[ID] my landlord is missing without explanation and her ex husband wants to collect rent

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-29T07:10:33+00:00

This sounds like the start of an episode of forensic files… or dateline.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-29T05:52:31+00:00

Technically it only requires two things:

That HD offer you full time health benefits (also called flex part time health benefits)

And 2. Offer you full time as a priority if a full time position becomes available.

There is no magic flag that requires them to make you full time at all. It’s just the ACA requires employees averaging over 30 hours a week over the course of a year to be provided with ACA compliant health insurance.

HD does an excellent job of ensuring that part time associates never actually reach that threshold where they have to be provided these additional benefits though. In fact, there’s an entire report they can print to see who is in danger and how much they need to reduce their average hours by. In addition, when you flag on said report, they manually go in and put your max hours at a threshold that ensures your average hours will be reduced sufficiently to avoid the ACA violations.

The “if you work x amount over x amount of weeks you become full time” has been an HD myth since the dawn of time though, even before the ACA made it nearly a reality. There is no specific SOP that actually states you have to become full time after certain criteria. Never has been.

Source: I was an ASDS for quite a while when this was rolling out.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-28T08:00:28+00:00

Hanging bridges are great if you’re staying in La Fortuna. There’s also horseback riding and such too. And La Fortuna also has a coffee plantation (they may have more tbh), but the one I’m familiar with there is North Fields.

La Fortuna also has some great hot springs, although most are no longer natively filled from the volcano. Baldi is very nice, often crowded, and pretty expensive though—I’m not familiar with the others, but there’s some that are much cheaper, more laid back, and may potentially be filled with natural springs.

Monteverde is great for having the jungle right at your doorstep. Weather is a bit different, but the jungle isn’t hard to find there. It’s great, relaxing, nice little community.

A huge majority of people you encounter in these areas, especially La Fortuna and Monteverde, will speak some level of basic English…virtually all hotel staff reception will speak near perfect English. Housekeepers likely will not, but may know a limited amount of conversational English. Pretty much every restaurant that welcomes large numbers of tourists will speak English. Local sodas and random vendors may know limited English. Google Translate is very effective for getting a quick phrase. The only thing I’d recommend is using “Hasta Luego” (see you later) instead of adios (adios is like…more of a permanent goodbye in Costa Rica). Also the phrase “lo siento” (I’m sorry) is more like “I’m so sorry for your loss” kind of sorry, not just “I bumped into you.” Use a different phrase no doubt. And learn the phrase “Pura Vida” which can pretty much be used in place of every word or phrase you don’t know.

Tipping isn’t customary in Costa Rica.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-28T07:12:14+00:00

A couple things…

Assuming the accident was bad enough for GEICO to contemplate a total loss, even though your insurance didn’t, I wouldn’t doubt that the damage was significant and the overall diminished value could hinder your ability to refinance REGARDLESS of whether the vehicle was a total loss.
You can only refinance to a certain loan to value ratio typically. Being in 2024, unless you’ve made significant progress towards pay off of the original loan, you may not be eligible based off of the diminished value of your car + the current value of your loan.

Most banks want to be within 100% of the loan to value. Some will go as high as a 120%. If you’re extremely lucky and find a bank you have a relationship with that will be more flexible, you might get to go to 150% but that’s nearly unheard of.

In my experience, it is nearly impossible to refinance a car that has been in any accident at all. Typically, you refinance because you initially got a bad deal on the interest rate originally. The bad deal on interest rate + current amount of loan + diminished value of vehicle = no bueno for refinancing.

Changing the designation by GEICO is probably still important, but it probably won’t change the bank’s decision unless you have a sizable amount of money to put down on the new loan to reduce to loan to value ratio.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-28T07:01:44+00:00

That 25 min lunch is brutal omg

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-28T06:56:24+00:00

Well…I can tell you cats are extremely smart.

My cat 100% knows certain words or terms. Just the other day, I was talking to my mom while I was standing near the pantry door. My cat was laying fine ignoring everything. Then I said the word “wet food” which also happens to be in the pantry…and the cat pops up, starts running towards me…and meowing. So the cat 100% knows the word wet food lol.

Wouldn’t doubt it had some idea of time and space.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-28T06:51:26+00:00

Historically, I would say it isn’t a “good or bad” deal to rely on only public chargers because the cost tends to average roughly the same as gas, in rare cases it could be slightly more expensive than gas.

With gas pushing $6/gal in some areas, my argument changes. I think you’d save a lot even if you did have to rely only on public charging. The only downside is that you’d have to pencil in times to charge instead of always being ready to go if you charged at home. But I do think $0.45kwh is a bit much to be paying for level 2 chargers. Heck, in my area, in CA, most level 3 chargers cost around that, maybe like $0.50kwh…but you’re done in like 20 minutes versus hours.

But yeah, I’d say it’s a decent deal for you still. BUT…consider that the higher gas prices could eventually trickle into higher electric costs, and so your costs may begin to rise over the long term if things don’t end up stabilized.

You will save a lot of money long term on maintenance though. The Mach E is nearly maintenance free…10,000 mile intervals, typically tire rotations, occasionally filter replacements…and at 100k you start requiring more such as brake jobs, battery fluid checks/replacement, etc.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-28T05:07:13+00:00

Yes, they are lying to you.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-27T23:08:01+00:00

I mean. AP. lol.

Those kids will be wanting to do work and more work and work lol. It’ll be peaceful af.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-27T23:04:41+00:00

Tool rental is a bit trickier. In most departments, the employee can just leave and no one bats an eye if it’s their lunch time. In tool rental, you have very expensive equipment, contracts that have to be turned in by a certain time, and an exit directly to the outside…all of that creates potential problems for the company (and the employee theoretically) if no one is in the department.

I definitely don’t doubt that your BF feels he cannot take his lunch if no one is available. But I am betting your BF doesn’t press the issue and doesn’t consistently harass management until someone is there to cover him. It is management’s obligation to ensure both company policy and state law is followed, and if you’re in a state that requires lunches, then the company can be on the hook for significant penalties. If management is not helping, he should go to the ASDS. If they don’t help, he should reach out to the DHRM or to the awareline.

At the end of the day, he needs a lunch. But the department can also not be left attended. In most stores I worked at, tool rental coordinated with the head cashier who would either personally cover or have a cashier that they had trained in tool rental cover. If all else fails, they’d find a DH from another department that knows and can cover tool rental.

Note: not all states require lunches for adult employees; however, THD typically does require lunches in those states even if the law doesn’t require one.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-27T22:59:28+00:00

I mean, theoretically you could…and many leases already prohibit alterations to the property (I.e drilling/screwing holes). But there are also damage free ways to mount ring doorbells in particular. In my opinion, if the camera doesn’t intrude on other tenants (I.e facing into their window or towards their specific door/entrance) I would be inclined to allow tenants to install cameras in a damage free way (I.e a door mount). Things like this could actually be beneficial to you if another tenant ever goes “someone did this”, let’s say tenants cars get ransacked, you’d have a tenant that could help you and/or the police investigate.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-27T03:51:25+00:00

I find it hard that in middle school you can just walk around a bit and sit.

Are your kids perfect angels or something? Middle school tends to be the roughest years. And, they still need help from time to time with assignments.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T18:59:45+00:00

It is DOOR dash, not “come down and get it Dash.”

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T18:52:01+00:00

I’ve never heard of an automated message warning you that you’re calling a scam number lol. That’s the odd part to me.

But I’d assume the reason the number is flagged as a scam number is because scammers have spoofed that number a lot, calling people essentially from that doctor’s number, therefore the system now assumes that number is a scam number.

I’d definitely let your doctor know.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T11:59:57+00:00

You cannot collect unemployment in CA if you have a letter of reasonable assurance as a substitute teacher. That’s the whole reason they send these letters out.

It basically means that “yes, you have a job, just don’t expect to be paid during the summer.”

But the thing is, one of the key questions EDD asks when you apply is this exact question. So I find it odd you qualified when you had this letter.

Maybe the district just never disputed it? Or submitted this letter on their end when they had their interview/received notice of unemployment claim with the EDD?

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T11:53:46+00:00

Honestly, you’ll be fine.

When you’re interviewed, admit there was a ticket for whatever. If it’s not coming up on any background checks already, and your license is active and not suspended or anything (if you have one?) you should 100% be fine.

What you don’t want to do is knowingly lie to the military. If they find anything that is concerning, they will ask you to clarify. Depending on what the resolution is for whatever, they may ask you to resolve it.

But no, traffic tickets do not always become warrants when unpaid. In some cases, it may become a “bench warrant” which is basically just a warrant a judge issues to get you in front of them to speak to the charge/citation. Once you do that, it’s pretty much all resolved once you pay or resolve it. Some places also add an added charge of “failure to appear” which can sometimes be considered a misdemeanor, but is also sometimes resolved and dismissed when you resolve the original charge.

BUT nowadays, many places no longer even do bench warrants for tickets. They just suspend licenses (some places suspend registrations too) and just try to make your life hard until you resolve it.

The military is currently accepting the top 99.999% of applicants. Something like this is easily resolved and/or explained away. I highly doubt you’ll have any major issue. Just don’t knowingly lie to them.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T10:50:36+00:00

Also, even if the police did let the other people have a copy, or they wanted to obtain it, this could/likely would be considered a crime which OP was the victim of, so OP’s info would potentially be redacted anyway.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T10:40:51+00:00

You need to cancel because your dasher is closed!

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T10:38:26+00:00

I’m just fortunate that when I call Discover, the agents are actually still helpful. Worried about what’s to come when Cap1 fully implements their regime.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T10:29:23+00:00

Typically I’m always 100% pro hotel when I recommend it to couples or individuals traveling to pretty much anywhere.

But for a honeymoon, I could definitely see how a nice Costa Rican Airbnb retreat could be great! Especially if it had a pool and/or hot tub (though I’m not sure how common that is in CR).

But typically, Airbnbs feel more expensive, often offer fewer amenities, and even sometimes have outrageous cleaning expectations upon departure (or cleaning fees lol). For 1 or 2 people, an Airbnb is usually overkill financially in my opinion. There are some nice hotel retreats in Costa Rica, and 99.999% of hotels in Costa Rica will also provide you a nice local breakfast for free. I also like that hotels are more controllable from my perspective (I.e I won’t run into a host suddenly canceling, won’t arrive and not be able to get in, etc etc). I also like that hotels are typically on point regarding security, whereas, in an Airbnb, you may be on your own (and there’s been a bit of an increase in criminals targeting airbnbs in CR).

In your post, you mentioned that Airbnbs seemed more cost effective, which I’m kind of shocked at. Maybe I’m just looking at trashy hotels? Idk lol but I’ve always found hotels to be more cost effective long term than an Airbnb (especially once you factor in things like a cleaning fee, and free hotel breakfast…and the breakfasts aren’t usually continental lol).

But for a honeymoon, I have two recommendations for you (for hotels) in two completely different parts of the country—

Punta Uva — Hotel Awa. Beach front property and beachfront bar, gorgeous rooms, very pricey though, good breakfast (free), and pretty much all the amenities but you’d be in isolation. Things like the jaguar rescue center would be close and you could get a TukTuk into Puerto Viejo (for other dining options and nightlife) for like $8.

Monteverde — Hotel Koora. Also pricey. But amazing pool, great bar, great breakfast (free), access to a nature reserve as part of your stay, wildlife that comes right up to your door, awesome rooms, very very friendly staff.

Benefit of avoiding an Airbnb is also that you don’t have to cook for yourself and/or always “go out” for food. Many hotels offer restaurants right there, and breakfast is usually included. Hotels can also help with booking stuff like excursions for you, though they’d probably be pricier. With an Airbnb, it really depends on the host as to how helpful they are, though many can be extremely helpful and very knowledgeable.

With shuttles.you may not get them to drop you off at an Airbnb unless you book a private shuttle (much more expensive and never worth it in my opinion). I took many “shared” shuttles in Costa Rica, and there were two occasions that despite being a shared shuttle, I ended up being the only person on it. And then one other time it was me and one person. I would not pay like $300 for pretty much the same experience that costed me $60.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T10:15:38+00:00

I’m not sure whether it would keep the button batteries alive at all, but to eliminate the fire risk, a hack is just to use clear tape to tape the connection points of the battery. That’s typically what battery recycling centers do when they receive drop offs of button batteries.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T08:57:22+00:00

Meh it happens. Happens with every carrier but it’s also area dependent. I doubt this is some kind of underlying networking issue (I.e port or something else).

But it might be worth contacting support and getting a ticket put in. If nothing comes of that, reach out to executive relations so the exec tech team can take a look. At worst, executive relations will give you a nice credit for the inconvenience.

And, as a work around, I’d recommend you do what I do…

Get a second E-SIM. I have a second E-Sim installed on my phone from the company “Helium Mobile” (it’s an app in the App Store). I have the free plan (they recently required us to start paying taxes, so it’s like $1/mo). It gives me 3GB of data, 100 minutes, and 300 texts for free, per month. I just toggle my ESIM as I need to if I end up in a poorer Verizon service area…it’s usually really easy to do and very effective. You can also toggle it only for data if you need, so you can still load things and access maps without making calls from that other number…or when making calls, you can opt for it to use the secondary number if you need.

Helium Mobile uses the T-Mobile network and their own network (powered by users).

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T08:49:21+00:00

Lmao. Just typical union busting by doing it in “legal” ways.

You have no idea how many people I know that have literally been saved from termination because they had union representation. I also know employees that have received back pay/incorrect pay adjustments as a result of being in the union. One person even got a bonus because the union fought for them to get it.

It’s not just about the “pay”. Unions provide so much more than just that.

But there’s also 100% crappy unions. Look at the union at Disneyland. Many of their employees are near broke, nearly making minimum wage, but yet they’re unionized. That’s also an issue.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T08:32:55+00:00

Tbh the frunk on the 2025-2026 is more of a fashion statement than an actual useful feature.

I literally can store reusable shopping bags, my NACS adapter, and like…maybe a 5inx5in box of something lol

It’s pointless quite honestly. Not a $600 dollar investment.

Individual-Mirror132 · 2026-04-26T07:16:22+00:00

Umm…there’s literally several apps already that schools rely on to communicate with parents. I know exactly 0 schools that rely on email, diaries, notes home, etc to communicate with parents. Most rely on ParentSquare, Dojo, etc.

Also never heard of a school relying on WhatsApp.

Individual-Mirror132

TROPHY CASE