what are you doing right now?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Circus de Solei was awesome!

I told DH I need him to start doing gymnastics and aireals because damn those were some good looking dudes!

The costumes are amazing.

I'd go see it again if tickets are priced right.

The seats were good I thought. We were up a ways but not so high we couldn't see anything. It was just high enough and angled enough that as a short person I didn't have to worry about who sat in front of me.

[TheOtherMe]

Sister gets that DN1 and wife are not bringing the Toddler here for Christmas and has been having things delivered.  They gave her the same idea as they did me (he doesn't need toys) but she said he is getting toys from her.  At least she isn't bugging them every day to come here even if you have to drive.

[Pink Cashmere]

I am tired. I’d like to just be a bum tomorrow, but I have to work my side gig Tuesday, so I need to do all my household stuff tomorrow. Ugh! 

I also have to work my side gig Wednesday and Thursday, then next Monday. We are winding down for the year. I don’t mind working my side gig, I’d actually enjoy doing it full time, year round. But to do it in the private sector, I would have to have a college degree and work my way up to the position. I would also lose all my benefits from having worked for the federal government for so long, and make a lot less money on an hourly basis than I do when I’m doing the same thing for my union part time. I keep my mouth shut about how I get paid, because I’ve already had coworkers try to convince my union president to let them do it instead of me, and they would especially be after it if they knew about the money. I’m not worried about him choosing someone else instead of me though, because I am very good at it, and I take it very seriously, unlike some of the other people he has doing the same thing. A couple months ago someone told me that he spoke very highly to them of me and the work I do. I guess that’s one thing I’m doing right, that is appreciated.

My real job is not as horrid as it has been most of the years I’ve been there, but it’s still not good and basically a shitshow, and I still don’t like it. I can think of at least 10 coworkers that will be retiring within the next 6 months, which will move me even farther up the seniority roster. The last time I looked, I was number 30something from the most senior person, out of around 200 people that do what I do in my building. 

Today I was talking to a coworker that does different kind of work, who is around my age and has been there around the same length of time that I have, if not longer. She asked how much longer I plan to work and I said hopefully no more than 7 more years. I’d really like to retire as soon as I’m eligible, in 5 years, but I prefer to have a little more time already in my mind, just in case the numbers don’t quite work for as soon as I’m eligible. She said her bills say she has to work at least 10 more years. I’d cry every day if I knew today that I needed to work at least 10 more years. 7 years already feels like a bit much. That is why I am so out of sorts with this shit with Mister and trying to figure shit out. 

[weltz]

Dec 3, 2023 20:02:16 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 3, 2023 19:29:20 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Holy moly - I just stepped out on the front porch and spooked a bat who zoomed off - the first I've seen in a long time.  I am over-the-moon happy because bats are our frontline predators against mosquitoes.  And, since our daytime temps are still in the 70's, mosquitoes continue to be a problem here so bats are my besties.

Bats are good. My only request to them is do not fly so low you get caught in my hair. Both of us will be traumatized for some minutes if that happens.

Bats don't get caught in hair.


The myth was that if a young woman went out at night, a bat would fly into her hair and get stuck. In reality, bats are not interested in flying into your hair. They may fly close to you in search of insects but their amazing use of echolocation will prevent them from landing on you.


batwatch.ca/bat-myths#:~:text=The%20myth%20was%20that%20if,them%20from%20landing%20on%20you.

[countrygirl2]

I would suggest work as long as you can. Hubs SS went up 8% a  year for each year he worked after his retirement age of 66. I know some people just can't. He would have till 70 but had to sign 3 year contracts and would have had to quit 1 year into the 3 years and didn't want to do that so quit at 69.However,  if you have a pension and health ins, that makes it much better, we did not.

I got my kitchen and hallway mopped. I will do both bathrooms tomorrow, need to do the floors on hands and knees to get those good and clean and get around things. And I will dust the place too.

Tigger has been on and off hubs lap all day today, hubs is wondering why, I don't know. He is so cute he would stretch out and put his paws on hubs chest. Tig likes hubs and will sit on him as times. Hubs never having been a cat person doesn't understand them. Smoke has been on mine and clingy today. I think they sense when someone is going to leave or something is going to change.

I started working on DD's recons, I'm on May. I was trying to get print outs of the airline tickets as I didn't keep the copies, didn't think about it. I'm having a terrible time signing into things. Somehow I reset a bunch of stuff inadvertently and now I'm having to redo passwords and all kinds of signins, its terrible. I will get it, but its taking time. Will just call Alaska Airlines to get copies I guess.

I also ate to much this afternoon, not enough this morning and too much this afternoon. I hope I didn't exceed my calories, I don't think so but it was close I'm sure.

About ready for bed.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Dec 3, 2023 23:45:32 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

I would suggest work as long as you can. Hubs SS went up 8% a  year for each year he worked after his retirement age of 66. I know some people just can't. He would have till 70 but had to sign 3 year contracts and would have had to quit 1 year into the 3 years and didn't want to do that so quit at 69.However,  if you have a pension and health ins, that makes it much better, we did not.

You don't have to keep working to hold off on drawing SS.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I spent way too much money this weekend, but got most of the Christmas shopping for the kids done, got my windshield fixed on my car (free, but also had them put on new blades), spent a couple hundred at Sam's Club...part of which was splurging on some big Christmas lights for the walkway in front of the house, and did my annual $500 in Target gift cards at 15% off...which will go towards remaining gifts.  Kids stockings, two nephews, one niece, and alcohol for all the siblings and parents left.

I also replaced the oil pressure sensor on my van this weekend and am going to cross my fingers and drive it tomorrow. It hasn't been more than a mile or two from the house since it's cardiac event.  If it doesn't give me any problems I'm going to cancel it's Tuesday appointment, if it does...well...it was just $20 for the sensor.

[busymom]

I did go to church this morning, and made a couple of other stops, but I mostly stayed home to wait for a package from UPS.  I kept checking their website, but it kept telling me the delivery was "on the way".  Until after 11 pm, then they're telling me to check USPS website instead, which is now telling me my package will arrive tomorrow.      Thanks a lot for playing "pass the package".  

[Pink Cashmere]

Dec 3, 2023 23:49:10 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Dec 3, 2023 23:45:32 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

I would suggest work as long as you can. Hubs SS went up 8% a  year for each year he worked after his retirement age of 66. I know some people just can't. He would have till 70 but had to sign 3 year contracts and would have had to quit 1 year into the 3 years and didn't want to do that so quit at 69.However,  if you have a pension and health ins, that makes it much better, we did not.

You don't have to keep working to hold off on drawing SS.

Which is another thing I need to sit down and figure out. One of my retirement benefits is that if I retire once I meet the minimum requirements in my late 50’s, I can receive a supplement equivalent to or close to SS, until age 62, when I am actually eligible for SS. Idk if that taking the supplement means I have to take SS at age 62 though. I want to say it doesn’t, but I’m not sure. 

I am pretty sure I could delay taking SS if I were still with Mister, and I could’ve possibly delayed it with my original plan. I don’t see me being able to wait if I have to scrap all my plans and figure out something else. 

Countrygirl, I have to find some sort of balance and middle ground. I am not willing to keep working into my 60’s if I can retire sooner rather than later, and be able to provide for my needs and at least some of my wants. A modest lifestyle is okay with me, if that means I don’t have to work anymore. 

I’d rather live a modest lifestyle and be healthy and mobile enough to enjoy as many years being retired as I can, than work until my health and body is such a mess that my quality of life sucks so much that I can’t even enjoy being retired.

In 5 years, I will have worked full time, for 30 years at the same job, and been a productive citizen, I feel like it shouldn’t be so complicated for me to be able to finally sit my ass down somewhere and be free from having to go to a job every freaking day, , if that’s what I want to do. I feel like I will have given enough to be able to do that without worrying about having to eat cat food, or whether I can afford medical care when I need it. 

I know and understand that nobody forced me to work the kind of job I have, but there is also the fact that if people like me didn’t/don’t work the kind of job I have, our society would be a mess. People like me work odd schedules that affect our time with our families, which is a price we pay, and when it’s a physically demanding job, like mine is, we pay even more with the toll on our bodies. Again, I understand that nobody forces us to work those kinds of jobs, but if you think about, if all of us worker bees that work those kinds of jobs, just disappeared, the world as you know it, would LITERALLY change for the worst.

It was us worker bees that have the jobs that people look down on, that held things together and made shit happen during the pandemic to enable other people to stay home and/or otherwise protect themselves from the virus we were regularly exposing ourselves to because our jobs required us to be physically present to keep things running in our country, to try to provide for and protect people so they could be safe…. people that don’t even respect us because we don’t have lofty careers. And many of them still stupid enough that a damn pandemic didn’t open their eyes to the fact that even worker bees have value and are a necessary part of our society.

That has added to my desire to just get out of the game. My employer has made it clear in a local level, for decades, that I’m just a body, and easily replaced. I get looked down in society, because I’m a blue collar worker. So I just want to bide my time until I can stop working. I will always do my job for as long as I am employed, because my personal ethics say that I give a fair day of work for a fair day of pay. But that’s all I have, nothing more, and nothing less….. when I use to give more. Now, I am giving the same energy I receive. 

And more than ever, I just want to be done with it asap! The working world period.

And I feel like I have to add that my desire to be done has nothing to do with Mister, or me wanting or trying to lean on him. It makes me mad that I even have to clarify that these days, because ain’t nobody (not me!) trying to depend on no man, to be okay.

That turned into a rant that I didn’t intend, but I meant everything I said, so I won’t edit it. And the rant was not at all directed at you MPL, even though I quoted you. 

[Peace77]

Dec 4, 2023 0:44:02 GMT -5 busymom said:

I did go to church this morning, and made a couple of other stops, but I mostly stayed home to wait for a package from UPS.  I kept checking their website, but it kept telling me the delivery was "on the way".  Until after 11 pm, then they're telling me to check USPS website instead, which is now telling me my package will arrive tomorrow.      Thanks a lot for playing "pass the package".  

I’m in the same boat.  
Stayed home from church since I was concerned that it would be stolen.  It said arriving by 9 pm but now USPS informed delivery says arriving tomorrow.

[toomuchreality]

Dec 4, 2023 0:44:02 GMT -5 busymom said:

I did go to church this morning, and made a couple of other stops, but I mostly stayed home to wait for a package from UPS.  I kept checking their website, but it kept telling me the delivery was "on the way".  Until after 11 pm, then they're telling me to check USPS website instead, which is now telling me my package will arrive tomorrow.      Thanks a lot for playing "pass the package".  

I have to keep checking DD2s porch and by her garage door, all day, every day, since I don't know if or when to expect deliveries, or where they will be put. It's kind of a pain, since she gets so many pkgs every day. But it's not a big deal. Not really.
I've probably brought in 15-20 pkgs in the last 2 days.
She gets her money's worth out of Amazon prime, that's for sure.

Her housekeeper is coming tomorrow (Monday). I will stay in the master bedroom while she's here, unless I'm at the doctor's.
I don't want to make anyone sick, at Christmas. This has been miserable for way too long.

I got her dishes and laundry done today. Cleaned the litter box, put the garbage out and put the cans out by the curb. Such fun!

[CCL]

Dec 4, 2023 1:26:33 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Dec 3, 2023 23:49:10 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

You don't have to keep working to hold off on drawing SS.

Which is another thing I need to sit down and figure out. One of my retirement benefits is that if I retire once I meet the minimum requirements in my late 50’s, I can receive a supplement equivalent to or close to SS, until age 62, when I am actually eligible for SS. Idk if that taking the supplement means I have to take SS at age 62 though. I want to say it doesn’t, but I’m not sure. 

I am pretty sure I could delay taking SS if I were still with Mister, and I could’ve possibly delayed it with my original plan. I don’t see me being able to wait if I have to scrap all my plans and figure out something else. 

Countrygirl, I have to find some sort of balance and middle ground. I am not willing to keep working into my 60’s if I can retire sooner rather than later, and be able to provide for my needs and at least some of my wants. A modest lifestyle is okay with me, if that means I don’t have to work anymore. 

I’d rather live a modest lifestyle and be healthy and mobile enough to enjoy as many years being retired as I can, than work until my health and body is such a mess that my quality of life sucks so much that I can’t even enjoy being retired.

In 5 years, I will have worked full time, for 30 years at the same job, and been a productive citizen, I feel like it shouldn’t be so complicated for me to be able to finally sit my ass down somewhere and be free from having to go to a job every freaking day, , if that’s what I want to do. I feel like I will have given enough to be able to do that without worrying about having to eat cat food, or whether I can afford medical care when I need it. 

I know and understand that nobody forced me to work the kind of job I have, but there is also the fact that if people like me didn’t/don’t work the kind of job I have, our society would be a mess. People like me work odd schedules that affect our time with our families, which is a price we pay, and when it’s a physically demanding job, like mine is, we pay even more with the toll on our bodies. Again, I understand that nobody forces us to work those kinds of jobs, but if you think about, if all of us worker bees that work those kinds of jobs, just disappeared, the world as you know it, would LITERALLY change for the worst.

It was us worker bees that have the jobs that people look down on, that held things together and made shit happen during the pandemic to enable other people to stay home and/or otherwise protect themselves from the virus we were regularly exposing ourselves to because our jobs required us to be physically present to keep things running in our country, to try to provide for and protect people so they could be safe…. people that don’t even respect us because we don’t have lofty careers. And many of them still stupid enough that a damn pandemic didn’t open their eyes to the fact that even worker bees have value and are a necessary part of our society.

That has added to my desire to just get out of the game. My employer has made it clear in a local level, for decades, that I’m just a body, and easily replaced. I get looked down in society, because I’m a blue collar worker. So I just want to bide my time until I can stop working. I will always do my job for as long as I am employed, because my personal ethics say that I give a fair day of work for a fair day of pay. But that’s all I have, nothing more, and nothing less….. when I use to give more. Now, I am giving the same energy I receive. 

And more than ever, I just want to be done with it asap! The working world period.

And I feel like I have to add that my desire to be done has nothing to do with Mister, or me wanting or trying to lean on him. It makes me mad that I even have to clarify that these days, because ain’t nobody (not me!) trying to depend on no man, to be okay.

That turned into a rant that I didn’t intend, but I meant everything I said, so I won’t edit it. And the rant was not at all directed at you MPL, even though I quoted you. 

Pink if your supplement works like my brother's, at age 62 it stops. He didn't have to start drawing SS, but his pension was reduced by the supplement amount, so without signing up for SS he had a lot less money every month.

[finnime]

Good morning, diligent and industrious invisipeeps, preparing for the week and month and retirement. Welcome to Monday. I hope your day includes cookies and a suitable beverage, and that bathrooms you use are clean to your satisfaction, that your work is satisfying and no unwanted critters take up residence in your home.

Yesterday was a lot of fun. DH, DSis and I went to a large arts and crafts fair, then out to eat. The best possible way, I think, to spend a very rainy Sunday in early December.

Some ideas I got from photographers' displays: put images on other things, such as coasters and serving trays; offer very small, 4 x 4 and 5 x 5 pictures in plastic frames for stocking stuffers and display on window sills and other nooks; offer large pictures on metal or canvas with no need for a frame to be purchased separately. I need to think about some of these and incorporate a couple into our business.

Because of the rain, I didn't make it to the beach with Franklin the Dog. So again, this photo was taken exactly one year ago:

[Opti]

Help!

I'm in the crash and burn phase of my fall sinus adventures. Now my entire body aches, walking is not recommended for even a tenth of a mile. My right calf wants to be the failure point of the moment and all my fall into winter shoes are bad. (Need replacing)

I knew I was headed there more than a week ago, but every job I get some Einstein who feels my issues are mental illness and probably something else. ... Instead of what they really are. A manifestation of physical issues that are always with me because of the design of my sinuses. This year in NJ has been record breaking. Spring panic point was much earlier than expected. Actually I did not figure it out until I crunched my hand in the vault door causing significant bleeding and yet another possible broken pinky. Weeks later I reverse engineered that my Spring crash and burn time was over a month earlier than expected because of the nice wussy winter we had. That had never happened since I have been in NJ, and summer of 1985 until now is a significant amount of time.


TB continued. Think its time to eat some breakfast and start emailing HR.

[Opti]

Part 2 of ?

Also a weird thing started where it felt like ground hog day. Like it was a rerun of last year. It began with my XBF going on about the same stories about some recalled inaccurately times we hung out with another couple. Today, because I did my own ground hog moment/phone calls  , I realize (I hope) its passing flotsam to be addressed but not to be taken seriously as its round two. 


He mentioned something like "remember that time we had weed with that couple..." I am like What? Because we did not have weed with any couple. I had no weed the entire time I was with him. The BMW however has a frog sticker on it I bought from the Great Adventure theme park. It apparently means one is 420 friendly. I wanted it because I liked the frog so maybe that's why the female half did play us really trippy Ravi Shankar music that made you feel like you had been on several weed trips... 



My current employer does their holiday party b4 TG day which is nice as they hand out bonuses year end so usually you will have it to spend on year end presents or whatever. My coworker, current head teller, did not want to go this year. But after talking to others in the branch he started in, he decided to go by himself. He had gotten sick from the food at the last two events he attended in 2022.

[ners]

Need to get moving for the day.

[Opti]

Left VM in general mailbox of the main branch. Probably should have listed to it, but eh, it is done,
Now for HR and other CYA stuff. 

If your manager is toxic, this is not a good environment at all. I think even if HR does do paperwork for a leave or to get docs from my health care conglomerate (PCP employed by them), I still have to keep her informed. At the facility, for legal reasons, once you go on disability or whatever (ie more than 3 days sick) everything goes through HR. So at least only one ;point of contact if you are really sick.
Which is good because I can get to the point that I can only manage one thing at a time, and not necessarily even get it done.

Part 3 of 3?

Is tired. Ate cold Daiya pizza for breakfast. No life cereal or preferred Kind bars in the house, Oh well. 

[wvugurl26]

I pay $20 a year to have UPS bring me those packages that would otherwise be delivered in the end by USPS. It's worth it to me to avoid that hand off and waiting longer to get the package.

Sometimes one of our nephews stays at our house when we leave. I would never leave dirty dishes for him.

[Opti]

Going to walk outside briefly and clear my head. Will avoid all stairs except the ones I can't. Need to do laundry, but way too dangerous today. Just like yesterday. 

[alabamagal]

Dec 3, 2023 23:24:00 GMT -5 weltz said:

Dec 3, 2023 20:02:16 GMT -5 Opti said:

Bats are good. My only request to them is do not fly so low you get caught in my hair. Both of us will be traumatized for some minutes if that happens.

Bats don't get caught in hair.


The myth was that if a young woman went out at night, a bat would fly into her hair and get stuck. In reality, bats are not interested in flying into your hair. They may fly close to you in search of insects but their amazing use of echolocation will prevent them from landing on you.


batwatch.ca/bat-myths#:~:text=The%20myth%20was%20that%20if,them%20from%20landing%20on%20you.

I think that was old wives tail from 1960s when women had big hairpieces and you never knew what could be living in them. Don’t think they really ever had bats.

[chiver78]

fan-fucking-tastic. the dirt road immediately behind the house across the street is completely full of trucks and heavy machinery for excavation and paving. obviously it's worse for K b/c it's literally *right there* but I don't have the bandwidth to be shooing LD to shush while I'm on calls today. it's going to be a very long day, it has been already. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

IDK if I am happy or sad about the bears.  Probably both.

That being said despite it being the size of Abby I figured out how to keep it in bed with me pretty much all night.  For the first time in days I actually slept.  That is a good thing. 

However DH said bringing an emotional support teddy to work probably wouldn't fly so the bear hanging out in the bedroom.

[Opti]

Dec 4, 2023 9:32:27 GMT -5 alabamagal said:

Dec 3, 2023 23:24:00 GMT -5 weltz said:

Bats don't get caught in hair.


The myth was that if a young woman went out at night, a bat would fly into her hair and get stuck. In reality, bats are not interested in flying into your hair. They may fly close to you in search of insects but their amazing use of echolocation will prevent them from landing on you.


batwatch.ca/bat-myths#:~:text=The%20myth%20was%20that%20if,them%20from%20landing%20on%20you.

I think that was old wives tail from 1960s when women had big hairpieces and you never knew what could be living in them. Don’t think they really ever had bats.

Welts and anyone else, I was joking about my hair. I know they are not interested in my hair, but I can move very quick at times. One swung through music camp one night, so that's just an inside joke with me and some attendees.. 

 <- happy bat that gets food at night 

[Opti]

Dec 4, 2023 10:04:08 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

IDK if I am happy or sad about the bears.  Probably both.

That being said despite it being the size of Abby I figured out how to keep it in bed with me pretty much all night.  For the first time in days I actually slept.  That is a good thing. 

However DH said bringing an emotional support teddy to work probably wouldn't fly so the bear hanging out in the bedroom.

I'd like to think happy overall even if it brings sads because you need to process your grief. I know my processing of grief and even departures from my life can be an ongoing process.

[Opti]

Dec 4, 2023 9:55:25 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

fan-fucking-tastic. the dirt road immediately behind the house across the street is completely full of trucks and heavy machinery for excavation and paving. obviously it's worse for K b/c it's literally *right there* but I don't have the bandwidth to be shooing LD to shush while I'm on calls today. it's going to be a very long day, it has been already. 

Sorry. That sounds awful and very stressful.

[Opti]

Communicated with boss via email that I will not be in today. That I do not have the physicality to walk to and back from bus stop this week. (Very true.    Probably should place soda etc. order today) But implying that perhaps I could be back at work much sooner if I had a ride. Fun fact, my boss does pass my nus stop in every day to my knowledge. Many times earlier than the bus, but Saturday's bus is very early so I am out there first thing if possible. I am now that crazy person that will run on front of traffic to catch the bus instead of hoping the next one will arrive within the hour.

Today, I'd probably get killed or possibly injured if I pulled that, but no worries ... that is way too far to walk today.

[busymom]

Dec 4, 2023 1:29:00 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

Dec 4, 2023 0:44:02 GMT -5 busymom said:

I did go to church this morning, and made a couple of other stops, but I mostly stayed home to wait for a package from UPS.  I kept checking their website, but it kept telling me the delivery was "on the way".  Until after 11 pm, then they're telling me to check USPS website instead, which is now telling me my package will arrive tomorrow.      Thanks a lot for playing "pass the package".  

I’m in the same boat.  
Stayed home from church since I was concerned that it would be stolen.  It said arriving by 9 pm but now USPS informed delivery says arriving tomorrow.

     Isn't that annoying when they don't show up after their website has been telling you for days the same date of arrival?  Our neighborhood is pretty good, but we have to be aware of porch pirates too. 

[lurkyloo]

Ooof.  The neighbors are moving    I offered to have their escape artist dog over Sat to play with PP-the pups love playing and moving day is high stress and prime escape potential.  Turned into dog and both girls coming over all day, feeding everyone lunch and ordering and taking over an extra pizza for dinner bc I wasn’t sure their mom was up to worrying about food-she had a rough day.  We’ll miss having them there.  

Tree is cut and placed in LR, and has been named Olly, still awaiting decoration.  We had the preliminary discussion with the sped lawyer today and I think it was the right decision-I’ve been stressing so much about it, figuring she was going to say the situation wasn’t bad enough to justify a lawyer.  But it was really helpful and she’ll be there for the IEP and had some good feedback and suggestions

DS bringing other friend home from school today and I am trying not to think about how messy the house is.  The BF floor washer I ordered actually does reduce the activation energy required for mopping floors so girl math FTW- but with muddy outdoors and dogs and people in and out all the time it’s kind of a losing battle.

What do you mean I still have work-work to do? 

[busymom]

Well, my package just arrived, hours before USPS said it would arrive.  I sure don't understand this newer "handoff" system of theirs between delivery companies, but at least I got it.  The bad news is, I've got at least a few more packages to look forward to between now and Christmas.  

[andi9899]

Y'all, I underestimated to drive to and from Texas. I'm not doing that again.
Next year I'll just pay the money and fly. I knocked out so early last night and slept do deeply. Macy didn’t want to go upstairs, so I left her and just took Jackson with me. She must have decided she lives downstairs now because I left my door open and she never came up. I didn’t even make it through the Chiefs game. They sucked last night so it didn't really matter. I felt so groggy this morning like I'd slept for a week or something.