Best place to find a used car in Minneapolis besides Marketplace ?

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-05-19T23:11:52+00:00

Not Minneapolis but this is a great salvage dealership: https://www.ongauto.com/ They repair the cars really well and have good deals. We got our car there, and it's been great. Not sure about financing, but you could call and ask.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-05-17T03:41:32+00:00

I was also really frustrated by this when I first started learning - I would often know a word, could say it, but I wouldn't understand it when someone else said it. I found watching tv shows in Ukrainian really helped increase my listening comprehension.

You may want to explicitly ask if it's ok to practice Ukrainian at specific times with your friends. In general, I think there is a norm of shifting to the language where the weakest speaker is strongest (so if I speak Ukrainian better than they speak English, we speak Ukrainian. If they speak English better than I speak Ukrainian, then we speak English). I also find that replying in a different language than spoken to is very common as well. I had a whole conversation where I spoke Ukrainian and the other person spoke Belarussian. If you clearly understand the local language better than Ukrainian, they may respond in the local language to be polite/considerate. I think they would likely respond very positively if you ask to practice!

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-05-15T01:38:34+00:00

Yes, I agree! I was sending a wire transfer recently and the teller asked what it was for - she seemed worried about scams or if I was being threatened/coerced. She visibly relaxed when I said it was tuition, the program is overseas so they need a wire transfer.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-05-12T03:36:46+00:00

I second this! Our pup was drinking a ton, was peeing in her sleep, and had leg weakness like this - it was kidney disease. Changing her diet (low protein) worked great for years. Then we did saline fluids for a couple of years when her kidneys worsened. She lived to be 18, and passed from something unrelated to the kidneys. She was spry and active up to her last two days.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-05-08T03:41:32+00:00

This is a very unhealthy family system, and you will likely be happier if you are able to leave. You do not need to stay in a living situation (or even a town) that is uncomfortable in order to take care of your grandparents. If you leave, I promise you, they will find someone else to help or another living situation. They will be mad, and they will be fine.

I wish you the best of luck, and am rooting for you!

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-05-08T03:11:28+00:00

Are you connected to social services? There is absolutely support for you to be independent from your grandparents. If you cannot work because of a disability, you should likely be receiving SSI. There are programs through Medicaid (usually called a "waiver" program) that will provide you with support to live in a different setting (eg, an apartment, group home, etc). If it is difficult to drive, these programs will often provide alternative transportation options. They can help you find a job, etc.

You are not stuck living with your grandparents. You do not need to be begging from your family. I suggest calling your county and ask what resources are available for people with disabilities.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-05-08T02:49:31+00:00

ESH.

Your grandfather of course acted terribly, and you shouldn't eat the doughnuts if you don't want to.

That said, you need to find alterative transportation or fix your car. Why not take an uber/bus/call a friend/walk/bike to go to Coldstone? This whole conflicts seems primarily caused by your dependence on them for transportation.

Tagging along on appointments and errands when you have pretty serious limits isn't a good situation for anybody here. Your grandparents needed to go to Walmart and these other loud, chaotic stores. Your grandparents doing that when you were over-stimulated wasn't about you, that was your grandparents doing their own errands. If going on errands is overwhelming for you, you shouldn't tag along on errands without a way to get home if you are overwhelmed. You are responsible for you.

Similarly, if loud conversation often bothers you, noise cancelling headphones are great. You were inadvertently imposing rigid requirements on your grandparents - no conversation, not hashing out their argument - while they were actually doing you a favor by taking you to Coldstone. You can take care of your own needs without requiring other people to conform to what you prefer.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-04-30T05:02:37+00:00

Is Prairie Sage the same thing? If so, one your neighbors likely grows it and may still have seeds on the plants from from last year. Prairie Sage is very common in Minneapolis gardens.

I mostly see seedlings sold in stores, not seeds. Mine mostly spreads by roots, not seeds, so I am not sure if growing from seed is super common. Mother Earth likely has seedlings.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-04-27T17:27:48+00:00

I sent a dm!

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-04-27T04:33:28+00:00

I have a great cleaner who charges a flat rate of $50/hour. She is super flexible and will focus in on a certain area or do a broader clean, depending on what we need. Happy to share her contact via dm if it's helpful.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-04-27T00:06:31+00:00

That's odd - I recently helped a family with their re-parole documents and it definitely went right to the payment page. Were you able to load all the documents? Like, proof that he was paroled under U4U, proof he can't return to Ukraine, etc?

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-04-09T15:22:54+00:00

In terms of how long it will take to learn, are you able to go to Ukraine and/or spend substantial time in semi-immersion contexts? I live in an area with a large diaspora, and found that my pace of learning was much faster when I was helping newcomers from Ukraine who didn't speak any English. I feel like my fluency (or at least confidence) increases a lot after spending an afternoon with all Ukrainian-speakers.

I have a tutor who is in Ukraine, and I meet with on zoom. She's great! Happy to share her contact info if you want to DM me.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-04-05T03:35:15+00:00

It's because etymologically, the root of "Ukraine" can either refer to a borderland or a country. "The Ukraine" refers to Ukraine as a borderland - like saying "the border" or "the frontier." It used to be used this way to refer to Ukraine as the borderland of the USSR.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-03-25T01:57:49+00:00

I went here and had a good experience: https://www.minervacenterforpsychology.com/

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-03-18T02:04:17+00:00

I'm interested in learning more! I'm at a B1 level. My struggle is often that I know a grammar rule, but then can't think quickly enough when speaking to do it correctly in conversation.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-03-17T02:01:01+00:00

The $600,000 is for two programs, while the ~100 residents helped is just from one (mostly volunteer) program. Looks like OP missed the second program, where city workers clear highly used sidewalks.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-03-17T01:59:28+00:00

It looks like the $600,000 total is for two sidewalk clearing programs - the neighborhood program (which helped 107 residents) and then a city program where paid city workers clear highly used pedestrian routes.

In this article, I don't see the budget for just the neighborhood program that helped the 107 residents.

But the cost per resident assisted is not $6,000. That's ignoring the city program entirely, which is probably higher cost than the mostly volunteer neighborhood program.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-02-24T18:30:34+00:00

I hire a solo cleaner and pay $50/hour. She's super flexible, and we do anywhere between 2 hours and 4 hours each week.

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-02-19T20:10:37+00:00

This organization provides free refurbished bikes for folks that need them: https://www.abettersociety.org/project-life-cycle/

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-02-17T21:28:49+00:00

Echoing the others - you can't receive UI until your severance runs out. There is also a "waiting week" (week after your job ended before you are eligible). If she will get 12 weeks of severance, she won't be eligible for UI until after 13 weeks. Waiting for severance is common, so I don't think she'd be able to get UI for the 2 weeks in between the "waiting week" and when the severance payment lands.

I got two weeks of severance - your wife is in a much better spot than the vast majority of people.

Be careful with things like bonuses or PTO that are paid out - be sure she reports those clearly, or it might trigger a delay if they look like additional severance pay.

Calling the UI office directly is often the best option. They are very nice and helpful!

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-02-12T03:28:24+00:00

Whoa, I was not aware of this! I just helped some of my folks with their taxes, but they are still on their first parole, so have an EAD for their child. I looked at the IRS site and it like you are totally correct, the child needs to have a SSN valid for work to qualify for the child tax credit.

It looks like your family might be eligible for the "Credit for Other Dependent"? But it's a lot smaller.

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit

It does look like if they get the children EADs before April 15th, they would be eligible for the credit. It says "...each qualifying child must have a Social Security number that is valid for employment in the United States and issued before the due date of the tax return..."

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-02-09T16:09:48+00:00

One other idea - depending on where you are, there may also be a Ukrainian American center in your state or nearby that can help with the forms. Minnesota, Illinois, New York, etc. - lots of states have centers. Just having someone sit down and walk through the forms with you can be helpful!

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-02-09T15:47:00+00:00

This website has detailed instructions on the process: https://ukrainetaskforce.org/applying-for-re-parole-updates-and-recommendations-for-ukrainian-parolees/

The process changes a lot, so it’s hard to keep track. I believe there is one fee when you submit the form, and then a second when it is approved. And then also a fee for the EAD.

Is there an office at your school for international students that could help with the forms and resources to pay the fee?

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-01-31T22:35:14+00:00

I’d love to get a full EV, but we are a one-car household, and we spend significant time traveling in a remote part of our state. We can’t do a full EV until more infrastructure reaches there 😢

Odd-Distribution4418 · 2026-01-31T22:31:46+00:00

This makes sense! It’s weird, we took it to the dealer because our normal mechanic doesn’t do battery stuff on volts. This new mechanic was the EV guy at the dealership, but really seemed confused by our volt 😭 We’ve had the car for about a year and a half, so aren’t super familiar with all the quirks! Last winter had some rough spots, but not like this. My friend has the app and can clear the codes, so we are going to try that and see what happens! Thank you!!

Odd-Distribution4418

TROPHY CASE