Donstar

My lawnmower was literally falling apart and the need to replace it was confirmed when my dog presented my wife with a piece of rusted metal left behind during a recent mow. I am at the stage where yardwork is often paid for but I do like to walk behind a lawnmower on occasion. The price of a new self-propelled lawn mower would pay for many cuts by a professional yard service so it would not be justifiable to spend this much money buying new. So I put an ad online looking for a used lawnmower that was self propelled and in good condition. I explained my needs and didn't think the ad would attract a suitable response.. After a couple of weeks a lady emailed me offering a 10 year old battery powered, self propelled mower for an exceptionally low price and asked if I was interested. I know the new electrics are very popular here but very expensive. I said sure I'll have a look but prior to going to her home, I phoned our local battery store and found the price of battery replacement, which may be needed, could make this an expensive purchase. I emailed her back and said sorry. She wrote back again expressing her disappointment saying it won't need batteries for years and offered me an even lower price. I started to sense she was trying to do me a favour so mostly out of courtesy, I went and had a look. It turns out that her husband was now unable to do any yardwork which he truly loved. He wanted to "sell" his equipment to people who would care for the item as well as he did. This lawnmower could have passed as new and I promptly paid full asking price. (I actually offered more but they wouldn't accept). I have now cut my lawn twice with this machine. The money I have saved by cutting it myself these two times significantly exceeds the price I paid for my "new" lawnmower. This positive experience was incredibly uplifting.

Great tips, thank you. We are trying to do as much in advance of boarding as we can to streamline the process. Packing light is proving to be a challenge but we still have a couple of weeks to reduce what "we" want to take to what we need to take. When you believe that you'll need everything from formal dinner attire to glacier climbing warm clothing to poolside lounge wear it is hard to pack into a carry on bag!

It is incredibly motivating to cherish what you have. I new a man who's response to, "How are you doing today?" was typically, "I'm on the green side of the grass, thank you!" His motivation to be excited about the day was as basic as being alive. This man had what most would consider a hard life but never complained and his positivity was contagious. He was a joy to be with. I have a neighbour that when you ask how she's doing you inevitably receive a litany of complaints. Lately, she talks about maid and not the kind that helps around the house. Of course we all need to pay attention to her and this is why I believe she says such things! Yesterday I was filling up my truck next to a lady who was upset about the new gas price of 199.9 cents per litre. She broke into a smile when I told her how much much easier now it is to do the math. I knew that her budget was like me and determining how much gas she was buying, not the automatic shut-off!

I paid $199 per litre yesterday. Factoring in the necessary conversions, I think I win! ;-(

We are good at identifying the negatives in our lives and often struggle with the positives. I've had some "bad luck" over the past few months and I tell people on a need to know basis. It can be cathartic unloading to a friend but unless you add some positives you remain feeling bad. My wife is a master of making negatives into positives. Example: Approximately four weeks ago me and a mandolin (not the musical type) had an argument and my left thumb took a beating. This past Monday morning I was telling my wife how I'm finally able to use this thumb without causing pain. That afternoon, I was working on my trailer and drilling through a thick piece of metal. The bit broke as I was applying pressure and the drill with half of a loaded bit found its way in the nail of my right thumb and out the other side. I sheepishly retreated to my wife prepared to hear about what I did wrong. However, once she got over the shock and blood she assessed the damage and her comments like, "you are so lucky it didn't hit a bone," and it's good this happened after your other hand was better was far more medicinal than all of what came out of the first-aid kit! My "good luck" sticks with me and when I tell my story of my two thumbs it's told in a way to share my good fortune! There is a fun thread where we share beefs and here is one we can challenge ourselves to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!

We're going on an Alaskan cruise next month and the preparation required is daunting. It is particularly hard because this is the first time we've left our home for more than an overnighter since Jan. 2020. I know it'll be good for us to know we're not the only ones who can care for our dog and our garden! They do have a final medical screening before you board the ship which I question. I think someone who makes it to this stage after all of the expense and preparation will be challenged to answer health questions in a way that may prevent them from boarding! With this in mind, we have no concerns about being on a cruise ship post pandemic. I know cruise lines have stepped up their health protocols and so have most individuals.

I appreciate the supports available to us when we are unable to earn money, The complexities of dealing with poverty and homelessness in our respective countries are many. The two individuals I mentioned represent a group of people who I believe are taking advantage of the supports. I wouldn't want to be in their current situation nor would I've allowed myself to be there! They both have the physical and mental abilities to be self-sustaining. I think of them every time I wait in line for service and seeing a "now hiring" sign when I reach the end!

The beginning of the 2020's were a shake-up for most. I know two individuals in their 40's who benefitted more than they should have from government relief. They enjoyed the benefits of a steady and consistent paycheck but not enough to return to work after the extra funding stopped. They are both losing their rentals at the end of this month and are relying on others(family) to find and fund another place. They are both men, unknown to each other, but very similar stories. I am connected to both families and get to be part of the drama. I grew up naïve. I thought that I needed to work to earn money so that I could buy food and pay for shelter. I also knew that the taxes from the work I did would help those who were unable to work. I never thought of working for money as optional.

Quarter pounder with cheese is my choice of fast food while driving. McD's are typically consistent in cleanliness and food prep/taste. I do appreciate fine cuisine but am glad we have "fast food" options like McD's. Sometimes we just need to expeditiously satisfy a meal requirement in a familiar and safe manner. And.... A Quarter pounder is less likely to dump in your lap than a Big Mac!

Sort of like "Safe Mode" when your computer loses some of its connectors! I wish you the best you can muster as you sort through planning and decisions. I hope you have a confidant you can talk with about options.

"Benign" was the word I heard this week. There is a ton of contingency planning that happens in the days prior to hearing this result and I am thrilled some of these plans don't have to be considered at this time. This was a case where I knew if the results were different, I would likely live a normal life for many more years but it still had me planning with a different outlook. The internet (education) is a valuable resource when navigating through potential cancer scares. The common connection between most cancers and successful treatment is early detection. The covid years provided lots of time for many of us to work on ourselves. However, medical services were spread too thin for non-covid related testing. Now we have no excuses to not be proactive about our health. If you're waiting to feel something different or unusual pain, this is not being proactive and you may not be "early".

Thanks Customboss. I have family history here and want to be proactive. Such tests can be very uncomfortable but beat the treatments after cancer has spread. There are a myriad of ways your health can take you out but this particular threat can be eliminated when caught early. As an aside, I have coffee on occasion with a couple in their mid 70's who both shy away from health discussions and boast that they have no issues. I believe they just aren't looking. Many/most afflictions like cancer don't hurt or give obvious signs as they grab hold of your future. Now that our medical services have largely rebounded from the covid years there is no excuse for us not to be proactive with our health. During the covid years we had time to organize our possessions and had an excuse to ignore our bodies. We all need to allocate some spare time to maintain our bodies so we can enjoy our stuff!

Many elective surgeries and specialist appointments were postponed because of covid and we are still dealing with those procedures less impacted by delays. Yesterday, I was on the table for a prostate biopsy and the radiologist explained the procedure, the risks, potential results and asked me if I wanted him to go ahead with the test. Many will appreciate that this is a procedure that you'd rather not do and a last minute option to withdraw was very tempting! I went ahead with the test but remain conflicted by the prior discussion. My wife had a relatable experience this week when her surgeon gave convincing reasons not to go ahead with her surgery at her pre-op consultation! I don't know if these Doctors were looking after our well-being or simply looking to reduce their involvement and responsibility in the decision making process! I am suspecting the latter.

This morning a grade school memory of learning about venn diagrams popped into my head. My wife and I try to schedule our appointments and activities in a way that don't conflict and will allow for the unexpected. Next week our two circles have overlapped so dramatically it's comical. It certainly makes me appreciate my parents and grandparents. I always thought they were engaging in mundane activities yearning for visitors. I wish!

Think you know everything? Well have a look at these..... Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand. And 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand. (Bet you just tried these out mentally, didn't you?) No word in the English language rhymes with month , orange, silver, or purple. Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'. (Are you doubting this?) Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing. The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' uses every letter of the alphabet. (Now, you KNOW you're going to try this out for accuracy, right?) The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). (Yep, I knew you were going to 'do' this one.) There are only four words in the English language which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. (You're not possibly still doubting any of this, are you ?) There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.' (Okay, admit it, you just went through ⤘ a-e-i-o-u ⤙ in your head) TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (All you typists are going to test this out) A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds (And, some days I think I ⤙ m right there with them.) A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time, 1/100th of a second. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes. A snail can sleep for three years. (I know some people that could do this too!) Almonds are a member of the peach family. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. (I know some people like that also . Actually I know A LOT of people like this!) Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age. February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon. In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated. If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of their rate of reproduction. Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite! Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing. The cruise liner, QE 2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. (Good thing he didn ⤙ t have dynamite.) The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid There are more chickens than people in the world. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance. Women blink nearly twice as much as men. Now you know everything !

I ran into an acquaintance yesterday in a lineup at the grocery store. His daily driver for the past 47 years is a second hand '65 F100. It is all original and in showroom condition. He is 76 years old so I asked him about power steering. "Nah, once I get a little momentum it's fine!" I often wish I could have a 60's or 70's pickup as I have very fond memories of them. (PS/PB were frills not found on my earlier trucks.) However, I would still want a modern truck for daily driving! The same goes for phones. I have a functioning retro wall phone on my kitchen wall and until fairly recently kept a set of Encyclopedias for decoration. I wouldn't want to trade the convenience and portability of all my phone replaces!

We also use our phones. The larger screen and keyboard of our laptops are enjoyed when we aren't doing other tasks. It wasn't that long ago when we used laptops for their portability when we weren't near a desktop computer! Phones were used for phoning and taking low quality pictures! Two years ago we purchased inexpensive unlocked phones from Costco. I have often thought that we only scratch the surface of the capabilities of our devices so we took the time to shop for what we will need and use. I have yet to come across a task that would have required a more expensive phone! We did get rid of our cumbersome desktop computers years ago so we are evolving, albeit slowly. The other day we saw a lady talking to her wrist so maybe our cell phones will someday be considered our, "big screen and keyboard option"!

I bought my wife a new laptop for her birthday as her old one is hitting its troublesome teen years. She liked the gift but was very anxious about potential changes. I assured her that I can set it up so that it would be a seamless transition for her and that all of her treasures will be found on the new device. It took me a couple of days to get it to where she could let go of her aged laptop. I learned a lot of stuff that probably won't be applicable next time we bring a new computer into our house. Not once did I need to use one of the many DOS commands permanently etched into my brain! ;-). Over the years, I have tried to keep reasonably current with technology. Changes in home computers are far less exciting than they were in the 80's and 90's but the good thing is that my wife's new device won't be out of date the day after purchase!

Thanks for the info. I am overly cautious because prostate cancer took my father and I believe an older brother had it but this wasn't his primary cause of death. Like most things, early detection is key. My symptoms are minimal but PSA and imaging are prompting further testing.

"Underlying health conditions" is a phrase often used when Covid statistics were scrutinized. Sometimes it serves to reduce the fear generated by Covid mortality rates. I went to see my Doctor yesterday with a list in hand! Part of our discussion was about prostate cancer (not confirmed) and the potential impacts. It is often a slow moving cancer and at a certain age or condition the decision may be not to operate. The idea is that something else will most likely be your cause of death before this particular cancer Speak about a glass half full/half empty scenario! I know this was intended to reduce worry in case biopsy results are not in my favour. The grim reaper has a backup plan in case the others fail!

I wasn't aware that the, "6ft deal was bogus". I understood this covid practice suggests keeping a safe distance from others to reduce the spread of the virus. It makes sense to me and I continue to maintain social distancing when practicable. Of course I don't carry a tape measure at all times and wouldn't think to dispute the actual separation required to be most effective. I am going to a specialist appointment today that I've waited for over 6 months. Having to wear a mask is the least of my concerns but I am confident the Doctor has reason for us both to be wearing these much maligned protective devices! He may not have read this thread and know any better!

Working from home and home schooling are great topics for debate. I attended public schools and worked outside of the home and can't imagine otherwise. I have a middle-aged, close relative who was home schooled, currently works full time from home and is very successful. My arguments around socialization and productivity lack evidence in his case. My opinions are also skewed by the absence of home computers during my childhood and early work years. I agree with both sides. Learning and working from home can be more or less productive depending on the individual. The ideal is a hybrid of both models. There are circumstances when we can't leave our homes but can still contribute profitably to a business. Covid highlighted this. There are also situations where separated home and work environments are good for mental health. I remember attending workshops where the mantra was, "Don't take your work home with you." Suggestions like, "Turn off your Blackberry when you leave the office" were often given.

On Tuesday we were notified that we were eligible for a Covid booster and we received them Wednesday morning. It looks like today we'll be taking it easy as our bodies sort out the vaccine! The supply and distribution of this stuff has certainly evolved! Coincidently, yesterday afternoon we were notified that one of our children-in-law went to the hospital with Covid. I am not sparking a discussion about anyone's' position on vaccines or Covid but simply pointing out how we have adapted to living with this virus. I know we certainly didn't eradicate Covid but the fear has largely gone away. Our reaction to hearing that a close family member was in the hospital with Covid would have garnered a horrible reaction not too long ago! Now, we asked a few questions and didn't lose any sleep worrying. (S/he is back home again and all will be fine.) One of the changes that Covid created was normalizing the practice of working from home. My in-law will be able to resume working long before returning to the workplace. Working from home is popular but I would have difficulty separating work and home projects!

Dave Ramsey is a great listen. His, "giving every dollar a name" is simple and it works. Diyer2 is right in saying that you have to care. I know of one individual who considers his available credit as his wealth. He recently needed to borrow money from his parents to paydown his debt to a "Payday Loans" place so that he could borrow more money from them...

We often strive to help those in need and this was escalated during Covid. We know of couples who have monthly incomes considerably greater than ours and struggle to cover the basics. There is a wide range of reasons why a person in our region is broke, hungry, homeless or living on the edge. If they thought and behaved like us chances are they wouldn't need our help! I have three middle aged children who each spent the first 20+ years of their lives with us yet they run the gamut of financial responsibility. Neither think just like us.