Everyday, non-loss related rants - enter at own risk :)

[widower2]

tbh I don't feel I want to be or not to be called as I'm not sure what it would be like. But if I'm called, I won't try to get out of it. 

[HisMunchkin]

It's cloudy, rainy, and windy here today.  I think it's making me feel extra depressed and tired. 😌 

[RichS]

3 hours ago, HisMunchkin said:

It's cloudy, rainy, and windy here today.  I think it's making me feel extra depressed and tired.

I've tried leaving more lights on in the house on days like that. As I get older my mind reacts in a more positive way with more lights. But that's me...................

[RichS]

I went to see my back surgeon again; this time with the intention of having it done possibly by June. As I was driving to his office, two emotions got my attention:

1) I felt alone (but not lonely) in having to make this arrangement by myself without talking it over with Chris.

2) I felt abandoned (but not angry) for the same reason for the same reason as #1.

These emotions weren't because of dependency. They were having to go through important decisions like this alone.; which at least in my mind made me feel as if this is yet another emotion that I felt as a result of my grief. Sometimes you keep so busy with things like this that you don't think about it. Today wasn't one of those days.

[HisMunchkin]

1 minute ago, RichS said:

I've tried leaving more lights on in the house on days like that. As I get older my mind reacts in a more positive way with more lights. But that's me...................

Ya, I had lights on all day.  The sound of wind makes me anxious.  It's an association with a really bad incident a couple of years ago.  But the darkness is probably what's contributing to the feelings of melancholy and tiredness.  Also, I really think that I'm overall much more sensitive, emotionally, than I used to be.  

[HisMunchkin]

4 minutes ago, RichS said:

I went to see my back surgeon again; this time with the intention of having it done possibly by June. As I was driving to his office, two emotions got my attention:

1) I felt alone (but not lonely) in having to make this arrangement by myself without talking it over with Chris.

2) I felt abandoned (but not angry) for the same reason for the same reason as #1.

These emotions weren't because of dependency. They were having to go through important decisions like this alone.; which at least in my mind made me feel as if this is yet another emotion that I felt as a result of my grief. Sometimes you keep so busy with things like this that you don't think about it. Today wasn't one of those days.

That is understandable.  I've had moments like that too when it comes to having to make decisions on things that we used to decide on together.  *big hugs* 💝

[Sparky1]

4 hours ago, HisMunchkin said:

It's cloudy, rainy, and windy here today.  I think it's making me feel extra depressed and tired. 😌 

Exact same lousy weather here too today. Couldn't even go for a walk. Yesterday was summer weather and now we're back to winter. 😂

[Rey Dominguez Jr]

Woke up to text and voicemail on my phone from my credit union, telling me I may have fraudulent charges, please confirm or deny.  Well I called, and there were 6 charges that were questionable.  I denied them all which means my debit card is now blocked and I have to wait for a new card.  Went to the credit union with the hope that they could issue a new card on the spot.  No such luck, have to wait 7-10 days for mail to deliver the new card.  Not too big a hassle as I have ample cash on hand, but pending on-line purchases like the cats’ food is affected.  

I am pretty sure I know when and where the card was compromised.  I usually buy some baked goods at a vendor kiosk outside the Navy base exchange, with no issues at all in the past.  This time the method of reading my card was different.  I’ll continue to buy stuff from this vendor in the future as it is a small veteran-owned business, but use cash from now on.  Such a PITA.  

[widower2]

ugh. That happened to me once, but I never have cash on hand, so I have another card as backup (plus my old one didn't give any cash back for purchases).

[KayC]

I've had USB visa forever, they offered me 0% for six months and I asked if the APR would be the same afterwards.  Well they now say it's not 0% it's 8.99%.  I told them that is NOT what I was told (through the phone), 8.99 does not sound like zero and I wrote everything down as she was speaking.  The supervisors lied and said they listened to her conversation with me and backed up their story.  I told them they're liars and they can keep their card, I'm done with them.  Can't be totally done as my mortgage is through them, but no more visa, don't need them.  By the way, nowhere on their site do they list the APR, which is why I'd called them in the first place.  

[widower2]

Wow, that's terrible...and they also give almost literally zero percent interest on a savings account! In this day and age where you can get 4-5%+, ridiculous. Wells Fargo is the same way and I'm moving my savings to another bank.

[HisMunchkin]

Somewhat non-grief related, but may a tad bit grief related.  Hope it's o.k. to post here.  Today, I'm feeling a lot of anxiety again.  Woke up several times during the night with worrying thoughts.  Also, need to get a death certificate with information on the cause of death.  Just filling in the application makes me anxious.  Reminds me of the day I got the phone call again, and talking to the hospice care doctor, her telling me the likely cause of death, etc. 

[RichS]

38 minutes ago, KayC said:

By the way, nowhere on their site do they list the APR, which is why I'd called them in the first place.  

I thought by law they are required to list the APR (interest rate) on your billing statement. Don't know what the laws in Oregon allow or not allow credit companies to do, but you might want to bring this to the attention of the state Consumer Affairs Office.

[RichS]

20 minutes ago, widower2 said:

Wow, that's terrible...and they also give almost literally zero percent interest on a savings account! In this day and age where you can get 4-5%+, ridiculous.

Here in North Carolina, Truist wants you to call them up if you notice the interest on your Money Market Account, falls significantly. I thought Money Market Accounts had  variable interest rates. So if their rates fall to near rock bottom, you have to call them up to be bumped up to the "market rate?" That's a nice way for them to fatten up their bottom line at the expense of uninformed customers.

[widower2]

That's ridiculous IMO. The good news is that there are plenty of other options  

[KayC]

I have other visas, don't need theirs.

[Rey Dominguez Jr]

14 hours ago, HisMunchkin said:

Also, need to get a death certificate with information on the cause of death.  Just filling in the application makes me anxious.

I received several copies of Veronica’s death certificate through funeral home that took care of her final steps.  Ended up getting 6 copies as most everyone I dealt with, such as CA DMV and her schools retirement, required originals.  Funeral director was very helpful in that regard.  Is that an option for you?

[widower2]

Got a call from a scammer today. Really I had something else on my mind or I wouldn't have even answered the phone - IMO one should never answer a call if the caller isn't recognized. There's a good chance it's a scammer. In fact, my brokerage firm posted these guidelines recently and they're worth listing here IMO: 

• If you get an unrequested call, email, or text asking for any personal or financial info, esp passwords/PINs/security codes, stop. Never respond to such requests; hang up and call whatever institution they claim to be and see if anything is going on with your account. Never trust calls from individuals claiming to represent technical support, the IRS, your financial institutions, etc.
• Be especially mistrusting of calls or emails threatening legal action or account closures or other "dramatic" claims.
• Enroll in additional security features like multi-factor authentication and secure your mobile phone and email accounts.
• Take care with information shared on social media.
• Don't send money to people you don't know, and investigate companies before doing business based on a social media ad or post.

[HisMunchkin]

13 hours ago, Rey Dominguez Jr said:

I received several copies of Veronica’s death certificate through funeral home that took care of her final steps.  Ended up getting 6 copies as most everyone I dealt with, such as CA DMV and her schools retirement, required originals.  Funeral director was very helpful in that regard.  Is that an option for you?

I have death certificates ("proof of death") from the cremation center, but for this particular instance, they require an official death certificate with cause of death info, or the more appropriate term, "certified copy of death registration with cause of death information". 

 

1 hour ago, widower2 said:

Got a call from a scammer today.

Ugh!  I can't stand those calls!  Sometimes they will even leave a message.

[RichS]

34 minutes ago, HisMunchkin said:

Ugh!  I can't stand those calls!  Sometimes they will even leave a message.

An answering machine saves us a lot of time from listening to those snake oil sales folks..................................

[widower2]

Phones seem to be getting smarter about it thought. I often get an incoming call and it's already flagged as a spammer.

[Rey Dominguez Jr]

9 hours ago, RichS said:

An answering machine saves us a lot of time from listening to those snake oil sales folks..................................

We still have a land-line phone and about 5 years ago Veronica’s therapist recommended an AT&T phone that allows up to 50 numbers in the “allowed” call directory.  Those calls ring through with no problem and we always know who it is via caller ID.  Any other not-allowed calls require a human operator to press # to get through, so that eliminates robo-calls and scammers pretty well.  Phone rings twice and then blocks the call.  

[KayC]

1 hour ago, Rey Dominguez Jr said:

We still have a land-line phone and about 5 years ago Veronica’s therapist recommended an AT&T phone that allows up to 50 numbers in the “allowed” call directory.  Those calls ring through with no problem and we always know who it is via caller ID.  Any other not-allowed calls require a human operator to press # to get through, so that eliminates robo-calls and scammers pretty well.  Phone rings twice and then blocks the call.  

Sounds better than mine but mine says Spam Risk if it's a number that does a lot of calling so I don't answer.  Sometimes it's a doctor's office and they'll leave a message so I like to pick up if I hear it as they are often hard to get through to.  My ans. machine is in my bedroom though so I don't always get it on time.  Often it's just a number I don't have programmed in though so sometimes will run it on the laptop to see but if they go into tracing them, nope!

[RichS]

Another trick these telemarketers try to pull is they'll initially call you from one number and if that fails will call you back again for a second or third time with different phone numbers.

[KayC]

Spoofing is one of my pet peeves because it shows up differently than who it really is.

[widower2]

That's why I never answer it if I don't recognize the number...

[KayC]

Me neither but it bites me sometimes.

[KayC]

I'm exhausted, worked my tail off yesterday moving metal pipes from under patio to where they'll deliver the dumpster, also two cat scratchers, then I realized I had enough to fill it and we hadn't started on the area of the carport & electrical room that needs cleared out so they can work on it, so will put the cat scratchers back today, maybe I can put them on the next burn pile, will get Jack's opinion.  Throwing away two new cots something chewed the foam out of, will send with garbagemen instead of dumpster.

Having a time with my diabetes, don't know anyone who tries harder w/o the desired results, I'm feeling discouraged.  Was ecstatic about our unanimous vote of our new pastor...which in turn raised my cortisol and hence my blood sugar.   Working so hard yesterday raised my BS.  Last week Iris gave me what she thought was a diet soda, 43 carbs!!!  Drank 1/2, just got back into Ketosis and now this.  I feel like giving up but can't this is my life.  Need to make appt to see doctor, don't want to but will have to see him within two weeks, ugh.  I'm eating OMAD, weight 102 with 10-15 lbs excess skin, that puts me at 87-92 w/o it.  Size 2 jeans falling down, have nothing smaller.  Hate to shop and can't buy w/o trying on, ugh.

Anyway, this is my life, such as it is.

[Gail 8588]

Kay, 

I'm so sorry  your  BS is not behaving.  I know it will return to your normal good levels. You are so wonderfully committed to adhering to a good diet. Don't  be discouraged. This glitch will pass.

And look at how active you are and how long you have felt well with your Keto diet.  Trust that you have found a system that works for your body. 

[KayC]

Thanks, Gail,  BS was 98 this morning, should still be lower but I ate plenty yesterday at my OMAD.

Guy showed up to mow my lawn which meant I got to bed an hour late.  Have to do cleaning out of carport next to electrical room today.  Disappointed the "container" they brought for debris is small and curved, I thought it'd be more rectangular, some of the pipes had to be put into it diagonally and the lid sticks up in one corner about an inch, hope they'll take it that way.

[shawnt]

Taxes,taxes,taxes, oh how I hate filing taxes. 

[HisMunchkin]

I have a massive headache. 😑

[HisMunchkin]

I just got my grocery delivery.  Last time, I got someone else's order.  This time, they forgot to give me my organic carrots, even though they charged me for it.  So now I have to call them to get a refund or get it re-delivered.  No big deal, but still annoying.

[Rey Dominguez Jr]

Previously, I mentioned that my debit card had to be blocked after I confirmed fraudulent charges on my card.  Got my new card last week and went to the appropriate websites and update my payment information as necessary.  Thought I go them all, but I got an email from DirectstreamTV that I need to update my payment method.  I plugged in what I thought was the correct user ID and password, and it redirected me to AT&T.  We have both after cutting ties with Cox Cable.  So I went back to Direct TV and created a new password, and it redirected me back to AT&T.  WTH?  Now my AT&T password is new and I still can’t get into my Direct TV account.  Going in circles!  ☹️  Direct TV chat help function was useless.  Gotta call AT&T and ask what’s going on.  Never had this problem last time my card was compromised and had to update all my accounts.  GRRR!

[shawnt]

Remember technology is supposed to make our lives easier. Ha ha ha.

[RichS]

17 minutes ago, shawnt said:

Remember technology is supposed to make our lives easier. Ha ha ha.

Yes, through the wonders of technology, Americans seem to be working longer hours, these days.

[KayC]

8 hours ago, Rey Dominguez Jr said:

Never had this problem last time my card was compromised and had to update all my accounts.  GRRR!

Windows 11?  Nothing surprises me...

[foreverhis]

4 hours ago, RichS said:

Yes, through the wonders of technology, Americans seem to be working longer hours, these days.

For me, the worst part of it is the employer's expectation that because we have cell phones, we're required to be available 24/7.  Like, "Your PTO is approved, but you must be available to reply to texts, calls, and emails while you're on vacation."  Um, no, that's not Time Off.  One of our best friends had that happen when she was visiting.  She took 5 days comp time from having banked so much extra work time.  She was salaried, but worked entire extra days often.  Yet, at least 3 times a day, her boss was calling or texting with emergencies.  Sure, that's really relaxing...  She had previously loved that job and stayed with it, but we all breathed a sigh of relief when the owner closed the business and retired.

[KayC]

That was common the last place I worked.  I was so glad he let me go after seven years!  I didn't file unemployment, I lived off savings until I could file soc. sec. and took as year's penalty for life.  I'd had enough of unemployment and there wanting you to drive two hours away to a potential job, no can do, especially when it doesn't pay enough for the transportation & $9/hours afterwards.  

My ex boss had the nerve to want me to go to work a year later one day a month...and expect me to do a month's work every time?  No thank you.