OT June Chitchat

[agate]

Your sister is back now, Howie? Hope you got your brother's phone number and will soon find out he's OK.

I remember you said he has a serious illness--a kind of leukemia? I was concerned that something might have happened to him.

[Catdancer]

Is your brother older? Dementia comes in many forms, and might be the issue, rather than bi-polar, which usually starts at a pretty early age. Or has he always had issues?

[Howie]

Good morning all!

Cat, he is the youngest of the three siblings, so he's 56. I know he has had trouble with depression for a long time. Maybe that's what's going on now.

He didn't call me this weekend, but called my BIL and talked to him for an hour. I doubt he has talked to him an hour total in the last 15 years.

Just lots of strange events going on that have just started, that a good doctor needs to hear about.

[SalpalSally]

The moment of death!

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[Howie]

Sally, I tried to read that, but after taking forever to get in, then fighting one pop-up after another, I left before I got to read a single sentence. Sorry!

[Howie]

My nephew came by with some money I borrowed from my sister. Too many big bills this month. So off to the store I went, and now I'm set until payday. I'm afraid my debit card has been compromised. I'll know when my statement gets here. If so, I'll have to go through that hassle of getting a new one. It's ALWAYS something, isn't it?

I've been out of beer a few days, and can't get any until payday, but that's okay. It's just a treat, but not a must have. Now cat food, THAT is a must have!!!

[Frog42]

I'm afraid my debit card has been compromised. I'll know when my statement gets here. If so, I'll have to go through that hassle of getting a new one. It's ALWAYS something, isn't it?

I've had that happen with my credit card and it was a royal pain to get it fixed. I have no idea where they got the number as I hadn't left the house in that time. BAH!!

[Howie]

There is so much cyber-crime these days. Hackers and online thieves! It's too bad their computer know how is wasted trying to take from others. It's no wonder so many are pulling the plug, and living a more simple life.

[agate]

The optician called to tell me my rx sunglasses are ready. There was a 2-week wait after I turned in the rx, and by now summer is apt to be going full blast.

I've persuaded them to mail the glasses to me. Since they won't have a bifocal line to worry about (for outdoor use, there's no need for the bifocals) and they're in old frames I brought in for recycling, there's no reason why I have to make the trip there. Of course this will cost but it's worth it for me to avoid a trip in the heat.

They wanted to take my credit or debit card number over the phone. I said I wouldn't do that but would gladly send them a check.

They didn't know about a check. They had to go through a process of figuring out whether they could accept a check and call me back. They've finally agreed to take my check.

Sorry but I won't give some information over the phone. I've had some episodes where I had to have a bank card deactivated and get a new one.

Then there was another issue today. My watch needs a battery. I used to go to a jeweler to get the battery installed (the preferred method) but again wanted to save myself a trip in the summer.

It took me the better part of the morning and I had to sign up for a trial membership of Amazon Prime to get free shipping, but I found a way to get the batteries by mail. Walgreen's won't ship them but Amazon will.

The other obstacle was whether I could physically do the battery replacement. For a wonder, I got the watch open, and the battery is one of those larger button batteries that don't pop out on you so easily.

I was so thrilled with myself for prying that watch open that I've ordered more than one battery and will try to get my backup watch open and replace its battery too. It has needed one for years.

Meanwhile I have a windup watch that works if I wind it several times a day. Yes, my cellphone will tell me the time but only if I turn it on and go through some hocuspocus with it, and it's in very tiny print.

This seems like ho-hum material for this board but maybe some people are interested in how one person who can't get around much solves some of the everyday problems.

Payday will be here in only a couple of days, and that is such good news.

A neighbor in the next block got written up in the local news because she shot and killed an intruder. The exact address and name weren't given but today being a nice day, I went for a walk with my walker to take a look at that area and find out if it's all in an uproar or what. The incident was only a day or two ago.

I couldn't locate the exact building but the whole block, which is one of those streets that end in a cul de sac, seemed to be having some security conscious moments. Four squad cars were pulling up to one house where a young man seemed to be reporting something, and I saw signs on several buildings: BEWARE OF DOG, THIS BUILDING IS PROTECTED BY A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA, etc. I have a feeling that the signs are recent additions.

I don't think I could shoot an intruder even if I knew anything about guns. I'd just threaten to call the police and reach for the phone. At which point the intruder might reach for a weapon and shoot me.

Or he/she might not. I'd take my chances on that.

[Frog42]

I don't think I could shoot an intruder even if I knew anything about guns. I'd just threaten to call the police and reach for the phone. At which point the intruder might reach for a weapon and shoot me.

It's my understanding that you had better be a very good shot to try that or you'd probably just make them mad. You'd better be willing to kill them too. Better to have some sort of alert button I'd say.

[Virginia]

Yes, that is my understanding also. That you better be willing to kill them. On the other hand here in this state if you kill them before they are actually inside your house it would be considered a crime. Therefore, if someone is trying to come through your window, your door or whatever you have to pull them in and then shoot them.

However, I am with Agate. Even if they were already in I couldn't pull the trigger so I keep my alarm on even when I am home. One time I went out and locked the door and left home without my keys. I was riding with my brother and his wife. My brother called a lock smith. It took him less than 5 seconds to get into my house and I had both my dead bolt and my regular door locked. When my brother witnessed that he quickly said to me "You better turn your alarm off, so it will not notify the police". I did and he told me later that he said that so the man would know that I kept it set.

Agate, I get my watch batteries changed at a shoe shop. I took some shoes in one time and saw a sign that they changed watch batteries and it is close by so I go there. I think you are very smart to take the back off your watch and figure out how to change the battery by yourself. I am sure I would tear my watch up. On the other hand, I cannot translate Russian either. Maybe I am not good for much. Howie, don't you say a word.

Next month, as in late July, will probably be the month when I am looking for paychecks. I have to pay my home insurance and car insurance. I like to pay both for a year so I will not have to worry about it anymore. I actually did save enough this month for part of it. My house insurance went up quite a bit. I could lower it be having a higher deductible. I have owned a home since 1973 and have yet to use my homeowner's insurance (knob wood), but that does not mean I never will so I kind of hate to up the deductible.

Seems to me that a surveillance camera would be a pretty good deterrent to someone coming in your house. YEARS ago I had a neighbor who took a nap and when she woke up her house had been burglarized while she slept. Her bedrooms were upstairs. But the strange thing was she was sleeping on the couch down stairs and they broke in a long window that was close to where she was sleeping. I did not know her, but was told she was elderly. Maybe she was hard of hearing.

I also got some new next door neighbors years ago and I was getting to know them and welcoming them into the community and I told them what a nice neighborhood we had and that we never had any problems as I far as I knew. That same night the man left his car door unlocked. His check book and a bunch of other stuff was in there. Much to my surprise someone came by and stole everything of any value. My car was the next one beside his and mine was fine, but my door was locked. Guess someone just walked around trying car doors.

[agate]

Virginia, there are people who go around trying car doors. People go around trying apartment and house doors as well.

And many older people are hard of hearing. Some don't even realize how bad their hearing is, or they realize but won't do anything about it, or they've tried and couldn't get used to the hearing aids. There are 11 apartments on the first floor of this building where I live, and 5 of us are hard of hearing. I think a couple of others might be as well. Two are severely hard of hearing but don't have aids. Mine is getting to the severe point but at least the aids help me.

Yes, I was very pleased with myself for getting that watch open. You have no idea how many times I've tried in the past and failed. I used a tiny screwdriver to pry it.

I'd be totally tongue-tied if I went to a book group the way you do, Virginia. Even though I used to teach, I do badly in groups. I clam up and can't think of anything to say or the best way to say it, and so I don't say anything much. Don't sell yourself short. Everyone has strengths. And Howie hasn't said a word.

[Catdancer]

I live in the country. I have lived here 20 years. Only time my door is locked is when we leave the house. I tell my caregivers to just knock and come in. We have no security alarms, only a yard light.

Prior to this we lived in a large city. Even with security, deadbolt, we were burglarized twice ( we were not home either time; our garage broken in to and stuff stolen from our cars.

I don't have a gun, don't want one, wouldn't shoot a person if I had one.

[stillstANNding]

I don't have a gun, don't want one, wouldn't shoot a person if I had one.

I agree, Cat!
ANN

[Virginia]

When I lived in the country, for a long time we did not have an alarm. My house was not isolated, but lets just say the neighbors probably could not have heard me scream. A couple of years after husband's death I was talked into getting an alarm. Most of the time I did not bother to set it. I forgot about it. I felt so comfortable there. I never put any shades or blinds in my den which was on the back of my house. I had a very large bayed out area with a large window. There were only woods in the back and guests use to ask me if it bothered me to sit in there with it open. You know it never did. I never even thought about it. The land was mine and I just figured no one else would be out there. I might have been stupid, but it all worked out fine.

Actually, I am a little bit that way here. I use my alarm now. I didn't the first couple of years I had it, but after hearing of daytime break ins in areas where I would not have thought about it happening I decided I was being foolish to pay for it and not use it.

Howie, when I told you in a post above not to say a word, I didn't mean you couldn't ever say anything. So you are free to talk now. I know you really do need my permission, right?? Oh wait I forgot it is Vicky's permission you need. So glad you can take all the abuse we heap on you.