OT August Chit Chat

[agate]

Ditto to what Howie said.

I look in on several MS boards that have existed for years, and all of them are far less active than they once were. People have found other places to hang out, particularly Facebook, I think.

Yesterday was a quiet day here as far as posts were concerned but once when I looked, there were 54 "guests" viewing.

I like the way this place is changing from a place where people who are new to MS come for information to a place where people who've had MS quite a while are talking about how we deal with it on an everyday basis--sharing practical information about ordinary activities.

Even tying a shoe is a challenge sometimes, and how we scrub our bathtubs or what foods are easy to fix--those are all major issues for us, and I think we're getting some benefit by sharing our thoughts and information here.

And of course, as always, it's a place where you can gripe about whatever is on your mind. When your real-life friends and family aren't there for you, this place is.

[Sunshine]

I agree Agate!

[Sunshine]

Officially on vacation. We watched the sun set in the bay.

Relaxing to Miles Davis.

Love this post :)

[Virginia]

Well, I bought a new blue and white pot about a week ago. It was larger than I thought, but very pretty. I would have returned it, but I bought it on Saturday and was sick last Sunday and I had only 24 hours to return it. So, I took it in to a nearby florist where I already had a credit to get some greenery put in it.

Today I picked it up. It is quite beautiful. Because it was large enough they had asked if they could put two orchids in it and I told them to do that. It has two very tall, large white orchids. Extremely eye catching in front of my white couch. The leafs on the orchids are so big. They just make it look that much prettier. They told me to water it with 3 ice cubes per week. I know that it will not last because it is not in the right light and next time I take the container in I will tell them I need the greenery. However, they were so carried away with the container I had bought they wanted to buy it from me. They would have sold it with those beautiful orchids in it for far more than I paid. The container was on sale and it was not sitting even. I went to the hardware store and bought a card of felt pads for $1.99. I took them to the florist and told them to put one on each corner and two on the side that was slightly lower. It is as steady now as can be.

I am still working on this project, so it is still a work in progress. Everything I have ordered from the internet site Houzz has come in quickly with the exception of one item which I need very badly and that is the 5 foot round rug. As soon as I finish this I am going to go on to the kitchen if I can find someone who can paint stripes.

[Virginia]

I am concerned about the hurricane that is coming in over Texas tonight. I don't think we have anyone in the direct line of it on our forum. I certainly hope not. I do think that those of us on the east coast will get quite a lot of rain sometime next week. Just hope it plays itself out before it reaches us and that is all we get.

[agate]

I hope your orchids will surprise you and do well, Virginia!

That was clever, the way you found a way to stabilize the uneven pot.

Today's mail--late in the day on a Friday, as happened last week when I got hit with the news that I might owe the neuro $479--brought a bill for $200 for a hearing aid repair that I had understood was covered by the $400 service agreement I had signed up for at the hearing aid place.

Of course they aren't open on Fridays.

At least the beautiful weather is continuing here, and otherwise things are going well.

I have a gigantic ugly bruise on the outside of my left foot and have no idea how I got it. It's slowly getting better, and that is good.

Another really good event around here is the arrival of the card-eating laundry machine box. No more need for quarters for laundry! I must have been the first one to use it today. Others don't believe me when I tell them that the machine will tell you everything you need to know.

You put your debit or credit card in, tell the machine if you want to use a washer or dryer, then tell it the number of the machine, then go to the machine and select your settings, and it starts up.

The charge appeared a few hours later in my checking account.

[Howie]

Can you use cash, like quarters in it? I don't like using my debit card except at the ATM at my bank.

[agate]

Can you use cash, like quarters in it? I don't like using my debit card except at the ATM at my bank.

Yes, people can still use quarters. Like you, I try not to use my debit card but it's so difficult to get quarters that I'll definitely use it on this machine.

I think I'll try using my credit card instead of the debit card though from now on. It's probably safer.

[Howie]

These days, they are each about as safe as the other. Identity theft and all that and I guess it's the safety claim each guaranties. I'm covered, and it's interest free unless you overdraft, then you pay the fee. I guess that's how the bank can offer "free" services.

This month, I over-drafted. A long, sad story. But I painfully learned what to watch for so it won't happen again.

[agate]

The way I figure it is that if I use a credit card, at least the money is drawn from the credit line, not from my real money. I'm not being deprived of any money right then though I'm incurring more debt.

If some charges that shouldn't be there show up as a result of my using that laundry checkpoint (or whatever it's called), nothing will leave my real-money supply. The credit card is my pretend-money supply.

[Howie]

Pretend money? Let me try that. I wish I may, I wish I might......I'M RICH!!!

[Virginia]

Agate, that is a lot of money for two Doctor bills that you did not think you owed. I am not sure they can make you pay if you tell them you are on Medicaid and tell them your income. If they do, I think I would send them $5.00 a month until they got sick of me.

I don't worry too much about my Debit card because you can see right away when something comes out of your account, and I am not sure about this but I believe that the bank would make it good and change your debit card number.

[agate]

If someone gains access to your account and puts charges on it, that money is gone if it's your debit card. I'm not sure the bank would make good on it fast enough to suit me.

It's really very unlikely but a couple of times I've had to get a new credit card because someone somehow tried to charge something on it. The credit card notified me right away each time, and it was long ago, but it was a big nuisance.

[Howie]

I had someone steal my debit card number, and I knew exactly who it was. I had a desire for some pizza, and have it delivered. I put it on my debit card. When they later tried to use my number, the bank caught it right away.

But I had to wait on a new card, then notify everyone I am on Auto Pay with, then I was good again. It cost very little of my time and effort.

I never ordered pizza again!

[Cat Dancer]

When debit cards were first issued, if you lost money on the card (like, someone used your number, or stole your card and used it), you'd be out the funds. Gone. Now, though, most banks will do as they do for credit cards, and cover the losses. I think there's some limits there, but I don't know what they are. I've never used my debit card for anything but getting cash at the ATM (my bank's in a town 45 miles away). There's a gas station/convenience store around here (kwik-trip) with "free" ATM transactions, which I use all the time when I need cash.

Truth is, though, I charge almost everything on the credit card these days. I have 2 -- an Amazon card, and another one. The Amazon card has a "credit back" feature, which I've used towards further purchases. The other card is also a rewards card- - I can get cash back, or travel, or "stuff" -- actual items. When we were traveling we often used the card towards airline miles, sometimes having enough for a free flight for one of us, or towards hotel/motel bookings. More recently I used the "miles" to buy a ticket to have a friend come to visit me (she's in Georgia, I'm here in Wisconsin). Most recently I cashed in the "rewards" and paid off part of my credit card bill after I bought those TVs'....so they were "free".

So a careful use of the credit cards can pay off in the long run. And they're great when you do have unexpected emergencies, like car repairs, or appliance breakdowns, or even some medical things -- some of my doctors will accept credit cards for payment.