Covid19 Spare time

customboss · May 5, 2022

23 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

I heard Geoffrey Zakarian speak a few minutes with Seth Meyers a night ago talking about owning a restaurant. It went something to the effect:

People think you have to have great food. And you do. They think (AND can't remember this part) and you do. But there are a thousand other things you need. Good reviews, Good location. A great staff. money, legal, supplier support. Licenses and inspections. Cleaning. Most restaurants close within three months. If you make it a year, your doing something right. But past that most restaurants vacillate between profit and loss month over month and let you make a living. Very few ever make a true profit that allows the owner to quite putting in 15 to 18 hours a day.

Thats true of most small businesses. Most are working ahead and running behind.....

customboss · May 5, 2022

On 5/1/2022 at 2:37 PM, KARNUT said:

The Covid dashboards are the same between states no matter how lockdown they were versus wide open. If people are comfortable wearing the mask, fine. There’re useless to most people.

1 MILLION US Citizens dead as of yesterday I think. Hard to square that isn't it? Or is it?

USA is essentially a third world nation by POLICY choice.

What is “Third World”?

The modern definition of “Third World” is used to classify countries that are poor or developing. Countries that are part of the “third world” are generally characterized by (1) high rates of poverty, (2) economic and/or political instability, and (3) high mortality rates.

https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/economics/third-world/

What happens when a minority but large minority of citizens live in a dream world disconnected from reality.

Rinse , repeat.....or learn and change.

Donstar · May 6, 2022

I'm pro equality but there are times where one group outshines the other and deserve to be celebrated. Mother's Day is Sunday and be sure to honor the Mothers in your life. Every year my wife reminds me that I'm not her mother and tells me to, "Leave it up to the kids." Just like your two year old child made breakfast in bed for mommy never stop making sure the mother of your children is celebrated. My kids always remember but their long distance phone calls/Skype only account for a small part of the day. (They talk to each other on almost a daily basis anyway!) Most of the time my wife is my partner but her innate mothering to our adult children often leaves me dumbfounded. During recent lockdowns and layoffs my kids experienced hardships just like most others. I could help them with the logistical stuff but the comfort from their mom is what kept them afloat! Happy Mother's Day to all moms!

Donstar · May 7, 2022

Weather is nuts here. The calendar is in May but the furnace is running! Bees and motorcyclists are having a tough time adapting to the record setting wet and cold. My spare time purge hit an all time high (low?) yesterday when cleaning out file boxes. It can be a harsh reality when you determine that things like university transcripts are totally useless to you or anyone else. The only paperwork I really need now can be kept in my wallet! This was a particularly sobering day but appreciate how lucky I am to be around to deal with such stuff! This is also one of those occasions when a chat with another, wiser person can help. I engaged in conversation with a neighbour, senior to me, and she advised that the sadness passes once the garbage/recycling bins are picked up! She also asked me if I wanted my kids sorting through this stuff? Harsh but valid justification for the clean-up!

customboss · May 7, 2022

2 hours ago, Donstar said:

Weather is nuts here. The calendar is in May but the furnace is running! Bees and motorcyclists are having a tough time adapting to the record setting wet and cold. My spare time purge hit an all time high (low?) yesterday when cleaning out file boxes. It can be a harsh reality when you determine that things like university transcripts are totally useless to you or anyone else. The only paperwork I really need now can be kept in my wallet! This was a particularly sobering day but appreciate how lucky I am to be around to deal with such stuff! This is also one of those occasions when a chat with another, wiser person can help. I engaged in conversation with a neighbour, senior to me, and she advised that the sadness passes once the garbage/recycling bins are picked up! She also asked me if I wanted my kids sorting through this stuff? Harsh but valid justification for the clean-up!

I culled at age 54 when I went from two real careers simultaneously , nice house with a pool, to living in a Thor 24' Chevy dually chassis 6.0L RV.

It was fun and terrible at the same time. Had to be near a certain VA hospital for treatment and recovery. I had no money, drank too much, and isolated with percussive and sharpened weapons in case the bad guys were at the door. BLM land was my friend.

I had to fit in a few tubs business records, flight records, graduation certificates and diplomas, and whatever tools I could pack.

As far a cyclic weather the amplitude is increasing while the duration of events is short, except for the heating. Cold wet places are gonna get hot and dry and then back again.

When I started flying airplanes in 1974 you could cruise with almost totally calm skies. Around the mid to late 1990's the energy in the atmosphere began CAT ( clear air turbulence) events that are terrifying and dangerous because you can't see them always in cloud formations just temp rise and drop at altitude. That energy is from heating. You can be at 3000' or 39,000' and there is the potential of crazy turbulence that will rip your wings off if you don't fly right.

My Dad left me 79 years of papers and he was a professor and well written too. It was a nightmare for me since no one else besides my wife helped me process it all for the estate.

You are doing the right thing and with electronic records you can store papers for others easily accessed with a bit of effort.

You are a kind and thoughtful man.

Edited May 7, 2022 by customboss
correct age it was a slow rolling descent LOL

Donstar · May 8, 2022

I am exceptionally fortunate to not be forced into a quick and dramatic cull of possessions and memorabilia. Any of my complaints and frustrations about "downsizing" are given with the utmost appreciation of being able to choose to go through the process. My strategy of letting time take care of things is proving to be not as effective as I'd hoped. Putting stuff in a Rubbermaid out of sight for a later date only postpones the pain. Some of these stowed away treasures create a dilemma and that is what needs to be given to other living family and what to "recycle". Common sense would tell me if it has been tucked away for 10+ years, passing the decision on to someone else is simply "passing the buck". If I could do "it" over again, my rule would be don't put it into storage unless they're seasonal decorations!!

KARNUT · May 8, 2022

My kids live within 10 minutes from us. We built a smaller home to retire to 15 years ago on the back of our property. It’s been a rental property since. The only way we’ll get rid of stuff is if we move to the smaller home. It seems less likely over time. So does getting rid of stuff. We’ve discussed it. Being our kids live close a rush to going through our ( mostly hers) stuff wouldn’t be an issue. My wife collected stuff, loves garage sales. Then there’s that intagra type r my wife can’t seem to part with. As an example has 40 years of happy meal toys. And there’s my albums, CDs, iPods. Not only a source of memories for them after our passing. But could be very valuable. One person trash is another person treasure we learned when my wife sold garage sale cast aways on EBay.

Donstar · May 10, 2022

Gas surpassed $2 per litre in our area. Reducing trips in the truck saves a noticeable amount of money! Yesterday when I was topping up there was a lady across from me filling up her SUV who was crying/laughing as she watched the pump. I feel awful for those dependent on their vehicle and/or with little flexibility in their budget! For me, current gas prices would justify buying an EV. However, there are too many others thinking the same. Waitlists are long and costs are reflected in this demand. I am hoping that, like Covid, a "vaccine" is soon developed!

KARNUT · May 10, 2022

It’s been reported across the country that there may be rolling blackouts with the early heatwave. I don’t think plugging in more electric vehicles would help the situation. I think at the present time gas powered cars and additional pipelines would be more efficient than coal fired power plants and trucks transporting oil. This backwards situation we’re in at present is unsustainable. We resumed our regular Saturday night out with my brother in law and wife. In the 10 years of doing this he split a meal with his wife. As I look with astonishment he’s a big eater. He explained his gas, food and overall expense has increased so much. He’s been set back to living like he’s starting out in life. He makes over six figures. It all came on too fast. Retirement has been put off and his wife is working more hours. My rental house has been an hedge against inflation . Otherwise I’d be dipping into my savings demising my kids inheritance. The trickle down effect of this global warming nonsense and war on fossil fuels. Along with inflation had us heading full speed towards a depression. Thanks Joe. Electric cars. I thought about it once. Screw the bas…..

garagerog · May 10, 2022

There has been a lot of discussion on the various business media channels as of late on whether the inflation we're experiencing will cause the economy to slide into recession. At my age I don't get out all that much any more, but when I do I tend to be fairly observant. The local Starbucks drive-thru generally has a line out to the street but this am there was not one car in line for their drive-thru. An indicator that people are retrenching? I dunno, but seems likely to me.

Grumpy Bear · May 10, 2022

Limited supply of gasoline causing high prices and why the limited supply? Local fast food line moving at a quart per customer times millions of patrons. :crackup: Don't need electric car. Need fast food LIIIIIIIIIINES to go away. :rollin:

KARNUT · May 10, 2022

17 minutes ago, garagerog said:

There has been a lot of discussion on the various business media channels as of late on whether the inflation we're experiencing will cause the economy to slide into recession. At my age I don't get out all that much any more, but when I do I tend to be fairly observant. The local Starbucks drive-thru generally has a line out to the street but this am there was not one car in line for their drive-thru. An indicator that people are retrenching? I dunno, but seems likely to me.

My local park that I walk at has tennis and pickle ball that’s usually full. Nobody was there today. I have three places that I walk. I drive the Avalanche to the closest for obvious reasons the CRV to this one. I think the realization that the attitude and gas prices may be here awhile. People have no choice but to cut back. Getting gas at Sams Sunday I saw a half ton Ram run up to 90$ for a fill up. He looked like he was going to throw up. My wife’s Genesis took 40$ from half a tank, last year a full tank. People are beginning to hoard food. My wife saw a lady at Aldi spend 700$. She was pulling cases off the shelves. That’ll be next hoarding.

diyer2 · May 10, 2022

People hoard because they are allowed to. People do a lot of things because they are allowed to.

shakenfake · May 10, 2022

I have one driving vacation planned this year and that is it. An hours drive down to Glen Rose in my girlfriend's Corolla.

I mean really if you just add the extra money it takes you to fill up it's only like $400 a year if you drive the national average.

customboss · May 10, 2022

4 hours ago, KARNUT said:

It’s been reported across the country that there may be rolling blackouts with the early heatwave. I don’t think plugging in more electric vehicles would help the situation. I think at the present time gas powered cars and additional pipelines would be more efficient than coal fired power plants and trucks transporting oil. This backwards situation we’re in at present is unsustainable. We resumed our regular Saturday night out with my brother in law and wife. In the 10 years of doing this he split a meal with his wife. As I look with astonishment he’s a big eater. He explained his gas, food and overall expense has increased so much. He’s been set back to living like he’s starting out in life. He makes over six figures. It all came on too fast. Retirement has been put off and his wife is working more hours. My rental house has been an hedge against inflation . Otherwise I’d be dipping into my savings demising my kids inheritance. The trickle down effect of this global warming nonsense and war on fossil fuels. Along with inflation had us heading full speed towards a depression. Thanks Joe. Electric cars. I thought about it once. Screw the bas…..

Thats just Texas grid thats planning rolling blackouts.