Good morning!!!!

[Dftodd]

Morning. It's a nice and balmy 27 degrees out.

Went walking last night. Saw 8 deer out in the field at the end of my street at 9pm. Or I should say, I counted 16 eyes looking at me

Saw the buck again last night when I walked my dog at 11pm. He must be ok. Or there is a hole in the neighbors fence for his pasture.

Buck was in my neighbors yard about 40ft from his house. I was really surprised that the neighbors beagles weren't losing their minds with the deer being that close.

Made buttermilk waffles and bacon for breakfast this morning. Then headed to my daughters house to put the dogs out.

Little man still hasn't made it home from the hospital. They are hoping for this coming weekend.

We were supposed to host supervised visitation this morning for our grandkids mom. But the kids are in Jonesboro Son has full custody.

Waiting to here back from our daughter in law to see if something came up, or if it got rescheduled.

 

[sodamo]

66°F and .49 inches rain.
I think it’s Sunday. Been a challenge keeping the days straight this week.

So being Sunday, guess I’ll watch some football.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[buckeyefarmer]

As soon as I typed "retirement" above, an AARP ad appeared at the bottom of the page. Now I'll type omelet, and see if breakfast will appear.

I typed “ tractor ****” and got...... Wait, that’s not a tractor. Not really, I use the TBN app, only a few adds in between the listings.

 

[kenmbz]

Good morning all, 34 going up to 39 and some wet snow this morning, but not much

BEF- what are you using to convert the VHS tapes- I still have one or two to convert.
Wng-congrats on the middle sons engagement - nice to hear good news.

Was supposed to be in Italy and Switzerland during the summer, had to cancel and really miss traveling.

Went to Peddlars village yesterday, very crowded, so left there and went down into town (New Hope). Less crowded and a bit more relaxing.
Still not going inside places unless it's food shopping though. Wife was getting cabin fever, too much rain to spend a lot of time outside, yesterday was nicest day we had in a while.

Stay safe and be well. Retirement for me will not happen for a while as still have kid at home. We traveled for work, so had our son later in life.

 

[rswyan]

37F and cloudy @ 12:00, headed up to a high of 40F with occasional light rain.

Looking out the kitchen window this morning as my coffee was warming in the microwave, it looked that there was war going on at the squirrel feeder ...:laughing:

That will need refilled today as it is almost empty.

Dozen+ doves feeding on the ground a bit ago, with all kinds of other birds flying in to the other feeders.

Finish and place Amazon order ... found what looks to be some decent house slippers and will order those ... so I can stop having to hear about it ... :laughing:

Probably get cleaned up and venture out and fill up the van ... since today will be the warmest day in the Ten Day forecast.

Harbor Freight informs me that today is the last day to use the 25% off coupon they sent ... guess I should take a quick look, although there is nothing that I can think of offhand that I really need ... :confused2:

Starting to run low on wet cat food so probably place an order for that and pick it up, since pet store is right there as well.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable, productive, and safe Sunday ... :thumbsup:

 

[rswyan]

The days come with more than 24 hours?

No ... they come with two parts - one light and one dark - which are roughly equal ... but vary in length somewhat ... and which are called "day" and "night" oddly enough ... :laughing:

BEF,

Beautiful sunset photo - thanks for sharing ... :thumbsup:

Ron,

Great photo of the cardinal ... :thumbsup:

Had a few of those flying into the hopper feeder earlier ... cats were at the picture window in the master bedroom watching in complete fascination ... :laughing:

Good luck with your plumbing adventures.

Rich,

Good to hear things are progressing as you continue to mend ... :thumbsup:

Ted,

Glad to hear you got the issue with the stove resolved ... and under warranty even ... :thumbsup:

 

[Bird]

My parents were raised during the Great Depression, too, Drew, and if they didn't have the money for something, they did without it until they could pay for it outright.

I was 12 years old and had 4 younger siblings the first time my Dad bought a car and financed part of it. I still remember the bank having a problem because Dad had no credit rating; had been like your parents, paid cash or did without. Of course years later, he owned his own business and had a good credit rating in Dunn & Bradstreet. And he once told me that owning your own business is the only way you'll get ahead. He said when you work on a salary, you know how much you have coming in each payday, and you spend it. When you're in business for yourself, if you have a good month, you save part of it because next month might not be so good.

Wild horses couldn't drag me onto a cruise ship, Ron.

Me, too. I've had friends and family tell me how great it is, but I just can't see it. I tell'em "I'll be glad to go on a cruise, IF THEY PAY ME ENOUGH, but I'm sure not going to pay them. I figure the only thing a boat is good for is to get to the fish, or to cross water when there's no other way.

 

[Looking4new]

My Dad was a travel agent and got quite a few 'free' cruises with Holland America. Many times he tried to get me onto one of those cruise ships and the answer was always NO. I do have a boat and like boating very much, but I do not like deep water. The lake I boat on, the deepest spot is 120'. I stay away from that area. Anywhere from 5 to 20' is good enough for me. The boat only draws 34".

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Harbor Freight informs me that today is the last day to use the 25% off coupon they sent ... guess I should take a quick look, although there is nothing that I can think of offhand that I really need ... :confused2:

Did you notice all the fine print on that 25% off coupon, RS? I'd like to pick up one of their three tier carts, but carts were listed among the many things for which the coupon is invalid.

And speaking of HF, what brand of cutoff wheels are you using now? In my most recent batch of ten, I've had two explode, leaving nothing but a ring of abrasive under the clamping nut. They're the Bauer brand with the red label. Never had that problem with the green Warrior brand, so I'll exchange them when I go into town this week. The Warriors are on sale as well.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I was 12 years old and had 4 younger siblings the first time my Dad bought a car and financed part of it. I still remember the bank having a problem because Dad had no credit rating; had been like your parents, paid cash or did without. Of course years later, he owned his own business and had a good credit rating in Dunn & Bradstreet. And he once told me that owning your own business is the only way you'll get ahead. He said when you work on a salary, you know how much you have coming in each payday, and you spend it. When you're in business for yourself, if you have a good month, you save part of it because next month might not be so good.

Your father was right, at least when it came to him, Bird. Different things work for different people, and it took me a long time to get out from under my father's controlling thumb when I first struck out on my own. He thought I was crazy moving to opportunity rich California, for example, but that's worked out well, at least for me, up until now. Always had a corporate job, but saving was easy with their IRA savings plan with corporate match. Just kept piling it in there, with a 50/50 mix of stock and bond funds. That wasn't available in my dad's time, and probably not yours, either. He stayed with one company his entire career, even though it changed hands three times. I could have made more money elsewhere during the IT bubble, but I stayed where I was at and avoided a lot of scrambling around when that bubble burst. The one thing I learned on my own was to look before I leapt, trying to figure out what could go wrong as well as what could go right. Then seeing if there was anything I could do to mitigate the down side. Didn't always work out, but I also learned not to go on forever in the wrong direction before cutting my losses. Dad was stubborn that way. I started out in the nuclear industry, but jumped ship shortly after Three Mile Island exploded. Dad had a financial manager at one of the big banks, and relied on him to manage his portfolio. After dad died, that manager retired and his son took over the accounts. His son was an idiot, and mom lost tens of thousands of dollars due to his neglect and mismanagement. That was a hard lesson for us both. Times change, and I've had to change with them. And it seems like they're changing faster all the time. Makes it harder as I get older to remain agile and open to new ideas.

 

[pennwalk]

And speaking of HF, what brand of cutoff wheels are you using now? In my most recent batch of ten, I've had two explode, leaving nothing but a ring of abrasive under the clamping nut. They're the Bauer brand with the red label. Never had that problem with the green Warrior brand, so I'll exchange them when I go into town this week. The Warriors are on sale as well.

Project Farm on Youtube tested cutoff wheels but I can't remember which came out on top.

Chris

 

[Bird]

Times change, and I've had to change with them. And it seems like they're changing faster all the time. Makes it harder as I get older to remain agile and open to new ideas.

Yep, things do change, and sometimes unexpectedly and not necessarily for the better. When I retired from the police department, my "irrevocable" life time pension included an escalation clause that guaranteed me a raise each year; same amount every year; just about $100 a month raise the first of each year. However, about 3 years ago they ran into some problems and our state legislature changed the rules At least they didn't take anything away from me, but now some appointed local "expects" run things and no more raises.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Yep, things do change, and sometimes unexpectedly and not necessarily for the better. When I retired from the police department, my "irrevocable" life time pension included an escalation clause that guaranteed me a raise each year; same amount every year; just about $100 a month raise the first of each year. However, about 3 years ago they ran into some problems and our state legislature changed the rules At least they didn't take anything away from me, but now some appointed local "expects" run things and no more raises.

That's happening a lot, Bird. An airline mechanic friend of mine got fifty cents on the dollar on his pension plan when United went into bankruptcy. My company was changing not only the pension plan but the medical benefits for retirees, and if I'd have stayed any longer benefits would have been lost. Last week I learned that the pension administrator had changed, but no announcement yet as to the integrity of the benefit. :crossfingers: they don't mess it up, too.

 

[sodamo]

Parents sure can have an influence. I remember standing in the kitchen as a high schooler and my parents remarking that had my Dad stayed in the Army he’d be retiring that day. At the time he was a small electrical contractor. His business was never large enough to hire more than me and my brothers and that was years later.
When I got out of the Army first time after Vietnam I went back to same company where I was employed before. I was only 22 and a college dropout. This company was thought to have a decent retirement plan. As it was the pay was good enough that the unionized groups were always playing catchup. Eventually I learned this company had some rule, something like you didn’t become vested until age 35. Seemed crazy I’d have over 12 years that didn’t count and I wasn’t even close yet. I eventually bit the bullet and went out on my own that was a mix of feast or famine. The 70’s were not kind.
For some reason that kitchen conservation kept replaying in my head. The Army was willing to let me start over. Whereas a new HS graduate could enlist as a PFC, E-3, as a prior service Sgt E-5 Vietnam vet I could restart as a Private E-2. So 1975, after 7 year break I went back in, but with the personal commitment that I was in for the long haul (retirement) and finish college. Ended up not only with my BS which enabled me to get Commissioned, but 2 MS, the last being in Computer Information Systems that the Army paid for half. My thinking was with that monthly check I should always be able to afford a basic roof over my head, enough food to survive, and medical to stay healthy, all things that were at times stressful, especially during the mid 70’s. Guess that check (direct deposit) will always be my base security.

 

[ronjhall]

Toilet and Bidet installed. Had to make trip to Lowe’s for a new toilet mounting ring. Bought SS this time. Grandson did a great job doing most of the labor.

Did one cruise on a ship. 25th anniversary (1988) and cruised Hawaiian Islands. I would do that again. Almost every day a new port for 8 nights. In all we spent 14 nights on the Islands. Would like to do it again. But no anniversary to celebrate.

 

[ronjhall]

Plane crash happened close to my place yesterday.

Plane crashes into Michigan home, 3 killed aboard as house set ablaze with family inside | Fox News

 

[sodamo]

Toilet and Bidet installed. Had to make trip to Lowe’s for a new toilet mounting ring. Bought SS this time. Grandson did a great job doing most of the labor.

Did one cruise on a ship. 25th anniversary (1988) and cruised Hawaiian Islands. I would do that again. Almost every day a new port for 8 nights. In all we spent 14 nights on the Islands. Would like to do it again. But no anniversary to celebrate.

Ron, which bidet did you get and why? I keep looking. Don’t think I could do cold water only.

We have thought about doing the round the islands cruise with our son and family. Be especially nice if we could embark/disembark in Hilo.

 

[RoyJackson]

Some good news was that the igniter on the pellet stove got replaced under warranty (even though the warranty expired 7 weeks prior). Talked to them on the phone on the 28th, had it by the 31st. Great customer service experience. I ordered / paid for an additional one .... just in case.... I haven't gotten that one yet.
During the day, it wasn't too bad lighting the stove manually. The stove will easily 'overheat' the house to about 94 degrees if left running, so couldn't let it run all night. We used a portable heat pump instead.... which would wake us up when it turned on / off. We are glad the pellet stove is back to running on it's programmed night time schedule. :thumbsup:

What brand pellet stove, LS?

 

[Looking4new]

Plane crash happened close to my place yesterday.

Plane crashes into Michigan home, 3 killed aboard as house set ablaze with family inside | Fox News

That sux.
All 5 people in the home got out, but the cat didn't make it.

 

[RoyJackson]

Well, got our shopping done...didn't really need much (dog food, primarily), but wasn't any use in wasting the trip. So, wifey went in, I stayed in the truck.
Flurrying now, but no accumulation predicted (of course, we've been surprised before).
Actually, just woke up (20-30 minutes ago)...boy, I love taking naps in the winter...especially when there's snow on the ground...

Minor update...snowing now..1-3 inches predicted. Ought to be a fun drive in the morning.