Navigating senior years.

[customboss]

Here’s a fart that’s gonna hurt. 
 

[Donstar]

5 hours ago, customboss said:

Here’s a fart that’s gonna hurt. 

This is the crappiest segue ever!    (I did say please.....)

[garagerog]

4 hours ago, customboss said:

It’s gonna pound Trump voting states really hard. I note Washington state is getting pounded hard because it’s very rural? 

Only once you venture past the I-5 megalopolis that extends from Bellingham near the Canadian border to Vancouver,Wa, in actuality a suburb of Portland although I'm sure Vancourverites would be greatly offended to be characterized in the same sentence as Portland.

[Atlas]

 

 

5 hours ago, customboss said:

It’s gonna pound Trump voting states really hard. I note Washington state is getting pounded hard because it’s very rural? 

 

It's strategic. "Silver loading": 

• "Silver Loading" Strategy: Washington state implemented an emergency rule for 2026 requiring a uniform "silver load" adjustment. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits are calculated based on the cost of the second-lowest cost Silver plan in a given area. By artificially inflating the sticker price of all Silver plans, the state increases the amount of federal subsidy dollars flowing into the market. This aims to offset the loss of the ePTCs for low- and middle-income individuals.

[customboss]

39 minutes ago, Donstar said:

This is the crappiest segue ever!    (I did say please.....)

Love ya Brother! 

[customboss]

53 minutes ago, garagerog said:

Only once you venture past the I-5 megalopolis that extends from Bellingham near the Canadian border to Vancouver,Wa, in actuality a suburb of Portland although I'm sure Vancourverites would be greatly offended to be characterized in the same sentence as Portland.

Who mentioned Oregon? 

[garagerog]

18 minutes ago, customboss said:

Who mentioned Oregon? 

I mentioned Portland, maybe I should have said not the one in Maine?  C'mon, without knowing your knowledge about Wa. state geography I was only trying to give you some visual context.

[customboss]

5 minutes ago, garagerog said:

I mentioned Portland, maybe I should have said not the one in Maine?  C'mon, without knowing your knowledge about Wa. state geography I was only trying to give you some visual context.

Gotcha. Thanks 

[Donstar]

We had two dear old friends visit us for a Christmas season brunch yesterday.  At one point during our visit, we updated each other on our shared and individual medical issues.  All of us had many visits and medical treatments this past year and appreciate how our current health would be much different if we had unavailable / unaffordable health care. I sincerely hope there is no one participating int this thread who can't access affordable medical help. 

[Donstar]

Everyone celebrating Christmas and reading this thread have many, many memories of this special day.  Some recollections are so outstanding we may shed a tear or two at the dinner table tomorrow!  In an instant we've graduated from the kid's table to special accommodations at the grownups' table!  I wish  all of you a very Merry Christmas full of laughter and happy tears!

Edited December 24, 2025 by Donstar

[KARNUT]

My brothers and I used to go to the mall together to shop. It actually was for the pizza. And shopping for our wives. Now it’s me and my son on Christmas Eve. Recently his son has joined us. Now a tradition going on 40 years. The family New York style pizza shops have expanded. There’s one right up the road from me. We frequent regularly.

[Donstar]

3 hours ago, KARNUT said:

My brothers and I used to go to the mall together to shop. It actually was for the pizza. And shopping for our wives. Now it’s me and my son on Christmas Eve. Recently his son has joined us. Now a tradition going on 40 years. The family New York style pizza shops have expanded. There’s one right up the road from me. We frequent regularly.

About thirty years ago, I found myself Christmas shopping for my wife on the morning of Dec. 24.  Walmart was open 24hrs so I went there first.  It looked like a men's only club.  I commented to a sales clerk about this observation and she said it happens every year.  Men have a greater tendency to leave their Christmas shopping to the last minute.  Since then, I've learned my lesson.  I had my Christmas shopping completed by 5 pm Dec.23 this year!  

[diyer2]

I'm back in physical therapy for my left shoulder, hope it helps with the dexterity of my hand also.

[KARNUT]

7 minutes ago, Donstar said:

About thirty years ago, I found myself Christmas shopping for my wife on the morning of Dec. 24.  Walmart was open 24hrs so I went there first.  It looked like a men's only club.  I commented to a sales clerk about this observation and she said it happens every year.  Men have a greater tendency to leave their Christmas shopping to the last minute.  Since then, I've learned my lesson.  I had my Christmas shopping completed by 5 pm Dec.23 this year!  

My shopping is done. We don’t buy each other much. I go to carry on the tradition, people watch and lunch with my son, grandson. It’s widely entertaining.

[Donstar]

19 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

My shopping is done. We don’t buy each other much. I go to carry on the tradition, people watch and lunch with my son, grandson. It’s widely entertaining.

I also go to watch and will be at the mall in about an hour.  Funny to see families still visiting Santa!