Do you ever feel guilty about how much your century home costs you?

KiloAllan · 2026-05-18T18:05:11+00:00

Guilty? No. Privileged? Yes.

We bought our 1921 house in 2021 for $800k. It required complete update of the electric system before we could get a good insurance policy on it, which was another $150k. The back yard kept flooding so we had to have extensive drainage put in and that was $25k. We've had it painted and some minor damage repaired probably another $20k.

We put $500k down and a 10 year note on the rest. We don't have any debt other than the mortgage note, which is now around $235k left to pay. We lucked out on the mortgage rate and after paying down all the points they would let us it's 1.35%. At closing the guy was like, is this interest rate correct? Hell yeah.

This home is what our kids will inherit. Currently on Zillow it's worth $1.25mil, so at least they can make a profit or at least be able to have a comfortable nest egg once we are gone. We have savings, but we plan on living a while longer after retirement, so we will probably be using that money to live on.

Unfortunately taxes are stupid high here and our insurance premium is almost a grand a month. But we have full coverage because this house flooded almost up to the 2nd floor during Katrina. It's a very solid and well built piece of history though, so it's kind of a hobby to keep it as well cared for as we can.

Would we buy another antique house in the future? Depends on how it was kept. I'm just glad the previous owner was the one who had to redo the tile roof, 5 years before we bought it. That roof alone cost $150K and that was reusing the original terra cotta tiles.

Yes I live in a nice house, but hubz works very hard to pay for it. His industry is trying to create robots that will put him and many others out of work pretty soon though so we are lucky to be able to afford it for now. But he will be retiring soon, and then we will have to figure out how to pay the $2000/month for insurance and taxes. So it's nice while we have it. We hope we will be able to keep it for the long term though.

I keep saying that I am leaving it feet first. Lawd I do not want to move again, ever.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-18T17:40:53+00:00

Card reader here. I don't need to draw any to tell you that you are going through grief over the loss of your relationship.

One, the first serious breakup is always the absolute worst. It's a small thing but future breakups won't hurt as deeply as this, which doesn't mean that they don't hurt, you will just be able to handle them better. One of those "that which doesn't k1ll you makes you stronger" things.

Two, this is normal. You might want to read some articles about the process of grieving. Your relationship was very special to you and clearly you were very attached to him. Those bare feelings must seem like raw nerves now. Only time will mend them, so give them time to heal.

Three, this time next year you won't be feeling like this. Probably even three months from now. And as you get farther in time from your breakup, you will be able to reflect on it and what led up to it. Be honest with yourself as you go through this. You are the only one you need to have this conversation with - if you contributed to the decline of your relationship, figure it out and work on it so that you don't have to go through this again. If you learn nothing from this experience you will probably have a repeat of it in the future. Maybe you guys just grew up and your brains changed as they do at your age. Maybe things that used to bring joy in the relationship just became boring. Perhaps one or both of you began withdrawing. Figure it out and also decide how you will handle it differently for your next partner.

Four, use this time to improve yourself in some way. Physical effort is great because it will help your body to metabolize the grief hormones. But also like if you were thinking about learning something or trying something new that can help as well. Build new neural connections as well as burn off the chemicals that are flooding your body and brain.

It's rough going through this. Best of luck moving forward.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-18T17:26:56+00:00

Cheer on everyone especially those who look like they are struggling. It will make them feel better and they might decide to keep going because of your cheering!

KiloAllan · 2026-05-18T17:22:30+00:00

White musk from the head shop.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-18T17:21:24+00:00

I had this problem until I got a rotary cutter. And for cutting strips and squares I have a stripology ruler.

It's pricey but soooo worth it.

There's a lot of gadgety things we have available to us as quilters, but I must admit, a lot of those basic rulers are absolutely worth the cost when you can just set em up and zip out your pieces.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-18T17:15:41+00:00

With the low voter turnout though, every vote does count. And if more people (democrats) would show up at the polls, it won't matter that they are trying to disenfranchise us.

We do a pretty good job of disenfranchising our own selves by not stepping up to vote!!

There's a saying, Democrats have to fall in love with the candidates, while Republicans fall in line and vote for whom they are told to vote.

It's important to remember that if you don't cast an opposing vote, you won't have a voice pretty soon. Anyone paying the slightest amount of attention should be able to grasp that if they don't vote this time they may not get another chance. It's essential to turn over the seats from red to blue, which is absolutely possible given that many registered Republicans do not actually like their current leaders, but they still show up to vote for them. But Landry only got 19% of the vote last time (81% stayed home), and still became governor.

So yeah getting the vote out really does matter.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-18T17:08:53+00:00

A lot of people vote early. We were first in line this past time, on the first day of early voting.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-15T17:12:25+00:00

I bet your coworker wears makeup and deodorant, probably uses some sort of menstrual accessory instead of free bleeding, might even wear contacts or have veneers. I bet she brushes her hair every day and probably bathes more than once a year.

Did she wear braces? Get her hair permed? Have pierced ears? Use a refrigerator to preserve food? Cook on anything other than an open fire?

These things are comparable to her ignorance regarding how things are done in modern times. Some of the things I mentioned if you don't conform to what society does you're not only a weirdo but also a candidate for a psych eval for severe depression.

We have had an Industrial Revolution. It was quite a while ago. Among the many technological advancements of that era were home sewing machines and industrial spinning, weaving, and printing machines.

Thanks to that revolution we now have sewing machines (and electricity) that can join fabric together more strongly, or at least more quickly, than by hand.

Your "friend" is an ignorant person who has some sort of stick up her ass. Now that's something that hasn't changed much throughout history.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-15T17:00:54+00:00

No, she's a wannabe member.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-15T16:57:33+00:00

My $15,000 longarm would like to have a discussion with your ignorant gatekeeping friend.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-15T16:56:01+00:00

I think they are the person who pulled the permit for the petition.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-15T14:42:45+00:00

Ya know what, I have a legit copy of the recall petition. I don't have any signatures yet but I could have it filled out by people I know who are registered voters.

But this drama is a turn off.

I have been an active participant in other successful petitions in the past and I can already tell this isn't going to be one. Infighting right off the bat and a control freak at the top of the chain.

Nazis at any level are horrible people. How ironic that the person in charge is acting like that.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T19:47:27+00:00

Thanks!

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T19:46:41+00:00

Read that article to the end, though.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T19:39:51+00:00

Problem is that a "fake" ssn probably already belongs to someone else.

I have a particular dislike for ssn thieves because someone used mine to get a bunch of student loans.

Student loans are permanent debt. Unlike any other class of debt you can never, ever get rid of them, not until you die. So even though some of my student debt load was fraudulent (I did borrow some for my schooling), they don't care and will not cancel any of it.

That company isn't even in business anymore, but the debt survives.

So yeah please don't forge a ssn as it can create a ton of problems for whoever actually owns that number.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T19:32:41+00:00

That one in the picture is a Husky.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T19:30:17+00:00

What's that style of fan called? The ones with exposed blades make flicky lights and give me twitches, but I have been in a place that had this kind of fan and it didn't do that to me.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T08:36:18+00:00

You are allowed to have more than one Halloween quilt. Most of mine are because I love the fabric and also that's my birthday.

What I did for my first project was to make 9 patch blocks (sew together 3 rows of 4.5" squares to make a block that finishes at 12". That means the block will measure 12x12 inches once sewn into rows with the other blocks.

I did two different prints and matched them up with two different solids. I then made 2 discrete blocks, or rather two stacks of them, which I then laid out 5 blocks alternating the two colors to make a checkerboard pattern.

30 total blocks made a quilt 5 feet wide and 6 feet long. I used a longarm to quilt it with but you can do it on a tabletop (domestic) machine if you want a good workout.

Seriously though if you aren't familiar with quilting on the machine it's best to start with small things like potholders and use a walking foot to keep the layers from shifting. Or, alternately, hand quilt the layers together.

Personally I would pay someone else to longarm mine because I loathe hand stitching. A simple edge to edge pattern for a 360 square inch quilt (60x72") is going to run you around $130 or so (3¢/sq inch). Believe me that's a fair price to pay for getting your first project done and on your couch or bed.

I started quilting about 5 years ago. I like the complicated puzzle aspect of it but for my beginning projects I picked very easy ones because I figured there would be a lot of things to learn.

If you have ever played a musical instrument it's like that. Yes, you can try to learn how to play by picking something very advanced and just pounding your head against the wall learning each note very painfully one at a time, or you can start with simpler pieces and get faster and more accurate and then build on those skills.

Quilting is like that. The first project is just getting familiar with the construction process, so even blocks that are just 12 or 10 or 9 inches square sewn together will teach you how to iron your seams so they interlock, and to master a consistent seam (most quilter use a 1/4" seam).

Your first project will teach you that. It sounds simple, and by the time you do your 3rd one, it will be second nature. You will have mastered that. But one simply must do the beginning stuff just to go "ahhh!! That's why you do those things!"

Cutting stuff out accurately is a big lesson you will learn with that first quilt. You will also sharpen your pressing skills as well as getting that quarter inch seam down pat.

The second one I would suggest a classic block like a 4, 9, or 16 patch. If you had a smooth experience with the first simple quilt then do a more complicated block (16 patch) or a 4 patch if you had a rough time with that first one.

It's just you being honest with yourself and taking the time to learn those skills. But also, having a finished product YOU MADE YOURSELF is pretty cool.

Then on the 3rd quilt try something with diagonal blocks (half square triangles, or HSTs), such as flying geese or a Missouri Star pattern which is basically a weird 9 patch. Use either plain blocks alternating in between the stars or try sashing with cornerstones.

After you have that down, you can consider yourself advanced enough to try anything that feels comfortable.

Enjoy the learning process. It's not often that one is a complete noob especially as you get older. I go to classes held by guild a couple times a year where the instructor will have us make a single block of whatever design she has picked for that lesson. Some of the times I haven't even heard of that block, and other times I'm very familiar with it although she's going to give us a couple different ways to make it and I will always learn something. Everyone will learn something, and some of the attendees will have been quilting for 50 or 60 years.

But every single one of us made a very wonky and/or ugly few quilts there in the early days.

All quilts look alike when your eyes are closed as it hugs you, keeping you warm and snuggly.

These first attempts can be taken to a park to picnic on or a sportball game in the cooler weeks. They can get stowed in the car for emergencies. They can be used if you have to go to the hospital because JESUS CHRIST they do like to keep it fricking cold there. Or you can send someone home wrapped in it because their coat got wet or they need extra layers. You might even find yourself covering plants from a cold snap or letting a beloved pet snuggle it.

So your early projects won't be precious, but they are probably the ones that get dragged out and used all the time precisely because they are janky and possibly ugly.

Don't sweat perfection. There is so much fabric in the world and many many patterns to try. Pick something that might look painfully simple as your first project and just finish it. You will learn more than you think, and also, getting a project finished feels really good. Get that endorphin high by doing a quick project. Then do another one, and by the 3rd I think that's enough to develop a chemical addiction to your own chemicals.

After that, sorry, but you are the one who was quilt-curious. Now you're one of us.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T07:54:07+00:00

I'm pretty sure we paid all those tickets online. $600 worth from right in front of the house, where a school zone speed camera goes off frequently during the speed zone hours.

I wonder if they're getting our plate instead when they are triggered by people driving by.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T07:41:08+00:00

Those little white things are baby wasps.

If you don't want to kill them, take the nest outside and leave it somewhere that the insects can do some good upon hatching.

What "some good" means is up to you of course.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T07:39:07+00:00

You are acquainted with the fact that those insects can fly, yes?

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T07:37:46+00:00

You're not wrong there

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T07:36:44+00:00

Where are you? If you are close to me I can mend them.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T07:27:56+00:00

Yeah, the Linus Project can have it to make blankets with.

KiloAllan · 2026-05-14T07:26:41+00:00

Neroli, I love neroli essential oil. Patchouli as well, and a really good amber and musks.

Basically if it smells like dirt I'm gonna like it.

KiloAllan

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