what did you do today? (2008-2015) (closed)

[ls99]

After my morning workout, went for breakfest at a place called Wicked Googly. First time in there. As I walked up to the counter, the hostess with the mostest had jet black hair, red hot hot lipstick, pale bosom properly amplified and displayed by pushup bra. As I sat down said to her, Hi Betty Boop. She chuckled. I followed up with, Say, you just need an old Rat Rod in the middle of the floor to complete the picture. More giggles.

She took my order for an omelette with ham an' cheese. Finishing my first cup of coffe, she shows up with a refill and my order, explaining that the cook added onions and peppers. I said that is OK, I do like onions, peppers are allright as well. She said I love you. Hmm I said, that is almost as good as my first trip to Baltimore, having stopped in a bar for a beer. After finishing one bottle, the waitress said, Hon, want another one? I replied, friendly aren't we? Hon after one beer, what happens after the second?

All in all a pleasant breakfest.

 

[Nords]

This week's windy/rainy weather did most of our yardwork for us, and all I had to do was pick it up. Four cans of haleconia green waste. I left the blossoms but got rid of the shredded leaves. We can see the view corner of the yard again, but I'm going to have to sneak over onto city property to cut down some haole koa trees that are still blocking the horizon view.

Finally finished sending copies of "The Military Guide" to libraries. I'm about libraried out:
- two to the Hawaii State Public Library System,
- one to Marine Corps Base Kaneohe
- one to Camp H.M. Smith (another Marine base, but also home of PACOM)
- three to Schofield Barracks for their branches at Aliamanu and Fort Shafter,
- and one to Joint Base Pearl Harbor, where the library is actually on Hickam AFB. Or whatever the BRAC is calling it now.

This has been a big writing week. Guest posts are up at both MrMoneyMustache.com and Jeff Rose's "Good Financial Cents". I'm a DIY investor, but if I was going to use a military-friendly advisor then it'd be someone like Jeff. He's starting down the same road for the Millennials that Rick Ferri blazed for our generation.

Before you read my guest post, though, put it in context with Jeff's earlier post about "7 Financial Advisors I Would Like to Punch in the Face". Back away from your monitor a bit when you click that link-- the first photo is sorta, um, in your face.

Then read my "HOOAH" guest post. I couldn't persuade him to call it "AH-OOO-GAH"...*

* Submarine humor. It sounds like the old-school diving alarm, get it?

 

[justplainbll]

Baked rye bread, ground mustard seeds to make make a cooked mustard sauce, and marinated some pumpkin seeds. Placed a buy order for PEP @ 63.45.

 

[pb4uski]

Worked on finishing setting up an LLC through which I will do some part-time consulting w*rk in ER and started on forms to buy small group health insurance coverage for me and DW through the LLC instead of COBRA through Megacorp. Should save me ~250/month.

Had a bowl of Costco Lobster Bisque and some leftovers for lunch and went for a nice long walk with DW in the afternoon and stopped by to visit a couple neighbors.

 

[braumeister]

Checkup from the doc shows I'm healing nicely.

A few weeks ago, I went out to the garden shed to get some potting soil for DW's windowsill plants. Shed door was iced shut from a storm, so I pulled as hard as I could on the handle to break the ice and open the door. The metal handle broke in half, and very nearly removed my right index finger. The bone was clearly visible (I was fascinated to see how remarkably white the bone looked).

Three surgeries later, it looks like I'm out of the woods. Still a really nasty looking mess, and I have to spend about 15 minutes twice a day on treatment before changing the dressings, as well as an incredible regimen of multiple antibiotics and Percocet all day.

But the thing is healing, and I finally have enough strength in the hand to do a proper job of brushing my teeth, which is (strangely) what bothered me most.

The positive spin on this is that I'm extremely pleased at how much more I can do with my left hand now. Dexterity with the sinister hand is cool!

 

[W2R]

Nice guest post, Nords!

Braumeister, glad to hear that you are healing so nicely.

Today after a fabulous Cajun lunch I decided we were going to start shopping for my new bedroom furniture. F. came along with me, cheerfully with no complaints and he was very helpful, too. I dragged him through just one mega-store that probably had 40 bedroom sets to look at, strewn throughout the huge store amid other furniture. And we had a saleslady who was helpful, but wanted to show me every single set.

It took an hour or two, and by the time we had seen it all I was so tired and dazed that I didn't even know what I liked any more. They all looked the same to me. Most looked too huge for anyone that doesn't live in a castle with 18 foot ceilings, and many also seemed too masculine for me with massive, foreboding looking black leather headboards covered with metal studs. Like, women don't sleep too?

We can try again on another day. Much more of this and I will stick with the bedroom set I've got (low-mid consumer grade 1970's era pseudo-Spanish style but still usable and no black leather or metal studs).

 

[Nords]

We can try again on another day. Much more of this and I will stick with the bedroom set I've got (low-mid consumer grade 1970's era pseudo-Spanish style but still usable and no black leather or metal studs).

Our bedroom furniture includes the dresser that my parents bought for me when I was born-- literally 51 years old. Hey, they paid full retail at Fady's Fine Furniture so I figure I should get my money's worth. Fady's recently went out of business and has been taken over by the "La Bellezza Spa", so I guess I don't get any more warranty service on the finish...

The rest of our bedroom furniture is a whole bunch of 1970s-80s ensign-affordable pieces from Goodwill & overseas. Because for 99% of the things we do in there, we're not lookin' at the furniture.

However we regularly treat ourselves to high-quality mattresses and new pillows.

Another headboard option (even if you're a leather fan) would be covering it in upholstery fabric. 10 years from now you only have to change the fabric. Or not.

 

[Gumby]

Then read my "HOOAH" guest post. I couldn't persuade him to call it "AH-OOO-GAH"...*

* Submarine humor. It sounds like the old-school diving alarm, get it?

Nice guest post, Nords.

My dream is to hook up my front doorbell to a klaxon, but I don't think the young wife would go along.

 

[Dreamer]

It took an hour or two, and by the time we had seen it all I was so tired and dazed that I didn't even know what I liked any more. They all looked the same to me. Most looked too huge for anyone that doesn't live in a castle with 18 foot ceilings, and many also seemed too masculine for me with massive, foreboding looking black leather headboards covered with metal studs. Like, women don't sleep too?

We can try again on another day. Much more of this and I will stick with the bedroom set I've got (low-mid consumer grade 1970's era pseudo-Spanish style but still usable and no black leather or metal studs).

That is exactly what happens to me, when I have too many choices. I get dazed and confused and so tired and could care less about buying anything. I would never make it as a good shopper.

Our bedroom furniture is from the early 70's also. It is not something I would ever pick out today, but it is still good. Besides, if we decided to buy something different, that would mean I would have to go shopping. No thanks, for the time being.

 

[W2R]

Yes, after reading Nords' and Dreamer's comments I am starting to wonder if I really want any of the new furniture I saw today at all. Function is more important to me in bedroom furniture than style. I need a bed that is higher and sturdier, but the rest of my present furniture is usable.

 

[Meadbh]

Yes, after reading Nords' and Dreamer's comments I am starting to wonder if I really want any of the new furniture I saw today at all. Function is more important to me in bedroom furniture than style. I need a bed that is higher and sturdier, but the rest of my present furniture is usable.

I'm with you there. If it's a comfy bed, but you're just sick of looking at it, why not paint is a funky color and give it a new lease on life?

 

[Nords]

My dream is to hook up my front doorbell to a klaxon, but I don't think the young wife would go along.

People would drive to your house from miles away just to ring the doorbell...

Gee, there's an idea. Ringtones for electronic doorbells. Hmmm.

That is exactly what happens to me, when I have too many choices. I get dazed and confused and so tired and could care less about buying anything. I would never make it as a good shopper.

There's an actual name for this consumer behavior: decision fatigue. Ideally the buyer gets tired of looking and just caves in to say "Oh, OK, I'll take that one." Unfortunately this sales rep had little experience with shoppers of W2R's fortitude.

Would you like fries with that? How 'bout our desserts today? Paper or plastic?

 

[W2R]

I'm with you there. If it's a comfy bed, but you're just sick of looking at it, why not paint is a funky color and give it a new lease on life?

The color of my present furniture (green) is OK with me. At least it's not too somber.

There's an actual name for this consumer behavior: decision fatigue. Ideally the buyer gets tired of looking and just caves in to say "Oh, OK, I'll take that one." Unfortunately this sales rep had little experience with shoppers of W2R's fortitude.

Would you like fries with that? How 'bout our desserts today? Paper or plastic?

Maybe that is what she was trying to do! I didn't even think about that.

 

[grasshopper]

Our bedroom furniture is a king size bed on bare frame, 4 big dog beds, and 2 small cat beds. And getting up in the middle of the night(now more frequently) is like stepping over live land mines.

 

[Walt34]

It took an hour or two, and by the time we had seen it all I was so tired and dazed that I didn't even know what I liked any more.

We ran into that issue too when we moved to WV. We decided to get rid of the set that I'd bought for my first apartment in 1975 so I figured I got my nickel's worth out of it. We had to take a break from shopping for a couple of months and then went back with a better idea of what we wanted.

No black leather and metal studs though.

Now we really should get a new couch for the family room but that may take a while as neither one of us gets enthused about shopping. The moon and the stars have to be in the correct alignment for us to do that at the same time.

 

[W2R]

No more furniture shopping for me today.

Carnival season (Mardi Gras) is starting in earnest today, with about a dozen parades around New Orleans today and more each day until Mardi Gras on the 21st.

It's also POURING rain today. Between the parades and the rain, traffic is a huge mess. My dear companion F. lives 1/2 block from a parade route, where two parades are expected to pass tonight and there will also be a big concert/celebration a few blocks away. I live in a quieter area but traffic is essentially at a standstill even down here, too.

We managed to get to the gym, though it took nearly forever. Almost nobody else was there, and it was fun to have the whole gym nearly to ourselves. Battling traffic to get there, and then to get home after lunch was unreal. I am happy to be warm, cozy, and dry now that I am back at home, and do not plan to venture out tonight.

 

[Buckeye]

I prepared taxes for 5 hours at the local library with AARP. One 78 y/o client had a 1099-R showing a $129,000 distribution of which approximately $2,000 was taxable. I previously entered a distribution from an annuity that had been rolled to another annuity so I asked her what she had done with all this money. She said, "what money?"

On one copy of the 1099-R, I highlighted the phone number and the account number. It looked like it was from an insurance company. She was going to call them after she went home and had lunch.

 

[jebmke]

I prepared taxes for 5 hours at the local library with AARP.

Same here. I filed 35 tax returns today.

 

[justplainbll]

Updated portfolio for YTD dividend rate changes. Hope to begin organizing documents needed for tax preparation.

 

[bbbamI]

Been trying to come up with new ideas for centerpieces for my kitchen and dining room tables. I don't want to buy anything...just use the stuff I have around here.

Silk flowers are out...so I've heard. I just can't bring myself to float lemons and limes in water. I know they would get fuzzy on me.

 

[Gumby]

Been trying to come up with new ideas for centerpieces for my kitchen and dining room tables. I don't want to buy anything...just use the stuff I have around here.

Silk flowers are out...so I've heard. I just can't bring myself to float lemons and limes in water. I know they would get fuzzy on me.

Maybe some winter squashes?

 

[martyb]

Spent the last week visiting my mom in NC for her 82nd birthday. Also, spent time with my middle daughter, 5 yr old grand daughter, my two sisters and my longtime best friend. Left there on yesterday, and drove to Oxford, AL, where I spent the night. Today, drove from Oxford to Shreveport, LA. In the morning, driving to Lufkin, TX to be at work by around 7 am or so.

 

[grasshopper]

I am waiting for Quicken to convert an old file to a new file 45 minutes now.

 

[sengsational]

Spent 2 hours editing a video of how I fixed my microwave oven:

Pitched champagne yeast into my barleywine, which had stopped attenuating.

 

[LauAnn]

Been trying to come up with new ideas for centerpieces for my kitchen and dining room tables. I don't want to buy anything...just use the stuff I have around here.

Silk flowers are out...so I've heard. I just can't bring myself to float lemons and limes in water. I know they would get fuzzy on me.

Pretty bowls and doilies often work in and of themselves without additional embellishments.