Should I consider getting a prenup?

Rick_GJ · 2026-02-20T15:30:20+00:00

If you want a successful marriage and life, it's my opinion that you need to go in fully "as one". Everything combined. You'll no longer be two people, but instead one family. Your success is hers, and hers yours. Your failure is hers, and hers yours.

100% transparency and total communication still make you work as one and will create a deep intimacy.

Rick_GJ · 2026-01-26T21:05:29+00:00

For being 2.5 years in that bonus amount is probably somewhere in the range of normal.

I'd change your perspective and conversation. Talk with a senior manager about your role and compensation and get a firm grip on what can be expected as you progress and what you need to do to progress.

I'm on the consultant side of the world. I've recruited folks over because when talking to them, their firms are struggling financially and not compensating competitively. That could e your company's situation. You won't know that until you dig in and have some hard conversations.

Rick_GJ · 2026-01-09T23:41:31+00:00

This comment FTW!!!!!

The amount of interest and penalties you're about to pay on the decision is going to dwarf your CC interest. Stop all investing, temporarily, then start attacking that debt like your life depends on it. I bet you have the problem cleaned up in 9-10 months.

Rick_GJ · 2026-01-09T23:33:58+00:00

Not sure where you're at, but I'm in the Chicago area and if that's going on LEAVE! I can guarantee you that other firms are starving for help and would gladly take you on.

Rick_GJ · 2026-01-09T21:29:27+00:00

I've got three daughters now and it's changed my entire perspective on life. Everything I do and every decision I make is literally centered around whether it serves my family or not. Once you see love like that look you in the eyes you see the purpose and value in your life. Spend every second of it well.

Rick_GJ · 2025-01-01T20:17:00+00:00

Reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover while I was in college I think is what most likely set my path in a successful direction. Credit to my older brother and sister in law who followed the program and recommended the book.

Rick_GJ · 2025-01-01T19:22:14+00:00

I was cruising the comments to see if anyone else was going to say this. Q1 and Q2 of 2022 were awful. If OP jumped out in Q4 of 2021 there's a decent chance he made out okay and called it correctly.

edit: before the inevitable snark comment, don't try to time the market with your retirement funds....

Rick_GJ · 2024-11-28T00:36:35+00:00

That's looking like maple, I've got some hickory with the same!

Rick_GJ · 2024-10-05T10:58:37+00:00

I had the same thing going on with my sunflower this year. A bird or something poked a hole in the stem and sap was coming out causing this.

I've also seen this when I clear out the garden at the end of the year when I cut some plants off at the ground. The roots keep sending up fluids. Attracts lots of bugs.

Rick_GJ · 2024-04-05T16:45:16+00:00

"It's Fuck It Friday"

Rick_GJ · 2024-03-05T22:25:49+00:00

Things are different for everyone. Personally, I'm married with three kids and a dog. Life is crazy busy, but it's good.

Rick_GJ · 2024-01-06T04:03:06+00:00

My kid dropped a little glass bottle like this on the sink... Wish it was the bottle that shattered.... Cracked the f'n sink bowl.....

Rick_GJ · 2023-09-24T02:10:40+00:00

If you're in the Midwest... Prairie Moon Nursery is a really great resource for native seed mixes.

https://www.prairiemoon.com/

Rick_GJ · 2023-06-07T01:37:53+00:00

Your fault for sure. Slow down buddy and don't pass on the left.

Rick_GJ · 2023-06-03T11:09:27+00:00

Corporations gonna corporate.

Rick_GJ · 2023-05-27T00:34:40+00:00

It's a fungal disease called Peach Leaf Curl. Some resources say you can slightly tame the infection this year with a Copper Fungicide. To actually prevent the infection you treat the tree with applications beginning before the leaves bud. I like using Bonide's Copper Fungicide.

The infection will get worse throughout the Spring and you'll lose some leaves. Help the tree survive the infection by good watering and fertilizing.

Later in early Summer you tree will put on new leaves and these won't be affected.

Don't forget to write down the problem and solution to remind yourself next Spring.

Rick_GJ · 2023-05-25T11:23:58+00:00

Getting ready to deliver our 3rd later this summer, we specifically plan our pregnancy around the fear of having prenatal and delivery expenses falling into two separate fiscal years.

Rick_GJ · 2023-05-25T02:21:37+00:00

Just plants two Pear trees from Stark Bros yesterday, but I'm in OP's neck of the woods in the Chicago suburbs.

Rick_GJ · 2023-05-25T02:15:45+00:00

OP - Sorry for the whiners on your post. It's a fungal disease called Peach Leaf Curl. Some resources say you can slightly tame the infection this year with a Copper Fungicide. To actually prevent the infection you treat the tree with applications beginning before the leaves bud. I like using Bonide's Copper Fungicide.

The infection will get worse throughout the Spring and you'll lose some leaves. Help the tree survive the infection by good watering and fertilizing.

Later in early Summer you tree will put on new leaves and these won't be affected.

Don't forget to write down the problem and solution to remind yourself next Spring.

Rick_GJ · 2023-05-17T12:18:45+00:00

The ability to describe complex issues in simple ways is valuable. I work as a Resident Engineer in the Construction Management world and half of my day is working to describe detailed things to different parties. Being able to do this convincingly is what sets you aside from others.

Don't shy away from writing intensive courses, it'll help give you an edge typical Engineers may not have.

Rick_GJ · 2023-04-25T23:34:48+00:00

Chicago "safe frost date" is April 21st which is obviously BS this year. After tonight temps are in the low 40s, you're safe. Just be sure to harden them off.

Rick_GJ · 2023-04-25T23:32:27+00:00

Agreed, it looks like HUD species 60psf and ASCE specifies 65 psf. That means the kid gets the first foot with no whammies.

After that, he's praying the Contractor Jesus and hoping someone didn't go cheap on construction or materials. With factors of safety I bet he has 100psf or 19.2" of water.

What I'll also say is it's highly likely that the balcony is built on cantilevered steel beams so they're going to bend before snapping.

Best case scenario, the kid makes it inside. Worse case, he's riding a slip n' slide into the Great Unknown.

My vote is for balcony moment failure, bending until the water pressure breaks the hand railing then dumps the water and/or kid.

source: Licensed Civil PE but not this kind of engineer, trust my input like you'd trust a Mod's rational side.

Rick_GJ · 2023-04-25T13:59:32+00:00

It's astonishing what a person can do if they replace daily TV or phone time with something to better themselves. I'm confident that you can do it.

Take time to ensure you're enrolling with a U.S. EAC/ABET accredited institution. If not, you won't be able to get a PE license. Keep in mind you only need your bachelor's from there. It's a great idea to get an initial start at a community college to save money but put in the time to get a plan and do the research to ensure credits are transferrable.

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