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HB 🙏 !!!

Well our crazy weather~ last night we got another inch plus of snow then at some point it changed to freezing rain - blek! Has been freezing rain all morning. It's supposed to warm up this evening and change to regular rain which would be good if it could at least melt the roadways.
 
I'll be getting the milk and eggs ready soon.
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Jim
 
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Topped of the pickup with debris and my brother helped ro unload it into a dumpster. The Princess observed that it unique for me to be putting things rather than taking it out of a dumpster. ;)

Grabbed 2 full propane tanks just incase the storm takes a turn north toward us tonight. We are only expecting 2 inches but I like to be prepared. The Princess and I are scheduled to supervise the snow storm from the front porch in about an hour or 2 from now.

Ben
 
Your yard looks like our yard right now, Phideaux. Husband wanted to go for a drive, so I cleaned the walkway and salted it for his walker to make it to the truck. Animals are all good, but it's been an every two hour thing for water for all of them. Dogs and baby french guineas are in the heated part of the milkhouse, though, and it's above freezing in there. Usually the dogs want more of a walk, but not today! They do their business and back in their kennels. One of the barncats (Kevin) has been booted out of the warm basement by Jayrod, Mama cat, and the two junior kittens, so I've taken pity on him and made a cat cave for him in the garage and put some tuna in there. He had been sitting on the porch rocker all night and morning trying to keep warm. I threw a towel over him this morning and he was not amused. Little granddaughter is a couch potato today, watching movies and writing stories in her notebook. Her sore throat complaint doesn't seem bad now at all, she'll probably go to school tomorrow. First time she's missed a day in a year, so I wasn't bothered. Lots of cooking today, and thinking I'll make a cherry platz for dessert.
 
We're getting more snow now also and it supposed to be MINUS 15 tomorrow morning, what????
I feel really bad for the neighbor's livestock that is outside. There are a few around here that don't even have shelters for them.
Husband is still out adding more plastic to the barn windows ( the original glass ones are mostly broken, and plastic is much easier and cheaper for the few days in winter when it gets this bad)
It was fairly nice this morning, I ended up frying fish and chips on my outside stove ( wood stove is no good for deep frying, gas works better) but glad I did it early because the weather went bad in like an hour. Temps dropped really fast.
Supposed to get another 4-6 inches of snow tonight. Good thing son went shopping for me yesterday. He had to go to town anyway. He did pretty well, much better than husband does when I send him, but husband doesn't cook so that makes sense. Never send someone that can't cook grocery shopping....
Talked to my friend in Florida , she was walking on the beach in 75 degree sunshine....I don't like the heat in Florida but right now I wouldn't mind.
 
Got home from my work trip to Arizona and it's 5°, with a NW wind, and my pipes are frozen. I can't access the crawl space between my back wall and the storage units behind me because I don't have the code for the lock. The handyman is on vacation and I can't get hold of the landlady yet. So, I'm stuck without water. This is one of those times when I'm glad I'm at least somewhat of a prepper - my stash of water is about to come in real handy...
 
zannej said:
Part of the problem is that with all the inflation but lack of proportionate increase with wages, people can't afford to move out. For some people, getting jobs actually costs them more money than they earn because they need transportation. In places without public transportation this means they need a vehicle. Which means they have to buy a vehicle, pay taxes on the purchase (where I live that is 10.45% tax), pay registration, pay for an inspection sticker, and get insurance (it's mandatory to have insurance where I live). The insurance premiums can be pretty high and then if the person got a junker because they couldn't afford a better vehicle they have to keep getting repairs. Then there are oil changes every 6 months (if they have a good motor & don't need to replace oil more frequently), gas costs, etc. One of my friends wasn't even getting paid enough to cover the cost of gas to get to work. If they don't own their own homes they have to pay for rent and utilities. If they live in an urban area with an apartment they often have to pay extra for parking. If they are able to qualify for loans to buy a home, they have to pay mortgages plus utilities. And thanks to Jimmy Carter, banks can charge more than 10% interest.

Even if someone goes out and gets a college degree, they can't always get scholarships or scholarships don't cover the full costs & many parents can't afford to pay for the kids' college so the kids end up taking out student loans which charge insane interest rates. So, assuming they graduate from college, they can't always find jobs right out of college because there are not always jobs for people with degrees in the areas and many places won't hire college graduates because they are "overqualified". In my particular area, there are more college graduates living in poverty than people with only middle school or high school education. Then, regardless of whether or not they get jobs, they have to start paying student loan debt and it can be garnished from their wages and tax returns.

So, it's not that young people are unwilling to work, it's that they have hard time making enough $ to afford the expenses of being out on their own.

As for crime rate, it is actually statistically lower than it used to be, but because we have better communication systems, we hear about more of it more quickly.

Anyway, I'm awake early because the dog woke me up. I've already had breakfast (pork chops) and brushed my teeth. I'm about to take my vitamins and play with sketchup.
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Sorry Z, but I call BS - not on you, but the idea that they can't make enough $ to afford living expenses. I worked as a single mom, paying my own way through college and kept a roof over our heads and kept us fed etc. making just over minimum wage. It's a matter of priorities. We didn't have TV or go to movies or eat out or lots of other things. This wasn't all that long ago - I graduated in '09 so not like last century. The sad part is that they expect a certain lifestyle and don't know any other way. They don't know how to cook, live w/o TV, walk or ride bike etc. to save money.
 
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Agree there, Lady L. Some of the "youngers" get mom or dad to foot their bills when they "want" things. They need to know that there are things they need and things they want. I'm known to give that speech to the grandkids all the time. We tell them we'll give them what they need, and they need to pay for their wants. I would never cosign for anything for our grandkids. That's just asking for it. Zannej, do some research on the depression days, one of my favorite topics. Find out how to live with basic needs and not the wants. No handouts from mama or dad or President sugar daddy.
 
Ladylocust, how long ago was that though? Minimum wage used to be enough to keep a family afloat. It is not anymore. If it had scaled with inflation it would be over $30/hr now. But instead it has stagnated. Even if someone scrimps and saves every penny, it can all go to crap if something goes wrong. If they get sick, injured, or have a vehicle break down, or need some sort of expensive maintenance. Accounts get overdrafted. It sends people in to a downward spiral. The depression era was awful. My paternal grandparents lost their $ in the run on the banks. My grandmother was a teacher but the school couldn't afford to pay her so she was given IOU slips. She had to use IOUs to buy groceries. But at least she was able to do that.

Nowadays there are so many more expenses than there were back then. So many things are required to get and have a job that weren't required back then. People have to use the internet to check their schedules online, they have to have cellphones to get texts from their bosses, they need some way to apply online. So many places now require apps on cellphones for things and now the older phones are no longer being supported.

Also, I take issue with the idea that people should *have* to live in horrible conditions just because they don't make enough money. When the minimum wage was first created, it was intended to be enough that people could live well, not just barely make it through. The financial strife makes people want more comforts. I do agree that there are many people who are not taught how to properly manage their money. But we have banks and credit cards that actively exploit people. Young people are not being taught by parents or by schools how to budget. But they are also not prepared for how badly things can go if something goes wrong.

There are different challenges for people today. Even cutting out all luxuries, people on minimum wage can't manage without public assistance of some sort. Even with public assistance some still struggle.

Anyway, I got mail and watched wrestling with my brother (on DVR).
 
I thought minimum wage was designed for high school/teenagers to learn how to work and save money. It was not designed to make a living but to strive to get a better job after they prove they are able to hold down a job and continue to be a desirable employee. They need some training as well after high school. Sadly most decide they can’t make enough money at the first hire. They don’t realize start low and get promoted with a solid work ethic.
 
zannej said:
Ladylocust, how long ago was that though? Minimum wage used to be enough to keep a family afloat. It is not anymore. If it had scaled with inflation it would be over $30/hr now. But instead it has stagnated. Even if someone scrimps and saves every penny, it can all go to crap if something goes wrong. If they get sick, injured, or have a vehicle break down, or need some sort of expensive maintenance. Accounts get overdrafted. It sends people in to a downward spiral. The depression era was awful. My paternal grandparents lost their $ in the run on the banks. My grandmother was a teacher but the school couldn't afford to pay her so she was given IOU slips. She had to use IOUs to buy groceries. But at least she was able to do that.

Nowadays there are so many more expenses than there were back then. So many things are required to get and have a job that weren't required back then. People have to use the internet to check their schedules online, they have to have cellphones to get texts from their bosses, they need some way to apply online. So many places now require apps on cellphones for things and now the older phones are no longer being supported.

Also, I take issue with the idea that people should *have* to live in horrible conditions just because they don't make enough money. When the minimum wage was first created, it was intended to be enough that people could live well, not just barely make it through. The financial strife makes people want more comforts. I do agree that there are many people who are not taught how to properly manage their money. But we have banks and credit cards that actively exploit people. Young people are not being taught by parents or by schools how to budget. But they are also not prepared for how badly things can go if something goes wrong.

There are different challenges for people today. Even cutting out all luxuries, people on minimum wage can't manage without public assistance of some sort. Even with public assistance some still struggle.

Anyway, I got mail and watched wrestling with my brother (on DVR).
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Minimum wage came about so that children were not taken advantage of (1938). It was in part a reaction stemming from the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire which prompted many laws/guidelines concerning children. It was never meant "to be enough that people could live well, not just barely make it through".
If we don't agree, that's fine - let's just agree to disagree if you're cool with that.
 
D
txcatlady said:
I thought minimum wage was designed for high school/teenagers to learn how to work and save money. It was not designed to make a living but to strive to get a better job after they prove they are able to hold down a job and continue to be a desirable employee. They need some training as well after high school. Sadly most decide they can’t make enough money at the first hire. They don’t realize start low and get promoted with a solid work ethic.
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Ditto that.

"Can't" is the word that keeps people trapped in a victim mindset.

Don't try,Do!

Ben
 
txcatlady said:
I thought minimum wage was designed for high school/teenagers to learn how to work and save money. It was not designed to make a living but to strive to get a better job after they prove they are able to hold down a job and continue to be a desirable employee. They need some training as well after high school. Sadly most decide they can’t make enough money at the first hire. They don’t realize start low and get promoted with a solid work ethic.
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YES, ENTRY LEVEL! Work your way up!!!!!
 
hashbrown said:
Still laying in a hospital bed, they tried to stent my blockage this morning by going through my wrist and couldn’t get where they needed to be. They will try again in the morning by going through my groin. I’m getting tired laying here ready to go home.
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Hang tight and let’em fix ya right. You’re at the body shop getting a valve adjusted- don’t rush it 😉
 
hashbrown said:
Still laying in a hospital bed, they tried to stent my blockage this morning by going through my wrist and couldn’t get where they needed to be. They will try again in the morning by going through my groin. I’m getting tired laying here ready to go home.
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Sorry my friend, hope it helps when it's all done! Phideaux sets the example for you, look at what he has accomplished lately! He works like a young man!!
 
Dad always told me that minimum wage was established for entry level jobs usually staffed by high school and college kids. It was an entry level position to give them real life job experience but the minimum wage was to prevent the boss from taking advantage of the kids and paying them like (what's the politically correct term for "slave labor"?). Minimum wage was not, and is not, something for someone who has to maintain and household or raise a family. The idea was to teach kids how to work at a reasonable wage and as they gained experience and proved themselves they would either work their way up the ladder or they would take their experience and qualifications elsewhere for a better job and better pay.
Here in Utah the average starting pay, even for experienced and qualified employees, is maybe $10 to $15 if you are lucky. But many places like retail clerks rarely pay over $8 an hour. Who takes the low paying part time jobs? High school and college kids, mom's looking for something to do when the kids are in school, dads who may want a second job, and retired folk looking for something to do. When I worked part time at Home Depot I was in the $10-$15 range over 4 1/2 years which absolutely sucked because I did my job and did it right, but I would have been at the store 3 or 4 times a week anyways buying stuff for building the house so if I was going to be driving to town every night anyways i might as well catch a part time gig and earn enough money to pay for the fuel and at least part of what I was buying.
Could I now get a better paying job? Absolutely! But I don't want a full time job, I don't want to work at the hospital (where they now require the shot), I don't want to do heavy work, and quite frankly I do NOT want a job dealing with people (the public).
Minimum wage is an entry level wage. It was never meant for, and should never be for, someone to support a household or raise a family.
 
hashbrown said:
I’m getting tired laying here ready to go home.
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Look at it this way: You're laying there for a few short days so that you CAN go home and enjoy life for another 40 years or so.

If you start to feel down thinking "Why did this happen to me?", well that's because this incident - very minor in the grand scheme of things - allowed a problem to be detected early and get fixed. I am glad that you were lucky enough to have this happen. That sounds bad, and don't take it the wrong way. I am glad because it happened at a time when you only have minor consequences, rather than at some later time when things might have been a lot worse.
 
On the radio, The Kate Dalley Show, yesterday Susan Reeve was talking about vitamins and supplements and other simple treatments and information to help with covid and other illnesses and health concerns. I sent and email to ask for the information and when I got the reply, with a request to pass it on, I tried to share some of it on facebook but before I could send it facebook blanked it out and I got an error message. I was just typing it, I hadn't even tried to post it, so I figured I would type it up here without without any mention of "covid" and then copy and past to facebook. But, I figured since it was already here I would share it because this is what I did today.

(None of this should be considered medical advice).
Having knowledge of simple home treatments for the usual winter illnesses as well as the ongoing CRUD could be very helpful.
A good variety of health care treatments -for common illnesses:

Gargling with mouthwash and use a Nasal rinse.
When I was sick a couple years ago I added a cap full of peroxide into my normal saline rinse and within 12 hours the crud stuck in my nose and sinuses had reduced tremendously and within 24 hours most of the thick and nasty snot was gone. I suggested this to many other people and they all told me they had similar results. It doesn't hurt or burn, it just kills the crud.

Using a humidifier is BIG - Research shows that the start of cold and flu season is when the humidity drops, and Vitamin D levels drop due to people inside more, and covered up more, and the earth tilt away from the sun during winter. Dry, cracked nasal passages allow germs and viruses to enter the blood stream much easier. Moisturize your sinuses and it will greatly reduce the chance of getting a cold or worse.

One protocol says “50,000 IU” of Vitamin D for 2-3 days at the very onset (one paper called this ’The Hammer’)
https://vitamindforall.org/letter.html
and read Vitamin D for All and Vitamin D for Covid-What’s the Catch? (A must watch)
https://odysee.com/.../vitamin-d-for-covid,-what%E2%80...
Remember that most vitamins and supplements suggest a "standard" dose for adults but because adults are generally between 100 pound and 200 pounds (or more) based on your weight you may consider researching an appropriate does for your weight. If mom is tiny and weighs 100 pounds and dad is about 200 pounds or more dad will probably need twice the amount that mom needs. Mom gets drunk on one beer, dad needs a 6 pack and a couple shots.

Pepcid, 20-40mg -per day - surprisingly Dr. Malone found early on this worked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvqf9FgV_YI

Look up a Mobile IV service in the area that can give Vitamin-neutraceutical infusions - many now have ‘covid’ specials.

THIS LINK IS A VERY GOOD READ.
Read up on the varieties of Protocols, including the preventative protocol “Virtually Anything Kills the Virus” - Dr McCullough -
https://www.worldtribune.com/virtually-anything-kills.../

Oh, and cut out the sugar, Dr. Shiva says it knocks out 2 of the 6 functions of your immune system. Not only does sugar hinder your immune system for everyday illnesses sugar is required for most cancers to grow in the body. Reduce the sugar and carbs and give your body and chance at a longer life.

REMINDER: Remdesiver - shocking report - Look At Adverse Events
https://principia-scientific.com/doctor-reveals.../

(None of this should be considered medical advice).
 
If anyone wants me to forward them the entire email I received with the information I posted above send me a message with your email and I will forward it to you. It is very lengthy and has a very WIDE RANGE of information including doctors who will do teleconference, places to get the products they talk about, and other information.
You might be interested in only some of the information, look at what you want and skip over the rest. I simply forwarded it to my GF because she has more patience than I do, but I have read several of the links myself and found them informative.
 
I turned on the faucets and cranked the heat up in the house, and the hot water broke loose just after 6AM this morning. The cold water thawed out about 45 minutes later. But I found that I have another problem - the tub drain must be frozen. So now I do have water, but I can't shower or use the tub. Looks like I will be using the showers at my church this weekend...
 
Spikedriver said:
...But I found that I have another problem - the tub drain must be frozen. ...
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Daughter have a hair drier you can use and the tub's P-Trap is accessible? No?

Drain pipe is steel? Fill the tub up with HOT water. The heat might generate to the P-Trap and thaw it out. No?

Enough table salt poured in the drain might eat it's way to the ice and melt it. No?

72 days till Spring.
 
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