Category: General

Bleep The RLF!

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Back, sorta. Even with the new fiber optic modem, we’ve been having some issues with bandwidth and service. On Saturday, the problems increased and by Sunday morning we had no service at all. I’m able to do a bit by cell phone, but not a lot. Really need to set up at least some emergency posting on the site from the phone…

Yesterday, we had two different technicians out, and found out we were not the only people in the area who lost our fiber optic service. The culprits are well known to the company: the Rodent Liberation Front. Turns out that their shock troops, the squirrels, are well known to the company to be active in this area with the chewing of cables and terminals. On the latter, they chew or claw enough for water to get it, which then freezes, which takes out multiple households.

It was interesting watching the second technician back a bucket truck down the driveway (old and narrow) to get to the terminal, but he did it. Things are fixed, and it is nice to have full bandwidth back.

Posting may still be lite this week for a couple of reasons. First, the body and I have been having a series of disagreements. Part is weather, which is locking me up and making me very unhappy about the incoming winter storm. In fact, I’m having to change my plans and schedule in regards grocery shopping as my planned foray may not be able to take place. The other I’m not sure about but boy howdy has my body been cranky with me. Not a fun time at all.

Second, between the body being cranky and and some unexpecteds, I may be offline a bit. I really don’t have much family left, but will be reaching out to several and some friends over the next few days. If you have friends and family, do reach out. Remember, Christmas is a rough time of year for many, check in, check up, and reach out!

Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the RLF waited until the storm hit to send out a suicide squirrel to take out power to as many as possible. Be just their style.

Meantime, stock up and prepare, as it looks like winter weather is going to hit a large part of the U.S. here shortly. Be safe, be good, and survive with style no matter what the weather or the RLF try to do.

UPDATE: I saw something somewhere from someone letting me know my RSS feed may have issues. Thanks for letting me know, and I will be looking into that.

More soon.

The Reason Behind

The lite posting of late.

Back in September, I reluctantly made the decision to both apply for disability and to take early retirement. Theoretically you can do both at the same time. Sadly, theory rarely seems to work with the SSA. Once disability is filed, you lose the ability to file online for retirement, or do some other things apparently. Which means you have to go into a SSA office or work over the phone. However, they are still in full COVID mode and many offices are closed or appointment only, with a number of hurdles in place to get one.

I’ve been told multiple times now that nothing can be done in the office, it all has to be by phone, and the wait time for a phone appointment is now about three months. So, something that should have taken 15 minutes has dragged out since September. Thursday was supposed to be the day, and I sat ready on my end as the time came and went. Called Friday morning, finally got a person, and was told that when the office called my number, they were told can’t be completed as dialed.

Was advised to go to the downtown office and ask for the manager. Went to downtown office, and after an hour got sent to a window. Nonce on the other side grandly informed me that I should be glad a bureaucrat deigned to talk to me, and that waiting until Feb was a privilege and I should shut up and accept it. When I asked to speak to a manager per the instructions from the SSA person on the phone, boy did it get huffy. How dare I! I dared, and he (?) flounced off after grandly telling me they didn’t have managers, just supervisors.

I was also advised it would do no good and might make things worse. Go for it Scooter. After a while, he flounced back to his chair and grandly informed me to go to a certain spot where the supervisor would put me in my place in the fullness of time. Took a while, but supervisor came and was a nice, polite, and helpful person. We talked, he listened, and net result is that some things are getting corrected, he’s reaching out to the office that needs to be involved, and will be keeping me in the loop.

We tested my number, and for some reason they can’t call it. So, he has my email and such and will get me one way or another at need. I should be hearing from the people I need to hear from next week. If he does what he says, some or all of this could be resolved next week. We will see. Right now, still not a lot of faith but if he does what he says he will, I will have to admit that there is at least one good man in the SSA. That, and it pays to be a Karen and ask for the manager. Hopefully, this isn’t going to drag out into Feb. and Mar.

So, several hours of my time, $10 in parking (out of the grocery budget), and that is why I had a drink yesterday.

Lite Today

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Have several appointments today, so posting may be a bit lite. Mostly non-medical, which is a nice change.

As for the ICBM the Russians put in a silo that seems to have a number of media panties in knots, don’t let yours join them. May do a fuller discussion tomorrow, but for now don’t see it as anything other than Vladimir tweaking noses.

If you are in one of the many areas experiencing, or getting ready to experience, winter or interesting weather, hope you are prepared and ready for it. Forget milk and bread, think bourbon and beef. Steaks, or a good beef stew, along with some wine or other spirits, that’s called surviving in style.

More soon.

Monday Update

Sorry that there’s not more today, but it turned into a day for filling out paperwork. As I’ve mentioned before, I have reluctantly begun a disability claim and am looking into what it takes to retire early. I need something regular coming in, as while I appreciate and desperately need the donations to the fundraiser, being able to pay the bills reliably is paramount. Especially given the way the economy is doing.

Saturday saw a huge amount of mail come in, which was all from the government and included 17 pages of forms related to the disability claim. This morning has been spent filling out all those forms. I strongly suspect they are going to regret paper forms that I have to fill out by hand as my penmanship, never good to start with, has gone downhill since all this started. Even when I print, it’s a challenge. I also suspect they are going to regret the instructions ‘answer in detail.’

One good thing did come out the medical issues last week. With me not feeling good, I had an “attention lapse” and let the coffee steep in the French press for about eight minutes. Most coffees take 3-4 minutes to get the best flavor. I figured that so long as it wasn’t too bitter, it would be okay. It was freaking delicious! Strong, not bitter, more of the chicory and other notes came out. So, I’ve been playing with it a bit and am finding 6-7 minutes works very well with this coffee.

No, I don’t have a post office box yet, but working on it. With fees and rent, the smallest box offered is going run about $115 for three months. Since I don’t even have bill or real grocery money right now, will be a bit. Meantime, looking at other options on a temporary basis as gift cards were mentioned as a possibility.

Watching what is going on in Russia and the Ukraine, leaving the combat reporting to others who are doing an excellent job overall. In political terms in Russia, not much has changed though there are some interesting maneuvers underway. Some of it suggests that a sacrifice/scapegoat short of Shoigu may be offered up. Also, trying to confirm a report that Russia was so short of precision air launched cruise missiles that they took some out of nuclear service to use with conventional warheads in strikes on the Ukraine.

Today’s strikes may have taken a rather large chunk out of their precision ALCM stockpile. Logistics rules, and Russia is not alone in being short. Right now, with all we have sent to the Ukraine, we better hope a war doesn’t start as we can’t sustain a fight for long. What’s worse, a number of the lines needed are not even running I hear. If we had competent leadership they would be moving on this. Given what we have, well, maybe North Korea will sell to us too. (/sarc) Pro tip: in any fight with peer or near-peer opponents, your ammo and related will be used at several times the rates predicted by the paper pushers. Just take a look at how many years worth of production has been used in Javelins and other systems in less than a year.

More soon.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which began as a celebration of life, abundance, and thanks. I’ve long tried to stop each year and give thanks for all that is good in my life. That can include things that may not seem a blessing, but often in those mysterious ways turn out to be so. So, I give thanks to God and thanks to those here who have impacted my life.

First and foremost, I am thankful to still be here. A year ago last June, lightning entered my life and started a most interesting journey for me. A year ago last October I had open heart surgery so they could take care of three different issues that had cropped up. The strike itself was a series of small miracles that made the difference between my getting up and going to work not realizing I had been hit, and my landlord finding my body instead. The last year plus has seen a number of medical and other challenges, and we seem to be holding on fairly well.

While it is hard, I try to be thankful for my memory issues. Right now, my short-term memory is, ah, limited. There are portions of my long-term memory that I can’t access. I’m told that this too shall pass, and while it can be frustrating (or worse) it also reminds me to be thankful for what I have, and that in about three years my brain should have healed and most of these issues will then pass. Until then, I’m thankful that there was no major physical damage (fractures and the like) to the brain, that it will heal, and that I have methods of coping that help a lot. I may still have to put my morning pills in a bowl, count, and verify to be sure I take them all; but, I can do that and pretty much everything else on my own.

I find it very hard to be thankful for the hearing loss. In addition to general loss in both ears, and an increase in tinnitus, I lost all the upper frequency hearing in one ear, and the nerves are dead so no getting it back via tech. Things sound strange, different, or missing. That said, it does force me to slow down and actually listen on occasion, which in this world can be a good thing. It also makes me appreciate what I still can hear even more. For that, I am thankful.

I am thankful for the open heart surgery, as it seems to have worked well and from which I have bounced back amazingly well given all. Still working on endurance and more, but it is a blessing to be able to get out and walk and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. And to meet a number of the neighborhood dogs. That’s really fun to do.

I am thankful for my regular medical team, and for the team at RHI who have helped me develop some of the methods of coping that allow me to function well (most of the time). For all that I sometimes do resent having to live off lists and such, I’m also thankful I have that option and that it works as well as it does as much as it does.

I am thankful for all who have offered support and encouragement through the fundraiser. I never expected that I would get hit by lightning, much less that it would lead to a year-plus of medical and other challenges or that I would be out of work so long. The prayers, encouragement, and financial support are amazing and why I am still going. With the medical on an even keel for now, though it took much longer than planned/desired, working hard to get moved out to the Southwest. Thank you all!

I am thankful for you, my readers. There is overlap between this group and the fundraising group, but you too have offered prayers, encouragement, and financial gifts. Some of you have offered tech support and other information as this blog has changed hosts and otherwise started on the path of being a well-read blog once again. Again, thank you all!

Finally, I am thankful for my friends. As with all such dramatic changes in life, one finds out who one’s friends truly are in times like these. I have met friends I didn’t realize I had, and I’ve seen true friends stand out like wheat from chaff. I have seen kindness unbounded from strangers, and have reconnected with friends from the past. For it all, I give thanks and say to you, thank you all.

There are many more blessings in my life, but for now I share these with you and encourage you to take the time this Thanksgiving to list the blessings (even in disguise) in your life and give thanks. It is right and proper to do so. Equally, it is a good reminder of all that is good in our lives in these interesting times.

The times are not good, but in the face of it people still do good things. Have Faith, as even when things are dark and tight, there is good and help in this world. Also, remember that together we can do more than alone, and we need to stand with our brothers and sisters during this great challenge.

Be not despondent, be not afraid. Instead, give thanks and do what what you can so that all of us can move forward together.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Kroger Update & More

If the site is slow loading or you’ve had trouble getting through, my apologies. We are experiencing growing pains as I move from regular blog to high-traffic blog. Working on it, feel free to hit the tip jar to help me keep going and upgrade the site. Your gifts truly do make the difference. Working on adding a mail-in option, GabPay, others; if interested in mail-in for now drop me a line.

A few weeks ago, I had a most unexpected and unpleasant experience with Kroger Fuel. Since then, I’ve neither gotten fuel there nor shopped at Kroger.

Funny thing is, I’ve been finding some much better deals elsewhere. The eggs I prefer (and yes, trying to stay brand specific as started them for nutrition profile and right now because my bloodwork is so good! Changing as little as possible given how good) I’ve found elsewhere for less. Excellent and even better sour cream to replace the Kroger Natural? Yes indeed and for about the same price.

I am having to make a few more stops, but have been able to keep mileage pretty close to what I was doing. Interesting thing is finding some neat things along the way.

I also need to note that the Aldi near me has much better produce than the one I used to shop. At the previous, that section could literally stink. At this one, it looks like it is worked daily and I’ve been finding some wonderful stuff including avocados which I use every day. Their avocados beat all the other stores easily on price and quality.

As I noted on Twitter earlier, I got some New Orleans French Roast coffee beans (with chicory) from The Fresh Market yesterday. Tried them this morning and while it is not the same as sitting at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans (and eating things I’m not supposed to eat), but it is a good second. The Fresh Market does bulk coffees, and the price works out close to what most stores charge. Pro tip: whole beans last longer, just like whole grains, and are better for prep (and coffee in my highly biased opinion). Also, before buying from that bulk bin, check those beans out. If dry and dull, skip. Good fresh beans will have an oily sheen to them. That said, you really need to buy the sealed and pre-done bags of whole bean for prep. They also have some amazing deals each day of the week.

I was buying Seattle’s Best Post Alley beans, but that is one of the few things I’ve not been able to find at other stores. In fact, most stores have even less a selection of whole bean coffees than Kroger these days. May have to save up and see about ordering direct. Sadly, I was paying $4.99 a bag before the election. Now, $7-$8 is not unusual for it. That’s one reason the bulk at The Fresh Market works out about the same, or even less if careful.

The other thing are supplements. I had switched some to Kroger brand, but will switch to others of similar quality or even higher if the price is right. Going to have to explore that a bit more here soon, time to stock up again. May be one of the things I get from the big box (WallyWorld, Meijer, etc.) stores.

Fresh Thyme does have some bulk (no coffee) and a number of products that are hard to find elsewhere. I also love the bulk meats, especially bacon. They have sold me as little as three slices (needed for cooking) and when I can I like to splurge and get six or so pieces to have Saturday morning. Yes, I do save my bacon drippings. 🙂

Even without all the coupons I used to get and use, coming out a bit cheaper on my boycott. That said, if you are on Twitter and want to save, follow The Crazy Coupon Lady for a lot of good tips and bargains.

*****

If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo or drop me a line to discuss other methods. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

PayPal And Donation Update

If the site is slow loading or you’ve had trouble getting through, my apologies. We are experiencing growing pains as I move from regular blog to high-traffic blog. Working on it, feel free to hit the tip jar to help me keep going and upgrade the site. Your gifts truly do make the difference.

For the record, PayPal still hasn’t cancelled my account. They are still claiming that a ‘technical issue’ is preventing them from closing a number of accounts including mine.

Yes, it has been a hit taking them off here. There has been a significant drop in donations, the gifts that keep me going and will hopefully get me on out to the SW here soon. So much so I’m in a bit of a bind.

So, I’m in the process of jumping through the hoops to add GabPay as an option, and am exploring others. Any suggestions for a good alternative that isn’t going to play woke games?

*****

If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Imhotep?

Yes, medically and otherwise I am still trying to prepare to move to the Southwest. Now, pretty much have a green light from the medical side. I’m trying to get creative on the actual move, and even on finding a place to live when I get there.

One option I can’t afford to do lump sum is to buy some land, maybe payments though. So, I’ve been keeping an eye on land around the area I’ve narrowed things down to, and have found the price ranges interesting. Right now, anything with even a trailer on it is expensive, while undeveloped land varies wildly.

The other day I found a listing for ten acres at a price that I couldn’t believe. Now, this one was different from the $1 million listing for a 3-Br house, that only after you dug down did you find out that it came with 100 acres of land and was a working ranch. This is just the ten acres, and the price was well below normal. So much so, I want to visit it just to be sure it doesn’t glow in the dark or that I’m going to find Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and Arnold Vosloo running around shooting and creating sand storms.

Renting a place for a few months to explore and shop is in many ways the best and smart thing to do. That said, to get out there and get going, nothing is off the table. Maybe find a Bubba Yaga-style trailer, tow it out there, and live in it for a bit. Find something that needs work I can do, and build up. Main thing is, get out there and get started. I really don’t want to deal with another Indiana winter, especially with how good I felt out there when I visited earlier this year.

I’ve about got expenses pared down as much as I can. The one thing I know I will need to do/get is Starlink. Your suffering via reading me must continue.

The search continues. I really need a lump sum to move, but again I’m willing to be creative. Onwards!

*****

If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Get Me Outa Here

One more reason to get out of here: been up since about 0330 hours when, once again, shots rang out nearby. To my ear, it sounded like the same gun, same area as last time, but no yelling. Just two shots, then about five more. I swear it sounds more like a .380 (.25?) than a 9mm, but after the lightning strike and the loss of upper frequencies completely in one ear (as well as general loss of hearing in both), both my triangulation abilities and my identification are off. Good thing was a neighbor (Marine) heard it too. Despite his calling it in this time, nothing. Saw cops race by in both directions, but none stopping in our area. I’m working hard on a nest egg to get moved, hope to add more to it soon and get out of here.

*****

If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right or the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.