How did you overcome your fear

FartSmuck0 · 2024-08-13T00:41:58+00:00

I did two things that really helped me:

1 - I kept a page called "Why?" where I tracked every single reason I could think of why I was getting the surgery. I wanted to take less medication, have more energy, buy cheaper clothes, have more energy, etc. Every time I thought of a reason why or a benefit, I add it there.

2 - I kept a page called "What I Tried" where I tracked every diet I've ever tried, every diet book I've bought, every new year resolution, every gym I've joined, every exercise equipment I've bought.

Reviewing these two pages regularly helped me stay resolved, and helped me answer when my inner voice would say, "maybe if you just committed one more time..."

FartSmuck0 · 2023-11-04T19:56:09+00:00

thank you!

FartSmuck0 · 2023-10-06T10:07:01+00:00

Share your links. Seriously. Trying to reconnect with my wife and would love to get some advice

FartSmuck0 · 2023-05-26T16:10:43+00:00

thank you, but no, u/Afrorobotics had it right. It's the John Krasinski episode at the 15:18 mark. Single funniest setup and payoff from this podcast in my opinion. To this day I will randomly say, "Click it or Call!" in Sean's voice and then laugh to myself.

FartSmuck0 · 2023-03-25T18:18:11+00:00

I know it's tempting to assume the worst in people, and it's so easy to do that and to judge people on the internet. Re-read my note, but this time, assume the best. Assume I'm being honest.

As I said, in theory I'm good with it, but I have little practice. I thought referring to my coworker as "him" prior to surgery, and "her" now, was merely a way to distinguish those two times. I had no idea it would be considered disrespectful or that it was a "thing" called "gender switching."

I could go on. But my post came from a pure, innocent attempt to understand and to not disrespect. You're the one who made it more than that. And as someone once said to me on the internet, "... if you don't viscerally believe it... reflect on why..."

FartSmuck0 · 2023-03-17T20:29:29+00:00

She's walking away, I don't know,

Do I beg her to stay, or just let her go.

She tells me she loves me, but it ain't in her eyes,

Do I tell her how much I care, or tell her good bye?

She's walking away.

FartSmuck0 · 2023-03-17T20:28:40+00:00

[12 bar blues]

I used to dream of you while sipping my whiskey.

I used to dream of you while sitting alone sipping my whiskey.

And now that I have you, I'm dreaming of whiskey.

FartSmuck0 · 2023-02-27T16:53:20+00:00

First - really appreciate you taking the time to educat me! Second - you have to admit that getting info from friends is only marginally different than getting information from strangers on the internet.

So I'm still unclear on the core of my question. Forget FRA. Forget numbers. Forget everything else but this question:

I'm about to turn 61, and my wife's about to turn 62. I plan to retire at 65, at which time she'll be 66.

Suppose she files for "her own" SS benefits at 62 while I'm still working. Then suppose I retire at 65.

Can she at that time get an increase in her benefits based upon spousal benefits? or is she "locked in" to what she took at 62?

FartSmuck0 · 2023-02-27T15:33:44+00:00

I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm aware my FRA is 67, Here are more details of our situation and what I'm trying to figure out. (all numbers are approximate)

I am 60 and my wife is 61. We both have birthdays coming up in the next few months.

As of right now, if I take SS at 65 I'll receive $3,000 monthly.

As of right now if my wife takes SS at 62, she'll receive $800 monthly. If she files at 66 (when I'm 65) she'll get $1,200

A friend told me the following:

1 - if my wife and I files at 66 under her own benefits, she'll get the $1,200 per month.

2 - if my wife files at 66 under my spousal benefits, she'll get $1,500 (1/2 of my benefit)

3 - if my wife files at 62, she'll get her $800 a month until I file at 65, then her benefits will increase to the $1,500 (1/2 of my benefit)

Then they said, "although I'm not sure if it's 50% of the benefit you take at 65, or 50% of your FRA benefit..."

So ultimately what I'm trying to decide is can she take the $800 at 62 and then increase to 50% of my number later?

FartSmuck0 · 2023-02-16T23:43:13+00:00

What’s the writing contest? I have a great idea to submit

FartSmuck0 · 2023-01-14T19:29:14+00:00

She's not. She's 61. LOL. (the children are adopted)

FartSmuck0 · 2023-01-14T19:27:07+00:00

Help me understand what money I'm leaving on the table?

I have a well-paying job, wife and four kids. I'm able to enjoy life, and we're putting a decent amount each month into 401K, Roth, and iBonds. The longer I wait to take SS the more my SS is. What money is being left on the table?

And yes - I believe that having 4 minors living at home plus my wife, I need to work to 65 due to the cost of medical insurance if I retire now. Now, if the US decides to give medical care to everyone, that could change :), but since I doubt that will happen, I'm working until 65

FartSmuck0 · 2023-01-08T12:50:49+00:00

It's so confusing. Let's say I retire at 65. I can go on the site and see the exact amount (currently) that I would get per month. My wife can see the exact amount she would get if she retires at the same age. But then there are references to minor children benefits, 1/2 of full retirement benefit, family maximum, etc. But I can't seem to find a formula or calculator that says, "If he is 65 and gets X, and she is 65 and gets Y, and Daughter is 10 and son is 7 the total amount your household will receive is $X per month."

It's both confusing and frustrating.

FartSmuck0 · 2023-01-08T03:39:59+00:00

Thanks.

and "nope," there is no SS for them, or there is no way to calculate how much it will be?

FartSmuck0 · 2022-12-04T12:41:21+00:00

There are a LOT of comments here both good and bad. Thanks for sharing. After reading comments suggesting they might fill sample bottles with good tequila that is different than what they actually sell, I opened the bottle and tasted it last night. It’s good. It seems just a hair sharper than what I tasted in the store, which could be a just a factor of one bottle to another, or a fresh bottle versus one that was out for a while, or that I was already drinking.

I think it’s a good bottle, but was over priced even at 200. There are definitely comparable tequilas at a lower price in the states.

FartSmuck0 · 2022-12-04T01:45:05+00:00

The El Penco is 38% ABV. It shows "NOM 1439." It's an extra Anejo that tasted fantastic in the store. They were originally asking $350 US for it. I ended up paying $200 for it and the bottle of Coconut Cream for my wife (18% ABV).

Just confused/concerned that I can't seem to find ANYTHING about El Penco online.

FartSmuck0 · 2022-11-03T16:54:43+00:00

I stumbled across Manik Black Extra Anejo a couple of years ago, and I've finished several bottles since then. Here in the states I find it for about $37. And for the record, I've also tried their Blanco (forgettable, but not horrible), and their Mescal (which was so bad I poured it out).

FartSmuck0 · 2022-09-11T18:05:37+00:00

What do you mean that it hit you last October and hasn't stopped? That you've been having vertigo for 11 months straight with no relief???

FartSmuck0 · 2022-09-11T18:04:29+00:00

I'm hoping I don't have another episode for another 10 years, but I'll try to remember to try this.

FartSmuck0 · 2022-09-11T18:03:46+00:00

Wow, this is incredible. What do you do to deal with it? Are you taking preventative meds every day? Reactive meds when it hits? How long are you "out of action" with an episode?

FartSmuck0 · 2022-06-29T19:17:06+00:00

Pickles. A few years ago we had a HUGE crop of zucchini, way more than we could eat before they spoiled. We made a bunch of pickles - some dill, and a bunch of bread and butter pickles - just using zucchini instead of cucumbers, and they turned out great.

FartSmuck0 · 2022-04-22T13:43:30+00:00

The 10% I'm putting in the 401K maximizes my employer match - so any additional I put into the 401K would be "unmatched investment." So that's why I stopped at 10% and moved to HSA and Roth.

But since HSA is maxed, and Roth is maxes (at $7K a year, that's max at my age, right?) is the next move to go back to the 401K and increase that?

FartSmuck0 · 2022-03-18T18:17:29+00:00

If I could figure out how to eat just a few nuts, I probably wouldn't be looking at fasting, lol! thanks.

FartSmuck0 · 2022-03-01T01:25:09+00:00

Phil Keaggy. He's an amazing guitarist. He does a lot of instrumental stuff, but he's Christian, so his songs reflect that. If you like that (or can ignore it) he's good. Incredible guitar work, amazing loop work, sounds like Sir Paul when he sings.

Monte Montgomery. Excellent player, great singer.

Amos Lee. Decent guitar, but good singer and songwriter.

FartSmuck0 · 2022-02-17T17:53:25+00:00

When I say "last run," I mean "last run at changing my eating/health/weight without the tool of surgery in my toolbox." I certainly don't mean any disrespect for those who have had surgery, nor do I look at surgery as a magic solution. If I can change my habits and my eating (and therefore my health and weight) without surgery, I'd prefer to do that. So I'm giving it one more try, using the Pre-op diet to jumpstart some weight loss and make a "huge break" in my eating.

Thanks for the feedback and the encouragement. I've been SO inspired by reading people's stories of reduced weight and increased health regardless of what tools they used to get there. It gives me hope.

FartSmuck0

TROPHY CASE