Good morning!!!!

[daugen]

good morning all
39 going up to 57 today
off early to dermatologist appt, I can count at least
three impending freezies. Not only due to age, but daily use of hydrocortisone makes
my skin thin, and with fair skin to begin with, I always keep this doc busy.

then later this afternoon a consult with my primary doc to decide what to do about my back and hip.

hope you all have a good day.

Phil, paddle handle makes sense, easier to come in holding something also

 

[Looking4new]

Good morning, the low is 35 and going up to 50°F. Wind E 11 mph. Sunny!

The only drawback with paddle door handles is if you have pets. They WILL adapt and you will find your door open more often.

Today is another energy conservation day.

Have a safe day all

 

[Buppies]

42 this morning more rain upon us 1/4 in so far should end up with 2 in by Friday

Job to go measure later today medicine to pick up see what else I have to do

Prayers for all our Country people of Jamaica please keep them safe

 

[Happy in NC]

Good morning TBN!!
45 this morning and that will be pretty close to the high with more rain on the way late in the afternoon and over night and pretty breezy.
Saturday morning we had .02" for the month. Sunday we .04 for the month. Today showing 2.45" for the week. At least it's not a flooding sort. Packing it up and sending to ya'll in Virginia and Pa.

Miserable kind of day yesterday. I did get the bay cleaned out for the weekend.
Also put a knob on the air over hyd on the shop crane. Much better then the bar that comes with it for lowering/adjusting.
Starter is coming a day early today but I thing it's UPS so probably too late to fiddle with. Not that it takes more then about ten minutes to re-install.
I wonder what's up. Second time in a week that it has been shipped USPS but last entry says changed carrier in tracking. USPS seems to be shipping "the last mile" through UPS. I've seen it the other way around before but not this way.
Not sure about today yet. Probably get that bay swept out, and a couple of other detailing tasks.
No other agenda.

Time for a second cup
Everyone have a great and safe day!!

Had to go find my post. Reading what did you buy this week and posted it there. If I didn't find it it would have been much shorter

 

[scott_vt]

Good Tractor Morning Ted,

I signed up for a medicare advantage plan this morning.... hope I made a good choice.....

The problem with Medicare Advantage plans are that they don’t pay a lot of your incurred medical costs down the road. You save money up front but they look to be more costly down the road. Kathleen and I originally signed up for straight Medicare, more costly up front but could save us down the road. We also have AARP Supplement plan N. Hopefully you took a close look at all your costs, especially if there are medical issues in your family.

 

[Happy in NC]

It's my understanding is getting out of Advantage is nearly impossible.
My .02

 

[wngsprd]

44 going to 55 and windy, maybe rain this afternoon.

You can get out of Medicare Advantage during the enrollment period, and automatically get back to original Medicare, but getting one of the supplement plans can be difficult if you have certain health issues.

Buppies, glad you are getting some rain.

Did a hike and Della swim yesterday to set a personal best for the month and year.

Then worked on two French doors where the lower vinyl panel had started to peel from direct sunlight and age. Then installed one of those solar powered spotlights on the toolshed. Once I got the instructions out, it said it takes a week of direct sunlight to charge the battery before ever turning it on...so it'll be a week before I learn whether it works.

 

[daugen]

It's my understanding is getting out of Advantage is nearly impossible.
My .02

always important if you have preexisting conditions to make sure the new coverage does not have a waiting period
or some reset provision.

when I moved to PA five years ago, PA BC/BS would not accept me due to cancer in last year.
But they told me coverage is portable so I could keep my NC policy. Which is administered by PA BC so doesn't make
much sense at this point. Except for drug deductibles, I have had 100 percent coverage on everything treated.
But price has really jumped,up to 327 a month now for BC/BS "Blue Medicare Supplement"

considering fact my tests in last month cost double that annual total, still clearly a bargain.

 

[ArlyA]

Good morning TBN folks! About 40 here this am in Houghton MI and predicted to be in the 50's today. Dearest has a birthday coming up, so we are heading back to camp on Thursday and I'm getting items ready for that, plus we'll be there for 5 days this trip. Lots of things we're not set up for as of yet. Looks like some showers over that time period. What all can we forget to bring??

 

[Popgadget]

Good Morning
33° out there this morning, supposed to make it to 55 and breezy. No rain today, but that’s supposed to change for the rest of the week, along with high winds.

Yesterday was a mixed bag. I got some shop chores done, got my FAA First Class physical, I’m good for another six months. At this age it’s a race between the insurance underwriters and the doctor to see who tells me it’s time to retire.

Finally got to spend some quality time in the hangar with the little plane, made it most of the way through the engine. Compressions were all perfect, didn’t find any real issues, still need to have a good look at the exhaust and the cabin heat, which is a shroud around the muffler. Any leak would cause a serious CO problem in the cabin.

Turned on the radiant heat in the bathroom, everywhere else is still comfy from solar gain through all the windows and the heat pump occasionally contributing overnight. Won’t be that way for much longer though.

Sat in front of the fire in the recliner after dinner, the ERV is working well, although running it unbalanced to maintain a positive pressure inside hurts the efficiency, it’s better than opening a window to get a good draft in the fireplace. I do set it back to balanced as the fire dies out.

Today starts with breakfast with the professor, then hopefully back to the hangar.

 

[m7040]

good morning, 36 going to 57 looks to be mostly sunny day

Picking up groceries his morning

Hoping wife will have a better day

Cleaned out an area of the barn not normally used and brought up more scrap wood for the wood stove.
Picked up a pile of glass shards and got the trash can up to the road for pick up

Need to review the medical plans again during the enrollment period. BC/BS supplemental plans are not cheap but worth it for sure
Also reinstate employer medical payments for medical insurances that helps pay for a portion of the cost
The screening software to check for alternative health plans has worked well for us

 

[buckeyefarmer]

31° and frost again.

I once had Anderson replace 2 door panels where the vinyl had peeled loose, don’t know if they will replace the replacements, but they are ok so far.

Not calling for rain till tonight.

Not sure what will happen today, need to check gutters.

 

[Popgadget]

I need to figure out what I can do to my front door handle. It is a round ball that I can no longer squeeze hard enough to open. Will start looking for a replacement online. Will need some kind of paddle I think.

I put these on all of our doors, in the shop, the house and now the old folks home. Primarily for ease of access with your hands full, but they take no grip strength to operate.

They are Schlage and are available from Amazon amongst many other sources. I keyed them all alike, they have worked great, and none of our dogs have figured out how to open them. And they have all been large dogs. Zoe’s nose is above the handle, she opens the sliding barn doors inside, but never even tried the outside doors.

 

[ronjhall]

I switched to Advantage plan 3 years ago from a legacy supplemental plan. I was paying $7k a year for all my medical plans. Switched to Advantage plan. Cost is zero. But unlike supplemental plans. It has a maximum amount of out of pocket of $4,200. When I changed plans. I opened a savings account. Put $700 a month in it. Today that account has over $20k in it. The bill for the ER for my head injury was $8k. I had to pay $124 of that. I look at it this way. Pay now or pay later. Advantage plans are different from each state and county. Do lots of studying too decided what plan is best for you.

 

[Engineer42]

Really the only time in one's life, that a ball-peen hammer becomes a legitimate mechanic's diagnostic tool.

First, confirm you're actually getting 12V to the solenoid coil terminal when key is turned to start, as any one of a half-dozen interlocks or the fuse could be interrupting that circuit. If 12V at both solenoid coil and battery hot terminal are confirmed, then someone hold the key in start, while you tap on/around the starter solenoid with the hammer.

I've never seen a stuck solenoid on a tractor, it's usually something we see on on-road vehicles due to road salt and rust. But I guess it could happen on a tractor that's seen a lot of weather.

Lol, didn't mention it but I did use the impact type calibration tool (hammer) on the starter last night, but being one person I couldn't tap and turn the key at same time. I will attempt all mentioned remedies this evening.

With that said, after thinking it over every time I woke up last night, I'm leaning towards it being a safety switch just by how it's acting.

We shall see.

 

[ronjhall]

have had 100 percent coverage on everything treated.
But price has really jumped,up to 327 a month now for BC/BS "Blue Medicare.

My problem with Supplemental. Is they raise the price every year. When I signed on at 65. Monthly cost was $120 a month with BC BS. When I quit them monthly cost was over $500.
With an Advantage plan. You would be making a copay. Usually around $100. For each treatment/test. So far my expenses for this year total $725.
By the way. Medicare part B is going up from $185 to $206.50.

 

[B7510HSD]

My problem with Supplemental. Is they raise the price every year. When I signed on at 65. Monthly cost was $120 a month with BC BS. When I quit them monthly cost was over $500.
With an Advantage plan. You would be making a copay. Usually around $100. For each treatment/test. So far my expenses for this year total $725.
By the way. Medicare part B is going up from $185 to $206.50.

Makes sense they give us 2.8% COL and take it back in Medicare cost

 

[kenmbz]

Morning all, 37 going to 57 with WU saying a low of 45
Didn't get anything done outside yesterday but dog walks, did not sleep well

I have to look at the medicare stuff soon, my MIL had an advantage plan and when she went in for sepsis and was in for over a month the bill was $60,000 and we were told if she was straight medicare, most of the bill would have been covered. We did negotiate it down, but it still was a healthy chunk of change.

Be well,

 

[buckeyefarmer]

31° and frost again.

I once had Anderson replace 2 door panels where the vinyl had peeled loose, don’t know if they will replace the replacements, but they are ok so far.

 

[ronjhall]

It's my understanding is getting out of Advantage is nearly impossible.
My .02

That is mostly true. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. My rates jumped $70 the next year. Today all my test come back negative. Who knows. A false/bad report can screw everything up.