What did you do today? 2019 version.

[NW-Bound]

I did pretty much zero today.....but DW set up remote access to her elder sister's & father's computer, (they're about 50 miles away), so now she can access their unit from here and make whatever changes/reconfigurations are desired/required.

It's been a few days since your operation. I trust it all went well.

 

[Khan]

Today I went to the dentist and got the permanent crown for tooth #24. This getting old is expensive. Couldn't eat until 6:30PM, which is almost bedtime.

 

[Jerry1]

Shoveling the first snow today. 7-1/2 inches. Thankful I have a snow thrower. Went out twice and also did my neighbors’ drive. All this after raking a bunch of leaves yesterday.

In our city, you put your leaves out on the road and they pick them up. Not sure how that’s gonna work now. I’m expecting the plow to throw mine back up on my yard. Probably deal with that in the spring.

 

[NW-Bound]

What is this snow people speak of? My trees barely started to drop their leaves.

 

[Gumby]

What is this snow people speak of? My trees barely started to drop their leaves.

My sugar maples have all lost their leaves. The Norway maples should lose them over the next 2-3 weeks. The pin oak leaves stubbornly stay on the tree until February or March.

 

[HFWR]

Cold and blowy, so I hunkered...

 

[Gumby]

It was cold and rainy/snowy, so we went to the movies to see JoJo Rabbit then to an early dinner. When we got home, the sun broke through the clouds just before setting and we captured this view from our backyard as we pulled in about 10 minutes ago. The sailboats in the foreground are all out of the water for the winter. The trees are on the other side of the harbor.

 

[MBAustin]

Nice fall foliage, Gumby!

We had our second drop into the 20s this fall last night (and will have the 3rd tonight) so it's been a good time to get started on end-of-year financial matters. I checked out the annual enrollment info for my retiree health coverage and was not happy (but not surprised) that it's going up more than $200/month again this year. I did compare prices of open market policies and they are about the same price with much higher co-insurance, so no value in switching. I'm looking forward to Medicare in 3 years!

Downloaded all of our financial transactions for the year so far (I just use spreadsheets to track things). Reviewed dividend and capital gains info and did some tax planning related to Roth conversions.

Got tired of staring at the screen so went to the gym and then took the little furry white mammal for a walk (it was too cold this morning). Dinner tonight will be turkey chili and green chile cheese cornbread - good cold weather comfort food!

 

[aja8888]

Yesterday was my visit to the hospital (Memorial Herman, Houston) where my right hip replacement will be done next week. It's the same hospital and Doc as 11 years ago when I had the left hip replaced. Now they have more formal procedures than back then and I had to sit through a 2.5 hour class on hip replacement, which was pretty good. I also got to sign on and sign all the forms and go over the preop data that my PCP and cardiologist submitted.

Amazingly, the RN that worked with me yesterday thought my last name was familiar and she looked at her historical records. Low and behold, she was the nurse that took care of me 11 years ago when I had the first hip replaced! What a coincidence!

So I am set for next week.

Today was the second day I am off aspirin and my pain killer, Aleve (per surgery instructions).

Walking the dog today has been a good reminder why my right hip is going to be replaced as every step is painful. But, I can handle it pretty well and still will try to get my 10K steps in today, even though it is 40F outside. Looks like winter is here!

 

[gayl]

Took the dog to the park and then a walk around a pond. It's supposed to be cooler next week so enjoying the final warm week

 

[Ronstar]

What is this snow people speak of? My trees barely started to drop their leaves.

We have just a dusting

 

[NW-Bound]

Just ordered another mini-split AC/heat pump. This one is smaller at 3/4 ton. Also ordered more car parts for a repair job. I will be busy.

 

[Dawg52]

Got a haircut and that's about it. Waiting for the temps to rise so I can go outside and play.

 

[aja8888]

Last snow in Houston, Tx (Dec 2017);

My yard: (it was actually cold enough for it to snow this morning)

 

[O2Bfree]

Made coconut macaroons for the first time. I don't know why I always thought they were complicated to make. They were so easy! You just mix the ingredients in a bowl with a spoon, dollop onto a cookie sheet, and bake until golden. Good thing the recipe made only a dozen, 'cause they are scrumptious!

Also looked at a few recipes for la Bête Noire, the Black Beast, which is a decadent flourless chocolate cake. It's much more involved than macaroons, but I'd like to make it over the holidays to try with a ruby port.

 

[ckelly78z]

I went out to the barn, and found a 2'x4' piece of plywood that I propped up against the mailbox. I then wrapped two strong bungy cords around the board, and the 4x4 post like I should have done last week before the snowplow blasted it with ice/snow. It bent the metal box over into a crumpled mess that I was able to wrestle back into a usable shape using a deadblow hammer on the inside.

 

[misshathaway]

Walked to LA Fitness, which is a hike, to swim in their pool. It is cold. They say 82-84. But it is still warmer than the neighborhood outdoor pool. Any swimmer moving to Florida should know that unless you are very hearty you will not be able to swim in an outdoor pool during fall and winter unless it is heated. The last day I swam in the outdoor pool the only other person in it had a full wetsuit on.

I bought a neoprene jacket for swimming, which worked for warmth. Unfortunately, I am extremely allergic to neoprene. 3 hours later I had little blisters everywhere that the jacket touched bare skin. The only effective remedy was Benadryl spray and Benadryl pills before bed. I still have itchy patches on my arms a week later. Boy was that a vicious rash.

It was cold and windy walking to LA Fitness. "Cold" being 61F.

 

[Philliefan33]

Played pickleball this morning, then went to the dentist for my cleaning and checkup.

In the afternoon I baked some cookies (pumpkin spice dough cut into leaves and acorns) that went into the freezer. I’ll decorate them for Thanksgiving.

 

[Sue J]

I was out running errands and drove in a different direction than my regular route. I passed a local pharmacy that had a sign out, “We have the Shingrix vaccine”. I finished my errands and came home and checked if this pharmacy was in-network with my insurance. It was, so I changed from my long sleeved sweater into a short sleeved shirt (easier access to upper arm) and I went and got my Shingrix shot. I know there are still local shortages so I figured I better jump on this one before it’s gone.

No charge with my insurance. No side effects so far but I expect at least a sore arm for a few days.

 

[MRG]

Went to the eye doctor. I'm still having trouble with my left, reading eye, being blurry. My eye doctor is great, but her attention span seems like a squirrels. She and 2 other doctors looked at my test and collectively have no idea. She's concerned about a retina detachment, but isn't really sure.

If my retnia is detached its been doing it for several years and a couple eye surgeries. Or my eye needs peeling? I don't know, that sounds concerning. I'm sure eye peeling is good clean fun and all but.... I'd like to have someone tell me "I know what's wrong".

I'm going back tomorrow to meet with a retnia specialist to see what she thinks.

 

[braumeister]

Remarkable experience in a small local restaurant at lunch today.
Bill came to $10.85 so I handed the cashier a $20 and a $1. I had already left a $2 tip on the table.
During the next several minutes she handled just about every bill in the register. Frowning, mumbling to herself, taking bills out, counting them, putting them back, finally putting them all in the drawer and closing it.

She walked back to a counter where she spent another 30 seconds scribbling on a pad. Finally returned and asked if I would be willing to take a $10 and 15¢?

I agreed to her proposal. What got me is that she seemed perfectly normal in intelligence when talking to her. Is basic arithmetic a completely lost art?

 

[Music Lover]

The house is in total disarray...I'm nearing the end of a major reno and my girlfriend moved in yesterday. The movers bought over a truckload of stuff while I was replacing the bathroom floor, vanity, and toilet.

 

[Hermit]

Remarkable experience in a small local restaurant at lunch today.
Bill came to $10.85 so I handed the cashier a $20 and a $1. I had already left a $2 tip on the table.
During the next several minutes she handled just about every bill in the register. Frowning, mumbling to herself, taking bills out, counting them, putting them back, finally putting them all in the drawer and closing it.

She walked back to a counter where she spent another 30 seconds scribbling on a pad. Finally returned and asked if I would be willing to take a $10 and 15¢?

I agreed to her proposal. What got me is that she seemed perfectly normal in intelligence when talking to her. Is basic arithmetic a completely lost art?

Careful there. Giving her such an amount and expecting her to make change could be considered mental harassment of the mathematically challenged.

 

[O2Bfree]

Remarkable experience in a small local restaurant at lunch today.
Bill came to $10.85 so I handed the cashier a $20 and a $1. I had already left a $2 tip on the table.
During the next several minutes she handled just about every bill in the register. Frowning, mumbling to herself, taking bills out, counting them, putting them back, finally putting them all in the drawer and closing it.

She walked back to a counter where she spent another 30 seconds scribbling on a pad. Finally returned and asked if I would be willing to take a $10 and 15¢?

I agreed to her proposal. What got me is that she seemed perfectly normal in intelligence when talking to her. Is basic arithmetic a completely lost art?

But isn't there an app for that?

 

[MRG]

Drove to Durango to meet with a retnia specialist. Apparently some time ago I had a retina detachment and it healed and is now allowing fluid behind the retina. The doc wasn't certain if she wanted to do surgery right away or wait as I don't have typical symptoms.

During the exam I noticed when I was looking up and left my left eye couldn't see to the full direction. Oddly it matches where the detachment is.

I have eye surgery Monday.