what are you doing right now?

[snapdragon]

Fingers are crossed...I just went and ordered a set of roller skates and pads so I could get in some low pressure exercise. I haven't been on skates for 20+ years but I remember that I really enjoyed skating.

[cooper88]

I was not having the best morning at work. I made a grilled cheese for lunch and it's crazy how much better my attitude is.

[minnesotapaintlady]

My aunt texted me that she hasn't been able to get the dog out of the kennel since Carrot and I left last night.  Guess we'll be going back this evening to play with him.

[laterbloomer]

Aug 17, 2022 7:28:24 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Aug 16, 2022 23:32:16 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

I came to the boards through the Smart Spending threads and to be honest I miss them. I forget her name but she wrote articles about how to live on next to nothing and have a comfy home, tasty meals and travel every once in a while. My financial planning is at least as much frugal living as earning and investing but there aren't as many of us around that enjoy writing about that. I don't earn as much or have as much saved as most here, but I also don't seem to have the same kinds of expenses.

I also hope soupandstew stays around.  I enjoy her posts. 

laterbloomer were you talking about Donna Friedman?

Yes! That's her. Funny enough she made quite a bit of money writing about living frugally.

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 17, 2022 12:49:55 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 17, 2022 12:39:19 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

I'm retired. I don't have investments, RRSPs or 401Ks. No cryptocurrency, no gold, no real estate, nothing.
I'm living entirely on my pension money. It pays for all my needs, not all my wants.
That being said, I don't have to worry about medical expenses. I wouldn't be able to do this in the US.

Medicare in the US starting at age 65 is a very different story than dealing with medical costs prior to that.  Most people I know that are retired have very minimal medical expenses outside of the Part C and D premiums which aren't a lot for those of average income.

Since I am over 65 and have Medicare, Part B and health insurance through my former employer, the only thing I pay for when I see a doctor is prescription drugs.  I had 4 hospital stays and two ambulance rides when I had my gallbladder surgery.  I only paid out of pocket for prescription drugs.  

Now that I realized I do receive Social Security, those premiums come from my Social Security.  I had been paying those directly out of pocket.  I will never have to worry about the IRMMA penalties.  

I have dental insurance which covers two cleanings per year.  It covers other things but I haven't needed any other things for some time.  I break even on that every year.

I dropped my vision coverage because there are no providers locally for the plans offered from my retiree health insurance.  

I can make it on my pension and cover my needs.  Sometimes I have wants that I can't figure out a way to cover, especially since DN1 moved to Toronto.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I just got my hair cut this morning.  She didn't take off much, just trimmed it up as I'll be wearing it up most of the trip.  I told her I was reluctant to come back because the woman they brought in was crap and $$.  I didn't mention any names, but my hairdresser knew exactly who I was talking about.  Apparently, she bragged that she could do 12 clients in a day - but she did a really crappy job on them.  When she cut my hair, she forgot to cut the hair around my face/bangs.  I had to mention it to her  and she got bent out of shape because I expected her to cut all my hair.  When I called to make an appointment with my old hairdresser, I told the receptionist that I was very unhappy with what the new one did.  They asked me why I didn't say anything, they'd have fixed it but I told them that I was uncomfortable about having someone 'fix' my hair who was told that they did a crappy job and needed to fix it.

I don't think she's going to be around much longer.  

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 17, 2022 10:57:13 GMT -5 azucena said:

Aug 17, 2022 10:31:51 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Pondering why DN3's fiancee started a text conversation last night.  She started out very confrontational and then started in on how I spend too much time with the Toddler and in my world, he is everything and her son is nothing.  

I don't rarely see her son.  I know she doesn't like DN1 and his wife.  

She said she isn't allowed around the Toddler so I asked her if she was told that.  After hemming and hawing, she finally said she put that restriction on herself.  

I don't know why she started this last night.  

I talk to the Toddler every week.  I would be happy to do a video call with her son and them if they wanted.  He is getting over a bad case of Covid.  His dad refuses to allow him to be vaccinated.  I really don't want him around me in person because of that.  

Just needed to vent because it kept me awake trying to figure out where all this came from and what happened.  

How old is her son?  Doubtful this is anything you did, so try to let it roll off. You have a very healthy two-way relationship with toddler and his family.

He will be in 1st grade.  The kid is like the energizer bunny.  He is never still.

I know she has a custody hearing in court coming up in September, so she is upset about that.  Nothing got worked out at Mediation.  

For a reason that I was not told and I don't need to know, her ex had to have supervised visits only with their son.  That started in the spring.  

I do know the current custody arrangement isn't working for their son because it is every other day.  I don't know how the boy figures out where he is staying and what rules he is under.  I think she asked for full custody because of whatever caused the supervised visits with him getting him every other weekend.  I think she would settled for 50% but days in a row, not this ridiculous every other day set up.  

The ex would prefer my DN3 never see their son.  Um, he lives there half the time so he does see him and he does take care of him.  

[giramomma]

So tomorrow is my monthly day of stitching.

I have the following options:

1. Try to finish the stitching on a project (all is left is beading)

2. Start something new (already kitted..so YM approved)

3. Work on a project that I have enjoyed working in the past and pick it up again.

What say you?

[jerseygirl]

Finish the project. Beading sounds like it will be a beautiful piece

[NastyWoman]

Aug 17, 2022 15:02:23 GMT -5 giramomma said:

So tomorrow is my monthly day of stitching.

I have the following options:

1. Try to finish the stitching on a project (all is left is beading)

2. Start something new (already kitted..so YM approved)

3. Work on a project that I have enjoyed working in the past and pick it up again.

What say you?

3, 2, 1 in that order. I dislike beading and am notorious for having partially completed projects so the picking up an enjoyable but not yet completed project seems like a win-win to me. And if 3 is starting a new project as well, I still say go for it. Enjoyable is important

[susana1954]

I have actually been working a little lately, substituting at the high school where I used to teach.  Most of my friends are gone even though I only retired 3 years ago, but kids are kids.  These kids are nice.

Still, Penny is glad I finished for the week.  I worked Monday and Tuesday and will work Friday of next week.  I haven't decided what project I am saving for.

[giramomma]

Aug 17, 2022 15:30:15 GMT -5 susana1954 said:

I have actually been working a little lately, substituting at the high school where I used to teach.  Most of my friends are gone even though I only retired 3 years ago, but kids are kids.  These kids are nice.

Still, Penny is glad I finished for the week.  I worked Monday and Tuesday and will work Friday of next week.  I haven't decided what project I am saving for.

I'm glad you checked in.

I was thinking your visit with your sister was over with for a while.

School starts early for you.

Half of my children go back next week. Half days. (whoopie)

3/4 are back as of Sept 1.

ETA: If you need help spending your money, LMK. We're still deep in buying mode for DD1's bedroom update.

[andi9899]

Aug 17, 2022 10:31:51 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Pondering why DN3's fiancee started a text conversation last night.  She started out very confrontational and then started in on how I spend too much time with the Toddler and in my world, he is everything and her son is nothing.  

I don't rarely see her son.  I know she doesn't like DN1 and his wife.  

She said she isn't allowed around the Toddler so I asked her if she was told that.  After hemming and hawing, she finally said she put that restriction on herself.  

I don't know why she started this last night.  

I talk to the Toddler every week.  I would be happy to do a video call with her son and them if they wanted.  He is getting over a bad case of Covid.  His dad refuses to allow him to be vaccinated.  I really don't want him around me in person because of that.  

Just needed to vent because it kept me awake trying to figure out where all this came from and what happened.  

I hate people. You can't create a restriction for yourself and then complain about it. Tell her to get over herself.

[countrygirl2]

Haircuts tomorrow for DD and me YES! We need it for sure.

We are still talking about the house, hubs is saying it's up to me. But if I decide I want to do it, no issue. We will offer lower than they are asking as there are things we would want to fix. New flooring in the house, downstairs, new upstairs, it's all different and not clean. We could live with the downstairs except for DD's bedroom for a while. The living room just had one place in the flooring that we could move a couch over. It was just a wrinkle. I asked hubs about hardwood, he said too much work. Upstairs would be laminate.

Also, a water softener and the water system for the kitchen if it can be put in, no basement.

Talking about converting one bedroom upstairs to a big walk-in closet. Then knock out a wall and make 1 bedroom combined out of the other two.

DD's bedroom would be downstairs, and the closet is as big as or bigger than what she has now, so just flooring. Son suggested if we needed it to put in one of the stairway lifts to the bedrooms.

Nothing else to the house I can think of. Curtains of course. Would switch our fridges and dishwashers. Oh, and hubs would take my clothesline up and move it.

More work on the big building. Rusted off gutter, put one overhead door back in. Look at the water coming into the back of the building. Hubs needs to check what the septic situation is back there. He wants to put a shower in one of the bathrooms, they are across from each other. Men's and womens. Trimming and cleaning around those. 

There are only 2 houses down the rest of the street, none on the north side it's farmland. And the one on the south side, didn't see any dogs. There was a fenced in space in the back under a tree, would be nice for about 4 chickens.  It was very quiet there. Wonder if my kitties could adapt. I would never find them in all those buildings, like wow.!!

Enough room for a little garden spot if I wanted.

Doubt they would take the reduced price at this point. So, thinking about this tonight. I can't decide what to do.

[Artemis Windsong]

Aug 17, 2022 13:42:53 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Fingers are crossed...I just went and ordered a set of roller skates and pads so I could get in some low pressure exercise. I haven't been on skates for 20+ years but I remember that I really enjoyed skating.

Please go slow with this holding onto a side board or use ski poles until you get your feet under you.

A neighboring town about one hour away is putting in a roller rink.  As well as other amusements.

[Artemis Windsong]

Aug 17, 2022 14:26:14 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I just got my hair cut this morning.  She didn't take off much, just trimmed it up as I'll be wearing it up most of the trip.  I told her I was reluctant to come back because the woman they brought in was crap and $$.  I didn't mention any names, but my hairdresser knew exactly who I was talking about.  Apparently, she bragged that she could do 12 clients in a day - but she did a really crappy job on them.  When she cut my hair, she forgot to cut the hair around my face/bangs.  I had to mention it to her  and she got bent out of shape because I expected her to cut all my hair.  When I called to make an appointment with my old hairdresser, I told the receptionist that I was very unhappy with what the new one did.  They asked me why I didn't say anything, they'd have fixed it but I told them that I was uncomfortable about having someone 'fix' my hair who was told that they did a crappy job and needed to fix it.

I don't think she's going to be around much longer.  

A hair dresser giving someone poor service is a way to get rid of them.

I told one hair dresser about another one that people were getting poor results.  She then gave me a bad hair cut where only one half was cut in back.  The other side was tucked under and I found it when I combed my hair.  That was a challenge to self cut.  I then went back to the chain, discount hair dresser I had y.a. I got a great cut.  I had quit that place when she first called my husband saying I was depressed because I got a perm.  The last perm I had was in junior high.  40+ years ago.  Then she put a dread knot in the middle of the back of my hair.  My H. wouldn't cut it out when I found it. That hair stylist is GONE. When I went to the beauty school a couple of years later, the manager cut it out.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 17, 2022 16:55:44 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

Aug 17, 2022 14:26:14 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I just got my hair cut this morning.  She didn't take off much, just trimmed it up as I'll be wearing it up most of the trip.  I told her I was reluctant to come back because the woman they brought in was crap and $$.  I didn't mention any names, but my hairdresser knew exactly who I was talking about.  Apparently, she bragged that she could do 12 clients in a day - but she did a really crappy job on them.  When she cut my hair, she forgot to cut the hair around my face/bangs.  I had to mention it to her  and she got bent out of shape because I expected her to cut all my hair.  When I called to make an appointment with my old hairdresser, I told the receptionist that I was very unhappy with what the new one did.  They asked me why I didn't say anything, they'd have fixed it but I told them that I was uncomfortable about having someone 'fix' my hair who was told that they did a crappy job and needed to fix it.

I don't think she's going to be around much longer.  

A hair dresser giving someone poor service is a way to get rid of them.

I told one hair dresser about another one that people were getting poor results.  She then gave me a bad hair cut where only one half was cut in back.  The other side was tucked under and I found it when I combed my hair.  That was a challenge to self cut.  I then went back to the chain, discount hair dresser I had y.a. I got a great cut.  I had quit that place when she first called my husband saying I was depressed because I got a perm.  The last perm I had was in junior high.  40+ years ago.  Then she put a dread knot in the middle of the back of my hair.  My H. wouldn't cut it out when I found it. That hair stylist is GONE. When I went to the beauty school a couple of years later, the manager cut it out.

She was a new hairdresser in the area.  This isn’t the way to build up a clientele…..especially if she is giving everyone shoddy service.  

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Thank you to my old employer for doing a bare minimum of a vaccine incentive. I saved $200 for the trip.

I spent it at Peppercorn and the Boulder Bookstore. I got SIX books at the bookstore. A cookbook, new cooking utensils, red Hawaiian salt and Gwen threw in a little corn scrub brush.

I also found tea flowers. They are flowers you steep and they bloom. They can keep for up to two weeks.

[empress of self-improvement]

Aug 17, 2022 13:42:53 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Fingers are crossed...I just went and ordered a set of roller skates and pads so I could get in some low pressure exercise. I haven't been on skates for 20+ years but I remember that I really enjoyed skating.

You are much braver than I. Last time I went rollerskating, I was 19, completely sober and I crashed into the kitchen wall and fractured my ankle. Yeah, haven't skated since and I LOVE rollerskating. Too chicken shit to try again. And allow me to re-emphasize that I was STONE. COLD. SOBER. And my father was stone cold pissed when he got home and had to drive me to the hospital.

[chiver78]

I'm out on the deck, unwinding. I had to swap out my tank top for a long sleeved tshirt, for the first time since spring. that's one of my most hated calendar milestones, acknowledging that fall is coming. 

[Artemis Windsong]

H. is flabbergasted at how much school supplies supposedly cost to get kids into school.  $100 A lot of the supplies can be carried forward from year to year like a pencil bag, 3 ring binder, pencil sharpener, back packs for books.  Paper punch, stapler.

Middle school kids have to have a graphing calculator.

[NoNamePerson]

Aug 17, 2022 17:28:29 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Aug 17, 2022 13:42:53 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Fingers are crossed...I just went and ordered a set of roller skates and pads so I could get in some low pressure exercise. I haven't been on skates for 20+ years but I remember that I really enjoyed skating.

You are much braver than I. Last time I went rollerskating, I was 19, completely sober and I crashed into the kitchen wall and fractured my ankle. Yeah, haven't skated since and I LOVE rollerskating. Too chicken shit to try again. And allow me to re-emphasize that I was STONE. COLD. SOBER. And my father was stone cold pissed when he got home and had to drive me to the hospital.

Friend asked me to go with her, her son and niece! They were little and friend did not skate and said she felt better if I was out on floor with them. One crash to floor and three hours of surgery later my wrist was put back together with the help of pin. I was 48. I did get back on inline skates just once to say I had skated again. But that was it and I loved skating.

But go for it  snapdragon and have a kickass good time.  Jealous. 

[chiver78]

Aug 17, 2022 17:42:22 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

H. is flabbergasted at how much school supplies supposedly cost to get kids into school.  $100 A lot of the supplies can be carried forward from year to year like a pencil bag, 3 ring binder, pencil sharpener, back packs for books.  Paper punch, stapler.

Middle school kids have to have a graphing calculator.

it's been a minute since I've been in middle school, but why is this a must have? they aren't learning that kind of math in middle school. 

[Deleted]

Aug 17, 2022 13:42:53 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Fingers are crossed...I just went and ordered a set of roller skates and pads so I could get in some low pressure exercise. I haven't been on skates for 20+ years but I remember that I really enjoyed skating.

Sounds like fun!

I’ve been wanting to go skating for some years now. I’m afraid I might fall and hurt myself though. I use to be a pretty decent skater.

I had a similar fear when I wanted a bike. I was afraid I might fall and hurt myself. That’s why I got a mountain bike at first, the skinny tires on hybrids and road bikes didn’t look too stable to me.

I’m always concerned about hurting myself because an injury could mean I’m not able to do my job, so it’s not me just being paranoid for no reason.

[raeoflyte]

I was scared to go back to ice skating as an adult. I took 1 lesson and think it could have been good but had convinced the family to go to martial arts by then so didn't go back. Now that I have some practice falling safely I really should try ice skating again.

Trying to fix my head before going to the dojo. Dd and I agreed that if we don't hit 2 classes a week, every week this month we'll cancel our membership so I really have to go tonight.

[cooper88]

It seems like with ice skating, at least if you go down, you slide and it doesn't hurt as much. I'm not the most coordinated person so lower injury risk is good for me. I did crack my tailbone ice skating as an adult, though.

[countrygirl2]

Dinner tonight was awful.

I made spaghetti, yeah, how can you ruin spaghetti? The spaghetti tasted terrible, like it was floury or something. I cooked sweet italian sausage for the sauce and they must have put too much thyme in it, it was awful too. As hubs said even the bread sticks didn't taste good. I hope everything I buy doesn't taste like that anymore.

We each ate a serving; I threw it all away. There is one more package of that sausage from the same batch, it is going too. I told hubs and DD if they want something else, I will fix it. But we have luncheon meats and cheese if needed. That is our lunch goodies and for us if I don't cook.


It's not that it didn't taste good, it's putting effort into something and it's just not good. Thankfully, it doesn't happen to often. 

[chiver78]

I cracked my tailbone as a 3yo in learn-to-skate, and then went on to compete in lower levels. I quit going into 5th grade b/c I wanted to join the school band and I had to choose one or the other. I picked the new thing and hung up my skates.  I still consider myself a figure skater more than a hockey player, bc the balance checks I still have on hockey skates are always going to be a thing. my hockey teammates used to bitch at me when I wore my figure skates out to public skating during the season, b/c I'd be a little bit off that first game back. the blades are that different. 

rae - if you've learned how to safely fall and feel comfortable trying again, absolutely do it up! 

[chiver78]

Aug 17, 2022 18:30:09 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

Dinner tonight was awful.

I made spaghetti, yeah, how can you ruin spaghetti? The spaghetti tasted terrible, like it was floury or something. I cooked sweet italian sausage for the sauce and they must have put too much thyme in it, it was awful too. As hubs said even the bread sticks didn't taste good. I hope everything I buy doesn't taste like that anymore.

We each ate a serving; I threw it all away. There is one more package of that sausage from the same batch, it is going too. I told hubs and DD if they want something else, I will fix it. But we have luncheon meats and cheese if needed. That is our lunch goodies and for us if I don't cook.


It's not that it didn't taste good, it's putting effort into something and it's just not good. Thankfully, it doesn't happen to often. 

do you guys like mushrooms? you can break up that remaining sausage and add your own seasonings to counter the extra thyme, and mix in breadcrumbs and grated cheese, top with sliced cheese, then bake off. this is typically an hors d'oeuvre, but I make a meal out of it for myself with like 6 mushrooms. drizzle the plate with balsamic glaze and call it good. 

[Deleted]

Mister is SO pissed. His Dad has had his car for almost 2 weeks. Dad was supposed to be getting his own car fixed, but he kept changing plans and yesterday he decided to finance a Jeep Cherokee with a payment beyond what he and Mister’s Mom had agreed they could afford IF they had to buy something.

Mister’s Mom has several health conditions and her mobility isn’t that great. She has to use a cane or a walker. My first question to Mister was did his Dad make sure Mom could get in and out of the Cherokee. Nope.

Anyway, Mister and I went to get his car today, and when he started it, it was making a strange noise. Even I knew it didn’t sound right. Mister didn’t have time to really investigate because he had to get Kiddo somewhere at a certain time. He had to stop and get gas, it was on E. A lot of stuff he keeps in his car was missing. Some stuff just thrown in the backseat, making a mess. Sticky stuff on the passenger seat. When he was leaving the gas station, it was slow starting. That’s when he realized his Dad had left the lights on. No need to even bother the lights, they’re automatic. 

And even worse, he sent me a picture, one of the little speakers on the doors was pushed back into the housing. That speaker is part of an audio system Mister paid a few thousand dollars to have installed in his car. I can’t even picture a scenario where that could happen. It’s on top of the door panel, on the end with the hinges, completely out of the way for potential accidental damage. Idk how he did that.

Mister LOVES that car, and he is really pleased with the audio system. Well he WAS. That’s why I don’t even like driving his car, I know it’s his baby and I don’t like being responsible for it.

He is very, very angry with his Dad. Angry to the nth degree. His Dad saying “it was like that when I got it” about everything is not helping at all, I’m sure. As if Mister doesn’t remember what his car looked like when he took it to his Dad. I hope and pray that whatever is making that sound is very minor, otherwise, Mister might really lose it.

That’s why I don’t like loaning my vehicles, or really any of my stuff, to people.