Do the office cleaning staff have a lost and found?Quote:
Originally Posted by jessmarimba
Roxy
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Do the office cleaning staff have a lost and found?Quote:
Originally Posted by jessmarimba
Roxy
I read through the thread to see if I needed to post this. I see tulip already has. Chapel Hill/Carrboro has a lot to recommend it per your requirements. I wish when I was a student here, oh so many years ago, that cycling had been "big". As it was, I didn't know a single person (male or female) who rode a bike while I attended UNC ('79 to '83), so it wasn't something I even thought of. If I were a student here now, I'd so ride everywhere. I do that as much as possible even as a 50-year old alumna! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by tulip
And the free busses are great.
by the time I got there (1985), there were a few bikes, but by 1987 (my sophomore year because I took a year off after freshman year) I had one of the first mountain bikes around. It attracted alot of attention. My freshman year I lived in Morrison (9th floor) and there was no way I was going to lug a bike up all those stairs. The elevators either never worked or smelled like a frat house. Either way, I took the stairs.Quote:
Originally Posted by emily_in_nc
When I went back for grad school (1997-99), everyone had bikes. It was great. But the busses weren't free until later.
Dear doctors, nurses,friends,and family, Thank you for doing such a good job on my DD tonsilectomy. All of your caring and concern has meant the world to us. She's doing great and eating lots of ice cream.:)
Hey Mimi - just saw your news and want to send my own big hugs to you and Don. This is a hit but you're facing it together and it'll make you stronger for it.
Dear Mom-
I'm frustrated. Really frustrated. I put myself through college without your bothering to even pay the parent contribution, provided summer housing for myself during that time and worked to provide food/books/etc., with my partner's help been through law school and paid off almost all of the loans, and worked for a number of years. You've not been there when I moved (even in college), bought a house, when I could have used a shoulder, or when I needed financial help. Since I don't know when - probably sometime in high school - but even then, it was my grandparents.
Now - you expect me to come to visit you without my partner (because you can't be bother to deal with him despite the fact that he's a wonderful person who has give you no reason to dislike him) to help you clean up the wreck that is your life. Where were you when I needed you? Heck, where are you now? We're not having an easy time either with the economy, and are trying to clean out the crud you dumped on us so we can downsize if we need to. I could live without the guilt trips, and I really don't appreciate your trying to put a wedge in between me and the person I've been in a relationship with for 16 years (and married to for 11). Didn't you learn you lesson on that one after you wrecked my high school graduation?
Back off, and maybe, just maybe, we can have a relationship (though I don't think it will ever be normal, and it certainly won't be the 5 phone call a day nightmare you want).
((((((Blueberry))))))
Stick to your guns, Blueberry, you're RIGHT!
Dear Parks Department,
Why is it that the biggest park, known for a meeting place for cyclists doesn't have decent bike rack? Seriously, there are bike riders who use their bikes for transportation, not just sport and we'd like a safe spot to lock our vehicle (ie bike) I had to ride a 1/2 mile away to the local brew pub for a decent bike rack so I could go on a hike with friends.
Blueberry, I recognize this pattern of behavior. Your mother doesn't want to deal with your partner because he's been better for you than she ever was. You've accomplished a lot on your own, without her help, and maybe even in spite of her actions or non-actions. She's probably feeling guilty for not being a better parent to you, and that's the source of her laying guilt trips on you. If you feel guilty for not being a better daughter, she can ignore her own part in your upbringing.
I think I'd dump every piece of furniture or whatever she's dumped on you. Just donate it to Goodwill or have Amvets come pick it up or something. It's obviously not blessing you. Let it bless someone else.
I get rid of more stuff like that. It's not blessing me. Let it bless someone else. I wish it were that easy to get rid of the non-blessing emotional attachments.
Do you feel responsible for her? My mother sometimes calls me four or five times a day. She's lonely a lot and needy, but I had a similar lack-of-parenting upbringing. I often ignore her calls. She'll leave a message. I can return it or delete it, but it's my choice.
You're doing the right thing. Stand tall.
Roxy
((Blueberry))
Dear jerk in a Cadillac--
I can only go as fast as the vehicle in front of me. When this vehicle is a semi on a winding road, that isn't going to be all that fast. Riding my back bumper is not going to magically make me go faster, nor is it going to make that semi disappear. Moron.
By the way, had you rear-ended me with the bike on the back, I'd have jammed that old tube in the back seat down your throat. FYI.
The Honda driver.
(Not-so?) Dear LBS,
I've always had my reservations about you, but you were the only game I knew of at the time, you are the only one in town that carries Giant (so I figured you should know about its little quirks, which you do), and the fact that I liked the wrenches (at least, most of them) made up for the sometimes spotty customer service record. (And just so you know, while the managers and a few other people are really good, the sixteen-year-old salespeople...let's just say I know more about what they're selling than they do.)
Your new location, while extremely convenient, has sadly put another shop out of business. While I haven't dealt with this shop much (its location on a busy road doesn't help anything), the couple times I went in there, the salespeople knew their products. The owner took half an hour to check what was wrong with the fit on my Giant, offered some suggestions (even though this shop didn't offer fitting services) to make it more comfortable, and ran through some specs with me of the Madone models I was looking at. I don't know how, but the way you do things has put a really nice little shop out of business.
I feel dirty.
Dear Laptop-
First, your battery life went to he!! in a handbasket, and now the battery won't charge at all :mad: I sincerely hope that the new battery that I just ordered fixes the problem....it really wasn't money that I had planned on spending!
Love,
Grouchy
Thank you Tulip, Mimi, Roxy & Owlie - I'm feeling better about my decisions, and do plan to stick to my guns:)
Dearest wet puppydog,
I love you very much, but please let me eat my dinner in peace.
Love,
That person who takes care of you when your "fun parent" is away.
Dear half-siblings,
Honestly? No, the amount of money my parents seem to spend on travel and entertainment does not concern me. It shouldn't concern you, either. It's none of our business.
They've told you on numerous occasions that their burial arrangements have already been handled, so no one need be concerned about that. Their house is paid for in full, they have no out-of-pocket medical expenses because dad spent 30+ years of his life serving in the military, they only make big purchases with cash, the two credit cards they have are paid in full every month, and they spent their entire working lives together planning and saving for their retirement so they have a pretty decent handle on their finances.
In case you need a reminder, dad is 82 years old now and he has cancer...on top of plenty of other issues. He also loves to travel and gather new experiences, so that's what my mother is trying to make sure he gets to do in the time between all of his medical appointments, tests and scans.
If this is how they want to spend their money, shut up and let them have at it.
Somehow, I think your concern is less about their financial well-being and more about how much you think you'll be getting after dad passes. Buttheads.
Annoyed,
/me
+1 Blueberry.
I am a firm believer in setting firm boundaries or even excluding relatives who are toxic. I have some friends who think I am incredibly mean and uncaring, but, I need to be around people who are positive and mentally healthy, not manipulative and needy.
To whom it may concern
It really was crazy to let our Italian friends stay with us for almost 2 months! Screaming baby, backed up sink, no peace and quiet, oh my, the quiet. DH took them to the airport tomorrow and I walked around the house in a daze - it seemed so empty. We're really going to miss them. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and now it's over.
When opportunity knocks, say yes and don't look back. I'm glad we did.
Dear Health Care Gods:
Thank you for letting me find myself in a situation where I have excellent health care benefits, and an employer who offers a choice for these benefits. After $750, I pay nothing. And even up to 2 years ago, I didn't even have that deductible. This is the summer of the second oncologist, the first, still my pal for another 3.5 years. Over the last 2 months with at least 24 blood draws, an MRI, a couple of ultrasounds, and as of 2 days ago a core axillary lymph node biopsy with 5 samples, they are looking for a possible new cancer. I've looked online at the new claims I no longer have to pay. Wow - I certainly have gotten my money's worth out of all the years of premiums I've paid. It's funny, after going through the first cancer, biopsies, waiting for results, visits to the cancer wing simply feel like going to my primary for strep throat or something. Get it done, then on my way an off to work like any other day. It's that routine. I do not fret, I'm not anxious, I have fun, I sleep at night, and I enjoy my vacation. Fate will play it's way into your life in one way or another. Just live with optimism :)
Speaking of which, I hope RaleighDon is doing ok.
And Marni seems to be on her way.....
Not-dear old electric company (and gas company):
I paid the bills myself, on time, for a year. And apparently none of this came up in the credit check, so I'm stuck paying the new electric company a rather large security deposit. I can almost understand the electricity, because they spelled my first name incorrectly (though it should still be tied to my SSN) and never corrected it even though I called about it. I don't understand why the gas thing isn't on there, since they actually got that right.:mad:
Not-dear new electric company--
Is it because nothing came up in the credit history check? The fact that I'm a student? Or the fact that I have never had service with you before? I'm an unknown quantity, and according to your company policy, that means I'm automatically not going to make payments on time? How the heck do you spend $60 a month for a 1BR apartment, anyway? (Granted, the stove and heat is electric, but still, I was paying $30 a month for a two-bedroom with a power hog computer in the mix.) I'd better get that deposit back with interest, jerks.
And your hold music is incredibly irritating.
Dear Mudmucker
My goodness hearing from you gives me an entirely new perspective on this cancer thing. Raleighdon is still going to appointment after appointment, but we believe that after today we will have A PLAN and chemo/radiation to commence...
thanks for your good thoughts.
Yes, Mudmucker. Thank you for that post.
Mudmaker, I'm so glad you have good insurance, and I hope that your prognosis is good. Your positive attitude is inspiring.
Have you ever run a credit report for yourself, Owlie? It might be a good idea to start monitoring it every so often. My guess is that even if you paid your utility bills on time for a year, you still don't have much of a credit history. A lack of credit history is about the same as a bad credit history, which might explain why you're paying a large deposit to get service. Do you have a credit card? If and only if you can be disciplined about paying it off (and I can't stress that enough), put a minor amount on it each month and never carry a balance. It'll help you build your credit such that when you go to make your first big purchases on credit, e.g., a car, you'll have some history to work with. Do not open multiple charge accounts. Stick to one and keep it open with a low credit limit. Use it judiciously.Quote:
Originally Posted by Owlie
Owlie-
Most utilities don't report to Credit Bureaus for good stuff. Sometimes not even bad stuff. So they're not building up your credit, sadly. Learned this one the hard way. Indysteel has given you wise advice - one card, pay it off monthly (but do use it). That will help. Credit does take time to build, though....
Mudmucker, I am sorry you are going through this again. I like your attitude.
If you ever want to ride, let me know, although you will probably drop me like a hot potato.
I have similarly great insurance, with no deductible and no referrals required. I went to so many specialists when I was sick a few years ago, and they didn't question one thing. They paid for all of my DH's angioplasty, second opinions at the Brigham and MGH. They even paid for one of my kids to have an experimental surgery to cure his Raynauds, out of state (it worked).
I worry about what will happen when DH retires... he is hoping to work out a deal with the company to get some kind of help with maintaining this coverage... although we still have awhile.
happiness is when you discover that it really is easier to ride your bike to the doctor appointment then it is to drive (and park and pay for parking) or take the bus.
Then even better was waiting in the dr's office with my DH and my DS, all of us in bike duds. and then riding home on a perfect day with my honey.
Chemo & Radiation starts on Monday. scary stuff.
dear biciclista,
Hang in there, it is scary, but you ride, you can do it.
Mudmucker, I am so sorry that you are back in the fray, but bless the insurance.
marni
((Mudmucker, Mimi and RD))
Indy et al:
If utilities don't report to credit agencies (I didn't know this), then that makes sense. I do have a CC, and I'm not putting a whole lot on it. It's far easier to charge things to it than even the debit card, so I'm a little reluctant to put anything that isn't gas on it!
Dear LBS(es):
Do you not think that women over 5'4" ride bikes? Why is there almost never anything at all that I can test ride? I'm not going to buy anything from you if I can't ride it first--or at all. While it's nice that Specialized has a 30-day return policy on even bikes (I find this hard to believe, by the way), that really isn't the point. Yes, I realize I'm a freak, but it's not like I'm looking for something that doesn't exist. It'd be nice if you had test bikes that weren't only for men, or had something from each manufacturer in my size.
I feel like I'll be stuck with this Giant forever. :(
Dear daily commute:
You know how I feel about you. On a good day, I tolerate you. On a bad day, you fill me with hate and frustration. Today, however, may have been the worst day. It took me 25 minutes to get from the edge of downtown to my parking space. That's what? About a mile? That's insanity. Add that to the other 50 minutes of my drive, and I'm just not happy.
Now normally, I just grit my teeth, but today I snapped. It's no fun breaking down in sobs in your car and showing up to work looking like a wreck. My boss must think I'm losing it. But come on? I'm not sure who in city or state government made the decision to block nearly every other lane downtown for construction, but they need to be fired.
Sigh.....
P.S. Just to preempt any queries about possibly commuting by bike. It's not an option. At least not a safe one. I live 25 miles from work out of necessity, and there's no safe way to get to my job from home. Not to mention that I don't think my body could handle riding 50 miles each day.
Can you walk? Not the entire stretch, that final mile :) It might not be fun, but at least you'd be actively moving...
I hate sitting stuck in my tincan.
LPH has a point. could you drive somewhere and walk or ride some? break it up?
Hey Indysteel,
I can't remember what line of work you are in, but can your schedule flex at all to avoid rush hour, or can some of it be done remotely, at least while all that construction is going on? I would bet that there are others at your work who are also affected, and maybe your managers might be able to work something out to make it easier for everyone.
{{{Indy}}} I feel your pain on this. I suspect the coming Superbowl has a lot to do with the intensity/pace/sheer number of road projects downtown right now.
Do you have the option to flex your schedule and perhaps come in a little earlier? You know where I work...while I commute from the opposite direction I am in the office by 7 and the surface street back-up is minimal at that time. Your job might not make this a possibility but it was worth mentioning.
I work for a federal court as a staff attorney to a judge. While I'm welcome to come in early and stay late, I have to be here during our business hours. So, if I come in at 7, I still have to stay until we close. Our administrative employees have a set number of hours they can telework each pay period, but that policy doesn't specifically apply to the professionals. I'm never asked my boss if I can, and he's never offered, despite knowing how much I hate the commute. He's otherwise a totally understanding boss, so the fact that he's never offered leads me to believe that it's simply not on the table. I do telework here and there when the weather is particularly bad or when I have a contractor at the house. I otherwise love my job, so I have no real beef with him wanting me here.
This happened about this time of year last year, too. When the kids go back to school, the traffic volume increases for a time. I'm just going to have to start leaving a half hour earlier, which means less sleep. I've tried going to be earlier, but my mind doesn't start to shut off until 10ish, so I just end up laying there. I'd add that even if I leave by 7 a.m., by the time I get downtown, the traffic volume is already heavy. Ugh. I miss living downtown. I feel like I'm paying for all the years I could simply walk to work.
Catrin, I have no doubt that much of this is related to the Superbowl. I'm no pro football fan, so you can imagine how I feel about that.
Indy, can't you move? sounds like living downtown would be ideal!
It would be...for me. DH not so much. DH's job is about 25 miles south of our house; mine's about 25 miles north. When we decided to marry, we picked a town that's roughly halfway between our two jobs. I got the short end of the commuting stick because I have traffic and he doesn't. From a job standpoint, both of us are where we want/need to be. He works as a process engineer for one of the biggest engine manufacturers in the world. I have one of the least stressful jobs a decently paid attorney can have. I may be forced to find a new job when my boss retires in three yeas, so until then, I'm commuting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Biciclista
If we moved farther north, we'd be in suburban hell in the town where I actually grew up. It would be worse there in a lot of ways than where we currently live because it's one gigantic strip mall (with the congestion that suggests). At least we can ride from our house and be in the country in five minutes or drive to the best park in the state for mountain biking in roughly 45minutes. Most days, I'm able to tolerate it, but today was just a bad day.
We have a vacation coming up (a weeklong tour of the Katy Trail). It will do us good. DH had been working a lot lately because his plant is rolling a new engine into production. They're down a couple of engineers, so they're all pretty stressed out. I think his stress is spilling over to me at home in that I've had to pick up the slack on some things that he ordinarily helps with.
Trust me; most days these issues are kept well into perspective. Today, not so much. I'm still not convinced that my thyroid isn't wonky, too. I have my first endocrinologist appointment tomorrow morning; hopefully, I'll learn more soon.
Sorry for the pity party folks. I just needed to vent. Thank goodness for this thread.
I feel for you Indy, I have no idea where public works planners get their ideas. I'm fighting with the city right now, they are rerouting traffic from a major through-way right down our little tiny residential street. There's barely room for two cars to pass and now we have buses and semi's winding their way down the street. :confused:
Oh, that's bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
There's talk of a high speed rail network that would link my community to downtown (and beyond). I'm not superconfident--especially with state, city and county budgets as they are--that it'll happen anytime soon, or at all, but the thought of it sends me into book-reading bliss. I can't imagine how different life would be with that as an option. I'd be more than happy to fork over tax dollars for it.
My perspective changed the first time I went to the cancer institute...you've probably noted this too. Even though I'm used to it - I'm continually shaking my head - every time I go to the oncological medical facility, the waiting room is packed. So many patients, during one appt interval, on one day, in one facility, in one city....Quote:
Originally Posted by Biciclista
So I see RD starts chemo/rad on Monday. So then, no surgery?
Ha. I don't think I'm dropping anyone, at this time, this year. Other than this current nonsense, I unfortunately had several "other" physical setbacks that has kept me off the bike for most of the summer. I hope to start up again by next week but right at the time when I'm usually peaking (as is everyone else), I'll just be starting up. I'll be at the same fitness level as I would be coming out of winter, maybe less. I doubt I could ride 20 miles without getting fatigued or winded. Usually my body responds rapidly once I get into it - I hope so this time too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
At any rate, winter :eek: will be approaching before we know it. We can always get folks together for some skiing.
Dear Mudmucker
oh yes, Surgery after he heals from the chemo/radiation. Maybe in November.. late october, not sure. Today he got tattoos! (what fun! oh boy!)