OT Febuary Chit Chat

[Lazarus]

[QUOTE=Pegakafarmgirl;62543][QUOTE=Cat Dancer;62531]Don't get too spoiled by the weather, peg. We've had lovely weather here too, and its supposed to be good through next Wednesday....and then a storm coming on Thursday, the temperature dropping to "normal" (it was 60 today; normal is in the high 20's)....and snow. Winter isn't over yet. March can come with a ton of snow...[/QUOTE



Every day now we get shipments of seeds. Even the UPS man chats about what we will be planting. The greenhouses are reacting to more sun and stronger sun so plants that have been resting are sprouting. I can go into the greenhouses and work easily for an hour or two. This is the first time in years that they look neat and organized to start the growing season.
Hard to believe we are at it again.

[Howie]

Another day, another dollar, and that's exactly what I have left in my pocket. I did go to the store and got a carton of cigarettes (I started smoking again a while back).

So I stopped and got my mail, and here's a bill from the doctor for the broken ankle, and a letter from SS or someone like that, and I have no idea what they want, and they wanted it on the 17th. Doh, there's another one I missed.

I only check the mail on payday, and maybe once or twice during the month. By the 10th of every month, I have all my bills paid, so there's not much to be checking the mail for. Guess I was wrong this month. So tomorrow I'll call and see what they wanted.

I seem to be chasing money these days. I stay one step ahead of being broke, and I hate that feeling. But short of selling Pinky which I'm not ready to do....yet, I will be fighting being broke.

I hope everyone is doing better than I am. And to you, I say...CHARGE!!!

[SuzE-Q]

As far as unsolicited advice goes, sounds like you are just coming up a little short regularly, Howie.

A couple months of belt tightening might give you a bit of a buffer zone and cushioning. And maybe a few tweaks to your normal budget or expenses might lessen it just enough to fit output with income. I agree, not sure if this warrants selling Pinky either, you might be able to manage with a few minor changes. I agree, penny pinching isn't fun.

Agate, if I recall, we all went with Chrome instead of IE because of all the concerns of cyber risks with using IE at the time. Firefox is even more secure, but I don't like it much either.

But if you're not keeping any sensitive data on your computer, Howie, I can't see any harm with returning to IE. But I do remember that was the issue, I think.

Linda, are you looking forward to the earlier garden season start, then? How's your health been lately?

Virginia, did you read the book or contact your group? Which book was it again?

Jeanie, glad you've had some positive DMV news! You deserve it after your dental and van ordeals! I don't know how you manage the heat there, as nice as a warm winter sounds. So happy your ramp is finally fixed! Virginia, is your temp affecting you?

Cat, how're you and TC doing?

I became very nostalgic reading back all of Joy's posts. It made me miss so many people that are no longer regular members here. You sometimes don't know you're spoiled, even if you only read along a lot, until it's gone. I miss so many people from those old threads, and those aren't even that old! It's certainly not the same here, but it made me appreciate what I had even more, and the support that remains here. I'm glad I was in the same "circle" as someone like Joy, as well as many others here. Thank you all for being here and being a good support system for so many.

ANN, hope you're doing ok. Hope you arrived home without incident. Vicky, ANN, hope your weather is better now!

BBS, let me know how the CBD goes! Jendie, does it help you? How do you take your one grain of rice size of it? BBS, hope you're looking forward to a different lifestyle with a reduction in work. It's not an easy transition, but it could be a beneficial one in many ways other than just physical health!

[agate]

...





I became very nostalgic reading back all of Joy's posts. It made me miss so many people that are no longer regular members here. Yoy sometimes don't know you're spoiled, even if you only read along a lot, until it's gone. I miss so many people from those old threads, and those aren't even that old! It's certainly not the same here, but it made me appreciate what I had even more, and the support that remains here. I'm glad I was in the same "circle" as someone like Joy, as well as many others here. Thank you all for being here and being a good support system for so many.

...

I second that. I had the same reaction on looking over Joy's posts. Everyone who posts here is doing so voluntarily and has to choose to visit here and read and post. There are a million other activities each person might opt to do instead, and not everyone with MS wants to think about it or come here for information or support or help others with MS. We're very lucky that we've had such capable conscientious people here. Many thanks to all of you who are still here.

[Howie]

Well I'm still here, and request you just slip the money in my mail slot. You ALL were planning to help me out....weren't you?

[Cat Dancer]

Sorry, Howie. Sending you cash won't help you out. You make your choices yourself, and apparently not good choices. Didn't you already get cash from your sister this month? And February is a short month.

TC and I are still here. Not much change. TC getting slower, so I'm getting more anxious as I know he won't be around forever and I need to be able to take care of myself, and my remaining furkids. Once they're gone, I'm ready to move into a nursing home. Still exercising, still having trouble transferring in/out of bed (or on to another surface). Otherwise I'm up and about all day, cooking, playing on the net, doing church stuff. Had a friend come by on Sunday to help me clean out and organize a couple of closets, straighten out my pantry. Now if I can keep Tom Cat in line -- instead of just shoving cans in there, put them in close proximity to others similar...like all the soups in the same general area...I won't find cans of stuff that have been in there for years!. Anyway..I took a general inventory so I know what I've got, and can plan menus for the next little while, based on what's in there.

Feels like spring outside, though! Hard to believe we're still in February!

[agate]

Well I'm still here, and request you just slip the money in my mail slot. You ALL were planning to help me out....weren't you?

Glad to help out! The check is in the mail...

Oops. You may not get it for a while since you hardly ever get your mail:

I only check the mail on payday, and maybe once or twice during the month. By the 10th of every month, I have all my bills paid, so there's not much to be checking the mail for.

.

[Lazarus]

Cat, I could have written your post! Twin Lives we are having.

Sorry, Howie. Sending you cash won't help you out. You make your choices yourself, and apparently not good choices. Didn't you already get cash from your sister this month? And February is a short month.

TC and I are still here. Not much change. TC getting slower, so I'm getting more anxious as I know he won't be around forever and I need to be able to take care of myself, and my remaining furkids. Once they're gone, I'm ready to move into a nursing home. Still exercising, still having trouble transferring in/out of bed (or on to another surface). Otherwise I'm up and about all day, cooking, playing on the net, doing church stuff. Had a friend come by on Sunday to help me clean out and organize a couple of closets, straighten out my pantry. Now if I can keep Tom Cat in line -- instead of just shoving cans in there, put them in close proximity to others similar...like all the soups in the same general area...I won't find cans of stuff that have been in there for years!. Anyway..I took a general inventory so I know what I've got, and can plan menus for the next little while, based on what's in there.

Feels like spring outside, though! Hard to believe we're still in February!

SuzE-Q, thanks for your question. (Linda, are you looking forward to the earlier garden season start, then? How's your health been lately?) John and I are in that moment right before all hell breaks loose with work to do on the farm. Every moment there is something that needs to be done but, I can do it tomorrow! No need to do anything right now. I still can put something off until tomorrow. That is a glorious feeling.
But the sun is stronger each day and that means we have to watch the greenhouse watering situation. that is the first pressure to jump on our backs. .

Cat Dancer,
JOhn is still suffering and I am not sure it will ever get better. I think a lot about what I will do. It is frightening.

[agate]

Ladies at home with spouses helping, do you have information about community services in your area? I have an impression communities issue a booklet or leaflet or maybe just a one-page list about whatever services (paid or free) are being offered--transportation, shopping, household chores, dentistry, and so on.

I use these resources often, both for myself and for neighbors who sometimes need help and live alone.

Just reading through the offered services and realizing that they're there can be comforting, or at least I find them comforting. Sometimes I call a couple of them just to find out if their arrangements are still in place.

A while back when I still had a cat, I even found a service that would have transported the cat to the vet and back if needed. I called to find out how that would work and had every intention of using it but as it happened I never did use it. But it was nice to know it was there.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Woke up and could not get online. I tried restore and it still would not go online. I called Jim and he had me disconnect the power cord to the modem for 30 seconds. That worked. A good trick to know.

Suseque how you remember who is doing what for all of us is amazing. Ann and Linda take care of yourselves. I am at the stage of worrying that I might wind up in assisted living or a nursing home.

On Monday I had to get the keys I had dropped in the back of the van near the scooter. I stepped up into the van and got them then tried to exit. I got my right foot out but could not move my left one and it was up higher and I was off balance. I was holding onto the door handle for dear life. I finally dragged my left one out and it dropped and my shoe came off but I was able to sit on my house scooter.

I weighed at Publix and I have gained 8 lbs. Not good. I now weigh 215. That is too much when Andy has to pick me up off the floor. Because I get so little exercise it is hard to lose weight.

I bought a couple of pairs of those Icon panties advertised all over the web and they are really comfortable. I have not tried them without a pad yet. They say they don't leak if you have an accident and keep the odor in.

SALLY PLEASE CHECK IN! We miss you a lot. I see Cherie and Gary on Facebook a lot. I wish they would come back here.

The dentist has not called yet. I am getting madder for paying and not waiting until they were done. I hope they turn out well. Take care everyone. Jeanie :)

[SuzE-Q]

Agate, funny reply to Howie about money and mail. You're sharp!

I checked those panties after you mentioned them, Jeanie - tons of good reviews! I hope they work well for you. Easy to clean and reuse too. Let me know how you like them! Glad you weren't hurt or stuck when you dropped your keys! I just discovered an app that takes a pic of your key that can be used to order a new key if you lose yours, with kiosks around too if you don't want to mail order the replacement. I guess leaving a spare under the planter or with a neighbor is now passe in our digital, mobile age, I thought that was a kinda cool idea.

I can usually only remember what was on the last page, I feel bad when I miss other earlier posts that I'd wanted to reply to, but had slipped my mind by the time I'm writing.

I'll feel better once Parsi is back.

Howie, I find I tailor my food budget for a few days a week to more inexpensive foods. It's quite amazing how much money I can trim that way. Food is a pretty large part of my expenses.

Cat, glad you're doing so much better. Reading back over Joy's posts brought back again just what a serious situation you were in. You've come a long way through grit and determination. Do you think it's time for you and TC to downsize to more accommodating, accessible, less rural housing "just in case"? It may take a load off of the future and potential for nursing home care if you've already made a move to housing that is easier to manage some of your limits in. There is a lot of technology available now that gives greater independence if you can afford it and have housing that can handle it. Look at nuthatch, her house is pretty "tricked out" so she can maintain a lot of independence! Cat, your weather has sure been warm this year, I've been watching it - suntan weather in winter!

Linda, I hope everything goes smoothly this year! Hopefully, with more snow in some areas (while not in others), water for your crops won't be an issue. Hope John's health is stable. Yours too. You too may want to turn your mind to what possibilities are available and make tentative plans before actually needing them, might alleviate some of the worry, especially when so much of your work is physical and requires a certain level of health to achieve it. That puts a lot of pressure on you! I'm so sorry John is suffering.

Agate, have you thought of another cat? Great idea to scope out services in advance of needing them!

Yes, sure missing Sally, Lorraine, Gary and renee too!

[Howie]

Agate, I have two cats you can have. Both are a little spoiled, but as long as you keep a supply of turkey on hand, you will be okay.

Concerning Howie's shortage of money, I think my checking account got hacked by someone I bought something from that was on Facebook. I'll know for sure when I get my statement towards the end of the month.

I'm headed to the dump then the post office. They are about 200 feet apart. I hope I don't get them mixed up. I'll have a tough time getting those trash bags through the mail slot!

[Parsi]

Howie, can't you phone the bank or see your account online? It's easier to keep track of than waiting for a statement. Unfortunately if I check online when I'm out of country I get locked out because of the location. :(

[Howie]

One other time, I wanted to see a print out of my account, like the one they mail you free at the end of the month. They wanted $25 to do it. I raised such a stink, they just gave it to me free.

They probably would now, but it gives me a challenge to survive the month without money. I do have $1 in my billfold that has my fingerprints on it from hanging on so tightly.

I'll be okay.

[agate]

Howie, you probably already know this but most banks make it easy for you to see everything going on in your account online, with "pending transactions" in a separate category so you can see the checks that are in the process of clearing. You can view the image of any check you wrote (back and front views) and print them. You can save and/or print out your monthly statement, and the bank notifies you by e-mail when it's available. You can set up alerts so you'll be notified of just about anything else going on in your account.

You can bookmark the bank's Webpage (or save it as a Favorite if that's what you do), and then all you have to do is log in with your user name and password.

Google Chrome and probably other browsers have ways of saving your passwords if you want them to, and it saves all of mine--except for bank passwords, which I always have to enter manually (but the user name is entered automatically).

This seems to be as safe a system as anything on the Internet. I'm not a techie and yet I've been dealing with banks this way for about a dozen years with no problem.

Occasionally a bank will notify you that it's going to be closing its Website for a day or two for maintenance. This can be inconvenient but it doesn't happen very often, and you do get notified.

I check my bank account online often. I also keep a paper checkbook register just in case.