Recent content by toofrugalformycat

I learned to swim as an adult so I could do sprint triathlons. I knew nothing about swimming, but found that the instructor (at a university) was quite helpful and free with advice about tris, not just swimming, because most adults learning to swim these days seem to be doing it for triathlons...

Warning - I'm no expert. Some states (like mine) have a high-risk pool, but in this state at least it's quite pricey and is only good for disasters. On the other hand, if you have no other option (like me at the time), it's better than nothing. I found out this stuff by talking with a local...

A good way to know whether or not you're really hungry, is to keep a bag of fresh peeled carrots, or fresh raw broccoli, or whatever veg you enjoy, in the frig. When you think you're hungry, decide if eating some of the veg sounds good. If not, then you are not really hungry for food. If...

Yep, me too, I just do not store faces or names unless I see someone often. I've tried all the little tricks and nothing works. Now that I'm older I'm hoping people will be more forgiving when I do not recognize them. Once they tell me their name, I know who they are and when I met them, it's...

Most Tilley clothing has a pocket inside the normal pocket, closed with velcro. This requires good sewing skills (or purchase of a Tilley garment). I had excellent luck with a pair of long Tilley khaki slacks on a year+ long budget travel, because they can be washed in a sink and dry...

I was in various parts of India in 1997. I found it the most challenging of the 25 countries I have visited. That was 15 years ago, mind you, but still I doubt the rural areas and slums have changed much. When people are starving, or worse yet their children are starving, they do desperate...

Dilbert's life was my life, back before I ERed. That's a lot of the reason I wanted to ER. It isn't so funny when you're living it.

Purron, best wishes for a quick and complete recovery for your mom. I have a feeling she couldn't have anyone better than you at her side. I hope you will try to schedule sleep and exercise time for yourself, too.

It didn't work that way for me. I was offered insurance all right, but they had riders like "no coverage for any tumor" (and I had never had cancer). What's the point? Many states now have high risk pools, and that's what I used (very high deductible) until I could get coverage through my...

+1 to the first part, the incident has happened and is on the record. On the second point, rescission is a problem sometimes (ins co drops you when you file an expensive claim, researching your application and looking for something they can claim is inaccurate, even if you've been paying them...

Moemg - I will pass along that suggestion. I don't know who she's seen, or their qualifications. I'm not impressed with her GP, judging by things that have been missed and crises not averted, and neither is my sister, which may be why she's felt the need to bring this up. Donheff - thanks for...

I'm looking for advice on deciding on hip replacement for my 85-year-old mother. I received an email from a sibling this morning. She lives in the same city as my mother and brother, thousands of miles from me. My sister asked my brother and I if we should explore the possibility of my mother...

Great news! Good show.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I thought I'd update my progress on this issue. I started out planning on replacing our executor with a non-human (because I didn't want to burden the executor after what we've all just gone through being executors), but after wrestling with the issue, and reading all your posts (what a good...