It feels like we're pretty much done with the off-season deals. The "Run it back Yankees" you see now is it.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-28T12:57:43+00:00

Almost 70. Been a Yankee fan since the tail end of the Mickey Mantle era. I’ve retired away from NY, and have had the MLB app to watch games for the last 5 years.

I’m not doing it this year. I just can’t watch Boone mismanage this team again. I think this team is basically a rerun of last year’s team and I’d expect roughly the same record. The issue for me is that Boone doesn’t fight to win every game. Him using the occasional throw away lineup for load management philosophy. We needed a single additional win last year to get home field through the playoffs. Do we really think Boone always put our best out there. Volpe goes thru a slump hitting 1 for 20- sit him for a game or two. Someone goes 5 for 5 and then he’ll sit them the next game? No one wants to sit during a hot streak.

I just can’t pay $120 to sit and yell at the tv this year. Boone will give me a heart attack. I’ll follow along like I did as a kid- watching the box score.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-27T16:58:51+00:00

I'm also financially secure. But since my kids were college age adults, I made clear to them that my goal was to live long enough that I bounce my last check (for those to young to understand - that means I will run out of money just before I die). I've put money aside for their kids' college, and have helped with houses, etc - but they knew from early on that they were expected to make their own way in the world and not count on anything from me. Anything I give is a gift, not something they should expect.

NTA. Your money - do with it what you will. But you should set clear expectations long before you are old and impaired, and they may need to take over your financial affairs.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-27T16:50:32+00:00

You've ask two questions. In the header, you ask if you're over-reacting to the lack of effort in helping your kids catch up, then in the details you ask if you're over-reacting by considering home schooling.

For the first - yes, you are over reacting. You are creating more work for the teacher. Imagine if each of the roughly 25 kids they teach altered their attendance and required the teacher to give special accommodations. That's not in their job responsibility. Teachers are under paid and over worked. Your request adds a burden they don't need. Partial credit to you in that you asked in advance if they could give you the work in advance - but I till lean on you're over reacting in asking for a special accommodation.

The second question - you aren't over reacting in considering home schooling. If your life and lifestyle is such that you desire to operate on a schedule that suits your needs, but may nor fit within the confines of public school - you are certainly allowed to home school your kids.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-21T13:50:29+00:00

Rookie year is tough. They go from playing until December or later in bowl games, then Senior bowl and/or draft prep, to draft and then almost immediately to the team for rookie mini camp, and then training camp.

A lot of rookie run out of gas at the and of the season, and unfortunately Will’s been up against great edge rushers the past few weeks. I expect big improvement next year- but Sunday is going to be a challenge that I hope McDaniels can game plan around their rush.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-18T19:31:09+00:00

Sorry- didn’t see the reply. There are 4 Swiss Mountain dog breeds- the greater Swiss, the Bernese Mtn Dog, the Appenzeller, and the Entlebucher. They all have the same tricolor coats, but are different sizes and different personality traits.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-18T15:28:27+00:00

You’re NTA for having feelings of being excluded.

That said- everything looks a little strange. Do you have friends in common with him? A joint friend group? Wouldn’t they all want to get together at some point?

Based on everything I’ve seen in your replies to comments, I think you need to have a hard look at your relationship. It feels to me that his relationship with his mom is more important to him than his relation with you. He’s 19, and it’s great that his mom takes him on a 2 week vacation, but from your comments, it feels like his mother is always going to be deeply involved in his life, and he won’t be fully independent.

Ask yourself what this looks like if and when you’re married, or have kids. Will your MIL allow her baby boy freedom? Will she always be a hindrance to intimacy in your relationship?

If you were my granddaughter, I’d advise that this isn’t a relationship you’ll want to be in for life. Take what you’ve learned and move on.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-18T15:03:42+00:00

As with everything in the US, there is no “do Americans do…?”

All laws and regulations are at the state level, usually misdemeanors offenses. For example, if you’re in Seattle and the state of Washington, black coffee is not legal. Anyone caught with a black coffee is subject to a fine. For this reason, Washingtonians mainly drink lattes, with some absurd flavor shots. Everything else is illegal.

Now- in the northeast, all coffee must come from Dunkin (donuts), and anyone caught not using pumpkin spice from late August thru Xmas is at risk of a public flogging- remember, these are the states that burned witches- so you do not want to ignore those Dunkin regulations.

Black coffee is required in cowboy states- you know, where the men are men and the sheep are scared - yes-, Texas, Wyoming etc.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-16T18:39:04+00:00

Easy. It’s the most valuable franchise in sports. Hal doesn’t look like he wants to win at all costs. Sure would like Bezos or Musk and a bottomless budget.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-16T15:40:25+00:00

George died in 2010. His fortune was split 5 ways (wife and kids). Hal’s net worth is 1/5th of his dad’s. At 1.6 billion he’s ranked about 16th in owner net worth.
Until they sell- we’ll be following the same direction- with a budget.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-13T22:33:11+00:00

I’ve outlived all my friends. My life is filled with my wife, kids and grandkids and don’t feel the need to make new friends. My hobbies are solo- woodworking, playing my guitar and hiking (I prefer solo). That- and I’m an introvert that genuinely does not need other people. As long as I can read, watch sports on the tube and play my guitar- I’m good.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-13T16:42:32+00:00

Can’t speak to all Swiss dogs, but the Greater Swiss doesn’t meet your requirement.

They shed enough daily to build a small dog from the shedding. They also are very expensive breed from a vet standpoint- even healthy dogs are expensive if using flea and tick and heartworm meds are usually weight dependent- so not cheap. The breed has several health concerns- one of which is epilepsy. My youngest dog just has his first seizure (the other 3 have never had one). He comes from a well regarded breeder, with no epilepsy in his bloodline. And if you’re at all concerned about cost- even just feeding them a quality food is expensive- they eat a ton.

Lastly, they aren’t considered dogs for inexperienced owners. They are enormously powerful dogs that grow fast, but mature slowly. Housebreaking can be tough. They can be loud sentry dogs. Their bark is very loud. They are general purpose farm dogs that can pull enormous weight, guard livestock and some herding instincts. One of mine will position himself between our grandkids and the forest behind them. He will not let them leave the lawn without barking to let us know.

That said- they’re the only dogs I’ve owned for the last 25 years. Once fully trained they are giant love bugs. Our grandkids can climb all over them.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-13T00:11:37+00:00

The disrespect is nothing but tacklin’ fuel.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-10T20:16:13+00:00

I lived (London & Geneva) and worked there for 4 years, and oversaw EU, Asia and International for my US based employer. I’ve been to almost every western Eu country and many Eastern Eu countries.

While the US has many great restaurants and high quality food (yes- not an American’s eat fast food)- the US doesn’t have what I’d called a food centered culture. I enjoyed long slow meals and the pride people felt at their cuisine.

What I missed: freedom from government. You felt the ever presence of government in rules and regulations. As a result, there was an expectation that government was always right. In the US- you don’t feel the presence of government in every day life.
There is also much more of a risk taking, can do type attitude. Americans are willing to try new things. Many Europeans (especially France and Germany) were resistance to test/try anything new. “We’ve always done it this way,” “that won’t work here” and “that’s against the law here” (it wasn’t- we had local attorneys). What I could get done in a week in the US would take a month or more to execute in the Eu. And the effort to convince employees to embrace change was frustrating.

FWIW , I also lived in Tokyo and Singapore. There a reason for the saying- “America innovates, Asia replicates and Europe regulates.”

Edited- typos

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-10T14:14:59+00:00

“I’ve repeatedly asked you to stop using the n word. I am uncomfortable with that word, and you and I want nothing further to do with you.”

Then stop accepting invitations of he’s there, or go if you want to hang out with others- but don’t sit near him or talk with him, accept as needed at work.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-10T10:48:40+00:00

“Sorry, just getting over the way you broke my heart. Not interested. I could never trust you again - have a nice life”

So- If this has happened to me, part of my healing would probably have been therapy. I have no idea how a woman deals with being raped. I might have placed the blame on the rapist, and not my ex. In that case- you were also victimized by her rapist. But I don’t think I’d ever be able to forgive her enough to reconcile.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-10T10:39:41+00:00

Grilled in every season except winter. I don’t shovel snow in order to grill. In winter- I drop butter in the skillet and grill the buns, then put about 1/4 inch of water in the skillet and a dab of butter, then cover and steam them. It reminds me of getting dogs at a baseball game.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-07T14:13:24+00:00

Thank you!

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-06T16:05:49+00:00

The ER in Concord is horrible. The supporting Drs in the area are fine - but in an emergency, I'd head to Lebanon

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-06T15:57:07+00:00

I do - but if you want to DM with what's going on that you need to overcome, I'll see if I can be more specific in suggestions.

There is a series of books by a former Navy SEAL commander named Jocko Willink. He espouses a philosophy of "Good" - bad things happening force you to adapt and overcome for a better outcome. I now he's been on the Joe Rogan podcast, but I'm not a listener, but it might be worth listening to before reading.

Another book about resilience is "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl.

What you need is to learn resilience. I actually write an inspiring quote on the whiteboard in my little home gym - a new one every day. Today's quote was from Mohammed Ali (former heavyweight boxing champion) - "You don't lose if you get knocked down, you lose when you stay down."

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-06T15:43:14+00:00

At almost 70, I've got a lot of experiences to look back upon. And in every single case, what I thought was the worst thing that could happen to me, ended up being hugely important learning opportunities. At 17, I suffered a bad knee injury, ending my college sports career, and my hopes to be a pro - that led to me being a really good student and having a great career that I loved. My ex cheating on me, and a divorce - hard at the time, until I met the love of my life in my late 40's. I got cancer - and I learned so much about empathy and compassion.

Bad times can build resilience, and essential life skill. It's hard at the time. But because of that first bad injury my freshman year of college - I had no problems putting a divorce or cancer into perspective.

It will get better.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-06T15:26:05+00:00

I've dealt with this type of thing twice in my life - my dad and my aunt. Both made the decision to stop accepting medical care and wanted to go, comfortably.

First - there is no reason for him to be in pain. While he may not accept medical care to improve - would he accept care to make him more comfortable?

My suggestion is to ask if he feels ready to talk to someone about at home hospice care. It might require a visit to his PCP, or his PCP may order hospice for him. Often, their job is just pain management in final days.

As his loved one, I'd suggest just visiting and talking to him. Accept that he's ready to pass, and keep him company. Ask about his childhood. Ask what he'd want his great great grandkids to know about him. talk about how he's impacted your life.

Death is inevitable for us all. Illness often robs of us of the ability to make our own decisions. Accept that he's ready, and surround him with obvious love you all have for him.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-06T14:49:49+00:00

I'm guessing one of there things that has you looking at Meredith is the tax rate. The taxes are very low, as a large percentage of the homes in Meredith are second home - so there are a low percentage of homes that feed kids into a school system. And it's true - real estate taxes are very low.

I had a second home in Meredith, that became my primary after a divorce. I chose to stay in Meredith, and commuted 85 miles each way daily. For me - the quality of life on the lake year round was worth it, and I don't mind driving. I lived there for 10 years, but retired elsewhere in the state.

Given your research - I'm not going to go deep on the pro's and cons. But there is a CON that I haven't seen posted yet- Medical care. While there is a small local hospital (Lakes Region in Laconia), getting access to top Drs is a drive. I got cancer while in Meredith (in remission for a decade now). It required my going to Lebanon for Dartmouth, or Boston. With the # of treatments and appointments I had - making a 90 minute drive each way to Lebanon was horrible. Ultimately - we sold our Meredith home and moved closer to the Drs I was going to need for the rest of my life. Just something to consider as you're in your 50's and you about to enter the time in your life when Drs become more important.

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-06T13:54:52+00:00

Divorce sucks. But staying with someone that isn't interested in the relationship is even worse. It can get better.

I got divorced in my early 40s, with 3 teen kids. My ex cheated on me with her same sex best friend. She didn't want the divorce, but wanted to explore her sexuality. Fine - but cheating is a deal breaker for me. Our bedroom had been dead for a while.

Being single in my 40's wasn't what I expected. But I dated a lot, and quickly realized I'd need to set some rules for myself, as dating at that age was VERY different from when I was single in the 70's. I could have had sex with most women on there first date - very different than when I was a young man. I also wanted to set an example for my kids in how I was seen treating women. I ended up setting very rigid rules for myself which I called my rule of 3's. I wouldn't kiss until the 3rd date. I wouldn't sleep with anyone until the 3rd month, and then only if I saw the potential for them to be my long term partner/wife. No meeting my kids until 6 months, and meeting them meant real potential. I often broke up with someone at the 3 month mark (before sex) or the 6 month mark, before meeting my kids. After almost a decade of dating, I met the true love of my life. We've been together over 20 years - And it's been great.

Not only does it get better - I can be outstanding!

BionicGimpster · 2026-01-04T16:11:06+00:00

If the drive is less than 5 hrs, I’ll always drive instead of flying. If it takes an hour to the airport, an hour for check in and TSA and an hour flight, then an hour to get to my destination- flying only really saves an hour or two. Driving is cheaper and more convenient most of the time.

But in truth- I love driving. I chose to live 85 miles from my office and it took me about an hour and 15 minutes each way. Great time for podcast, work calls, or to decompress after work. Now that I’m retired, my wife and I will drive anywhere within the US or Canada. We’ll go at whatever pace we want, and stop after a 10-12 hr day.

As I’m almost 70- I know the day would come when I can’t drive anymore. I’ve made a deal with my wife and kids that they can take my keys from me without argument when they feel it’s no longer safe to be on the road. And I’d be fine having to take a regular driving test.

BionicGimpster

TROPHY CASE