Subj : Various Things To : Daryl Stout From : Barry Martin Date : Tue Apr 30 2019 10:43:00 Hi Daryl! BM>Well so much for the cute little weiner dog persona! DS> They are cute...when they're behaving themselves. Or, like DS> the T-Shirt...applicable to the toddler and the dachshund..."If DS> I'm quiet, you better find me!!" . That's sometimes very true! BM>Yes, one reason why I always preferred to have a 'slush fund' available BM>if possible to tide things over should should something not go right BM>with anticipated income. DS> Unfortunately, $1100 a month on disability doesn't go far. The DS> folks in Congress saying they can't survive on $175,000 a year, DS> don't have a clue. They reply that the cost of living up there is DS> so steep...but that's because there's so much corruption, and DS> budgets include things like $600+ toilet seats. True. Haven't quite figured how someone got away with the $600 toilet seat and the other commonly available items. Could semi-figure how it could get to that price (other than just plain cheating and marking a $30 item up 200 times). OTOH I can understand the need for customization -- remember reading something about the need for a (gentle!) vacuum seal so as to not let the excreeta escape and float around the spacecraft. Anyway, yes, the cost of living does vary from area to area. It is more expensive to live here in Bettendorf than in Davenport and the two cities are only five miles away (both Iowa). Also more expensive to live in Des Moines (~200 miles west) and even more expensive in Chicago (~200 miles east). So some places easier to survive on $175,000/year and some not so easy. Personally I don't need a camper nor boat like my neighbours have; I spend my money on other hobbies which they'd little interest in. BM>The good news is she has money, the bad news is she has too much money. DS> Yep. At least they can't touch what is now my house, car, and DS> possessions...and my brother's trailer, pickup truck, and DS> possessions. Which is good. Now to be able to afford the various things needed to 'support' like electricity and gas..... BM>Try to track all those policies while everyone is alive! Or at least BM>store in one place to make the finding easier. DS> I thought I had...until this last one showed up. It was clearly DS> Allstate's fault (so much for being "in good hands")...but that's You remember the old joke about the cupped hands accidentally opening: "you're in good hands -- oops!" DS> the only bad experience I've had with them. But, with my Mom down DS> to under 120 pounds now, and hardly eating, I doubt she'll last DS> much longer. If I go to visit, and she doesn't know who I am, DS> then it's likely a matter of hours or days before she dies. Unfortunately, and doesn't help all that much when thinking of a specific individual but is a common scenario what at the end of life. BM>My Mother has said she pays $10 a week ($2 a meal) for hers. ...Quick BM>Googling I saw one answer at $4 per meal; another said a sliding scale BM>based on income, so some were at no cost. ...Hmm: here's a potentially BM>interesting site: www.NeedHelpPayingBills.com No idea how good the BM>information is but may lead to something. DS> They have different meals there each time, but some days, DS> neither she nor I care for what's being served. Need to look at the whole picture' I'll admit to not being a fan of Eggplant Parmigiana and would probably pick at that but eat the rest of the meal. And as I chatted with Nancy I'm not a fan of Corned Beef nor Pastrami. When I was living with my parents Dad used to get sandwiches from a few of his clients -- he'd bring up and we'd usually 'dissect' the sandwich as the meat and 'filling' was good but neither one of us a fan of the white bread. BM>Yes, that is another issue for problems. The "just get over it" isn't a BM>valid answer IMO. Grieving is natural, being too close and seeing a BM>constant barrage of problems as insurmountable also natural. Just have BM>to work around with some guidance on how to potentially get to there. DS> Except for minimal BBS and ham radio work over the weekend, I DS> slept...as I didn't feel like doing much of anything. I've been DS> on a diet of lunch meat sandwiches and flavored water for several DS> months now, and it has gotten OLD. But, I can't afford anything DS> else. I don't remember the last time I got 2000 calories in a day DS> (the recommended daily allowance)...that's why I've lost 60 DS> pounds since last August. Wish I could loose half of that weight but not really that way. Still think there has to be some sort of food assistance in your area. ¯ ® ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ® ¯ @Q.COM ® ¯ ® .... Ea$yTerm$: 100% down; pay nothing for the rest of your life. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .