrible!!! I hope they find him fast!
iris lilies
3-13-23, 4:34pm
OMG, that's terrible!!! I hope they find him fast!
he has been on the loose since around 9 pm last night. They got him about an hour ago. Further crises averted.
he has been on the loose since around 9 pm last night. They got him about an hour ago. Further crises averted.
Iris, I am so sorry for your officers and for your town. That is a tragic loss to your community.
iris lilies
3-13-23, 5:13pm
Iris, I am so sorry for your officers and for your town. That is a tragic loss to your community.
This has huge impact in a town of this size. Already the deceased officer was honored by citizens lining street when his body was returned here to town. A big prayer vigil is scheduled for later today.
In St. Louis this would be business as usual, no interruptions of daily life.
I am pretty sure the dead policeman was the guy who came to visit DH a couple of times during DH’s manic deforestation-and-burn operation two years ago. It was unclear if DH was burning legally, so DH set up a burn container that seemed to satisfy city ordinance.
Tradd, same thing here with body shops. Hubby dented our door and it had to be fixed due to almost immediate rusting. Was able to get it in with about a 4 week wait. Some are backed up 3 months. Friend waited almost 6 months due to labor and parts shortages at dealer. The shop we went to would never ever be found in its hidden location. But we found him thru word of mouth and the work he did was beautiful.
frugal-one
3-14-23, 1:37am
Hate ordering online! Supposed to be delivered between the 15-17 for 2 items. No warning and here the 12th. Can’t gauge when things will arrive. Welcome porch pirates! Luckily I intercepted. Couldn’t even find these items in the brick and mortar which in itself is disheartening.
rosarugosa
3-14-23, 6:42am
I think I can describe this now without sputtering with rage and frustration. I recently got a reminder letter that I need to renew my driver's license before my birthday in late April. Unfortunately, I cannot renew it online again since I renewed it online the last two times; I need to go into the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). License renewals are now by appointment only. I thought this might be an improvement over the old system of taking a number and waiting for hours - ha! There were no appointments at any of the 3 RMVs that are a reasonable distance from me, although plenty of availability in places like North Adams and Martha's Vineyard, as far away from me as they could possibly be while still being in the state. But wait, the website says appointments are "released" hourly throughout the day, so I just need to keep checking every hour and refreshing my screen - good thing I am retired! Finally some appointments are released, all three RMVs for the same date in late April that I cannot make due to a conflicting appointment. The next day I succeed in scoring an acceptable appointment, and I feel like I scored f*cking Taylor Swift tickets, but I'm just trying to renew my f*cking driver's license like a good citizen! F*ck the Massachusetts RMV! This is a prosperous state; it's not like I'm in Mississippi or somewhere, and a functional RMV should not be too much to ask. I feel bad for anyone in my area who needs to renew their license in March.
DH and I had talked briefly about doing a mini-getaway to North Adams, kind of like medical tourism, but RMV tourism instead.
Jeppy, I think your next crusade should be MA RMV reform!
I think I can describe this now without sputtering with rage and frustration. I recently got a reminder letter that I need to renew my driver's license before my birthday in late April. Unfortunately, I cannot renew it online again since I renewed it online the last two times; I need to go into the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). License renewals are now by appointment only. I thought this might be an improvement over the old system of taking a number and waiting for hours - ha! There were no appointments at any of the 3 RMVs that are a reasonable distance from me, although plenty of availability in places like North Adams and Martha's Vineyard, as far away from me as they could possibly be while still being in the state. But wait, the website says appointments are "released" hourly throughout the day, so I just need to keep checking every hour and refreshing my screen - good thing I am retired! Finally some appointments are released, all three RMVs for the same date in late April that I cannot make due to a conflicting appointment. The next day I succeed in scoring an acceptable appointment, and I feel like I scored f*cking Taylor Swift tickets, but I'm just trying to renew my f*cking driver's license like a good citizen! F*ck the Massachusetts RMV! This is a prosperous state; it's not like I'm in Mississippi or somewhere, and a functional RMV should not be too much to ask. I feel bad for anyone in my area who needs to renew their license in March.
DH and I had talked briefly about doing a mini-getaway to North Adams, kind of like medical tourism, but RMV tourism instead.
Jeppy, I think your next crusade should be MA RMV reform!
Well, since I used to walk to North Adams in my college days, I don't feel too bad for you that way. My best DMV experiences were in South Carolina, where I almost cried tears of relief when getting a drivers license and being treated like a human being. My worst was in New York, where it took my son and me something like four trips to get our licenses changed from out of state--it was notoriously horrible.
Thankfully when I last needed to get my drivers license renewed, it was for those new real ID ones. So I got online and printed out what documents were needed. Located them and put them in a file folder with the printed list highlighted. Was ready for an argument. Pulled out each one and got the license in record time.
Mom in law in her 80s could not do this without months of time and $$$ to get all the documents needed, so we got her a passport card instead. She no longer drives so does not need a DL or even a state ID. Passport was easier since she had one originally.
The whole thing is an unnecessary hassle.
iris lilies
3-14-23, 8:17am
I think I can describe this now without sputtering with rage and frustration. I recently got a reminder letter that I need to renew my driver's license before my birthday in late April. Unfortunately, I cannot renew it online again since I renewed it online the last two times; I need to go into the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). License renewals are now by appointment only. I thought this might be an improvement over the old system of taking a number and waiting for hours - ha! There were no appointments at any of the 3 RMVs that are a reasonable distance from me, although plenty of availability in places like North Adams and Martha's Vineyard, as far away from me as they could possibly be while still being in the state. But wait, the website says appointments are "released" hourly throughout the day, so I just need to keep checking every hour and refreshing my screen - good thing I am retired! Finally some appointments are released, all three RMVs for the same date in late April that I cannot make due to a conflicting appointment. The next day I succeed in scoring an acceptable appointment, and I feel like I scored f*cking Taylor Swift tickets, but I'm just trying to renew my f*cking driver's license like a good citizen! F*ck the Massachusetts RMV! This is a prosperous state; it's not like I'm in Mississippi or somewhere, and a functional RMV should not be too much to ask. I feel bad for anyone in my area who needs to renew their license in March.
DH and I had talked briefly about doing a mini-getaway to North Adams, kind of like medical tourism, but RMV tourism instead.
Jeppy, I think your next crusade should be MA RMV reform!
We joke to our city friends that when we went to the local DMV in Hermann, once we had to wait in line behind…one person. Oh the horrors of that wait! But it was only one time. All other times had no waiting.And the ladies in Hermann’s DMV are friendly and productive.
This is, of course, in direct contrast to doing DMV business in the city with its filthy building, lack of parking, long lines, rude employees, etc.
happystuff
3-14-23, 9:50am
Il, so sorry to hear about the events and death in your town. Prayers going out.
Rosa, do the license renewals need appts due to the Real ID thing? Here in IL, you can still choose to go without a Real ID DL. I have a passport and a passport card (I’ve driven to Canada to dive in the past), so I didn’t bother with the hassle of a Real ID.
rosarugosa
3-15-23, 6:13am
Tradd: It's the same scenario here, and I also did not opt for a Real ID since I have a valid passport. I might have gone for the Real ID, but I don't have an acceptable document to prove my SSN. My parents laminated my SS card way back when, and all my W-2s and 1099s only show the last 4 digits of my SSN. To get a new SS card, I would have to go to the local office, and I figure visiting the RMV will be enough fun for now.
frugal-one
3-29-23, 2:59pm
Kinda sad that our sojourn in the Rio Grande Valley is almost over. Heading back the 1st and heading to colder temps (up to 50 degrees colder). Snow fell again today, I hear. Seriously considering moving to the Valley and “vacationing” for a few months in the north during the summer. As I age, northern winters take too much of a toll. It is quite an endeavor to figure how to make it happen though. I am working on it.
Kinda sad that our sojourn in the Rio Grande Valley is almost over. Heading back the 1st and heading to colder temps (up to 50 degrees colder). Snow fell again today, I hear. Seriously considering moving to the Valley and “vacationing” for a few months in the north during the summer. As I age, northern winters take too much of a toll. It is quite an endeavor to figure how to make it happen though. I am working on it.
I love this idea for us, too! Summers in Maine are great; winters are becoming tough for us.
iris lilies
3-29-23, 5:31pm
The places that are so nice in the summertime are so miserable in the winter. Such a conundrum.
I got my new DL back in September but new state law required an eye exam. Easy enough at Costco.
Frugal, where do you stay in the valley? We are considering the same reverse move. Three months here for CO summer and the rest down in Texas:) I love the snow and cold here but I detest the ever present wind.
Not really a rant. More of a "Doh!" moment. I ordered a Bob Evans Farmhouse Feast for Easter. Just realized that my calendar at work has Easter on the wrong freaking day! So, no Farmhouse Feast for us on Easter but we'll be having it the following Sunday. Calendar says the 16th but it's really the 9th.
sweetana3
3-31-23, 12:43pm
Hubby made the same mistake. Was making plans when he saw it was the weekend before.
Not really a rant. More of a "Doh!" moment. I ordered a Bob Evans Farmhouse Feast for Easter. Just realized that my calendar at work has Easter on the wrong freaking day! So, no Farmhouse Feast for us on Easter but we'll be having it the following Sunday. Calendar says the 16th but it's really the 9th.
Orthodox Easter is the 16th this year. Many calendars show both.
Orthodox Easter is the 16th this year. Many calendars show both.
That is what happened. Calendar didn't show Easter on the 9th so all I saw was Easter on the 16th and didn't pay attention well enough.
pinkytoe, There are many nice places to stay in the Valley. I would not consider Brownsville (based on visit) or South Padre Island (too commercial) for any long term stays. I prefer Pharr, Weslaco, McAllen but there are others like Mission and San Juan which I am sure are nice areas. If you are interested in mobile home living a booklet is put out about all the parks in the Rio Grande Valley. You may not like the Valley if you do not like wind because it is very windy. I like the wind in that there is always a breeze no matter the temp so it feels cooler.
Monday work fun: have a shipment from Spain. Paperwork is all in Spanish. US Customs’ regulations specify docs have to be in English or have an English translation (19CFR 141.86). Customer is a native Spanish speaker who told me that he can vote and get a driver’s license in Spanish here in IL, and he thinks he should be able to clear his import to the US in Spanish, too. Told him it doesn’t work that way. He got real lippy when I sent him the link to the online CBP regulations that stipulate English docs. I told him, in a bit nicer way, that his shipment can rot at the airport for all I care. No English translation, no clearance.
The weather is very bi-polar in New Mexico these days - yesterday it was sunny and about 68, to day it was super-windy (can't work outside kind of windy), then it rained, then snowed, now drizzle) and tomorrow is supposed to be 80 and sunny. The coldest spring since I've been here.
One great thing though - our peach tree made it through the blossoming and leafing without getting hit by a hard frost! We should be drowning in peaches in September, and they are the tastiest peaches I've ever had!
We’ve been having weather like that too, here in the Midwest!
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