kritter
Mod Squad
When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
Posts: 19,871
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Post by kritter on Sept 16, 2022 15:34:44 GMT
I took my SS early also and never regretted it. I worked part time at an animal shelter to keep under the SS income cap when I retired at 62. When I turned 65, I went full time at the shelter for a year or so until I quit. Just because you take SS early does not mean that you have to stop working completely or lay down and die.
Nobody has any life guarantees so if you have that option to take SS early and still maintain your quality of life, go for it. I doubt anybody on their death bed has ever said that they regretted taking early SS so they could leave a job that was breaking their spirit.
Look past the drama of "retirement" and look forward to spending time volunteering, doing part-time work, and having the option to reset the rest of your life. Take a part-time job doing something that you look forward to every day if you want to but don't slog through day after day at your current job just because you want to make it 3 more years until you are 65. Enjoy every minute of your life; you have earned it
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Post by labbypaws on Sept 16, 2022 15:41:32 GMT
I am also debating applying at a Catholic University. One of the guys we hired worked there and came to us. Then he left and went back there. It is more like security and not jack of all trades ambassadors. The kids call us when they have a spider, bee or ladybug in their room. I am not kidding. And our director makes us write a report and respond. It is about $2 less an hour and they only cover my benefits, not hubby’s. He would go on his work plan. Also the Catholic university probably would never give raises again. Just trying to Han-NG on 3 more years if I can.
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Post by labbypaws on Sept 16, 2022 15:48:25 GMT
So I had been going to Great Clips since last winter. Easy to walk in and get a cut and walk out. Last time I felt she forgot to cut the top. I left and I know I should have said something but I don’t like to complain.
Today I went to a local barber shop that does mens and womens hair. I got an absolutely great cut there. Easy to just decide to get my hair cut and walk in or I can make an online appointment. He thinned my hair out and took a lot off the top. I feel great again! He also complemented me on the color of my hair.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 16, 2022 19:05:49 GMT
I'm thinking of going to the DH's barbershop to get my ends trimmed - he said he had never seen a woman in there getting her hair cut, though one of the barbers is a woman. I said that plenty of men have hair nearly as long or as long as mine, and given how tidy most of them look, they probably go to a barber to get the ends trimmed if they don't have a friend do it. The salon person wants $50 and MasterCuts is like $35. That's nuts for 5 minutes work, even if the woman at MasterCuts took her time over it and did a careful job. The DH pays $15 or something for a hair cut (he does not have an abundance of hair, just enough to cover his head). When his dad got older and retired he just grew his hair out and wore it tied behind (full head of hair) - kept his neck warm in the winter lol.
I don't advocate staying on a horrible job into one's 60s to eek out a few more SS dollars, but looking at a full retirement picture is important. Because I retired at 66 I've been selling stuff online to keep building up my retirement and kind of make up for what I lose by retiring before 70, which had been my original date of retirement and where one maxes out their SS compensation. There's no cap to how much you make on a job after one is fully vested. I needed to keep working because I lost everything in the dot-com bust and am behind in savings. Besides, I like working (but not at horrible jobs).
When I woke up this morning the roofers were already banging away like mad - they backed in their skip and this time it was full of shingle - they're running up and down the ladder hauling those big pallets of shingles on their shoulders. I pretty much tune out all the banging but they've just left for lunch and it's strangely quiet around here lol. They've already emptied the first load of shingle and went back for more. We chose dark "hunter" green for our roof - apparently it's very popular here and there was a bit of time when the roofer thought he might not be able to get any, but it's going up now.
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Post by RetroMonde on Sept 16, 2022 19:51:11 GMT
We had our roof completely redone in 2020, had the house painted in 2021 and had a new deck railing installed this past spring. Honestly it makes me feel happy every time I look our house now whether it's raining, snowy, smoky or sunny! It's finally time to remodel our kitchen, a very modest remodel that we wanted to do almost 30 years ago but never had the money for it. We were vaguely scheduled to start in late Sept to mid Oct but don't really have a firm plan of what we want, no blueprint or contract. The remodeler (friend of a friend) wanted us to get some electrical work done first and that work adds almost 20% to the projected cost of the remodel. So we've postponed the remodel until Spring when we can throw open the windows & doors for fresh air instead of enduring grime & dust inside all winter. The electrical service needs to be moved away from where it's been since the early 60s when the house was moved- it's too close to the gas meter and a new box needs to be installed in the basement. That's going on as scheduled. I'm not disappointed we're waiting cause now we have all fall & winter to decide exactly what we need, want & can afford. Haircut day for me- gotta get ready. Hope everyone has a very nice & profitable weekend!
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kritter
Mod Squad
When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
Posts: 19,871
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Post by kritter on Sept 16, 2022 19:59:48 GMT
FedEX unloaded the truck at my house this morning. Three of the boxes were my orders and the other box was from Aunt Val with toys for the kittens. Aunt Val is very close to spoiling all the kittehs who live here.
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Post by sunsetpainter on Sept 16, 2022 20:31:18 GMT
(((allikat)))
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 16, 2022 21:57:23 GMT
Well chemo didn't go well today. I have been having reactions to it about an hour after I got home. Shakes and chills. The shakes are like Parkinsons and comes in waves. Today the shakes started while I was still there and they gave me an IV of some kind. My daughter had to pick me up. Chemo MA said that 20.5 years of chemo might be too much. But I sure don't want to quit what is keeping me alive.
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Post by frakinfashion on Sept 17, 2022 4:54:32 GMT
LOLOL LOLOL Yes, I did but it was not to a smart phone. It is another basic flip that I don't have connected to the internet. I don't even think I have a SIM card in it. Sitting on the rim of the bath tub on a folded towel sounds comfortable for about 5 minutes max. Reading is a comfort sport for me. Maybe I can graduate them to Terrell's room where I usually do my kitten reading. Will see how the next few days go. Soak in the tub while reading to them. Win/win.
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Post by RetroMonde on Sept 17, 2022 5:07:33 GMT
Hope you're home, cozy in bed and feeling much better now (((Denise))) Hope the wedding went well today Alikat
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Post by allikat on Sept 17, 2022 11:55:01 GMT
The wedding was perfect, everyone was beautiful and handsome, we ate and we danced. It was an amazing day. Even the dog behaved perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing. DS carried a little container of ashes in his pocket which I didn't think of but was perfect. I left my phone with my sister and just stayed in the moment so I don't have any pictures to share but I am sure they will have proofs soon and I will share.
I couldn't look at the memorial chair before the ceremony and pictures but after the family pictures were done I went over to the memorial chair and talked to DH for a few minutes away from everyone.
In the 3 hours prior to wedding I think I put 17000 steps on my Fitbit and most of them were climbing stairs, the bridal dressing room was 2 floors above the reception room and wedding area and I don't even know how many times I went up down and all around.
Thanks everyone for talking me through this, I just kept breathing and it was great!
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Post by Emerald_Door on Sept 17, 2022 13:02:34 GMT
Here's some information on calculating your Social Security break even age. For someone born in 1960, whose FRA (full retirement age) is 67, the break even age is 78. That means if you live past the age of 78, you would receive more money by waiting until age 67 to collect Social Security benefits. For every month you wait, you'll receive more per month, up to the age of 70. "Your Social Security breakeven age is the point in your life when the total of those lower benefits comes to equal the total of benefits that you would have received if you had waited to take your benefits at FRA, or even later." www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/020615/how-do-i-calculate-my-social-security-breakeven-age.asp This official page explains it all and includes a calculator. For someone born in November, 1960, starting benefits in January, 2023, the "benefit will be 70.83 percent of your primary insurance amount." www.ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/early_late.html Obviously, if you can manage with just your retirement income, it would be advantageous to wait to collect SS later if you expect to live to age 78 or beyond. The exception to that would be if you're going to invest the SS income and can do well enough with your investment to make up the difference.
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Post by Emerald_Door on Sept 17, 2022 13:14:19 GMT
(((Denise)))
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Post by Emerald_Door on Sept 17, 2022 13:14:54 GMT
Allikat,
I'm glad the wedding went well. We'll look forward to the pictures.
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Post by labbypaws on Sept 17, 2022 13:21:17 GMT
Oh Denise, I am sorry you had a bad reaction. Perhaps something was wrong with it?
I had already calculated my break even point. I follow some great SS, Medicare and tax pages on Facebook and on the internet. I don’t know how old I will be but my dad died at 80 and mom at 84.
I applied for a job at another university last night but someone sent me the benefits book. Way too expensive for medical for me (over $500 a month plus dental). If I get offered medical at a job, hubby’s company requires me to take it even if it is more than theirs. The guy I know that works there, just went back to work there and everyone he knew was gone.
So I will trudge along while watching for another job.
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kritter
Mod Squad
When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
Posts: 19,871
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Post by kritter on Sept 17, 2022 15:10:23 GMT
That would be a plan but the purpose of reading with them is to get them to come up to me and let me pet them on their own terms. Going to have to move them in with Terrell and Chanel to give me more space to take them up the next step.
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Post by frakinfashion on Sept 17, 2022 15:10:28 GMT
I am also debating applying at a Catholic University. One of the guys we hired worked there and came to us. Then he left and went back there. It is more like security and not jack of all trades ambassadors. The kids call us when they have a spider, bee or ladybug in their room. I am not kidding. And our director makes us write a report and respond. It is about $2 less an hour and they only cover my benefits, not hubby’s. He would go on his work plan. Also the Catholic university probably would never give raises again. Just trying to Han-NG on 3 more years if I can. I think kritter is right, as usual. Maybe you can find a security job that you really like. Every business, pretty much, needs security. You could work at a place with children (little ones) or animals or old people or at a hospital or sports arena with some new flavor of the job that you like. Or you could do something completely different--like retail or hospitality or whatever. It could be full time or part time. Go on the employment websites and just cruise around and see what is available and open your mind to something that isn't security. I hope you find it.
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Post by frakinfashion on Sept 17, 2022 15:11:16 GMT
((((denise))))
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kritter
Mod Squad
When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
Posts: 19,871
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Post by kritter on Sept 17, 2022 15:30:10 GMT
Excellent suggestion. I went from teaching 5th grade to office manager to social work to bartending to retail sales rep for grocery manufacturers to foster coordinator at an animal shelter. Expand your options and wake up every day looking forward to going to work. I loved every job until I didn't. Then I found a new job to love until I didn't.
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Post by pyrexandpearls on Sept 17, 2022 18:28:40 GMT
Labby, what about banking? I don't know what your salary needs are, but where I live it's usually between $17-$19/hr. The bank I work at really struggles to find good tellers who will show up and do the job. The job is generally full time and the benefits are decent. The working conditions are good as well as you're inside, the heaviest thing you lift is bags of coin, the shifts are daytime, etc.
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val2525
Chaos Manager
Posts: 30,734
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Post by val2525 on Sept 17, 2022 18:36:44 GMT
Amazon rejected a whole bunch of 5 star, positive reviews I left and apparently has blocked me from leaving future reviews. Says if I have questions to email community-help@amazon.com. So I forwared every single rejected review email they sent me (which includes the star rating and review text) and asked them to tell me exactly how the review "violated community standards". Example, I bought a cute cat themed item and left this review: "Bought this to use as a stocking stuffer for a crazy cat lady friend. It's very cute!" Exactly what does that violate? I don't know which one I'm more pissed at and loathe - Amazon or Facebook OK. Rant over Lots of little things to do today, many of which I suspect I won't get done since it's 1:30 and I haven't started on the list yet. I think I need another cup of coffee.
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 17, 2022 20:56:56 GMT
Thanks for the hugs. This is the 5th time that I have had a reaction to this chemo treatment but the chills and tremors have always happened an hour after I got home. The chemo pharmacist is watching the lot numbers and trying to figure out the problem. I have been on this monoclonal antibody for 17 years. But 2 years ago my health insurance company switched to a biosimilar chemo (financial reasons).
I am going to ask for a Benadryl pre-med or maybe I can take a couple of pills when I get to the chemo center. They are worried that I will get too drowsy to drive home. But I had a Benadryl pre-med for 4 years with another chemo.
I have also been having problems with my chemo pills and have severe blisters and sores on my hands and feet. So I am taking a few weeks off the pills. But now that I have liver and lung mets, I don't want to stay off the pills for too long.
Fun times.
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 17, 2022 20:59:06 GMT
The wedding was perfect, everyone was beautiful and handsome, we ate and we danced. It was an amazing day. Even the dog behaved perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing. DS carried a little container of ashes in his pocket which I didn't think of but was perfect. I left my phone with my sister and just stayed in the moment so I don't have any pictures to share but I am sure they will have proofs soon and I will share. I couldn't look at the memorial chair before the ceremony and pictures but after the family pictures were done I went over to the memorial chair and talked to DH for a few minutes away from everyone. In the 3 hours prior to wedding I think I put 17000 steps on my Fitbit and most of them were climbing stairs, the bridal dressing room was 2 floors above the reception room and wedding area and I don't even know how many times I went up down and all around. Thanks everyone for talking me through this, I just kept breathing and it was great! Oh Alli! Your post brought tears to my eyes. I am so glad that everything went well. But still so sad....
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 17, 2022 21:01:18 GMT
Retro-love your house! I love everything blue!
I am stuck with my 1977's kitchen, but I am okay with that. When my daughter gets the house, she will do a ton of remodeling.
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 17, 2022 21:01:34 GMT
Labby-good luck with the job hunting!
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val2525
Chaos Manager
Posts: 30,734
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Post by val2525 on Sept 17, 2022 22:15:28 GMT
(((Denise))) Allikat, I'm so glad the wedding went well and you had a nice time! Needless to say, nothing got done in my place today . Oh well, tomorrow is another day and who doesn't need to goof off now and then anyway?
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Post by sunsetpainter on Sept 18, 2022 2:10:53 GMT
(((Denise)))
Allikat So glad the wedding went well. Look forward to seeing the pics.
DH and I took a well deserved day off and goofed off. We went to a train museum and took a train ride through the countryside. It was a PERFECT day for it too. We sat in an open car and the breeze was wonderful. There were only 8 other people on the car so we all sat well apart but everyone had a good time. Hit a few yard sales on the way home and I picked up a few unique Pyrex dishes to flip. All in all a really good day! (And we both needed it really bad!!)
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 18, 2022 2:32:37 GMT
allikat - that sounded just perfect! Your son seems like a very good man. ((Denise)) At the UW v Michigan game and stadium is packed and rocking! People are screaming so loud that it's hard even to hear the announcer.
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Post by staytuned on Sept 18, 2022 15:26:01 GMT
Congrats, allikat, on the marriage of your son, and glad you had a good time.
It was an overall good vacay, but glad to be back home. Once again, I put hold on mail with USPS, got confirmation and came home to our very small box crammed, scrunched, wrinkled with mail that wasn't supposed to be delivered until Monday. They ignored the hold last year, too. At least thanks to limbs finally being cut way back, there was no tree rat nest on our balcony like last 2 years. Weather was great other than rain Saturday and a little Sunday and temps up here are still warmer than normal. Need to deal with all the vacation stuff all over the living room floor and get a few groceries.
DH got credit card statement he hasn't used in over a month with over $1300 worth of charges on Amazon purchases he didn't make, so got those and card canceled. He said he doesn't use that card and last time was to make a purchase on Amazon so unknown how someone got his info. Always check your credit card statements. It's a shame some people are so dishonest.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 18, 2022 18:44:55 GMT
staytuned - when that happened to me, I suspected that my CC number had been swiped at a local restaurant. The idea of taking the card AWAY from the table to process it is so arcane - I've been nowhere else in the world but this country that does that. Fortunately, more and more restaurants have POS that they bring to the table, but it's pretty slow adaption. The game got out finally at about 8:45, then it was 1 1/2 to 2 mile walk back to where we parked the car, then get into the pub which was packed even at that hour, so it was late to eat. They have really good food, though, and we each had a couple of beers. I'm feeling kind of musty and dusty today due to unusual food and then having trouble getting sleepy enough to go to bed because of the exciting game. I'd planned a bunch of active stuff for today but will just go to the gym and weightlift, take a couple mile walk since the sun came out today, then come home and take a nap.
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