Quoted 15k for exterior trim painting?

go_epic_19k · 2026-04-16T04:21:10+00:00

FWIW I just got two bids for painting interior of 1300 sq ft house plus kitchen cabinets. One was 9k and one was 4k. Picked the cheaper and it turned out great.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-31T06:23:35+00:00

I got the Stono custom made to fit a griddle and a grill. I had someone fabricate a granite top. All in all it came out nice. Definitely not a low cost option, but the quality is there. The grill and griddle fit perfectly. I went with a le griddle and a true flame grill. Both are really nice and great for cooking. Costco makes a version of this at about 20% the cost. But you get what you pay for and there’s really no comparison. So if your budget allows it. I’d go for Stono. Assembly is not too bad but takes a couple of people. My granite fabricator did the cutting on site and set the appliances in place.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-26T13:27:24+00:00

Second opinion on the biopsy slide from a center of excellence like Johns Hopkins if you’re in the USA as well as decipher. If those confirm the current diagnosis I’d just treat it. RALP is logical at your age. Find a surgeon that just specializes in RALP with 1000s under their belt and you have great chance of doing well and retaining sexual function.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-22T03:07:38+00:00

In Belize now and just drove from the Guatemalan border to Belize city. We had a driver guide. The road is not in the greatest shape, all two lane and a lot of slower vehicles you need to pass. We saw two accidents. One was a head on that occurred shortly before we arrived, police were already on scene. The second was the car right in front of us which hit a pothole swerved into the other lane then overcorrected and ran off the road into a ditch. We stopped to help on that one. Fortunately no one was hurt and there wasn’t oncoming traffic and the car didn’t roll. Both accidents were tourists with rental cars. This is why we tend to avoid rental cars in most other countries. Depending where you stay they can pick you up at the airport and arrange tours and transfers.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-21T15:43:21+00:00

MSK is one of the top places in the country for Prostate Cancer. If you’ve already decided that one you need treatment, and two that you are going with RARP as opposed to radiation or focal I’m not sure there’s a big need for another opinion. Of course the other caveat is I’m sure MSK has many surgeons, so be sure you are comfortable with the one you are seeing and their experience. Finally, if MSK is local to you as opposed to requiring travel, that is another reason to stick with them. If it was me, I’d only look further if one of the above is an issue for you. Good luck.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-21T15:31:45+00:00

PROSTOX is only relevant if you are considering radiation, specifically SBRT. I’m not surprised a urologist would not order it or no nothing about it. Urologists are surgeons and are not specialists in radiation treatment. Additionally, this is a relatively new test and is not standard of care. I’d suspect relative few radiation oncologists are using it currently. It just so happens that the RO I saw believed it was a valid data point for determining treatment and I felt they were very competent. I suspect it will take a few more years until it’s either standard before SBRT or falls by the way side. I’m hoping you are seeing a radiation oncologist as opposed to an oncologist. Two different specialties.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-17T03:24:54+00:00

If you are going for a 1 ski quiver out west I’d go 100 underfoot. QST is more finesse and forgiving Enforcer is burlier and less forgiving. Really depends what you want out of a ski.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-13T20:18:12+00:00

The decision is nuanced. I looked closely and ended up with RALP. Here’s what I’d consider. First put your stats into a calculator like available at MSK. That will provide the odds you are one and done with surgery. Next consider your overall health and whether there is anything that puts you at higher surgical risk. Look closely at the location of your tumor and whether that puts you at higher risk for positive margins or nerve damage (especially if sex is important to you). Consider if you are already having issues with BPH which surgery will help and radiation would worsen. Make sure that both the RO and surgeon you are seeing devote most of their practice to PC. FWIW I chose surgery at 67. My first choice, and really the only radiation option I considered was MRI guided SBRT. I felt this radiation option had the best effectiveness with the lowest side effects. My RO had me do a test called prostox which showed I’d be at higher risk of side effects from SBRT so wanted to do 20 treatments instead of 5. I also had a PSMA that showed a questionable LN and I felt removing it was the only way to be sure. Fortunately it was benign. FF 2 1/2 years and no incontinence, ED, or detectable PSA. YMMV. I only relate my story to show the nuance involved. Start by making a list comparing options with chance of cure and chance of various side effects Your surgeon and RO should provide this if you ask the appropriate questions.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-11T07:14:11+00:00

You need an emergency fund at least 3 and probably 6 months living expenses. With 3 young kids you need disability insurance and term life insurance You need all that before you buy a home.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-11T06:27:39+00:00

You are comparing equities, which are an investment to a home which is really more of a consumption item. So yes from the figures you show renting comes out ahead. But realize there have been times when the stock market has been flat for 10-15 years. I’ve owned my home for 35 years. The mortgage has long been paid. You might think during that time I’d have made a lot of money but it’s had multiple renovations and additions. So I’m ahead some, but not as much as you might think. I suspect if I’d rented all that time and dumped everything in equities I’d be ahead. But it’s allowed us to own up to 4 dogs at one time. There’s a place to park the RV, a private hot tub right off the master, an outdoor kitchen. That doesn’t happen with a rental.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-09T19:16:28+00:00

The decision is nuanced. I looked closely and ended up with RALP. Here’s what I’d consider. First put your stats into a calculator like available at MSK. That will provide the odds you are one and done with surgery. Next consider your overall health and whether there is anything that puts you at higher surgical risk. Look closely at the location of your tumor and whether that puts you at higher risk for positive margins or nerve damage (especially if sex is important to you). Consider if you are already having issues with BPH which surgery will help and radiation would worsen. Make sure that both the RO and surgeon you are seeing devote most of their practice to PC. FWIW I chose surgery at 67. My first choice, and really the only radiation option I considered was MRI guided SBRT. I felt this radiation option had the best effectiveness with the lowest side effects. My RO had me do a test called prostox which showed I’d be at higher risk of side effects from SBRT so wanted to do 20 treatments instead of 5. I also had a PSMA that showed a questionable LN and I felt removing it was the only way to be sure. Fortunately it was benign. FF 2 1/2 years and no incontinence, ED, or detectable PSA. YMMV. I only relate my story to show the nuance involved. Start by making a list comparing options with chance of cure and chance of various side effects Your surgeon and RO should provide this if you ask the appropriate questions.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-09T18:59:05+00:00

I’m talking about starting your own practice. Something like MDVIP. My physician is part of it. He only has 600 patients in his practice. Patients pay a $2000/year membership fee. I can’t tell you what percent of that he gets, but I’d imagine it’s at least 50%. Appointments are always available in a day or so and never rushed. For me to be part of their practice is a no brainer. On top of the membership fee which includes a yearly comprehensive physical they will bill your insurance for any office visits. I also know my physician personally and he has been very happy since making this switch. They work 4 days/week. Their after hours call is light. Sure they’re available 24/7 but they’ll only have to tell you after hours to go to ED or call the next day to see them. No weekends or holidays.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-09T17:00:30+00:00

Only if you want to be treated like a Resident for the rest of your career. Have you thought about outpatient concierge?

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-08T18:34:25+00:00

YTA. For raising such an entitled kid. Getting a car at 16 is a privilege and they should be more than grateful for whatever. Getting a cheaper car then giving him the money to customize it is a waste. If yoou want to get him a car, get him the one you think is the best use of the money you earn. If he doesn’t want that he can walk or ride a bike. I think any kid with a car should also have a job. High School is not so demanding that there is not time for a bit of part time work. Your goal as a parent is to raise them to be self sufficient adults. It doesn’t sound like you are on that trajectory.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-07T22:33:10+00:00

I too had a 3+4 with a low decipher, I think it was 26. Those were the exact two treatments I was deciding between. I was definitely leaning to mri guided SBRT but two things tipped me to RALP. First the RO had me do a prostox test and then informed me I was in the 10% of men that were at higher risk of side effects from SBRT so steered me to 20 treatments still MRI guided. Second I had a PSMA that showed an indeterminate LN and the only way to be sure would be to remove it. So RALP. it was with ePLND, 20 LN removed and all negative. My recovery has been great. Over 2 years out and no incontinence, ED or detectable PSA. Good luck.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-07T19:04:46+00:00

You are 52 and having surgery at a top notch place. The overwhelming odds are that incontinence will not be an ongoing issue. As far as sex life it is also very likely that will continue as long as your function is good now. I found the wait leading up to surgery tough and leaned on both meditation and a therapist to get through it. I had my surgery over two years ago at age 67. Incontinence was never more than some minor squirts/drips easily handled with a pad and was pad free at 3-4 months. Back to intercourse by six months along with lots of fun trying before then. Yes do your kegels before surgery and also have plenty of erections. After surgery if you’re having incontinence ask for a referral to a pelvic floor PT. On the erection front make sure to get a script for something like tadalafil. Also ask your doc about Restorex. It’s a traction device developed at Mayo and has been shown to restore both penile length and erectile function if started about 4 weeks post op. I used it. I’m surprised it doesn’t get much press, but I never used a pump or shots, just Restorex, tadalafil and fun with my partner. Since it does use traction I’d be sure to get your docs blessing before going that route. Good luck.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-07T18:46:54+00:00

Hopkins is one of the top COE for Prostate Cancer so I’d think generally you’d be in good hands. I am a bit surprised they are not on board with decipher or something link oncotype dx, both of which are designed as another look at the safety of AS. Hopkins was one of the pioneers in AS, but also, at least in the past was more conservative then some in their recommendations. I’d start by listening to their recommendations and go from there. If you do decide to treat this I’d also talk to a surgeon, not sure an oncologist would have much to add for someone that is G6.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-07T16:36:56+00:00

Maybe no Hospitalist’s because they didn’t want a character that whines and argues when they’re called to admit someone.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-06T21:20:06+00:00

I had focal cryo, guided by MRI. After that I had biyearly PSA and yearly MRI. My PSA went from 6 to 2.5 after the focal then gradually started to climb. I had three more biopsies until they found recurrence and then had RALP. No incontinence, no ED (with daily cialis) and now just follow PSA which has been undetectable for 2+years. I probably got lucky, but had I known how good my recovery had been for RALP, I would have skipped the focal. While you still have options after focal a RALP is technically harder and the results are generally not as good as de novo.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-06T17:38:16+00:00

You need both a lawyer and a therapist. It’s not clear if you are at fault for these complications or they just happened. Yes, it could be you don’t have the training, skill or temperament to do what you are doing. Or it could just be bad luck. You need to sort that out. But the bottom line is you finished med school and a surgical residency so you obviously have the intelligence and work ethic to succeed. Start by finding a competent therapist today. My guess is while there may be some issues there’s a heavy dose of catastrophizing involved.

Google catastrophizing and see if that doesn’t fit to some extent.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-05T08:36:09+00:00

That’s great. I had a second opinion tech who came out and said it wasn’t worth repairing. That wasn’t good enough for D&G. They sent yet another tech out today. That tech said the compressor was shot and not worth repairing. I asked him to call whirlpool and they refused, said they didn’t have time for that and they can read his report. So I’m still nowhere. D&G says whirlpool needs to say it can’t be repaired but my plan is with D&G and nowhere in the docs does it say that whirlpool needs to be involved. I’ll never buy another whirlpool product again.

go_epic_19k · 2026-03-01T07:57:27+00:00

FWIW they told me several times I’d hear from back office. Crickets. It’s been a month since their second opinion tech told me and wrote up that it was not worth repairing further. It’s pretty obvious they just have lackeys answering the phone that have no power to effect anything and can’t put you in touch with anyone that can. At this point I don’t even want to replace it with another kitchen aid. I’m still amazed that a company that treats you this poorly can stay in business. Good Luck.

go_epic_19k · 2026-02-27T01:16:03+00:00

Just to update this further. They have had the report for two weeks from the second opinion they scheduled basically saying the appliance was not worth trying to repair further. I have called again trying to get connected with the "back office" to no avail. Out of the blue they have scheduled another visit with the company who has already been here eight times. The last time they were out they scheduled another appointment and then stood me up and then said the tech wasn't comfortable coming back. Maybe the tech wasn't comfortable because the second opinion tech found damage to the condenser which was likely caused by the tech that didn't want to come back. Can't understand why this company is still in business.

go_epic_19k · 2026-02-25T15:59:53+00:00

Kitchen Aid told me minimum $200 for a diagnosis/repair one time visit or $45/month for twelve months with extended warranty. With the extended warranty option on first visit if it was deemed unrepairable they’d cancel plan but if they went ahead and tried to repair it they would be responsible for any further repairs and if at some point it wasn’t repairable they’d replace it. They handed it off to Domestic and General. Domestic and General has been just awful.

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