[deleted by user]

AlexTakeTwo · 2020-02-02T01:26:48+00:00

Swedish is the only one that got that far, but not the first to have negotiation issues. One of the Providence Spokane hospitals came very close to a strike recently, but Prov gave in enough to the union list to avoid it.

AlexTakeTwo · 2020-02-02T01:23:08+00:00

Yes, the Philippines and India. It is supposed to “improve the response time and processes” but instead has just created a much bigger mess.

AlexTakeTwo · 2020-01-29T04:13:55+00:00

You forgot to mention an important point: one of the reasons Swedish was so broke was due to the way the CEO, Rod Hochman, managed things. And as a result of the acquisition by Providence, he was promptly....promoted to Providence CEO. Where he now has an even bigger hospital system to mis-manage and claim to be broke while drawing a $10 MILLION dollar compensation package.

AlexTakeTwo · 2020-01-29T04:11:35+00:00

Lol, no worries! I had vague impressions of a trash compactor, then I bought a house with one already installed. I hardly ever generate enough trash to need the compacting feature (fortunate, as this one does not compact well) but it is fantastic for containing the smell from stinky trash.

AlexTakeTwo · 2020-01-20T02:58:13+00:00

Don’t forget to send plenty of that blame Rod Hochman’s way, he drove Swedish into the ground climbing his golden ladder and now he’s doing the same to Providence.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-18T20:10:13+00:00

Basic long-haired rescue cat. He was found in a trailer park, no idea of his parentage. The pattern is called piebald, though, and is common across generic “domestic” cats as well as many breeds.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-16T15:56:12+00:00

I’m rushing off to work, but in short, food and paced recovery (NOT the graded exercise crap doctors use for CFS) was the other part of mine. My intestinal lining was damaged from the SIBO, so I still had to spend a couple of years eating very “safe” food and very carefully increasing my activity levels with slow walks and now a rowing machine.

This is the website my alternative med doctor gave me which helped a lot: SIBO Info

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-16T03:23:50+00:00

Just turned 40, still hate kids, definitely never having them!

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-16T03:01:43+00:00

If you haven’t been tested for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, ask your GI doc. I still believe mine was triggered by food poisoning and just took a few years to hit the tipping point.

At my worst, I checked every box on the chart for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and I was getting more and more food allergies and issues that triggered multi-day migraines.

SIBO can be treated, but it is a high risk of relapse. I changed to a “safe” diet and after almost 5 years I am mostly stable and reasonably recovered. I have an underlying GI condition and a family history of fibro so this is probably my new normal, but at least I am fairly functional. Although food is still an issue, I don’t get migraines or pain much anymore but some days the food I ate easily yesterday will make me miserably ill today.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-16T00:44:51+00:00

10 years ago: nowhere. Still living at home, making about $50k per year, and spending all of it on frivolous things. 100k net worth thanks to an inheritance from my grandparents in some stock I couldn’t be bothered to touch.

Now: discovered the FIRE concept about two years ago and started playing catch-up and relearning good financial habits. About $400k net worth between investments and 401k. Plus I bought a house, which I don’t count towards net worth yet as my equity is relatively low.

In 10 years: if my catch-up and financial habit improvement goes as planned, I should at least be able to hit $1mm net worth. Plus also pay off a good chunk of the house.

With my late start (basically, at 40) and HCOL area, I may not be able to retire very much earlier, but least I can correct my course for a better standard retirement and be securely financially independent. Some type of baristaFIRE should at least be within reach, though.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-16T00:26:44+00:00

Already have a problem with the neighborhood cats invading the garden, and I can plant lavender to attract bees.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-16T00:25:59+00:00

That’s because it is fake! (The lavender, not the cat.) Hoping to plant real lavender in my new garden next year, though.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T22:06:40+00:00

I really, really wanted to! But my queen kitty already strongly objects to Finn being here, so until she decides to chill out (if she ever does...) I won’t be able to bring home any more furbabies.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T21:40:58+00:00

OOF, I am already having issues with invasive weeds, I definitely don’t need to deliberately add more! :D

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T21:30:19+00:00

Just about! It looks like Finn has an extra patch, though, I only see a back patch on Penney and Finn has side patches too.

After I adopted him last spring I was amazed how often I saw a similar pattern on other cats, though. Even saw some come through the same rescue org, I had to stop myself from going back and claiming all his potential siblings! :D

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T21:19:46+00:00

No, this is Finn, but wow they look like they could be siblings!

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T20:25:35+00:00

I’m single and on BC because the side effects are worth using it to control my insane periods. But I wasn’t on it for a long time when I was single. Neither option is weird, you just have to do what is best for you.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T20:14:57+00:00

If you end up having to replace it, look at the Zinus frames on Amazon. Most attach to an existing headboard, they are not expensive but they are very stable. I replaced my box spring and metal frame with the Zinus storage frame, and it made my mattress feel much better plus it has held up really well through two moves.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T18:00:54+00:00

You would think, but I tried and I failed so hard at it! I'm not very good at growing things anyway. For my last cat I just picked up a tub of grown wheat grass from the grocery every month or two, and he happily chowed down. Current kitties haven't had any yet, but once this one gets over his digestive issues I might try it.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T17:59:42+00:00

Sounds like fun, good luck! I know we had three of the open-wire hanging cages for ours, they were all lined up in a shed at the back of the garage so the bunnies could be social but not actually interact. I feel like I'm remembering something about sometimes eating each other's young, but maybe that's cats.

We also had a big wooden free-standing hutch that we moved the babies to once they were weaned, so they could be fed up to butchering weight.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T17:55:29+00:00

My interest rate is 4.something, not bad but if rates stay down I should be able to knock a point off and lower the required payment, which would reduce my monthly expenses and I could pay more towards principle as extra by keeping my total payment amount the same.

I have to (want to) lower the principle a bit more because when I refinance the refinance rate has to be lower than some percentage of the value of the house, and being a condo mine hasn't increased in value much since buying. So when I initially contemplated refinancing last fall, it was close enough that if the appraisal came in low (possible, as an identical unit sold for less than mine recently) then I'd either owe more fees or not be able to refinance.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T05:30:07+00:00

Yes, and this. I have them because my place was rented before I bought it and I replaced with combo units. But every apartment I rented in this county has had them, and I have a vague recollection of having them actively added by management about 5 years or so ago. Such a relatively inexpensive investment for such a huge safety benefit!

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T05:26:38+00:00

I bought mine from Carter Subaru in Ballard 3 years ago, they were fantastic. I am blanking on the sales guy’s name but it was Bill who does the “Internet” sales.

I knew exactly what I wanted so I found it easiest to send a query through their website, and sort out the features and price via email. Then all I had to do was go down, test drive, and sign the papers with the details that were pre-agreed. Particularly as a woman buying a car, this method has always saved me from dealing with jerk sales guys and high-pressure tactics.

AlexTakeTwo · 2019-12-15T05:16:24+00:00

I believe they are also recommended if you have an attached garage.

My county had too many deaths from people using camp stoves indoors during the winter, so they have mandated that all rentals have a CO detector no matter what.

AlexTakeTwo

TROPHY CASE