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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 20, 2024 22:21:05 GMT -5
I bought rhubarb. I know what i could make with it. I don't know what to do with it. It is a predicament. I'd make a crisp, but we are already starting the season of our lives in which we will be continually eating birthday cake for the next few weeks. So, i want to wait for a while. I think I'll make bread..I can freeze it for later. It seems strange to make food that only DH and I will eat though. I can give some away, too. Freeze it until birthday season is over. Rhubarb freezes well.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 20, 2024 22:18:58 GMT -5
- Canada geese are migratory and as such protected under the law - I have never heard anyone claim they are tasty - they shit all over the place and have made my condo complex a stopover on their flights north/sound - they are clumsy IMO and use my roof for landing and takeoff - they are LOUD both vocally and in their roof maneuvers And they are driving me nuts with their racket so now I am trying to figure out how to get rid of them without risking either fines or jail. Unsuccessfully I may add. They managed to get rid of them in a park nearby but that caused them to go to other places with water - in other words a bunch of them came here This reminds me of a joke TD played on his mom. He sent her pictures of a penguin colony we visited, and told her that Penguin was on the menu for dinner that night. She blew a gasket when he told her it tasted like halibut. It was April fools day.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 20, 2024 3:16:37 GMT -5
My sister doesn’t have an office to go back to. When they decided to go to a WFH model, the trial run during Covid showed them it could work, so they gave up their lease on their building.
Not saying it’s impossible for the company to revert back to the office, but not likely.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 20, 2024 3:13:07 GMT -5
how do people end up believing stuff that is so easily proved false? How do you explain how easy it is to fact check Trump? Whatever lie he spouts is taken as fact. There are a lot of idiots out there.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 20, 2024 0:09:09 GMT -5
Not here, I just paid $578 for a 2020 Buick Envision, my 2018 Chrysler 300 is $886, hubs 2020 Ford truck is $673 and I think that is really good. Our broker put us with Erie Insurance a few years ago. If we move one car will be sold, I sure won't need 2. Maybe if we get further out from Olympia. I just looked at a gorgeous house in McCleary, Wa, has a nice big garage for hubs and is one story like we want. I LOVE it, of course it will be gone before we can do anything. And it's on just half an acre, most of what we want. But it has mini splits for heating and cooling, doesn't look like enough to me. That town isn't that far away, it is doable and looks like nice homes out there. My insurance went up to around $700/year on my 17 year Subaru. TD pays quite a bit more on his cars, but he’s insuring a 2007 STi that has been rebuilt for racing, and a 2016 Miata. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s paying over $2000/year insuring those 2 cars. I’m with USAA, he’s with Amica. Separating out our cars like this produced the least, comparable insurance. Adding a third car to his, or his 2 cars, plus house and umbrella to mine wasn’t useful.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 19, 2024 2:08:35 GMT -5
But then those people (which included my dad) are no longer physically healthy enough to keep working. They—in our current economy—would qualify for social services and be on a fixed income. Social services is not even across the US. For instance, where my dad was Meals on Wheels had absolutely excellent support. They even provided pet supplies to the aged people’s pets. I have since learned this is the exception, not the rule. My dad used to deliver, and when they had leftovers, they’d give their drivers a meal. I tried it, they were pretty damned good (far better than some restaurants).
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2024 23:38:38 GMT -5
So if someone retires, do they not count as being on a fixed income if their skills and abilities make them employable? Or do they count as a fixed income as soon as they retire with the intention of not going back to work? Please know that I’m not trying to be disrespectful—I love debating the meanings of words and phrases. And I’m really not in any way disparaging those who have true limitations. What’s the difference between retirement and choosing not work? Ability? TD continues to work, and will continue to work as long as his mind is well functioning. People who have had jobs that are hard on their body are now dealing with aches and pains where their body just doesn’t want to work like it should.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2024 23:18:15 GMT -5
I think of fixed income as someone living on SS. When working there can be raises or overtime. SS gets raises too. SS raises are usually offset by equal increases in Medicare premiums.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2024 22:02:01 GMT -5
Man, some of the people on this cruise need to check themselves. We are on a 3 hour tour, and one couple was pissed snd yelled at the guide because he didn’t take us to the Buddha. The location of the Buddha was a 1.45 hour bus ride which is seen on the 9 hour excursion offered. Does no one look at what they are signing up for? It wasn’t until another couple showed the guide the daily paper that the guide was able to explain where it was.
Then in walking to the shrine, the walkway has these 3’ posts to stop people from driving on the walk. One guy ran into the post snd hit his balls. That had to hurt, but we had been sidestepping these posts for 100 yards. Maybe pay attention? He was pissed at the post, the city and the tour guide and was cussing up a blue streak. We are in someone else’s country, politeness (particularly here) goes a long way.
At least Kobe has free Wi-Fi. We got TD a SIM card thinking I could tether off of it. I can’t.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2024 21:17:46 GMT -5
In Kobe, just returning from an excursion. I had hoped we might be here overnight. If so, I had the idea to grab a cab and go get some real Kobe beef. I have had it before, but didn’t feel like it was any different from a prime cut of beef. It makes me wonder if it was something being by passed off as Kobe beef. All on board time is 7, so no dinner off the ship.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2024 7:24:42 GMT -5
Has The Walk of the Penguin Mich checked in lately. Aren't they in Japan right now? I was wondering if their trip was affected by the earthquake and hope that all is well. Got an earthquake alarm on phones, but slept through it. Some people mentioned it at breakfast. It really was a non issue. When we hit Japan, there has been a tour every day. Today has been the first afternoon free. I think the day after Kobe, we don’t get into port until afternoon or evening, so a partial sea day. My hips need it!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 18, 2024 7:20:33 GMT -5
Left Hiroshima this afternoon. We went to the Peace Park, then TD and I stood in line and got tickets to the Hiroshima Museum. The 45 min we had to go through i5 was not near sufficient to do it justice.
Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki were sobering places to visit. There is really no animosity there, just the want to see something like this never happen again.
We were the last bus to roll in at 11:30. All aboard time was 11, they knew we were going to be late as we were the last tour out. When Viking has a tour coming in late, they set up the loud speakers and set up music, and get some of the staff out there singing and dancing to greet us. YMCA was playing and everyone was dancing and singing. They also provided trays of mimosas. Our state room attendant was out there, I asked him if he minded and he said he was having too good a time out there. He’s a cutie….with braces! Oh to be 40 years younger…..
Kobe tomorrow.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 17, 2024 6:01:55 GMT -5
I did read something interesting. Goldman s judgement has the same priority as the IRS and comes before other creditors.
Apparently, his executor said that he’s going to make sure not a dime of the estate was going to go to Goldman. The following day, he backpedaled. I guess getting threatened with disbarment will do that to you!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 16, 2024 20:37:26 GMT -5
I just punted on the ss sweater I’m making for me due to the yarn shading issues. I need to frog it back to where I started the last hank of yarn. So I started on the yarn for the sweater I’m making my sister. It’s a combination of cotton and linen, and it definitely has a different feel. Not sure as to the stretchiness yet, as I’m just starting at the shoulders. When I get a bit further, I’m going to have to use the needles I’m using on the other (or find another set of 40” size 4 in Japan). I do have a set of 40” size 3 with me that I was supposed to do the ribbing at the bottom. I can use those as a placeholder, I guess. We have 7 sea days once we leave Tokyo before we hit Alaska. I have to figure it out by then. Yeah. That's a bummer. And enough that I would put the project in a time out. For a long time. I'd just try to find the needles in Japan. Do you have time? Do they have yarn shops? I have no idea. I guess I could google to see, as we will have time in Tokyo. One of the things I have discovered here is that items for sale have absolutely NO English translation. I was looking at some spices and was clueless as to what they were. Same with some teas. I did manage to find some really nice hand cream though, but only because there was a tester out. Had there been no tester, I’d have been clueless as to what it was. Maybe Tokyo will be different?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 16, 2024 19:48:21 GMT -5
Today I put primer on a garden cart we bought at a high school chairty auction. The students built it in the woodshop class. This is not it, but it's similar. I have leftover outdoor trim paint, so I'm going to paint it that color and put it on our front porch. Then I shall have to buy more plants!!!
I'm making chicken fettuccini for dinner tonight. TD built me 2 of these. I have one on the back deck, one on the front. I had my useless tomatoes in the front, used the one on the back deck (off the kitchen) for my herbs. I need to replant when I get home, only my chives are still alive.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 16, 2024 19:45:46 GMT -5
I was using cotton yarn for a project, and I didn't know if it would be stretchy or not. So i unraveled the project. I should have just kept working on it. Oh well. Live and learn. I'm stoked about the replacement yarn I am using, too. I think it will cheer up my spirits. I am not having the week I thought I might have. I just punted on the ss sweater I’m making for me due to the yarn shading issues. I need to frog it back to where I started the last hank of yarn. So I started on the yarn for the sweater I’m making my sister. It’s a combination of cotton and linen, and it definitely has a different feel. Not sure as to the stretchiness yet, as I’m just starting at the shoulders. When I get a bit further, I’m going to have to use the needles I’m using on the other (or find another set of 40” size 4 in Japan). I do have a set of 40” size 3 with me that I was supposed to do the ribbing at the bottom. I can use those as a placeholder, I guess. We have 7 sea days once we leave Tokyo before we hit Alaska. I have to figure it out by then.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 16, 2024 17:09:28 GMT -5
Here's a fun thing to muse on. The kids' school keeps pads and tampons in the middle school bathrooms. Which, at first blush, I love. It's like keeping condoms in the linen closet in your house for your kids, and you replace, no questions asked. ALL of the parents are asked to contribute. It really rubs me the wrong way that we are asked to contribute. Like, why aren't parents capable of providing their own supplies to their kids? It's not a financial issue for most families. Why don't parents have a decent enough relationship with their kids so that their kids can say "I need pads/tampons." Even tight-lipped DD1 will let me know when she needs stuff. And she tells us like nothing. Likely, they do. But the ones at school are meant more for those unexpected days, or times. That would be my guess. I’m thinking this too. I remember at least 3 times in school needing my mom to come pick me up. I hadn’t quite figured out the cues my body was throwing off yet. By HS, I had it figured out but 7th grade was rough because of this. Stupid hormones!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 16, 2024 4:18:20 GMT -5
Just booked tickets to my niece’s wedding in Indianapolis for June. It shouldn't have been this difficult.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 16, 2024 3:31:20 GMT -5
We spent today in Hell. Actually, Beppu Japan, the highest concentration of hot springs in Japan. We went to visit some of these hot springs today. We saw 4 of the 8 I think. I wanted to see the crocodile springs, but not on the schedule.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 23:24:30 GMT -5
I talked about getting injections in my foot either steroid or cortisone, but I have had them before and like another person said the pain of those is awful. They gave me 7 around my ankle, hit the bone everytime, likely by design. I was in agony, but the result was I was then pain free for a long time. I'm going to put it off until the pain becomes too much. He said they can inject some lidocaine but that shot hurts too. That was pain management, I just can't bring myself to do it again, it's probably been 15 years or more since I had it and remember the pain like yesterday of those. Steroid injections into joints have been shown to hasten joint deterioration. Since you are not planning on surgery to replace or fuse the joint, you might want to think about this. For some reason, the link won’t post but if you google this, there are a lot of articles that have been published in the last 3 or so years talking at other joints than hips. J Bone Joint Surg Am . 2021 Nov 17;103(22):2070-2079. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.20.02155. Rapidly Destructive Hip Disease Following Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection of the Hip
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 21:53:01 GMT -5
Or maybe it was Cambodia…..
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 21:51:33 GMT -5
I think they need to check the family trees of folks like Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Greene, to name just a couple. Let's just say I have questions. Well, Lauren Boebert, at least, has no clue who her father might be. Unfortunately I can't remember where I read that bit about her background. Her mom married some guy later, he was definitely not the father, but turned out to be abusive, so mom left him and they moved away quick to escape. The whole jist of the article was why Lauren Boebert was the way she was. I think I saw her father in a tree in Vietnam last week.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 20:05:58 GMT -5
I needed to get on a flight with a sinus infection. The doctor suggested using Affrin both before you ascend and right before you descend. It’s off label use, but works. Thank you for the info. I will buy some Affrin and do that, just in case. I will do anything that is legal and reasonable to try to avoid that pain with my ears. So really, THANK YOU! It worked for me. The flight there, I thought my face was going to explode when we were landing. I had no interest in taking another flight after that without help.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 19:03:59 GMT -5
Can you take sinus meds? That and sleep are the only things that help me. Yes, I have started taking Sudafed. And doing all my allergy shit, Benadryl and nasal sprays. Hopefully I will be able to get things under control soon. I have to get on an airplane for some training for my side gig in a couple of weeks. My ears do not do well with planes, even when my sinuses aren’t causing all of these problems. They hurt like hell on landing and for some time after. Like, excruciating kind of hurt. So if things don’t improve soon, I’m going to go to the doctor for help. My ears are already hurting off and on, I can’t imagine the pain if I got on an airplane in my current condition. I needed to get on a flight with a sinus infection. The doctor suggested using Affrin both before you ascend and right before you descend. It’s off label use, but works.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 7:46:33 GMT -5
We are really doing some rocking tonight. Had a thunderstorm earlier with some pretty spectacular lightening. I really hope tomorrow is clear…….<br><br>Ship weather channel says more storms.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 1:55:51 GMT -5
Just got back from our excursion and lunch. The excursion was to a volcano island that is now a national park. The volcano is still active, and occasionally (sometimes daily) spews out smoke, ash and rock. School kids wear helmets to go to school (we saw them!). Interesting place, and would have been a lot more so if it wasn’t pouring rain.
The volcanic ash is apparently a great fertilizer as the island is so green and lush with a lot of fruit bearing trees. Satsumas were developed here, and there were stands selling fresh satsuma juice. Since I had no yen, I put a 300 yen juice on my credit card (about $2). I never used a card for purchases that small. Great excursion, cute guide. Still no access to an ATM, so used the money exchanger in the port terminal to exchange Hong Kong $ for yen. Lousy exchange rate, but we were going to get a lousy rate anyway, but now we have some yen.
Got back to the ship and had lunch. They had Mac and cheese on the buffet, and it has to have been the best I have ever had. I’m embarrassed to say how many times I went back for more! Today was definitely a comfort food sort of day. It is seriously icky out.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 15, 2024 1:40:31 GMT -5
I just went and took a look at what tuition is where I did my undergrad. Back in 1978-81, I seem to remember my tuition hovering around $428/semester for a state resident student commuting. Today, it is $4631 for a commuting student. A 10 fold difference in 40 years.
What I think was funny was that after I graduated I moved to Boston and started taking graduate courses at Harvard. Everything I learned in my undergrad education was essentially repeated at Harvard. TBH, I was pretty pissed at this, I was gearing up for a challenge. There was nothing new to learn, so I pretty much skated through. I changed job, and my new employer was not affiliated with Harvard, but Northeastern, so I could go there for peanuts too. I had to work a hell of a lot harder there.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 14, 2024 18:30:55 GMT -5
We are docked in Kagoshima. We are supposed to go to an observatory and get up close and personal to a volcano. Did I mention it’s raining? Ugh!
I really shouldn’t complain about the rain as this is really the first since we got on the ship. We did get some pretty epic rains in Bali. It’s about 70° out, so warm.
When I went to hit the ATM yesterday, it only exchanged cash for cash….no cards. First time I have ever seen one like that. It had a crappy exchange rate, so passed on it. TD didn’t find an ATM on his excursion either, so no yen.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 13, 2024 22:38:18 GMT -5
Back from my excursion in Nagasaki. We are only here until about 3 this afternoon. TD took off for a more demanding tour this morning, and will likely be back just before all aboard time.
There is an ATM in the ship terminal, so going to get some local currency. We are going to be in Japan for the next 10 days, so it will be useful. I saw the ATM when I passed thru, but idiot me forgot to grab my ATM card before I left this morning.
It took forever to get through immigration here. I was in various lines for over an hour. Fortunately, going back out should be easier. Lots of stuff for sale in the terminal I don’t need.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 13, 2024 22:29:58 GMT -5
In other news, Aunt G, who Mister took hime from the rehab facility a couple days ago, has lost her cell phone. She lied to the folks at the rehab facility, that someone would be home with her, because she really does not need to live alone. Whoever was present when she was discharged and Mister was picking her up, said that *they*, whoever *they* is, will be making a home visit. Which will be good, because *they* will see that nobody is there with her. Mister said he is going to contact that person and inquire about Aunt G going to live in a facility. He can’t rest easy right now regarding her, because she doesn’t even have a phone to call for help if she needs it. She kept telling him she would take care of it, but I don’t see how she can, if she has no way to communicate with anybody. So now he feels like he needs to drive all the way to her house, about a 40 minute drive from our house, just to check on her, since she doesn’t have a phone. Well, that’s what he said, but he hasn’t actually done it yet. This morning I suggested he ask a close friend of the family that lives in her neighborhood, to go check on her. He said that Aunt G fell out with that person, so that was a no go. The story with that, is that the family friend and Aunt G had made a mutually beneficial agreement last year, that I knew about. When Aunt G started having all of these constant issues, it was at the same time that the family friend did not have a car. So she let him use and keep her car, and in return, he did stuff to help her out. The family friend had told me himself about that arrangement. But what I learned today was that it fell apart because Aunt G would call him and tell him she was hungry and wanted him to bring her something to eat. He would tell her that he was at work, and would get her something when he got off work. She would say I’m hungry NOW, as if he should leave work and bring her something to eat. So he took her car back to her, and rented cars until he got his money together to buy a car, which he did. But she is still mad at him because he did not make what she wanted him to do a higher priority than him being a good employee that wanted to keep his job. Which makes her the bad guy in that situation imo, because she was being unreasonable. So now, the ally that lived near her and could check on her without Mister having to make the long drive to her house, is no longer an option. I am pretty sure that Mister is firm on not letting her come live with him or officially taking responsibility for her in any way, but because she is his Mother’s only sibling, and him and his brother are her closest relatives, he feels an obligation to try to figure things out for her, but without putting himself in a bad position. Why can’t Mister’s brother do the leg work here?
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