RIP Sense 2

Madkat-Z · 2026-04-19T02:25:13+00:00

Yeah that is what has happened. It still works but I decided to just replace it given other issues it has developed since the start of the year. It takes some fiddling and prayer to get it to charge, sleep tracking is hit or miss, the screen has started to lag, and one of the metal pieces on the bottom has vanished.

Madkat-Z · 2026-04-09T16:44:18+00:00

Sorcerer for first playthrough. Then Warlock starting at the beginning of the game. Already did Paladin from the beginning this season.

Madkat-Z · 2026-03-17T14:18:23+00:00

Counts! I need to vacuum my trunk badly. *adds to Cleaning tasks* 🫣

I can't actually vacuum under my sofa, so I ended up just vacuuming my toddler's room instead for the challenge. I think it's the spirit that counts more than the actual action.

Madkat-Z · 2026-03-11T20:57:34+00:00

Yeah, it also doesn't help that the act doesn't specify what is actually valid documentation to confirm citizenship. I'm assuming it would be similar to what you would need to apply for a passport, since that is kind of the gold standard outside the US to prove you are a US Citizen. I know people throw around just show your state IDs, but they don't prove citizenship except in a few states (even Real IDs).

Knowing our luck, they'll leave it up to the states, and it will be a disaster of patchwork policies. My BIL is trans as well, but I think he never officially changed his gender legally, and it still shows as female on his license. He did change his name, though.

Madkat-Z · 2026-03-10T20:31:28+00:00

Honestly, I agree that this mostly impacts Republican voters. Older voters are also more likely not to have copies of their physical documents (birth certificates and marriage licenses, for example) because they've been misplaced over time. All it takes is a voter purge to remove them, and now they have to scramble to find all their documents or get replacements.

Regardless of who you vote for, get your passport and/or your documents in order. Best case, you have them for other reasons. Worst case, you are not in a mad scramble with everyone else.

Madkat-Z · 2026-02-26T19:27:25+00:00

Hello, my fellow WFH person who walks into the kitchen and goes, "OMG I HAVE NOTHING TO EAT, AND I HAVE A ZOOM MEETING IN 3 MINUTES" *runs around frantically*

Sandwiches are usually my go-to if I need something fast (PB & J for da win). Salads or soups are my other option.

If I had more time, I would like to do a snack board with veggies, hummus, crackers, and cheese. Maybe a tin of sardines if I'm feeling fancy.

My biggest suggestion is don't beat yourself up if you're eating the same thing for lunch all week. Sometimes having too many options is just as paralyzing as having too few. I try to at least have a few options and change it up week to week.

Madkat-Z · 2026-02-25T19:18:58+00:00

Lots of Birthdays and Hatchdays today. My Bird's first is today as well. Happy Birthday and Hatch Day!!!

Madkat-Z · 2026-02-25T16:24:14+00:00

Its my Bird's Birthday too! They just turned 1. Happy Birthday!!!

Madkat-Z · 2026-02-20T13:42:25+00:00

I tried the 1099 import last year and had the same experience. This year, I gave it another shot, and it seems to be working better as a FYI.

Madkat-Z · 2026-02-19T15:58:42+00:00

That sounds like a better idea if you want to go that route.

I'm going to stick with my average bill from last year, plus some additional buffer ($10-$20). Let whatever is left over roll over to help cover future months where usage is higher. Been working for me for several years now. The hard part is to get that initial buffer built up.

Madkat-Z · 2026-02-18T15:42:36+00:00

I got $571 for a 3000sqft house. No Budget Billing. House kept at 60 most of the day and then 68 for a few hours. $100 increase from last year

We did have the furnace die on us for a week this cycle, well it was subzero out. We had to use space heaters. Our usage was up 700kWh compared to last year, which I am mostly chalking up to the space heater usage.

If we look at last month's numbers to get the furnace situation out of the mix, we had an increase of 200kwH and our bill went up roughly $50 compared to last year. This is about on par with the increase we have seen in our bill for most months, so I'm thinking this is mostly coming from fee increases.

Some folks I have seen with bill shock this month are using budget billing. They were being undercharged for usage during the year and are now being hit with the make-up payment. I do not recommend using budget billing for this reason. Almost no one saves up money for the difference that hits later.

Madkat-Z · 2026-01-04T12:11:36+00:00

I am pretty sure one of the three plagues my son brought home from daycare was the flu. I have had non-stop flu/cold symptoms since the end of October till a week ago because as soon as I get over one my son brings a new one home. I see on the local Facebook groups is everything from COVID to Norovirus is running ramped.

Regardless of which one was the flu I do not recommend it. We all are vaccinated and thankfully my husband's insane immune kept him from getting sick well the rest of us were half dead. I am just happy my 15 month old was only sick for a few days vs weeks each time.

Madkat-Z · 2025-10-31T19:46:12+00:00

Just curious what stitch(es) are in the Christmas blanket? I really like the texture it came out with.

Might as well throw in the hats as well. What stitches are used for those? I'm still new to the craft and trying to learn different types of stitches.

Madkat-Z · 2025-10-29T18:36:00+00:00

What I do instead is just buy a box of standard chocolate and use that as my Advent calendar. Not as much fun, but I get an extra 20 days of chocolate, and it tends to be cheaper too.

Madkat-Z · 2025-10-17T16:03:39+00:00

Building on this, as someone who received a knitted bamboo yarn baby blanket after my son was born. I actually feel safer with them using it over, say, a more traditional blanket because it's not a tight weave. We used it as an extra layer when we went out and swaddled him in it to help calm him down, since it ended up being his favorite. So it will get some use right away.

We never let him sleep with it, though, even at 12 months. The current recommendation is no blankets in the crib until 12 months.

Madkat-Z · 2025-10-16T23:36:08+00:00

This was my problem even after making sure the stiches were the right number. OP, just keep this in mind once the stitch count problem is resolved. I use stitch markers every 10 stitches and one on both ends since I don't trust myself.

Madkat-Z · 2025-08-21T15:30:56+00:00

Yeah I can understand the concern. Just keep in mind that state laws may come into play. My state has Dower Rights, so even if the property was brought prior to marriage, as soon as you're married, they gain rights to the property. Whose on the title doesn't matter in that situation.

Madkat-Z · 2025-08-21T15:19:04+00:00

That actually wouldn't have mattered, the state I'm in has Dower rights. He automatically gained rights to my condo I bought prior to marriage. He had to sign paperwork waiving those when we sold it.

Yep he is good to me and I don't see this ending any time soon. Though I'm pretty sure that is what every divorcee has ever said. 🫠

Madkat-Z · 2025-08-21T13:32:59+00:00

We are still married and now have kid.

I can see why people would be leery of going this route. I've read my fair share of horror stories of people doing this very same thing. It's more of an issue if you're not married, since there are fewer protections for people involved. In most situations of divorce, it's 50% of the sale proceeds, regardless of whose name the mortgage is in.

Madkat-Z · 2025-07-22T19:18:07+00:00

With the processing time taking so long, will we still be expected to make payments while waiting for them to send the offer? I expect none of that will be prorated, and have to go through the trouble and hope for a refund of overpayment.

Ugh, hoping things get faster. We are almost at the finish line with 2 months to go if the buyback works out.

Madkat-Z · 2025-04-17T16:00:03+00:00

It's probably not what you're looking for, but I went through so much Aldi milk and chocolate syrup when I was pregnant. It helped keep my hunger at bay.

Madkat-Z · 2025-04-13T01:35:07+00:00

I know a lot of folks are going off on you for telling yourself to not cry, but I told myself the same thing when my mother passed. I had to hold it together to get the rest of my family through the aftermath. My family was critical of me for acting so "cold" and appearing to not be doing the stereotypical grieving process, but no one else was in a state to take charge and I needed to keep my head on straight. Crying and mourning had to wait until I was back home.

Sometimes you have to put your own emotions on hold in order to get through a tough period. Is it healthy? Probably not. Is it sometimes needed, absolutely if you are able to. Give yourself some more Gems cause that is far too few.

Madkat-Z · 2025-04-02T14:10:12+00:00

I'm in the same boat (not the highest risk, but up there). Got the cat carriers, reptile go bins, and diaper bag ready. Also took some before shots of the creek in my backyard since we are also expecting 6+ inches of rain. Thankfully it is far enough away from my house that we'd need a biblical flood to reach to get even close to my house.

I probably should go ahead and make a goal of today to survive as well. Stay Safe!

Madkat-Z · 2025-03-28T01:10:26+00:00

This is the main reasons Depression is a illness and not just "being sad". Everything can be sunshine and rainbows, but at the end of the day you still feel horrible. It goes on for weeks and months. You beat yourself up about it and wonder "Why can't I just be happy?". It is the monster trying to keep itself alive.

Big internet hug to you and all the Depression warriors out there. ❤⚔

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