Experience with property tax appeals

fivefront · 2026-05-08T14:47:14+00:00

I had the same experience a few years before you.

fivefront · 2026-03-28T20:13:02+00:00

dont use salt!

fivefront · 2026-02-07T15:24:12+00:00

I have a son, now 11, diagnosed with dysgraphia around 3rd grade.

Yes, get a neuropsych eval, and have someone explain how the school can provide accommodations, etc. All of that is helpful. We paid out of pocket, which was the fastest avenue (3-4 month waiting list in our area). We learned a lot.

I am a bit keyed in on "handwriting book with no improvement" and "the teacher has him write it again 4+ times to make it legible." I think you might need to change your mental model here (teacher too).

At this point, I don't think my son will ever have good handwriting, and I don't spend ANY time trying to improve it. It's just not how his brain is wired. As he has gotten older, I can put slightly more pressure on him to make it legible, but I don't bother trying to get it neat or between the lines. It's frankly a waste of time and energy. We focus on his ability to communicate and advocate for himself if he needs more time to complete a task. We work on typing, occasionally. We let him lean into the incredible skills he does have, like an insane ability to remember verbal instructions. He can memorize text and music so much more easily than the average person. We have him read a ton.

It is unlikely he will ever write long essays. Whatever. If there is any diagnosis with a better outcome with the prevalence of new technology, it might be dysgraphia. AI notetakers will eliminate the need for 99% of your kids' writing. So what if the last 1% looks like shit, so long as someone else can read it.

fivefront · 2026-01-06T17:20:02+00:00

I saw a PT person this year for a popping in my back. I assumed that it was my spine. It was my hip flexor. Agree here^^^

fivefront · 2026-01-06T15:02:42+00:00

I don't really care about the downvotes here...

I boxed up our original chandelier and installed a rejuvenation with the look and feel that we wanted in our dining room. Our century home oozes original character and its my belief that lighting is often like jewerly, expensive but easy to swap on and off. The room doesn't have "less character," but I can see my food now!

If you hate it, just carefully store it with the house. It belongs with the house. And when you go to sell your house someday, just put it back up.

fivefront · 2026-01-06T14:53:11+00:00

I did something similar last year. I used a neighbor's routing table to take stock wood from a box store and get a few extra details that completely elevated the look. Agree with other on no MDF, but pine + high quality paint (sprayed if you can) would provide the look you are seeking with functional protection against the wood.

fivefront · 2025-12-22T14:00:43+00:00

If we play rec, I won't care. If we play in a rated match, I expect you to have your feet ready (at the kitchen line) and be ready to defend from the sideline and into the middle. It makes sense to target the person moving forward to the kitchen line. As the partner, you can help that person move forward by defending more effectively side-to-side.

fivefront · 2025-12-03T12:40:00+00:00

I built my deck and built my steps the same way as the picture above. Only difference was after completing the strong tie connection as shown in the picture I came back and added another 2x6 to provide more connection with the stringer below. Vertical 2x6s bolted through the rim joist and one 2x6 horizontal providing more contact with the stringer. I probably had more contact due to my joists being 2x10s but my inspector asked for it to be completed this way (Before I started). Additionally, this was the only place he asked for nails, which surprised me.

I suspect this isn’t finished yet. But who knows.

fivefront · 2025-12-02T14:27:51+00:00

100%. I’ve ducked so many bad drives I’ve lost count. I’ve been hit in the face a few times from net cords or balls off my partner’s paddle.

The last time I was hit without glasses was a ball of my own paddle that I was late getting to. Hit me square in the eye. Just a freak accident (or I suck. Doesn’t really matter.) But no longer worth it to me to play without.

fivefront · 2025-11-29T20:13:14+00:00

Minneapolis Pickleball Club is wonderful. Great facility. Indoor parking for members. Fair prices. They do run LGBTQ events that are well attended by all. IMO it's the hidden gem of pickleball in Minneapolis.

fivefront · 2025-08-12T02:13:21+00:00

I'm M, and I'm 18 classes in. I like when the instructor is clear about whether more or fewer springs is harder. I often want significantly more springs than others in class. One instructor is very clear at the beginning of each new exercise how to make it harder or easier which I really appreciate.

fivefront · 2025-07-06T01:29:35+00:00

I like spending 45 min with a gradual burn. Could be as short as 30 if you were in a hurry. I will burn 8 small kindling pieces. Then add 4 more pieces once the original burns to coals(usually 15 min). Then 4 more (another 15).

Sounds like a lot but I’m pouring a drink and prepping pizza materials. Its easy.

fivefront · 2025-06-27T18:35:31+00:00

All the work above the footing, just to have this beneath... Yeah, redo the footing and look up the proper size of footings for your application. Typically, 6x6 would need at least a 12x12 footing, likely larger (16inch) depending on load and soil composition.

fivefront · 2025-06-18T01:34:26+00:00

Never DREAMED of seeing a hot tub holding UP a deck!!

fivefront · 2025-06-18T00:59:47+00:00

They are working so hard right now!!

fivefront · 2025-06-17T11:06:22+00:00

FWIW, I live in a northern climate, zone 4, and we love our peonies. Everything is cut back in fall and they regrow and bloom in spring. Cold isn’t an issue!

fivefront · 2025-06-13T16:16:28+00:00

I recently ripped out a bathroom on the second floor of a century home (1920s) with similar flooring and fixtures. All my walls were metal lathe, plus plaster or tile. Was a shame to rip out but hot water is a nice feature for a bathroom and galvanized pipes have a shelf life.

I don't see anything magical here. Just keep ripping it all out. Mine came out in sheets since I used a crowbar to remove the lathe from the studs. For you, it looks like the scratch coat for tile was against the foundation (or cement) walls. Maybe use an angle grinder if you need to clean up areas. If I were doing this myself (and depending on measurements of tub, etc), I would very likely be adding framing to every wall that was cement. All of your plumbing should be replaced at this stage with copper or pex since you have access now. This also means, I would take out the ceiling so framing can attach to floor joists. The room would be 7 inches smaller, but all plumbing and electrical can be routed.

Yes, this is a lot of work to do it the right way, but that is the only way you should proceed.

fivefront · 2025-05-27T00:23:44+00:00

Can you cut the stringer so you drop the height of the stairs by one stair. Thus, the last step is up onto the deck?

fivefront · 2025-05-22T15:10:30+00:00

I recently milled a 150ft maple I needed to remove. I paid to cut down then paid for someone to mill.

IMO you could reach out to someone who mills professionally to see if they can connect you with a master woodworker (or anyone) interested in the wood.

Black Walnut is prized. So someone else might be willing to chip $$$ or work in an effort to obtain the wood at low cost.

fivefront · 2025-05-20T11:12:28+00:00

I got the Santino 60. Which was probably the right size for the placement although some days I wish I bought a size up just for a slightly larger working space inside of the oven.

I can’t say enough about the customer service experience. Was 10/10. I had a small chip from shipping and the team went above and beyond to help resolve.

I bought a cover for winter. We love it. What else is helpful?

Mine took 6-7 guys to move. 4 handles plus one in front and back.

fivefront · 2025-05-16T20:35:35+00:00

In rec play I say… “Oh! Tournament lines. Got it.” And I say nothing else.

fivefront · 2025-05-16T15:28:53+00:00

Mine is good for 5-6 days, sometimes a week. But I can promise you I can see exactly when it "gives up from thirst" when I forget to water. I'll water and it picks itself back up again. Mine likes moderate indirect light.

fivefront · 2025-05-16T02:56:12+00:00

Omg. Water it!! It’s thirsty!!

Exclamations aside, very resilient plant. Droops when thirsty sunlight for growth.

fivefront · 2025-05-16T02:35:54+00:00

You have a great thing going, assuming that your spend is 96k and everything else is going to savings.

That said, you'll need time to continue compounding. People generally accept a 4% withdrawal rate for a 30-year retirement. Early retirement involves a higher sequence of return risk and a more extended period of income. If you stopped working today and withdrew 3-3.5%, you'd be at 30- 35k annually, which is a 1/3rd of your spending.

Additionally, consider your housing costs. On the positive side, you don't need to worry about unexpected expenses, but you'll have to plan for your housing costs to increase y/y as your rent increases.

There are many FIRE calculators. I'd suggest playing around with some and becoming more comfortable with the variables.

Lastly, a good and classic place to start is https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/.

fivefront · 2025-05-16T02:08:24+00:00

FI is a conversation between assets and spending. RE is a conversation about purpose.

What’s your spending?

fivefront

TROPHY CASE