what are you doing right now?

[toomuchreality]

Oct 6, 2023 3:33:29 GMT -5 finnime said:

Good morning, you (invisible) beautiful people! Welcome to Friday. I hope you have a splendid day, with comfortable jeans, lightweight packages, and stressless people you love. I hope no one pees in your Cheerios.

At noon today I'm scheduled for my flu and Covid shots, with DH getting his 10 minutes earlier. I'm going to wait on RSV and I've had the Shingrix after having had shingles, so I think I'm good.

I'm trying to decide if I should hire someone to haul the window a/c out and down to the basement for the season, then bring it back up next spring. Or, just leave it in the window. I could cover it with a cloth of some type. It's very heavy. Also very effective; it's our only unit and we only needed the one. Don't want to create any problems with it. I had central air in every other home I lived in as an adult.

Yesterday and today too is densely foggy in the morning. DH wants to come to take pictures, too, so for the first time he's coming with Franklin the Dog and I to the beach at dawn.

I took this yesterday, at the park surrounding the revolutionary war fort on the water. The benches are all facing the water.

Back when I had a window A/C, I was able to get an insulated fabric cover for it, that worked quite well. And it wasn't very much $. I left it, for the next people who moved in, after me.
I was renting and they never took them out. A lot of cold air can come in, through those vents and stuff.
(Maybe check Amazon and ebay, for a pre-made cover?)
I hope you find one!

[toomuchreality]

It's after 3AM. I need to sleep.
I made a casserole to take with me to DD2's, for lunch, today. DGD2 usually eats 3 helpings, when I make this! She's tiny, so it makes me happy to see her enjoy something I made, like that. 😊

It's almost Disney time! I'm getting anxious.

When I got a cortisone shot in my shoulder today, I mentioned that I've had a headache for 12 consecutive days. Feels like someone whacked me on top of my head, with an axe. She checked and said I have some sinus swelling and some fluid, in both ears, causing pressure. Hope I can get rid of that before I fly on Monday and go on rides, Tues and Wed.
If I don't go on a ride, no one else from our family can ride it either. (They better be nice to me! 😄) I did already tell DD2, I'm not going on It's A Small World. I hated that ride. I hope I never hear that song again! (I'll go, if they all want to. Esp my grands.) I'd do almost anything, for them. ❤

We're going to decorate pumpkins today. 🎃 😊


Enjoy your weekend, whatever you do with it!

[shelley413]

The first time I visited my sister in California I flew a direct flight from the east coast.  When the plane started descending I thought I was going to die.  It felt like someone was pushing an ice pick between my eyes and the lower we got the worse the pain was.  My sister told me she had the same problem (we both have really bad sinuses).  She used to travel a lot and said that beginning about 2-3 days before she flies she takes Sudafed per the instructions on the box (just the plain stuff, not the ones you have to sign for) and she never had a problem after that.  I tried it and it worked for me.  I don’t fly often, but I always make sure I take the Sudafed.

I hope you have a nice trip

[daisylu]

Started working way too early this morning, but it was necessary.

DD was in a panic last night about her car. She got it back from the shop, but noticed something else. First shop would not be able to look at it until late next week, so she took it to another shop (which would also do the state inspection). They came back with over $5,000 of repairs needed to pass. Um, no. I trust the first shop, he is very thorough and would have seen the other stuff. The second shop saw a young, unsure, girl that they thought they could take advantage of.

So I will leave when the shop opens to take her to get her car, work a little more, and take the afternoon off to drive her car around to see if I notice anything. And hopefully get it inspected at a small shop near the house. I hate burning half a vacation day for it, but that can't be avoided.

[giramomma]

Oct 6, 2023 3:33:29 GMT -5 finnime said:

Good morning, you (invisible) beautiful people! Welcome to Friday. I hope you have a splendid day, with comfortable jeans, lightweight packages, and stressless people you love. I hope no one pees in your Cheerios.

LOL. I chuckled at that this morning.

[andi9899]

Oct 5, 2023 21:01:07 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I finally made a successful dinner on my new stove.

That was after I turned the first batch of pasta into mush but second time was the charm.

I have to stop cooking intuitively until I'm understand my new oven. I followed the package instructions and set a timer.

Pasta came out perfect. This stove is was better than my old one.

This is going to be me. The new place is all electric. I've always had a gas stove. This should be interesting.

[raeoflyte]

I was up watching, then treating, then more watching ds bg and by then it was hard to get back to sleep. I also scared myself with one of my last TV shows which didn't help.

Dc asked what time it was this morning while it was still dark and then asked how I always knew what time it was. I'm up checking things in the middle of the night a lot which I don't recommend.

No solution yet on my tech issues so I'm taking everything in to microcenter. I bought the wrong Microsoft 365 yesterday and need to upgrade. It would be nice if the super cheap version worked but I need desktop apps, not just web.

[cooper88]

I'm off today and all next week for a staycation. We have use it or lose it time, so I'm going to tackle some long overdue gardening (it was an exceptionally hot summer) and do some of the touristy things around town.

[andi9899]

Well, I'm living the Amish life. I had to transfer the electricity to new place effective today. The electric company told me I'd have service at both places until I asked for the service to be cut off after I moved. They lied. I'm in the dark.

[countrygirl2]

I'm reluctant to get DD the RSV shot, my arm is still sore, hubs had no reaction. I sure did and I'm concerned for her.

We are off to get our blood work, so will have breakfast or lunch after that.

I than need to get home and keep working on getting rid of stuff here.

Next is the paper shredder, we don't use it rarely and its taking up space.

Son is wanting us to buy a really nice house by him, he said he could take it later and sell his. I don't know, it so expensive, but it definitely is nice. He said we might as well have a nice home to live in. I said if we do that, we can't help him, he said that is no problem. But it will likely be gone by the time we get ready to buy.

We are getting the cart before the horse, need to have patience, things are moving faster than we expected so hoping it continues.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Oct 6, 2023 8:51:39 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Well, I'm living the Amish life. I had to transfer the electricity to new place effective today. The electric company told me I'd have service at both places until I asked for the service to be cut off after I moved. They lied. I'm in the dark.

Lower than Amish.  They run generators. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Half day today.  Not a fun half day it's stalk the VA day until someone finds me the DD214.  That is one of the most important things I need and if I can't find it this whole thing goes belly up.  Since VA and Medicaid are both federal I have to go through the formality of applying for my grandfather's VA benefits so they can tell Medicaid no they won't pay out for nursing home care.  Then Medicaid will pay.

Because heaven forbid two government agencies work together and gives my grandma what my grandfather rightfully earned by being drafted into a war we shouldn't have been in in the first place AND provide enough assistance to keep her $8500+ a month nursing home bill covered. 

Then I have Monday off because the funeral is at 1:00pm and there is no point in me driving all over Omaha and Council Bluffs and back just for a half day of work.

I am going to Mysticfest tomorrow.  I need something for myself and looking at all the pretty crystals is fun.  Might do another tarot reading IDK.  I told DH I take it with a huge grain of salt but IMO it's not that different from praying to an invisible guy in the sky.   They are both a form of prayer/seeking guidance I'm just doing it from a different source. 

[countrygirl2]

Or have solar panels.


I bought a cover for the window AC in Washington for about $30, it has an insulated cover for the inside and a cover for the outside with a strap around it to keep it on. I think it will work pretty good, but I want hubs to take it out.

[andi9899]

Oct 6, 2023 9:01:11 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Oct 6, 2023 8:51:39 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Well, I'm living the Amish life. I had to transfer the electricity to new place effective today. The electric company told me I'd have service at both places until I asked for the service to be cut off after I moved. They lied. I'm in the dark.

Lower than Amish.  They run generators. 

Luckily it was short lived. I called them and they flipped the switch and turned the electricity back on.

[seriousthistime]

Oct 6, 2023 8:59:33 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

I'm reluctant to get DD the RSV shot, my arm is still sore, hubs had no reaction. I sure did and I'm concerned for her.

We are off to get our blood work, so will have breakfast or lunch after that.

I than need to get home and keep working on getting rid of stuff here.

Next is the paper shredder, we don't use it rarely and its taking up space.

Son is wanting us to buy a really nice house by him, he said he could take it later and sell his. I don't know, it so expensive, but it definitely is nice. He said we might as well have a nice home to live in. I said if we do that, we can't help him, he said that is no problem. But it will likely be gone by the time we get ready to buy.

We are getting the cart before the horse, need to have patience, things are moving faster than we expected so hoping it continues.

I think this is a good idea, actually.  Buy it just in his name?  Or buy it in your and DH's names and file a transfer on death instrument so he will inherit it without fuss when you are both gone? Consider capital gains implications for him, and Medicaid protection for you. 

[raeoflyte]

Dh's monster fish is dying or dead. It's hard to tell, but dh us trying to save him if possible. He's a cool fish. I know dh will be sad to lose him.

[finnime]

What is a monster fish?

[countrygirl2]

I think this is a good idea, actually. Buy it just in his name? Or buy it in your and DH's names and file a transfer on death instrument so he will inherit it without fuss when you are both gone? Consider capital gains implications for him, and Medicaid protection for you.


Yes, we are thinking of doing that. he was saying later we could move in his smaller house and they into ours. His dad did that, he just had on it, they could have the right to live it until their death. And it has worked out well. We have not sold it yet so have to read up for Indiana and see what we will owe.

But wondering why we couldn't just gift it to him or a similar one. It is about $700k, that one is above what we planned to spend, so have to think about it.

What I have to read up on if he sells it later, will the whole amount be taxable to him on proceeds since he would have no money in it or how does that work??  I know how it works if he inherits it. But not sure what his basis would be the other way. We have that to deal with it on his folks and grandmas house yet. We bought out his brothers half on his folks and grandmas houses. We didn't even know they were in the boys names when we were getting ready to buy them, so only had to buy half of them.

[andi9899]

Something so weird just happened. Macy was acting like she was choking or something. When I asked her if she was alright she started running around all weird. I figured maybe she needed water so I opened the door to go downstairs where their bowls are. She bolted down the stairs straight to the back door. I opened it figuring she was going to puke. She ran directly to a little tree in the backyard and started eating leaves like her life depended on it. When I went to pull her off the tree she went behind the shed and started eating leaves growing back there where I couldn't get to her. It took me forever to coax her out. Anybody seen that before?

[raeoflyte]

Oct 6, 2023 12:06:38 GMT -5 finnime said:

What is a monster fish?

In this case it's a flowerhorn cichlid. Dh got him from a guy who was divorcing and couldn't keep all his tanks. It was one of his, "don't be mad" stunts but he was a neat fish.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Got the pension statement finally.   Her Medicare Part D card I apparently had the whole time it fell out of my folder as I was getting everything properly organized.  With that I was able to log on and get all the information I needed without having to deal with customer service.

The DD214 is the nightmare.  I went to the VA today as planned and they cannot find him in the system.  So she called someone else and it may be grandpa is so old and his service was so long ago his DD214 is still on freaking paper!  So they are going to look for it in their paper records. 

They confirmed there is no record of it with the county so there goes that possibility.

Dad and I are going to tear apart every single thing we brought back from grandma's house.  We have literally every other document you can think of pertaining to his service but not the one I need.,

The Medicaid lady isn't phased she said something will likely pop up we're not applying for Medicaid yet so keep going.  So that is what I will do.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 6, 2023 12:37:08 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

I think this is a good idea, actually. Buy it just in his name? Or buy it in your and DH's names and file a transfer on death instrument so he will inherit it without fuss when you are both gone? Consider capital gains implications for him, and Medicaid protection for you.


Yes, we are thinking of doing that. he was saying later we could move in his smaller house and they into ours. His dad did that, he just had on it, they could have the right to live it until their death. And it has worked out well. We have not sold it yet so have to read up for Indiana and see what we will owe.

But wondering why we couldn't just gift it to him or a similar one. It is about $700k, that one is above what we planned to spend, so have to think about it.

What I have to read up on if he sells it later, will the whole amount be taxable to him on proceeds since he would have no money in it or how does that work??  I know how it works if he inherits it. But not sure what his basis would be the other way. We have that to deal with it on his folks and grandmas house yet. We bought out his brothers half on his folks and grandmas houses. We didn't even know they were in the boys names when we were getting ready to buy them, so only had to buy half of them.

I think you guys need to think carefully about this.  My dad tried to do what you are and it really fouled things up.  Because he put us on the deed rather than bequeathing it to us, we wound up having to pay capital gains on his house, plus pay NY state non resident tax on it too.  
Please consult some one.  We had to go to our tax accountant to figure out how to deal with it.  

[andi9899]

Oct 6, 2023 15:06:46 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Got the pension statement finally.   Her Medicare Part D card I apparently had the whole time it fell out of my folder as I was getting everything properly organized.  With that I was able to log on and get all the information I needed without having to deal with customer service.

The DD214 is the nightmare.  I went to the VA today as planned and they cannot find him in the system.  So she called someone else and it may be grandpa is so old and his service was so long ago his DD214 is still on freaking paper!  So they are going to look for it in their paper records. 

They confirmed there is no record of it with the county so there goes that possibility.

Dad and I are going to tear apart every single thing we brought back from grandma's house.  We have literally every other document you can think of pertaining to his service but not the one I need.,

The Medicaid lady isn't phased she said something will likely pop up we're not applying for Medicaid yet so keep going.  So that is what I will do.

Why is this piece of paper so important? Sorry, I've never had to deal with military anything and it's been a long time since I've written health insurance. Is it something to get her nursing home paid for as a military spouse? If you can't find it, can't Medicaid just pay?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Oct 6, 2023 15:13:13 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Oct 6, 2023 15:06:46 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Got the pension statement finally.   Her Medicare Part D card I apparently had the whole time it fell out of my folder as I was getting everything properly organized.  With that I was able to log on and get all the information I needed without having to deal with customer service.

The DD214 is the nightmare.  I went to the VA today as planned and they cannot find him in the system.  So she called someone else and it may be grandpa is so old and his service was so long ago his DD214 is still on freaking paper!  So they are going to look for it in their paper records. 

They confirmed there is no record of it with the county so there goes that possibility.

Dad and I are going to tear apart every single thing we brought back from grandma's house.  We have literally every other document you can think of pertaining to his service but not the one I need.,

The Medicaid lady isn't phased she said something will likely pop up we're not applying for Medicaid yet so keep going.  So that is what I will do.

Why is this piece of paper so important? Sorry, I've never had to deal with military anything and it's been a long time since I've written health insurance. Is it something to get her nursing home paid for as a military spouse? If you can't find it, can't Medicaid just pay?

Since grandpa was a veteran she qualifies for his military pension.  I have to file for the military pension before we are allowed to apply for Medicaid.  It's basically two dueling government agencies. 

Medicaid does not want to pay out if there is any source of income that could cover it instead.

I have to have the DD214 to prove he served.  No DD214 no pension application.  No pension application Medicaid will toss her application in the trash and tell us to use the military pension instead.


I have to formally apply for the pension, prove it is not enough to cover her nursing home costs, have the VA reject the application and THEN Medicaid will approve her application and pay out.


It's just another roadblock they put in place so people can't get the help they need.  Which is why I get confused when people on the boards both past and present say that it's so easy for people to get on and mooch off welfare.   I've never been sucked into a more complicated and stupid bueracracy in my life and I worked in academia for 14 years!

[countrygirl2]

In Indiana, you cannot have a government pension from VA and medicaid. We had to stop the "pension" and it was immediate. She did get it for help in assisted living, at that time she was not on medicaid, it helped her live there. It is a waltz and balancing act for sure to get it all to come together. I had VA send a letter saying she could not have both. But they told me not to worry, she could not be kicked out since she was there until it was all resolved. We spent down her remaining money on 2 months care and the VA money that kept coming in was deposited monthly to the Miller Trust account.

I know its time consuming and a pain in the ass but you will get there.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

At least I got pretty much everything set up online and made sure my address and phone number are put down as contacts.  She's in the 21st century at least.

[countrygirl2]

Yes, Walk, we went through that with my mom's, her basis was our basis, now that I think about it. And that was a house and 25 acres that cost $3k when they bought it.

We sold the house off when she was alive and that went to assisted living. I kept the 25 acres until 2012 when we bought this house, sold it for $160k and yep we paid a potfull of taxes. They did change it to $30k, don't remember why now. Seems like that was the value when she had signed it over to me or something, been a long time ago.

But oh yes, that will be checked thoroughly.

[giramomma]

NomoreDramaQ1015

Brainstorming places that I know you probably already looked.

I would keep an eye out for any paperwork that was related to your grandpa's passing. Like, I'm sure my mom kept the receipt for my dad's cremation.

And, if my mom didn't put away dad's DD214. it probably would get mixed in with the funeral home stuff.

Other places I might look would be if there's a box with a flag in it for your grandpa from when he passed. That sort of stuff.

Good luck.

[weltz]

If I don't go on a ride, no one else from our family can ride it either. (They better be nice to me! 😄) I did already tell DD2, I'm not going on It's A Small World. I hated that ride.

That's a RIDE?  I  thought it was a way to get terrorists to confess!

[weltz]

Oct 5, 2023 12:42:13 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Oct 5, 2023 11:06:22 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Hey, I am 71.  I consider myself a senior but I am not elderly.  

I have had a will since I bought my first house.  The current will looks nothing like that will where I had my dad as executor.  At that age, he could have handled it.  But there came a time when he couldn't handle anything.

I am pretty good with Windows computers but terrible with Macs.  I am working on getting my iMac ready to sell.  Have to get the software, etc. off of it.

 and I don't need assistance with walking or sh*t like that either. That said, I do need help to open things occasionally due to arthritis in my hands so there is that.

I also have arthritis in my hands. Get a Robo-Twist. It's a life saver.