OT Febuary Chit Chat

[Howie]

You are the modern, together, very organized woman. Me man, me not.

My dad was ultra organized with everything. But it didn't seem to have rubbed off on me. If you saw my checkbook, it would scare you. It scares ME!!!

I've tried to get the cats to help me, but as soon as they see me break out the checkbook, they vanish. Darn cats!

[agate]

This is a switch. I thought women were usually in the role of the helpless damsel in distress.

In fact, I think most people are now using online bank accounts or at least a good many are, and not just these modern well-organized women you're talking about.

[Howie]

It was hidden for years. The norm was the happy married couple, and everyone brainwashed into thinking the man handled the finances. But in reality, the women carried the checkbook, and the men watched football games on TV, and drank beer.

[Frog42]

In our family, my father was the one who paid bills and balanced the checkbook. My mother was a real neatness freak.

If he laid his newspaper on the floor while he went to the bathroom she'd throw it away. I don't know how many times I heard, "I was reading that!"

[Catdancer]

If you think either your bank account or your credit card has been hacked or otherwise compromised, the bank should...for free..provide you a statement that includes the most recent transactions, and stop payment on any questionable transactions until either you or they verify them. Waiting until the end of the month only allows the hacker that much more time to grab your money. I don't do a lot of on line banking, but I do Minot my balance online on a regular basis, and of course check the monthly statement right away. My credit card company has a pretty good fraud
protection service, too.

[Howie]

My credit card company has a pretty good fraud protection service, too.

I hope mine does too. It's my fault for buying off of Facebook. DOH!!

[Virginia]

I do almost all of my banking transactions on line. Agate and I do our banking in about the same way. I pay everything on line. My checks are automatically deposited. I keep a separate check register for myself, and occasionally check to make sure I am in sync with the bank. It is so easy and makes my life so much easier. I hardly ever have to buy stamps since the bank mails out all my bills for me. Howie, I just tell them how much to pay and they pay it. It cost me nothing. I have had online banking for many years. I have often thought of how much it saves me as far as having to write checks, buy postage, etc.

Well, we never did get anymore winter weather and now it is getting too late. We have had so much warm weather that many things are beginning to bloom, so now if we just happened to have a freeze a lot of things would be killed. However, I don't think that it going to happen this year. We are going to be in high 70s tomorrow and Friday, maybe more like 80, which is ridiculous for us in this area. SuzeQ, it does bother me. I would rather it be much cooler. Today was in low 70s, but humidity was low so not too bad. Sunday it is supposed to be around 58 degrees. I am looking forward to that.

Cat, I am so impressed that you are staying up all day and doing the cooking. That is such a far cry from where you have been. I bet Tom is delighted to get out of some of the cooking and get back to eating yours. If I remember correctly your house is very much laid out for a disabled person in a wheelchair. Cabinets your height, doors that are easy to get through. I think the only problem would be how rural it is. I had an Aunt who lived in a somewhat rural area and when her husband died she sold a couple of acres of land to some people she knew so that she would have someone living close by that she knew were nice people and that she could call on when needed. I think she let them have the land a little cheaper in order to make sure they (and not someone else) bought it.

Jeanie, that is very good news about the DMV. So sorry you had to go back in the van after dropping your keys. Things like this really do cause us so much stress when it is so hard to do.

The name of the book that I read, that someone from the book club brought by, was "The Cat's Table". Would tell some of you on here to read it, but really is not about cats. It was pretty good. We had read one other by this Author "The English Patient". That one was alright - maybe if I recall correctly, a little better than this one.

Howie, Agate is right about most people using online banking these days. I don't have any family who do not and all the friends I know about do.

[agate]

Virginia, you must be reading a book about the table at Howie's--"The Cat's Table"? I saw the movie of "The English Patient" but didn't read the book. Michael Ondaatje must be the author. I believe the cat's table is the least privileged table on board a ship?

Another nice thing about online banking is the alerts they'll send you at no cost to you. You can have the bank alert you when your balance is down to 0 or when the balance is at whatever level you choose. Mine will alert me if I'm down to less than $15.

It's really just a matter of clicking on a few things on the bank's Website, and if you click on the wrong thing and end up somewhere you didn't want to be, you can always go back or start over or come back at another time. The world won't end if you make mistakes.

You could be in trouble if you go to pay a bill and have entered the wrong amount or the wrong payee without realizing it and you press "Submit." Then you'll find you've made a payment you didn't intend to. I've done this but not often. If you realize you need to be wide awake as you pay bills and be very careful about that "submit" button, you'll have no problem.

[Howie]

I'm not completely behind the times. I have all but 2 bills on auto-pay. I have to write 2 checks per month which isn't too bad. That's what I do the day before payday. Get my 2 checks ready to mail, and put them in the mailbox on my way out payday.

I did see my checking statement ends the 25th, so it should be in my mail the next day. My bank, like almost everything, is right down the street I looked last time I drove, and my 12 year old car, has 25,000 miles on it. I bought it thinking it will be the last car I own....well, maybe Pinky will.

Tomorrow is doctor day, and I have to find out from the receptionists why I received a bill for the broken ankle. I have all the Medicare a disabled person gets, and even Medicaid...sometimes. I'm not dumb. (I know it's hard to believe) I just don't give a darn about certain things.

My visit tomorrow is just to get refills on my meds, and I guess check on my ankle. It's doing great, and doesn't really hurt any more. Just don't bend it too far in a direction it normally doesn't bend, like when I kick the cats around.

Have a great evening all!

[Virginia]

Okay Howie, writing two checks is not that bad.

Agate, yes that is the author and yes "The Cat's Table" on ship is the furthest away from the Captain's Table that you can get. This is about all the people who were seated at The Cat's Table on a 21 day trip. Then it goes on about some of them after the journey is over.

[Catdancer]

Yes, my house is reasonably accessible. If I could completely dress myself and confidently get in and out of bed, in and out of the shower independently, I would have no problem living on my own. I'm working hard to get back to doing that. I just now got myself into bed ....a bit of a,struggle, but I managed. I'm taking a break now before I work to take my pants off. I've got them part way down....just have to work them past the catheter. I'm able to manage just fine from the waist up....just a bummer when the legs refuse to work....

[agate]

The everyday activities that so many people take for granted are what people with MS need help with.

Sometimes it looks as if the market is already flooded with various assistive devices, some of them costly and many of them creating far more problems than they're worth. Better ones are needed.

Better means of preventing infection when people have catheters or bedsores or injuries. Ways of monitoring our numb bodies for signs of trouble we're not detecting.

Just a little wish list.

[SalpalSally]

It's me Sally to let you all know that l won't be here anymore. Don't send the Calvary. I'm ok just can't handle the net anymore. Don't worry I'm fine. Love you and prayers for you every day.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Thank you Sally for checking in. Would you consider sending me your phone number in a PM so I can check on you from time to time and report here? You will really be missed. I love you. Jeanie :)

[agate]

Sally, I hope you'll feel more like participating before long. You're among friends here, and think of us as waiting for your return, because we are.

Thank you for letting us know you're all right. Rest well, eat well, and be back soon.