What did you do today? - 2021 version

[MRG]

When I got up this morning I saw bright sunshine and cold, below zero. No fresh snow from sunset yesterday! I did run the snowblower once as the snowplow was by and I wanted to get sun to the asphalt. It's not going to be above freezing for a while and I want the driveway to be clear of ice before snow on Friday.

A run to restock perishables before the next storm. When I got home DW said the body shop called and my Tesla is done. I'm weighing my options to coordinate a rental to get there and drive back or having it towed back. She's telling me to blow some dough and let them bring it up here.

 

[Out of Steam]

Continued the project I started last week of painting the living room and the entry hall. It's slow because my color change is requiring two coats and 4 hours between coats means I can't put both on a wall in the same day.

Have one coat left to put on about 12 feet of wall, so will finish tomorrow.

 

[NW-Bound]

I have been in a process to take down my solar storage system in the backyard shed and rewire it with big bus bars (again!) to improve the wiring rat nest, plus to incorporate another inverter and more lithium cells.

Before putting everything back, I decided to measure the storage capacity of some cell assemblies to see their degradation over time. The first module tested was clocked at 98.0Ah last June, and is now at 89.6 Ah. That's a loss of almost 9%. That's terrible over 6 months of use or 180 cycles of charge/discharge.

Then, it occurred to me that temperature of the cells may have something to do with it. A chart found on the Web shows that the temperature difference between the 90F and 45F conditions of the two measurements may explain that.

Now, I need to wait till the summer to measure the cells again.

 

[braumeister]

Looked out this morning and saw the first significant snow of the year, maybe ¾ of an inch. No big deal until I went out and found a solid layer of ice underneath it. At 21°F and solid overcast sky, that's a recipe for disaster, but I spread some ice melt over the driveway and went back in for more coffee. On days like this I always feel so lucky to be retired.

 

[MBAustin]

Noticed on my daily walk recently that a neighbor is installing a Tesla Energy solar roof. At first I thought someone died because there were about 30 vehicles parked along the street and yellow tape (similar to crime scene tape) around the yard. But then I saw three Tesla Energy trucks and several guys in hard hats (and masks) huddling around clipboards. They've been at it several days but looks like quite a bit left to do. The roof itself is almost complete now, and it's quite attractive (does not look like typical add-on solar panels at all).

 

[Christine]

I usually get up at 9. But got up at 6 to drive my mum to the hospital for a specialist checkup. But when she got there they had no idea she was coming. And they had no spare capacity available for her. So after a couple of hours she phoned me and I had to turn around and drive her back home.


She was not happy. She had been fasting for 48 hours before this. What a mess!


Now I'm having dinner and a decent sized nap after I hope.

 

[NW-Bound]

Noticed on my daily walk recently that a neighbor is installing a Tesla Energy solar roof. At first I thought someone died because there were about 30 vehicles parked along the street and yellow tape (similar to crime scene tape) around the yard. But then I saw three Tesla Energy trucks and several guys in hard hats (and masks) huddling around clipboards. They've been at it several days but looks like quite a bit left to do. The roof itself is almost complete now, and it's quite attractive (does not look like typical add-on solar panels at all).

Would be interesting to find out the total cost. On Youtube, I remember a guy saying it cost him $100K for the nice roof, but it may include more hardware such as Powerwalls.

By the way, not all of the roof tiles are solar tiles. It would be too costly, plus you do not need that. They have inert tiles with the same look to blend in.

 

[Hermit]

Yesterday DD and I ordered cabinets for my kitchen at Lowes. They were having a sale of 20% off if under $10k, 30% off if over. I hit the 30% without a problem . When we completed the order the cabinet lady said we could get 40% off if we used a Lowes credit card. At over $1300 off per 10% I couldn't resist. I signed up for the credit card and it came back approved. I "saved" well over $5000 all together. What was also impressive was a TransUnion notification of a lender requesting a copy of my credit file hit my email before I got a welcome email from the credit card company. I may even keep the card until I purchase appliances just in case I can get another discount there.

 

[Walt34]

YI may even keep the card until I purchase appliances just in case I can get another discount there.

It may well be worthwhile doing that. I forget whether it's Lowes or Home Depot, but one of them frequently offers a percentage (~5 - 10%) off on purchases with the store cc. Of course they're hoping you don't pay it off right away and then they're ahead of the game with interest payments.

 

[Venturer]

It may well be worthwhile doing that. I forget whether it's Lowes or Home Depot, but one of them frequently offers a percentage (~5 - 10%) off on purchases with the store cc. Of course they're hoping you don't pay it off right away and then they're ahead of the game with interest payments.

My DD just redid their kitchen,LR and DR, with most of their stuff coming from Lowes,and saved a bunch off because of the Lowes card. They got some kind of special deal during the ordering phase and had just what they needed when they needed it and very little hassle. I just use mine for my everyday type purchases so I get 5% off of my purchases. I have them set up to pay automatically so no intrest,win win.

 

[ls99]

Tough day.

Woke up around 9:30, did the sunlamp bathing bit. Two hours of workout. Shower. Quiet navel gazing around 20 minutes, breakfest, then of to coffee shop in next town (there were three of us in the place about 20 feet apart) for Americano, sipping it by the fireplace in comfy leather chair, read some magazines. Then food shopping, came home.

Now I'll need to figure out what to avoid doing the rest of the day.

 

[Walt34]

A little bit yesterday and all but finished the income taxes with TurboTax today. Still waiting on one 1099 form.

 

[RetireeRobert]

Got up about 10:30am, had breakfast, looked out window to see if I should put on my walking shoes and do my five mile daily walk. Sprinkling rain though, so no walk, Instead here at PC on ER Forum whiling away the time. I did make some beef stew with Swedish dumplings (hard dough) last night, so got some nice hot stew to look forward to for lunch, with some good artisan bread to dunk in it. Time for lunch!

 

[38Chevy454]

It may well be worthwhile doing that. I forget whether it's Lowes or Home Depot, but one of them frequently offers a percentage (~5 - 10%) off on purchases with the store cc. Of course they're hoping you don't pay it off right away and then they're ahead of the game with interest payments.

I have a Lowe's business credit card. I am not a business, but that is what they signed me up for because I was buying lots of stuff for new house and detached garage three years back. Lowes always gives 5% discount when using the card, and occasionally few times per year offers 10% discount; at least on the business card.


I also did just as Hermit, signed up originally to get the initial 10%. It has worked out to save me over the time. Of course I always pay off in time to avoid the high interest. The funny thing is it is the only card I have besides Visa and ATM. I forget about it until i am in Lowes.

 

[RetireeRobert]

I have a Lowe's business credit card. I am not a business, but that is what they signed me up for because I was buying lots of stuff for new house and detached garage three years back. Lowes always gives 5% discount when using the card, and occasionally few times per year offers 10% discount; at least on the business card.

Interesting, that is nice to know!

 

[W2R]

Probably the weirdest post ever, bear with me

Back in the 1980's or perhaps earlier, my mother gave me (and my brothers) some mutual funds for Christmas. Not a whole lot - - I think she was just trying to get us acquainted with the idea of investing.

It didn't take - - I had those paper certificates in the back of my socks drawer for years. During that time I moved 25-30 times. Yes, really, pretty insane, huh?

Anyway around 2002 I sold all the ones I could find but had lost some of them at some point, probably in one of those moves. By default they were being handled by a company I had never heard of back east, and I didn't know how to sell them if I didn't have the certificates (and didn't look into it, too swamped with career, divorce, and other matters).

Every Christmas that company would ask me if I wanted the cash dividend or more shares, and I would opt for the cash. In a sentimental way I thought of it as a Christmas present (of about $100) from my dear sweet mom, who passed away in 2007.

This week they sent me some extra paperwork that indicated they have a website that I could log in to. How cool! They entered the modern age. Glory be. Anyway I wasn't hopeful (without those paper certificates). But here's what I did today: I went there, set up an account, logged in, and SOLD those shares. !!!

Guess I should have looked into it years ago but was feeling so nostalgic, heartbroken, and sentimental about my Mom that every time I tried I just couldn't. Anyway, I wanted to post about it here because I don't know any other group that would understand being all mushy and sentimental about some mutual fund shares.

(I mean, it's not like a puppy...)

I am happy that I am getting some money, and I don't have to worry about it ending up as unclaimed property once I pass (many years from now hopefully). One more loose end, probably the worst, all tied up now.

 

[Gumby]

Today, I listened to the blizzard howl outside my windows. I also ate a great chicken parmesan for dinner. If I haven't mentioned it, the young wife is a fantastic cook.

 

[W2R]

Today, I listened to the blizzard howl outside my windows. I also ate a great chicken parmesan for dinner. If I haven't mentioned it, the young wife is a fantastic cook.

Brr!! Glad you were nice and warm inside, with a nice warm chicken parmesan dinner. Being retired is so nice in inclement weather; no more need to commute.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Anyway, I wanted to post about it here because I don't know any other group that would understand being all mushy and sentimental about some mutual fund shares.

Aww, that story was great!

 

[braumeister]

In the last couple of days I've had phone conversations with Delta customer service people, and they have an interesting procedure. At the end of the call, they ask you to take a one-question survey. OK, no problem.

What they ask is "On a scale of 1 to 5, how likely would you be to hire the person you just spoke with in a customer service role?"

I thought that was the best survey I've ever heard of, and it could obviously be very useful to them.

Incidentally, I gave them both a 5. Great service!

 

[Walt34]

This morning we went out and cleaned up the last remaining bits of snow that fell overnight and now that the wind is higher we plan on just staying inside. A programmable R/C radio receiver that I'd ordered arrived and I'll play with that a bit and maybe install it in an airplane later on. This one has the altimeter/variometer built in - no need for an extra plug-in for altitude information.

 

[Gumby]

Got up at 6 am and went out to deal with all the snow left by yesterday's blizzard. It was nice being out there all alone. Eventually some of the neighbors came out to do their shoveling and we chatted a bit.

 

[MRG]

Installed a new outdoor thermometer and much to my surprise it's working. I didn't know it was 50° out. Cleaned up the remaining snow on the driveway almost to the road. Good as its going to start snowing tonight and into tomorrow.
The bodyshop is done with my Model Y and the tow service wanted to schedule delivery; he's going to try Thursday if the weather clears. Two and a half months, they told me 8 weeks and there was paint protection film that took another 2 weeks with scheduling and cure time. Hopefully it's as right as they've lead me to believe.
Ran a couple last minute errands before the snow.

 

[street]

Spent the day at the ranch went down to the river and eat my lunch. Mostly froze over but a lot is open and water is running. The ice if you throw just a quarter size rock it goes right through that slush/ice. A very dangerous thing this time of year.

I did some hiking in the hills and did some carving. A beautiful 55 degree day with full sun and no breeze. Life is very good.

 

[Hermit]

It was in the 50s here in the mountains today so a great day to replace the broken parts on the snow plow. That took a couple hours. Then I plowed the snow off a neighbor's driveway. They want to come up next weekend and pull their trailer out. They may need some help getting out of the valley. With the plow down for the last couple months, there is quite a bit of packed snow and ice on the road leading to their drive.