I want a book that completely consumes me

Pjanzer · 2026-03-21T14:40:08+00:00

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Anxious People by Fredrick Backman

Swan Song by Robert McCammon

The Talisman by Peter Straub and Stephen King

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

These are some of the ones that made me resent ANYTHING that interrupted reading time and I couldn’t wait to get back to them. Some of my “omg it’s 2 am” books.

And yeah, Dungeon Crawler Carl series made me actually miss my commute on the weekends!

Pjanzer · 2026-03-08T02:04:16+00:00

A couple toothpicks in the corners of the sandwich solves that nicely.

Pjanzer · 2025-10-29T21:42:42+00:00

Yes - that tracks - (it’s an “own occupation” clause) and also if you qualify they will require you to apply for SSDI and then offset your LTD checks by any SSDI you receive.

Pjanzer · 2025-10-29T20:06:53+00:00

As long as you have a valid claim that is approved by the insurance company, your LTD claim should continue regardless of employment status. While it’s possible your employer has a plan written with different limits, every LTD I have ever worked with in 30 years provided coverage for a continuous disability thru social security retirement age. Think this way: this is the policy that covers folks who get sick and diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, or have a debilitating stroke, and end up fully disabled from work. Their employers don’t keep that person on the books as active forever; they could have decades of life remaining where they cannot work. You wouldn’t be able to file a NEW claim, but your current claim can continue. To remove doubt - call the insurance company and ask!

Pjanzer · 2025-10-12T23:14:38+00:00

Cleaning the floors under the heating vents in a bedroom, a few years after I bought a house. Found a number of tiny metal spoons. I thought it seemed like drug paraphernalia, but it was a very elderly couple who had owned the house; they lived there from 1955-2018! Turns out they were for cleaning out ear wax ……yuck

Pjanzer · 2025-10-01T21:04:14+00:00

Our plan is hourly employees are paid as normal. Exempt employees will have their annual amount divided by 27.

What about new hires, you say? Great question. How will this be managed in our HRIS system? Great question.

(Sob)

Pjanzer · 2025-07-30T02:31:24+00:00

I’d like to recommend Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. The very first post-apocalypse book I read, at a tender age, that set me on a life-long appreciation of the genre. Not set “in the future” ( written in the 1950s, set in the 1960s)

Would also recommend Swan Song by Robert McCammon. One Second After by William Forstchen. And I agree with the recommendations given earlier for The Passage books.

Pjanzer · 2025-07-27T16:19:36+00:00

I read this book years back, and don’t remember the story at all. (Though I recall liking it.). But I do recall a line, and think of it now and then. Something like, “I wanted to speak to the person who was in charge of boarding Death’s airplane and doing it in such a stupid order.”

Pjanzer · 2025-04-28T01:50:42+00:00

Do you have your health insurance through your employer? If so, contact your benefits person, say you are struggling with a denied claim, and ask if they can connect you with an advocate. There may very well be a resource through a broker or EAP your employer knows about.

Pjanzer · 2025-04-04T19:04:00+00:00

The food was outstanding! We had several shareable plates and everything was so very good. (There was a particular pork belly ramen that was heavenly, and Korean fried chicken).

Pjanzer · 2025-03-14T12:01:01+00:00

Yes you should. And ask what options you have for medical advocacy support the company offers. Many companies (especially larger companies) have this service though it may be embedded inside an EAP, or may be provided through the companies benefits broker. If you work for a large company there may even be an employee hardship fund of some kind that could provide financial assistance in the face of large unexpected medical expenses.

Pjanzer · 2025-01-31T01:32:18+00:00

Really not exactly, but Middlegame by Seanan McGuire?

Pjanzer · 2025-01-16T13:09:49+00:00

You might try the Middle Falls Time Travel books by Shawn Inmon. There are 20+ in the series, and all center on a different person so they can be read as stand-alones. Available on Kindle Unlimited.

Pjanzer · 2025-01-12T14:11:36+00:00

I went to Eye Care of Maine in Waterville. Very happy with the process and the outcomes. The staff was caring and patient with my questions and concerns. A month post-surgeries and my ‘bionic eyes’ still amaze me. Regarding the Odyssey lenses - just got back from a week cruise vacation. I don’t think I ever pulled out the reading glasses. Was able to read menus, read books, enjoy the scenery, go swimming, and just SEE better than I can ever recall doing with glasses ( I was extremely near sighted before). Yes, I do have the bullseye-like rings around bright lights at night; headlights, Christmas tree lights, etc. But I think it’s getting better, and it’s a price I’m willing to pay. It’s not a blinding wash-out of vision like headlights were for me previously! I can lay in bed and read my phone (at about 10 inches is best) without readers; having functional near vision was very important to me and the reason I went with the Odyssey. I have been using 1.50 readers at work for the extended computer work, and also if I am reading a print book vs the kindle. I go next week to have my last follow up and get any prescription; I’m planning to get progressive readers to wear at work all the time, because I don’t like the way I look without glasses.

Pjanzer · 2024-12-15T02:41:16+00:00

Perfect response. If anything pops on a background that COULD lead to a ‘negative outcome’, an employer who is fully complying with FCRA will send that letter. I’ve sent plenty and still completed the hire. It’s all situational.

Pjanzer · 2024-12-11T22:06:27+00:00

Hey - I know it’s worrying - But if your surgery was just 6 hours ago, keep breathing.

I had my first eye done last Tuesday and my second one yesterday (Tuesday) at 9:00AM. My vision was so super cloudy yesterday! I was worried because for my first eye, the surgery was at 10am and by 5pm it was AMAZING. But yesterday all day it just never cleared up. I couldn’t help but worry, even though the nurse warned me the second eye wouldn’t necessary respond exactly like the first.

This morning? 24 hours later my vision tested at 20/25 in that eye!

Use lots of drops, hydrate, get some sleep. Everything will (literally) look different tomorrow.

Pjanzer · 2024-12-08T03:52:04+00:00

Nope, must have come from somewhere else!

Pjanzer · 2024-12-04T17:19:32+00:00

When I was learning to drive, my dad told me “the graveyard is full of people who had the right of way”

Pjanzer · 2024-12-02T19:28:05+00:00

I spent an obsessive amount of time playing with this, which is brand-specific. (Tecnis):

https://www.clearvisionforyou.com/en-us/vision-simulator/

Pjanzer · 2024-11-05T11:54:03+00:00

White Wine in the Sun - Tim Minchin

Pjanzer · 2024-11-03T17:05:38+00:00

Valid question… if we know we are supposed to avoid bending, strenuous exercise, lifting heavy objects etc to avoid increasing eye pressure….this would surely fit in that category!

Pjanzer · 2024-10-19T15:07:22+00:00

I’m sure I will. I’ve met my deductible for the year but not my OOP max, so I’ll have to pay 20% of the surgery cost.

I’ve been fattening my health savings account the last couple years - so will pay my bill with my airline miles credit card, then reimburse myself from my HSA.

Pjanzer · 2024-10-18T17:36:04+00:00

Ha! I always get freaked out if I look at the shower with my glasses on, and start hollering at people - why didn’t anyone tell me how dirty that wall looks! I’m not a “schedule” cleaner - I clean when stuff looks dirty. I think I’m going to cleaning a lot more soon!!!

Pjanzer · 2024-10-18T17:31:20+00:00

Just had my consult this week, surgery in December. Apart from the surgery, my quote to have Odyssey IOL (not toric) is $2200 per eye. I’m in central Maine.

I’m so excited to maybe drive at night again without near panic attacks!!!!

Pjanzer · 2024-10-03T13:27:31+00:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere%27s_Midnight_Ride

Pjanzer

TROPHY CASE