This is the title Discourse lets me put in as a MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
141

After wearing my mask around my mom so much, I’ve come to an important realization: I can eat as much spinach as I want and not worry about things being in my teeth. Hooray! Anyway, meeting with the radiology doc today - it sounds like mom’s in for a brutal six-week course of radiology after a neck dissection, but they’re hoping to avoid chemo. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

I’m also pushing my son, kicking and screaming, over the finish line of his finals week. I’ve turned into that mom, but Christ on a cracker, my kid finished his first final ever this morning and then had no idea when he next one was (ummmm, 20 minutes after he asked me). So anyway, that just about gave me a heart attack. He’ll be straight B’s and B+'s this year, but given that it’s his first year of high school, it’s the middle of a pandemic and he’s all virtual (not a good format for him) and they’re cramming a semester into nine weeks, we’ll take it. He got to mid-semester with a C or a D in all his classes, so I really have to hand it to him for the improvement alone.

Anyway…just waiting for my mom’s surgeon to call and give her the where and when. I hope it’s soon.

142

We have achieved guest room.
Imgur
The mattress is really firm - I couldn’t sleep on it, but FCD is already eyeing it for napping.

{{{Butters & Mr.B}}} We’re with you, virtually and in spirit. Vent here all you want.

Downpour continues and the dehumidifier in the basement has a clogged hose, so it spilled… again… I know what needs to be done. I’ll get to it eventually. Always something. And I’m not going to think about the gawd-awful noises the dishwasher is making.

BBBoo - we replaced our oil-fired furnace and a/c unit with a Trane back in 2006. I think it was around $6K. But we’ve had it serviced every year, and it still runs like new. Moral of the story - the cost of annual maintenance is money well-spent. Hope the quote isn’t too obscene.

FCD has an in-person meeting at 4 this afternoon. So that means supper will be late. Not sure what we’ll do for evening foodage. Must cogitate.

143

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the personal experience feedback. Your experience mirrors what Consumer Reports had to say, but I trust you more!

Hoping I can come in at the lower range of the cost estimate-one story house, not that many square feet. If I’m tracking what I’ve read, my AC is ok (:crossed_fingers:t3:, knock on wood) so just the heat producer needs replacing. It’s easier to survive without AC than heat where I am, imagine it might be the reverse for you. But then, I can reminder minding a coal stove in the dirt-floored basement of a two story farmhouse as an 8yo in the ‘50s. I hauled coal in, stoked it several times a day, hauled the cold ashes out and still had to heat up bricks and put them in my bed at night to ward off frostbite.

Your guest bedroom is gorgeous! Beee-yooou-ti-ful. Can’t wait to stay in it when I come on my road tour of Mumper grand estates. Don’t worry, I‘m not a picky eater, I don’t take long showers and I never leave wet towels on the floor. I promise to use coasters.

144

As noted, a new furnace will run $5-6K. If you need a new heat pump, too, you can double that, but there’s no real need to replace both unless they’re giving you problems. Ask if they’ll give you a longer warranty if you go with their company. HVAC companies can buy extended warranties just like you can. I told my installer that the other heat pump outfit offered a 10-year, and he matched it. Quite often with a furnace, it’s the electronic mother board that craps out. Some companies won’t even bother with it, and the expense is quite high; you’re quite likely better off replacing the whole thing, depending on how old your present furnace is.

145

Thanks for the very helpful info and tips @Chefguy. I’ve written it all down and will quiz the furnace estimator when she gives me my estimates.

I’ll probably be back and ask y’all wise ones more questions then.

146

Howdy Y’all! I have not read stuff, but promise to come back later and catch up. Several asked about the video thingy. It is up so I shall attempt to share.

A Future With Hope Video

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It’s posted as “private” (which is fine!) but you may get a few unwashed heathen barbarian Mumpers askin’ to join the group, so’s we can peek at it.

148

: shoves demons back up stairs:
It’s amazing how badly damaged one can get, falling up stairs…

Made a quick trip to the commissary for a few odds & ends; stopped off at Town Hall on the way, picked up a ballot, marked it, and handed it back in. Ballot said I could vote for Biden & Harris, or for Trump & Pence, with no option to split it and vote for, say, Biden and Pence. Harrumph. (I voted for neither, Trump being an idiot and Biden being a Democrat. I still think “None of the Above” should be a valid choice on all ballots.)

FCM, some of your rain seems to have wandered up here by mistake. You can come get it any time, but the sooner, the better…

149

Laundry (unnecessary as it turned out to be) is clean and dry. Folded and put away? We shall see.
I did call Mi Madre - who has a friend in hospice, late stage it sounds like - so I think my phone call was a good distraction. At any rate, we didn’t argue.
She had sent me some hand-knitted stuff (for which I thanked her nicely! Individually for each item in turn …) and I made her genuinely laugh with a little joke … rarer than hen’s teeth, the woman has almost no sense of humor, so I’ll take the win.

Of course, now my anxiety and/or realism is whispering, “Next time! She oscillates!”

You know what I found? Less cuticle gnawing, less nail biting … and I haven’t heard “aw, you oughta smile more, honey!” in MONTHS.

150

It’s 80 and sunny. If it wasn’t for the 30mph sustained wind, it’ would be a downright great day.

I thought we just had to say Bees, bees, bees in the mirror, and you’d appear. :honeybee:

You’re going through shit on top of a pandemic. It couldn’t hurt. {{{{hugs}}}}

Boob, hope you can work the finances on the furnace.

151

The rain stopped and I saw some blue sky, but it didn’t last. More rain is promised overnight and into the morning, but we might see sun in the afternoon. Maybe.

Trying to set up closing on our refi - the agent texted me, then nothing. I’m going to assume he’s on the phone. But it’s about to happen, so huzzah!!

And FCD may have found his car. He’s going to look tomorrow, and I’m trying to move money to the right places to make it happen. We shall see. All of this as he’s winding down his business. It’s crazy hereabouts. And I still don’t know what we’ll do for supper.

152

Just don’t do it when I’m driving please.

153

Howdy Y’all! We did an early sup and I have caught up on the MMP. Zeta dumped some rain this mornin’ but has been pretty quiet since then. Like doggio we are gettin’ a bunch of wind. Other than that 'tis pleasant out.

{{{Butters}}} a therapist might not be a bad idea. Sometimes it’s good to talk things through. Plus, like everyone else has said, you always have us.

Boo the joys of homeownership. Hope you get a decent price on the furnace.

MOOOOOOM the guest bedroom is bee-yoo-ti-ful!

I shall attempt a link to the video from the church’s website. Maybe this will work better. A Future With Hope. ETA: Scroll down to the video.

154

Thanks for the encouragement. Getting old, disabled because of a car accident 100% someone else’s fault and therefore unemployed, ain’t for sissies, that’s for sure.

To replace the furnace is $4,905. Have a 0%/36month home project credit app in and waiting to hear back. If that isn’t approved I can apply to my city’s Urban Development dept for one of their loans. Hoops within hoops…

Have to go with a high efficiency furnace because building codes do not allow for venting through my existing chimney any longer with a standard furnace. Fine with me. I’ll end up with a new thermostat with numbers big enough to read and a foot lower on the wall so I won’t need a step stool to adjust it. Yippee!

I think the estimator guy is still smiling about how old my furnace is. It was old when I bought the place 15 years ago (noted on my building inspection report) so I’ve gotten twice the average lifespan out of it. New one is about a third the size and will have extended warranties. I’ll get credit for the service call fee paid today and two free change of season service checks. A longstanding local family-owned firm. Trane brand.

Kinda scary how fun it was to have a human being sitting in a rocking chair across the room talking to me (both masked the whole, entire, complete time). I wanted to swap recipes with him and look at pictures of his kids just to keep him visiting with me.

Thanks for listening to my furnace woes. Somebody loan me a big, sweet dog to cuddle with and keep me warm til the new furnace is in?

155

Evening all. The rain has departed the area to go visit Sari and FCM, so we’re drying out here. Temperature is down to 53F and heading for 44F tonight, so fall is definitely here.

Tomorrow will be banking and the Great November Shopping Trek. Need to buy candy for the littles if nothing else.

BBBoo, sounds like you got a pretty good deal on the unit. On the dog front, I can’t help but my niece has a English Mastiff (180 lbs, so maybe a little too cuddly…)

Butters, what doggio said–if somebody else to talk to about it will help, go for it.

shoe, I washed blankets and bed sheets today, they are put away–folded, not so much…

FCM, y’all sure you got enough blue there in the room??

talky, glad son did better (with a little help from mom). And {{{ }}} for Mom-unit.

Cookie, glad the family is OK, gas leaks can be scary.

OK, need to fix me a big bowl of Sallit, have been using ranch dressing instead of my go-to Olive Garden Italian and I like it. All y’all take care.

156

**{{{butters and Mr.butters}}}

{{{shoe}}}** Hang in there.

herald, my sister always called the beige carpet contractor beige. She has a point.

Irked, came home, fixed supper and am fixing to do KP before playing in the studio,

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

157

Furnace problems are annoying. The furnace here spent all last winter refusing to operate properly, so we wore sweaters. This year I’m not going to do that, so a quick inspection by a friend with some experience in the area has narrowed the problem down to a faulty control box. Guess what I just happen to have a spare of? So Monday Paul is coming over and we are going to replace the box and then go drink a bit.

Massive hugs to everybody who needs them. Even more massive hugs to those who don’t think they need them. You do.

158

The carpet is gray. Sheesh… :stuck_out_tongue:

Daughter is off tomorrow and she’ll be coming over to do some admin work for FCD, and she’ll bring Roxy, so I can maybe sleep in. We shall see. Meanwhile, I need to crash. I’s tahred.

159

I’m here. Actually, I’m in Seattle. What a frickin’ day, and I don’t even see the medical folks until tomorrow. I got a phone call en route to the train station: a friend of mine had a stroke and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. AFAIK, she’s doing OK. Then my sister called with further eye issues. Then I found out a former student has COVID–a guy who’s invested a lot of time and money into setting up a program urging (and rewarding) people who wear masks. He’s the 8th COVID victim I know.

Anyway, I get to Seattle at noon. Can’t access hotel room until 3. I decide to get coffee and go for a walk. Seattle, the city with coffee houses on every block, and I couldn’t find one that didn’t say “Closed due to COVID.” Decided to head back to Amtrak station. Surprise! Once out, you can’t get back in.

Long story short, phone kept dying (though 50% charge), ended up walking 5.5 miles to hotel. (No phone, no UBer.) Couldn’t get into room (contactless entry, no front desk). 45 minutes and 2 phone deaths later, finally got in.

First time I’ve been to Seattle since COVID. I knew it’d been hit hard, but frick. Such a wonderful city to get slammed with 100,000+ cases and 2500 deaths.

Ugh, beige carpets. Shortly after marriage, we lived in an apartment with the only thing worse than beige carpet: carpet faded from beige to gray-beige. I’ve hated gray ever since. Also, what’s with the unending earth tone furniture trend? Lots of lovely earth-toned LR’s, but few color options. When I moved here, I got a mellow-sunshine color sofa for the LR and a pale aqua one for my study. Color!

Swampy, watched the whole video and shed a few tears. I liked your priest’s attire: business up top, casual below. :slight_smile: I was moved by how the children were all so worried about school. I loved the smily lady in the pink. And your words were the best of all. Thank you so much! P.S. Kept looking at the background and thinking what a b*tch to mow it must be. :slight_smile:

Shoe, you tell that abusive voice to knock it off. When I was feeling low post-divorce and the ex’s voice in my head kept telling me what a loser I was, I created a resume–not work and school stuff but all I’d survived and what skills it had taken to get through and past all that. Not everyone can move alone halfway across the country and carve out a new life for herself as you did, and that’s only one survival/accomplishment. Hats off to you.

Mom, what a lovely, serene room.

Boo, damn on that furnace diagnosis. I hope you find a solution you can afford.

Butters, agree that therapy might be a godsend. {{{Butters}}}

160

Have you ever tried Samurai Sudoku? (evil grin)